Current Thoughts on Life

       This Thanksgiving I created a calendar for 2018. My brother-in-law always has a theme for every year, so I stupidly decided to title my calendar "The Year of Bravery!"
Why is this stupid?

       Well, because it sounds nice, but in reality who wants to be brave. It is hard, stressful, and scary.

My calendar took it literally....

       Day One back from Thanksgiving we found out the baby will be a boy.
       Day Two back... Shane got laid off from work.

       What an emotional roller coaster! Many things are in motion now as we decide how to proceed. It is amazing how the world changes tint and I notice the pain in other people that are also struggling with instability. How did I not sympathize or notice the pain before? I am grateful for the understanding I am gaining. I keep being in awe of those that are brave around me: children in our primary asked to bare their testimony that can barely walk up to the podium out of fear, but they do slowly manage to step up and hold a photo while their mother helps them full fill the task. So many brave people in so many ways!

       Drawing on the strength of those examples around me I have had courage to apply for VIPKID and demonstrate my teaching ability in the interview process. Lots of fear- can I do this while pregnant- while life feels so unsteady. While in college I mentored a freshman who had applied for 12 jobs and been denied. He came to me wanting guidance, and I doubt I helped him as much as his experiences have helped me to take chances and not give up this month.

       One particular day I felt stressed and decided to look up the affects of stress on an unborn baby. Don't google it. If you are not stressed at that point.... you will now be stressed about trying not to be stressed for sure.

        In the Book of Mormon there is a family that follows the Lord out of their home and through the wilderness and arrive at a beautiful place that is called the Land of Bountiful. There they had their needs met and they were happy. But then the Lord told them to build ships and cross a huge ocean to a promised better land. I know God is aware of our circumstances and that everything will be okay as we are called to move forward through good and bad, but with change comes a feeling of loss for the life we did have. It is important to appreciate the life situations in the moment and then move on when needed with BRAVERY.

Even with all of these new ways of thinking and blessings that have come out of this stress....

I still think I will think more carefully next year when I make the calendar...
"The Year of Rest! The Year of Slothfulness! The Year of Partying"?!! -Something along those lines.

WOOT WOOT!!

5+1=6

We were so excited to announce that we are expecting another baby into our family.

We gathered our children together for our traditional family night. We celebrated with root beer floats and then broke the news to them. There were lots of squeals and the first thing Daphney said once she could speak again was, "Mom, you should not be drinking this!!" She has not stopped trying to force fruit and vegetables down me ever since... (Super Annoying when all I want is Cheetos and Cookies)

Demitri that night was real concerned and asked me, "Mom,  BUT- how are you going to sleep with a baby in your tummy?!" - I wonder that every night too kid.

It got a little out of hand when I caught a tiny fish, and Daphney cheered and said, "Good Job Mom, I have never seen you do that pregnant!"



Since then we have found out that it is a boy and Demitri is stuck on two names.
1. Snow Snowy Snowflake and 2. Batman

So I don't think the kids will be picking the names....

They are NEVER Preoccupied

I am trying to be more high maintenance. 

Not the hard core own everything and act like the world revolves around you kind who would be incomplete without makeup. One who makes dentist appointments and fixes her broken glasses at some point maybe even gets a hair cut occasionally. But, I took a check your maintenance level test and scored 2 out of 100, and decided it was time to start doing a few more things for myself.

Time for Showering is Asking Too Much!

I showered and you know what that got me?!
    My daughter knocked the sugar container out of the food closet- accident right! SO then the three kiddos cleaned it up by putting it into bowls and used giant spoons to eat it when suddenly my daughter tripped, because who eats sugar while sitting down securely (No I imagine it was a dance party!) and sugar is now trapsed across the kitchen. I swept and MOPED yesterday and believe me I can't say I mop very often either.... You mostly clean that up and you find more bowls of sugar in the FRIDGE! ("save the fun for later... I am sure mom will want something to do this afternoon")

   Then I spent time feeding the two year old and the entire superhero collection, stuffing coloring books into my four year olds pants so that his hands are free to collect and scatter crayons more effectively up the stairs, and picking up the pregnancy manual that my five year old was reading because she loves babies. Good morning it is 8 o-clock and yes my life will be full of these activities all day.

Who wants to shower when life is so WONDERFUL!

Fall Festivities

Room on the broom! When they can manage to work together and share for a moment a picture needs to be taken! What cute little witches riding backward...!

This girl is very capable and never stops exploring boundaries. One of my favorite things is she always says "OH" so seriously. You should not pee on the floor. "Oh". She also is totally spoiled by her siblings and now has learned how to get attention. She purposefully falls into the toilet, falls on the floor, or digs in the house plants, not for fun but so she can be a damsel in distress and call for help. "Oh no dirty!" She loves her dad more than anyone especially playing Hulk Smash with him, but it is funny everytime she hears Dad is home she responds with, "OH NO dad home!" This fall she has had us sit next to the curb and watch cars pass by. She gets such a thrill out of waving at them. I love that she helps us slow life down and enjoy the simple pleasures. 

