Hiking the Y, Well Almost

Sometimes I have some really good ideas.  They are brilliant! I amaze myself with the ingenuity of my own brain.  And other times I have incredibly stupid ideas.  Sadly, yesterday was one of those days.  I decided to hike to the Y on the mountain in Provo.  My reasoning went as follows:
1. We were going to be in Provo anyway to go to the Bean Museum before it closes for a year + and to eat in the Cougar Eat.

2. I am trying to take my older kids on hikes because it's something my sons enjoy and it's good exercise. So, the little ones have to come on some of them too.
3. Hiking the Y is fun.
4. Hiking the Y can't be that hard.  I did it as a freshman who didn't exercise.
5. When I hiked the Y as a freshman it was WAY easier than when I hiked Timpanogas.  The paths were wide. Heck! You could push a stroller up those paths if you really wanted to.
6. I walk 15 miles a week with no problem, so I thought I could carry Emmeline if needed, like I did on the one mile steep hike we took last week.
7. My kids would be so excited to get ice cream afterwards when they are hot and sweaty.

I did think this out.  We all had hats.  We all had full water bottles.  We had a backpack with bandages. I had moleskin protecting the blister on my heel. We covered ourselves in sunscreen and took really big drinks at the water fountain at the start of the trail.  I did notice my car announcing the temperature as 95 degrees, but I didn't think it would be a deal breaker.  That was dumb.

The hike to the Y on the mountain is 1.2 miles up and 1.2 down.  The path consists of 13 switchbacks, climbing steeply up the mountain, gaining 980 feet in elevation as you go up.  The sites I found said it was easy for young children.  I just didn't factor in the heat.  I've hiked in heat before, but I was young and the trails were fairly flat.  And I didn't have little kids with me.  It was very hot!

So, we began our climb.  It was pretty hard right from the start but the kids were energetic and willing.  I told the boys to go on ahead so they wouldn't feel like they were being held back by the girls.  We climbed and climbed.  Shade was a scarcity.  We stopped at the end of each switchback to drink out water.  Emmeline walked half the time and I carried her half the time.  But, after about 30 minutes I realized that I couldn't continue to safely carry her.  I was too hot.  I felt like I was going to pass out every time I carried her.  We stopped for longer periods. We drank more water.  We fanned ourselves with our hats.  We poured water on our heads.  It was so hot. I told the girls they were strong and they could do it.  We cheered each other one.  We tried so hard.

 Amy failed first.  She just couldn't go on and was threatening to throw up.  I was pretty sure throwing up is a sign of over doing it physically.  But, I was faced with a real dilemma.  My boys were ahead and out of sight.  Would they wait for us at the top?  Or would they come down on their own?  I couldn't risk it.  I had to find them.  This was when things really started to feel desperate and I felt truly dumb for forgetting my cell phone. I found a rock with a tiny bit of shade and tried to create more with my backpack.  I sat the girls down on the rock and told them to stay there and wait for me.  Yes, I left my 9,6,4, and 2 year old children alone on a mountain.  They couldn't make it any further.  I told them I would find the boys and come right back.  The truth was that I was too drained to go on myself, but I had to.

  So, I walked.  And I prayed.

 I prayed out loud on that mountain asking Heavenly Father to watch over my little girls and keep them safe, asking Him to give me the strength to find my boys and to stay conscious, and asking safety for my boys.  I was asking for a lot.  Earlier while walking, two hikers passed us going down.  They had not reached the top.  I should have clued in then, but  I didn't.  We made it about 7 switchbacks before I realized we were in trouble.  Our water wasn't gone yet, but it wasn't enough for what was left. After leaving the girls, I walked about two more switchbacks and stopped, completely exhausted.

There was no shade.

 I prayed some more and started yelling.  When I yell for my boys in the basement from the top of the stairs, they often don't hear me.  I had no idea how far away they were, but I didn't dare get any further from the girls.  So, I yelled as loud as I could, cupping my mouth with my hands and pointing my face up the mountain.  And I yelled and I yelled.  I began to panic.  Then I heard the softest reply, "Mommy!"  The boys came into view higher in the path. They assured me they were okay and wanted to continue to climb.  I told them we were going back down.

