When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Mother

Today I had a delightful experience. My children and I went to a mini concert given by Janeen Brady. For 40 years she has been writing music to teach and delight children. When I was a little girl, my favorite song was When I Grow Up, I Want to Be a Mother. I was just in tears thinking of how much that song means to me now, as I have five little babies of my own.
Janeen was so sweet and fun! She showed us how she can play the piano blindfolded, with gloves on, with the keyboard covered, and even lying on her back and playing over her head - at 80 years old! We sang lots of Christmas songs, with instruments even. All the kids, even Oliver, had a great time!
Janeen Brady's music is available at www.britemusic.com. One of our family favorites is Take Your Hat Off When the Flag Goes By. We downloaded her Christmas music CD, after hearing one of the songs performed by a friend of DJ's today at the concert.
Music is such a gift and can be a great tool for teaching, for playing, and for expressing yourself through song and dance. I am so grateful for everyone who creates good music and shares it with us!

We made it to week 6!

Many times in the past 6 weeks I've asked Lyman to remind me that it gets better, life with a newborn gets easier. And now, suddenly, it is easier. Suddenly he's happy laying on the floor watching his siblings play. He doesn't think he has to eat just because he is awake. I can have an hour to myself in the morning to use the treadmill, shower, and make a smoothie, before I become the mom again.

Oliver does still hate the car seat. It makes it difficult to go anywhere, when he starts crying before he's even buckled. All my children have been that way, it makes me wonder if it's something I'm doing. Anyone else have babies that hate the car seat? What do you do?!?

This is my first attempt at using the web cam on the laptop I've had for 1 1/2 years. Did I mention I love the beautiful sling my sister gave me?

Guess which baby is which!

For those of you wondering who Oliver looks like, here's a little hint - all of our kids look pretty similar as newborns. All of the pictures were taken around 5 or 6 days after birth. Can you guess which baby is which?

The Baby Is Here!

Oliver Lorenzo Horne was born on Saturday, October 10th. He was born at home into his father's hands. It was an amazing, wonderful, thrilling experience! He is almost a week old now and so very cute. He does look just like all the other children did as newborns.

Mill B Interpretive Hike - Big Cottonwood Canyon

Lyman is still recovering from a backpacking trip he took last week. Nasty blisters on both heels. So, this week we had a nice, easy hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The Mill B Interpretive Hike is all paved with lots of shade this time of year. It is gradually up for about 1/3 of a mile. Then you reach the waterfalls and the turn-off for the hike to Lake Blanche (someday!). We enjoyed our watermelon and throwing things in the stream on one side of the bridge to watch them come out on the other. Then I really enjoyed the downhill back to the parking lot.

Cub Scout Camp

DJ went to his first summer day camp at Camp Tracy this year. He has faithfully recounted all the skits and songs for us. He has already earned his Wolf Badge and almost 9 arrow points. Good thing he turns 9 next month and can start on the Bear book!
DJ's favorite parts about camp was the Go Karts, and that his Dad got to go with him one of the days. (I sure love this part-time schedule of Lyman's!)

The Daines Itch

Ever get the intense need to just go on a road trip? That's the Daines Itch. I got the Itch Thursday morning, a week ago, and by that night we were off! (I am so grateful to have a husband that puts up with my spontaneity, and hopefully enjoys it!)
We drove to Spokane and partook of the 4th of July festivities there and at my uncle and aunt's Hayden Lake homes. It was so fun to spend time with my parents, my grandma, and my sister and her family.
Sunday, my brother in Seattle called and asked if we could come see him, since we were so close (300 miles). Three hours later we were on the road again! Dinner at the beach was such a delight! I loved the sand in my toes.
Monday, after some sightseeing in Seattle, we were off to Vancouver, WA, to visit my other sister and her children. I am grateful for the opportunity for our children to spend time with their cousins!
Our drive home on Tuesday was long, but worth it. Driving along the Columbia River will always be a favorite memory of mine.
Our children are great car travelers. Good thing, with a mother like me! We listened to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on the way north. They read books, colored, played cards, listened to music and more stories, and Amanda made up her own songs and played with her socks and shoes. I was happy to find I could read in the car without getting sick and read the entire July Reader's Digest on the way home.
Lyman did most of the driving, but he did let me drive about 300 of the 2100 miles. We visited lots of rest stops, thanks to the pregnant woman who drank lots of water.
As always it's good to be home. But before we even got here, we started planning our next adventure...