Yes these were not our Halloween costumes just our October everyday wear for while the costumes were being cleaned.  

In the middle of a parking lot... You don't stop to take family pictures in a parking lot?! 

Halloween Trolls!

We went to a different neighborhood to trick or treat and the kids did GREAT!! TOO GREAT!!! We just kept going and going until we were so lost! We had to call Shane to come pick us up and search for our car. He was impressed with the distance we traveled!

Hug Time Rings! (also great for dark Halloween nights!)

Shane: King Gristle Jr. 

Katie: Chef

Daphney: Princess Poppy

Demitri: Branch

Paisley: Bridget (bergen scullery maid)

       So recently I have discovered this pet peeve which I didn't know I had.... PEOPLE LAUGHING AT ME!! They do it all the time. They go so slow in the grocery store as they stand and get humor out of me emptying the cart of unwanted items the kids keep throwing in- yet another string cheese... Or they snicker as I try to have a conversation with the pharmacist as one of my children tries to open boxes upon boxes of band-aids and I can't afford that many band-aids. They laugh as my son tackles and drags Paisley across the soccer fields in his haste to help her choose the right.

       Okay I get it I understand my life is ridiculous and probably would laugh too (maybe tomorrow), but some days people laughing at my daily struggle grinds on me. And yes I do know that is why you are reading this blog... I give you permission to laugh. It is different with strangers.  

       However, the other day I had to go to the store with all three kids right before the ward Halloween Party. We had three things to get; in and out no problem- who needs a cart for three things. We do what has to be done; so we entered in our troll costumes.

       I am so used to the snickers that it didn't hit me while I was chasing Paisley who was escaping into the street and consequently I couldn't react to my son who was yelling for me to help him as he was coming out of the bathroom without his pants pulled up all the while I had left Daphney to pay for the food in hopes that everything was being rung up right by the cashier. This is everyday life, but yes people were definitely laughing more.... because we were in costume? because as an adult I was in costume?

Then it hit me: What is funnier than a mom with crazy fun kids? 

A bergen who can't seem to catch her trolls! What a trip! No wonder trolls get eaten!  

Eating Trolls on a stick! #Troll Happiness

We carved pumpkins this year (not pictured) but Demitri chose a scary witch to carve out. "Do you know why I picked that one mom?" No son why? "It is scary enough to scare away all the ants!"

On a firetruck! Yes we did Halloween all October! Oh and we won a costume contest for most creative costume Daph thinks that means the 'most cutest', but I know what creative means... As an artist when people can't tell what the heck you created they say, "wow that is creative!" It is kind of like looking at dinner and saying "wow that looks... healthy!"  It is the adjective people use when they can't come up with anything else. lol We were excited none the less!

Balloon Races

Need a Motivational Mantra?

Demitri is a one-liner hoot!

The other day we were leaving walmart and he yells out at the employees running the cash registers, "GoodBye you chicken eaters!" He loves his insults... luckily he is still creative with them and no one gets too offended.

But the story I really want to tell:

The other day I was exhausted and trying to get Paisley to lay down and take a nap so I was pretty distracted with that battle, but I kept hearing this yelling and fighting coming from Demitri. I finally stop what I am doing to watch his battle. His shirt is stuck on his head and he is fighting to get his arms out. He keeps yelling repeatedly, "This will NOT stop Me! THIS WILL NOT STOP ME!"

It has brought me so much joy as I struggle with motivation to do something or I look at my dirty house that will never be clean and I think to myself- This will not stop me!

Swimming

If you asked my kids what their favorite thing is that we did this summer they would say going to the pool. They have really improved this year in their swimming skills and met lots of their goals.

Bus Life Now

So Pre-Bus-Time usually I am hurrying Daphney to shove

in a very nutritious lunch of pizza rolls and goldfish. 

But when she returns she has very committed watchers who even

 have a difficult time napping for fear they might not wake up in time. 

 These two are so cute together. They are starting to look more and more like twins.

 Picture Day: We compromised with this dress and brand new necklace so that she would not wear her fanciest velvety dress to school.

It has been a few days since picture day, and I decided not to order a picture since I take lots of pictures all the time. Daphney and I had this conversation: "Mom, Avalynn won picture day!" "What do you mean she won?" "Her picture was so cute that they gave her a big picture of herself. I didn't win... I didn't have a rainbow dress like her." Haha poor thing. 

Another funny conversation with Daphney: "Mom, me, Bear, and Rock are the biggest in our class." "So you mean Brock?" "No Bear and Rock... I know they are weird names but their parents had to name them something!" -Haha true! 

