Life's a Crazy Rollercoaster Sometimes

Spring is here...............

                                                  ...........pink popcorn on our trees.

I meant to update the blog on Sunday last week, but life got the better of me.

The week leading up to finals was definitely a weird, hectic, and discouraging week. Several of us were feeling a bit under the weather. It started off on a good note with Family Home Evening Sunday night and some time out on Monday with my best friend. We strolled the mall for a bit and chatted up a storm. Her littlest one tagged along, but I told her I'd take time with her even if it meant having a wee one along. Tuesday morning I got up at 5:20 to help Aeva out of bed and get her something to eat before seminary.  I got everyone going and took the girls to school by 9:45. As I got on the freeway to go home I just felt so tired. If I could have closed my eyes and laid down I would have. Getting off the freeway, with about 10-15 minutes to go until I reached home, I started getting a pretty bad headache. After arriving home I had to lay my head down for a bit because my head was hurting so bad and I felt sick to my stomach. Without being too graphic, or going into too much detail, I ended up losing my breakfast and being instructed at about 2pm by my doctor's office to go to the ER. I thought it was funny that the nurse wanted my guarantee that I was leaving right that minute and that I would drive safely. I assured her I would once I got someone to take my kiddos. On a good note, my head had stopped hurting. I was trying to get the kids ready to get out the door and get them situated at my friend's house, plus get a hold of Chris to make sure he could pick the older girls up from their classes at the college, when poor Myles came out of his room in tears. He didn't want to let go of me; he was beside himself. Poor guy let his mind think the worst. I assured him that I was probably going to be charged a lot of money for the doctor in the ER to tell me that nothing was wrong and they'd send me right back home. I am so very grateful that my best friend had the foresight to go with me. Her oldest son, who is Rhaevyn's age, sweetly agreed to help take care of my three littles plus his siblings. At least they all get along really well, so I don't think they were too much of a handful. Her husband ended up getting them pizza. I joked that Tuesday night just wasn't enough time spent together. What better way to get time to chat without interruptions right? I think we will laugh about our date to the ER for years to come. We made the best of it. At least the local hospital ER was very efficient and the staff was great. After having x-rays, blood tests, and an IV, I got sent home. After complaining a bit about the large co-payment  and being told there was really nothing wrong and being sent on my way, just like I had told Myles would happen, my friend's sweet dad reminded me that's just how I should want it. Yes, I am grateful that it wasn't anything major. Maybe God was giving me a few hours where I was waited on and I just really had some quiet time to sit quietly, stay in one spot and rest, while I closed my eyes periodically, watched the IV drip, and laughed with my friend.
We may not understand why things happen in any given event or moment, but sometimes a day, a week, a month, or even years later we can look back and have a light bulb moment. I really think I  needed that time to just regroup because the following week and a half was a really, really rough one.
-----------------------Insert deep breath here-----------------------------------------
I think we are on the sunny up-slope after dipping into the shadowy valley.

Finals are done and mostly marked. I'm very happy with how the girls did in their classes this last quarter. I think they are amazed at how many students at college don't really take classes seriously. They don't understand why students just try to skate through, doing the bare minimum, make excuses, and try to get out of work in group projects. I am hoping they continue to see the benefit of hard work and keep up the good work ethic.
Aeva had to do a power point presentation in her Japanese class. She got 100 % on her final and presentation, with a class grade total of 104% ; she is a believer in extra credit no matter how well you are doing in class . She was so nervous about the presentation. She worked really hard putting it together and taking pictures for it. Rhaevyn asked to sit in on the class to watch it. The teacher let her know how much she appreciated that she asked first. She may be biased, but Rhaevyn said Aeva's presentation was the best. It was very original and entertaining. I think most students just got pictures off the internet.
These are the last two projects she had for her CGT class.
Each student in the class had to come up with a logo for the plant center at the collge.

The final project was a portrait. I probably should have scanned her project, as the colors aren't showing up very well.



















 Chris took Rhaevyn, and her friend Brooke, down to the Japanese market and to the Japanese Crepe place. It was really a trip organized by Aeva. She wanted to get something at the market and take  photos for her power point presentation. Unfortunately, she wasn't feeling well enough to go.
This particular crepe was the s'mores crepe.

Rheavyn and I went to listen to the college orchestra. It was a requirement for her piano class, and she had to write a three page paper on it. The music was absolutely beautiful. It was time well spent. Most songs I had never heard. Out of the five songs played I had a favorite. It was pretty long, but I really enjoyed it. I let my mind paint pictures while I listened to the orchestra play.

This is a link to my favorite of the evening............

