Distractions

 

This child is just like me. She is constantly distracted and interested in anything new and exciting. This is a typical math session with Jaya. Although this was taken in October, not much has changed. See how she has lined up her pet shops to watch her work? In the amount of time it took her to gather her pet shops and set them up in an orderly fashion she could have gotten a good 5 problems done! Do I sound like a mom or what?

At what age do they realize that if they just buckle down and get the hard stuff out of the way then they can move on to the fun and freedom they desire?

Well I guess I am still learning that, as my floors haven't been mopped for 3 weeks and I am finding the time to blog. Alas, maybe we never learn!

I have a problem, but so do you...

 

I have a problem, but so do you.

These were the words in a text that I received that will change my next 5 months. My friend invited Darrin and I to participate in a half Iron Man that is in May. I was interested, and thought about it for a few days. I have done sprint triathlons but a half iron man is not even in the same category. The distances are almost double and in some events triple what I had done in the past. I thought about my life and schedule a little more and decided that I wasn't going to do it. Then something changed, first of all Darrin decided he was going to do it, and then through another friend I found out that quite a big group of people had committed.

Now I have a weakness, well several in fact, but one of them includes...hating to be left out. So I had 2 options. #1 - I could hear Darrin wake up early every morning to get in his training, and I could wake up to a husband-less house for the next 5 months of Saturdays while he is out doing a long run, and I would be the one making his traditional big breakfast, and then I could stand on the sidelines on race day and watch, most likely with a few handmade posters, while smiling in all the photos. Sure I could do all of this but I know myself too well, I would regret it race day. When I saw my friends and husband achieving amazing goals I would wish I had.
I would get resentful of the Saturday breakfast thing, I don't think I would mind the sleeping in part but overall I would have regret. I knew I had to pick option #2 - which is; do it with him. What does that mean for our kids? Well it means lots of juggling schedules, a few babysitters, and amazing parents to help out. I means we will have early bedtimes, and even earlier mornings. It means Saturday breakfast will now be at 10am, with sore, tired muscles while we eat. I means changing my eating habits so I have the energy to meet all these goals. It means HUGE changes. Yet, I know that on race day I will not regret doing it, like I would if I were just watching.

So I guess my friend is right, I do have a problem.

Baylie's Baptism

 

Baylie's Baptism was beautiful. 6 other kids were baptized the same day and you add that many friends and families for that many kids and it's going to be a little chaotic. I didn't care, I was so happy, and so was she. I felt like we are had planned and prepared for this day for so long, the crowded halls, crying toddlers and babies were just signs of love and support for these 6 kids.

We finished the Book of Mormon the morning of the baptism, we closed the book with a sigh of relief for accomplishing our goal and then as husband, wife and daughter we knelt in our bedroom and said a prayer of thanks for that great book. We also prayed that we would feel the Lord's love in our life as we follow his commandments.

We picked out hairstyles for her big day and started getting ready. We packed up her mini-wedding dress (that's really what it looks like) that she wore after her baptism, and we headed to the church. Huge thanks to Lisa Mcknight for altering her dress btw.

At the baptism we all met in the chapel and moms and dads each introduced their child and told a few special qualities they each had, Baylie asked me if I would be the one to introduce her. As I got up and looked out at the congregation I was overwhelmed with all the thoughtful, caring people that showed up. Primary teachers, my visiting teachers, school teachers, violin teachers and friends were scattered throughout. My heart swelled with gratitude for those that came, and for those that I know would have came if we had invited or lived closer. I feel so blessed for the people in my life.

Grandma J gave a great talk on the sacrament ordinance and then we were asked to go into the room with the baptism font. Darrin went in first and Baylie met him in the water. It was beautiful, a parent payday, as my mom calls them. Once the kids were all dried off and dressed we had some songs and concluded the meeting.

We decided to do the confirmation right after while we had family there, and Darrin gave a beautiful blessing. Baylie did great, she shook hands with those that were there, and gave many hugs and thanks. We had a great yummy meal after at our house. It was just a wonderful night.

 

 

 

Yes, we did miss Kale is this photo, it's hard to keep all 4 kids rounded up, he went with Grandma and Grandpa before we could get a whole family photo.

Waiting for this

My girls love our friends blog (the dares) because the author always posts cute little things her kids say. I love this idea and while I have tried many different ways to write and keep these precious sayings it proves to be harder then I would think.
Darrin and I had the thought the other day that we should write down all those cute sayings for the year, and then give each kid all their own sayings. So, while I still haven't figure out how to track it I thought I would add one recent one from Kale.

Darrin asked the kids "who would like to sweep the kitchen to get the wii game out of the ransom box so we can play it?" Baylie and Eden just walked out of the room, and Kale ran over to the broom, yelling "I do....(took one look at the broom) and said, "um, I don't really want to do that anymore!" and walked away. I busted up laughing, and Jaya ended up sweeping. So typical.

