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| Can you guess |
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| Which baby |
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| Is the minimalist? |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Boys
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| Left to right: Cole (Amys), James, Chase (Leahs), Wil. The boys are at Amy's house, meeting their calf, I love this sweet little picture |
Still Marveling About This
I keep thinking about my sister Leah. When I go to visit her in Eagle, she has a great big house, they built it and it's lovely, with beautiful grounds. She has a peace garden she created with all white flowers and a little patio surrounded by a partition of trees, beautiful landscaping and planning have helped make this home a sanctuary. They have an ATV track, dog runs, a frog pond, a trampoline, a swing set, a hammock beside a restful willow tree and you get the picture, they have created a beautiful home inside and outside, they have worked very hard. When you drive up and get out of your car, the air is heavy, thick with flowers you can't help but feel at peace and drink it all in.
They are giving it all up.
Nope, the money hasn't run out. The home wasn't built on a fault line, they love their church friends and neighbours. But for some reason, with the insight only a loving parent can have for their children they decided they wanted to give their children more. More as in this...
A few months ago, Jay and Leah went away for the weekend. They planned out the next few years together and decided what was really important for them as a family. They even wrote a family code to live by! I wanted to talk about one of the big reasons they decided to move. It may be more or less noble than I make it out to be but here it is.
As a young family Jay and Leah moved to Eagle city in its infancy. It is a lovely town with a great family feel, well planned, with fountains to splash in but Eagle has way too much wealth to be a normal city. They are moving on behalf of their children.
I grew up in Montreal, Canada, and it wasn't until my mom and dad saw that their kids were about to dive into the pit of worldliness that they pulled up stakes and moved to Idaho. They didn't want that for us. Having things, clothes, cars, being someone, doing something didn't matter to them. They didn't want it to matter to us, so they left. Having gone back and visited old friends there, very few made it, in fact only one out of all the good kids we played with in our youth group and school, and the good parents that raised them, one made it out of the addictions and gambling and partying that cropped up to become... a successful wife and mother. Really that is what it is all about? We can talk about that later. But I am glad our little seedling selves were repotted in different soil now that I saw the outcome.
Back to Leah's people, her seven children are growing up good and strong and getting ready to go to a high school were you are given your own new SUV when you start driving, it is just almost the standard. (And there is nothing wrong with this. Take no offense wealthy peoples I give you none, I am simply exploring a noble cause) They are getting ready to feed into this high school that is crazy competitive about sports and grades- achievements and scholarship. While those are important, they are not where a childs self worth is generated. I guess they could afford to buy SUVs for their kids, but instead, Jay and his oldest boy Austin elected to rebuild and repaint an old yellow truck that we used to drive when we were kids, and it was old then! We called it Dolly, I wonder if he has a name for it, probably he will want something more manly. It is a sweet little number now!
I also heard Jay say about Austin, "I have three more years until Austin graduates, I only have three more years with my son, I don't want to spend it working the whole time." I see now how quickly children grow up. I remember Austin as a baby. A desperate little voice in my head often whispers that this time is short with my loved ones, so I appreciate the time valued with their children and that they don't want to spend it mowing 3 acres every Saturday. I love this family! I love their children, they are so good and loving, they come from parents that have watched over, trained and nurtured them with wisdom and love. Truly, why don't I live in Boise where their goodness (Amy's and Tiffany's kids too) can rub off on mine!
I am sure the decision to move is not entirely as noble as I am making it sound, the market is doing better, good time to sell, Leah has ants in her pants and always wants to move, it is not a permenant move, yes they are renting the place, I am sure they think of it as something like a summer cottage, I am sure they will have to find a much bigger place eventually, they do have seven growing kids.
Here is how I look at it. Leah and Jay are moving from their McMansion into a house not much bigger than mine, because they want to? Is there something I am missing here? My sister is willing to give up all that she hath, to save her family, so that they can spend more time together, have a less worldly approach to life, a better schooling experience and save money?
I wonder if she has ever felt looked down on by those with more, I wonder if those with more, know what it takes to sacrifice the appearance of wealth for a something so good. I am not calling for anyone to make any life changes. I am just thinking aloud here. I hope when the time comes, I will be visionary enough to see a problem from a far and have the character to fix it for me and for my family.
Sort of makes giving up a cute SUV for a minivan seem downright noble eh Amanda?
They are giving it all up.