I turned to go back and as I walked I heard a voice.  Another hiker!  And he was talking to my girls, naturally wondering where their adult might be located.  He and his daughter stayed with them until I reached them.  They also turned around to go back, having decided that it was too hot.  I was so grateful that he was there. They were the only other hikers on the entire path and they caught up with my girls right after I left them, so they were not alone.
 He went ahead of us and we began the difficult journey back down. It was very slow going. The path was so steep that it had to be taken at a run or very slowly. The girls couldn't run, so we walked very slow and continued to rest.  Amy went ahead to reach the bathroom at the trail head.  When she got there, the man from before saw her without us again.  He left his daughter with his wife, who had stayed behind because she is pregnant, and came back up the trail to find us.
  At this point we had about one switchback to go.  We would have made it- eventually.  But, he looked like an angel nonetheless.  He came back to help us and, with my permission, scooped up Emmeline and carried her down the rest of the way.  Apparently she wasn't in too bad of shape since she managed to scream the whole time about the stranger holding her.

We were finally down! It was 2:45.  I think we were up there for about an hour and a half.  I mentally gave the boys 30 more minutes to come down before I would hunt down a phone to call 911.  Luckily, they showed up just 5 minutes after us.  They had made it to the top and then run all the way down!

I have never sweated so much in my life.  It was 98 degrees by the time we descended. I honestly thought I had wet my pants, but it was sweat.  My entire body was soaked in sweat.  A/C on full blast, we promptly drove to the Creamery and I sent the boys in( due to the embarrassing appearance of my pants, which the man on the mountain saw but politely ignored) to buy two half gallons of ice cream.  I wasn't a complete dolt.  I did bring cups, spoons, and an ice cream scoop.  I'm always prepared for ice cream.  They ate it all in the blessed shade at a local park and we drove home, thankful to be safe and together, thankful for the tender mercies of help that were just enough for us to make it down.

And yes, I've learned my lesson.  No more steep hiking in massive heat with no shade and only one grown up.  I know! It was really dumb! Really, really, dumb.

Easter 2012

Amy- 8

Audrey- 4

Clara-6

Emmeline-23 months

Thank you Easter Bunny!

Hamsterveil

All the kids together in their Pittsiness

Reuben-13

Tim-11

Emmeline enjoying the beautiful parking strip garden

It's Easter.  This Easter has been a strange combination of bitter and sweet for my family.  Yesterday our friends' daughter passed away.  She was 12.  We met her when she was a baby and then our families parted ways.  Recently, we reconnected through facebook, and a few days ago, through facebook, learned of the tragic accident that eventually took Elizabeth's life.  When we learned of her accident and that she was on life support, my family began praying for her and her family.  I instantly felt the peace of the Holy Ghost. Still we were deeply affected and saddened by the news.  Their family has 6 children and so does ours.  We cannot even imagine what her parents and siblings were feeling or what they feel now. I have been a constant leaky cup since I heard the news.  My heart aches for them.  When it first happened, Elizabeth's family asked friends and family to fast today, on Easter Sunday.  But, Elizabeth returned to her Heavenly Father on Saturday morning.  Still, my husband and I decided to fast anyway, for those left behind.  So, today at church as we were reminded about the Resurrection, the most amazing and wonderful event of all time, my thoughts were only for this child and for her family. Her death brought the miracle of life and healing for 4 people- two will see, one will walk, and one will have a new heart valve.  What an amazing gift and sweet contrast to the bitter reality of a mortal life being concluded.  It has touched me more than I can adequately express, yet I find myself wanting to try.  I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for the atonement.  I am in awe of the gift of his sacrifice of his life and his resurrection opening the way for all of us to one day rise from the grave.  It feels very real today.  Happy Easter!

Sunshine in the Mail

I try to be optimistic, but sometimes so many challenges come so close together, or an especially difficult trial surfaces, and I stumble a little. Everything was great two Sundays ago. We sang in church, Amy and Clara sang in Primary.  I subbed for Tim's primary class and Judd subbed for a teenage class.  Then we went and made a fabulous Irish dinner for my parents. Then a few days later, a couple of my kids got sick and it was just the final straw for me.  After me just having pink eye( again), and thrush in my mouth, I just felt really picked on. 

So, I complained on facebook about 8 days ago.That always makes me feel better.  I like to add a little humor with my complaining.  I posted the following, "Never tell yourself that you can't take any more, because that seems to be a magnet for "more" to happen. And always try to remember that curling up in a ball and crying just gives you a headache."  

