A 4 Year Old Rowan

We celebrated Rowan's 4 year birthday while we were in Utah. It was very fun to actually be with the family at this time. We had a Just Dance party and Grandma and Grandpa Jo were able to come up to Midway. We combined with 

Noel, because they share a birthday. But, it was just really fun to be surrounded by people that love Rowan. I have to recognize the fact that Rowan is really easy to love. To put it simply. What is the line? to know him is to love him. I remember hearing that line in a song years and years ago and not fully understanding it because could that really be? But, it be. 

I recall talking to Whitney after we had arrived home and she was saying that it was kind of sad to her because she didn't get to spend as much time with Rowan like she had the time before (we stayed with Whit and Justin the time prior) and she realized with him you have to be very intentional with connecting with him or else you may not connect with him at all. And, it made me so grateful for people in his life who first of all, recognize this- but, also, really want to put the time in to do so. He is definitely well worth that time. 

I have said so many times with Rowan-he is my heart. He is the boy the tugs at my heart without trying. He is infectious, endearing, and so darn lovable.

 He works really hard. I have sat beside his bed at night thinking of how hard he must've worked that day. Rowan is now up to just shy of 25 hours at ABA, and on top of that, he still has preschool and speech. I have thought about his this trial in his life. If he knew what it would be like before coming here to Earth, and he was willing to accept his mind that would always be wired a little differently. But, perhaps, it is a better world that he lives in. He is loving and accepting of people and completely free of judgements, and not to forget- happy. He is a happy little boy. He smiles easily. He has a lot of people in his corner. 

I have been told by multiple people who work with him that everyone at the office loves him. Everyone is always happy to see him, and they feel lucky to be working on his team if they get to be on his team. He is smart and such a fast learner. They have told me how quickly he was will master his programs, and how they have to constantly make sure they are keeping up with him. It is alway great to hear, but it doesn't surprise me. I am also so happy he has his brothers. Sheridan- she is the lead on his team at ABA -and I think she is so terrific, but she is often the one at the house for home sessions and the boys have been home from school a couple of times and they were jumping on the trampoline together and she was telling me how sweet the boys are with Rowan. She said the older boys were throwing the ball to each other and after recognizing that Rowan was only rolling the ball, they looked at each other, sat down, and began just rolling the ball with him. They are such good boys and they probably don't even realize how much they are learning from Rowan just by being his brother. I am sure they will one day. I sometimes wonder what it will be like to sit and have a back and forth conversation with him. I wonder what he'll ask me, and wonder if there will ever be an ease about it. I just hope when that time comes I won't ever take it for granted. 

Recently, we had to cancel a couple of his sessions, just with the boys having some time off of school and then with Sam's schedule being off Mondays and Tuesdays we wanted to make family plans. I had to let ABA (Jenny) know. And she emailed me back and said something along the lines of "I know the longer hours can be hard, but in time you will see that it will be so beneficial and you will get to enjoy family time with Rowan so much more." She believes very much in intensive therapy especially at this younger age, and I think there is definitely truth behind it, but what she was not realizing that we are going to enjoy Rowan no matter where he is at in his progress. No matter how far he has to go or how much more he has to learn, we love being around Rowan. He is an essential part of our family. 

Some things I love about him right now is how much he loves singing. He loves the song from Coco, "Remember me." He will sing all the words to the song. He loves saying, "That's not a dragon, that's a window!" He says it like a punchline to a joke. It's so great. He loves talking about going swimming. The last time he went swimming was with my mom and Aunt Bonnie when they came into town, so he correlates swimming with MorMor. He will say, "Go swimming with Mormor, it's so fun!" He sleeps in our bed every. single. night. It's not the best. But, I will say, I have awoken at 2:30ish in the morning before and wondered where he was. So, it's really a love-hate thing. It cannot go on forever. But, for now, I guess we love it. 

So, what am trying to say is: I sure do love him. I love that I am have him. I also know with clarity how much he is loved by Heavenly Father ( I wonder about myself sometimes 😂) I am just so grateful for him. I am grateful for the people in his life, because it does help to have that love and support from others. But, the love and that smile of his I don't know what life would be like if I didn't have it. 

January Trip to Utah

packed to the brim

In January of this year we decided to go to Utah. We did miss out on the holiday, but we felt like we were somewhat a part of ringing in the New 

Year because we did roll right at the beginning of it. We drove straight through-and honestly-I think that has more to do with we have a dog now. It does not seem as simple to stop half way at hotel looking for one that allows dogs, but on the flip side, we get to Utah faster. 

A primary reason in going to Utah was to say a goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa Jo, who would be leaving on their mission to England in that same week. So, we first stopped in to Salt Lake to stay with them at their condo. Sam and I got to go do a session the next morning-we walked to the temple. It was a really nice session, one that I will remember because the feeling of love I felt from Heavenly Father was so strong it practically embraced me that day. So... there's that. 

