Summer Over, School Begins



 It shouldn't surprise you that I didn't update my blog on our Summer adventures.  Life with 5 kids 24/7 doesn't allow for much free time, unless it's 10 o clock pm and then I'm tired and usually in bed.  During the Summer, we did a lot of fun activities at home, we went to the Zoo, we went to St. George for one week, and Aaron and I had the opportunity to go to Bren's (Aaron's cousins) wedding in California.  The kids stayed in Utah, with Aunt Lindsey, and had a lot of fun.  Grandma Wendy also came home from Virginia.  She has been away from Utah, for many years while she has served in the Military.  We have missed her greatly and are so glad she is home!

 

School is once again in session. I think the kids were ready to go back to school.  The pictures above where taken the first day of school, Aug. 20, 2013. Ellie is starting 8th grade, Savannah 5th grade, Abagail 3rd grade, Dayton 1st grade, and Taylon is starting his 2nd year of preschool.  So far the kids are loving their teachers. 

 

A couple big things are happening for my girls this year.  Ellie tried out for the school musical and made it as the Story Teller.  We are not sure how big or how small the part is but she is very excited.  She practiced singing, "I could have danced" from My Fair Lady non-stop for two weeks so that she would be able to audition for the musical. Savannah tried for Student Council.  She didn't make it but we were so proud of the courage it took her to run for office.  She came home from school after elections and said, "I didn't make it but there is still next year, junior high, and high school!" Savannah will also be starting music lessons and learning to play the Clarinet.  Abagail was Baptized August 31st.  We are so proud of her and the decision she made to me Baptized.

 

 Now I know I've said this once, but I'll say it again.  (Hopefully this time I'll do it.)  I know I still need to post some individual posts about each of the kids. Until then....       



Dayton Graduates from Kindergarten: May 17th 2013

Dayton Graduates from Kindergarten

 

 

Kindergarten All day, AM, and PM classes

Dayton walking across the stage. (It's to bad I snapped the picture right as he was finishing the stairs.)

Dayton in his cap holding his diploma.

 

May 17th was a big day for us.  Not only was it my 32nd Birthday, it was Dayton's Kindergarten graduation.  I can't believe his first year of school is already over.  Dayton has learned so much this year.  He went into Kindergarten barley being able to recognize ALL alphabet letters.  Dayton ended Kindergarten as one of the best readers, and on a 1st grade reading level. He learned at least 100 site words. Dayton is writing stories, writing numbers past 100, doing addition and subtraction, and so much more.  He loved Kindergarten and is excited for first grade.

 

In March we introduced "zone" chores to the kids.  Each kid has an area they have to clean each Saturday.  Dayton embraced this idea.  He is the first to get a rag and go dust his room.  He completes all his tasks without being reminded.  He asks if he can do more and often helps me complete my zone.  I love how willing Dayton is to help anyone who is in need. 

 

Dayton is a very sweet, lovable, mild tempered little, I mean six year old, boy.  He is excited about life and trying new things.  Dayton loves playing outside.  You can often find him trying to solve a mystery or playing capture the flag with the neighbor kids.  If anyone is being mean to his sister, he stands up for her and comes home and lets me know what's going on.

 

Dayton is looking forward to playing with his friends and enjoying the summer with his family. 

I LOVE YOU little D.  Happy Graduation! 

 

 

30 Day Challenge

It's been a couple busy days since my last post.  I am continuing with the 30 day mom/marriage challenge. It's gone really well except sometimes I find it hard to do these things x6!  Here is where we are at.

Day 2: Mom challenge- go the whole day without yelling
            Marriage challenge- go the whole day without correcting your husband

Day 3: Mom challenge- Hug your kids three times
            Marriage challenge- Hug your husband three times

Day4:  Missed- I'll make up this one!  I love the idea!
            Mom challenge- Kiss your children while they are asleep
            Marriage challenge- Kiss your husband the first time you see him in the morning

Day 5: Mom challenge- Say to yourself, "He/She is only _____ years old.  He's still a child" Then   treat him that way.
            Marriage challenge- Tell yourself, "He really loves his family, and he is doing his best for us."

Day 6: Mom challenge- Bake, make or buy them their favorite food.  (Really hard to do with five kids!!!!)
            Marriage challenge- Bake, make, or buy his favorite food.

Day 7: Mom challenge- Leave a sweet note for them
            Marriage challenge- Leave a sweet not for him

Day 8: Today
            Mom challenge- Calculate how many weekends are left until your child graduates from high school.
            Marriage challenge- Put at least one date night on your calendar this month.

