Cry Me A River

Ever had one of those "poor me" weeks? I guess mine started last week really and so I have had a bit of time to ponder. Last week I was driving our van around picking up and dropping off kids when I noticed it wasn't shifting great. Three years ago we put in a new transmission (2007 Toyota Sienna) and so I recognized the symptoms of transmission problems. After taking the van into the shop we find that we are going to need to replace the 4th and 5th gears which will cost an arm and leg. Two days later Tyler got an ultra-flat tire in his car and with Birch and Tyler both out-of-town for the day (and no cell reception) I had to figure out what to do on my own (and yes, the spare tire was flat too). Later I thought I would make a nice crockpot of dinner for my family and then come in a few hours later into the kitchen and found the ceramic insert had totally split and broth was pouring all over the counter. Then I go to drive the riding lawn mower and I am reminded that it too is on its' last leg. The transmission is also on it's way out and so each time we mow we know we are blessed when it makes it through one more mowing. Then I go to pay for a printing job and find that someone has paid me previously in a fake $5 bill (first time experience for me) and so I am out another $5 (and a little bit of embarrassment too). Lastly, I've been driving Birch's car for the week while the van is in the shop and the "check engine" light pops on. Today we go outside in the backyard and find that one of our large trees has split in half and fallen over without even any crazy winds.

Well, you'd think that would be enough to throw anyone into throwing an all-nighter pity party. I have entertained the thought a bit. In fact, I may have uttered a few times "I thought you were supposed to be blessed when you have a missionary out serving." Then my mind is sent into a frenzy realizing how much I am blessed. First of all, there is no place I'd rather Elder Alex Ditto be right now. Sure we miss him but I LOVE what he is learning and how much he is growing from all his Romanian experiences.

Almost exactly a year ago our hot water heater blew up. The emergency valve blew out at 11:30 pm. The entire house ended up having to drain through that little one inch hole and so I spent several hours squatted on a upside down bucket holding a hose trying to help direct the gushing water from totally flooding the basement. Shortly after I was chatting (possibly whining a tad about missions and blessing, etc... and this looming $5000 bill in putting in a new water heater) with a friend. Being a wise woman she shared that when her seven children were serving missions she was extremely blessed. She shared that instead of the car getting a flat tire miles away from home it happened in their driveway, etc...

And so I have spent the week thinking of how each annoyance has been a tender mercy.

1- the van ran smoothly while we traveled the previously weekend to Utah for my brother's wedding

2- we got a $400 discount on the new transmission (granite this doesn't feel like much when the previous one only lasted three years and the warranty just ended) but it is something

3- while I was frustrated that Birch was out-of-town for helping with Tyler's flat tire and the roadside assistance we were paying for wasn't super convenient and the spare tire was flat -- I was blessed with our Bishop and his wife spending a couple of hours of their precious Saturday to help me get the tire fixed.

4- the whole fake money thing was a bit comical and lame but really I was blessed that it was only $5 and that I wasn't arrested for trying to use fake money.

5- I was able to buy a new insert for my crockpot and really reflect on how many meals I have been able to make for my family and many others over the years in my trusty crockpot.

6- While we know we will have to buy a new riding mower next year, I have been able to feel gratitude each week when I mow and I am able to complete the job (yes, it takes four times longer than it used to). If it can just hold out another month!!!

7- I took Birch's car in to have them check out why the "check engine" light went on. I have only driven his car a few times since we bought it last year. Since I knew I was going to be driving it a bunch this week I filled it up with gas on Monday. Turns out when you don't turn the gas cap until it clicks the "check engine" light comes on when you reach 3/4 a tank. So...the car was totally fine...I was just dumb. Tender mercy was that the car was fine AND they didn't charge me for figuring out the issue (bonus blessing: they washed the car for free).

8- The tree....hum, the tender mercy (meaning the divine signature of God's hand) is that Alysee is babysitting a family of three little girls at the house right now. They had all been playing outside on the playground having a great time but decided to come in for a snack. Somewhere in that short amount of time the tree decided to come crashing down. I am SO thankful that no one was hurt. And as a bonus I'm thankful that our fence seems to still be standing!

