Lesson learned: laundry

Against my better judgment, I decided to fold my growing pile of laundry while the kids were still awake a few days ago.

I realize this was foolish. But like many things in life, I had myself convinced: this time will be different. The kids are entertained, playing well together.

So I brought out my basket of unfolded, clean clothes, and dumped them on the floor ready to get started.

Obviously we know what the outcome WASN'T (an easy time of folding all my clothes, while the kids played nicely together).

I get it. Lesson learned. (Again.)

Henry's chosen outfit - a clean pair of pants with a swim diaper on top. 

He was insistent that this was what he wanted to wear. :)

Next Adele got involved, using the mound of clothes 

as a starting point for somersault practice

And then all craziness broke out as Henry joined in on the fun. 

Cuteness Overload

Adele has started taking gymnastics this year.

She has class every Friday for 45 minutes. There are many kids ages 3-6 who gather together on the mats and start off with the Chicken Dance and stretching before breaking off into their smaller groups of 6.

Let me tell you, there is waaaaay too much cuteness in one gym. Sometimes I think my heart will explode from watching Adele attempt each activity with the other little girls. She gets to practice on the balance beam, the uneven bars, the vault, and somersaults on the mat.

Of course, we've had a little fallback from gymnastics classes. It seems that every Friday afternoon, Adele is trying new tricks at home. Like scaling the fridge. Or climbing all over the couch and jumping onto chairs. And doing somersaults all around the living room.

And Henry's picked up on it too. Except without the grace. He typically likes to do a few somersaults in his crib before naps and bed, and he hangs from the kitchen table, and tries to somersault off the couch (gotta watch that kid...).

And of course, they love it when I find a Chicken Dance youtube at home.

That's when the cuteness turns into hilarity.

Getting ready to go...complete with her rainboots
and her little shadow (Henry)

Taking a turn at the balance beam

Clearly, she loves gymnastics. 

Behind her in line is her good friend Reece, who is also in class with her.

Making her way through all activities in the gym!

Grandpa

A week ago today, my grandpa passed away. Now, he had been saying for years that he didn't know why God still had him on this earth, as he was ready to join my grandma in heaven. And his death shouldn't be a shock to anyone - the man was 96 1/2 years old.

But even the expected brings unexpected emotions.

Friday morning, David and I loaded up the kids and headed up to Iowa, where we joined my family in Pella that evening for the visitation.

On the way to Pella, we discussed with Adele what had happened to Grandpa Great. She wasn't exactly close to him, but obviously knew him and understood that he was "Grandpa's daddy". My sweet perceptive little daughter wanted to give Grandpa a hug and tell him "I'm sorry your daddy died", but she couldn't do it and had me tell him instead. (Cue tears.)

The visitation was a really special time, as almost my entire extended family was there. We were split up into families and given an area of a large room, so that anyone who came could visit with who they wanted. We haven't all been together like that in a very long time, and it was really neat to be flooded with memories and emotions of growing up and getting together with all of those family members for holidays.

After the visitation, we all headed to my Aunt Gloria's house, where we had a good Dutch meal that included summer sausage, jello, and almond bars. I really enjoyed being all together again.

The next morning we headed back to Pella for the funeral, and I quickly learned that emotional-times + little-sleep = even-more-emotions. My sisters and I had been asked to give the eulogy, so after the visitation we stayed up late writing it together. And seeing as how we couldn't even practice it without shedding tears, we knew we were in trouble for the actual service.

We had a nice family gathering before the main service began, and a few people shared some thoughts and memories about my grandpa. It was beautiful.

The actual funeral service was very meaningful as well. The pastor did an excellent job, and it was a great way to show respect and remembrance to my grandpa. Of course, many, many tears were shed. We barely got through the eulogy, and showed a lot of raw emotion as we reminisced my grandpa's life.

After the service we had a nice luncheon and then headed to the grave for the final gravesite service. It was very well done, and very...final. My grandpa was a very upstanding man. He was both proud and humble. Faithful. Honorable. Upright. Worthy of respect. From the visitation to the final gravesite service, everything seemed to represent my grandpa well, giving him the honor he so very much deserved.

I wasn't around my dad after my grandpa's death up until the visitation, even though I had talked to him and knew that he was grieving. But seeing him at the funeral was too much for my heart to bear. Because my dad experienced the unexpected emotions, even with the expected death.

You see, my dad had made the commitment to visit his dad in Pella every Sunday (except when he was out of town obviously) ever since my grandma died over 10 years ago. He was eventually joined by his brother Mark, and the two of them would take my grandpa out to lunch and sit around watching sports every Sunday afternoon together. That's a lot of together time. And of course, that's not even mentioning the 50 years before my grandma died that my dad had his parents in his life. As David said, your parents are the one consistent thing in your life since your birth. And once they are gone, there is a void that can't be replaced.

So now there is this void that I am quite certain my dad is feeling - both in regards to his Sunday afternoons, and also simply in his life.

And for me, I feel some very sad emotions that a certain chapter of my life has been closed. Family get togethers has centered around my grandparents. With both of them gone, life has changed. I too, feel that void.

And while I am thrilled that he finally got to have his joyous reunion in heaven with my grandma, and I couldn't even selfishly wish to have one more day with him on earth...I will miss him.

At my high school graduation, with both Grandma and Grandpa

Thanksgiving Day at my parents' house, a few years back.

Grandpa meeting Adele at 6 weeks old

Visiting Grandpa with my dad on some of his Sundays

 Grandpa with both Henry and Adele

Four men with good names - William Gosselink (Grandpa), Gregory William Gosselink (my dad),
Henry William Hille (my son), and Asher William Ford (Emily's son).

