Apple Pie, Anyone??

I love the month of October. To me it is the real beginning of fall. I love all the harvesting and canning. I love the color changes and the smells in the air. I like how people become more friendly to one another. There is something magic about FALL. One of the other things I love about all this family togetherness, good smells and color-ness is that every first weekend in October we get to have General Conference!! I love that we get to be together as a family and listen to a Prophet of God. It is one of the most uplifting things ever! I always come away from General Conference wanting to try a little harder and be a little better. It is like a spiritual shot in the arm. A reminder that we are to love others as Christ would. I have a dream for the future. I hope that when my children are grown and have a family of there own that we will be able to still be together for Conference. It doesn't have to be at my house, just as long as we are together. I think it will happen. But I would like to get them though elementary school first.

Today my first weekend guest arrived. Becca. She is a great friend and is just as excited about this weekend as I am. The only damper for this weekend is that Warren and Kimball have been throwing up for the past two day. I guess that is one of the oppositions that come with all the blessings of fall, colder weather and sick kids. I am lucky though, we really haven't had a major sickness in the house sense July. Jake came home starting to feel sick too. Jake doesn't get sick. If he does, it is bad. I am determined to still make this a wonderful weekend!

To start off the wonderful weekend (just a tad early) Becca and I stayed up till midnight canning homemade apple pie filling! I love this stuff. It is the best apple pie you will ever taste. Jake, the kids and I actually picked the apples with another family. I think that adds to the taste. I think we spent a totally of five hours over the hot stove, but it is SO worth it.

I learned this recipe from my Sister in Law, Terica. I was brand spankin' new to being a member of the English clan and she invited me over and we made this recipe. It meant the world to me that she would take the time to teach me this. Terica you are wonderful! I thought because I am in such a chipper mood for one in the morning, I would share the wonderful recipe with you.

12-14 lbs tart apples
4 1/2 C. Sugar
1C. Cornstarch
2 1/2 Tbsp Cinnamon
1/2 Tbsp Nutmeg
1 Tbsp Salt
10 C. Water
3Tbsp lemon juice

Wash, core, peel and slice the apples.

Mix all ingredients, except lemon juice. When syrup in bubbly, remove from heat and add lemon juice. Mix well.

Fill jars 3/4 full with packed apples. Pour syrup in jar, leaving 1/2 inch head space.

Process in water bath for 20 minutes.

Let cool completely.

Yum! Enjoy!!

Flowers...

The other day, when I was having a pretty rough day Jake, the wonderful man that he is, decided that he need to do something to cheer me up. So he went to the closest grocery store at ten o'clock on a Tuesday night to look for flowers. He was disappointed that they didn't have any so he though maybe she should buy me some flour. He knows that I love building our food storage supply and we have just reach our six month for a family of five. We really have bee working hard. But as he was going to buy it he remembered that we really don't store flour, but wheat. So, he bought me the next best thing...................

37 pounds of powdered milk! I really love that man. It made me laugh so hard. I think I laughed more at his face and his excitement more than anything. He melts my heart!

A day in Kindergarten

I think I have found the solution to cure the down in the dumps days. Sense Sunday I actually have had horrible days. As small misunderstanding turned into a HUGE drama fest and I was so lucky to be the one that was misunderstood. It has all turn out alright now, but it doesn't mean feelings weren't hurt but forgiveness has happened and growth too. I was still feeling pretty down in the dumps. My mom liked to say, "It feels like you have been kicked by a mule and stomped on by a buffalo." Yes, I would have to agree. Lucky for me, I got to be one of the classroom moms today, in Phoebes class. I had so much fun! If you are ever feeling down in the dumps go volunteer in a Kindergarten class! What a special place that is!! I got to help at the reading center. The kid read "Goodnight Moon" and then color a page that was who they said goodnight too. I loved getting on the floor and helping them spell there names and describe there picture. Each child is so unique and had something darling to say. I also got to help with two special needs children. One hugged me at the end and said he wanted to go home with me. Another one wanted to sit right by me and gave me huge smiles and a great big hug. I loved that I could observe Phoebe in her classroom. It is like a glimpse into her personal world that I don't always get to be a part of. She would just smile at me from across the room. It made me feel on cloud nine! None of these kids judged me on false things, none of them cared about my past, just as long as I made the wet wipe "eat" all the yellow paint off there hands. These children are so innocent and full of love. It just oozes out of them. They are so excited about the littlest things. I really was sad to go but I had my boys waiting for me. (Thanks Emily!!) I sure missed them, but I am so thrilled that get to do this every other week or so. What a spiritual, up lifting place!

