Outing with Olea

Olea earned an outing with Mom this past month. I had my reservations about how it would go since we've been on rocky terms for the last while. I have been irritated with her lack of gratitude as of late and her disrespect for others. However, this was something we both really needed for our relationship so we went.

We went to Mimi's Cafe for Dinner. Olea was excited about the bathroom sinks being gold. And she liked drinking her rootbeer and Strawberry smoothie together.


She had earned a free book from Barnes and Noble for reading 8 books. It was a huge struggle to get her to read 8 books. Her interest in reading (and I'd say her reading level) has significantly decreased in the last months since school let out. So with that considered we looked at the selection she had, I read her all the titles and she chose a book. I let her sit and look at a few books in the children's section before we rushed out to our next appt. She was enthralled with a book called Castles and Knights. As we left I was emotional (because I just am) that we had finally earned that book, accomplished a goal, worked at it together, and there was some tangible reward for her.

Afterward we drove to Color me Mine and Olea deliberated for a long time about which ceramic to choose. She finally settled on a Belle Princess bank and I choose a spoon rest. I was quite a way through painting mine and looked over at Olea who had been diligently painting away but who had made very little progress. She was using a TINY brush. So I cajoled her into using a bigger brush and we started making progress. I helped her do her multiple layers of glaze, and lift off places she accidentally put paint. She wanted to do the lips but asked me to help her with the eyes. She did a lovely job and really wanted to take it home but I told her we needed to leave them there so they could make it shiny.



We did actually remember to pick them up and it was such a fun thing I realized I needed to use my kiln. Just get busy and learn it. So this weekend while picking up Olea's Art I and my Mother in law went to Patty's Ceramics and picked up some things to paint and test the kiln and get things started. I was so impressed with how helpful and informative they were. Patty answered questions and gave me a test cone and I got mini kiln 101 lesson. Having my mom there was really great since she asked questions I didn't know to ask and the company was nice, since it was a lot of driving in a hot no ac car. It was very fulfilling and I am excited to give the kiln a test fire and then break out the paints and let the kids do something. I also stopped by Heindselman's to pick up Tatting thread and was thrilled that they have expanded their selection of Tatting supplies. I had to really rein myself in. Even I find it silly how excited I get about thread now days. :)

Olea and I had a good outing and it solidified in my mind that this is a phase we are working through. I need to make more effort on my part to acknowledge the good she is and lift my eyebrows and smile at her more. She is a fabulous, good, talented little girl and just needs more time one on one with Mommy. It is hard to do that with other little children who make messes of the things Olea and I like to do together but I am the only one who can provide her that.

Archery

Everyone needs a hobby.
Gary's is archery. Typically, as part of the deal of "letting" him go practice he takes the two older kids with him, they have this worked out pretty well by now. Sometimes I go with them.

Zurich acts as arrow caddy for Gary. (and yes, that's two bulls eye's in the second pic)

Olea hunts for a grasshopper, and finds success.

Sometimes the kids ride their bike and scooter behind him while he shoots. They both look forward to going with him and I look forward to quiet time. :)

FHE, Temple, and Art

June 21st we had a very simplistic FHE due to the fact that I had had surgery that morning and Gary and I had been in the ER/ hospital for the past 15 or so hours. I don't even remember what the lesson was on. I was that out of it.

The Sunday after that though I attended church and our new bishop extended a challenge. Given the current status of my healing we chose to hit a few birds (metaphorically of course) with one stone. Part of the challenge was to have a meaningful FHE, go to the temple (and if we couldn't attend a session to dress up and visit the grounds). So Gary and I decided for FHE June 28th, we would get all dressed up and drive to the temple grounds with the kids and walk around and talk about the temple. While we were there we figured we'd make use of my Dad's skills and have him take a family picture for us. Since I had just made us all matching outfits for Father's day we used those.

Zurich really likes churches and temples and calls them castles, he is slowly learning temple and church differences. We chose to go to the Draper temple since none of us had been there. We had Olea read the words on the temple and we talked about what they mean. Olea was very disappointed that she didn't get to go in (we took them to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house).



Afterward we drove around Suncrest to look over the valley and then went out for ice cream at JCW's (their Mini's are HUGE, for the record, and would could have shared one or two around the 6 of us there and been just fine) and put some very tired kids to bed.

This last Monday Olea had an artist's reception in Provo for entering the children's art show. I had forgotten till pretty much the last minute and we'd been out gallyveranting all day in the wilderness so the kids were totally filthy, but we went anyway. Olea was thrilled to get her face painted and Zurich was excited for a spaceship. We tried to have Nev's face painted but all we got was a blue check mark. :)

I'm glad we made it to the Reception since Olea got Honorable Mention.


