A Dirty Dash Birthday Bash

A Loss

A Baby

July 2nd
8 pounds 11 ounces

A Camping Trip

A week before my due date. Right after my dr. stripped my membranes.

Excuses

Being pregnant. Moving. Having a baby. Building a house. Moving again. And moving again. These are things that have kicked my butt.
I plan on catching up on blogging but I am still overwhelmed by the amount of things I need to get done to feel settled. And baby Clive really likes to be held, which really limits the amount of things I accomplish in a day.
So I will ease back into blogging with some teaser posts.

Some News

i'm forcing myself to write this post. i am not forcing myself to use the shift key.

i have been bad at blogging. the number one reason is that i am pregnant--which equals lazy. the other reason is that we are moving and this takes up a lot of time and energy.

we always figured we would return to utah and dan got really anxious as the housing market continued to plummet with no sign of return in the near future. so we figured we would try to get out now. if we waited until the market improved (at least three years) then our kids would be older and have a harder time moving.

but we weren't too hopeful. we considered renting, buying a house in utah and then short-sale the one in idaho if it got too much for us. word got out and we immediately had three families that wanted to rent. all very good options. we couldn't decide.

so dan applied for some jobs. he got three offers. he has a talent for getting jobs. he decided to accept a job managing data for the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints (i just can't deny the shift key for that one). they have very good benefits. they also pay for closing costs and realtor fees. so we decided we would put it up for sale for three months tops.

getting a house ready to sale is no easy task. besides all the cleaning and packing we had stella's birthday, a yard sale, and three soccer games. oh, and i'm pregnant.

we had three showings on saturday and an offer on monday. we were really excited because the offer was more than the asking price. but then they negotiated the closing costs. then a self-proclaimed "nit-picky" inspector came up with a very long list of things wrong with our house. including a jet in the bathtub with low-pressure and a stove burner with a low flame. the buyers required us to fix only the most expensive things. (things that were wrong with the house when we bought it but were not pointed out to us.)

everyday for the past week someone has been coming to fix something and charge us money. i am so tired of it. i'm tired of thinking about it. i haven't been doing anything physical but thinking about all the money we are forking out for repairs and going to closing with mucho dinero--make that muchisimo dinero--wears me out. we just hope that the buyers don't back out when the appraisal comes back. our house value seems to drop $1000 a week.

so where are we going? we have spent many weekends in utah trying to figure it out. we looked all through utah county for a house and even a bit in the draper area but couldn't find anything. we finally decided to build. we spent a lot of time trying to decide on a lot.

just after we decided to move to utah county my sister rachel decided the same thing. i really wanted to coordinate our house shopping but she was busy when we were available. we decided on a lot in lehi, just north of utah lake and a mile away from my cousin natalie and friend sarah. but i didn't have much hope that rachel would be able to find a house nearby--there wasn't much available.

the week after we bought our lot rachel went shopping for a house. she checked out the cul-de-sac where our lot is and.....(this is the best part of the story) the house across the street had gone up for sale. and they bought it! ha! how awesome is that?!

more trips have been made to utah to figure out the house plans. we will be renting for the summer while the house is being built. we are renting a home from a family that will be gone for an internship and is leaving their house furnished. if our house isn't finished before the family returns we will just have to move into rachel's basement. party! (right, rachel?)

the last day of school is wednesday. we will leave that evening to go to dan's brother's nicely-timed-wedding in logan on thursday. then we will finally move into the rental on saturday.

see why i haven't blogged about all this? there is just too much going on. and don't forget--i am due to have a baby in july. one month after we move into the rental. one month before we move into the new house.

i was just thinking, could this move be any more hectic? yes, it could. remember that we only had to show our house for one day? i didn't have to try to keep the house clean for weeks. also, our house sold. not for as much as we owe but it still sold. and, i am thankful that the new job provides movers to pack up and haul away our stuff.

if this baby didn't move around so much i might forget that i'm pregnant. poor, neglected fourth child.

ok, done. documented.

pray for the sale to go through!

Bunny Birthday

Once upon a time I threw Stella a party a week before moving. Well, this year the timing was even better. Her party landed on the day our house went on the market. I must be getting better at this party -throwing because I pulled it off rather easily.

