Mom's 60th Birthday Celebration Video

After five months, I'm done. I compiled and sifted and organized over 2000 pictures, combined with music, into one complete video. It not only contains many pictures that recapture the experience, but also gives ten different lists of highlights from the trip. And now, it is yours for the viewing. I am posting this 16 minute video on my blog so you can not only enjoy, but so you can give a little feedback as to where it could be improved upon before I burn copies of the final product. Enjoy!

Out on the Lake

Troy (Evan's brother) and Becky invited our family to go out on the lake with them. We had such a great time. I did some knee boarding, got up the nerve to cross the wake, and was so proud of myself. I didn't grow up water skiing, so this is new and exciting to me. I was so impressed when Taneal got up on the knee board. Okay, maybe proud would be a better word. I was one pleased mamma. And then Camie got up, didn't release the rope from the board, but did really well. Then Danielle decided she could do it and also did well. And finally Spencer agreed to do it. I couldn't believe all my kids knee boarded!!!! With the exception of Nathan, he is barely walking. Nathan did enjoy a day out on the boat and getting in the water.

Another fun thing the kids surprised me and did was jump off the boat as the boat was moving. We gave them the green light so they knew when the boat was going a safe speed to jump off. Of course Taneal and Camie did it, but Danielle and Spencer joined in. I guess those many months at the pool this summer got them used to the water and now they are little fish!

Ice Skating with Camie

This summer I traded with a mom in my neighborhood and we did some "one-on-one" time with our children. It was so much fun. I have some truly wonderful and amazing children and I was so spoiled to be able to spend quality time with them. It was like going on dates. I loved it! And I really loved spending time with my kids individually and how special they felt that they had me all to themselves. They may have felt like they were special, but I think it was the other way around. I am so blessed that I have so many children that are good, fun, and happy to be with.

These are a few pictures that I took when it was Camie's turn. She chose to go ice skating, which I hadn't done since high school and she had never been. She thought it was about like walking, had no idea it was so slippery, and she took off onto the ice without me. She immediately slipped and then someone fell on top of her smashing her finger with the blade of their skate. Camie bawled because it REALLY hurt. We had to go get the blood cleaned up. And then Camie wanted to go back out on the ice! What resilience! Camie is really amazing! I would have quit and gone home feeling sorry for myself. She is such an example to me. She was cautious through the two hours of skating, but we had so much fun together.

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First Day of School

This year I sent all my girls to school. I only have my two boys with me at home. All three girls were so excited and couldn't wait for school to start. It really helped that they were able to meet their teachers the Friday before school started.

Taneal's teacher taught 2nd grade when Taneal was in 2nd, so Taneal knew who she was. Her good friend was in her class, so that made everything wonderful. She could have had the worst teacher and as long as this friend was in her class, nothing else mattered.

Camie's class was basically the same as last year and kindergarten. She didn't know anything about the teacher, but she was back in school with all her friends, so she was happy.

Danielle - - I was so nervous! She turned 5 a few weeks before school started so she is one of the youngest kids at school. She still likes me to feed her bites at dinner! I still help her out in the bathroom (yes, shame on me). She is like my little baby still. There are 9 kindergarten classes and I knew many of the teachers that I didn't want her to have and there were only 2 that I was okay with her having. And she got one of the two! My prayers were answered. I think if she had gotten anyone else I would have been in the Principal's office trying to make a change that would have been denied and then I would have had countless sleepless nights and ulcers. Or, I would have held her back a year until I was ready for her to go. I am just thankful for who she got and that I could put the anxiety aside. I am sure some of the other teachers would have been fine, but going through uncharted territories is so hard for me.

The first day of school began at 6:15 as I arose and put German Pancakes in the oven, per Taneal's request. I then looked at Taneal's typed lunch menu and began packing the girl's lunches. I should have gotten a picture of what everyone wanted. It was pretty funny. I the rousted the girls out of bed (NOT). They were already awake, dressed, and ready to eat.

And then I put all three girls on the bus! Even Danielle. I wanted to do it the way we would be doing it everyday so that Danielle could get used to it and not have it so confusing. As the bus pulled away, I hopped into my car and headed for the mall! Not really. I headed down to the school so that I could be there as the bus arrived and still walk my girls to their classes. This is a picture of Danielle and Taneal getting off the bus at the school. Danielle knew I was going to be there, but she quickly told me that she knew where she was going and she wanted to go by herself, that I could go with Camie to her class. Ouch! I said good-byes to Taneal and Camie and ran after Danielle down the hall. She made me walk behind her because she knew the way. Good thing I was there because she forgot the way. Once she reached her classroom, she hung up her backpack and then walked into the class, took a seat and started playing with the blocks at her table. I asked her if she was going to go say hello to her teacher and she told me she wasn't. So, I kissed her goodbye and she didn't so much as kiss me back or even look at me. She was a big girl now. I left and kept peeking in for the next 10 minutes. She was really fine without me.