Day 1 answers: Something you would like to do in the month of May
            Taylon- It's no surprise that Taylon said, "Play with Nana and go to school." However after hearing the other kids responses, he changed his to Play with Nana and go swimming.
             Dayton- Go swimming and make a pizza
             Abbie- Play family games and go swimming
             Savannah- Go to Nickelcade and ??? I'll have to ask what the 2nd was
             Ellie- Play outside family games and ???? I'll have to ask.  I guess I waited to long to blog.
             Aaron- Go to the park
             Me- No one asked but I wanted to take the kids to icecream (which we did that same day) and do a Cinco de Mayo dinner which we also did!

Yeah for my goals checked.  Now I guess we have to plan a date to do swimming.

          

A FRESH START

The last two and a half years have been filled with many challenges for our family.  We have faced obstacles that I never dreamed I could overcome or we as a family could overcome.  I can honestly say that some of these trials, I have not faced with very much grace.  However, as I look back I have learned something from each of these experiences. 

The last six months have been filled with anxiety, depression, and a lot of fear.  With some advice from many concerned parties, I realized it was time to take back my life. When this decision was made, I realized I REALLY wanted to become a better Wife and a better Mother.  This has been my mission and will continue to be!!! 

Being 31 and having five kids under the age of 12 has not been easy.  I have struggled with being a mom and not always a healthy Mom.  I have always cared for my children.  However, it is embarrassing to think that it has taken this long to realize that I not only want to care for my children but I want to really get to know them on a more personal level. I now look and my kids and think of how much I have missed the last three years.  My youngest, Taylon, was only one when I faced the challenges that came with the psedotumor ceribri and the medication side effects.  He has grown leaps and bounds as have all my children.  My oldest, Elizabeth started Jr. High this year and is about to turn 13.  Oh, how time flies!!!  Over the next couple weeks as I begin blogging again, I hope to update you on my children and how they have changed since my last posts.    

My new challenge:  Getting to know my husband and children on a more personal level. 

A few weeks ago we started  several new "traditions" I guess you could say.  One of my favorites takes place at the dinner table. I have always loved family dinner time.  Since Aaron and I married 13 years ago, we have always felt it was important to have meals around the table.  We turn off  distractions (t.v.  however, we need to add cellphones to this because lately they have become a HUGE distraction) and we enjoy each others company. We go around the table and ask, "What was your worst part of the day, and what was the best part of your day?"  It is fun to get to know what bothers someone in the day and what makes them happy.  We have learned that at every meal Taylon is going to say the exact same thing.  His worst part of the day is not going to school and his best part of the day, everyday, he says, "Playing with Nana."  

I have wanted to find some new ideas to start with the kids. I have loved finding ideas on Pinterest so I searched out kids activities.  I came across a couple 30 day challenges.  Being May 1st, I decided it would be a great time to start the 30 Marriage/30 Mom challenge I found at www.imom.com. 

May 1st Marriage challenge: Ask, "What can I help you with today?"
              Mom challenge: Ask, "What is one thing we can do together this month?"

Tomorrow, I will post the results from today.  As well as an update on Ellie. 

Texting While Driving

I thought this was very important to post!!!

I have to admit, I was one of those people who texted while driving. After viewing this horrific accident that took place from a driver texting, I have changed my mind!

I am part of the HCD Survey Panel and have been participating in MediaCurves.com studies. MediaCurves.com conducts many surveys testing TV commercials. They just conducted a study with 300 viewers of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) from the U.K. illustrating the dangers of texting and driving. Results showed that majority of viewers (80%) reported that they are less likely to text while driving after watching the PSA. The study also found that 85% of American viewers reported that the PSA should be aired in the U.S. The majority of viewers (87%) believe that the PSA is appropriate in nature, and 86% also indicated that the PSA was extremely effective. More in-depth results can be viewed at http://www.mediacurves.com/NationalMediaFocus/J7508-PSA/Index.cfm

Click here if you would like more information on this commercial.

Ifly

Have you ever wished you could fly? Well you can! It's fun for all ages.The innovative sport of bodyflight, it's new and always exciting. In an iFLY wind tunnel you are able to fly your body in a controlled manner within the safety of our wall to wall air flow chamber (Ifly website.)

