Hit Again -- The Sickiest Sick Season

 This week started with beautiful weather, the first day of spring, free Italian ices to celebrate spring, and then major turns for the worse... snow and sickness and some dumb moments. Ready for better weather and health.

The worst part of the week hands down was when I was so unorganized post-Utah that I knew we had our first practice at a certain park at a certain time and I thought it was for Bennett for soccer. But it was for Westin, for football. ??? He is not even signed up for football because I canceled it in November, but they didn't remove me from the roster, and Bennett's soccer team doesn't have a coach yet but Westin's does so I thought I was getting emails from both soccer coaches but it was one football one soccer. Long lame story, BUT the reason I had canceled in November is because we found out this league's games are all on Sundays. So I canceled two days later and Westin seemed to totally understand. But this kid's obsession with football grows every single week and that was months ago, and to (accidentally, ridiculous I know) take him to a practice where he got his jersey and his flags and played for an hour and LOVED it and then tell him that we can't keep going because of Sunday games... he was heartbroken and so mad. I tried to help him with his disappointment but it was also hard for me because we see a lot of things so differently. He was so frustrated that a game not during church was still not something I wanted our family to go to. And I get the logic, I do, but I don't really know how to teach a lot of principles beyond the logic for him. He's practical and skeptical and logical and thoughtful in so many ways beyond his years, and it offers him both advantages and frustrations in life. I honestly hated all sides of the situation and we had a hard start to the week, straight into all of us dropping one by one to a stomach bug.

Asher threw up multiple times, then Westin (19!), then Camden, then me, and somehow Michael and Bennett have stayed strong, BUT Michael came down with something totally different and also can't move his neck hardly at all right now, which is so worrisome for work tomorrow.

Honestly, we're suffocating from cold and sickness and this season has felt so long. I had Florida and Utah in my mind as the end game for getting through winter, So to be on this side of those trips and spring break and still feel like I have a sick family who can't go outside much is just driving my crazy.

But we'll get there. We'll get there! We got a new bishopric today and the sacrament meeting was so beautiful. I watched it from home because of our germy state, and I loved the testimonies that were shared so much. There's a lot of my testimony that is just in me, and a lot I've had to really work for and sort out. But I think I'm learning more and more that being a believing spirit has been a blessing/gift for me in this life and that comes with some wonderful sides to it but I feel like I am not teaching my children as well as I wish I was, because so much of my heart and faith and believing feels kind of unexplainable to me.

This is turning into rambling. I just want my kids to have a happy life and a close relationship with Christ. I want that so much. And I want us to stop throwing up. And no more snow. That's my list this week.

Free Rita's for the first day of Spring!

I'm a chocolate gal all the way but when it comes to Italian Ice I only want lemon. Two of my boys ordered chocolate and after Asher had tried both, he wanted nothing at all to do with my lemon and only wanted their chocolate bites. I thought it was so funny. I love when their opinions form before they're even communicating them and you just know them long before the words come.

Made it to playgroup on Tuesday

Story Time on Wednesday

He was so proud of this tower

Then our week took a sickly turn.
This was after Asher's Wednesday nap, when he'd just lay on me, fall asleep, wake up, throw up, lay on me, fall asleep, wake up, throw up, repeat. So sad.

He was so proud of going down this big slide by himself.

Asher's bug spread to Camden, me, and Westin.
Somehow Bennett and Michael stayed strong.
This is us after a horrible night of throwing up.

He didn't move for 45 minutes while I planned what to wear to Taylor Swift with my two friends haha.
This weekend will feel VERY different than next weekend... I am so, so excited.

We're back to a dining room full of boxes while we finish the basement. It's already finished being framed and this week starts electric and plumbing.
The boxes around my dining table remind me of back when we moved in and painted our cabinets right out of the gate.
I don't miss those days but I am very happy the painting happened.

Sweet boy.

Back Home

We had a couple slow days in Cedar after the nonstop busy book weekend. This was our boys' Spring Break -- you wouldn't know it, since two weeks ago we were in Florida and last week we left to Utah. But NOW is actually the time they are out of school :) So we had a few days to get our energy back then made the 10-hour drive home to be with Michael for the last few days of the break. It felt really, really good to have these busy weeks go so well and be behind us. Florida and the market were both huge mental loads on me the last couple months but in the best way. I loved planning for them and I loved experiencing them, and I love that we are looking at a couple months where my only travel plans don't involve the boys -- Asher's going to start taking one nap solidly (he's still struggling to not need two) and going to sleep through the night more consistently, I just know it.

Cedar City gives life to my soul. I grew up in the best town! And I love that my parents are still in my house. Lots has changed but a lot also hasn't. Pictures for this week!

Blurry but this kid.
So clingy after I left him for all of Friday and Saturday days for market stuff and book signings.

Bracket time.

Camden LOVES to push Asher.
Camden loves to do anything for Asher.

My cute mom.
Love our trips up to let the boys play at South Elementary.

Just remembering one of the too-too-early mornings with this one, on our travel days.
I was so sick after two full days of talking to people. My throat was shot, my cold that was allllmost coming on for days before came on full blast, and traveling alone with the kiddos is what it is.
But my mom took Asher this morning and traded me for a cup of hot tea and I know she has a lot on her plate right now with how sick my dad has been ever since getting Covid. I was just really grateful to be in Cedar City and be with my parents and have a few days there after book plans to just be there before heading home. I love trips to see them.

