This n That

 

Double date with our neighbor friends, Al and Jenn, for Al’s 27th birthday.

 

 

Jordyn’s good friend Emma Koon’s 8th birthday party was a “Hollywood Red Carpet” theme.  So I converted a tank top (I’ve never worn, inherited from a friend!) into a dress for her and she was all glammed up!

 

And this edible baby!  Kylee is definitely one of the very cutest babies I’ve ever seen!  People ask me all the time if having her around makes me baby hungry.  I guess my mind is in such a different place right now…so the answer is “no”, at least not hungry for my own.  I mean, I often feel really sad that my kids are getting so big, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into having another baby to cover up that feeling.  That being said, I sure love having Kylee around to snuggle and rock and talk to.  I have never ever met a baby who “talks” as much as she does.  She intently stares into your face and curls up her lips and just talks and talks!  So adorable.  And my girls love her so much.  Jordyn would be happy to hold her for hours.  Babies are definitely sweet!

Evolution of the Palm Phone…thus far

 

Tucker just got his fourth Palm phone.  He is brand loyal and loves lots of the functionality of the Palm.  Although everyone and their brother claims to prefer the iPhone, he ultimately chose this.  These four phones might span approximately 6 years.

 

I still have my first cell phone from 1997.  When I turned 20, I got my first cell phone.  I paid 200 for the contract, then $40 per month for 400 minutes (which I always went over because everyone used my cell since hardly any of my friends had one).

 

A few years later, when Tucker and I were dating, I remember when we first had the functionality to text.  We had to actually call an operator, tell them what to type and they would send it to the recipient!  Isn’t that funny!  I wonder where we’ll be in another 10 years!

Anything for Mom!

(these are all pictures taken by my mom’s cell phone on various trips)

There may not be another soul in the entire world who is as natural with, loving toward and determined-to-love elderly/handicapped/sick as is my mother. Seriously.

I have always known this about her, but have seen it in a more intense light since my Grandma has been slowly sinking into the world of Alzheimer’s. While the official onset was severe, combined with a fall, my mom was able to spend several months last year living with my Grandma and caretaking 24 hours a day. As it is now, my Grandma has full-time live-in care in her own home (of over 40 years).

(This is the look I dread…this is a confused/bothered/disconnected look. Soooo not like my Grandma)

Occasionally her caregivers need to be out-of-town, and so my mom has frequent chances to go back down to Anaheim and spend 8 or more days with her mom. Being the maid, the nurse, the chauffer, the cleaning crew….and most of all, the “trying to keep her brain involved in the moment” person. It is exhausting work. Grandma can’t get up or down alone now, she walks with a walker or wheelchair and gets disoriented/disconnected/angry very easily.

You should see my mom with her. She talks to her, teases her, love her, babies her, dolls her up, and takes her on adventures as if they were carefree teenagers! She pours love into her in a way I’m not sure many people know how to do. I was able to see her in action when I took the girls down in July and I always try to take mental notes and tuck them away so someday I can pull them back out when the situation arises.

I hope my mom never experiences the loneliness that Alzheimer’s has pushed on my grandma. But if she does, I have been trained by the best and will be glad to do the same for her.

I wanted to share this email my mom sent last night…just a little update on her day with Grandma. I hope she doesn’t mind. But it was too priceless not to preserve.

******************************************************

“Just wanted to share with you the fun day mother and I had.
We left at about 11:00 a.m. to head for Newport beach. Kelly told me the freeway route which entailed use of the carpool lanes exclusively. A ton of new lanes I have never used. The new carpool lanes have cement walls on both sides like a maze for mice! Scary!
We missed the freeway that would take us to Newport sooo...I just kept driving South until I saw something familiar. First familiar site was San Juan Capistrano! Ha, we took you guys there once upon a time. It was for Jamie or Carly's school project.

I felt comfortable that a least I was heading in the right direction for something, anything, up in the air spontaneity as usual.

Low and behold we took an off ramp and found ourselves in Dana Point on the coast entering Doheney State Beach Park!

Out of the car promptly and there is the beautiful ocean with a breeze and temps of 72!
Just gorgeous!! We walked along the beach on the sidewalk watching the surfers and sunbathers indulge in the beautiful weather and water. I want to live there so bad. Oh well we could NEVER afford even a single garage.

