Bird Refuge

Brian continues to NOT enjoy the part of his job that he cannot control--namely how well business goes from month to month, so after visiting w/ Layne at Grandpa's funeral over his higher volume of business in a rural area, --we started exploring rural options for attorneys.  Apparently, small towns across America are struggling in many professional fields to keep positions filled, and South Dakota even passed a law to subsidize attorneys that would come and work in some of their rural areas.  Sounds crazy, but when there only attorney for hundreds of miles retires/dies, people canNOT do things like write a will, make a contract, get a divorce, etc., etc.  So, in an effort to feel out this possibility, I first searched through my cousin addresses to see if any of them were very rural, and then resorted to getting touch w/ my favorite recipe blog girl (aka--total stranger!), who turned out to be fantastically generous w/ her time and friendship (at least once she found our blog, and could verify I wasn't a crazy stalker :) ).  We've looked at housing prices, listened to more Lake Wobegone and watched Little House (due to the Minnesota locale), and even called the local legal offices.  It is hard to say whether anything will really come of it or not, but this is what HAS happened:

1-When things get tight at work, there is at least hope, that if not this, something else could work out.
2-At the prospect of leaving, the virtues of Brian's current job shine more brightly
3-I feel good about being unattached enough to our house (that I thought would be our last) to be open to change, for real
4-I'm amazed at the children's adventurous spirits in thinking it all sounds great--well, 5 out of 6, (and Brent's appreciation of where we are, that makes him NOT want to leave, EVER)
5-At the prospect of leaving, I am anxious to imbibe as much fry sauce, root beer, and other Utah delicacies that I can WHILE I can, AND to soak up every sweet advantage of living here for as long as we do, from cool summer mornings and evenings, to hiking every trail within 2 hours of us, SO
as soon as Saturday Jobs were done a couple of weeks ago, Brian worked on campaigning, and I took the kids over to the VERY nearby Bird Refuge before it got too hot to enjoy it at all in daylight.  I thought the fresh air would be good, and it was for a while, but by the end, Lucy had urinated on the boardwalk (just a few yards too far away from the bathrooms to make it), and I knelt down--right after, and vomited into the marsh.  Still, it was nice to be out, and I love being with family away from all other distractions. :)

Memorial Day

I was determined to do more for Memorial Day than stay in bed all day.  Since mornings are actually my best time of day, I went with the younger girls who were up to the Syracuse Memorial Day Service at our cemetery.  Brian got to conduct it this year, and then the girls had fun enjoying all of the flowers and decorations of the graves (and would not stand by the flags for a picture) while Brian shook hands and made more city connections.

We had planned on trying a hike that day as well, and some friends in the ward asked if we wanted to do one together, so 3 families all drove into beautiful Morgan Canyon up to Causey Dam, where we hiked around the water, enjoying nice weather, and beautiful scenery.  I was SO grateful to be able to hike without feeling miserable, and again, for the fresh air.  We enjoyed some Subway on the way home, and had an early night.

Mother's Day

A pregnant Mother's Day--it was like a nonstop celebration with a body that would NOT let me forget I'm a mother :).  Bless my sweet family--after already doing extra chores all week, they acted like it was a new excitement to treat me to so much pampering on a special day.  To begin with, we all attacked the yard on Saturday.  With the coming crunch of summer, and my sickness only worsening, we were determined to get are garden ready for planting, the gravel project finished, before the weeds made it 10X the job, and get the weeds under control and "preened." AND WE DID IT!!! It was truly amazing have such a work force!! As I weeded through nausea, I kept feelinglike it shouldn't be possible to be suffering from the curse of Adam AND Eve simultaneously!! I, though still sick, was grateful to be outside in the fresh air.  In fact, I couldn't bear going back in.  I heated up leftover, then came outside to eat, the kids went in to do their cleaning, and I stayed outside to weed (in shady spots).  And then, I begged them to clean the kitchen too--that it was the ONLY thing I really wanted for Mother's Day :)--and the sweet angels did, after all the word they'd already done.  Brian went over to a campaign meeting to help organize things for running for City Council in tandem w/ the mayoral candidate, and I took all the kids to Maddox drive-thru for a fried chicken dinner we could eat at the outside table.

no more hill of gravel in the background!

The kids were wanting to make me breakfast in bed, but to ensure we'd make it to church on time, and because I can never guarantee what I will be able to even eat in the mornings, I insisted for them not to worry.  Brian was such a dear to make a fabulous dinner of Linguine with Clam Sauce, Mushroom Potato Soup, and green salad (sorry, I could only think of pictures after I was full, but it WAS beautiful!).  These children--acting like they're out of a story book, which is the perfect contrast to how my body was feeling--had composed an acrostic poem of "MOTHER" ending with "R is for Rucy (Lucy) and the rest of us too, who all really, really, really love you!"--and showered me with homemade and classmade gifts.  I SO needed the reminder of how much I love having my children!

This is a real picture of the wonderful mother (huddled on the couch--who knows who took this picture :) ) I've been for the month of May (and then some).

