days like this

days like this makes it all worth it.

esp with Adeline.

She's a handful, but I know she loves me.

Free Spirits!

Ok, so I always am saying that my kids have a bit of my free spirit. Some more than others. Now, I don't have a desire to strip down and color all over myself because it looks cool and accessorize with the perfectly chosen necklace, but I think that is what I would have done at age 2 if I was allowed to. The good thing is that Beatrice is reading to her kitten, Goggles.You can only imagine what kind of LOVE that kitten gets!! HAHAHA!

Here she is reading to her favorite doll her favorite book that has the same coloring on it from a previous encounter. Pretty fun!

Adeline dressing in layers of clothes that she just thinks looks cool. She then has a paper crown clipped into her hair. She is pretty amazing at what she comes up with. Her teacher isnt too sure, but oh well!! She went to school today with 2 skirts on. ( I didnt have my camera handy) She had a t-shirt on with one skirt up around her arm pits and the other around her waist. She just couldnt decide which to wear, so naturally she solved her own problem.

Man, these kids are soo fun! Even though we have to soak in the bath several times after their ideas, I think what they do is Inspiring. It makes me think of how I could express myself a bit more. Hummm...

30 weeks!

Me at 30 weeks with baby #5.
My belly button is officially gone!
And I am HUGE! But, we are talking amazing growth here!
A few friends and I joke that when the belly button actually pops out... you're done! Yes, of course it sounds like a turkey, but hey, we are cookin something in there anyway.
The analogy is just fine with me.

No name picked out yet. We'll just have to see her.
So, I have 10 weeks left! Hypnobirthing is going well. Training Chris is easier this time because he's been around more the past few weeks. He's got to read scripts to help me relax and get me to my "happy place" and do it with out laughing. That was our problem every other birth! He just makes me laugh. Plain and simple. Maybe laughing during labor isn't so bad??
Ok, so all I can think of is 10 weeks... I have sooo much to do before this little human comes! Where is she going to sleep? Where are all the kids going to sleep? 5 kids in 2 rooms. Ive got to finish the bathroom I started, paint some walls or 2, make the babies blessing dress, etc etc etc. Trying not to stress.
Still loving it!

A little Serenity!

This is a long post, mostly for my own personal documentation.

SO, I've been waiting all summer to go to the Central Coast aka Home. I grew up there and I have always just felt a real connection to the most beautiful place on earth. HA! So, I decided that I was just going to go to Cali with the kids by myself! It was a great drive. I had a good time with the kids. All you need to do a 14 hour drive is... great book tapes for yourself. And for the kids, suprise color or sticker books, snacks and of course a DVD player. It works just the same as Benedryl and you dont feel as guilty afterward. Works for me!

Chris was on a job in AZ and was talking to us every night and decided that we were having way to much fun with out him and so he decided to change his flight to San Luis Obispo to join us!! HOW COOL! So, we picked him up from the little airport on Friday and went straight to the beach! I made him do all the things I wanted to. He was a good sport.

Atascadero Zoo and Park
I love this park. Wondering what is going on with the lake, but other than that, I was happy to see the huge amazing trees and sand as the playground base. The zoo has grown and the kids loved it. Addy couldn't believe that I grew up with a zoo in my town. "Did you come like every day mom?" ha! Lots of fun!

Morro Bay beach!
FUN! I breathed in the air and heard the waves and felt the salty breeze and instantly knew this was what I was craving! How many times can you say that?
There were lots of surfers. Got to love watching those guys and girls surf! There were some really great waves and not too cold. I wished I learned how to surf when I was younger. But, from what I understand, I am not so old, so, I've just got to try more things and stay young! Lets face it though, I am sooo clumsy. hahaha!
This was our first beach we went to on our adventure. Joanna, my niece Kyhana and Mom and Mike and my nephew Logan came with us. Beatrice wasn't sure about the sand, or the waves, in fact, she was kinda scared. Total change from when Addy was a baby, eating all the sand and waddling up to the waves. But, in time, she really liked it.
The only thing we missed doing was going to "The Shell Shop" in Morro Bay. When I was in High School, my hippie English teacher owned the place. Anyway, its a cool shop that I am sure the kids would have loved too. We found our own shells. Addy found a live clam. We put it down while digging channels in the sand and it started to bury itself!! How cool!
The first time I took Chris to Morro Bay when we were dating, he said that the Morro Rock just had to be fake. HA! It is just a huge ocean rock out of nowhere! It's way cool.

Avila Beach!
I always have a hard time knowing what to take pictures of and what to just experience. I hope I took enough pictures because I know I experienced a lot.
Played in the water and sand, buried the kids up to the neck, body surfed, Addy had a little girl come up to her and share her boogie board and teach her how to use it. Addy always makes friends wherever we are, no matter what! We saw dolphins swimming across just past the pier. COOL!! There was farmers market going on that day so, that was fun too. Of course, I got a bit more sun than I should have, but it was worth it.

