Brenna’s Note

Just before bedtime, Brenna ran into my room and handed me a note. In her cute handwriting, she’d quickly written a few short sentences.

“Mom,” the note said. “Sleep in tomorow. I will take care of the kids. Love, Brenna“

After reading the note, I looked up at Brenna and we both grinned at each other.

“So will you sleep in?” Brenna asked with her hands clasped together. “I want you to sleep in! I’ll make breakfast and feed the kids and change the boys’ diapers and take care of everyone. I really want you to be able to sleep in.”

Brenna is so cute and so sweet! Right before my eyes, she is growing into such a mature, responsible, compassionate young lady. She is an amazing big sister. She’s always eager to help. She loves to fix Maddie’s hair, or help Braden get dressed. She reads to Asher, plays with him, carries him around on her hip, and even changes his diapers. She cares for our tiny Jacob as if it comes naturally. And in return, these kids adore her. Maddie idolizes her big sister, Asher runs to Brenna for hugs and kisses when he sees her, and even Jacob stops fussing whenever Brenna sings to him. I am so impressed with Brenna and so thankful for all that she does! I know her brothers and sister are thankful for her too.

An Update on the “Kids Need Bank”

In November our children began collecting money for children in need. They came up with the idea on their own and we really encouraged them. They contributed a lot of their own money and asked for donations as well. All the money went into a baby bottle, which the kids called the “Kids Need Bank.”

The kids did lots of extra jobs to earn money for the Kids Need Bank. They searched couches for lost coins. They added part of their allowance. They were constantly dropping bills and coins into the bank. My parents sent money in the mail- $15 to be added to the Kids Need Bank. Eventually the cash in the Kids Need Bank grew so large that we had to upgrade from a 4-ounce baby bottle to a large Mason canning jar instead. And still the pile continued to grow.

We talked a lot about what to do with the money. We discussed ideas like donating to a crisis center for women and children, or taking it to the Children’s Hospital. But the kids still weren’t sure what they wanted to do with all the money they were working so hard to collect.

There was an “Angel Tree” at church. It was filled with paper ornaments, and on each one was written the anonymous needs of various people and families in the ward. The kids decided that they’d like to use the Kids Need Bank to buy items for the angel tree.

They thoughtfully and carefully selected two ornaments. Joshua picked one for a 7-year-old boy and together the girls selected one for a 4-month-old baby. They were so excited and could hardly wait to go shopping!

The 7 year old’s ornament had asked simply for pants, socks, and underwear, all in size 8. Joshua was so sad for this little boy when he read that. He realized that this boy wasn’t asking for lego’s or toys for Christmas, but just for basic necessities that our kids don’t give a second thought to. After reading that, Joshua (who’d already contributed a lot of money anyway) dumped the entire contents of his wallet into the Kids Need Bank. Josh is a saver. He values money a great deal. He’d worked so hard for that money and had saved it for so long, but he was so willing to give it all so that another little boy could have a little bit nicer Christmas.

On Monday we got the Kids Need Bank down from the kitchen counter and counted the money. The kids had earned and saved $39.62 and were so excited to see such a large total! Rick and I had promised that we would match anything they’d earned so the kids ended up with $80 total and they were delighted! Rick and I both knew, however, that we’d spend more than that in order to really fill the needs on the angel tree ornaments.

We shopped for the 7-year-old first. Joshua carefully inspected the toys. He chose several nice toys that he himself would enjoy and was pretty sure that a little boy close to his age would enjoy them as well. We picked out several pairs of pants and some socks and underwear also, as the ornament had specified.

The girls were excited to shop for the baby. They picked out several cute outfits and some warm pajamas and a few little baby toys. We added a gift card for diapers, formula, or whatever else was needed. Of course, we included gift receipts for everything we bought for both children, just in case something was the wrong size or wasn’t needed.

The kids proudly paid for the items with the money from the Kids Need Bank and Rick and I paid for the rest. On the way out to the van, the kids were talking excitedly about the Kids Need Bank. They were already thinking of ways to earn money for it next Christmas.

Before we’d even reached the van, however, they decided that the Kids Need Bank was so, so important that we should fill it all year long. So that’s what the kids are planning to do. The Kids Need Bank is already being filled again and money will be added all year long in preparation for next Christmas. The kids are brainstorming ways to fill it even faster. Brenna wants to clean houses and sell lemonade. Joshua would like to mow lawns and have a yard sale. Maddie is still hoping to find money lost in the couch. And all of it will be contributed to the Kids Need Bank.

I am so proud of my children and so thankful that they are learning to give so young in life. They are such sweet children. I am thankful for each of them. I am looking forward to a year of filling the Kids Need Bank together.