I thought I had some positivity and patience in me, but pregnancy dries it out, I'm sad to admit.  To feel like poison is running through my veins, and that I am constantly having to move through sludge wears on me fast.  A week or two into things, I try to stay upbeat and hopeful, but after a month, where the only real relief is losing consciousness, I am easily discouraged, and wondering how I ever could have desired this voluntarily! Even with such good helpers (Brian made Sunday dinner for a month--he even got released from the Bishopric with fortuitous timing!), the house spins more and more out of control with every day, I feel totally unable to be of good to anyone, and I don't know whether to feel worse about my now SCANT preparations for Gospel Doctrine lessons, or that I am scarcely aware of my children's needs, letting them watch untold hours of TV and not able to keep my 5 year-old from riding her bike to the opposite end of the ward w/o telling anyone, and having her go out w/o brushed hair, only to have her come home w/ the NEIGHBOR having done it for me!!--among other things.  I feel foolish for thinking I could be capable to handle this; I feel weak for letting some NON-debilitating and not life-threatening condition push me to such extremes; and my worst fear has moved from going blind to having this HCG feeling somehow made permanent.  I don't know HOW women stay sick for the full 9 months AND have more than one child!! It is so humbling, and so wearing, and has made me have to appreciate the smallest joys, like hearing the music from musical #'s I've tried to organize as music chair; for answers to simple, nearly pathetic prayers; for any outing I survive--to the temple, to our play night for "Secret Garden" w/ Maddie, to recitals, picnics, and for many more I wasn't sure I could even handle; and for this sweet family, always anxious to get anything they can for me, and never complaining about our sad state of affairs (maybe all the eating out helps to ease their suffering :) ). 

Grandpa Duncan's GREAT LIFE!

We were so glad we took a chance to visit w/ Grandma and Grandpa Duncan recently, as Grandpa's health was declining.

He passed away with ALL of his children and wife around him, IN his HOME, rather ideally, and the funeral was SUCH a gathering of posterity!! What a great man, and great life he led--coming into activity in the church from a family that didn't have much to do with it, AND bringing several of his brothers (and hence, their families) with him, and staying SO TRUE to the faith to affect SO many lives with his constant gentle teaching and testifying.  It was so good to be in such a gathering--it is always a blessing of perspective to see the concrete fruits of ONE life!

Maddie MONTH!

Maddie was excited for May--starting off with her birthday (the girl who doesn't even ask for anything--she finally decided on a Chocolate Fondue pot??!!).  Her 2 pals Rachel and Carrington had elaborate plans to surprise her at home w/ a party (and had emailed me extensively), hid in her bedroom after I brought her home from a little birthday shopping (read:  I took her to Kohl's, gave her some Kohl's cash I'd gotten from shopping online, and laid down in the van while she shopped alone, trying to nurse my sickness w/ an Arby's sandwich--my stomach churns at the memory).  Even Spencer and Emily were so excited to pitch in, and THEN, Maddie revealed to them all casually, that she'd seen the first email, so wasn't a HAIR surprised after all--that Maddie!  Brian and I also had fun taking her to see an awesome Secret Garden w/ our season tickets :).

AND, she got her braces off!!--Happy Day!!

AND she got MESA (Math and Science club) Lagoon Day w/ her best pals :). 

Spring Performances

This house is like Culture Central around here during Spring (she says with tongue in cheek) :).  After Brent's first Jr High track meets (running 800 and then 4 X 400), and getting to run w/ great friend Zac

we had Maddie's Orchestra Concert

Brent's Band Concert, (where he was given the Outstanding Band Student Award for his WHOLE Class!!--for always being so prepared, and "making us all sound good")--I was SO HAPPY for him, as he practices like CRAZY.  After orchestra concert, the band sounded really great!

Anne's Violin Recital--soloing w/ "Perpetual Motion"

AND (a new one for us!!)
Emily's School Play!!! where she was a GREAT supporting actress playing Charity, the Princess's Maid in a lively (if low-budget) rendition of "The Princess King."  She was awesome!! I am of course amazed that anyone from my loins can get on stage and pull that off!! We were even early enough to sit right up front and thoroughly enjoy the whole thing.  She had a great time--the play is just for 5th and 6th graders, and she got to work w/ a lot of her friends through it all too.

While we're listing cultural events, Spencer had quite a blast with his first pinewood derby, and get a look at his SWEET car!! --what a great (and can we say low-maintenance!!) idea!

Spencer's Birthday, and UPCOMING BIRTHDAY!!

The children around here all get so excited about birthdays and the parties they can have.  I don't know how this has happened since we've barely had enough organized parties between all 6 children to add up to one normal child's life (we're talking 1-2 friend parties per child before they're old enough to call their own friends to come over for pizza and a movie).  I know I'm just underscoring my reputation as a real party person, but parties and self-induced stress are not my forte.  Lucky for me (and Spencer), we planned a trip up to Idaho for General Conference Weekend this year, and subsequently, his birthday! Cousins, trips, and grandparents are a great recipe for celebration!

We visited Grandma Stewart at her new place in Lincoln Court (she's quite the Wii bowling celebrity!) and regaled her w/ a musical recital by all the children and Brian, enjoyed cards and a little packing at Dad and Kathy's for some of their last days in Idaho Falls, and then had a great barbecue dinner between Conference Sessions at Analisa's before driving home.  Conference was wonderful, and we had a unique year, listening to one session on the radio (after finding NO stake centers broadcasting and being w/o internet!), watching one at Layne's Rexburg house (where they have moved), one at Analisa's, and listening to the last on the ride home.

Spencer (and the WHOLE FAMILY) is now glued to his Perplexus ball, we love that EVERYone can play SpotIt (SortOf).  He loved Grandma and Grandpa's gift of Star Wars Angry Birds, some Zoobs from G&G M, and a remote control car from Eric and Analisa! Uncle Todd also gave him a Candy Shopping Spree at the Dollar Store :).  He is SO easy to please--happy to wait for his crepes breakfast until the next week :).

AND....
That next weekend, we announced to the children that we'd be adding another birthday to our family (much) later this year! HAPPY DAY!! Lucky #7 to join our family around the first of December (which is also my big excuse for taking 2 months to post this!).  Bless the children for being SO excited (as were we before the Great Nausea).  Their joy rejuvenated me, and after quite a bit of hubbub (after dinner one Sunday), sweet Anne looked up and asked me, "What's pregnant mean Mom?" :) It is now her favorite word, and she has quickly told ALL of our neighbors (and any passersby :) ).