The big one...

This summer was full of trips and fun. Oh and we moved. Oh and we put our house on the market, staged it, sold it, panicked that we'd sold it that fast, commenced searching for a new house, panicked that we couldn't find a new house, then found it in the nick of time and moved. A few posts are coming your way...hope it was worth the wait.

The big trip.

In June we headed north to Yellowstone. To say that it was an adventure would be a GIANT understatement.

Really, it was the drive there and back. The time in Yellowstone was fantastically fun. But, 11 hours in the car with three kids anyone? Yikes. Did I mention that one of them (ahem, KEELER) hates the car? That he employs all sorts of "crying wolf" techniques to get out of the car? Need examples? "Ouch!! Mama! OUCHIE!!!!" "Hurt, Mama! HUUUUURT!!" "Hot, Daddy. HOT. Daddy. HOT DADDY. OUCH!!!!". You get the picture.

Thankfully, once we got there it was all rainbows and butterflies. Or something like that. More like buffalo and foggy frosty meadows but, again, you get the picture.

We ALL went.

All of us Mestas peeps. Except Kaitlin (Ethan's GFF) wasn't there. And she's one of us.
View from our Kabin.
Yep, with a K. Because that's how they roll at the KOA. This was our view in all directions. I ran through this terrain and felt like I was on top of the world. A very green and big world.

One of my favorite pics evah (thanks Ethan).

Milo and Grandma Kim planning our route. This pretty much sums up traveling with both of them. Grandma is planning and Milo is learning.

Old Faithful and the happy couple.

(It should be noted that I am in a rain jacket. My first one ever. I think I am actually a grownup now. I have weather-appropriate attire. Well some anyway.)

One of my favorite adventures of the trip...a hike to the lower Yellowstone falls.

Hiking with my Dad always brings back good memories. :) This trip was really one big trip down memory lane. The last time I was in Yellowstone, I had long braids, a woven cowgirl hat, and a one piece sunsuit. And a mom and dad ready for adventure. Not much has changed really.

Shoulda' been in black & white. I love these two (and the shadowy runner in the front!).

Coloring and camping go hand in hand in our family.

My favorite camping activity when I was little involved going out in the camper every year and rediscovering all of our camping coloring books in the cupboard above the couch/fold-out bed.

Keeler having a "back pack snack" on a hike.

Newly knighted Junior Ranger.

He worked hard for that patch and the inappropriately large/sharp safety pin.

Second newly appointed Junior Ranger.

Being sworn in.

This Ranger took her job VERY very VERY seriously. I would too. Just sayin'. She had a masters in something Forest Rangery and presented an excellent program on birds in the park.

Cutest best buds.

That sweet hand-holding was actually a death-grip that was maintained throughout this trip. We had visions of Keeler dashing off to sit on a bison or "sfimming" in a geothermal pool.

Hiking buds looking over one of the giant geothermal walks.

Milo was SO over these. He was not a fan of the smell or the steam. He was more into the 459,356,987 bison that jammed the roadways throughout the park.

The clearest of the billions of "from the car" photos taken by Milo and Isabel.

Hiking cousins.

Thankfully, this was the coldest day. Layers and layers and layers. I think that this was the walk where I was asked by a woman pushing one baby in a $1000 stroller if "those were ALL my children" and "Do you have SIX children?!". The children she was referring to were my children (3), my nieces (2), and MY BROTHER (6'3" man with a beard). Ouch.

Our favorite of the Kabin ammenities. Everyone needs a porch swing.

Amazing view from Jackson Lodge. Really pictures could never do it justice.

Lunch with cutie Isabel.

This was a Thursday around 11am and we were the only people in the diner under the age of 60. We got TONS of attention. And affection. :)

How to be a mother...

Last week was Birthday Week around here. Three birthdays in 5 days. I am always so reflective and wistful on their birthdays. Sad for the year that passed so quickly and for the littleness that is gone forever. This year we've had so many more nonmedical struggles (vision, reading, adjusting to first grade, etc. etc.) than in other years. To say that I've stretched my mothering muscles would be an understatement.

Each of my kids has taught me so much about mothering and about being a mother. Each of them has taught me something completely different about mothering. I honestly had no idea, when I began this journey, that mothering each one of them would be so different. I thought that being a mother meant one thing...being a mother. That my mothering traits and "style", if you will, would be the same for all of my children. Well, turns out that I was wrong. Once again.

