Reindeer Games

 Our week has been full of fun and games!

Ticket to Ride

 

  

Shy cuties that don't want their mommy taking pictures of them through the 'bushes' like a creeper.

Tenzi

We had a few winners.  If I wasn't playing at the time, I was able to capture some of their winnings.

Caden and Shelby won too, but it was always when I was actually playing.  But, in all honesty, Keilie and Brennon won the most.  Tyson's hands were just a little too slow and a little too small to grasp all ten dice, and Caden and Shelby just weren't high rollers, I guess.  

I'm not sure what this was called, but we borrowed it from Jamie.  It may look easy, but it has difficulty levels that had the kids working for hours.  It was quite fun.

Randy, Keilie, and Caden played Settlers Across America, but I didn't get pictures of that game.  

(I was getting a massage!)

Blokus

 Notice Randy's left hand.  This is his signature listen-to-me-I-know-what-I'm-talking-about-so-let-me-teach-you gesture.  He does this all the time when he is talking or selling something.  

Classic Randy.

Tyson wanted to play Randy and surprised us all.  He is a good little strategist.  You could hear the surprise in Randy's voice every time he complimented Ty.  Fun to hear.

Upwords

  These are the types of games I feel most impressive and secure.  I rock word games.

Oh, and 'work it Shelby!'  Look at that pose!

Bop-It

Oh, and if I thought I was good at word games, I just found out I am even better at Bop-It.  I have a weird way of holding it, and yes, it is easier for me to concentrate with my eyes closed, but boy did I rock that game.  Randy held the high score for a solid 6 hours, at 46.  I lie down for a serious try? 

NINETY TWO!!  BAM- WHAT?!

We also played quite a few games of Pass the Pigs.  I didn't get any pictures of that one, cause let's be honest, that game is addicting.  I couldn't put the pigs down long enough to reach for the camera. 

I has been fun to stay home (inside, safe from the wind) and just play games.  The kids watched TV until we came downstairs (remember they wake before the sun, most mornings).   As soon as we hit the landing, they were screaming, "Hi, Mom! What are we playing?" and the TV was turned off for the entire day, both days.  It was an absolute blast!  The perfect way to bring in our Christmas Spirit.

Merry Christmas!!

Now... Pass the Pigs, anyone?!  

Oh, and good luck beating my Bop-It, Kiddies!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Just a girl...

{Caden update} Randy took him to Urgent Care- we are still waiting for the lab results. He was given a Phenegren shot, to help ease both nausea and pain. He came home and slept and slept. At one point, he thought he had slept through the entire day. He actually asked if Christmas was the next day. He has kept everything down, since. He is more alert today, but still quite weak and pale. He is hopefully past the worst. 

Shelby has been showing particular preference to Randy. She is quite outspoken about it, at times. I LOVE hearing her say that 'Dad is her favorite parent.' I have a few pictures to back her claims. 

Just a girl watching TV with her dad. 

Just a girl brushing her dad's hair. 

Brushing just got serious. 

If he asks anything, you can pretty much see the trail of fire behind her heels as she run to answer his beckon calls. The funny thing is watching Randy smirk at me, thinking I would be jealous. I actually love seeing her dote on him. It is mega adorable. Oh, and just for giggles...

Just a boy playing his game

It is my understanding that the shirt tucked under his chin helps him focus more. Or be a super cutie. One of those two, for sure. 

Epic whiner pants

Caden came home from Youth Conference saying that he must have forgotten to bring his large appetite, and wondered if I had found it while he was gone. And then the pale face showed up. And then the 99.8 fever and chills came. And then the pain on his right side, under his ribs became more than just a dull ache. And this morning around 2:30am, the endless vomiting started. And now this...

