Mothers day

On Saturday we drove up to my parents house.  We did the usual Costco run (the girls LOVE the “tasty tables” on the way and arrived just in time for dinner.  Papa grilled steaks and the kids talked nonstop catching up.  We finally got them in bed and played a few rounds of canasta (winner has to sit left of Papa of each round—assuming Papa didn’t win which is rare).

Baby Z has been sleeping for a four hour stretch each night, followed by two 2 hour stretches.  But that night, and the next, he gave me a 6 hour stretch!  What a great mothers day gift! (unfortunately immediately after he went back to 2 hour stretches.  I miss the 4!)  Church was at 9:00 but husband let me sleep in as long as I could and then we had a hurried breakfast and off to church.  Their ward has an amazing tradition for mothers day—the missionaries and deployed military write letters home to be read during sacrament meeting.  Their sediments and insights are so beautiful and uplifting.  Then Papa taught Sunday School. He is such a gifted teacher and has such vast knowledge, I feel really blessed by his gifts.  (and wish I had a better memory! Especially of everything I learned in seminary from him.)

We had a quick meal after church and settled in for a quiet time movie.  But it wasn’t long before cousins started trickling in.  My two sister in laws and I made dinner with lots of favorites and we played through the evening. 

For gifts, E got to pick out Grammy’s presents.  She insisted flowers and a treat.  So while at Costco, she picked out a bouquet that included Grammy’s favorite hydrangeas and a giant tub of Red Vines.

As for me, I love listening to my new grandfather clock.  J

April

Life is so good.  It feels like April went way too fast.  I haven’t been good about blogging but we have started helping the girls to keep a journal.  L writes her own entries while E and A dictate.  It usually takes some prompting, reminding them about things we did during the week but I’m trying to record their versions of it as much as I can.

April was busy as we figure out how to juggle with four kids.  Spring Break was a lot of fun, despite not having daddy for most of it.  And then we launched right back into our hectic schedule—that’s the hard part.  The pick up and drop offs and car pools don’t always mesh with Z’s unpredictable schedule but we’re managing best we can.  The girls have had all their regular dance and piano and tumbling classes.  They are getting ready for year-end performances and so excited.  For dance the theme is Finding Nemo and they love their new costumes.  We spent an afternoon at the studio for team pictures in all their various costumes.  Crazy but fun.  And the pictures will turn out great.

We survived another trip to the dentist.  Z was good as good, easily pacified and the girls settled in to watch Netflicks during their exams.  Even E got the full treatment this time, complete with x-rays which was a first for her.  My poor kiddos don’t have great teeth.  The dentist confirmed again, he can tell they brush but their teeth are weak.  A had to get a cavity filled and L had two cavities but since those teeth should fall out soon, we waited.  E happily got her picture taken for the “no cavities club”.

We also did pictures at home with a friend who is a very talented photographer.  We did some family pictures and then lots of newborn pictures.  I saw a similar photo shoot and loved the idea—they are so intimate and expressive, especially in our own home.  The photo session took a long time but went well.  Now that I’ve seen the photos, they are even better than I hoped! I’m so in love.  Z is changing so fast, even since those photos and I’m so grateful to have them.

I’ve gotten to see lots of friends lately and I’m very grateful for that.  I enjoyed catching up with friends at a belated baby shower for my neighbor as we gushed over our beautiful babies born less than a week apart.  I got to go to lunch with a cousin from back east.  I see her rarely so it was especially wonderful to spend an afternoon catching up and talking (mostly about our kids!)  We are starting to have playdates again now that Z is a little older.  A is especially social and thrives on them but I so thoroughly need it as well, getting to hang out with another mom and friend.  Plus I got to go to the scrapbook expo/girls weekend and a Bunko night recently.  So I’m feeling very spoiled to have such wonderful friends and grateful for how replenishing it can be to have those girlfriends.  I love the sisterhood of parenting and of course love showing off baby Z.

This last weekend was a mix of adventures.  Friday night was particularly bad actually.  Husband has been out of town and we actually managed pretty good until Friday.  I took Z to an appointment and unfortunately had to take A and E with me.  They were exceptionally, shockingly rude and obnoxious and it really set me on edge.  I let my frustrations build through the evening and ended up thoroughly angry with the girls’ antics by the end of the evening.  Perhaps they were over tired or just feeding off the stress or something but for whatever reason, they were loud and rude, constantly bickering, making unreasonable messes and being generally belligerent.  For the first time since our family grew, I had a really bad parenting day.  I yelled at the kids and then cried.  We talked through it a little at bed time and better the next morning but I still felt awful.  It was just so overwhelming and once I started to get frustrated and anxious, it was a slippery decline and I just couldn’t reset or shake it off.  I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it, how I could prevent it or what I should have done better.  I wish I had found a way to reset.  But I pushed myself (and the girls) to finish a project that probably should have waited.  I’m a much better mom when I have no agenda—nothing to stress about or schedule to keep.  And I think I need to remember that especially when husband is out of town.  The messes and disorganization make me feel so anxious but it simply wasn’t the best idea to try to tackle a project without more help.

