Mormons are weirdos

Steve and I got back from "Trek" on Saturday night. It was 4 days of walking, pushing, pulling, sweating, getting incredibly dirty, and learning and growing tremendously.
Mormons are weird because many of them like to dress up like pioneers, travel hours away on buses, and pull around their stuff for many miles in the Wyoming wilderness in handcarts. The point? To kind of do a wannabe reenactment of what our pioneer ancestors did back in the mid 1800's in the name of their faith. These amazing people left their homes and most of their possessions behind and traveled hundreds, some people, thousands of miles to Utah to be free from religious persecution and live together in strength and peace.

These people traveled on foot. Some bare foot for hundreds of miles. Some of these people did so in the snow and many perished. The stories we were told were tragic, and moving. Some so inspiring. They've made my life look pretty darn easy! We felt like wimps when we compared ourselves to them.

We had such an incredible experience!!! Steve and I were "Ma" and "Pa" to these awesome kids. We love these kids so very much now and were so impressed with how well they did! It wasn't easy. We trekked 6.5 miles the first day with these handcarts. We were told we did 11 miles the second day. And we weren't told how far the third, but I think it was about 8 miles.

They all worked hard and had a good attitude. We all really grew from the experience. I have to say the hardest part was being so dirty though and not being able to get clean. No showers, no running water that we could wash ourselves or our dishes with. But it was worth it.

makeovers

I know lame, I'm posting photos of these rather than our trip. Problem is, I only have trip photos on my cell phone which takes bad photos and is hard to download on the computer. That's why. These ones are from the camera. (People with good cameras that took photos at the reunions, email them to me please!)
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The kids love playing in this closet under the stairs. Celeste wanted to paint it. I said "Sure, if you clean and organize our linen closet, the family room and our garage." She did! What a deal! So here's how it looked before as we were taping it up to paint: And after:

They love their new closet/play area!

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I also started coloring my hair a couple of months ago (professionally). Too many grays :(

But a couple of weeks ago, I actually colored it myself for the first time. It's funny, I figured it would turn out horrible. I planned to color it myself to prove to Steve that we needed to fork over the cash monthly to get it done professionally, or I would look awful. I imagined him seeing it and hating and saying "Ok, you're right, you should only trust this to the professionals..." But he came home and loved it. So there you go.

Yadayadayada

Man I don't feel like blogging much anymore! Just not feeling it.

To make matters worse, I'm not even gonna bother to add photos again for this post. BORING.

We got to go to California for a couple of reunions and got back just over a week ago. It was a really good trip. I liked all of it except for *making the trip to the beach with my sick baby who felt miserable, and then being stuck in traffic forever to get home from said beach, and *worrying about our van biting the dust at any given moment. Otherwise, the rest of the trip was splendid. We did Disneyland one day and had a lot of relatives there and it was a blast. Even our little Becca was brave enough to ride all the roller coasters with us. Space Mountain was the best!
We got to see a lot of family and hang out a lot. Good, good times.

Today is Eden's Birthday! (And Father's Day too of course.) It was a bit tricky trying to make the day feel special for not only Steve but for Eden who felt a bit jipped for having to share her day with Father's Day. But she ended up being fine. She's 9! I'll gush over her on her birthday on the private blog I keep for my kids and spare ya.

This week Steve and I are going on Trek with the teenagers at church. 4 days trekking in the Wyoming wilderness, pulling handcarts. I have a lot of mixed feelings about the whole thing as we have been anxiously making all the preparations. My very generous big sis Anna will be watching the kids and I'm feeling super guilty over that. (Not so much for leaving the kids admittedly, but for Anna having to take care of another 5 kids for that long.) She and Trent are good sports!

That's all I've got this time. Later

Adoption & Education Update

Here's a bit of an update on a couple things I hear people ask me about most often.