Deja vu, anyone?! Why does he always have to get sick around this time?! December 2013 became cancer January 2014. He was sick December 2014, which turned to Depression for me that continues today. And now December 2015 he's sick again!!! I hate that my mind instantly turns to cancer. I hate that I want to hold him, yet run away at the same time. I hate that I know it is probably a stomach flu, yet I can't stop the express train of thoughts that are pulling me under again. Sometimes I just really hate my life. I hate what cancer has done to me. I hate that I can't conquer my emotions/state of mind, that I can't seem to handle one more thing. That my life is truly so blessed and easy and relatively wonderful, yet I struggle so much with something I can't see, or change, or fix. I just want my family to be healthy. I want my son to stop being sick. I want my son to live!! I want to STOP feeling such negativity and sadness and drowning at every turn. I don't know how I am going to make it to January 20th for his next scan. I'm tempted to take him to an ER now, and demand an MRI or CT scan. I know it seems extreme, but I just want relief from my anxiety and fear. Man, why does he have to be sick?!

Snoqualmie Falls

Caden left for Youth Conference at Ensign Ranch directly after school on Friday.  That night, while saying the dinner prayer, Brennon said, "We're thankful to be here as a family...uh...without Caden..." I know what he meant, but it still pierced my heart.  We missed him dearly, but we didn't let him not being there stop us from having a blast.  We were initially going to go to Northwest Trek (some would say it is better than any type of zoo they have ever been to) but didn't want to be too late for Caden's arrival back home.  We decided on a place that was still a good distance away: Snoqualmie Falls.

We still had to go through Snoqualmie Pass, but didn't have to drive the extra hour to the Trek.  As it turns out, we still saw the most stunning views and had a blast!

 Coming into the Ellensberg Valley, it was neat to know that we were above the clouds.  The kids had a fun time counting down until we were "flying through the clouds."  This is one of my favorite scenes of the drive, with our without the clouds.

 

 Driving

 In

 A

 Winter Wonderland!

 As soon as we made it over the pass to the East Side, this is what it looks like.  It was snowy one second, and not the next.  It was CRAZY!

 Do you see the 'Gold at the End of the Rainbow'?  That's my family, my Gold!!

 The mist was so thick, I left with my hair slicked to my face.

It made it kind of hard to see the majesty of the Falls.  Still quite stunning, though.

 We were only there for about 30 minutes, but as we were leaving, some of the mist of the morning had started to clear off.  Do you see the sunshine warming that beautiful scenery?  So glorious.

 And we may not have seen all of the wildlife in one place at The Trek, but we did see this as we were leaving.  Look at all of those elk!!  This was about quarter-mile after Randy commented on an Elk Crossing 1 Mile sign.  It was pretty cool.  So, throughout the day we saw Bald Eagles, Hawks, Deer, Sheep, Horses, Cows, Lamas, Geese, Ducks, Monkeys (four of them in varying colors of coats), and these Elk.  All-in-all, a grand day.

We made it home about half an hour after Caden.  Just enough time for him to shower, put his camping gear away, and for us to load into the car for more family fun.  

I love Day-Cations!!!

He said YES!!!!

I just got the best kind of news- news that I thought for sure would be a No, yet came back as a YES!!

The missionaries told us that they have done baptisms on Mondays before. It gave me a sliver of hope that maybe we could baptize Brennon on his birthday- Leap Day. 

I sent a text to our Bishop, asking if we possibly could. 

My sliver is now a ray. 

It is now a full-on sunny afternoon. I am SO excited!!! We'll baptize him on his extra-special day, have a huge birthday party, and leave for Aruba the next day. Best.Week.Ever!!

Yellow Belt

December 12, 2015

Because of the dress rehearsal for the Christmas Choir, I missed most of Keilie's belt test.  Ashlee and her family were there to support her.  It didn't replace me, but it did soften the blow.  I was able to see her get her belt from her Master, though.  She passed with only one thing to work on-- getting all 100% Excellent on her School and Family portions of the test.  Not too shabby!  You wanna know what is shabby?  Randy not taking many pictures, that's what's shabby!  How many years has he been married to me?  How many pictures have we taken together, as a family, and of the kids?  Aside from the four I was able to take, he gave me only two extra.  I missed 97% of the whole test! 

