Ah yes, ahem. About that blog. Well, I wanted to write several
times in May, but May was a tough month. Shawn was gone for the
entirety of it. In Singapore. He had fun, I survived it, and the kids
didn't forget who he is. Then I have had company (different people) for
a month. I like company, so this is good. We tried/cooked new foods,
went to the beach,/waterpark/pool a lot, did Pearl Harbor/the PCC, went
to the temple with my whole family (that was pretty cool!), went
paddleboarding (thanks Miguel!), more beach, got to sit around a little
and talk story with some of my favorite people, and just generally had a
blast. I also went to the Army ball- which was a nice change of
pace.
This weekend my sister-in-law was visiting. We
went to Nanakuli for an hour to get some sun and ocean time before
going bowling, and then Saturday we managed to get a few hours in at
Pokai Bay. Hope she didn't mind the chaos of our house and trying to
get ready with so many small people. They are very sad that everyone is
gone, and want to know when we can go to Idaho (and can there please be
snow).
Lorenzo started scooting a few weeks ago, and in
all the mayhem, I'm not even sure I have a video of it. He also has two
teeth. That all happened in the middle of the night, for about two
weeks. I remember, because I was up with him, pacing, and he under no
circumstances wanted to sit or sleep horizontally. There were a few
rough nights, but it passed, and he's mostly back to his bouncy, happy
self. He loves the ocean. He loves poi.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Is It Still May?
The month is creeping by. It's going a little too slow for my taste. On the other hand, children grow up so quickly that I should just relish each day. I was thinking about how my kids are doing, and how they are changing. This, is pretty much copy/pasted right out of my journal, which obviously hasn't been updated much:
Demetri has been a huge help lately. He's done a lot of chores and helping with the baby. He's getting great at baking bread. He has been holding the baby for me at night after the other kids are in bed, and putting him to sleep while I clean and fold laundry. It helps that I've let him watch old (1940's) movies with me while doing so. He is pretty interested in magic tricks right now. He has several magic books that he was given for various birthdays, and is starting to get some of the tricks down. He showed me two this evening that were fairly decent. He wants to sew a cape, and make a magician's hat.
For the last few months, Olie has been insisting that he doesn't like to read, and hasn't been looking at books during quiet time. This week he decided to read the Book of Mormon from start to finish (as did Teddy a few weeks ago) and today he lamented not being able to read chapter books yet. I told him he could probably try out a chapter book, so he grabbed a random one that was too hard, and was upset at all the words he couldn't read. I found a couple of our easiest, explained that if there were more than 5 words on a page that he didn't know it was probably too hard, but 5 or less was fine. He settled on The Boxcar Children and read 51 pages today (well- he was grounded and couldn't play outside so he read while all the other kids were playing in the neighbor's kiddie pool). He was so excited that he told everyone about how he can read chapter books now. Hope it doesn't wear off! On the flip side though, he usually does his chores very quickly but when I tried to get him to this evening he was too busy reading. He also took his book up to bed and started reading in bed. I had to turn lights off and take it away. He told me when he was finished with it he was going to read it over again and again, but I told him there are many more in the series that he can read. Then he wanted to make a reservation at the library, right now. Maybe tomorrow. I'm sure he'll remember.
Teddy is trying to keep up. He wants to do everything as well as his big brothers, which is probably why he can read so well, and why he is already working on multiplication tables. He still has some work to do in addition, but he just doesn't want to get left behind, so he's jumping the gun a little. So he's doing well in school, and I don't even have to do anything- he just does whatever his brothers are working on. He loves to cook, and really doesn't like it when I try to help. He reminds me every Friday that it's his turn to make dinner. He's not so great about getting chores done, but plays so well with Xander right now that I'm trying to let it slide a little and do some of his chores while he entertains the 2 year old. Some days that is quite the trick, and worth more to me than cleaning the living room and emptying the dishwasher.
Xander has moved from “I wuv oo mommy,” which I loved, to “I luff you mommy.” I love to hear the way their language changes as they grow. I'm always sad when it stops being cute and so little-sounding. He loves to play outside. In fact, whenever he talks to anyone on the phone, that is the first (and usually only) thing he tells them. “How are you Xander?” “I'm trying to go outside.” “I want to see if Tuti (his best friend) is home.” He adores his baby brother, so much that I have to be careful where I set him down. Xander will try to pick him up. Whenever Lorenzo cries, Xander runs to him and says “Don't cry Renzo!” or “Don't be a sad baby; be a happy baby.”
