It's Great to be Eight

Noah had his birthday earlier this week.  Man I love this kid.  And there is something beautiful about getting 'er done in one fell swoop!  His birthday landed on a Tuesday which also happens to be Cub night.  Neither of us wanted to wait for the weekend.  He just couldn't wait.  And for me?  Well, let's just say that it usually means planning TWO really special days instead of one really amazing (busy) day.  Essentially, I am lazy and only want my kids to feel special ONCE a year, instead of twice, okay?!  Anywho, it worked out perfectly.  He woke up in the morning to open up two gifts.  A new outfit for the day and a Journal from my parents (which he was writing in before bed just last night by the way.  He loves it!).  He was giggling as he noted his very own name printed on the cover of the journal.  "Now I have my very first journal, just like Jackson!"  Honestly, such a great gift.  After school he got to open up his gift from Granny and Grandpa Burnham which was a whoppin' ten bucks!  I like to spread out the joy throughout the day because I find that if he opens up these special gifts from family all at once, it is not as exciting or noteworthy.  After school, the party began!  We played minute-to-win-it games, had a pizza party, a donut "cake" and the boys just ran wild.  Ten out of the twelve boys invited came.  I am not really good at guessing how many kids to invite!  I figured on a school night, surely not every one could make it.  But.  Well they came!  And it was a blast for Noah.  Thankfully it was a beautiful day so we were able to send them outside!


Photo bombers.  I love Zoe's fake smile.  Ha!  Also, if you squint you will note that Joe is trying out a beard.  I am encouraging it and even like it!  He hates it because it is itchy and patchy.  I think it makes him look distinguished and kinda flat out hot.  Although, kissing is another story.  Back to Noah's birthday.


These days parties are all about the "event" instead of just hanging out and playing.  Most parties that my kids get invited to sound amazing; Laser tag, trampoline parties, gymnastics, movie theatre parties.  The list goes on.  It kind of sucks as a parent when you have to say no to those things when it's your kid's turn to have a party.  Noah was really worried that it would be boring at our house, but I think we did a pretty good job at making it fun.  In fact, I don't think Joe and I had much to do with it.  You get a group of boys together and they will find a way.  (Top row L-R: Jaxson, Lincoln Gilchrist, Ethan Johnson, Zoe, Noah, Branson Hill, Devon.  Bottom Row L-R: Rawlin Bowie, Will Moore, Jackson and Brodie Colbert.  Missing: Seth Clements and Baron Bateman had to leave early).

Zoe cracks me up.

Even with all the partying and such, Noah was most excited about his first day of Cubs.  He has been dying to go ever since Jackson started, and now they can go together.  He has been talking about it for MONTHS!  And now it's finally here.  After the party, those who were in Cubs all walked over to the church at 7pm together (Rawlin, Ethan and Branson aren't in Cubs yet, but they will be this Summer.  They just wanted to walk over to the church with all the boys).  I watched them all take off in excitement with a little ache in my heart.  I had a moment of "my baby is growing up!"  Someone walking passed me even said, "Are you longing to be over there?"  Haha!  I am longing for time to slow down.  Okay, sir?!  Bitter sweet.  That's what life is.  Sheesh!


Noah, you are such a good kid.  If I were to describe you, I'd say you have lots of feelings.  Haha!  You feel things very deeply, that is.  Sometimes if you are hurt or frustrated, we will all know about it because we can hear you yelling in a closed room at the wall.  It's adorable.  You also feel lots of love and are super fun and cuddly in those moments.

You and Jackson these days are inseparable.  Most everything you do is together.  You even brush your teeth together or go to the bathroom together at night because you are both too scared to go alone.  Haha!  You play outside together.  You are constant and best buddies.  It makes my heart swell, and it makes those first two years of your life so worth it for me (because dang it, it was hard having you two that close together).

