A Big Fat Update...

Out enjoying family time together. <3

I already fell asleep tonight, but now I am completely wide awake again...so I figure tonight is as good as any time to finally dust off this old blog after almost a year's absence. The past 12 months have been so epic for us! It has been the busiest year our family has ever had with many unexpected opportunities and blessings and heartaches...buckle up for a crazy summary!

Mark in Virginia (bragging about his beach front hotel). :)

Mark still works at Freeus, and what an amazing blessing his job is to our family!!! The company has continued to grow exponentially with growth projected to continue with the Baby Boomers. Freeus manufactures, supports, and sells medical alarm devices to dealers which then resell them to users. They came out with a product in recent years that has fall detect and will automatically call for help if a fall is detected. So cool!!! Mark loves that he can work at a job that influences and changes so many lives. These devices are so important to the subscribers to give them peace of mind and necessary help when needed. He hired his replacement as office manager and has recently been working as the Dealer Care Manager (which he loves)! We are grateful for such steady work! Mark has also enjoyed a good amount of travel for work, usually to Virginia and Pennsylvania, but he has a trip to NV coming up soon.

Gavin and Dad on Temple Square.

Mark made it for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's recording of The Book of Mormon video recordings last summer! Watch for him in the background of Jacob chapters 2 & 3. He was even right by the prophet Jacob while he preached in those chapters, so who knows just how "famous" his face may be from it. :) It was such a positive experience for him, both the preparation and also the time on the set. What are the chances: he sat next to a Hungarian?! (Mark served a mission for our church to Hungary). Mark got the biggest kick out of switching from English to Hungarian without warning...it took a while for the other guy to recognize what language they was speaking, but totally freaked out once he realized it was Hungarian!:) He said there was such a powerful spirit on the set, and the caliber of the cast was astounding. We are so glad he could do it...but I think Mark is the only one who occasionally misses his beard. :) I am so glad to be done with his pony tail and scruffy beard! :) ...but now he is talking about another year in Savior of the World 2019 Christmas season, so it may be time to start growing again soon.

He has tried his hand at a number of home repairs and renovations lately, and has discovered a newfound hobby that will keep him busy for spare moments to come. :) We have enjoyed redoing the main areas of our home recently, and look forward to more exciting projects.

Dad reading bedtime stories to Leland.

Mark has been our rock this year. He has held down the fort (and then some!) as I have been away from home more than we have ever experienced before in the past. The kids are bouncing up and down as I walk in the door to tell me how Dad "did this" and "said this" and let them "do that." The extra Daddy time this year has been so fun for the kids (and for Mark, too). We have learned so much as a couple and family!

I made this shirt. <3

If I told you about my past 12 months, you
probably wouldn't believe me! :) I still hardly can believe it myself. It has been wild and filled with miracles and opportunities to grow and expand.

Serving the women and families in my stake has been an incredible privilege! I wrote in my journal just this morning that if I were to be released today for some unforeseeable reason, I would be completely at peace. Together with my presidency, the stake presidency, and ward leaders, we have served with the Savior to powerfully influence the women of this stake and their faith in Jesus Christ. I have witnessed miracles, and am living proof that God can take anybody who is willing, no matter how under qualified they may be, and work through them to fulfill His purposes and touch lives for the better. I have loved every minute!

After my 200 hour YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) in 2018, I only have one more weekend to make up (and a retreat that was rescheduled due to weather), and then I will be a certified Hatha yoga instructor!!! Woot! I plan to do another 200 hour YTT starting this spring, but this will be for Kundalini Yoga. We are also tentatively planning a trip for me to NYC for training in yoga therapy for kids who have been through trauma. I will start teaching a Yoga Therapy Prana I Course out of a therapist's office in Logan this fall. We plan to also bring kids yoga to this office after adult yoga is established. I hope to eventually develop (and later teach a YTT) of my own creation of a yoga therapy course for kids who have been through trauma. I also hope to create a mindful parenting/trauma informed parenting course that incorporates yoga. I will be offering 2 free trial yoga movement classes in a few weeks, then if it goes well, will be hired to teach weekly movement classes on an online forum for women with betrayal trauma. So amazing to watch all of this unfold and know that I am exactly where God needs me to be! <3