While you might still find me with a stray tear every once-in-a-while this week -- I have mostly been able to laugh about it all and remember how blessed I really am. Perhaps this week we shall replace the split tree and plant a money tree instead :) But honestly, I feel the touch of God's hand in my life. I feel blessed to have a son spreading joy and God's love in Romania. I feel blessed to have an able bodied husband that can borrow a chain saw (anyone have one?) and chop up that tree next week. I feel blessed to have my family gather around the dinner table each night. I am blessed.

(And if you are still reading this I am impressed. I had to hurry and get my thoughts down before I have a change of heart and curl up in bed with an episode of "Highway to Heaven."

72 Hour Kit Nastiness and Awesomeness

Nathan has been working on his Family Life and Emergency Preparedness merit badges.  For his required family project we decided it was time to actually update our 72 hour kits.  We've talked about the need to do this for the past ten years or so but you know, they are way up high in the garage and we all have had about 0% motivation to actually follow through with this need.

So...three weeks ago we looked at the calendar and finally found a day that we were all home for three hours at the same time.  Imagine everyone's glee (NOT!!!) as we each dumped out our backpacks to find them filled with little worms, bugs, leaking peanut butter, diapers, outfits that fit us in our skinnier and smaller (toddler days), and cans of food bulging.  Instead of salvaging much of anything we ended up hauling several garbage bags full of nastiness out to the garage can.  I have to say that Birch and I had a moment of silence as we threw away two 72 hour milk carton kits of food that we made TWENTY years ago in our Institute FHE group.

Nate hauling one of the bags of old bug infested 72 hour kits.

So then Nate and I started doing some research online with pricing out individual items and what we all wanted in our kits.  We decided to take a trip together to Costco to see what their options were.

One our later we were home with eight new 5 day Emergency Preparedness kits for $40!!!

Not bad for $40!!!  They are actually twice as expensive on their website.

We decided that since the food in these backpacks are all freeze dried and in foil packs we should be good with the little nasty bugs this time (we sure hope).  We all picked out our backpack and added ziplock bags (yes, we learned) of an outfit of clothes, toilet paper, toothbrush, medicine, small amount of cash, water filter, and a sweatshirt.

Let me say how good it feels to be prepared!!!  We figure when we send them off to college they can take their backpack with them and in twenty years (how long the food should last) they can each be in charge of rotating their stuff themselves!!  Yahoo...oh I guess, we'll still have to rotate clothes every now and then.

Thanks Nate for the motivation to make this happen!!

Happily...even after

I've been thinking a lot today about love...today is Brooke and Mark's wedding anniversary. I guess it is kind of a bittersweet day -- reminding me of Mark's death but even more, having me reflect on true love and companionship. Don't we all just want to feel loved and want to love someone? Man/woman are not made to be alone.

I rejoice today in love and second opportunities of getting a double-dip. Brooke, just knowing you are snuggled up at night with a wonderful man who loves and honors you makes me smile. Corey, thank you for being YOU and for being Mark's high school friend. I thank the Lord for opportunities in being HAPPILY...EVEN AFTER.

Mark and Brooke

Corey and Brooke - November 2016

My Sails

I won't lie...today feels like the first day since before Christmas break that I have had some time to PONDER and enjoy a little ME time. I was reading an article in the Ensign this morning about being a positive person. I loved how it said, "Being of good cheer does not mean being ignorant or naive to life’s challenges." The article went on to say that being cheerful is having "a deep trust in God’s unfolding purposes—not only for all of mankind, but for each of us as individuals." As I personally and my family experience trials, I am choosing to TRUST IN GOD. The article contained the quote "We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails." So for my ME time I designed a new wall poster for our family room (I try to change it out regularly).

St. Patties Day

St. Patrick's Day was a normal crazy day at our house.  I was able to whip out some tasty pizza rolls shaped into a three leaf clover.

Grass or Children??

Birch and I have always tried to keep the motto:  We Raise Children, Not Grass.  Basically implying that our yard may not be the best on the block but hopefully our kids will be.  As I have looked over our garden this year I have tried to comfort myself with this same motto.  We are busy raising kids, having a fun summer, and filling our lives with church service...and our garden can wait. 

Meanwhile, it does make me feel a little guilty as the tomatoes rot, cucumbers blow up like yellow cancerous balloons, and weeds fill in the bean plants.

And so I think I will try and convince Birch to just plant pumpkins next year.

