Henry: a decade

Our baby boy is ten. I am not sure how this happens, other than that time flies when you're having fun. Henry is now a double-digit-midget.

It is a pleasure being Henry's mom. He is a good, kind person. He wants to do what's right, and is harder on himself than anyone else is. I get on his case about stuff, but it's all minor in comparison to the GOOD that he is.

Derek surprised him at school with yummy sandwiches and treats. Henry LOVED it. It was fun thing for those boys of mine. Then Texas Roadhouse which is always a fun chaotic adventure. And finally, the whole cake/ice cream/presents thing. He was gifted a camera from his grandparents, which was much wanted and appreciated and some other fun things. Then tonight, a movie with Dad, Spencer and Oliver, then his favorite activity, using his birthday gift card from his OTHER grandparents. (Many pokemon cards are in my future. SIGH.)

We're grateful to be Henry's family, thankful he was willing to come and be first, and blaze this trail of unknown for his siblings. He complains a lot about his brothers, but I know in the end, he has their backs. Happy Birthday Henry! We love you!

Halloween 2015

Halloween lasted a full three days here. We are all very very tired, and over-sugared. It was a great time really, but tiring.

We started our celebrations with story time for the littles with church trunk or treat. It was a carnival first and then the candy. Too much fun was had. Oh my goodness it was so fun for our little people to party with their friends.

You may note that we had TWO Harry Potters. Spencer was supposed to instead be a gold power ranger (which is also what Ezra was), but the night before the party, he confessed that he REALLY wanted to be Harry Potter (this of course infuriated Henry, but whatevs), so we through a costume together. It worked.

Friday was school parties and a parade. The kids had fun, and as a third grade room mom, I just hoped it wasn't a disaster.

Finally Saturday was the big day! Our town does a fantastic job making Halloween amazing. We all donate candy to the town, and then it is distributed to the houses in the Historic district. The whole town trick or treats there. The homes are decorated to the teeth. It's just such fun. 

I'm learning the ways of my new camera. It's a lot of buttons and knobs and new-fangledness. 

Halloween, Over and OUT. 

An Ode to Summer

The light is changing.

I don't mean that the days are growing shorter, but of course that's true too.

No.

I mean that as the world starts to tilt and let the southern hemispheres have their days in the sun, our world here is changing. The hazy, glittering light of spring gave way first to robust gold of summer. And now? Creamy ambers filter through the tree leaves that are losing the fight.

Summer is over. Despite what the calendar claims, our summer, our golden summer has come to an end.

I am sad, I'm practically in mourning.

Sweetest summer, you were impossibly short.

I am proud though that we LOVED summer with the love that only those who have long winters can love summer.

We played. Every chance we got, we chose to ignore our responsiblities and play.

And play.

And play.

The lake knew us by names.

The ocean became our friend.

The trees welcomed us.

Winter is still a ways off, blessedly. Autumn is full of its own magic, for which I am grateful. There is beauty and joy to look forward to. Apples to pick, a visit from my parents, a baptism for my sweet boy, my favorite Holidays approach, more birthdays (Henry is approaching TEN!!).

Yes, I can appreciate the fall with all the happiness of my heart, whilst forcing thoughts of ice and cold out as much as possible. I try anyway.

But my dear friend, summer, the whole of you should be written SUMMER because to us, you were EVERYTHING.

We hit the lake one last time today. I know we won't make it back. Rain was forecasted, and it was only abot 75 degrees. That mattered not at all.

We went.

We played.

We rejoiced.

And now, we kiss summer goodbye. Oh my how we will miss you SUMMER.

San Antonio 2015

Well, we did Texas this last week. It was an AMAZING time. We hadn't been to San Antonio in several years, so we were all beside ourselves with excitement.

Traveling with six kids...

Well, we are finally *knock on wood* not horfing every time we leave the house.

That's a good thing.

Let's all do a celebratory "hallelejuah!"

Go ahead. I'll wait.

Thanks!

Texas was hot.

I will spare you the foul language used to describe the heat of Texas in early September, but just know that sweating is a lifestyle in Texas.

A LIFESTYLE.

We played with Grandpa and Grammy and Cory (Derek's brother) all week. Todd, Derek's other brother made limited appearances as well.


Uncle Cory took no time stealing Miriam's heart. She had him wrapped around her finger within five minutes. 

One of my kids captured this picture of my inlaws doing church work. Because they are good, righteous, loving, giving people. They are such good examples to me. 

 We hit awesome places like the Fort Sam Houston Quardrangle. Tame deer, hilariously hungry poultry, hot hot hot, and a super cool museum for the win!


Ten pound bag of feed: GONE.



These girls were so sweet!



Sea World was hot. But not terribly busy. AND, because it was like 50th birthday or something, their "surprise squad" awarded us at random with the ENTIRE day for our ENTIRE group of 11, all we could eat and drink arm bands at any of their park restuarants. This MADE the day. Instead of baking nonstop in the heat, we were able to frequently sit down and cool off, eat, drink, and be air conditioned. It was the best.