I would be lying if I said you have all these cultured interests outside of hockey and basketball.  Basically, video games is your life.  I hate it.  But I'll admit it.  You love to be plugged in.  You are always making presentations on the computer, or making levels for various games I've never heard of.  I'm a really clued in Mom if you can tell.  (I promise I don't let you play video games ALL day long.  Just when I'm too tired to care.  Which is... all the time).  Thank goodness it is Summer and you have some outdoorsy neighbour kids always knocking on our door.  You love to play basketball and street hockey with them out in the back alley.  And now you have a scooter, so you can add that to the list!  There is a reason you are so tan.  You are outside playing a lot.  And that is how it should be!

You are about to be baptized soon.  In a couple weeks!  Joe and I have based our Family Home Evenings around baptism, and lately we've been having YOU teach the lesson so we know that you understand how important this step is in your life.  The other day we were sitting on the steps together eating a popsicle outside, just you and me.  Instead of having these formal lessons about baptism, we just talked about it.  It was so special.  And you were able to ask me questions about things that were hard to understand.  I hope you can always feel like you can talk to me.  If I can do one right in my parenting, I hope it's that.  I know I always felt like I could talk to my Mom and no question was a dumb question.  Anywho, I am proud of you for taking this step in your life.  You are young and sometimes I wonder how an eight year old can really know what they are getting into.  But I remember my baptism.  I remember receiving the Holy Ghost and how it felt.  I remember making a bad choice and having to use the atonement for the first time.  I learned how to repent and I remember that feeling of being forgiven.  And then I think, yes it IS possible for an eight year old to get it.  I love you Noah.  I hope eight truly is great for you.

Sisters and Edmonton/Change is the Pits

Last week was Sarah's birthday.  At first I thought it would be fun if Jenny and I showed up at her door to take her out to lunch.  And THEN I thought, it would be even better if we showed up at her door to take her to Edmonton and hang out for the weekend with our Edmonton friends.  I would be lying if I said this wasn't a little for me too.  Tee hee!  I am so glad it came together the way it did.  I think we all needed this trip together.  Half of the fun is the drive and the visiting that happens in the car.  Jenny told us recently that she is moving to Nelson, BC.  I am starting to wonder if this is the next stage of our lives where we kind of stop being sisters and start being Moms.  I know we will always be both, but I can already start to see us starting to part ways a little.  We don't get together as often.  We Skype less.  We are just getting busier with our kids and our own lives I guess.  Plus the physical distance doesn't help!  It's actually really quite sad if I think about it too much.  I'm not 16 anymore. Or 20.  Or even 30!  And I hate it.  So many great things come with getting older, but there are also lots of sad realities.  I hope Jenny's move to Nelson doesn't change things too much.  If anything, it will be a much prettier place to visit than Olds.  Just a little further to get to.  I figured this would be our last time in Edmonton together for a very long time, so we drove by the house we all grew up in and went down memory lane a bit.  I'm glad we took those extra five minutes to capture this moment and remember.  Excuse me while I go bawl my eyes out.  Huuuuuuugggghghghhghghghhgsajdbgklasjbkljgb......


I love these girls.  I am so glad we made this trip.  24 hours was most certainly not long enough, but I'm glad we got a small taste!  We stayed up till 3am (I had Jane, so that was SUPER late but worth it), chatting about funny things and naughty things and sad things and great things.  I was so tired.  Jenny scratched my head for like an hour, so that didn't help.  But it felt amazing.  I wish there was something that could have kept me perky through the night where I could enjoy staying up that late and STILL function the next day.  I guess those are called 5 hour energy drinks.  Barb usually has a bunch.  Haha!  But they taste like barf.  Anywho.  These are some of the best women out there.  And we are missing a few in this pic, but this was the only group shot taken of this weekend, courtesy of Barb.  Love you ladies.  Until next time.