Our garden years can wait while we grow our children.

Our amazing six pumpkins!

My Life Plan...

At the beginning of each school year I always ask the kids a series of "favorite" questions to post with their picture for the year.  This year after Alysee wrote her "Life Plan" I was inspired by Alysee to ask each of the kids their life plan.  I think in a few years this should be so fun to reflect back on.

Alex - 15 year's old; would like to do the Running Start program starting next year (a program offered through the state to attend the local community college and receive both high school and college credit tuition-free); he would like to play varsity baseball and varsity x-country in high school; Alex would like to go on his mission at age 18 year's old (right after he graduates) and guesses he might go to England; get married at age 22; attend BYU-Provo for his undergrad and then go to med school to be an ENT or dentist; Alex would like four kids max (one named Bridget); Alex's bucket list includes: go ski diving, climb Mt. Rainer, run in a marathon, and travel around the world.

Tyler - 13 year's old; wants to play varsity basketball and x-country in high school; he would like to serve a mission and would like to stay in North America and speak Spanish or English; Tyler would love to get a scholarship to play basketball at the "best college;" he would like to be a medical trainer or physical therapist; Tyler would like to get married at age 22; he wants "at most 4 or 5 kids unless his wife wants lots of kids he would be willing to do it for her unless it goes to more than like 7 or 8;" Tyler wants to name his kids Mykela, Brian, and Payton; Tyler's bucket list includes: go to some exotic place before he goes on his mission, go back country skiing or snowboarding, get married in the temple, get the Melchizedek priesthood, love my family and kid, and live in the celestial kingdom.

Alysee - 11 year's old; "In college I want to study to for a veterinarian.  I want to go to BYU- Hawaii. When I get married, I want my husband to be just right.  I want him to be cute, funny, and able to work with kids, and a hard worker.  I know that a husband needs to have good qualities to help out with the family.  I want my wedding to be grand, but also quiet.  I will invite friends and family but I don't want millions of people.  I will want to get married in the Salt Lake City temple or the Columbia River Temple.  I don't know where I want to go on my honeymoon, maybe Hawaii, London, Paris, or New York.  I will not have a job after I have children because I believe I should be cleaning, cooking, and caring for my children.  My husband will have a job, though.  A job that pays good money.  I want to have five children (two girls and three boys).  My girl's names will be Lexas, Macy, Chelsie, or Olivia.  My boy's names will be Mark, Justine, or Dillan.  I definitely want to have pets (three dogs and one cat).  One of my dogs will be a golden retriever and the other will be a pug and then a beagle.  I will name my cat Lemonade.  The pug will be an indoor dog, the retriever will be an outdoor, and the beagle will be both.  When all my kids are in school and my husband is at work or working at home, I will be cleaning the house.  When my kids get home from school I will have a snack ready for them every day I'm home.  Carrots, sliced apples, maybe crackers, and occasionally cookies and milk.  Somedays they will have juice.  Most days just water.  Then they will do their few daily jobs.  Most days they will have an hour of homework and a hour of playing outside.  We will have dinner at 6:00 pm. Bedtime will be at 8:00 pm.  For my oldest child, bedtime is at 8:30 or 9:00 pm.  My bucket list includes: marrying an awesome husband, visit Paris, go on a mission, go to a Taylor Swift concert and get a shirt signed by her, go to a One Direction concert, shake President Monson's hand, have a vision of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and Joseph Smith, have one year of no stomach aches, ride the subway in NYC, and never get cancer.  This is my Life Plan."

Nathan - 9 year's old; would love to play football, basketball, and soccer in high school and college; plans on serving a mission when he is 18 year's old to Portugal or Arizona; he would like to play a sport in college and go to Oregon State University; Nate would like to get "married to a cute girl;" he wants five kids (3 girls and 2 boys--named Lexus, Rachel, Emma, Jackson, and Steven); he would like to be a physical therapist or dentist or pro-football player; Nate's bucket list includes: ski diving, go to Texas, go to a Beavers Football game, see the Oregon Duck's lose, make his own go-cart, and drive a motorcycle.

