It’s February!

Two months is a really long time to go without posting on my blog. Basically in the time since I posted last, I:

1-prepared for our trip (road trip to UT/CA)

2-went on our trip

3-recovered from our trip.

That’s it. That’s all I’ve done.

It sure did make December and January fly by.

Golden anniversary

Surprise! I posted again, not even 12 hrs later!

We had a great time at Pigeon Point, and I took very few pictures.

Watched the sunrise one morning with my favorite 10-year-old. (Who is now my favorite 11-year-old.)

We stayed in the outbuildings of the lighthouse which have been converted into little cabins. The 35-ish of us fit mostly into two of the cabins which were connected by this sort of all-purpose room. The kids watched Tangled one night. (One of my top five favorite Disney movies I might add)

Polly was tired.

We also took family pictures, and went in to Santa Cruz for the day and watched the butterflies and the surfers, both of which were amazing but i watched them only with my eyes and not my camera.

And we just generally spent time together and enjoyed it. It was just right. I love, Love, Love my family. Happy 50th anniversary to Harry and Barb.

You don’t have to push a handcart

Jest some late-night bloggin’... like I do.

I wish you could hear that in the country twang that I am singing it in.

Anywho so the night before we left for pigeon point, I couldn’t sleep. So I decided to read all about the Donner party. Hahahaha... I got teased so much for my interest in the Donner party, but darn it, they were interesting! I highly recommend the Wikipedia entry on the Donner party. It’s long, it’s detailed, it’s fascinating. And it’s free. At least, it’s free if you’re a JERK and don’t donate to Wikipedia. See I’m getting punchy and this is why I shouldn’t blog late at night. Or maybe it’s why I should?

So: to recap: wiki entry on the Donner party. Read it. You won’t be sorry! Unless you’re squeamish or prone to anxiety. But then again I am both of those things and I was riveted.

I eventually fell asleep and then we got up in the morning and drove across the Sierra Nevadas and very much enjoyed the comfort of our Toyota Sienna and our plentiful snacks. And I told the kids the abbreviated story of that doomed coalition. And we stopped at the memorial that’s near one of the cabins that some of them stayed in.

More tomorrow. Or next week or next month! Keep checking back every day, you never know! (Jk, don’t)

But. someday soon I will continue with the story of the Pigeon Point lighthouse, the week in Monrovia, and the culminating TWO DAYS AT DISNEYLAND!!!! 

Well, I suppose that wasn’t culminating, I guess I should call it that word that means the second to last thing, but my vocabulary is limited past midnight. Because the last thing was the drive east, which was much better for everyone than the drive west.

And now I’m getting ahead of myself.

...

*PENULTIMATE! (I remembered just in the nick of time)

In our lovely Deseret

And, here I am again as promised to deliver the recap of Christmas in Utah!

Only problem of course is that Christmas was like 3 months ago and I don’t remember many details other than we loved it. BUT Instagram can help me with the timeline.

The most important thing is that we stayed at Phil and Lynnette’s house and it was seriously a balm to all of us to spend so much time with them after missing them for 3 whole months. We got so spoiled when they lived nearby for the better part of a year. We are so lucky and blessed to have such wonderful and doting parents and grandparents.

On our first full day there (we arrived Dec 17), I texted back and forth with my SIL Annie, trying to figure out a time we could get the kids together. In the end we made vague plans and I ran some errands with the kids, like getting the girls’ bangs trimmed (they needed that so badly) and washing the car (it needed that so much worse). As we waited in line for a drive-through car wash, Lars told me “the lady behind us keeps waving at me!” I said “Oh that’s nice, how friendly.” Eventually as we turned a corner I saw the friendly lady waving at me too and she yelled “ELIZA!” It was Annie! So random and funny; we all got a huge kick out of it. After our cars were both cleaned, I sent Ida home with her to play with cousins.

The next day, the kids and Matt and I drove down to Provo to check out BYU. We love it there. The campus is always changing, but the vibe is still the same. We got ice cream (OF COURSE) and went to the bookstore (DUH) and the library (NATURALLY). We saw my old boss, Russ, who totally did not remember my name but he did recognize my face! Good old Russ.

