McKenna's #7

Birthdays around our house are a pretty big deal, especially as starting in April, with Miss Kenna, we have one birthday every month through October. Each month is full of anticipation for the next celebration. Kenna started planning her special day at least 2 months ago. Her first idea, sincere and full of hope, was a trip home to celebrate with her best friend Miss H. I almost considered it, especially with those big blue eyes saying how important it was to her, AND we were all homesick at the time, AND her birthday would be during spring break, AND skiing in Idaho sounded fun. BUT, I also knew as a mom we should start making some roots here, and I honestly needed the break to recover a little bit from the move. I knew if we gave it some time, Kenna would make some friends here and would want to celebrate here. I encouraged her to start planning her party, in hopes it would take some of the sting away, and her grin gradually returned once ideas of pinatas and egg hunts were floating around in her head.

The next challenge was that Miss Kenna really wanted the party at our house. Normally that's not a problem, and my preference, but still being in a smaller rental, with little furniture and few belongings (ie: no party supplies and  toys to keep kids occupied), I had to really hope we would have good weather so we could celebrate outside. The yard is great for a party, though, especially with the beautiful lake for a backdrop. So I went ahead and just hoped for good weather. We got it. We've been really lucky with the weather here so far, the sun truly seems a blessing just for us when we really need it. That sun made all the difference for a beautiful, fun day. But not quite as much as our amazing older girls who really helped pull everything together, genuinely happy to make Kenna feel great on her special day, help Kenna's friends all feel included, and help me when I needed it most. At the end of the day I felt so blessed to not only one little happy daughter to celebrate, but 5 terrific kiddos.

Kenna invited a few of her new friends from her class for an afternoon of egg hunting, piñata bursting, crafting and cake-eating. She was especially excited that her friend with autism made it. Kenna seems to have a special connection with her, whether that friend realizes it or not. Kenna doesn't say much around her, but for whatever reason Kenna  just beams when she sees her and seems to feel genuinely warm inside whenever she sees that friend. I get it.  The last few years Kenna spent a lot of time with her friend Miss H and Miss H's family as they worked through the diagnosis of autism for Miss H's sweet brother, Mr. H. Few things made me feel so good inside than when I'd see that little Mr. H greet me, clapping and marching in place as he'd burst out with, "it's Miss Meadow! It's Miss Meadow!" I think part of his draw is that he's just so genuinely honest, I sometimes feel like clapping and marching when I see people I love, too, I just don't. Makes me wonder how we'd all feel if we REALLy showed people how we felt (I guess that could go the other way, too....). Now Kenna didn't always feel so comfortable with Mr. H, gave him lots of strange looks, for sure, but she seems to have made some sort of connection that she brought with her here. One of many things I was touched to see in my kiddos on her special day.

We've kind of made treasure hunting of one sort or another a traditional part of every birthday. Sometimes it's to track down all the presents we've hid, other times it's to find the birthday cake, or in Kenna's case, with a birthday so close to Easter, has often included searching for eggs with pieces of a treasure map inside. This time Kenna drew the treasure map herself and Dad marked the spot where he and the big kids hid the pinata before cutting it up. That was one tough pinata! We filled it mostly with craft stuff, gumball bracelets and felted flower headbands, which the girls then put together with the help of the big girls. Thank goodness again for their help!

Cakes are another big deal here, and seem to become more creative every year. I am anything but an expert baker, food for me has more function than form, but I try. The kids are always very specific with some sort of scene they want depicted. I've done some great hamburgers, a snake, even a pirate ship (that did sink before it reached it's destination, but was still pretty cool), but lately the kids seem to want toys in certain spots, doing certain things, usually an idea from some picture they saw or drew. Now they take more of a lead in the decorating, and I just oversee the project to ensure they don't get too carried away. As long as they are happy....and get those ideas out in frosting and candy.


With a successful party behind us, the girls continued to go above and beyond and ALL play happily with Kenna. I love that I was able to catch this moment, may be one of the last...

Then we had a beautiful evening as a family with another birthday tradition of a dinner chosen by the birthday girl, or boy. This year: boxed Mac and cheese, broccoli and fresh pineapple. I threw in some broiled hot dogs (still no grill) for some extra substance. Mmm, mmm, mmm! (those mmms were mostly for Kenna and everyone else--I was happy with my gluten free spaghetti.) 