He's fired!

Man, I love this girl.  I love that she wants to be in the same activity as the other kids.  I love that she was able to advance so quickly.  After being in the same class in gymnastics for over a year without advancement, this has been a confidence boost.  I love her enthusiasm for life and play.  She is my sweet Keiks!  One more belt advancement for her, and I'll have five kids in the same class! 

That will be fun!

Talents

The kids have been talking about Talents for a few weeks now. I love that they look for qualities about their siblings, and profess them to be talents. It has been a highlight of my Christmas Season. 

After dropping Caden off at Seminary this morning, I caught the tail-end of this conversation. 

Tyson to Shelby: "Mom's talent is the flute. And making humans."

Talent, indeed.

Verify

I have so much to catch up on!! It was a pretty sensational weekend, one that has left me exhausted from anxiety/nerves. In a good way, this time. I promised myself that I would not download pictures from my shnazzy camera until the laundry was caught up. It may be a while. 

I had to post about my passport application process, it still has me giggling. I can't believe I actually posted that picture. My mind still screams, "Do You Realize What You've Done?!"

As the clerk was looking over both of our paperwork, checking information and comparing both our birth certificates and driver's licenses, I was watching her reaction like a hawk. (At one point, my mind wandered to a place that made me giggle: Wouldn't it be fun to be the one that took the drivers license and passport pictures?! To see the horrified response that must come from about 90% of the populous?!) I wanted to see if she cringed in embarrassment for me, at my picture.

As we were nearing the portion of the application that you need to sign in front of her, she was resciting what must be the normal words that she needs to say. Yet, as she spoke this statement, her eyes locked on mine, I'm so serious!

"Sign at the bottom to verify that this is your picture."

I flashed her my most self conscious grin, and to my everlasting shame, signed it. 

STEPHANIE DIRKS.

If I need to leave the country any time in the next 10 years, I get to flash this bad-boy around the world. What?!

Too bad the pictures have to be "natural, no smiling. Just look straight ahead at the lense," otherwise I would have wanted to switch it out for this picture I snapped right before my Sunday concert. 

I guess Cinderella is right:

This is perhaps the greatest risk any of us would take: To be seen as we truly are. 

Mug

Caden: "Mom, did you get arrested today?!"

"Why, no sweetheart. I only got my passport picture taken. Is it that bad?"

YES, yes it is!!

When he told me to look "natural- no smile, look right at the lense," I guess my subconscious was screaming "terrorist" or "criminal" or "I'm going to murder you in a dark alley." 

Isn't it funny how some pictures you see of yourself and think, "Hey, I look kind of pretty in that one," and others you think, "Who is that poor, unfortunate soul? It's a wonder she has a husband that takes her out in public. Bless him!" With this mug...

I'm just gonna go with the latter. The wind was awful, they didn't have a mirror for me to see that my hair was not 100% smoothed down, the lighting was bad, and I'm pretty sure his camera was totally broken. Or it is now, after capturing such a hideous glamour shot!! Yowsa!!

My Mister took one look at it, schooled his facial expression to pure seriousness, and said that it is a rite of passage to have an ugly passport picture. Well at least he's being honest with the use of the word "ugly."

Aruba, here we come. In peace. Without sharp weapons, criminal backgrounds, or malicious intentions. Promise! With a face like this, you cannot help but believe me, right?!

Say what, now?!

Our Home Teachers came on Sunday evening.  Since this was the first time they had come to our home, it was the usual get-to-know-you visit.  This meant that the kids could say anything that came into their little heads to have them really know them, if you catch my drift.