Our Adoption

Well, we've submitted our Home Study and Dossier to our agency and are kind of waiting to see how fast they can do their part. Getting our Home Study done took 7 months! Totally not what we expected. The Home Study wasn't that much trouble for us. We got the agency the list of documents they wanted then waited around for them forever to get it done. Getting the Dossier completed was much more of a struggle for us though. There were so many documents to obtain or create and a few had such particular specifications that it took a few tries to get them right and weeks to get them complete. So glad it's over! We still need our approval from the US Government via some form thingy. Our agency is supposed to be getting our documents authenticated through Ethiopia's Embassy here in the US, then they are supposed to send them all over to their office in Ethiopia for further translating and authentication. Then we are supposed to get a "referral" of our child soon thereafter. After referral, I've recently heard to expect 5-7 months. So it seems it's gonna be a long wait. I honestly have no idea of what to expect though because there is always something happening over there with the government to add some speedbumps into the process. Recently the government has added a couple of laws to the adoption process to make it a bit trickier, as well as de-license many orphanages to halt the process in some cases. So who knows...

Any questions? :)

Homeschool Decision

I wrote about this a couple months ago. I didn't know if I should homeschool next year or not. After much thought and worry over that decision, I finally decided I would homeschool all the kids next year. However, after making that decision, I felt sick. For one reason or another we decided it wasn't the way to go for now. So I then began investigating other options and ended up signing all the kids up at a local Charter School. It felt right and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. I still would like to go back to homeschooling some day I think, but not at this time. The kids have taken the decision fine. Jonah was the most disappointed. Jonah I worry about the most because he was doing so well at homeschooling, but he has accepted it and I hope he will be happy at his new school.
I was surprised to find on the last day of homeschool I was feeling sad about it! But we are homeschooling each day this Summer for just an hour and so far so good.

Family Scripture Study and Prayer

I think most of us agree that family scripture study and prayer are essential for various reasons. This message was powerfully spoken about in Elder David Bednar's Conference address this April entitled "Watching With All Perseverance". That's a must read.
But I have to admit that although our family has faithfully attempted to have family scripture study and prayer each day, it has been a pretty pathetic display over the last 11 years. What it usually looks like is this:
A couple of people sitting, a couple people lying down, and a couple just walking in and out of the room "to get something real quick." We're scattered. Oftentimes, it is just Steve or I actually reading the scriptures and everyone else is keeping their mind occupied on other things. Some kids are playing with toys. Some kids are sneaking a book they can't seem to put down, or the most recent National Geographic Kids magazine or something. It seems they always "need" to go to the bathroom or get a drink or they are "starving" conveniently when it's time for scripture study and prayer. It's noisy, it's not spiritual, and we as parents feel frustrated more often than not.
We've tried various things over the years to fix the problem, but it inevitably has failed. Well, recently I came up with a new idea and it's actually working! I'm pretty excited about it! So I thought I'd share it with you guys in case you might be suffering from the same problems. I know some families don't have a problem with this because they are better at getting their kids in line than us. But in case you can commiserate, here it is and it's surprisingly simple.
We discussed this idea as a family and all voted on it. The vote was unanimous and everyone seemed excited about it.

Our New Family Scripture Study and Prayer Rules.
(Almost like it's a game.)

1- When it's time for FSS&P, everyone hurries and finishes whatever they need to do. Then we all sit in a tight circle on the Living Room floor together.
3- The only thing allowed in the circle is people, and scriptures. No toys, books, magazines, or food, etc...
4- Once you are in the circle, you are there to stay. If you happen to leave the circle for any reason at all, we close up the circle and you are only permitted to go bed. (We do this right before everyone goes to bed.)
5- Nobody is forced to come to the circle or stay in the circle. But the only options are to be in the circle with the family or go to bed. If you choose to disrupt or ruin the spirit of our scripture study you are asked to leave the circle and go immediately to bed.

Those are the rules. When we get in the circle, everyone takes turns reading a couple of verses each. Then we all pray together. After prayer we sing our "We Love Our Family" song while we have our right thumbs all attached to form a circle of hands joined together. (My family and extended family know this song as it's been a tradition for 3 generations now. It's a fun song and it's impossible to not enjoy yourself and feel more love and unity in the family when you sing it.) We sing this nice and loud. A couple of times we've had a child that has had to go to bed and miss out on this. And the disappointment as they have been in their bed and listened to us all happily singing together has seemed to be enough that nobody has missed it more than once.