I was pretty disheartened, but trying to plug on.  But, the truth was that I was exhausted.  

And then I got a cold.

Two days after my sad post, I got TWO packages in the mail. No bills or annoying ads, just two packages addressed to me! I knew one was coming from my aunt Maureen and opened it with eager anticipation.  It was a Texas shaped sandwich cutter!  If you know me well, you know that I am from Texas and that I adore Texas.  I love the cutter! It is so cool and my kids have already used it twice.  It just brightened my day so much. And I wasn't even done opening packages.  I've never gotten two packages for me in one day.  I hardly ever get things in the mail from friends or family. Why would I?  But, a caring Heavenly Father inspired two people to act and send me tangible evidence of not only their love, but His love.  It was just what I needed.  

After the delight of my first package, I opened the package from my good friend April.  It was a box of Sunshine! Everything inside was yellow- lemonade koolaid, pez,  lemon heads candy, lemon gummy candy, baskets, a duck toy, body wash, a sun magnet, a photo card. .  . that box was full of so many yellow things it was amazing!  I just broke down sobbing on the blanket in the front yard where I was having a picnic lunch with the little girls.  And I cried and cried happy tears.  

I didn't wake up that morning wishing for packages, but I was feeling alone and overwhelmed,even surrounded by little children and their various germs. My mother lives in town, but couldn't help me.  Instead she sits prisoner in her own house, recovering from knee surgery, in need of my help that I couldn't give.

 The next day I crashed, physically, but not emotionally.  The cold was getting the better of my body. But, I had my mailed sunshine and love to remind me that our spirits are stronger than our bodies.  I trudged on.  I tried to take it easy and cleaned out the filing cabinets- a nice sedentary job, and found a card Judd gave me for my birthday years ago.  It depicts a cheerful mouse, prancing across a bridge with his belongings bundled in a cloth hanging on a stick perched on his shoulder, and his face basking in the sunlight.  And the card says" Keep your face to the sunshine shine and you cannot see the shadow"- Helen Keller.  If a girl who was blind and deaf could have that attitude, so can I.  How can I not keep my face to the sunshine when it came in the mail?  I'm so lucky to have friends and family who love me.  

Like I said at the start, I usually manage to stay positive.  I have so many blessings and so many body parts that work marvelously well.  I have six healthy intelligent children and a husband who provides for us.  I have my faith.

But, even those of us who appear to be strong have our moments and have need, at times, from those who love us to help us turn back to the light when the shadows threaten our peace. 

A day in my life. . .

Some days I'm pretty lazy and other days I work all day long.  Today was a working day.  I like those better because I don't feel guilty at the end of them.  . .

Things I did today:

*Took a shower. I know, it's pitiful, but this is an accomplishment.

*Did three loads of laundry and made sure they were put away- also a big deal. Sad. 

*Put the collapsed shelves back up in the linen closet and refolded the stuff that had fallen down.

*Helped Audrey sort her shoes, took away the too small ones, found some for Clara in the basement

* put extra shoes away in basement

*straightened the living room twice

*vacuumed the living room

*swept the dining room and wiped the table

*unloaded the dw, loaded it and started it

*cleaned up the kitchen and hand washed big dishes

*took R to the ortho, got a present ready and took Audrey to a party, fed lunch to little people, cleaned up after them

*deep cleaned my room. This was a long project.  Who knew there was that much dust under my bed?

*vacuumed my room, the hallway, the spare room, and the family room

*straightened the spare room

*got girls to clean the very messy family room

*cut holes in an ice cream bucket and put the bathtub toys in it to make showering in there easier

*went through Emmeline’s clothes and put away the ones that are too small so that the rest will fit in her dresser, hung up the dresses.

*found a basket for E’s shoes and put them in it.  Her dresser looks much better.

*worked on putting away the misc. from the car and the floor that I had shoved into two laundry baskets. Almost done with that.

*renewed Judd’s library stuff. Let him know the one that wouldn’t renew.  Renewed mine too.

*found several missing socks, Amy’s library card, and some pillowcases I had been looking for

*researched how to make my own dishwashing liquid so I can save more money

*spent 20 minutes brushing, flossing , mouthwashing , and water picking. SO MUCH FUN!

