Curse of the Fox

When we woke up on New Year's Day 2016 to find a sneaky fox eating our hens on the back lawn, Aaron jokingly asked me, "is that some kind of bad omen, or something? To start a new year out with an animal massacre on your property?"  Hahaha! Ever since then, anytime we have an unfortunate event, or a new illness take down a family member, we chalk it up to the imaginary "curse of the fox". 

I'm starting to think our Chinese New Year will be the year of the Fox at Fort Willy. I never even published the disaster that was trying to get in to a doctor when Corbin had bronchitis a couple weeks ago. It was definitely the curse of the fox, that time. 

Last week during preschool, someone brought a puking child over. Every germ a phob alarm went off in my brain and as I bleached our bathroom I told Aaron I had a really bad feeling that our kids were going to get sick, too.  He laughed and blamed the fox. 

Fast forward to 24 hours later when Sloane started throwing up. She has now blown out of every diaper since Thursday. We hoped it would stay contained to just her, since she's the only one who puts things in her mouth, and the sick child only touched her toys. 

Sloane was just the beginning. Aaron called at the end of the RS activity begging me to come home because Q was sick. 

Quincy continued to throw up all Saturday afternoon....not once into a bowl, toilet or sink.  I've scrubbed walls, doors, sinks, floors and so much carpet.  By 9:30 I collapsed into bed, praying for it to be over...or for her to at least make it to a sink or toilet or bowl (or anything!) next time. Aaron is sick. Reese is sick. It hit me at 2am and I threw up through the night and didn't leave the bathroom floor for most of today.   My mom texted words of encouragement. I replied with this too honest selfie:

The boys have played the Wii all day long and Aaron and I are trading off in one hour shifts taking care of Sloane and trying to rest between trips to the restroom and feeling like we are going to die.

Shifts. That's how desperate and pathetic this is. I'm so over this. I stood at the kitchen sink puking and holding a screaming baby, while Aaron ran past me to one bathroom and Reese ran to another.  Uncle!  At least Soren and Corbin have iron stomachs. Well, for now, anyway. We kept the entire family home from church just in case. Plus, it's not like Aaron or I could go anywhere! 

On a lighter note, check out the shirt my sister mailed to Sloane, last week. If you know me well, you know why this is so funny! 

Mr Fox, please have mercy. 

A happy place

An old high school friend of mine is visiting our hometown (from Winnipeg, where she lives, now) and posted this picture on her Facebook page, yesterday.  

It's nothing spectacular or breathtaking. But those are my hills. That is the winter of my childhood. February is my favorite month to be in the Bay Area. Everything explodes with green, and the fruit trees (everywhere) burst into bloom.  It's beautiful and sunshiney and the air smells oh so wonderful, and though there are not "true" seasons in California, intermittent rain and the spring breeze blow fresh life on the green hills. 

We are getting a 60* teaser in Arkie, this weekend!  I've already started pulling all the window blinds up in anticipation to chase away the January gloom and air this place out. Sloane threw up all day and into evening yesterday. "Thanks for sharing", said no one ever.  A new month is around the corner. I am happy for February to bless us with freshness.

I had so many places to run today and tonight. Kind of really wonderful to have it all canceled for me. This is where I have been for over 3 hours today. 

(Don't mind my lip that's fat with stress cursed cold sores. I really hope tomorrow's relief society activity is everything the powers that be hope it will be.) Baby Sloane snuggles? I do feel awful (and frustrated) that she is sick again, and yes, I happen to have vomit in my hair, but I right now I feel like I'm reliving the luxury of a newborn. I canceled our date night with total contemptment because I can't remember the last time she buried her face against me and sighed off to sleep. It's happened three times in 24 hours and I refuse to move. It's fleeting but it's the best. About an hour ago I was breathing her deep heavy sleepy breaths and they entranced me into a half sleep meditation, pondering relishing the little important things. 

Soren is still in pajamas and bouncing between watching tv and playing cars in the basement. He made us bagels with cream cheese while cheerfully humming the Darth Vader star theme, "dun dun dun ba ba bum ba ba bummm..." 

There's a heavily sleeping baby in my arms. 

There is sunlight pouring through my windows. 

There are fresh tulips on my table. 

I get to sit and rock and meditate and look at this pretty picture of a green California February and take all of this in. 

