Moments of Happiness

Sometimes 3 kids is hard.  Sometimes I think a five year gap- which means- five years to forgot how to take  care of a baby is hard.  I have been trying to enjoy the happy moments.  There really are so many. I have great kids.  

Tyler started piano lessons.  He is good. and loves it.  I pay him 5 cents for every song he counts out loud too.  His teacher says kids who count out loud get better fast.  

Abby laughs- and smiles a lot!  I love it!
She just had her 4 month appt. 20% in weight... this is so much better than T and E.  They were so low all the time!  weight- 12lbs 11 ounces

Girls nights out.  It was fun to walk out of the dressing room all wearing the same shirt.  I love Pam and Ang. 

I love seeing Darren spend time with his kids.  Even if his eyes are closed.  

My kids love Abby.  They love to see her, kiss her, hug her, entertaining her, wake her up at the end of her naps... they love her!

My yard and garden make me happy.  My first ever cucumber and the first tomato of the season.  I ate both!

Ella finished her Rusty and Rosy program.  She can read great.  That makes me happy that she can go into kindergarten reading comfortably!

Splashing in the warm summer rain makes me happy.  I used to do it too when I lived on Guam.  

Neti came to visit.  We drank matte and hot cocoa are the counter.  I wish I had taken a picture of her.  But Ang tried the matte and like it. 

My kids climbing makes me super happy.  Darren took care of Abby at home and I took the kids.  We had a great time. 

A friend sent me an email... asked how I was doing... I will post the reply here so I can remember this hard time... and the good times. 

honestly.. life is rocky.  We are so glad to have Abby.  We waited to have her join our family for almost three years.  but it has been crazy for me.  She was born in March and I did three kids by myself since my husband is the accountant who had to work during busy season.  then In July I crashed and had to get on some anti depressants because I just couldn't get it together.  Life was good, we were happy but my emotions were out of control.  I have never been like this before.  Three kids was hard on our marriage.  We were happy, but stressed out all the time.  

My husband really wanted me to put the kids in soccer, they wanted to be in soccer, but I couldn't do it.  I am hoping that if I can get to a point where I feel in control of my life again... which is getting better since school has started and routines are being established... If I can feel in control then I can try to exercise again.  Exercise is amazing, but it just stresses me out right now... I feel like I have so much to do and the baby needs me... kids need me... husbands needs me... dinner has to be made.. house has to be clean... on and on....

so maybe soccer in the spring.  Darren wont be able to help though which is hard. I know I have lots of great people who will help but it is hard to ask for so much help.  Abby will be a year old and not napping from 4:30-to 5:30.. and that will help!  but we will see... Who knew three kids would be the end of me!  I just get to figure out a new normal ... but I haven't quiet found that yet.  

 

A really big lizard

Ok- really its called a Monitor lizard from the Philippines.  

But this little girl just loves it.  

I on the other hand get startled every time I see it in a different place.  

Harston Cousin time and Family Reunion

Every January I print this blog into a book.  Its a journal, a scrapbook and my reminder book all in one. So I put a million pictures in because I want to remember all the fun memories!

This post... yet again... a million pictures!

Briggs/Harston Family reunion.  

We finally go to see our Chad and Jeana Harston cousin.  so much fun!

We hope to make it to Lexington one day to see them.  

Seth is such a fun cousin. He is 8 years older than anyone else but they all love him and he plays with them.  Even a room full of girls.  Thats how cool he is!

Seth is my oldest nephew.  Hard to believe he is of dating age!

We did a few fun activities together like 7 peaks water park and story time at the library as princesses. 

Then we all headed up to the cabin to enjoy 3 nights of family time.  As we pulled in the kids jumped out and I sat in the car and quickly fed Abby.  It was a sweet memory as I saw Tessa run out and sit with Ella on the bench and play guitar together.  Then boys starting running out of the cabin and ran down to the playground together.  The cabin is such a great place.  I am glad we can make memories there.

Aunt Jenny suggested a family talent night.  We had musical numbers, headstands, books read, flips over bars, ... all kinds of fun things.  I had everyone relax, lay down , whatever, and taught them how they can fall asleep faster.  Hypnobirthing... love it!  I can make myself fall asleep in minutes.

My mother has had my brothers lizard in storage for 20 years.  I remember as a little girl this lizard scaring me.  Chad said the winner of the talent show got the lizard... or my mom was going to throw it out.  Ella made sure Uncle Chad knew that she did two talents - read a book to everyone and play the guitar, so she should get the lizard.  He said- oh yes... of course you should get it.  So now we have a huge dead stuffed lizard sitting around my house. 

It was also my husbands 36th birthday.  I would want candy and sweets.  He would choose fruit.  so we had fruit pizzas.  He actually left the next day and went and rode the Crusher race.  50+ miles of mnt bike and road trails.  6 hours of riding.  Oh fun!

We went for a hike to the rock fall.  And Grandpa brought a rope to lower us into a cave he had found. Pretty neat!

The hike was long and hot and hard for little legs so we promised them smores and slip and slide when we got back.  The kids were all of a sudden not so tired when we got home!  The water was freezing.  nice cold spring water from the mountains. But I dont think the kids minded.

These pictures will be shown for Spencers, Jordans, Isaacs, and Tylers wedding video.  The caption for Jordans video will say... wait let me take my shirt off first.... therefore in the first picture he has a shirt pulled up and the second photo he has no shirt on!  BOYS!!!

Jenny and Eric hauled their new jet skis down.  Oh my what fun.  I love those machines.  We had a mountain shower for 10 minutes.  We all huddled under the shade tent as it poured around us.  But it was  good time to get a bite of food in.  

We also spent my Dads birthday together on the 5th. At This is the Place Park. They have done a great job creating a nice area.