This birthday, with Keeler, was filled with both incredible joy and...another twist in our parenting journey.

This boy has taught me...

• to laugh first, take a picture second, and scold last
• that life is worth running for (Literally. You should run all day long. You should never, ever walk. Ever.)
• that love is something that comes from your heart and your soul, not from your DNA (I already knew that--to some degree--but he has really proven it)
• to let go of my plans. Because they are usually silly. And can usually wait. In favor of playing more or napping more or just going home instead.
• that family is a very flexible and adaptable term. Keeler's biological family is part of our family. In a way that maybe you can't understand unless you've been in this situation? They are very much a part of the fabric of our family and of his make up and of his person. Even though we don't see them often, we think about them as part of our family every single day.
• what Childhood Apraxia of Speech is. This is the "twist" part of his birthday. Keeler was diagnosed with this disorder just before his birthday. I could tangent off into a long post about being a "mama bear" and my "motherly instincts" and having to fight for my children over and over again. But, I won't. (Or did I?) I will just say that if you think something is wrong, SAY SO. If you think something is wrong, PUSH FOR MORE. If you think something is wrong, don't take "wait and see" as an answer.
• that our already busy life will gladly pause and regroup/reschedule to accommodate the intensive speech therapy that life will now revolve around--and the learning of American Sign Language.
• that the sign for "careful" will be the most frequently used sign in our house. Seriously, the boy is CRAZY!

This boy has taught me...

• that there are so many things in life that are worth being very, very, very enthusiastic about. Sports, Legos, animals, zoo trips, surprise visits from Uncle Josh, science club, and being a big brother.
• that doing the right thing isn't always easy but it's what you should do--because it's the right thing to do. This boy defines integrity.
• that sensitivity is the sweetest and most heart-warming trait in a son.
• that big brothers (or twin brothers) can be the greatest protectors, helpers, guides, and playmates. Ever. And that this can make a parent want to cry tears of joy.
• to always be ready to give a complete answer. And then complete answers to all follow-up questions. Nothing less than full and complete honesty and indepth answers will do. If you don't know, be prepared to find out.
• that there is so much to be learned from and in nature. You can pretty much learn everything you ever wanted to know outside. Bring your notebook wherever you go people, just in case you need to sketch.
• that sometimes nonfiction is just as much fun as fiction (the boy did not venture out of the nonfiction section at the library for over a year!).
• that struggling to stay out of the hospital (and just to breath for pete's sake!) for years can result in the most empathetic and sympathetic heart.
  

Isabel has taught me...

• that sometimes just what you think you can't parent (a girly-girl who loves to dance and play dress-up) is just what you will parent so you can grow. And grow.
• that cuddling in mommy's bed is the greatest part of any morning.
• that seeing yourself so clearly replicated in someone else can be incredibly frightening and incredibly beautiful all at once.
• that being kind to others is just how you should be. End of story.
• that there is ALWAYS time for one more book.
• that learning with your children (volcanoes, Statue of Liberty, history of the state of Wyoming) is so much more fun than learning alone.
• that watching your child struggle and grow can break your motherly heart and make it soar over and over and over again. In one morning.
• that grandparents fill something in a child that parents can't--and that it is the most incredible thing to witness.

Reasons

Loving the zoo with Daddy. In Keeler's case, REALLY loving the zoo. He's falling right in line with the others as a big giant animal luvah.

Let's just say that the beginning of January was a little challenging around here. Nothing huge--just normal sibling-in-the-middle-of-winter stuff. But, my patience was a bit thin. I decided to take some cues from Jessica (who is always so honest about parenting and children) by trying to focus on the things that my kids are doing right now that I absolutely love and the characteristics they each posses that I love. It was a great exercise for me and definitely helped when I was sending them to another room for the 27th time that day to "work it out".