We finished it off with a second round of birthday cake, but the real dessert was family present time. Our kids are amazing at putting all their love into the simplest gifts for each other, whether it's a hand-me-down toy, homemade craft, or even a special card, and even more amazing at truly feeling the love in receiving those simple gifts. Before dinner, the big kids snuck away into Taylor and Addy's room, obviously putting together something special. Kenna, of course, was curious and knocked on the door a few times, feeling left out, but had a big hunch they were doing something special for her, so for once didn't come crying to me about it. This was her surprise:

Little Kenna has truly become one of the big kids. Knowing that her big sisters and brother approve makes all the difference. Dad also gave her a special big girl gift, a real necklace with a heart charm. None of the other girls make a bee-line to the jewelry in a store like that girl, so wanting to give Kenna something special, Clint thought it was time to give her something that would last longer than a week, and for her to know how special she is. For a guy who isn't always the best at remembering things, or taking the initiative to buy gifts, anyway, he made the day all the more special.

Sidenote: lest I make it sound like the day was all peaches and cream, it wasn't, of course. We had our normal squabbles just like any other day. The difference was in all those little things put together, and the big kids really did do their best to make Kenna feel special, at all costs. Apparently, the next school day Mia titled her writing assignment: "Why I hate birthdays," then explained how hard it was to still be nice after the princess (or prince) for the day can have such a high and mighty attitude. Made me laugh, and brought me back to reality after what I thought was a "perfect" family weekend. I guess Mia's thought was really what made it perfect, and real.

We broke ground!

We snuck over to our lot after dinner last evening to see if it's true, if  it's for real that we are building a house. We were all surprised by the amount of dirt, and I could tell those dirt hills were especially tempting to Dax. Lucky for us the tractor was still digging, so we had a great excuse for keeping away, but also a good look at the dig in action. Kenna made me laugh by sneaking a toy over to play in the grass and remaining berry bushes just about as soon as she jumped out of the car. We're all excited to feel at home there, I think Kenna feels she can actually relax and play there. We took a nice walk around our new "loop," one of our favorite past times at our last home--evening walks around our forested loop in Sandpoint. We should be there in no time, taking many, many more family walks .

 

 

Daytrip to Detroit Zoo

We didn't plan a whole lot for Spring Break this year, feeling like we needed a little down time after our rushed move.  Taylor and Mia did spend the first few days visiting with their dad who flew in for a visit. It was just a few days, but I sure missed them! As the kids grow up they are more and more my friends. Taylor and Mia, especially,also help keep everyone else in check. More than anything, I think, we just don't quite know what to do without everyone together.

After they returned (and the weather perked up) we thought we'd make a little escape to the Detroit Zoo to check it out. If the weather was better, I would have planned another daytrip to Lake Michigan, but it's been a little chilly and wet this week. I figured we could at least get warm in the zoo buildings if needed, as we grabbed some fresh air between exhibits.

I had braved the downtown Detroit area once before with the kiddos, to visit a museum. After all the scary things I've heard about Detroit from a west-coast perspective, I expected it to be so much worse, and geared up accordingly. I have to say I think Spokane is a little scarier than at least the section of Detroit we visited. The trip to the zoo was even easier. Even so, I  always wonder how I'll do in that big oversized Sequoia barreling through the city freeways and maneuvering around crazy city streets. Luckily these days the kids know to not be too loud or ask too many questions while I'm driving. We made it safe and sound. 

The weather was even chillier than I thought it would be, and even more so than the kids believed I said it would be--I'm always fighting them to bring a jacket. This time I think I actually saw their gratitude. I knew the indoor zoo exhibits would keep us warm, and the first exhibit to greet us did just that. I think the bird and butterfly rooms were our favorites, maybe because we were so cozy, but more so because how peaceful it was watching all the fluttering wings and keeping our voices low in hopes we could spy something nearby. I think these are looks of awe on Kenna and Dax's faces, but they may be more looks of, "I just drove an hour and a half, I'm tired."

I enjoyed trying out my developing camera skills, and think I got a few good shots. The kiddos wanted me to take pictures of all the animals, I focused on our own herd. 

Kenna skipped the whole way. She skips everywhere--it's great. She still is the cheeriest kid ever.

Dax and Kenna were the only ones who wanted to actually smile for photos.

Look at those big girls smirking and avoiding the camera.

This was the best I could get, then I changed my tactics.

We spent a lot of time looking at the map. We knew the highlight was supposed to be the Polar Bear exhibit, which Kenna  kept pointing to each time. We held out and saved it for last. 

Mia really has an eye for good photos, and she especially loves animal shots, so she was having a great time.

Taylor, too. She actually likes how this turned out.

Southern Michigan has been in bloom for a few weeks now. I love these Eastern Red Buds (I think that's what they are).

Kenna was always eager to pose.

Addy was best at dodging the camera.

 

3 oversized groundhogs--Taylor and Mia were too grown up to play along (me, too, I guess!)

Of all the animals the kids seemed to be the most excited about the horse and farm exhibit. We better end up with a farmer out of one of these kiddos. Or at least a gardener. I already know they'll all have mini zoos if they can. I was impressed by how clean that barn was, absolutely no smell at all, not even the pigs! 

