Abby's first day of ballet and Ruby's happy return

Ruby excited

While driving around Verona, Ruby was in back seat bouncing up and down in her booster seat saying, "I'm so excited! I'm so excited!" All the kids were talking and making lots of noise and no one was paying attention to Ruby. I asked everyone to listen to Ruby and asked her what she was excited about. She smiled and said, "I'm excited to see Jesus!"

Trivial pursuit at grumpy troll

Chris reads the trivial pursuit question: From where did genus rock, which originated 4000 years ago, fall to earth?

Gavin and Gabriel in unison: OUTER SPACE!

Real answer was the moon.

Wisconsin Friends

Parenting

Parenting has been tough lately. Our boys love playing outside and when we call them in they don't come, hide, run away, and yell at us! It's not good!

Today when I got home from robotics with Gabriel he needed to change clothes, so I watched him go in the house. I came back a few minutes later and he was outside playing in the same clothes. He went in and turned right around. 

Also Gavin and Betsy walked home from school today and stopped at the playground to play first. So they didn't get home until 4:10. And there was a babysitter at home who was worried, but had no idea what to do. 

Bedtimes have been really rough. Gavin and Gabriel seem to be staying up late despite being tucked in and having read. The other night I went to peak at them and Gabriel was still awake reading. It was 10:20 and a school night! They bring apples and string cheese upstairs and I find the cores and wrappers all over. 

Just so many issues. And Kim cox told me tonight that it will get worse. So this is tough! And I have a lot of work ahead of me. 

May the 4th

I missed celebrating May the 4th with my kids! Man! It is so fun to do stuff like that and I love to see their eyes light up when we're having fun and they see me playing along. 

Ruby loves Emma. She read her stories tonight for about an hour. Today Chris and I came home from our date and Ruby was in her poodle skirt/dress sitting on the wood chair in front of the house, holding a Book of Mormon and some scripture-marking crayons just turning pages. 

Betsy reads in the morning in her room because she wakes up the earliest. I still hear her sometimes whispering to Ruby, "Wake up, it's morning." Which is cute and also makes my blood boil a bit. She's into reading and writing "I love you" notes to everyone. 

Abby loves to be in control. If I start singing a song she will usually say, "Stop." And this is also true for a story or something I'm doing, like dancing. And if I, or any of the other family members she says it to, don't stop, she starts screaming. She still often says, "Hold me." 

She loves Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Miss Mary Mack, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you See. And she calls the latter book by its full name. This week we sat down many times to read both of those. One time I started Brown Bear and she said, "Stop. I read it." So I held her in my lap and turned the pages. And she read the whole thing! Including the animal noises we make with the little rhyme/song to read that story. Wow. She also likes me to read Miss Mary Mack and say the line without the last two words, which she then fills in. So cute.

Abby also went poopies on the potty this week. One time, but still! That's amazing. Ruby says she potty-trained Abby. If it's not true yet, it will be. She also laughs socially with everyone. 

This week had two days in the high 80s, which came out of nowhere. So at night our house was quite warm. All the kids slept in just their diaper (except Betsy who just last week started sleeping with underwear!), and went to the bathtub a few times to run cold water over themselves. They were very uncomfortable. How lucky we are to live so comfortably most of the time. It reminded me of the sweaty days in Palo Alto with no air conditioning, a nursing baby, snuggling kids, and 90 degree weather. That was hard. 

One of the hottest weekends in Palo Alto I said we have to get something to help. The air was so still in our apartment and we just dripped sweat all day and night. On Saturday I went to the store and got a fan because I was going crazy. It helped some. That Sunday Bishop Jason Peery asked if he could come over to visit us. He came over in his suit and I felt so embarrassed having him sit in this super hot house. His jacket came off. And he started dripping, too. I had bought ice cream at the store the night before, too, so our kids could have a cool treat in the afternoon. We got it out while he was there and offered him some, too. It was very humbling. 

