Bracelets

I wanted to write something about our everyday life rather than just our outings and I wanted it to mean something so this was my idea. I wear 6 bracelets everyday, three for Wynn and three for Sydney... I will for Abby too when she gets a bit older. The idea is that they all start on my right wrist and every time I verbally acknowledge something positive about my child's behavior/listening to them I move one to the other wrist. So its more than good job or thank you. I have to notice and point out a good choice they made. Anyway some days are easier than others but I wanted to take note of the great trends and habits I've noticed for each child.

Sydney has now started to recognize and empathize with others around her. She is conscious of when other people do things for her and often takes the time to say thank you for helping me with this or I really enjoyed going there or this food is really good and I like it. Her positive comments are very kind and helpful and make my day definitely brighter. She is also really good at recovering when things don't go her way. If a play date gets canceled for example, she is quick to think of a positive solution like maybe next time it will work out or can we try to reschedule it for tomorrow? She seems to know when she is super disappointed and usually asks for some alone time or a hug. Her ability to recognize and start to manage her feelings at such a young age is awesome. I am very proud of her ability to do so. It is tempting to try to solve any problems she has for her, but I hold out most of the time to see what she can do and love that she is learning to deal with disappointment and frustration in healthy ways, be resilient, and choose to move on. I am so hopeful that this learning will continue and think it will help her have a much more peaceful and content life. I hope that acknowledging it to her verbally will help her see she is on the right track and how proud we are of her.

Wynn's most frequent good behavior is that he is kind to others. It is a rare moment when he doesn't go along with Sydney's idea or share something with her when she asks. Even if he got a special treat for doing something special, before he even considers it for himself he runs to find Sydney and share it with her. Its like its more exciting to show her and share it with her than it would be to have it to himself. He is a very selfless little boy. He idolizes Sydney and thrives on her positive attention. He also has learned to start solving more problems himself  before giving up and running for help, and even though he may whine and pout while doing something he doesn't want to, he has definitely improved on trying. If we just leave him alone, even if he whines and cries the whole time he is finishing his task, when he finishes, the light just beams out of him with pride. I love seeing him learn what he is capable of and being so proud when he accomplishes something he found challenging. As he has done so he has started whining less and has been able to more things on his own. I hope to keep encouraging him to learn perseverance and problem solving so that he can help himself overcome trials and keep going his whole life.

Abby doesn't understand obedience, choices, and behavior much yet but she is such a sweet girl. She is a true true people person and loves to please. She definitely wants to be big like her siblings and loves to see that people like her and hug her, kiss her, clap for her, hold her, play games with her, anything positive. She will even go up to strangers and ask for "up" or try to get them to smile and play with her. She is so cute and just hams it up to get more attention and love.

Weekend at Wallowa Lake

Andy and papa got Summer Salt all fixed up so we took a weekend and joined the Wrights camping up at Wallowa Lake. We even took up the water trampoline and it was a blast! The first night we were there Wynn got sick though. I am so grateful for andy and papa who were worthy to give Wynn a priesthood blessing and with a few meds and some gatorade we were able to stay and finish out he weekend camping. Wynn was a trooper. he remained sick but was well enough to play a little and spend time with his cousins. I feel so grateful to be able to enjoy outdoors and spend time with family. the part I miss the most about Alaska is being outdoors, so it is nice when we have the time to go further away and enjoy nature... plus have our family around! the Wrights are such awesome kids and they are so kind to their little cousins. Sydney, Wynn, and Abby adore them and feel so cool that their cousins will play with them and have fun with them. It really makes them feel important and special.We love having them around. I appreciate the example they are setting for my kids that when they get older it can still be fun to spend time with family, interact with younger cousins, and treat others kindly. Sometimes I worry that they'll grow up and get too cool for family or cousins and anything but what is "trendy." Its awesome for them to see others who don't act this way and I love it. We had a great weekend and since this was our last camping trip for the year we'll have to just look forward to next summer!

Big trip Part Two

After visiting Audrey's family, we drove back to Utah and spent two days with old family friends the Lances. They lived across the street from us when I was a kid in Taylorsville Utah. We had fun just hanging out and letting the kids play. I had a couple more tender mercy experiences while in Utah too. On the way to Alex's house, I stopped in Payson to visit an old friend from Alaska who has moved down south. We had fun visiting there, but when we got ready to leave I found that I had locked my keys in my car! I never lock my car... and I learned my lesson because the one time I did... I got locked out! It was a blessing thought because we got to stay longer and the eventually the locksmith came and helped us get in the car. At least we were at a friends house and the kids were happy rather than in front on some rest area or convenience store right?! The morning we got ready to leave from Alex's I came outside to  flat tire... again At least we were somewhere the ids could play. After a bit of research I found a discount tire nearby who would fix the flat for free! I could see the screw in the tire and it wasn't too bad so I was able to drive there and have it fixed... only putting us 45 minutes behind schedule! It was so nice to visit with old friends and see what their family is up to. Glad we got to spend a few more days vacationing but now we are glad to be home!

Big trip part one

I took a big leap of faith and decided to drive the kids by myself all the way to Dolores, CO to see Audrey's family while Andy was out of town for work. I stayed up late getting ready to leave a day early because I was so anxious about the drive I couldn't stand the suspense. In the morning we got up and I took the kids straight to the car and double checked everything. I thought I was good.... and then I tried to start the car. Apparently while loading it the night before I left the interior lights on :/. I said a quick prayer and then proceeded to try to remember how to jump the ca since I've never done it all by myself. Success!! I had many other tender mercies from the Lord along the way and definitely don't attribute Abby passive and patient manner while we drove to sheer luck.  I'm so grateful my Heavenly Father listens to and answers my prayers. It took two days to get there-we stayed the night with a friend in Utah- and the kids were fantastic! Abby was an absolute angel and we made great time :). It was so awesome to relax and visit with Audrey's family. The kids all swooned over Abby and loved on her the whole ten days we were there. Abby loved the mall especially Eli and wanted nothing to do with me a lot of the time we were there because she just wanted to play with all the other kids. Isabel and Hyrum were so nice to watch the kids while Audrey and I went out on a sister date to thrift stores and lunch. It was fun. Abby's favorite part were all of Audrey's animals. She loved to ask people to take her around to see them especially the bird, Petush, and the all the cats on the porch!

It is so nice to have sweet cousins. Even thought Eli and Hyrum are a lot older than Wynn they still played with him and I could tell how special and cool her felt that his cousins played with him! He was one happy little boy.

We visited Telluride, CO on Bryant's day off and it was so fun. The kids favorite part as the Gondola ride into the valley, wynn kept saying can we do the ride again? over and over. Sydney completed her longest hike to date when we hiked to Bridal Veil Falls. It was four miles round trip! I'd love to go back there someday.

When we travel the kids usually don't listen very well and get really wound up after like five days but they were awesome! Again another tender mercy of the Lord but they all slept fairly well and got along. 

On the way home we stopped to visit a family friend from Alaska Judy Gibson and her family, then went to visit Alex Lance and her family.