A Heart in her Hand

Lucy leaving for her first day of pre-school with Miss Terry.

Lucy was really excited to start school. Although she didn't know any of the 7 other kids, she started without hesitation...until last Friday. She woke up determined that she wasn't going to go to school. Not feeling ill, and 5 classes already under her belt, I thought she was just being stubborn.

Just after the older kids left for school she was laying on my bedroom floor and asked where her heart was. I told her it was in her chest. She asked on which side. I told her closer to the middle. She continued laying on the floor declaring she wasn't going to school.

As I moved around the house she followed still proclaiming she wasn't going to school. Finally, after my several inquiries (and even some bribery) I told her she needed to go to school.

Lucy (whining): But we have to pledge allegiance. I don't know it.
Me: Lucy, I dont' think any of your friends know it. You're all learning it.
Lucy: But I don't know which arm?
Me: Which arm?
Lucy: yeah, I don't know which arm to put over my heart.
Me: oooohhh (finally! understanding) it doesn't matter which hand you put over your heart.
Lucy: I don't know which hand!!
Me: Lucy, use that hand (pointing to her right hand. She's right handed).
Lucy: I DON'T KNOW WHICH HAND!
Me: Do you want me to draw a heart on your hand? The one to use to pledge allegiance?
Lucy: yes.
Me: do you want to go to school now?
Lucy: yeah.
Me: go get dressed then.

I must say that I'm grateful for the reminder of the stresses of learning new things. Especially 4 year old stressors. Poor girl. It just took a while for her mom to understand.


I learned shortly after talking to Ryan that you're supposed to use your right hand. Oh. I didn't know that.
I'm Canadian.

When We're Helping We're Happy

. . . and we're happy when they help :)


When Clay was a toddler he loved to clean. Hence, a toy broom, mop and vacuum were given to him on his 2nd birthday. These toys weren't much for actual cleaning, but made him happy. Give Clay a real vacuum now, he's not quite so into it. But, having a real vacuum that can be made just the right size for our toddler, Miss Olivia - priceless.

And we're making progress actually sucking things up.
Win win.

Bring on the New Year!

School is back in session.
Bring on 4th grade, 2nd grade, 1st and pre-school!

(I love love love this picture)

Saturday Morning Fun

Ready, Set . . .

GO!

Sharing Cuteness

Henry is 3 weeks old today.

We are grateful he's so willing to share his cuteness.

(Hang on tight - his cheeks are really starting to fill out!)

Spoiled

I have the best in-laws ever. Last week they took ALL the kids ALL day EVERY day. All I had to think about was making sure Henry was changed and fed and I was getting enough rest. REST. Can you imagine that? Talk about being spoiled.

Grandma and Grandpa Hunt did more with the kids in the 5 days than I think I could in a month. Take a look.

Day 1:
LIBRARY TIME

The kids needed to stalk up on books for quiet time and for book reports.
(Ryan offers $5 for a book report.)

RED ROCKS

I actually haven't been there before. The kids loved it.

ROXBOROUGH PARK

Here, the kids saw all sorts of animal life - including a large buck. A thunderstorm came and shortened their adventure here. Don't worry, they came back another day.

Day 2:

THE DENVER CHILDRENS MUSEUM

G&G fought the crowd and the kids enjoyed the free day at the museum.
Too much fun.

Day 3:

LITTLETON HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The kids loved seeing all the animals and Clay had a slight obsession with the pigs, especially when they would roll in the mud. Which may have inspired the next activity. . .

BUBBLE BATH TIME

Day 4:
Hiking back at ROXBOROUGH PARK and then onto MT. EVANS
(I'll need to get the pictures from Gpa again.)

Day 5:
SERVICE

The kids came back with a beautifully cleaned van - inside and out, along with an oil change!

Love it.

Lest you think it was all fun and no work, each morning the kids left they took 10 mins and tidied the house. They spent quiet time working on math workbooks, reading, coloring and napping. The kids slept well every night and were anxious for adventures with G&G the next day.

Thank you Grandma & Grandpa and Grandma Didi!
What a week!

With Root Beer floats and all!

The Past 10 Days

My parents came in to town the night before we went to the hospital, and if you remember when we had Olivia how much my mom did, can you imagine how much we did with my dad here too?!

Well let me tell you. I could probably go day by day and tell you what they did, but let's see if I can sum it all up.

Dad plumbs the pedestal sink, along with fixing a compression valve that exploded hot water on him. Dad and Ryan start putting the window casings back together (it had only been 3 years since the windows were put in...). Mom outside weeding. My parents move everything out of the bedrooms (upstairs) and the entire basement (except the girls' room) to have carpet laid the next day. Tuesday the carpet guys come. Dad and Ryan still working on windows, my mom is doing a gazillion loads of laundry, fixing all our dresser drawers, and sorting all the kids' clothing into the drawers - including cute, little storage containers for their underwear and socks. (Something I obviously didn't want to do.) The next day, Dad and Ryan are searching for a specific tile to tile the shower with. (When we replaced all the windows, we found mold all around the window in the shower - we've just covered it with a shower curtain. 2 days of searching for a matching tile - the tile had been discontinued 3 years ago...of course - so low and behold, they find a tile close enough to match at Home Depot. Of all places.) They spend Wednesday cutting, tiling, and grout the shower, while my mom takes the kids (two separate trips) to Build A Bear for them to put together their Christmas gifts. Are you tired yet? This was all done while tending kids, taking them to the pool every day, fixing meals and running the household (and I'm sure many more things that I'm forgetting) while I sat, held the baby and answered questions. Sweet deal.

Now I have new carpet - that has helped us de-clutter and (still) de-junk,
An awesome bathroom - thanks to Ryan for doing the baseboards, caulking and hanging our new hardware,
Windows that look amazing even if they aren't quite finished yet (sanding and more mudding to go),
Kids' dressers that are organized and functioning again along with clean clothes AND baby girl clothes sorted and ready to pass on,
Clean bedrooms
A happy, contented baby Henry that I have been able to soak up and hold all day long.

There is a special place in heaven for parents like mine. Who come and do all they can to ease our burden and make life sweeter. We can't ever thank them enough.

I'm too lazy to post pictures right now, but as soon as everything is close(r) to being finished, I will.

In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out who our little Henry looks like now. At the hospital he looked just like Clay. See?

Henry's first bath in the hospital

But, now it seems he's changed so much in just these 10 short days that I can't tell who he looks like. And, not that he needs to look like anyone - he can be his own little self, but can you see any of his siblings in him?

*house pictures to follow soon.