We have found that this works better than trying at all costs to have everyone there in our little meeting. If somebody doesn't want to be there, they seem to be able to ruin the experience for everyone else. So it seems better to have our little meeting without somebody and everyone else has felt the Spirit and enjoyed the experience who is there. The person that missed it, felt bad and wished they hadn't missed it and never messed up again. So it's been a great thing.

What do you do that works?

Cuteness

Our little Charity turned 9 months old yesterday. Time really has flown, and it's kind of sad. But I'll tell ya, this baby has been just too good to be true! She makes us all so happy. I have never seen a baby as loved and enjoyed as much as she is. We loved and enjoyed all of our children when they were babies of course. But this time, we have a baby who has 4 older siblings (who are old enough to appreciate having a baby) and her parents who just can't get enough of her. She's so good and so much fun. We have all wondered how in the world we enjoyed life without her before she joined our family. I have thought about this lots of times and it was interesting, just today I heard Celeste saying the same thing. To think that we actually considered before she came into the picture, not having any more children. The thought makes me shudder!

Anyhow, she's growing and doing well. She started crawling just a couple of weeks ago and it's so cute to see her getting around. It's made things a little more challenging as we have to really childproof our home now. But you can see her mentally wanting to play and explore a lot more and it's fun to observe. What an angel she is!

I don't know what the heck got into me...and other oddities

Our neighborhood has been swarming with voles. We have these deep, deep window wells in our backyard. Voles have been falling in our window wells and getting stuck in there! 6 in fact. The first 1 we found and let go in a field. A while later we found the other 5. 3 dead, 2 living. I don't know what possessed me, but Jonah and I got those voles out of the well and put them in our tortoises terrarium. Even as I was doing it I was getting whole body shivers of disgust. I felt the need to scrub myself with antibacterial soap excessively too even though I didn't actually touch the voles. Here they are and in total vole heaven. Celeste researched them and learned they could live happily on the same diet as our tortoise. The kids were so excited!!!
Unfortunately, our tortoise was not in heaven. They seemed to quite annoy her. After about 10 days, we realized they needed to go. They just couldn't refrain from pooping all the time in poor Lizzie's water dish. Lizzie's our tortoise btw. They also were total pigs and ate all her food.
The kids got this idea to keep the voles as pets, but to just put them back in the window well with their own food and water. The window well is very secure with how deep it is and also has rocks covering the bottom quite well. And it's also very outside of the house. (Why didn't I think of that?!) So back they went. Now everyone is happy again. Me, the kids, Lizzie, and even Mickie and Clover; which is what the kids named the voles. Now the kids love to admire their rodent pets outside or through our basement window.

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The day before Mother's Day was mine and Steve anniversary. 12th! We didn't do a mini-moon this year because we are saving up $ and time for Africa. But we had a fantastic day-long date around the area. Charity tagged along during all of it except the temple when Janice watched all of the kiddos. She was so cute in the backpack with her hair standing up like that!
We went to the gardens. A favorite place for us.
Last Saturday for Family Fun Day we went up to the Camp that our YW are going to this Summer for Girls Camp, to check it all out. It was so fun! We had a good time exploring it all as a family.
See if you can spy what we saw lurking here:
3 deer back there.