I did meet her three hours later for lunch. It was so much fun. I got to see Camie at the end of her lunch, Danielle for all of her lunch, and Taneal for the beginning of her lunch. The school had asked for volunteers to help with the kindergarten lunches, so I thought I would help out. It was so fun to see all the little kindergartners.

Danielle rode the bus home and had a great day. Taneal loved being in class with her friend and Camie said the day was boring. The little time I was home was so quiet with only two kids. I did go to the grocery store and I kind of felt like I was doing something wrong, something was missing - oh, three kids.

We had a wonderful summer and I loved having all my kids at home. I sure miss them being at school and I am so glad that over the last week they haven't had homework so they can come home and play and we can still have some family time together. I wish I had the energy and time to teach my kids at home. I'm kind of jealous that the teachers get to spend so much time with my kids. They are so fun to be around and they love to learn. And I love to be with them and teach them and learn from them.

Taneal is really into the Harry Potter books. She said to me the other day, "just think, if I was going to Hogwarts, I would be able to go in two years!" That thought was cool to her but so sad to me. I really love having my kids around. I have a hard time sending them to school, although grocery shopping is much better. But I know it is where they need to be and they love school so much.

Traveling to church

I downloaded pictures that Taneal had taken. Oh how I love that girl. I love the perspective she gives when taking pictures. Camie does the same, just doesn't have her own camera yet. When she get ahold of my camera she gets some really great pictures that I never would have thought to get. These are some pictures that Taneal took while we were on our way to church. They are how things are, and I would never think to get them while I am in the front. She didn't get any of Camie because she was a little annoyed with Camie, and I'm not sure why there aren't any of Danielle. Taneal tends the take more pictures of the little kids more and she does a really good job. I thought they were worth posting because of the different perspective they give.

BIshop's Challenge

The beginning of the summer our wonderful and inspired Bishop spoke to us in Sacrament Meeting. He challenged each family to step up our family scripture study, family prayer, and Family Home Evening. He didn't want us to slack from our duties as summer often allows. He recommended we have some kind of reward at the end. I decided our family needed to participate in this challenge, so I made a poster board and my children helped color it.

We each had to do our own personal scripture study each night, but we reminded each other to do it. We had family prayer together and on Monday nights we had Family Home Evening. My Bishop is truly inspired. I loved how we all worked together as a family to help one another. We all read our scriptures every day for seven weeks. And at the end of the challenge, I got a baby sitter for the boys (thanks Aunt Becky) and Evan took a day off from work and we all went to a local water park. It was so much fun. It brought us closer as a family and filled our home with a wonderful spirit. Hopefully we can carry this daily scripture habit with us throughout the school year. I'm already to make a new poster and have the reward be Disney Land or NASA or something fun like that.

Some of us in my family are great at reading our scriptures and some of us are not so good. I am thankful for a wonderful Bishop that listens to the Lord and takes the time to challenge us to be better.

$2 Tuesdays

A local roller rink has had $2 Tuesdays all summer long. I found out about this a few weeks ago and decided to brave it and take my kids there and see if we could have a good time. It was such a hit! Even Spencer loved it. Danielle and Spencer mostly skated around on the carpeted area and Taneal and Camie hugged the walls in the rink, but we lasted the full three hours and had so much fun. Nathan cooperated and ate his fill of gold fish. We left determined to go back soon.

Today was the day we went back. Not so good. I brought water bottles because I would rather the kids drink from my water bottles then a public drinking fountain. Spencer decided he was thirsty and because I was watching all my kids in a crowded area, I didn't realize that that little three-year-old somehow managed to drink two water bottles in the first half hour we were there. After two trips to the bathroom and him REALLY going, I realized what happened. I was taking him to the bathroom every fifteen minutes. And, the bathroom was a public restroom, so not so clean. The floors in the restroom were tile and extremely slippery with skates on. Of course taking off the skates and putting shoes on every 15 minutes didn't seem like the easy way out. So, I somehow pushed the stroller, managed to keep Spencer from falling, pulled down his pants, helped him on the toilet, had to pull his pants back up (tugging causes slipping and sliding), getting out of the stall with baby and Spencer, washing hands, etc. Not fun. Nathan had had it, wanted out of the stroller and the gold fish weren't doing their trick. Spencer was too tired by this point and started the tantrums. TIME TO GO!

Now to get the girls off the rink. A very nice lady comes and sits next to me and comments that I have my hands full (why does that comment bother me? I do have my hands full). She then explains to me in a "I'm trying to be compassionate" sort of way, how sad it is that I have so many children and so I can't be out on the rink helping my children learn to skate because I have to tend to the little ones on the bench. (Sorry about the run-on sentence there.) I just grit my teeth and try to flag down my kids that we REALLY need to go. So, this lady goes onto the rink, asks Danielle if she can take her out on the floor and help her skate. Danielle comes and asks, and of course I'm feeling somewhat less then a great mom at that moment and so I grant permission. Spencer on the bench screaming, Nathan squirming in my arms, Taneal and Camie zooming around the rink not paying attention to me, and some stranger hand in hand with my little girl.

