Some kinds of cute!

Lanaya has been doing the cutest things recently.

1. She squishes up her nose and inhales and exhales sharply.  This is when she's being silly, frustrated, excited or anything else.  She just enjoys doing it apparently.  We think it's hilarious!

2. Laya likes to play peek-a-boo.  If she sees a blanket, a piece of clothing or even an hair elastic that's thick enough for her to think she can hide behind it, she is covering her face until you say, "Where's Laya?" enough times for her to uncover herself and surprise you.  Most of the time, she isn't really even covering her face, but she's lifting the item over her head until you say it none the less.

3. She has started to put her hands in front of her with her palms up - like she's wanting you to give her whatever you are holding.  I thought that's all this was, until she does it to be picked up, to eat, to show excitement or anything else.  It's just a fun thing for her to do apparently.

4. Lanaya climbs onto the bottom bunk of the boys bed.  No problem.  She just gets on up and plays with their stuffed animals.  So far, she hasn't even tried to get down, but I've sure had a heart attack a few times when she's playing a little too close to the edge for my comfort.

5. She has decided to take after her big brother Benson and play in the toilet.  All bathroom doors are to be shut at all times now.  This is NOT a favorite thing - and I most definitely don't find it cute.

6. Lanaya is my first baby who has fallen in love with blankets, in general.  Saryn loved her bankey wowers, but it was exclusive.  Laya likes any soft fuzzy blanket and gets super excited if you even are walking towards her with one.  She grabs it, snuggles in and has the happiest face on - ever!

7. She has discovered her ability to click her tongue.  As long as she's not upset about something, if you make a click with your tongue, she'll do it back - and do it for a long time, most emphatically.  This is a very fun toy!

8. She says "Wow" in such a cute, high pitched, sweet sounding voice that it melts your heart.  I could be happy listening to it all day long!

Lanaya has just been the greatest joy!  She is starting to play strange with most people.  She definitely is a Mommy's girl... but will go to Kienna, and then Daddy if needs be.  She generally would prefer to keep it to just the three of us.  She is super smiley, her hair is a little curly and she just melts my heart with everything she does!

Surprise!

A year ago today, I had a surprise baby shower.  Today, I saw the video of all my friends and family who came to support me and was overwhelmed with love.  I'm so grateful for all those who generously gave me so much love and support through a tough pregnancy, delivery and recovery.  So glad those days are behind me - and that I still get to enjoy my awesome friends!

Nature's Memory

I think that, as mother's, we forget things - and it's a blessing.  It's the only reason we would ever have more than one child.  I have been thinking recently how I must've been such a baby - my hips were never that bad during pregnancy.  Then today, on my facebook flashbacks, I read this status from one year ago today.

11:20 am
"Well, it seems as though I'm staying put for the day. Managed to get down the stairs... So that was good. Lol."

I clearly wanted to understate my pain, because within a couple hours, I needed help.  This was my post at 2:16pm:

"Okay, when do you use ice and when do you use heat? Called physio and they're closed for the holiday. Hips are so loose that my leg has dislocated and I can't move. All advice would be appreciated!"

I remember this day vividly.  I sat on the couch at the most awkward of angles and cried as I sorted baby clothes.  My parents took all the kids to Calaway Park or the Zoo or something so I could cope with the pain better.  Yeah, there's a reason we forget... and why we're done.  I can't do that to my body again.  So glad I have all my sweet babies here now!

Firecrackers

Benson watched Kungfu Panda for the first time in his memory this past weekend.  Today, he was walking around and randomly giggling for the whole day as he would remember one part or another.  I asked him what his favorite part was and he said, "Like, the whole thing!"  Of course, if you know him, his eyes were as big as possible, his hands were stiff and firm and he said this with very serious enthusiasm.  He cracks me up. 
I asked him if he liked the part where Po flies up in the air when he's sitting on a chair and the firecrackers go off. 
"Firecrackers?!?  They're firecrackers?  You can EAT them??"

Apparently any kind of crackers are edible in Benson's mind.  We'll have to talk that over before any Canada Day or Fourth of July celebrations.

What a week!!

