Pictures of Late

Just a few random pictures:

The Smiths near us is closing and has had things 20% then 40% off so we went on a couple of occasions and stocked up on candy bars. Silly you think? Maybe, but it is what each of the kids get every fast Sunday after their interview with Tom. They love it and they work and pass off goals so it is worth every penny to us (but if we're doing it, we'd rather spend $.30 a candy bar vs. $.50-$70.) We figure we've got a good year supply in our deep freeze.
Tess discovered that she loves garden food. She goes and helps herself to peas, carrots and on occasion green tomatoes. Since she is actually eating, and it's healthy, I let her have free reign--even if she doesn't always wash the carrots! (The dress is from her dress up box--one she actually wore when she was one--still fits, it's just a little on the short side.)Chandler was in charge of Greta one afternoon. He found a way to entertain her without working too hard! (like she is ever hard in the first place!) Plus I think he wanted to teach her how to play football at a very young age.Another evidence of Caleb's very-good-with-kids trait. He just thought it would be fun to play the piano with Greta. (Don't report us for ignoring the warning label about putting the Bumbo on raised surfaces--around here, real life happens!)
So nice to have a baby who falls asleep when she is tired (in contrast to big sister who doesn't sleep.) (and if you can't tell, we LOVE the Bumbo!)
Finally got a cute dress up picture (I needed a couple of hours of an occupied daughter so I ran and got more dress up clothes from DI). Although extremely challenging, this little girl is such a delight!

Caleb's Eagle Project

We were looking for a possible project right after Caleb made a pillow case in school. He had really liked serging so he wanted to do something with a serger. My mom had just given Greta a baby blanket that she had just serged the edges to finish it off. He liked the idea of making blankets and so he looked around for a place he could send them. Caleb found a local organization that would take blankets to Haiti that could be given to an orphanage there. He was excited. After the project was approved, I told him, "Caleb, you will be saving at least 15 babies lives with these blankets." The biggest grin spread across his face--that thought made this tenderhearted kid very happy.

We originally were going to make 15 blankets and budgeted $10 a piece for them--$150. One night Tom and I were in the mall and noticed the Deseret Book in there had fabric. They had a lot of flannel on clearance--50-75% off! So the next day we headed back with Caleb and helpers and got 32 yards of fabric for $48! (32 yards would make 16 blankets--one Caleb and I would do together so he could learn how to do it then be able to teach the boys what to do.) The next weekend we were at a garage sale and I found a serger for $100! I could get it and still stay within the budget! (been wanting a serger anyway! and that way I wouldn't have to borrow one) However, after we got working, we realized he wouldn't have quite enough hours with just the 16 blankets so we went and got fabric for 4 more (that fabric was on sale so we only paid $6 a blanket--still better price than we had budgeted). So he made a total of 20 blankets. It has been a really great project for him.

We broke a lot of the work into 1-2 hour segments over a few weeks. We shopped for fabric, washed and ironed it (this is the kind of photos I get when I ask Cache to go in and photograph the work!)and cut and pinned pieces together. Then we got together last Friday and did all of the sewing and serging. My mom came down and brought her serger and sewing machine so we had two of each and work for all the boys who came. The boys did a great job. Caleb has been great to work with and really demonstrated a lot of leadership with his friends.
Now he has a to inspect each of the blankets for loose threads and remaining fabric marker (used to mark the stabilizing stitching in the middles) then take them to the organization who will take them to Haiti for us. He's got a little paper work to finish up and then he's off for his final board of review! (and I'm happy to have two Eagles down; one left to go!)8-02 Editing to add this 'hand-off' photo. Now, just a few loose ends on paperwork. . . .

Buddies

Caleb has always had a gift for playing with kids of all ages. So it isn't any wonder that he is my best babysitter. While we are working on our job lists each day, he asks Tess, "Do you want to help me clean my room?" (or whatever) Not only is it nice for me because it allows me get everything done I need to do, but he is developing a great relationship with Tessa and teaching her how to work. Here are pictures from him washing the van the other day---something he wanted to do with Tess because he thought it would be fun for both of them. He is an amazing kid (and a lifesaver!) (What will I do when school starts again?)