Gabriel started robotics at school, which he got selected for through a lottery. Gavin didn't get selected, so it's interesting to watch them learn in this situation. Gavin came home and said, "Mom, guess what Gabriel got chosen for?! Robotics! I'm so happy for him!" Later he told me he wished he could do it, too. So sweet that he could choose his reaction to be kind when he felt bummed. Gabriel went to one Robotics meeting after school with Mr. L, who wrote and said Gabriel is a natural leader. 

Gavin had one morning this week where he had to take an extra shower because of an accident. I was upset and short with him, more than I'd like to be. He was ready and leaving and I said good-bye to him. He left out the front door and about two minutes later the door opened and he ran back to me and said smiling, "Didn't you forget something?" He was smiling a huge grin and looked adorable and innocent. I immediately gave him a kiss to send him on his way. I saw how pure his feelings and intent were and felt humbled by that. My kids teach me everything about life and what's important. I couldn't feel more grateful for this time with them. And it's a challenge at the same time. Amazing!

April showers

Gavin and Gabriel had their spy/cops & robbers birthday party on Saturday. It was fun with kids from the neighborhood and church. 

We gave everyone a spy name. Gavin chose his - Genius. Gabriel chose his - Commander Hansen. 

We started out with getting the donuts stolen from our treat table. The suspects were our family members. I had picked out some incriminating pictures from my phone and printed them in black and white. Then I presented them to the birthday group as the possible suspects of who the birthday bandit was. Chris made a video as well with him dressed in a robber costume cackling and taking donuts. 

The criminals names were

Chris - family napper

Gavin - the dusty outlaw

Gabriel - teenage mutant ninja gabriel

Betsy - the pink monkey

Ruby - rock star

Abigail - blueberry and another one was lily cooper

Gavin & Gabriel - Sam and Frodo

We started the clues around the neighborhood with 2 teams. We got totally rained on in the middle of it, but it let up by the end and was nice the rest of the time. 

I didn't let anyone go upstairs, which was helpful for crowd control. 

We got back from the clues and Chris got in his costume and let them catch him some and try to get him. 

Then we "destroyed the evidence" by eating all the donuts and cupcakes and brownie bites and potstickers and pop. 

Then Chris led the group in two rounds of Werewolf. And it was time to get mugshots, take a loot bag, and skadaddle. 

Afterward there were presents to open and playing the rest of the evening with friends. Oh, and major clean up including on the street where there was silly string and water balloons. 

Overall, a great party. Now I need to get planning Betsy's fairy party. 

Betsy is adorable. She is sharp and reading everything. She comes up with different games to invite Ruby and Abby to. She is very independent. She also has some emotional distress where she cries/screams a lot. I don't know what the source of this is, but it wears on my ears. I try to talk to her about things and it just gets more and more ramped up. I love her, though. She has such a strong sense of being. Tonight I asked her what she would like for her birthday treat. She said a lemon cake. Then also lemon bars. I told her we could probably do at least one of those, but maybe two. And we might be going to the Oregon coast on Saturday with Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Wayne, so maybe we could get a treat there. She immediately jumped in with - I want pineapple ice cream! The lemon cake, lemon bars, and pineapple ice cream are good representations of her - yellow and bright, loud, flavorful, energetic, strong, and little tart sometimes, and sweet! She is all of those things and more. 

The boys resist so much of what I try to help them with. They dawdle in the morning and get into conflicts with each other or Betsy. I need to be up there moving things along from the bed, to throwing away diapers, to getting in the shower, getting out of the shower, getting dressed, and then going downstairs, getting their pills, and having breakfast. Once we get to breakfast things are a little more easy for them to do on their own. Which is morning chore and getting out the door with piano if they have time. 

Today was piano. I need to email Jodi to let her know we won't be doing lessons with her next year. It's just so expensive with her. And we are signed up to go with Becca Sivitz, which I think will be a really nice opportunity. I told the boys in the car today that we are going to keep doing piano for years. This was after they were complaining about going to piano. So, the reaction wasn't so positive. Gavin said, I'm going to be a scientist, not the best piano player in the world!