It was unorthodox so far as typical FHE's go but we got to talk about doing our best and being happy with that. That it doesn't matter if we win or not. Olea really wanted a trophy. Gary and I reflected on how your ideas of value change as you get older. We wouldn't want a trophy now, we'd want the water bottle she got way more. :) For the record she does love her water bottle and takes it everywhere. We talked about how it was the best that she did her painting all on her own so that she could feel happy that it was her work and her's alone.

Afterward we took the kids to McDonalds, ONLY because part of her prize was 4 free icecream cones. She decided to share one of the coupons with her brother. So we picked up icecream for them and Nev was MAD.

She didn't scream or cry, but check out the look on her face. In between leaving the reception and getting the kids ice cream Gary and I decided we wanted Lassi from the Bombay House so I had called and ordered some for take out. On our loop back to the Bombay House we realized we HAD to get Nev some ice cream. We stopped at Arctic Circle and ordered a regular cone so we could get a courtesy cone for Nev. She was THRILLED. She dug into hers so fast the next time I turned around she was already eating down the napkin that held the cone. She ended up finishing of Zurich's as well and was SO happy about it.

Time to wash the car seats!

Climb a tree

Where we live, climbing a tree is rarely an option since the trees are VERY young. So after my post op appt my Dad and I took the kids to a park. It had "real" trees and Olea was very excited about climbing one. She did show some fear over going very high. Zurich needed help to get up but liked it while there. Nev was content picking at pine cones and grass.


Gary and I were talking about how Opa was here for about 2 weeks and how much the children were able to develop a relationship with him and Gary commented that even in our trials there are blessings. It was a blessing to have him here and a blessing for my children to get to know him and enjoy him so much.

Lagoon, Father's Day, Surgery: normal weekend

Saturday we went to Lagoon. With Gary's work. The kids had a blast, obvious right? Well, on the skyride, (which I do not like) Olea kept saying "This is the best day ever!"
(so why do I have to throw this kid a birthday party? ;)

Zurich knows how it's done. Zurich and Mommy on "Dragon"

That's Gary with the Nev. Babies wait in line.

Olea and Zurich on the planes
riding the train (Zurich does his train whistle)

Suiting up for our old west picture

Nev waits for the Old west pic to be printed. She wears a snail Tattie. She was a total sweetheart all day long. She's such a good kid!


The Dragon Fly. YUP, Nev rode it. She takes everything in stride. We were all buckling up in a row when some kid hops up in Gary's seat (while he was getting Zurich in) and the one Gary is left with has the SHORTEST belt. Solution, unbuckle Zurich and switch him. Solved.

Olea and Zurich. Bumper cars.

Zurich was hilarious, he totally got this and went after people with purpose and had this maniacal laugh when he connected.

Last ride of the evening, we were there till closing. This picture says it doesn't it?
The kids were out 30 seconds after buckling into their car seats.

Father's Day we all went in our matching outfits to church. After we gave Gary his other Father's Day gifties: a new lunch box-for to make him not be teased anymore, and a new rifle case and pictures from the kids. The Dad frame from last post I gave him on Friday. Couldn't wait.


Then bless it. We took a nap, except mine was interrupted by stomach pains around 2pm. By 4 everyone was up with me. At six I told Gary that, as much as I hate to say it, I was pretty sure I had appendicitis. By 8:30 or so kids were in bed and I was useless, writhing in pain and vomiting. Gary called my sis and her husband and they came to stay the night with the kids. Toward the end of waiting for them to get there I was laying in bed talking to myself saying: lets just go, the kids will be fine. We were just about to head out the back door when Ken and Eric showed up at the front door. Good timing. Of course I was eventually diagnosed with what I had already diagnosed myself with: appendicitis. They decided to postpone the surgery till 6am so the surgeon could get a good night's rest. (it was 1am or so when I got that news). Fine. Load me up with morphine and if it ruptures.... but thankfully it didn't.

On the way through surgery doors, oh yes, I can smile, I'm getting the sucker out!

I remember waking up at 7:30. Back in my room around 8:15 and Gary tucks Surgery Monkey in the crook of my arm. He loves me.

It's Thursday. I'm only just feeling like sitting for longer than a little while. (been working on this post in sessions) Still feeling exhausted and achy, and my shoulders still ache! I thought that was supposed to go away within the first 12 hours. Not my luck. But I've been very blessed, we caught it in time, are home, and have been very blessed with friends bringing meals, helping out, making Olea a cake (her bday was this week) and my dad coming down to help with the kids.

Cake my friend Jen made for Olea, talk about going above and beyond! Olea was SO thrilled and told everyone she could about it.

I just need to be smart and take it easy. I have such a hard time with this. I always think I can do more than I can/should.