Then and Now

Here is Arianna at 2 weeks old:



Here she is yesterday evening:
Around 5:00 pm yesterday, Arianna started to be really difficult and uncooperative. I'm not sure why I don't get it while it's happening, but she was just exhausted! After she zonks out, then I realize what was going on leading up to it. So, Kenneth took her into our room to have a time out and she screamed for a good few minutes. After she quieted down we came in to find her in this position. I feel like every picture I have posted of her lately she is in that leotard. I promise, she really does wear regular clothes sometimes!

Family Portraits

Some of you may be disappointed when you open this post. No, we did not have real family portraits taken, although we are due to have them done. I did have to share these pictures the girls have drawn in the last couple of months, though.

From left to right: Grant, Arianna, Emma, Kenneth and Heidi
Emma was given this sheet of paper with a picture of the temple on it in Primary. They were to take it home and draw a picture of their family in front of the temple- reminding them that their family is forever. This was a couple of months ago that she drew this and I am amazed at how much more advanced she has gotten in her drawing skills since then! Notice she has all the eye colors correct. And I love Emma's long hair she drew.


Another of Emma's portraits. See what I mean about her skills really improving! She told me this was the picture we took on Easter by the flowering tree at Church. Interesting that she has already forgotten that Daddy didn't have hair in that picture! I love how I am floating in the air!
Notice Grant's orange shirt with black stripes. In Arianna's pictures to follow, you will she he is in the same shirt. What is funny is that Grant doesn't even have a shirt like that! The closest one I can think of is an orange plaid shirt. Funny.


This is the day she was remembering.

This one is an Arianna original. Also by the flowering tree at Church. When I asked her where Grant was she pointed to that big orange spot in my belly and said he was still in there. (Hey- Grant was even wearing orange in my belly- haha) I love the faces.

Another Arianna picture, autographed even, as you can see. Also by the flowering tree at Church- they were on a roll with this one! This time, left to right we have: Emma, Grant, Mom (me), Arianna, Dad and a visitor mommy. (Yeah- weird. When I asked her more about that she said the name of one of my friends who is in the preschool co-op with us.) At least Kenneth and I are the ones holding hands! Notice Grant's orange shirt with black stripes.

Another Arianna drawing. I sure am tall in this one! Left to right: Emma, Grant, Heidi, Dad, Arianna. I would be very interested in hearing a psychologists view of these.

There you have it. Hope you enjoyed these like I did!

There were three in the bed and the biggest one said. . .

GET OUT!!!!

Arianna, and on occasion Emma as well, has been a regular visitor in our bed for the last couple of months. Well, no more. Kenneth has had enough.

It all started a few months ago when Arianna was waking in the night and refused to go back in her bed. It has generally been a rule around here that the children sleep in their beds and we sleep in our bed- alone. But, when the night-waking Arianna was screaming and thrashing and kicking and WOULD NOT go back in her own bed I had had enough. She would wake up the other two children with her shenanigans and I didn't know what else to do so I resorted to putting her in the garage until she could stop screaming. (Don't worry, we live in the most beautiful climate in the world, so it was neither too hot nor too cold out there) This, of course, meant that I was sitting on the other side of the door, also not getting any sleep. (I tried once bringing a blanket into the kitchen to try to sleep, but linoleum isn't really conducive to sleep.) Arianna also learned that when she was out there that meant that mom wasn't getting to sleep either and I think she secretly liked the idea. Yes, a three year old can be that manipulative. I was turning into a monster in the night trying to deal with her and it wasn't worth it. So, I let her come sleep with me. I stopped fightin' with her in the night and started snugglin'.

At first it was hard for me to sleep with her there, but after a while I just got used to it slept great! I could even sleep pretty well with both the girls with me. It certainly was better than actually having to wake up completely and get out of bed to deal with a 30 pound ball of craziness! But poor Kenneth was pushed over to the far side of the bed cold and alone. He dealt with it for a couple of months, but then sat the girls down and had a talk with them. He told them that he was having a hard time sleeping and asked them what we should do. Without a moment's hesitation, Arianna said, "We'll just push you off on to the floor, Dad!!" (Isn't she sweet?!)