When I finally got my girls attention that we needed to go, we were out of there within a minute or less. We piled into my van and drove home. I promised that we would NEVER do that again. Taneal's comment was great, "of course we won't, Mom. School starts on Monday and $2 Tuesdays will be over." I love that she know me and still loves me and can find humor in a bad situation.

And all I was trying to do was be a good mom and take my kids skating.

So to change the perspective. I love being a mom of 5 children. If I could, I would have a dozen more. My children are my life and bring me so much happiness and joy. They are the reason I get out of bed every morning. They are the reason I have an added skip in my step. They are the reason I cook and clean and shop and sing and smile. They are the reason I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice and example that allows me to try to be a better person each day. I am so thankful for temples that have allowed my family to be a family forever, and not just for our time here on earth. I have a great husband that supports me and works so hard to provide for all these mouths to feed, and occasionally changes diapers, too. We feel so blessed to have these five truly amazing children with us each and every day. I do have my hand full and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Nathan is 1

Nathan had his first birthday. They grow up so fast! We had Troy and Becky over for the celebration. I made taco salad and birthday cake. Nathan wasn't too thrilled about either. Someone put his hand in his cake and he couldn't stand the sticky feeling, so we had to wash his hand and try it all over again. I love the first birthday and the cake because you never know what to expect. Some kids will dive right in and others, like Nathan, don't want to have much to do with it.

I must confess. I don't know if I have fallen victim of having a lot of children or what. But as Nathan's birthday neared, I couldn't think of anything to get him! I have too many toddler toys as it is, I had two bags that I had just dropped off at Good Will. I really didn't want more toys. And summertime is so busy with all the kids home that I never made it to the store.

My neighbor across the street had a baby a few days before Nathan was born and you should have seen the party that they threw for their firstborn. And Nathan, Sunday morning rolled around and I neglected to get him anything. The girls asked of they could help wrap his presents and told them of my dilemma. They said they would take care of the problem. Awesome girls!

We went to late afternoon church, came home and prepared dinner for family to come over, and I didn't give the gifts another thought until Becky showed up with a gift for Nathan. Oops. Taneal and Camie happily marched downstairs with some wrapped gifts in tow. They had indeed taken care of the problem. They grabbed some of the toys that Nathan plays with and wrapped them. They also got out a package of diapers and wrapped that as well.

So is it because Nathan is baby #5 that I didn't throw the HUGE party for? If my neighbor only knew. And now you know. I love that little boy so much and have been so blessed to have him in my home and as part of my family. The giftless birthday is no reflection of the affection I have for that little spirit.

Evan turns 20

Happy Birthday Evan. We have spent 14 of your birthdays together. And you liked this birthday and the attention it brings about as much as the first birthday we spent together. Of course the girls like to make a big deal out of your special day (because that is what is supposed to be done on birthdays)and you painfully play along with them. You are fun to watch.

Cooking 101

A few of us moms got together and held cooking classes for some of our children. At my house I taught the group of 5 to make bread sticks. At the next class Anne Marie (Hayley's mom) taught them how to make homemade spaghetti. And at the last cooking class, Tara (Madalyn and Lauren's mom) taught how to make pumpkin pie and a green salad. All of us had so much fun. And the girls really looked forward to it. For the 4th class, the girls had to cook for us moms. We sat back and visited. They did REALLY well. The mess wasn't too big and the food was very good. Of course between the three of us moms we had 14 children combined. I was glad the other moms were willing to host the cooking class in their homes, all those children can be a bit overwhelming. But you can't beat good food and great company. The girls learned some great cooking skills (and so did I). And it was a nice way to break up the summer. Way to go girls!

The Children's Museum

Pictures, pictures and more pictures! One day this summer we decided we needed a break from swimming, so we packed a lunch, made our beds, and as long as we were ready by 9am, we were going. All the kids pitched in and helped and we made it by the time deadline and drove to the children's museum. We made it there by 10am. We had so much fun. It was crazy crowded, so I don't think I would ever buy a season pass there. I can't keep up with all my children and it took too much energy do go very often. But, we stayed until closing at 6pm and we played and played and played. Nathan took a short cat nap and played. Taneal's favorite part was the climbing maze. Camie's was the store where she got to check groceries, put the groceries away, and kind of run the store. She was in there for hours! She really liked how you used real/fake debit cards to buy things, how you could use the ATM to deposit and get cash, etc. Danielle like the restaurant. She really enjoyed serving my food and having me pretend to eat it over and over again, This was during Nathan's cat nap, so I was actually able to spend time playing with her. Spencer's favorite part was the police car and ambulance. Nathan was an amazing sport through it all. He had learned to walk a few days before, but hadn't learned to walk in shoes. I tried with the shoes and he kept falling. I really didn't want him walking around barefoot with so many kids running around, so I held him a lot and he spent time in his stroller. But he had fun and really didn't cry. So much fun, so many pictures, and so much energy. But it was all so worth it and we made some wonderful memories and it contributed to the wonderful summer we had together.