9.21.2015

Sept. 2015

I have been wanting to write an update for so long. I’m finally on the computer and it’s turning out to be now or never. 😊

So Brad just got his review at work. He is getting slighted by one side of his management, and highly praised by the other side. He was ranked “meets expectations.” Apparently they have super high expectations! He was disappointed with the results, but when he shared those results with the people he actually works for/with they all showered him with praises and assured him he will be out of that department by June 2016. He will be replacing the program manager. The current manager has talked to all the necessary people to make sure that actually happens. There is always political garbage that could change that, but let’s hope not.

I am neck deep in fixing our boys’ room. I’m almost done painting the walls after having stripped and re-textured them. Booger free! Harper and I are also building nesting beds. All four boys will shortly be able to sleep in that room with room to walk. I am hoping that they turn out like I imagine.

I put my children in a charter school this year. It is a classical academy affiliated with Hillsdale College. I am excited about their progress so far this year, and I am very happy with the general changes from our older school. The only down side so far is that this is the first year that the school is open so the music teacher has FAR fewer instruments and supplies than their old school. So if you feel like clipping box tops, labels for education, coke rewards, or any other school money program you can think of I would LOVE to receive them. I wish I could promise to come pick them up from you personally… maybe after we finally put our roof on our back porch.

Anyway…

Eden started dance again which is something that she really loves to do. She practices in her room when she is supposed to be sleeping. Her birthday was fun this month. She invited lots of girls for her party that she planned. Ten showed up I believe. They painted, stuffed their faces with skittles, swam, and did some other things that produced mega laughter and giggles. She loves her gifts. Thank you!

Harper has been diligently working on the beds with me. Saturday he disassembled, sanded, cleaned, and primed Jett’s bed. I think we can expect to pain that one tomorrow. His handwriting has improved at school because he now has a teacher who will ask him to redo his work that is not his best. LOVE it! Well, I love it. He complains about her high expectations while he is rising to meet them.

Frank has made great strides in reading. It finally clicked for him. A few days ago I was telling a friend that my children are learning Spanish and some Latin in school. Frank interrupted and said, “Latin? I know Latin. Hemis is Latin for half. Like hemisphere.” Then a week later he came home telling me about how, “Mesopotamia is from Latin meaning “between two rivers” and there is the Tigris on one side, the Euphrates on the other side, and Mesopotamia is right in the middle.” AND we were working on some vocabulary words last week from a fable they were studying. At the dinner table when it was his turn to share his favorite part of the day he said, “Well it wasn’t my homework. That was terrifying.” He is a SPONGE! He is also patient beyond belief with Gideon. Gideon only does what Frank does. When we ask him to choose something – it could be anything from dinner options to his favorite color – his response is, “What is Frankie going to have?”

Gideon is home this year and when he is the oldest he really rises to the occasion. He plays so well with Jett. He also enjoys going to his friend’s home where he is allowed to ride through the neighborhood to a community garden to “hunt” for foxes. They usually take goulashes and a back pack full of snacks. Who wouldn’t love that?


Jett talks all the time. He is finding it hard to wait for my conversation (or my prayer, or my anything) to be over before he rambles on. We are working on that… He is hilarious in the meantime and loves to sing. We showed him this a Capella version of a song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln41c-7uQ64) and he sang along with the chorus. Over and over and over again.

Let the good times roll!

4.13.2014

I Love This Life!

 
Saturday was clear and beautiful. Made more beautiful still by the time we were able to spend at the new temple in Ft. Lauderdale, FL with wonderful friends. I felt peace and love. 

Never mind the temple we can do that any time. Let's blow into the water because fountains are AWESOME!
And then the beach! It was perfect! Not too cold, nice breeze, lots of sun, and great company. :)

I read something the other day that I really loved. It's from Clayton M. Christensen's Book, The Power of Everyday Missionaries. "God's role is a constant, not a variable. He always keeps His promises. The only variable is whether we have the faith that we will be blessed with miracles if we make commitments to God and then obediently do what we said we would do" (p. 79). He was referring to missionary work in his book, but these statements apply to our lives in all aspects. He always keeps His promises.

We have been promised blessings if we obey (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/obedience-brings-blessings?lang=eng). We have been promised salvation if we live righteously (Matt. 7:21). We have been promised strength if we are humble (Ether 12:27).

 “And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).

We need to have faith and trust in our Father in Heaven. "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10).

I know that Heavenly Fathers wants us to be happy. He knows us and loves us. He has given us scripture and prophets to guide us through this time so that we can find the path to eternal happiness.





3.10.2014

Catching Up

I'm still in purge mode. I've discovered that it's harder for me to get rid of older things. Things like my old "biker drug lord" boots that I bought for myself in high school. I don't wear them, they don't match anything I still wear, and they are not practical in Florida's hot weather...but still they sit in my closet neglecting less fortunate boot wearing people. *sigh.

I updated my mormon.org profile. As I went on to add some thoughts, I learned some things about me that I had forgotten. Funny how that works. Use it or lose it I suppose. Glad I check up on myself on occasion. http://mormon.org/me/490K

I'm finally ready to join the gym, but I was supposed to do that last week. I wonder how many weeks will pass before it actually happens...