So as we are walking along we are approached by a lady asking us if we'd like lunch. There was a group of elderly folk sitting outside on the tables enjoying a lovely meal. Mother immediately said "yes". We were introduced to the "Chef" and the menu of many barbecue items with all the trimmings. We sat and were served with delightfulness and me looking quizzical at the group trying to figure this whole scene out.

It turns out that it happened to be an assisted living community that were perhaps using this outdoor lunch as a marketing tool.

Fabulous idea! Free food, friendly people, beautiful environment and a fun experience for mother. The "activities lady" also was snapping pictures left and right of all the folk eating away including us. She even provided mother with a sun hat so she wouldn't get burned.
Very clever!

We headed home down PCH highway 1.
We left Dana Point, passed through Laguna Beach, then Corona Del Mar, then Newport, then onto the crazy freeway and rat maze back to Anaheim. Mom was very quiet in the morning but after this trip she was in a very cheerful and fun mood. Who says you have to go all the way to Hawaii. I found my Calif. Hawaii today. Sooooo wonderful.

Tomorrow we are having a "back to school activity" with Kelly and kids. I am going to do time capsules like I did on Patton Ave. We will actually bury it and dig it up in some future year. Aunts can MM too. Sat. Jill and Mike come over for his 55 birthday. Sunday is church and Jean. Monday is Dr. Iyre.

Tuesday I head back home. I just love making this time count. All good things must come to an end. When this chapter ends I want there to be no regrets and many happy memories with my mom. Oh how life's seasons pass so swiftly. Maybe the season of Alzheimer's for mom doesn't pass as quick but others can make a difference.

Wow, I have to run to take a shower, do my spot exercises while I watch the news and head to bed so I can be ready for a night of unexpected surprises. This is quite the challenge but my mother is worth it and my growth is immeasurable!
Nighty night!
MOM”

************************************************

What is the difference between a two year old and and 82 year old w/Alz.? Size of Body only.

Symptoms of both all in the same hour.

tired
hungry
hot
cold
grumpy
angry
sad
worried
speechless
talkative
whiny
dirty diapers
messy eating
yelling
temper tantrums
pounding on the wall
complaining
scared
nightmares
night terrors
hallucinations
happy
laughing
lonely
loving
soft
tender
likes stories
likes cute movies
doesn't like the clothes they picked out.....
Today's mantra every 10 seconds for 3 hours+++
I am not a boy, I am a girl!
But you love them anyway. muah!


***********************

We had a really fun evening with Kel and Kids.
Mom perked right up and joined in the fun. The lights in her mind clicked right on and she was totally there after a hard day.
When they left she went into an immediate downward spiral. She was weeping and wailing and she was adamant that she had been beat and raped in this house and could not stay here. She got more and more hysterical and repeated the story over and over. The solution?
I put on YouTube "Mairzy Doats" over and over for distraction. It worked like a charm thank goodness! I just got her ready for bed and tucked her in with a calm spirit. Whew, I'm so glad that song worked. It is always a hit with her and is like a magic formula. It must be some catchy tune to capture such a large audience! Ha!
MOM

**************************

"Mom, please don't feed Bernice your breakfast." (cantaloupe and french toast)
"Mother, please do not feed Bernice's your breakfast, she will get a tummy ache."
"Mother, please do not feed Bernice your breakfast, she will poop all over the carpet."
"Mother, do not throw your food please."
"Mom, when you want to eat your breakfast just let me know and I will put your food back on the table."
(per Alzheimer's booklet)

"No mom you are not a boy. You are a beautiful girl."
Dead silence, no expression, looking down, looking vacant.

I sit down in the wing back chair to let her have her space.
(per Alzheimer's booklet)
When all of a sudden to my surprise flying objects started to fly in front of my eyes.
First water, then orange juice, then a very sharp fork, but I ducked quick enough to escape the debris.
I excused myself and told her I would be back when she was calm and could help me understand what she needed.
(per Alzheimer's booklet)

May I insert that mother demolished a $9.99 container of chocolate covered cashews yesterday while I was doing some housework.
I keep wondering if today she is feeling the after affects of all that chocolate?
Or would it be more accurate to wonder if I will be *seeing* the after effects of all that chocolate...Hmmmm.
It looks that the later is indeed the more accurate of wonderings.
(nothing about this per Alzheimer booklet)

Lets get back to today.
No, I was not injured in the little plight of the flying objects. Just my ego was a tad wounded however.