Lorenzo is 4 months old. I forgot how many llbs. 15? Bigger than any of the others at this age except Teddy. He props himself up on his elbows when you put him on his tummy, to see what he can see. He laughs at himself in the mirror, or talks to himself. He laughs delightedly at his brothers when they try to entertain him, so one of the sounds that makes him laugh is a snarl. Oh brother. At least it doesn't scare him. He likes to be tossed in the air, and he loves people. He doesn't cry much. UNLESS you put him in his car seat. Unfortunately, he ends up there all too often. I thought about quitting gymnastics because of it, but gymnastics has been so good for Demetri that I couldn't bring myself to do it. So we just switched our routine up a little so we're not driving home in rush-hour traffic. That helps. He bats at toys and grabs at everything he can get his little fingers around to stuff it in his mouth. That's only happened in the last few weeks. I have separated the hair of many a young woman from his hands recently. Someday they'll learn.
Demetri has been a huge help lately. He's done a lot of chores and helping with the baby. He's getting great at baking bread. He has been holding the baby for me at night after the other kids are in bed, and putting him to sleep while I clean and fold laundry. It helps that I've let him watch old (1940's) movies with me while doing so. He is pretty interested in magic tricks right now. He has several magic books that he was given for various birthdays, and is starting to get some of the tricks down. He showed me two this evening that were fairly decent. He wants to sew a cape, and make a magician's hat.
For the last few months, Olie has been insisting that he doesn't like to read, and hasn't been looking at books during quiet time. This week he decided to read the Book of Mormon from start to finish (as did Teddy a few weeks ago) and today he lamented not being able to read chapter books yet. I told him he could probably try out a chapter book, so he grabbed a random one that was too hard, and was upset at all the words he couldn't read. I found a couple of our easiest, explained that if there were more than 5 words on a page that he didn't know it was probably too hard, but 5 or less was fine. He settled on The Boxcar Children and read 51 pages today (well- he was grounded and couldn't play outside so he read while all the other kids were playing in the neighbor's kiddie pool). He was so excited that he told everyone about how he can read chapter books now. Hope it doesn't wear off! On the flip side though, he usually does his chores very quickly but when I tried to get him to this evening he was too busy reading. He also took his book up to bed and started reading in bed. I had to turn lights off and take it away. He told me when he was finished with it he was going to read it over again and again, but I told him there are many more in the series that he can read. Then he wanted to make a reservation at the library, right now. Maybe tomorrow. I'm sure he'll remember.
Teddy is trying to keep up. He wants to do everything as well as his big brothers, which is probably why he can read so well, and why he is already working on multiplication tables. He still has some work to do in addition, but he just doesn't want to get left behind, so he's jumping the gun a little. So he's doing well in school, and I don't even have to do anything- he just does whatever his brothers are working on. He loves to cook, and really doesn't like it when I try to help. He reminds me every Friday that it's his turn to make dinner. He's not so great about getting chores done, but plays so well with Xander right now that I'm trying to let it slide a little and do some of his chores while he entertains the 2 year old. Some days that is quite the trick, and worth more to me than cleaning the living room and emptying the dishwasher.
Xander has moved from “I wuv oo mommy,” which I loved, to “I luff you mommy.” I love to hear the way their language changes as they grow. I'm always sad when it stops being cute and so little-sounding. He loves to play outside. In fact, whenever he talks to anyone on the phone, that is the first (and usually only) thing he tells them. “How are you Xander?” “I'm trying to go outside.” “I want to see if Tuti (his best friend) is home.” He adores his baby brother, so much that I have to be careful where I set him down. Xander will try to pick him up. Whenever Lorenzo cries, Xander runs to him and says “Don't cry Renzo!” or “Don't be a sad baby; be a happy baby.”