Our Funday

We had an enjoyable Monday Funday yesterday. We left the house early and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at IHOP. We never go out to breakfast so this was very exciting and a real treat for everyone. After breakfast we finished some Christmas shopping. We only needed to buy a few things and none of them were for our older kids so we shopped with everyone. Braden didn’t see the items we slipped into the cart for him and the older kids worked to help keep him in the dark. We grabbed some gifts for the families in our Christmas exchange. We also bought stuff for the Kids Need Bank. Once all our shopping was finished, we dropped Brenna’s choir robe off with her director and then went and made Christmas treats with our cousins. We spent the day baking and cooking and talking, we ended up with tons of Christmas treats, and it was such an enjoyable afternoon and evening. The kids missed gymnastics and wrestling (their choice) and it was worth it! It was a fun, festive day!

Sweet Madalyn

Madalyn was very thoughtful yesterday morning. She looked up at me from where she was sitting on the ground and asked quietly, “Mama, when I grow up and there are people who don’t know, can I go teach them?”

It took me just a moment to realize that Madalyn was talking about being a missionary. I held her close and told that it would be a wonderful thing for her to go teach the people that don’t know about Jesus.

Maddie recently offered our family prayer. It was the most heartfelt, sincere, thoughtful prayer I’ve ever heard from her. (Not that her other prayers aren’t; this one was just more so.) She prayed for each sibling, thanking Heavenly Father for them and blessing each of them for things that they needed individually. She thanked Heavenly Father for forgiving us when we do naughty things and asked for His help to return to Him again.

Madalyn is such a sweet child. She has such a tender heart and a deep love for others. She has such a strong, growing testimony as well. I am so thankful for her and her desire to do good.

Sweet Jacob

There is something extra special about Jacob. He has such a peaceful feeling about him. He makes everything around him feel calm and sweet and serene. He has such a valiant spirit, I can feel it already. Precious Jacob fits into our family so neatly and so perfectly. He was meant to join us long before I knew that he would. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father blessed us with this incredible individual. I am excited to see all the amazing things that Jacob will do as he grows. I can’t get enough of this sweet, sweet baby boy!

Going Out

Rick and I have a weekly date night, and it is generally at home after the kids are in bed. But every once in a great while we are able to get a babysitter and go out for the evening together. Last night we did just that!

It had been a busy weekend already, between Brenna’s choir concert and Joshua’s wrestling tournament, so we were both tired. But we were eager to spend some time just the two of us.

I have a really hard time leaving my kids, and I especially don’t like leaving them with teenage babysitters. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve left them with a babysitter (excluding family members). But we have finally found a babysitter that we really trust. She’s 17, very sweet and responsible, the oldest of eight kids in her family, and our children really like her. We’ve used her a few times already and we booked her again for last night.

We ordered pizza for the kids, kissed everyone good-bye, and left them happily playing with the babysitter. Of course, little Jacob joined us on our date.

We did some Christmas shopping for the kids. It’s always fun to shop for them, to find the things we know they’ll love, and imagine how happy they’ll be! We ate a yummy dinner at Texas Roadhouse. We waited for our table for nearly two hours so it’s a good thing the food was delicious and the service was good! We  also saw New Moon together. 

It was snowing after we left the movie. It was the perfect kind of snowfall, the kind that makes you feel like you are living inside a Christmas card. The flakes were big and fluffy, falling slowly and gracefully. The parking lot was deserted. The air was unexpectedly warm. The Christmas lights and the lights in the parking lot reflected off all the new snow so it was really bright and felt almost like day time even though it was 12:30am. I’ve never seen anything quite like it! It was really beautiful and magical. 

We had a great date! I am so thankful for my sweet husband!

Another Gold

Joshua had another wrestling tournament today. As usual, I spent yesterday preparing (which, combined with Brenna’s Christmas choir concert, made the evening busy) and got up at 5am this morning so that we could leave on time. The tournament was very large- at the last minute their numbers swelled to nearly 500 kids from around the state. They divided the kids up into smaller groups though so that was nice. It was run pretty well too so we were done by 12:30, which is pretty early as far as wrestling tournaments go!

Joshua pinned his way through the tournament and took home the GOLD MEDAL. He pinned every kid quickly and efficiently and easily, no match was even close. Josh got many compliments from coaches and dads about his wrestling performance. The team coach said he “did everything perfectly” and the assistant coach said his last match was “spectacular.” We are so proud of our studly little wrestler!

The kids and I enjoyed ourselves in the bleachers as well. Maddie had a great time cheering for Josh and making up her own darling little cheers. She was so completely cute! She wants to be a cheerleader and I think she’ll be a great one. She has a bouncy, fun personality, lots of enthusiasm, and she’s gorgeous with those big brown eyes!

