The Hart Family

Jacob's Baptism

2012-01-28T23:10:00.000-08:00

Last night was a special night for our family: Jacob was baptized. Let me precursor this by saying that the week of, we had the stomach flu going around in our family and only a few of us had gotten it, so we were going on a hope and a prayer that we might be afforded a 24 hour window where everyone was stable. Well, that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

This baptism was extra special in that Jacob was baptized with his best friend, Luke, and that he was able to be baptized by Forrest. This has been a long time awaiting in our family and words cannot begin to describe the deep gratitude and admiration I have towards Forrest for preparing himself for this opportunity. I am so proud of my boys.
Outside the room where they were to be baptized:
Jacob and Uncle Chad:
First shot with Dad:
Best friends:
A family shot:
I am so proud of these boys:
The mommies:
The boys in their whites, waiting to be baptized:
Let me tell you, there is no better sight:
The proud dads:

Okay, so about 10 minutes before the baptism Jacob started throwing up. Nevertheless it was a beautiful baptism. It nary put a damper on our night. Ashlee played the opening song "I Feel my Savior's Love" on the piano and Aunt Vera gave a beautiful talk. Ashlee bore her sweet testimony that brought tears to both our eyes. All the kids were able to gather in front of the glass at the font, and with the first dunk cousin Bradley belted out with an "Uh-oh!" that had us all smiling inside. Words cannot express how proud I am of my boys, and as we drove home and I looked over all my kids in the car I realized how blessed I am to get to do this again 4 times over, with Ashlee and Jacob leading the way. The gospel truly is amazing and life changing. It has changed my life.

Jacob, we are so proud of you for taking this big and first step in your life. May Heavenly Father bless you with all He has in store.

8 Months or 2/3 of a Year

2012-01-28T22:58:00.001-08:00

I can't believe my little buddy is 8 months old today! To commemorate, I thought we'd share a list of things he is not doing (he-he.):
*He does not sit up. He could, just prefers not to. When I sit him up, he just kind of flops over wherever his body takes him. He's chill like that.
*No teeth yet. I can feel the buds, but they're taking their time, which is fine because other than that one time, he's not eating any food. You don't need teeth for Mama's milk.
*Crawling or cruising? Forget it. I think sitting up has to come first.
*Sleeping through the night: okay, that was a one-hit wonder as well. I sleep trained him, then got lazy. His usual wake times are 1:00 and 4:00. Despite that I feel great though, and am still getting better sleep with him out of my room (he's in the boys' room.) He naps well during the day.

Remember our deal for him to stay my baby? Yeah, he's keeping it well. With a first child you're anxious to check off those milestones, but by this time around I'm fine just letting my baby develop in his own time. Anthony, you put a little heaven in my day.

Random Daily Life

2012-01-28T22:49:00.000-08:00

So what goes on during the day in the life of a homeschooler? A lot. But here are just a few random pics from the week.

Anything with wheels is a novelty.
Especially when you can ride it double-decker.
Is Kaitlyn trying really hard not to smile?
This is where this guy can be found most of the day, when he's not nursing or sleeping. He's pretty predictable and we love him for it.
And when Jacob's not doing school work, he can be found doing this past-time: Legos. They are definitely a favorite. We made a special trip to Target last week to purchase an over-sized bin to store all of his new sets for Christmas. I think he got a little over-zealous in picking it out; I suggested a smaller one. Poor guy's got high hopes of filling it, I think. Might take a few years buddy.

Silhouette Portraits

2012-01-20T15:55:00.000-08:00

I am giddy about these! I don't get the opportunity to craft very often (nor am I inclined to do so) so when I come up with something like this it is very rewarding.

The way that these originated goes as follows: I was holding Anthony on my bed one morning when he caught sight of his shadow on the wall. He followed it with great interest. When he turned sideways, I reveled in the tiny details of his profile: his chin, his eyelashes, the upturn of his nose. I decided then and there that profile was so adorable I had to capture it. It was then I remembered coming across a tutorial for silhouettes on my friend Katie's blog (click here for the tutorial.)

When Forrest came home and saw what I was working on, he said he had been watching Kaitlyn fall asleep in our bed the previous night and had the idea of silhouette portraits come to him. Guess these were meant to be! Seriously, they were so easy, and if I can do them anyone can do them.

Tapioca (a.k.a. cassava root) Pudding and a History Lesson

2012-01-18T22:36:00.001-08:00

Today's history lesson led to a large pot of homemade tapioca pudding. The original source of tapioca is the root of the cassava plant, which was harvested in Central and South America by ancient civilizations thousands of years ago. Who knew? Thank you Story of the World for putting some "yum" into our day.

(By the way, the best recipe comes straight off the back of the bag.)

Anthony's First Cereal and Rachel Cuteness

2012-01-17T23:48:00.001-08:00

On Sunday night I got the impression that Anthony is ready for baby food, and decided that this would be the week. So, last night I mixed him up the thinnest concoction of rice cereal and formula and gave it a go. The boy was READY for it! With his first bite he looked me straight in the eyes and gave me a look that said, "Mom, you get it!" He grabbed my hand and helped me bring the spoon to his mouth every time. I was sensin' your vibes buddy.
He knew exactly what he was going for. I'm sure it was a little bland, and next time I think I'll add bananas. My kids go monkeys for bananas.
Nice and messy. I would've put a bib on him, but the only ones I had were pink and undoubtedly girly, and I didn't want those going in the scrapbook. Poor boy would never live it down with his brothers and sisters.
He's nearly 8 months old and has no desire to sit on his own or even remotely think about crawling. I guess I've done a good job of keeping him my in-arms baby. He's totally chill, which is fine with me. We've worked out a deal that he will stay my baby for a very long time. ;)
He has no reservations about being a cheeser for the camera though.
"Can I just get those in my mouth please?" I love the way he so effortlessly folds over in half. Looks like the stretch I try to do after running.
And Rachel. Ooooh, Rachel. This girl is my compulsive helper. She likes to anticipate my move and be one step ahead. For example, if she sees that I am about to throw something away she will run over to the trash can just so she can open the lid. With her, there's a place for everything and everything's in its place. There is a laundry detergent cup that has been sitting on the garage stairs for about a week, and I can tell it's been bugging her. Every time we walk down the stairs to switch over a load of laundry she pauses, picks it up, contemplates walking it down to the detergent shelf, then sets it back down and comes inside at my beckoning. She just can't stand it. I love her for it.
The other thing she loves doing as of late is DISHES. She loves to stand at the sink and play in the water, and will wash any surrounding dishes. After posting this picture I looked closely and gasped- - she's drinking out of a peri-bottle!! I've accumulated a number of those with my homebirths and I PROMISE it's sanitary!! I always run them through the dishwasher and put them under the sink for my kids to play with. They make great bath toys.

The Joint Birthday Party

2012-01-16T10:25:00.001-08:00

For the first time I decided to do a joint birthday party for Jacob and Kaitlyn this year. With the upcoming baptism and other factors I figure this month is busy enough to warrant a combined celebration. Who knows if it will become a tradition? Also, after 6 kids and umpteen birthday parties over the last several years, I decided to go easy-style with frozen cheese pizzas and a bakery cake. Who says I can't? Ashlee took it upon herself to be in charge of the games and decorations.

Jacob Turns 8!

2012-01-16T10:18:00.001-08:00

Last Tuesday Jacob turned 8. This is a big year for him because now he is able to get baptized! I asked him what he wanted for dinner on his birthday, and he said Round Table, so we had a nice night out. He came home and decorated his own birthday cake (chocolate with ganache) and we sang him Happy Birthday. Jacob you continue to be a blessing in our family and I hope this year has much in store for you! We love you buddy.

January Birthdays Round 1 and Random Cuteness

2012-01-09T14:10:00.001-08:00

On Saturday Kaitlyn turned 4. I am so blessed this time of year to have the opportunity to re-live so many of my births... let the birthday celebrations begin!!

Ashlee's creation: she spent all week watching Youtube videos and created this beautiful cake all on her own.
The one thing Kaitlyn really wanted this year was a doll and stroller.

She managed to blow out all the candles (in a few breaths.)
Daddy and all his kids!!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-29T23:55:00.001-08:00

This was probably one of my most relaxed, favorite Christmases to date. We started out by celebrating on Christmas Eve with family at our house and a casual buffet-style dinner of clam chowder, french bread, spinach dip, and some yummy desserts. After the last of our guests dwindled, we put the kids to bed with letters to Santa and reindeer food sprinkled on the front porch.

We made the kids wait for us before going downstairs Christmas morning, and before long it was a slurry of wrapping paper and presents. This guy's one and only gift from Santa was a cozy new puppy blanket and pillow; it was just enough. (The kids deduced that he must have been on the "naughty" list because there was nothing in his stocking- I explained that Santa knows babies don't need much.)
He's so snuggly in it I'm thinking maybe it was more for Mom!
After presents were opened, the kids set to work putting together their Lego sets around the table and creating with Play-Doh. Here's Ashlee with her food masterpiece.
Quite intricate, don't you think? I love her birthday cake.
The girls in their matching church dresses from Aunt Vera.
Each of them received a mini baby doll.
I didn't realize until posting these pictures that they are kind of dressed to match!
This guy's first Christmas, and it was magical...
...especially the lights.
We had an amazing musical church program that afternoon that I would not have wanted to miss. It was worth every moment.
We are having a beautiful, dry, sunny, cold December and Christmas was no exception. You can see we didn't even need sweaters for church.

7 Months

2011-12-28T23:08:00.000-08:00

No pic to go with this post, but Anthony is 7 months today and I wanted to do a post to commemorate. He has been and continues to be an absolute joy. I moved him into his brothers' bedroom a couple of weeks ago, which is going pretty well. Sometimes when he wakes at night one or both of the boys will bring him to me. Even with the going back and forth to nurse him and lay him back down, I know we are both getting better sleep apart. It's also high time I have my bedroom back to myself, which is a great feeling. With the co-sleeper disassembled it feels so spacious in there.

I believe Anthony is beginning to teethe, as he has been a little discontent these past couple of days. My babies don't typically go through a long teething spell and often times I won't even notice they're cutting teeth until I look in their mouth and see them. Anthony happens to be a little more of a sensitive guy though and my hunch is that he might be having a bit of a harder time.

He doesn't really sit up for very long on his own, though he could; for the most part he's pretty content to lay around and be loved. He rolls, but doesn't make much of an effort to get around. With all these kids in the house he's pretty entertained as it is and doesn't have much need for toys or outside stimulus.

He loves to give open-mouth kisses and we call him our "little licker." He will stick his tongue out at anything that comes near his face.

He and Rachel are beginning to interact and get silly with each other, and he is no longer as intimidated by her. Speaking of which, she is very gentle with him and aware of him. I think they're going to grow to be good buddies.

