Ten p.m. train of thought...

The kids are doing so great in school. I feel we have been blessed with especially good teachers this year. A few weeks before school began, Parker told me he had been praying this summer for a particular teacher. When we found out he had her, we were both seriously overjoyed. He comes home every day and talks about how awesome she is. I could say the same for all of the teachers my elementary kids have. As for middle school, it's different for me to know Taylor and Graci are switching up teachers all day. Definitely good in lots of ways, but it's hard to feel like I don't know the teachers yet. So far, no complaints from them-- so that must be good.

Jen, you asked if I liked school uniforms and the answer is YES! I didn't think I would, but now that we have done it both ways, I wouldn't change it for anything. I love so many things about it, including that my kids can always put their own outfits together, it simplifies things, it unifies the school, it keeps kids from getting judged on their clothing, it keeps kids dressing modestly, I like how the uniforms look, and I think it helps the kids act more professionally. (:

I was able to go into all five of the first grade classrooms and talk about Lexi's blindness and Xander's legs/feet. The kids were so cute and responded very sweetly. Xander was so happy to have me show up and was so matter-of-fact about his condition, much different from last year when he felt more self conscious. Lexi was happy to see me, but told me I wasn't supposed to be at school with her. (: I brought Sophi in and they were especially enamoured with her. The kids asked lots of questions and loved watching her do things with her toes. She was like a little rock star, and had them eating right out of her hands, er, feet. (:


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Speaking of Soph-- I took her to Shriner's Hosptial today and she showed off her walking skills. The doctors were duly impressed and are trying to figure out the best way to help even out her legs and give her some stability. We are trying some new shoes with lifts, and they are also making a brace for her. We had a cast made today and should be getting them in a few weeks. I don't think I ever posted a picture of her first shoes made by Shriner's. She used them to practice walking in her walker. Pretty cute, right?




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Speaking of cute, check out our Jessica in her baptism dress.





Jesi was baptized last Saturday. It was a beautiful service for a beautiful girl. She wore the dress that Rosemary (Jeremy's mother) made for her daughter's baptism over 30 years ago. Graci had worn it for her baptism as well, making it extra special. Jessica was able to choose the program, and she wanted everyone in the family to participate, which I thought was really sweet. Xander was the chorister, I played the piano, Taylor and Parker spotlighted Jessica, Lexi and Sophi bore their testimonies, and Graci gave a prayer. The family sang a song together. My sister-in-law, Megan, gave a wonderful talk on the Holy Ghost and my mom on baptism. Baptisms are such beautiful events. I love the spirit that is there and the sacredness of the ordinance.

Jesi, we are so proud of your decision to follow the Savior into the waters of baptism. We love you with all of our hearts.

Thanks to our wonderful family and friends who came to her baptism.





*****


Speaking of wonderful people, I am feeling so, so much better due to the thoughtful people in my life. The cold I had turned into a sinus infection and bronchitis and the doctor said he was actually going to treat me for pneumonia because he felt that's where it was heading. Dealing with that on top of all the surgery stuff had me feeling so miserable. We continue to be blessed by such good people all around us helping in so many ways. I love the words "The errand of angels is given to women, and this is a gift that as sisters we claim." How grateful I am for the women in my life who have taken on the errand of angels.


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Speaking of angels, don't you just love this quote?

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away." ~Dinah Craik

My Grandma Larsen had that quote up in her home, and as a young girl I committed it to memory because I thought it so beautiful. Today I was thinking of this quote and feeling so grateful for the people in my life that make me feel that kind of comfort. While it's good to weigh words, it is so freeing to have friends who just "get you" to the point where you don't have to worry about coming across the wrong way. I am resolving right now to try even harder to "sift" and to always have that breath of kindness!



*****



And finally, speaking of quotes, some of my favorite have come from Time Out for Women conferences. And, crazy enough, our blog has been featured this week on the Time Out for Women website. We are honored! TOFW loves to share stories of inspirational people, and I can't think of anyone more inspirational than our Sophi. (:

TOFW has been a great blessing in my life. I attended events in Nashville when I lived there, and in St. George with my sisters. The speakers there have uplifted and strengthened me-- thank you, TOFW.

Speaking of TIME, I think it's time I went to bed...

Goodnight!

