Halloween 2016

Halloween this year felt a little rushed since Zuri and I had just gotten home from Florida.  We had spent the week in Disneyworld with my sister Emily.  Lots more to come on that one!  Zuri really wanted to be something scary this year, but unfortunately, even though she is eight, she is the size of a six year old, and all the costumes we could find in her size were of pretty princesses and fairies and whatnot.  So we improvised and took her witch costume from a couple years ago and made her into a vampire/witch.  

Kai was a ninja, and although his costume was a 5/6, it really didn't fit through the torso--too tight-- but was super long in the arms and legs.  He was a little uncomfortable, and really happy to get out of it.

River resurrected Zuri's old Princess costume that my mom made several years ago.  She was really cute, saying "Princess!" over and over.  She didn't like the hat, though, and refused to wear it longer than it took to snap a couple pictures.  River also really got into the trick-or-treating spirit.  She loved going to the houses and saying "trick-or-treat!" and getting candy.  She thought it was the best thing in the world.  No shyness there.  She didn't really get scared with any costumes or decorations either, which was nice.  For weeks, as we saw decorations in the stores and throughout the town, she would say, "Halloween! Scary witch! Spooky pumpkin!" It was adorable.  Christmas will be lots of fun this year.

Our neighborhood is a lot of fun when it comes to Halloween, and not just for the kids.  We have several neighbors who do things for kids and adults alike.  We have one neighbor who always makes scones, homemade root beer, and hot chocolate; another neighbor cooks up hot dogs and hot chocolate; another does scones and a mad hatter's tea party.  It's fun, and a nice break from trick-or-treating when little legs get tired.

Our trick-or-treating didn't last very long this year.  We ate dinner quickly and headed out.  Not even ten minutes in, Zuri was complaining of a tummy ache.  I didn't think too much about it, but then she said she needed to go the the bathroom.  Luckily, we had just stopped at a friend's house and she asked to use their restroom.  She was inside for quite some time, so I knew something was going on.  However, she was fine coming out, so we caught up to J, Kai, and River, who had gone up ahead.  About 30 minutes later she was saying that her legs were tired and she was ready to go home.  Knowing how well she handled Disneyworld, I was really surprised, but we cut our route short and made it home about an hour after we had started.  We made it just in time, for Zuri had diarrhea she was holding in.  Poor girl. 

Stopping in for scones and root beer

Independence Day

We spent our 4th of July rather low key this year.  We all donned our red, white and blue and went to Veteran's Memorial Park where they had a carnival.  We spent time at the carnival then went over to the park where the girls played.  However, the day was hot and we all decided to call it early.  We be-bopped over to the grocery store for food for our barbecue.  We ate dinner with my grandparents, with root beer floats for dessert.

My grandparents went home after dessert, and we got River down to bed.  She is in an in-between phase where she still technically needs a nap but doesn't fall asleep until after three, which puts her napping way too late into the evening so she doesn't go to bed.  Not a fun cycle.  However, for the 4th, she didn't get a nap, which put her as extremely cranky for the night.  We decided to forgo fireworks for her and Kai.

So Zuri and I went back out to the park, where the carnival was still going strong.  They also had Hotel Transylvania 2 playing on a giant projector screen.  When we arrived, I asked a couple police officers where the fireworks were going to be lit.  They told me directly to the west of where we were, so Zuri and I wandered for a bit and set up our spot where we thought we would get a good view.

As it grew darker, we could see other firework shows all around us in a 360 view.  At one time I counted twelve separate displays.  It was absolutely beautiful.  But as it got darker and our "show" still hadn't happened, I began to think that maybe that was all we were going to get.  By ten-twelve I decided to bag it and go home.  We packed up our stuff and were walking toward the car when all of a sudden there was a loud BOOM right above us.  We hastily plopped down.  Our show had finally started, and we were not disappointed.  It was spectacular, and loud.  Poor Zuri had her hands over her ears until one nice lady offered us earplugs.

Zuri had a blast and wanted to make sure that I took lots of pictures and video of the fireworks.  She kept saying, "did you get that one?  Take a video!"  She was too cute.  I think she really enjoyed having one-on-one time with me (that wasn't shopping).

Happy Halloween!

Christmas Miracles

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."  --Albert Schweitzer

I'll admit it, last year the green-eyed monster of envy crept upon me.  My three year old niece had been diagnosed with cancer just two months prior to Christmas, and they received an outpouring of love and support not only from family and friends but from the community as well.  They were given Christmas three times over; they were given the promise of free landscaping for their yard (they had just bought and were in the process of finishing up remolding their home), and so much more.