As for me, I am feeling about 80% of normal and better every day; very happy in one regard to have the postpartum period behind me once and for all. I have been running regularly, 3 times a week, and tentatively plan on competing in my first half-marathon in April. I look forward to the training experience with anticipation and awe. Right now I am averaging 3-4 mile runs and have brought my mile time down to an 8:30. I can only keep that pace for about two miles right now, so we'll see how it goes when I start running longer distances. My main thing now is getting my nutrition back where it needs to be, and weaning off the sugar and carbs I've been craving since I had Anthony. I am hoping that once I get on board with better eating habits and longer, more intense runs my body will go into burn mode.

We have many good things on the horizon and I look forward to all that 2012 has to offer.

Christmas Picture 2011

2011-12-28T23:01:00.000-08:00

December Showcase

2011-12-13T21:26:00.000-08:00

Tonight Ashlee performed in the December showcase for her dance studio. Bear with me, as my camera had an extremely difficult time focusing, and for a portion of the time I was recording with a toddler on my hip. SO, the quality is not the greatest, but the performance was and I promise if you keep watching she will come into focus. Great performance tonight Ashlee!

Coziness

2011-12-12T22:49:00.000-08:00

I love a sleeping baby in-arms. It's one of the many things I will miss about not having any more of them. Anthony is such a soft baby and he just melts into you; he really is a joy to hold. Unfortunately I know that I won't be able to hold onto him forever, and it's only a short matter of time before he's off and running with the rest of the pack, so I will savor these moments. I love the innocence and trust of a baby who falls asleep in your arms. Heaven.

Oh, Christmas Tree!

2011-12-11T23:58:00.002-08:00

On Thursday we undertook our favorite tradition of heading up to Robert's Tree Farm in Apple Hill to cut down a fresh Christmas tree. This was the first year I can remember it not being muddy, due to the lack of rain. The night was beautiful, the moon full (or nearly) and we had a great time. The best part is treking through the forest, all kids in tow, looking for the perfect tree. Well, Forrest did most of the looking while we sang and made merry, the kids making imaginary forts between the trees. I can't say we were the best tree-finding partners.

I absolutely love having Anthony all snuggled up in the baby wrap. I don't think I will ever get rid of my baby wrap.
Me and all my kiddos! It feels so nice to be a complete family.
This year Forrest passed the torch to Jacob as he undertook the responsibility of felling the tree.
Ashlee was totally in her element.
Rachel got carried some of the time, but mostly she loved running around, trying to keep up.
Again, can't get enough pictures of my last baby in the wrap! These times will be missed.
Ashlee helped, with only minimal bickering involved.
Ta-da! Dad shows off our proud find, and carried it back to the car single-handedly.

Breakfast with Santa

2011-12-11T23:55:00.001-08:00

Boppin' It

2011-12-06T22:29:00.000-08:00

I snapped some cute pictures while Jacob came in to lay by Anthony in the Boppy pillow this morning. I love the way the sun filters in through my bedroom windows in the morning, making it everyone's favorite place to conglomerate.

Hi buddy!

"Can I get that toe in my mouth?"
I just want to kiss him!
Staring at big brother in awe. "Will my foot ever be as big as yours?"
So lovable.

Placerville Parade

2011-12-06T22:12:00.001-08:00

On Sunday we had the privilege of watching Ashlee perform with her dance troupe in the Placerville parade.

We arrived a little bit late after making our way through the madness to get her to the parking lot in time for a warm up before the parade began.

She was all confidence and smiles (here she is being goofy with her friends.)
I was impressed by all who came out to participate; it was quite the production.
Nearly every passer-by was tossing candy to the kids, and by the end of the parade each of my kids had a sackful. It was like Halloween all over again, just before the holidays. Oh joy.
Forrest and Anthony, with Grandma Nancy's new beau in the background.
Rachel watched from her stroller the whole time, enjoying the occasional piece of candy that came her way. She was nice and sticky afterwards.
The boys enjoyed a close-up of this tractor.
You can guess who liked these princesses...
We even saw the boys' Shihan from karate, as their demo team was in the parade as well.

Halfway to a Year

2011-11-28T23:34:00.000-08:00

It seems as if it were just yesterday I were embarking on this crazy adventure of having two babies 15 months apart, and now the year is half over. The grueling postpartum period is behind me, never to be revisited again, which I must admit brings a feeling of excitement. Among the three things I will never miss about having babies (believe me there is enough to be missed) sleeplessness is one of them (the other two being morning sickness and transition.) It was a little bit of a hurricane for a while there, but the hardest part is behind me. The funny thing is that Anthony is and always has been the perfect baby. He can take no blame for any of my struggles. However, one can only be expected to function so normally on little sleep. Lack of sleep affects so many facets of my life; the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. This is the main reason why I am so adamant about sleep training; it's essential for the well-being of the whole family.

Anywho, back to Anthony. He is the perfect baby. My 12 years of child rearing have taught me a thing or two, and I think Heavenly Father saw it fit to compensate me with a good baby for having two of them so close together. He is very soft, mild, and loveable.

I have been thinking lately that the one thing I am really going to miss is nursing. There is nothing like the closeness that nourishing your baby with your own body brings, and without any more pregnancies on the horizon this will be my last tie to doing this. Not that there has ever been any effort to wean on my part, but I especially will not be rushing this one. Yes, nursing is something I hold dear and sacred to my heart.

That being said, I am so anxious for all that the future holds. I look forward to "big kid" stuff like vacationing, camping, nights away with Forrest, and all those other things we've been holding back on while we've had our babies. I have many personal goals, such as running a half marathon and having the sit-down time to invest in developing other talents. I look forward to being able to more fully devote myself to our homeschool. All the kids have made sacrifices over the years when I've had my babies, and as they grow our study time can become more focused and our curriculum more advanced. In addition to mothering, I feel homeschooling is my calling and part of my livelihood.

As Anthony grows, I am enjoying having a little more time to spend doing the things I've missed with my other kids, like laying down with them at night. My nights are no longer occupied nursing a baby to sleep. The other night I was lying in bed with Noah, and we were having a conversation about how angels protect us from scary things. Out of the blue, he said, "Heavenly Father only takes us up (to heaven) when we give a good talk, right?" I was a little confused, so I asked him what he meant. He then went on to say, "Like Sister Speas; she gave a talk He really liked and so He took her up." Sister Speas was a woman in our ward who feebly bore her testimony on Fast Sunday and died later in the week from cancer. My kids were really touched by her testimony and we were talking about it in the car after church. In Noah's mind, the reason why she died later in the week was because of her sincere testimony. How would I know of this sweet innocence in his heart if I didn't take the time to be with him in the stillness that seems to only come at night?

I can not put into words my gratitude for being a mother. It is humbling to have the opportunity to bring a child into the world six times over. I do not think I would've realized my potential as a person and a woman had I not had children; for in them my life truly began. They continue to mold and shape me into the person I hope to be, now and in the eternities.

Anthony, thank you for being our perfect sixth child. Tomorrow you will be on the better half of a year, and I cherish every day with you. You complete our family.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T21:42:00.001-08:00

They come, they eat, they leave. Thanksgiving this year was pretty much a blur. I plugged in my camera battery to charge, and before I had a chance to put it back in the camera the feast was over and half our crew had taken little ones back home for some much needed sleep. We did manage to snap a few shots with our cell phones, so that will have to suffice. Let me see if I can recollect the menu: turkey, ham, cranberry apple sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrot casserole, sweet potato pie, green bean casserole, vegetables and dip, dinner rolls, sparkling cider, a jello dish, steamed seasonal veggies, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate cream pie, banana cream pie, pecan pie, and caramel apple bars. Did I forget anything? I must say, our family puts on quite the potluck! We had about 24 people in all.

Lake Oaks Performance

2011-11-15T21:42:00.000-08:00

Ashlee had her first troupe performance the other night at Lake Oaks community center. YouTube disabled the audio in the second video, so you'll have to imagine Prince's "When Doves Cry" in your head as you watch it. She is making a ton of progress and really thriving in dance. Her troupe classes have given her much focus and provide the opportunity to hone in on her skills. We are looking forward to the Christmas parade in December down Placerville's Main Street! Oh, and check out Rachel jammin' right along. She couldn't help herself.

Mama's Babies

2011-11-14T22:47:00.001-08:00

It's not very often I get to sit with both of my babies. The other afternoon I was sitting in my chair with Anthony, and Rachel came downstairs after waking up early from her nap. Still sleepy, she climbed up into my lap and dozed off. She woke up when Noah starting taking these pictures (reluctantly, you can see.) I love the way she loves Anthony. She's a little mama for sure. 99% of the time she wants to soothe and comfort him, and I've only had to deter her from using him as a kicking board once or twice. She is in to putting things in his mouth (a bit scary) and the other day I caught her feeding him bread. I was in the kitchen making grilled cheeses when I heard a muffled cry coming from my bedroom. Assuming Anthony had the blanket over his face I ran upstairs to find him on his back, Rachel next to him, with a mouth full of bread. Since then I have caught her putting a small bar of soap in his mouth, goldfish crackers, and orange slices. I am hoping she will outgrow this phase sooner than later.

Tummy Time

2011-11-14T22:43:00.001-08:00

Here's my husky boy getting some tummy time! He's strong yet soft. I like to think of him as my squishy marshmallow.

Christmas List in November

2011-11-14T22:41:00.001-08:00

November is not too early to draft a Christmas list, is it? Apparently Jacob doesn't think so. I've seen about ten of these circulating around the house since last weekend. It's going to be a long November and December...

Guess Who's in a...

2011-11-03T23:32:00.000-07:00

... toddler bed now! Yep, our Rach. We made the transition a little earlier than I normally would for my babies, but when we saw this in the consignment store yesterday I thought it would be a good idea. She started climbing on it and acting like she wanted it, so it must've been meant to be! Besides, with Anthony right on her tail she's having to do everything a little faster.

We demolished the crib tonight, and the plan is to move Anthony into the playpen in the boys' room. He is pretty much sleeping through the night now, but once again with my last baby I am just a little more hesitant to cut the apron strings. If only I could get on board with his 7:30 bed time I'd be getting a full eight hours too!

To be honest I'll be curious to see how this works out... especially at nap time. I have never had success with getting my kids to take naps once they move out of their crib, but Rachel is definitely not ready to give up naps yet. I dread the whole in-and-out-of-bed game, but hopefully she'll be obedient. I don't think she can open her door handle, so that will help. I am open to any advice on keeping young'ins in their beds!

Real Life Homeschooling

2011-11-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

Among the many changes that make their appearance when a new baby comes are changes to our homeschool. No two of my six years of homeschooling have been the same. Despite my tendencies to want to find the "perfect fit" in the way of a schedule and technique, I am learning that the chore charts, the textbooks, the daily schedule- all are buffering agents between one change and the next. . Much like parenting, when it comes to homeschooling there is no one "right" way. There is a sign near my front door that reads, "If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies." I suppose my efforts to bridle the experience of homeschooling and devise one tried and true technique that will carry us from year to year are in vain. But that's not such a bad thing...

