Abby turned 11!

As evidence that this has been one crazy summer, I'm posting about Abby's birthday over a month late.  I knew it would take time to make a video, and since she doesn't have access to social media, procrastination was the solution.  And although we had a family party for her on her birthday, we just had her friend party yesterday.  Phew!  Just in time for school to start this week.  I'm sure looking forward to a schedule but will miss all my "chickees" around the house.

For anyone that knows Abby, you know that she is full of life and love.  

This little spunky girl has a big heart that endears her to everyone that meets her.  

I'm so grateful that we have her positive energy to lift us up.

Love you Sweet Pea!

Happy Birthday!!

Camp week

I can't tell you how many times Abby has given me a hug for signing her up for pony camp.  

Today was her first day.

The teacher, Jan Ball, had a trunk full of boots to choose from.  After putting her's on, Abby jumped up and said, "look at the heels!!"  Oh my! She's had great ambitions lately to have heels 

so those boots were a thrill.

Riding will come tomorrow, but today they learned basic horse tid bits and how to stay safe.

Abby learned so much from her show on TV called Horseland that she answered almost all the questions by herself.

I just love her enthusiasm.

Matthew also has camp but he's been going for a week now.

He had his first game on Thurs against the rival school.

It was a close game and Matthew even made a basket, but they lost their game.

Unlike Abby's week long camp, his will go on for another month.

More games to come.

Sunday naps

Who likes a Sunday nap?

I do!

I used to do it by necessity but have done it so long now that it's almost needed.

There have been times where I've used my time instead to be with the kids, do church work or read.

But I've really found my week starts off so well when I've had a day to not only rest my mind from the things of the world by focusing on the spiritual but also when I've rested my body from labor.

It's to the point that I actually crave my day of peace and rest.

So to those of you who enjoy a short Sunday nap to rejuvenate . . .

 it's nap time!

What's happening lately

So, I think I mentioned before that my camera got a little "smooshed" and is in the shop being fixed.  So I really haven't been taking many pictures except with my phone.  Here is the latest:

Abby, in one day, learned how to cross the monkey bars.

 Couldn't go to the beach, but could see parts of the beautiful sunset over the school playground.

We've said hello and goodbye to this "lovely" little contraption sitting in the dining room, that tried to keep us cool during the last couple of months.  Some days you would find us standing over it.  Not pictured are the numerous standing fans in every room of the house!  Who said California was mild all year?  Thankfully, the heat has broken and we can finally enjoy some fall (California fall) weather.  Until next year contraption!

Rachel and Bekah unwittingly dressed alike one day, right down to the boots.  They had gone to school at different times and didn't discover it til half way through the day.

Aren't they cute?!

Only 17 more days til Jacob leaves us for his mission!

My iPhone is filling in for my camera

date night

beautiful church in LA

at the dentist

birthday sundae

I love making faces

The kids once referred to my camera as another one of the children.

I hope that's not the case seeing as that I kind of ran over it a couple weeks ago.

We were leaving church at night after a fun Young Women's activity (I'll share what we made another time).  My camera and purse somehow didn't get put in the trunk with the rest of the stuff.  Between multiple conversations and a pack of teenagers, it got forgotton in the shuffle.

I started to back up but felt like something was in the way.

Sure enough . . . it was my camera.

Sad day.

It looks fine but nothing works, so it must of gotten smooshed just enough to get things out of alinement.  So it's in the shop and I'm just using my phone 

(I've even lost the charger for my smaller camera).  

Oh well, at least it wasn't really one of my children.

Abby's view of her first day

Abby was so excited to have homework today.

Sarah sat with her and asked what she thought of her first day of school.

First, she drew a picture of her and her friend by the slide at school.

Then was her verbal response. . . 

"I thinked my first day of kindergarten was nice.  I love her. 

 It's perfect.  I love it really, really so much. 

 Yep, it's Emma (referring to the picture), the boy (?) from church and Sarah (from church).  

I played with them.  

I really, really liked it because my teacher was so nice.  She really was so nice,

and I met new boys, but I don't know their names.

************

Oh, and by the way, she told me on the way to school today that she wants to be called Abigail at school, and not by her nick name.  Only her family and friends can call her Abby.

Okay. . . whatever you say.

Letting go on the 1st day of K

Today was a momentous day for our family.

The last of our 8 children, Abby, had her first day of public school.

The honor almost went to Esther but Abby was born the month before school started. 

While I was pregnant with her, my friends kept pointing out to me that I was almost "in the clear".  With Esther in school, I could have had more time during the day to do the things that I wanted to do without a "tag-along".  Now, most of them, I knew were just teasing me and they themselves enjoyed being around their kids.  It just is something that people say ,especially to women with 8 kids!).

The funny thing is that I used to home school and actually chose to be with my kids all the time.

We did it for about 9 yrs.  The combination of me losing steam and there being good schools close by,  eventually closed the doors on our school.  But I've always missed the great times we had together.

So now to my point. . .  I took Abby to class today not knowing how it would all turn out.  I was pretty sure that she would fit right in, but I wasn't sure how I would react.

There were a few kids crying and parents as well.

Just as I thought, Abby kissed me then walked right in with the other kids and didn't look back (I did that to my mom too)

Surprisingly, I didn't cry.

I think preschool last year helped, because I do remember getting teary eyed a couple of times then.

But what helps mostly is the knowledge that this is a good thing.  

I've had to let go of my children so many times for so many reasons, that I'm getting better at it, I guess.  As much as I want to control the outcomes in their lives, I know that those outcomes are so much more meaningful if they discover good things come to those that choose good.

Abby will do great because she has the ability within her, she is loved, and will receive every bit of help we can give her.

