Giving thanks...

...for, among all the other blessings, a husband who can make every basket he shoots, roast a delicious turkey, AND make a giant cornucopia from scratch.   I mean...seriously? Who do you know who could whip up something like this from some hangers, canvas, raffia and hot glue? It was a Linkous Thanksgiving year and so much fun! Can you imagine a better kitchen to hang out in than one filled with these people? Or a family room filled with this much love? We broke out our china for the first time EVER! Yep, it has been safely stowed away in Tom and Carma's garage since we got married 15 years ago! It was really very fun to see it in action, no matter how outdated the silverware looks :) Also making its maiden voyage was our custom kitchen table. With our big families, we so needed something that could seat more than 6! We found an amazing couple living in Sandy who make furniture as a home business, told them the ridiculous dimensions we were looking for and how many people we wanted to accommodate, and VOILA!  8' x 5', Each end can fit 2 chairs and each side has 2 benches that can seat 2-3, making an easy place for 12+ people to gather.  Every time my dad comes to visit, he voices what we've been thinking ever since we got the beast home, "This table is the best thing you've done to this house." Mark, Aup, Teairsa and Tennyson came to spend the weekend with Mom and Dad and so we went up there on Friday for ultimate Frisbee and other games. Unfortunately, I was feeling awful that day, so no pictures :( but a great time was had by all :).

Because of the extra family in town on both sides, we decided to have Hope's blessing that Sunday. What a fabulous day. Both sets of grandparents, lots of uncles, aunts, and cousins all there to welcome this newest angel to the family. Most of them couldn't stay for the whole block of meetings and dinner afterwards, so we didn't get pics of everyone, but we are so thankful they could be with us! Yes, we are truly blessed. We give thanks every day for this life, for these 5 miracle children, a home to raise them in, our wonderful families, and our Savior who makes it all possible.

Hope

"9 lbs 8 oz, 20.5 inches of perfection."  That's how I described Hope to Natalie in my reply to her text message on delivery day.  It was kind of a scary delivery.  I felt so tired and shaky the whole time.  Her heart rate kept dropping.  I was so thankful Kevin had given me a blessing before it all started and I prayed throughout the whole thing that she would make it safely here, that I would make it OK, too.  Maybe it's because I'm getting older and losing that feeling of invincibility that is still hanging on in your early 30s, but each safe delivery seems more and more miraculous to me.


We named her Hope Carma Linkous.  She is Carma for Kevin's wonderful mother.  Creative, strong, gentle, selfless, constant, thoughtful, talented, patient, humble, loving, loyal and true.  I know Hope will be blessed all her life as she follows Carma's example.

I've loved the name Hope ever since sharing the wheel at drivers' ed with my dear friend, Misty.  On our folders, we each had a sticker with our full names--mine read "Kathryn (none) Ellis" and hers, "Misty Hope McCleod".  I thought then, and still do, that there was never a more beautiful name for a beautiful soul. 

The name Hope also holds so much meaning for us because of our experiences in getting our family started.  Anyone struggling through infertility might look at our story and find hope.  But the bottom line is that, to me, hope is the essence of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Only the hope that I received through him could keep me going through every step of our journey to having our first baby and it is the only thing that keeps me going now that I have had 5 in 7 years :).  It is the reason I can wake up each day and smile at the chance to make it better than the last.  It is the reason I can teach my children to love and to trust in the goodness of others when so many scary things are happening in our world.  It is the reason I can look forward to the day when I will fall at his feet and thank him for this chance to be a mother to these angels for eternity.  It is the loving message I find on every page of scripture--"Come unto me...", "Peace I leave with you...", "For God so loved the world...","Ask and ye shall receive...", "..for he loveth our souls". 

I remember my dad talking about hope when he was serving as a mission president.  Telling me how one of Satan's biggest lies is making people think there is no hope.  They've sinned too much, they've gone too far, it's too late to change.  When always and in all things, Christ is pleading for us to believe him.  To cling to the hope he offers through his atoning sacrifice.  To hold on and press forward in that hope long and hard enough to where it brings us back to him.  I love that every time I look in this baby's eyes and speak her name, I am reminded of these things.  Welcome to the world, Hope.  We can't tell you how thankful we are that you came to us. 

Don't blink!

