All Saints Celebration

Our school worked very hard to create a safe All Saints celebration, their biggest event of the year. It's also Grandparents' Day. This event encouraged everyone and highlighted what can be accomplished when adults work together.

Each group was separated by 10' and stayed by their vehicles while the kids marched past and we listened to "When the Saints Go Marching In" like 15 times. Everyone wore masks.

I love how 60% of this kid's face is forehead. Hashtag: Genes.

This one worked so hard this year. Last year, he wouldn't participate and had to stay on the sidelines with me, Mr. Serious, and Supersonic while I tried to capture the Firstborn and Sweet Pea. It was an hour-long meltdown, which ended in us all leaving early so I wouldn't cry in front of everyone.

This year, we had 3 adults and 2 kids watching; and the Engineer had a helper encouraging him. He told me, "I was nervous about wearing a costume in front of my class in case they remembered that I didn't wear a costume last year and made fun of me. But when I arrived, everyone said my costume was AWESOME and I wasn't afraid anymore." Even him saying that demonstrates emotional-intelligence and improved communication skills. He is progressing so much. He even waved and said, "Goodbye" to one of his classmates after school. He is beginning to show his friends what his family sees every day.

Sweet Pea asked to be Mary this year. We were supposed to use stuff we already had at home; and some parents are impressively resourceful. For me, however, it was all Amazon.

Head up, Buttercup! I'm so proud to see this!

"There were three boys, who all had swords. I said, 'Hey, let's have a sword fight!'" (I mean, that was predictable.) If they get caught, their props are confiscated.

These two are always together when I pick him up. He told me this friend makes him laugh, the best type of friend.

He has one sister and three brothers like the Firstborn. So, similar dynamic, except he's not the oldest.

Mr. Serious came to the rescue. Supersonic wanted to follow the parade.

Grandpa bought him a Bumble Bee costume because all of our other costumes were destroyed. Grandpa to the rescue!

 

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Orange County Fires

This week our old neighborhood was evacuated due to smoke and very high Westbound-winds. You can see the smoke rising above the mountains here. Our extremely dry land combined with high winds is a recipe for wildfire. Thankfully, no homes were taken. Unfortunately, a couple of firefighters sustained substantial burns and were being treated in the ICU. We keep praying for rain, healing, and so many things. We're also so grateful for God's diligent care of us. Being evacuated to a hotel for 3 days would have been extremely difficult with 5 children and 3 adults, especially considering all of the other places still shut down. Not to mention, the homes smelled like campfires when they returned.

 

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Joshua Tree

It was time for the Engineer to have quality time with Dad. 

He asked to go to Joshua Tree.

They hiked five miles with no one to slow them down or vie for attention.

He was thrilled about this photo shoot:

 

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Mr. Serious Turns Four!

The past year has been full of changes for Mr. Serious. He has learned to express himself when he's unhappy, how to involve his little brother in play, and how to use the toilet to deposit bowel movements. 

His vocabulary has exploded.

He's still our wonderful surprise. Here are a few special moments:

Year three-to-four generally has been a trying year in our home. This was true for him, though his challenges were mostly expressed in moodiness and whining. Still, he is seldom unhappy for long. He loves hugs, wrestling with brothers, and making people laugh.

Here he was so proud of himself. The baby keeps trying to play with him by wrecking his creations. I keep telling him that the baby wants to play and, "Can you think of something baby can do with you?"

He requested a "giant robot cake," which DH was adventurous enough to attempt. I made the buttercream frosting. This was a feat of determination. 

Sometimes the kids ask for the impossible; and we deliver! He was so happy!!

He received so many toys! I think it's the time of year.

His big sister was attentive to every detail:

The siblings began playing with all of his toys; and, of course, there was one that was his favorite. We could have spent only $20 on a gift and he would have been happy. (The "as seen on tv" fighting robot set picked up at the last minute at CVS was the winner.)

We love him so much! He still the best hugger, peace-maker, flirty, funny, boys' boy we know. Happy birthday, Bud!

Stats:

Height- 3' 3.5", 33rd%

Weight- 37lbs., 4oz., 63rd%

Previous well checks: Birth, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, 30 months, and 3 Years. We love him so much!