Life is so good. 

Happy Friday. Hope you've found a happy place to be today.

On a Snowy Day: Young Learners Welcome Winter

I love my little side job. Being a teacher is unmeasurably rewarding, but if I had to describe the benefit--/which I attempted to do with a parent/friend just last week--I'd say it's exhaustingly empowering. The three hours a week I spend as Mrs Meg are like having a "really good mom day", every week. Every week I see progression, growth, understanding, exploration, and a growing love for learning. They tell me stories, share all their big news, show me their owies, and ask me their one hundred questions. And they trust my one hundred answers. 

And since they are not my children 100% of the time, this learning comes with only a minuscule fraction of the heaviness of teaching my own child as their parent. I get that, too, with my own preschooler enrolled in my class each year, but managing my own classroom is like...it's like all the break through mom-teaching moments, without (most of) the heartaches and battle of wills and patience struggles that accompany the typical mother-child teaching interactions. As a teacher, I invest in these people and gain respect their love and respect as I cultivate our relationships. I get to help enhance and enrich, but I'm really only decorating and embellishing a perfectly baked sweet treat. So thank, parents, for creating great people, and for sharing them with me. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to apply a little frosting and sprinkles these cupcakes. I am dog tired by the time I crawl into bed on Wednesday nights. But the dessert was totally worth it. Every week. 

Today was rad. I greeted the children wearing a top hat and scarf, holding sticks, and my nose painted orange. Some guessed the riddle right away. Others took a few hints to figure out They'd have a snowman for a teacher today! 

Dramatic Play: lots of props and orange noses my little snowlearners today. 

Literature: 

Gross Motor: we skated like the mice on ice and made snow angels and snow tracks with Peter in The Snowy Day. I gave each of the children a "snowball" of their own to protect during circle time. 

Art: sneezy the snowman

Handwriting: letter W and drawing snowflakes on the aqua mats

Practical Life Skills at Play: Winter Weather Olliblocks

What do you wear to stay warm in winter? 

Fine Motor: snowflake stamping 

Motor skills: 4 season floor puzzles 

Science: hot and cold item sort

Sensory: Insta Snow!

I gave the children counting bears so they could play "snow bears" in their snow. This stuff is great science-y, sensory fun. 

I can't wait to pick up my big kids from school, today. Every Wednesday, they run downstairs to see what preschool excitement is left out for them to explore.  Then they reminisce about their own days as a Young Learner with Mommy/Mrs Meg. I make insta snow with my students every year and my children get SO excited to have a turn with it after school. I also added ice cream dishes and spoons this year. I'm sure the basement will be converted into a frozen tung snow shack at 3pm. 

My side job is fun, but my full time career as a mom has its perks too. It's not uncommon for me to receive mothering inspiration for my own children while I am teaching someone else's. That happened to me today and I'm anxious to try out a new idea.  I'm grateful to my creator for the spiritual gift of teaching, and for the variety that Wednesday mornings add to my life. 

Mommy and Corbin Age 6

Quit hogging the gene pool, Aaron.

Friday Saturday Sunday

Friday:

Everyone is well enough again, so Friday starter with  a make up day for preschool. Fly me to the moon!

I pulled some "standing toys" from storage and this cutie bug loves them. 

Sloane loves baby dolls. She giggles with delight and kisses them and pats them and says, "awwwww" before biting their arms or feet. 

I went to bed, exhausted, at 9:30. I'm an up until midnight girl. Going to bed means less tired the next day, but I also wake up to things like this: 

So it's still kind of depressing! I think I'd rather be sleepy than wake up to grossness. Before you think it, the children and Aaron do help...this is from one meal. Big family = nonstop dishwashing. I loathe doing dishes, but not as much as I loathe getting behind and watching them spread across the countertop and accumulate on every surface on the kitchen. An empty sink is my thing. 

Reese attended Madi Z's 11th birthday party. It was a cupcake decorating party, and she brought home 6 adorable cupcakes to share with very happy siblings. It was a pleasure to catch up with sweet Michelle. 

Saturday: 

I signed up for the Bentonville Half Marathon. Not totally sure what I was thinking, other than, "that will get me running again!" I should be running 3-4 times during the week, plus long runs on Saturday. That isn't happening. And it is ok. I go after bedtime one night a week, and I go earrrrrrrly on Saturday mornings--which are my favorite, except the early part.  

