clara's update

My clara jane has been through a lot. She has been poked and prodded more than most and is always so brave. With her melt downs escalating I have felt the need to be more proactive in hoping to get questions answered. A good night of restful sleep has been very sporadic and I have seen the correlation between difficult sleep and difficult days.  It seems like in just the few minutes after waking I can tell what my day will hold.  We went to a sleep specialist and eagerly awaited the results of a sleep study.  Some things were ruled out (like sleep apnea) but other things just brought on more questions.  I feel like there is no quick fix and sometimes just have to take things day by day, hour by hour (minute by minute). Josh has helped me shift my perspective which has given me even more patience and love. Even on the challenging days I am amazed at how resilient, loving and sweet clara is.  A few things I've noticed lately..

• She's very articulate.  "Mommy, I distinctly remember..."
• After singing on the stand for mother's day the first thing she said was, "Mommy, Sister H. has on an everyday shirt."  (The lady in the congregation was wearing a T-shirt that said I heart mom on it)
• She likes her hot chocolate to the "tippy, tippy top with a million mountains of chocolate"
• She sings "I often go walking" song so beautifully
• She loves giving her babies baths
• She takes safety precautions very serious and looks out for her siblings. 
• Grandma Peggy was wearing fuzzy slippers with her Sunday dress, and clara politely told her that her shoes don't go with her outfit (pretty funny knowing the sweet ensembles she chooses for herself)
• Clara is almost finished with her first year of preschool, is preparing for her first dance  recital, and is excited to participate in a theater camp of Peter Pan.

noah's update

• Noah is finishing up his Kindergarten year, enjoying his last days with Miss Thornell.  He is also finishing up a good season of soccer on the "best team ever white knights". 
•  Noah loves skateboarding and saved up his allowance for 6 wks to buy his very own (he had borrowed his cousin Jack's).  Walmart had it on sale for $7 dollars so he even had a few bucks to spend at yard sales as well.   
• Noah was on his way to perfect attendance 2 wks until school was out (nothing I was pushing, he has just been super healthy this year)  He said he didn't feel well so I checked his temp and asked about symptoms (none/none). After deliberating I sent him off to school...ten minutes prior to school letting out he threw up in class.  I felt SO terrible!  He winded up having strep and was out the rest of the week.  
•  Noah is obsessed with singing that song, "tonight, we are young, so we set the world on fire"....even the little girls are singing it!  He gets pretty pumped. 
•  On my birthday I was making lunch and he said mom "what do you feel?" "Do you feel my love?"  I certainly did. Clara followed by holding her heart and sending love.  best. present. ever.

noah was a rattlesnake in a desert habitat for school.  The note said to have them come to school in costume. By the time we came for the program there was little left resembling a snake but he remembered his 3 facts great!

mother's day

Mother's Day Weekend:

• amazing breakfast--check
• both clara and noah went up and sang in church (clara squeezed and held on to noah's arm--darling)-- check
• daddy tackles my looming to-do lists, cleaning out the fridge, car, and picks me up my favorite Sweet Tooth Factory treats--check, check, check
• A healthy dose of meltdowns to keep it real and remember what motherhood entails--check
• Great visits with mom, and mother in law--check, check
• four beautiful children who I am so blessed to be their mother--check, check, check, and check!

Josh made this year very special.  I have loved our tradition of a picture heading in to church on mother's day.  And yes, Rowan brought that quesadilla right on in (we woke her from her nap to make it to church on time), always keeping the congregation entertained :)

a noble attempt

We are "that family" at church...getaway toddler, crying baby, if I leave with one they all try to escape.  One difficulty is our chapel is filled by 10 till so the overflow is usually our option and the gym on folded chairs makes getaways all the easier and noisier. Still, there are plenty of families that manage.  I've taught many a lesson at family home evening on being reverent in which the kids can be model students.  We've role played, bribed, threatened and still struggle.  My latest attempt was this simplified quiet pocket of activities.  I think there was a few more minutes of quiet (but not much).  We'll keep working on it, I think time is on our side for this struggle.
The pocket activity:
The puzzle used craft sticks, glue and picture. This idea came from pinterest...I wish I could link you but it was one I didn't pin, I saw a picture and figured it out.
The paper pocket:
 I got old scrapbook paper and sewed up the sides after I folded it, and then added some stickers a notepad (5 for $1 at the dollar store) and a few colored pencils. 
Note: I made them the same to nix squabbles about what someone else my have and tried to make it activities that didn't just turn church into playtime but a quiet time to listen and have little hands occupied.

