Friday Letters

Dear Children, you are why I get out of bed every day and why I pray throughout the rest of it. You are the reason I cry and the reason I smile. I hope not a day goes by that you don't know how much I love you. Dear Originals, aka Dad's siblings. It was nice to see you again. I find it strange that none of you seem to age, you all look the same to me. Dear Avary, I'm sorry we had to change your Birthday Party. We had some long nights of no sleep with you in agony from an ear infection. My Poor babycakes. You turned 6yrs old anyway. Love You! Dear Car, I should have known. The day after I pay you off we get a dent down the side. Dear Hazel, you and your sis share everything including your fever, which of course is always raging during normal sleeping hours. Dear Sleep, will we ever be together again? It has been such a long week with not much sleep, I can't even remember this morning, I don't think me or the little girls even ate breakfast. We can't remember if that was today or yesterday. Dear Weather, I think I saw a little rain, yes I think that was why the skylight was leaking. And was that a day not under threat of 100*, yes, why I think it was. Dear Awkward, in the parenting in divorce class during the break the couple next to me had an argument in sign language, but they are not deaf. That's ok just pretend like I'm not here. Dear Sis, you can always make me laugh when I want to cry. It's the best therapy, except when I need to pee and you choke on your spit cause you think there is a moth in the car, that is just dangerous. Dear Halloween, I'm not ready for you. And I don't want to go trick or treating. I have lost my holiday cheer. That might be against the law or something. Dear Self, I may feel overwhelmed and unable, but I am blessed beyond my own ability every single day.

Avary is 6

Today was Avary's 6th birthday.


At first I thought I am really tired it looks blurry, wait..it is blurry, but I am tired, but Avary looks like a little angel. And that's just how things are around here I'm tired and everything is so busy it looks blurry.

We were going to have her party on Monday, but she got an awful ear infection and was so sick from it that we had to reschedule. But with cousin's birthdays and baptism's and Halloween we will have to have it next week. She was so disappointed.

She asked for Red Robin for lunch before school, she had ice cream and they sang to her. She looked like she wasn't sure what was happening. Ha.

She came home from school with a crown and a free trip to the treasure box. Then thanks to her Auntie the kids decorated pumpkins.


Perfect for when I have absolutely no desire to carve pumpkins. So not like me. I only put up one bat Avary brought home from school.




I made some whoopie pies and we sang and let her open a couple of her gifts just to hold her over. She wants a puppy, kitty, horsey party. I'll let you know how that turns out.




This is so funny.


She named the dog Pup and the little cat Cheese.


She was a happy girl.(see permanent marker, drool and Pup) I love to see her grow, but sometimes I wish she could just stay little forever. At bedtime I read her a story about the rules of strangers, she asked me if she could keep it for when she grows up because she is afraid she will forget the rules. Sometimes she will cry and cry because she doesn't want to grow up because she will have to leave me and she might get lost and forget where I live. I told her she can live with me forever, but she worries what if her husband doesn't want to. So I said she could live next door. And I meant it.

Happy Birthday Babycakes!

Think to pray

I was happy to know that I would have all the things and people that matter. Great reminder to pray.

Hairy

Hazel's hair grows like weeds. She has had more haircuts in her four years than I have had in my whole life.

I cut about 3-4 inches off in July and it was already this long again. I have been waiting for her to agree to let me cut it. Doing her hair or even coming near her with a brush was a battle, she has always flopped on the floor and tried to get away. That gets old real quick.

It was long and curly and I chopped it while the little thing wriggled the whole time. Now it seems like it has lost most of it's curl. We will see if it comes back as it grows.



She looks like a different kid without the curls and so much older.

Friday Letters

One sis has spelled my name wrong my whole life and my kids, i'm unsure how to interpret this. Apparently she passed it on because my niece created this banner for Papa.