I have taken the kids to Apple Hill 3 times in the past 2 weeks. Any bit of guilt I carried for breaking the schedule and leaving on a "school day" dissolved as I realized that this is where true learning takes place. After all, if I deprived my children of the spontaneous opportunities of climbing on hay bails, watching a cider mill in action, meandering among crates of colorful squash, pumpkins, and gourds, feeding farm animals, and enjoying the bounty of the season, I would be an accomplice to the very oppressive, hyper-scheduled, exhausting effect of public school, which is one of the reasons why I kept them home in the first place. Kids who spend 6 hours in school every day, 2 hours in transit, and another 1+ hours on homework do not have the same time and opportunities to develop their talents, enjoy one another, and follow their natural curiosities as I have chosen to give my children through homeschooling. Now, go back and read that sentence carefully. My intent is not to bash public school or make it seem inferior, but to honestly point out that much of my kids' character and all of their talents have been developed through our efforts in homeschooling. My error was in believing that public school can be carried out at home, because it can't.

Textbooks are great, but most of our learning takes place in conversations that are generated from them. I am learning to use textbooks as springboards rather than an absolute. Conversely, this lessens the pressure to complete x amount of assignments in any given day.

Don't get me wrong, I am a firm believer in teaching my kids fundamentals such as Pythagorean Theorem, quadratic equations, Boyle's Law, and how to find the area of a trapezoid, and these aren't things my kids will pick up through playing in the backyard- I get that. For what it's worth, Ashlee scored in the high end of proficient to advanced in all of her last STAR test scores. However, the areas where my children are most accomplished have been a direct result of the free, unstructured time provided them by homeschooling. The countless hours spent playing piano, dancing, crocheting hats, building habitats for bugs and frogs, practicing acrobats on the trampoline, and picking apples to put in our pie have not come through penciled in assignments. I realized today as my children chased each other over hay bails and ran up tractor tires with no hands that this was P.E. While trick-or-treating last night we had a conversation about the waxing and waning of the moon, only to have it re-visited in one of our free reading books today. I love when life aligns itself with our studies to provide invaluable teaching moments like that.

Above all, my kids are safe. In the scheme of things, taking 3 months off to honor the arrival of a new baby will be far less detrimental to my daughter than sending her to 7th grade public school where she will be taught gay history... just saying. I would rather undo the effects of too much computer time than the hurt of being bullied, or the denouncing of religion, or the celebration of a "holiday party" when it's really Christmas.

So now I have a new resolve and it is this: no typical days. The only thing I will schedule into my day is spontaneity (okay, as spontaneous as I can be between the diapers, dishes, and laundry.) My point is this: trying to keep myself from breaking the "schedule" is like trying to keep life from moving forward. If I wanted the same schedule, same routine, same books day in and day out, I would send my kids to public school. But I don't, we homeschool. Teachers have their place and bless them for it; the masses must be educated. But like I told Ashlee, try giving your classroom teacher an infant, throw a toddler in the mix, have her clean and decorate the classroom, then have her be the lunch lady and the janitor and you will appreciate the role I have taken on. Hence my efforts to shift to "real life" homeschooling. The phone will ring, the baby will cry, and just when you've settled into a good history lesson you will be summoned. That is the "home" element of our homeschool. Nevertheless, my children are learning and they are thriving, and they are safe. I never have to wonder about what they did in a day. I believe there is something inspired about the mass immigration towards homeschooling, and it makes my heart smile every time I hear of a new family being called to take this path. The golden nuggets are there if you look for them.

As I sit here now I feel this was more for me than you, but those are my thoughts and I invite you to take them at face value. I don't profess to have it all figured out, but I unapologetically do the best that I can. The world is on a downward spiral and public schools are no exception, and if this is uncomfortable for you maybe it's because you know it too. If ever you have felt the seeds of homeschooling land in your heart, try giving them some fertile soil. You just might be surprised at the fruit you can bear. Which brings me to another sign I have hanging in my kitchen...

With God, All Things Are Possible

Trunk-or-Treat

2011-10-30T21:46:00.001-07:00

Last night was our church's trunk-or-treat. This has probably been my favorite part of Halloween ever since I joined the church. I get so much enjoyment out of being in a safe place where my kids know everyone and seeing all the fun costumes. I especially love the family theme costumes. This may be the only pictures I get of the kids this year because I don't want to be following them around with a camera tomorrow night... I'll probably be pushing a stroller.

Rachel is a ladybug and has the cuuuutest costume. She doesn't mind wearing it either, which is a bonus and a rarity.
Ashlee's costume this year was a female vampire, but she decided to dress as a "nerd" last minute to match a friend.
As far as Anthony, we're not dressing him up this year. I just don't see the sense in dressing my babies- it's hot, uncomfortable, and they usually spend all their time in the stroller anyways. Next year buddy.

Happy Halloween!!!

As Easy As...

2011-10-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

... apple pie. I am 30 years old, have lived in America all my life, and have never made an apple pie... until yesterday. What else do you do on a Saturday with 6 kids and 35 pounds of apples?

I was finally able to pull the apple peeler/corer/slicer down that has gone untouched up on the shelf for the past two years, and what fun it was! We were all amazed by its ingenuity.

An apple slinky!
Whether it was peeling the apples, mixing, pouring, or rolling out the dough, all the kids had a part.
Dotted with (extra) butter... mmm.
Rachel later climbed up ON the table and became a floury mess.
We had extras, so we threw them in the crockpot for applesauce, which filled the house with a delicious aroma while it simmered.
I brushed the top crust with heavy whipping cream before putting it in the oven for a nice golden-brown finish. Next time I'll sprinkle it with sugar, too.
Ta-Da! There are two whole sticks of butter in this baby. I went to World Market and invested $8 in a stoneware pie pan, which made for a crispy crust and even texture.

This was so good, we even had some for breakfast. However, we didn't even make a dent in our apples so it looks like we'll be making more this week.
Guess I better run extra miles to work off all the pie I'll be eating!

Apple Hill Part II

2011-10-28T21:00:00.001-07:00

Today I took another impromptu trip up to Apple Hill with all the kids. We spent all the day yesterday inside doing school work and chores, so I decided today would be a day out. I love homeschooling and being able to make spontaneous decisions like that. =)

Our first stop was Rainbow Orchards to get a baker's dozen of their delicious infamous apple cider donuts and a gallon of chilled, fresh-pressed, unpasteurized apple cider. They were quite a bit busier this time than last and the donuts not quite as fresh, but we enjoyed them nonetheless and contended for the last one, washing them down with the refreshing cider.

Of course the kids had to see the farm animals, so next we visited the farm (I always forget the new name of it, but it used to be Plubell's.) The kids enjoyed taking their time feeding the animals, one alfalfa pellet at a time, and poking at the bunnies in their cage. Rachel could stay and talk to the animals all day.

Lastly, we drove down Carson Road farther than we had ever been and came across this quaint gem called Pine-o-Mine. The place was nearly empty, but what really drew us to it was the u-pick apple orchard and row of vacant tire swings. Perfect! Each of the kids grabbed an empty "peck" (bag) to fill with apples from the orchard. We were instructed to twist, not pull, and had luck finding the greenest, roundest, most beautiful Granny Smiths to be baked into a pie tomorrow. I think we ended up with nearly 35 pounds in all. Priceless was the look on Jacob's face when he smiled up at me from under a tree and thanked me for "stoppin' by" such a fun place. The simple pleasures of childhood.

I love Apple Hill and feel fortunate to be a twenty minutes away from its beauty. The orchards in the fall, tree farms in the winter, and berries in the summer give us bounty to enjoy year-round. Thank you Apple Hill; you were good to us once again.

Morning Cuteness

2011-10-28T19:59:00.001-07:00

The kids love them some Anthony in the morning! Check out Kaitlyn's new DIY "haircut." Like the bangs?

Rachel's new thing is to climb into the co-sleeper, grab a pacifier, and pretend to go to sleep. I've never had a child regress, but I think her baby stage is so fresh for her that she can't help it.
Post-bath time snuggles are the best. Who doesn't love the feel and smell of a clean baby!
My big boy is 5 months old as of yesterday! Almost half-way to a year, I can hardly believe it.

Crash

2011-10-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

It's sooooo hard to stay awake when you haven't had a good nap all day and Mommy leaves you alone for a few minutes. Who can blame the little guy?

In That Holy Place

2011-10-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

This was the song that Ashlee played in the Primary program on Sunday. She worked hard at it for nearly three months and pulled it off beautifully. While she was practicing, she kept telling me, "Mom, I wish I wouldn't have agreed to playing this," but as soon as she had it down, she was glad she did. It was good to see her stretch herself and grow and overcome her performance anxiety. We are hoping that she will have the privilege of becoming the Young Women's pianist some day. =) Great job Ashlee, we love you.

To hear the words to the original song, go here.

Sunday Haircuts

2011-10-25T21:30:00.001-07:00

This past Sunday Daddy gave the boys some much needed haircuts.

Kaitlyn became an unexpected client after she got hold of the scissors and began trimming away while Forrest was in the kitchen. We were astonished to find a pile of her hair on the back patio that had fallen in less than a minute. I'm not quite sure what she was thinking? Well, now you could say she has "bangs," or something like that...

And Just Like That...

2011-10-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

...my last baby is starting to sleep through the night. He officially did his first eight hour stretch last night.

It's a bittersweet celebration, but was done out of necessity. I have to admit that with Anthony being my last baby I have procrastinated sleep training. Yet after having an exceptionally tired Sunday a couple of weeks ago, I knew what had to be done. The first step was in getting him to take a pacifier, which came along in one night with the help of Aunt Vera. The next milestone was getting him used to taking his naps in the co-sleeper opposed to in the swing or latched on to me. The third and final step was reversing his wake-feed-sleep cycle to a feed-wake-sleep cycle in order to train him to fall asleep on his own and not while nursing. By the third night, he was doing quite well.

The playpen is all set up in the boys' room, and as soon as he is regularly sleeping through the night I will move him in with his brothers and officially re-claim my bedroom once and for all.

It really is a blessing that he transitioned as easily as he did. Thank you Baby Wise for all your wisdom and knowledge, and for helping me to sleep train all of my babies. You have definitely left a legacy in this family.

Apple Hill

2011-10-21T23:16:00.000-07:00

We have been wanting to go to Apple Hill but waiting for it to cool off. I am SO glad we did. Wednesday was the perfect day with clouds and a crispness in the air. Perfect for...

...hats...
...knit sweaters...

...beautiful bounteous flowers...
...award-winning pies from our favorite Bodhaine (organic) Apple Ranch...
...feeding the farm animals...
...and making conversation with them as well...
...while being careful not to let them bite your fingers...
...a gallon of fresh-pressed apple cider and one happy baby...
...getting as close as possible to the animals without falling in their pen...
... one great group shot...
... beautiful flaming fall colors...
... an oasis of squash, gourds, and pumpkins...
... and the best piping-hot apple cider donuts all around...
... so good we ate them in the car and came back for seconds...
... a trip to High Hill Ranch to watch the fish jump...
... a little sampling of cider from the cider mill...
... and a mama who watches from afar.
Thank you Apple Hill, you were good to us. We will see you again soon, hopefully before Christmas tree season.

