12 More Weeks

I feel like a balloon that is about to pop but I still have 12 more weeks to go. I have no real complaints though. This pregnancy has gone by so fast. I don't know if I am ready for this change. Alexia is so cute. I have a box of baby clothes and blankets that I have not figured out where to put yet. She has gone through every article in that box atleast 5 times. She pulls everything out, sorts them very neatly, and then throws them all back in haphazardly. Elena, I think, shows the most outward excitement. She constantly hugs and rubs my belly and talks very sweetly to the baby. The other day we were at a park and there was a scottish festival going on. Elena and Alexia went off to play and I decided after awhile that I better go find them as there were quite a few people there. I found them in the middle of the festival looking at all the booths. They then showed me all the things they wanted to buy at the different booths. At almost all of the booths we came to, I heard from the attendants that Elena had told them all about her new little brother. I think we need to have a discussion about talking to strangers again. I think McKay is very excited to have a new brother, but he is also beginning to understand that it also means more responsibility. I depend on him so much and all the kids really, because my energy level is not quite up to par, and they really do a lot around the house. McKay is really a great help but he has expressed to the girls that there are going to be a lot more responsibilities when the baby comes. He's such a mini adult. I think Clarence is ready to end the 9 month emotional roller coaster, although he has been very supportive. I know that it has been hard for him to deal with a wife who breaks down every few days and totally loses it. I also have a much harder time with meals, laundry, and just general maintenance, but he never says anything and pitches in to help with housework a lot. I have a great, supportive family. I am so grateful for my husband and each one of my children. Somehow we will all get through this, and be blessed with a beautiful baby.

4th of July Festivities

This year we opted not to take the kids to the balloons and parade like we normally do. We did have a fun family/friend BBQ at Clarence's brothers house on the 3rd. We ate some great food (thanks to Marilee and Howard) and the kid's put on a fabulous firework show, although I was very nervous the whole time as all the kids were lighting them simultaneously. Then, last night on the 4th we went to watch the Provo firework display in my husband's work parking lot. McKay has been with his cousin Jake since the 3rd and I am sure he has had and is still having a blast. I am grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in this country and for the opportunity to celebrate.

My hard working hubby

I thought I would pay a small tribute to my dear husband. I don't think I have even mentioned him in any of my previous blogs and I want everyone to know what an integral part of our family he is. He works 12 hour shifts so that he can spend less days at work and more time at home with us. However, everyone at work has been finding out that he used to be a concrete contractor, so he has been doing some side jobs and we have gotten to come with him and offer our meager assistance on some of them. The last job he did was a at a cabin lot by Indianola. What an amazing place. This was a 3-acre lot with deer and other wild animals constantly running through the property. The people who live there just happen to like birds and had many bird feeders and bird houses all over their property. McKay got to see about 30 different species of birds, and the kids had a blast wandering all over the property and seeing beautiful nature. McKay and I helped Clarence a little bit, but I must confess we spent much more time wandering than helping. I am so grateful for Clarence's work ethic. He is such a great example for McKay and he has taught him so many things that are hard for boys to learn when they live in the city. I am also grateful for his dedication to family. He has taken us on many field trips and spent so much time helping the kids do projects and have fun. Home school would be very boring without Dad to spice it up. Many times he has brought lumber home to build boats, bird houses, and any other project he thinks the kids may be interested in. He even recently made me a garden box so I can have fresh produce, even though he doesn't even like most produce, and he faithfully takes the kids out and weeds and waters that garden. What a great guy.




These are pictures I took of the last job he did in Indianola. He did that whole thing by himself. I just helped him screed the concrete flat, and McKay helped him form it up and tear everything down. I don't know if you can tell from the picture but it is a huge pad. They are putting a big garage on it, with room for sidewalk all the way around.

All About Elena

Elena is the middle child and is always apt to feel left out even though we try really hard to keep things equal for all of our kids. This past few weeks however, she has gotten to do a lot of things that the other kids have not gotten to do. I thought if I blogged about it I would have proof to show her that life really is fair for her. For her birthday, Elena got a cutie bakeware set and she has recently gotten to make cupcakes a few times by herself with Lexie hovering and wishing she could help. This really is a big deal for her because she loves to cook, but she loves to do it without Alexia. She does not want to share the fun. She would rather let Lexie add all the ingredients than to have to split it up half and half. So Alexia usually does the helping while Elena leaves the room angry.





Elena got invited to 2 birthday parties which Alexia didn't get invited to. That's pretty rare because they both have the same friends and where one goes, they both go. However, Alexia ended up going to one of the parties anyway because it was quite a drive and my sister-in-law needed some help with watching the kids in the swimming pool which meant that Lexie and McKay had to come. She did get to sleep over at her cousins house all by her self the night before though.

And finally, she got to take swimming lessons for 2 weeks all by herself, she didn't even want the kids to come with us to drop her off. She got me all to herself for all of 5 minutes of driving time, but it was enough to make her feel very special. I did stay and watch her about half the time.


Elena is such a cute and sweet little girl and we love her a lot.

Great friends

Yesterday, I was fortunate to see my great friend Tammy for a few hours. She moved away to Ohio a few years ago, and she was in town visiting her husband's family. When we lived in Provo, we were neighbors, and we became really close. We did joy school together with our oldest children, we went on many walks together, and our children played. We both home school our children and she was and is a great influence on how I teach my children. It was so much fun to see her children, and how much they have grown. When she moved she had 3 adorable little girls, and has since added two more girls to their family. She is also expecting again, and is due a few weeks after me in October. It was great to see that we are still so like-minded in many ways. Thanks for keeping in touch Tammy! I sure love you and your family. Of course, I forgot my camera!

Thoughts on The Hiding Place

Last night, we had a book discussion on The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom and I want to record a few thoughts I had on the book. This book is about true christianity. I think too many times we focus on everything we have to "Do" to gain our salvation, instead of on allowing Christ to mold us into "Be"ing an instrument in His hands. One of the characters, Tante Jans, is told by her family that her death is imminent, and that because of all her good works, she will return to her Father with her hands full. Upon hearing this, she makes the following profound statement: Empty, empty! How can we bring anything to God? What does he care for our little tricks and trinkets?" "Dear Jesus, I thank You that we must come with empty hands. You have done all- all- on the cross, and that all we need in life or death is to be sure of this." I love this statement, we can not earn our salvation, we can humble ourselves before God and Be an instrument in His hands for good. He makes us what we are. We are nothing in and of ourselves.

I also loved the example of finding joy in tribulation. We are here to be tested, yes, but to find joy in this life, despite tribulation is what He wants for us. What amazing people! They were able to find and carry out their mission in prison and in a concentration camp. Not only did they find joy in their tribulation, but they spread love, joy, and healing to everyone around them who would choose it. I just love this book for so many reasons. These are the thoughts I had today. I have so much to learn and be.

Random pictures

Here is what happens when my sweet children get ahold of the camera.


I'm guessing Lexie took this one.



definitely McKay's doing.



I really thought I had that paint put away somewhere unreachable. I haven't seen any paint smudges anywhere luckily. I think we're gonna have a discussion about Mom's non washable paint.




These 2 are definitely my favorite. Maybe Lexie will be a photographer some day. What cute poses. Her unmade bed and junk piled underneath are very embarrassing. Oh well. Reality. I'll get over it.



NICE!




I'm guessing Elena for these two. My children all think they own my camera.