Rachmaninov: The Isle of the Dead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbbtmskCRUY


March was Myles's date month. He has been planning it and looking forward to is since January.
After he and Chris helped the Elder's Quorum president in our ward move his family they started out at Panda Express. Then they went to Kennedy Violin, where Rhaevyn purchased her violin. He was thinking he wanted to look into taking viola lessons. I think he thought the viola was smaller than the violin. We assured him it was not, but thought it would be good for him to actually see for himself. I did mention that he should try a cello because, even though they are bigger, you get to sit down when playing one. He tried a cello out and really loved the sound. They fitted him so he would know what size he needed. Now we need to see if we can find someone who teaches for an affordable price. After going to the violin shop, Myles and Chris headed down to the Columbia River. They have been saying on the news how many places, parks included, along the river are flooded. Myles was telling me, when he got home, how the river was over the sidewalk.

 
 
 Our doggie got her hair cut. She came back to us all soft and silky.
 

 
 Elsa eating her Sunday lunch while watching a movie. Molly sweetly resting her head on Elsa's leg.

While I struggle with the plethora of germs, I have to just not let my mind go there. In a sense I try and play the "ignorance is bliss" game. If I try to just live in denial it is a lot easier for me most of the time. Molly is really a very sweet doggie. At the end of a long day when I curl up on the couch she usually snuggles right into the crook of my legs. She really  has been such a comfort to a few of my kiddos too, and I guess it makes everything else that comes along with having a dog "doable".

 Yesterday Rheavyn helped Elsa make cupcakes for the dinner after the General Women's Conference. Since she will be turning eight in two weeks, we thought we'd let her go ahead and come with us older gals. Afterwards, the three girls and I went out for a treat. They really didn't want to stay for the dinner. I think the girls just like to have time to have a treat they get to choose and just sit and visit. I always love spending time talking to them.

Myles decided that he wanted to make cupcakes after church today all by himself. Rheavyn did volunteer to help him with the icing.


 Here he is trying to make Chris smell the yummy chocolate:

 
 Myles did the sprinkles.

 Now I have two weeks off from taxiing the girls to and from school. I really am thankful they have the opportunity to take classes at the college. It has been so good for them and for me. It is that baby step of getting ready to let them go to spread their wings and fly on their own.

I am going to attempt at least one quilt, as I announced a donation date for Project Mother of an Angel Baby at the end of April.  I can't believe it has almost been two years since I started the project. I'm also trying to get everything ready for Elsa's baptism. I'm about ready to print out the programs. Then there is the planning of Rhaevyn's 18th birthday. I'm super excited for that! I did melt down the other day telling her that you are never quite prepared, when that little baby is placed in your arms, of just how fast the time will go and how hard it will be to let go and let them fly in 18 years. She was so sweet to just wrap her arms around me.

I'll end with our little Miss Meg leading our opening song for Family Home Evening.

 

Happy Spring to One and All!

A Pooch, Meg, Pinewood Derby and More

I feel like more has happened this week, but maybe it is just the general places to go and things to be done in my daily routine that make me think that.

Miss Molly daydreaming out the window.
She goes for her next  hair cut on Tuesday. Did I happen to mention that the lady who was caring for her when we got her stopped by for a visit? Molly was so super excited to see her, and the lady was thrilled that Molly remembered her. She took some pictures and videos to show her son (the previous owner) as she will be seeing him and his family off on their new adventure of working for the embassy overseas next month.

Keeping Miss Meg occupied while waiting for Aeva to be done with her Japanese dance practice this last Monday. We were on Officer's Row, so Rhaevyn took Elsa and Myles on a walk to see if they could find any painted rocks. They found one! Meg enjoyed keeping warm and playing with the X-wing that Myles crafted from his Legos.

 Myles worked really hard on his Pinewood Derby car. He was a little worried it was not going to be done in time. He did it all himself, even using the bandsaw. I loved watching him do his paint job. I thought his painted wheels were awesome. This was his last year for Pinewood Derby. So hard to believe it!

 I thought it was very fitting that he went out with a bang! He got first place. It's the first year he's ever placed in the Derby. To put it mildly, he was pretty happy about that.

Saturday was one crazy day with it being the last English Class of winter quarter for Rhaevyn, an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, Pinewood Derby, getting Meg's talk printed out, the last of my sharing time for Sunday printed out, a quick date with Rhaevyn, laundry and throwing dinner on the table before heading over to one of the hospitals in Portland for a sleep study appointment for Aeva.
I was so nervous to get there on time for the appointment because it was in downtown
Portland, which:
A) I am not familiar with
and
B) I hate to drive in Portland.