Nope, the money hasn't run out. The home wasn't built on a fault line, they love their church friends and neighbours. But for some reason, with the insight only a loving parent can have for their children they decided they wanted to give their children more. More as in this...
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| Nah, this isn't the home they rented for the summer, I took this picture to horrify Leah, did it work? The house they rented is an early 70's farmhouse, dirt road and horse pasture and all. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms with a creek running behind the yard etc... |
A few months ago, Jay and Leah went away for the weekend. They planned out the next few years together and decided what was really important for them as a family. They even wrote a family code to live by! I wanted to talk about one of the big reasons they decided to move. It may be more or less noble than I make it out to be but here it is.
As a young family Jay and Leah moved to Eagle city in its infancy. It is a lovely town with a great family feel, well planned, with fountains to splash in but Eagle has way too much wealth to be a normal city. They are moving on behalf of their children.
I grew up in Montreal, Canada, and it wasn't until my mom and dad saw that their kids were about to dive into the pit of worldliness that they pulled up stakes and moved to Idaho. They didn't want that for us. Having things, clothes, cars, being someone, doing something didn't matter to them. They didn't want it to matter to us, so they left. Having gone back and visited old friends there, very few made it, in fact only one out of all the good kids we played with in our youth group and school, and the good parents that raised them, one made it out of the addictions and gambling and partying that cropped up to become... a successful wife and mother. Really that is what it is all about? We can talk about that later. But I am glad our little seedling selves were repotted in different soil now that I saw the outcome.
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| Austin and his truck |
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| Dolly |
I am sure the decision to move is not entirely as noble as I am making it sound, the market is doing better, good time to sell, Leah has ants in her pants and always wants to move, it is not a permenant move, yes they are renting the place, I am sure they think of it as something like a summer cottage, I am sure they will have to find a much bigger place eventually, they do have seven growing kids.
Here is how I look at it. Leah and Jay are moving from their McMansion into a house not much bigger than mine, because they want to? Is there something I am missing here? My sister is willing to give up all that she hath, to save her family, so that they can spend more time together, have a less worldly approach to life, a better schooling experience and save money?
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| In Middleton, visiting my sister Amy's family. Lindsay, (Amys oldest girl) is teaching the family a lesson about the good samaritan. Leah is wearing the yellow tee and Jay is next to her. The children are a smattering of Leah, Amys and mine. |
I wonder if she has ever felt looked down on by those with more, I wonder if those with more, know what it takes to sacrifice the appearance of wealth for a something so good. I am not calling for anyone to make any life changes. I am just thinking aloud here. I hope when the time comes, I will be visionary enough to see a problem from a far and have the character to fix it for me and for my family.
Sort of makes giving up a cute SUV for a minivan seem downright noble eh Amanda?
Friday, May 18, 2012
A Summer Promise to My Kids
Just when I was ready to sink into despair, and abandon myself to the ruinous life of motherdom to which there can be few, however, deep joys and far too much heartache and too much work and too much negative emotional output heaped on one for all my good intentions. Just when I was ready to give up all hope and sacrifice my dry, tired bones to being a zombie mom, I visited with my sisters, mother, N8s mom and sister in Boise.
Going to Boise renewed me. I don't know what it is about family but there is strength in it for me. Seeing Nathans sisters and my sisters-these wonderful women and mothers that share love and friendship just renews me, I feel so loved.
A few months ago, we determined that I needed to get the kids out of the house so N8 could work on the bathroom without interruption, we decided I would go to Boise with all the kids in the limo. I called my sister to tell her I was coming. I told her that N8 got to stay in Provo and live his dream of doing a project without interuptions. There was a pause on the line and she said, "No, I am pretty sure that is your dream." Oh, you're right, why am I the one driving to Boise again?
So since I am have a renewed joie de vivre, I am making a few promises to my kids that may keep me from the head aching, parched bones and clenched jaws of yesteryear.
1. I choose not complain about otterpop wrappers left in the backyard or fret over juice/popsicle spills that cause me to stick to the floor.
2. I choose not care about about the inch of sand that gets tracked in our house and am willing and happy to clean it out of the tub. Sorry you don't like to bathe on it, I haven't had time to clean it yet. Sandpaper bum might be good for you.
3. In our attempts at being sweeter, the girls and I set a goal to make caramel popcorn Sunday evenings and eating it out on the stoop, inviting anyone walking by to join us.