So, here we are a week and a half or so since 'the talk'. Now, I don't have any girls in my bed, but I do have to tread lightly if I have to get up in the night because chances are there is an Arianna on my floor. Dear girl. I guess it's better than in my bed. And- she isn't really bothering me in the night, just plopping down on my floor.

Here are the 2 angels sleeping in our bed (before 'the talk'). The two peas in a pod decided they couldn't fall asleep in their own beds and this is how we found them when we were ready to go to bed. They transfer well, thank heavens.

And just because it is a sleeping picture and we are talking about sleep, here is Arianna napping one day on the couch with Panda. She doesn't usually nap, but some days she will zonk out during reading time. She really is adorable in this state.

The word on the chicken pot pie

I made a chicken pot pie on Sunday; We needed a little comfort food around here. I always carve a word or words in the pie- "We love Daddy" or some such phrase. The word this time around was: PEACE.

We desperately needed peace. Last Friday Kenneth had an ultrasound done on his liver. The blood tests done in conjunction with his follow-up visit to the Oncologist earlier in the week showed some abnormalities in the liver function. Kenneth has also been feeling some pain in his abdomen in that general area. Therefore an ultrasound was ordered. The doctor had said the pain and the abnormalities could be a side-effect of the antibiotics Kenneth has been taking for the last 3 months, but to be sure the Ultrasound was performed. All Kenneth wants is for this whole chapter in his life to be over.

At the ultrasound, Kenneth's untrained eye saw red spots on the liver. When the technician, who can't really say anything about what he is seeing, strongly encouraged Kenneth to follow-up with his doctor, Kenneth was sent into a tail-spin. The days following have been harrowing. Not knowing for sure what is going on, knowing it could be REALLY bad, and waiting just make for a bad combination. The poor children didn't know what to think; Poor Daddy crying so much. Emma is so good about comforting him and snuggling. In one prayer, sweet Emma prayed that Daddy wouldn't get as sick as he did last time. Grant just says, "Daddy O.K." Arianna doesn't quite know what to do with herself or how to act.

We tried to distract ourselves this weekend with a night of camping in the backyard and garage sale-ing, but it was hard to shake off the gray cloud lingering above us. Luckily, we have the children to bring color and light to the gray days of uncertainty. Life must go on with children. You can't sit and be miserable too long before they need you. And that's a good thing. Oh how I love these children!

Well, today, in some measure that PEACE came. We got a call from the Oncologist saying the Ultrasound showed nothing to be concerned about. Those red spots Kenneth had seen are just benign cystic growths that he says have been there since before chemo. Nothing to be concerned about. None of the other nearby organs showed anything abnormal. He will meet with Kenneth in couple of weeks, but for now he said to monitor what he is feeling in the abdomen. Perhaps more tests will be required if symptoms persist. Oh how we pray that this is just a blip in the road to full health!

We are so thankful to family and friends who fasted and prayed last weekend on Kenneth's behalf. How thankful we are for so much support and love!

So far so good. . .

I have so many blog posts that I start to conjure up in my head and so few of them actually make it here. So much to do, so little time! Like the one about The top 10 reasons why it's great to be married to a farmer, or Why I love living in California, or all the crazy things the kids do and the funny things they say. Wait, I do need to mention a couple of those while I'm at it. Pull up a chair, this may take a while! So, this morning, I was exercising and the kids were up and decided they needed breakfast, or at least a snack to get them through to breakfast time. Arianna decided she needed a bowl, so she climbed up the step stool onto the counter and stood there to open the cupboards. The only problem was, she realized as she stood there ON MY COUNTER that she had to go to the bathroom! And she couldn't get down fast enough. So there she sat on the edge of the counter and emptied her bladder. Kenneth was on his way out the door to work and helped her down and then came to tell me there was a puddle on the counter. Upon finishing my workout I went into the kitchen to check out said puddle. There was not a puddle ON the counter, no, it couldn't be that simple. She was literally sitting on the edge of the counter when it happened, so it dripped down into the cupboards below, into the plastic containers stored there and on the shelving and finally puddled on the floor. What a lovely start to the day! That crazy little chicken!!

