Tournament #2

Joshua had another wrestling tournament yesterday. It was over an hour away and began at 9am so we had a very early start to our day! But more on that in a minute.

Friday was busy. We homeschooled as usual and I completely scoured the house. In the afternoon, Brenna had gymnastics practice, we went grocery shopping, and then took Joshua for “weigh ins” before the tournament. We were home by 7:30. I fed everyone a late dinner, put Josh in the bath, dressed everyone in pajamas, and put them all to bed.

Brenna stayed up to help me get ready for the tournament. Together we packed snacks, water bottles, coats, diapers and wipes, extra clothes for the little guys, wrestling gear, a bag filled with toys and games and coloring books… We need so much stuff to attend an all-day wrestling event! We laid out clothes for the next day, tidied the house, and then snuggled in my bed and drank hot apple cider together. I was so grateful for Brenna’s help and it was fun to spend time together at the end of the day!

I didn’t get much sleep that night, between Jacob needing to nurse several times and Asher getting up around 1am. Jake got up at 4am to nurse again and I just stayed up after that. It was a very early start to my day, but mommies adapt! Rick got off work early, and helped me dress the kids and load the van. We were out the door by 6am and drove just over an hour north- through a windy mountain pass in a snow storm, but we made it safely and on time (early actually).

The tournament went great. We grabbed a section of bleachers and set up camp just like always. We ate breakfast and Rick and Josh warmed up together and worked some drills. Even though I have dreaded wrestling season just a bit because it is such a huge time commitment (4 practices a week and tournaments every Saturday, from now through July) it actually felt good to be at a tournament again. It was fun to sit together as a family and talk and play and snack. It was fun to watch our 6 year old light up like we’d given him the world just because he was at a wrestling tournament. There’s just a certain energy that comes with a wrestling tournament and it’s fun to share that together as we cheer Josh on.

Joshua’s first two matches were easy, as most of his matches are. He “teched” the first kid (technical fall, Joshua scored 15 points and the other kid scored 0) and he pinned the second kid.

On his third match, Joshua ran into his old “rival” from last year. This boy is ranked #2 in the state (Josh is ranked #3) and they went back and forth all year last year. Their matches are always really competitive and always intense, and you never know who will come out on top. Josh lost by just one point and he had the kid so close to pinned for the last 15 seconds of the match. Josh was broken-hearted when it was over, not because he lost but because he knew he could have pinned him and was upset that he hadn’t. We had a good talk though and Joshua ended up happy.

Joshua actually says that this boy is his very favorite to kid wrestle. When I asked him why, Josh said that when he wrestles a harder kid he gets more time to wrestle cause the matches aren’t over as fast. That made me smile. Then he added that he has more fun and learns more too. Joshua also told me that this boy is “sort of my buddy now too.”

Joshua ended up taking second place in the tournament and going home with a nice silver medal. He was glad and is looking forward to a great wrestling season! I am sure that it will be LONG (longer even than last year because we started late last year). But we’ll also have a great time as a family and Joshua will have a blast! That boy just loves to wrestle. I couldn’t put so much effort into a sport that requires so much time and money if Joshua didn’t love it as much as he does. And I couldn’t put so much effort into it if Rick wasn’t just as excited about it as Joshua is.

There’s another tournament next weekend, beginning at 8am on Saturday. Brenna has her state gymnastics meet that day as well. I am crossing my fingers that Joshua has a small bracket and that the tournament is efficiently run and that Brenna’s meet is in the afternoon. Worst case scenario, Rick and I will split up to get the kids where they need to be or Josh will just miss this tournament. But if the stars align (small bracket, well-run tournament, and the meet in the afternoon), then we should be able to attend both events as a family. That’s what I am hoping for.

My TWO Wrestlers!

Braden, in his tough wrestling stance… And then with a big, cheesy grin…

  

And Joshua in his wrestling stance (I’d say he looks rather intimidating)… And with a cheesy grin of his own…

  

First Wrestling Tournament

We had a full day today. It began, as my days often do, with a sleepless night and an early morning. I don’t mind though, because the baby boys that keep me up are both just so stinking cute! After breakfast I decided that a little rest time was in order so we all snuggled in my bed and watched an episode of Curious George together.

