Thursday, April 21, 2016
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
My gratitude journal
My sweet friend Cassie sent me a package after I broke my ankle and one of the things and it was a gratitude journal. I started that day and have really enjoyed writing in it every night. (Thanks for the idea Anna). I just like journaling I think. It helps me think through things.
Tonight's musings:
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
The last two ski days of the season. We had to hurry and get them in before Brighton closed on April 17! One of the days we took Jack with us as his birthday present. He got a little sick coming down the canyon :-). The kids have sure been amazing and learned so quickly and have blown it out of the water for their first ski season. I wish we could capture videos of them skiing for our blog book. Robbie and Blake like to be adventurous and ski in and out of the trees and go over jumps. Aubrie and Hallie careen down the hill as fast as they can. They also like to lean back and put their hands on the back of their skis and see how long they can do that without crashing. In New Hampshire the beach was our family thing. I think in Utah the mountains are going to be our thing.
Aubrie DOES love me
The orthodontist is having a contest to send one mother to a spa for a day...
(Cross fingers) 
Sunday, April 17, 2016
April Showers Bring May Flowers
I'm sitting down and not getting up till I have written. I spent a few hours this week reading journals from college and it reminded me of how important it is (especially with my sub-par memory) to capture life so I, RYan, our kids and hopefully future posterity can have stories and experiences to share. Our family books I print off from this blog each year are priceless--they get read all the time.
* School--we are still plugging along with school. It's been more like how it was "pre ankle break" and I am enjoying it more too. I love all the random teaching moments, and the extra time with each of the kids everyday, I love getting to be the one sitting next to Aubrie when she finally gets some really hard math problems that we have been doing over and over for 2 weeks, I love teaching the kids how to cook new things (Which helps our family in the long run too), I love all the extra house things they've learned how to do well just from being around more--vaccumming, helping change, bathe and play with Clara, fix bike tires, fix things generally, I love watching them use all that creativity they have naturally (legos, building things out of cardboard, duct tape, drawing/painting). They play so much together which is good, lots of bike riding, parks museums, etc. There is a lot of frustration with "sit back down and finish", "focus please for 20 minutes", house is alot messier, I don't get to the household types of things as much, more fighting between siblings since they are together more, etc. Overall, I am SOO glad we did it this year.
* Sports--Robbie is playing competitive baseball with Carlo Sanchez' team. It has been a huge time commitment with Robbie playing and Ryan being one of the main asst coaches (Why are there always 10 coaches). He ends up playing first base a lot because nothing gets by him, and he also pitches which is my favorite to watch. His batting still struggles sometimes (I think its a mental block most of the time). All three of the older kids are playing soccer. Luckily all their practices are WEdnesdays and games Saturdays. Its a lot of running around but OH HOW I LOVE SOCCER and love to watch them play (Well most of the time--somestimes its hard to just sit and watch and not be a sideline coach).
* Piano--they are all just doing so well. I love their teacher--she pushes them the right amount I think. I love that they just play for fun all the time too.
* Robbie has been saving for awhile for a 4 wheeler and checks ksl classifieds regularly and hit the jackpot a few weeks ago. He found one for $200 bucks. I told him to call right away and before I knew it we were driving over to see it. He drove it around while I talked to the man about it for a bit. Once he knew Robbie was paying for it, he dropped the price $25 and was excited for him too. We told him we'd pay for half of it--he paid $100 and then we paid the remaining $75. IT was the most exciting day. I was just giddy for him and so was RYan. He can only ride it at the church parking lot around our house, but he is on it quite a bit. And Blake is usually with him :)
* Skiing--we've done less of it since Ryan got a job at Instructure, but still regularly. It's been such a fun things for our family and we'll definitely be doing it again next winter.
* AUbrie has spent so many hours writing a novel and finally finished it last week. It was so exciting for her and fun to see her actually get excited!
* Clara and Blake had birthdays in March:
Blake's birthday was in TX (Already wrote about that). Clara's was here, we went to the park and played and then had
Some fun things about them--
Blake--he is just a stud. Really. He's such a handsome boy, and has the personality to match it. He has a quick mind, is pretty fearless, he can be so tender and kind and also is just such a "boy". I love spending time with him. I was telling him tonight at dinner all about how awesome Ryans work is and all the snacks and food and games they have there and he says "MOM, you're killin' me!" He just soaks in everything the older kids do and say. He is SO often outside on his bike riding all over the neighborhood, or he's inside playing imaginary games with Hallie. They have been such buddies the last month. He is so anxious for her to finish school and come play with him. He is still doing Upstart PReschool online most days and is just at the point where it feels like he will take off with his reading. He is definitely much more interested in it now. I think he will just love Wasatch Waldorf next year. He still loves chips (not our best eater but getting better), fruit and salad. He still likes me to read to him every night (but it happens way too infrequently), and is still in the stage where he loves to help do house things and be independent doing it.