We sure are thankful for Grandma and Grandpa Jo for their love for the gospel, and the enthusiasm they have for teaching it. We feel very loved when we are around them, and even when they are far. We have been able to FaceTime them while they have been in England weekly, just as we were doing before, and we get to hear about the work they are doing. 

temple square with the boys

We also spent time at my parents new house in Midway. This would be our first time staying with them in the finished basement, and my dad did a great job, which doesn't surprise me, he always does. But, it was fun to tell the boys how Pappy did the basement. They get pretty blown away at the "Master Builders" and how they actually build houses. And, I also love that my boys still call any construction worker master builders- it's from the Lego Movie. Also, Midway is beautiful, and my parents have an amazing view from the backyard. Midway, itself, it will take a few more visits to figure just where everything is-maybe just one-it is pretty small. We were excited how much time we got to spend with family and cousins. There was some sickness--which just comes with the territory, I guess when visiting especially it seems in the winter seasons. So, Rowan got hit with something, and then Kaj got the stomach flu, which then made us leave a day early, because it didn't make sense to stay when the ship was going down ( the whole family would most inevitably be getting hit with the stomach bug within a day or two) So, we opted to stay a head of it. Which, happy to say, we did! No one threw up in the car and the following day Jonah was throwing up, and since we're going here it was followed by Josh and Sam, then Sam left for Portland and that was my cue to get it, and that's it! Rowan did NOT get it! 👍🏻🙌🏻 hallelujah! 

birthday boy 4 years old

pictures from Bend

 But, let's end this on the high note and not the sick notes.
We got to spent Rowan's birthday with everyone. We threw a party for him and Noel since they share the same birthday. It was so great having a big party surrounded by the family who love him so much. I know they love him and I am so thankful for that. One day, I know, he will recognize how loved he is.

I was very thankful for the chance to visit. I am always thankful for any and all chances to visit my first home.

dog park 

Mister Jones

This guy

Santa's Got a Brand New Bag 2017

"Another year has gone by...yyy" Can't you just hear Celine's voice singing that. It's true Christmas '17 is well behind but it was a good one. We saw and met Santa Claus, made Gingerbread houses- which sad to say this but the boys no longer refer to them as "ginger batman houses." Which is a bummer. We also had a great Christmas morning. 

Let's highlight reel here: Santa Claus. We were at Target just getting ideas for presents mostly nothing particular, and I noticed there was a booth set up and it looked as if Santa may be there and I had the thought, "I didn't know Santa Claus was ever at Target." Lo and behold we turned the corner and Old St. Nick was walking down the aisle we were on, he came over to us happily-you may even say merrily- without any coaxing or asking from me he just wanted to stop and say "hi"to my boys, and took pictures with them. He was a the real deal. Both the boys I had with me didn't really care...but it was soo nice! And, Rowan was happy to oblige with a sweet Rowan smile. 

Jonah completely underwhelmed by Santa

The Christmas tree this year, please note in every pictures where the ornaments are. Yeah, that's right, about the mid line and above only and as the season went on they seemed to go higher and higher. Jonah, on a rampage with those things. This is the conversation I heard from Kaj and Josh as they decoration. This is verbatim. 

Kaj: mine says "made in China

Josh: (excitedly) Let me see. Wow China does a really good job! 😂 Yes, they do. 

science kit in progress.

Christmas morning was one of Legos this year- always- and science kits. The older boys seemed pleased- the younger two- didn't care at all about their presents. Ha! But, everyone was happy, and that's what counts the most.

odi's Christmas sweater

Sweetest, cutest 4 boys in Christmas jams 💙💙💙💙

Happy Halloween 2017

We had a very fun Halloween this year. We had our friends from the ward- the Black
Family ("why do have to bring color into this?" Sam's running joke)  move in this summer just a couple house down, and it has been a real treat having them so close. I love having friends for the boys right there, there are many nights a week we have impromptu play dates, and it has been nice. Naturally we planned our Halloween to be a group effort with both our families going together.

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Pine Nursery Park

It wasn't long ago that I was reintroduced to a park, Pine Nursery. We had gone years ago and I am not sure why it did not have the same umph at the time, but I will say our recent visits have been amazing. The park itself is little and it is perfect for little legs, cue Jonah. Not only that, it is beautiful! This winter has been unseasonal. It has been so warm--which last winter 😳. Exactly, so I am fine with this. I can drive without anxiety and that's a nice feature.  We have had such warm days and our family does not hesitate to go out and enjoy. My boys live for this kind of thing. Their happy place is outside. Honestly... mine is too. It feels easy, and care free. It feels like I have pressed the pause button. I feel like I can look around and see my family so clearly and love us easily. I take intentional deep breaths and try to take mental pictures of those moments. 

This particular time we took Odi to his first dog park experience which was...interesting. It was clear he was the new guy, he tucked his tail between his legs and sheepishly ran away from all dogs. I was intimidated for him at times when he was surrounded by many a dog all sniffing in all the wrong places or the right ones? If you are a dog? Oh dogs. But, he needed to start somewhere.  

The Annual Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

We figured out the best pumpkin patch to go to a few years ago, and now there is not question. The pumpkin patch is one of those things that...I love. I love it very much, maybe more than my kids. I can feel myself getting annoying to Sam when the pumpkin patch opens up and I am insistent on deciding on the best weekend to go all under the guise of the boys need to going. Yes, they do ask to go, but I make doubly sure, is happens. It was a beautiful and warm day and it was not crowded, and if memory serves they did not charge us to go -to get our pumpkins, of course, but there was hardly anyone there that they weren't bothering to take tickets for everything. It was an especially fun year because Jonah was able to enjoy it in a more hands on sense. It is fun having these ages of kids where at least all are mobile. 

We enjoyed the different play areas, the big slide, the mazes and bails of hay, and picking out our pumpkins. We had a very comical scene unfold as we were walking back to pick out the pumpkins we saw this farm dog hell bent on chasing around this chicken, and like most chickens, relied on our family as a buffer from the dog. The dog persisted in stalking the chicken so much that Jonah met the chicken face to face in the end, and he was not happy about it.