Christmas 2013

Christmas was good.  I have pictures. Somewhere.  Actually, it might just be one very long video.  Shawn and I have taken up the tradition (from my family) of eating breakfast before opening presents or peeking in stockings.  We decided on Costco muffins, orange juice, and eggnog (rice nog this year, haha) as our Christmas morning breakfast.  Because they are easy, and we decided Costco muffins are not particularly healthy but are okay if we eat them once a year...I think.  We, once again, wrapped 2 or 3 presents, and the rest went into the nesting boxes we have come to love.  The kids love to find the "key" and tell everyone which box is for who.  They loved the presents that came in the mail all month from family members!  Somehow, we still made quite the mess.

Christmas Eve we went to our friends' house for dinner and put on the Nativity with them.  That was a lot of fun too.  They have the cutest, most social and articulate 2 yr. old ever.  My kids love to go over to their house. 

I did not get to do all the fun things I looked up.  I wanted to do a "25 days of Christmas" kind of thing where we do something fun or Christmas-related every day.  Turns out, I was too busy, tired, etc.  I didn't even make the snowflakes I wanted to hang from the ceiling, or go caroling :(.  We watched Mr. Krueger's Christmas, put up lights and decorations, dressed up and put on the Nativity, went to several Christmas parties (work, gymnastics, church, friends), and tried to minimize the sugary food and gift exchanges (part of my minimalist effort!).  I even sent out newsletters (okay- we're still sending a few!) I guess it was a success?  In a way.  I didn't have a nervous breakdown, didn't hate Christmas this year, and planned gifts out in a timely manner.  So I'm counting it as a success this year.  I found out my husband hates the tradition of stockings, and we're considering what we're going to do next year...  He also went on a last minute shopping trip, and afterward informed me that we are not doing that ever again.  We're going to be much more prepared next year.  (Ha!  I'll remind him of that next year in October sometime.)

Pregnancy Update

My midwife came to the house today because I'm now at 37 weeks.  This pregnancy has been completely different from any other.  First, I've only gained 25 lbs instead of my normal 50 or so.  I have exercised (almost) the whole time.  I have stopped, but then decided I better keep jogging.  Right now I'm mostly just walking, and not even a lot at that, but it's more than I've ever done with other pregnancies.  I'm eating way better...although I've slipped up a little during this holiday season.  But mostly, there's just no sugar/junk food/processed food in my house so I only have healthy choices even when I want something else.

Second, I have had no swelling, no fatigue, no headaches, no heartburn/indigestion and minimal acid reflux, no leg cramps, or most of the other unpleasant stuff that comes with pregnancy.  This is the first time the baby has been really engaged in my pelvis for the last few weeks though so when I'm walking and she moves she hits a nerve that drops me to my knees.  That usually happens several times a day, and people panic when it happens in public.  It's painful, and extremely annoying.  But it's the only problem I've had at all.  Surprising, and nice, for this stage of pregnancy.  And because the baby is so low, I can even breath fine.  Usually they are so high I wonder where my lungs could possibly be hiding.

So although I've never really cared before, and I've never done much for exercise after high school, I'm becoming a huge advocate for exercise and a good diet before and during pregnancy.  Because it's the only explanation I have for the difference.  I guess if I have another one I'll have to try it again and test it, but I can't imagine another reason it would be so vastly different...unless it's the awesome Hawaii weather :).

As a side note, my midwife thinks this baby is coming very soon.  I'm praying for after Christmas, and counting on after New Years' too.

The Centipede Episode

I've seen about 7 centipedes since I've lived here.  It's unnerving to find them in your house though, and this is the second one.  As mentioned on Facebook, the neighbor was singing off-key at the top of his lungs around 1:00 a.m., and I was not in a good mood.  Finally I woke Shawn up to go talk to the neighbor or the manager.  He's awesome like that.  So he was talking to the neighbor and I grabbed a broom to sweep something up when I spotted a centipede in the hall by my bedroom door.  I silently screamed and followed it with the broom, knowing there was no way I could kill it with a broom (because stomping on them with boots isn't even a sure bet).  I guided him a little with the broom, trying not to lose him, but he was mad- and fast, and slipped into the molding when I thought I had him pinned against the wall.

