Madison's Birthday

The week that school started was also Madison's birthday.  To be honest I had kind of forgotten about it.  Not really forgotten - I knew it was on the 18th - but I just hadn't realized the 18th was on Saturday.  I had been so pre-occupied with all of our other problems and my mental health was in serious decline I ONLY dealt with matters as they came up.  So planning a party was not even something I thought about - until Tuesday when Madison said, "am I having my birthday party this week?"  CRAP!  "um... yes.  What do you want to do?"  After about 2 hours and a million ideas she finally decided on a swimming party.  I couldn't have been more thankful.  It was easy-peasy and cheap.  Everyone in our neighborhood gets into pools for free and we did it right after school on a Friday so we just did cake and a drink.  Since Madison is so crafty and creative she wanted to do one activity.  We came up with making boats for our dollar-store mermaids to float on.  She was happy, I was happy - it was going to be great.

While I was going through the girls' hair for lice the last 2 weeks the girls had been watching baking shows on Netflix.  Of course, this inspired Maddie to come up with an intense birthday cake.  We made a few compromises and this is what I was able to do with my skill level.  She absolutely loved it and so did her friends.

Girls making the boats.

We practically had the pool to ourselves - it was great!

Madison has 2 really good friends that she wanted to invite: Talmage and Antonio.  Both are boys with special needs.  Antonio is in a wheel-chair and is deaf, blind, and non-verbal.  Madison wanted to make sure that she had a party that both of them could come to and have fun.  Unfortunately Antonio got sick the morning of her party and couldn't come.  But Talmage had a great time with all the girls and Madison forced him to take a group picture :)

Ivy, Sammy, Talmage, Madison, Megan, Zoe, Delaney, and Lucia

Grandma Hanna got her a mermaid tail.

Antonio's mom came and SPOILED Madison.  They got her about 200 dollars worth of "American Girl" doll stuff (Target brand). 

She made out like a bandit - everyone got her such nice gifts.  It was better than Christmas for sure.  She has been VERY nice to share all her stuff with Megan.

The next day (Saturday) was her "real" birthday and we didn't have ANYTHING planned (no sports or anything).  So we let Madison pick a family activity.  She wanted to go swimming with all of us AND she wanted us all to get in the water (including me and Jason) AND she wanted Jason to "throw her around".  Good things she isn't too specific.  The weather wasn't as nice and started to rain - so we ended up in the indoor pool.

We all had a great time racing, diving, and playing around.

Her aunt Ashley gave her a Cake pop maker and her own set of piping tips.  She is in heaven.  We made them that weekend.  She is becoming quite the baker.

First Soccer tournament

On the second day of school Brock had his first soccer tournament.  Last spring Brock asked us if he could play competitive soccer.  He felt like rec wasn't fun anymore - and I couldn't really blame him - his rec coaches just had him run the field and do everything.  I wasn't too into the idea of competitive soccer, I think he is too young to focus only on one sport (especially with how athletic he is), it is SO expensive, and the commitment and toll on the family seemed a little overwhelming.  But Jason and he did a lot of research and found a good team for him, he tried out and made it - so we were in!

His first tournament was about an hour and a half away.  Emotionally the timing couldn't have been better.  I really enjoy watching sports, especially my kids', and Brock is old enough where the games are really fun to watch.  After the 2 weeks we had just had going to a soccer tournament all day, by myself and watching soccer games and having one on one time with Brock was just what the doctor ordered.  It was a perfect weekend.  Having older kids is pretty cool.  Brock is so fun and I loved watching him play.  I just wished I had a mom, sister, aunt, or grandma to come hang out with me for the day and watch the games!

He also did fantastic.  Over the 4 games he scored 3 times and all of the goals were essential goals in winning the games (1-0, 2-1, etc).