Fairmont

Fairmont this year was different. I'll tell you why.  It was the first year in many that the weather was INCREDIBLE!  I didn't realize how much we were missing by not having great weather.  It's the difference between being stuck at the rec centre all day and reading a book in your villa (which I don't mind so much) or actually ALSO venturing out of the boundaries of your parking lot.  Also, sometimes it's tricky with large numbers.  We were here with Joe's family and they are a growing family, each in their own phases of rearing their own children.  Sometimes it's a waiting game of who can do what when.  This year I decided that we were just going to do what we wanted to do on our own time line as our own little family.  Mind you, we still had our extended family activities and those were fun and good, but with this mentality I never once felt pressured to wait for anyone.  We just kind of did what we as our own little family wanted to do and if people wanted to join, then great!  It ended up being the best Fairmont yet.  It also might have had something to do with having older kids.  The older your kids get, the more they are capable of doing and the more fun you can have!

Our first full day was Sunday.  After Jane's baby blessing we all walked down to the river to throw rocks.  I love doing that.  It's so simple and relaxing.

I love the pictures of these cute cousins.  Zoe is always saying that Kwyncee is her best friend.  It's the last time these girls will see her for two years as they will be in Australia!!  Sad.  But exciting.  Best part is Kwyncee will have an accent by the time she gets back.  Cute!

The next day we packed a picnic lunch and walked up to the hot springs waterfall.  Zoe HATED it because everywhere you walked there was soggy moss.  She didn't quite understand the concept of leaving her WATER shoes on.  I bought them for this very reason.  But no.  Didn't quite get it.  I tried to help her "enjoy" this experience, but.  She was determined not to.  Jackson had an oddly fun time standing under the waterfall and yelling.  He sounded like a freaky man from a screamo-band summoning evil Spirits.  It literally went on for over a solid fifteen minutes.  Haha!  It was a great ongoing joke throughout the week.  I asked him how the heck that sound was coming out of his body and his response was, "well, it hurt."


Our villa is usually right by the rec centre, but this year we were tucked back in the "A" villas.  It was such a beautiful view and I actually preferred it over where we usually are.  We had a patch of grass that the kids could actually play on (we brought a skipping rope, football, frisbee and bubbles) and just down the road was the little park.  It was nice and quiet.  Until we arrived, of course.   


Day three, we hit up the hot springs.  S'if the Burnhams don't already treat us to enough, but they also treated us to this super fun afternoon so we could all go!  Thank you Mom and Dad Burnham.  The kids LOVE this place.  They spent most of their time on the diving boards.  And this very day was the first day Zoe finally allowed herself to float on her own with her new life jacket.  She is usually clinging on to me for dear life.  But for some reason, this magical place allowed her to feel that she could release all her fears.  Yay!   I also got to use my swim instructing abilities from my young single adult days and taught Noah and Charlie how to dive.  I used to be able to do the perfect pike dive a foot away from the diving board.  I used to be fearless!  Now it freaks me out to even do a regular dive on the one meter!  What happened to me?  I figured if the kids were doing dives, I could do at least that.  So I started with a standing dive.  Then a running dive.  And I even did a back dive.  Every time on that board was frightening, but I did it!  Look at me, empowering myself! It might be a little more fun next year when my milk doesn't try to come in with each dive.  Ha!


Bethany, bless her heart, offered to have the girl cousins over for a sleepover!  I helped paint nails and then I had to leave to nurse Jane and do our own bed time routine.  Ellie had such a great time (thank you Bethany!).  The only complaint I had the next day from the girls was that "Ellie was wild in bed."  Haha! I guess she moves around a lot.  Which only proves my resolve to have no kids EVER sharing MY bed!  I guess Sebastian was feeling a little left out so he invited Jackson and Noah over to hang out before bed.  Oh man.  The texts I was getting from Tarilyn about their conversation that evening were hillarious!  Here are a few of her texts:

During Kerplunk:
Jackson: I was reading a book about snake myths.
Bash:  What's a myth?
Noah: It's a lie.
Jackson: Well, not exactly.
Noah:  Yeah.  Not exactly.
Bash: Was it funny?
Jackson: Not really.  It wasn't that kind of book.  It's non-fiction.
Bash:  What's non-fiction?
Jackson: It means it's true.
Bash:  Was it funny?
Jackson: I wouldn't say that.  I'd say the word is interesting.
Noah: Yeah, interesting.
Bash: Yeah, I think it's not funny. (They both look at him weird).  Yeah.  It was interesting.