One more. I taught the primary aged children at our church today and we were talking about choices and consequences. I had written down several scenarios asking the children what would they choose. These were tricky, not your typical, your are given too much change at the counter do you tell the clerk? No, this was, just a choice, no real right or wrong, I wanted the kids to realize how many choices we make that are choosing between good and good, so anyways. The scenario was: Your mom and dad are sick and staying home from church, they said you can stay home in your p.j.s and relax or if you want to go to church they will call and get you a ride with a friend. What would you do? The kids that chose church stood on one side and the ones that chose to stay home stood on the other. Again, no right or wrong just a choice. Well to my surprise most of the class (about 30) decided to go to church, 4 decided to stay home and relax, one of the 4 was my daughter Jaya. After the scenario as she was headed back to her sit she whispers to me, "mom I chose to stay home so that I could help you out". Ha Ha. Yea right Jaya, I know you too well. (she's a good help, but not that good.)

Bug-a-boo

Dear Baylie,
At 8 years old you still like to hold my hand, you prefer that I read the story aloud, you laugh at my jokes, and you would rather stay home with me as your teacher then go to school. I would say all of those things make you very special. I love that you love to be with me. I have been watching and I have noticed that you are always the one to help Kale get his shoes, socks, coat or whatever else he may be missing after I have walked out to the car because I am tired of repeating myself in telling him to get ready. You have a patience and a love for your siblings that I find remarkable. I am so grateful you have been blessed with that talent. You love to laugh, you make mom and dad feel so good because you will always laugh out loud at our corny jokes.
You love to watch movies. Then you proceed to tell me the entire movie, line-by-line. I listen patiently because that's what you would do, even though patience doesn't come as easily to me.
I have had a unique opportunity to spend this last school year teaching you and Jaya at home, and it's been so much more rewarding then I could have anticipated. Sure there are plenty of days you don't want to do your grammar, or typing (that's your least favorite right now) but there are so many more days when you smile cheerfully and say "what's next Mrs. Case?" you kids love to call me Mrs. Case.
You have become a great cook, making pancakes completely on your own. You play the violin very well, and we just recently realized what a good little skier you are. You race down the hill (which gives me a heart attack) calling Jaya and I slow pokes as you pass, wedging to a complete stop, that's a serious talent.
You dislike: Sleeping in a room without Jaya, math, reading any books that aren't about animals, and speaking to people, this last one is a running joke because we are trying to get you to verbalize your feelings better and even with practice when the opportunity arises that an adult asks you a question you smile and shrug your shoulders, we are hoping this is just your age.
You like: Gymnastics, stuffed animals, building forts, playing avengers, and making up songs on the piano.
We are so blessed to have you in our family, you are certainly our peacemaker. You have a silent strength and keep our family cheerful. Thank you for picking me to be your mom.

Love, mom

 

Closing doors

I knew my heart would hurt when we had our last child. I knew it would be a hard decision, and I knew that I wouldn't really want to be the one to make it. I have always loved children, I couldn't wait to be a mother and the Lord has blessed me so much with 4 amazing children. I'm trying to learn that just because some choices hurt it doesn't always mean they are wrong, they are just hard.
I don't like closing doors, I like to keep them open just a crack, even if I never expect to go back through them, I think it's the part of me that is spontaneous and adventurous.
I have wondered though, does leaving things open even just a crack make it too difficult to move forward? Does it encourage you to take a peek inside, because it's slightly open?
Yet, if it's shut does that help? Do you eventually just walk by without even thinking about trying the handle? I don't really know, I just know that Kale is getting too big. He cuddles, nuzzles, and even begs me to take naps with him still, but I can see that this time is fading fast. I realize there are years ahead filled with great things, it's just always hard to move forward when the past has been so great. I am so blessed. Thank you Lord, for the children I have, and the countless others that I am surrounded by that touch and teach me.

Violin

Baylie has been taking violin for over a year now and what a journey it has been. I think it's safe to say that Darrin and I are not very musically inclined. I can plunk out a few songs on the piano, Darrin used to strum a few primary hymns on the guitar, and we both like to dance and run to music, but that's about as far as it goes for us.

When I signed Baylie up for violin, with Paige Storheim; I was told, she will be expected to practice 5-6 days a week (not that unusual) and that I, as the mother would have to read a few books on the Suzuki method, and sit through every lesson while taking notes, I would also have to sit with her everyday during practice to follow the notes I took at lesson, (okay now we are getting a little intense). When I heard the cost of the violin we were expected to purchase, my jaw dropped, it was then that I knew we were over our heads. Not because of the price, I just realized we had entered a world that I wasn't sure really existed, and after 6 months, I wasn't really sure I wanted to be apart of it. There were tears, fits, moaning, whining, hiding games and more, most from Baylie but some even from me (especially the whining!). So what changed? Well, probably several things but the main thing was the potential that I started to see in Baylie, the fact that she could actually remember where to put her little fingers and when, all in time to certain beats was astounding to witness. It felt like she was actually starting to play things. After 8 months she passed off her twinkles!! This really only means something when you have a really dedicated teacher and you are doing the Suzuki method, but long months short, it was a major accomplishment. Her passing those off got me through a good 2 weeks of lessons without one little whine.

So a year later where are we? Baylie has played at two public concerts with her studio (pics above) and countless solo recitals for pretty much any family or friends that come to our home and care to listen. I am really beginning to like the idea of becoming a musical family, especially if Darrin and I are just required to dance and run!