Shipton and Mom selfie. :)

I also took 3 trips to Atlanta and a trip to Minnesota in 2018 to train in brain wellness, and have been taking a light client load since June for a protocol called QNRT. It has been so fulfilling to be part of people's healing journey in the aftermath of trauma and emotional stress. <3

This week as I was about to leave for a meeting, Shipton said, "Mom, I know that you would rather stay with me instead of go to your meeting if you could because I know that you love me." <3 I am so grateful that he knows that because there have been many, many moments when I have felt torn between home and the demands outside of my home. This has been new (yet exciting) territory for me and my family. After so much time as a homemaker, this has been a big deal to step into the professional world again (and so crazy to have training underway then be called to serve on top of it!). We are grateful that I work for myself, so I can set my own schedule and pace. Although we aren't keeping life on hold for adoption any more, this work arrangement for me can easily be adjusted with short notice. We expect our plans for my work schedule will be a perfect fit as we look at our anticipated family life this fall. Shipton will be 5 years old, so all 4 of our kids will go to an all day homeschooling co-op group one day a week. That is just enough time to teach the 2 1/2 hours Yoga Therapy Course, take a few QNRT clients, then be back home with the kids for the rest of the week as a homeschooling mama and free up our weekends from clients. I love that we have found a way that I can have the best of both worlds!

I feel so privileged and blessed for the treasured experiences, growth, and knowledge that I have had in the past 12 month in all areas of my life. <3 I have grown so much personally through the events of the past year, and I am in awe to be in so many positions to influence, love, and reach others right now as well.

Just home from a temple trip.

This girl has grown up so much!!! Her 12th B-Day is right around the corner. With our church's announcement of changes to age requirements, Sennika has started to attend the Young Women's Program, and has her very first temple recommend! She has jumped right in, and attends the temple most weeks, usually with her own family names. Because of previous surgeries for her ears, she refused to do baptisms, :) but happily does Confirmations. She has set a goal to visit all the temples in Utah in 2019. So far we have been to 3...14 more to go. :) She has high hopes to finish the Personal Progress program before it changes in January, and is working feverishly away to accomplish it.

One of her chicken's died a few months ago. That broke her little heart.:( Since then, she has made the decision to re-home the rest. We found an adorable farm with an attentive family for one chicken, and tentatively will be re-homing the other two to some friends from our homeschooling co-op group. She hopes to get a little pet parakeet instead. <3

Senn is still at the same dance studio; however, she is doing tumbling this year and loves it. She is learning how to add strength to her super flexibility, and it has been so good for her to learn that new skills require patience and practice. We are so proud of how much she has improved and that she has stayed with it even though it has been difficult for her. She still loves to read, and spends more free time in a good book than on anything else! She still loves to draw and create. She has made several good friends her age this year, which has been so fun for her. Two of her friends are also homeschooled, and moved just around the block, so they get together as often as possible. She is a wonderful help around the house, and can be really sweet with the boys (but still struggles with their teasing)! We are grateful for this amazing daughter of ours!!!

So typical of Gavin and his sense of humor

Gavin turned 10 last fall. He has loved his weekly Urban Gym class! It's boys' gymnastics, but it's so hip and cool. The boys learn how to maneuver over obstacles and do flips, etc. He has consistently been at the top of his gym class, and comes home sweaty every week.

Scouts has continued to be fun for him as well. He is a Webelos now. We just got home tonight from the Cub of the Year banquet where he was recognized as the Cub of the Year for our unit! He will get to march in the Peach Day's parade and help carry flags, and is looking forward to it.

He has made several good friends this year, too. One is his bestie at church and scouts. He gets to sit by him most weeks, and his friend's mom even has these two going to ward choir every week! His other two best friends also homeschool, so it has been so much fun to get in lots of play dates together with good friends.

