Last Sunday in Ranchos

It was sad to say goodbye to the ward we've spent the most time in since we've been married. There are a lot of good families and good people we will miss. Hopefully we'll still see them around the stake, and now we have our own house, there too!

When I was talking to some of the young women last week I said I would bring them cookies as a parting gift, and when Henry saw me making them he wanted to bring some to primary, and Thea got on board with that idea. The next thing I knew Henry had made the little box below. Henry is pretty sure staples, paper, tape, and felt came create anything. It actually worked so it was a done deal. 

I passed out the cookies to the girls just after sacrament meeting, and gave them all one last hug good bye. Then it was off to nursery with Leo. He actually was less upset about it and adjusted much more quickly than usual. Hopefully it won't be all undone when we move, and I'll only need to stay with him a few more weeks.  

Henry and Thea's sweet primary leaders let them hand out the cookies and napkins to all the kids, and say goodbye before they left. Our kids have had some wonderful teachers and leaders. We're so grateful to the wonderful people who serve in primary!

Then this evening we had the Eight is Great meeting. While we'll be in another ward when Henry gets baptized, we didn't know if they already had their preview, and Henry wanted to do it with his friends he knows in the ward. They did a great job, and we're so excited, and in a bit of disbelief that Henry will be baptized this June. 

(Henry's doodle before the program began)

And with the end of that, we said goodbye to our homeward. On to a new chapter.

We bought a house

I'm going to be a little short on time with testing for Henry and the whole packing business, but I wanted to make sure to at least record this kind of big deal on the blog. It's doesn't have a ton of curb appeal but it's fairly well maintained, has a covered patio, lots of trees in the back, new ac and furnace, a tile roof, 4 rooms so we can spread out from our current 2, and most importantly (and most scary) it it ours!

I'll be taking pictures as we get things settled in but we have a lot of decision making to do, and we probably won't be truly settled until the end of February but I'm hoping we'll be living there in the next couple weeks. We have lots of ideas for what we'd like to do to the house and property but we know it'll take time, and we'll mostly be having to be very careful for the next few years instead of worrying about big housing projects.

Wish us luck!

Back to Homeschool

I thought now would be the perfect time this month to keep my goal to blog about homeschooling. Henry's charter allots three weeks for Christmas vacation, and didn't technically resume until today. I decided instead to take the week before Christmas off so we went back last Monday at the same time as all the other adults in the house.
Going back to school, even when it's done in your home, is hard after three weeks of just playing and having a very limited, and flexible routine. This past week was pretty pathetic, and Friday I basically said to Hades with it, and let them run wild. I told myself we would start fresh on Monday, and so we did!

It's been a struggle to figure out a schedule with Leo's sleeping habits not being totally consistent, and Thea's interests changing, and often coming back to bugging Henry or needing to have his attention and help playing. It's also hard because Henry seldom wants to do any assignments without my presence. I knew that needed to change so I went back to what I had tried at the beginning of last year, but hadn't worked hopefully because he was still just a little too young.

So today I made a list for Henry of all his 'morning work' and told him it needed to be done by 10 and any time left before then once he finished was his. Thankfully he was game and he did some phonics, math, reading, and piano (this one I helped monitor a bit but less than usual) by himself. It was so nice to be able to get some cleaning up and organizing done for that hour! Thea and Leo even played together in Thea and Henry's room which does not happen often. Hopefully I won't always have as many things to catch up on in the morning and I can dedicate some of this time to more direct play with Thea and Leo. Afterwards we read 'Little House in the Big Woods' together then pulled out the watercolors and paint until Johann got home for lunch.

After lunch Thea put herself down for a nap in her bed, I did a little folding while Henry worked on his own book about one of the characters from this cool book we got them for Christmas. Then Leo decided he wanted to help me fold which meant it was time for me to put him down for his nap.

Once Leo was down, Henry and I got to finish up a lesson we had started last week from Moving Beyond the Page and then read another chapter in 'Little House in the Big Woods.'