Solutions.....
Yep, off to the mall for some meditative shopping and people watching. I know that this is the cure all for both of us, or so I thought.
I think there was too much stimulation at the mall from the back to school shopping for this area.
I could only think of how badly I needed the Ladies room. A store here and a store there. Where would I be safe to find a public bathroom with a handicap stall?

Dumb, dumb, dumb idea.

We entered into Sears. Hordes and hordes of shoppers from Cabo San Lucas. (not really there)
I means babies screaming, toddlers running amok, mother's holding piles of clothes while their babies are screaming, their toddlers are running amok, and their husbands just stand and stare at it all in oblivion. Or that is my mere perception.
Where do you think the bathroom could possible be in this the world's largest Sears ever?
Well, I just asked a cute little sales girl and with the utmost of politeness she pointed the way.
What seemed like 5 city blocks through the throngs of souls, I saw the bathroom sign and started to feel a relief.
Oh MY Gosh!!!! One of the stalls had Andres mom in it. I gaged, and ran out very abruptly. Peeyou!

By the way, mother is not liking our mall experience at all. Can you blame her?
This was not the day to eat at Panera Bread across the parking lot up a large incline, over the hills, and I have to muster up all my strength to push mother her up to eat a bowl of soup. Forget it.

Next choice is Chick-O-fillet for the drive through and chicken strips that are a part of mother's daily diet. (not really but seems like it)
I decide to get her a Dr. Pepper to see if we can get some spunk to this serious plight.
All went well with lunch and we are both better for having been tortured on a Saturday at the mall.
Why would we be better you ask?
There's no place like home after a filth oriented public bathroom!
Seriously.
MOM

***********************

Getting Personal: Part 3

cont'd...

ON PEACE:
I recently found this quote and love it:
~ Often the things that we judge to be bad are simply events we are not enjoying in the moment – without any regard for the blessing that change can bring in the long run.~

As a result of being thrown outside of a comfort zone, some beautiful things have been born that would have otherwise not been conceived of. And I can see them now. Here are a few:

Watch Me Draw!
We started a company (an extension of our friend Alex’s company) that we’d always been interested in, but never previously had the time to expend. While it’s not making us rich at this point, it has been a beautiful addition to our community and the lives of our children. It’s been a thoroughly positive experience all the way around.

My Education
The comment I get the most is “how do you find the time or energy to do everything you’re doing!”. And my answer is: necessity. When something goes from a want to a need, life changes. Since the economy was horrid and our company was slowly growing, I immediately began looking for options. After an immense amount of work and effort, I had completed my CA teaching credential. I’ve subbed a ton. But there are no benefits/insurance/retirement that come from subbing. And after learning that 250 other people applied for the same local teaching job I applied for, I realized I needed to take it to the next level. Again, NEED.

Enter into the picture, my Master’s degree. I began searching for possible itinerant teaching positions. I loved the flexibility that came with pulling students out of their classroom for special care, rather than being locked into one room for 8 hours. Plus, specialists are not thrown around to-and-fro nearly as much as a non-tenured teacher: stability. I was drawn over and over to the type of itinerant position that Tiffany does for the SLC school district as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired. After hours and hours of extensive research, I realized there are only two schools in all of California that offer the degree.

Long story short, and lots and lots (and LOTS) of blind-faith moments later, I am accepted into the Orientation & Mobility Master’s degree program through San Francisco State University (a mere 215 miles away from here).

About Orientation & Mobility
I have chosen a VERY specific niche. And for reasons I can’t explain, I have been pulled there. Scary? Yes. Intimidating? Yes. Long drive? Yes. Peace? Yes.

I attended an orientation yesterday for the program. I took Tucker to San Francisco with me so he could see the world that will be mine once a week for two years. It was overwhelming and exciting. I will be learning brail. I will be spending hours and hours navigating around San Francisco with a blindfold and a cane (and a guide). I will be working with the deaf-blind. I will have the opportunity to visit the Helen Keller Center in New York.

I feel the natural pull of being ME and being a MOM. I think that pull is universal and there are no absolutes. It is finding the balance that is right for my family and my kids. I loved my mom’s advice when she pointed out the importance of me including my kids on this adventure. It would not be healthy to do this and try to smooth it all out so it doesn’t effect them AT ALL. Because then I would be denying them experiences. I want to take them to San Francisco on occasion. I want to teach them about my cane, my blindfold and how to properly approach a blind person. If I include them in my journey, then I’m simultaneously teaching them.