But Saturday was much better.  Z slept better than he had so I got more sleep.  In the morning I made breakfast for the girls and we talked and cuddled through a movie and painted toes.  Husband arrived and was of course swarmed instantly.  Sneaky, amazing, thoughtful, generous, incredible husband arrived home with a surprise.  Years ago, we made a light hearted agreement that each time we had a daughter, Husband would get a new gun.  And I teased back that if we ever had a son, I wanted a grandfather clock.  When we found out baby 4 was a boy, husband began looking at clocks.  We talked about it and decided to wait awhile until we could better afford what we really wanted.  However, husband stumbled onto an incredible deal of a gorgeous clock, exactly what we wanted and in perfect condition.  So he brought it home! And now even as I write, I get to listen to its beautiful chimes.

We got everyone showered, dressed and loaded into the car.  We stopped at a baby shower for my cousin.  I visited with the other ladies while husband had a picnic outside with the girls.  Then they came in for cake and to play with the balloons.  After the shower we visited the temple and walked around the grounds.  The girls were so charming and sweet.  They loved the “flower maze” and danced around, dramatically smelling all the flowers and posing for pictures.

And then we spent the evening at Grandpa’s house.  Grandma’s sibling all came for dinner.  They got to cuddle baby Z and we visited while the kids ran around outside with cousins.  The girls had some difficult moments but overall, it was a fantastic evening. 

And then we spent today with that side of the family again for baby blessing of our cousin’s twin boys.  Z was particularly fussy during the testimony meeting and the girls were as usual, wiggly but most trying to be reverent.  Fortunately we got to gather for lunch and they played hard outside, especially delighted by the hammock.  I got to hold the twins who are so wonderful and at six months old, made me realize (and appreciate) how tiny my baby Z feels in comparison.

He is so wonderful.  His sisters are still beyond crazy about him.  They beg for turns to hold him, especially A, who has dubbed herself “the magic” as she has gotten pretty good at settling him down.  E still tends to be a bit smothering in her eagerness and they all get reminded often to give him space.

girls weekend

A particularly wonderful adventure recently was the annual girls weekend at the scrapbook expo.  I had planned to arrive earlier and go out to dinner but L was invited to her first Activity Days event and it happened to be a mother-daughter.  So we went together, listening to the devotional on inner beauty and doing a craft together.  For the craft we each picked out affirmations to describe her and I really enjoyed that one-on-one time.

After the activity, I took baby Z with me and headed to Salt Lake to meet the rest of the ladies at the hotel.  We got a quick dinner and then stayed up late talking and catching up.  Mom was already scrapbooking on her computer but I lounged around playing with Z and settling it.  Finally around 11:30 I went to get in bed and found a pair of dirty socks between the sheets!  Certainly a new experience.  The hotel got us new sheets and we eventually made it to bed.

            The next morning we ate breakfast at the hotel and then arrived at the expo.  It took us awhile to find a good spot for us.  They didn’t have a digi-lounge this year and we didn’t want to pay more three times as much for VIP seating just to get a power outlet.  We ended up taking a table on the very outskirts of the room, off the main floor actually but with still a clear view of everything.  This ended up being perfect since we were no longer right under an air conditioning vent, farther away from the deafening speakers, had plenty of power outlets plus I had a corner to feed and change Zach as needed—which was most of the morning. Z was fussy and I didn’t get much done for the morning.  But then he slept a solid four hour stretch in the sling.  We brought in Café Rio for lunch, wandered a few booths without buying anything, snacked on treats we brought and mostly just chatted and laughed as we worked.  I spent most my time getting reorganized since it’s been so long since I worked on anything.

            One of the girls didn’t get off work until 8 so she hadn’t been able to join us yet.  We met her at a restaurant and leisurely made our way through dinner before continuing the party at our hotel room.  We had chocolate fondue and plenty of treats as we stayed up late catching up with each other.

            On Saturday morning we began drifting away.  One of my sisters left early while the rest of us went to breakfast and then went out for pedicures.  I had to leave soon after that to get the girls ready for dance pictures.  But as always it was a wonderful, amazing, replenishing, much needed weekend.  Already looking forward to next time.