Hopefully we can follow this basic schedule from here on out on days that don't involve morning routine changes:

*Breakfast-get dressed-brush teeth-comb hair
*Henry independent work-Thea & Leo time with mommy for half-half mommy time to organize (or you know, shower, on those days when it doesn't happen earlier)
*Some free time-reading together-art projects
*Lunch
*Nap for Leo-more in depth lessons with Henry-busy bin or other activity for Thea
*'School day' done!

If I could have things my way, we would get all the school work and lessons done first thing after breakfast and not have to worry about anything after 12pm every day, but I've realized that's just not realistic with two small ones that are not being formally schooled yet and will not just play quietly while I teach Henry. It also doesn't work with doctors appointments or trips to the store in the morning etc. This way I'm hoping to protect the one on one time for teaching Henry so that when we're going over an important lesson or concept there is consistency because we need to be home during Leo's nap time basically every day anyway. Day one down, here's hoping day two goes as well!

New Year's Goals

My brother was telling us that while on his mission he and his companion made wrist bands with the letters "WWGBHD" which stood for "What would Gordon B Hinckley do?" We talked about how much we loved and missed that incredible Prophet of God. A lot of the goals I've been thinking about making are right in line with a GBH mentality.
Last year when I was often frustrated I would remind myself of what his father told him, "Forget yourself and go to work." Too often I thought of that as just working myself down until I had little left to give, but I think I've realized now it's more about forgetting your ego than ignoring your feelings, sense of identity or level of stress. So for example, I shouldn't worry if I can't or don't bring nice home made cookies, I should just pick some up and know the work I did will be enough even if the work doesn't reflect on some ability of mine. I think this also has to apply to other people and their work-I can't sit there feeling wanting, out done or envious of someone else's work that may have involved a skill they have that's being praised.
With those things in mind, I think I like this GBH quote for the New Year:

What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom we associate, that we speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears. When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, my father would say: "Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve." 
'Words of the Prophet: The Spirit of Optimism,' Ensign, July 2001

This especially hit home to me while I was at Glen Ivy for my mom's birthday. I was getting a massage and the massage therapist was talking about religion, politics, ecology and was negative about almost all of it. Even though I'm probably more of a Debbie Downer than not, even I had to finally say I felt like there is always hope and that I've seen the evidence that there are many good people who are trying to do right. It's also amazing how much harder it was to relax with all that talk going on. I don't think it means I plan to ignore the reality of things this year, but to see in those situations how I can contribute, create and achieve. Here are some of the goals I want to accomplish this year.

1. Attend the Temple 8 times

2. Make a monthly budget and keep a record of all spending throughout the month

3. Be more supportive of others' creative endeavors by subscribing to podcasts, blogs and webcasts. Be involved by commenting and contributing etc. 

4. Make a family photo album

5. Finish transcribing my dad's first journal

6. Read President Hinckley's biography
7. Have six lessons (one per month) on baptism for FHE to help prepare Henry
8. Buy a house (we're in escrow right now, but until we've moved in, I'm going to hold my breath!)
9. Blog 4 times a month, once about homeschool
10. Take family photos!!!
11. Exercise 3 times a week
12. Read a book a month

Happy New Year, wish me luck! 

101 in 1001 at a close

Back in April of 2013 I made a '101 Goals in 1001 Days' list. I failed pretty miserably. The end date isn't until January 20th, 2016, but it's not going to happen and I would like to just put it to bed and start 2016 with fresh, less and more doable goals. I did managed to do some of them though, so here is the final report:

Start date: April 24rd, 2013. 