Dear Children, you have all passed around a yucky cough this week. Kind of inevitable when you are sharing a room. Dear Sis, I love that when I look over at you and see your face and you say "um there is something really bad" in a calm voice, I know to run away. (that proves you love me) And that's exactly what I did...I ran...laughing a weird scream...and my eyes watered a little. And you gagged. Luckily nephew was around to save us. Why does everyone look disgusted when we call for help. Dear Scout Pack Meeting, fire safety is a good thing, especially when I have a child who is obsessed with fire. But I still can't say I like pack meetings. Dear Hailey, you have been singing in the choir with your grammy, it makes you feel so happy. I like that. I catch you belting it out all the time. Weather or not you will have mine or your fathers genes is still undecided, hoping it's not mine. Dear Dad, I hope you had a wonderful Birthday. I love and appreciate you more than words can say. Dear Karen & neice H, Happy Birthday to you too. I hope you had a great day. Dear Awkward, when my 5yr old tells an adult man that it looks like he is growing some boobs...and my response is to say she's 5 and walk away really fast. Dear Life, I feel dizzy from how busy you are. It is always something and somewhere to be and something we forgot or are behind on. Craziness I tell you, just craziness. Dear Self, it is hard to change the way I am so used to thinking about some things especially when your feelings don't match. It's hard work.

Gross....

I have ten nephews. So, I feel pretty sure I can tell this story without disclosing who the nephew is because there is too many to choose from. Oh, and it is kind of gross so that is a disclaimer.

The nephew was in the bathroom and kept yelling and yelling for his mom. Mom's dread when this happens, it's never a good thing. With some unease she goes and says "what's wrong"? He says "I have come into puberty"! She's like "WHAT"? He keeps repeating this with alarm. After some questions it turns out he just had diarrhea. After being told that is not puberty it is diarrhea he said "oh, I knew it was one of those words but I couldn't remember which one". Hahaha

I got a good laugh out of that one. Kids are so gross. But they are so hilarious too.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, I hope you had a fun relaxing break from school. I am sad it must come to an end. Dear Body, having my back go out AGAIN, and my monster shoulder(aka disc's in my neck) attack causing a monster headache all day and night just plain sucks. Having Hailey bring me an ice pack for my neck and a breakfast drink cause I'm stuck in bed, and shaking that drink before I open it only to find that drink all over my bed because she already opened it just plain sucks too. Dear Pulpit, yeah I said pulpit. I actually climbed over six people and walked up there and shared my testimony of Jesus Christ. I usually save this for when asked to speak in church because I hate it up there. But during my fast I was overcome with such gratitude for all that I have and did not want to ignore a prompting. I am proud of myself, that was a hard one. Dear Barrow's, I love you. My favorite pizza brought to me hot and fresh, the kids watching cartoons while eating dinner(the only time this ever happens)and everyone seems happy. Dear BBQ, at the neighbors house. It was fun and the kids had a blast going down the zipline. Of all the kids Kade was the most nervous, funny. Dear October Break, I have loved spending the week at home with all my chicks right where they should be, at home with me. Dear Awkward, talking about the trash can behind my car as I get in, after getting six kids in the car forgetting about the trash can and backing into it knocking it over...yeah. Dear Toothfairy, why are you always late? Maybe because out of my four kids they have lost FIVE teeth in the last two and a half months! Dear Sis, thanks for going out with me super late and seeing a movie you have already seen. I would have stayed home and cried probably. I love that we can always laugh even when I am super sad. Still can't explain why when you said "I like your bun" I responded "I'm not fat". Dear A, thanks for babysitting the girls, they had fun. Dear Kade, it was nice to spend a little time alone together even if it was going to a Dr. appt. You had quite a lot to say about fire and the atom bomb, I hope this is normal for an 8yr old boy. You asked me "mom, was I a pain in the back when I was little" and then after speaking with the Dr. you said "mom, I believe I'm doomed"! I love you so much. smile. Dear Self, I'm sure life would be so much easier if I had a strong healthy body. In my mind I could be so much more if my head would just stop hurting. Although I am glad I have a head we will see if it turns out to be of any use when I go back to school. Scary.