We also met up with Taylor, who is one of Matt’s oldest friends--they went to elementary and middle school together, then both moved from their hometown for high school, then lived together at BYU--and who is also one of my favorite people. Just a nice and smart and funny and overall good guy. And a professor at BYU now.

We went to the little museum at the athletic building, which of course the kids loved especially Theo. We visited the Museum of Art and ran into friends we had known in Virginia.

And finally, we had a super disappointing dinner at Guru’s. Haha… Seriously in a city like Provo where there is SO MUCH good food to eat, we opted for nostalgia and lost big.

So anyway… the next day we did… Something… And in the evening we went to City Creek to meet Santa, who was underwhelming (in Ida’s words “sitting on a strange man’s lap” is a super weird tradition; I have to agree) but very fun to be with cousins and very funny to be out on South Temple attempting to brave the wind and snow in order to see the lights on Temple Square, feeling very much like the pioneers for a hot second and then feeling like the millennial wimps we are when we turned back to the warmth of the mall.

More cousin time: we had a fun Christmas Eve Eve Eve party (or maybe it was Christmas Eve Eve, I don’t remember), and then another party on Christmas Eve, and a low-key and happy Christmas Day. We visited Matt’s brothers at their homes multiple times. At some point we went to see The Last Jedi, which was great. We visited our dear friends the Fillmores one day which was lovely. Matt and I hung out with some of his old high school friends one night, also great. I love visiting Utah. I LOVE so many people there--both family and friends--and I can never see even a fraction of them because there are too many. And how great is that, that there are so many people to love that I can never visit them all??

On our anniversary, December 27, we hit the road again, this time bound for Pigeon Point, California.

Until next time...

On the road again

You may or may not know that in January we got home from a 4-week (more precisely, 31-day) road trip across the United States and back. I want to try to write down some memories about it before I forget them.

Sometime this fall while planning our annual holiday travel to see family, Matt and I decided that we wanted to take the kids to Disneyland for their Christmas present. We also decided that we wanted to spend Christmas in Utah with our family there, as well as go to my parents’ 50th anniversary shindig at Pigeon Point in California, as well as spend New Year’s in LA with our family there, AS WELL AS go to Disneyland with our kids, but also not go too close to New Year’s Day (which is what we did 5 years ago and it was so incredibly crowded)… Upon thinking about all of this, we realized that we would need to be gone for a pretty long time to make all of this work. Like maybe 3 weeks. And 3 weeks of renting a minivan is $$$$ (so much more to rent a 6-seater car than a 5-seater). So THEN, we realized that driving our own car would be cheaper, and also sort of a fun and funny thing to do.

Thus our epic road trip was born.

We left on December 15, which was a Friday. The kids had school that day, and for some reason I thought they got out 2 hours early because it was the last day before winter break, but once 1:00 came and went and 1:30 came and went we realized… Whoops. They were not getting out early that day. Meanwhile the car was packed and loaded and the clock was ticking, so Matt went and fetched the kids early anyway. We drove and drove and drove, arriving in Toledo Ohio around 9 or 10 p.m. The next day we got up and drove and drove and DROVE, arriving in North Platte Nebraska that night, and if you know I-80, you know that that is like a gazillion miles. We left at 8:30 a.m. and arrived close to midnight, so. You do the math. I won’t, because I don’t have to. You don’t have to either. You just have to trust me. It was a really really long day in that car.

Sunday we got up and drove and drove and arrived in Salt Lake around 6 p.m. We had made the ~36-hour drive in about 54 hours. Not a super pleasant way to pass 54 hours, but we did it.

Monday morning our vacation really began. Well, the kids’ did. Matt had to work (he worked remotely during most of our trip) and I had to take care of the kids… Well there were also two other adults there, since we were staying at Matt’s parents’ house. So I guess my vacation started too. :)

Next post: Christmas in Salt Lake City!

There is no Arizona

Too long since I posted last!!! Soorryyyy

Also, does anyone else remember that '90s country song "There Is No Arizona"? Because, it's all I can think of when I think of Arizona.