We got chores done in the morning. The kids worked slowly, but the kept at it and finished everything. We worked on homeschool next. Our workload has been fairly light this week though so it didn’t take too long.

At 1:30 I took Jacob to the doctor for what I suspected was an infection in his left eye. It seemed like horrible timing because I had just taken him in the day before for his two-week check. But, timing also worked in my favor- Rick had gone to bed around 2am the night before so he woke up much earlier than usual and kept the older kids while I took Jacob to the doctor. He was even able to finish up their school work with them. Jacob does have an infection and most likely a blocked duct as well. Prescription drops should clear up the infection quickly and the blocked tear duct should open within the next year or so. (Braden had a blocked duct and it opened when he was around 6 months old.)

After the appointment, I met Rick and the kids at the rec center for Brenna’s gymnastics practice. Rick went to a meeting at work and the kids and I stayed with Brenna.

Immediately after gymnastics (but in the same rec center, thankfully) Joshua had his first wrestling tournament of the 2009 Folkstyle season. He was so excited! Braden, our little “wrestler in the making” was thrilled too. We recently bought him a wrestling singlet as bribery to go poop in the toilet. He has potty training down fine, but has really struggled with the bowel side of things. He absolutely fell in love with this singlet (size 4XS and WAY too big) so we decided that it might be just the motivator he needs right now. Braden pooped in the toilet today and got to wear his new singlet to the tournament as a reward. He was thrilled!

Braden insisted on joining the big boys as they stretched before the tournament. It was hilarious to watch. He was always a step or two behind the boys, but he was trying so hard and he seemed so pleased with himself. He even ran laps with the team, proudly wearing his new singlet and Joshua’s old head gear, which were both way too big on him.

The tournament went well. Joshua wrestled four kids, but he spent less than a minute on the mat all together. He pinned every single opponent in 5-15 seconds each. Needless to say, he took first place at tonight’s tournament. What a great way to start the season! Afterwards Joshua got a team t-shirt.

This was an “in house” tournament with just kids from the rec center’s team so it didn’t take long. We are used to hours and hours of wrestling tournaments so it was nice to have a short one for a change! Josh made quite the name for himself tonight. We overheard lots of dads talking about him after the tournament, saying what an amazing wrestler he was and how he’ll be a state champ someday. (He actually took state last spring!) Josh is such a talented, natural wrestler and he loves the sport so much. We were proud of our little guy and he had a great time.

After the tournament we all went out for ice cream together. I stopped and got Jacob’s prescription (it wasn’t ready when Rick tried to pick it up at 4:00). Rick was already going in late to work (with permission, of course) so he came home with us and helped me get the kids cleaned up and into pajamas.

It was a fun, busy day. I especially enjoyed the wrestling tournament.

Wrestler in the Making

Asher loves to wrestle. He tackles Josh whenever Josh is willing to wrestle with him and Joshua is always a good sport– laughing good-naturedly, toppling over easily, and praising Asher for his efforts. With only a few pounds between them, Asher and Braden are a more equal match. Asher jumps on Braden every chance he gets, and Braden returns the “favor” just as often. The two of them just wrestle and roll around and giggle like crazy. It might sound odd that I let my little boys wrestle this way, but they have so much fun doing it that I don’t mind. They are never, ever rough with each other and their wrestling is always so playful and happy. It makes me giggle to watch them. I love seeing their brotherly relationship in action, even if it is in the form of giggling, tickling, and rolling around on the floor. I am sure that in another year, Jacob will be joining in on the wrestle mania fun. I love having four sons and I love that they have each other as well!

A Little Party

Tonight I found myself missing my kids. I’d been with them all day and knew I’d be with them tomorrow. They hadn’t even been in bed for that long. But I missed them anyway. I also had a major craving for chocolate. So what’s a mama to do when it’s 8:45pm and she misses her children and she’s craving chocolate? Luckily, I found the perfect solution.

In a spur of the moment move, I got out of bed and tiptoed into the girls’ room. Brenna was tucked into bed. Maddie was playing quietly on the floor and leapt headlong into her bed when I entered the room.

“Come on, girls,” I whispered and motioned for them to join me in the hallway. They seemed perplexed, but followed obediently.

I poked my head into the boys’ room. Braden and Asher were sleeping, but Joshua was still awake. I whispered for him to follow us.