End date: January 20th, 2016

1.Finish Anne of Green Gables series 
Did it! I love them. 2.Go a month with no treats.
Did it! I still love treats.3.Sew something
4.Take family pictures
We got one this past weekend with Johann's family, so while it's not exactly what I meant to do, Imma count it!
5.Write a short story
6.Transcribe dads journals
Worked on it, but not close to done. 
7.Send out Christmas cards
8.Entire family dress up for Halloween
We did all dress up, though not as a collective. Henry was Frankenstein's monster, Thea Capt. America, Leo a lion, and Johann and I were Yin and Yang. 
9.Welcome a new member of the family
Mr. Leo himself! 
10.get a pedicure with Thea
11.Purchase a new vehicle
Our van, Groucho
12.Have a mommy son day
13.Have a mommy daughter day
14.Go a week without any electronic device present at dinner time (cell phones)
Yup
15.Have a 'golden day'
16.Visit 2 states I've never been to
17.Find an ancestor
18.Hand write 3 letters
19.Sleep 8-9 hours, seven nights in a row
20.Learn how to grill
I did more grilling, I'm not sure what I was aiming for with this one to be honest, but I know how to work one well enough to cook meat and veggies on it, so good?
21.Unplug completely for a day
22.Reread the Old Testament
23.Reread the New Testament
24.Study church history in depth for a month
25.Watch the sun rise
26.Eat somewhere 'famous'
27.Join or form a book club
28.Attend 3 temples never before attended
29.Go to a museum I've never been to
We went to one in San Diego I hadn't been too, I think their Natural History one, as well as another I think...
30.Purchase an original piece of art
The Gardener by Elise Wehle  
31.Make 50 new recipes
I'm not sure how many I did, but probably closer to 15 or so. 
32.Blog every day for a month
33.Attend a lecture
34.Attend a class
35.Get a hobby
36.Go on a bike ride
37.Go on a boat ride
Did this for Thea's 3rd birthday and it was cold and fun
38.Go on a hike
This past summer
39.Learn and acquire a new 'board' game
40.See hot air balloons take off
41.Go to Disneyland with the kids
Did this on Henry's 5th birthday
42.Go camping
43.Visit a national park
Sequoia National Park
44.Make a birthday cake from scratch
45.Spend a day at the beach
46.Organize the sheds
47.Grow an herb
48.grow something outside
A couple different flowers, the aptenia especially grew well under the play house window 
49.Write a poem
50.Read Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit in a day
51.Watch 5 foreign films
52.Get a pet
Two fish, flip-flop and Orrie
53.Go to the movies 10 times
I'm pretty sure I did this.
54.Develop a family tradition for Christmas
55.Develop a family tradition for Easter
56.Do a family service project
57.Read the Book of Mormon w/Henry
We did finish this one in March 
58.Watch fireworks
59.Go to a parade
60.Go on a mini vacation w/Johann
61.Take the kids to play in the snow
We did this last New Years with Johann's cousins when they visited from Uruguay. 
62.Get a massage
Yesterday! 
63.Take part/attend a community event
I coached Thea's Tiny Tots team
64.Attend a play
65.Attend an opera
66.Attend an orchestral or symphonic concert
67.go to a fair
68.Go apple picking
69.Do all the planning for a date w/Johann
70.Teach Henry how to prepare 2 different meals
71.Make a memory scrapbook/album for Thea
72.Visit Solvang
This past summer
73.Visit a mission
74.Go to the Provo Tabernacle Temple
75.Go to a water park
76.Do a swim class with Thea
This past summer 
77.buy a family Christmas ornament
78.Visit Hearst castle
79.Make a pie from scratch
80.Write/send a package to a missionary
81.Go to a baseball game and don't complain
I went to a Mavericks game in May of 2014
82.Do 50 crafts/activities with the kids from Pinterest
83.Attend the church service of another faith
84.Find something worthwhile at a garage sale or thrift store
85.Write a story for Thea and Henry
86.Get a picture of all the grand kids together
Done! Again, only because my mother-in-law did it.
87.Go through the entire yoga book
88.Read 50 books
 I have no idea, I doubt it though. Probably closer to 30 or so unless I could the novels I read with Henry, the potentially quite a bit higher. 
89.Organize file box
90.Do YW personal progress
91.Read a novel with Henry and 300 books with Thea
I know I read at least 10 novels with Henry and I may not have read 300 different books with Thea but I'm confident I read at least 300 book to her. 
92.Frame pictures for Johann's office
93.Organize master closet
94.Create a writing notebook/blog something
95.Make the car travel friendly
96.Have a picnic
97.get to know one of my neighbors
98.Ride a horse
For Johann's birthday, right before I found out I was pregnant with Leo. Aye aye. 
99.Read BoM along with Christ and the New Covenant
100.Memorize 50 scriptures
101.Invite 5 other families/couples over for dinner 

So 30/100. That's actually better than I thought. This is also why I'll probably be making about 10 goals per year again. It seems to be what I'm capable of doing! 