She requested a bunny themed birthday--NOT an Easter theme--just bunnies.

I made bunny ear headbands with posterboard and craft paper and stamps.
These balloons were so cute. Except they were top heavy. My favorite was this red one that stood on the tips of his ears:

The kids decorated pails with paint markers...

Pinned the tail (cottonball) on the bunny...

Ate cupcakes (or licked the frosting off the cupcakes). The ears were made with craft paper and toothpicks...

Beaded candy necklaces and had bunny hopping races...

And a pinata...

And I did it all by myself. Except Chloe drew the bunny faces for me.

The party was a success. Fun was had by all.

Gymnastics Meet

Ski School

We signed all the kids up for ski school this year. I took Stella and Fred up on Thursdays after kindergarten & preschool. Dan took Chloe up on Saturdays (I forgot to have him take a picture). Chloe & Stella are pros. Fred improved drastically.
Since I'm pregnant I don't have a pass. But Dan likes to take two kids up at a time. Chloe can get off the lift by herself and Dan can help one kid at a time. Maybe next year he can handle all three. Maybe I should get some skis so I can help out.

This reminds me...Fred is going through a phase right now. He doesn't want to go anywhere without me or Dan. Not church, preschool, babysitters, ski school...It is so annoying. He never went through this phase as a baby. It started part way through ski school. He throws a fit when I have to drop him off. I have no idea why he started this. I always leave him and he recovers but it sure is a hassle.

And another thing about Fred. We have 1:00 church. EVERY Sunday he falls asleep during sharing time. His teacher always hands off a sleeping boy at the end, telling us he is "the sweetest thing."

Shhh

Fred always wants someone to lay down with him at night. Sometimes I really enjoy it. He is a funny kid. Sometimes we are not in the mood and wish he would just go to bed. So we let the girls put him to bed. They take turns sleeping with him in his toddler bed (which is just a crib mattress for those who don't know).

(Blogger thinks it knows how I want my pictures positioned.)

Every morning he joins me in bed. I love it. Sometimes Stella does if she gets up early enough. Chloe only does on weekends--she is way to concerned about being late to waste time laying around. Fred always brings his horses. They are very affectionate. I get at least one kiss a day. One horse is superior to the other because it has a "popped up tail". I can't tell the difference but the tail is Fred's favorite part and he knows which is which.

It's a BOY!
(His hand is by his face. Cute. And see his boy part?)

I'm very happy to have two girls and two boys. I'm glad Fred will have a brother. I'm glad I have been able to have children. I feel very blessed. But this must be the last time.
Because:
1. Ugh. Pregnancy is such a drag. My face is already fat. I wish I could go into hiding during the last four months of pregnancy.
2. I'm old.
3. A family of six fills two rows on an airplane.

We received a letter in the mail inviting Chloe to participate in the school's "gifted" program. In the same week Stella's teacher informed me that Stella is struggling and falling behind the other students.

These two are so different.

Chloe is naturally driven, responsible and independent. Stella is easy-going and carefree.

We are proud of Chloe and are trying to help Stella but we are not going to get too worried yet. We were told that children's brains are still developing and they only use a small percentage. Sometimes they use more of one side (left vs. right) than the other and it is usually around 2nd grade that this evens out. Stella loves to color and create so we are hoping this is the case with her. (Although, I will admit that Chloe has always been crafty and book smart--she's cool like that.) I am the art mom for Stella's class. There are some kids in Stella's class that can write in complete sentences but cannot do, what I consider to be, a very simple art project.

Besides, I was one of a few kids that had to go to a reading aid in first grade and I turned out ok. Not too stupid.

Chloe made it to her school's 2nd grade spelling bee. She made it to the 6th round then got out on beautiful. She said "b-e-a-u-t-i-e.." then paused because she knew she had messed up. She knows this word but last week her class had "beauties" as a spelling word and she just goofed up. She cried afterward. "Everyone will think I'm so stupid for getting out on such an easy work!" She is a worrier.

Here she is spelling in front of the judges, all the 2nd graders and the parents beyond them. I was telling Chanell that I hated the stress of the spelling bee and when it was my turn I said, "g-p-q-a-r-t" because I had a fear of failing. Failing on purpose was much better than failing while actually trying. Chanell told me about the Brian Regan comedy skit. I'm glad someone appreciates my move.

