Ro turns FREE

We really celebrated Roma's birthday for at least a week.  I am not even sure how many times we sang to her, but by the time her actual birthday rolled around, she was a candle-blowing professional.

I wanted her real birthday to be special, but because life has been crazy (and we weren't even sure if we'd still be in Vegas for her birthday) our calendar was pretty empty and nothing was planned.  Which, in my opinion, makes the best kind of birthdays.

On the morning of October 1st, I woke up around 5 am and fed Eden.  She went back to sleep pretty quick and I thought about it too, but then I remembered how much I wanted to keep up the tradition of hiking the Mt. Edge peak on my birthday but wasn't able to.  So I figured Roma's birthday was the next best thing.  Maybe even better.

I went into the kids room around 5:30 am and quietly said, "It's Roma's birthday!  Who wants to go on a hike to see the sunrise?"  All five of my kids jumped out of bed.  I was totally surprised, especially by Luke.  Within minutes they were dressed with socks and shoes.  We tiptoed back into the master bedroom and asked Aaron if he wanted to hike with us or stay home with Eden and Aaron said, "What do you think?" which means "leave me alone." so we did.  

We got to the park when it was dark, but by the time we started climbing, there was plenty of light to see the path. We passed several people on the hike who commented about my young kids and "don't they have school?" but luckily they don't!  and one older guy said, "I couldn't pay my kids to do this hike, especially so early in the morning!" But my kids were all so happy about it.  Simon kept saying over and over, "We should do this more oftener." And Ro would squeal, "I love to be outside."  I thought it was so cute of her because she has been an outdoorsy girl since the day I met her.  This girl REALLY does love to be outside.

Luke held Roma's hand all the way up the mountain and Ben got in on the action on the way down.  I lingered behind and took a video of them linked.  Eventually Simon and Zack hooked on too.  This picture was unstaged.. although, I am pretty sure Luke and Zack were fighting while holding hands at the same time.  

We hit the top with plenty of time to spare.  The kids sat together on the wall and then ran around the circle at the top of the mountain playing tag and squirting each other with their water bottles.  I just kept thinking about how amazing the October weather was.  We were all in shorts and tees before the sun came up and no one was cold... not even the kids with wet socks and shoes. Man, I am really going to miss this warm fall weather.  yes, i will be happy to see the colorful leaves in Utah, but it only lasts for a little while.. and then it gets too cold.

The rest of Roma's birthday was really quiet.  Aaron was in court until the afternoon and came home for a yummy turkey sandwich lunch.  I was feeling a little sad we weren't driving to Utah to attend my Grandma Roma's 100th birthday celebration, but I also know it wasn't the best thing for our crazy moving schedule.  We all took a nap after lunch-- Roma too which is a rare gift to the rest of us!  That early hike wore her out!

The boys wanted to get a few little presents for Ro in the evening and I needed milk and bread so we all ended up going together and eating pizza at Sams after shopping.  I've been meaning to get Roma a new baby doll but could never find one with brown eyes.. but it just so happened that ONE brown eyed baby was at the store, so we had to buy it.  She saw it in the cart and literally freaked.  As soon as we rung up and paid for it, she ripped it out of the box.  Every limb of that baby was tied down, but she didn't care.  The box was destroyed by the time we left the store and she wouldn't put her down for a minute.  This new baby is named Edee, of course, along with all of her other babies.  But she's the same size as her real baby and looks an awful lot like her.  Everyone in the family has had some kind of mini-heart attack watching Ro carry around her baby, thinking it was Eden, since we've been home.  It's scary!  and so cute how much she loves her.  She'll say things like, "Is your baby hungry, Mom?  My baby is."  or "hey!  I have two babies, Edee and Eden.  But only Eden is a real baby."

After we got home from the store, we put a candle in a donut and sang to her for the umpteeth time.  She blew out all three candles and squealed as we sang to her.  She is such an adorable, darling, sassy, aggressive, happy, energetic and sweet girl.  We could not love her any more than we do.

Utah, here we come.