--Christianne

Daughters, Daughters everywhere!

It's that time of year again-camping season:) No sports and no coaching from July to November! Eventually I think our boys will insist on playing football, but so far, they have been ok with the "two sports a year" rule. It really has been a good thing for our family to enjoy several months each year with very few structured activities.

Two weekends ago I took Graci, Jesi and Lexi on our second annual Daddy Daughter campout. Last year, Graci pointed out that I took the boys camping more often than the girls, and so a tradition was born. We went to the same campground that we went to last year: Clover Spring Campground. It's a little over an hour to get there, and it's quite a beautiful setting. In the foothills of the rocky mountains, the campground is next to a natural spring that feeds a good-sized river which provides water for a small rural town.




With Graci's back still somewhat sore and Lexi with some obvious limitations, including this being her first ever camping trip, it was up to Jesi and me to pitch the tent. It went pretty well. Jesi is a good sport and always wants to help. After the tent was pitched, we built a fire and had hot dogs, chips and s'mores.

Lexi had really wanted to come, and was happy to be there, but she just didn't get it. The whole evening she just kept asking: "Can I go to bed?" Once she was in bed, the rest of us enjoyed the fading campfire and the brilliant stars. I love camping!!!

That night was pretty terrible. As I was tucking Jesi and Graci in, I had an experience I've never had before. I glanced around the tent with my headlight flashlight on, and caught the bright reflection of two little eyes looking back at me from the corner. A mouse had somehow found it's way into our home for the night. Yikes!!! The girls didn't see it at first, and I tried to keep it that way lest they freak out. Graci kept asking what I was doing as I moved back and forth trying to keep Mr. Mouse on the opposite side of the tent from them. Eventually, they saw it. I was very proud of their reaction. Instead of squealing (like their mother would have), they were enamored with the cute little guy. Graci quickly dubbed him "Melchisedec" after Sara Crewe's pet rat in "The Little Princess," which I am currently reading to the kids. I chased him around the tent for awhile and was finally able to trap him under a pair of Graci's pants and toss him out into the wild from whence he came. A memorable experience. Then came the (lack of) sleep. Jesi kept having some kind of nightmare. She would start calling out in her sleep and I'd jerk awake and have to help calm her down. This wouldn't have been too bad were it not for the fiendish folks in the motorhome across the way. If ever there were people who deserve the cruciatus curse it is those oblivious campers who decide it's ok to run a 500 HP generator ALL NIGHT regardless of how entirely disruptive this is to the sleep of the poor folks who are trying to make it through the night in a tent! (Several alternative courses of action ran through my head as I lay there awake at 3am. Go turn off the generator myself. Pour sand in the gas tank. Etc. Ah, the musings of the sleep-deprived mind.) Enough said. (Taylor, Parker and I just finished the Harry Potter series, if you can't tell:)

The next morning, we had a small breakfast (Dad forgot the eggs!!!) of bacon, zucchini bread and kiwi fruit. Have you ever tried to cook bacon over an open flame on a hot-dog roaster? Don't! Fortunately, we had a frying pan with us for the rest of the bacon:) Before we took down the tent, the girls posed for a couple of photos:



Next we went for a small hike. Inspired by Eric Weihenmayer, who I recently heard speak in person, I decided to have Lexi hike right along with us. I talked her through things, but gave her very little physical help. At first she was nervous on the steep, rough terrain, but once we got going, she really enjoyed it, giggling every time she slipped. I had her hold on to my waistband and just follow me. Good girl, Lex!!!




To end things up, Jesi and I "braved" the cold spring water by dunking our heads in it. I know, a whole two inches, but it really was cold. And to get any deeper would have been pretty challenging without falling in.






So there it is. A great weekend trip. With three of my five daughters. Full of memories to store away now so I can have them years from now when these girls have grown up and gone. "God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." James M. Barrie. The most powerful experience of this trip for me was on the drive there. We popped in a CD that Graci had received in the hospital. It had pop songs on it that had been redone with kids as the singers. One song hit me so powerfully. It's "Just the Way You Are," by Bruno Mars. I put it as the first song on the playlist for our blog. Listen to the lyrics and think about our girls. There's one line in the second verse that doesn't work for a father singing to his daughter, but other than that, the song perfectly expresses my feelings about my five little girls. Looking only at the physical, my girls have some differences and imperfections. But each one of them, in her own way, is truly amazing--just the way she is!