Mark bought a wii this fall. I'm still not sure how I feel about it,:) but Gavin has loved exploring this new world. He especially loves the Lego movie wii games. We have a game store near our house, so most of his chore money has been going to games lately.

Gavin folded 10 origami claws :)

He still loves Origami and Legos. He still loves riding his bike, scooting, jumping on the tramp, playing in the sandbox...digging holes...just being a boy playing in the outdoors. We love having Gavin in our family, and enjoy his playful sense of humor (most of the time). :) He is a good brother, especially to his little brothers, and has been a huge help around the house and yard lately.

Le went to scouts like this one week. I was dying (and still
laughed as I pulled this picture up tonight). THIS KID!!! <3

Leland has had a wonderful year of growing, too. He started taking karate and is so proud to have two stripes on his belt now. He came home just this week and announced that he chopped a board with his leg. :) He has made a really sweet friend in the stake who has started going to karate now too. It has been so good for him to build his confidence and have practice of proper expectations in a formal classroom setting.

We are so proud of Leland's decision to be baptized last year! He tries so hard to be good and understand how to use the gift of the Holy Ghost. <3 He is so extremely honest, and we appreciate that he is truthful, even when he is worried about the consequences or outcomes from the choices or mistakes he has made.

Leland can be rowdy; however, most of the time he is gentle and sweet. Gavin and Leland (and usually Shipton) love playing together both inside and outside, alone, together, or with friends. As hard as it was for me to accept that I have 3 little boys because I never pictured myself as a boy mom, :) I am so glad now! These three are such great friends. Every day is an adventure! Once school and chores are done, the rest of the day is free time, which these boys usually spend on creative play...building, experimenting, creating, outside play. And Leland is right in the middle of it (which is usually Gavin initiated, :) but Leland is happy to join in).

I'm not sure why, but Leland has been way into frogs lately...so he got a chocolate frog for Valentine's Day. :)

Leland has gotten really good at folding origami along with Gavin. We just shuffled bedrooms around, and he has his own room for the very first time. He is loving the chance to spread out and set things up how he wants them to be. He is also loving scouts as a Wolf. We are grateful to have Leland in our family and his big and tender heart!!!

Ship in his PJ Mask suit. This stage is so fun! ...but the
superhero dress ups are starting to die out in the past few
months.

Shipton has had a big year too. He went to preschool, and loved the interaction with other kids his age. Where there is almost a 4 year space between Leland and Shipton, he has been lonely for other preschoolers who enjoy the same things he does. He also adored his teacher, Miss Kerri. He had a blast having his own special time...and I used that quiet time to get through curriculum for the 3 older kids. Win-win! Sadly, he has been very clingy after some major family changes last month, and hasn't been willing to go all month. :( He finally slept in his own bed again for the past 2 nights in a row, so we are hopeful he will get back to his confident and independent little self again soon.

As mentioned, he loves playing with his brothers. He still loves cats...not sure when that will change (if ever). :) When we go to the library, he only picks books with cats on the cover.

He loves building with his duplos, playing with his robotic cats, and digging in the sandbox. He was in one of my kids yoga classes at the kids gym and has become a little yoga expert. He asked Mark a few days ago, "Dad, do you know why I'm so fast?" (Mark was stumped). "It's because I do yoga!" <3 He teaches ANYBODY who will listen all of the different yoga poses and promises them that they will be fast and strong if they do it too. :)

Have you noticed yet that he does thumbs up whenever he poses for pictures? :) Ship dressed up like an Indian around Thanksgiving (for preschool).

Ship and Dad are even better pals than before (if that is even possible!). He wants to go wherever Dad goes. He loves to help, especially in the kitchen and with chores around the house. He loves to color, draw, and paint. He is starting to read simple words! It is so stink'n cute to hear him sound out letters. I can't explain it, but he gets a completely different voice and makes sure to double the sounds for word with double consonants. :) Ship is a streak of sunshine and we can't imagine life without him!!!

These are origami swords...made out of paper with a little tape...they even have sheaths. Not sure if you are as impressed as I am, but these are the kinds of things these creative boys pump out daily.