Cooper - 7 year's old; plans on playing baseball and football in high school; Coop says he will get good grades - all A's in classes all year but "probably a couple of F's too;" he wants to go on a mission to Brazil or Asia and do "two or more years of good missionarying and I want to make at least twenty people join the church and get baptized.  I want my missionary tag to have a Beaver shark and say, 'Elder Ditto;'" Coop wants to study to be a physical therapist or paleontologist, although he'll "probably turn out to be a physical therapist;" he wants to get married when he is "about 26 or maybe like 25 or 23 years old;" Coop wants to get married in the Salt Lake City temple or Hawaii temple; he would love to have seven kids (4 girls and 3 boys named Steven, Cody, Jackson, Stella, Sara, Maya, Addison); When I asked Coop about his bucket list he said, "I don't think about that too much at all.  I'm only seven." As he thought about it he said his bucket list includes: a family reunion, going to Egypt, go to South Africa, and make a movie that could be in the Redbox.

Chloe - 5 year's old; she would like to play volleyball when she get's bigger; Chloe would like to "learn about being a vegetarian...you know someone who takes care of animals;" she wants to go on a mission to Oregon so she can see Ami and Poppi; Chloe would like to go to college in Yakima so she can visit her mom and dad a lot; she definitely wants to get married to someone with brown hair, blue eyes, no freckles, and no fat;  Chloe wants to have 7 kids (3 girls and 4 boys) named Elizabeth and Jackson; her bucket list includes: go to shaved ice, have ice cream, spend time with family, say a prayer, "buy candy so I can have it in my pocket when I die."

Sure do love my kiddos and I'm so proud of their aspirations!!!

OUCH!

Oral Surgery day for this brave girl! She was nervous about waking up during the surgery but the doc has reassured her that he will keep her comfortable and sleepy during the whole procedure. She had had two canines exposed and then the doctor attached a chain to those teeth which will then be attached to her braces band to slowly pull up the two canines that are flopped over. Good times ahead!
 

 This procedure was actually done on her lower jaw but this is the main idea.  The oral surgeon cut open her gums all along her bottom jaw and then glued a bracket and gold chain on the canine and then stitched her up.  Over the next several months the chain will be shortened and by applying the pressure on the impacted canine it will help it erupt.

Alysee has been in a lot of pain but has been really brave! 

While the boys are camping at Sheep Lake we plan on spending the whole weekend watching the five disk series of "Anne of Green Gables" and eating ice cream, mashed potatoes, and pudding!

Change is in the Wind

For a while now Birch and I have felt promptings that he would be called as Bishop at some point.  These past few years we've had the opportunity to reflect on this and prepare our minds and hearts and home for this change.  Well, the change has happened.  Birch was called to be the bishop of the Yakima 4th Ward on July 7, 2013.

Handsome Husband, Father, Brother, Son, Uncle, Employee, Son of God, and Bishop

Eating my first slice of "Chocolate for the Bishop's Wife Soul!" I may not be a chocolate lover but a friend could make anything taste DELICIOUS!!! I'm feeling lifted up by the love of the ward and the handsome hunk that will be amazing!

"B" for Bishop

We were lucky to be able to have a few family members join us for this special day!  What an awesome family we both come from!!  Grannie made the trek even though she just had total hip surgery the prior week. Tav and Vaughn came with the whole family and Emily, Ryan and the girls came for the day as well.  Talk about love!!!

I was asked to share a few remarks at church after Birch was sustained.  I'm not a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants girl so I put together some thoughts prior to church.

"I’ve been feeling worried and a bit overwhelmed throughout this past week and especially today.  Then I heard Chloe in the bathtub singing a song that she learned in Vacation Bible School a couple of weeks ago, “Trust in God – pray to God – and everything will be alright.”

I think she was singing to ME.

Humble yourselves … under the mighty hand of God, … Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Pet. 5:6–7).

I have a testimony that just like the Olander family’s motto: WE CAN DO HARD THINGS!

I know the Turner Family has done hard things and I LOVE THEM FOR IT!  

I have a testimony that God knows each one of us individually.  Just as we are teaching the primary kids this year they are ONE in a Million and that makes them strong.  I feel the strength of the gospel as I attend the temple, read my scriptures each morning, and organize activities for my family that bring us closer together therefore bringing us closer to Christ as a family.

I love the Lord and I’m ready to ride this adventure ride ahead of us!"

Amen.