Haha! Here's another:

"Noah just went to the bathroom and ran back out and said, 'you guys just talk, I'll be a while.'  Haha!"

And more:

Bash: Last time you were at Granny's house I thought you were 21.
Jackson:  Really?  I was probably only 9.

And one more, my personal fav:  (Noah just lost the game)

Bash:  Noah, you're the loser champion.
Noah: At least I'm a champion at something.


We also got our fair share of swimming in at the rec centre.  That was a daily must.  And Colette took us girls out golfing.  I'll tell you what.  It was probably the funnest game of golf I have experienced.  Not because Joe wasn't there, but I think I realized it was because there was no one on our tail making us go go go!  When I feel pressured like that to golf well and quickly, it takes all the fun out of it!  I like golf.  Took me many years, but I like it.  And I think I might even get good at it one day if I went more than once a year.  Haha!  One day I won't have to be reminded which club to use for what.  Colette also treated us to dinner that night.  She told me she had a video on her phone of Jane's birth.  She was afraid I was going to be mad or embarrassed.  Oh contraire!  I was so excited to see it.  I mean, no one wants to look at their own swollen lady parts, but I've never seen a birth before.  Even with the mirror I was too busy pushing to pay attention (and most times they never have it in the right place anyway).  So, this was really neat to watch!  It made me cry as I remembered the joy I felt holding Jane for the first time and realizing she was finally here.  Birthing a baby is an amazing thing.  Wow.  So glad I have a record of it.


 Later on that week most of the Burnhams ended up going back to the hot springs pool, but a large family like mine in a place like that usually means a large cost, so we decided to spend our day differently.  We left the parking lot people.  You heard me right!  And Tay's family joined us. Joe spent some time looking up places to check out and we ended up discovering for the first time in my twelve years of coming here this natural hot springs place, "Lussier," right by the river.  It was SO hot.  And the river was SO icy!  Two major extremes.  I wasn't sure how our young family was going to enjoy this experience.  But before I knew it, Joe was betting the boys five bucks to dunk their bodies into the freezing river water!!!  It's the kind of water where as soon as you dip your feet in they get a head ache.  Yes.  That kind of freezing.  (And yes, it makes sense, okay!).  At first I was playing the "Mom" role of watching everyone else be crazy and have fun while I held Jane and tried to make sure that Zoe didn't fall into the river.  Then suddenly Joe bet me to do it.  I couldn't pass up five bucks, so in a moment of excitement I said yes.  I put my legs in and already thought I was going to DIE!!!!  But I couldn't turn back now (and lose all those major cool-Mom points?), so I went for it.  And boy did that hot tub feel good after.  Most importantly, I was five bucks richer.  After spending some time here we decided to keep driving up this curvy mountain road and it led us to a BEAUTIFUL lake.  So beautiful and clear you could see the fish swimming around.  So, like a prepared Father/wizard, Joe got out his fishing rods and on the spot decided to take us all fishing!  We didn't catch anything, nor did we have time to really stick around so we made plans to come back the next day.  (p.s. we saw not one, but TWO bears this week.  Lucky us.  And thankfully, this time we were IN our car).