My goal? To have a job that is secure, flexible, has the option of part-time, and service-oriented.

ON TUCKER’S NEW JOB:
In our effort to “be still”, it has often seemed ridiculous to me that we haven’t picked up and moved anywhere in the country that we could find a job for Tucker. But I have very carefully interpreted what “be still” has meant for us. Tucker has grown Watch Me Draw from home and what a blessing that has been because I was able to student teach AND long-term sub. Sure, we have been dirt poor. But I had the belief that it wasn’t a permanent condition. And I’ve tried REALLY hard to focus on the non-monetary blessings that were unfolding (which is reeeeeaaaaalllllyyyy hard when lack-of-money feels so all-consuming).

Financing took an even bigger dive this summer, which initiated another huge spread of the resume and job applications for Tucker. For every 60 sent out, maybe one interview is requested. It’s been quite devastating.

But one such request came from a company called Medical Billing Technologies in Visalia (about 15 minutes from here) when we were in UT this summer. “Can you interview this week?”. Tucker was able to postpone the interview until we returned. (And looking back, I’m so glad this wasn’t a deal-breaker for them!) . Matters became serious when he enthusiastically called me immediately after this first interview. This wasn’t just any old filler-job…this was a job to really pursue and fight for! A BLESSING! That began a loooong three week wait filled with a second interview, a hope for an offer, then an offer, a counter-offer, more waiting and….finally…an official job!! We are so thrilled. Salary, commission and benefits. Stability (for now)! And a genuinely good, productive, compassionate company.

We’ve reflected so much on this job in the last few weeks. First of all, it is a position that is brand new to this company. It would not have been available or possible until NOW. Right now (the right timing). And, although Tuckers years of business experience were a match with the requirements, what really drew them to him was his past 18 months of working directly with principals and superintendants for Watch Me Draw! This position requires that sort of exposure. Little did we know that we were being prepared for this. In so many ways, we can look back and understand that this job is so much more than “lucky”. It truly is a result of a belief and a vision. It was ready to be led to us if we were sure to “be still” and make choices along the way and not reactions to the pain and confusion.

Here is a brief description of the company:
More than one million children in California lack health insurance, and the company’s chief goal is to link eligible children with available health care services. In addition to promoting general wellness and development, these services improve the ability of children to attend school and their capacity to learn.

Medical Billing Technologies Inc. serves school districts, county offices of education, community colleges, public health departments and community-based organizations, helping them to participate in four federally funded reimbursement programs administered by the California Department of Health Care Services. With MBT's guidance, these entities receive more than $40 million in reimbursements annually.


This is a healthy next step for us. By no means do I think our trials are over. But I feel that we’ve reached a new plateau (thanks for the analogy mom). We’ve climbed and climbed and now we can rest for a bit on this semi-flat ground we’ve reached and prepare for the next set of rocky trials life will throw around. I am thankful for momentary experiences of peace and humility. And I am particularly thankful to our families for the emotional, temporal and physical support they offer. Our family is a divine extension of God in our lives.

Getting Personal: Part 2

...cont'd

ON MENTAL WELL-BEING:
I have hesitated over and over to blog (aka journal) about this one. But I cannot shake the pull to do so. I will candidly share my experience with finding mental well-being.

I have always been a proponent for medication to be used to aid in treating depression. However, coming to a point where I was willing and able to recognize that I may need it was another story.

I began to notice a change in myself after the birth of child #3. I couldn’t shake the “paralyzed” feeling, as I would call it. Like my brain was whirling around with all that I could, should, need to do, but I felt stuck.

So about 10 months post-partum, I went to a homeopathic doctor to see if my hormone levels were off. But they were fine. So I kept searching and finally concluded that taking some online college courses toward a teaching credential would give me that life and rejuvenation I needed. And it did for a while because it gave me a sense of purpose aside from motherhood.

And then life kept throwing huge curveballs at me. Left and right.

But I stayed strong. I’m actually really good at that in the heat of a battle. I endure well. And then the crash comes in the aftermath. After too many of these, I started to notice that there were after-effects to “enduring well” (aka gritting teeth and bearing it). Daily tasks and every-day life became too much to bear. Answering the door or phone, feeding the dog, attending a meeting. And I felt this way for a long time. At least a year. I was experiencing “functioning depression”. I was never the kind to stay in bed all day, or not take care of my kids. And I even managed to do huge things like a long-term teaching job for 14 weeks. Those experiences would lift me from my paralysis temporarily. But the minute I’d get home, the black cloud came back and my chest would get heavy.

