California Summer 2018

Where to even begin?! I have taken a looong break from blogging. My last blog post was from Parley's birth (he's now 2!). Since then we have adopted two daughters and had another baby, my husband quit his career and went back to school to become a lawyer. I guess you can see I was busy, so you'll forgive the delay. Since there is simply too much to catch up on, I will just start with where we are today, and maybe in the future I will fill in some of the blanks. 

We own a home in Ypsilanti, Michigan and my husband attends the University of Michigan Law School. He just finished his first year and for the summer he was offered an internship in Pleasanton, California (North, near San Fransisco).  We thought we would have to survive without him for 12 weeks, but imagine our surprise when he read the housing contract and he found out that they will provide a 2 bedroom apartment if you have 2+ kids...Well, we have 5 kids, so I would say that we definitely qualify. We loaded all 5 kids into the 15 passenger van (which is the best way to travel cross country- so spacious!).  

Along the way we were able to stop at the Winter Quarters Temple and Visitors Center. Anna and I got to go inside and participate in baptisms. Dad stayed outside with the 4 babies. 

The Temple sits right beside a cemetery for the saints who passed away while waiting out the winter. There is a monument that says each person's name and age that passed away. There were so many babies and toddlers that died. How profound that was for me as I visit with 4 little babies and a teenager, and think of what so many parents lost that I get to enjoy daily. 

It was a very sacred, reverent experience in that cemetery and gave me a new, real perspective on what the Saints went through for religious freedom. How grateful I am for their sacrifices! 

Next, along the way to California, we visited Grandma King in West Valley City, Utah for 2 weeks. She was so patient to let all of us stay with her. She loved every minute with those grandbabies! We got a trip in to temple square and Anna went with Dad to do baptisms. She has a goal of visiting all of the temples, so we are happy to help her in her awesome goals!

Parley and Mom 

We made it to California! One of our first weekends here after we settled in, we wanted to show the kids the ocean! They had never seen it before. It was way too cold to swim, but we dipped our toes in, then enjoyed a nice picnic lunch in the grass. 

Parley 2 years

Dad with the twins Peter 3 years and Lucy 4 years 

Mom holding Aaron 5 months

Look, we got Anna in there (14 years)

The Alameda County Fair is happening in Pleasanton right now. We bought season tickets so we can go and enjoy the shows. We have loved it! We let the kids each pick one ride, and it made their world! Parley Started crying after the merry-go-round ended. He loved it!

 They had a petting zoo. The kids loved brushing the animals. Peter and Lucy had no fear. It must be from those years on the farm with our farm animals. 

 Anna came from a farm where they had alpacas so she was excited to see another one!

 Parley was only 4 months old when we left the farm, so he was very shy and hesitant at first with the animals, but then he saw a duck. He went after it yelling, "Duck! Duck!" and grabbed it with both hands around the neck...Don't worry, it survived. After that though, he loved the animals!

 Anna Marie is on trek this very moment! She had to make her own apron. We were able to buy/borrow her other supplies. As I said, we are in California for the summer, so I left my sewing machine at home, so she had to sew it entirely by hand without any pattern.  I figured it was an authentic pioneer experience sewing by hand :) Isn't she beautiful?

This is her the morning she left for trek with her beautiful apron. Trek is where the youth (14-18years old) go out in the middle of nowhere and reenact what the Latter-Day Saint Pioneers went through when they were driven from their homes in Missouri and Illinois to Utah in the 1800's.  It's purpose is to teach them of their heritage, realize the Lord is with us, especially in our trials. 

 My sweet Lucy recently decided she wanted to start helping with laundry. In full disclosure, and keeping it real, I don't fold my kids laundry. Why would I when they are toddlers and they dress themselves, and unfold everything as they are looking for the perfect clothes to wear?  I separate them into piles, they each put their own pile away starting as soon as they can walk.  When they are old enough to fold their own clothes is when their clothes will start to be folded. Lucy's new chore is to separate the clean laundry into piles of who it belongs to. She LOVES being a helper, and honestly, it is a huge help. With 7 people at home, you can imagine how much clothes we go through!

Aaron Jr is growing like a weed! He is 6 months old. No teeth. We just started him on Baby Led Weaning, which means he is still nursed every 3-4 hours during the day, but we also just feed him whatever we are eating, when we are eating it. For example, if we are having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, we hand him one, and he "gums it". He is loving all of the experimentation. Best part is...I don't have to make him any separate food and he feeds himself. It makes it so we don't have picky eaters, they eat what we eat since the moment they start eating.

He is sitting up now, and he can get anywhere in the house. I wouldn't call what he does crawling. He gets up on his hands and knees, and belly flops forward which propels him about 2 inches forward. Then he gets up his hands and knees again and the cycle repeats. He is full of joy and brings so much light to our home! We love having a new baby in the house again. 

Kids and mom making cookies! It was difficult to have so many little hands in the kitchen, but we are making memories more than making cookies...something I have to remind myself when it's hard and messy!

The kids loved playing the bathtub in their swimsuits. 

The kid's favorite time each day is when dad comes home. They attack him and play with him. He had no idea I was taking this picture. I love real life :)

Until next time,
Kristina