First Day of School

Jack is finished with grade school and on to Junior High.  I remember being in Junior High, so it feels strange for hi to be there already.  After a week, he loves it.  He's been good about managing his time so far, let's hope starting with good habits keeps them up. 

 

He still humors me about first day of school pictures.

 

The girls and I walked him to school.  The first day was for seventh graders only.  The student council had music blaring and balloons as the kids entered.  

  

Bella is going to a new school this year, we moved just outside of our old boundaries.  She is in fourth grade this year and was excited for a new experience!

She gets to ride the bus this year.  When we moved into our first house in Lehi seven years ago, it was just before Jack started kindergarten.  We had been in Midvale before and Jack loved seeing school buses and city buses and such, like any little five year old boy.  Well, when he found out that we lived too close to the school for a bus and we would be walking he was really disappointed.  Funny that now we live where we are too close to his school for a bus, but his little sisters will get to ride, life is unfair! ;)

Trip to Idaho Falls

In early August we went to Idaho Falls for Nate's 20th high school reunion.  This is the first time that we have gone and really walked around the river and done fun things there.  Admittedly, it is usually winter when we visit, so this was a nice change.

There is a sign for the Miskin Scraper company just north of Idaho Falls that we took the kids pics in front of.  They had been swimming prior to this and look a little tired.

This is on the river, we walked all around.  They were having a duck race and farmers market that day, so there was a lot to see and do.

 

Dropping the ducks into to river.

They blocked off part of the river so the ducks could be caught at the end.  This made the current slower and the ducks went pretty slow.  It was fun to see them all though.

Nate had a good reunion and it was a nice little getaway before school started.  The kids got to see places their dad lived when he was little and schools he went to.  We also saw a baseball game and went to some parks.  The kids loved seeing the grandparents for a bit as well.  Nice way to cap the summer/.

New Family Pics

 

 

Our friend Sanae came out in July and we were lucky enough to have some family pics taken by her.  She does an amazing job!  I have a lot of blogging I keep meaning to do but haven't done.  I think it may be better to sum it all up.  Isabella turned nine at the beginning of the summer and Tessa turned one three days later.  We then moved into our new house.  We got settled in then went to Oregon for a week to help my mom with a yard sale.  While we were gone Nate painted the garage floor.  We had two state baseball tournaments to attend in Salem in July.  I turned 35.  We had a few family BBQ's mixed in there and hope to have one more before it gets cold.  We went to Idaho Falls for Nate's 20th high school reunion.  Jack started football.  Then he started middle school.  Bella started fourth grade at a new school and loves it so far.  The little girls and I miss the big kids while they are gone.  That sums it all up so far. 

Spring Break 2012

The kids and I drove out to California to visit my grandma this year for spring break. Jack and Isabella hadn't been out since the summer of 2007.  Sophie and I flew out in March of 2010.  It was clearly time for a visit.

My cousin and her two kids got to stop by and visit, which was so fun, we hadn't met her kids before and they are so cute.

After they left we hid Easter eggs all over the front yard.  Now, my grandma has a lovely big garden-filled back yard which would be great for hunting Easter eggs, except for one thing-we discovered a snake in the back yard the night before.  We managed to see it three times, and while it was certainly frightened of us, no one really wanted to reach their hands into various bushes.

We hid the eggs again and again until everyone had a chance to hide them and find them.  We managed to find all of the hidden eggs-no small feat.  The weather was beautiful and I could have spent all day outside.

The next day the kids and I drove through Berkeley to go into San Francisco.  We went over the Bay Bridge where we encountered an really bad accident.  A small pickup had a run in with a van and the pickup lost and left it's innards over three lanes of traffic.  There were all sorts of people trying to pry open the drivers side door which was mashed shut and the passenger was clearly injured and on the ground on the other side of the pickup.  The accident must have just happened as no emergency assistance was there yet.  I tried to distract the kids from looking, but we moved by so slow.  After we passed the scene, we headed across the bay bridge, this bridge is the big one.

  It goes across to Treasure Island (man made) and then into the city.  We drove through San Francisco and to the Golden Gate Bridge.

  There is a vista point at the far side where we got out and walked over part of the bridge. 