4. We will go to the pool once a week, dare I say twice? (Usually, we went 2-3 times a week before the babies, but by the end of the summer, I was so burned out I was praying for rain and cold) I don't know how Sylvia does it.
5. We will finally make the PVC pipe ride through bikewash we have wanted to make for a long time!
6. We will go camping if all the babies are walking, oh oops, on second thought, I will let dad take you camping, and I will stay home with the babies...I was getting carried away in my generosity and good humor.
7. I will say, 'Oh Well' in my head much much more, instead of, this is killing me, this is too hard, I can't do this!
Going to Boise renewed me. I don't know what it is about family but there is strength in it for me. Seeing Nathans sisters and my sisters-these wonderful women and mothers that share love and friendship just renews me, I feel so loved.
A few months ago, we determined that I needed to get the kids out of the house so N8 could work on the bathroom without interruption, we decided I would go to Boise with all the kids in the limo. I called my sister to tell her I was coming. I told her that N8 got to stay in Provo and live his dream of doing a project without interuptions. There was a pause on the line and she said, "No, I am pretty sure that is your dream." Oh, you're right, why am I the one driving to Boise again?
So since I am have a renewed joie de vivre, I am making a few promises to my kids that may keep me from the head aching, parched bones and clenched jaws of yesteryear.
1. I choose not complain about otterpop wrappers left in the backyard or fret over juice/popsicle spills that cause me to stick to the floor.
2. I choose not care about about the inch of sand that gets tracked in our house and am willing and happy to clean it out of the tub. Sorry you don't like to bathe on it, I haven't had time to clean it yet. Sandpaper bum might be good for you.
3. In our attempts at being sweeter, the girls and I set a goal to make caramel popcorn Sunday evenings and eating it out on the stoop, inviting anyone walking by to join us.
4. We will go to the pool once a week, dare I say twice? (Usually, we went 2-3 times a week before the babies, but by the end of the summer, I was so burned out I was praying for rain and cold) I don't know how Sylvia does it.
5. We will finally make the PVC pipe ride through bikewash we have wanted to make for a long time!
6. We will go camping if all the babies are walking, oh oops, on second thought, I will let dad take you camping, and I will stay home with the babies...I was getting carried away in my generosity and good humor.
7. I will say, 'Oh Well' in my head much much more, instead of, this is killing me, this is too hard, I can't do this!
I am looking forward to a wonderful summer, full of happy little girls with messy braids streaming behind them and dirt eating babies in yesterdays onesie and well watered gardens. I relish it!
P.S. If you can't handle the sight of muddy kids, don't come over because I love it! For my kids, it is needful, healthy and happy.
P.S. If you can't handle the sight of muddy kids, don't come over because I love it! For my kids, it is needful, healthy and happy.
Blanket Pass
I haven't caught this on camera, I suspect I never will, but the babies play "pass the blanket" either before or after their naps while they are kicking it in there. Blankets that I have given to Quinn end up in Wilson's bed-and they have to pass through James' bed first, since he is in the middle. I get such a kick out out of this. I hear them in there, monkeying around and laughing- thats fine, I have time to get one more thing done.
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| I caught them today right before bedtime gearing up for blanket pass! Look at James (green blur) he looks so tired- and peaceful like he is about to drift off to sleep har-har, Wilson already has one blanket over the side. Quinns bed is on the other side of James |
Monday, May 14, 2012
Baby Triplets 1st Birthday
We took the babies and the girls to Boise to visit family for their 1st birthday. I felt a slight pang of guilt over that since our friends and neighbors have truly supported us daily in so many ways I wanted to celebrate with everyone! It was a huge triumph for us to make it to a year. Nate took it all in stride, like it was nothing at all to have 3 babies and two 4 year olds without willingly buttoning oneself into a straight jacket.
Here are the 1 year old birthday stats: Quinn 95% for height and 22 pounds, James 75% for height and 22 pounds and Wilson bringing up the rear with a solid 80% for height. All are healthy and fat, Wilson is a pound less than the others.
Abilities: No one is walking yet, Quinn and James are close. Wil is just hanging out happy to scoot. I remind you that CC didn't walk til she was 19 months so he may be following her lead. Nathans Gramma Dorothy has a sister with a set of great grand-baby triplets born the same month as ours, crazy eh? So I check in with Dani every once in a while to see how we compare. My babies are tall butterballs with tons of hair, but all of hers are walking.