Stolen Camera

The kids often steal my cameras and snap pictures when I'm not looking then I get little surprises when I upload them. Typically they are very deletable pictures. Subjects such as ceiling fans, couch cushions and carpet are popular. I found this one, however, very telling. (Click to enlarge to see number key) It shows a snippet of our life here in 2009. #1 Multitasking me looking up a scripture floating in my mind while #2 the water is running so it can get water hot enough to make #3 hot cocoa for Tess because #4 my new microwave hadn't been installed yet. I can tell it is my week without a microwave because my bread machine had been moved from where the#5 knives are in this picture. #6 It is 8:40 AM--which was a late start that morning because I usually have all the clutter cleaned off the counter by then as evidenced by #7 Cache's new mountain bike gloves he purchased the day before. And #8: after years of searching I finally found a recipe to make wheat snacks like my Grandma Porter used to make. (yum!) I think I get to thank Chandler for this wonderful little record of every day life.

Please Pray

I got this email last night (hope you don't mind me posting it Katie).

Dearest Family,

Last week I had an MRI. It showed that there were 2 nodules that were "worrisome" on the left breast. I had watched as a little nodule came up in my wound. It was the size of the tip of my little finger. When I had my skin graft last week (which, by the way, is looking "perfect") Dr. Bruggeman shaved it off and sent it to pathology. It came back that it is cancer. So we met with Dr. Dickson today and he says this does not change anything, he is not surprised. He says all this says is what we already knew, *I have metastatic breast cancer*, we knew that. What it also says is that Herceptin alone is not enough. I need something stronger in addition to that. The one that he is really leaning toward will make me lose my hair again. I cried about that and he said there is also another possibility and if I can not possibly face losing my hair again then we can go that route. But next week I will have a CT to look at my lungs and liver etc. He says he does not expect to find anything there but it is a good idea to look. I will have chemo every week again for no one knows how long.

Just thought I'd pass it along. Wish I had better news. (I feel like a failure!) The nurses all gathered around me in the chemo room and they were just so so sweet. Made me cry again (Dickson always makes me cry. Today he talked about Joseph in Egypt, how the day he was cast into prison was probably not a very good day but his mission was to get to know Pharaoh and save all the House of Israel. Makes me think loosing my hair may be a very small thing. But not really)

Love to all,

Katie

My thoughts after reading it were taken to the article I read in the Ensign that morning about Neil Andersen. It said "One time I went to President Faust with a piercing problem I didn't know how to solve. He said to me, 'Neil, have yo prayed about it? Have you prayed all night like Enos did?' And then he sat back in his chair and said, 'I've prayed all night many times to receive the answer to difficult challenges. The is how you will get your answer as well.' He was right."

I post this not because I'm expecting any of you to pray all night for my sister. I post it because it demonstrates the power of prayer. They are heard and miracles and answers come because of prayers.

My sister has six children. Her youngest is two weeks younger than Tess (so she's 2 1/2). Their family life has been in serious upheaval in the past 6 months. They need a little normalcy. She needs comfort. Would you please offer just a little prayer in her behalf? Together we can "make important things happen by [our] faith" (Elder Christofferson)

I fully realize this is in Heavenly Father's hand. And I always also pray for His will to be done. However, I think prayers of faith are heard and often answered. So, if you wouldn't mind, could you please say a little prayer for my sister? (Thank you so much, dear readers.)

God Moves in Mysterious Ways

Quite a few years ago as a brand-new-very-overwhelmed-worried-single mom in my little Whitney Second ward a high councilor gave a talk. He talked for a good 15 minutes on how parents needed to be heavily involved for their sons to be successful in scouting. It was NOT what I wanted to hear. I had 3 boys. I was barely managing keeping up with my job, the house work and caring for the basic needs of my boys (then ages 8, 4 and1). So adding something that, frankly, scared me to death was not what I thought I needed. I'm pretty sure I was literally trembling with fear by the end of the talk. (to tell you how vivid this memory is in my mind, I could tell you what I was wearing and exactly where I was sitting!)