 I had Tessa in the wrap, and I don't know if Sophie could have made it the whole way.  Then we headed over the Richmond bridge.  Sophie really wanted to choose where we ate and I thought maybe she would see somewhere we hadn't been before and pick that-but no, she chose Applebee's.

Tuesday we planned to go to Tilden Park to ride the carousel and see the little farm and such, but it was raining and when we got there everything was closed.  In a bit of desperation we called Nate and had him google and few things so we could decide on an activity.  We decided to go to the Exploratorium in San Francisco and headed back into the city.

  It is a museum of science and experience and the senses and all sorts of fun things.  The kids loved it.  I think all day wouldn't have been long enough to see and try out everything.  We stayed until it closed and then walked around back to the Palace of Fine Arts.

  Jack took about 400 pictures in our two days in the city-I will let him have the camera more often, I certainly don't take that many.

Everyone was getting hungry, so I drove down to Fisherman's Wharf and we got out to find somewhere to eat.  The kids were all for Subway or In-and-Out, but I vetoed on the basis of going somewhere we can't go here at home.  We ate at Boudin, a sourdough bakery.  It was really yummy, Jack and I are big fans of sourdough and could have eaten twice as much I am sure.  The girls shared a cheese pizza on sourdough crust and it was so yummy.  

We then walked down to Pier 39 and went out to see the sea lions laying on the docks. 

 It was a bit rainy, so no real crowds.  Their was a giant cruise ship in port and the kids were totally fascinated by how big it was.  We got some salt water taffy and cookies on the pier and bought a few t-shirts and headed back to the car.  We then headed over to Lombard Street.  We drove down it and then through the city before heading back to my grandma's house.

The next day we stayed around my grandma's.  I hemmed some pants for her and we talked and talked.  I love hearing all her stories and histories and anecdotes.  I think we stayed up past eleven every night talking.

  She has all sorts of stories about my dad and his childhood that are new each time I visit.  She has a lot of family history gathered and knows a lot about her ancestors.  I love visiting her and love taking the kids there.

  California at this time or year is so lush and green and I always wonder why I don't live there.  The kids played with toys I played with when I was small.  They were reluctant to wander around the backyard too much with the garter snake back there. 

 They played dominoes and found an old ping pong set and made up games.  Sophie loves Grandma Penny and snuggled her and played with all the dolls and stuffed animals she could find.  

We had to head home on Thursday and drove through snow in the Sierra Nevada's.  The whole drive home is one long day in the car.  We were all happy to see Nate and be in our own beds, but all want to go back soon.

Goodbye Old House

Last fall we decided we were bursting at the seams in our house.  Tessa is in our room, the girls are in bunk beds, which is fine, except for the ceiling fan that keeps the room cool in the summer is right next to the top bunk. And with the kids getting bigger, the house seemed to be getting smaller.  So Nate and I started looking into new housing options.  We visited various model homes and looked at a few things for sale here in Lehi.  In November we decided to build and picked out a floor plan and a lot.  Then right after Thanksgiving we put our house up for sale.  We thought with the holidays, we really wouldn't have any interest in the house until after the new year.  And knowing that house building is a bit of a slow process, we thought we had a lot of time to worry about selling the house.  Well, just before Christmas, about three weeks after we put it up for sale we had a buyer.  We went to Oregon for Christmas and then came back home and put ourselves into moving mode.

  We packed up all non-essentials and stored them.  Then I found a place to rent and we were out of our house by the end of January.  After we had cleaned everything out we took an opportunity to go say goodbye to our home of almost seven years.  It was good to hear everyone's favorite memories and think of all the changes we underwent as a family.  We moved into the house with two little kids and left with four.  We tried to improve things in the house and yard.  We made many great friends and had great neighbors. 

We are excited to move onto the next chapter and see our new house when it is finished!  We have been blessed to be happy and close wherever we are!

Busy October

It seems we have been busy every day this month. I forget how fall flies by with sports and school and the days getting shorter on top of that.  We have been filling our days with gymnastics, football, school, sewing, playing, and spending time with good friends.

Tessa had her four month check up at the beginning of the month-how did that happen?

  She weighs in at 14 pounds and is doing great.  Despite all of Nate and my efforts to keep her a newborn, she has grown out of that stage and is becoming interested in the world around her.  I have soaked up every moment of her babyhood thus far, leaving a much shabbier state of things around the house.