First day of school

Our last 2 weeks of summer were the WORST.  We were supposed to go to Utah.  We hadn't been for our "summer trip" yet - which the kids reminded me weekly of all summer.  We (I) had decided to go at the end for a few reasons.  1) Katie was having her baby at the end of July, and I wanted to see the baby! 2) We had 2 weeks where we were in between baseball and soccer - so no one would miss any games 3) there was a third reason, but I don't remember it right now - cuz it doesn't really matter, becasue we didn't go.  

Jason couldn't come with us to Utah - so it was just me and the kids.  I wasn't worried about driving that long - I wasn't feeling TOO pregnant yet.  But 2 days before we were supposed to leave I got sick.  Like really sick.  The kids were also in varying stages of sick.  I knew I couldn't drive that long with how sick I was, and I didn't want to get Utah people (especially the baby) sick.  So we called off the trip.  Which was a blessing because about 4 days later we got LICE!!!!!  I won't go deep into the trauma that the lice caused on my emotional well being - but it was the straw that broke the camels back!  I felt like the last year had been one trial after another, I could logically see that things just kept getting worse and worse with no real end in sight - but despite all the trials I was handling them just fine.  I felt happy and optimistic about our future and was taking everything in stride.  When we got the lice it felt like the last year of trials came crashing down and all of the sudden I wasn't fine.  I don't know if it was the pregnancy or what but those 5 days I could barley hold it together.  I coped by throwing myself into the lice - the one thing, I guess, I felt like I could control - and checked the girls' hair 3 times a day every day.  It would take me 1 - 2 hours to do their hair.  Just when I thought I got it all - the next check there would be more.  We quarantined ourselves for a week and just spent time watching netflix while I checked everyone's hair over and over and over again.  Jason was awesome - he put up with my complaining, did all the washing and disinfecting around the house (over and over and over again) and kept the house relatively running.  Things definitely got pushed aside and when things were back to "normal" - it took me about 3 days to put our life back together (cleaning, decluttering, shopping, baking etc).  I had a lot of blessings that week from my new ministering sister showing up with homemade bread and jam (she didn't know about the lice) and another friend taking out to PF Changs (my FAVORITE) and scheduling a pre-natal massage for me.  

Anyways - school started on day 8 of lice - we had had 2 days of clean checks - but I was still not out of panic mode yet.  Despite the girls' demands that they wanted their hair a certain way on the first day of school - I insisted that they have their hair in french braids - all three of us wore our hair up for about 2 weeks.

I do have to say that the kids handled it like amazing rock stars.  Seriously.  Madison, especially, hates having her hair even touched - she screams and cries all. the. time.  But we did the special shampoo and I looked through her hair for hours and hours on end over and over again and she almost never complained.  The boys never really had lice, but were quarantined by me for a day - but all of their friends' parents knew about the girls and wouldn't let their kids play with my boys - so for the last week of summer all 4 kids mainly just sat around the house and got checked for lice over and over by a crazy mother - and honestly, they never really complained about it.  They were awesome!

The first day of school was rough.  None of us had the emotional reserves - we were tapped out.  For the first time I was SO EXCITED to school to start and not AT ALL sad.  I couldn't wait to get these four kids out of my house so I could DEEP CLEAN it and get it organized.  I felt bad about not feeling bad - but I needed to get my life back on track after the lice and I just needed everyone out of the house to do that.  But as I walked away from dropping them off I started bawling becasue I knew how drained each of them were - and how horrible their last 2 weeks of summer were.  Noah was practically having a melt down as he went into the school.  I thought "how can I just leave them here?"

I sat on a bench a bawled for a good 10 minutes until my friend saw me and then we chatted for an hour.  It was nice.  Fortunately when I picked them up from school that afternoon they came bouncing into the car telling me how much they loved school and what a great day it was - EVEN NOAH!!!! 

Anyways... here are the first day of school pictures.

Brock: 6th grade.  Mrs. Swier.  I love that 6th grade is still in elementary school here.  He is excited to be the oldest in the school.  And he is doing GREAT - this is is best year ever (so far) and has really been giving it his all.  I met with his teacher yesterday and it was all positive and it looks like all our hard work form the last 5 years is starting to pay off!  I am so proud of him! 