The Forbidden

At our home there a many words that are forbidden.  You know the kind of words that belittle, are negative, or just plain naughty.  My kids could attest that I've said a million times, "If it doesn't build someone up than don't say it at all."  I've always been kind of a Hitler when it comes to not saying bad words.  Just ask my little brother, Seth and he can attest that I'll teach you a lesson if you say naughty words around me.  Growing up I was often the babysitter in the family and therefore took it upon myself (I think my parents might have actually crowned me as "The Boss" since my older brother Matt learned that he could sneak in the family room and watch TV while next in line, Sara bossed around the family teaching them life lessons.)  Anyway, back to the lesson of speaking with a tongue of angels.  I can't remember all the details but Seth who was probably five or six years old kept telling me to...oh, I can't say it..."shut up."   We both knew this word was not okay to say but he wouldn't take it back -- so I did what any big sister should do and punched him in the nose until he repented.  I did feel a little bad about his nose getting all bloody but sometimes lessons just have to be learned, right???

Fast forward twenty-five years and I still hate THAT word and demand that it will not be said in my house.  You can all breathe a sigh of relief as I haven't punched anyone in the nose to teach them the lesson.  We don't say "stupid," "hate," "liar," and "fart."  There's another word that sometimes slips out of one of the kids mouths..."butt."  Now this is really bad.  I prefer bum bum, bottom, gluteus maximus, rump, your other cheeks, etc...  Birch says that "butt" is the proper term and apparently at work he says it ALL THE TIME.  YIKES!!!

So now I must confess.  Just as the kids occasionally use trashy words I have one that floats around my head and sometimes must be used to describe a situation.  The thing is...it's naughty.  It's on my list of potty words.  The word is.....prepare yourself and just open one eye lid so it's not so bad to read..."butt-load."  I would NEVER say it around the children and only in the past year or so have I confessed to Birch that I actually think this word in my head.  But here's the thing; sometimes I go in my room and see a "butt load" of laundry on my bed, or I look out the window and see a "butt load" of kids that are fighting or hungry, or just plain there, or what about the days that the dishes just pile up and there is no better word to describe the mounding dirtiness other than "butt load." Or how about the ever growing pile of bills from Alex's recent surgery...I mean that's a "butt load" of bills for one little surgery.

I should sing a sweet little primary song when this phrase comes to my mind but for now I feel just a tad bit better about sharing my self-indulging naughty word with my readers.  After all admitting is the first step to recovery, right?

 a "butt-load" of laundry

Exiled

It's hard to describe the feelings that a parent has once all the kiddos are sound asleep in bed.  Magical.  Peaceful.  Tranquility.  Relief.  In addition to all those things it is also a mad dash to finish up projects, prepare for the next day, and sometimes even have a few minutes to talk to my hubby.

For the past 1629 days of Chloe's life our yin and yang each night seems to have been thrown off balance.  We've tried conscientiously to not spoil her as it's probably every parents fear to have the last child end up as a brat.  (Shhh....we don't say that word at our house.)  The girl has nighttime issues.  We've tried snuggling, spanking, reading stories, lavender oil rubbed on her big toe, sitting in timeout in the garage, timeout on the front porch, timeout in the shop, timeout on the deck, special peaceful nighttime music, charts to earn fish, charts to earn dates, charts to earn ice cream cones, charts to earn happy meals, going to bed early, going to bed late, etc...  Sure we've had temporary bliss but before you know it we are back in our same frustrations of Chloe coming out of her room for one reason or another.  I mean who poops at 9:30 pm at night? -- the girl should already be asleep.  Or how about Alysee sending Zhu Zhu pets down the hallway with notes attached of all her woes in sharing a room with Chloe.  You know by that time of night all Birch and I want is a little peace...a little stillness...and a little nothing.

Last Friday night was perfect.  Imagine all the boys and dad on a Father/Son camping trip and us girls going out for dinner, movie and treats in mom's bed, TWO stories, and a backrub.  Doesn't that sound like the perfect ending to a perfect night?  It was all bliss until I said "good night."  By the time Chloe actually fell asleep I was so frustrated and I could hardly enjoy my movie in bed (I know, you must feel sorry for me.).  The next day Birch and I decided it was time for a change...like a permanent one.  This sweet, darling, smart girl is almost five years old.