But Heavenly Father was watching out for me and He had a little tender mercy in the works. The closing song was God Moves in Mysterious Ways (Hymn #285). The 2nd verse spoke to me in such a powerful way:

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.

I was moved to tears. I couldn't see then, even a little glimpse, of how it would work out. But I'd had enough experiences to know I could trust that spiritual confirmation. And so I took courage.

What amazes me is that an All Knowing Heavenly Father knew this talk would be given that Sunday and that an overwhelmed daughter would need comfort. So he put the thought into David Beckstead's head to sing that closing song that day. He knew I didn't need to worry. He knew Tom. And He knew the ward we would move into the week before Cache would turn twelve was strong in scouting. And He knew that I would have sufficient experiences that would pave the way for me to assist the boys. But He also knew how paralyzed with fear I would be and knew I needed another reassurance that it was okay to trust Him. And as always, it was. The clouds were so very big with mercy and blessings.

This experience has been a source of strength to me and something I have leaned on when I have had to trust anew and exercise faith in new harder situations. Things always take time. And things don't always work out as we planned, but I have witnessed that those clouds we dread are always big with mercy and as we trust, the blessings can be poured out.

Far Far Away

Got these cute little wings at DI, but they needed a little fixing (I added the straps so she could take them on and off herself--instead of pinning which appeared to be how they had been attached before. I also added the silvery-black body part--had to hide my not so great sewing skills!) As I was working on them, this little conversation took place:

Tess: Can my go outside and fly with them?
Me: Where are you going to fly?
Tess: Far, far away.
Me: Where?
Tess: Far away where you can't get me.
Me: Oh?
Tess: And my will see Dow-wee. (Sally)
Me: How long will you be there?
Tess: 4 minutes.

Later when we tried them on the first time. . .
Tess: Can you put me outside so I can fly?
Me: Yes, I'll let you go in the back yard.
Tess: NOOOOOOO! (in the little girl scream) My can't fly far far away in the back yard!

She was a natural in them--she flapped her arms and ran really fast! Took up a good 2 minutes of her day--hardly even worth the time I put into them. (should have known better!) Maybe she'll be a butterfly for Halloween. . . Or maybe Greta will give them some love someday.

Greta

Here is this little chunky cutie at 4 months! We adore her! She's so easy going and fun to squeeze! (She seems quite a bit bigger than Tess was, but in comparing 4 month weights, they were only 3 ozs. different.) I would hold her all day if I could!!

Email Exchange

Subj:  can you check my math

Cache,
At Macey's toilet paper is $3.98 for 12 rolls. There are 176 squares on each roll.

At Costco, TP is $17.99 for 36 rolls.  There are 425 sheets on each roll.

Which is the better price?

thanks
love ya,
mom

Subj: Re: can you check my math

While we do have the ability to take numbers and manipulate them in the necessary ways to yield the data that we need to reach such a decision, we do so on the basis that all toilet paper is created equal.  By comparing these numbers we are making this assumption, and while it does make our problem simpler, it certainly has the potential to prove our results incorrect, no matter what we do with the numbers.  Quality must be taken into account in such situations as these.  We have no idea, for example, how long each type of toilet paper will last in our house, and therefore how cost effective each would be. In order to determine this, we would be required to perform a rather complicated study.  There are a multitude of variables that affect our use of toilet paper, and all of these would need to be accounted for.  Each member of our family would be responsible to help collect data about our use of toilet paper over an extended time period.  We would have to try samples of both types and carefully record the results.  The longer this experiment goes on, the more accurate our results will be, so I would suggest no less than 3 weeks per type of toilet paper.  This might also prove to be problematic, seeing as our results might not carry over as the seasons change, because each person in our family may use toilet paper at different rates depending on the time of year.  A thorough study would take years to complete, during which we would discover all types of errors and variables that have not yet been considered that would drastically affect the results.  It would be immensely complicated.  Even if we succeeded in obtaining valid results, it would take such a long time that the prices and quality of the toilet paper would be likely to have changed anyway, rendering our results useless.  This is not a good idea.