Noah: 5th grade.  Mrs. Casey.  Noah was bummed about his teacher - he wanted the same as Brock last year.  But I think Mrs. Casey will be a great fit.  He started the year off rough.  But every day is getting better and better.  He loves science and is really good at it and has enjoyed making his own comics when ever he can.

I just love these 2 brothers.  They are SO different and have total different strengths and weaknesses - but they love and support each other through it all.  I have hardly ever seen them fight or be ride to each other.  They are both kind and gentle with each others feelings and struggles.  I hope it always stays that way.

Megan: 3rd grade.  Mrs. Edgett.  This is our second time with Mrs Edgett (Brock had her in 2nd grade).  Megan will THRIVE in her class.  She is so organized and on top of it and has clear expectations for her students.  Megan thrives in structure.  She is great at almost every part of school.  She is in 4th grade math, reads like it is her job, has a million friends, follows all the rules, loves art, and stays organized and on top of her homework.  She is a breath of fresh air!

At the beginning of July Megan came to me and said, "mom, can I go to the store and pick out a new dress for the first day of school."  I know that sounds normal - but for our family it isn't.  I have never bought my kids back to school clothes and they have never been to a store and picked out their own clothes before.  I didn't even know they knew "first day of school outfit" was a thing.  I knew it wouldn't go on forever (me buying clothes at thrift shops or garage sales or getting hand-me-downs from family and friends) - and that ONE DAY they would want to go to a store and pick out clothes - but I was hoping it would last a little longer.  But I, of course, said "absolutely".  Once Madison heard Megan's plans she wanted in on the action and the three of us went to Target.  It was a lot of fun.  The girls are old enough to do it all themselves.  They picked out a bunch of outfits and we went into the dressing room and I was able to just sit out and they came and modeled their outfits.  It was great! These are their new dresses they bought.

Madison: 2nd grade.  Mrs. Henley.  Megan had Mrs. Henley last year - and honestly, that bugged Maddie - she wanted a DIFFERENT teacher.  But Mrs. Henley is wonderful and I think Madison is very happy now that the school year as started.  Madison is very bright and a quick learner.  She spends most of her days helping the special needs kids (they put them all in her class again becasue they know how good she is with them).  I am pretty sure she is bored at school and is not being challenged enough - but the teacher says she will get there - she is still getting to know the kids.  

These sisters are not quite the same as the boys - most sister relationships are more complicated than brother relationships.  They are good friends - but are definitely their own person and live more parallel lives.  They play together well, but definitely fight and argue.  The one great thing though is that they have the same friends and so far that hasn't caused problems.  Megan does not treat Madison like the "little sister" and she is just another friend in the group - I hope that lasts!

I LOVE these four people and I LOVE that they are all in the same school for one more year (and the last time they will all be in the same school).  I know these last 3 years have been my "golden" years.  Life has been simple and easy and fun and I honestly feel like I have enjoyed it to it's fullest.  

Jason came out to take a picture of us.  I love that he took some pictures of us "getting ready" to take the picture.

This is my heart right here. 

After school I had them take some pictures in front of the back to school sign.  I tried to get one of all of them jumping in the air - it never worked. :(

Megan's softball

All of our kids started a team sport (soccer) in Kindergarten.  Megan refused.  She did not like sports she said.  So in first grade I let he pick what she wanted to do and she picked art.  She has taken art for 2 years.  This year we felt strongly that she needed to do SOMETHING athletic or team based.  We gave her lots of options.  She refused for a while.  Then she found out (although I had told her for 3 years) that all her friends from school are on the same softball team and her vice-principal (one of her friends' moms) is that coach.  She was in!

She loved being on the team and playing around with her friends.  She worked hard, kept track of her equipment and was always ready when it was time (VERY different than the boys!).  She had a hard time hitting the first half of the season - she would swing the SECOND the ball left the pitchers hand.  Her coach taught her to count to three and then swing - it worked!!  She started hitting quite a bit after that.