Before putting Chloe to bed Birch went down to the guest room and switched the doorknob so the lock was now on the outside of the door.  He then tucked her into her new room in the guest room and peacefully read her a story and tucked her in bed.  He then closed (and locked) the door.  And the ranting and wailing began!  She must have gotten tuckered out because about forty minutes later the room was quiet.  We fully expected to find her curled up in a ball next to the door but she was snuggled up in the guest bed like an angel.  It's been a week now and the wailing has been cut down into some pounding on the door and just a few irate yells.  Alysee and Chloe beg each night that we will let them have "just one more try" and I remind them that I'm sure when Chloe comes back from college it'll be a great time to share a room again.  I secretly think Chloe actually might like her new bed, and I think Alysee really likes the quietness so she can read a chapter before going to sleep.  Just in case someone out there is worried about her well-being in case of a fire we do carry up the little angel to her real bedroom each night where the door remains unlocked.

For now Birch and I have realigned our Chi and Chloe is still as cute as ever and we are a happy family!

The Rightside On Steriods

This past month I've noticed that the Dittos seem to be rockin' their creative side of their brains.

 Tyler made these super cute cookie pops to sell at our recent Scout Benefit Dinner.

 I thought he did a great job...though I have to admit that we ended up buying half of them because the kids were so anxious to try them out themselves.

 Alysee wrapped up a huge project at school on Rattlesnakes.  She loved every minute of making her tri-folded poster and diorama.  She also gave a five minute presentation.

 

 A closer look at her rattlesnake diorama.

 Then the dreaded leprechaun traps.  This is Nate's trap; and while he generally had a good time putting it together it was not without some drama.

 Cooper decided that he didn't want to miss out on the fun and with Alysee's help he put together a trap as well.  

From my facebook post:
Not feelin' love toward the person that created the idea that kids every year have to make leprechaun traps. I know to be a cool mom I should relish in the inner creativeness...right now though, I am cleaning up yellow permanent marker off my countertops, little bits of tape and tons of cut up straws, and tears that their trap isn't as cool as they had mentally envisioned. And I certainly am not going to trash my house to show all the little messes that the leprechauns make...can't we just skip this holiday?? love, the St. Patties Day Grinch

 I do lots of graphic design work on a regular basis but rarely is it for our family.  I recently got the bug to bring a little sunshine to my kitchen/dining room so I got busy making some new curtains and artwork.

 The frames on over my sink window are a favorite of mine.  A super talented and dear friend of mine, Kim Greenfield does amazing photography.  Every couple of months I change out the pictures in these frames with something new for the season. 

 I mooched some fun ideas from online and made up some new artwork for the walls too.

 Birch often gets the organizing bug...and this time it was also creative.  The many skateboards and scooters are always a problem in our garage making it messy and hard to get around to the bikes. 

 Using some hooks Birch attached them to the wall to hang the scooters.

 Then I found this tool organizer from Home Depot and it works great to hang up all the skateboards on the wall as well.  I am IN LOVE with this project!

 

 Coop has always been a terrific artist and recently brought home his creative story that goes with this snowmobiling picture.

 I can't believe the progress Coop has made this year in his reading and writing abilities.  First Grade has really been a year of accomplishments for him.

 

 Coop just brought home his journal from school and Birch and I were totally impressed with his entries.  The following pictures are from Coop's daily journal.  One of the things that surprised us most is that Cooper has never seen the movie Star Wars.  He loves the lego sets and eagerly looks forward to watching the little Star Wars episodes that are on Saturday afternoon on TV.  His pictures of the characters and descriptions are incredible!

 

 Pretty amazing, huh!

 Lastly, Birch and I have done a couple of newborn photoshoots in the past month for friends.  We are not trying to expand our "business" but have really enjoyed sharing this learned talent with our friends and family.

Birch does the photography...I assist...I do the editing...together we ooh and ahh at the special moments we have captured!

Stay tuned for a creative project that Alex is working on for school creating something from recycled materials.  He is working on making a coat rack out of a donated old ski.  It's gonna be cool!

I have to admit that pulling out the old sewing machine wasn't as painful of an experience as I thought it might be.   My mom spent so many hours teaching her kids how to sew and I just haven't found the joy in it for the past decade.  Getting that right-side brain a little workout felt good, though!