The Polar Bear exhibit probably would be pretty cool when the bears are swimming. Just walking through the sunny tunnel through the pools was pretty neat, though, and those 3 on the left could have kept their hands on the ice all afternoon if I let them.

I just can't resist that face.

Nor this one, this is my all-time favorite look Kenna gives to almost everyone around her. She was just smiling at the other girl who was also enjoying the exhibit. I hope she avoids camera fright for just a little longer, all take all of those grins I can get!

Eight Years, Eight Homes

Our first new home together, from Idaho Falls to Sandpoint, Idaho. Summer 2004

We listed our farmhouse in Sandpoint for sale last week, so I got a little nostalgic about all the homes we've lived in over the past eight years. It  took me a few times to count and realize that, yes, we really will have lived in 8 homes in 8 years. I know our life has been a little adventuresome sometimes, but when boiled down to the number of homes we've had, it sounds downright crazy. We have yet to live in one home more than 2 years, so we're bound and determined to build this home in Michigan and make it last for at least 10 years. There was a method behind this madness, however it is kind of a long story...I'll break it up into separate posts later and just share some photos for now.

Couldn't resist this photo. Look how little they all are! And, yes, that is a bonk to Dax's head, he always has something.

House on Main Street, Sandpoint. Summer and Fall 2004

Eagle Flight Way. 2005-2007

Baldy Mountain Road Farmhouse 2007-2009

Back lot on Baldy Mountain Road where we planned our family dreamhouse. And had fun flying kites in Spring.

Hunt Lane 2009-2011

Inside Hunt Lane, so far this really has been home...

Rental Cottage on Lake Lansing. January 2012-August 2012

Blueberry Lane. 2012 till all the kids are grown.

School Days in Michigan

 Yesterday I caught a few shots on my phone from a lovely school day, another 80 degree plus day in March. Seems like just about everything is budding now. We bought new bikes for Dax, Addy and Mia last weekend, so we could enjoy the 1-2 mile ride to/from school each day. We're learning that Michiganders aren't the most bike friendly folks in the world, but that it's okay (and seems to be encouraged) to ride the nice, wide sidewalks, so it's actually a pretty nice commute. It's much, much nicer than the hour long car routine in the morning, first taking Taylor and Addy to the middle school, then waiting across the street in the elementary school parking lot for 20 minutes until the magic time for Dax and Mia to hop out and start their day, then waiting another 20 minutes a mile down the road at Kenna's school until it's okay for her to walk through the school doors. Biking keeps us moving and I'm pretty sure gets us all a little happier about the coming day.

Kenna is on Mia's old bike, which, yes, is a tad too large, but she does okay. She'd do better if she'd let me help her on and off, but that little stinker is so determined. In fact, on the way home she wanted to be ahead of all of us so bad, that she took off with her bike running down the sidewalk as fast as she could, thinking she'd get ahead of the rest of us enough to do her own tricks to get on that bike on her own, then still be ahead of us enough to lead the pack. Sadly, Dax and Mia caught up to her just about by the time she started her maneuvering to get on the seat. I could feel the pent up frustration blow down the sidewalk in a fury, which exploded in that little girl throwing her bike down in discouragement. I'm sure the train of parents in cars rolling out of the school drive thought that I'm torturing that girl making her ride that mile home, and of all things, not being able to suppress a giggle at her tantrum. I know I'm weird here, so it doesn't bother me too much what others might think. As for Kenna, she'll be leading our bike brigade soon enough, she just needs another inch.

After we welcomed Clint home from a 3 day business trip and gobbled down dinner last night, we were off to the elementary science fair. I so wish I had caught Dax and Mia with some photos in scientific action, but trying to grab some poses in front of their results was the best that I could do (Mia, obviously wasn't too thrilled). These kiddos worked so diligently on their projects, truly inspired to be truly scientific. I was a little worried knowing that we're in a much larger "pond" now, and didn't know what to expect in the way of how much parents should be involved, but these guys had it down, had it organized and had their projects complete at least 2 weeks before they were due.

Mia studied how 3 different brands of dish soap compare in how long their suds last. I was so impressed with how she took her time in conducting her trials, working on her project a little bit each day, meticulously timing and recording her results, then whipped out some impressive charts in Excel, something I have no clue how to do.

 Then there was Mr. Dax. Always the mechanical/engineer guy, he chose to research paper airplane design. He researched folding methods, created 3 models, then methodically flew them over a few week period, making notes and charting results. His sisters of course gave lots of input, but I think he actually had this process down. Dad helped a little with getting his data organized into Excel, but again we were impressed with his skills--his teacher is obviously inspiring enough that Dax is not only listening, but learning! We couldn't be more grateful...I can't forget the best part of Dax's project, he named each of his plane's after 3 of his best friends from Sandpoint. I think it was "William" that flew the farthest.