• Obsessed with hats. Anytime we leave the house he stands in the entryway pointing to the box where we store them.
• Is so mischievous but hilarious at the same time. Last week found him sitting on the toilet seat with his feet (socks on) in the bowl splashing the water. YUCK. Then 2 days later I found him in the tube in his footsie jammies "shaving" his leg (jammies still on) with a capped razor. How can you not laugh??
• Has gotten much fonder of giving snuggles and sitting still long enough to read books. *dreamy mommy sigh*
• Still has awesome dancing skills. Seriously, awesome.
• Looks so, so, so much like his biological sisters and we love it. :)
• Starting speech therapy evaluations. Still a pretty quiet guy--unless he is frustrated that we can't understand what he wants.
• Cries anytime we drop one or both kids off anywhere. Or if anyone leaves the house. Or if Spencer goes to work. Or if one of the twins gets sent to another room. He likes his family unit intact.
  

I love this picture because it looks like a caricature of Milo. Not the actual Milo--Milo Exaggerated.

• Still has the loudest and most enthusiastic laugh ever. Has possessed the same adorable and infectious laugh since he was a baby. Remember?
• Cried the first week of gymnastics (because it was hard and he didn't win any of the strength competitions) but has worked so hard every week since to get better and to win or come in 2nd place in a few of the competitions.
• Loves being a big brother. I mean seriously LOVES it. He plays and plays and plays with Keeler. Despite Keeler's tendency to "totally destroy" his Legos.
• Gives me giant hugs and calls me "the best Mommy".
• Loves school and learning so, so, so much. Staying home sick is a pretty serious torture for this guy. Thinks Science Club is "AWESOME!!!" and always knows exactly which day it is.
• Loves to play Angry Birds on my iPod for his screen time.

Sewing away. Already asking me questions about my machine that I have no idea how to answer.

• Loving sewing classes. Crafting in a learning environment is just about too much for her to stand. Made the cutest skirt ever and has worn it every single day since.
• Currently obsessed with listening to Little House books on CD. Like, for hours at a time. Then she wants to ask question after question about how people lived back then--and is begging for a trip to the Dakotas so we can go to Laura Ingalls Wilder's house.
• Asked for a "hygrashun pack" and a "camura" for her birthday in anticipation of our summer trip to Yellowstone (make that "hydration pack" and "camera") and has talked about Yellowstone nonstop. Love that she takes trips to the max and wants to learn everything she can about the places before we go.
• Has really bonded with her teacher this year and does anything she can to help or talk to her. :) For example, offering to make a new girls bathroom pass when someone failed to return the last one and not being so upset when she can't go to PE (darn ankle again) because it means she can stay behind and draw on slates in Ms. Lazzarini's classroom.

Oh I love these little monkeys. There are days when I think that just might lose my ever-loving-mind but, mostly, I want to stop time. They are all growing and changing so fast. Some days I almost feel like I'm watching a home video of my life you know?

*********

For those who are just dying to know other mundane details, let me indulge you. Ha!

Erin decided to run another marathon. Yikes. Should be interesting. I mostly love the training so I'm kind of excited to start.

Spencer is trying to "branch out" after his boss and I nearly had to stage an intervention in December re: his obsession with climbing and his tendency to get all Cymbalta-commercial on us if the weather was bad. After deciding against online gambling (joke) and bowling as alternate hobbies, he has settled on...RUNNING!!! What? I know. Crazy right? He's just doing some short runs on the dreadmill for now but says he's going to train for a real live race. Lookout.

Erin got sick of feeling sick and getting no answers from traditional medicine so...is seeing a nutritional therapist who has made about a 95% difference in sinus infections and IBS symptoms (TMI? Yeah, I know.). Awesome, awesome, awesome.

Isabel's ankle is STILL giving us grief. Sheesh. Enough already. She is starting physical therapy now and has "the ankle of a college athlete with a sprain". What? I don't know.

Winter Around These Parts

Here is an attempt at something other than the obligatory Christmas post. Got it?

This might be one of my fave sights ever. This boy in the carrier and a funny hat. For a boy who is like a busy little tornado all day every day, it's surprising how much he LOVES being strapped into this and carried around. He squeals and jumps up and down any time we get it out. Kooky.
Love that my kids love to be outside. Love that Milo is some sort of sports and activity machine. Love that Isabel was brave enough to tromp around in the snow in her boot and snowshoes.

The view from the snowshoeing trail (Michigan Ditch for those who are wondering) was amazing. Blue skies, warm temps, and snow. We had to get to 9,000+ feet before we found any of the white stuff but it was worth it.

You know how much I love my dad? Well, when he is being such a cool and fun grandpa snowshoeing with almost all of his grandkids on his birthday and throwing snowballs down cliffs with them, I love him even more.