Ruby went to sleep tonight with Baby Ruby, a doll. She really keeps dolls close to her and interacts with them throughout the day. As I was getting up from the bed there was one of the doll's shoes. Ruby grabbed it and gave it to me saying, I don't want to sleep with this stinky shoe around. Funny thing how doll shoes work, they don't get stinky. Sometimes Ruby will be talking and I'll respond. She'll say, Mom, that was only for Emma to hear! She has these random conversations with Emma. Emma is also sometimes hungry or sad or thirsty or tired and Ruby is sure to voice her needs and make sure she is taken care of. 

Abby loves the books Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do You See? and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Also, Goodnight Moon. A lot of the other books she doesn't stick around for through all the pages and longer text. She also interrupts A LOT. Throughout a book she'll point to pictures and say what they are and will have to say each thing she knows on every page, have me repeat the word she said, and then let us keep reading. 

I've been organizing our garage and just put up some racks to hang bikes, chairs, helmets, and other stuff from. It's looking so nice. Huge improvement and I want to keep installing a few more until everything is off the floor of the garage. 

Painting nails on Easter

Kids talk

Ruby in the playroom playing with Emma. Putting Emma to sleep. She looks up and asks, "Was I a doll?"

She loves taking care of Emma and often Emma joins us for snacks, outings, prayers.

Betsy a while ago, but not sure I recorded this, said, "Mom, Halloween is a spiders Christmas because they love that time the most."

While dropping off birthday invitations we stopped at the Werrys. The parents came to the car and asked how we liked our car because they were thinking of getting one. I said it was the best and then showed them the back. I opened the back and was telling them the things I liked about it. Gabriel joined us and said, "Well, you're sure bragging, mom!"

words of ruby

Ruby laying in my lap. 

Ruby: I have a really cute nose, Mom. 

Mom: Uh-huh. 

Ruby: But you don't really mom (looking a little puzzled).

Mom: Oh really. Why not?

Ruby: Because theres some hair from here (patting my head) inside of your nose. 

This morning I woke up and found Betsy and Ruby downstairs. Betsy is trying to teach Ruby how to read. Ruby is just repeating whatever Betsy says. 

Ruby comes over to me and says: Do you know why I waked up this morning? So I can do magic!

Then she went back over to her "bed" she had set up on the family room floor. 

Betsy's words

Betsy in October: Mom, this is the best time of year for spiders. They love Halloween because it's their Christmas. Right, mom?

Abby: Walk-a-baby. Walk-a-baby. I want some. 

Sibling Presents

This is the first year we have had our kids give presents officially to each other. I have taken each one individually to the store to help them pick out something for another brother or sister. The girls are buying gifts for each other and the boys are, too.

I took Betsy first. She chose a bird pet that repeats what you say in a birdie voice. It was so cute because when she saw what it did she was laughing so hard in the store and was excited to share it with Ruby. That was the best part of each trip was seeing how excited they felt about giving the gift. We headed home and our plan was to take it into dad's office to wrap it. We put it in a bag and Betsy went in before me. She went right into the family room and announced, "Ruby here is your present, but don't look! And I can't tell you what it is!"

Then when I went with Gavin he had a few ideas of what Gabriel might like. We looked at legos, nerf guns, an army base, and helicopter. He held onto the army base while we went to look at one more thing - Pokemon. Once we got to the Pokemon section Gavin was going back and forth about which EX set, what was in it, and all the different products. He finally chose a Dragonite EX set with other stuff in it that I don't remember. We came home and wrapped it and he put it under the tree. But on the way home from the store he had said to me, "Has Gabriel already bought a present for me?" No. "When you go to the store with him could you show him the Pokemon section, but don't say anything about already being there with me?" 

Ruby was pretty malleable. She liked every toy she saw and carried a few things around, but then eventually decided on a few items I pointed her to - some doll hair accessories, little dog pets, and candy inside a candy cane shape. We wrapped it the next day and she hasn't told Betsy yet. 

Gabriel went with me tonight. He didn't have any idea of what Gavin might want, even though I was trying to brainstorm with him. We walked up a few aisles of toys looking at legos (nexo knights) and board games. Then we saw drones and remote-control cars. I tried making a case for the drones, but Gabriel picked out a remote-control ATV with a rider on it. And handcuffs. In the store he made a comment like, "I bet dad is going to want to play with this right away." Then tonight we wrapped it after everyone had gone to bed. While wrapping it he said, "I saw a jealous look on dad's face because I told him what it was."

