To Nap or Not to Nap. That is the question.

Miracle of all miracles.  They are all asleep at the same time.  Now will they make the transfer or do I take my nap in the car too?  Hmmm.  Tempting.

I love when I get a few moments of quiet during the day.  It makes all the world of difference in filling my cup.  But when Jake and Drew fall asleep in daytime hours, we get into a viscous cycle - super late bedtimes which means they will need to nap again the next day.  

Audrey is the only one that could take a nap (even a couple months into kindergarten), and still go to bed on time.  Corbin and Jake both battled the nap/no nap issue when they were about 2 1/2.  Drew made it until 4 1/2.  But even now at 5, he needs about 2 naps a week.  Fisher seems to be following Audrey's footsteps.  At 1 1/2, he takes a 3 hour nap during the day and sleeps 12 hours at night.  Keep up the good work Fish!

Sometimes though, I take the hit to score a minute to myself so I can regroup before the witching hours begin.  You know, older kids home from school, homework to do, babies to hold, and dinner to make.  ALL AT THE SAME TIME!   :)

Beach Treasures

The kids have found the best times to find shells and other interesting items washed up on shore are right after a big storm.  The ocean creates a big shelf in the sand that is fun to play on too.  At first I thought a tractor created the shelf.  Weird I know, but we see tractors all the time landscaping the beach.  Probably because we are close to the school and they try to keep that area well-maintained.

Anyway, this last storm was a doozey!  But the finds were awesome!!!  We headed down to the beach to burn some time before dinner.  Audrey started bringing me a collection of really cool clam shells she was finding.  Pretty soon we realized they were real clams and they were still living!  They had been washed up on a higher part of sand during high tide, and were left behind when the water receded.

Audrey wanted to bring them back to the house to eat them.  Brandon and I were headed out so we left Audrey and her friend to research how to cook them.  While at the movie, I searched online if they were even safe to eat!!!  I didn't want the girls poisoned!  Turns out they were safe, but they girls were too chicken to try them.  

They boiled the clams on the stove, three time as long as called for, without seasonings, or even cleaning out all the sand.  The boys licked them and that was enough to know they were gross!  Tough and nasty.  But the shells are awesome!

The following morning we were down at the water edge again and Corbin found a starfish just laying on the beach!  We brought him home as a pet for a day before throwing him back in the ocean.  Our tupperware box was not quite big enough for a suitable home.

Corbin's Baptism

I don't know any other person who has had the privilege of being baptized on their birthday.  But, as fate would have it, Corbin was able to do just that.  He turned 8 years old on March 3, which happened to be the first Saturday of the month.  At first he was really excited, because we thought we would be leaving our beach house in April and we wanted to have his party at the beach.  So, we thought things were working out perfectly.  And they were.  And they did.  (Even though now we are not moving until June.)

We did not have any intentions of attending our new ward until we moved into our home within boundaries, but after a visit to the temple the end of January, out of no where came the thought that maybe we should start attending...before Corbin was baptized.  Well, after ho-humming, stressing, and discussing things with Brandon, we finally dismissed the logic and started attending the Anaheim 6th Ward as soon as we had a signed contract for our new home - one week before Corbin's baptism.  The ward members  were so welcoming and the primary president and bishops have been amazing!  (I say "Bishops" because our first Sunday they were reorganizing the Bishopric.)  Our records were transferred in a matter of hours, Corbin had an interview scheduled with the new Bishop, and away we went with the baptism that Saturday at the Stake Center in Anaheim Hills.

Corbin was the only one in the ward getting baptized March 3, so he had the program to himself!  What a treat!  And, he was so blessed to have so many family members come and support him for this special event.

Corbin was so nervous the morning of his baptism he didn't want to get baptized.  I think it was this day I noticed a pattern of extreme anxiety with big events.  I first remember preschool being BIG episodes of separation anxiety.  I didn't know what I should do, since he was totally fine and happy after I left and he got going in class.  And then kindergarten he cried and clung to me the entire first week when I would drop him off - making a really big scene.  He gets so emotional and inconsolable, panic-stricken almost.  The day of his baptism was no different.  His excuse was he didn't want to get baptized on his birthday.  I think he was nervous that everyone came just for him, but more than that, he was afraid of the unknown.  He didn't know what to expect, even though we covered and practiced everything that would happen.

But, he got up enough nerve to get in the car and move forward.  Here he is with his family in front of the font before the service started.




And then a picture with his mom and dad who love him very much and was impressed with the choice he was making in the face of his fears!!!!!

The program was so spiritual and special.  I loved that he asked his grandmothers to speak and his grandfathers to offer the prayers.  It was so nice to have the family connections and know they had prepared their messages with Corbin in mind.

Afterwards, Corbin took a few pictures outside with his grandmas and grandpas.

And here is a family picture with everyone in their suits and dresses.  Notice how much more confident Corbin is standing!  The following day at church he had several people congratulate him, commenting on how nice he looked in his suit.  One lady even thought he looked like a little general authority.  :)

A couple weeks later Corbin was asked to speak at the Baptism Preview for the other kids in the ward.  It was a great opportunity for him to record his experience and feelings.  Here is what he shared...

I was baptized last week on my birthday, March 3.  When I woke up that morning, I was really scared.  I knew I wanted to be baptized, but I was still nervous.  I had a lot of family visiting.  Both my grandmas gave talks and my sister played the piano and my cousin's sang my favorite song.

When it was time to get baptized, me and my dad walked into the warm water.  It felt weird walking in the water with clothes on.  Me and my dad practiced at home so I knew how to hold on to his arm.

My favorite part was when I went under.  That made me feel good.  I thought it was fun.

After I changed my clothes, I was confirmed.  My dad said the prayer and my grandpa's and my dad's uncle and cousins helped.  I am happy I got baptized because now I have the Holy Ghost.  I also found out there was nothing to be scared of.