You only live once right? I decided it would be fun to celebrate Aaron and Abbie's birthday in a new and exciting way. Several years ago when they were opening Ifly in Ogden I saw an episode on t.v. advertising Ifly. Ever since that time I have remembered that episode and could not wait till the time when I decided to share and show my family this experience.

Aaron had no idea what I was planning so it was fun to see his facial expression when we walked in to the ifly room and he saw the wind tunnel. In fact when we saw the ifly tunnel, I was ready to book it out of there without giving the kids a chance to fly. I was very nervous for them. After seeing others fly I felt better about the situation and decided it would be fun for them to try.

Here are some clips of Aaron, Ellie, Savannah, Abbie, and Uncle Jon's experiences.

ifly and Aaron

This was Aaron's Birthday gift. I asked him the other night what dreams were on his "bucket list" knowing he would say flying or skydiving. I hoped this would accomplish the task or at least let him see if he would really like to go skydiving. He had a blast. I think Aaron really liked the idea of doing something different but also that he was able to share the experience with his kids. He caught on rather quickly during training and did well during his flight time!

ifly and Ellie

Ellie was so scared to go skydiving...she was practically crying. I explained to her that in life sometimes the scariest things are actually the funnest things to try. I also explained that if she lets her fears get the best of her she won't experience anything new. (Maybe good Mother's advice but I didn't go because I was scared. Don't tell Ellie.) Ellie ended up being the best of the children. This is why the instructor let her fly with him. Ellie also had a great time at ifly and wanted to go again!

ifly and Uncle Jonthan

Uncle Jonathan is the only one with us that had really been skydiving. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to go because when they gave us the forms to sign where you sign away your life...Jonathan actually edited the form to say what he wanted it to. The guys who saw the form didn't say anything so it's a good thing that nothing happened or they have been in trouble. Jonathan had a blast and said that it was a lot of fun!

ifly and Savannah

Savannah was so exited to go skydiving. She practiced her form before we went in. As she was stuck in the wind, she struggled a little bit in ifly. She looked like a swimmer the way she kicked her legs. When she came out she told us how much fun she had! She loved skydiving.

iFly and Abagail

Abbie was so fun to watch at ifly. She didn't really understand what was going on but had a smile on her face the entire time.

A Smile

Nothing can make your heart melt quicker the a baby's smile!

April Fools

I wish Aaron had decided to put this moment on camera, or include me in the experience.

Savannah and Ellie lost their computer monitor/flat screen t.v. that is in their room a few weeks ago. The reason for this loss was not keeping their room clean. They don't understand why mom hates going down to their room to clean it every few days...at five and eight I think they are old enough to pick up the toys that they played with on their own.

Aaron made a deal with the girls that if they kept their room clean for seven days, they would get their computer and t.v. back. The first week we approached day five and the girls decided not to clean their room, so we started the days over. The second week they approached day four and didn't clean their room, so we started over. The third time is the charm, right? The girls went the whole week with their room clean, April Fools Day was day seven. (We couldn't have planned this better.)

While the girls were upstairs brushing their teeth, Aaron went down to their room. He threw all the stuffed animals off the top bunk bed, through their blankets on the floor, and knocked off the books that were piled on their desk so nicely. He called them down and told them he was disappointed that the room was such a mess.

Savannah gave her normal nonchalant attitude and said she didn't care. Ellie was so upset. She swore that she had made sure the room was clean. When Aaron announced April Fools, Ellie was more upset about the joke then she was the room. When Aaron told me about the experience I was upset that I would have to go clean another mess...April Fools, Mom. I did not want to me included in any April Fools jokes. Luckily he told me that he helped the girls clean.

Congratulations Girls. You finally get back your t.v.

St. Patricks Day

It's a little late but I hope you all had a great St.Patricks Day...
I know we did. Ellie and Savannah slept over at Grandma Wendy's
so they missed out on our Delicious breakfast.

We had green juice, shamrock bread, and green eggs.



Abbie loves eggs but she was not thrilled with eating green eggs.
In fact after just a bite she decided she wasn't going to eat anymore.



Savannah joined us for lunch when we had green salad, green
noodles with chicken, green milk, and peaches.


Like Abbie, Savannah was not thrilled with eating green food
and decided that she didn't want her lunch.

To tell you the truth, I was going to make a green dinner but
after not eating all day (I couldn't stomach green food either)
I decided that we all needed a good meal.




