Preschool

Olivia is super lucky to get to go to preschool once a week and have for her teachers Sheri (who has a PhD on top of being incredible with kids) and Aunt Katie (who we all know my children would prefer was their mom, she is so fun and happy and creative, on top of being super smart) and me (I can bring it under pressure.)

So far it has been awesome and I'm so glad Olivia will have this year of fun learning. Here are some pictures from preschool:

At Sheri's house with Lucy and Alex to learn about rocks and volcanoes.
Olivia is the oldest by 6 months, and also just really tall.
(pictures by Aunt Katie)

At our house trying out all sorts of jobs for "When We Grow Up."

And Aunt Katie's preschool Halloween party! (I really wanted to stay. . .)
Handsome Dracula, I mean Daxton, joined them too.

I still remember my preschool. I learned to braid, made sun catchers and sand bottle creatures, and went on nature walks. It really was a magical time. I hope Olivia enjoys it like I did. Are you in a preschool group? What have you done that's been a hit?

Days and Weeks

Just tucked the girls into bed for the night. Olivia fell asleep on her face mid-prayer, after saying, "Thank you for Jesus, cause he just always love us, and he just always so much fun. . ." Goodness, I love that girl.

It's been another busy couple of weeks. Caleb's been gone a lot. It feels like the days are so short. I get the girls off to school by 7:15, feed Emme and Olivia breakfast, read with them, and then we usually either have preschool or a field trip or library trip, or play group, or go out to run errands. Then the girls get home from school and we do homework for an hour or two, make dinner and it's already time to get the girls ready for bed.

I think I look forward to the weekend more than the girls do. I really crave that unscheduled time with them. All four girls usually pile in my bed on Saturday morning. Jane brings in a couple of books, Emme brings in about 15 little books. We read for a while, and make breakfast late. Usually we make something special, buttermilk pancakes or waffles or french toast, things we don't have time for during the week.

Saturdays we deep clean the house. Malan and Jane are getting great at doing the bathrooms themselves and taking care of their rooms, the playroom, and the library. Olivia is so proud about making her own bed and putting her clothes away. Emme follows us all around making new messes.

Sundays are my favorite. I teach the Sunbeams in Primary, which may be the best calling in the church. The rest of the day is just ours, and it's always over too soon. It's just a bit of a blur of days right now. Happy to have a few glimpses to look back on:

A frog camping out on our back window

Posing for Aunt Katie, who stole my camera. Pretty sure my girls would move in to Aunt Katie's family if they could, they love her so much.

 I think Olivia really likes these birds.

  Sea lion watching-

 Mom W. hits the zoo with Emme (also here for Malan's baptism, it was so wonderful to have her!)

 Cute laundry, and check out the prehensile toes!

 The little birthday project I mentioned. This makes me happy!

 And this just in: Emme now requires her food be taste-tested by small plastic friends before she'll eat a bite.

 They take a bite, she takes a bite, then they, then she. Kind of cute/funny/weird.

And more weird that my 22 month old suddenly has strong preferences and opinions about her eating habits, and the rest of her life. I guess she's a person now. And I'm loving so much getting to know her happy, huggy, particular self.

And just trying, you know, to be a better person and a better mom. It's a daily struggle, because honestly this motherhood thing is the toughest gig I've ever had. Not the day to day tasks, but the unending process of trying to help four little independent, diverse souls figure out life, and succeed, and get along, and be happy, and develop faith. It's a constant downpour of rapidly changing emotions for me- pride, anxiety, happiness, frustration, peace, anger, joy, exhaustion, guilt, nostalgia, loneliness (Just 4.5 more years of that though), contentment. Some days more good emotions than bad. And that's what I'm going for, I think.