*pulled out Valentine’s decorations- a little late, and put them up. The kids were thrilled

* walked 3 miles

*hot glued Amy's Valentine's box from last year to make it presentable for this year.

* And most importantly, made the groundhog feel like she can fit in for Valentine’s Day

2011- Where did you go?

It's gone. It actually happened. And, if you believe the Mayan Calendar, it may never happen again.  A New Year has come! I love the idea of a New Year and a fresh start, endless possibilities ahead. I don't love training myself to write a different year on my checks and documents.  I'm sure I'll get used to it.

In the meantime, I'm reminiscing a little about the year we've just left behind.  My mom was telling me all the great things she accomplished last year, despite being in pain from various physical ailments the entire year and not being able to drive her car due to pain.  At first I though to myself, " I haven't done anything of that magnitude." But, then I stopped and thought some more and realized that I did have a pretty eventful 2011.

Here is my list of personal accomplishments, interesting experiences, and highlights this year:

*E.R., O.R. for Emmeline's swallowed wire, followed by the baby cage and a few months of severe paranoia
* Took 80 dollars, lots of volunteers and donations and threw the Buckaroo Banquet (Blue and Gold Banquet) and cake auction
* Entered and won the Provo Freedom Festival Baby Contest. Okay, the baby won, but I did all the work.
*Dug up my parking strip, much to the alarm of my neighbors.  Planted lots of flowers and won over the neighbors by the end of the summer.  I can't wait to see the 160 bulbs come up in the Spring!
*Suffered broken glasses in February and December.
*Went to the Shakespeare Festival for the first time
*Visited my beloved Texas
*"Encouraged" my children to enter 11 Reflections entries without employing any form of violence.
*Council Reflections Chair- ongoing- award ceremony this week.  Why did I sign up for this?
*Started a co-op preschool with my friend for our 4 year olds and found out that I love it!
*Got braces.  Didn't chew anything harder than a banana for the first two months. Doing better now.
*Read about a gazillion books. Okay, I don't know how many books I have read, but it is probably more than 50 and less than 200.
*Joined a quilt block class in September. We make one block a month.  So far I've made about 12.  I don't even own a sewing machine, so this is a big stretch for me.
* Swept the floor at least 365 times.
* Ran the dishwasher approximately 700 times. I love you Kitchenaid!
* Baked a lot.  A whole lot.  A really big and seriously whole lot of bread product.
*Personally washed and dried something like 400 loads of laundry. Even typing that makes me feel tired.
* Wrote a lot of really cool blog entries.  If you are reading this, you probably know what I mean.
*got released as Cubmaster and put in as Activity Days Leader.
*Did a lot of driving to voice lessons, dance lessons, soccer stuff.  Also got out of a lot of driving to choir and soccer and voice thanks to sweet carpooling!
*Didn't gain any weight.  I might have lost some weight. Thank you "Jaw Problem".
* Welcomed 2 new nieces and one new nephew into the world.  I now have 31 nieces and nephews.
*continued the good habit of walking most M-F's for 3 miles with my friend
*coined a new phrased- Juddunk.  It means Junk belonging to Judd.  Do not forget this important word.
*went to church almost every week.  I think I missed one time.  I think I deserve a prize for taking all those kids to sacrament that many times.  I think you owe me a prize.  There is no logic in me assigning this to you- I just want a prize.

And I even petted a Sting Ray

Well, those are the main things that come to mind.  It was a pretty good year.  I'm excited to see what 2012 brings!

Happy Home Preschool

I majored in Elementary Education.  I didn't do it because it's easy or because it makes for a good job should I need to work.  I did it because I always wanted to be a teacher.  If I look back on my saved school assignments, when asked what I wanted to be, I always wrote "Teacher."
 I love teaching people of all ages. I torture my children with Mommy summer school every summer. They love me for it!  But, before this year, I NEVER considered teaching preschool to my own children.  Not once. I very happily paid someone else to take my child for several hours each week and educate them.  I never really worried about my kids learning the alphabet.  I just wanted them to have a good time and learn how to behave and socialize properly.  I also usually wanted a break from them.  This might sound horrible, but before you judge me too harshly, remember I have 6 kids and for the first 13 years of our marriage I can count on my digits how many dates my husband and I went on after Reuben was born. We just couldn't afford the babysitter, let alone any activities for dates that cost money.  Remember that I had most of my kids about 2 years apart, so I had 3 little ones not in school when it came time to enroll a 4 year old in preschool.  A girl has to find a way to go to the grocery store without wanting to beat her children! I needed a break.