Tide pools at Shell Beach!
We went here as kids with my dad a lot. It was fun to go back with my kids again.
We didnt see as many creatures as we wanted to, but it was really great climbing on all the rocks and searching. I must have been quite a sight.. a huge pregnant lady with tons of kids searching for crabs and sea slugs. We of course were bombarded with seaweed and so we striped off the leaves and played jump rope!
We saw starfish, tons of crabs, sea anemones, some cool seaweed of course, barnacles, clams, I dont know what the other stuff was, but it was great. Lots more questions I have to Google from Gabe. Wished Gpa Lee was there to explain those questions and find more for us. He always knows were to look. I did pretty good answering a few questions though.

When I'm pregnant, I always see lots of other pregnant women. It was true this time too, even in California. Pregnant woman usually make eye contact and then share a split second of understanding. This time, we looked at each other, they counted my children and looked back at my belly and then... looked nauseous or something. HAHAAHAH! It was awesome! Lets just say, we take up alot of "space" with our group!!

After being "home" and hanging out with my mom and sister and brother and all the kids, I need to make the trip more than just every 4 years. But, alas, it was time to go and so we went to Chris's oldest friends house in Berkeley on the way home. Steve and Rebeca Vaisey are great friends! He's a professor at Berkeley, so it was awesome hanging out with them and gave Chris lots of more info and confidence about Grad School. I am really excited Chris is excited! We also went to church with them at the coolest building ever!!! Its really old and totally beautiful. I wished I had my camera!
Overall, we had a great time. I am glad I just decided to go one day. It's great being spontaneous! Best of all...I have great hair in California! hahah!

A great quote!!

I am reading my Hypnobirthing book by Marie Mongan over and over. The following quote is a great one from Christiane Northrup...

"Imagine what might happen if the majority of women emerged from their labor beds with a renewed sense of the strength and power of their bodies, and of their capacity for ecstasy through giving birth. When enough women realize that birth is a time of great opportunity to get in touch with their true power, and when they are willing to assume responsibility for this, we will reclaim the power of birth and help move technology where it belongs--in the service of birthing women, not as their master."

AMEN!! So many people ask me why I love being pregnant. This quote kinda sums it up for me. I think its an amazing power we as women have. I am so honored to have the right to grow another person and give them a gift of life, naturally and spiritually. I get to feel this amazing power for such a short time in my life. I love being pregnant and having an awesome opportunity to give birth, the way I want it. YOOHOO!

After that, I get to mess the the kids up and give them many reasons to go to therapy. HAHAHAHAHA! You know, I am doing my part to mess up the next generation. OH BOY! Parenting is tough somedays.

Last Min Camping trip!

Our friends called us and said, "lets go camping!!" So, we did!
Thanks Finch and Johansen Families!! Some of their kids are in these pics too.
The kids loved it. Camping is camping, lots of dirt, rocks, sticks, building fires and exploring. So, of course, the kids loved that.
Chris was really the one that did everything for our family. The only thing I think I did was help put up the tent so I could nap in it, make pancakes, take pictures and laugh. HA! I was useless! (I guess this baby is really growing this week. I am totally drained.)But, it was a fun last min adventure. Only 45 mins. away from home. Not bad.

It was nice and peaceful up in the hills. It made me think about WIND and where it had been before it had gotten to me. I thought about how we cant really paint or capture wind in its full glory, but we can try. I actually wrote a little poem n everything, that I wont be sharing. ;) Silly, but I loved thinking about God's creations.

Adeline's first day of school

It came! The first day of school! No more countdowns. Adeline is sooo excited to be going to school!
The bus came to the front of our house and we got lots of fun photos. Beatrice was very excited to see the bus! We've been reading lots of books about buses. So, Bea loved it too. I watched the bus drive away... Sigh.... then I jumped into the car and met her at school. Then I took more pics. HA! She was so excited!
The teacher, Mrs. LeBlanc did mess up Adeline's seat assignment. She was supposed to be sitting next to Tara and Jacob, her friends. She went right up to the teacher and told her so and that she needed it changed very soon. HA! I left before the name change, but it didn't look like Addy was going to move without insisting. I hope THAT went well.
I can't stop thinking, Have I taught her enough? I hope she remembers that she can use her assertiveness to choose the right way. I hope she remembers that Heavenly Father is always there for her. Oh boy! That is the hardest part about letting them go a little.

After school she didnt ride the bus home from school because she didn't know which one to get on. I picked her up and I asked her what her day was like. She said that she had fun listening to stories, making Goop, eating a snack and sitting next to her friends. Addy said there were a lot of kids and it was kind of crazy. At one point she told her teacher that she had a headache and would everyone please be quiet. That is my Addy! Oh boy!