What a week!

Whew! It has been one very long week! I am exhausted both physically and mentally. I guess I should start with Monday.
On Monday, Kimball got to see a child psychologist. We have been a little concerned about some sensory issues he has been having and his pediatrician thought it would be a good idea to get him evaluated. Doctor John was great! Kimball loved playing in his office. It had a sand box and tons of toys! Warren liked it too. I didn’t get to play I had to talk. We discussed Kimball for an hour and the doctor felt that Kimball does have a Sensory Integration Disorder. He also believes that is not as serious as some kids have it. He pointed out that if you look at Kimball’s past he has been diagnosed with and immature immune system, but he will eventually got grow it, he is a late potty trainer, and he was born with immature intestines and digestive track. It looks like Kimball is “blessed” to have some trials of being slowed in things. Doctor John reassured me that Kimball is defiantly not ADD or ADHD. Kimball is extremely bright, but the neurons in his brain seem to develop a little slower then most kids. I then asked him what we should be doing to help him and he said that I am already doing most things that he would recommend. He said the hardest one is patients. It is hard to have a four year old that isn’t potty trained, isn’t acting like other kids and behaves odd at certain situations, but hang on. He said a lot of kids with this condition end up with low self esteems because they do not get enough positive reinforcement at home. He also strongly recommended taking Kimball out of Pre-school. I was a little baffled by this. I thought putting him with other kids would help, and he told me it actually has the opposite effect. He said that it would stress Kimball out more and the teasing from the other kids might not be the best right now as we are trying to work with him.
I was really torn about this. I know it was my choice to keep in or not. The two days that he had already one he had loved. I knew no matter what it was going to be a tough choice. Jake and I talked about it a lot. In the end we thought it would be best to take Kimball out. At first I was devastated. I thought he would be too. Be it was quite the opposite. He told me that he wanted to stay home with Warren and me. He also seemed to calm down more. The little things didn’t set him off as much. Warren was in a better mood too. I guess we made the right choice.
I am still determined to do school at home. Everyday we have set aside time have done different projects. He loves it and is blossoming! He has started to read! This kid amazes me everyday. He loves to read. He doesn’t like to read in front of a lot of people, but he loves to read to Phoebe and his dad. This boy is really something special!
Tuesday I got to go to Salt Lake to meet with the Urologist. It was nice hearing that I was not crazy and all the trouble I have been going though is real. Sometimes I really thought I was going crazy. He was able to rule out kidney stones and a blockage. That was good, but he thinks it is one of two things. The first he explained to me that back in July when I got the kidney infection it was pretty bad and if he was my doctor he would have sent me to the hospital. He said that when you get and infection that severe the antibiotic will kill the bad stuff but you can stay inflamed for weeks and months afterwards. The inflammation can cause all the symptoms. If that is the case then I need to keep taking my Detrol LA and just wait. I should see a difference with in the month. If I do not see a difference then it is probably the other option. I really can’t remember what it is called. It was a big word. I think I might call his nurse and have her spell it out to me. If this is what I have it causes all the effects of an infection but no bacteria. But he said there are medication, therapy and surgery that can fix it. Honestly, I am quite sick of being cut into. So I think I am going to pray for the inflammation one. I go back October 7th to see how things are going. Here’s hoping it’s the inflammation!
Wednesday I watched my friend’s kids for the day. She had to take her two year old to Primary Children’s Hospital to get and MRI done. I got to watch the 11month old all day. I then had to pick up her two boys from school. I was so thrilled to watch a baby! She is such an angel! I was so moved by how sweet Kimball and Warren treated her. They were like mother hens. Warren made sure she had toys and sippy cups and Kimball made sure to know where she was at all times. They shared there trains with her and stacked blocks so she could knock them down! It made my heart sing! It also gave me hope that if we adopt a baby sometime that the boys will adjust but be great big brothers! The day did get a little stressful when I had to walk all six kids home from school and feed them dinner and help with homework. I am grateful I got the chance to provide this service.
By the time Thursday rolled around I was feeling worn out and my house was feeling neglected. Kimball and I made alphabet wands. I cut out, with my cricut, upper and lower case letters. We then glued them on Popsicle sticks. We then took turns going through the house with a wand and finding things to start with the letter on the wand we held. He loved it! That afternoon I then watched my neighbor’s kids. She had eye surgery and it was more painful then they though the recovery would be. The kids played really well together. Thursday night is also my scrap booking night. I was ready to run about the door when the time came. I needed a break! It was a blast. I only stayed till eleven thirty. I was so tired as it was, but I really need sometime for myself. I kept telling myself the kids have been sleeping in till seven, I can do this. (Right, this morning, they got up at five!) I was able to get three scrapbook layouts done. I will post them sometime later. I am too tired to do much of anything right now. I will also post the doll dress I made. I love it! I just finished sewing on the buttons on today. It is a Christmas present for Phoebe. I think she will love it. If I can get a nap today then I will start on another outfit tonight. I also have started to make her flower girl for the Wedding. The bodice is almost done. I thin dealing with the seven yards of tulle is going to be interesting! I will keep you all posted on that
As for Friday, I am tired, grumpy and stepping one a very dirty floor. I keep telling myself that once I get a little nap then I will get moving on getting this house back together. Plus, it is the weekend and Jake will be home a little more! Yeah! Here’s hoping that next week will be much more laid back!