When Shawn got back he had to rip the molding off and find a knife and cut it in half (the only way we know to kill them instead of just injure them) while I didn't watch.  Poor guy was up half the night (not that he probably could have slept anyway knowing there was a centipede in the hall).

I just didn't sleep.  I couldn't really.  I scoured the internet for ways to keep them out of my house and yard.  I might not have cared so much if I hadn't already been bitten in my bed in the middle of the night, and then spent the next two weeks in pain.  As Shawn says, "There are some things I won't miss when I leave Hawaii."

Guilty Pleasures

What I should be doing= cleaning the house.  What I'm really doing= reading a book.

I remembered about books today.  That I like them.  Shawn happened to be able to go with me to library story time today because we didn't go on our normal day.  Usually, we sit and listen to the stories, color a picture, and then pick out books and go home.  I'm busily running after a 1 year old the whole time and keeping tabs on 4,6,and 10 year old boys who are grabbing books at random (except Demetri- who is supposed to look them up first and find what he wants) and asking if we can bring them home.  (We now limit picture books to age.  The 4 yr old gets 4 books, etc.)

Today, since Shawn was there to watch kids for a little while, I got to go...UPSTAIRS, to the adult section of the library (*squeal*)!  I was a little hurried, but I picked up three books and my house has been suffering for it ever since.  The kitchen is clean and that's the important part right?  I even had two people separately drop by today (of course, since I didn't clean much), and was able to let them in my house :).  So I figured maybe I could get away with reading for a while.  I asked for books about developing a music curriculum- like Kindermusic or something.  There wasn't anything like that so I'll have to peruse Amazon.  But there were a couple of about music and young kids in the home, and I'm always looking for new activities or ideas for singing, rhythm games, and anything else related.  They know all the ones I remember...and it's starting to get repetitive.  You can only play "Who Stole the Cookie From the Cookie Jar" so many times.  They like "The Telephone Game" and there are definitely some favorite songs.  They love to "throw people out the window"- haha.  But still.  Variety is good.  So I'm making a list :).

Oh, and Olie has been super duper excited all weekend because today he was able to get a library card.  The librarian told him he could have one if he can sign his whole name, but he had to talk to Shawn and me first.  We decided he is old enough, and he has a place to put it (he got a wallet as a prize for losing his first tooth a month or two ago), so now he gets to be more responsible for his own books.  He borrowed a movie today too because he's been saving money (it costs $1.00 at our library).  He's been proudly showing his library card to anyone who would look at it :).  

And with that, I think I'll go back to my book!

Life With Less

I've been reading minimalist blogs again, and dreaming of a life with less stuff.  Inspired, I went through a kitchen drawer after one post (determining that I NEED a drawer organizer thingy to keep my whisk and potato masher from becoming entwined), cleaned out a cupboard, and cleared all the counters.  I liked that advice, to clear off all the counters in the kitchen.  It's a small kitchen, and it looks like there is way more space now.  I put all the stuff I never use in the guest room- a holding place for a few months to determine if I miss anything terribly.  Then I get to make another trip to Goodwill!

As my sister (who recently visited) can attest, I'm really not a minimalist.  I have a lot of stuff.  Can you be a minimalist with 4-5 kids?  I have a lot of books, and a lot of blankets.  Boxes full of my husband's stuff (I'm not sure what exactly is in them), boxes of cds and vhs tapes, many boxes of clothes, and lots of swimming and beach paraphernalia.  So, I'm not a minimalist.  But can I call myself an "aspiring minimalist"?  I hope to eventually clear my closets of most of it.  Except the kids' clothes.  It's too valuable to me to be able to pass them down.  But they can certainly have less of them :).

