5.27.16 Pictures in time

We were reading scriptures and I looked over at my big kids and had to take a picture. I wanted to remember them in their wise glory. I wanted to remember and show how big and reverent they have become. We were having a decent discussion and they harmonized color wise. Mostly I just wanted to remember.

Of course my slow flash alerted them to my attempt so I really got this first. After reprimanding them I told them to sit up and be brave so I got the picture above.

I write so often about how big they are getting because it really wasn't that long ago that this was my family.

This was Aliza's first day or two home. They were all under 2 1/2. I wasn't sure how I was going to manage and it was pretty busy with babies and crying. Yet we got through it. They are so cute and precious in their pictures and I honestly tear up a little each time I run across them as little people. Now I haven't stopped with little people in my home. I love them all. We still have lots of crying and learning happening but I marvel at how we have got the point of such capable, likeable, independent people as they are today.
(And I could be a hormonal mess from pregnancy fluctuations which is entirely possible.)

There is no replacing or sidestepping the individual journey and attributes of each of the people that live in my home. They have each walked the road differently and add a different dynamic to our overall family unit. I am often tired, not because I do so much, but because analyzing, caring for and hopefully nurturing all these lives constantly. It wears me out and gives me inner strength and hope.
 I feel my mortality more than I want to. I see them doing and being who I am/was in my minds eye. However I ache, I run out of breath and I struggle with bending. My muscles quiver and really I can't do what they do with ease. I will again someday- I hope, that's my goal. Give me a few months of 5+ hours straight sleep at night and only one person to carry around and I think I can regain some of the strength I once had.
But maybe maturing is a trade off. A switch from outer ability to inner ability. Maybe it's transforming from a strong person to a meek person who can be strong in spurts, but has gained wisdom to know where to apply strength and has learned strength comes from God. Things like repentance, faith, forgiveness, love, charity, patience. Maybe that's the strength of age?

My little prophetess was preaching a sermon while we read scriptures. She is a cutey who is always coming up with some new way to share her beginning feelings of faith and love of God.

For my birthday Sue had a trivia game for the kids to answer about me. One of the questions was what is your mother's favorite scripture? Sadly my scripture has been the same since high school Ecc. 3:1-5:
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace

But now I would also add from the same chapter:

10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:

 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God

My time and season has changed. I have seen travail and I have been exercised in different ways. I have also seen daily that there are beautiful things and that enjoying your labor is critical in not loosing sight of the end of the means. Today is good. Mortality is good. And growing is great. Best to you this weekend. 

5.26.16 busy sundays

Sundays are one of the busier days of the week here. I guess we live in a small ward or we are just involved in a lot of the happenings because we are a big family. But I really have to brace myself for the many responsibilities that are required that day. After meetings and home teaching we came home to prepare dinner, talks, and work on John's religious knot which we promised would be done by Tuesday.

Harold is the deacons quorum president and was asked to speak at the priesthood preview for the younger boys. He was practicing his talk. He thought he could get out of a picture- which he did the first time (see below) but I was ready the second time and caught him.
He is getting so tall, only and inch or so shorter than Greg at this point. He is also getting smarter, more depth, and more confidence. Not that he lacked in those areas, but he is becoming more and more of the man I hoped he would become.
He was asked to explain the blessings of the priesthood. He shared that two of his favorites are going to the temple and  passing the sacrament. He likes the temple because "he's helping other people get to go to the celestial kingdom" and he likes passing the sacrament because "he's helping people here to be clean and keep renew their covenants."  He really came up with those on his own, I wasn't feeding him those thoughts. He told me this is just like giving a primary talk I said yes but you have much more testimony and knowledge now than you did when in primary.

The little girls love to play with water. Here they are playing with some fancy assorted mugs that a friend gave us. A perfect way to be in the room and moment but not be in the conversation. I'm so thankful our kids have sibling friends to share their lives with.

And Addie soaking up a little Anna time. Touch is so important. I'm thankful my kids choose to be mostly kind to each other. I think Anna and Addie but heads the most of my kids here so it's good to capture moments where they also are kind to each other. Addie often prays that we will be kind or kids at school will be kind. It's on her mind a lot. She also gets in trouble a lot for her not kind words.

Life keeps rolling on and with the passing of each small day we are getting further down this parenting road reaping some good harvest and continuing to pluck weeds and work with new kiddos getting them going. Although Sundays are busy it's a good feeling to be needed and to have opportunities to stretch and grow. Anna got asked to lead the music for sacrament meeting. 4 Songs in front of everyone. She did great. She is much braver and accepting of challenges than I was. She survived well and said she might would do it again if needs be.