So glad we did this this year. A very enjoyable experience for me as the mom.

Snow Day in...Camas?

I have to laugh. Everyone started talking about a snow storm yesterday. School was cancelled last night at 6 p.m. Lots of thing were closed or called off. Not to offend my Washington friends, but the light dusting at the noon hour does not worry me. I heard there were cars sliding and tonight might be freezing rain, so I am open to correction.

Regardless, it was good to have a snow day. Things happened slowly in the morning and it was a nice change of pace. Chris made breakfast - ham and egg croissants. Then the kids started school with Betsy being the teacher. The boys got into this adding thing where they started with 1+1=2, 2+2=4, 4+4=8, and so on. They got up to 16 million and 33 million. It was really surprising how much they stuck with it, and did it all mental math. No writing, carrying the tens over, anything like that. They asked me to check their work sometimes, which took me a little bit. Betsy and Ruby (and Abby) worked on Betsy's Star of the Week Poster. It's cute to see Betsy want to have things a certain way. She told me exactly what she wanted written for the captions.

Then we did a Christmas devotional about giving gifts and I had an early Christmas gift to give them. It was a hat and gloves for all of them, and scarves for the girls. They put them on and went outside because they saw Keane and Lily outside. The Gillespies came out, too. It was super windy and cold so the girls didn't last long. The boys were outside a little longer and did some sledding down the cul-de-sac with the Cooper's sleds. But even they came in freezing.

Betsy did her reading lesson. Gavin read a choose-your-own adventure. Then they got to watch some PBS kids and Frosty the Snowman. While I was turning on PBS kids I noticed that Ruby had cut her hair. :( Such beautiful hair and I would have loved to have taken her to get a cute haircut, which we have talked about many times. She cried when I noticed and said sorry. I think she knew I was sad, too. Abby was already waking up, so Chris offered to play with her for a minute so I could take a break. I really don't know why making it through an entire day is so difficult for me, but I do a lot better when I get a break, which is much more possible on non-snow days.

We recently were visiting with some new friends in our ward about chores. They used to have each kid do one chore of kitchen clean-up after dinner. But there was always fighting, so they changed it to assigning the entire kitchen clean-up to one kid each night and they rotate nights. We have discussed recently that our kids need some more responsibilities. And with a larger house, I can't do all the clean-up after they go to bed or while the girls are napping anymore. It's way too much for one person anymore.

Anyway, new chores approach - everyone has one chore in the morning and evening assigned to them for the entire week and then we rotate. And when I say everyone, I mean the older three children.

The boys are learning a duet on the piano for Jolly Old Saint Nicholas and Jingle Bells. Gavin is also learning We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Gabriel is learning Away in a Manger and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Betsy practices on her glockenspiel and plays Jingle Bells and Star Light, Star Bright. She gets really into it.

Gavin and Gabriel first wrestling tournament

Gavin and Gabriel participated in their first wrestling tournament. Both won all their matches and won the respective weight division.

Picture day

Neighborhood kids all walking to school on picture day. 

Then a typical afternoon outside with friends.

Betsy rides a bike

Betsy decided she wanted to try riding a neighbor's bike and just did it. The braking and dismount weren't smooth, but everything else was pretty simple for her. I think she's just been ready and waiting for the opportunity - the right size bike and a safe street/neighborhood. This doesn't happen on college avenue in PA! She was great at gliding and did that for a year before, so the proponents of gliding may be on to something. 

After she rode Keen's bike, we picked up a blue bike with cherry graphics and a basket off of craigslist. She wants to go out and ride all the time and on this second day began starting on her own. This is a day off kindergarten to help the 5 year-olds adjust. I have been pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable these "off" days have been with Betsy. She is loving, bright, and a great leader. I need to take a picture of her Lego store she made and is taking tomorrow for the class show n tell. She came up with the idea tonight since we couldn't find her musical jewelry box. 