On that note, we have pared down for Christmas this year.  No toys, just useful things the boys will appreciate.  This comes after my frustration of having bought toys for birthdays that were used for a couple of weeks and then never touched again.  The toy drawers are hardly touched, except to pull out everything in search of more cars.  I'm now an advocate for games and other things/activities that promote family involvement/time together.  And I adore the idea of experiences as gifts (unfortunately, most of the ones I would give are out of our price range right now).  Someday.

I Had Better Write Now, Before The Holiday Season Overtakes Me.

Sorry, no pictures to share right now.  My sister left me with a few, and I have a couple of our backyard makeover, but not on this computer at this moment.  I will try to post them.  But, when I wait for the time to find and upload the pics, I somehow don't get around to writing for a really long time...as you may have noticed.

So- recent events:  My awesome sister and bro-in-law came and magically transformed our tiny yard into something usable and pretty.  Yay!  Eating dinner out there with the tiki torches lit is now my children's favorite family activity.  We also went around and saw some fun stuff while they were here- like the Pali lookout, the Byodin Temple, and of course, we went to several beaches :).  Great fun, and I'm so glad they could come out!  Oh, and did I mention my sister also cleaned out my nursery (formerly the junk room) and made me get rid of a bunch of clothes from high school?!  It was great.  I love that room now.  And it was an inspiration.  I'm continuing to get rid of clothes I never wear, and going through the boys' clothes again too.  I'm also just putting random "things" into a large trash bag and stashing it in the closet to see if I'll miss them over the next 6 months.  If I don't need anything in the bags, I can get rid of them, right?!

Currently, I'm 34 weeks along, and no longer sleeping, due to a ramped up case of RLS.  It's okay, I have a new mantra. "6 more weeks, 6 more weeks."   Then I probably won't sleep for the next year anyway...

I'm also looking up fun traditions for Christmas (usually for hours in the middle of the night, since I can't sleep anyway.)  I'll make a list with links when I'm done :).  And, trying out Mark Bittman recipes.  I made homemade hummus today, and bean burgers.  The hummus was gone within minutes.  The burgers, on the other hand, were force fed to my children as I promised to try a different recipe next time.  The appeal was that they took 10 minutes to make, and I love fast and easy meals.  But I didn't have a food processor so I used my Vitamix, which made them too soupy, so I added cornmeal....yeah, well, they were edible...barely.

Everyone is well and happy.  We're very blessed.  I'm going to at least try (for the first time since I married Shawn) to produce a Christmas card/family news letter.  No promises.  I'm just going to actually make the attempt.

Still Here

I had a couple of blog posts, which are now very outdated, but Blogger wouldn't let me post them.  This is just a test to see if I can post now.

I don't have any decent pictures of anything.  I haven't pulled out a camera in three or four months.  I can't think of any news.  We're just plugging along.  We've been to the beach, gotten a few house projects done, had a great time with my in-laws when they came for fall break, and I'm in my last trimester, so I guess now I'm just trying to keep busy and not to be "waiting." 

I'm on the hunt for more Christmas traditions, and well, traditions in general.  Shawn's considering staying in the military, and if he does, we may be moving a lot more than I'd planned.  Traditions can help life to be more "normal" no matter where you are.

What I’ve been up to in the past few months.

Slowing down.  No more cooking club.  About to be done with voice lessons.  Seriously looking into minimalism as a lifestyle but skeptical about how “low I can go” on the personal possessions with a house full of children.  Still- I have been throwing inanimate objects out right and left.  I try to keep the ones that holler when I pick them up :).

Homeschooling.  Not tons of creative stuff right now.  Just getting through the basics.

Gymnastics.  Because that is pretty much what life revolves around right now—sad as that may be.

Growing a baby.  20 weeks along today.  Don't feel bad if you didn't know.  This is also an announcement.  Not my favorite picture, or shirt, and no makeup, but it would take so long to get one I like…

Playing interior decorator.  Well, just basically trying to make my house look nice and put together.  *Sigh* I have a feeling this is going to take a while.  

