Three

The other day we visited with Viviana's new Pediatrician and as briefly as we could... we recounted her story so that she could then be referred on to some specialists for some issues she's been dealing with.

It's truly humbling to recount in our minds, hearts, and out loud, the experiences that brought us to today... the here and now...

three glorious years old. This is late... almost three months late, but our blog book wouldn't be complete without the proper birthday tributes.

A few weeks ago someone asked me when we're going to get those 14 hemangiomas taken care of (meaning, when will she have them surgically removed because they are unsightly, annoying, and bothersome)? I have to say, that it made me think a little, because even though I know they aren't 'normal,' neither is she. She's extraordinary in every way and I think sometimes those physical representations, even the unsightly hemangiomas, leftover from her beginnings... are the only physical reminder left on her that miracles do happen. They tell her story.

I was going to just list the *THREE* things we adore most about you at this stage.... but I couldn't stop, because there are just so many things to love, and we don't want to forget...

*Your larger-than-life smiles and personality.

*You always beg, complete with jumping up & down, "Can I come, can I come?" when someone heads out the front door with keys in hand. You don't ever intend on being left behind!

*Your sweet and simple prayers... and the fact that you insist on saying the family prayer every night.

*The way you take charge and boss your older sisters around... because you CAN.

*The amount of loves and cuddles that flow from you.

* The bond you have with your family... unique, special, and different bonds with each one of us.

*The key you have to your daddy's heart... you adore him just as much as he adores you.

*Your excitement and love of music, and of your nursery class at church.

*You're an independent little soul.
*The way you say, "o-tay"
*The way you tell us something, followed by:  "I killing" (translation:  I'm kidding)

*Your favorites are: Dora cuddling sweets opening the car door by yourself going potty all by yourself singing & dancing with your sisters getting dressed and re-dressed 10x a day your 'spot' on the sofa Dad's i-touch mom's i-pod Wubbzy stealing Dad's diet coke booking it down the hallway still half-asleep to cuddle with mom & dad... at 3am.

* And like momma, you MUST wear bling.

You are a true joy

{even if you do drive me nuts sometimes with all your energy}.

xo forever,

Eight Months...

I'm not thankful to be unemployed; I am not thankful for the feelings of desperation and moments of despair and hopelessness. I'm not thankful that nearly EIGHT months has gone by and we don't have even a foggy ballpark idea of what direction we're headed which makes planning any inkling of a future immensely difficult no matter how many little people are affected. I'm not thankful for an empty bank account or the lame Escalade we have that needs MUCH work before something blows... the check engine light itself it gonna burn out any day, or the front bald tires will shred... along with the front shocks that have already given way...not sure which will come first. And I'm not thankful that we feel just STUCK in 'park' and there's no 'pass go and collect $200' (or a get out of jail free card :) Because sometimes this trial just feels like jail.... only I wish we could make all that monopoly money useful for something!

But.... I am ever thankful for the tender mercies that have come as a result of this sucky unemployment trial... the little notes and gift certificates that were left on our doorstep a few days ago along with a giant multiple-family-size bottle of bubbles. I'm thankful for the prayers offered in our behalf and the notes I've received over the past weeks and months from friends who truly are a God-send. I'm thankful the the most basic needs that are being fulfilled. I'm grateful that I feel one with Curt and that our marriage is as strong as ever. I'm thankful for the extra time we get to spend and that we can run away together every day if we want...because we DO have one car that works even if it's not perfect. I'm thankful for the opportunities to teach our children about sacrifice... selflessness, and service... the endless lessons at our fingertips. We can have a generally good perspective, yet still acknowledge how awful it can feel at times. I think it is MUCH worse for Curt.... I am thankful that he's also going to school and keeping his mind focused and sharp, that he's moving forward in some direction even if there can be no fruits yet from that labor.

These last few days have been particularly difficult for some reason. We're not without hope, not without faith... but some things just seem to feel heavier and more burdensome at times. And right now is one of those times. I know it's going to be fine.... and I know it's not the end of the world and that many others are going through much worse right now. But it's just okay to declare how sucky life can be once in a while, right?

The last few days as Curt and I have reflected on our current awful crazy and we are at a loss for words to express just how it feels. We look back and see that everything we have worked so hard to build has sunk so fast over the last couple years even though we're doing all the right things and being honest, truthful, good people trying to raise good and valiant contributing citizens.

I know I can be poor as poor can be and live happily in a shack on the side of the road eating homemade bread and water if need be as long as I can run to a quiet place once in a while and I have the important things like my faith, family, love, etc.

I learned quickly that the trial of losing a home and having to be a 'renter' is not NEARLY as awful as I thought it would be... in fact, it's not awful at all. It's just different. And it's temporary. One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 3:5-6. I know that as we turn to the Lord and give away these feelings of despair and hopelessness, continue to press on and just trust... that something grand will happen not only to our hearts, but to the path we find ourselves trodding down.


And even though today it seems impossible.... I've learned that the unemployment trial is what you make of it too. Much of it is about attitude and the choice to remain positive and hopeful. There are obvious temporal needs that need to be satisfied someway and somehow, but the major needful things have all been taken care of. I am thankful that our children are healthy for the most part (except for the 12 cavities and 4 root canals that one of our kids needs), but I'm grateful that we now have medical/dental insurance to look after those needs (thank you, medi-cal). I'm grateful we'll be able to get Viviana's obstructive sleep apnea taken care of so she can finally breathe at night, as well as learn from all the blood work if Alexandra's going through precocious puberty at six (not fun) or just has smelly 13-year-old boy pits and zits (lovely).