Hazel

Hazel was the happiest little girl all day long on her Birthday. We had a super long day and was running around all day, everywhere we went she would tell people it was her Birthday and now she is 4. She is the cutest thing.

She wanted a Dora party so we made maps that led us to the hot air balloons that took us to Hazel's party. We went through the dry desert, up the rocky mountain, across the crocodile lake, through the woods, across the trolls bridge to the hot air balloons that took us to Hazel's party. Translation - we went down the street to the park, climbed the rock wall, over the snakey thing, back down the street, to home made hot air balloons in the front yard. The kids went crazy. And I mean cray-zee! They were so excited and screaming, laughing loud. They walked in line, but I'm sure the neighborhood must think we are insane now. They were out of their minds, but it was funny too because they were all so happy. I didn't really get many good pictures of anything either because like I said they were crazy.







Hazel was the cutest thing opening her gifts, she just smiled and giggled at all of them and even drooled because she couldn't stop smiling. She was so happy! And so silly!





When she said her prayers she said "thank you for all of the gifts for Avary, heheheh, and thank you for Avary's family, hehehe, and thank you for Avary's birthday, hehehe, and thank you for all the people who love Avary, hehehe, and thank you for Avary's party, hehehe and in the name of Jesus Christ......Avary, hehehe Amen." And then all the kids just laughed their heads off. She thought it was hilarious. If she wasn't so cute I would have told her that was a very inappropriate prayer. She fell asleep with a smile on her face and a faint snore.

An awful night with two and a half hours of sleep and a crazy day with me wanting to fall down in exhaustion, but with happy kids feels like it was a success.

On the other hand my baby is four. That makes me so sad. I have had such a hard time transitioning into this stage of life knowing I will never have any more babies. And mine just keep getting older no matter what I do. Oh, how I loved having my babies, I wish I could do it all over again. Not everything in life, but my babies truly brought me happiness. Now I will just have to wait at least ten more years to be a grandma.

Friday Letters

Dear Children, I love you. Dear Picture Day, so far I think you were a success. We practiced which smile to use so it didn't get out of hand. Now we wait for the day we find out if it paid off. It better because those prices for 3 kids are a killer I tell ya, and I got the cheapest ones with no class picture. I'll just get a year book. Dear Conference, I enjoyed lounging around listening to your uplifting words. I kept us locked upstairs and only came out for food. It was nice. Dear Life, how can you really be so busy all the time. Does everyone have a million appointments and errands like we do? I feel stretched thin. Dear October Break, oh I cannot wait. I think we need a little break from the craziness. I hope there are no church meetings for the kids. I just want to hang around and do nothing. Dear Weather, after being here during the hottest part of summer, a cloudy, windy, rainy day was welcomed. Even a little thunder too. Sometimes those are my favorite. Dear Hazelnut, Happy Birthday! You are 4yrs old today. My Baby is 4. I wish you would stay my baby forever, with a little less crying though, ha. I hope you love your Dora party tonight. I think it will go ok as long as you get pink frosting. Dear 7:40AM, I think this is a crappy time for an appointment when I have to bring all the kids along. I mean if I have to look presentable and not scary and I have to do 3 girls hair and feed them food and make sure they brush their teeth and they have to have clothes and closed toe shoes on, then it's a crappy time for an appointment. Like I said. Dear Awkward, when we walked out of the Dr. office right at the same moment that a man standing outside on the phone "broke wind" quite loudly and then saw us walking by. Little did he know we were rushing by holding our breath trying not to laugh. Yeah, that was awkward. Dear Dr., I don't know if I have ever met a nicer Dr. Podiatrist that is. You are a Bishop and seem genuinely concerned about our well being. On the first appointment you were one of those who told me the Lord has not forgotten me. I don't usually get that response at Dr. visits. I always leave feeling uplifted. I think it's funny. Dear Phone, I don't understand why my ringers randomly change them self. I never know if my phone is ringing because the sound keeps changing. It's almost creepy. Dear Self, some days I feel like I fail at everything. I think we have established that. I have come a long way, but still have a long way to go.