Reading.  For the sake of my sanity.  And because the more stuff I throw out of my house, the less messy it gets and the more time I feel like I can spend reading.  Pretty much all homeschooling, pregnancy, and religious-type books.

And in the interest of organizing and minimalizing- we have redone the boys' closet.  Actually, I took everything out of their rooms except their beds.  No toys, no clothes.  They do each have a drawer up there where they can put their "treasures."  It's basically the only safe place in the house, where I won't come throw things out...but it has to fit.  This closet is downstairs--a spare one I happened to have hanging around in the laundry room.  Convenient huh?  And while it probably doesn't add much to the decor, these are the all clothes of 4 boys in one closet, right next to the washer and dryer.  No more endless trips up the stairs to gather all the dirty laundry, or getting down on all fours to inspect under the bed, only to tell the boys that shoving everything under the bed does NOT constitute cleaning the room! We pared clothes down, and may do it again; they don't wear half these clothes.  I put baby blankets and extra towels on the very top.  They each get one towel till I'm ready to wash them.  I had the hardest time getting them to stop using a new towel every day, so I finally just put them out of reach.

Midsummer Update

Cooking club every Friday has been a hit!  After deviled eggs we learned ants-on-a-log and fruit salad, dirt cups, personal pizzas and smoothies, and today was yogurt parfaits- because it was easy. 

 Science class has been fun too- for the kids.  I thought it was an overkill, but everyone apparently liked the 30 ft. homemade slip n' slide.  Crazy people.

And these are just bonus pictures, because life is fun.  Pushups with Dad, and the Polynesian Cultural Center (the main character of the night show).

Here's The Plan, Man

About the time I had several rowdy boys (not mine) jumping around on the furniture I decided we needed a little structure this summer.  The kids in the neighborhood are bored.  When they get bored, some of the kids get together and bully other kids, pick on each other, or just get cranky, and wild. 

So, today was COOKING CLUB.  Every Friday at 10:00.  And we had so much interest that I think we’ll have to split into two groups, an older group and a younger one.  I didn’t think the older boys would come in force like that.  We started with something simple: deviled eggs.  Easy right?  Try teaching10 kids how to make them while the baby screams and holds on to your legs.  (I finally sedated him with a bottle.)  But it all worked out with minimal mess, and they loved them.  I’ve had requests for pie and kabobs, but in order to preserve my waning sanity, next week is actually much easier than either.  I’ve noticed kids have a hard time waiting for things to cook or set, so before I try anything where they have a prolonged wait, I will have to think up some crafts to fill up the waiting time. 

I’m currently trying to decide on a time for story time in the park :), and art.  The outside/water games will be a little more random, and more organized pillow fights have been requested.  I’ve promised the kids I’d post a schedule on my door at the beginning of the week so they’ll know when stuff is happening, with a list of stuff they need to bring, if anything.  What have I gotten myself into?!  At least my kids are happy, and will probably have plenty to do.  Now excuse my while I scour the internet for creative ideas that will help me survive the summer.

A Fun Trip Home

We had an awesome, and effective, trip home.  It was great.  Two family reunions, so we pretty much got to see everybody (except my brother Kyle who is on a mission :)) and family pictures with my husband’s side of the family.  We did 5 generation pictures with my great grandma, and visited with her for a while.  Lots of fires, marshmallow roasts, four-wheeling, and trampoline jumping.  Massages from my mother-in-law, and the best company in the world.  I helped my sister clean so she could move and got to hang out with my adorable nieces, met my new nephew :), went to track districts, caught up with a couple of friends, helped clean out the basement, and generally had a great time. Time flew and it wasn’t nearly long enough, but I’ll take what I can get. 

On the way there we flew standby on a C-17 (military cargo plane).  A new experience for sure, and very different from a commercial flight.  The 13 hour drive to Idaho from Travis AFB was…well, much longer than 13 hours.  I would have to think about whether I’d do things the same way again.