Even going to bed early does not make me a morning person. 

The training group meets in the Downtown Activity Center for a workshop  on all things running (fuel, pace, stretching, aid station etiquette, hills, gear, breathing, etc) then sets out in a huge group of all speeds/abilities on a course marked by volunteers for the long run as the sun rises. I ran 6 miles in 16 degrees on Saturday. It was so cold I had icicles in my eyelashes and the water in my fuel belt was slushy ice when I finished. It was not easy, but I did it and I loved it. I ran 5 miles last night with Kasey, and I think that the first time maybe since Soren was born that I put in 10 miles within the same week, let alone 3 days! Felt great. Pics courtesy of a fellow trainee on the fb group. I'm sitting on the floor, 7th in from the top left, in a Green Bay packers beanie. 

Being with a group is really fun. It is inspiring to hear everyone's stories, encourage one another, and being in a pack gives a "race day" feeling that just makes me move a little faster, so my pace is picking up, too. This Saturday marked the halfway point, and it's literally all up hill from here. February and March will be intense, but worth it on race day! Even though I have done this and much more, before, It was two kids ago. I'm in a different body and have different time commitments in my life. It's been so long since I was a "runner" that the added distance reached each week feels like a brand new victory. It's thrilling. 

Corbin lost his 2nd tooth! I will miss his baby smile. He received a quarter, a dime, and a nickel from the tooth fairy and was quite pleased. He thinks it is cool to have "a bloody hole" in his gums. 

Corbin helped me harvest some fresh spinach and kale for a smoothie on Saturday. 

Aaron took the big kids to see star wars a second time. Soren was supposed to nap, but batted his eyes at me and asked me to please make him some "spreckled" eggs. It was too cute to resist, so spreckled eggs, he had, and then I practiced making an omelette for myself. Are you an omelette master? Teach me your skills! Aaron loves them and I'm trying to learn how to make them, but usually over cook the eggs. I need help. At least It tasted good. 

We had a sitter for a long awaited date night on Saturday and went to...a baptism! We are romantic like that. ;) It really was beautiful and I'm so happy we could attend and support the Hiligrass family as well as enjoy the Spirit's presence there.  We had gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and some incredible Gouda, green onion, and bacon loaded sweet potato fries at Hammontrees after. And Aaron was stalked by a Teredactyl hanging from the ceiling while we dined ;). 

Sunday: 

Sundays are long. I told (bribed) the children that if they could make it through two hours after church without arguing, we would make homemade personal pizzas. They made it (barely! Haha) and pizzas were devoured. 

Here is Pizza Reese, pre baking. In the past, I've always used cornmeal to dust the counter surface and paddle for easy sliding into the stone. Parchment paper is the way to go! No mess, no fuss, and no deformed pizzas.

After dinner, Aaron and I destroyed the kids at hi ho cherry-o. No mercy. 

I worked on pinning down some details for our upcoming relief society retreat. 

Then went to bed early for the third night in a row--who am I???

Weekends, you are so good to us. Stay here a little longer, next time.

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

It doesn't get any cuter than this, folks. Soren is a sunbeam now. This was his first week. He marched into nursery and Sister Conover gave him a graduation hug and a bottle of bubbles, then sent him back into the hall toward the primary room for sharing time. He went in cheerfully and sat reverently in his tiny chair on the front row. This child never stops surprising us with his mellow, happy, will to obey. He really does "shine for Him each day."  Welcome to Jr Primary, big boy! 

"Swim!" said the Mother

I'm trying to get ahead of the game and get a few more children swimming independently before summer hits. I think I will feel much better about the pool next door if more than one of my children are water safe before it gets uncovered for the season. This year, Soren is finally old enough to go to lessons! He was very excited for his turn. 

...until it actually was his turn. He sat in the corner on the top step and said, "don't look at me!" to his instructor.  

Fortunately, Soren was not her first feisty fearful fish. After about 15 minutes, she just grabbed him and took him out to deeper water to play. He didn't have much choice but to trust her! I'm thankful his personality type goes well with this approach. He was fine the rest of the time and loved the second half of his lesson. I don't think he'll be timid at all next week. 