"The Best Day of My Life"

We love when it is warm enough to use the sprinklers and jump on the tramp!

Paisley as the third child does not get all that much documentation of milestones, but when she does get a picture she sure takes advantage of it and kills it every time! 

Eclipse

 For the solar eclipse we camped out at this really nice rv campground. They had lamas and sheep there to pet, a lake, playground, and SHOWERS! It was wonderful!! The coworker we were meeting there brought in two plasma telescopes that were awesome to look at the sun with in the morning. However, our eclipse was totally cloudy, but we still had fun and eating and celebrating with friends

Gorgeous place right! EXCEPT!!! We were at the park a lone when we found a trail to explore. And of coarse we had to explore it. The trail continued to break up into several trails until we were finally lost and I had three whiny and tired kids who wanted to be held. I later found a map in which that area was labeled Bermudas Triangle, so it wasn't my fault just so you know. But my kids and I loudly sang scripture power all over that hill. This helped us to chase away the fear and yes we did eventually find our way out without a search party. 

Fist Day of School

Happy First Day of School!

First Day: Daphney was so excited!! She was the first one on and she picked a good seat on the bus about two thirds of the way back. And then she was off!

Second Day: The bus came early.... I think it waits outside our door for a few minutes because we are the first ones, but we weren't sure so I told her to grab her shoes and bookbag and I would run up to get her socks. I yelled for her to come get her socks on , but Demitri looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Mom she is on the bus." -sure enough it was pulling away...

Third Day: Me- Daphney you can't just leave without telling me make sure and give me a hug before you go get on the bus okay? Daphney- Okay... Mom! You can't just walk inside after I get on the bus you have to wait and wave! Me- Deal! (She does love me!)

Who sends their daughter to school on the first day with a bubble braid or stegosaurus brain hair. I am sorry... I am sure they were really smart dinosaurs! I kind of like it though!

Daphney- "Mom did you know they don't just speak English at school? Yeah it is really awesome! Like instead of saying park I think they said Recess!"

Everyday before school we have made goals of things to work on like okay today you need to learn one kids name or things like that. Today (fourth day) I told her you need to learn something today okay- "Mom I don't know if we will... We don't really do that. We just play!"

Daphney has one other friend that just moved into our church boundaries, and guess who rides the bus home with her. What a blessing to know someone and have someone to sit with!

Demitri woke up from his nap on the first day and mumbled, "Well I guess Daphney can't party with us, because she is at school..." I am so glad that he finds everyday life at home with me a party!

Daphney's Birthday

Happy Birthday Daphney!

The kids on the new trampoline that they love and consequently I love! What a game changer- we spend so much time reading, coloring, and jumping in the fall sun!

Daphney got to help me make butterfly cakes to eat at the park!

We invited a few families to the park and had a very low key party. But, it was so much fun to be able to invite whole families. 

This girl may have destroyed the left overs!

Demitri

The other night I had put all the kids to bed and I began to play the song Gethsemane on the piano when Demitri came down and said, "mom can I sing with you?" We spent a good while with him on my lap practicing that song in Demitri's sweet innocent more often than not growly kid voice. That was one of the best moments I have gotten to share with my son, and we might have gone on all night  that way had he not finally begged to be allowed to go to bed. haha 

The "Hard Job"

Okay seriously the other day this man kept laughing at me through the grocery store. Everything was "normal". -Yes I had three kids with me. -Yes they helped fill and unfill the cart as we shopped. -Yes I had no idea what was actually going to make it to the register. -Yes I do notice the people who stop shopping just to watch. BUT IT WAS NORMAL!

He laughed and laughed and threw his hands up in the air saying, "Man it is a hard job but someone has to do it." We finally made it out of the store and the unloading process began.

Daphney, Even commented, "wow mom that man is really happy..."

-AND GUESS who parked right next to us. Laughing man continued to laugh at us as he unloaded and got into his car ten times faster than us.

Maybe someday I will be able to find as much entertainment in life, but I am so grateful that I get to have this quote "hard job"!

"Look mom, I made him batman!"- Daphney

Fourth of July

On the fourth of July my town really comes together and feels united as a community. 

I love celebrating our freedoms!

These are the cute hats we surprised the kids with after our canoe trip. They love them and Demitri calls it his "party hat." This morning he wore his spider man costume and slippers with his party hat and cars loved it and he was so flashy I knew he wouldn't get ran over... Oh and he thinks he has super powers when he wears it because the sequence causes poka-dots to dance all over the walls haha. I would choose to read minds or fly, but poka-dot power is pretty cool too.  

I love my sister. She is always there when I need her despite the distance!

And, these two goodness- they make everything right in the world.

 I am so grateful I have them for parents!

Grandad's Big Helpers

One thing I love about going home is there is always a project 

to teach my kids how to work hard and laugh hard.