 That, and trying to get to a place where I'm really and truly okay with things not being perfect all the time (ever?), and kinda being out of my control. That this is how life is with four kids and that it's acceptable that I just don't have the stamina to finish the dishes every night or put all the laundry away the same week I wash it, or to read to each of them as much as I'd like, or to fill their free time with pinterest inspired activities sure to expand their brains and guarantee their creativity and instill memories of a perfect childhood (etc., etc.). That I can't be a bubbly best friend to my girls all the time (that's what Aunt  and Uncle K&J are for anyway), but what they need me to be is a kind and steady mom. And I think I can do better to be that at least. It's really the most important thing on my to do list right now. So please bless.

Happy weekend to you! Hope it lasts and lasts.

Baptism

Today I want to share some things about our daughter Malan's recent baptism, a very special and important day for our family.

We believe as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that children under the age of 8 are innocent and pure and have no need of baptism or repentance. Then at eight years old, children have learned and matured enough to be held accountable for their own actions and, following the example of Jesus Christ, are ready to be baptized and make their first important covenant with their Heavenly Father.

At baptism, we promise to keep the commandments, to take the name of Jesus Christ upon us, meaning in part that we will try to represent him in our words and actions, to always remember Him, and to help and uplift others. In return, Heavenly Father promises us he will forgive our sins as we take advantage of the Atonement of his son Jesus Christ and as we repent, and that he will give us the gift of his Spirit to be with us as a guide and a comfort.

Malan has been learning about this covenant for a few years and we've had many conversations and lessons in our family about it. We let her know it was her choice whether or not she wanted to, and felt ready to make this covenant and be baptized. She asked lots of deep questions! We talked about how day to day life will really be the same for her, except that now when she makes mistakes or does something she feels badly about, she will have the gift of the Spirit to help her know how to make things right, and to let her know the ways in which she can become a better person and more closely follow the example of Jesus Christ in her life. I've been so impressed by her maturity and desire to prepare for this day. She decided she felt ready and last Saturday, October 13th, was Malan's baptism.

Malan was baptized in a font in our local church building. A font is like a large bath, with stairs leading into it and water about waist deep. It is open at the front so friends and family can watch the baptism. She was baptized by immersion, just as Jesus was, by her father Caleb. Caleb holds the same priesthood held by John the Baptist when he baptized Jesus. This priesthood has been passed down in a direct line from Jesus Christ and is the power of God given to men on earth to perform his work, just as was done by Jesus and then by his apostles after his death. After Malan was baptized, she was given the gift of the Holy Ghost by her father through this same priesthood power. 

I remember my own baptism day. I try to always keep the covenant I made with the Lord that day and I'm so grateful for the gift of the Spirit I received. I rely on that Spirit for guidance every day and in every major decision I make. This is such a huge part of who I am and how I live my life.

I am so grateful Malan now has that same gift. When she has to make decisions, or to face tough choices or hard times in her life, she can feel the guidance of the Holy Ghost and know what the Lord would want her to do. What an amazing gift.

It was such a special, happy day for Malan and for our family. So glad we were able to share it with some dear family and friends, and wish some of you farther away loved ones could have been there, too.

More about what we believe on baptism and the Holy Ghost here and here.

And a couple of pictures:

Malan and Caleb(holding down his tie on a windy day) in front of the Memphis temple, before Malan's baptism at our church building (adjacent to the temple).

Our family:

The lovely Malan, a day before her 8th birthday.

Malan's 8th

Malan turned 8 last week. My heart feels weird when I think about it.
She received some balloon letter deliveries on her birthday morning (one from Grandma Hale about her baptism day, one from Caleb and me, and a few others). Then her choice of breakfast in bed: sugar cereal and strudel and fresh raspberries.

 Malan spent the rest of the day orchestrating an amazing Harry Potter party for the family complete with wand selecting, sorting hat, broom constructing and racing, and (huzzah!)Caleb made it home just in time for potion making and cake. It was so creative and fun and she did it almost completely by herself. Quite a special girl. Quite a special day.

Happy Birthday, sweet Malan.
Blasts from birthdays passed here, here, here, and  here.