We went down to Southern Alberta last weekend.  Left on Friday.  Thursday night, of course, was greeted by Saryn throwing up.  This always seems to happen right before any trip.  Someone has to get sick.
We were staying with my cousin Caylee, so I called to see if she'd be okay with us still coming.  She said it was fine, and Saryn said she was feeilng better, so we headed on down.  That whole night, and the next day, we were all fine.  We went to visit some friends in Barnwell, went over to Taber, went to Stirling and watched their school play, 'Willy Wonka'.  That night, we were staying with Sachie and Josh, when Jaymeson started to feel a little sick (around 1am on Sunday morning - Mother's Day). 
We moved into the house, from the trailer, and settled down so that we could be closer to the bathroom.  Sure enough, around 3, he threw up.  Around 5, he threw up again... and by 6:30, we needed to be up for the day, so that we could make it back to Barnwell for church.
As we were heading back to Calgary after church, we couldn't leave Jaymeson in Stirling.  We were trying to figure out what to do and we had decided to do Sacrament Meeting and then maybe just have me and the rest of the kids stay in church for the rest of the time.
By the time we got there, Jaymeson had thrown up again.  By the end of sacrament meeting, Saryn was complaining that her stomach hurt again, and Lanaya had blown out of her diaper onto my lap.  We decided to just head home.  Good decision....  We had barely made it to Lethbridge when Benson started to throw up as well.  Happy Mother's Day to me!!

Monday night, Jarett and Kaia both joined in.  They were throwing up all night long.
Tuesday night, Kienna and Lanaya joined in as well.  This bug had taken down everyone in the house except for me at this point.  Kienna missed a school field trip and a cello recital.  Kaia missed a test at school...  There have been upset stomachs on all fronts, nasty smells and much cleaning.

(This is probably 5 out of 10 loads of laundry that I did that day - the boys were clearly feeling better and joining in the "help")

I have LOVED, however, having so much down time for the kids.  They watched the entire Star Wars series 2 times (Episode 2 became a favorite - and they claim they have it memorized now).  We finished up the Lord of the Rings series, watched many shows on Netflix and had just fun talking time (in between episodes of being sick).  The girls watched Roman Holiday, with and without commentary - and the boys just stayed and watched both times.  Not really a normal 4&6 year old boy thing to be doing.  They really were so sick.  The kids have been finishing up books as well.
Lanaya being sick has probably been the hardest to watch because she seems to be in so much pain, but can't tell us where or how.  She's been so sad, but it seems like she's interested in eating and drinking milk again.  So here's hoping.
The only good part, as all mother's know, to all this, it the snuggles!  It's been so sweet to see the kids snuggling, and to get a great deal of snuggles by myself!

So glad this week is wrapping up and we can get back to things as usual around here, but I'm also going to enjoy the memories of the snuggling... and I'm sure the kids will never forget their Star Wars marathon.

I also got to go to the temple in the middle of the week while Jarett held down the fort.  Slower weeks make life simpler - and easier to get back to priorities.

A look back on Today

These reminders on Facebook came today:

6 years ago today, I got a note from a friend, Robyn Woodruff, in Edmonton (we had left a couple weeks before)

"Hey Ashley, hope things are well in Calgary. Thomas is finally going to school willingly again. I couldn't figure out what was wrong until he broke down last week and said that he didn't like school without Kaia there to play with. How romantic..."

5 years ago today (Jaymeson would have been 18 months-ish)

"I find it really funny that Jaymeson closes EVERYTHING from cupboards to doors. I guess he DOES have some Mullen genes in him..."

Saryn's Perspective (Facebook flashback)

May 10, 2011

Saryn's quote of the day: Mom, old people don't wear flip flops...

I was telling her about canes.  "They're what old people use to help them walk."  Then she jumped in with: Oh, and old people don't wear flip flops.  I'm still trying to figure out where that came from.  I like it though!  That way I'll ALWAYS be young!

Dinner

I have dinner all ready to go and it's just after 2:30. It feels so good to have it done early. Why, oh why can I never remember this? It is so much easier this way! And it looks so good too!

Who knew?

Who knew that something so sweet

Could find so much pleasure playing on something - well, not so sweet.

At least she's having fun with her cousin Bruce in the meantime...

Musings of Ashley

On Monday, we went to the wave pool with the kids for family home evening. Jarett came over to the kids pool a few times to offer to take Lanaya so that I could go play, but I was enjoying her so much that I let him keep playing with the older kids. In some ways, I might've missed out, but in other ways, I was just soaking it all in!

