Stop Touching Me

What is it about being in the car that makes children start to argue?  Maybe it is just my kids, but they get in the car and they become extremely snippy to each other.  They can be fine all day.  They play together, read together, watch a movie, and just have an overall great time.  Then they get into the car.  Within moments you would think that they hate each other.  Poking at each other, arguing, pushing, and driving me crazy.  I am not sure if it is the forced closeness, the fact that they are restrained, or just the movement of the vehicle that makes them suddenly become hostile towards each other.  Hostile may be a bit strong, but accurate.  The moment we are out of the car everything returns to normal.  Normal, happy, loving siblings.  Thankfully they will grow out of it.  Archer and Angel have outgrown it, just waiting for Picasso and Princess to outgrow it.  Until then I will continue to grit my teeth and ask them to be nice to each other.  In extreme cases I will do the unthinkable and threaten to "turn this car around!".  Yes that threat.  I used it just this morning.  Sigh.....fortunately it did work.  Fingers crossed that my kids outgrow this quickly.  Until then if someone has a cure for the car crazies I would be more than happy to use it. 

Don't Forget to Say "I Love You"

It has been a strange few days.  Archer was gone to scout camp this week, my sweetheart is in Mexico City, and so it was just the three youngest and I for most of the week.  We did fine alone, but it just has not felt right in the house all week.  Thankfully my best friend helped to keep us busy so we were not sitting home feeling lonely.  We took the kids to see Spy Kids 4 (part of a summer movie series), took the kids swimming, and took them to see the new Spiderman movie. 

The night before we went to see the Spiderman movie, technically the early morning, there was a shooting at a movie theater nearby.  Twelve people died and 58 (I believe) were injured.  It gave us a moment of pause before we headed to the theater.  In the end we decided that we could not let fear rule us.  Plus I did not want to explain the shooting to my kids, they did not and do not need to know about it right now.  There is enough time for them to be confronted by the evil things in the world as they get older.  Instead I will let them live in their peaceful childhood for as long as possible.  Unfortunately many children no longer have that peace.  Two of those children belong to an acquaintance of mine who lost her life in the shooting.  Thankfully those girls are surrounded by people who love them, but they lost their mother due to an evil man.  My heart goes out to all those effected by this shooting.

I really am looking forward to my sweetheart returning home tomorrow and being able to curl up in his arms.  Maybe I'll let myself have a good cry.  If I'm honest I won't let myself, it will just happen as I tend to blubber like a baby on a regular basis since my last miscarriage.  I would rather do it with my husband there to comfort me though.  Tonight I have all my children home, safe in bed.  I hope they know how much I love them, I try to show them all the time how much I love them.  Do not forget to hold those you love close.  Let them know how much you love them.  Do not let the little petty things get in the way.  You never know what will happen in life, so live it fully and with much love, happiness, and joy.

Giant Bubbles

Bubble Solution
12 cups Purified Water
5 cups Dawn Dishwashing soap (unscented and uncolored)
1/2 cup Glycerin (found at Hobby Lobby in soap making department)

1. Pour water into a Clean bucket.
2. Pour the dishwashing soap into water. Mix Gently with a wooden spoon.
3. Pour in Glycerin. Mix gently. You don't want ANY bubbles.

Wands
2 - 24" Wooden Dowels
2 - Eye Screws
4 - Washers
Cotton String (3# weight)

1. Drill a hole into one end of each dowel
2. Screw eye hook into hole until it is secure.
3. Cut a 100" piece of string. Cut another string 70" long.
4. Put the washers on the 100" string.
5. Put the ends of both strings through one of the eye hooks and tie a knot. Do the same on the other eye hook.

Making the Bubbles
1. Put the end of the dowels in the bucket containing the bubble solution. The string should be submerged.
2. Bring the ends of the dowels up out of the solution, about chest high.
3. Separate the dowels by pulling them outward so the string makes a triangle. The washers will weigh the center of the long string down.
4. Step back quickly so air goes through the solution and makes a bubble.

** It takes quite a few times to get the hang of it. Once you figure it out, there are hours of fun to be had.

Family Reunion

The last family reunion we had Angel was not quite one, so it had been years!  Two years ago I decided we were past due for another and so the planning began.  After two years of planning we had our family reunion last month and it was amazing!  We were missing one family, my step-sister's, but everyone else was able to make it for at least part of the time.  Honestly I cannot wait to do it all again! 

We ended up renting the Serendipity Cabin from Bear Lake Lodging, plus an additional three bedroom town home from the same company.  Our check-in was really smooth and our "cabin" was spectacular!  It was really beautiful on the inside, the beds were super comfortable, and there was plenty of space for everyone.  Then there was the view, we cannot forget the view.  It was breath taking.  Looking out over the sparkling blue lake, the boats, all the lush green.  Beautiful!  The weather was perfect also, staying in the mid to upper 70's. 

Serendipity Cabin

View from my bedroom doorway.

View from our deck.

The first night we were there was Picasso's 8th birthday.  Happy birthday little man!  What a party that was.  Huge dinner, cake, ice cream, presents and THREE pinatas!  We had a pinata for the little ones, a pinata for the teens, and a pinata for the adults.  I have not hit a pinata in years, but oh my goodness was it fun!  I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard.  Being blindfolded while swinging a stick at a swaying pinata is a TON of fun!  Especially as you can hear everyone else laughing and urging you on with your swinging.  My sweet husband stayed above on the deck and was the "puppet master" of the pinatas.  Moving them up, down, from side to side and making it that much more fun.