Oh, the rides were fun too. But we really didn't make it on many between walking everywhere, shows, and well... you know... food.
The whackos all in one place. Except my father in law, who was the photag. We are a rag tag bunch, no question.

The shows were awesome, so fun and educational.


We really learned a lot!





This baby... he is my heart. 



On our last day we visited Landa Park in New Braunfels which was gorgeous, and the water cold and welcome.




It was so great to be with family, to visit, to reconnect, and play.





Now we're home, and well. Traveling with six kids...






Hey Fred, that's ONE way to eat peanuts. 




Oh my funny, cute Oliver!



Waiting for our van at the airport (driven bravely by my dear friend), we got a little goofy. 





A LOT goofy.
 
I'm not sure I've ever been more tired than I am at this very moment.


Honest.

The kids were fantastic the entire week, with all the running around we did, the travel, the lack of sleep, really their were dream kids! Frederick wins for "best baby." He was a dream.

We are blessed. It was a visit well-worth making.

New York Adventures

Oh my goodness, I'm tired.

But our little quick trip to New York City was just so wonderful that I have to blog it right now.

Also because I'm waiting up for my NINE YEAR OLD to come home from a birthday party. WHAT? He's a party animal.

Derek had a work meeting with the NY office of his company, so we tagged along.

First off, I absolutely MUST announce that NO ONE VOMITED.

I know.

I KNOW!

Anyway, the drive down was easy, we hit our hotel late afternoon in Brooklyn, bypassing a huge accident, and really no traffic. I mean, almost none, it's still New York.

From NYC August 2015

From NYC August 2015

Roof top of our hotel.

We got right n the subway to Times Square. Go big or go home right?

Can I sidenote here for a moment?

WTH NYC? Only a tiny fraction of subway stations have elevators. This is a huge pain the bum when you have a stroller. PAIN IN THE BUM.

Blah.

From NYC August 2015

Miriam colored herself with blue markers. Because she got bored. 

Anyway, it was SOOOO humid and hot. And the stores in Times Square need to learn how to appropriately air condition, because Toys R Us was RIDICULOUSLY hot. Like so hot that it was hard to enjoy their super cool store.

At one point, the Freddy-meister needed nursing. Bless the sweet Toys R Us employee who noticed me in desperate need of a quiet corner and showed me the mothers lounge. It was like this empty, quiet oasis in the CRAZY (oh it was SO crazy) heart of New York. We were able to just breathe. A lovely break.

From NYC August 2015

Hanging out in the mothers room at Toys R Us.

Oh did I mention that Wednesday was my birthday?

We finally decided that dinner was in order. Spencer was full-on melting down at this point. It was hot, crowded, and everyone was starving.

So, we stumbled upon (purposefully thanks to GPS) a fantastic pizza joint. It like amazing. They were super crowded, but the owner (I'm assuming) didn't even flinch at our large party. They welcomed us like family. And the lasagna pizza???? TO DIE FOR. We were all well fed and watered. It was wonderful.

From NYC August 2015

Birthday dinner!

We subwayed and hiked back to the hotel way too late,  but it was so good.

From NYC August 2015

From NYC August 2015

From NYC August 2015

From NYC August 2015

From NYC August 2015

From NYC August 2015

From NYC August 2015

Subway shenanagins!

Day two was just... fantastic. Poor Derek hurt his foot at one point and was limping badly, but that man was not going to let a silly thing like pain and anguish slow him down.

First, we are LDS afterall, so we went in search of the temple. The temple shares a building with the church building for several wards. Derek's work friend lives next door and took us on his roof, 37 floors up. We got to see the city from the most amazing angle.

From NYC August 2015

From NYC August 2015

After that we hit Central Park to have a picnic. Derek saw Hank Azaria!  ETA: Derek says Hank gave him a nod, thus acknowledging Derek's existence. This is a big deal

(I saw his back half after he walked by). We ate and played and had some ice cream.

From NYC August 2015

From NYC August 2015

Picnic! Derek has a love/hate relationship with the fact that people can get ahold of him all the time because of smart phones. 

From NYC August 2015

This baby is a dream. He was SO good the whole time. 

Then we hit the Met.

The Met!

The Met!

My kids were pretty toasted by this time. But dang it, they have an Arms and Armor wing. Worth.it.

From NYC August 2015

Exhausted but still kicking. 

From NYC August 2015

Guns! 

From NYC August 2015

Museum selfie

From NYC August 2015

Henry the VIII's custom armor. He was a large man. 

From NYC August 2015

These knights were SO cool. Spencer took this picture. 

We stayed until we absolutely had to leave. We headed to Derek's meeting, which involved more pizza, and eventually we fell into our beds in Brooklyn grateful for a fabulous day. The heat and humidity plus my poor husband's foot were cause for difficulties, but all in all, a great day.

Today, it was a long, long, long drive. Conneticut is the worst. What is up with Conneticut? It took forever to get through that silly tiny state! Now we're home. And why does the house that I cleaned before we left smell weird??? WHY????