Kiana is pretty much hilarious. That girl has more personality and groove in her little finger than the rest of us have in our entire bodies. And her grandpa is pretty much her BFF.

Milo (and his borrowed hot pink boots) snowshoed about 4 miles that day. Uh-mazing no?

This is her "snowshoeing face". And the scarf she's been asking for since October. Remember the "maybe Santa Clause will bring you one" months from when you were a kid?

Ralphie's brother was back in full force this year. Except now he can walk. But he can't put his arms down. I was laughing so hard I couldn't get a decent picture.

Preloaded MP3 players in the stockings will trump bikes. Betcha didn't know that did ya! Stars Wars soundtrack for him and Tangled soundtrack for her.

Isabel broke her ankle again. Did I mention that? Also, the optometry place made her last pair of glass wrong. You know, the pair that was supposed to change everything for us. It's been another challenging few weeks for Isabel (and her mother). It was so great to see her just play and play and sew and craft and snuggle with her grandma Kim.

Santa came!!!! Love my mom's tree and love this window so much. Christmas in front of this window should be what everyone experiences.

And who are these dashing young men??? Looks like two guys who have been making Snap Circuits (look 'em up on Amazon) for 3 days straight. Milo is some sort of scientist/zooligist/engineer in the making.

Keeler had no idea what was going on but was happy to assist with any wrapping paper destruction. And happy to wear a teeny tiny pack pack around all day. (Because that's what he usually only does from 7am-9am while the kids are getting ready for school--he's desperate to somehow slip into elementary school one of these mornings.)

Christmas eve cousins are the greatest. Everyone gets new jammies, a new book, and trades a present with the cousins. Pure. Joy.

Isabel's first "real" sewing project. Like a good pioneer girl should (see Halloween post), she's learning to hand sew. Since she had to drop out of dance after she broke her ankle, we found some sewing classes (at Mama Said Sew) for her. She's taking a kids' machine sewing class in a few weeks. Wish us (me) luck. :)

Fall Continued

A few more highlights of fall '10...

Isabel lost ANOTHER tooth. She totally planned this you know. Which is hilarious if you know her. She always has to know "what the plan is for today". She made her own calendar (with no regard for the number of days in a week or number of weeks in a month) and has been writing important upcoming events on the calendar. On November 15, she wrote "Loose a tooth". And, on November 15, she totally lost a tooth. Cue the exaggerated lisp.

Church (ward) campouts are not for the faint of heart. Or for those who have a problem with their children running wild, playing in precarious teepees, or eating dirt. Lots of dirt. We had SO much fun but it didn't even compare with the amount of fun these wild children had.

Isabel and Milo have continued their love affair with Ramona Quimby. Her antics have fueled some of Isabel's antics. Such as the stunning homemade rabbit costume seen above.

CSU's homecoming parade provided us with an afternoon of fun and a week's worth of candy. It's always entertaining to see the floats the students come up with and to see all of the animals (CSU has a vet medicine program and is an ag school so there are animals aplenty!).

We (okay, Spencer and the kids) participated in the Tavelli Elementary duathalon again. It's a 1/2 mile run followed by a 2 mile bike ride followed by another 1/2 mile run. The twins weren't quite riding on two wheels yet so Spencer pulled the locomotive. Note that he appears near death at the completion of the bike ride.

Triumphant finish! Keeler cried the ENTIRE time. He did not take kindly to being left behind.

Then there was Halloween. This guy was the cutest puppy dog ever.

Trick-or-treating with cousins. We feel so lucky to have Kiana and Mya pretty near by--especially for fun stuff like this.

This one deserves a post of its own. When Isabel decided that she wanted to be a pioneer-slash-Mary-Ingalls for Halloween, she knew just who to call: Grami Tami. You see, Grami Tami is both a seamstress extraordinaire AND a fellow lover of all things historical. She immediately volunteered to just "whip something up". This totally true-to-its-time-period costume was the result. The anticipation and the emailed/blogged pics of the work in progress were almost as fun as the actual costume.