5.25.16 a family work night

     "Children should learn to work. Parents should not spend their nights and days trying to find           something to interest their children. They should find something to occupy them and get them busy doing something that is worthwhile."
"Keep in good repair and beautify your homes, your yards, farms, and businesses. Repair the fences. Clean up and paint where needed. Keep your lawns and your gardens well-groomed. Whatever your circumstance, let your premises reflect orderliness, beauty, and happiness. Plan well and carry out your plan in an orderly and systematic manner."
 Spencer W Kimball,  Family Preparedness, 4-1976

I must admit I get a little jealous of all the work that my family does elsewhere. Last week I called a time out and we spent a few hours working on weeds and debris at our house. All those lovely still living mother's day flowers needed some more dirt to expand in and we had weeds galore. My super-duper workers worked miracles on our untidy domicile.
 

Afton looked like a little ewok all bundled up. She loves to be in the thick of things and is very upset if she is left inside or out of the action.

Aliza and Reed cleaning up the piles of seeds that had blown from the trees. Hate those seeds, but in our hard soil very few trees will survive so we are thankful for the shade and green and put up with their yearly attempts at making a forest out of our yard.

I love how the big kids interact with the little kids. Anna was instructing the little girls on how to glean rocks from our flower beds. Livy and Millie remind me a lot of Anna and Aliza at that age. Livy and Anna are more dreamy while Aliza and Millie are more prone to stick to a job. Yet Anna has grown into a powerful worker who excells at hard jobs. Although her artist flair shows through and her favorite thing to do is color and draw when she has a spare moment.

I did weed this night, I wasn't merely watching. I took a moment to hold Afton and survey what all was happening. Greg had the boys help him restore a high fort that is a real treasure here. He also cut down many sucker trees and ended the night high up in the bucket of the loader tractor removing a branch that has been dusting our roof for too many years. Alas the sun went down and we were forced to quit and go to bed. So much for lots of rest for school the next day.

It has been nice to enjoy a more orderly yard for a few days anyway we need a few more work nights and some better habits and our yard will look much more groomed or much less lived in. Good times working together and enjoying creating spaces of beauty. I'm so thankful for all these kiddos have learned from patient knowledgeable teachers like grandma and sister page. They knew exactly how to tackle the projects.

Unfortunately, after all that good work and the nice finished product, I forgot to have Reed water all the transplanted marigolds and I think they all died. I just can't win. The girls are not sad. They were lamenting the lack of pretty variety and the gross smell from marigolds. I told them that's all my mom planted when she was busy raising kids. Marigolds add some color and are pretty hardy. Well it was the effort that counts I guess and dirt looks better than weeds any day. Oh well. 

5.25.16 building a kid and a boat

Almost every night from age 14 until I married (and later) my dad was found in our front room in his chair listening and talking to his kids. He came home around 9 or 10 and we were waiting to just soak up his wisdom, love and time. This gift helped me sort out and navigate the emotions, complexities and craziness of maturity. I sure didn't realize then how critical that time was, I just looked forward and found strength in knowing I could talk to my dad about anything any night.

School is winding down and we are quickly meeting deadlines. The last science project was to built a boat. Anna was supplied with a foam block, motor, and propeller. She began construction herself and got a general idea but was stuck on how to make the motor power the fan. I told her to involve her dad he's an engineer and mechanic it was right up his ally. So they valiantly dug in on Saturday night. Greg assessed we were lacking supplies so we made a family trip to Wal-Mart late Saturday to purchase a new block- he was not happy with her un-measured creation at home and wanted a smoke alarm to take connectors from.

 

After a normally busy Monday night of moving a lady and having a thistle cutting competition and getting the fence hot we headed home to work on the boat and get to bed and the normal night stuff. Greg brought his tool supplies and the fun began. I hesitated on involving myself. There are plenty of other people here needing direction and that project was out of my league. After 45 minutes of frustration I did consult google and found a simple answer  on how to make a plug. How did we ever do projects like this without google?

After more hours of engineering and bonding the boat was done. I have to note through this all Greg was frustrated and Anna was giddy. She had full attention from her dad. This was mostly just the two of them with occasional assistance from Harold who was also finishing final homework. Both kids loved the time with just dad.  The boat tipped on the first attempt. Greg found a solution and Anna completed it while Greg finally ate dinner at 11. Another trial run, and they added a rudder then adjusted the position and the boat was a Success! By 11:30!
Anna said her boat looked the best of any others turned in. She was excited to tell her dad helped her. He wasn't excited to have his name on the project- he likes things to be perfect. But watching him sodder the connections and add protective shielding I'm pretty sure that's more than any others did.
A friend reported she got a partner to do hers, later learning that partner is a new boyfriend.... I'm so glad that Greg was able to be the resource and to solve this problem with our daughter. I told him we better lock that boat up for next year when it's Harold's turn... Ugh!
Seriously though her happy smile and her reluctance for it to end made it a super dad night.