She was actually an amazing out fielder.  Several times her coach would use Megan as an example of what you should do in the outfield.  Every time a ball was hit she would move and she always covered someone.  It was great.  She says she isn't playing again.  But I hope she will.   (Not just because I love softball and LOVED hearing her team cheering the same cheers my friends/team cheered for the 7 years I played softball - softball cheers are the best!)

And she got to play catcher a few times. Which was adorable!

Noah baseball

Oh - Noah!  You and your sports!  I love that you keep wanting to play and try different sports.  I love how excited you get for your first practice.  I love that you love talking to other people about your sports and making connections with them.  I love how after the games you love to talk about how the game went and that you think you tried your best and did a really great job.  I love that you love being part of a team and making new friends.  I love that you like to talk and bond with the coaches.  These are the things I love.

I won't go into the things I hate.  But there are a lot.  There are so many things about sports that are hard for Noah.  We have to struggle and struggle and struggle to just limp our way through each season, practice, and game.  Every season I swear to myself that it will be the last because it is so miserable. There are a lot of tears - from both me and Noah.  But it is so hard when HE thinks it was great and wants to do it again.  In the moment he doesn't think it is great though.  He cries, and wines, and refuses to go out on the field (he always does though).  He gets so frustrated when he doesn't do things perfectly - but refuses to learn and practice how to do them.  But sometimes he will take advice and try a new trick the next inning.  We taught him how to "look ready" in the outfield - so his coaches and teammates won't get frustrated with him.  Noah's definition of "ready" and everyone else's is VERY different.  We had to explain that to him and tell him sometimes you have to do things how other people want them done - even if you don't think it is necessary - just so they learn to trust you.  He took this to heart and "looked ready" almost the rest of the season.  He also REALLY wanted to hit the ball.  He had 12 games and 8 games in had never hit (he would hit at practice quite a lot - but after about 10 pitches - he didn't have that many pitches during games :)  Noah's processing speed is VERY slow - so hitting a ball takes a loooong time and a lot of pitches.  He had some great coaches who worked really well with him and met him where he was at - his head coach came up with this stance for him.  He looked ridiculous - but the coach said he was "half way to hitting it" with this stance.  He hit a ball every game after this stance. 

Noah "looking ready" in the  outfield

He is not the one closest  - but the one in the middle.

His team and coaches. 

Brock's baseball

I am pretty sad I didn't take very many pictures of Brock at baseball.  He says he is playing next year - so I guess I will do it then.

This was Brock's first year of playing baseball.  He wanted to play last summer but I was slow getting him signed up and by the time I did the teams were full so he went on the wait list and never got on a team.  I am glad he still wanted to play this year.  He got on a team that had been together for 4 years, but it was great because he knew several boys on the team.  He had a great time and learned to really love baseball.  He mostly played left field and did a pretty good job.  He hit every game, his favorite part was stealing bases.  Next year he says he wants to pitch.  He would have pitched this year if he would have had the opportunity.  I really enjoyed watching his games.  He is getting old enough now that watching his sports is really fun.

Summer time baseball

We had three baseball players this summer.  In Colorado rec baseball is June - August.  On one hand I hate it because it is HOT and keeps us from summer travels; it is also nice becasue it lets Brock get another sport in without overlapping soccer or football.  It was a bit crazy having 6 practices a week and 6 hours of baseball on Saturdays.  In the end we got everyone where they needed to be and enjoyed watching them all try and work hard and get better as the season went on. 

And this girls was a trooper - especially those looong hot Saturdays.  Good things she is a sucker for playgrounds.  She looks sad/tired in this picture but she actually isn't' - she just got done rolling down a hill. 

Rain Gutter Rigata

Megan got to compete in her first Rain Gutter Regatta.  Our ward always invites activity day girls to join in the fun.  Her and Jason worked hard on her boat and were very excited about it - Noah decided to copy what Megan did.  Unfortunately they didn't do very well.  Well.... Noah basically tied and Megan didn't make it to the end.  It was pretty sad.