Little Sloane pacified herself by people watching from the comfort of her bucket seat. We cruised to and fro between the three pools and dressing rooms dropping off and picking up each sibling from their classes. She chewed on a pair of goggles from the swim bag and several mothers stopped me to point out that she had them. ;)

Corbin is in the level 3 class that meets right before Quincy's. I originally had them together, but decided to separate them to avoid any distractions due to sibling rivalry. We naturally have plenty of that happening with these two! Plus, it just made more sense to have the boys swim at one time and he girls swim next, so I could get everyone showered after lessons and only take up one dressing room. 

Quincy's level 3 class got to play basketball, which Corbin thought was highly unfair. Next week, I'm sure it will be her turn to blow bubbles and his to "have all the fun." I guess there's no avoiding that rivalry after all! Haha! 

And Reese kicked booty with a beautiful backstroke in the level 9 class. I'm so impressed by how much her endurance and technique have improved since participating on swim team last summer. She'll be ready to make some big waves when this season comes around. 

Day In

Martin Luther King day brought us a 1 inch dusting of snow. Most of it melted off as the sun came out, but it was a good surprise for the children to wake up to on their day home. 

A boy in his element. He didn't care that he was coughing up his lungs all night, or that his ears and sinuses hurt. Or that the temp was "feels like" 12*. Nothing was going to stop this kid from playing in that long anticipated snow. Those blue snowball makers were a Christmas gift from my sister, Amy, several years ago. The kids love them and I highly recommend purchasing some if you have kids. Perfect, easy snowballs every time, in nearly any kind of snow. And since we didn't get enough accumulation for sledding, these little tools made the snow play last much longer, so all that bundling up was worth it. 

Soren and wheezy Sloane stayed inside, with me, and we were joined by Q, later. 

This was a good idea ;) 

Sloane actually loved it. Mostly. 

I built myself a roaring fire for the first time in a long while and am pleased I haven't lost touch. The many winters we spent hauling arm loads of split logs into our old house and stuffing the big stove feel like ages ago. I can't believe we used to rely almost exclusively on firewood to heat that little house. I miss having a stove insert for practical/heat efficiency purposes, but I really enjoy being able to SEE the fire and watch flames rise, and the coals glow from orange to white to black. It's a pain to add fresh logs every hour though. Our stove used to burn for several hours without needing any maintenance. Either way, tending a fire took me back 8 years to simple, slow mornings with only babies at home. 

The children warmed up their freezing bodies with lunch proudly prepared by Reese and Quincy: good old fashioned canned bean and bacon soup with saltines.

The children were disappointed that I wasn't taking them "anywhere fun or cool" on their day off school, but I couldn't justify taking a wheezing baby anywhere, and wasn't interested in driving anywhere until the roads dried off, anyway.  I remembered I'd bought something for a snow day experiment and pulled it from the closet. We read about simple machines and set up a pulley in Corbin's room. Hours of fun. I carefully lectured caution to each child (some twice) that this particular pulley can NOT lift humans.  (Can you imagine? Especially since I had just pointed out elevators as an example of pulley uses. Oops!) anyway, all went well and all sorts of non-human things were hoisted onto the top bunk, then lowered back down. 

Holiday + snow day + sick day (for some) = comfort foods, so we opted for all the right kinds. Q had a play date at Cadence's in the afternoon. Since we were venturing out to drop her off, we hit the dunkin donuts drive thru on the way home. 

The late afternoon was wasted away watching almost 3 straight hours of tv and it was wonderful. I recently introduced Reese to "When Calls the Heart" and it is super fun to share each episode with her. Corbin and Soren came and went and built a tunnel fort between the sectional and the ottoman with the sofa pillows. I made Marium Seidel's Classic homemade Mac n Cheese and it was a satisfying end to our slow, sicky day. 

Creamy Mac n Cheese 

1lb elbow noodles

1 stick butter 

2 cans evaporated milk

1/4c Parmesan grated

2c sharp cheddar shredded

4c other shredded cheese (I use a fiesta or Italian blend) 

1 can cheddar cheese soup (this keeps the Mac from drying out and getting all gross/crunchy.)

1 tsp mustard

1 tsp worchestershire 

1/4 tsp garlic powder 

Salt pepper 

Cook noodles to al dente

Melt together other ingredients and pour over noodles

Cover pan tightly with foil and bake @ 350* for 35 minutes