I began to feel imprisoned by my own brain. I’d hear the same words/thoughts/complaints come out of my mouth over and over, but never would or could do anything about them. I felt like I was functioning, but I was doing it while standing in quicksand. No one would notice from the outside, but from the inside I was trapped by my brain. I worked hard and waited for it to get better. But it seemed to be getting worse.

One day, after the 100th time I’d complained about something (probably finances, messy house, etc), Tucker said to me “I’m sorry that you hate your life so much”. It felt like a slap in the face. But it also really impacted me. He wasn’t saying that to attack me (that’s not his nature), he was saying it because that’s what I was acting like. That’s what I portrayed. Which made me really sad because I genuinely didn’t hate my life. But I wasn’t finding joy in it either. I can’t say it enough: I felt mentally stuck. Quicksand. And then mental exhaustion was horrible. You know how the TV gets hot when left on too long? Or a computer? And you just know it needs to be turned off and have a break? Well, that was my brain. It was so tired from all the wheel turning it was doing. It actually felt like my brain hurt, but I did not know how to turn it off.

So I texted my mom one day. Sort of scared, but also desperate and knowing that she always has good advice. “Hi Mom. If I wanted to try some medication, could I just go to a general md?”.

She immediately calls me. “What’s going on?”. The flood gates came pouring out immediately. I could hardly explain to her the huge monster I’d been keeping inside because I was crying so much. But she was a lifesaver. “I know just who to make you an appointment with. I’ll even take you”. I needed that kind of direction because I felt so confused by my feelings. I didn’t know if I was exaggerating? Would the doctor think I just needed to buck up and deal? As nervous as I was, I figured it couldn’t hurt to get a Dr’s opinion.

When the day came, I was so anxious to put my feelings into words. I felt nervous that I would sound ridiculous. But he knew just the questions to ask and took three pages of notes. Then he looked up at me and said “Well, this is pretty simple”. (I was like …I’m glad YOU think so!). He said “You don’t have addictions or abuse. You have a good life, but you need help living it”. I felt relief when he knew exactly what to prescribe me: Wellbutrin. (Wellbutrin is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor.)

I cannot explain it properly, but from the very first day I took it, I found myself again. I just felt like ME again. Everyday I would expect the quick-sand to return…but it was gone! I did not feel numb to problems or ignorant to them. I simply felt like my old self. I quickly realized that I hadn’t felt that way for a lot longer than I had realized. Analogy: It was as if I had been twisting in the screws with my fingernails. Getting the work done, but with a lot of exhaustion, slowness and strain. And someone came up and handed me a electric screwdriver. Oh, the relief! The ability to function! To have a thought, and then act on it instead of waste 1,000 hours stressing about it first.

He was surprised it worked so well since I’m taking the lowest dosage. It’s been 2 ½ months now and not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for a clear mind. By no means does life feel easy or perfect. The same exact things exist as did before. But I just feel like my brain is more capable of functioning and handling this small as well as the big. The paralysis is gone. And, sure, I still have bad days or moments. But I feel that I move past them in a much more “normal” way. This has been a huge blessing for me.

to be continued...

Getting Personal: Part 1

There are a lot of thoughts I want to blog for my own journaling sake. Its more personal than I typically share, but I feel impressioned to. I'll post them in three segments. Here goes:

*******************
ON CONTROL:
I spent a certain amount of my life believing that I had the power to eliminate problems/trials/heartache. If I look back and try to remember why I used to believe this…I think I recall feeling that this was possible in two ways: 1- I would try not to make decisions in my own life that would add or create trials for me, and 2- I could solve everyone else’s problems for them. (I especially thought the latter.)

To give my 'old self' credit, I think my motives were pure. I genuinely wanted to help everyone out of their “mess” so they could be happy. I wasn’t looking for recognition…but I was looking for the relief and peace that I thought would prevail from slaying a trial. Like I was some sort of trial-warrior for others.

The urgency that I felt when a trial arose – especially for someone in my family - was insurmountable. There was no amount of miles to travel, hours of sleep to lose, phone calls to make, baking to do, money to spend, counseling to give, (and the list goes on) that was too high, too big or too much to endure if it meant I could help (translate: fix) a loved one’s sorrow.