From where I was, I could watch all of the older kids. I could see them play with each other, go down slides, and have a blast! It was so much fun to just watch them.  I had Benson and Lanaya by my side, and we had so much fun just splashing and enjoying the 'little guy' pool. I don't have much more time with a baby in my arms. This makes me so sad in some ways. I just thoroughly enjoyed sitting down and enjoying having a baby. I will just ache for that in a few years I am sure!

It was a wake up call for me. I only have about five years until Kaia leaves for university or a mission. I so badly want to buckle down and do all the things I imagined doing with my kids when I grew up. The clock is ticking!!  These are precious years. I am going to make the most of them!

Posts of Facebook Past

There is a new app on Facebook that shows you what you were doing on this day, however many years ago.

Apparently, today is a Jaymeson day. These two quotes came up as my memories for today.

One year ago:

"Jaymeson:  Mom, we just had fast Sunday, right?  So is this one going to be slow Sunday?

Me:  Yes

Jaymeson:  Okay, so, when is it going to be an ice cream sundae?"

I think the answer should be "every Sunday!"

Five years ago:

"I'm kinda laughing that Jaymeson just got stuck between the chair and the footrest.  I had to literally SQUEEZE him through to lift him back out.  How the heck did he get there?"

That's my boy!!

What happens

What happens when you leave Saryn in charge of taking care of the boys while you finish up the basement?

You find your upstairs transformed into a whole new building!

Each room has been transformed for a new purpose as well!

(Aka the girls room)

(Aka the boys room)

(Aka the kids bathroom)

(Aka the Master bedroom)

You will also be given a ticket to enjoy wrestling match. It will be hand delivered and everything!

I love it when Saryn plays with them like this. She has such an amazing imagination and really opens up an entire new world of play for them. She plays "the map" from Dora with them all the time. She also takes time to really make it a fun activity for them. She is a pretty special kid!

Bedtime and basements

Apparently we have a bed welcoming committee tonight.

We've been working in the basement.  New tenants move in on Friday!  We just got the flooring replaced due to tons of water.  So, we've had to replace the baseboards, put the closet back in place, replace some drywall (we had to take a piece of the wall out to see where the moisture was coming from), replace the door locks (they had a key break off in the deadbolt) and repaint (due to excessive damage on the current walls).  As we have been cleaning up the mess that was left (mom and Kim came over to help do a really deep clean today - my family is amazing!!), we have discovered other fun things.  So, now we have to replace the shower (or figure out how to repair a huge crack in the wall - hmmm, wonder where the water damage came from...), find an oven repair man, find how to replace fridge shelves, hunt down missing shelving, scrub out carpet stains and have it all done tomorrow.  Yeah... I don't think it will happen either... But we'll do our best.  At least we have great tenants moving in!!

10 and a Half Months!

I just can't get over what a doll Laya is.  Even though she climbs up everything, opens drawers and empties them and wants to discover EVERYTHING with her mouth.  Don't you just want to eat her up?!?

Note the disaster in the background

At Easter with her hat from the Easter Bunny!

With her two Canadian cousins.  (We miss you Kalli!)

Mastermind

I played mastermind with my kids tonight.  It surprised me that my boys (age 4&6) were the ones that brought it out.  Benson wanted me to "make it work" while Jay was out helping Kienna with her flyers.  Trying to understand what he wanted, I walked him through the game.  He wasn't impressed.  He said he needed to shoot the things out when he won.  

"No Benson, that would make a huge mess.  Just a keep them in the box, okay?"

"Okay, I guess it's broken."

Then Jay comes home.

"Mom, did you fix that game?  It's broken."

"No buddy, it wasn't broken, it still works."

"But it doesn't shoot out the bullets like it says on the box!"

Of course!!  The mastermind pieces are flying on the box.  THAT is why my boys were interested in the game - and, rightfully so, disappointed with the results.  They thought they had to crack the code to make the billets fly everywhere.  Sigh.  Boys are different creatures than girls!  

My girls and I sure had a lot of fun with it after the boys went to bed though!

Lanaya

We went to the doctor this last week to check height, weight, growth and just health in general.  We have a big girl on our hands... 97th percentile height, 95th weight and 93rd head circumference.  She's also cruising along furniture at 9 months and clapping, waving and babbling like there's no tomorrow.  All of these things are advanced for her age.  As of today, she is also making specific sounds like "ba" for bottle and is actually playing peek-a-boo by covering her eyes and making a 'p' and a 'b' sound in a row afterwards when I say "peek-a-boo".