I tried hard, I really did, but as we struggled with providing Christmas for our kids, and with the added financial strain of a new baby any day, seeing my sister-in-law's family receive such an abundance was really hard.  It wasn't that I didn't think they deserved it--quite the contrary; I was grateful that they had so much support--there was just part of me that was envious too.  Why is it always such a struggle for us when others are given in abundance so easily?

I kept my green-eyed monster down, however, knowing that all too soon the newness of the diagnosis would wear off, and with it, the material support would decrease. They would be fighting a tough battle with their little girl in the next couple years, so they would need all the buoying up that they could get from the first few months.  Christmas was magical for them--and, I might add, for us, too.

Life moved on, and I forgot about about my little monster.  River was born, and with her perfect babyness, our family has become whole.  We were able to get away from it all quite a bit this summer.  We went to Yellowstone twice, as well as Zion National Park, and I had the amazing opportunity to go around the world with my sister.

My monster started to feel embarrassed.  How could I have been jealous even for a second?  I have an amazing life--challenging at times, yes, but amazing, and oh-so-blessed.

Then I ate some real humble pie as the holidays began. 

We went as a family to the Festival of Trees.  My grandparents came with us, and it was really busy.  We were in line to get tickets with excited, wiggling kids, and Kai's stroller was just adding chaos to the tight space.  My grandma and I took the kids out of the way while J and my grandpa stayed in line.  When J was next in line to pay, further down the line, a boy was playing with a sign and flipped it my way: Cash Only This Line.  J was in the cash only line and he was going to pay with a card.  I had brought some cash for activities (face painting, giant bubbles, etc), so I went up to J and pulled out my cash for him to use, but when I saw the guy ahead pay with a card, I realized we could use the card after all.

At that moment, an older teenage girl came up to me and held out some cash.  She said that it was for us to get in.  I was so flabbergasted that my first instinct to refuse almost came out.  She must have seen my hesitation and my almost denial, because she pushed her hand closer.  I thanked her, still in shock and handed the money to J, who was now at the register.  When we turned back around, the girl was gone.  I would have loved to be able to talk with her more, and tell her how much her generosity meant.

Not even a week later, we received a gift card in the mail.  It had an unsigned note on it, and no return address.

Blessings upon blessings--and I cried.

The Christmas miracles did not end there.  A few days later, when I came home from picking the kids up from school, I walked in to discover a bunch of gifts under our Christmas tree.  The deliverer wanted only to be known as "Santa."

I tell you, my heart has been tremendously touched by the unexpected kindness of others this year.  " 'Tis the season," one person said to me--but that person didn't understand.  It is more than just "the season" to me.  It means everything.  This year--this year when finances aren't as tight, when we have been so abundantly blessed throughout the year, this is the year that we are given Christmas miracles.  Because miracles they are; someone--some people out there, thought of us, and not because we are "in need."  I think that means more to me than anything.  They thought of us.

They brought the spirit of Christmas into our home, and with it, added joy into our hearts.  One day, I hope to be able to do the same for others.

So to my anonymous friends, I say thank you.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  May you be blessed as you have blessed us.

Merry Christmas

Pioneer Day

For Pioneer day this year (for those of you who aren't aware, Utah celebrates July 24th as a state holiday: Pioneer Day), we took a day trip to Mill Creek Canyon.  We walked along the river boardwalk and hiked up a trail; we had Kai with us so we stuck to easy trails.  It was beautiful and green and much cooler than the desert valley.  Utah really is amazing with its diverse climate, and close proximity to the mountains no matter where you live. 

 

 A rare moment of stillness caught.  She looks so contemplative there, but I think she was really looking for fish. 

 ....and....back to the silliness.  Oh, yeah, did I mention she lost her front tooth?  The other one is loose.  She might be wishing for her two front teeth for Christmas!

 Daddy's doing double-time with the kids.  River had fun "riding" on the top of the stroller

When we returned home for the evening, we had decided to forgo seeing fireworks (the thought of hauling Kai around to a crowded venue was just not appealing after being out all day; not to mention, River), but Zuri saw some from our bay window and was so excited that I couldn't say no, so she and I went out while J stayed home with the other two kids.

 It was already pretty late and there were tons of firework displays already started, so we went to the Pioneer Days because I knew they started later.  Last year I was really impressed with how close we were and the fireworks they had, so I was expecting another great event this year.

I was sadly disappointed.  There were still some beautiful, amazing fireworks, but overall, the display was very short.  Next year I think we will go to another venue.  Zuri and I did have fun with just the two of us....and look, I am getting better at selfies (this was taken with my camera and not my phone, so I had no idea how it would turn out)!

Zuri was pretty funny about the fireworks.  She wanted to make sure I was taking pictures of them.  Every time I put my camera down she would get after me and tell me to get more pictures of all "the pretty fireworks."