Kimball's 1st Day of Preschool

Kimball started Pre-school this past Wednesday. It was a bit of a shock. I had a meeting with his teacher on Tuesday and she casually mentioned how “when he comes to school tomorrow”. I was like, what the heck?! This is the first I have heard of this! She looked at me a little funny and asked if I had read the letter that came in the mail. I told I had not received any letter in mail. Come to find out all the parents never received that letter. School started anyways.
I was a little nervous. I didn’t know how he was going to react to it. I could picture him going either way. Much to my delight he did great. Better then great! Another kid was walking up at the same time as we were and Kimball got so excited and ran up to him and said, “My name in Kimball and we are friends because we are in the same class!” Lucky for him the kid responded with just as much excitement. They hugged and bang, there were best friends. How cute is that? Kimball then proceeded to go to each student and do the same thing. One girl burst into tears! Kimball was so excited to go that he never looked back. I left feeling secure that my boy will do great this school year.
As for the potty training bit, no, he is not potty trained. I had to talk to his teacher before hand about this. I told her that the doctors are now getting involved. Monday we go to a doctor to get Kimball checked out. They said that because doctors are involved that it would be find and just have wet wipes and pull ups in his back pack. The will change him if he has a accident at school! WOW! If I pay them extra will they change Warren too?
Kimball loves school. He loves all the music, play time and the social interaction. He is a goof ball but the teachers said that he is one of the most advanced in his class. He can write and do basic reading. I guess hearing that I can handle him being the goof ball!