The kids are happy even though they bicker and fight, and we are all learning to appreciate the simple things and how being creative with our time and energies is just as fulfilling and lovely as it was eight months ago when we had a bank account, a job, and a future plan. I love love love the quote from a book I'm just finishing called The Shack.. the book is definitely different and isn't exactly the imagery and whole religious perspective I believe in, but there's some great lessons in it and I love this:

"pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to fly. And if it's left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were ever created to fly in the first place."

So even though I'm not in 'pain' and I haven't any bitterness or anger to let go of, I have to remember that with this small trial, my perspective and attitude is everything. If I choose to be negative and give into self-pity too often, then those 'wings' could be clipped to the point that we're not moving forward and upward and forget our purpose altogether. I don't have to understand the why's... I just have to have the kind of crazy rock solid faith I had when we were going through the Vivie trial, and perhaps that's when the path will be made a little more clear.

Jump Start Summer

McKenzie had a horrible experience with 5th grade teacher a few weeks before school ended.  We had to remove her from a verbally abusive situation at school...without going into details...we met with the principal a few times and I wrote a letter to the school board so that it was in her 'file.'  Ama happened to be in town when it all went down... so she and Izzie took an early vacay & spent two weeks in Utah with some quality Ama time!

pool time the day before the other girls left
I'm either cold or don't want my picture taken

I adore my three little but LOUD girls

They stopped in St. George to see cousins Jonas & Makai

Cove Fort

fieldtrip to the Redmond Salt Mines
Izzie's chipmunk smile

 Park fun

It's not my intention that Izzie sit on her hair or that it be long and stringy enough to tickle her knees... even though one couldn't tell that from these pictures (both girls have had haircuts since these pics).

Utah was fun for them... more to come.

Filling in the blogging gaps...

Scouts

Brayden earned the rank of Star Scout in March-- on his way to Life, and then Eagle!

Road Show
So fun that our Temecula Stake does Road Shows 
(a unique LDS production showcasing the youth and they compete against other youth in the area)
.... I only wish I'd taken more pictures of their gazillion practices and captured the *fun* of the show.... oh well.  Brayden had a great time, even though he had a lame part.  The experience really bonds the youth.  Our ward put together a production of, "Beauty IS the Beast" ... great script.  Bray was a 'bro'... whatever that is.  On another note, he tried out, and made it into the advanced drama class at school for 8th grade.

Preschool Fun-

We participated in a preschool co-op... the girls had a great time hopping around for playdates and hands-on learning here and at their friend's houses!
I wish we had taken more pictures of our adventures through the weeks.
We made homemade ice cream, real erupting sand volcanoes, beaches-in-a-jar, ceramic handprints, melted crayon stained glass, these cutest abc books made out of sewn-together brown paper bags... and so many more exciting fun projects!
Sometimes it's nice to have an excuse to dig in and make learning fun.

What better way to practice letters... and clean the table at the same time!  Shaving cream letter fest...

they think it's their very own drinking fountain

Spring School Pics

for reals.... the photographer didn't think to have her at least remove her eye patch???  Love the glare in the glasses too.  No, I didn't buy it, I just scanned it.  Stupid photographer.  And no, I didn't remember it was pic day if you couldn't tell.

Bray's spring baseball photo

End of School

Alexandra's Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Starr

Last day of school.  She just doesn't listen.  I told her not to grow up.

Alexandra at her kindergarten garden.  Maybe she can show us how to make a garden-- I've never even attempted one...shame on me.

Monson showing off his silhouette 

No pics of Kenz...  she went to Utah two weeks before school ended.  Pics of her adventure later.

Girlfriend Time

I love my San Marcos Girlfriends... and I love it that they make the effort to come up and see me.  We had a lovely brunch at Vallee d'Brume...  with a name like that, & with friends like them, how could it not be the best!

Mwah, Karyn, Malisa, Lisa, Erin, Nicole

Lego Crazy
New favorite pastime... lego building.  I found these pics in my camera courtesy of the boys:

Long or Short?
Silly Monson flips between growing his hair out and buzzing it off... (and kissing the air)

and I didn't take 'after' photos... but he's a cutie pie either way.

Miss Teen San Marcos

 We adore Mackynzie Parry.... and we were there in February to see her compete for and win the title of Miss Teen San Marcos.  She's a true beauty inside and out!  She was our neighbor in San Marcos, and the kids all regard her as an older sis... Even though she's six years older than Monson, she always made the time to play hoops with him & play with ALL the kids.  Monson used to go over to their house and sit and wait for her to finish her chores so she could 'play.'  Then he'd just get sick of waiting, so he'd help her do her chores.  She was soooo patient with them and never once told them to take a hike even though I'm sure she wanted to at times.  Oh, how our kids miss bugging the Parry family everyday!

Silly Kids

My kids get a kick out of the classic Menzie human pyramid my brothers and I would always make...

it's one of those things you do when you're feeling silly, and with six kids it just works...so why not

 

and they all come tumbling down