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Finally, as if voles weren't enough, our city has had a traumatic experience these past couple weeks. We kept hearing about people getting sick. More and more people kept getting sick. Everyone started to refer to it as "That nasty stomach bug." I personally can think of at least 8 families that I associated with come down with this. Charity then got it. On Wednesday I started to feel horrible! Horrible doesn't really describe it. More like Hell-ible. The thought kept crossing my mind that I might actually die from this, and maybe I should go to the hospital. Then the other part of me would think, there was NO way feeling the way I did, I was gonna get myself out of bed and dressed and actually sit/lie in a hospital in the condition I was in. So I just stayed in bed and cried and felt like I was back trying to live through natural child birth again because that was the intensity of the pain in my stomach, back, and body. Then came the pooping blood for over 24 hours. I got well enough to actually get up and dressed to get into the doctor who said it was a form of e coli.
Turns out the city's water was "possibly contaminated". ("Possibly" my eye!) There were "7 confirmed cases of campylobactor or whatever the heck they called that". ("7" my eye!) They ordered everyone to boil all their water until further notice. It was not a fun few days. And we are still drinking purchased bottled water even after the order was lifted because we don't trust it.

Still no explanation of what caused this awful incident in our city. I found myself picturing this:

Doing this:
In our city's this:

I wanted to give that cow a big kick in the butt.

It's like a dream

I wake up to the smell of cinnamon rolls baking.
Steve walks in the room with a tray. On the tray sits a china plate, the best silverware, and our blue glass goblet that we got when we got married filled with juice. On the plate is a Belgium waffle with strawberry slices and whipped cream on top. It also includes a cinnamon role, a pile of hash browns and eggs- from free range chickens of course. Beside the glass of juice is a vase with a single red rose.
After I enjoy my breakfast in bed, the children file in with their gifts in arms. Gifts that include "Mom Bucks" or "Chore coupons". (Those are my favorite!)
The children then give me lots of hugs and kisses and go get themselves showered or bathed for church. I hear no bickering in the process. They brush and floss their own teeth and clip their own nails. I don't even think to ask them to do it. They pick out their best church outfits to wear to church. They find their Sunday shoes themselves.
While they do this, Steve brings in a gift that I asked him to get me weeks ago. (Because I prefer getting exactly what I ask for rather than a surprise or nothing at all.) This year I asked for a poster of our family pedigree chart framed.
Steve and I then embrace and he tells me all kinds of sweet nothings that make me cry happy tears.
The kids then come back all dressed for church. Steve, who is also great at doing little girls hair does all 5 kids heads of hair himself. He even adds bows to the girl's hair.
He then packs the diaper and church bag.
While all this is happening I have the extreme pleasure of just fixing myself up and not worrying about getting 5 other people all ready for church. I come out of our room looking beautiful, and to my astonishment, so is the house! Everyone cleaned up after themselves! There are no dishes on the table. Steve cleaned up from cooking breakfast for me! The kids didn't trash the bathrooms when they were getting ready for church. I am in HEAVEN at this point.
We all walk over to church where we arrive with time to spare on a nice cushiony bench about 4th row back. I enjoy Sacrament Meeting without my kids crying about who is sitting next to who. They don't ask to go to the bathroom and get drinks multiple times during Sacrament Meeting. No crying, or fighting over the lack of adequate paper and pens to write with either. They all sit with folded arms and perky eyes towards the speakers. The speaker tells all the husbands and kids to step it up for the moms. Appreciate them more, help them more, and love them more. It is very uplifting. At the close of the meeting, they ask all the mothers to stand and hand us all a Twix bar and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, (Giant Size.) I plan to eat them in my bed later that day --right after my 2 hour-long nap.
The rest of church is enjoyable.
When we get home, the kids put their shoes away instead of throwing them off at the entry. Steve gets to work on dinner, while I take my long nap.
It's the best Mother's Day ever!.....

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So as you guessed I am sure, this is what my dream Mother's Day would be.
I have never seen a Mothers Day remotely close to this, and I wouldn't ever expect it to be. But I certainly would settle for the following wish list for next year: (Get your pen & paper ready Steve,)
1- I don't have to get everyone ready for church.
2- I will still clean the house the night before, but I get to enjoy it staying clean on Sunday without me having to keep cleaning up after everyone else continuously throughout the day.
3- I get a gift from my husband and kids. (I did appreciate the card you got me at Wallmart* last night when we went grocery shopping though.)

