Big Family

I LOVE to have people over.  Neighbors.  New people at Church.  The boy's friends and their families.  It is not uncommon at Thanksgiving to have the house packed with 30 or more people.  I love a happy crowd.  We've have "We're not watching the Super Bowl Super Bowl Parties," and "Adventure Races," and lots and lots of game nights.  Just last week we had two big families for dinner:  six adults and 16 kids.  It was awesome.  

I can remember one night in Flagstaff spontaneously inviting the Fisher Family of 7 (their oldest was serving a mission) over for dinner.  

"Really?  Really?  Are you sure?"  Sister Fisher asked again and again and again.  At that moment there was an excitement about them that I had never seen and an hour later we were really enjoying our dinner and conversation with them.  What great, wonderful folk that Fisher Family is. . . absolutely dynamite.  

It would be about 5 years later that I would really understand their excitement.  Big Families do not get invited for dinners.  Big Families do not get invited for dessert.  Big families do not get invited to play games.  When we were a family of 2 adults and 4 kids, we invited and got invited to do things all the time.  Then along came #5.  Our invites dropped drastically, probably 75%.  But we still got the occasional brave family who would welcome us into their home.  When #6 made his arrival, we continued to invite families over at least two or three times a month and the invites in return disappeared.  In the past two years, aside from our very best friends (we love you Speaks!!) and the Mauger's/Neighbors we have been invited over for dinner once. 

I get it.  I do.  Big Families are BIG and scary and noisy.  I've heard the comments, "Where will they all sit?   and how many times do I have to double this recipe?  and you have kids that are older/younger than our kids, what will they do?"    

In so many ways we are our own party, and I love that.  I love that we fill every seat in our own living room and that we don't need extra bodies to play hearts or rook or blockus or kickball.  I love that dinner conversation has improved 100 fold over the last six months. . . the twins are becoming inquisitive and enjoy engaging in adult-ish conversations.  It is great that some of our best company is found within the walls of our home.

But with that said, can I be honest. . . every now and then I'd love to be invited over. . . even just for hot chocolate . . . or cookies . . .  or cards.  

[this isn't a call for action. . . my blog it not intended for people in Alaska. . . so I'm not expecting my phone to ring . . .  it is more of a personal reminder to ME that in the years to come when we become comfortable with "small,"  to reach out occasionally and embrace the "big."]

Tie on your Bonnet

I adore my friend Heather.  Heaven gave me the gift of a true friend when Heather walked into the Electrical Engineering department my junior year of college.  We began as workmates, quickly became roommates, and ended (can I be so bold as to say) as soul sisters.   

When I left Ricks College, I left behind my very best friend Brooke.  Oh how I love Brooke.  Starting my Junior year of college without her was torture.  I went from giggling with my girlfriend every night to feeling so alone and so different.  

And then I met Heather.  We ate noodles and sauce together, looked at clouds and went hiking, bought the same pair of comfy gap jeans, brought her plant "furful" back to life, chanted the motto "pure doctrine", and sweated together up that silly BYU hill on our nightly runs.   We've found and lost love together, attended each other's weddings, been pregnant together at least 4 times, and continue to celebrate the ups and downs of life and motherhood.   I'm not someone who has a million close friends. . . maybe more like four or five. . . so to find Heather and to still count her as a close and dear friend is one of my greatest joys.  

Here's a excerpt from her blog:

Last night I was instant messaging with Stephanie in Alaska (isn't technology amazing?!). We were talking (rather… typing) about all the fabulous blessings/hardships/callings we deal with in this life. Even after a hard day … and realizing things were not going to get much easier in the immediate future … what did she say?

Oh, how I laughed.
I absolutely loved it!

Best Encouraging Sentences EVER!

And while I may make Heather laugh and say some random encouraging things every now and then, believe me when I say I get every bit in return.  

Another blog

For those of you who are google reader fans, I now have a non-private blog:

http://baconbits8.blogspot.com/

I sent my posts to both sites, so it doesn't really matter which one you follow.

Just thought I'd let you know.

Mudge

Anemic no more.  (and yes there is a part of me that wonders if he ever was. . . our doctor's machine read much lower than the lab in town.  The doc's said he was anemic, the lab said he was perfectly normal.  After a year and a half of testing with the doc, we went to the lab.  same day, hours apart, two different results.  hmmm. . . )  

Yesterday I took my baby boy into the lab for his last hemoglobin test.   The nurse called and confirmed his normal results.  The call was proceeded by some whooping and hollering and overall jubilation--which means for the three of us at home we high fived, toasted our glasses of milk, and found room for another cookie.  It was a great morning.  

What have I learned from the whole Anemia experience:

1.  My we are healthy.  Spending time in the lab waiting room and see others with significant worries and ailments makes you appreciate a little anemia blood draw.  Can I say that those people, the ones who are sick and suffering, also happen to be some of the nicest people in the entire world!!  Especially the older ones and the immobile ones. . . they were always saying hello to Talmage and were the first ones to offer a smile, a little pat on his head, and a comment about energy and youth.  What examples of great service amid suffering.  

2.  Mudge is an amazing little boy.  I never once went to the doctor's office or the lab and didn't receive a compliment on his behavior.  He would sit soundlessly while getting poked (please don't think this is the Bacon norm. . . I have a few needle phobes in this family and others who are just plain wiggly all of the time).  There was a time when Mudge was taking a M&M sized supplement each morning.  All be it covered in Hershey's syrup and all, he would swallow the pill whole.  It took me until I was pregnant with Christian and Tanner to really learn how to swallow pills. . . the kid has got me beat by twenty years.  

3.  I am so grateful for Health Insurance and Eric's great job that provides it for us.  Seeing as though our employer/insurance company is Utah based, we have little if any in-provider coverage living in the Last Frontier: only 1 oncologist, 1 physical therapist, 1 obstetrician, and 1 hospital.  No pediatricians or family practice.  Fortunately under our insurance all lab work is covered 100% which has saved us hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

Talmage and I have been sick this past week.  Stomach Flu, Head Colds, and Fevers.  Talmage has wanted only to snuggle.  And snuggle.  And snuggle.  He's got the death grip on his sippy cup, but other than is content to just be held.  It is endearing to have this sweet little one so near to me and I am grateful that in another week or so his body will be healthy . . . a gift, a miracle, another reason to count our blessings during this season of Thanks.

Turning Teacher

Every Thursday morning I'm frantic gathering construction paper, searching for glue, thumbing through the books on the bookshelf.   I pull down the carpet squares for circle time, gather ingredients for cooking time, and print of words for seasonal songs.  When the last piece of paper is in it's place, I smile.  This is where the fun begins.  Josie and Kohen ring the doorbell, peal off their snow clothes, and come inside to learn and play and I transform into Teacher.  I was born to teach; I thrive in the classroom of 30 or of 3.  So despite the madness of the morning, I love Thursdays and the opportunity it affords me to formally turn teacher.  

Halloween

One of our favorite Fall traditions is the elementary school's Harvest Fair.  Costumes, 120 tickets, an hour of running from game to game, lots of treats and prizes, six very happy boys.  

Actual Halloween was cold and snowy.  Costumes were covered by coats and hats and gloves.  The boys came home with their bags filled with candy at the Trunk-or-Treat.  The little boys were content to spend the rest of the evening sorting and eating.