Arianna also has special prayers as of late. She used to just say a super short prayer that was over before some people had a chance to fold their arms. Then she got into longer prayers which mainly consisted of her talking about whatever she saw around her as she looked around the room. Now, her prayers consist of her thanking Heavenly Father that we can do "all the things we want to do and the things we really want to do and all the things we really, really want to do." She cracks us up!

Well, there you go. There is some of the craziness chronicled for you. But, moving on, as I was doing the dishes tonight I realized I had not yet given an update on how homeschooling (Joy) is going! I think it has been almost 3 weeks since we had the 'first day of school!" Well, so far so good. In fact, I feel happier than I have felt in a while! Partly due to the fact that I believe I am finally mellowing somewhat as a mom. (Except for that small incident this morning when I was trying to get us all out the door for an 8 am Doctor's appointment and no one was cooperating!!!!) But really, I am feeling more relaxed and letting go of things I used to allow to make me crazy. I am also just letting myself enjoy these incredible children!!

Normally we do 'school' in a couple of chunks during the day. I have had to readjust my schedule to allow us to do this, however. I get up between 5:45 and 6:15 to exercise. Unfortunately, the children are following suit and get up when I do and lay on the couch and watch me sweat. They were sleeping in for a while there. Until 6:30 or 7, that is. Oh well.

Then after breakfast we do a little bit of learning. We sing some songs, do the calendar, practice patterns, or phonics, addition or subtraction. One day we studied about worms and then harvested the castings out of our worm bin. Yes folks, the worm poop; And they've made a lot of it! I have visions of it really helping out our sad garden. The soil definitely needs some fertilizer. By the by- we have replanted! With such a temperate year round climate we are taking advantage. We have beans and peas up already and looking great! (Okay, enough with the tangent, Heidi!)

Then in the afternoon, while Grant is napping, we will read books or do workbook pages, or some math on the computer. Emma just loves to learn, so she makes it quite easy on me! Arianna will join in sometimes, or not. Even Grant joins in on the fun sometimes.

On Wednesday, we had a particularly wonderful school time. We dropped the little two off at preschool (yes, Grant is now in preschool!) and went to the park just down the street, spread out a blanket, pulled out Emma's school bin and had a ball together! In addition to the learning we were doing in the books and with the math manipulatives, we watched birds searching for worms in the grass, we watched flocks of geese circle and soar and finally form a 'V' and fly away. Heck, we even experienced the movement of the earth as our blanket, once shaded, was in full sun again. Emma was so amazed to have witnessed that! I feel so grateful that I can homeschool. What a privilege! Later that same afternoon I told Emma how much I liked learning with her. She said, "Yeah, me too, Mom, that's why I call it Joy- because it's fun!"

Of course, other days, like last Friday, we went to the beach! Kenneth has every other Friday off and we needed to go to the learning resource center for our Charter School, which happens to lie half way between here and the beach, so, off we went! On the way there Emma did math with Daddy in the back seat and we practiced spelling (on Emma's request). We also talked about verbs- thinking of all the -ing words we could. So much natural learning happens. All we have to do is encourage it!

I do realize that we are still in the honeymoon phase of this grand adventure. I am sure we will have hard days and hard weeks. But, I am very glad of this decision that we have made. One thing's for sure: Kenneth sure is jealous that he's not the one home with them! I am so thankful that he provides so well for us so that I have this privilege and opportunity! Thanks, Kenneth!

Here are some of our recent adventures:


Here is our trip to the Fire Station. We made the trip with the Preschool Co-op Group, but of course, Emma got to be a part of it, too!

All the kids got a turn in the driver's seat of that big fire truck!

Does she look happy, or what?!

Grant taking his turn

Grant in his fire hat.

A little piece of heaven on a Sunday afternoon. I just love these times! Oh- don't you love our new US Map rug? Emma loves it! She is going to know the States in no time. She likes to have me say the name of a state and she has to try and find it.

Emma and I were making patterns with these math blocks and the younger two had fun joining us. How many kids get to do school in their leotards? Isn't it fun?!

One more bit of news: Emma had her first ballet class today! She loved it! I should have taken her picture, but I didn't. She was wearing the same leotard in the picture above, just with white tights, ballet shoes and her hair in a bun. She was beaming from ear to ear during the whole class.