Helped them get some grandkids up on the wall. 
Even future baby girl -- she'll be here in June! Elise is so excited to have a little sister and I can't wait to go help with them when Ali has her baby.

So much love for grandma.

So much love for grandpa, too.
My boys feel so bad he feels so sick, but they love playing with him in any way he's up for.
Westin LOVED sitting down at the computer with him and typing up all the NFL teams in alphabetical order and then highlighting them by conference.
Haha that sounds so silly -- but that is truly Westin's love language. Just time, and time spent talking about what he loves, and organizing, and making things. It was just sweet.

Then another one-stop drive home on Wednesday, in Fruita. They did two 5-hour legs again.
Asher was sad our last 20 minutes but that's it. I love these travelers of mine.

I love chicken nuggets.
And I am really over chicken nuggets.
That tells you we've been traveling a lot.

We did shows for the first time in years because now we have an older and a newer iPad, so everyone could watch. We've always just done podcasts since getting the van, which we did do for more than half the drives. The boys were awesome.

And tired :)

The dog ate my paint sample.

Speaking of...

Green milk! Must have been a leprechaun.
A leprechaun who forgot it was St. Patrick's Day until 10pm the night before and did this one little thing before going to leprechaun bed!
But we did have a stashed box of Lucky Charms for the big day too so it turned out just fine.

I love this shot of Firefighter Camden and Bennett washing windows. Slow days at home with theses kids all home are my favorite.

Shelley sent us a fun package full of holiday pillow cases and Camden LOVED this Paw Patrol book she added.

Opening our Florida Coconuts

Snuck away for a lunch date!
A mystery shop, ha. He thinks those are funny.

Camden's first unassisted drinking fountain drink. Milestone.

Luna found this toy, We don't know where. It's here very favorite thing in the whole wide world.
It's not one of our children's, it's an actual dog toy. I think someone threw it in our backyard for her and it has made her life. She walks around just holding it, like a pacifier. 
And we support Luna having a pacifier. 
Thank you, stranger.

Science Fair & Utah Book Weekend

 

Westin's science project! Does salt make water boil faster?
Spoiler alert: It doesn't. Unless you add a ton and then it does.
Google for more info or ask Westin :)

Bennett's project! What helps an apple not turn brown?
Lemon Juice is the answer, guys. His hypothesis was correct :)

He's leaving little little. And entering just kind of little.
And I find myself just watching him play and tearing up.

Second place in kindergarten category! He was excited.

"Mom, watch me do this! I'm gonna do this."
*Walks across curb part of sidewalk*
"I knew I was gonna do it!!"

We're starting on our basement this month and working on emptying it out and consolidating the Lighten Print warehouse and shipping center. The boys are loving playing in boxes.

I loved seeing them just in their element again after Florida.

#KickItWithJack
Our dear friends here found out their 12-year-old son is fighting cancer and our hearts are just with them every hour right now. He loves Nikes and drew this shoe. People who love him all over the country are coloring them and sending them to him and the support is beautiful to see. We moved here the same month, and they have had a similar road as us, so to see all their walks of life show up to love them and support them right now has been a humbling reminder to me of how lucky we are to have crossed paths with so many good, good people. I really miss so many of them.

Green cabinets are happening in the basement. 
Don't vote because I already picked.

Our dear, dear neighbors moved and we miss them so much.
We went to see their new place and the boys immediately made a pillow fort because of course they did.
We have some new little boys next door now, which will be great, too.
But Teresa and Don were the best neighbors we ever have and I loved having them next door to my boys.

Grand Junction!
5 hours from home. The boys did a 10-hour drive with one stop and I love them for it so much.

Hanging with grandma and grandpa and cousins while I was in St. George setting up for our market.

Love these Miner kids so much.

Setting up our first booth!

Then we went to Cedar City for a book signing at Deseret Book.
Saw so many faces we LOVE and loved meeting new people too.

I really loved when Westin and Bennett came by to see what we were doing.
They have been part of this book from the very beginning. They ARE the beginning of this book.

So good to see Kendra!

My sweet mom. She's been such a big supporter of the book in so many ways.

Spot Bennett's finger :) He wanted to take a picture. I love it.

The best part of our booth was this coloring station.

We met so many new people. And met a lot of people who had the book already too. Both are so fun!

Then to a signing at the St. George Deseret Book.
Seeing Lundi for the first time in years made my heart so happy. We were best friends in elementary and middle school and I pray my kids can have a friend like her.

This poster was a pinch me moment :)

Then we ran into Blake on his anniversary date!
I truly knew the best people in high school and really loved so much about those years.
Obviously not all of it -- who loves all of high school :) 
But my senior year was absolutely wonderful, and so was a lot of the other three.

Westin was a coloring machine at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Swinging with them at my old elementary school.
Feels sacred to me.

Sweet mom and Asher. I truly love this spot so much.

 

Tickling through the tunnel :)

My second grader, peeking into my second grade classroom.
Life is trippy.