 Reuben, Tim, Amy, and Clara all loved the different preschools they attended. When it came time to enroll Audrey I decided I was done with the preschool run at the local elementary - where the teacher couldn't remember my kid's name or which parents belonged to her.  I signed Audrey up for a great preschool that our neighbor's daughter was going to attend.  Her older kids had gone there and she said they loved it.  It was a little pricey for our budget, but all of the other kids had gone to preschool, so I felt like we had to find a way to afford it for Audrey.  I paid the registration fee and then we enjoyed our summer.  But as the time drew near to start preschool, I started to have second thoughts.  The truth is that I started to acknowledge the feelings I had felt all along- the prompting that I had made the wrong choice for my child.  I knew I needed to consider other options.  Some of my friends with 4 year olds hadn't yet enrolled their children in a preschool and one friend was definitely wanting to do a co-op preschool.  I had NEVER wanted to do that-Ever.  But, all of a sudden, I decided to consider it, try the idea on for size and see how I felt.

It felt right.

But, only one other person felt that way too.  All of our other friends ended up finding preschools that were right for their kids.  I had to make a final decision one way or the other- to let the preschool know that I was pulling Audrey out before the final day to get a refund of my $75 registration fee.  So, I made the decision in my heart. I called and withdrew her. Then I knew it was right.  When I decided initially to look into other options, the feelings of anxiety and discord that I had been feeling all summer went away. And when I committed to doing a co-op preschool the feeling of peace intensified and I just KNEW that I was making a decision that mattered very much in my daughter's life and that was in line with my Heavenly Father's plans for her.

I don't know why she wasn't supposed to go to a traditional preschool.  I don't know what happened to change my heart, to make me not even desire the time away from her, time with only one child, time to go shopping with ease.  I don't feel any resentment or frustration.  My friend Autumn and I have been teaching preschool to our daughter's Summer and Audrey since the beginning of September. We switch off teaching every other week.  It's a lot of work.  And I am stunned at how much I love it! I knew I would like it, but I didn't know that I would cherish practically every moment.  These little girls are sponges for the attention we are able to give to them.  Summer tells me almost every time I teach, "I love you teacher! You are the best teacher ever!"  I just love every single moment.  It is worth all of the time that I put into it.  It's worth more.

I'm so grateful that I listened to the whispers of the Holy Ghost guiding me in my life.  They continue to come and guide me in my teaching.  I sat with Autumn earlier this week and we talked about how things are going and discussed whether we needed to change anything.  And I was blown away again by the amazing gift of the Holy Ghost when Autumn made one suggestion that had come into my own mind just that morning.  It was very specific and not something that we had ever talked about or that would be part of a typical preschool.

Summer finger painting her salt dough Utah ornament

Audrey finger painting her Utah

Emmeline always has to be part of the action

Family Tree

Painting is serious business when you are 4

For Fairy Day we made Fairy headbands.  Here Summer is making F's out of ribbon.

These girls love to color.

On Sand day we made the letter S in the sand using shell shaped noodles. The girls also made their own sandwiches, played with Aqua sand, and played in our new sand box.

This is milk toast.  Really.  You dye the milk, paint it on, and toast it. We were learning about colors.

Audrey painted a C for colors

They even ate it!

Yummy!

This is a C, sidweways. 

I may not know definitively why this was the right path for Audrey and me this year, but the joy that it brings is reason enough.  Having an 18 month old who is starting to learn to count to 20 is kind of fun too! Our Happy Home Preschool time is definitely going to be the thing I remember with the fondest memories from this school year.

Reflecting on Reflections and Other Musings

Okay, so I haven't blogged since I got my braces on.  I guess there are a few reasons:
 1. Braces are awesome. Seriously, I'm having a wicked hard time adjusting to them, probably worse than any grown up you have ever known to get braces.  It's been something like 8 weeks and I still can't chew anything harder than a banana. I had lettuce today.  That was huge!
2. School started.  Homework started.  Someone kill me please.
3. I went to Texas for a week, so the week before and the week after were pretty busy too.
4. My kids school has Reflections and Science Fair getting worked on at the same time! This is a really bad idea, and if you are ever a powerful school official, learn from this and swear on all that you value to never NEVER NEVER have them both at the same time.