A hike was gone on the next morning.  Unfortunately I had a migraine so stayed in bed.  My husband however actually took pictures!  This is quite the feat for him.  He spent three weeks in Scotland a couple years back and came home with less than 100 pictures.  It was very pitiful really, especially to someone who would have taken thousands!  So when he went on the hike with my camera in tow I really did not expect much in return.  I was so surprised when he returned with over 60 pictures.  He took them throughout the whole hike and it really helped me feel as if I had been there.

Princess and a cousin running through the woods.

Picasso sitting on a funky shaped tree.

Angel and her Grandma walking through the woods.

We spent that afternoon and the next morning on Rendezvous Beach.  My mom had rented a camp site for us, so we had our own private beach. The first afternoon we spent there was REALLY windy.  The wind did not deter us!  The kids still got in the water, volleyball was still played, smiles were seen all around. Then the mosquitoes came out!  It was a horde of mosquitoes.  So much for the bonfire planned that night!  Instead we headed back to the cabin.  Marshmallows were still toasted using the grill and smores were happily consumed.  The second day on Rendezvous Beach included GIANT bubbles and canoes!  My mom brought the supplies for the bubbles and my dad rented two canoes.  Kids were buried in the sand, my youngest brother buried up to his knees while standing up, sand castles were built, bubbles were made, and much fun was had in the water.  Later I found out that Princess had gotten lost for a time!  I feel like a horrible mother for not realizing she was gone.  She had been out on the canoe with her dad and when he dropped her off she got disoriented and walked the wrong way, away from our beach.  Thankfully she was okay, realized what happened and turned around.  Needless to say she stuck close by my side after that.  I am so THANKFUL that no harm came to her. 

My younger sisters did an amazing job planning out a menu for our time there.  There was plenty of food and all of it was wonderful.  We had a great time playing games, hanging out, talking, laughing, and just being together.  I am extremely grateful for the time spent together as family.  For the bonds that were strengthened.  For the love that was shared.  Soon I will start planning another family reunion.  I've been asked when the next one is and everyone agreed that we are not going to wait nine years again.  In another year or so I will start planning the next one, until then I will be happy in my memories of this one.

I truly, madly, deeply LOVE my family!

Depression

Today is just one of those "off" days.  Things are going pretty good for our family, really no major complaints.  However I have been feeling panicky the last few days.  Feeling as if the world is crumbling around me.  It is not and is far from that.  I can feel that sneaky little thing called depression trying to sneak its way back into me.  The feeling that it is just not worth it.  That I am not good enough.  That I should just give up.  Reading that it may feel as if I am hating myself and that I want to do something drastic.  I do not.  I just am not sure what to do with myself right now.  Earlier today one of my bff's asked me what was going on lately.  She KNEW something was wrong, but couldn't quite figure out what.  She really made m think and I realized this afternoon though that August is sneaking up on me.  I have written about the month of August and I, about our love/hate relationship.  How those first couple weeks of August are when I had 4 of my 6 miscarriages.  I believe that is the cause of the encroaching depression.  I will continue to fight it; to try and not let it take root.  Depression is one of those things that many people are extremely familiar with. It is one of those hard things as it does not have an outward appearance.  It does not cause a stuffy nose, a cough, chills, a rash.  It just causes an emotional downturn.  Those "silent" ailments are often so hard to deal with.  Thankfully I am surrounded by people who love me; my husband, my children, my parents, my family, my friends.  I am confident that I will be back to feeling like me soon.  Until then I  will endeavour to do my best to not let this feeling get the best of me.

School Supplies

We still have about 5 weeks of summer vacation left, but today we went school supply shopping.  We got almost everything on our lists.  We still need some disinfecting wipes (we'll get them from Costco) and a piece of black felt; not sure what the felt is for.  Of course with Archer going into junior high next year it makes things a little more interesting.  His list was the longest of all the kids and it did not even include any notebooks or binders!  After we get his class list we will find out what he needs in the notebook/binder arena and what type of calculator he is going to need.  I am just hoping that it will not cost us too much.  Overall we spent between $20 and $30 per kid, which is not too bad.Our school does offer a school supply kit which would have cost us over $40, so I think we did pretty good.  Plus my kids really enjoy picking out their own supplies, choosing what color supply box, what color scissors.  At least it is done and we can enjoy the rest of summer break without having to worry about school. 

P.S.  We got our school supplies at Target, they had some great deals!

Baptism

Last week my Picasso got baptized.  He was very excited about his baptism and had been looking forward to it for months.  I was very pleased with his decision to be baptized.  I know at eight the likelihood of him choosing to not be baptized in the church he was raised in was slim, but it was his choice.  The little man was all smiles all afternoon.  After his baptism he was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He gave his dad, uncles, and grandpas big hugs afterwards.

We had a family dinner and then Picasso and I went to a Rapids game, just the two of us.  It was a fantastic game (which they won), but even better was Picasso and I getting to spend that time together.  On our way out we stopped and said hello to our Season Ticket Holder rep.  We explained why Picasso was there instead of Archer and she thought it was great that he had been baptized.  She even found him a gift, which was totally unexpected!  Picasso said that June 30, 2012 was his best day yet. 

Congratulations on your baptism little man.  I love you lots!

Need to Get Back

I really need to get back to blogging.  I'v dropped off as of late.  I have been really busy, but that is not the only reason why.  I just stopped.  Not sure why.  I enjoy blogging, getting the thoughts out of my head.  I am not sure if anyone else enjoys my blogging, hopefully they do, if not it is not the end of the world.  At the end of the day I need to get my thoughts out.  I need to spend some time reflecting on life, turning it over and seeing what I can find.  I will endeavor to blog more.....starting tomorrow.  Tonight I am going to bed.