We were actually planning to leave Saturday.  It was Mother's Day on Sunday and originally I wanted to leave Saturday so we could be back in our Ward for Sunday (so the Primary children could sing for me) and not be travelling and unpacking on MY day.  Well.  What a stupid reason to leave!  There was an extra villa that no one was using (everyone except Matt and T and Jeff and Kelsey left on Saturday), so we decided to stay an extra day since we had such a great time the day before, and quite frankly, all week.  This time we packed some dinner and took our time.  We found another fishing spot further down called White Swan Lake that was a little more family friendly and spent some time enjoying the sun.  The water was still ICE but that didn't stop the boys, ...and the older boys (Joe and Matt) from jumping in and cooling down.  Crazies!  The closest I got was sitting in the water.... because there were no bathrooms around.  So.  It was kind of warm still.  Tee hee....!  Zoe thought that was the greatest lesson in nature and did it twice.  Anything involving potty and poop and disgusting things and she is in.  Anywho, what a beautiful view as you can see from the pictures!  It was honestly heaven being here.  We had the pier all to ourselves, too!
I'm not sure how we could top this trip. It was so fun. Full of late night games, laughing, some spiritual moments and way too much eating.  There has to be eating, or this wouldn't be Fairmont.  Thanks again Mom and Dad Burnham.  These trips are truly a treat!

Blessed

On May 1st, Jane Audra Burnham was blessed by her Dad in Fairmont, BC.  We decided to have her blessed here because there was a small window where all of the Burnhams would be in attendance.  Tay and Bethany were visiting from Hawaii and Christie and Mitchell were moving to Australia the very next weekend for two years.  I know this was a little unfair to the Ord side but as my parents are on a mission I knew they wouldn't be able to come anyway!  So I didn't feel too bad having it here in this BEAUTIFUL place.  It was such a gorgeous week.  Although Jane is wearing a lovely bonnet (that the amazing Celeste crocheted for this occasion---thank you!!!), I promise she was sweating in it, because that's how nice it was.  The bonnet is all for looks.  And doesn't it look cute!  Jane's blessing dress I ordered from an online vintage 50's store (thanks to my Mom and Dad for buying it).  The back button fell off the moment we tried to put her dress on.  Ha!  So, yes.  It is indeed vintage!  Thank you Mom and Dad Burnham for making it possible for us to have a week together in Fairmont so we could do this!  Here are some pictures right before her baby blessing.

 Jane, you are two and a half months old in these pictures.  A part of me wonders how you got to be this old so fast, and the other part of me feels like you've been apart of our family for a very long time!  You are such a smiley, happy baby.  So far you make having five kids feel like a piece of cake.  You are already a very good sleeper and are basically already sleeping through the night.  You only cry when you're hungry or tired which is a lot less than some of the kids in our family.  You are well loved by your siblings.  They all coddle you and love to talk to you and make you laugh and smile, which is easy to do.  Honestly, I want to cry writing this.  You are seriously a dream baby.  I love taking moments in my day to just hold you and drink you in.

Those in the circle: Joe Burnham, Robert Burnham, Mitchell Lewis, Taylor Burnham, Matt Burnham, Bobby Peters, and Robert Swainson (including the branch president of the Fairmont Branch).

Jane Audra's Blessing:
-Keen mind and spirit.
-Seek to learn and understand the Spirit and use that learning in the world.
-Learn quickly and ably.
-Healthy mind and body that will allow you to perform all sorts of tasks.
-Learn line upon line and share these things.
-You will be an excellent missionary and be given many opportunities to be a missionary.
-You will be married in the temple and your husband will love and protect you and your children.
-You will teach your children well and influence multitudes.
-You will be a good example to our family.

Joe actually managed to record it on his phone, but this is what I was able to jot down.  I find the most comfort in knowing that your husband will love and protect you and your children.  After I am done my work as a mother and you are a grown woman, your husband will be a good man and take good care of you.  That's all I can ask.  I have one of my own and feel pretty blessed to be so well taken care of and know that he is such a great Dad for our family.  I want that so much for each one of my kids.  The gospel is such a beautiful thing.  I have had moments in my life recently where I have really needed to take a good hard look at where I stand (I think many people do at some point in their lives, or many times) and then make a choice to have faith that the Lord is in charge.  I am a happy person because of it.  This is not to say that life isn't hard, it just means that I have been given better perspective because we have a Saviour and a Heavenly Father that loves us and knows our individual needs.  I know I am a daughter of God.  I know He loves me.  I know He wants what's best for me.  Because of that, I will forever feel blessed.