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Thank You, Love

We have been reading tales from the Grimm Brothers before bed. The girls chant, “Grimm Brothers, Grimm Brothers, Grimm Brothers!” every night so I don’t forget! Some of the stories are lame, some of them are really weird and some of them are a bit horrifying! But lots of them are great, and when we read The Queen Bee, it was an absolute GEM.

The Queen Bee is about three brothers (two that are bumheads, one that is kind), and while traveling the nice brother keeps the other brothers from hurting an anthill, killing ducks and suffocating bees. The brothers (who also happen to be princes) happen upon a castle that is cursed. They are asked to break the spell by doing a set of tasks. The two older mean brothers can’t complete them on their own and are turned to stone. The last kind brother knows he also can’t do it alone. But then the ants that he helped save come and help him collect the pearls under the moss. The ducks help him by diving to the bottom of the lake and getting the magic key. Lastly, the Queen Bee comes to help the prince figure out which princess was the one who liked to eat honey. He breaks the curse and marries the princess.

Love this little tale. On one day when none of us were sick and I thought the sickies were gone, I let the girls each invite a friend over. We read them the story, split up the scenes on a long piece of butcher paper, broke into teams and illustrated the story. It is fun to do this with kids when they are just drawing what they imagine in their mind — because they have never seen illustrations to this story by anyone else! I had lots of different kinds of supplies out: markers, pastel crayons, regular crayons, watercolor paint and colored pencils.

Here are their masterpieces:

Cute little story. I wonder if anyone has made it into a picture book? Going to have to go investigate….

Some weeks it is quite easy to write about the things I loved throughout the week. Actually most weeks it’s easy. But lately it has been a struggle and a helpful exercise to keep doing. I have been feeling so lonely and blah-ish, and I’ve just been struggling! I think, though, that when you spend two weeks stuck in your house because everyone is sick, it is pretty normal to feel like that. I mean, my goal for today is to make it to Home Depot to get a new trash can. No wonder I am feeling a bit down in the dumps! Ward temple night is tonight and I wanted to go so badly to see people, relax and become rejuvenated and talk to people at the social afterwards but… Shae is still really sick, so that is a no-go. Getting out to go help with kids with their baptisms today (4 kids turned 8 last month, it was a fun program!) and doing sharing time tomorrow will help me get out and about a bit. But I am just aching to go away for a mini weekend to somewhere simple. I think I need to start planning a visit to my sister.

And then I feel horrible for feeling this way because people do love me. Surprise visits from siblings bearing donuts, drop offs of soup & bread from sweet neighbors, texts from caring sisters and emails from my mom who is over in Europe. But boy oh boy, is it hard to have a good attitude when all you have been dealing with is sickies. I am ready for everyone to be better and soon.

But here we go; this is good for me to do this week. Things I Loved This Week:

I love that when all else fails, my cell phone keeps her from screaming in pain. To everyone that has been accidentally called, texted or hey-telled PARDON US. I also love that Shae now dances, says, “Hi Dada” and only nurses twice a day (cause I really am starting to need some space).

I love this girl — I love Abby so much. She is such a good helper and I feel like I will FOREVER be indebted to Heavenly Father for sending me such a sweet, helpful, loving, caring girl to be the oldest in our family.

I love this girl. I love that every darn time we watch Cupcake Wars on Food Network she talks me into making cupcakes!

I love my husband. That he is funny and makes me smile, that he doesn’t put up with my caca and that when he gets home at night all I want is just to hang out with him. Most nights people, MOST NIGHTS.

I love all my girlies in cute warm boots.

I love that my kids have a new hobby — LEGOS! They have girl legos now, and they are adorable. I love that they have spent HOURS at a time this week playing with them. They have been a lifesaver.

Shae caught what I had and is a poor sick sick baby.

This is what our days look like, poor Shae just wants to curl up right next to me sucking her two little fingers. And I let her.

I realized that the croup who visited our home before our Costa Rica trip and plagued my other kids and husband was back for us! Shae and I never caught it so to make everything fair it came back.

So let’s hope with the last member of our family finally getting it that it will be over and done.

Good riddance to you croup!

P.S. Thanks to a sweet Grandma (Tyler’s Grandma actually) that called me to say sweet things. Made my day and gave me strength to carry on!

 Helamen 5: 12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the^arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your ^bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty ^cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Ezra 10:4 Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good ^acourage, and do it.

Painting by J. Kirk Richards

The following list is my random tips for traveling internationally with children.  I learned this during our Panama & Costa Rica trips with our three children.

1. Consider Renting a Home Through Vrbo.com: You could rent a beautiful, clean and well recommended home right on the beach instead of being stuffed in an “ok” hotel room for the same exact price. Even better, maybe even cheaper! Lots of the properties have many reviews, videos showing off the property and many pictures. Wouldn’t you prefer a private home, a security company over the property, private pool, etc. where you can completely relax? Check it out.
2. On Your First Day, do Nada: If you are traveling with children, just let go of the idea that on your first full day in the area that you will be able to finally go ziplining! Or go visit a new city! Just relax. Go to the local grocery store to get some essentials, take a slow stroll around the city to get a feel for it, heck  – watch a movie. But if you try to hurry and get straight to sightseeing… you are going to have some grumpy, overwhelmed kids.
3. Ask Locals About Food: With our personal tastes we have no desire to sit in a stuffy bistro, hotel restaurant or Americanized restaurant when traveling abroad. Ask the locals where to eat… and make sure you’re asking normal, day-to-day locals! Like the man helping you with your baggage, the manager at the grocery store or the surfer walking down the street.
4. You Don’t Need the Tourism Companies: We had great success searching online for things to do in the area and booking them ourselves. The tourism companies charge at least double for the same ziplining, crocodile tours, etc. that you can easily set up yourself. Then when you do one fun thing, ask the employees of that company where you should go for other things! They will give you good recommendations.
5. Figure Out Cell Phones Before: We learned this the hard way while in Costa Rica. Try to figure out ahead of time if you will have service on your cell phones, if just having them on will create tons of roaming fees for you, etc.
6. List of Phone Numbers & Addresses: Find the American embassy, if your church is in the area and their bishop’s phone number and meetinghouse information. Make a list of anyone you might know in the country, emergency contacts back home, where you will be staying, renting a car from, etc. If something bad were to happen, you would at least have a starting point of people who can help you.
7. Cook at Home & Find Local Markets: If you rent a home, chances are you will have a well stocked kitchen and maybe even a great barbecue outside. Go to the local market and ask around if there is a fisherman in the area who sells his latest catch. And cook at home!
8. Souvenir Shops Suck: If you want to bring something home for close family, friends or yourself, don’t think you can just find a souvenir shop! They have some of the ugliest, cheapest, inauthentic items in the whole country. It looks like an American Dollar Tree. If you pass by a woman selling something on the street or a farmers market… pick something up there! Don’t pass it by — that is where you will find good souvenirs.
9. Take a Break from