That being said, I believe that of all my children.  They are fantastic people and I'm honored to be their mother.  I know  they will all do well in their work this year because they have it in them and they have Joseph and I supporting them.

. . . . . . . . .

Um . . . do anyone of you kids want to come back home and school with me?

3 is not enough

In our family, we sometimes tease each other about what it would be like if we only had one, two or three children.  There would be less mess, less fighting, more money to go around, no room sharing, etc. (you get the picture).  Everyone points to Abby as the one that will get to experience it firsthand since she is the last one.

We are getting a taste of what it would be like, right now.

While Joseph and I were on our business trip, my sister-in-law, Aunt Tammy, came and swooped our three youngest off to her house in AZ for 2 weeks.  She'll bring them back next week for when we return from our church pioneer trek.  

So for now, we only have 3 teenage children at home.  To some people, that still seems like a good size family, but to us, there's something missing.  I'll admit, on first thought, what's missing is the mess and ear piercing noise.  But we've gotten a lot done, a lot of reading and cleaned the house thoroughly and amazingly enough it stayed that way! (I kind of like that part).

Honestly though, I do miss the laughter, skipping, singing, stories, smiles, teasing, kisses, hugs and foot patter. I miss the dynamics of all the kids together and yes that includes the noise.  I love my large family and miss them when we are apart.

As you can tell, though, Abby is having the time of her life and hasn't even mentioned us (me)!

figures.

I promised the beach

This week is spring break for my kids so there's lots of questions about what special things we can do together.  The beach, of course, is one of the most sought after activities.

I found myself promising that we would eventually go.  But because

we didn't go yesterday, Esther's insistence rose to high anxiety today.

I finally told her that we would all have a dinner picnic at the beach.

When it came time to leave, the teenagers all flaked out on us, 

so me and the younger girls went on our own.

The wind was blowing, so it was really cold.  I think Esther was the only one enjoying it, 

or at least pretending to enjoy it.

I love the shapes water makes when the camera stops it.

I also love being able to see light through it like glass.

snow in CA!

Yep, snow.  in California.  67 degrees.

It was a special delivery just for the preschool kids.

Abby was so excited.  

That is. . . until she started going downhill.

Although it doesn't look like she liked sledding, she actually went down 4 or 5 times (funny face every time--smiles at the end). And, no, she didn't fall off the sled even though she looks like it.

 I even got to go down with her a couple of times.

Some of those kids came dressed ready for a blizzard .  It made the experience all the cuter.

Unfortunately, Rachel re-injured her foot last night (standing up?) that she broke in 8th grade and has to use crutches for a couple weeks.

On the bright side, she got to watch the snow fun.

Doesn't she look pleased that I'm recording this?

Abby's 1st time on a horse

Yesterday, Abby and I attended her friend's carnival birthday  party.  After jumping on the moon-bounce she notices a toy riding horse.  It took me a while to show her that past the trees there were real horses.  But as soon as she understood, I could see the light bulb go off in her head as her eyes got big and her mouth dropped open.  She squealed and ran to the arena.

As they helped her on "Merlin", she looked really worried.  The lady reassured her that they would only walk.  She was all smiles from there on out.

After playing the games a little bit, it was time to ride the pony again. 

  This time, Abby was thrilled to see a large brown horse named Polly.

Don't you think this place could fit right in  North Carolina?  Hard to believe it's in LA county. 

 I must confess, I had some house envy.

Sunday service

The Primary (children's) organization in our church has been know to do many a service for the church and others.  Today was the first time I've experienced it on a Sunday.  It's usually saved for Saturdays or other days so families can be together on Sunday, but performing for the elderly seemed quite appropriate.

  

Look at Abby in the front.  Whether she knew the song or not, she gave it her all.

We visited 2 "rest" homes to share the Christmas Spirit.

They sang several songs, played their instruments, the piano and even

a young man played a solo on his trumpet.

They even took turns playing the bells.

This adorable little one hand delivered an ornament and a card to each of the elderly.

Each time, she would run back and say "I want to do it again!"

Success.

Joyful faces

The wonderful thing about children is that their joyful "Christmas" face is actually

common throughout the year.  faith in goodness.  wonder at simple things.  guttural laughter.

adventurous.  brave. confident they are loved.  

It's no wonder that we recognize these more at a time

when we celebrate the Source of all good. 

Little Drummer Girl

There's nothing like the innocence of small children to tell the nativity  story.  Abby has been practicing her singing for weeks and even earned herself a couple of free days at school .

The following videos are of Abby in the charming Christmas program at her school.

Enjoy!

little drummer "girl" leading the class

Abigail has been asked to be a "drummer girl" in the preschool Christmas program.  She has been learning her song with gusto and rehearsing at the top of her lungs.  It's paid off. Her teacher asked that she attend on her "off" days to help the other children sing like her.  So today, not her normal school day, she got to go to school.  She did so well, that they asked that she do it again next week.  Great!

I got a lot of shopping done today, Abby got to play with her friends and the best part is that

we don't have to pay for the extra days.  Sweet!!

I found these beautiful flowers hiding behind a  bush in our yard that has long since overshadowed them.

I thought I would practice taking a few pictures.

preschool feast

It was a feast today at the preschool;

a feast for belly and for a grateful momma's heart.

Watching small children excitedly sharing songs, friends, activities

with their visiting families is quite the site to see.

You can't help but smile.

Although some of the younger kids were crying or running around (notice the "indian" boy in the front left--he thought it was all about him), Abby and the other 4-yr-olds were pros at performing.

This little "indian" certainly caught my eye.  How cute!

 Afterward there was a puppet show that really kept the kids attention.

When Abby touched Rudolph's nose, it lit up like magic.  Cool!

I'm so grateful that we were able to enjoy our festivities under such a beautiful sky.