$27 from cookies

This event has been talked about almost non-stop since Friday. I made cookies for an after-school "clubhouse snack." The clubhouse includes all the kids in the neighborhood. After eating their own snack it naturally evolved to selling "for the clubhouse," which is an unknown cause. It could mean buying a flag or a fourth plasma car or "more cookies to make more money."

They were quite successful, as people pulled or walked over and the last lady gave them 20 for the remainder of the cookies. They were/are thrilled! 

It was a team effort that could develop into some philanthropic work, but just what would that look like...? That idea has been on the drawing board since Friday, both in the clubhouse and our home. 

July 5

We rode bikes to school because I car was getting towed to the car service. I love roadside assistance. 100% worth the premium. It's not just the battery and key, so I'm hoping the warranty might cover something!

As you can see behind Abby, the boxes are piling up in the back porch. I'm hoping there is no rain in the next ten days and no robbers. Not that anyone would really want wrapping paper and duplos, but they wouldn't know that.

Our house got cleaned today, which is becoming a necessity for me. Even in this small space I don't find the time to do much more than tidy and I am so grateful for the kind couple who comes and brightens our home. It is one of my favorite things.

We walked to the bank and Ruby rode Betsy's glider the whole way. She was also wearing one of Betsy's shirts and two different shoes. 

Some key principles of a home environment I want to create - COAL. Curiosity. Openness. Acceptance. Love.

After school we were all in their bedroom and they began an impromptu Yoshi Kids Club meeting. It started out with the pledge that sounds an awful lot like the pledge of allegiance with the word Yoshi inserted several times. 

This week is spirit week at school, so they got ready for the Hawaiian day and did a luau dance with someone accompanying on the piano. 

It was taco Tuesday tonight for dinner, which may have become a little polarizing. Gavin claims to love it and it seems that makes Gabriel not love it. Although they seem similar in personality, they do often choose opposites. Like if I ask them what they're favorite ice cream is, Gabriel will say vanilla and then Gavin will immediately say chocolate. Or when people ask them what color they like, they are quick to say different colors or "only my brother likes that color." 

Happy 4th of July!

I am a little sad to be taking apart our house. Making sure everything had a place, putting up decorations in the right spots, organizing rooms has been a lot of work and I'm really proud we all have done it together! As I pack I realize this place will never look normal or homey again. It's just going to be bare and boxes until we leave. I have been very happy since the day we decided to move, but I still have some reservations not knowing what the next place will be like and leaving behind friends that we just didn't have enough time with. We had not even met everyone in our ward and those we had met, our friendships were still developing. But I have to leave Palo Alto! I am not sad about that. We missed the window of middle-income people moving here about twenty years ago and now our 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment that is 900 sqft sells for over a million. So let's just think about what a normal-sized house costs and the chances you will get it with the competitive bidding and then it is obvious why we are leaving. It's just the most insane market. It's been interesting to be a part of it and witness first-hand how people live in such small space, sacrifice so much for rent, and learn why they do it. Or also learn how people made a business and sold it for several millions and that's how they live here. It's a town of millionaires. And I have honestly told Amanda V. and others from the beginning that I wanted out. I hit my limit and this place is beyond it and I really respect others for holding out longer/think they're crazy. By the way, we still lose things in our apartment, despite it's size.

We are surrounded by boxes and stuff needing to be packed. This morning was brunch at Dick and Mimi P.'s house, which was lovely. It's amazing what a year can do. I remember going last year and enjoying it, but we were the new family on the block. Gabriel and Chris had helped with set up, so Gabriel said he knew what was going to be there, but was going to let it be a surprise. Then a few seconds later said, But I'm so excited for face painting!

Chris drove with Gabriel, Betsy, Abby, and the egg casserole. The recipe called for 1 cup of cheese for every egg. Seriously! I rode bikes with Ruby and Gavin because of the minivan issues. Ruby is having shoe troubles. The only shoes we can find for her are the right blue keen shoe and left black shiny Sunday shoe. That's what she had to wear to church yesterday! I keep believing the pairs will show up, but I might cave and buy her some soon. Also, Ruby loves Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and calls it Tiger Daniel, saying the Daniel as one would in Spanish. She sings the songs Use Your Words and It Might Get Better a lot. Gavin was fussing on the couch about a problem and I encouraged him to work it out by using his words. Ruby walked over to the couch, pointed her finger at him and sang, Use your words! We all started laughing in that tense moment, even Gavin. He didn't like it so much when Betsy and Gabriel joined Ruby, though. 