Aeva was my copilot, and we did fine until I made a wrong turn and proceeded to freak out. I don't like driving in unfamiliar places at night. You would think pedestrians and bike riders would use more caution and common sense before just darting out in front of vehicles in the dark. I am here to tell you that they don't in Portland. Once I calmed down from my freakout moment I turned around and went the opposite direction I had been heading and saw the sky-bridge, so I knew we were close. We found the correct parking garage and got parked. As we were walking away from the car I then read that we were supposed to park on a particular level. We hopped back in the car and drove up four more levels. We got into the building and went down to the first floor. Note to self : carefully read the directions a couple of times until you have it etched in your brain before you proceed blindly. This time we both started freaking out  because there was literally no one in the building on any floors. Then Aeva said to me, "Oh mom, we didn't cross the sky-bridge!" Thank goodness someone was in their right mind. We crossed the sky-bridge and went down stairs in the main hospital. No one was at the front desk for admitting. I finally tracked down an employee and they found the person manning the desk for us. Phew! It was so much easier leaving and getting out of the hospital this morning.
Once home Chris informed me of his eventful  night. I thought perhaps Meg hadn't slept well. She has been having some night terrors lately. Lucky for him she slept through the night because the refrigerator fan went out. Rhaevyn had alerted Chris at about 9-ish that contents in the freezer were defrosting.  He turned the fan and it started going again. This lasted 5 minutes before stopping. With a bit of inspiration he took an industrial strength computer fan from one of Ben's old soldering stations and hooked it up to the refrigerator. It arced out. He then had to repair the fan and put the original wire from the original fan on the computer fan. He got that hooked back up. After waiting an hour to make sure  it was going to stay working he finally got to bed at about one in the morning. He says it sounds like there is a small turbine on the refrigerator, and he loves that when he opens the freezer there is cold air cascading out. Love my fix it man! I suppose it may be time to look into a new refrigerator. It's been a good refrigerator and has had a long life. I hope to squeeze a bit more life out of it. Maybe I won't have to worry about anything else breaking for a while because I think we reached our quota of three in the past month: dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator.

This week is mostly about finishing up classes before finals; Rhaevyn needs to attend a concert for her piano class. Aeva has one more project for her CGT class. She has to do a portrait. I think she has decided to use a picture of Meg. I think we are all looking forward to spring break :)

March Begins

Well, March has officially arrived!
Last Sunday Myles made this cute little figure out of Play-do and was having fun placing him in various poses.

I forgot to mention in the last post that last Saturday I had taken Rhaevyn, Aeva, and three of Rhaevyn's friends down to Uwajimaya, a Japanese market in Beaverton, Oregon. The girls and I had gone to the one up in Seattle last fall. It was really a lot of fun, and I think all the teens enjoyed it. It was interesting to see what everybody picked out to try as far as food. We enjoyed seeing all the different kinds of fish they had and the live razor clams. They were moving. They had Peking ducks hanging up in the roaster. I bought a small steamed BBQ pork bun. It was nice and warm and tasted so good. I also bought a cream bun. Very delicious. We also spent some time in the bookstore there.

Rhaevyn was awesome and got a picture of Aeva in her yukata that she will be wearing for the Cherry Blossom dance. She is not a fan of this one. They switched it out to see if this one would fit her better. They are having a bit of a time because she is so tiny. She also go her special socks; tabi. I think she is a bit nervous about having all the choreography memorized in time. There are only a few remaining practices.

It has been a bit of a hard week. A young man in the other Battle Ground Ward, who was in Rhaevyn and Aeva's seminary class, took his life on Monday. We have had heavy  hearts and tear filled eyes throughout the week. Rhaevyn attend the funeral, but Aeva chose to grieve in her own way. Our thoughts and prayers are with this young man's sweet heartbroken family.

We celebrated a special day with the planting of tulips. Everyone got to pick out the color they wanted and we planted them in the box with the rose tree. At times it is hard to believe it has been two years and in some ways it seems like it was a lifetime ago. Sweet little Meg was very boisterous about celebrating our sweet baby's birthday. She just kept saying in such a loving and happy way, that it was our baby's birthday, that one couldn't help but smile.

Meg waiting for her turn to plant her tulip.

Planting a bit of color and eating cupcakes made it a wonderful way to show love, recognize, and celebrate our sweet little angel.

Their Fairy godmother made sure these three didn't look like mice or pumpkins. They look so snazzy in their new outfits.

Aeva totally photo-bombed this picture. We had a good laugh.

This week our ward had its Blue and Gold Banquet. This is the cake that Myles and Chris worked on. They had such a fun time making it and putting it together.

 












A bit of fun with pictures while shopping for some shampoo.

After picking out tulips at the feed store the kids stopped by to see the baby chicks.

Sweetest moment ever. We were looking at the tulips and Meg says, "Oh Jesus, it's Jesus!" She went over to hug this statue. I could hardly pry her away from it. We didn't have the heart to tell her it wasn't Jesus. It made my heart smile.

 

And that is how we started off our March of 2017.