Salted Caramel Ice-Cream... or should I just say Heaven?

2011-10-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

We discovered a heavenly new recipe for homemade ice-cream: salted caramel. Picture Haagen-Dazs' most heavenly creation, only cheaper and homemade. This actually reminds me a lot of their Fleur de Sel, a seasonal number they had out a while back. Anyhow, on to the recipe. This recipe employed a new technique that I had never tried; caramelizing dry sugar to make caramel. I have made homemade caramels for Christmas by boiling cream, milk, butter, corn syrup, and sugar, but caramelizing the dry sugar then adding the cream was a much faster method and yielded delicious caramelly, buttery results.

You're going to need to start by making your favorite vanilla ice-cream base. I used 3/4c. sugar, 1c. whole mile, 2c. cream, 3 egg yolks, and vanilla. Make this and set it aside in an ice bath to chill.

Next you're going to make the caramel. Place 1 1/4 c. white sugar in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Stir with a fork until the sugar starts to melt.

You'll start to see clumps form...
until it starts to melt.
It may crystallize a bit, just keep stirring and be careful not to burn.
Eventually it will be all liquid and reach this deep amber color. It's done.
Then you're going to add 1c. heavy cream. It will bubble and spatter, so be careful.
Keep stirring until the caramel redissolves into the cream.
You want it nice and velvety.
Remove from heat, and add 1 tsp. sea salt (the recipe called for 2, but I found 1 to be plenty salty) and 1 Tbs. Tahitian or Mexican vanilla. Set aside to cool completely.
When cool, add caramel mixture to your vanilla ice-cream base.
Incorporate until you have a smooth consistency.
Chill several hours and churn in an ice-cream maker 20-30 minutes. This will be very soft-serve at first, but I froze mine overnight and it was even better the next day. Sweet, salty, and decadent.
I guarantee this recipe will be going in your favorites collection; it did mine!

Faith in God

2011-10-16T11:45:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday Ashlee received her Faith in God award in sacrament meeting. She began this program when she was baptized at age 8, and over the last four years she has worked on completing tasks such as preparing meals for the family, conducting family home evening, giving service, reading and discussing scriptures, and being interviewed by church leaders. We are so proud of the time and effort she has put into this. There has been a marked difference in her spiritual progression from completing the program.
Now that she is in Young Women's, she will spend the next six years completing her Personal Progress, which includes more advanced activities such as reading and responding to General Conference talks, reading about and discussing the attributes of mothers from scriptural accounts and the examples of those around her, studying the words of the Prophet, scripture study, journaling, and other venues for spiritual and temporal progress. It seems like it was the blink of an eye between the time she was baptized and now, and it's hard to believe that by the time she completes her Personal Progress she'll be moving onto much bigger things like college and marriage! Oh, the milestones. Ashlee, you never cease to amaze us.

Race Results

2011-10-13T12:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, our times from Saturday's Run for Courage are in. These are our best 5K times yet! We both feel like we could've pushed ourselves harder, and next time we will, but it was fun to stay together as a group.

Ashlee: 30:32 (9:52 mi.)
Lisa: 30:57 (9:59 mi.)

We were both in the top 25% of female runners.

Marriage is Ordained of God

2011-10-10T21:54:00.000-07:00

Fun with Phonics

2011-10-10T14:53:00.000-07:00

I am just love, love, loving our Learning Language Arts through Literature program. Noah's favorite spot to work is on the living room floor, so that is where we do our reading and writing. The couch is reserved for history and free reading. Noah is progressing so well, and has quickly gone from learning his alphabet and phonics to reading and writing. This week he is beginning sentences, and it is so rewarding to watch his progress. See the video below to witness his budding reading skills!
Naturally Kaitlyn wants to be in on the action. One of the things I love about this being our sixth year of homeschooling is that all the younger children are being grafted in.

Pumpkin Carving Party 2011

2011-10-09T21:39:00.000-07:00

Run for Courage 5K

2011-10-08T15:13:00.001-07:00

Today we did the Run for Courage 5k in Folsom. This was the largest run we have ever been to, with thousands of people and very limited parking. We drove around for about 20 minutes looking for a spot, and by the time we found one Ashlee and I had to run across several parking lots and cross a busy intersection to make it to the starting line barely 5 minutes before the race. We stayed together as a group, and at about the last quarter mile Ashlee sprinted ahead and finished first. I finished strong several seconds behind her, then came Jolena and Lisa, running the whole way. This was Jolie's first 5K and she made us proud!
Thanks to my support team. Forrest never fails to get up bright and early on a Saturday and drag the stroller and all the kids along. Jacob was waiting at the finish line with a camera, and Rachel clapped when she saw me. Priceless.
I am definitely ready to bump up my runs. The 5ks are fun, but they're not a challenge for me. They've been good postpartum runs, but now that I'm done having babies I'm ready to amp up my training. I think I will make the next run I do a 10k. One of my goals is to decrease my mile time, which I know will come as I start doing longer runs. A better diet will also help, which will be easier to maintain when I start getting a full-night's sleep! My friend Lisa made this run so much fun, and I am happy to know that the profit went to a good cause.

Ashlee's 12th Birthday Party

2011-10-08T14:38:00.001-07:00

Last night we had Ashlee's 12th birthday party. She is at the age where she can do most of the planning herself, and that is just what she did. She chose all the games and put up decorations, and I provided the food. It was an intimate party with three of her close friends from church, plus our brood of kids.
Ashlee is on her toes in this picture, but before long I do believe we'll be seeing eye-to-eye!
What's a party without a game of balloon volleyball?
Getting blindfolded for the pin-the-face-on-the-girl game.
So close Brooklyn!
The Birthday Girl's turn.
I thought this was very creative: the girls raced to see who could transfer fruity pebbles from one bowl to another first using only a straw. Kylee won (she has her mom's competitive spirit!)
Ashlee came in a close second by about only five fruity pebbles.
Ashlee has been wanting to do apple bobbing at her party for years, and this was by far the most entertaining part of the night.

Brooklyn gave us the best underwater shot.

After a while it turned into an all-out dunkfest!
Rachel was just thrilled that we brought the slide into the house.
We had an easy dinner of homemade cheese pizza and veggies.
Afterwards, the girls settled down for a movie, of course with plenty of candy to go along.
A yellow smiley face cake, by request.
I wonder what she wished for this year?

Happy 12 Ash! Here's to the last year before you're a teenager.

Besties!

2011-10-05T22:39:00.000-07:00

A good friend sticks with you through the storms of life; that's my Lisa. Lisa and I met while we were pregnant with our girls, Ashlee and Jolena. She begged me the night I drove to the hospital in labor, "Take me with you!" and we have been friends ever since. Our girls were born three days apart.
Last Saturday Ashlee went down to celebrate Jolena's birthday with her. It's been fun for them to share the same birthday week and to watch them grow together over the years. Their parties have gone from princesses and pinatas to movie nights and sleepovers. Ashlee constantly asks me if she and Jolie will still be friends when they grow up, and my answer is an emphatic, "Yes!"
It's good to have a friend that will stick with you through life's thick and thin; ours is a friendship with history, as will be our girls'.

Cuteness From Afar

2011-10-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

Dad, Candy, Roxanne- this one's for you guys. Just wanted to share some of the cuteness as Anthony begins to talk, squeal, laugh, and find his voice.

Ashlee Turns Twelve!

2011-10-04T22:22:00.000-07:00

Our sweet Ashlee turned 12 today! It's hard to believe our first-born has come so far. It seems like just yesterday she was getting baptized, and now she is entering Young Women's.

The day started with breakfast at Denny's with Grandma Nancy. This is where Forrest and I met and where I worked while I was pregnant with Ashlee, so I thought it was neat that she was going there to celebrate.

I gave her the day off from school work, so she was able to come home, relax, and enjoy the cool, cloudy weather. We had chili and cornbread for dinner.
Just as we were finishing up the meal, the doorbell rang. It was the Beehives coming to "kidnap" Ashlee for a spa night at Sister Jensen's house. Ashlee looked a little surprised until I told her what was going on, then she became excited. They spent the evening snacking, chatting, and being pampered; she came home with green fingernails. It was definitely a warm welcome into the Young Women's!
When she came home I surprised her with a red velvet cupcake from the specialty cupcake shop in Folsom, along with a gift card to Tilly's. She spent some time talking with Forrest and I before she went to bed, obviously elated from the evening. Oh, and she also had her interview with Bishop regarding her completion of the Faith in God program and entrance into Young Women's. She will have an interview with the YW presidency on Thursday night. I can't really express the feelings I have in my heart about my "baby" growing up so fast and progressing in the church, except that I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and the influence it's had on my family. Ashlee, we are more than proud of you for all of your accomplishments and many talents. It has been a joy raising you in our family and we look forward to many more years and milestones.
Kaitlyn didn't survive the party- she crashed before making it to bed. I told her she could lay in my bed until Ashlee got home, and this is where I found her; asleep on the floor in front of the hall closet. My kids never pass out like this, so she must have been pretty tired. (I see that she first read herself a book.)

Happy Birthday Ashlee!

General Conference 2011

2011-10-02T20:14:00.001-07:00

Aaahhh, another wonderful Conference weekend. A moment to take pause and focus on the important things in life- faith and family. I just love the spirit that permeates our home every 6 months as we gather around the T.V. (or computer) and listen to the messages of the Prophet and apostles during General Conference. It helps us to find our center as we pursue our course and reminds us of why we're doing what we're doing.

My "babies," although Anthony looks like he's almost caught up to Rachel in size!

Here are the kids playing a game of Conference Bingo during today's afternoon session. Whenever they got a Bingo they could eat the Skittles in that row. It's a great way to get them to be attentive during the talks!
I'm all about the food during Conference weekend, so of course I had to make homemade bread to go along with dinner.
I tried my hand at Russian Borscht last night; a soup made with beets, carrots, onion, cabbage, and potatoes (all from the farmer's market.)
I used the outside leaves of my ginormous head of cabbage to make cabbage rolls.
Stuffed with sausage and rice and topped with tomato sauce... mmm.
Dad asked Ashlee to walk on his back, and this is what he got: a massage of varying degrees! When Kaitlyn and Rachel saw what was going on they had to do it too.

Hope they worked out all those knots for him!
I feel so edified from the messages of Conference and hope to retain some of what I felt inspired by in the busy upcoming weeks and months. I know life will go on with all of its challenges, but Conference really does help me overcome those challenges with an eternal perspective.

Creme Brulee French Toast

2011-10-02T20:07:00.001-07:00

I was inspired by Marilyn to try this creme brulee french toast over Conference weekend. We make it a tradition to have yummy breakfasts before General Conference, and this was just the kind of new recipe I was looking for (and it's very easy.)