She is also just a delight to have in our house.  She is constantly moving, just can't stand to stay still.  She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth and you can see her little mind working to piece things together.  She has big, blue eyes that twinkle, she laughs all the time and she is the pride and joy of her parents and siblings alike. 


She now has 4 teeth as well... sleeps like a dream (most nights) and eats pretty much anything we offer her.  She has been such an amazing blessing in our lives and we just can't get enough of her!

St Patrick's Day and Some Randoms

Jaymeson was so excited for leprechauns and gold and many other things green.  Thankfully, his amazing teacher satisfied his dream by hosting a leprechaun in their class and having a Green Party.  I made these tasty treats, but otherwise, our St Patrick's Day was limited to green pancakes!

We did, however, end our day with a little hair cut.  As you can see, it was getting a little longer than his standard military cut...

In my defence, I was up quite late the night before making a South African recipe for Kienna's 'International Feast' at school.  Milk Tarts became an instant hit in our family!  I got to deliver them, along with the Green Rice Krispies Squares, to the school in the morning (I felt a little ill and didn't get it all packaged up in a way I would trust the kids walking them to school).  

Otherwise, things have been a little more typical around the house.  Thought I'd share a few little pictures that I quickly snapped with my phone.

This means trouble!!

I've moved all nautical theme into our den and have been working on adding some more colour in our family room.  I'm excited to see how it all works out!!

Jarett frequently does the dishes at night while listening to a show on wireless headphones.  He had left the base plugged in over night and Benson wanted to watch a show while I taught piano, so he figured it out quickly and loved this new experience!

Lanaya fell asleep in her high chair... Not the normal direction.  She has since began to climb much more and is strapped into her chair before I turn my back for a minute.

Love Lanaya's new hat!!

Benson got a new snowsuit (awesome clearance!) and wouldn't take it off - even indoors - for a couple hours. (I'll have to search a little for this picture)

 

We also started to do flyers.  Kaia and Kienna have each taken on a route and we are delivering about 200 flyers each week.  Just some of the folding that we've been doing each week. The bag is holding between 40-60 flyers.

 

Flathead Lake - 2012

We had so much fun at Flathead Lake!  All the cousins from the Cahoon side were there.  It was a little difficult to go camping with a broken foot, but I had a lot of help and was able to even get in the water a few times (on a floaty).  The kids, however, had a BLAST!  The girls all were in and out of the water constantly.  They were playing games, coloring and swimming to their hearts content.

Kaia was so excited to spot on the wave-runner.  She went on the tube, knee-boarded and swam a whole lot.  She always had a smile on her face!

Kienna loved the hammock and the games, but she too loved the water.  She was a little more nervous to do anything behind the wave runner, but she had a blast swimming out on many a flutter board to keep up with the "teenagers".

Saryn was in heaven with the 3 other girls that were her age.  They colored, played games and ran around playing with ponies.  They had so much fun making the ponies swim and playing fetch with each other.

Jaymeson LIVED in the water.  He would only come out by demand, if it was dinner time.  Otherwise, he was in a tube, or walking in the water, shooting his water gun.

Benson loved to sit on the shore and throw rocks in the lake.  He really would've been content to do that all day long.  Unfortunately, naps and eating and LOTS of dirt, got in the way.

They all loved painting rocks too!  We have a huge box FULL of painted rocks.  Some are cowboy themed to put in the boys room, but most are just multiple colors and I have NO idea what will happen with them.

Overall, though, it was so much fun.  I loved the hot chocolate every morning, the reading, the campfire, the food and the weather, but most of all, I loved the company!  We had a lot of fun and I can't wait to go camping again next year (sans the cast).

It's Greek to me

It's all Spanish to Benson.

If anyone speaks in a language that he doesn't understand, it's Spanish.  In fact, even if it's a silly word like "banana pants", it's Spanish.  This has happened ever since my Dad read him a story in Spanish.

This includes baby language, we've discovered.  Whenever Lanaya talks, Benson says, "Mom, she's speaking Spanish again!"

He also introduces her to everyone, "This is my sister, Lanaya, she speaks Spanish."

She also is definitely crawling now - And it looks like she's climbing too.  Yikes!

Measles, Mumps and Rubella, oh my!

I have had a few things that I'd like to post over the last week, but I don't because I haven't posted about this yet.  So, here goes.