~We're in Taekwondo.  Keilie is a White Belt.  The rest of us are Orange Belt.
~I am testing for Yellow Belt on Saturday.
~The decorations on the Christmas Tree are called ornaments.
~I'm in Third Grade.
~We used to be in gymnastics.
~Look at my splits.  They are almost to the ground. (They all proceed to show them their splits)
~Caden goes to Delta.
~I poop on the potty.  {Giggle, giggle, we are so funny.  Bwahahahaha}
~We have two cars.
~Sometimes we get to eat cookies for breakfast.
~We don't eat dinner on Sundays.  Since we eat so late for lunch, we just have snacks for dinner.
~Brennon and I share a big bed.
~I'm in Kindergarten.

At the last one, Brother Anguiano said, "Oh, you're learning your Alphabet!  Ab-ck-deaf-gee-jekel-minnop-qwer-stoov-wick-zes!"

Blank stares and dead silence, but for the crickets chirping.  Say what, now?!

"You know.  Ab-ck-deaf-gee-jekel-minnop-qwer-stoov-wick-zes?!"

Gesundheit. 

He proceeded to tell us of a Sesame Street episode, where Big Bird was learning his Alphabet and thought it was a strange word. 

Ab-ck-deaf-gee-jeckel-minnop-qwer-stoov-wick-zes. 

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ.

Naturally, we Dirks' took that as a challenge to see who can say it the fastest.  We YouTube'd that baby, and got to work that very night.  Hands down, Randy is the winner.  He learned it the fastest and can say it the fastest, no matter the random time you have him say it.  Even now, after almost an entire week of us having it stuck in our head, singing it near-constantly, Randy is the best at it.  I, personally, have to visualize the entire Alphabet to get it out.  I may be able to say the Alphabet backwards the fastest (I learned that I was really good at this at a church activity, where I won first place without ever having thought about it before.  I surprised myself that day!) but I am the worst at saying it phonetically, fast.

This has taught us a valuable lesson:  No challenge is too small (or too ridiculous) to take on whole-heartedly.  We have given this challenge a collective 770%!

Crush

We have heard the name Easton much from Shelby. From the beginning of the year, we have heard when Easton chased Shelby at recess, when Easton tickled Shelby after catching her, when Easton sat next to Shelby on the reading carpet, Easton, Easton, Easton. Through all of the many, many, many stories of a boy that I don't have a face to put with the name, Shelby has always followed with, "He is just a friend." Adamantly. This was not corroborated by her Science notebook, however.

While meeting with her teacher last week for Parent Teacher Conferences, we both discovered a name scrawled all.over.her.notebook. And it wasn't Shelby. 

And then this, today. 

She was circling what I thought was her own name for her Poetry reciting days. Nope! She also circled his name. Easton.

I get it. I vividly remember the first time I saw my first crush after he moved into the neighborhood in second grade. The difference is: I owned it! My family knew, and poked fun at my crush. In fact, it is still the brunt of many jokes today. Randy is even the producer of many of the jokes. School-girls crushes run deep, my friends. Deep!

Trouble

I was lucky enough to be able to wake this cute boy from dreamland today. Usually they wake about three hours before the sun and livestock. Sarcasm, yet it feels like the absolute truth sometimes. 

While snuggling and rubbing the sleep from his soft, warm back, I told him that he needed to kind of hurry to get ready for school.

In his completely adorable sleepy voice, "Can I play a quick game of Trouble first!!"

I love that his very first thought when he wakes is fun and games. 

Christmastime

My weekend has been full of the last-minute preparations for the concerts this weekend. I am super excited for the opportunity to play my flute for this. It is going to be an incredibly beautiful weekend. 

We have also been doing some Christmas gifts for friends/neighbors/teachers/Visiting Teaching &Home Teaching families:Oatmeal Scotchies in a jar. I'm happy with how they are coming together. I'm excited to take them around tonight for FHE. Just one more thing to check off our list.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

Fishy

Through some crazy decision making on the part of Pasco School District (the one that started 2 weeks later than all of the others, this year), school was cancelled for Caden only, yesterday.  I can see why they may have ordered the 2-hour delay, but I was appalled that they cancelled it later in the day.  Roads were wet, but safe, and there was no snow in the foreseeable future.  More importantly, Richland School District was operating just fine without even a delay. Great, now Caden has another day that he'll have to make up while the other kids are out of school.  Looks like he'll end this year on June 20th!  Why not make it June 30th?!  Just kidding.  I don't really mean that.  I take it back!  Please let him out before the end of the summer, I am begging you!!!