Lorenzo is 4 months old. I forgot how many llbs. 15? Bigger than any of the others at this age except Teddy. He props himself up on his elbows when you put him on his tummy, to see what he can see. He laughs at himself in the mirror, or talks to himself. He laughs delightedly at his brothers when they try to entertain him, so one of the sounds that makes him laugh is a snarl. Oh brother. At least it doesn't scare him. He likes to be tossed in the air, and he loves people. He doesn't cry much. UNLESS you put him in his car seat. Unfortunately, he ends up there all too often. I thought about quitting gymnastics because of it, but gymnastics has been so good for Demetri that I couldn't bring myself to do it. So we just switched our routine up a little so we're not driving home in rush-hour traffic. That helps. He bats at toys and grabs at everything he can get his little fingers around to stuff it in his mouth. That's only happened in the last few weeks. I have separated the hair of many a young woman from his hands recently. Someday they'll learn.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The Pure Genius of Oil Pulling + Health Conscious Kids--And it has Nothing to Do With Health
Well, okay. I do oil pulling for the health benefits as well--and it really has helped. I have some terrible tooth pain and I'm hoping to avoid a root canal. Oil pulling helps immensely. It also has the awesome side effect (happy surprise!) of making my teeth whiter, and helping my smelly breath- which I've had a problem with for years. Yay.
My children are obsessing over health at the moment, probably because their mom does it. And they are still at the stage where they want to be just like me :). As I have worked on this tooth, Olie and Demetri have given up or minimized refined sugar with me, passed up pasta and other yummy things for dinner to have just a big salad, and most recently, started doing oil pulling with me. Today I set the timer for 15 minutes (none of them have actually made it that long until today), and handed out the spoonfuls of oil (I know, bleck!). Teddy sauntered up to me and bravely asked if he could try too (for the first time). With Shawn at work, a very asleep baby, and a usually quiet 2 yr old (unless riled up by big brothers), do you know what I had for 15 solid minutes? Silence. 15 minutes of total and complete silence. In my house. It was glorious. We should definitely do this every day. But I imagine the novelty will wear off fairly quickly. Still, one can dream.
My children are obsessing over health at the moment, probably because their mom does it. And they are still at the stage where they want to be just like me :). As I have worked on this tooth, Olie and Demetri have given up or minimized refined sugar with me, passed up pasta and other yummy things for dinner to have just a big salad, and most recently, started doing oil pulling with me. Today I set the timer for 15 minutes (none of them have actually made it that long until today), and handed out the spoonfuls of oil (I know, bleck!). Teddy sauntered up to me and bravely asked if he could try too (for the first time). With Shawn at work, a very asleep baby, and a usually quiet 2 yr old (unless riled up by big brothers), do you know what I had for 15 solid minutes? Silence. 15 minutes of total and complete silence. In my house. It was glorious. We should definitely do this every day. But I imagine the novelty will wear off fairly quickly. Still, one can dream.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Time Passes Too Quickly
Demetri is crying.
Maybe I am too. Olie is saying he
loves his Grandma Wilcock and doesn’t want her to go. Their great-great-grandma is still here, but
fading quickly. Her 92nd
birthday was just a few days ago, and she seemed to be doing great. Now she doesn’t recognize anyone and is being
taken down to Hurricane, UT, where she grew up and raised a family.
I’m not brokenhearted.
She has lived a good, long, and full life, and I’m sure she is ready to
be with Grandpa again. I have wonderful
memories of being with her, living in her house when I was 19, visiting, taking
my children to her house to visit and take pictures.
I am, however, very upset about living so far from family. (I’m also very sad that I didn’t send the
letter my sons wrote to her with the pictures of Lorenzo- still sitting on the
table in my entryway). I like Hawaii
just fine, but I HATE living so far away from everyone. I don’t believe it is supposed to be this
way. I think children should grow up
knowing their aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents. There is nothing I can do about it right now,
so I might as well just learn to accept it, but I’m sad that my kids can’t just
walk over to Grandma’s house to give her flowers, or at least drive over for
Sunday dinner. I’m sure technology is a
great “cure” but we don’t use it like that very much.
There is always the wish that you had more pictures,
remembered things more clearly, had asked for more advice, listened better,
spent more time…
My favorite memories of Grandma Wilcock are of washing
clothes with her in her really old washer (with a wringer to put the clothes
through before you hang them on the line); listening to her play the accordion,
piano, and sing (usually with Grandpa); playing with toys and puzzles on her
living room floor- and watching my kids play there; gardening with her, and
listening to her tell stories about Grandpa.