Clara--oh she is just such a ray of sunshine. We all can't get enough of her. She says so many things--her vocabulary and ability to communicate are incredible. She talks and talks and talks about everything (she is always copying what the other kids are saying) and about everything. Clara is at the stage of being a little bit of a finnicky eater. SHe is ok though. SHe loves to sing and does for 30-45 minutes before finally falling asleep. She loves dolls and pushing her stroller around. She mostly just flits around talking to all of us and interacting with everyone. SHe is a VERY social little girl. She asks about nursery many times during the week because she enjoys it so much which I am so glad for.
Some random things:
Ryan made us a ski rack and I love it so much! It's super handy too!
The kids spent one whole afternoon practicing drawing on ArtHub which is an awesome youtube channel
Robbie built a really cool skate park for cubscouts out of cardboard and duct tape
Mom was here in Utah for two weeks watching Jordan boys while J&A were in Costa Rica and then helping them pack up since they are moving to Idaho. They came and stayed at our house for 3 days and it was crazy but alot of fun for the kids and cool to be around mom so much. We also went to Museum of Natural Curiousity with them too.
For Jack's birthday we took him to Brighton to ski during school hours this past Thursday. Skiing has jsut been a blast.
We finally went and looked for chairs for the dining table and found some RIGHT away at Target, on sale and they are perfect for the table.
WE have spent a lot of effort and time in they yard, weeding, aerating, mowing, mulching, etc.--hopefully we reap the benefits in a few weeks :) It looks better either way. I love eating on the porch and its finally all cleaned up and ready for us :)
Aubrie has an appt to go to the Orthodontist--we'll see what happens, she also might need glasses
Our neighbor and friend painted all the moulding that RYan had put up when he was out of work and home and I am so glad she did it--she is a painter and did a much more professional job and gave us a good price to do it. (And I just couldn't the last few months).
I started Physical therapy about 4 weeks ago--progress has been slow but steady and I am at the point where I can walk with shoes on sans crutches, although some days it is still so sore I wear the boot. Lots of bruising and soreness everywhere. I can't wait for it to be over. I've worked so hard on being patient (sometimes succesfully and sometimes not) for this whole process but I am ready to be back to normal.
Ryan and I have been being more diligent about going out together and although most of our creative dates involve an un broken ankle (we like bike rides, tennis, hiking, running, etc) and we usually go to dinner--it makes SUCH a difference in our relationship.
* School--we are still plugging along with school. It's been more like how it was "pre ankle break" and I am enjoying it more too. I love all the random teaching moments, and the extra time with each of the kids everyday, I love getting to be the one sitting next to Aubrie when she finally gets some really hard math problems that we have been doing over and over for 2 weeks, I love teaching the kids how to cook new things (Which helps our family in the long run too), I love all the extra house things they've learned how to do well just from being around more--vaccumming, helping change, bathe and play with Clara, fix bike tires, fix things generally, I love watching them use all that creativity they have naturally (legos, building things out of cardboard, duct tape, drawing/painting). They play so much together which is good, lots of bike riding, parks museums, etc. There is a lot of frustration with "sit back down and finish", "focus please for 20 minutes", house is alot messier, I don't get to the household types of things as much, more fighting between siblings since they are together more, etc. Overall, I am SOO glad we did it this year.
* Sports--Robbie is playing competitive baseball with Carlo Sanchez' team. It has been a huge time commitment with Robbie playing and Ryan being one of the main asst coaches (Why are there always 10 coaches). He ends up playing first base a lot because nothing gets by him, and he also pitches which is my favorite to watch. His batting still struggles sometimes (I think its a mental block most of the time). All three of the older kids are playing soccer. Luckily all their practices are WEdnesdays and games Saturdays. Its a lot of running around but OH HOW I LOVE SOCCER and love to watch them play (Well most of the time--somestimes its hard to just sit and watch and not be a sideline coach).
* Piano--they are all just doing so well. I love their teacher--she pushes them the right amount I think. I love that they just play for fun all the time too.