Boil together 1 stick butter with 1 c. packed brown sugar until sugar is completely dissolved and a little caramelized. Pour into bottom of 9x13 pan.
Layer thick slices of bread (brioche would be best, but I used cinnamon swirl because Trader Joe's was out of the former.)
Whisk together 5 eggs, 1 1/2c. half-and-half, a splash of Mexican vanilla, and the grated peel of one orange (this is in lieu of Grand Marnier.)
Pour egg mixture over bread slices and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. In the morning, bring dish to room temperature by setting out on counter. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 oven for 35 minutes. This was so delicious and needed no syrup! Thanks for the yummy idea Marilyn.

All Prettied Up

2011-10-02T20:05:00.001-07:00

Life is good when you have a real-life doll to dress up. I caught the girls in the bathroom the other day experimenting with make-up. This is a sign of times to come!

"Squishy"

2011-09-30T22:16:00.000-07:00

Squishy. That is what he is right now; one big ball of squish, which is what makes him so much fun to hold. Alongside Ashlee, Jacob has proven to be an excellent extra pair of arms. It's so convenient to have one of the kids hold Anthony for a few minutes at a time while I finish making a meal, finish a chore, or tend to one of the other children. Everyone loves holding him in the morning when he's at his best and they usually flock to my bedroom to do so. We will be enjoying the last few months of having an in-arms baby.

A Girl and her Accessories

2011-09-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

There's no denying innate gender attributes when you see things like this. This girl knows how to accessorize! She even managed to make it down the stairs without stumbling... now that's class.

4 Months

2011-09-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

Today marks Anthony's four month birthday. Despite my intentions to keep him little, he is growing big, big, big. Perhaps all the snuggling and nursing are contributing factors. Who can blame me for wanting to keep this last baby in my arms... and bed? Yes, I take full responsibility for him not yet sleeping through the night. It's for purely selfish reasons, I admit. This is the first time I have not felt the pressure to sleep train before another baby comes, and I kind of like it.
See those thighs? I make straight cream. And on certain days probably chocolate milk. I can gauge the amount of sleep I get on my cravings for chocolate the next day. But there again, with a last baby, I'm not too concerned about losing weight. It seems to be coming off on its own just fine, never to be re-gained again! Running will help with that.
Life is good.

Weekend

2011-09-25T22:25:00.001-07:00

The weekend began with Ashlee's first craft faire. She's worked hard all year building inventory, and we were happy to find a good "beginner's" fair with a low vendor's fee and just the right turnout. She sold about 8 of her hats and came out ahead, as well as gained some good experience, so we counted it a success.

On Saturday afternoon my best friend from High School, Karen, and her new baby Des came by for a visit. We had our babies two weeks apart, and this was their first meeting. Des was such a snuggler and I wanted to hold him all day. Unfortunately their visit was short due to the fact that they had to make it up the hill in time for dinner. I was definitely sad to see them go.
They make such a cute little family. Clint and Karen have adapted to parenthood very well.
Rachel's new thing is to want to hold baby Anthony. She saw him lying on the floor the other day and became very frantic, wanting him in her arms immediately. She became frustrated when she couldn't pick him up and began circling him in a very unsettled way until I sat her on the couch and placed him in her lap. She gets this cute dazed look on her face when she is holding him. A mother in training.
Ashlee donated some of her unsold items from the craft fair to her siblings. Here's Anthony trying on his pumpkin hat before church this morning. With fall in the air, he'll be wearing it before too long!
We had some family over for Sunday dinner tonight. Jeff and Barbara's baby, Leah, got a first real laugh out of Anthony. It always amazes me how well babies and children relate to each other; very cute indeed!

Jazz Troupe

2011-09-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

This is the dance Ashlee has been working on in her Jazz Troupe class. She began in August, so they've composed this dance in less than two months; I have been amazed at their progress. Unfortunately she will be missing her first performance because it is on a Sunday, but they are scheduled to perform at a King's game during half-time in March, which we are very excited about. Her teacher, Wendy, is the one sitting in back on the stool with the black shirt.

Getting Better

2011-09-20T22:47:00.001-07:00

So I know it's early in the week, but so far things seem to be getting better. I definitely felt more balanced today. Tommy and Vera came over and gave us a Family Home Evening lesson last night, which was a God-send. Having them here eased my burden so much and gave me something to look forward to despite Forrest being gone. Vera held the baby during dinner, and afterward they helped with clean-up and getting the kids ready for bed. She does not yet have kids of her own, but when she does I can't wait to repay her.
We started our school day today with a timed writing assessment for both Ashlee and Jacob. For Jacob this was like pulling teeth at first, but getting started is always the hardest part and once he got into his story the rest was pretty smooth sailing. We have our first meeting with our new ST, Travis, tomorrow. Jacob's story was about a pair of magic shoes, and Ashlee's was a fictional autobiographical narrative about getting a new job.
For this girl, writing is not a problem. There's never a lack in the self-motivation department (sometimes an overabundance, but never a lack.)
In addition to our busy week, Ashlee is preparing for her first craft fair to be held this Saturday at Light of the Hills Church. Here she is pricing all of her items.
And what does a 3 year old do in the middle of school work? Play "mom and dad" on the kitchen floor (this is the name of her and Noah's little role-playing game.)
I went for a 3 mile run tonight; my first in four weeks. Afterward I had energy to come home and clean the house after the kids were in bed. With Forrest being gone as much as he is, I am learning to outsource. I have a friend from church coming to take the kids tomorrow afternoon (at least a couple of them) and Vera is coming over again tomorrow night. This is uncharted territory for me, but to anyone who has or will suffer from any kind of depression, postpartum or otherwise, my advice would be this; don't go it alone. Reaching out has not been easy for me, but I came to a place last week where I realized I could not do it alone. I was afraid to be by myself. In a world of friends, family, ward family, neighbors, and other moms who have walked a similar road, there is absolutely no reason for anyone to suffer in silence. Calling on people has eased my burden so much, brought me out of dark times, and literally carried me through as if by angels. God humbles us to rely on each other. He doesn't want us to think we are strong enough to do it all on our own, and He doesn't want to deny others the blessing of service. At least that is what I have learned and am still learning from this experience. I knew having two babies close together would be hard, but I didn't know how hard. I never knew I would come to a place where my own thoughts and emotions would fail me. I have been in a tumultuous time not knowing up from down. In the worst case, I have friends who say they have suffered for up to a year postpartum. I think sleep is a big factor, and with Anthony chunking out at the rate he is, he should be sleeping through the night very soon now (I know he is capable.) At four months old, we are a third of the way there anyways. Through all of this I am still so grateful for each of the six children I have been blessed with. I came across a quote in one of my books that I have taken up as my guiding principle this week: "Never doubt in darkness what God has revealed in the light." This too shall pass, and I'd like to be able to say we all made it through in one piece. One day at a time, I will make it back to the light.

Cuteness

2011-09-18T11:20:00.001-07:00

Here are some random cute shots from over the weekend:

Anthony is still in my bed, though we have used the co-sleeper a couple of times. I think he is most comfortable right by my side and that is how he sleeps the best. We went to bed at 10:00 last night and I didn't see the clock until 5:15a.m., so I think he did a 7 hour stretch.
Rachel is now wanting to sit at the table instead of in her highchair, and that is how she insisted on eating her cereal yesterday morning. I guess it's time for a booster.
Ashlee did Kaitlyn's hair when she got out of the bath last night. I love this cute little bun!

Nat Ran, Ann Ran

2011-09-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

Today Noah read his first book! I was a little weary starting Kindergarten with him not knowing his letters and phonics, but four weeks is all it took. Way to go Noah!
And on that note, let me take a moment to put in a plug for my new-found favorite Language Arts program- Learning Language Arts Through Literature.
The book is broken down into weekly lessons, all based on quality pieces of literature, that cover grammar, spelling, reading and writing in one fell swoop. So for example, we will begin on Monday by reading the selected literature (this week it was the story of David and Goliath.) Then, the remainder of the week's lessons will focus on spelling, phonics, grammar, mechanics, etc. based on that story. The reading selections are of superior quality and I absolutely love how the program is cohesive. I went a little overboard on language arts curriculum for Jacob this year, but I find that this program alone covers everything we need to know. I highly recommend it, and it goes from Kindergarten through grade 9. I am using it with both of the boys, but would probably be just as happy using it with Ashlee.

Lego Dreams

2011-09-13T22:17:00.001-07:00

I PROMISE we're sending this one to the Lego magazine this time Jacob. I know it's been months of you asking me and countless pictures, but this is the one. I promise! (This boy has big dreams.)

Corn-Fed Boy

2011-09-13T22:13:00.001-07:00

Cute little chunk asleep in his daddy's arms. Forrest was walking him around the living room while I made myself a quick dinner tonight and before long he was snoring his way to dreamland. Look at those thighs- he's our corn-fed boy!

Family

2011-09-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

Some random family pics from the last few days:

Daddy came home "early" tonight (7:30.) Anthony was happy to catch a moment with him before bed time.
I love this shot of all the boys.
Ashlee had him talkin' it up the other afternoon. He is really starting to coo, smile, and converse with people. I love this age and their blossoming personalities.
The girls enjoying some swinging time last Thursday night before the rain.

All to Ourselves!

2011-09-08T18:13:00.000-07:00

One of the perks about being homeschoolers- going to the water park and having the whole thing to ourselves!

At first we thought the water had been shut off for the season, but as Jacob began riding his scooter around he hit one of the sensors and suddenly the kids were basking in glory and showers of water!

This guy was happy...
Rachel had a lot of fun playing at the top of this slide. It was so nice without any other kids to contend with, and being that it wasn't that high off the ground Mom could relax a little.

I absolutely love the view from this park and could sit on that grassy hill all day.
The boys bringing their scooters added to the fun.

Postpartum or Something Like It

2011-09-04T19:55:00.000-07:00

So I hem-hawed around for the title of this post. Several thoughts ran through my mind, like "Not the Martyr Mom," "Taking a Real Sabbath," (to explain my absence from church today,) or "Dropping the Ball" (because I want to give up.) However, after much deliberation I have decided that what I am experiencing in terms of mental, spiritual, and emotional turmoil can be wrapped neatly into the package of postpartum something-rather, so that is what I am calling it.

On a happier note, Naomi lent us the use of her co-sleeper. I am anxious to see how it will work out. Ironically enough I spent the better part of yesterday setting it up, then didn't use it! Anthony slept right at my side last night, where he always is, nursing himself into oblivion. I'll be interested to see if he sleeps better or is more restless in the co-sleeper. Being that we do not have a crib for him, we don't really have any other options. I told Anthony that out of six kids he's lucky to get the spot next to Mama's bed. Thank you Naomi!
I was thinking I should get a mobile to attach to the side. He sure was content in there today while I folded laundry, and it would be nice for him to have something to look at.
I ended the day with an evening walk. This was Anthony's first time in the jogger stroller. I debated jogging, but thought I'd save that for when I can go alone. He started out happy...
... then fussed a little bit mid-walk. I knew if I kept walking he'd fall asleep, which he did.
I decided to stay home today and take a "true" Sabbath while Forrest took all of the kids (except Anthony) to church. Let's be honest, there is nothing restful about Sundays for a mother of six, and if my husband is going to be gone six days a week from sun up until sun down I am going to take a break when I can get it. Something has to give. I know this time is fleeting, and my struggles are but for a moment, but I still have to get through my day-to-day. So far I'm not doing so well. I feel worse off now than when I first had Anthony, and the thought occurred to me today that technically I am not even postpartum anymore- he's three months old! I feel like I am experiencing a backlash effect that began when Forrest took on crazy work hours and we started homeschooling.