Brenna made several new friends and reconnected with a few old friends as well, just as she does at every tournament. Braden spent the entire tournament being a puppy. He was panting and barking and he kept licking my jeans. Asher was exhausted after a very late night last night and a very early morning this morning. He nodded off in his stroller and slept for most of the tournament, with his soft blanket tucked around him and cookie crumbs still on his face. Little Jake was as easy as he always is. He slept, nursed, and gazed around at the busy gym. It’s a good thing Jacob is so easy going and “portable” because he’s been attending sporting events since his earliest days… and I am sure he’ll continue to attend until he’s involved in these events himself.

We had a great day. I’m glad Joshua loves wrestling so much. I’m glad that the rest of the family has fun attending his wrestling tournaments. Wrestling truly is a major family effort and so far we are all enjoying it.

  

Christmas Choir Concert 2009

Brenna sings in a nearby children’s choir. She spent two years in the “young singers” group (ages 4-7). This fall the choir director moved her into the audition only Children’s Choir (ages 8-12, even though Brenna is only 7). The director is amazing, Brenna has learned a lot and made many friends, and she absolutely loves to sing. Being a part of the choir has been a wonderful experience for her.

Tonight was the Christmas concert. Brenna has been really looking forward to this and has been counting down the days for the past few months. Unfortunately, Rick couldn’t get time off work in order to attend. I left four of the kids with our cousins for the evening and took Jacob along with me to the concert. I really missed having the entire family there as we usually do, but I still enjoyed the beautiful music. These children are all so talented and their director has done a great job shaping that talent into something truly magical.

Brenna looked so gorgeous in her white choir robe. I couldn’t help but get emotional as I watched my precious first-baby-turned-big-girl up on stage. She was beautiful and radiant. She looked so grown up and so little at the same time. I had a little flash suddenly, an image in my mind. I could picture Brenna as a beautiful teenager, with her curly hair and her bright smile and that familiar dimple still in her cheek. I could see her singing, babysitting, driving. Imagining her as a teenager took my breathe away and made me a little emotional as well. I know that time is only a few years away. She is growing up so rapidly and is becoming such an incredible young lady. It’s sad and beautiful all at once.

The performance was inspiring. Brenna had a solo (which was actually a group part with two other girls) and sang it beautifully. I was so proud of my gorgeous, precious, incredible Brenna! She is an amazing little girl and I am so thankful for her. Seven years after her birth and I still am amazed by the miracle that she is!

  

Molar Marathon

Asher has been sloooowly cutting one molar at a time since September. After three and a half months of agony, Asher finally has ALL FOUR molars! After such hard work, those four pearly little teeth look like tiny badges of victory to me!

Now Ash is cutting another front, bottom tooth. He’s always experienced a lot of pain with teething, but this little tooth doesn’t seem to hurt him like the molars did.

Jacob, Six Weeks

It’s time to sit and nurse my sweet Jacob. And since I’m sitting anyway I’m going to take the time in the midst of yet another whirlwind day to quickly record a little bit about our darling six-week-old!

Jacob continues to be a complete joy. He is the easiest little baby, always content and rarely fussing at all. He has the sweetest little temperament and really just radiates a feeling of peace and contentment. Jacob is smiling socially now. It’s not frequent, but the smiles are there and I love each and every one! He is so bright-eyed and alert as well, constantly taking in his surroundings. He has the biggest, darkest eyes and somehow they seem wise and inquisitive already. They are so deep and dark now that I wonder if they’ll be brown.

Jacob’s a good nurser with a hearty appetite and a self-set 3-hour schedule. His initial latch is still wrong (and so painful!), but after a few tries he gets it. I’m pretty sore though. After five previous babies, this is the first time that breastfeeding has been this painful for me! We’re working on the latch and pushing forward anyway. I want to nurse this little guy for at least a year so I am happy to work through temporary problems now.

In other big news, Jacob slept for 5 hours straight last night! It was a first for our cute baby boy. Of course, I didn’t really take advantage of him being asleep- I was up frequently checking on him. It’s always a bit of an adjustment when a new baby begins to sleep longer at night.

Jacob is still a tiny little thing. He still only weighs 7.5 pounds on our scale (and it’s usually very accurate). Right now he seems to be following Braden’s slow growth pattern, but I am still waiting for a great big growth spurt from him. It could come any time! Come on, chunky thighs!!

The older kids continue to adore their big brother. Our children have never dealt with jealousy or sadness or displacement when a new baby has been born. I’m glad that trend has continued. Everyone has easily adjusted to having a new baby and they are all completely in love with Jacob. Brenna is incredibly helpful and responsible and loves taking care of Jacob. I trust her so much and I am so glad to have a happy little “babysitter” who’s eager to lend a hand. Madalyn always wants to hold Jacob and has nicknamed him “Jake-ster.” Braden constantly tells me, “I think Jake really loves me, Mom!” Even little Asher can’t get enough of his baby brother. He’s always eager for a hug and a kiss and he gets so excited when he sees Jacob.

Life with six precious kids is incredible! I’m so busy and so blessed. I am happier than I’ve ever been. It’s an amazing feeling to be this happy and this content. I love it!