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A Decade of Marriage!

What a year! A couple of friends offered to take our kids for the night. (One couple who'd been married for 50 years told me that they always take an overnight on their anniversary. I love the idea!)

Social-distancing has made hotels and weekend dining so much more pleasant! No crowds even at the tourist traps. We spent our time in Ventura, where we visited once while expecting the Firstborn.

It's not normally foggy in the evening, but happened to be this night.

We waited for a table and lucked out. They placed us at a corner table tucked away.

Clam chowder:

Fish & Chips:

We went for a walk downtown after dinner. Several blocks are closed off to allow for outdoor dining. It was so pleasant!

We went to Mass at the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura where reservations were required for outdoor Mass. Thankfully, the church was open. So we took a peek again.

Google reviews directed us to brunch:

Pretty much! 😂

Reflecting on 10 years of marriage: Sometimes I feel distressed by how much I've changed. My responsibilities have challenged everything I use to like about myself: positivity, fitness, adventurous spontaneity. Loving an autistic child has required me to put on hold my best skills and build new ones. To do the job well, I have to empty myself fully and respond to others. I often fail. But I am beginning to succeed more. 

My dear husband asked, "Isn't that the point?" Marriage is *supposed* to change us. If we didn't compromise or didn't change, we might lose the marriage? Several of our friends/colleagues have gone through divorce in the time we've been married. Each one forces us to reflect: How do we thrive? Yet, I think we are thriving by the grace of God. Our Church's faithful interpretation of God's plan for marriage sets us up for success when we choose to follow it. My marriage is the one thing that makes me happiest. My stable husband, our shared Faith, our love for each of our precious humans -- All of these things bring me greater, deeper joy than I ever experienced in my hot, single, traveling days. And this love we share is forever.

On the actual day of our anniversary, we went to The Beachcomber, which just might be our new favorite place. It has excellent food with disarming warmth. It's in Newport Beach, on the water, but in no way pretentious -- the best of all worlds!

Here are our other anniversary celebrations:

Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One.

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Yosemite

We asked Mr. Serious if he would like to see 300' waterfalls. He said, "YES!" "Can you pee on the pot every day and keep your pants dry at night?" "YES!" We used a reward chart and lots of verbal motivation to get him mostly potty-trained.

 It turns out Upper Yosemite Falls is more like 1,400'. Either way, there was no water left. The Firstborn said, "Well, that was kind of disappointing," which made me laugh raucously because it's what everyone was thinking. Bridal Veil Falls had water. We need rain!

The entire park was anything but a disappointment! 

I asked Isaac if he wanted to see the sunrise at Glacier Point before the road closes for all of 2021. It meant waking up at 4am. He said, "Yes." So, we woke up at 4 at the nearest Marriott that accepted our points and aimed to arrive at this spot by 7:03am. (We went to the Vigil Mass at the Cathedral in Fresno.)

This right here was worth the entire trip. See the joy shared between the big brothers. They LOVE adventures, even when it means long rides in the car and early rising. (This one was 5.5 hours.):

Sweet Pea was working on her Subpar Parks debut:

I loved this sunrise sequence:

The Half Dome in the background is one of Yosemite's most identifiable features. People much more adventurous that I may climb to the top, but they have to brave a very steep, super long set of steps with nothing but a rope and a few, spread-out balusters to protect them from sliding hundreds of feet.

These boys were super happy they woke up early.

Note the tall trees everywhere. (There is also a grove of 500 giant sequoias, Mariposa Grove, whose hike we had to bail on this trip.)

Another view along the 41:

Tunnel View. You can see Half Dome dead center:

All of the views were more beautiful, and everything less crowded, given the hour we traveled through:

Enormous grey-granite formations: 

The leaves are starting to change. It was in the 30's before sunrise.

There are so many deer. And a 12-pt buck.

I just really like how the light caught her hair here:

Another lookout south of Tunnel View with Half Dome almost dead-center. Check out the trees in the valley for a sense of the size of these mountains. Those trees themselves are pretty tall.

Dusting off my paparazzi skills:

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