In talking to friends, I have received advice across the board- keep running, stop running, put the kids back in school, focus on homeschool, clean the house, let the house go... it's all relative. I feel like every day I try something different, and nothing ever works for too long. It's kind of like the first trimester of pregnancy when one food will taste good for a while until you can't stomach it anymore and you have to switch things up. Or perhaps I should compare this time to transition in labor- when you think you can't take anymore and you want to quit and get off the bed? If I were a runner, I would be sprinting and burning out. I need to find my marathon pace, something I can maintain for a while.

Well-meaning people (my husband included) have suggested I just "let things go" and focus on the kids. But to be honest, I'm just not happy like that; less stressed maybe for a time, but not happy. I have to maintain certain things- exercise, a clean house, alone time- or we all suffer. After all, ain't Mama happy, ain't nobody happy!

After a failed attempt at an over-zealous list of to-dos yesterday with six kids in tow that ended in me throwing a block of cheese across the living room (embarrassing, but true) and running away to my mom's house to vent and take a nap, I've decided that something has to change. I can't keep hiding in corners of my house to cry. I love my kids, I asked for all of them, but don't ever let anyone tell you they are not a mound of work. I hope I never portray that facade.

I am grateful, but I am exhausted.

Here's to change.

3 and 3

2011-09-01T23:32:00.000-07:00

Well Anthony is 3 months old and it's our 3rd week of homeschooling. Time for a report.

We put together Ashlee's 3-D jello-o cell model earlier in the week, and here she is showing it off. We spent about a week studying the different parts of the cell (nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, etc.) then constructed a model using jell-o, fruit, and various candies to represent all of the organelles. I had her explain each one to me along with its function before she ate it. This was a fun project.
Noah and Kaitlyn have learned their entire alphabet, including letter recognition and sound. I had them work on three letters a day, and by the end of the second week we had the pantry door covered in the alphabet. Now they are ready for reading.
Today we were in the Sacramento area and I took the kids to McKinley park. My, what a beautiful place this was! We could've stayed all day. There was a pond with ducks, geese, turtles, and pigeons, a public pool, a nice wooden castle-like play structure, and a public library. There was also a beautiful rose garden, which we did not have time to visit.

Anthony is doing so well and turning into quite the chunk. He is starting to sleep 4-6 hours at night, which is nice. It's funny but for the first time I am not feeling the rush to get him to sleep through the night. I know it will happen, and with him being my last baby I just want to savor it! This has been the first time I haven't had another baby to anticipate, so rather than looking ahead to the next stage I find myself wishing I could slow things down. It's a strange place to be in, but it brings me contentment nonetheless. I feel good about closing this chapter in my life and look to the next with much anticipation. I feel so blessed every day to be home with my children and to have the opportunity to homeschool them.

I'll leave you with a couple of funnies from Noah:

The other morning we were sitting down at the table doing a language arts lesson together out of one of our new books, and I was struggling to find the shape cards. He sat patiently as I thumbed through the workbook, searching for the page with the cut-outs.

Me: "Just a minute Noah, Mommy can't find the shape cards."

Noah (hesitantly): "You're not a very good teacher because you can't find the cards. A teacher should know where the cards are."

Me (getting a little flustered): "Hmmm, where are the shape cards?"

Noah then sticks his head under the table and begins chanting in a taunting voice but with a smile on his face: "You're a bad teacher, you're a bad teacher."

Then today as we were driving, the boys were in the back seat talking about different languages. Jacob was saying how there was English, Spanish, French, etc. Noah asked me what language we spoke. I told him English. He responded, "Oh, I thought we just talked regular." I guess every child thinks their language is "regular." =)

Homeschool

2011-08-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

I wish I had pictures to post, but Jacob managed to break the memory card for our camera, so I'll have to settle for words. We are two weeks into our homeschooling year now and off to a great start. I have a 7th grader, 2nd grader, and kindergartner, and Kaitlyn is learning right alongside Noah for what it's worth. As you can imagine, this makes for a busy house! Throw in my two babies and Forrest's 16 hour work schedule and you'll excuse me for not blogging in a while.

Anyhow, back to our homeschool. Our new curriculum has not arrived in its entirety so we are making do with last year's books and activities. I have been printing up letter tracing sheets from the Internet and Kaitlyn and Noah have learned their entire alphabet in two weeks. My next goal is getting them to read. I figure so long as she's interested, I'll take Kaitlyn as far as she'll go, but being that she's only three I'm not going to push her too hard. Jacob is really focused on language arts and we have a plethora of great books for him. He is my focused student and diligently works through his workbooks until he is done. We always sit down on the couch together for history, science, and some writing. We have also begun reading Little House in the Big Woods, which is probably my favorite part of the day.

Ashlee has shown an interest in biology, so we have undertaken cell structure these past two weeks. I was lucky enough to find another teacher's unit on cell structure via the Internet and we have been basing our lessons around that. She has already learned the names and functions of all the organelles, and our next task is to undertake the construction of a 3-D cell model using Jell-O and various fruits and candies to represent the different parts of a cell. It should be interesting, and providing I have a new memory card by then I'll post pictures when we're done.

As far as extracurricular activities go, Ashlee is in troupe this year and taking five dance classes a week in the disciplines of jazz and ballet. She'll be performing 8-12 times during the year. She is also maintaining her piano, though her teacher is still on maternity leave. Currently she is working on a piece to play in our church's Primary program in October. The boys start karate next week, and I just enrolled Jacob in the Lego engineering class to start in September. I am looking forward to the outlet for him and some more socialization.

Anthony is such a wonderful baby, for which I am so grateful. As I say, he's the perfect sixth child. He must have known he was coming into a busy family! He is still in bed with me at night and I am not doing anything to rush this time. He can stay my baby for as long as he'd like, and as Forrest says I'll probably nurse him until he's fifteen. =)

This postpartum period has been a little challenging for me, emotionally speaking. I don't know if it's the stress from Forrest being gone or something different, but this last week I have felt what I think would probably be classified as postpartum depression. My mood has been very volatile, the tears flow easily and randomly, and everyday tasks have been very overwhelming. I also snap easily, for which I carry a lot of guilt. I realize it is all situational, but it is a very real thing and knowing that doesn't make it any easier when you are going through it. That being said, today is a much better day and I am hoping we are on the upside of things. Having Forrest home for the second half of the day yesterday took the tightness out of my chest and gave me something to look forward to. It's true when they say separation makes the heart grow fonder!

The one thing I am maintaining for myself is running (and a clean house.) The farthest distance I have gone is five miles with Ashlee, but most of my runs average three miles. My goal is to be 10k ready by fall. As far as the chores go, one day off will tell you they are constant! A clean house is so important to me but it's so much work to maintain it (not saying I'm quite where I want to be yet.) I did establish a chore chart, which helps, and the kids do help with laundry, dishes, and cleaning their rooms. They can also pick up the living room in a jiffy between the four of them. My challenge is finding a balance between chores and school work. The moment I get distracted with dishes or a load of laundry, I lose the kids and that is a bad thing. I try to separate school time from housework, which is good for the kids but means that I have a lot less time for chores. It's just the way it has to be. Anywho, that's our life in a nutshell over in our little corner of the world. It's crazy-beautiful and I wouldn't trade in a moment of it.

Reading Hour

2011-08-17T22:31:00.001-07:00

When Mom is at her wit's end, and I mean wit's END... it's always a good idea to mandate some quiet reading time for the kids. After a long day of school work, running Ashlee to dance, Trader Joe's, and a husband who works 16 hours a day, this was the scene in the living room while I put a late dinner of spaghetti on the table. I had laid Rachel down and Anthony was asleep in his swing, so this actually brought a few minutes of quiet. Today was an exceptionally hard day for me and moments like this are too few and far between, but when I get one, I'll tell you it's worth it!

Boys

2011-08-16T22:31:00.001-07:00

I could call these boys twins. From the moment he was born I could see Anthony's resemblance to Noah, and people continue to comment on how much they look alike. He's like a chunky version of Noah.
Here he is getting some much-needed Daddy time. With the 15-hour days he's been working we don't see too much of Daddy lately, so when he's home we make sure to enjoy him.

Family Reunion

2011-08-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

Forrest's sister Janean is in town from Texas, and in honor we held a partial family reunion today at Lake Natomas. We BBQ'd, swam, went out on the raft and kayaks, and had a great time catching up on everyone's busy lives and growing children. The kids were very excited and definitely had their fill of fun. The only thing about getting together like this is that it makes me miss not being close to everyone. Love you all!

Movie Night!

2011-08-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight it's Newsies. Oh how we need our family movie nights at the end of a busy week! Here's to the last weekend of summer.

Six Flags 2011

2011-08-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the kids took advantage of their free Six Flags tickets they had earned through a reading program in the spring and we made a visit to the Discovery Kingdom. I decided it was best not to bring Rachel along on the trip, being that she is at the age where she would want to be out of her stroller and is not quite old enough to enjoy all the park has to offer, so we dropped her off at Uncle Tommy's house. Grandma Nancy wanted to come along with us, and we were glad to have her company as well as the extra pair of hands. Let me tell you, Six Flags with five kids is busy, busy, busy! But we had a great time.

The first thing Kaitlyn wanted to do upon our entrance was hug the bunny. I was glad I had my camera so that I did not have to pay for the professional picture of this.
They make a cute bunch!
Next we visited the dolphins. I could sit and watch them for hours, they are so beautiful to me. I absolutely love sea animals.
We lucked out with an absolutely gorgeous day. The sun was shining (of course) and we reaped the benefits of the bay breeze. It could've been so much worse for August!
We only watched two shows, one of them being the tigers. I think our favorite part was watching them swim underwater to retrieve chunks of meat.
And of course we hit up a few rides. This was the kids' main reason for wanting to come.
My personal favorite is always the killer whale show. I love Shouka! He has been there for 17 years.
Look at that... majestic.
The 1:00 show was absolutely packed. We sat way up at the top of the stadium, which was fine with me because we were in the shade and able to see everything.
Ashlee being a good big sister and going on the kiddie ride with Kaitlyn.
These penguins were so little and cute, much smaller than they appear in "March of the Penguins."
One came up to the glass to say hello.
Shark Experience was very cool. The kids really enjoyed this and had many questions to ask.
One of Ashlee's was, "Why don't the sharks eat the fish that are in the tank?" We found out that the zookeepers chop the heads off the fish before feeding them to the sharks, so they never make the association of live fish with food. That is how the fish swimming around in the tank stay safe.
We also discovered that zebra sharks have spots, and leopard sharks have stripes. Hmmm, strange...
My kids "suckered" me into buying these treats for them. They made for a couple hours of quiet though!
We had to hit the butterfly exhibit. Upon arriving, Ashlee stated that her favorite species was the owl butterfly.
See how his wings resemble the eye of an owl? This is a defense that keeps predators at bay.
Scoping out the koi in the pond...
It was too tempting not to stick little hands in the water.
Fascinated by the butterfly pupae.