I went to Arizona with my sisters and mom last weekend. It was amazing. It was so fun and so warm and I ate so much good food and got so much good sleep. Even just riding on a plane by myself was amazing, and I hate flying! 

I was so nervous beforehand though. I have weird anxiety about doing things like going on trips or even just going out at night. Even though I want to do fun things and connect with people, I either worry about leaving my kids (as in trips) or I get introverted and cranky about leaving my warm house (as in nights out, evening meetings etc). I realize the ridiculousness of this, but I'm just writing it down because it's true. What's also true is that I have never once regretted going on a fun trip or going out at night to do fun stuff. Not once.

I can't remember her exact wording, but my girl Gretchen Rubin refers to this concept of having to do stuff you don't feel like doing (or in this case, stuff that makes you nervous) in order to be happier. It's true. I am infinitely happier for having gone on this trip that I was oddly nervous about. Polly apparently did not really notice that I was gone, and she picked up nursing again as soon as I got home. Although about a day into my trip I realized that if she did wean herself, I'd be totally OK with it. I would not have realized that if I hadn't stepped away. Sometimes I just have to make the plunge. Go for it. And then realize once again that for me, making myself go for it is always the better choice. Every single time.

Thanks for guidance and help.

Well, the trip to California put a little cramp in my blogging every day. Ah well! Now I'm back in the 703, and so when I inevitably miss more days I'll just have to think of other excuses. ;)

Polly and I got back home this evening. Early this morning (3 a.m. California time) Polly woke up barking like a seal and wheezing. She had a hard time nursing and a hard time breathing. It was super scary--and not just because with my kids' health I'm an overprotective, overthinking, pediatrician-calling mom (which I am). Somehow after 4 kids this is the first time I've dealt with croup and I finally understand what the fuss is about. I called my pediatrician's office in Virginia to see if Polly getting on a plane in this condition would be an issue, and the nurse listened to Polly's cough and breathing over the phone, relayed the info to the doctor on call, and got back to me with the advice to get her checked out before getting on my plane.

This was stressful in part because my flight was leaving SFO at 9:40 a.m. and in part because after my anticlimactic ER visit (the bills for which are still not completely paid off) I was really reluctant to go to an ER again. Anyway, after some Googling and Yelping and praying and thinking and texting with Matt and sitting in a sweltering steamy bathroom with my little barking beauty, I decided to borrow Hannah's car and take Polly to a local urgent care, which opened at 7, and cross my fingers that I could make it to the airport on time.

That's a long introduction to a short story, which is that I am thankful for the times in my life when things fall into place. And I see how things fall into place, and I realize that some of the "falling" is actually my pushing, because I worked hard to figure something out, but a lot of it is really just falling. 

We arrived a few minutes before the clinic opened and snagged the first appointment. The doctor diagnosed croup and gave her a steroid. The doctor, who was super nice, and understanding when I kept asking how much everything cost, didn't charge me for the steroid. They sent us on our way with a "hope you make your flight!" and Hannah and Rhoda were waiting at their house to drive us to the airport. We made our flight. The flight was good. Polly clearly felt better and she even took a 2-hour nap. The kids were beside themselves with glee to see their baby sister after a few days apart from her.

Not a dramatic story. The stakes weren't that high. But it was so nice to feel watched over. God felt close. I know it's not always neat and tidy. But it's a nice breath of fresh air when it is.

Thanks for planes.

Oopsies! I forgot that I can't really blog on my phone very easily anymore. (And I don't have my iPad with me because I'm in California visiting my sister Hannah! Yay) Anyway after I updated to iOS 10 I discovered that the Blogger app for iPhone hasn't been supported in months, maybe over a year. And it's no longer even offered in the App Store. Boo to that, but you know what? I'm thankful that I'm here visiting Hannah and Robbie and Rhoda. I'm thankful for airplanes that take me back and forth across the country regularly. This trip is the fifth cross-country trip that Polly and I have taken in just the past year. Amazing! Thanks for planes.

(And especially thanks for Virgin America which is by far the best airline for traveling with babies. I've gotten an extra seat every single time I've flown Virgin this year.)