Sophie is the firework she always is, she is a mini-Jack in so many ways.  She wants to have fun all the time, she is always seeing what angle will work for her and going after that.  She has been such a trooper at all her siblings sporting events.  I did pack her a special backpack and get her a special chair to help with that, and it has worked.

She colors and reads and snacks and plays.  She also had a checkup and a few shots this month.  She is almost 40 inches tall and about 35 pounds.  Jack has been QB on his football team this season-follow progress of that at In The Zone.

  They have finished their regular season with a 6-1 record and are ready to head into the playoffs.  Bella is halfway through her first season of competition gymnastics.

She is doing really well and gaining such confidence in the process.  When she doesn't perform how she thinks she should, she comes off the floor and details what she will need to work on next time.  Excuse my commentary, I underestimate my loudness often.

Now we are getting all settled on Halloween Costumes and plans for the holidays.  It seems once you hit October, everything moves at lightening speed.  I am still sticking with the Want, Need, Wear, Read plan for the kids Christmas gifts, it has really simplified shopping over the past few years. I need to get started on that.

Baptism

Isabella was baptized on June 4th of this year.  It was a bit hazy as Tessa was so new, but I don't want to miss recording the event.  Tessa was also blessed right after the baptism.  It was a really good day.  Bella was really excited and was smiling all day long.

It will always be special that these sisters share this day!   Both of them looked so beautiful!  Vanella has some more pics on her blog as well.  Everyone was excited to see their aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends that attended.  After the baptism and blessing, Tessa and I went home and took a nap while everyone else went out to eat.  We missed those of you who weren't here!

Results of the poll! Welcome Tessa June! And how I saved 900 dollars!

If you haven't heard, because I am a slow blogger. We had a baby girl on the 1st of June.  I need to record the story somewhere, so here we go. If you aren't a fan of birth stories, feel free to skip.

This pregnancy was a bit rough I would say.  Near the end of January, my legs and feet began to swell.  It was so early, I didn't even realize the epic proportions they got to until just this past week when all the swelling was finally gone.  And Nate kept commenting how I seemed to be carrying this baby differently.  Like, way in front, like a beach ball.  Anyway, the swelling was beginning to do me in.  I was particularly alarmed when one leg and foot seemed to be soo much more swollen than the other.  I called my doctor and finally cried mercy.  I hadn't been having other complications, but it felt like I was walking on glass and no amount of laying down was making any difference.  Dr. Smith told me to come in the next morning, the 1st, and we would start an induction.  Oh how I was so torn about this!  I have always gone into labor before and really believe that it's generally best to let your body do what it needs to do, but realized that things weren't going to get any better until the baby was born.  It was very strange showing up at the hospital not in labor.  I actually looked around a little and saw where things were. 

When we were all admitted the nurse and I talked a little bit about my last three births and how things had gone.  Usually I have short labors and everything goes pretty smoothly.  I told her because my last baby was so fast, I had been reading up and preparing to not have an epidural.  But that was just because I had been so fast with Sophie, I wanted to make sure I knew what to expect.  I had read a book on Hypnobirthing and felt so so about that.  Some of it was really great, some I just had a hard time going along with-having been there done that.  Anyway, turns out the nurse is a Hypnobirthing instructor and was very excited I had read the book and seemed to know a bit about it.  I did point out that I had never had pitocin before or been induced, so we would see how things went so far as pain management goes.  She then set up the pitocin and off and away we were.  For a while, contractions were pretty mild and manageable.  Then they suddenly picked up and were very hard and about two minutes apart.  We had the pitocin at really low level because I am pretty sensitive to meds.  My lower back was really hurting, more than I remember with labor before. So the nurse made the bed into a chair-like position and had Nate press hard on my knees to relieve the pressure in my back.  This worked really well and I think he kept at it for almost two hours.  She also brought in a birthing ball in the event I wanted to sit on that.  Every time I would change position though, the contractions really intensified, so I was not so much into sitting on the ball or moving a whole lot.  At that point I was about five centimeters dilated and the nurse said the baby was posterior and needed to turn around to be born more easily.  I was ready for an epidural at this point, but the anesthesiologist was in a c-section and I would need to wait about an hour.  I then turned around in the bed to lean over the back and try to get the baby to flip over.  The nurse and Nate put a lot of pressure on my lower back and helped me really breathe and focus.  I also got a little fentanyl to take the edge off and relax and they turned off the pitocin.  My body took over contracting on its own, and those contractions were much easier to deal with that the pitocin