The Last Christmas

I have a lot of bittersweet feelings tonight. Since the age of 8, every Christmas Eve or Christmas Day has been spent in our current home. It's both exciting and somber to think this is probably the last year that will be the case.
Right now, while it's quiet, I can think about all the nights it was so still like this, and I, very slowly, anxiously, fell asleep waiting for the delights of Christmas.
This is the only place Henry or Dorothea, and Leo (to whatever extent he can) have felt that lovely bundle of nerves leading up to an exciting Christmas morning.
It's been a long, hard year. I've lived in and out of a terrible, soul numbing, joy stealing sadness that I've never experienced the extent of before. I often wish I had a re-do on the year, and on myself without it. I also find myself wishing I had more time to prepare for the warm ache of our last Christmas here. I know I can't have either of those things.
Instead, I've realized how important hope is. Tonight everyone sat together, and read the 'Journey To Bethlehem' in the The Friend magazine. It wasn't until we were almost finished that Leo had stopped screaming, and it seemed like either of the older two were listening. There was even quiet resistance from some adults. But we pushed on, and by the time we finished the stories, and began to sing some Christmas songs it felt like those days long gone where all I had to do was partake of the Christmas spirit, instead of fight for it, shape it, and share it, often with grudging recipients.
I mentioned to my mom afterwards how it reminded me of Elder Renlund's talk a few conference back-he said the Lord doesn't expect us to be without flaws, but he expects us to always keep trying. I suppose that's true of our worthwhile pursuits in life. I wanted to give up tonight, but I'm glad I kept trying. I've wanted to give up all year, and in many ways I have for good and ill.
As I thought more about the night and Christmases past, I remembered how as a child, I always thought Christmas was the last day of the year. It just made sense to me,frankly, it still does now- to leave the best day for last, and then begin again. As an adult I think it still feels that way, but there is a dose of grace in those days after Christmas until the new year; days to reflect on what was felt, and to remember the hope of the Savior's birth, and to try and find ways to manifest, and reinforce that hope through acting in faith during the coming year.
I'll miss this year, if only because it is the last Christmas in the place that's been home to me the longest. But I'll also be glad of the newness of the coming year in the hopes that I can remember what I've felt today, and know there is hope at the end of it all somewhere.
There is a Savior come. There is reason to keep on trying.

Thea Bea is 3

I think I feel like Thea finally had a birthday where she didn't get gypped! Being the child with the last birthday in our series of May, June, July birthdays and in the middle of summer break has left her shorted the last two years. This year we really wanted to make sure she felt special.

That morning she woke up to the balloons and some presents on the counter. She was so surprised and kept saying, "It's MY birthday?"

She opened up some pjs and other clothes before we took her out to the place of her breakfast request-donuts, a girl after Johann's heart.

After donuts we took her to target to pick out bedding because she still only had her little crib comforter as her blanket for her big girl bed. She was cleverly adorable in the store saying things like, "It's my birthday? I get to get something on my birthday? I'm such a happy birthday girl," which of course meant she didn't leave with just bedding.

That night we had Red Robin for dinner then had cupcakes at the house and she opened the other presents she had.

One of the things she asked for for her birthday was to do another bed movie night where we move Henry's mattress into the tv room with their bedding so they can watch a movie in bed "like at a hotel," as she put it.

 The next morning she dragged her new bedding with her everywhere :-)


The big time event for her birthday came later when we rented a boat on Big Bear Lake and spent the late morning and early afternoon with grandpad, abuela, uncle Kaleb and Apollo out on the lake with snacks and hot chocolate per her request.

It was a lot colder than we though even though we tried to go prepared but the kids still had a lot of fun and still mention it to this day.

