What!

Now this is an accurate portrayal of what we are dealing with here. Ha.



These kids crack me up.



These are only three of the six living in the same house! The other three are just as much trouble/fun as these three. I've never seen so many very different and very strong personalities! And that's not counting the three that live next store!



I am blessed to be surrounded by little people.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, some days you really miss your dad and you cry. It doesn't help that no one is feeling well and it's really hot. Dear 1/2 Day, of school. What will we do the entire rest of the day! I vote we do not get in the car or anywhere near the car or go anywhere for that matter. Just.Stay.Home. Dear Dentist, you are really handy when your kids crack a tooth. Two of my children have a crack in their molar, what are they doing? Chewing on rocks? Or could it be big cups of ice? hmm Dear Sickness, you are still hanging around making life really miserable for me. And now you are spreading to the others, you've got a lot of nerve. Dear Heat Advisory, you're killing me, you're draining the very life out of me. I wouldn't complain if I didn't have to stand around in your heavy rays pouring sweat all because my kids school has parking issues and the school feels miles away from the car. Lets not even mention the heat level in the car. Yeah I know, waa waa, I'm being a baby. But seriously, it's hot. Dear Rocky Road Ice Cream, I love your chocolate covered almonds. They are one of a kind. I've made a habit of eating you every night with my sis, and I don't even like ice cream really. Dear Sis, I have enjoyed having you around after the kids are in bed and I am feeling really sad. Sorry for forcing you to eat late night snacks. Dear Mom and Dad, we are all so glad you are back. I hope we don't scare you away with all of our noise. Dear Unpacking, you came to a grinding holt when I got sick, and I think we might have gone a little backwards in that area. Dear Whisper Dinner, I think we have found a winner. Feeding six kids can get loud, especially when they are loud talkers even when they are right next to you. So a dinner of only talking in a whisper or not at all was funny for them and just what the Dr. ordered for the adults. Dear Self, remember that everything I do not get done today will still be waiting for me tomorrow. And since I can't walk around all day crying, just don't even think about tomorrow. Stay in today and remember it has to end at some point, even if it's long after the sun has set.

Sleep?

Do you want to know what it is like to have four kids living in one room?

Well this is what it looks like. And no I'm not going to show you the other side of the room, It looks like a tornado hit.



I bet you can guess where the almost eleven year old sleeps.



It is not an enjoyable bedtime I must admit. Because you see, they all want to drift off to sleep under different circumstances because they are all so different.



One of them likes to stay up all night reading, she can't be quiet or still or stay in her bed, which angers all of the others.



Another likes to play in bed for a bit and makes all kinds of noise, but at the right moment he wants darkness and complete quiet. After his story being read and his song being sung to him of course. Half the time making everyone upset and the other half being upset.



The other likes stories and a song and to lay in bed awhile in quiet with the light on until she is completely asleep do to her great fear of the dark. She also needs someone in the room with her and even better laying in her bed with her, except a certain nameless person "because she toots too much".



And lastly this one likes stories and to be sung to sleep with no other noise with the light out. And she never sleeps through the night! She crawls in my bed every night crowds me and attaches to me causing me a great deal of discomfort and loss of sleep. But I love her to pieces anyway.







So as you can imagine, no one gets their way. There is a lot of crying and tattling and arguing. And then they finally fall off to sleep.



I am slowly finding little tricks to help, but there is always one who is unhappy. I'll let you know if we ever figure out the perfect routine to make Four very different children happy.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, I am trying my hardest to be what you need, I want us to have a happy life. I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you said there was a creepy sound in your room I thought you just didn't want to go to bed. I'm glad I read you stories or I wouldn't have heard the wind storm/a kazoo sound coming through the window. Yeah it creeped me out too. Good thing I know how to be silly and make you laugh. Dear Ward Campout, the weather at camp Lomia in Pine Az. was a nice change. The tradition of a long uncomfortable sleepless night, boys obsessed with the fire, music, dancing, games, my children covered head to toe in dirt, and fresh blackberry picking has continued. And seeing a Deer with her brand new baby eating berries and finding a tree of mini plums were happy additions. Dear Mom & Dad, still missing you. My goal is to get my couch out of your living room before you get home. Dear Niece Baby E, I am having a hard time not thinking that God planned things just right so I could hold you and make my heart feel happy for a moment. You are so pretty. And now I've been sick so I can't see you. Boo. Dear Sick, any throat sickness knocks me down, it's my Achilles heel. With school starting and all the children in and out guess who gets sick? Me. Luckily only me. Thank goodness for sisters who helped me out. Dear Sisters, thanks for helping me while I am sick. Not only helping but hanging my curtains, moving boxes, moving a huge chair up the stairs, removing doors. Can you tell Joanna came over, lucky for me she had half a day off because of jury duty. Dear Hottness, no...not me. Ha. I feel like I am going to collapse every day when I have to walk my kindergartener up to the school and wait for them to line up and have the pledge. And then again when I have to get out and go herd them all to the car. Really I think my flip flops were melting. I miss the grass and the cool breeze. Dear Avary, you lost your first tooth! You were so excited you kept giggling. Plus your teacher called to tell me how much she loves you already. You are the cutest Babycakes ever. Dear Life, I feel so rushed and overwhelmed here. There is a million places to be with four children and one of me. It has always been that way, but it feels extra busy and tiring lately. Maybe it has something to do with having to make four trips to the school everyday, maybe. Dear Self, I wish I could just stay in bed until I felt better and someone would take care of everything for me.Hahaha. Being sick makes everything more depressing and the days a million hours long. And I wish I could cry without getting a headache. I am grateful for Dr.'s and medicine and that I should be better by next week.

