odds and ends

Just some odds and ends to update about. 

First, Isabelle got her Articles of Faith pin a few weeks ago. In January, our ward at church was challenged to memorize the 13 Articles of Faith (statements that outline what we believe). We started working on them, and I really didn't know how far we would get, but slowly and surely she plugged through all 13. The last one was long and tricky but she did it! Passed them all off! She was asked to go up to the pulpit in church and receive her little pin and I was so proud of her. She's 6! Here's a link to them if you are curious- Articles of Faith.

Also we house sat a dog a few months ago, and it sort of spiraled out of control and now we might be getting a dog for Christmas? The kids have no idea, but we are excited. It's a basenji, google it.

Snooch hitched a ride when she was tired.

last lake trip

in case you are wondering, Linc still fits in the ergo...solution to meltdown during dinner prep.

little cousin best friends after school

I have so many pictures of my kids sleeping. It's weird. But, his LIPS!

celebrating Kira's birthday at the sweet spot

Lincoln made this mustache for me all by himself. Paper, scissors, and tape. Made me laugh because it was kind of perfect.

I teach music to two of the kindergarten classes at Izzie's school on Tuesdays... sometimes there is a fire drill. Lincoln's favorite thing ever is to pretend he is five years old and that he totally fits in with everyone. It's really cute, all the kids know him and include him in playtime too.

Isabelle got her nails painted last week before family pictures and it was a BIG DILL.

He was too tired to jump but not too tired to hoard all the balls.

Christmas is up! Bite me, all you grinches!

Linc is obsessed with this scooter. We keep it in the trunk and take it out anywhere we can. He is so quick on it, it makes me nervous! I can hardly watch. I'm waiting for that *thud* and then broken things.

she is just the happiest kid

oh weird another picture of linc sleeping. But his little hands!

measuring progress

We put up our Christmas tree last night and decorated it today. We talked about all the ornaments and where we got them, our collection is getting quite extensive. Holiday music was playing, it was raining, we made hot chocolate. It was a good day. After the kids went to bed, I put Max's ornament right in the middle of the tree where I can see it everyday. And I cried just a little bit. Sometimes it just physically hurts.

Last year we were confidently pregnant at Christmastime. Happy. Things were looking up! And then we lost the pregnancy. And repeated the cycle in the summer. And here we are again, putting up Christmas, and I feel like we haven't made much progress.

I've been working out with a group and a trainer for over two months. Three days a week, all my heart and soul, we sweat it out together. We run and lift heavy things and jump on boxes and do burpies and jump rope. It is the best kind of torture. But guys I haven't lost a pound. Not a single one. I get so discouraged because I am measuring my progress on the scale. (Ugh why do we even own that thing.) Anyway, yesterday I went for a "jog" ("or maybe it's yogging. a soft j") without any kids or strollers or scooters. I set out to go a mile straight...and after that I just kept going. When I got home, my fitbit had recorded a 3.2 mile run at a 12:30 pace without stopping a single time. It may not sound like much to you but TO ME, it was huge. I was so proud of myself! I have never been able to run for an extended period of time like that, EVER. NOT EVER. I'm not small, I'm not light, and yet my body ran around for forty minutes without dying.This is a significant improvement from two months ago, when an 800 meter run made me want to vomit. And though my scale hasn't moved, my body has changed. I am stronger. My body can do hard things.

I think maybe I've been measuring progress the wrong way. Look at all the things we have done, how our children have grown. The memories, happy and sad, we have made. Losing two more babies at 14 weeks has taught me patience, understanding, taught me about empathy and service. We've taken vacations together as a family. Been to Disneyland thrice. Swim lessons and violin and ballet. A new church calling. Celebrated birthdays and anniversaries.

It's been a year. The same Christmas decorations were pulled out of storage. I am different in ways that I can't really see. Yes, I am emotionally tired and a little lot discouraged and sometimes I cry and eat oreos. No, I don't have a newborn, I'm not even pregnant. I don't know what we will be doing next time I pull out the Christmas storage bins, but I hope I'm a bit stronger than I am now. I can do hard things.

other halloween related junk

I'm about to bust out Christmas so I better finish posting about the Halloween season. Izzie's Kindergarten parade, farm fieldtrip, and carving out pumpkins...your basic fall festivities. Costumes aren't allowed at school- except for the Kindergartners, for one hour so they can walk around in circles for their gawking parents. Hey JaNae, if you are reading this, your mermaid costume has HELD UP. She has worn in over and over and it still looks brand new!

