Yellow Hydrangea

When I was considering flowers and color schemes for my wedding WAY back in 2001, I came across yellow hydrangeas in a Martha Stewart catalogue. I was smitten and wanted those rare flowers so badly. Of course I couldn't find any and my tiny, tiny budget of practically zero, I never could have afforded such a luxury. Well, fast forward 13 years and I can get yellow hydrangeas at the grocery store behind my house! Exciting! I did discover, however, that the yellow flowers always available at the store are not naturally yellow. They are SPRAY PAINTED! I was so annoyed when I noticed the obvious paint marks on the green leaves. Thanks a lot Giant grocery store.

The Year of Birthday Surprises

Asher's skinny flat front camo pants helped us fit in with the locals.

These logs were stuffed with mushroom fungus and for a price--you could take one home and keep it moist to produce your own mushrooms! Gag.

Jamie really killed it with birthday surprises this year. He came up with one glorious surprise after the other! I felt so loved and appreciated. He told me that after a long year as a single parent and now pregnant, he wanted to make this a special birthday. Success!

 The Friday before my birthday he told me that he had a day trip planned for Saturday and that we would have to leave by 6am in the morning! Some may think that was a terrible surprise but I love day adventures and I especially love when I don't have to plan them or do the driving. My kids love surprises too and they especially love when we fold their warm, sleeping bodies out of bed and put them in the car for an adventure. We hit the open road on a beautiful and bright March morning. Most of the journey was familiar but near Staunton, VA we took a turn and drove through a part of Virginia that neither of us had seen before. We drove over big (for VA) mountains and comely valleys to our destination: Highland County Maple Festival. Highland county is famous for maple production and sheep farms, which means it is quaint, rural and beautiful. 

We waited in line at the local high school for close to an hour for the all-you-can-eat pancakes and local maple syrup breakfast. I'm glad we waited! The syrup was amazing and the buckwheat pancakes were great too. Our family easily consumed half a bottle of the golden syrup--we weren't messing around. Afterwards we walked around town and sampled a maple donut. I LOVE maple donuts--they are perhaps my favorite flavor of donuts so I was pretty excited about a festival dedicated to almost just maple donuts. Sadly, the ones we tried were saturated with oil and I nearly gagged on the first and only bite. We were kind of tired of waiting in line so we skipped the lines for the probably truly amazing donuts. 

After exploring town a bit we went to one of the local "sugar camps," which is their term for maple syrup production farm. We saw trees covered in tubes like they were babies in the NICU--only they weren't on life support, they were simply producing syrup. We learned that it takes 40 gallons of maple water to make one gallon of syrup! It was a fun day and an excellent surprise. I love new places and my hubs who takes me to them!

Moody Violinists

I love my pirate cowboy violinist. Also, let me honest and admit that getting six-year-olds to practice daily has been a nightmare. They only need to dedicate FIVE minutes of each day to violin and yet they act like I am sending them to a Gulag. Give me a break. Most nights they cry at one point during violin practice and quite honestly, I feel like crying too. I really want them to develop this skill because I know it's great for them--their little minds are doing so many remarkable things at once when they play. Also--their abilities will be incredible in a few years if they just keep going. I wish it weren't so hard though. 

Asher Man

I need to dedicate several posts to each child in order to properly document all that has been missing about them on the blog! Asher earned the moniker "Mr. Academy" when he was a tiny, tiny baby babe because he has always been prone to dramatics--his emotions have always been at the extremes--happiness, sadness, anger all emotions in between are never mundane with him. As he has gotten older, his emotions have only become more heightened, which means his joy is out of this world and his anger and frustration are too. I'm constantly trying to adjust my parenting patience to him but I fail, a lot. Kindergarten has been a great experience for him but it's also hard for him to get up in the morning (he's like his dad---he needs time to wake up and operates better if he has time to play too) and the days can be long for him. He's doing well in school and his reading skills have developed magnificently since the beginning of the year. Asher's creativity continues to stun me--he's so wildly creative and expressive. His ideas seem to flow endlessly and without effort. I admire him so much.

More than Soren, Asher regularly plays with Maeve. She absolutely adores him and she just gets his charisma. Asher is constantly micro-managing Maeve and she's surprisingly good natured about it. He's a good brother and a good friend. 

I just love my tiny little man but he has sure been breaking my heart too. I think school has been extra tough lately because he's angry quickly and tells me, "I don't like my life. You hate me." I long for the days when all I did was 'break his love.' This "I don't like my life business and everyone hates me" just tears into my soul and leaves me bereft and weak. I'm constantly praying to be the mom he needs--I'm so grateful for prayer because I LOVE my Asher man.

Easter 2014

Oh Maeve, I die over her cuteness. I'm not sure there has been a happier, sweeter child.

My handsome, sweet Soren.

They are just the best. THE best.

Their happy faces are my favorite. I hope this is how they remember their childhood.

Swoon. This man and our family!

My 27 weeks pregnant self with silly kids.

Jen, Max and Steve.

Cuties.

Ahh, brothers.

No wonder Maeve is obsessed with this kid.

All the cousins minus Delaney (at BYU) and Camden (inside watching a show). Unfortunately we took photos at the absolute WORST time of day so everyone had weird shadows on their faces that made us all look more tired and well, heavier than in real life. Nonetheless, a super cute bunch. Asher had just injured his foot so after being carried to the orchard by  his uncle Joe he protested photos with a cranky face, pretty typical.

Easter is such a special holiday, especially as Christians. Each year I hope to impress upon my children the incredible nature of this holiday and the enormous joy and celebration that Christ's resurrection presents. Before the kids could get their hands on Easter baskets, I insisted that they watch a few bible videos about the resurrection and I bore my weepy testimony to them of his life, death and resurrection. I know they find my tears peculiar but I couldn't control my emotions. It was a lovely start to a fun day.