About a year ago, during Thanksgiving in Salt Lake City, Aaron told me he wanted to move to closer to my family.  I was not on board, especially not when the winter season was approaching.  I truly enjoyed spending the Christmas in my own home without coats or snow.  And all through the spring, I felt grateful for the warm desert breeze.  Right before Eden was born, Aaron told me he wanted to move to Utah and felt a sense of urgency.  I just couldn't see it and really just didn't want to go.  I tried to convince him to move out to Atlanta with (some) family.  The weather is still amazing... and the kids could still have cousins around.  Not 40, mind you, but 7 and that is a lot better than the zero we have in Vegas.

After a lot of prayer and fasting and family discussions we've finally made a decision.  And really it's come down to the fact that Aaron was right all along and we need to move to the Salt Lake Valley.  I do know (now) it's where we are supposed to be and where we need to raise our children.  I am really excited.  I adore my family.  I am so excited to be closer to my parents and my siblings and I am thrilled that my kids can grow up around their cousins.  Really, I am so excited.

But at the same time, my heart is broken.  I know I will be leaving a piece of myself here in Vegas.  There is so much about this place that I will miss.  We've been here for almost 8 years and more than half of our marriage.  We've doubled our family here, bought our first home and planted roots in our neighborhood and ward.  I love the weather, the scenery, the never ending list of things to do, and most of all I LOVE the people.  We have made the most genuine and dear friends in this city.  We're close to Aaron's parents and siblings, close to the beach and we get to see ALL kinds of people traveling through Vegas.  It's been home since the first day we arrived and I will always think back on our time here with fondness.  I am kind of sick about leaving.

We are selling our home.  The original plan was to rent it because we can make money off of it each month and I don't want to leave my house empty, just waiting to sell.  But we feel like it's the best thing to do... so we're packing everything up and putting it on the market.  We will live with my parents in West Jordan until our home sells and we have a better idea of where we want to settle in Utah.  The idea of living with family was completely off the table (I told Aaron I would move as long as we had a place of our own and a firm job.) but we are going up without either... I need to be careful of what I say I won't EVER do because it seems like the universe will give me exactly that.  Don't get me wrong, my parents are amazing and there's a part of me that is so excited to spend the time with them and allow my kids to develop the kind of relationship you can only develop by living with someone.  But I then I stress because we have SIX kids... and that is a lot of people to move into a home with grandparents who live by themselves.  I am excited and nervous and grateful and scared and really not looking forward to the cold.  But mostly I just feel humbled.  Humble because I don't want to do it and humble because I am so grateful that we can.

I am really going to miss my sweet friends here in Vegas.  Never have any GNO's ever been so wild and crazy... and I mean that in the best way.  I am so grateful for the things they've taught me and for all of the laughs and tears and memories we've made together.  I promise I won't forget them when I head back home.  But I am really excited to be going back home because most of my dearest friends live within miles of my parents.  High school and college roommates and law school friends and SO MANY dear ones live in Salt Lake.  I am really looking forward to rekindling friendships and running into familiar faces at the grocery store and the movies..  that is going to be fun

Most of all I am looking forward to being closer to temples and churches on every corner.  The LDS church is strong in Vegas but it's just not the same.  I am so looking forward to temple square and BYU football games and Provo.  I also know the best hiking spots and museums and parks so we won't be suffering for things to do.  Utah is one of the most beautiful places and I am sure once I am there, I won't want to come back to this dry brown desert.  But I will definitely miss the sunrise and sunsets we see every.single.day.  I am really going to miss the sun and the never ending blue skies, all day everyday.

People wonder how we've been able to actually LIVE in Vegas-- the City of Sin.  But until you've been here, you won't ever know that it is one of the happiest places to be.  It's exciting and beautiful and warm and kind and adventurous and quiet and peaceful and one of my very favorite places in the whole world.  Las Vegas, I am so grateful to you and what you've taught me.  I will love you for always.

Roma's PURPLE bash!

For months Ro has been talking to her birthday.  She will tell random strangers. "first I am two and at my birthday I am gonna turn three."  The boys were constantly reminding her that it was Mom's birthday before her birthday and that was always hard for her.  So we decided to throw her birthday party the day after my birthday (because in her mind, it was party time!)