This is how they drink their nectar.
And look at this... one of Ashlee's favorite butterflies landed right on her back!
We thought she was going to take him home.
This was such a fun trip. We did so much more than I was able to capture here. We stayed from open until close and spent our last dollar, so I considered the day a success. One highlight of the trip was that I took Jacob on his first rollercoaster. He had been begging from the moment we got there, and I really felt like he had to experience it for himself. We decided on Kong, the floorless one that goes upside-down. I kept telling him it was going to be scary! I screamed the whole time and he just sat motionless with his eyes shut. Afterward he nearly collapsed from the adrenaline rush and said he would never ride that again. Poor guy! I am still trying to decide if I am a bad mother for doing that...
To make it up to him I took him on the race cars, which he absolutely loved. We came in second place and lapped two people. He kept telling me, "Mom, we are burning serious rubber!" We hit IN-and-OUT on the way home and the kids fell asleep in the car. Anthony held up pretty well, though I could tell by the end of the day that he was tired and had had enough. We can't wait to do this again, and hopefully next time Daddy can come with us. Hope that was enough fun to last for the year kids!

Sunday with Grandma

2011-08-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

We are starting to enjoy our tradition of Sunday dinners with Grandma Nancy. She just joined us last night, and within minutes of her arrival she was able to get big smiles out of baby Anthony.
He liked her talking to him and was really trying his best to interact.

I guess all that socializing wore him out, because shortly afterward he zonked out in her arms on the couch.
It made me so happy to see baby Anthony in his grandma's arms.
(all dressed for church.)
Thanks again Grandma Nancy!

Promontory Park

2011-08-05T18:53:00.001-07:00

Today I took the kids to the beautiful Promontory park in El Dorado Hills.
It's not easy to get to (I actually had to call Forrest on the way down and have him navigate me because we got lost) but once we got there it was worth it.

Here is Jacob waiting to be dumped on by the water buckets.
Once she warmed up, Rachel had a blast. It was so fun to see her watching and learning from the other kids.
She got sprayed in the face by these ground spouts about a dozen times. I kept wondering when she was going to figure it out!
Thankfully there was some shade where I could sit and nurse Anthony.
Oh, and this beautiful grassy hill which I love! It was so scenic and picturesque. I wanted to do a photo shoot with all of my kids on it. It was the perfect pastoral backdrop.
Thank you Promontory park! You were good to us! We'll be back soon.

Solar-Roasted Marshmallows

2011-08-04T23:13:00.000-07:00

Who says we have to wait until the first day of school to start learning?

My friend Katie sent us the link to this science website that gave instructions for constructing a solar oven. The kids had fun watching the tele-class and learning all about alternative and renewable energy sources. Their project was to create an "oven" using a cardboard box, magnifying sheet, and tin foil. For some reason our marshmallow didn't quite roast as we had expected, but it could be that I didn't have a strong enough lense or that the angle was not quite right. Either way, it was a good learning experience that got them working together. As for me, I am now really excited for the upcoming school year! I tell you, there is nothing like teaching your own children.

The marshmallow was skewered in this little back door.

Waiting for a change to occur...

Our oven.

He thinks he sees something...

Is it toasted yet?

A view through the magnifying lense.

Our marshmallow (that never toasted.)

Home Birth of Anthony Jordan Hart

2011-08-02T01:13:00.001-07:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Flash Mob!

2011-07-30T17:04:00.000-07:00

Ashlee was a part of the first EVER flash mob in El Dorado County today with Foothills Dance and Performing Arts Studio! It was quite neat how the whole thing came about. Flash mob correspondence is only supposed to be transmitted via text and e-mail, so about a week before the scheduled mob the studio owner sent out a link with instructions for the dance on YouTube. Ashlee then had to learn and rehearse the dance at home. They met at the studio last night and today for a brief group rehearsal, then everyone headed over to Regal Cinemas in El Dorado Hills, where they were to perform. The dance had four sections, and with each section new people were added. The idea was to look nonchalant until the dance started, so it appeared that dancers were coming out of the woodwork! This was a lot of fun. Ashlee was in all four sections. Way to go Ashlee!

2 Months Old!

2011-07-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

Anthony is two months old today. He looks so cozy and peaceful asleep on my bed, I can't get enough of these pictures.
We had a photo shoot tonight after the kids were in bed.

Look at the big smile I was able to get out of him!
I am still loving these chubby legs and little feet.
Anthony you have brought so much joy.

Under the Stars

2011-07-28T21:20:00.000-07:00

Last weekend the kids spent a night out on an airbed on the back patio. We would normally let them sleep on the trampoline in the summer like Forrest used to do as a kid, but since we have moved the trampoline up to the field by our house I decided this was no longer a safe option so they opted for the patio instead. Ashlee brought one of her nightlights out and plugged it into the patio outlet-very cute! I think I saw their flashlights going past 11:00 and they were very tired the next day, but this is the stuff childhood is made of.

Love Letters from Jacob

2011-07-20T22:57:00.000-07:00

These are two letters Jacob has given me the past two nights. He handed me this top one late tonight after everyone had been tucked in bed. Just when I think I am about to explode from all the pressure that mounts by the end of the day and the stress of the dinner / bedtime routine, I receive something like this and it melts my heart. Bless them for being so tender and forgiving despite all my weaknesses.

Thank you Jacob. This means more to Mom than you could ever know.

Snoozin'

2011-07-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

Snoozin' on Mama's bed this morning. I rolled him over for some tummy time, and he fell asleep.

Handwriting Worksheets

2011-07-19T11:50:00.001-07:00

I just found these free printable tracing worksheets online. They are probably the best I have found so far, and the website is very easy to use. You can customize and print them up in seconds. I will definitely be using these for Noah and Kaitlyn in the upcoming school year to teach and fine-tune.
Although she is only 3, I will probably be teaching Kaitlyn alongside Noah this year. They are at about the same level academically.
She is picking up her letters very quickly and is very proud in her accomplishment!

She Gets Around!

2011-07-17T22:39:00.001-07:00

This girl's cast does not slow her down. Kids are so resilient. She can't quite reach her mouth with her casted hand, but she seems to do everything else just fine. We are anxiously counting down the days until she gets it off so she can go swimming with us again!

Photo Shoot with Mommy

2011-07-17T22:32:00.000-07:00

Life at 7 Weeks

2011-07-16T23:08:00.001-07:00

Time is going ever-so-slow, yet quickly. It's funny how your perspective changes with a newborn. I looked at Anthony this past week and realized how much he's changed. Sometimes I don't always realize it because he's in my arms so much of the time, but he really is growing and changing rather quickly. His face is getting rounder, his eyes wider, and he is definitely more alert. He really likes to focus on faces and strains to look up at whoever is holding him (as you can see in the pictures below.) We love him to pieces.
Forrest loves when he falls asleep in his arms (I think he was laughing at one of the kids in this picture.)

Hello Daddy, is that you?
Noah is my nature boy and loves to be out in the garden. He's always looking for insects.
It was discovered that one of our containers was filled with these little green worms- I was wondering where my lettuce went!
Noah and Kaitlyn liked collecting them for their "pets."
Rachel is quite the handful. She is taking her cast quite well, and gets it off in two weeks. Her newest thing is to *scream* an ear-piercing scream... just for the fun of it. It really drives me nuts and takes every ounce of my energy to stay calm and not react to this. I think it scares poor Anthony out of his wits, as she will often do it when he is sleeping.
I still feel like I am on a roller-coaster, and life is crazy-busy but good. I have started running again, and was able to go out 4 times last week for a total of 10 miles. I have about 15 pounds to lose but figure it will come off in time. With this being my last baby, I'm not too worried about it!

I tried to rest today but ended up feeling really depressed, so I decided to work instead. I really am the type of person who needs to stay busy. I started mopping my floor and the feeling went away. In being productive, I feel happy. I have come to realize that my mood is directly related to the state of my house, and I simply can not let it go. I figure the work will always be there, and I'm the one who will end up doing it, so I might as well stay on top of it!

Being that it is summer, I have been able to enlist the kids in several chores which has been a huge help. I am still working on getting a chore chart in place so that we will be able to maintain it when school starts. I am actually anticipating the start of the school year for the sake of getting some structure back into our schedule. Summer with a newborn isn't quite what it would normally be, and the kids have been a little more idle than I would like.

I really am thankful for the gospel perspective and how it gets me through each of my days, even moments. I do not know how I would be raising my kids without it (I certainly would not have this many!) I was talking to a friend the other day about happiness, and it got me thinking, what is the worth of happiness? To me, happiness can be a fleeting emotion. Life with kids is hard work, and there are several moments throughout my day when I wouldn't deem myself as feeling "happy," yet the work I'm doing gives me a feeling of satisfaction that will be eternal. That is my happiness.

I love my kids and all the reasons they give me to smile in a day. Today it was Noah and Kaitlyn and the worms, and Kaitlyn's little crooked-mouth smile as she held them out to me in one hand and proclaimed, "They're so cuuuuuute!" I love the innocence of children and the way their minds work. I only wish I had more time to soak it all in. From what I hear, this stage passes so quickly! I look at Ashlee blossoming into a teenager before my eyes and I believe it. I can't say I want to slow time down, just enjoy it. Like any other mom I struggle to find the balance between housework and kids and hope I am doing it right. I think by the time I figure it out they'll be gone. I am so thankful for each new opportunity that comes with the rising sun to get it right. Here's to being one step closer! Good night.

Lemonade Stand

2011-07-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Napping House

2011-07-14T22:54:00.001-07:00

Oh how I love when my babies nap together.

Chore Chart

2011-07-13T23:47:00.001-07:00

I am presenting this to my kids in the morning... wish me luck. What this looks like in theory is entirely different from what it may look like in practice. With Anthony coming two weeks early, I didn't have time to establish a chore routine with the kids like I wanted to. I figure now I have the summer to get them into good habits before the school year starts and we get busy again. I used Steven Covey's advice to "start with the end in mind" from his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families. I want to focus not only on the look of the house but also the feel. That is why I put "Love" down in the corner as a reminder. I always like to think of myself as putting "love energy" into the home as I clean (although I am not always successful at this- more times than I care to admit.) If I can get my kids to take responsibility for their portion of the chores without whining, fighting, or complaining, (and Mom doesn't turn into a monster to get them to do it,) then I will count it a success.

2011-07-13T23:44:00.000-07:00

I took this picture a couple of weeks ago and forgot to post. Anthony had fallen asleep on Jacob while he was watching cartoons. Looks like dead weight, doesn't he?