 Assuming that both types of toilet paper are equally made, (for the dangers of assuming such a thing, see Paragraph 1) Costco offers the better price with .118 ¢/square vs. Macey's .188 ¢/square.  Seven hundreths of a cent may not seem like much of a difference, so a second calculation might be beneficial to put things into perspective.  If you were to spend $100 at each store, Costco would provide 87,047  sheets and Macey's 53,065.  On average, Costco delivers 60% more toilet paper for the same price. 


{LOVE that kid!}

ps.  PLEASE don't tell him I posted this--he doesn't see my job as family historian as a valid role!

Summer Schedules 2009

I gain so much from seeing how other women manage their households so I'm sharing mine in hopes someone can benefit. I also think it is a great record because things change so much from year to year it is great to have things like this to look back on. (click to enlarge if needed)

A few notes:
As soon as you can read in my house, you do your own laundry. I teach them how to read the instructions on the clothes, detergents and other laundering products and I teach them how to read the the washer and dryer. After that, they are responsible for their own clean clothes. I usually have to do a little reminding (okay, a lot) during the younger years as to when to do it and to finish the job (getting it folded and put away), but by now my oldest two are very good at taking care of their own clothes. It is great because as they get older they ask for advice as to how to prevent wrinkling and fading and they can't blame me for messing up their clothes!

On our 'big job days' (Wednesdays) we wash windows, walls, blinds etc. I've assigned one big job for each week this summer. So nice to have help with them! One person is in charge of Tess while the rest of us work.

We each take turns being in charge of keeping the house picked up each day. I have each of our names printed on a piece of paper. Whose ever turn it is to pick up is posted on the door. (That is not on the job list.)

The "Talk to Mom" job was a genius idea I added this year. I love it! That is when I get a little one on one chit chat with each kid. . .I use it to talk about what they read in their scriptures that day or do a job inspection or check on scouting progress or sneak them a little 'good job treat'. It is just whatever seems to be needed that day.

And you may be wondering why Caleb's says 'camping merit badge' specifically while the other two have a more generic item. . . well it's because that is his only required badge for his Eagle and he has to get it done right away. (he's close!)

And why does Chandler have to memorize a poem? Because one of his teachers offered $2 to anyone who can tell it to him when school starts back up. It is a good poem and how can you pass up $2 for that?? He's actually got it memorized and just has to review it once a week.

Fridays are our days off. We still have to do the top few jobs and we also take a trip to DI and the kids have to balance their budgets, but then they have the rest of the day free. We all enjoy Fridays!

Breakthrough

A breakthrough is defined as:
1. An act or an instance of breaking through an obstacle.
2. A sudden advance in knowledge or technique.
3. A person's first notable success.

This week we've had all three.

1. An act or an instance of breaking through an obstacle.
After two minutes of silence and a disappearance of Tess, a search was warranted. Clue one wasn't good. She had broken into and entered into my room, then my bathroom.

I know this could have been much, much worse. But this was only in about a two minute time frame.The door knob covers are now super glued together. I'll have to cut them off if that time ever comes.

2. A sudden advance in knowledge or technique.
Last week Tess discovered the big box of (once sorted)clothes in her closet. She occupied herself for an entire day and a half trying every single one of them on. That. Has. Never. Ever. Happened. Before. Her record of being entertained by one thing is 10 minutes. Tops. Talk about a breakthrough!

She had the time of her life trying on every item of clothing in that box whether it was a newborn size or a 5T. She was hilarious to watch because once she got something on, she started digging for a new item and immediately the previous outfit came off. I tried to get her to pose for a many of the outfits, but no, that only slowed her down from getting to the next one. My favorite was her moon boots with a tutu. You'll just have to imagine that one because I couldn't get a picture. Unfortunately, since she has tried on every item of clothing in that box, it is old news. She hasn't touched it again. (so maybe it isn't such a breakthrough?) Here are the few pictures I managed (all super flattering, I know). Note on this one: She has her legs in the arm holes and Tom helped her snap a few of the leg snaps. She actually wore this one a hour or so.