Birthday Celebration

Mostly, the celebration is all about food around here. Since Grant is still so young, the rest of us chose the foods, except for the birthday treat, which Grant chose: chocolate mousse.

For breakfast I made one of Grant's favorites, German Pancakes. Here he is awaiting their completion:



The kids had a fun day of doing what they do: playing.

Here is Grant playing in the backyard with tomato juice all over his face. He had raided the garden for his snack.

What is a fun day of playing without 'Pillow Jump!" It sure is nice to have a set of couches that you got for free so you're not worried too much about the kids destroying them!

Here is Grant enjoying his birthday dinner of Swedish meatballs and broccoli. Emma chose the meatballs. Her hands-down most favorite meal. Grant likes it, too.

If it weren't for this, however, he probably would not have finished the broccoli. He loves chocolate mousse. I loved that I didn't have to make a cake!

Yum!

Even after it was past bedtime, he still wanted to play with his Birthday presents! Kenneth got him a firetruck and another vehicle that he has in his hands and he carried them around for days. He also enjoyed the Little People Town that I got him (off Craigslist). He loves the Firestation Garage and the ramp to drive his cars on. The girls enjoy playing with it too!

And finally for the Grandmas and anyone else who might be interested, here is the video of the Birthday song and the blowing out of the candles (Grandma Larchar was actually on the phone - in case anyone noticed the fencer ticking and wondered):

Happy Second Birthday, Grant Man!

Taken just a couple days ago.

Oh how I love this little guy!!!! I know I am an overly doting and silly mommy, but I still call him my baby boy. I really need to stop and let him grow up. (After all, he does regularly use the word 'actually' in sentences- as in "Grant, would you like more cheese?" "Yes. . .actually, no". That was a shock when I first heard it come out of his little mouth!)

I can't believe he is 2 years old today!!!!!

This little man has been all over this beautiful country of ours in his short little life. He was born in Rockville, Maryland- just outside of D.C. Just 6 weeks after he was born we took a car trip to Orlando, Florida. When he was just 4 months old we drove up to New York to be with family for the Holidays. At 10 months old we moved across the country to California, where we now live- driving to get there, mind you. So, at 10 months old this little guy had already been in 19 States! Wow!

Grant's favorite things are cars and trucks and trains. He loves to hook things up- trains, trailers to tractors, cars to tow-trucks. You name it, he wants to get it hooked up. He loves fruit and really doesn't care much for meat. He will eat chicken in the form of a meatball or a nugget, but other than that he really doesn't like it much, either. He loves cauliflower, edamame and cold peas and will eat whatever vegetable is being served if it means he gets to have fruit afterwards!

He enjoys playing with and often terrorizing his sisters. He sure doesn't take much from them, however, and is often heard shouting, "STOP!!!!!" He wants to color, but only with pens and markers. He is OVER crayons. He also wants to cut things with scissors, but hasn't quite figured them out yet.

He has an extensive vocabulary. He even surprised the Nursery leader on Sunday when she gave him a construction sticker and he correctly identified it as a 'scraper'. He loves to talk!

Grant is still a little guy, which I am grateful for!! So much easier to carry around. He still sports some 6 and 9 month onesies and his 18 month khakis for Sunday are STILL too big for him, so many weeks I revert back to putting him in 12 month pants.

He has asked to have Chocolate Mousse for his Birthday treat. And since we are not much of cake fans around here anyway and it is way easier I was all for it. (He has been craving and asking for Chocolate Mousse since the last time I made it- which was a couple of months ago!)

So, since he is such a talker, I thought I would try with the Birthday Interview. Here's all I got:

How old are you today?
good

What is your favorite animal?
elephant

What is your favorite food? What do you love to eat?
Chocolate Mousse

And at this point he was finished with the questioning and told me to STOP!


We are so thankful to have Grant in our family. Happy Birthday Little Man!!!!

Here are some pictures of his first 2 years:

Just born

One of the first days at home- with Emma

About 6 months old- loves those toes!

Especially loves watermelon- almost 12 months old

16 months old- playing dress-up with his sisters

A man on a mission! About 19 months old

Just recently- such a charmer!