I thought for sure she would want a Dora party.  She's a princess fan, but she really loves Dora more than anything else.  But no matter how many times we asked her, she did not want a Dora party or a princess party.  She wanted a PURPLE party!  It was 100% her idea and I thought it was the easiest party ever.  We invited a few of her friends (and their families) over for dinner and dessert.  It was a low-key party that the sister missionaries crashed at the last minute.   We had mexican food and purple cupcakes & purple frozen yogurt..  I found $2 purple shirts at Walmart the night before and picked up purple hair spray.  I wondered if the boys would be happy about getting all purpled out and they were totally game!  I would have sprayed my hair purple too, but they used it all before it was my turn.  We found some random purple gear for Edee too and it was a party!  We didn't play any games and only had a few presents for her, but Roma was really thrilled about her purple party.  

washing off their purple hair at the end of the party.  

When she got out of the bath she said, 

"Now I want to have a green party!"  

which actually means she had the best day ever.

thirty five

I had a birthday a few days ago.  I turned 35.  Is that old or young?  I think both.  And even though my husband or kids would tell you differently, I really am growing up.  I can feel myself getting more mature by the minute.

It was a really mellow day and I loved it, although I am not sure I would have when I was younger ;).  I had a few things to be frustrated about.. like my phone shattering and my van being in the shop.  So I was without a (real) phone and without a car.  But I woke up in a great mood and didn't care what happened.  Simon and Zack have Let's Play Music classes on Wednesdays and Simon was the first one out of bed that morning.  He found me nursing Eden on the couch and said so excitedly, "Mom guess what today is....!"  I just smiled at him and let him answer himself, "It's MUSIC CLASS DAY!"  Then I told him it was by birthday too and he said, "Cool"  Which is really how I felt about my day.  Not sad (at all) but also not really that excited either.  just cool.

I heard the older boys in the kitchen while i was nursing so I went back to bed because I had a feeling they were bringing me breakfast.  And within a few minutes, I had a plate of scrambled eggs and cold toast.  Roma ate most of it for me.

Aaron left for work and said he would come home for lunch.  I said cool.  Debbie called and we chatted for a while.  Jane stopped by to drop off the most thoughtful gift.. a willow tree figurine that I will treasure forever, along with a cafe rio gift card and the sweetest card.  She also offered to take Simon, Roma and Zack for her morning music class and drop them off after lunch.  I knew Roma would LOVE being there for her class (and she did.)

Since Eden was asleep, Ben and Luke and I capitalized on our quiet time and played a couple of rounds of Rummikub.  I told them to go easy on me since it was my birthday but they didn't obey.  I lost every time we played.  We got some banana bread out of the freezer and laughed through a few games.

Then I took a bubble bath, in my quiet bedroom, which is rare.  I listened to a few of my favorite Marianne Williamson devotionals.  I've heard them all dozens of times, but I really love her.  I took time getting ready, actually applying makeup in front of a real mirror.

By this time, Aaron was home for lunch.  We heard back from the shop that my van was ready, so we decided to go out to eat and pick it up on our way home.  We took Eden with us to Cafe Rio (had to use my new gift card, of course.) and had a delicious meal and Eden was a peach.  After we picked up the van, Aaron took Eden home and I stopped off at JoAnn's to get a couple of things... because lately I really feel like crafting instead of packing my house.  I figure my birthday is a good enough excuse to make a mess with paint.  Kristy called while I was at the store, so we were able to chat while I roamed around the store with nothing to do but browse.  It's amazing how great it feels to push a shopping cart without any kids inside or nearby.

while ringing up at JoAnn's I had a coupon on my phone and showed the cashier.  It's comical, really because the screen on my phone is shattered into a million pieces and she was trying to read the code and having a hard time.  She said, "I would be so pissed if this was my phone."  I said, "I know.  And it's my birthday."  She said, "Well, my cat ran away this morning."  I asked, "Is it your birthday?" She said "no." and then I told her. "It's not that big of a deal, then."  She looked at me without an expression and I walked out to the car smiling.  I was joking, obviously, but not everyone gets my humor.. and that's too bad.  I'm sure her cat came back, the very next day. thought he was a gonner, but he just couldn't stay away, oh no.  Anyone know this song?

one of the projects the kids and I made this week.