* Robbie has been saving for awhile for a 4 wheeler and checks ksl classifieds regularly and hit the jackpot a few weeks ago. He found one for $200 bucks. I told him to call right away and before I knew it we were driving over to see it. He drove it around while I talked to the man about it for a bit. Once he knew Robbie was paying for it, he dropped the price $25 and was excited for him too. We told him we'd pay for half of it--he paid $100 and then we paid the remaining $75. IT was the most exciting day. I was just giddy for him and so was RYan. He can only ride it at the church parking lot around our house, but he is on it quite a bit. And Blake is usually with him :)
* Skiing--we've done less of it since Ryan got a job at Instructure, but still regularly. It's been such a fun things for our family and we'll definitely be doing it again next winter.
* AUbrie has spent so many hours writing a novel and finally finished it last week. It was so exciting for her and fun to see her actually get excited!
* Clara and Blake had birthdays in March:
Blake's birthday was in TX (Already wrote about that). Clara's was here, we went to the park and played and then had
Some fun things about them--
Blake--he is just a stud. Really. He's such a handsome boy, and has the personality to match it. He has a quick mind, is pretty fearless, he can be so tender and kind and also is just such a "boy". I love spending time with him. I was telling him tonight at dinner all about how awesome Ryans work is and all the snacks and food and games they have there and he says "MOM, you're killin' me!" He just soaks in everything the older kids do and say. He is SO often outside on his bike riding all over the neighborhood, or he's inside playing imaginary games with Hallie. They have been such buddies the last month. He is so anxious for her to finish school and come play with him. He is still doing Upstart PReschool online most days and is just at the point where it feels like he will take off with his reading. He is definitely much more interested in it now. I think he will just love Wasatch Waldorf next year. He still loves chips (not our best eater but getting better), fruit and salad. He still likes me to read to him every night (but it happens way too infrequently), and is still in the stage where he loves to help do house things and be independent doing it.
Clara--oh she is just such a ray of sunshine. We all can't get enough of her. She says so many things--her vocabulary and ability to communicate are incredible. She talks and talks and talks about everything (she is always copying what the other kids are saying) and about everything. Clara is at the stage of being a little bit of a finnicky eater. SHe is ok though. SHe loves to sing and does for 30-45 minutes before finally falling asleep. She loves dolls and pushing her stroller around. She mostly just flits around talking to all of us and interacting with everyone. SHe is a VERY social little girl. She asks about nursery many times during the week because she enjoys it so much which I am so glad for.
Some random things:
Ryan made us a ski rack and I love it so much! It's super handy too!
The kids spent one whole afternoon practicing drawing on ArtHub which is an awesome youtube channel
Robbie built a really cool skate park for cubscouts out of cardboard and duct tape
Mom was here in Utah for two weeks watching Jordan boys while J&A were in Costa Rica and then helping them pack up since they are moving to Idaho. They came and stayed at our house for 3 days and it was crazy but alot of fun for the kids and cool to be around mom so much. We also went to Museum of Natural Curiousity with them too.
For Jack's birthday we took him to Brighton to ski during school hours this past Thursday. Skiing has jsut been a blast.
We finally went and looked for chairs for the dining table and found some RIGHT away at Target, on sale and they are perfect for the table.
WE have spent a lot of effort and time in they yard, weeding, aerating, mowing, mulching, etc.--hopefully we reap the benefits in a few weeks :) It looks better either way. I love eating on the porch and its finally all cleaned up and ready for us :)
Aubrie has an appt to go to the Orthodontist--we'll see what happens, she also might need glasses
Our neighbor and friend painted all the moulding that RYan had put up when he was out of work and home and I am so glad she did it--she is a painter and did a much more professional job and gave us a good price to do it. (And I just couldn't the last few months).
I started Physical therapy about 4 weeks ago--progress has been slow but steady and I am at the point where I can walk with shoes on sans crutches, although some days it is still so sore I wear the boot. Lots of bruising and soreness everywhere. I can't wait for it to be over. I've worked so hard on being patient (sometimes succesfully and sometimes not) for this whole process but I am ready to be back to normal.
Ryan and I have been being more diligent about going out together and although most of our creative dates involve an un broken ankle (we like bike rides, tennis, hiking, running, etc) and we usually go to dinner--it makes SUCH a difference in our relationship.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Silly I know
Today I went to my 5th physical therapy session--I can finally put my foot in a neutral position. I can walk without crutches but I tweaked my back Saturday gardening so I'm still using one crutch again today. I feel like I need to be in shoes or my back will continue to hurt.
And I need to swim. It continues to be my go to--especially when I'm not feeling 100%. I think I'll start going early in the morning to a gym to swim.
And lastly, today I return my knee scooter. And it was a little hard. It has helped me do some really hard things the last 4 months. It has felt like a good friend because I relied completely on it. It was hard to return it today. 
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