On the way home we stopped at the Ramada Inn by the Spokane airport.  I picked it for three reasons: the shuttle to the airport, the swimming pool (with waterslide) and the in-house restaurant.  We didn’t have a car so we weren’t going to go somewhere else to eat, and I wanted the kids to be entertained.  They were only in the pool for about 3 hours, haha.  The food was great, for a hotel restaurant, and didn’t give me indigestion as many before have.  They also had enough food for my boys.  Often the “kid’s menu” comes with little enough food that the boys could each eat two of the meals.  The hotel had no problem with all of our family being in one room, and a crib was there for us.  I think it’s my new favorite stopover in Spokane.  Accommodating and convenient.

Flying Allegiant was much better than anticipated too.  We brought all our own food, and water, because their prices were ridiculous for both, but that was expected.  They seated our family together because we had little kids, the flight was on time, and they didn’t have a problem with my one-year-old constantly walking up and down the aisle.  (It was that or listen to him scream.)  It all worked out, and the price was great.

Time to plan the next vacation!

Life in PICTURES

 ART time with neighbor kids.  Had a hard time finding a pic without other people's kids in it.  Turns out all kids love art.  Who knew?

 One of our more recent beach adventures.  Paradise Cove :)

 Yeah, he pretty much froze in this position for the entire time.  At least he wasn't screaming this time.  That would be normal for a beach trip for him.

 Pinewood Derby car testing.  Making sure it's fast enough!

 Oh look, a picture I don't HATE!  Taken by the up-and-coming photographer, Demetri.  So glad I don't have to develop rolls of film anymore with tons of random photos taken by kids.  On the other hand, now they take hundreds!

 Our Easter egg hunt.  He's just waiting till it's over now so he can eat the candy.

 Olie was a little more into finding all the eggs.

 Dad hid Demetri's eggs really really well.

 It took forever.

Xander, cleaning up.  Actually, he thinks these are balls and throws them all over the place.

For the most part, this is in chronological order.  Homeschool, Beach, Pinewood Derby, Easter.  Yep, that's what we've been up to.

Last week. Well, the memorable parts of it anyway :)

We’ve had some interesting times lately.  Wednesday we went to Paradise Cove with friends and swam with the turtles.  The kids explored, and the baby sat in a sort of stunned/comatose state as he warily watched the water and sand around him.  Demetri got a little careless and jumped from rock to rock instead of slowly climbing them, resulting in a pretty good fall.  I thought for sure it was another trip to the ER as an adult helped him get back to me.  His foot was covered in blood.  But after it was cleaned up, we saw it was just a shallow cut.  It didn’t stop him from screaming into a towel for the next 20 minutes, but I guess that’s just part of his dramatic personality. 

Friday we had “friend homeschool,” as a couple friends like to join us most Fridays.  We wrote beach stories for our books, and now I need to print the pictures of the turtle for them.  Then we played math computer games.  More neighborhood children wandered in and listened to Pandora while I cleaned.  A pillow fight eventually developed, and I had to stop cleaning to make some ground rules. 

1.      Anyone who hits the fan, tv, etc is out till the next round. 

2.      You can’t hit anyone who doesn’t have a pillow. 

3.      If you drop your pillow or sit down on the couch you’re out until the next round. 

4.      If you’re too hard on the little kids and they get hurt you’re out. 

5.      The baby is a bomb.  Anyone who touches him is out.

They had a blast!  We had to stop for a mandatory water break because I could see the sweat dripping from the older boys.  All in all, I think we had 12 children and a whole lot of pillows in the living room.  They did a great job at following the rules!  While they were waiting for Uncle Shawn to get home (because I told them he could whip them all in a pillow fight) we ended up doing karaoke to Disney songs on Youtube.  And the Hokey Pokey.  You should have seen the “too-cool-for-you” 8-12-year-old boys doing the Hokey Pokey.  It was all for Xander.  Sweet kids :).

Saturday one of our (8 yr old) friends came over and made bread with me.  Then we all made personal pizzas.  During lunch he exclaimed, “This is like my second home!”  And my kids told him he was welcome to live here forever and be a brother. Hmm...do I have a say in this? Haha.