Summer, turns me upside down

Not a lot of summer blogging going on! I've been busy enjoying and/or ordering around and/or hiding from my children. Before I forget and never do it, here's a quick recap of our super fun family reunion/celebration of Phil & Lynnette's 50th wedding anniversary in the Outer Banks back in June.

I did not take very many pictures, and none of them include any extended family. My bad. However I feel good about the fact that I was fully present and completely soaking it in the whole time. That, and worrying that one of my kids would fall off a balcony. 

Our house was overlooking the beach (we were behind a sand dune, but you could see the water from the second and third floors) and it had 10 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, so everyone had plenty of space. This is not the level of luxury we normally enjoy or probably ever will again, so I told my kids to soak it in while it lasted.

Polly was so worn out from fun days in the sun that she actually fell asleep in the ergo a few times, which she never ever does at home.

I forgot to help with/oversee Theo's sunscreen.

We went on lots of bike rides. Uncle Chad chose bikes with big fat tires that could ride on the sand. Riding on the beach is super fun. And, riding with a baby in an ergo is actually not hard and it felt super safe on the sand (I didn't do it on the road).

Sunrise

Spent a lot of time doing this (me sitting under an umbrella while my kids played)

Took a ride with Theo one day (note giant tires)

Polly LOVED the beach SO MUCH and I loved watching her.

We went to this outdoor play that was really hot and stifling until I went up to the back row of the amphitheater and could feel a breeze and see the water. Then it was quite lovely.

My kids loved watching TV in bed.

Polly has no fear of water whatsoever. I consider this to be both good and bad.

Bike ride with Ida to get ice cream

Ocean view

Theo spent a lot of time watching sports in the theater room.

I think Theo especially will remember this trip forever. Having his choice of going to the beach, swimming in the pool, watching baseball on a ginormous TV, riding in an elevator (bc the house was over the top and had an elevator), and eating unlimited snacks ALL DAY was a pretty epic experience for him and I'm so glad we could give him that for a week!

Thank you so much to my wonderful in-laws for your wonderful marriage and wonderful sons. I'm glad I snagged one of them.

And, just a PS, Matt was in Utah this past weekend for our nephew's mission farewell and he sent me this pic which is hanging on P&L's wall. Family picture day was a windy day, can you tell??

Weekend blur

Polly and I went to California this weekend! We flew there with Hannah and Rhoda. Beginning of the flight (with Hannah)

End of the flight (with me) after staying awake THE ENTIRE FLIGHT. How?!?!

We visited Grandma Helen first thing on Saturday.

We visited Grandma Mary second thing but I don't have a pic of that (yet--my aunt took one and is going to send it to me. I hope!)

Then we went to my sister Bonny's for a few hours. Also no pics of that.

Sunday we spent the entire day in Malibu. First we heard Ara speak in church, then we went to their house and ate delicious food (thanks Phoebe!!!) and I talked to approximately 1,000,000 people. Ok not actually that many but I do have a big extended family. I wouldn't want it any other way.

My mom had the brilliant idea of bringing a pack'n'play and setting it up in Bruce's office. Jackpot! Polly actually got a real nap. It was delightful.

I love my aunt Donna so much. I love all my aunts. I'm a lucky niece!

I wish I had more photographic evidence of the trip, but that's all I got! It was so good to see people I hadn't seen in way too long, like my cousin Karl and his wife Laura. And my aunt Alice. And my aunt Debbie and cousins Amanda and Alyssa. And Bruce's parents and brother! (It's been like 10 or more years.) and lots of other people who I can't remember now because my brain is mush. No pics of any of those people.

Airplane ride home Polly slept a little and cried the rest of the time. But it's ok! It's over now!

This morning I took a 2-hour nap, chatted with my neighbor/good friend Tiffany before she moved away to Florida (so sad) and I then went on a bike ride to the park with Polly and Lars! My house is a complete disaster. It's really bad. I don't even care. I'm taking the kids out for dinner tonight. Maybe I'll do some laundry later. Probably not though! Recovery day for the win. I'll face real life tomorrow. (Or will I?)