Wednesday morning, almost 2 weeks ago, Benson woke up crying.  He had snuck down to the girls room in the night and Kaia brought him upstairs looking like this (and the picture doesn't really do it justice):

He had been a little sick for a few days, but this was a whole new kettle of fish!  After a mild freak out and consoling words from a brother-in-law, we went in to see a doctor.  His verdict: he has mumps.  Say WHAT?!?

Backstory:
Over 6 pregnancies and many blood tests, I have found that I'm not responsive to the MMR.  I have no antibodies in my blood that show that I've ever had it.  Each pregnancy had a different doctor, so I was sent in over and over to get, yet another, MMR.  I have probably had 8 MMR's now (including the ones as a child).  I have officially been labelled as a "non-responder" and they've given up.  Apparently this is quite rare and is officially the third weird medical thing about me.  (I also have a Protein S Deficiency and a family history of Malignant Hyperthermia - doctors want to sit down and talk about my chart every time I come to the hospital in labour).

The first question the doctor asked me after looking at Benson was, "Is he immunized?"  Yes.  *pause*  But I don't respond to the MMR, if that's something to take into consideration.  He was almost certain that it was mumps, but sent us for a blood test to confirm it.

Benson wasn't too keen on having his blood drawn and kept on insisting, "Mommy, I don't want a blood contest!!"  He was so adorable.  He cried for just a second after he saw the blood coming out (despite my best efforts to divert his eyes) and cheered up for a spiderman and hot wheels sticker.  Plus, there's no needle that ice cream can't fix. 

Blood results came in... he has no antibodies against mumps at all.  For something completely random, it seems to run in my family.  I began to panic a little about Lanaya (as she is too young to have the MMR), but she has been fine and the mumps are long gone by now.  We put Benson under quarantine for about 5-6 days and  he was as happy and normal as can be (just with large bumps on his ears).  Apparently, this is only contagious from people who have not had the vaccine, so the kids were still good to go to school, but Benson, Lanaya and I had to stay home.

After a second blood test (10 days after the beginning of symptoms), which he didn't cry at - at all, we will get the results again to send over to a Pediatrician that specializes in abnormal responses to vaccines.  They will, more than likely, test everyone in the family and see who we need to worry about and what precautions we will have to take because of this.  Such fun! 

So very luckily, Benson didn't develop any severe symptoms of Mumps and it was very non-eventful. I did, however, have a chance to really think about vaccines over this experience.  If those people who choose not to vaccinate, would vaccinate, people wouldn't be able to spread this to Benson, or myself or anyone else who doesn't respond to vaccinations.  I felt very upset that someone else felt they could make that decision that affects so much more than just themselves.

Bishop's Ball

We had SO much fun on Friday night!  My Mom was put in charge of decorating and my sister, Kim, was in charge on putting on a 15 minute floor show.  We were easy recruits and were signed up for the Swing and Disco numbers.  I was a little apprehensive at first, but it was so much fun!

We really bonded with the other couples, got some good exercise at rehearsals and really had a blast performing!  We enjoyed each others company so much we even went and took a group shot at the photo booth!!

My sisters and I had a blast trying on all the dresses at my moms house and getting ready for the ball!  It was such a fun night!

 Jarett was asked to sing "The Way you Look Tonight" with the Big Band and he sounded amazing!  It's a song I've wanted him to sing since we were dating.  He even dedicated it to me and I got to stand in front of the stage and stare at him with a cheesy smile. 

 
Karen Baker came up to me during the number and said, "I just told Don that if he dies before me, I'm holding auditions for the new husband.  He's going to have to dance and sing."  Apparently Jarett is making the cut.  ;)  Lucky for me, he's all mine!

Of course, those of Mullen & Co. who were present had to get a shot.  What a fun place to work...

My ever supportive Gran and Aunty Beryl came up to help and see all the decorations, the dancing and hear the music.  We love having them around SO much!

One of the highlights of the night actually happened after the ball.  We came home to this note taped to our closet.  "Mom and Dad,  I cleaned up the main floor a bit so that this Saturday can be fun.  We can spend the morning cleaning our rooms, practicing and such, then we can have fun.  -Kaia"

Sometimes I just am overwhelmed by how thoughtful our kids can be.  I came home to a perfectly clean main floor.  The kitchen sparkled, the dishes were done, the toys put away and it was wonderful!  It was the perfect end to the perfect evening!