The workshop! Greg always says it's all about the tools. Hence the reason we have such a large collection. Again thankful he knows how to manipulate them into constructive solutions. 

And the other part of our evening. Racing dad to see who could cut the most thistles the in a 3 minute time period. The kids did this challenge Saturday with Grandpa.

I thought for sure Greg had them whipped he was cutting 2 and 3 at a time. Alas at the end-

Anna 100, Greg 95 Harold 83, Addie 16, Reed 2

The kids call this a thistle graveyard. I call this character building and lots of  opportunity for muscle building.

Mark's bragging rights thistle. Dug down to the roots and it was a big one. I wonder if Anna was going as deep?

5.24.16 normal days

While I was on the phone Afton and Livy were having a sword fight- I think Afton started it, really. I was the responsible mother and made them trade my two longest knifes I use for cutting bread, for the the more dull butter knifes. That didn't slow them down much. I guess it's important to know how to defend yourself. 

The boys are more serious when fighting, they also used pan lids for shields. The girls will probably get instruction in this skill during the summer months. Maybe we could call this home school social studies- pages and squires training to be knights? 

One of the best parts of having a very experienced teacher is their vision of filling time with meaningful learning, not just movies. After testing was done or through it Mark's awesome teacher did art lessons. This picture shows what they learned about Monet. The kids learned it's not so easy to be an impressionist. I love Monet and loved the various versions the students created of his famous bridge scene.

A mild picture of poor Anna day one after the fall. Doesn't do justice to how big that lip got. Our kind home teacher brought her out a chocolate milk shake. So far so good though, tooth and mouth have healed really well.  Now to keep it in place.

On my birthday I got sick. Like sit in a chair and be quite all day sick. Funny moment I got sick- puking after drinking too much water without any food intake. The boys wisely surmised I was finally getting morning sickness. I was just about asleep and couldn't correct them at the time. I did explain later that it wasn't morning sickness just real sickness. They then querried weather morning sickness was just in the morning. I reported that it lasts all day for months. They were a little surprised I think.
Livy loves to look at books and was showing me one of her favorite pictures of her favorite animal horses. Poor kids born into a no horse family.

Millie is never one to be left out she too had a favorite picture, and said "Mom take a picture of me!".

When Harold is home he has a shadow. This little one loves the attention and rides and fun he provides. She thinks she is pretty big and he is more than happy to take a break from his work to play with her.

John's self-portrait another art lesson from school. He did not like this picture but I thought it was cute, although not as cute as him.

Reed was sure to not miss out on the action. He is ready to learn and spend time developing his fine motor skills. It takes time to get to this point but he is doing well. He finished his first work book and earned a fat boy sandwich. That was his request. We are pretty close on the next book so Reed and Greg will be enjoying some more fat boys this week. Good times for a smart kid. His front teeth are also starting to come in so his speaking is getting better. F and "th" are hard to say with no teeth. And eating can be challenging. All part of growing up.

5.20.16 shoveling ditch

I got a call early Friday morning from my brother asking if I had a kid or two free to come shovel a ditch. Now I have to admit I have never shoveled ditch, or not far enough to seer into my memory. I said sure but I have to get some kids to the dentist first then we will come. So after another fun trip to the dentist. Anna to get a retainer to hold her teeth in while she sleeps and Addie to get an abscessed tooth pulled, and lots of town errands we got home. We hurriedly ate and rounded up shovels, gloves, and boots and headed out. Because I had been gone all morning I took all the kids knowing our success rate would be higher with fresh hands and arms to trade-off and on, and I would be happier not worrying about what was happening at home. It turned out fine fields, ditches and mud are dreamy play places for kiddos.

It was a cloudy cool day. Thank goodness this would have been way harder in 80 degrees plus. And so when we got to the field they started shoveling.

Onion skins had piled up in the ditch catching the fine silt allowing weeds to grow. It was deep in places. And mud is heavy.

However the younger ones got sick of merely watching and had to try a few scopes themselves. They got mud out. I love their little piles.

I know why we have child labor laws I get the need to go to school and play. I also know the curiosity and challenge that builds confidence comes from being able to work. Reed, shoeless and all, hung in for the last half of the adventure.