The kids were obviously confused as they followed me down the dark stairway. I actually found great enjoyment in their confusion because I knew how excited they’d be when I told them what we were doing. I even let the suspense drag on a little; I just couldn’t help myself.

We made brownies together. The kids were delighted. 9pm to a 6-year-old is like 2am to a teenager. They were all excited to be up at such a late hour and even more excited to be making brownies. They cracked eggs (and did great too- no shells in the batter), took turns using the mixer, and licked the beaters when we were finished.

While the brownies baked (for a whopping 52 minutes!) the kids and I played one of our favorite card games, In a Pickle. It’s great for grown-ups and kids alike and we all love it. I highly recommend it. We all giggled and talked and enjoyed each other’s company while we played. It was fun for all of us.

We played for about 30 minutes and then, as the kids began to feel tired from being up so late, we decided to watch NickJr. I love that their kid shows stay on all night long. It is really helpful to have Little Bear or Dora or Backyardigans available when a child is sick in the middle of the night or when a little one is wide awake at 5:30am. And it’s nice to have appropriate kids shows during an impromptu middle-of-the-night brownie baking party as well. We snuggled up and enjoyed the show.

By the time the episode was finished, our brownies were cooked and partially cooled (I pulled them out during the show). We gathered around the table and enjoyed our tasty, warm brownies with nice, cold milk. We were all in good spirits and there was lots of giggling as we ate our yummy treats.

When our brownies were gone, we all hugged and kissed and the kids thanked me again and again for our fun party. I thanked them right back because it meant just as much to me as it did to them. I tucked my three big kids into bed for the second time and turned on a tape of “Nana’s stories” for them to listen to as they fell asleep. (These are the stories that my grandmother recorded for me, the same ones that I listened to while falling asleep as a child.)

After some brief chit chatting and a reminder that it was late and they needed to sleep, all the kids got quiet and fell asleep easily.

It was such a nice, enjoyable night and such a great memory for all of us. It was the perfect cure for both my loneliness and my chocolate craving. I love being with my kids and I was so glad to spend several hours just having fun with them tonight.

Six Growing Children

Any frequent readers of my blog will know that I have been contemplating my growing family a lot these days. I feel like we are crossing over that great divide that separates small families with small children who are just starting out, from bigger families with older children who are more established.

It’s little things that remind me of our family’s growth. I was reminded when I watched Brenna expertly lift her tiny 8-day-old newborn brother with all the knowledge and grace of an older child. I was reminded when Joshua came downstairs in his boxer shorts and I noticed how lean and muscular his abdomen and chest are becoming. Madalyn’s sweet face is a constant reminder of her own growth as she is now losing her baby cheeks in favor of a more grown-up, slender look. Hearing the children practice their piano lessons reminds me. Knowing that Brenna will be baptised next year reminds me. Watching Joshua excercise every morning reminds me. Listening to Madalyn read out loud reminds me. Every time I buy 6 gallons of milk and know it won’t last the week, every time I wash yet another load of laundry, every time I clip 60 fingernails and 60 toenails that are not my own, every time I pack up the kids in our giant, 12-passenger van… I am reminded that we truly are growing up.

For the first time, I am seeing my older children as older siblings to Asher and Jacob, instead of their peers like they were when Braden and Maddie were younger. For the first time, they are taking on more of a caregivers role than the roll of a playmate with their baby brothers.

We are growing up- the children are all getting older, and more of them continue to arrive. We are growing in numbers and in age and it’s incredible to be a part of. Here is what each of my growing babies are up to…

Brenna is an incredible little girl. She is mature beyond her seven years. She is such a sweet, helpful girl and is often a second mother to her younger siblings. She frequently steps in to comfort a tearful Braden, tickle Asher when he needs attention, fix Madalyn’s hair just so that she will feel extra beautiful, or rock Jacob to sleep. I love watching her in her role as big sister. Brenna is bright and inquisitive, and everything seems to come easily to her. She is such an intelligent little girl and she really enjoys school. She loves to read and she reads far above her grade level. Brenna has an ear for music and an excellent singing voice. She’s a great little gymnast. Brenna’s always been a little timid, but she pushes herself for gymnastics because she loves the sport so much. It’s great to see her stepping out of her comfort zone and challenging herself. Brenna is dramatic and quite the perfectionist. She’s a social little girl, makes friends so easily, and is always eager to play. Brenna is a girly girl who loves dresses and painted fingernails and pretty jewelry and wearing bows in her hair, but she’s also a bit of a tomboy who enjoys sports and isn’t afraid to play hard or get dirty. Brenna is such a joy in our home.