I also loved to play with the prisms in her window. She would get them down for us to hold and
tell us how they worked- and let us make rainbows. I was quick to point those out to my boys
when we brought them.
I would love to live up in the mountains of Idaho, and raise
my children near family, sharing and doing all the things I got to do when I
was growing up.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
This is Me Following Through
With PICTURES :)
So many pics, so little time. These are the more recent ones, not the earlier ones I haven't sorted through. Some days I'm glad Shawn likes to take pictures!
So many pics, so little time. These are the more recent ones, not the earlier ones I haven't sorted through. Some days I'm glad Shawn likes to take pictures!
Okay, so he doesn't look too happy, but I'm happy to have him!
One month old!
Up close he looks like a doll-- well to me anyway.
Demetri found a way to get out of chores AND use all of my dish soap!
He made the "bubble blower" out of yarn and straws :)
This guy is resourceful.
I love it when he smiles!!!
The boys at the park. I think each of these shows the character of each kid pretty well. Maybe not Olie, though that cheesy smile of his is very common. He was just happy to get up on the monkey bars like his brother.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Trying New Things
The entire goal for the day (aside from making bread, grocery shopping, and gymnastics) is to post pictures. And the trick is, if I say that's what I'm doing to enough people it puts pressure on me to actually get it done right? Well anyway, Shawn is coming home sick from work today and I think I can catch him while he's trapped on the couch trying to sleep and make him help me with pictures. Ha! (I really need to learn to do this all by myself.)
We've been sick all week. By "we" I mean everyone, one at a time. Some of us twice. Lots of fun. To my credit, I think I only put sick kids in front of the t.v. all day (in order to preserve my sanity) once.
I've made three decisions which are seriously affecting my life right now: getting rid of my phone (which is affecting me in a good way), and putting all of our savings toward paying off debt--which means no new car, no bunk beds, etc. (which I'm sure will affect my life in a good way ultimately, but at the moment it's kind of hard). I've also given up chocolate. It makes me feel lousy, and gives my babies colic. It also gives me the worst menstrual cramps ever (!) and aggravates RLS when I'm pregnant. I have officially switched over to carob. Oh, and eating a mostly veganish diet...for the sake of my husband, who appears to be allergic to food. All food. Well, only sometimes. But dairy definitely doesn't help.
So life is definitely different right now, and I'm trying to adjust to the changes. And now that I've escaped the clutches of my smartphone, I'm in the middle of some serious goal setting. I'll let you know how it turns out :).
We've been sick all week. By "we" I mean everyone, one at a time. Some of us twice. Lots of fun. To my credit, I think I only put sick kids in front of the t.v. all day (in order to preserve my sanity) once.
I've made three decisions which are seriously affecting my life right now: getting rid of my phone (which is affecting me in a good way), and putting all of our savings toward paying off debt--which means no new car, no bunk beds, etc. (which I'm sure will affect my life in a good way ultimately, but at the moment it's kind of hard). I've also given up chocolate. It makes me feel lousy, and gives my babies colic. It also gives me the worst menstrual cramps ever (!) and aggravates RLS when I'm pregnant. I have officially switched over to carob. Oh, and eating a mostly veganish diet...for the sake of my husband, who appears to be allergic to food. All food. Well, only sometimes. But dairy definitely doesn't help.
So life is definitely different right now, and I'm trying to adjust to the changes. And now that I've escaped the clutches of my smartphone, I'm in the middle of some serious goal setting. I'll let you know how it turns out :).
Sunday, March 9, 2014
A Word About Comments and Pics
Comments- I like them, I read them, I try to reply. But my account is screwy, and not only am I not able to reply to comments on my blog, I'm not able to make comments on other blogs. This happens randomly as far as I can tell, for random amounts of time, and I'm sorry, and greatly annoyed by the whole thing. Seriously considering defecting to some other type of blog when I have the time to look at them all.
Pictures- I have not forgotten. I just don't know where the sd card is. I have some somewhere. A couple are even cute. I'm still trying to capture one of Lorenzo's adorable smiles. And I will post some here, sometime, soon.
Pictures- I have not forgotten. I just don't know where the sd card is. I have some somewhere. A couple are even cute. I'm still trying to capture one of Lorenzo's adorable smiles. And I will post some here, sometime, soon.
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