The kids turned in Reflections today, and after 4 hours of typical Monday morning cleaning, I felt Audrey's head, after listening to her complain for a couple of days about a sore throat, and, whoops, it was hot.  101.7 to be exact.  Dang! So, before we head off to the Dr. for a strep test, I have about 15 minutes to complain about my life, and I intend to do it wholeheartedly and with a complete lack of seriousness.  My kids turned in 11 entries today. That is a LOT OF WORK.  Don't imitate it unless you are a professional idiot.  We've been working feverishly for a few weeks now, every spare minute between soccer, voice, choir, scouts, activity days, family nights, and homework, to help them complete their projects.  And I'm so glad it's over.  At least, sort of over.  I'm kind of in charge of the next level- Council.  Which means it is only over for the kids, and it probably is mostly over for them because most of their projects are NOTHING SPECIAL.  Don't tell them I wrote that! Seriously, some of their entries are darling and others belong in the dumpster, but they had fun, well mostly had fun, creating them.  There might have been some threats involved.  And all the while they busily worked on their science fair projects that are due in 9 days, complete with log books, research, and amazing display boards (we have plenty of time to get those done! :) ha!)

It was a big relief to take them to school and turn those entries in, lovingly placing them in my very own Rubbermaid tote permanently labeled "Reflections Entries" that I have loaned to the school for the last few years to collect entries.  And then it was mildly annoying when the librarian, who was collecting them, told me my kids were missing " the paper". Okay, maybe more than mild annoyance bubbled in my chest. She meant the entry form, and didn't believe me when I told her that my kids forms, in their manila envelopes containing photos and picture cds with sheet protectors, taped on with masking tape, housing the 3 forms necessary for entry, were the right papers etc.  She wanted to argue with me.  Normally I'm very patient and kind, but I just told her I was not only on the Reflections committee at the school, but I was also in charge of the next level up and I was very certain that my children had their entries in order, and those other kids had filled them out wrong and would have to fix them should they win.  She pretty much just stared at me, but still had enough spunk to argue with me when I asked for the blue tub to turn in their entries.  It's aqua.  You know, the one that belongs to me. She said, "What? Do you mean the green tub?"  "Sure, the green one. Thank you.  See you back at home you lovely blue green tub.  Don't mess with me today lady!" Okay, I didn't say that last part, but the little evil demon in me wanted to come out, after spending every spare waking moment for WEEKS AND WEEKS helping my kids, it was just too much for someone to infer that their forms were not in order.  Especially since she was wrong.  The PTA president had just asked me to clarify a rule because I think she has picked up on me knowing these things because my kids do so many entries each year and once Amy even advanced to Nationals.  Okay, I'm done being a psycho Reflections mom.  I can't be a rabid soccer or football mom because I don't care about those things. I'd like to stop being a psycho Reflections mom.  I wonder if they have meetings for this? My husband already faced my wrath and was actually hung up on this week for saying that I thought Monday was close on a Wednesday and for worrying when I misplaced all 33 forms that needed to be turned in.  He didn't know not to mock me that day, in which I had spent 5 hours taking my mom to the doctor, mixed with lunch, and losing my credit cards and ID and almost running out of gas with no way to buy any more.  Poor man.  Anyway, I seriously feel the biggest sense of relief ever. I might even enjoy the rest of my day, doctor and all, not having those projects looming over me, and looking forward to dinner out for Tim's 11th birthday.  And I'll reflect on how lucky I am to have these great kids with their wacky, creative minds, and their sweet hearts.  Like Clara, who shares her neck pillow with Grandma who really needs it and with Audrey to keep the scary movie she watched from making her hurt in her sleep. And Tim who thinks a $4 playground ball is the best birthday present ever.  And Reuben who, at 13, loves his baby sister more than anything and wants to see her first upon waking and coming home.  And Amy, who wants to be the official babysitter for ward choir, and at 8 years old is printing up coloring pages from the Friend website for her little charges.  And Audrey who loves her mommy run preschool so much that she wants to do it every day. And Emmeline who brightens every day with her exploding grin and irresistable huggability.  They are worth it all!