My 16 year old sister moved in with our family last March and just went home this February. We learned so much as a family, and especially parents. We weren't expecting a teen for several more years, so it was good life experience to be plunged into the world of teens with no forewarning or preparation. It has left a hole in our hearts, but we are grateful that we could open our home (and hearts) to her.

One of the kids' favorite stores: BAM! It's a Lego store. Here the kids are building custom mini figures.

Last fall, we also had an Expectant Mom with a baby girl coming this spring reach out to us. We were connected through a common friend on FB. Things happened quickly, and within a month of her reaching out, we made the decision to temporarily house her and her toddler (who she planned to continue to parent). Although she changed her mind in February and has decided to parent her baby instead, again, we learned so much as a family, and especially as a couple. How can you love somebody with your heart wide open and without holding to expectations? Although we weren't perfect, we feel we approached this situation with nothing but love for all involved. We respect her decision and hope for their bright and happy future together as a family.

Decorating Christmas cookies

We weren't as consistent around the holidays for Mommy's and Daddy's clubs, but we were consistent at having 1:1 or 2:1 time with each child weekly. Mark and I believe that this is one reason the kids did as well as they did with so many extra household members. Mark and I treasure the time we have with our children individually. Come, Follow Me has been an answer to our prayers. Although I can't fully explain how or why, but it is almost like it has helped bridge the gap and fill in the holes with the fast-paced life we have been living this year. Our stake has family time every Sunday where no meetings are allowed to be scheduled. Although our week is full of commitments, we make full use of this time every week by studying the family section of Come, Follow Me, then spending time together playing board games, playing outside, catching up with each other, cooking or baking together. We have loved it!!! Mark and I have done our best to not schedule meetings or commitments after family time either, so we have every Sunday from 4 pm to bedtime together every week.

At the Grand Canyon

Although we have experienced so much this year that could have easily driven us apart, it has actually brought us closer together. We have learned new levels of communication and team work as a couple. We have been consistent about connecting every day (which has some times been tricky when one of us is traveling), a weekly date night, couple prayers, and regular temple attendance. A few weeks ago Mark asked me what I have gained eternally from the experiences of this year. I love that we can both draw on the experiences of the past 12 months and they will be ours forever. We are so grateful for each other!!!

I have left the blog un-updated for so long because living life was too fast paced to document it for the first 6 months, then we were expecting to be taking this blog down with being matched for adoption. We don't know what the future will hold. We still hope that it will somehow and sometime include adoption...but if not, we see how greatly blessed we have been (and are). During our couple prayers this morning, Mark thanked our Heavenly Father for the blessings He has continued to pour out on our family over and over again. Truly, we are so blessed!!! God is good, and we have been showered with His love in this time and season of our lives.

Mark, Gavin, and their Bearded Friends...

Gavin and Mark with some of their fellow cast members from Savior of the World at the cast reunion.  These guys are also hoping for a spot in The Book of Mormon recordings.  Compared to their beards, I have nothing to complain about! :)

Families were invited to the reunion at the conference center (our family selfie on our way out in the parking garage)

Pie Day 2017

Shipton's French Silk Pie (chocolate---Better Homes & Gardens)

1 prepared pastry shell
1 C whipping cream
1 C semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 C butter
1/3 C sugar
2 beaten egg yolks
3 TBS creme de cacao or whipping cream
1 C whipped cream

1.  Bake shell according to directions.  Set aside.  Meanwhile, in a medium heavy saucepan combine the 1 C. whipping cream, the chocolate chips, butter, and sugar.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted (about 10 min).  Remove from heat.  Gradually stir half of the chocolate mixture into beaten egg yolks.  Return egg mixture to chocolate mixture in saucepan.  Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened and begins to bubble (about 5 mins).  Remove from heat.  (Mixture may appear to separate.)  Stir in the creme de cacao or whipping cream.  Place the saucepan in a bowl of ice water (I fill my sink with ice water).  Stir occasionally, until the mixture stiffen and becomes hard to stir (about 20 min).  Transfer chocolate mixture to a medium mixing bowl.