Isabelle's teacher was a great white shark. Obviously we are friends.

Anthony's mom grew up across the street from me! Fun.

She's so good to be cool with Lincoln interrupting her grown up kid time.

After the little parade, I dropped Linc off over at mom's for the morning and headed to the farm to chaperon Izzie's class fieldtrip. Turns out every other parent had the same idea and there were a zillion grown ups walking around with 22 kids. Safety in numbers I guess!

Hay guys! See what I did there.

"Mom dees pigs smell totally howwible."

trying her hardest to feed that cow

Field trip was really cute, the kids love the farm and our tour guide was charismatic. Also the patch is so funny, its a field they have transported and dumped pumpkins into. Hey kids go pick a random pumpkin just sitting on the ground!

That night, we turned on spooky music and got busy decorating our Halloween cookies and carving pumpkins. Lincoln was like DUMP THE SPRINKLES OUT and Izzie was all meticulous and careful, creating cookie masterpieces.

 Then we cut into the pumpkins. My kids don't like the slimey guts, and every year I think they will get over it and they haven't yet? Do they ever? Iz wore gloves for awhile but you can tell she is not enjoying it.

Okay, so Linc picked out this green pumpkin at the patch the week before. I thought it would take similar effort to carve it but OH NO. Jazz started with a knife, then moved to paint scraper, screw driver and finally CROW BAR. That lid would not budge. Eventually we got a little bit out, enough to cut a square in it and be done. Note to self, green pumpkins are not carvable... was fun to watch him try though. 

bat dad

They poked holes in the pumpkin and we carved out the shape that they poked. Again, Linc was all crazy stabbing that thing to death and Isabelle was slow and careful. "Dis is hard work!" she says. Kids are fun, I mean I guess I always knew they would be, but I'm enjoying this stage. I wasn't saying that this morning when Lincoln woke up the house at 4:51 because he thought it was morning time- but for the most part- age 4 3/4 and age 6 are fun. The kids have these amazing personalities, and add that to holiday activities, and yeah I guess I am really happy with my life here. All around a solid family night.

Halloweenie

Halloween gets more fun the older our children get. I think the first year we went trick-or-treating, we hit three houses. Last year we did like half a street or so. This year we made the whole neighborhood! Sure, I ended up carrying Lincoln up the hill after he literally LAID DOWN on the sidewalk.

Also, I vote that Halloween is always on a Saturday. So much easier! We got costumes on and makeup done about 4:30 and headed to moms for pizza and traditional sloppy joes with our cousins. If you know my mom, you know Halloween is her JAM. She always does a great costume and bedazzles the house. I love to see what she comes up with- this year she went the opposite of last years Malificent, Helena Bonham Carter's fairy godmother from the new Cinderella.

Our church had a trunk or treat in the parking lot so we also ran over there for about an hour.

All the pictures!

that one is hers. she is just the cutest.

let me show you the inside. Also her hair is LONG.

Then we went over to Mom's to see her creation!

She is just the best. She has 14 grandchildren, by the way.

Three generations here. Also, when I got out my big makeup kit to do Isabelle's face, she said, "Oh I have been WAITING for this." Age six is pretty great.

Truck or treat

Linc was so cute- he kept stepping into people's houses. No fear of strangers, that kid. They would give him a candy and he would say "uhhh I dont really like that kind" and swap it out. At least he knows what he wants! With the trunk or treat plus Mom's neighborhood, their little buckets were nearly filled. I took the liberty of accepting all of the poisonous treats with nuts (almond joy snickers baby ruth and okay maybe some reeses). We went back to Mom's to watch her man the door in her get-up. The kids watched Room on the Broom and were pretty much exhausted from the day, I think everyone slept well that night. (Until daylight savings kicked in. Haaaaaate.)