-Jer

First Day of School

I just ran a marathon!

Well, not really. I just feel that way, after getting SEVEN kids off to school this morning!! It all started at approximately 5:40 a.m., when I heard Lexi and Sophi chatting away in their bedrooms. I wondered what had awoken them so early, but I didn't wonder for long, because after trying to settle them down and returning to my bed I heard the sounds of our neighbors chickens. Repeated every 15 seconds or so for the next hour. No, we don't live in the country-- our neighbors just happen to have chickens. And to be fair, I usually don't notice them. But of course they would be loud the one morning I wanted the kiddos to get enough sleep! (:

When I finally rolled out of bed at 6:40, I found that Graci was already up and dressed (no surprise there.) I thought I had plenty of time to get everyone off on time, after all, Jer and I stayed up last night getting lunches and backpacks ready. It seemed simple-- Taylor and Graci leave at 7:25, Parker, Jessica, Lexi and Xander at 7:45, Elli at 8:35. I'm still not sure what was so hard about getting them all out the door, but it was quite the feat!

It really hit me last night as I was making lunches how much food we're going to go through this year with three more in full day school (Lexi, Xander, and Elli are all in 1st grade this year!) I opened a box of Capri Suns and by the time I had seven lunches packed, realized that the two boxes I had purchased won't even get us through 3 days. Besides the amount of food, I have to really think about the type. I don't want to send anything very messy with Lexi, and Jesi and Elli are both pretty picky. This is going to be fun!!

So here I am, just me and Soph. It's so quiet! I should probably be excited, but I just feel kind of empty. I love summers and having all my kids home with me. I really, really miss them. Not only that, but the house is a mess, Soph wants to play, I need to go shopping, and there's so much to do-- so it's not exactly like I'm getting a break. Believe it or not, I'm just wanting the time to fly so I can find out how the kids' day went-- I'm always nervous for them on their first day1














Now that school has started, I am making a goal to blog every day. It makes me so happy when I see the kids sitting here at the computer, reading through past posts and smiling. I love how journaling helps me keep perspective and remember all of the blessings I have daily. I love having a record of this wonderful, crazy life of mine. So, here's to a new school year, new experiences, and lots of blog posts to capture them. (:

Christianne



Here is my attempt to get Sophi to watch a show while I blogged. I figured if I set her up well enough (she has to have her two dolls, two Minnies, and a drink) that maybe she would actually last through a whole show. Not a chance, but it did give me 15 minutes... (:

Quotes of the Day

From Lexi, at her IEP Meeting with her classroom teacher and four other professionals, in answer to the question, "What's wrong with your eyes?"

"I can't see." (giggle giggle) "But Jesus, when I die and go to heaven, will help me. And He will fix my eyes!"

Preach it, Lex!!

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From Jeremy, serenading me with the song, "Amazing." Original words, "Girl, you're amazing just the way you are."

Jeremy's version, "Girl, you're amazing, except when you are not."

Wow.
Don't worry, I was laughing. (:

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From Jesi: "Mommy! Xander almost tattled!"

Magnificent Sophi

I was looking at pictures and thinking of how much Sophi has changed this year. She came to us quiet and serious, so much like her referral photo:



I remember so clearly the moment she was handed over to me, all bundled up in her big yellow coat and screaming in protest about being put in my arms. My heart ached for her sadness, and I longed for her to know just how much I loved her, and that she was finally home.

Well, take a look at her now!!



These two are so sweet together. Usually.





Not sure the story behind this one-- I just found it on the camera.



I often walk into the kitchen to find Sophi has helped herself to "breakfast."




Sophi isn't always this messy, but sometimes she just likes to play with her food. I think this time she decided to forego the fork and just dump it out on the table and dive in head first!





Helping herself to breakfast again.





Graci opened the pantry door to find this.


Disclaimer: the pantry isn't usually so full of junk! This was after company and parties.









Sophi likes to help clean, and she is very resourceful in figuring out how to help!



Our little sausage.




Happy 8 months home, baby girl! You are sooooo loved!!


And, these are obviously not of Sophi. I just found them on the computer and thought they were funny. I'm not sure the story behind the bow. (:





--Christianne