Week 28: This Kentucky Bubble

 Landon: 

Another busy week of Hearts/Call/Nights. He did have a virtual conference on Friday which really made the week feel so much easier. Those are one of the perks of COVID-19, at home virtual conferences.  (Perks of COVID are not hard for me to find). 

Becca: 

The highlight of the week was when Maddie and Michael came for dinner on Friday. It was so fun to have them. I also went on my first outdoor run since August. It just felt like this huge turning point in my life, like I could finally breathe. Last August COVID was running wild, online school was in full force, I was getting more and more pregnant and more and more pain, Landon was so stressed, we didn't know what job we'd take, we didn't know a soul in Kentucky, I could go on and on. But man this run, post pregnancy, post vaccine, post online school, post job search...... Our life is on the brink of a extraordinary shift, I can feel it. But on my outdoor run, I just felt like I could breathe! 

Jaxson: 

He was up one night in tears because he was worried that Aaron Rogers might be traded. I think this boy has some anxiety. I am trying to both understand what the problem is long term and help him in the short term. Some nights are better than others. 

I cannot express how helpful he is. I rarely feel alone as a mom when Jax is around. The other day, in the freezing cold at Costco, the boys were all safe and sound in the car and I was trying to hurry and load all the groceries in the car as fast as I could. Without ANY asking, Jax hopped back up from his seat and came and helped me. Of course Ty then followed too. I admire BOTH of them for their awareness and willingness to follow and do good. I’m so grateful to have this special boy! Even if he cries every. single. time. we. play. any. game. Ugh! His little passionate heart.

Ty:

He was stocked out of his mind to both pass off his 100 words with Ms. B and get 200 first grade words. He was the first in his class to pass off the 100 words. Ty has this ability to push himself to try and play and compete at Jaxsons level and then to imagine and play with Luke. I love that. After our Come Follow Me chat today, Ty said “can we keep talking about God?” He always just wants to talk about things. All the things. We had the missionaries over on Tuesday and the boys drilled them with questions like “do dogs go to heaven” or “stuffed animals” or “what happens to your body if you die in space.” I just giggled and loved the faith they had in these sister missionaries. 

Luke:

He is a genius, I swear. I think he has a little bit of a photographic memory. I read him a book once and the next time around he will tell me what comes next. The same with songs. He heard the song Gethsemane this week, once, and he had the tune and “Jesus loves me” down. I’m positive I could teach him anything if it was connected to a song. Luke feels less toddler to me, more little boy lately. He listens and responds to correction better. He can go on the tramp and keep up with his brothers for hours. He can kick and throw really well. Luke reminds me so much of Jax and I moments where I realize Jax had 100% of mine and Landons attention, all the time. Luke hasn’t had that, but I think because of that he has become this independent force and it will take him places too. 

Brigham.

Oh Brigham. The perfect baby. The best thing that’s ever happened to me. My easiest transition. (Maybe other than Jax). Oh Brigs. I could cry with how happy motherhood feels right now. I think I could live in this Kentucky bubble with Brigs as my precious baby f.o.r.e.v.e.r. Forever. Few people have been able to experience him, but Maddie got to on Friday. And Brigham was not shy in showing how he’s the best best baby in the whole wide world. Even now, as I type my last sentence, he wakes up from his final nap. As if to say “okay mom! You put my brothers to bed, you cleaned up, you blogged.... can it be my turn now?” I love you Brigham Nate!!!! Thank you for channeling Nate’s “easiest baby” attribute! Just continue down the Nate path too. Dad and I would be THRILLED if you turned out like Nate. But also, I’m never leaving this Kentucky Bubble of mine. 

Ta ta.

Week 27: Snow Days

My boys had 9 straight snow days. And we had a blast! This week they spent most of their time building football & soccer fields. I don't have a picture of Ty's soccer field, they made that the second day. We played outside lots, from sledding to driving remote control cars. We memorized the poem The Builder or Wrecker by Edgar Guest(Thanks Mama Woolf). We built lots of Kiwi Crates(thanks mom). And of course, we did lots of cleaning. I love being with them all the time. And if they didn't love school so much, i'd probably find a way to keep them home forever. 

