Bedtime stories

I heard a mother joking last week about waking up in the morning like Mary Poppins and going to bed like Cruella Deville. I shoot to be more like Super Nanny sun up to sun down, but often times the Cruella in me starts bubbling up around tinkle, pjs, teeth-brush time.

So I set a goal. For 2014 every night I want to read to one of you. Ashley you inspired me with your love to read and need for mommy time at the end of each day. I went out to costco and bought the great big Roald Dahl set while we were in Utah, with Aunt Natalie remember?, and you were thrilled. I decided then on my commitment to read at bedtime more often. We have always read to you as babies and toddlers but when you begin school you've started reading a lot on your own. We have little lamps that clip onto your beds or on your bedside table and I'm always impressed how each of you stay up to read. But its different than having a parent climb in beside you to read aloud, I know.

We knew Jake would love the one-on-one time too. So dad and I have been alternating bedrooms, reading to the boys or girls most nights. Not every night -- if you get to stay up late we forfeit, but most nights we have been (this is another great motivator for getting you downstairs quickly).

So far we have read the Magic finger, The giraffe, pelly and me and the BFG. Well, those are the ones we're on right now. BFG in the girls' room, the crazy Giraffe book in the boys'.  Luke climbs up on Jakes bed because suddenly his own book isn't as tempting the one we're reading. And Claire messes around her room with her dollies while we read in there. Listening, while playing.

Its the simplest thing but makes a big difference. I'm enjoying it and I know you guys are too.

Reading bedtime stories is one of those things I want to be able to look back on my years with all of you under our roof and know that I read them. That I wasn't so tired at night that I tucked you in quick with a kiss and turned out the light (although that happens a lot). I want to be able to think back on cozy nights under your covers with my arm wrapped around your sweet little pajamaed bodies reading funny, interesting, memorable books together.

And we're on our way!,

Mom

Pull-up head. Or captain underpants. How about Captain Pull-up-pants?

Many hands make light work

I was standing in my think tank (the shower) this morning after reading one of my favorite blogs thinking about how much I love you children and how much I want to do for you. I've kept a blog for us for nearly 5 years now and have printed each year into a book - which you Ashley especially love. I am thankful for this family record and journal. And I want to improve upon it this year 2014 by writing specifically to you, my five children. So that if or when anything happens to me, I grow old and start sprouting hairs out of my chin and can't see or taste or remember much, you will have a way to reminsice on our happy life during your growing up years. Plus you will read the words of your mother who loves each one of you and daddy more than anything else in the whole wide world.

So - here begins a new chapter. My online journal of letters for my dear kids. Day 1. Life. Housecleaning.

This week like every week I've been working to get the house in control. Monday was a holiday so we met the Coons at Tumbleweed park for a picnic and hours in the sun riding scooters and swings. Mondays are usually my house re-group day with laundry and dishes and weekend clutter control to do. But we played. So by Wednesday I still hadn't gotten my groove back and felt a little bit overwhelmed. Between holding Michael and giving Claire the attention she deserves (and demands) I have a hard time being productive. I often feel like I walk in circles nursing, preparing food, getting down this, putting away that, nursing, wiping off counters, preparing food, helping with this, putting away that. I'm moving just not accomplishing much. Life is supposed to be this way with a new baby.

So…I was thinking about how I may need to talk to dad about getting a housecleaner in here every couple weeks to keep on top of the deep cleaning like bathrooms and mopping. I can manage the everyday stuff ok and really appreciate the chore a day you guys do to help. But. That afternoon when you big kids came home from school I heard the prompting, "have your kids help you".

I thought, "thats right!" My kids can, and should, help me!  I gathered you for around the counter for a snack and told you that - bonus - you could have 30 minutes of electronics right then after school which usually isn't allowed. The trade, I said, is that I needed some serious work out of you. 20 or 30 minutes each. You all happily complied.

By that night we had done it. There were no tears, no big deals made. Luke vacuumed the whole upstairs. Ashley unloaded the whole dishwasher. Jake was my runner and ran clutter from here to there and put everything where it belonged. Jake took Claire to play at the park which made her day and Ashley sorted the laundry room. Luke took out garbages. When daddy walked in the door the house smelled like candle and felt awesome. YOU GUYS are my solution. We had done in 30 minutes what would have taken me a day or two to do alone with Mikey and Claire. And its not like I don't usually have you work. I know you can work and you do chores everyday. This time just meant a lot to me because of the way I felt that day like I couldn't get anything done and you kids really helped.

I really appreciate it! I'm proud that you know how to work and get so much done. I'm proud that you are able to help out and willing to do it with a smile on your face. We are so blessed. We have so much. We don't need a housecleaner to come and scrub while we putter around. We've got smart minds and healthy, able bodies and we are the stewards of our own stuff.

I love you guys!,

Mom

Claire (3 years), Michael (3 months) are my two little buddies during the day

The new temple

Everyone is so excited about the new Gilbert temple opening near our home. After many years of watching it be built we can finally go in! Tyler and I have taken the opportunity to take some cleaning shifts and it has been such a treat! It is more beautiful inside than anyone can imagine. I love the cream, light blue and sage color scheme and the agave/desert theme. The 18 foot glass chandelier is breathtaking and the craftsmanship of the wood and quality of the materials… its the nicest building I've ever been in.  Which is fitting for a house of the Lord.

We took our kids through on a tour the other night. They loved it and of course imagine getting married here someday. I hope they do! It was 9pm by the time we got back to the parking lot for pictures. Everyone was pretty tired but you can see by the smiles on their faces that they loved being there. We are so blessed to be an eternal family and lucky to have this beautiful reminder of our Heavenly Father so close that we drive by it often.

This is our family's temple.

Christmas of 2013, our two week vacation and everyone growing up

It's been a big few weeks for everyone I know with the holidays. They're almost a blur except that we had so much fun I remember a lot! After Thanksgiving came the boys' triathlon which set off the Christmas chaos with a bang.

Busy Saturdays bustling around with the family stopping to shop here and there; putting up Christmas lights, timers; trying to capture a cute group photo for a Christmas card. It's always something this time of year. School parties; teacher gifts; to-do lists; amazon order after amazon order; cookies and sweets; beautiful Arizona weather which means park days; Costco trips; non-stop Christmas music on 99.9fm and night-time drives through the neighborhood to look at lights.

On December 19th we loaded up the van and went North. I'll spare myself the details since there are more than can be written and well lets just say it was a constant party. Cousins were in heaven. Hillsteads house was packed. Shauna had it decorated to the T. My side of the family was also in town and we had a wonderful Christmas eve and morning at Grandma Goesch's home. There are just so many people to love and celebrate with and so many fun things to do when we are all together! Many of the highlights made instagram - so enough said.

Now we are home. The kids are back to school and I have been digging out from under piles of suitcases, Christmas gifts and decorations still up. You'd think I could knock that out in a day or two but with my sweet helpers (hard to believe sometimes that I'm back to having two little ones at home all day) I mostly walk around in circles wondering where and how to begin. Claire's got something going where she says "I want to hold you" a lot now. I sit and hold her waiting for her to get enough and want down but it doesn't happen! This is a new development with her, Miss Clingy?

Michael thank goodness IS an old-soul. He knows the goings-on of the home and times his naps and feedings just delightfully for me. Continues to sleep well despite a cold and is truly just a bundle of love. Gives gives gives and rarely takes.  The perfect 5th child.

I'm tired now. Good night.