2.  Beat cooled chocolate mixture with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 2 to 3 min or until light and fluffy.  Spread filling in the baked pastry shell.  Cover and refrigerate pie for 5-24 hours (It's even better after it's chilled).  To serve, top with whipped cream.

Leland's Pumpkin Pie (Libby's recipe)

prepared pie shell

3/4 C granulated sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ground cloves

2 large eggs

1 15-oz can pumpkin 

1 12-oz-can evaporated milk

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in small bowl.  Beat eggs in large bowl.  Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture.  Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

Pour into pie shell

Bake in preheated 425 over for 15 min.  Reduce temperature to 350.  Cover the crust with foil.  Bake for an additional 40-50 mins or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.  Col on wire rack for 2 hours.  Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Gavin's French Cherry Pie (Jackie Call's recipe)

1/2 small pkg (3 oz) cream cheese

1/2 C powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 C. cool whip

1 can prepared cherry pie filling

Soften cream cheese and add sugar and vanilla together.  Whip cream and fold into cream cheese mixture.  Pour into graham cracker crust of cooled baked crust and spread evenly. Pour cherry filling over the top.  Chill 4-5 hours. 

Sennika's Blueberry Pie (Better Homes and Gardens)

2 prepared shells

5 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (allow frozen berries to thaw at room temperature for 45 minutes)

3/4 C sugar

3 TBS flour

1/2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel or a splash of lemon juice

In a large bowl combine the sugar, flour, lemon, and berries.  Gently toss berries until coated.  Transfer berry mixture to the pastry-lined pie plate.  Trim bottom pastry to edge of pie plate (and cut slits in the top) or add a lattice top.   

Cover crust with foil.  Bake at 375 oven for 25 min.  Remove foil.  Bake pie for 25-30 additional minutes or until filling is bubbly and pastry is golden.  Cool on wire rack.

My Savior of the World Boys

Mark and Gavin have spent the past few months rehearsing for this beautiful musical production depicting the events surrounding Christ's birth and death.  They just started performances and the production will go until the end of the year.  These boys are in the Wednesday night, Friday night, and Saturday matinee performances.  It's been a huge time commitment and late nights, but we have been delighted to support them in this.  Mark and Gavin both have had spiritual moments in preparing for the performances.  Mark is a temple priest.  Gavin is a temple boy and John the baptist. They are both angels for most of the other scenes throughout the rest of the performance.  I am proud of them both!

Hello...and almost goodbye...Autumn..IPad picture download

This was from Ship's b-day back in April.  I'm not sure if it made it up or not.

I think we had other pictures of our big Easter Egg hunt, right?  Since Easter is close to my b-day, I asked for an Easter party and invited my friends (I was the primary chorister at the time, so we invited my primary kiddos and their families).  Our own kids were happy egg fillers and hiders.

This picture gives me reassurance that sometimes I am doing my job right as a Mama.  I LOVE that these two read and read and read.

Sennika drew a picture of Dad. :D

"Super Cat!"  AKA Shipton (note the awesome cape).  Essential to save the day...along with arms flailed behind him so it swooshes after him as he runs. :)

Gavin helped me paint.  I love this color!  It's Robin Egg Blue.

Sennika and I sent all of the boys off camping (this is the first year we haven't had Ship stay with us).  We had so much needed "G.T.," or "Girl Time."  I never expected to have so many boys and only one daughter.  I don't regret the mix, it has simply surprised me.  Being so feminine, I wasn't expecting to many boys.  We love them, but we also love doing things that only girls can do.  We had some extra special time that night.  It was stormy and Senn was scared by the wind.  She crawled into my bed shortly after we had said goodnight.  We stayed up taking WAY too late.  Keeping a strong relationship with each one of our children is important to both of us as parents.  The children behave differently with individual time with one or both parents than in group interactions.  Although there are a million ways I can use my time, I was always keep a flexible enough schedule to make time to stay close to each of my children.  Some day it would be fun to actually get to purchase the baby girl clothes Senn and I sometimes window shop for.  (Senn usually begs to pass through the baby aisle at walmart to take in the cuteness). In the future it may be wonderful for Senn to have a sister to love as only sisters can and one more daughter to enjoy G.T. with.  Until then, we will keep enjoying our time as the only girls in this boy-infested family. lol.:)

This is my Grandma O (my mom's mom) and my mom.  We got together with most of my sisters for a Mother's Day tea party in Idaho.