And then life threw me a few #10 personal trials. My world flipped-flopped around in all sorts of ways…and now…without exaggeration…I can hardly even remember those fix-it feelings. It’s like that part of me was surgically extracted and doesn’t even exist anymore. I can’t really explain it, but it’s true. And it’s brought such peace to me.

So now…when trials exist for me or those I love…I feel true compassion but not sole responsibility. I would still do nearly anything for my loved ones, but the motives are different. I would now do it without expectation of a “fixed” result. I have learned that it is NOT possible to take someone’s cross from them completely. In fact, to try and do so negates what the Savior already did for us. We have merely been commanded to love. And that love (pure, true and expectation-less love) can lift others burdens…but does not take them away.

Letting go of the control I perceived I had and realizing I am on Earth to love, not to fix… has brought so much more peace into my relationships.

ON BEING STILL:
For nearly two years now, I’ve felt like I have lived really close to (and sometimes right inside) the “refiners fire”. For reasons after reasons after reasons. And it’s just been recently that I can stop, turn around, look back and see some things with a tiny bit of clarity.

#1: A reaction and a choice are two VERY different things.
When Tucker lost his job nearly two years ago, and a myriad of other things were crumbling down…I wanted to run. I wanted to run somewhere, anywhere that would feel better. Sell the house? Move to Japan? The more extreme the better! I like to have a plan and be in control….and it wasn’t working anymore. Oh no!

But even through so much confusion and chaos I could not deny that my soul felt strongly that I was to “be still”. Over and over…when I knew nothing else, I knew that I was to “be still”. And I was able to realize that nearly every idea that came to my head at that time could be classified as a “reaction” and not a “choice”. So I focused on making ONLY choices, not reactions. It was really hard.

#2: Life is hard no matter what, and our job is to not get bitter and jaded.
I found myself struggling with resentments, anger and more specifically “this isn’t how it was supposed to go” type pity-parties. Well, if you stay in that place too long…then you’re entire outlook on life completely changes. Everything looks dim, gloom and sad. Life starts to look pointless. And I found myself feeling completely jaded.

In the dictionary - jaded: exhausted, especially through overwork. no longer interested in something, often because of having been overexposed to it. I don’t believe that pure joy will ever flow through me if I stay in that place. I absolutely have to (HAVE TO) push as hard as I can THROUGH a trial rather than waste years of my life (or the entire thing) trying to find the easier route (which doesn’t exist), or a way to avoid it.

#3 Peter 1:7 -That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Faith in what exactly? For me, it was holding on to faith that someday I could feel peace again. Someday, we’d feel more stable or secure. It was having a picture in my head that, no matter how impossible it may have currently seemed…and I didn’t have to know HOW it would happen (which was hard for me), but that it WAS possible to someday get to that place where I could breathe again (even if it was just to catch my breathe for the next trial). I got really caught up in the how. HOW is that peace going to ever come. And over and over I’d be reminded to surrender that control, let go and just believe that it CAN and WILL happen, even if I didn’t know how. And really…that’s the “how”! Believing is the “how”.

I’m speaking as though this is all past tense. When in actuality the intensity is merely momentarily relieved and I am feeling that peace that I believed would come. I’m still smack dab in the middle of my journey, like we all are. And chances are, when another #10 trial hits again someday…I may forget all of these lessons and have to re-learn them all over again. Human nature.

to be continued...

Back to School 2010/2011!

I think our whole family loved this entire summer.  Swimming, family, Utah, cousins, hanging out and sleeping in!  Loved it all.

But I think we all feel a little ready to tackle the structure and schedule of a school year again.  Plus, it helps that Jordyn and Lexi have the best teachers this year!

 

2nd and 3rd grade are at the same school (Lincoln), so Jordyn and Lexi are thrilled to be together!  So is mommy, only one school to pick up and drop off.  I’ll enjoy it because next year will be three different schools!  Yikes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit With Aunt Kelly & Co.

My mom’s only sister, Kelly, is about 14 years younger than her.  I always looked up to her as my Aunt.  And even though we’re 9 or 10 years apart, Kelly and I ended up having children really close together.  Her twin boys, Nicholas and Andrew are nearing 10 years old, and her daughter Sarah is three, only a few weeks apart from Peyton.

 

They live in Anaheim, but came up to hang out and visit for a couple days.  It was so fun for the cousins to all make some memories together and get to know each other better!

My mom and dad were gracious hosts of 9 children and several adults.  They provided us with LOTS of swimming, lots of food and good times for all.