I have been focusing on my flat surfaces in our home. Some would call them "hot spots." I have, in the past, just swept everything on our big counter into the garbage. I am ready to do it again. I think if I keep it up then people might stop putting their things there. I currently have nine permanent and two temporary "hot spots." Fly lady is a great resource! http://www.flylady.net/d/new-links

I have great plans. In the quieter moments so many things just make sense. It's not that I am super woman, it's just that I expect to be able to accomplish all my designs. Especially the good ones!

I want my garden to produce food not weeds. Or..both!

I still have nodules on my vocal chords. I had to whisper that last part. ;)   I have great plans to get rid of those too.....maybe after I join the gym. Ha!

I am SO thankful for Heavenly Father's love for his children! And I'm glad to know that I am one of His children and that He listens to me. Knowing that He has perfect love for me helps me realize that He truly wants me to be happy. He wants to bless me. I have thought recently, "How does it make sense for me to even try to fulfill all my responsibilities without His help?"

The Savior said,

(Matthew 11:28-30)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

For peace at home...prayer and scripture study.

1.14.2014

Shouldn't I Be Making Dinner?!

I should be making dinner, but the truth is that I don't know what to make tonight. I have some leftovers here and there that I could put together for a little buffet. Everyone loves a good buffet right? Honestly my children would love dinner from a box...hm. Bummer for them!

I am rolling right into 2014 with a to-do list five children long. To begin with...purge Purge PURGE! Wow is there a lot of "stuff" around here that can be put to use elsewhere. 

Day 1: Computer desk. Papers, misplaced items, and good intentions. Gone!
Day 2: Entertainment center. Broken equipment, VHS, DVDs, and Super NES. Gone! -I mean seriously...Super NES? 
Day 3: Oh, darn. I was supposed to be purging. Oops.
Day 4: No time for that now, I'm blogging!
Day 5: I'll let you know tomorrow.

But there are some wonderful memories that I would like to savor from 2013. No time to get all fancy, but I had SUCH a great time with family and friends and family last year!!
Mohawk Brothers
Eden has braces!
Gideon thinks he's a ninja




Before picture with no After picture

Can't ignore Jett anymore



Eden got baptized! 


Gideon was not tired. Nope. Not at all.

And we all love Brad..er..uh Monday morning, multiple personality disorder, whoever he was that night.

Ah! They really are ninjas! Oh, and royalty of course.

Gideon wasn't tired this day either.

It was about time, and now it's fixed.

We even made NEW friends!

Just Jett.

Aw. Sweetness!

Family came to visit US!

It's not that Jett loves electronics....ok I'm not going to lie, he's obsessed.

New ice cream maker. Master and students.

Because I have this same picture of Brad with ALL our children.


Harper's birthday. Almost. Early because....

We went to Europe!

And I got sister time.

I love the sunset in Spain.



And more Europe pictures to come...eventually...maybe.

The Noels in St. Augustine!!!

Gideon WAS tired this day.

And new pictures of our family...Thanks Jill and Dad!






See! 2013 was great!!!  Although I wish I had more pictures of more friends. And I wish I had all my pictures on my computer so I could have included more of my family...So I will most likely add to this in a few days. After dinner.     :)        10 minutes to whip something up...

6.02.2013

Oh, the Joys!







 Eden loves pose with the frogs she catches. I think this one is named jumpy. And she had a blast performing in her dance recital as a mouse. There were lots of mice! They did a great job and looked so cute doing their great jobs. It was fun to help with the face paint. The people from We Paint Happy Faces! were WONDERFUL! They were very pleasant and accommodating.


Jett is all over the place, but we're all patient with him, even Sophie.

I love the summer time! Face painting, swimming, tadpoles, building, and last minute fun. I'm excited to get rolling to the beach too!


Oh, and thanks Frank for modeling those mouse ears!! 


3.12.2013

2013 Has Begun

 Frank has HSP. 

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a form of blood vessel inflammation or vasculitis. HSP affects the small vessels called capillaries in the skin (which is what is causing Frank's red/purple spots). It also affects the joints (non erosive arthritis) and often the kidneys. In rare cases the person can go into renal failure and/or have lasting deformities because of the arthritis. 

So far Frank's labs are normal. There is no sign of kidney damage. He is, however, swelling in his wrists and ankles. He will have arthritis for the duration of this virus which is keeping him mostly on the couch and home from school. His pain is intermittent and just when I think he's getting over it he seems to be in more pain. 

The Popsicles and soda pop are helping his spirits, and really he's doing well. I hope this only lasts a few more days though. I would like to see him back to normal.

In other news...

Harper had a diagonal mow-hawk for "Wacky Wednesday." I got a hair cut. Frank and Gideon wanted ponytails, but only for about 45 seconds. Brad makes us all laugh. Eden loves caring for her brothers (who will let her) and she's as tall as my shoulder! Jett is 8 months old already and MOBILE!