Phoebe has finished her first week of school. It has ended better then it has started. On Tuesday, the first day of school, I had this wonderful picture in my head of getting up in enough time to finish the laundry that had all the light jackets in it. Take time talking to her about how the day is going to go, make her a lunch and take lots of pictures. It was nothing like that.
As many of you know my boys never sleep in. Never. They are up at the crack of dawn crawling in my bed asking for food. I usually love it. We have silly time. I act sound a sleep and they act like animals. So, when they come in on Tuesday morning I automatically assume that it is some ridiculous early hour like six! In the process of our morning ritual I glance at the clock and it says 8:19! Phoebe’s school starts at 8:45! I scream and go running out of the room leaving the boys very bewildered. I quickly get Phoebe up and then run into my guest room to wake up my sister in law to watch the boys. She springs into action so I can focus on getting Phoebe out the door. I quickly get her hair done. She is screaming. I throw together a lunch of what ever I can find, she is trying to find clean clothes, and I pop some eggo waffles in the toaster. I was able to snap a couple of photos before my batteries died and she and I ran out the door with her till munching on her waffles.
I am thinking what a great mom I am. I am supposed to make this day special and wonderful. I didn’t even put a jacket on her this morning and she is wining about being cold the whole way to school. How can you even think about cold when you cold be late for your first day of Kindergarten? Does getting off on the wrong foot for the first day of school mark your whole year of being cursed for having bad luck?
Phoebe really got excited as we got her in line. Her teacher came out seconds later dressed in blue and yellow and wearing a duck hat. Phoebe forgot all the bad morning when she saw her teacher. A huge smile broke out on her face. The teacher said, “Kindergarteners are you ready for a quacking good time?” She then started to blow her duck whistle. The kids were all in love with her. Then Phoebe waved to me and walked into her new life.
I really didn’t cry. I was sad. I felt a part of my heart walk in that school, but I didn’t cry. I am excited for Phoebe. I know she has such a love of learning and I can’t teacher her it all. I miss having my little princess around all the time. The house seems so quite. It is a change for me to get use to.

Warren is having a little bit of a hard time getting use to the lack of siblings around. He still asks where Phoebe is. Phoebe is in all day Kindergarten. Kimball is in two hours, three days a week preschool. Warren is learning to play with out is best friends. I has been really clingy. He wants me to hold him all the time or he sits right at my feet and plays. I hope he doesn’t feel too abandoned. I know that as the weeks progress and school becomes this routine that I can do in my sleep he and I will get to get out and do things just for him. I want to take him to parks and the library. I want to read to him and take walks. Maybe have play dates with other moms. I think he will like it. I am assuming that he will learn his new schedule and adjust. When it comes time for us to get Kimball and Phoebe he gets so excited. He jumps out and down and says their names over and over. Then he usually grabs my hand and drags me all the way out the door. I guess I am not as fun as he wants me to be!

I am learning my new life schedule. I though it would be different. I thought it would be easy and life would be peachy and I could do so many more things. Boy was wrong! I don’t think I have felt so exhausted in years. I think why I am feeling so worn out is because I have two kids at two different schools and schedule. I thought I would let you all in on how my day goes. I get up at seven in the morning and get three kids ready to walk out the door at eight thirty. The boys and I usually get back about nine. Warren goes down for a nap with in an hour. Kimball and I have our time together. At 1230 I have to start lunch and re-getting kids ready to walk out the door at 115 so Kimball can make it to school at 130. Warren and I get back about 145. We have our time together. Then at 315 I have to go back to pick up Kimball and hurry fast enough to beat the buses. Phoebe is getting out of school at the same time. Lucky for me I have a great friend who walks Phoebe to her house and I drive straight there and pick her up. We get home about four o’clock. After school time is a zoo. Phoebe and Kimball both want to tell me all about there day and show me everything they brought home. Phoebe has to start her homework and Warren is wanting to play with them. I also have to get dinner started and find time to help with homework, feed kids, bathe kids, and make sure they get to bed sometime before I fall asleep on my feet.
I am really not un happy about this. Just over whelmed. I know that in a few weeks I will have mastered the part of my life and it will become normal. I just have to keep plugging away at it everyday. I know that it will become so routine that I will be able to fit extra things back in, like going out and doing something: shopping, visiting teaching, the gym and play dates.
I guess I have to say it has been pretty good. I do love my life, I love being a mom. I think I just need to sleep for three days to feel like I have enough energy for the next week!