While driving home, we passed by a small pond that was freezing over.  Most of it was ice, but there were small pockets of circular water holes.  Caden was kind of off-hand talking and then quickly stopped himself and started laughing. 

"Mom, I was thinking about that pond freezing over.  And then I wondered how the fish would live underwater if it froze over!  How would the fish live underwater?!  HAHAHAHA!!!"

I love those moments where you speak as fast as your mind is working, without really allowing your brain to fully finish a thought. 

Later, Caden was just kind of lounging, when from his armchair I hear him scoff,

"Psh, How would the fish live underwater?!  Please!"

"DUH!"

Ax

Last night, Shelby was showing me the Green Belt kicking combination.  They're called 'Ax Kicks.'  However, with the exertion of the kick, it sure didn't sound like Ax!  One guess what you think it may have sounded like.

Just like in the movies, I had been taking a drink at that moment.  I sucked water down the wrong tube- practically to my very stomach.  As I was sputtering, choking, and feeling like I was going to pop blood vessels in my eyeballs, I was trying to get out the words, "What did you say?"

{Duh Voice, almost a question} "Ax Kicks!?"

Ah!  Right, right, right. How stupid of me.

Proceed.

2-hour delay

We woke up this morning to 4 inches of snow and a 2-hour school delay.  Can you say Photoshoot?!  I knew I had to jump on the chance to get the kids' picture taken in all of this white beauty.  I grabbed outfits that coordinate, got my grumpy, anxious-to-get-a-good-Christmas-picture mood appropriately set, quickly did my chalkboard, and got to work snapping away.  I couldn't be more happy!

 I was worried that it was going to be frigid cold and that they would have grimace-smile faces, but they did great!  I sure love these kids! The ones that have taken cups out and are making snow cones, as I type; those kids.  Hey, no yellow, so it's all good!

Happy Holidays 2015!

Positively Perfect

Yesterday marked three years since we sold our Bar Nunn house, so I text Nikki to say "Happy Anniversary" and see how they were doing.  I am happy to report that they are in the "process" of adding another child to their family in May- filling our old abode with more laughter and lovin.

While giving the rundown on all that has happened since our last texts, she made the comment that I was always so positive.  This caused me to pause for a second-  Am I?  Am I, really?!  Have I really been positive since the depression/PTSD slammed me to the depths?  And then it dawned on me...in a way, yes.

Things have been mentally hard for me for over a year now.  Things have been worse, they have also been better.  But that's just it, they are still good.  I am still struggling with things, yet I am doing better than when I thought my son was going to die.  My mental health is sometimes a little sick, but my son's health is perfect right now.  I yell at my kids, just like everyone else, but I have ample time to apologize about it and show them my love in person every single day.  Randy and I occasionally argue (white/wheat, seat up/down, who loves whom more, that sort of thing), but our marriage is sublime.  We are still struggling (this doesn't even begin to feel like an adequate enough word to describe what it is) with education and every-day school work, but I still get to help them with their homework myself.  Randy still travels for work more than I would actually like, yet we are in a great position to be completely out of debt before he turns {whisper} 40 in 2017.  Caden has a very good chance of having recurrences with his extremely rare cancer, but we have options and know what we are going to do first to fight if/when it returns.  When I look at my life December 1, 2015 and compare it to my life January 31 - July 17, 2014, I can't complain.  We know the extreme.  Our lives are good.  Things are truly grand.

Think Positive: "I'm Positive I am the luckiest girl in the world."  Things are Positively Perfect.