When I got home, Aaron was playing Uno with the kids.  I returned texts, took Zack to his music class, opened a $weet card from my parents and a cute package and card from Aaron's parents.  Man, we came from good stock.  Aaron had made a cake and had dinner marinating in the fridge (grilled chicken and a yummy salad.) but I told him I'd rather go up to the temple and walk the grounds while the sun set.  So everyone packed up in the van and buckled up.  When I say go, we go... at least on my birthday.  I LOVE when Aaron is in a good mood and he knows that's all he has to do to make me happy.. just be happy.  I didn't get any presents from Aaron and the kids, but I don't need anything and their cards were totally enough.

We picked up Zack from class and headed up to the temple.  But because we were already hungry before we even got on the freeway, we stopped at Sonic and got everyone a kids meal. Lori called while Aaron was ordering and I answered, which is a total no-no for our marriage.  No talking on the phone when we are ordering and passing out food to the kids.  But it's my birthday, so bring on the crazy.. the kids meals also came with sticker dispensers which ended up all over their faces.  We also had to make a bathroom stop.. (seriously?) on the way so the sun set before we got to the temple.  I love the temple at night because there is a great view of the strip and mountains all around the valley.  I absolutely love Las Vegas and our time here.  It's been so good to me.

As we walked around the grounds (and tried to avoid sprinklers) I had a chance to hold each of my kids hands and talk to them for a minute privately.  Zack was especially cute talking about how good he felt there and that he was so glad we came. Ben too.  I feel terrible that I've never taken Ben to do baptisms here.  Having a baby kind of puts a wrench in any temple plans, but still.  He's been with the youth, but we need to take him soon.  We took a couple of pictures and then got back into the car.

We came home to cake and ice cream and stayed around the table for while just talking.  Not really about anything special.  Just enjoying each other and the ease of knowing there is no school or homework to worry about.  We ended up staying up even later watching the new season of Survivor premier (yes, we are still huge fans.  it's the only television we watch.)  I think it was around midnight before we got into bed... so I used up every minute of my special day doing what I love to do best, hang out with my family.

I don't really have any new goals for the new year except get back in shape, read more books, enjoy living near my extended family and continue to invest my time with my kids and husband.  Thirty-five is going to be a year of adjustment.  Give me this mountain.  I am ready to climb.

Eden Lee at 6 months

Fastest 6 months of my life just flew by. and some of the happiest too.  I feel bad I've completely dropped the ball with documenting Eden's first 6 months, but then I don't.  Because I've spent all my free time loving on this sweet girl.  She has been held 95% of her short life-- not because she's crying but because we all fight over her.  She is such a lightweight and fits perfectly in anyone's arms.  And she is always happy.  She rarely cries and if she does, we know she's hungry.  We really couldn't have asked for a sweeter, softer, more beautiful baby.

Eden is a great sleeper (through the night since she was moved to her crib) and she has been my best little nurser.  I quit breastfeeding Simon and Roma around 6 months because it was still hard work and didn't seem worth it to me.  But nursing Eden has been so rewarding and enjoyable, since the very first day.  She will not take a bottle because I've never given her one... but she's always happy to eat anything we're eating at the table.  But after trying all kinds of things, rice cereal isn't very tasty anymore.  One of her favorite things is gnawing on pizza crust. 

There is not a single person in our family who isn't head over heels over this sweet baby.  Roma is definitely her biggest fan and even though she's never gentle, Eden loves her right back.  She has smiles for anyone who will make eye contact with her, but she rarely laughs.  Her demeanor is calm, quiet, gentle, and soft.  She does not get excited easily and her energy level is very low.  She doesn't kick or squeal unless the dog is licking her... I'm totally jealous of how easy Sunny can get her to laugh, all she has to do is move and Eden looses it.   Both of my girls are such animal lovers. 

We've spent the last 6 months together as a family, almost every minute of every day.  Something happened to us the day she was born and I think we all knew how important it was for us to cherish our time together.  She has made our home a more spiritual place and her influence has definitely made me feel God's love more in my life.  Those who meet her in person always say two things.. that she is cuter in person than in her pictures and that she is gentle and feminine.  As her mother, I couldn't agree more.  I feel that she radiates love and peace and beauty and that she was blessed with a patient and gentle soul.  She has been a such a gift to our family.

Happy half birthday, Sweetie Edee.  You are adored.