Joshua is smart, athletic, and handsome. He is such a good kid. He has a good heart and an amazing work ethic. He continues to excel in his school subjects and I am constantly amazed by his abilities. Academics come easily for him and he is so far behind his grade level that I am shocked sometimes. He loves sports, wrestling and football in particular. He has started exercising to be in good shape for the sports he adores. Joshua is passionate about life. He has an incredibly strong will, an amazing sense of determination, and is very goal-oriented. Nothing stops him, slows him down, or holds him back. He loves games and is always ready to play. Joshua is an active boy, but he’s also very thoughtful at the same time. He’s such a thinker, and very analytical. He’s doing wonderfully in piano lessons, and is a really good sight-reader. I think the piano notes make sense to him the same way that a math problem does. Josh is our “saver” when it comes to money. He has saved about $200 for his mission and has another $30 of spending money saved.  Joshua has such a strong testimony and he is an amazing little boy.

Madalyn is literally growing up before my eyes. I am amazed as I watch her grow and change! She is changing in every way possible, it seems. Physically, emotionally, mentally… in every way, this baby girl of mine is growing up. Physically, Maddie is looking a lot older these days. Her legs are getting longer, her pudgy tummy is giving way to a more slender look, and she’s losing her round baby cheeks. Maddie is very excited about reading and writing these days, and she is so happy to be a kindergartener. She loves to cook and to color. She still makes up the most imaginative little stories and she is either talking or singing constantly. Life is a musical for Maddie and she is often lost in her own little fantasy world. Madalyn just has a cheery little personality and she is so fun to be around. She has been so helpful lately, pitching in with chores and younger siblings, and she is so obedient. She is the sweetest, most tender-hearted little girl and she just wants to please everyone. She is excited about cheerleading, and honestly she makes the most adorable little cheerleader with her petite size, her big brown eyes, and her cheery little personality. Maddie is such a sweetheart and she radiates joyfulness.

Braden is delightful! I love three-year-olds, particularly this one. Braden is so sweet and so easy going. He’s just a mellow kid. He’s kind and playful, with a cute sense of humor. He is a smart little boy also. He knows most of his letters and their sounds and can recognize several sight words. He’s so bright and articulate. I am often amazed by the grown up things that he says. His favorite toys are still his beloved tools. He frequently fixes things around the house and it’s not unusual to find him with a giant plastic hammer in his pants pocket or his cool little drill in his hands. Braden loves to play with Maddie and he follows her around like she is the most amazing person he’s ever met. Braden also loves to play with Asher, who is becoming more and more of his buddy as he gets older. The two of them giggle and wrestle and chase each other around, and they often spend the first 15 minutes of naptime singing and playing together rather than going to sleep. Braden is getting to be a “big boy” these days. He’s getting better about dressing himself and he is brave enough to go down the big slide at the park. Of course, he’s still my little boy as well- he loves to snuggle and he says, “I love you, Mommy” over and over again during the day. He’s the sweetest little guy!

Asher is 15 months old and very much a toddler these days. His two favorite songs are currently Wheels on the Bus and If You’re Happy and You Know It. He knows the actions to both and he gets so excited when we sing with him. The other kids are just as delighted as Asher is as they sing with him and watch him eagerly mimic their gestures. Asher imitates everything lately. He especially loves to talk on the phone and brush his hair. He loves to read books and has a great attention span. He’s never watched much TV (not because I am anti-TV, just because it’s never been on when he’s awake), but when I tried to get him to watch it recently, he didn’t want to. He’s much more entertained by a stack of books; he absolutely loves to read. One of his favorite activities is coloring. Asher loves balls of any kind and he can always be found with a car in his hand. He hates to be left out and follows the big kids everywhere as if he’s one of them. He loves to eat. He loves to cuddle. He definitely has a mind of his own. He is always climbing something. Asher is learning lots of sign language and says quite a few words. I love this age, when he is still very much a baby, but he’s also playing, reacting, imitating, and communicating like a toddler. He is the happiest little boy and still a miracle in my eyes.

