Lately

The last few weeks have been pretty intense.

I've read more news than I probably have in the entire 12 months preceding January. And most of that news was pretty terrifying.

Having everyone home all of the time has also been an adjustment, not just for me but for all of us. Some of the 8 of us at home don't mind being with people every minute of every day. Some of us struggle a little more with the lack of quiet and personal space. But. As a mama, and in spite of my own personal preferences, I hate to send the little ones (and sometimes the bigger ones, too) away, knowing that their worlds have been just as upended as mine has been.

This past weekend was also intense, in mostly great ways, but still intense. We celebrated Sam's 10th birthday (I'll save that for another post), and that was lots of fun. It involved several batches of cinnamon rolls, pizza dough, and cakes, with varying degrees of success. Not sure what happened. It's like my baking talent just ... went on hiatus, lol. And there was no way to rescue anything but to try again. It was a good learning experience?

We also watched, from the comfort of our very own living room, the annual General Conference of our church members and leaders, which was very different and unique this year, thanks to social distancing. There were many, many wonderful words of hope and faith. I am so very glad that continuing revelation is a part of my life, and I am thankful for latter-day prophets and apostles to share words of inspiration and hope. I felt like I received many private promptings from the Holy Ghost about what I need to focus on right now to make myself a better disciple of Jesus Christ and just a better human being in general.

I read somewhere, on a long list of ideas for improving mental health during this time, that doing something repetitive such as sewing can be soothing to a stressed mind. Between that, and having far less taxiing to do than usual, I pulled out the Never-ending Project. I won't even tell you when I purchased this, and how long it's been scrunched up in a box, started but nowhere near completion, waiting for me to have free time (hahaha, while I was busy bringing 7 kids in to the world to rear, lol). Ah well, better late than never in this case. So this is what I've been obsessing over, instead of the daily blog post. It's coming along. And soothing my brain, too.

Happy 19th, Caleb!

This bouncing baby boy celebrated his birthday today.

We started the day with cinnamon rolls. In our household it is a crime for the icing to actually be white. Since Madeline got up as early as Daddy did, she got to pick the food coloring.

The Birthday Boy was, naturally, super excited about having his picture taken. Since we failed to provide him with tangible birthday gifts (thank you, Plague 2020), we procured one of his favorite meals, Raising Cane's (drive-through, of course). Don't judge. I had very mixed feelings about doing this. Because Plague 2020. But. I've got rationalizations. It's not against the stay-at-home order to get food from restaurants. It helps people keep their jobs, and it helps the economy. We might all die for Caleb's birthday because the college-age RC employees don't even know they have the virus, so there's that. But like everyone else, we're just trying to juggle all the needs right now.

Caleb made his own birthday cake today because he's really bored. And I wanted a nap. One of his favorites is tres leches cake. I haven't made it very often (exactly once before), and like many of you, I have to kind of make up my grocery list on the fly depending on what's actually on the shelves, so I bought a cake mix this year. We have some kinks to work out next time, but man, it still tasted good. 

Also, we had no candles. Well actually we do, but we can't locate them.... And since we can't just dash out to the store to get more, we improvised. While I was setting the matches into the cake, Caleb talked about how he burned his hand making a "match bomb" like this (I didn't even ask). Bob and I both shrugged. But Sam freaked out. There was weeping and wailing and near hyperventilation. And that was before the matches actually finally lit up. But then? Then it was super cool! We all survived unburned AND the smoke detectors didn't go off, so win? 

He hates this picture apparently, and forbade me to post it on Facebook. I complied with that request. But my blog is not FB. And I love this picture because it is his natural smile, possibly with relieved overtones that he didn't get fried.

After this we gave intangible presents to Caleb: we each shared a memory of him we like. 

This was pretty entertaining. 

Rex talked about that year we put the matches on Caleb's birthday cake in the middle of a pandemic. Bob told about how when Caleb was little he would carry his scripture case around like Daddy's briefcase, and then about how Caleb liked to walk with Daddy when he mowed, so Mom bought him a little lawn mower, and then Caleb quit. 

Mom remembered fondly the first two years of Caleb's life, when he was a-mom-clinging monster. And then he turned two, and I had to have the policeman at the library keep him from escaping every time we went.

Disney singalongs and quote-alongs with his siblings were remembered by Rose. 

Madeline talked for about 5 minutes straight; the gist of it was that she likes it when Caleb plays on the trampoline with her. Sam also said this, but in about 5 seconds. This was especially well received by Caleb, as he hasn't been able to actually do this with them since he messed up his knee playing YSA dodgeball this winter.

We even Facetimed Lizzi. Her tale was of the time Caleb ruined her birthday party by getting hit in the head with a baseball bat. I think she was 6. This seems like a long time to hold a (happily remembered?) grudge, but who am I to judge?

Happy birthday, Caleb! You are the best. We owe you a big birthday bash.

Tomorrow we have to walk off all these calories. While social distancing. Good times.

Happy, Happy Birthday, Lizzi Dear!

Our beautiful Lizzi turns 18 today! She is brilliant and beautiful, and she makes me smile daily. This is probably my all-time favorite picture of little Lizzi. She was 2, and this captures perfectly the little glint she always has in her eye. I love this beautiful young woman. I have loved every minute of watching her grow into someone who is sassy and independent and caring and full of faith. And the next picture is my favorite from her senior session. So much personality!! So Lizzi!

Double Digits!

And meanwhile, in all the chaos that has been this last week, Sariah turned 10!!! Double digits! Her actual birthday was the day of graduation--sad day for Sariah. So we celebrated on Tuesday instead--happy day for Sariah, and she has a birthday party with friends in the works. Time has flown with this little girl!! She has really grown up a lot this year, but of course I will always call her my little girl. <3 br="">

Also, since Grammy and Papa were here, they brought a little present for Madeline's birthday, which is next month. It made noise, and that made her VERY happy. :)

 

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

The Sam-Man had a birthday today. I will post more pictures tomorrow.

When Did This Happen????

Caleb turns 16 today. SIXTEEN! That is craziness. It defies comprehension.

When you sing to yourself on your birthday. Part 1.

Part 2. 

Part 3.

Bwahahaha. I wasn't going to post this one. I HATED these pictures when I was growing up. But. But...that one candle. Hahahaha!

 

 

My first Tres Leches cake. It wasn't too shabby. A curse on Caleb's Spanish teacher for introducing him to it.

Underwear! Best. Present. Ever. Riiiiiiight.

I told him to sit up straight. And put his shoulders back. And put his chin forward. And now we call him Gaston.

And last of all: the family that Batmans together stay together, right?

Rex's 14th

This young man turned 14 yesterday.

We were all set to celebrate last night, but he wasn't feeling well...so we postponed until tonight. The celebrations were great fun. Happy birthday, Rex!

Birthday Fun & General Goofing Off

The birthday boy turned 10 and we celebrated, followed by orange-frosting inspired goofing off.  Oh, and Hannah "posed" for pictures with Dad.