A few things to note:

1. There are actual bloomers under that.

2. The doll has actual bloomers too.

3. There is a row of teeny tiny rose shaped buttons up the front.

4. It got more comments than any other costume at the Cornstalk Festival (also known as the Halloween carnival).

5. Isabel felt like she'd died and gone to heaven--and was so over people asking her if she was a pilgrim!!

There was also soccer--for both kids. Isabel was a soccer machine this year. She didn't even yell at me for "choosing this when I've always known she wanted to be a ballerina!". She loved it. Milo, of course, loved it. His team was undefeated (by miles and miles of goals) and took first in the tournament at the end of the season. They both scored goals and they both can't wait for spring soccer!

If you made it to the end, you are a true fan. Or you are my mother.

First Grade...so far.

My own memories of first grade are pretty basic. Mrs. Thayne. Cindy Lauper (my Halloween costume). Winning a ribbon for the obstacle course at Field Day. My mom was PTA President. I broke my arm on the monkey bars. Pretty basic. Nothing stressful. Life was good.

So, here we are. First grade for I&M. Well, it turns out that first grade is a whole other world these days. News flash for me, the mom.

Things started out hunky dory. The kids are at our neighborhood school (which, if you live in a district that does not offer the "school of choice" option or does not complicate things with charter schools then you do not know what a controversial choice we made). Spencer and I stood on our soapbox (okay, mostly me) and pontificated about the mix of students at our school, about the need for involved parents, the dangers of self-segregation etc. etc.

Then school started. And things were tough. Really tough. There are 27 students in their class and one adult. The kids are from diverse and sometimes very challenging backgrounds. Funding keeps getting cut. Their teacher is great but she is a very new teacher, still making her way and determing what works best for her. And there are 27 of them. Did I mention that?

New school clothes and new backpacks. Isabel had her outfit layed out for 24 hours before. Shocker right?

The first few weeks were loud. Make that LOUD. And chaotic. And...hard. Isabel really struggled. Going to full day was a big change. Her vision had changed--and not for the better. She came home crying almost every single day. Crying.

Then I was crying. And she was struggling. And I was calling Grami Tami (first grade teacher and literacy expert) every.single.day. And the pediatrician. And the eye doctor (who is a complete saint as far as I am concerned). And meeting with her teacher at least once a week.

Isabel has always had some difficulty with sensory stuff--too loud, too hot, too crowded etc.. Well, it turns out that the changes in her vision had made it too difficult for her to shift focus from far (the whiteboard) to near (her desk) and was causing her vision to be distorted or blurry much of the time. That combined with the noise and activity level in the class was just too much.

Milo is a total school lover. He loves every subject. He loves every teacher. He loves lunch. He loves recess. He has some cutie friends from soccer in his class. He loves to read. He wants to be in science club. And chess club. And pretty much every other club.

Things have slowly gotten better. Her teacher was very attentive and responsive. I was in the classroom twice a week. She is now in bifocals. The class is quieter. And, did I mention Grami Tami? Lifesaver.

Watching your normally super resilient child struggle that much is painful. It was a tough six weeks and I am very, very happy to be on the other side of it. It's still a work in progress but things are much improved.

This is her "Ramona" pose. Remember when Ramona's shoe got eaten by a dog on the way to school? And she had to lead the pledge? She stood like this. What a goofball.

It should be noted that having a brand new super twirly skirt made by that same Grami Tami will make the first day of school pretty darn exciting. :)

Yearly tradition: cupcakes or cake the night before school starts.

Falling

The annual pumpkin patch excursion with Sage and her boys...please note how many times my son (Keeler) looks like he is about to jump in the pig pen. Because it was pretty much the whole time.

Thunking all of the pumpkins...or as he called them, "BALLS!!!!".
These two crack me up. Biffs for sure. On the tractor ride.

Checking the tractor out from a safe distance.

About to take the plunge. Because oinking at the nasty pig from a distance just wasn't enough.

About to attempt the plunge again.

Isabel pulling some of the boys around in one of the pumpkin-hauling-wagons.

Cute. Craziest hair. He pretty much always has the craziest hair.

Recreating the pics from last year. Last year's pumpkin patch will always be the "balloon boy day" in my mind. Because that was all anyone was texting me about all day. Okay maybe all week. Balloon boy.

Cuteness.

Assessing his escape routes. No seriously. He pretty much lives to escape/run away/climb up things he shouldn't climb up.

He was totally barking at the bunnies. If all else fails, bark at it.

Some day my children will all look in the same direction for a picture.

Keeler loooooooooooooves to be restrained for pictures. :)