 

John got the perfect shovel and would not trade. Harold was quite put out and tried many times to get it away from John. But to John's credit he just kept working to prevent that from happening. All the kids did a lot of shoveling but I think John may have been the steadiest just because he was protecting his shovel. It was just the right weight and size.

 

 

 Everyone was a muddy mess. Livy had a great time playing in the sloppy silt. Afton thought she was in heaven running around playing in dirt and mud and falling and rolling in it too. Millie spent a lot of time in the car reading books. Thank goodness for washers and baths. 

Finished!! We raced to the end to be able to show Uncle Kevin our completed work as he too drove out of the field. Yay! 4 + hours of 5-7 kids shoveling. A great feeling. And for all their tiredness the kids did run to the car.

Of course being near the donut town we had to take the edge off their ravenous hunger. So we got two boxes of donuts and a gallon of water and headed fro home. After a donut or two most of the kids took a snooze. 

When I was younger I was the strong worker. I tackled hard projects and got them done. Now as the mom I feel old and weak. Carrying around Afton for a couple hours and calling out "Work, get to work" is a big change. I played to roll of boatswain. You know the small person who sits at the front of the boat calling out the rhythm to keep the rowing crew in time and moving best.... yes mom the boatswain keeping the crew safe and moving. A lot different than just jumping in and doing it. But I'm proud of my kiddos, I'm thankful they had the experience- often- it seems to take on big hard projects and get them done. I told them they should be nice to each other because alone or even with two this would have been a nightmare.

5.11.16 the real story

Update:
We have come to learn John's only blame in this was needing further instruction on swinging between the kitchen counters better. Anna was actually demonstrating how to swing better when she got to a superman like position and  lost her grip and landed face first thus dislodging her tooth. A purely silly accident. That hurts and looks terrible. No school today unless she dresses like a bank robber to cover her duck like lips. And maybe she'll be wearing a helmet for a few weeks to protect that tender mouth of hers. Growing up is hard!

5.10.16 Another First

This strong confident beautiful daughter of ours gave us another first tonight. 

 

We were just wrapping up a lovely evening of mowing the lawn. I was outside putting sprinklers in place when I started hearing some weird moan yelp gasping from the house. Aliza first then Harold in almost the same tone. I wondered what in the world had just happened. I find it good to listen to the voices to prepare to handle whatever the emergency is that's coming.  Soon Harold ran out and said "Mom come quick Anna's lost her front tooth!" I hurried in and saw Anna lying face down in pool of blood crying!
I instructed her to calm down and to get up. She sat up with blood gushing down her face. I handed her a clean rag and instructed her to apply pressure. Then I wiped up the blood and found a full front tooth in the mess. I hurried and called our fabulous dentist who was out, but his wife instructed me to put the tooth in milk and head to the office. Bless them for no ER cost.

Grandma came down to manage the freaked out home crew. We headed to Ontario stopping to pick Greg up on the way. I love the new 70mph speed limit. We covered her in a warm fleece jacket and tried to assess what had caused this sudden hillbilly look, and to keep her calm.

She and John were rough housing and it happened so fast she didn't have time to stop herself and her face took the brunt of the fall on the tile thus knocking out her good front tooth. (the other one was broke intwo playing football 3 years ago and is now crowned). Honestly I'm thankful she doesn't have a broken arm. And so thankful she doesn't need braces because those two front teeth of hers have and will cost more than braces.
Back to the story-
 The dentist met us at his office with his soon to be married daughter. It was so good to see her, and so kind of him to take care of us so late. I cleaned the blood off her face a bit, while he got situated. He then numbed her providing some needed relief. He took an x-ray and confirmed it was a clean removal of the entire tooth. Then surprisingly he took the tooth from the milk and shoved it forcefully back into her gum. I held her hand and man is she ever strong. Whoa! He said it's best to shove the tooth right back in when it happens. But if not then put the tooth in milk or put it under your tongue to keep it moist and clean. Wow! HE glued it to her remaining real tooth gave her another long lasting numb shot so she could sleep and we came home.

I told Anna it was good we didn't know the shove it in tip or we may have laid her on the table and had Grandma replace it. Grandma said she was very thankful we didn't know that because she wasn't really wanting that experience. We probably wouldn't have... but first aid is always good to know!

Not the way I wanted to end my day. I had spent an hour in his chair earlier today getting my first crown and some fillings. However, I am so grateful for his assistance and kind demeanor when working on us poorly genetically endowed Corn-Saunders. So Anna is resting with a very FAT lip and some discomfort from shock. Root canal to follow and hopes and prayers that her body will re-grab the root of her tooth.