Baby #5

This is me at 6 mos. pregnant with baby #5.

We still don't have a name, but we are thinking a lot!

Maybe... Annelie or Anneliese calling her Annie. Maybe... Eleanore or Elinor calling her Elli. Maybe... Dehlia. Maybe... Sophia calling her Sophie. We like Eliza but we'd end up calling her Lizzy and it's too close to Izzy. Isabel's nick name. Anya is pretty for a middle name. I have others, but we can't decide. I also don't know how I'll spell them. It has to be old fashion and have some character! Also, has to roll of your tongue while yelling it out! ha! Small requirements.

Be afraid! Be VERY AFRAID!

I know Adeline (5) was talking back, but my camera was right next to me when she did it. I just had to have her repeat it. It was one of those parent moments that you are not sure you should laugh or send her to her room! It was funny but I am now officially totally scared of her! HAHAHHA!

She is saying, "I am 40 pounds more serious than you!" Of course with lots of attitude and notice the little treasure of the eyebrows at the end.

swings

I watched Beatrice on the swings at the park a few mins. ago. I wonder what that total absolute feeling of glee and laughter feels like. I know we can't go back, but I wonder if I could hold on to that feeling and savor it every moment if I had it again. What would I do with that kind of power now? Or, just imagine what could I have done with all that power up until now! What kind of person would I be?

These photos are of Bea and her amazing hair back in April, but you can see that look in her eyes!

This one is for Chris.

Well, we all cleaned the entire house today. It was great. We all worked together....

WAIT, WHERE IS ADDY AND GABE??

Working hard putting dress up away I guess.

Yep, Addy is in the Stitch costume and Gabe just got shot with the StarWars lazer gun.

Light Saber time!

So much for that!

Education Week

Ok, so Education Week was just one day for us. We could only get away that one day with Chris's schedule! Oh! We went by ourselves! You can't bring kids so, we have some amazing friends that took our kids for the day on Saturday.

Chris and I had a great time running all over BUYI aka Ricks College campus. We thought we'd know where everything was because we went to school there for 2 years when it was Ricks. We didn't know that so much had changed and we got out the campus map. Ok, so for those of you that went to Ricks, The very top of the hill was gardens. Nobody went there unless they were going on a walk with their date. Right? So, the gardens is like the new central quad. All of the new buildings are above that. Crazy! Time flies! It is still beautiful. I loved it. But, being at Ricks made me think of so many memories. Those memories are past. It's weird to think I am growing up. HAHA! Seriously!

We went to some great classes. We went to some classes that Chris felt prompted to catch up on his sleep. Those were the froofy girly teachers. It went well. One class, that he was awake for, was on how to build a better marriage. Well, it was inspiring!! The teacher was a marriage counselor, etc. His name was Doug Brinley has written a bunch of books and a fabulous speaker. He said that the thing he can trace back to couples having problems was this... Couples Prayer. It was pretty powerful to know that I can keep my marriage good by just keeping my prayers with Chris going!! That right there stems out to all the other things that we deal with in our marriage. Pretty cool!

Chris was inspired. Chris's all time, life long dream job would be a marriage counselor. He got all powered up and is looking into how he can transition. What is this life for anyways? To live right and hopefully choose good things to have a happy life you want. Also, to follow your dreams. You've only got one life here. Got to use it well. It takes guts. So, he's finally trying to do that. It might take awhile, and I know it has taken him quite a while to get to this point, but I am on the boat with him. I am excited! (Who doesn't want to be poor with 5 kids while going to grad school? I mean, that sounds like heaven! ha! all kidding aside, it does if he's happy!)

So, next time there is an "Education week" or a "Time out for women" of a "women's week"...GO! It keeps things into perspective. Who doesn't need more perspective in this world that beats us down?!

Here are a few photos we got after we were done. It was in the gardens. Chris had to be my photo subject. I took a bunch of the gardens, but these were more fun. This is Chris...

I was laughing way too hard and so the picture is totally blurry, but it's my blog and this picture makes me laugh! He wouldnt pose again because someone else came into the garden. bummer!

He's holding my bag that I made a few hours before we left. I didn't have time to get a new outfit. ha! But, I wanted to make a new bag I had material for. Priorities!

There was a post without a top on it. I decided it was perfect to use my timer on the camera. This is after the entire day of hiking all over the campus. I wish I looked a bit more fresh. I guess I could pass it over as the pregnancy glow. Yes, I am huge for only being 23 weeks. Have you ever been pregnant 5 times? I am excited that I can actually breath, eat, and not get my ribs and organs beat up. THAT is the best part of carrying all my kids straight out in front. I love being pregnant!

I also love this guy. He makes me laugh!