Hilton Head Island 2022

We have had a good week here at Hilton Head Island. Michael and I hadn't been here since 2016.

Look this cool drop tower Robbie made.

This trip fulfilled one of my dreams--riding bikes as a family. I meant to teach Benjy how to ride a bike before we left Virginia, but I didn't get to it and actually I am glad we just got the tag-along because it would have been hard for his little legs to bike so much and try to keep up. He liked feeling like he was one of the big kids, Clara was up for riding this trike, which was so awesome. I was super proud of her. Michael and the older boys rode to the beach most days, and I came later with Clara and Clayton after Clayton's nap. 

I love the flat beaches at Hilton Head--it's perfect for younger kids, although I can see it not being quite as exciting as the boys get older. Robbie really enjoyed the high tide at night when the waves were bigger.

Clayton liked riding on the bike. I was nervous riding with Clayton and the trailer back and forth to the beach from our condo, which was about a ten-minute bike ride, but we made it.

Digging a deep hole--Clayton wanted in on the action.

Nice, Henry!

Buried alive.

One evening we went out to Giuseppi's for pizza and enjoyed giant ice cream cones at Kilwin's which promptly melted into puddles as we ate in the blistering heat outside. 

Towheads.

Another morning we took a break from the beach and headed to the Coastal Discovery Museum, where they had different animals we were allowed to hold.

Holding a chicken--I was impressed how calm it was.

Check out this cool baby alligator.

Holding a corn snake.

I don't like snakes, but I had to try holding it. It was kind of cool, I have to admit.

Benjy celebrated his fourth birthday while we were at HHI. He has been so excited for his birthday for months.

One evening we took the older three on a bike ride around the golf course. It was so peaceful and I loved seeing the oaks with Spanish moss hanging down over the well-manicured grass. 

Clara was a big help carrying Clayton back and forth to the beach.

She wasn't a fan of the trip in general, but she survived. I think she did have some moments of fun out in the ocean. Even though riding the trike was scary for her (she'd never ridden that far on anything), she was brave and persevered, and I know she was proud of herself for doing it.

Michael and I had fun playing on the beach together and talking about our marriage. 

Clayton loved the little waves, sitting in the tidal pools, and even seemed to enjoy eating the sand.

Lessons learned:

- bring toys to the rental in case they don't have any

- three to four days at the beach is a good amount

- bikes were fun

- get a place with its own pool if possible

- don't get double scoops from Kilwin's in the heat of summer

A few months

 I have felt overwhelmed and stretched more than I ever have in my life before during the past few months. I am trying to come to terms with the fact that I simply cannot do all the things that I want to do as a mother. Michael and I have talked at length about the fact that I need to put my own oxygen mask on first before I put on my children's, metaphorically speaking, and that is incredibly hard for me to do. The blog is a good example of a place of neglect. There's no way I can catch up sufficiently and share all the sweet memories and moments here, but I will try to include a few after a big photo dump. Sharing all the fun times makes it look like everything is always fun and lovely 'round these parts, which is certainly not true. The amount of quarreling exhausts and discourages me, as do the power struggles and my worries for the future. However, looking at these pictures does help me remember the good times, of which there are plenty.

Clara participated in her end-of-year choral concert with Spotswood Singers. She had had a panic attack at the previous concert because of the hot stole and robe, and the director, Mr. May, graciously allowed her to just wear all black instead. I was happy for her and proud of her for still participating. I am not sure what we'll do for this next year. . . 

Robbie participated in a month-long swim clinic for three days a week at Valley Fitness. He was frustrated with breaststroke but improved overall and gives it his all every time, which I really admire.

Clayton just gets cuter and cuter. 

Brotherly love (?).

Benjy showed off his art at his preschool art show.

The tables are turning where Henry's reading skills allow him to be the reader instead of an older sibling.

Michael and I enjoyed a few dates out--this Japanese restaurant makes really yummy authentic sushi. This green dragon roll is Michael's favorite.

Robbie shared his musical gifts at his most recent piano recital.

These peonies from my garden gave me such incredible joy. Audacious is the word I kept thinking of when I'd look at them--petals upon petals, opening up in such beauty.

Henry turned seven years old! He is such a fun boy to be around. 

More Clayton cuteness.

We were able to visit Nana and Bapa in Philadelphia and took the kids to the Reading Terminal market for some yummy goodies. Michael and I also went to the temple, which was great.

Me and my momma.

We had a fun visit from Bethany and Keith's family and took them up to Hawksbill Peak, the highest peak in Shenandoah. So windy!

Clara participated in a pre-FSY stake activity and actually danced at the dance (with the stake president's son, Henry Papin, what a guy). And she made it through the whole week of FSY at William and Mary College. She even texted me her testimony, which was really special. So proud of her.

Sweet times. 

Picking blueberries at Hobbit Hill Farm was another fun time. It was so fun to pick them in the shade and enjoy hearing the "kerplink kerplank kerplunk" per Blueberries for Sal.