Landon: 
APS is constantly busy. I can tell he is tired form the last two weeks. He also has had to work both Saturdays. He has been listening to a book about The Office and is convinced that if I were to just listen to it, that I would love The Office. He tried to go on a long run on Saturday, but between Kentuckys lack of shoveling sidewalks and streets and being paged ever 20 minutes, he gave up half way. He has been loving listening to the Don't Miss This podcast and the Follow Him podcast. We've enjoyed so many great gospel conversations. We've never really been good at having set scripture study together. But I love when we get into these grooves where we are both doing our own consistent study and we can talk to each other about it.

Becca: 

I loved having the boys home! It gives me the opportunity to spend good time with each of them. I sit in the rocking chair next to the piano every day while Jaxson practices.  I am able to spending good time working on Ty's reading each day both with his 100 flash cards and his "100 easy lessons" book. I can play animals with Luke for 30 minutes and then let his brothers do the rest of the playing. And of course I can spend 3 hours a day feeding and holding and loving on Brigs. I don't know what it is but I just feel like I have so much time when my boys aren't at school. It really was such a happy happy week. 

My back is still a significant problem. The MRI came back with nothing. I feel discouraged by that. I have jaw pain and headaches and neck pain because of how hard i'm clenching at night. I ran 3 miles on the treadmill yesterday and tried to do my 3 minutes of plank and both my shoulders and legs were so sore. And I think its because they too are contracting all night long. Brigs slept through the night on Friday. From 9:30-6:30. I was up from 12:00-1:00 and 3:00-5:00 because of the pain. I sometimes wake up and lay as stiff as I can because I know if I move, my back will spasm. But I can't go back to sleep either. Between stretching, icing, CBD lotions, the Tens machine, medicine, a new bed, pillow support, Chiropractor appointments.... I just don't know what else to do. I'm grateful for the Edwards gene, as I am able to work hard on little sleep and always have been. But less sleep does make me more snappy and less.... funny.... so at some point, these 2 hour stretches at night need to stretch longer. Because I'm a fun person, when i'm rested, I promise! 

Jaxson: 

Oh this boy keeps growing up. He watched Ty and Luke while we went on a date last night. We were only gone for an hour, 5 minutes away, and we basically watched them watch Toy Story on Vivint the whole time we were gone, but still, we trust him so much. He loved being home and kept jumping up and down every time a new snow day was announced. And then when he came home from school on Friday he declared, "I never want another snow day again, I love school so much." This is the best way to describe Jaxson, he finds happiness in every single situation. He has been struggling sleeping at night so we finally decided it was time to allow him to stay up later than his brothers. So at 6:45 we start reading with the Ty and Luke. Jax goes off to shower, brush his teeth, and watch a Peyton's Places. Once the boys are in bed, he typically comes up and talks to us for a little bit then reads next to the UV light I got him, to help with the lack of sun here. You can tell he feels very grown up to have his own little routine attached from his brothers. Its been a good intentional change. He also has been asking to do some yoga and some meditation each night. So we've joined in on those moments. 

Tyler: 

He mastered his 100 sight words this week. He was so excited and worked so hard on them. Each morning, he would peak his little head into my room and whisper, "Mom. Can we practice my sight words." He was so excited to show his teacher on Friday, but she was out sick. He is my little snow buddy and is the first one our and the last one to leave the snow, no matter how cold it is. He also deserves his own little shout out with Landon and I going on a date. We wouldn't have been able to leave if Ty himself had not grown up so much in the last 6 months. We went to Olive Garden on Friday night with the family, and it was a blast. But my favorite part was that Ty ordered an adult soup and salad with breadsticks. He had 3 full plates of salad and 2 full bowls of soup and could not have been happier. I just love Ty's taste buds. So grown up. 

Luke: 

Goodness he is cute. Yesterday I was laying on my bed so tired, he saw me, grabbed a book and his blankets and came and cuddled and read with me. I think he loved having his brothers home, but Friday he was so ready for me to give him more attention. He always takes a little snack to nap time and it just makes me laugh. I would have never let that fly with Jaxson. But my parenting sure has changed over the last 9 years. Some things are just less important to me, and other things more. 

Briggers: 

He takes 90% of his naps in the rocking swing that I got from a sister I visit taught in our Provo Peaks ward. Its an old old swing but its rocked all my boys. The other 10% of his naps are in his car seat. He has the cutest face and the sweetest spirit. I just realized that we are going to church for the first time in forever and its time for me to get ready. So.... got to go!