Nate never slipped or spilled the beans, I am so proud of him!  I had been prepared for her to be pretty messy because there was meconium in my water when I broke, but she was surprisingly clean.  I was also prepared for her to be pretty big, which she was, 8 lbs, 11 ozs. and 20 inches long, our biggest baby.  She was so strong when she was born, they nurses all commented how she grabbed my gown and lifted her head and looked side to side.  She had a great loud cry and had no complications due to the meconium or anything else.  I held her for a long time before she got all cleaned up and diapered.  I have heard there is quite an adrenaline rush after natural childbirth and would say that is true!  I think a lot of it has to do with the relief that the majority of the pain is over and my excitement over finding out the baby was a girl after all those months, and the sense of wonderment that I didn't die!  Because part of you thinks you just might for a time there.  Even delivering the placenta didn't bother me.  My main nurse was very excited, Nate was pretty sure I made her day.  She said I did such a good job, no screaming or hitting or freaking out.  She was really complementary about how in control I was and how relaxed I remained.  It was nice to hear because my inner dialogue was not that calm.  She said I had all the hard things, pitocin, posterior baby, having to wait for the doctor, but I did a great job working through them.  She was clearly the nurse that needed to be there.  She was with us most of the labor and really kept me focused and calm.  I am not really relaxed most of the time, so I think she had a magic touch getting me to be so.  I really trusted her and am grateful she was there.  She saw us again just as we were getting discharged and was still really excited about the delivery.  Anyway, so that is the birth story-it was exciting and I do feel a sense of accomplishment after it all.

Then the next two days were spent in the hospital going over names.  Nate and I really seem to wait until the last minute to decide.  We had suggestions from all the nurses and all our visitors.  I made a list and we went through all combinations we could on that.  The fact that she was born in June helped decide her middle name.  Isabella really liked June as well.  And Tessa seemed to fit.  It's always hard for me to name a baby, it's such a major thing!  Anyway, we managed to fill out the paperwork for the birth certificate before we left, which was the goal.  I ate about 20 packages of Lorna Doone cookies in the hospital and had more Fresca and Orange/Cranberry juice that I can admit to.  Nate took the rest of the week off and would come hang out-which was really great.  My mom and the kids came up and they all love Tessa and want to hold her as much as possible.  Alta View now does a dinner for two the night before you leave, which was nice.  You choose from a nice menu and they bring in a table that is all decorated and fancy for the hospital.  Also they give you a plush robe.  I am sure all these things are on the bill somewhere, but it was nice.  I had to take lasix to get the swelling to go away in my legs and feet and I can't believe the difference.  They had been swollen for so long, I had just become accustomed.  Now to see my normal feet is a bit shocking! 

Tessa is a great baby, she nurses well, sleeps well, and is super snuggley.  She has had to get her bilirubin tested more than any of my other kids, but isn't jaundiced, I think we are just being way cautious.  She still seems pretty little even though she's the biggest of the four.  She has the lightest hair at birth, but the least as well.  She is pretty alert and strong.  We are so blessed to have her in our family and I love how quickly you can't remember not having each child there. 

Easter 2011

Easter was really quite close to Jack's birthday this year.  That hasn't happened since the year he was born.  I believe I came home from the hospital with him on the evening of Easter.  It doesn't fall on his birthday until he is 57 years old.  He made me look that up. 

Anyway, we had a nice Easter dinner together at Tim and Vanella's new house.  They were gracious enough to host and I was really grateful!  We had a lot of food as usual.  The cousins all had a good time getting together and playing.  Sophie prays all the time to see all her cousins, she means everybody, she gets confused about aunts and uncles I think.  Tim and Vanella have a back yard with a rock retaining wall and some deep grass.  They haven't got their mower up and going yet, so it made great fun for the Easter egg hunt. 

 Nate and Cassie and Alice hid eggs.  We manage to find all but one of them.  They were candy filled eggs rather than hard boiled, so no one was too worried about it. Even the easy ones were a bit challenging and Jack and Bella had quite a hard time.  A good time was had by all and we still have Easter candy hanging around.