 I enjoy getting them dressed in Sunday finery and this year was no exception. I'm predictable--gingham and bowties for the boys and some sort of lovely dress (but not frilly and something she can wear repeatedly) for Maeve. They just looked so handsome and adorable this year. I got a few new ties for Jamie and I did my best to look presentable in old maternity clothes.

Max wore the blessing outfit that Asher and Soren wore when they were blessed. I was so pleased to see it worn again! Asher and Soren were extremely tiny when they were blessed and they were swamped (Asher especially) in their outfits. Max at three months old fit into it perfectly. He was so cute. Jamie prepared thoughtfully and prayerfully prepared for this blessing months in advance. I know it was an honor for him to give this blessing and it was truly a beautiful experience. The blessing was pointed and inspired and the perfect start to such a tender new life.

Easter with family is my favorite.

Bristol Celebrations

The confetti cake topper that I made! Mike almost had the bakery write a boring 'congratulations' on the cake so I'm glad Jamie stopped him.

My pregnant face with Soren and Maeve's cute faces.

As soon as I saw the apple orchard I KNEW it was where we needed to have an Easter egg hunt.

Orchards are my new favorite place for egg hunts.

Beautiful, sweet apple blossoms.

The farm was Maeve's jam! She LOVED it.

Naturally Asher put his easter basket on his head and walked like a zombie.

The two youngest sprint for eggs!

The dash for remaining eggs.

A rousing game of tag was the conclusion of the hunt. I was thrilled to see the kids playing and running after so much time on various tablets.

Lori's glorious view.

 

We went to Bristol over Easter weekend to celebrate the recent wedding of Jamie's brother Stephen to his girlfriend Jennifer. Also that weekend Jamie was going to bless Steve and Jen's baby Max. We had just learned about the wedding a few days before the trip so Lisa and I quickly organized a little reception for the newlyweds. I put myself in charge of decorations, naturally, and I suggested that we have a croissant sandwich bar for food. Sandwich toppings included lettuce, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, avocados, various cheeses and condiments. I also made a pineapple mint water that was absolutely refreshing. Lisa had a local bakery make an almond cake and it's a family favorite. Delicious foods!

Saturday was extremely busy and I worked my pregnant tail off shopping, hanging decorations, preparing foods and then organizing an egg hunt, which involved stuffing eggs, hiding eggs, and herding children.

It was a LOT of work but I had fun and enjoyed being with family. My kids adore their cousins and I was so amused to see how much Maeve LOVED her baby cousin Max. It's cute how much my kids swoon over baby babes. I hope they are as affectionate and excited about their baby sister when she arrives.

The farm was in the early stages of spring color with berry plants and apple trees covered in blossoms. Dogwoods were blooming and there was just color and new green every where. The orchard stole my heart with its trimmed lawn and beautifully symmetrical rows of blooming trees. I appreciated that the weather was mild and there were no bugs--spring is so glorious.

Asher, Soren and Jamie went to a ballgame of Gage and Wyatt's, played on the ball field where Jamie used to play as a kid! Apparently Asher introduced himself to some kids at the game as the twin who was "Old, weaker and FIERCER." He then roared. That kid! He's so passionately creative and entertaining.

Soren lost his sixth tooth the day before Easter. This was a big, exciting weekend for everyone!

Meadowlark Blossoms and "Sweltering" Heat

Again, the magnificent combination of blooming cherries and tulip magnolias!

It was hot, probably the hottest day in over SIX month and we were not prepared! Asher sat down in protest!

Taking another break from the heat. This could be a long summer--if it ever arrives.

I rolled up Asher and Soren's pants to 'cool' them off. Soren insisted on taking photos!

Maeve rolled up her shirt like a good Chinese man would do in the heat. How did she know? So weird to see myself pregnant.

One final rest from the heat before we made the l o n g climb up the hill to the car.

On the Friday before Asher and Soren's spring break, I got them out of school early for a dental appointment. Asher reminded me to ask the dentist why he had lost ZERO teeth and Soren had lost nearly six. The dentist reassured him that it was perfectly normal that he hadn't lost any and that they would start falling out in good time. He was relieved. Since when were dental offices so high tech and beautiful?

After the dental visit I took the kids to Meadowlark Gardens to see the cherry blossoms and have an illicit picnic. Apparently you are NOT supposed to eat in the garden but we did anyway and the kids were super nervous about it. At one point Asher thought someone was coming so he jumped off the bench and started sprinting away. Bless him. I wish they were that nervous about breaking MY rules. We sat in the warm, warm sun breathing in the perfume of blossoms and ate a simple lunch of crackers, strawberries, tortillas and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I've been craving PB&Js like mad this pregnancy! 

After eating we strolled the grounds and quickly found that we are practically paralyzed by a little bit of warmth. Our pants may have been long and hot but at least I had water! My always thirsty on an outing kids were at least well hydrated. The highlight of the visit for the kids was feeding crackers (another broken rule) to the super hyper and aggressive catfish in the pond. They laughed hysterically watching them battle it out for crackers.

I had so much fun with my kids. My heart is full with love and affection for them, it always is, but there is something about being pregnant that makes me want to appreciate and adore them even more. I just get that their lives will change with this new baby babe and I want to make sure their little cups are over flowing with love and affection. Maeve has really grown up this year and my tender heart swells every time she talks about her sister--I never could have imagined that her joy about having a little sister would be so great. It has been one of the most surprising and wonderful aspects of this pregnancy. I just hope I can manage the needs of four kids when the time comes!

Asher, Soren and Maeve all handled the hot walk uphill with triumph. I didn't have to carry anyone! Success!