3. A person's first notable success.
Sleep is something we fight Tessa on. Getting her to bed at night is a challenge. Getting her to sleep through the night is even more challenging. Naps are becoming unheard of. It is even rare that she falls asleep in the car. (With so little sleep is it any wonder she can't grow. . . ) So when this happened, the first words out of my mouth were "Is she faking?" (because she is good at that too.) Just for the record, this very notable success of falling asleep for once without a fight was short lived, she woke up right after the picture was snapped and said "What are you doing, Mommy?". (so maybe this can't be counted as a true breakthrough either. . .)

God Gave us Families

I love the song A Family is of God that we are learning in Primary this year. If you haven't heard it, click on the link and listen to it. I especially love the chorus:

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be.
This is how He shares His love; for the family is of God.

I sing it often; to myself and to the girls. I find it tempers me in frustrating moments. It takes my thoughts to a higher plain and helps me have a different perspective. Then I find myself praying that Heavenly Father will take those uncomfortable and sometimes difficult situations (which seem so often with Tessa) and form me into what He wants me to become.

I haven't always been this way. I haven't always been so willing to let myself be formed into something not of my own choosing. I haven't always been willing to meet the demands of young children or to give my entire self to the service a large family demands. Let me explain.

It started as a teenager. (I recently read my journal from the summer I was 15 and almost couldn't believe it was me who wrote it.) I resented that I had to live in a large family and that so much of the family care was dropped at my feet at age 15. My mom and my older sister had to work that summer leaving me to care for my 5 younger siblings along with much of the housework and cooking. I promised myself that I would get an education and I would not live the life I was living then (cooking and cleaning and caring for children). And heaven forbid would I ever have more than 2 kids! I resisted learning to sew and can and garden because I would never need those skills. At one point in my journal I even wrote that I thought it would be boring to be just a mom. After I finished college, I landed a job and didn't ever really plan on staying home. I had Cache at that time and thought one child was just perfect.

Whoa! Now look at me. I have 5 kids (!), stay home, cook, clean, garden, sew . . I'm exactly what I said I would never be!! What's more, I'm perfectly content! Heavenly Father has molded me into what He wanted me to become even though I severely resisted. He knew that this life of nurturing and serving would bless my life more than I could ever know. In Preach My Gospel (p 48) it says "God's whole purpose--His work and His glory--is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings." (my italics) I haven't always been able to enjoy all of these blessings because I wasn't ready or willing. Slowly I have become more able to enjoy what I enjoy now (even so, enjoying it is often a conscious choice).I know I've posted this picture before, but it just seems so appropriate here. I love it because I adore the people in it but also because I look so content; so satisfied to be doing what I'm doing; so satisfied with this large family; so satisfied the way Heavenly Father has directed me even though it is not what I had dreamed for myself.

Heavenly Father, thankfully, is all knowing and caters our family situations to provide us with opportunities that have the ability to shape us to become what we need to be--whatever that is. The things I learned as a single mom could not have come for me in any other way. Tom needed the lessons he learned from being single for 34 years. Some learn valuable lessons from not being able to have children, or struggling to have them. Some are shaped by having many children, some by few and others deal with illness, disability, divorce and death. Some struggle to love those in their family in charitable ways. The situations are endless, but they if we let them, they can refine us and truly make us what Heavenly Father intended us to be. What wonderful plan! And wonderful that we get to share it with those we love most---which is how God shares His love with us!

I am the first to admit that I haven't 'arrived' at becoming everything I need to become. But I'm so thankful for the path, although at times has been super rocky, that has led me to where I am. And I'm thankful for the Proclamation and this little Primary song that deepen my understanding and strengthen my resolve to continue to "become what He wants [me] to be. This is how He shares His love; For the family is of God!"

Lessons from the Past

I loved Elder Ballard's talk in last conference about learning lessons from those who came before. He gave the example of him becoming an Edsel dealer against the advice of his father. Had he heeded his father's advice he would have saved himself a lot of money. He pointed out that those who have experienced more than us can give us great insights if we will heed them.