Have I talked about the chickens?  I think so, right?  We got little puff balls on Easter weekend and started our flock.  Senn literally calls them her babies.  She LOVES the little bird brains!  They seem to love the kids too.  They race to the door of the hen house when they hear them open the backdoor to the house.  They have spent more of their free time this summer playing with the chickens than any other way.

Field trip to the local botanical gardens.

Gavin all ready to head out for his first scout camp!

Field trip to the Bird Refuge.

Solar Eclipse!

Leland's b-day piñata!

I was dying over this card!  Gavin took a picture off of Leland's poster board and used a body he cut out from his Friend Magazine.  I'm not entirely sure why it hit me as so funny...even know I am still chuckling about it!

Gavin has been my regular yoga buddy lately.  The other kids only have the patience and attention for a 3 minute mediation each, but Gavin has been doing my daily practice with me (30 min).

Senn makes a lovely yoga buddy too!

Senn helping Ship build magforms.

The yoga girls again.

I was up the apple tree trying to get the remaining apples.  Senn thought it was pretty funny.

Shipton with another favorite cape (a V-Day tablecloth). :)

Senn nervously about to head into her first day of dance class.  She did ballet back in ID.  We finally got her into a super fun class here in UT.

Gav again.

I don't know why, but this felt like such a magical moment.  Everyone was finishing up lunch.  I love when they all decide to sit at the counter and I can look into all 4 of their faces (our table only fits 3 chairs per long side, so I always have one next to me).

Oh, the toilet paper! :s  I have a Preschooler Halloween album of music on my IPad.  Ship loves to listen to it over and over.  One day, with Dad's permission, he decided to turn himself into a mummy while he listened to it...except he ended up turning the house into a mummy instead.  He was so excited for Halloween this year.  It was adorable!

My boys!  Look at how comfy that both look!  This is the one and only day Mark was clean shaven in 2017.  We found out he didn't get into the Book of Mormon movie clips for this year (they will continue to record next summer, but won't start accepting applications for a few months---then they are suppose to update the profiles every 3 months to demonstrate hair and beard growth).  Mark and Gavin had auditioned for Savior of the World.  Mark received an e-mail telling them that the didn't get it.  So he shaved.  And then the night he shaved I received a voicemail.  There had been a mistake and they really did cast Mark and Gavin!  He frantically called back the next morning to let them know he had just shaved.  They reassured him that they didn't cast him because of his beard. :)  So he started growing again the very next day.

We don't usually do yoga all together at once, but this day we did.

About to head out for dinner and the General Women's meeting.

It's tiring work to be a preschooler!  Truly!

Senn was asked to dog sit.  I think Ship was excited to see the dog found one of his favorite hiding places too: under the desk.

Oh, these two!

Senn's dance company had a super fun Halloween party.  She loved her face paint.  I love her!!!

Another yoga buddy shot.

Can you spot my two spiders---Gavin and Leland---at the park?

Ship (and a touch of Le).

Dad took the boys to the park.  They had a hey-day gathering hazelnuts.  Here is Le's "stash."

Gav

Ship

Carving pumpkins!  This is Gavin

Dad and the boys.

Le

The weather his so different here than in ID.  It was so hot outside the day before Halloween that the kids got umbrellas to block the sun!

Mom and Ship.

The cutest ninja turtle ever!

Hmmm...Le gives him the run for his money though.

All four kids about to hit the neighborhood for trick-or-treating.

Just so classic!  I have no idea how other moms get all of their kids to look and actually smile.  Haha...but this definitely shows their personalities. :)

Leland's bday cake!

Gavin and Le trying to position the ramp to launch cars down the stairs.

Dad's B-Day cake!