here comes peter cotton tail

We enjoyed a beautiful Easter weekend.  We skipped the city hunt for a little one in the neighborhood at the Seely home.  It was just a beautiful morning in a beautiful yard.  Later that afternoon we went to the Sarvela home for an Easter extravaganza...egg dying, hunt, and dinner.  It was such a fun, fun time.  We rounded the Easter weekend off in Springville with the Stika crew to enjoy a delish Easter dinner and celebration of Josh's b-day.  With all those fun celebrations I kinda felt like there was no need for the Easter bunny to stop by on Sunday morning.  Noah came home from school Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday wondering if it was still Easter because the kids at school said the Easter bunny had already came and gone.  He was pretty devastated.   So Thursday while we were cleaning the kids found an egg with a note/clue to find a basket where grandma and grandpa would soon be living.  That sneaky Easter bunny, how did we miss that egg ;).  So Liss saves the day again...the Easter bunny left a basket for Noah, Clara, and Rowan and the magic keeps on glowing.

princess p-a-r-t-y!

A magical day for our little princess Clara.  All the neighborhood princesses (and a few lone astronauts) gathered for a grand ball, delightful treats, crafts, and even a visit from "ariel".  Success!  Happy Birthday my girl!

clara's b-day note

My Sweet Clara Jane,

You are my forever side kick.  Through thick and thin I'm glad you want me by your side.  You are incredibly smart, and intuitive.  You love your independence,  I so wish at times I could help you work through things (esp emotions) ...it's part of my mommy job description! :)  Three was a challenging, big year.  There were three major illnesses, a hospital stay, you started preschool, primary and dance.  I am continually awed by your braveness. You are funny, silly, sweet, strong willed, shy, creative.  I love your imagination!  I love how loving you are to Baby Ben.  I love drawing pictures on your back and singing you lullabies.  I love when you play nice with Rowan and Noah, they sure love to play with you.  For the lucky that get a chance to see the real Clara they just love you and find you charming, fun and enchanting. 
XOXO
mommy

a few anicdotes of late...on our way to a play date the street was lined with "popcorn" trees (blossoming spring trees).  She was giddy, and excited.  "mommy look at all the popcorn trees!  I think we have a few minutes to stop and get a snack, we could bring ellie a popcorn ball too!"
She wants to be called a new name every day in the past week its been: Alena, Puppy, EmmaEllie, and Barbie (boo) but due to her inability to form "r's" it comes out "Bobby".
From Ben's birth Clara has been his little mommy.  She can make him belly laugh more than anyone.  She always calls him her "born baby".  I see her looking out for him all of his days.
For a little one that struggles daily with difficult meltdowns I am always so grateful how she is able to finally turn it around and be full of joy once again. 

I started a birthday interview to keep through the years...(thanks pinterest, for the idea)
1. What makes you happy? you (me/mommy...heart melted!)
2.  What makes you sad? tornadoes
3.  What's one of your wishes? a pony set
4.  Favorite color? pink and purple
5.   Favorite food? top ramen, artichokes
6.  Favorite song? Twinkle, One little light on the Christmas tree, I am a child of God
7.  Favorite game? memory
8.  Favorite show? Curious George
9.  Favorite movie? Dora and Tangled
10.  Favorite animal?  Stuffed ;)
11. Favorite book? Tinkerbelle, Angelina Ballerina
12.  Favorite drink? milk
13.  Favorite Holiday? Christmas
14. Favorite toy? kitchen and cupcake bear "Sprinkles"
15. Favorite outfit? Bedazzeled dress from Claire for her b-day
16.  Who do you like to play with? Row and Noah
17.  What do you like to play?  making rivers outside with the expensive house water (we have irrigation so I'm always telling them not to play with the expensive house water outside)
18.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  A princess, Rapunzel
 Should be fun to see how it changes through the years.  Love, love you my girl!