Jacob is 8 days old. He is such a sweet baby! He is the easiest newborn. He nurses well and he is a great little sleeper. He sleeps through all the noise of our busy household. Jacob has frequent periods of “awake time” as well, when he’s bright-eyed and alert. I love seeing his big, dark eyes. He is still so, so tiny. No bigger than Brenna’s dolls, he wears preemie clothes and preemie diapers and they are big on him. The girls and I have even dressed him up in doll clothes, just for fun. Just like before he was born, Jacob gets hiccups constantly. I love holding Jacob, nursing him, feeling him curled up against my chest. I even love getting up during the night with him. It is so incredible, so peaceful, so precious to have a newborn in our home again. 

I am so thankful for SIX incredible, growing children. What a privilege it is to raise them. I am head over heels in love with each of them!

Pictures Today

I love having a digital camera because it gives me the freedom to take hundreds of pictures without feeling guilty about it. I had my camera out several times today… in the morning because I wanted pictures of Jacob on his one week birthday, in the early afternoon when Brenna fixed Maddie’s hair in two little braids and again when Braden and Asher were just being so cute together that I had to take pictures, and in the late afternoon when we all walked to the park and played until dinnertime.

Here’s my sweet, sweet Jacob… at one week old…

A little bit later, Jake was kind enough to wake up so that I could get a few more darling pictures…

I put Jacob back to bed and couldn’t resist taking one more picture as he slept…

Later in the day, Brenna fixed Madalyn’s hair. I love passing the bathroom and seeing the girls giggling together while Maddie stands on the little stool and Brenna fixes her hair. Brenna did a great job with Maddie’s hair and then she fixed her own hair in two neat pony tails…

  

Braden loves Joshua’s football mouth guard, but it’s way too big. It makes me laugh whenever I see him with it in his mouth…

When Asher saw the camera he grinned and said, “Eeeeese!” (This translates into CHEESE.)

  

Braden and Asher are such good buddies. They adore each other. I had to take a few pictures as they giggled together…

We went to the park in the late afternoon. I’d intended to go earlier in the day, but the kids took a long time getting their jobs done. In the end it worked out wonderfully though; Rick woke up just as we were getting ready to leave so he came along with us.

It was a warm day, but I bundled up my little Jacob anyway…

The kids rode bikes and scooters to the park…

  

Asher loved the swings and Brenna enjoyed pushing him…

  

And by then my memory card was full. (I told you I take a lot of pictures.)

It was a nice day…

Six

Tonight I had six little children sitting in my bed with me as we read the scriptures together. There were four little ones sitting around me, a toddler tucked under my right arm, and a newborn curled up warmly against chest. Six children gathered around me. My six children. I am so very blessed.

Getting Out

It feels like I’ve been stuck in the house since September. First I was sick and/or recovering from being sick, then the kids were sick and/or recovering from being sick, and then we had a baby. Other than occasional doctor visits and a few sporting events or activities, we haven’t left the house much. We haven’t even been to the library in the last month and I think I’ve only gone to the grocery store twice during that time.

Yesterday afternoon we decided to get out of the house. I could feel how much I needed it. The kids all had gift cards to spend (a present when Jacob was born) so we decided that spending their gift cards would be a good outing. It would be fairly brief, but also fun for the kids. I was a little worried about taking Jacob out in public (because of all the ugly germs), but I decided that he’d be okay if we kept him covered, wiped the cart down with sanitizing wipes, and washed everyone’s hands after we left the store. I am keeping him home as much as possible, but I can’t completely quarantine our family until spring.

The kids had such a great time looking through the toy section. They were so thrilled with the freedom that gift cards afforded them. It was very exciting for each of them and I loved seeing how happy they were. It was also interesting to watch the way they each selected their toys. I love to see all the unique differences between my sweet children.

Brenna knew what she wanted right away. She’s been wanting a “Fur Real” pet for a while now and the small ones were on sale. She took a few minutes to select the perfect pet- a little white duckling.

I could see the wheels turning inside Joshua’s little brain as he carefully weighed his options and calculated the costs. He’s very logical and analytical and he’s a math whiz as well. He was very quiet and thoughtful as he perused the toys. First he found a foam sword, figured out how much money he had left to spend and then selected a small race car track.