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I will say that this Mothers Day despite the above words, I am truly grateful that 365 days a year I enjoy being a wife and mother to some pretty spectacular people that make me pretty darn happy. Being a wife and mother is the greatest thing I've ever done and I'm so glad I've done it.
I will also say that I love my Mom. I think she did a good job raising me; if I do say so myself. And I thank her for all she did for me growing up. I loved watching her serve others and tackling big, stressful projects, helping and giving to people in need all the time. I learned the Gospel and trusted and respected her faith and the faith she helped me learn to have myself. I loved "Go to Hell" days where we'd shop and spend money we shouldn't and just have a great day on the town. I loved traveling and learning with her. It was a great childhood. Thanks so much mom!
I also love my Mother in-law. She did the best job raising my husband. He learned how to love and respect others around him. Including women. He learned the value of education and hard work. He learned the Gospel. She raised him to be the person I enjoy today. She's also a great example to me as I watch her mother her adult children and grandchildren. She's always willing and desiring to step in and help and love, be with, and serve her family.
Thanks moms!
Thanks to my Grandmothers. They are also shining examples to me and true inspirations in my life. Their legacy is something I hope I can continue. They have lived lives that I don't think I could hold a candle to. Wonderful women!
Happy Mothers Day to all you ladies out there.

Random

What a week!

Our ward got split on Sunday and it's created quite the ripple effect of things to worry about and take care as a result.

Spring has officially ticked me off. It keeps coming and making me happy, then abandoning me and letting Winter come back. Jerk. We've had snow a few days this week. SNOW.

Steve's parents came last night. The visit was too short, but it was so nice to see them.

We cannot wait for school to be over with! I have been counting down the days with much more vigor than the kids.

Speaking of school. The last couple of weeks Jonah, Celeste and I have been studying the Island of Crete, the Persians, Athenians, and all those ancient civilizations around the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas during our History lessons. Very interesting stuff! I have left my opinions on these civilizations completely out of our lessons. Today I asked them to do their writing assignments on Greece. I found their blog posts on this assignment quite interesting. Celeste had one take on it, and Jonah an entirely different one. Note, they did these posts entirely on their own and in different rooms from each other. I just came in and read them when they were done and we discussed the grammar a bit. Celeste and Jonah have writing styles that are polar opposites and on different levels, but it's interesting to see what they said. I love the individuality children even in the same family come with! Kids are the best. My kids especially are at a point in their lives that I would freeze in this moment (for each of them) if I could. I think I'm experiencing the best phase of my life ever.
Check it out:
Celeste's blog post about the Greeks- Jonah's blog post about the Greeks.

History that really feels personal

This is likely not interesting to most people, but it is intensely interesting to us! So I wanted to make sure we documented it on our family blog.

Our family has spent the past several hours researching our family history.
We found out some fun stuff.
Steve's line had an ancestor that was living in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials. She made it through just fine.
My line I was able to see back to ancestors who were born in the year 1000 or closely to. That was pretty cool!
We got sidetracked deciding to find out if we had an ancestor that came over on the Mayflower. (There were only 102 passengers I believe.)
We found 36 direct line ancestors (possibly more as we only looked on my father's father's side of the family,) who lived in Plymouth Mass., when it was just getting started. I wish I had known this when Steve and I were there last year!

We also learned that my Dad's Dad's Dad's Mother's Dad's Mother's Mother's Father's Father's Father's Mother's Father is Francis Cooke (My 10^th Great Grandfather).
Francis Cooke was one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact. (See image at top.)

They only know of 26 male Mayflower passengers to have descendants. Many died in the first year. He brought with him his 13 year old son and left his wife and younger children at home. She came with them soon thereafter. Francis was an important part of Plymouth. He served in many civil capacities. There is an article about him on Wikipedia. I found this part of the article particularly interesting; it's a quote from

William Bradford (the elected Governor of Plymouth 30 times.)
"Francis Cooke is still living, a very old man, and hath seen his children's children have children. After his wife came over with other of his children; he hath three still living by her, all married and have five children, so their increase is eight. And his son John which came over with him is married, and hath four children living."

And my children and I are part of that "increase".
Pretty cool.