Beautiful People

I am grateful for the beautiful people in my life. Those people who seem to understand the depth of heartache in my life right now and take the time to be kind. It can overshadow thoughtless and hurtful things others say.

Friday Letters

First day of school



Dear Children, things have been crazy with school starting already and I know you are all nervous. We have had so many huge changes this last year and I know it is so hard for all of you. I am trying to do my best for you. Dear MVD, It took 3 visits on 3 different days, but I finally got my Az drivers license again. It is just my luck that the first two days the system to do with drivers license went down state wide right after I got there. What was so maddening about it was I put make up on and straightened my hair. So I waited a week and went back, but made sure I curled my hair this time and that did the trick. I was out of there in 40 min. Dear Scouts, I never remember when it's time for you. Kade looooves scouts and I do not, I know nothing about it. At least it is at 6pm here instead of 7pm on a school night. Dear first day of school, the kids were nervous to start a new school again. And I teared up when I dropped Avary off for kindergarten. Luckily I picked up happy kids who had a great day. Dear Avary, you have a loose tooth and are excited for it to come out. On the first day of school you said you had to walk too much and your feet were tired. The second day you said you sat too long and wanted to get up, but the teacher is the only one allowed to. Luckily you only are gone for half day because I miss you. Dear Sister, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. I'm looking forward to celebrating with you. Dear Niece, Baby E, you are the cutest thing ever. I am so glad I get to finally hold you. Dear Ward Camp out, you won't be the same without Gma and Gpa. I am not looking forward to it at all, but I know the kids are or I would not be going. I will have to go berry picking again to make it worth it. Dear Sleep, for some reason I am not getting enough of you, you have never been wonderfully restful, but I miss you more than you know. Dear Az, I really don't like dripping sweat just to walk from the parking lot to the school to get the kids. I need a cool breeze with that please. Dear Mom & Dad, we miss you. I hope you are having fun. Dear Headaches, I'm not too happy to see you again, but excessive heat and extreme stress usually brings us together. Dear Self, I am so sad and exhausted. Remember: I can do hard things.

Friday Letters

My Baby Boy

Dear Husband, we said goodbye and are now 750 miles apart. Dear Kaden, your baptism was wonderful even if you did make me talk in front of everyone. I am so glad you felt the spirit and are happy to be a member of the true church. Thanks for everyones help and thanks to all those who came. Kade felt very loved. Dear Camera, It has been an emotional time and when I am under stress I drop things, including you, at an important event, Kade's baptism. All the pictures are blurred and now you refuse to even turn on. We had a good life together. I don't even know what to do without a camera. And if anyone has any pictures of Kade's baptism I would appreciate it if you emailed them to me. Dear Phone, apparently all electronics are unhappy with me and you died on me too. It's been a week without a phone so anyone trying to call or text me I am not ignoring you, it was lost in cyber space. Dear Mom, I hope you had a good birthday. I hope you know how much you are loved. Thanks for letting me have all of my stuff everywhere while I try to unpack. I love you. Dear Mom & Dad, Just because I moved in doesn't mean you had to leave the country. I will miss you while you are gone and worry about you too. I hope you have fun with your boys and their wonderful families. Dear Layton, Happy Birthday on the 9th. I can't believe my little Layton is 17. I must say I could not be more proud of the man that you are growing into. I love you nephew. And thanks for all your help this last week. Dear School, I am not ready to send my children back to you. I love having them home where I know they are safe and happy. And technically they should have one more month of summer. Dear Reno, I miss your lovely weather and beauty. And of course your lake. Dear Arizona, you are so HOT. It's like a blow dryer in my face all the time. Luckily the house is nice and cold. Dear Self, I feel broken, chewed up and thrown away, so overwhelmed and unable. But yet deep down there is a flicker of peace, even though I feel alone, I know the Lord has not left me and has blessed me to have people who love me. Remember that you are not alone.