Clayton tolerated the backpack fairly well but wasn't as enamored by the blueberries as I had anticipated. Oh well! He did love the fresh blueberry mint lemonade we enjoyed afterwards, though.

Michael took the boys to Lake Norman one weekend, and another weekend we were going to hang out with friends at Lake Gaston but it didn't work out. Instead we did an item on our bucket list--going to the climbing wall at Horizon's Edge.

Go Henry go! This was the toughest challenge.

Nice, Benjy!

Robbie kept working at this one and eventually beat the record on the wall for speed climbing it.

Happy Fourth from the boys.

This summer was full of lots of swim team. 

Henry moved up from the Junior Barracudas to the Senior Barracudas, and he and Robbie worked really hard this season. Their dives have really improved, as have their strokes.

We visited our friends, the Copelands, on their property in West Virginia and got to pet their bunnies, see their goats, and play in the river. I do wish the boys had a place like this nearby, but I'm grateful for opportunities for them to go play in nature like this.

Robbie turned double digits--10! He really wanted his own desk for his birthday, so he and Michael refinished one I got on Facebook Marketplace, and he got his own room!

Lots of pool time. Here the boys are hanging out with some friends on Robbie's birthday.

Proud of my pickles. I even grew the dill!

Clara in her pretty dress, gearing up for church.

Benjy had his first dental appointment! He was a champ and even got x-rays.

Mother's Day 2022

The family did lots of sweet things for me for Mother's Day. Clara made me a lovely blue fabric trivet in her Arts Fusion class at school. 

Daddy and the boys brought me breakfast in bed with thoughtful cards. I forgot to take a before picture, but here's the after of oatmeal, toast, and mango and pineapple slices. Yum! Michael took the boys to the Arboretum later while I had a nice conversation with my parents on the phone. We tried watching a video of Grandpa and Grandma Clayton for a bit, but the older boys were being pills.

This cute boy's presence in our home makes being a mother extra sweet. His legs have gotten so much chunkier now that he is eating solids.

Being a mom humbles me, exhausts me, exhilarates me, inspires me, and teaches me so many things. I am learning (not often successfully, but sometimes) how to persuade in Christlike ways without control. I am learning the importance of listening and being patient. I am learning the power of love in how it can inspire the best in a person. I personally have felt that love from both my Father in Heaven and from loved ones in my own life, particularly from my parents and from Michael. When I've struggled to love one of my children when he/she is acting especially unlovable, I have prayed sincerely to be filled with love and have mercifully received it, greater than my own capacity. I am making lists of moments when each of my children are particularly lovable so that I can look back on those moments as evidence of their true nature when they're being a stinker.

Even though I wish I could influence lots of people at one time, I do recognize the power of a mother in influencing her children and the impact that can have through generations. Being a mother also helps me see that God sees the big picture and that I can be happier if I do, too. 

Spew or Swallow: A poem

 I wrote this poem recently inspired by Revelation 3:16 and thought I'd include it here in all its glory, haha:

Spew or Swallow?

Tasteless and tepid

Timid and tame

These are flavors

I never want to be named.

Bright and bold

Fiery and strong

Are flavors to savor

I want to show I belong.

Oh to be swallowed up

My strong will and all

And not be spewed out 'cuz

I had no taste at all.

That's my hope, that I can truly be "all in" in the gospel, even when I'm tempted to just wade in the water because it's more work to swim upstream against the world's currents. But I have faith we can all do it with the Savior's help.

Easter and fun with Uncle David

We had a lovely Easter weekend. Bethany and Keith and their family came to visit, and we drove up to DC to pick up David after taking the kids to the National Zoo. 

Nobody at church could tell these three were siblings. 😜

Clayton looked so spiffy in his Easter duds.

David misses his own kids while he's away, so we were the lucky recipients of his extra attention and help. He even mowed the lawn for Michael. 

This year I told the kids that they weren't getting Easter eggs (because last year a couple of the kids had been turds about not getting enough eggs), this year they hunted for their traditional chocolate bunnies and something different--a butterfly kit. We got a cup of five caterpillars. Hopefully they'll turn into butterflies--they're currently chrysalides. Honestly they gross me out (I even had a dream about them last night--that a tarantula was in the net eating them), but hopefully the end result will be worth it. 

Hunting.

Benjy was disappointed in the overall lack of candy. That face. 😘

Dying eggs.

Cousin Frederick (age 3) was so cute with Clayton!

Easter eve devotional after we enjoyed our traditional meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, resurrection rolls, and carrot cake. (We had Easter dinner on Saturday evening because everyone had to leave after lunch on Sunday.) The weather was so lovely and it was a beautiful day spent as a family.

Then we were extra blessed because Char came into town to visit David briefly, and we met up with them halfway in a cute town called Front Royal. We ate some delicious Asian (they had a variety of cuisines) food at a restaurant there and then got ice cream. It felt like old times in Provo when we were newlyweds.

They are just the best.

 Char is one of my heroes! She is getting ready for their trip to Madagascar this summer for three years. I hope we can go visit them.