Two things have been in my mind regarding this talk that I want to record. First is from a time Tom was commiserating to his dad about our sleepless nights (Tess, not Greta). His reply? "Oh, I miss those days!" My first thought was "WHAT?? You've got to be kidding me!" But I was reminded how short this chapter in our lives is and that I should be enjoying it--even if it comes with challenges. If I'm not enjoying it, I'm creating reason for future regrets. I've been trying to consciously think of that whenever I'm up at night with her. . . and in the day when she is exerting way more energy than I've got; which happens to be always.
(Just a note: in the picture, Jerry is holding a wooden leg his great grandfather walked across the plains on--at least it is thought that this is the leg.)

Second is from the last time we saw my Grandma Bingham. She told us a story that I hadn't ever heard her tell. My Uncle Paul used to run from their house in Weston to school in Dayton every day. 8 miles. My mom would take his clothes to him on the bus and then he would change at school. (now there is something that would never happen at my house!) And because of all that running, he was good enough to go to state track to run the mile. However, the state meet was the same weekend as stake conference. . . one that Elder Packer was going to be presiding at and my grandma was in the stake RS presidency. Should she go to the track meet or to conference? She had meetings and responsibilities to attend to at the conference. But her son was running in state track. What to do? Well, she stayed for the conference. And all these years later, she wishes she would have supported her son. (He did take state in the mile.) Now I'm not saying that is what she should or should not have done. In the same situation I might have chosen the same because church responsibilities are sometimes hard to delegate. However, her hindsight gives me insight of how important family really is. At the opportunity to sit at the feet of an apostle or attend to her family, she would have attended to her family. I just want to remember that.

Family Photo meets Paint Shop

My teenagers are very careful not to give me too much blogging fodder, but I caught this one today so I'm sneaking it on here. . . .shhhh don't tell! It gave me such a good laugh! (Does it reveal too much about our real personalities???)

And another one (added 11-4-09)

Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime?

Oh what do you do in the summertime
When all the world is green?
Do you fish in a stream
Or lazily dream
On the banks as the clouds go by?
Is that what you do? No, not I. . . .

Our summer has been far from lazy. . . we've hardly had a chance to even dream about a fish or a bank or a cloud. (Let alone sleep in. . . ) Instead our summer has been occupied with: (in no particular order)
2 weeks of Driver's Ed (Cache)
5 lacrosse games (Chan)
Youth Conference (Cache)
Washing all the windows inside and out (gotta make good use of the boys' need to learn to work :)
Timberline (a week-long leadership scout camp--Caleb)
2 weeks of swim lessons (Chandler)
3 day Porter reunion
Waddoups reunion then to their mission farewell
Eagle project (Caleb)
2 birthdays (Chandler & Cache)
Scout camp (Caleb & Cache)
Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house
Weekend scout camp as a Timberline staff member (Cache)
3 trips to the doctor (Caleb for a wart removal, Cache for a physical, Greta for a 4 mo check)
Cleaning all the dust-collecting decorations on top of my kitchen cupboards
ACT test (Cache)
2 weeks of tennis lessons (Caleb)
1 week without a computer (hard drive crashed)
Cleaning all the kitchen cupboards inside and out
4 baking lessons to kids and their friends
Online class (Cache)
1 week without a microwave (had to wait for my free installer -aka my dad- to be able to come and save my life (living without a microwave is not on my top ten list of fun!)
Scouting (merit badges, cub scout requirements)
Not to mention a gazillion other little things that present themselves to do each day (cleaning up Tessie smears comes to mind). . .

For now the time to lazily dream is not on my itinerary, but life is good. I'm thankful the world is green and my kids are home for the summer. I love it!

Notebooks

Thank you for your comments on my last post and for wanting to join me in recording inspirations and acting on them. I had 8 people wanting journals and so I've decided to make 2 more journals and send you each one! I will get those done in the next couple of days and then sent out to you. If I don't have your contact information, you will need to send it to me at chart@utwire.net. After I get the last two journals made, I will put names in a hat and draw them out to determine which notebook you get. I'd love to hear any experiences you feel inclined to share from your inspirations. I know many experiences will be private, but every now and again if you have one appropriate to share, I'd love to learn from your experience.