I also came across this spelling bee video and laughed.

Stupid in School

I didn't realize how screwed up English is until I learned Spanish. As I was helping Chloe study her spelling she would ask, "How do I know if it ends in 'al' or 'le'?" And she was so fascinated when I told her that in Spanish the vowels always make the same sound--'a' is always 'ah'. She asked, "What about 'a' (as in apple)?" "They don't have that sound." "Wow!"

(I have tried five times to upload pictures to this post but the program keeps closing so I'll have to continue this in the next post.)

Valentine Box

It looks really simple but it actually took a long time and a lot of sketches for Chloe and I to come up with the right penguin. She made me do most of the drawing but I made her do the cutting, gluing, coloring and glittering. And we took her name off last year's box and glued it on the bag. We added a bunch of sequins and jems for jewelry but we both agreed that we liked the simple version better and we pulled them all off before the glue dried.

She loves it and her classmates love it. Her only complaint is that when it is time to distribute valentines she will have to turn it backwards.

Stella and I were going to make a fox (similar to Chloe's, based off this) but her class isn't doing boxes.

Grandma & Grandpa

My kids love discussing how family is related. I was telling them that Grandma Lang is my grandma, Grandma Goodrich is my mom and your grandma, and when you have a kid I will be a grandma.

Stella: "And Dad will be the grandpa."

Fred: "And he'll be the Big Scary Bear." (My Dad's favorite role.)

Stella: "Yeah, and you'll be the grandma and give lots of hugs and kisses."

A few days later, Dan was asking the kids what they wanted for lunch. Stella couldn't decide. Dan asked, "How about a knuckle sandwich?"

Chloe said, "Dad, that's only funny when Grandpa says it."

Accessorized

Chloe has wanted to get her ears pierced for a long time. At one point I told her she could have it done when she was eight. She reminded me. For some reason I was hesitant. But I figured if she is old enough to be baptized she is old enough to take care of earrings.

She is pretty much a wimp and has no tolerance for pain. She is very dramatic and part of this may be my fault because I don't pay much attention to her wails. "It's like you don't even care that I'm hurt!" So she may play it up even more to try to convince me she really is hurt and I really should respond. And she HATES shots.

It is amazing what she can handle with a different mind set. I don't even think her eyes watered. We told her she is never again allowed to fear shots or cry when getting them.

Season's Greetings

I love receiving Christmas cards. So I try to send them out. I'm never fully successful but I still try. This year we had a good start. We had family pictures taken in October. I made the family update/blurb, printed the photos, bought envelopes, collected addresses and printed them out before heading to St. George. The plan was to stuff and address the envelopes on the long drive to St. George. But I left the address sheet at home. So the cards weren't sent out until January. Oh well, I try.

In case you didn't receive one here it is:

I really should start sending out Independence Day cards. That time of year is a lot less hectic. Well, except July 2011.

My Kind of Tantrum

Fred was mad because I wouldn't give him what he wanted until he asked nicely. So he took his preschool art project, walked over to the garbage can, pulled all the fruit loops off the paper and threw them away. Then he crumpled up the paper and threw it in the recycling bin.

Life would be so much easier if all my kids were willing to part with their school work like this.

While I'm here I guess I'll mention how Fred always takes his dishes to the sink. I'll leave him at the counter with a bowl of yogurt and come back to him gone and his bowl by the sink. This amazes me. One of my favorite things about him.

The Rest

Rachel threw a New Year's Eve party for the kids. (And served the best guacamole I've ever had made by Frie's Fruit Market in Santa Clara. Yum. I want some right now.)*

I took pictures before the party but once it got started I was too wrapped up in the fun to think about photos. We played charades and the gift exchange game. (Fred did not allow his gift to be stolen from him.) And rang in the New Year with noise makers at about 9:30.

Other events/people not photographed during this trip:

The family Christmas party.

An awesome Indian dinner at the Wells'.

Any family of friends (other than Rachel's back).

"Pictures only prove you can't convince." -The Format

* or maybe it just fulfilled a pregnancy craving