Another Day at the Lake

2011-07-11T16:51:00.001-07:00

Today was the perfect day for another walk around Cameron Park Lake. What a cool day for July! Forrest took the kids fishing last night, so today they were all about making their own poles and catching some fish. They got really creative, using old bottle caps and Cheez-Its for bait (need I say, they didn't catch anything?)
Busily tying their lines...
They're were plenty of fish to be seen from the shore, but all too fast for little hands (and not into the Cheez-Its.)
Rachel felt so free walking around on this platform and feeling the wind in her hair.
And Jacob found this friend along the path. My kids never cease to amaze me with the insects they'll hold.

The First and Last 6 Weeks

2011-07-08T22:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I once again survived the postpartum period (the first 6 weeks of it anyways) for the last time in my life. Just after midnight, Anthony will be six weeks old. Let me tell you, it is bittersweet.

Every day could be a story in itself. The hormones have taken me on a rollercoaster ride, again, and while one would think that I may come to expect it by now and thus know how to cope with it, this is not so. It is a unique experience every time, teaching me what I need to know, breaking down walls that need to come down, and strengthening parts of me that need to be strengthened. I may have had six children, but I have never been a mother to six children. This is all new to me.

I must find space in my home and in my heart (not to mention my schedule and pocket book) for a sixth child. Thankfully, he is the perfect sixth child, sleeping amidst the hustle and bustle of our already busy home and quietly easing his way into our family. It also helps that he is a fantastic snuggler; I tell you, there are few things in life better than having a snuggly newborn in your bed at night. It makes it all worth it.

I always feel that the speed with which the postpartum period seems to pass (in hindsight) is a blessing in disguise; for this time is so physically and emotionally demanding that I would not wish it to last forever. However, knowing that he is my last child, there are times when I find myself wanting to stay in the moment. He is already growing and changing so fast, starting to uncurl and open up to the world, and I want to slow him down just a little bit. Stay my baby. Stay with Mommy. My older children are evidence of what is on the near horizon.

I have always said that I believe a part of Heaven will be having a newborn to snuggle on your shoulder forever; for the scent and feel of a newborn's fuzzy head is nothing short of heavenly. There is some chemical reaction that occurs in the brain when a mother breathes in her newborn's scent; Anthony, please don't turn into a sweaty-headed little boy too soon.

It's easy to be nostalgic when all the kids are in bed and I have the quiet of the night to pause and reflect. Each day is a struggle; bringing about new challenges and experiences for me to learn and grow from. How will I be a different (hopefully better) mother at the end of this day? What will I take with me into the next? The postpartum period seems to slow down in pace and keep you trapped in time, one seemingly endless day running into the next, and I think the reason for this is that we have so much to learn from this time. It is laying the foundation for our future mothering skills of this child.

Forrest and I can look back and smile at the time when we were raising just one child (I should never say "just;" the first child is challenging) and realize how far we've come. Oh, in these busy days, what I wouldn't give to have a day with "just" one child! To think of all I could get done! But it's been a long road to get to this place. When I started training for my 10k, I didn't go out and run six miles right off the bat. I built endurance one mile at a time.

I look to the future with anticipation, awe, and a little bit of fear. There are so many things I am excited to do, things I have held off on during this season of raising babies, but will they have as much to offer? I have heard so many times from other women that years spent raising young children were the best of their life, and I don't want to leave this phase too quickly. I am anxious to do many things, but I am afraid if I start getting too busy I will look up and this time will be gone. As challenging as some of my days may be, I don't want to wish any of these moments away.

I remember the day the idea came to me that I wanted six children. I can visualize where I was, how I was sitting, what I was thinking. I confirmed it with Forrest and since then I have had that seed planted in me. After Rachel was born, I remember saying, "I'd be okay never doing that again!" yet I knew that if I stopped with her, I would be incomplete. That sixth child would be missing and I would forever know it. Now he's here, they're all here, and the chapter is closed. No one told me it would go so fast.

So I will enjoy all I can, some days more than others, and despite my best intentions know I will find myself fervently wishing some moments away (we still have a couple of toddlers on our hands!) to get through the day. I recently heard it said that the "big picture" is composed of many snapshots. It's funny how with the passage of time the mind seems to filter out the negative, the stressful, and the bad, and preserve only the good in a situation. Hence the nostalgia of our memories. Despite the trials of each and every one of my days as a stay-at-home mommy of six young children, I am sure I will one day look back on these as "the best years of my life." I do try to take snapshots, by writing down cute things the kids say in my journal, taking the time to look at details in the pictures they draw, peeking on them in their beds at night, and watching them play out the window. Hopefully these will be the memories I preserve. There is no doubt in my mind that these children are a blessing, each one of them coming down from a loving Father in heaven, and entrusted specifically in my care. They chose me and I chose them, and the seed was planted long ago for me to have them. I only hope that one day they can look back and say that I was as good a mommy to them as they are children to me.

Happy 13 Year Anniversary!

2011-07-07T23:18:00.001-07:00

A Day for Cooling Off

2011-07-05T22:24:00.001-07:00

A quick snapshot from our afternoon. Was there any way to not be by the water today?

She's Been Casted

2011-07-05T22:19:00.001-07:00

Forrest took Rachel in to get her cast this morning. It was as bad as I thought it would be. Thankfully she bounces back quickly and was a happy little bug this afternoon though. ;o)

Mama in Training

2011-07-05T22:18:00.001-07:00

Kaitlyn loves her baby sling. I can see she is going to be a good attachment parent!

4th of July

2011-07-05T22:01:00.001-07:00

We had a great 4th of July weekend. It started with a party at the Bailey's on Saturday night. We were able to watch the fireworks from their backyard, and the kids had a blast on the inflatable slide.
You can see how red-faced Kaitlyn was from all the running around she was doing. I think all the kids looked like this within five minutes of us being there.
I was a little nervous about Rachel walking around with her splint.
A treasure: someone's empty soda can!
Anthony trying to stay alert for the party.
Cameron Park puts on by far the best fireworks show around.
And we had the best seats.
On Monday morning our church held a pancake breakfast and bike parade at Blue Oak school. We look forward to this every year, and the kids have a lot of fun decorating their bikes, scooters, and wagon the night before.
Noah made his own American flag to go on his bike.
Jacob was a little bummed that his bike had flat tires and that he had to take his scooter.
"Cheese!"
I really hoped Rachel would sit still in the wagon, and she did.
The morning started off with a flag raising ceremony put on by the scouts.
Grace Hegy "graced" us with the National Anthem- beautifully.
Brother Hopson with his singing bear:
And after their tummies were full, all the kids lined up for the parade.
We were glad that our friends the Mattesons showed up to join us in the parade. Kaitlyn and Penny were so cute riding their little tricycles side by side.
Ashlee, Lauren, and Mary.
Daddy carrying Kaitlyn's tricycle after she got tired and decided to walk.
Penny's mommy had just ran a 10k that morning- here she is all a-glow!
Clarkie wanting a turn on Kaitlyn's bike:
And this cute picture I threw in just for fun.
After the parade we hit up Cameron Park Lake for some swimming. We met up with some friends there as well, and it was pretty packed. We came home and BBQ'd some hot dogs and bratts for dinner, then Forrest took Ashlee, Jacob, Noah and Kaitlyn down to a park in Folsom to do fireworks while I stayed home with Anthony and Rachel, who were both asleep after the events of the day. We took a short minute during dinner to explain to our kids why we celebrate. I try to do this with every holiday. It was a busy, great weekend. Happy 4th!

This Breaks a Mama's Heart...

2011-07-01T23:01:00.001-07:00

Rachel fell out of her crib and fractured her wrist last night. Not wanting to go the emergency room, we waited until today to take her in. She has a temporary splint to wear until Tuesday when she will get her cast. Seeing this girl in pain breaks my heart...
When we came home from the hospital she kept walking up to me and holding her splinted arm up like, "Mama, take it off." I feel so bad not being able to help her.
She's figuring out how to get around despite her handicap...
I figure she'll become ambidextrous over the next few weeks.
Despite all the trauma she's gone through, she's in good spirits. Leave it to my Rach to still be smiling. We hope you heal soon sweetie.

Another Day, Another Water Park

2011-07-01T17:15:00.000-07:00

Walk Around the Lake

2011-06-30T14:45:00.001-07:00

Today was the perfect day for a walk around Cameron Park Lake. It was sunny and warm with a nice breeze. Anthony slept in the wrap the whole time. Granted it took us about an hour to walk a mile, but the kids were able to enjoy much wildlife. They were especially excited over all the fish they spotted along the shoreline. The geese were a big hit too (I'm just glad the gosslings are now full-grown so there were no parents chasing us.) Kaitlyn walked by some geese floating on the water and, thinking they might be cold, took sympathy and said, "I'm sorry, I don't have a towel for you."

This dock makes me very nervous. There's nothing more fun for a kid, though (especially my kids.) See Ashlee pretending to fall? She thinks I'm not nervous enough already.
Gosslings of my own. Who's getting chased now, geese?

1 Month Old- Where Has the Time Gone?

2011-06-28T20:45:00.001-07:00

Today marks my sweet boy's 1 month birthday. Where has the time gone?
He is growing up and filling out before my very eyes. Every day he looks more alert, more awake, more child-like.
Next to Noah, he has to be the sweetest baby we've had. He's a cuddler for sure and loves to cling to his mommy. I always feel like he's hugging me when I pick him up.
...and these feet! Love them.
You're a perfect 6th child Anthony, in every way.

It was the perfect evening for...

2011-06-27T22:47:00.000-07:00

... a picnic dinner at the temple.
What's on our plate? Herb-seasoned pork chops, skillet potatoes, and the best corn on the cob we've had all year. Oh, and don't forget the toppling -over plate of chocolate chip cookies.

Whatcha lookin' at Anthony?
My favorite verse inscribed on the temple:
He didn't quite know what to think of the wind on his face...
... but he sure was happy to be out on such a nice night.
Have I told you of the difficulties in trying to get 6 kids to pose for a decent picture...?
... at least most of us were forward-facing.
"May I have another cookie please?"
She could've stayed here all night.
This guy bolted from the car straight up into this tree.
Thank you beautiful temple. We hope to be back soon.

Precious

2011-06-26T11:36:00.001-07:00

I took this picture of Rachel in her carseat the other day. She is so beautiful when she sleeps.

Dance Recital Weekend 2011

2011-06-26T11:22:00.001-07:00

This past weekend Ashlee had her dance recital. This was her fifth year with Foothills Dance and she has really grown and progressed. We are so excited for troupe in the fall. Here are a couple of cute pictures I was able to capture with my phone. I had all of the dances recorded on my camera along with pictures of her in all 3 of her costumes, but my memory card is on the fritz and everything got deleted. We will get a professional recording of the recital on DVD as well as studio portraits, but unfortunately I now can't share with friends and family like I wanted to. Her three dances this year were "Can't Touch This," "Dynamite," and "Belle of the Ball."