Words: Quinns first word was "bug". She says dog, and answers various animal sound questions, what does a snake say, a dog, a kitty etc (woof and meow). Wil says Uh-oh. That seems about right for him, he barks and says dog too. No, we aren't getting one, I am allergic. Besides the obligatory Mama and Dada- James can say dirt and boy does he love it.
If you can imagine, James is a human wrecking ball hanging from a chain in my house. Swings once, BOOM there goes the computer, books, mouse, keyboard overturned, swings again (huge smile on his face) BOOM there goes the phone stand, phone books, phone etc, WEEEEE! BOOM, garbage can overturned and what looks good to chew? Total busybody.
The other day Quinn and James were playing in my room. James knocked over a lamp, it came down with a crash, made a huge ruckus. I ran in to see what had happened. Quinny, stared up at me with her fat little finger stuck halfway down a tube of my favorite chapstick, frozen in mid dig and staring at me as if to say, "Mom, this is peanuts compared with what just James just did."
Help me, I am in for it now.
Have I played with you yet today? Sometimes, my home tasks become so repetitive -it takes so long to to prepare, feed, bathe, cleanup, and dress everyone I go into this robot mode. Towards the end of the day I find myself waking up from robot mode with a little free time and it is like I am seeing my children as children for the first time. Hello Wilson! Have you been played with yet today? James have we cuddled?
Sometimes, I feel like we could do the routine of- nap, change, eat, bottle, nap, change, eat, bottle all day without any time for play. What am I the keeper of an orphanage? Everyone! Line up beside your bed and let me see your fingernails! Where's my whistle?
It is so important for me break out of my task list to laugh with my kids, I know I need it just as much as they do!
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| Someones gots bikes for their birthdays! Wil and Quinn test out their new wheels |
Here are the 1 year old birthday stats: Quinn 95% for height and 22 pounds, James 75% for height and 22 pounds and Wilson bringing up the rear with a solid 80% for height. All are healthy and fat, Wilson is a pound less than the others.
Abilities: No one is walking yet, Quinn and James are close. Wil is just hanging out happy to scoot. I remind you that CC didn't walk til she was 19 months so he may be following her lead. Nathans Gramma Dorothy has a sister with a set of great grand-baby triplets born the same month as ours, crazy eh? So I check in with Dani every once in a while to see how we compare. My babies are tall butterballs with tons of hair, but all of hers are walking.
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| Bottle feeding. The babies prefer to eat on their own, I grab one or two of them a few times a day to feed and be close but they want to roll around and knock bottles more than have mom time |
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| Holy cow this Quinn baby is as sweet and cheerful as a flower |
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| Nate and Quinn |
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| Babies First Birthday!!! |
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| Carrot Cake |
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| Happy Birthday Babies, thank you for coming to our home, we are so blessed to have you |
If you can imagine, James is a human wrecking ball hanging from a chain in my house. Swings once, BOOM there goes the computer, books, mouse, keyboard overturned, swings again (huge smile on his face) BOOM there goes the phone stand, phone books, phone etc, WEEEEE! BOOM, garbage can overturned and what looks good to chew? Total busybody.
The other day Quinn and James were playing in my room. James knocked over a lamp, it came down with a crash, made a huge ruckus. I ran in to see what had happened. Quinny, stared up at me with her fat little finger stuck halfway down a tube of my favorite chapstick, frozen in mid dig and staring at me as if to say, "Mom, this is peanuts compared with what just James just did."
Help me, I am in for it now.
Have I played with you yet today? Sometimes, my home tasks become so repetitive -it takes so long to to prepare, feed, bathe, cleanup, and dress everyone I go into this robot mode. Towards the end of the day I find myself waking up from robot mode with a little free time and it is like I am seeing my children as children for the first time. Hello Wilson! Have you been played with yet today? James have we cuddled?
Sometimes, I feel like we could do the routine of- nap, change, eat, bottle, nap, change, eat, bottle all day without any time for play. What am I the keeper of an orphanage? Everyone! Line up beside your bed and let me see your fingernails! Where's my whistle?
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| Who wouldn't want a piece of this to play with |
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Yes Sir!
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| I was so excited to get new pots this week I am going to write about it. I swear Hazel comes up with those doofball faces all on her own. |
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| After thinking and thinking about what to do with my old pots, I chose to give them up to the kids for their big sandbox. As you can see they are just as excited about their new pots... |
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| As I am about mine. |
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| Oooooo Shiny |
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