Dear World...

Dear World:
I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long.. and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sun when she runs.I trust you'll treat her well.
She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.
Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.
No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.
For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.
She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I trust you'll treat her well.

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well
Author: Victor Buono

Testing, Testing, Testing...

Yesterday we had Phoebe's Kindergarten placement test. It really isn't a test, more of an evaluation to see where kids are when they start Kindergarten. I was able to talk to Phoebe teacher and let her know that she is already advance and I would like to discuss getting her moved to 1st grade. The teacher looked at me a little funny but said she would do it. When we arrived at the class room she had a bunch of questions to ask Phoebe. She passed them off like the teacher was talking down to her. Then we came to the reading part. The teach asked if Phoebe would like to read it to her. So the teacher put her finger on the first word and said, "Can you read that?" Phoebe read the whole book the teacher couldn't keep her finger moving fast enough! I think that is when she really took me seriously. So we went from the beginning of Kindergarten test to the end of the year Kindergarten test. Phoebe passed that with flying colors. So the teacher said she need to go to a 1st grade teacher to get some more material that would show us where she was at. She asked Phoebe to write her a story while she was gone. Phoebe immediately started writing a story about her three new stuffed puppies she got for her birthday. When the teacher came back she had books from 1st and 2ND grade! Phoebe read the 1st grade books pretty well and read some of the beginning of the second grade! Second grade has a little bit bigger words and she tried. After a little bit the teacher asked Phoebe if she would like to go play so she could talk to her parents. She said that in all of her 25 years of teaching she has never had kindergartner as young as Phoebe so advance. She said that Phoebe blew her out of the water! She agreed that Phoebe would do fine going to first grade but wanted to talk about a lot of other options. Jake and I listened and we ended up talking for two hours! I really appreciate all the time Mrs. Moore took with us. Phoebe is our first kid and we don't know what we are doing when it come to school, so we wanted to hear all the options. It finally go to the point I looked at her and said, if this was your child, what would you do. She said she would have a tough decision too, but she said she would recommend keeping Phoebe in Kindergarten, and getting her in the advanced reading programs and the gifted program. She said that a teacher/or aide would be able to come in and work with Phoebe on am or individual level. She would have to get tested to see exactly where her reading level is at and then the gifted teacher, the reading specialist and she (the kindergarten teacher) would get together and build a curriculum built around Phoebe! WOW! My daughter really blows my mind! Jake and I both felt like that was right. It just set right with us. We called Phoebe over and told her about what we where thinking. We then asked her what she wanted. She simply replied, "I feel comfortable here." That was enough for us. We agreed and the teacher said that we would talk to the other two teachers and get back to us and have the new curriculum done by the 10Th of September. I really like how on top of things Mrs. Moore is. I feel like I am trusting my daughter to a woman who really cares about her.
One of my favorite moments during the testing was when she was asked what the difference between and triangle and a rectangle was. This is what she said, " A triangle has four small sides that are all the same a rectangle has two short sides that are the same and two long sides that are the same." Uh, I don't think I taught her that!
Another funny part was when Mrs. Moore asked Phoebe to read a page from a Frog and Toad book in the first grade reader. After a few paragraphs she asked Phoebe if she could skip to the end and read the last page. Phoebe was visibly upset because she wanted to read everything that book had. The teacher flipped the page to the end and Phoebe stuck her finger in the place of the first page and tried everything she could to explain to the teacher that she needed to read the story from the front to the back. Jake and I just laughed. Then I promised her that I would take her to the library to check out Frog and Toad books.
Phoebe was also told that she could only check out ONE book from the library. She couldn't understand why she couldn't take more. She told the teacher that her mom lets her take five from the library that she goes to.
That kid cracks me up! What an adventure motherhood is! There never is a dull moment. I am so excited for her to start on Tuesday. All other grade have started but Kindergarten doesn't start until after Labor Day. She keeps asking when she can really go to school. Poor thing. I hope she can survive till then!