Once we finished it was still afternoon so we went to the nature center in Big Bear and let the kids run around before we headed down the mountain home.

 The kids would take turns playing on the giant xylophone and dancing on the stage.

The kids were nice and tired once we got home and we feel safe in saying Thea had a great third birthday. She asked almost daily for a month afterwards if it was her birthday again, followed by asking when would it be her birthday again and can she be the birthday girl. =)

We love our little miss Thea. She is starting some of the sass but she still loves to run up, squeeze you and plant a big kiss and an 'I love you' just when you need it during the day. She's the only girl with two brothers and soon to be three male cousins so it's good she knows her own mind and isn't as easily intimidated at Henry was at her age. I think her greatest dream would be to be on a permanent vacation, sleeping in hotels, eating breakfast in bed, going to fun attractions and having us all piled together. I'm so glad she's part of our family. <3 p="">

!Leo is 1!

Four months later and I'm finally posting that Leo, did in fact, turn 1 this past June. 

Behold the cuteness and the end of babyness and the emergence into toddlerhood. 

The weekend of his birthday we had a little family party here at the house.

Henry had to get in on making a decoration or two.

Birthday boy with his presents and some blowup animals since any balloon he sees he tries to pop with his teeth.

We had some pizza before the party because it was Henry's end of the season party for soccer so once we got home we were able to get right to it.

My nephew Apollo being a ham/mad scientist.

Between Henry, Thea and Apollo's help, Leo made short work of getting through his presents and then it was time for cupcakes and happy birthday. I need to upload the video of us singing to him because he has such a confused, "I should be happy right?" look on his face the whole time. 

I'd say 1/4 ended up in his mouth, 1/2 on the floor and 1/4 all over his body.

A little bit about Leo since he's been 1. He started walking maybe two or three weeks before his first birthday but wasn't really super stable doing it until a little after. He says 'mama' 'dada' 'nah nah' for night night, bye, hi and his favorite is 'shoes' which sounds like 'sszzzzhhhhhooooosssss' but it's the word he says most consistently and distinctly.
It makes sense he loves to say shoes because he wants to be outside all the time. He also likes getting in the van to go pretty much anywhere, as long as it's before nightfall. He still gets upset about driving at night. Half the time he'll fall asleep, the other half he'll just scream and I have to sit back with him and sometimes nurse him.
Yup, he's still nursing. I have tried to night time ween him with no success, partially due to no diligence on my part. I tried to sleep train him to go down in his crib and sleep there and he screamed and gagged himself into throwing up four times, for two and a half hours. So he's still in our bed for half of the night/morning. Basically what I'm saying is he is the typical indulged youngest. I'm hoping once the kitchen remodel is done at the end of October I can work with him to get him sleeping the night in the crib so we can eventually move him out of our room.
He's gotten a lot better about screaming in the last month or so. It use to be every second he was unhappy or not getting what he wanted he screamed until I nursed him or he got what he wanted. Now he's more easily engaged in a toy or something else but we still have our days. He'll even go around the house and play with toys or look for something to get into.He's still a good little cuddler and has not slowed down on sprouting teeth. Henry had maybe 4 at his age. He likes eating, especially whatever we have, and eggs are probably his favorite. He also loves climbing on the table, sigh. He loves the chickens, Daniel Tiger, getting scared, scribble scrabbling and following his siblings around and occasionally harassing them. Kid definitely goes for what he wants, no matter who has it. Still loves mommy the most but he will actually stay with daddy or grammy if there is some distraction. He's finally coming into a little personality and it's mostly mischievous, silly and inquisitive. Should be interesting to see how the three very different personalities work together.

While I like to say "three broke me," and I mean, it did in a lot of lacking sanity ways, it has also humbled me and made me realize how special each individual is and how much I love each and every one of these kiddos for who they are. I'm so glad we have our little Leo lion in our family. It wouldn't be nearly as full of fun or love without him.

And lest I forget, Thea wore the birthday hat the rest of the party after Leo because whooooo's birthday was next but this little girl!