The best part of the brunch was the singing and talking with friends. Mary P. sang the national anthem, primary kids sang My Flag, and everyone sang God Bless America and This Land is Your Land. The pictures show Betsy and Ruby mesmerized by the singing. Gavin and Gabriel were wandering through the beautifully landscaped trees making up a game with other boys. I love their natural ability to play. It happens so easily wherever we go and who ever we are with. I wonder when they'll stop going immediately to the trees to make forts or battle plans. Hopefully not soon! It's so previous to see.

Jeri Seams is painting Lorin P.'s face. She was the nursery leader when we first moved in and welcomed Ruby so well. Chris has been in nursery this year and really respected her detailed preparation and service. She loved him in nursery, too, and said how loving he is. She also said it has been priceless to have Ruby see her and come sit on her lap during sacrament. Ruby also goes to belle d. And Abby often gets taken by the cooks. 

By the way, I like the bricks for the outdoor flooring. 

We had a packing afternoon and the kids watched Kung fu panda. We were all going to go to shoreline for fireworks, but Gavin needed to stay, so I'm home with Abby and Gavin. The rest parked at Costco, walked to the golf course, found the Coehlos, and are enjoying the fireworks and crowd. 

July 3

Sunday afternoon is down time that is a little bit hard to fill. I want it to be a little bit different on the sabbath and it lasts a long time and we don't live by family to go visit. So today they read, which I absolutely love seeing them do together. I'm so glad Gavin was willing to do this. 

They also tried to get Abigail to lay down on a blanket to pull her around, but she was not cooperating so they gave up. 

One picture taken with Ruby attracted several more for a group selfie. 

After the girls go to bed, the boys let loose! Just kidding. Usually they are reading, but tonight after reading they decided to pump it up a little. We finished All-of-a-Kind Family tonight and started Al Capone Does My Shirts. It helps that we went to Alcatraz here. That was a very worthwhile excursion. I am kind of sad we didn't go again with family when they were in town. The ferry ride over was fun and then we all had our own headphones for a guided tour. 

July 2

We leave in two Saturdays. So we headed to Pacifica to have some beach time. I had been there with park days, but Chris hadn't. This beach attracts surfers and has a Taco Bell literally on the beach. We met the Coehlos with Raphael's mom there, but we were super late because of the battery again. And taking bikes off the back rack. Our kids had fun running and digging for crabs. The most amazing part was that WE SAW WHALES! It was really amazing. I was corralling kids to come back closer to parents and I was walking by two little boys who started jumping up and down screaming and pointing. I asked them what they were so excited about and they said they saw a whale. I looked out there and it was amazing. I gathered the boys who I was bringing back and we watched until we one again. When the whale jumped out of the water headfirst and landed on its side (I know there's a name for that) everyone on the beach clapped. So then I ran to tell the adults to look and we whale-watched for a while. The thing about whale-watching is you have to be still and keep your eyes focused on the water because they'll suddenly appear, but only for a moment. It's fun. And just amazing to think of these huge creatures in the water. When I go to the ocean I have no need to get in. I love being there, but the water itself terrifies me because of how massive it is. Unfortunately, it was so windy that the sand was stinging our skin and it got cold (Chris and the boys still got in), so we stayed huddled and used towels and blankets and only stayed for a couple of hours. 

Abby kicks balls well and did this upon her first few steps. When we were at a ward picnic she wasn't really walking except a few steps at home and then she found a soccer ball, stood up, and started kicking it. Also, she has had eight teeth by Christmas, now has all of her molars, and is getting her in between teeth now for a total of 16 teeth. I only write this because I have not had a kid get so many teeth at this age before. 

Betsy wanted to perform something. I think it was a song, but turned into jokes by the end rotating through her, Gavin, and Gabriel. The jokes start out decent and end up being quite far stretches.