Savannah was so cute this year. She was sure the she was going
to catch a leprechaun. Her Kindergarten teacher had told her all sorts
of stories about leprechauns and how they drink root beer. During
daycare leprechauns stole our green cookies we had bought and we
had to follow Shamrock clues to find the hidden cookies. Savannah
loved this. She was sure she would finally find her leprechaun. To bad,
all we found were our cookies, some necklaces, and a coloring page left
to each of the kids by Lucky leprechaun. Savannah can't wait till next
year when she says that she is going to build a trap to catch the leprechaun.

Happy past St. Patrick's Day.

Becky

The Baby Bed

On Friday night Aaron and I decided it was time to upgrade Taylon from the bassinet to the crib. The crib has been sitting in Dayton's room vacant since we moved Dayton from the crib to the toddler bed last November. Dayton was downstairs playing while Aaron took apart the crib and moved it into our room. We put all the stuffed animals that were stored in the crib back into the crib along with the few blankets that weren't being used. We put all Dayton's huge trucks and toys were the crib had been in his room.

I went and grabbed Dayton from downstairs, excited for him to notice the change and the added space to his room. Aaron and I had no idea that we would be opening a huge can of worms.

Dayton was so upset with the change. He ran into our room and went straight for the crib. He pulled out the stuffed animals that he hadn't touched in months and the blankets that he had never used and took them back to his room. Dayton threw all the toys that we had just moved were the crib was to the other side of the bedroom. After that was done he ran back to our room and tried to pull the crib back into his room.

I did not understand why this was happening. He hadn't slept in his crib in months yet he was so attached to it being in his space. We talked to Dayton about Taylon needing a bigger bed and asked if he could share his crib. He still was not having it.

If you remember the sleepless nights we had when we moved Dayton from his crib to his bed, we've had the same sleepless nights moving the crib out of Dayton's room. The other night Aaron stayed up until 11 p.m. waiting for Dayton to fall asleep.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Dayton faces the next change which will be the crib moving back to his room with Taylon in it in about six months.

Jr. Jazz Champions

Ellie's Jr. Jazz team were the Champions in Tooele for their
age group. Ellie had a once in a life time opportunity when they
were able to wait in the tunnel as the Jazz players came out
to practice. She was a little bummed when she was not tall
enough to reach any of the Jazz players hands to give them high 5.
Aaron and I were so proud of Ellie for not giving up during the
basketball season. She was not sure she would like playing but
at the end of the Jr. Jazz season she said she loved it.
She has one finale game when the kids play against their parents
and then a banquet that her coaches set up. I will be a little glad
that I don't have to run her and Savannah around town but I'm glad
they had fun!!!!

Ellie's team with Thurl Bailey

Thurl Bailey getting ready to sign Ellie's shirt.

Elli'e trying to high 5 Memet Okur

Ellie's team getting ready for the players to come out!

Off Oxygen???

We went to the Doctors tonight and the Doctor took Taylon off
of his oxygen. (Hopefully for Good!!)

Taylon weighed in at 10.4.

When Ellie saw Taylon she explained this as seeing someone who
has glasses with their glasses off.

She says he looks completely different!

I love looking at my little boy with no cords coming out his nose.
He's not so happy in this picture but he is so adorable!

Baby Bed

Just some fun pictures!

We found Dayton in the baby bed.


Here's a pictue of Taylon...They're almost the same size, right?

Just thinking!

I love this picture of Taylon taken today. It was
left off the following blog.

Due Date

It's hard to believe that Taylon will be six weeks on
Friday. This little boy was supposed to be in my tummy.
Taylon was due today.

Today Taylon is getting stronger. We had him weighed
on Friday and he is 8 pounds even. He is still being a
stinker and won't let us get him off his oxygen. We tried
last week but the night we tried he had 9 apnea episodes
within four hours. We (the Doctor and I) decided he isn't
ready. Taylon will probably be on oxygen for at least
one more month.

Taylon is starting to hold his head and look around when he
hears familar voices. Taylon is awake more often, unfortuntly
this awake time usually happens in the middle of the night.
Some how I need to figure out how to get him on a "normal"
schedule.

I usually catch Dayton trying to suck Taylon's toes. (I'm not sure
why.) However, when Dayton sucks Taylon's toes I get a little nervous
because Dayton is a little bit of a bitter. I'm afraid one day he
is doing to snap down on Taylon's toes and we'll have a serious
problem.

Here are some pictures taken today of Taylon.

I hope all is well with everyone. We love you all. I feel bad that we've missed all the visits from family living out of town. It's been hard being cooped up that last six weeks but I know it's for a good purpose. Hopefully we will be out and about sometime in March.

Becky