Madalyn was the most indecisive of all the kids. She grabbed so many different items with great enthusiasm. Some were within her price range and others were much more expensive than the amount she had on her gift card. After a long time and after many toys had been selected and returned to the shelf, Maddie finally decided on a small doll that came with a pet bunny and two little baby bunnies. Maddie loves tiny dolls (3-5 inches tall) so this was perfect for her. She was thrilled.

Braden wanted tools. He told me he wanted tools even before we went to the store. While Brenna looked at the pets, Braden reminded me sweetly and persistently that he needed to find the tools. We all went over there next so that he could pick what he wanted. His first choice was the giant $50 tool bench. He’s been talking about the tool bench since his birthday in May, but it was out of his price range today. (He will be getting it for Christmas anyway.) Most of the tool sets were too expensive so I showed him the one he could afford. I wondered if he’d be sad that he couldn’t get the bigger, fancier sets, but he was excited about the one I showed him. When I explained that he had enough money for that one, he responded, “Then that’s the one I love!”

I felt SO energized and refreshed after our little outing. It was so nice to get out of the house! The blue skies and warm sunshine made it even nicer. And, of course, it was so fun to see how happy the kids were as they each selected the perfect toy.

Brenna had choir practice that evening so we took her there. Afterwards we went out to eat as a family at IHOP. We like to celebrate babies at IHOP, usually eating there once or twice during each pregnancy for various milestones. For example, we ate there the day before I was induced with Brenna, the day after we found out I was pregnant with Joshy, the day we found out Maddie was a girl, and so on. Rick even brought me IHOP stuffed french toast in the hospital after I delivered Asher (the cashier, upon learning that his wife had just delivered a baby, sent him home with a little blue bear too!) So it seemed fitting to celebrate our little Jacob’s arrival with a dinner at IHOP. Once again, it was so nice to be out of the house. I ate stuffed french toast- my favorite IHOP dinner.

At home we put Asher and Jacob to bed and put on a movie for the four older kids. Rick and I took a bubble bath together. We just enjoyed talking and spending time together. As we were talking, we heard the kids yelling something. It sounded like they were yelling, “Braden, hurry up!” But then we realized they were actually yelling, “Braden’s throwing up!”

Rick cleaned up the barf while I cleaned up Braden. I think he ate too much at dinner and his tummy couldn’t handle the large amount of food he stuffed into it.

Once Braden was bathed and dressed in clean pajamas and settled in front of the movie again, Rick and snuggled in bed and talked for a while. Then we watched a movie together. After the movie, Rick sat by me while I fell asleep. It was such a nice, relaxing evening… other than the whole vomiting thing, of course. I had such an enjoyable day yesterday!

Today we are taking things slow. I feel SO GOOD, but I don’t want to overdo anything. So I am really, really trying to just pace myself right now, in spite of how good I actually feel. I’ve done three loads of laundry today so our laundry is all caught up. The house is completely tidy, other than the kids’ bedrooms which they are still working on. The kitchen is clean thanks to my handsome husband so all I need to do is unload the dishwasher and put away the pots, pans, and mixing bowls that he washed by hand and left to dry on the counter. I’d like the vacuum this afternoon; the family room especially needs it. The bathrooms are scoured and the garbage has been gathered.

When the three little boys goes down for afternoon naps, I am going to take a shower. I am still in my pajamas because I am waiting to shower before I get dressed. When the jobs are finished and the little boys wake up from their naps, I’d like to take everyone to the park. They could use the playtime  and I want to take advantage of this gorgeous weather before it is gone.

Brenna has gymnastics this afternoon. Rick is going to take her so that he can work out while she practices. Joshua has wrestling practice tonight, just 30 minutes after Brenna finishes gymnastics. Rick will be working so I am going to take all the kids to practice. I’m looking forward to getting out of the house again and to watching Joshua practice.

The rest of this week should be easy and slow-paced. Next week things will get busier because we’re starting homeschool (along with piano lessons and job charts) again and because Joshua has wrestling practice four nights a week beginning next week. So even though I feel like cleaning like crazy and running lots of errands, I am trying to enjoy this slow week while it lasts.

Six Little Pumpkins

Aren’t they darling?!