5.8.16 Millie's Goal

This last conference D. Todd Christofferson concluded his talk with this admonition:

Alma testified to his son:

“Behold, I say unto you, that it is [Christ] that surely shall come … ; yea he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.

“And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather … that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming." Alma 39:15-16

This really struck me when I heard it again while studying talks. That we as parents are being taught so that we might prepare our children for Christ coming. Wow! That's real, and that's soon.

So tonight on the heels of some of my children's needs and their growing maturity and lingering time in our home I felt impressed to start teaching about goals and the importance of determining now what you are going to do so you don't waste your life away in idle pursuits. We had a great discussion aided by a funny all too true story of a distracted farmer. Then we got done to setting 1 long term (4 years out or more), 1 mid-term(happening this year), and 1 short-term (happens this week) goal. I worked with kids asking them to plan out one of their goals. Greg sat with Millie and Reed helping them write their goals.
I read Millie's short term goal- learn to cook eggs, and smiled happily informing Greg she is a whiz at that already. She adamantly makes Afton her scrambled egg each day. Millie loves to crack eggs and is about 90% shell free!

I told her good job and sent her back to dad, he said no read her list the top of it. Well that caught me by surprise. Millie's first goal of her own choice is "See Jesus."

And when she got back to her dad she asked him to show her where it was on her paper again. I have to admit we were both pretty quietly humbled at her faithful sincere goal. Her and Livy talk often about Jesus and God. At first I was a little surprised but as it became their habit I stopped thinking about it until tonight.
Somewhere in one of the talks and scriptural accounts their is record that the children's mouths will be opened and they will speak things that astonish their parents. I think tonight we witnessed that. I'm pretty confident these kiddos of mine will see and welcome the Savior back to earth. That is a hugely humbling statement.

Times are a changing and amazing this mom tonight. Best to you in your preparations and pondering. 

5.8.16 Mothers day

I am most definitely a words of affirmation love language. So while I value the creative offerings their cute stories and responses are what really melt my heart. This year did not disappoint. The patriotic table toppers were patiently made at school with the assistance of some ever crafty moms and my kiddos. We were ready for summer until the little girls worked their creative fingers and minds and now they are mostly good memories via pictures. 

The green cards though held some precious stories from John and Mark. 

From John:

I love when you make brownies for us to eat... I love when you help me with my homework because it is sometimes hard. Finally one of the best about you is that you make good meals. So mom, I hope you can see how much you mean to me. I love you. Happy Mother's Day- Love John.

From Mark:

I love when you make Hamburgers for us to eat. You know I like the pickles.. Also you know I like mustard.

I love it when you spend time with my by helping me with my homework. Finally one of the best things about you is that you love me. Happy Mother's Day- Love Mark. You are a great mom.

The picture of me drawn by Mark. Thank goodness I'm smiling in his rendition.  

Aww! They notice that I notice. John saved his red ruby decoration just for this project. He was so happy to be able to share something so pretty. I love that the most important thing is the food we enjoy together. True young men.

The blue from Addie- complete with picture of us:
Thank you mom for taking care of me when I get hurt, for forgiving me when I make a mistake, for sticking by my side when I am sick, for spending time with me, for planting the seeds of faith in me.... Can I say how grateful I am for teachers and administrators who aren't afraid to say Thank God, and Faith! Maybe I shouldn't even write it for fear of getting caught. How sad is that.
And my Reed-o:
My best meal pie and eggs.
All the kids reported the things I'm always saying is do your work or get to work. Hmmm.

Some beautiful flowers a most faithful mom gave to me in exchange for flowers to her. So many mothers are prime examples of long suffering and everlasting faith and hope for and in their children. These  flowers were so beautiful in her yard , she had just cut them as we pulled up. It was so kind of her to share.
And my crew making our feast for dinner. I told Greg he was a picture of fatherhood with his children playing at his feet while he grilled us some vittles!

And the crew getting dinner pulled together. We are working on the middle three learning to be more capable in the kitchen and life in general. The older three are doing pretty well taking a task from start to finish but John, Mark, and Addie and sometimes Reed are ready to be instructed and have the chance to be the learners.

Mother's day was fun. I love Sundays when we just enjoy being together in one place. I love my kiddos. They have taught me patience, respect, love, kindness, and tolerance. They love me, the enlighten and challenge who I thought I was and what I thought I knew. It's the most intense experience I could have ever dreamed and I'm so thankful it's mine to have. Thanks to my mother for setting the example and teaching me this is a true path to happiness.