Thanksgiving Day last year - Grandpa with his grandkids.

 Grandpa's four kids, just over a week ago. Mark, Gloria, Jerry, and Greg.

My last time with Grandpa, 6 weeks ago.

9 years of bliss

In August, David and I celebrated our 9 year anniversary.

There are lots of great things I could say about David. And our marriage.

As the very over-used cliché goes, David makes me a better person. And I mean it. David is the most kindest, genuine guy, who was early on dubbed the eternal optimist. And because of his influence in my life, I'm more patient, compassionate, easy-going, adaptable, and I'm able to hold my tongue easier.

I was telling him all of this earlier in the summer - how he's changed me, helped me grow as a person, etc. So I asked him what sort of ways I've influenced his life, if he's changed at all being married to me. He naturally gave a good, but very general answer, telling me that of course I've been a good influence in his life and he was sure he'd changed too. But he couldn't give any specifics.

Not too long before our 9th anniversary, David got together with an old acquaintance of ours while I chased the kids around. We were driving home and David chatted the whole way, recapping the entire conversation down to every little "um and you know". Finally he stopped and said "this is how you've changed me! Now I talk your ear off because I need to share every single detail with you!"

First I thought, awesome, I'm a better person because of our marriage, but the only way I've changed him is that he now TALKS more??

Later I realized, awesome, I've changed him to TALK more! Because we truly share all details with each other.

And that's why we'll be BFFs for life.

A year and a half!

Oh Henry.

Hard to believe Henry is 18 months old today. It seemed like the first year and a half of Adele's life went a lot slower. And yet I look back at pictures of Henry's first year and a half and I see that we did a lot of great things...but why did it have to go so fast??

My kids are the best in the whole world. They love life, love each other, and are easy to love.

At 18 months, Henry continues to be a very active boy. He climbs on anything and everything. He won't sit still for long before trying to do a somersault off the couch, or jump off the chair, or sit on top of the kitchen table, or tackle his sister unexpectedly.

He appears to be completely fearless, but also doesn't react strongly when he gets hurt, thankfully. A simple frown and an "ow" will suffice, and then he'll move along to his next daring feat.

Henry is really into reading books, especially ones that have pictures of animals. He thinks every animal sounds like a cow, although he gets particularly excited when he actually sees a picture of a cow and won't stop mooing.

The boy also absolutely loves to be outside. He loves riding his little bike around the block and stops only for dogs barking, airplanes passing above us, and bugs he wants to stop and pick up. And as soon as I get a little away from him, he grins mischievously and turns his bike the other direction, picks his feet up, and rolls down the slope into the street.

Henry has proven to be as much of a talker as his big sister too. He will repeat everything, which Adele gets a big kick out of as she teaches him new words.

And although Henry is busy, crazy, active, adventurous, and mischievous, he is also a very sweet loving boy. His latest bedtime routine includes taking a baby doll with him into his crib, showering it with kisses, and snuggling up to it to go to sleep. He loves to give kisses to Adele, David and me, and one of his favorite phrases is "I ya yoo!" (I love you!).

Here are some pictures of Henry over the last couple of months. As you can see, he also loves saying "cheese". :)

This was when he was first learning how to
use utensils...he's much better now. :)

Probably more than anything else in life,
Henry loves his sister Adele.

Henry takes driving very seriously.

And he loves to dance...especially when
he gets to wear sister's dancing shoes.

This was how he ended up after he was
"helping" me fold laundry.

His new tricks on the swing.

Henry was thrilled when daddy brought a
frog inside...AND let him hold it!

His latest way to sleep. Precious!

Happy year and a half, Henry!

Roth Invasion

Upon our return to Oklahoma after some summer travels, we had 5 days to get our house put back in order as we were expecting guests.

Yep, 5 days after we returned from visiting family in Spokane, some of that same family - David's sister (Jordan), her husband (Rusty), and their 4 kids came to visit us. Why so soon after we visited them, you ask? And August in Oklahoma??

That begs the question, when IS the best time to drive across the country and visit Oklahoma?

2 years ago they came to visit us in November. It's true that November could arguably be one of the best months to visit Oklahoma. While much of the rest of the country is cold and often snowy, Oklahoma experiences fall with leaves changing colors and very comfortable temperatures. However, a drive across the country to get to Oklahoma brings the risk of rough driving in the snow and even closed highways. After a stressful drive home 2 years ago, they decided against November.

So winter is out. Springtime? A year and a half ago in April 2012, Jordan and 2 of her kids flew out to visit right after Henry was born. If you recall, that was when the tornado hopscotched across Norman without warning...as Jordan and I sat with 4 kids under the age of 4 watching what we later realized was the tornado knocking over our swingset in the backyard and swirling through the nearby trees.

So springtime is no fun in Oklahoma with the threat of tornadoes looming. With 3 of their kids in school, they decided on late summer before the school year began. Thus backing their trip up to ours.

The kids were thrilled. After spending every day together while we visited them in Spokane, Adele was excited to join them in sleepovers in our house.

We DID have to be creative with how we spent our time. With 6 kids in our small house, and half of them taking naps regularly, and temperatures in the upper 90s...we had lots of activities planned. Many that included water.

We went to a water park...

And to the river...

And to our favorite playground...

And to the OU pool...

And to the famous Pops on Route 66...

And to the zoo...

The girls brushed each other's teeth...

We celebrated Benjamin's 5th birthday...

We played with play-doh...

We ate shaved ice...more than once...

We braided hair...

And of course, there were plenty of snuggles.

Looking forward to the next Roth invasion!