I find myself stopping to just enjoy where I'm at a lot lately.  Whenever I get close to having a baby, along with the excitement of meeting that new little person comes some introspection--"have I soaked up every possible second of THIS phase while I've been in it?"  With these 5 children coming in 6.5 years, the "phases" have been quick.  I barely get to having just one in diapers before the next one comes and I'm back to 2.  But that makes it even more crucial for me to do my part to be in the present and appreciate it.  Have I cherished every joyful squeal and dimpled smile and intoxicating laugh from Darren now that you can't really call him a baby anymore?  Have I listened to enough of Eden's impossibly adorable imagination ramblings and etched in my heart every expressive raised eyebrow and belly giggle so that I will never ever forget them?  Have I snuggled and held Elle's tiny, perfectly dressed pixie body close on my lap and held her delicate hand every time she'll let me?  Have I encouraged Ryn in every way possible to not grow up too quickly, even though I depend on her constantly?  Have I told Kevin how lucky I feel that he chose me, and keeps on choosing me over everything else?  Do they all know how utterly amazing they are?  Have I showed them DAILY how much I love being theirs and how much pure joy they bring to my life?  I've got 5 more days left of this 4-kids phase so I'm off to keep soaking!

Time for everything

I'm sitting in my doctors waiting room, ready for my last check-up before welcoming this new baby to our family next week. Baby number 5! Unbelievable. Literally.

It's been a busy month and a half getting everyone settled in new schools and schedules. Ryn started for two weeks at Sunrise Elementary in the SALTA program, which she adored. Everything was ultra structured and well organized (Ryn to a T). I set up a carpool with another mom so I only needed to pick up at the end of each day. Then a spot opened up at Oak Hollow Elementary in the French immersion program. After many more prayers and time at the temple, we decided to move her there. Not quite as structured as the other place, she is still loving all she is learning. It does mean that I have no one to carpool with, but so far it has worked out.

Elle is in kindergarten at Draper Elementary because its only half-day and she can ride the bus :). She is also loving the learning process. Reading is a whole new wonderful world to her.

With 4 other moms in our ward, I'm doing a joy school for Eden and her friends on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, she goes to a different preschool with sweet, amazing Mrs. King where Elle went last year.

So it's been a lesson in juggling. All the different pick up and drop off times, different homework and piano practicing, reading time, friends wanting to play, making dinner in time for them to get to bed early enough so they don't get sick from being so worn out...how my mother had 9, I will never know.  Except for maybe what the Spirit taught me on Sunday (and has been teaching me for a while now). 

We were talking about 3 Nephi 17 when the Savior is with the Nephites and tells them he has to leave to go visit his other sheep.  The people obviously don't want him to go and he is moved with compassion for them and stays longer to heal them and bless them and their children, one by one.  We talked about how we need to have this same compassion and serve the one as He does/did.  And I was thinking about how every night my girls want me to stay and sing a few more songs or other times when they need me or someone else needs me and my to-do list flashes through my mind.  "I really need to be doing this and this and this....I don't have time right now...." 

In Sunday School someone made the comment that time isn't the same for the Lord, so he probably wasn't "late" getting to his other sheep, even though he took that extra time for the Nephites.  For me, though, time does limit what I can do, how I can help.  "There is never enough time to do all that we would wish to do," says the wise Ghost of Christmas Present in Scrooge.  And so sometimes when that list flashes and I think time is too short, I hesitate in my path to showing compassion.  But what the Spirit taught me and reminded me of on Sunday was the miracle that happens every time I choose to follow His example:  somehow, in some way, there is always enough time for what matters most.  When I take the time to show compassion, somehow everything that HAS to be done, gets done.  I don't think my minutes and hours are lengthened.  Maybe the miracle is that showing compassion alligns my priorities with His, and so I cut out the things that are not truly important.  I have a feeling I'm going to need to remember this lesson even more in the coming months as a new sweet spirit will need so much of my time and all the love I have to give. 

First days of school

I waited to post "first day" pics until we had actually had all of our first days.  Ryn started last week and Elle and Eden started yesterday. 

So, without further ado, may I present our first 1st Grader, Ryn, complete with lunch box now that she is at school all day long.  How I miss that girl during the day!  But I know she is loving every minute of it. 
And our Kindergartener, Elle, the second to enjoy being in Miss Thornell's AM class. She is especially thrilled to be able to ride the bus every day with all the big kids. Eden started preschool at Mrs. King's--the most amazing preschool teacher I've ever seen. She runs it out of her basement, the classes are limited to 8 students and every day is filled with songs, cooking snacks that go along with the letter/themes they're learning about, building their confidence and there are little programs every few months that we get to come watch.  Elle loved being there last year and Eden was counting down the minutes until it was her turn. She had to make a little paper doll that looked like herself for their wall, so naturally it had to have a matching dress and braids. And needing to have her own backpack everyday is, in Eden's mind, just about the greatest thing since sliced bread. Don't worry, though.  I'm never lonely. They're gone in waves of 2 at a time, Elle/Ryn in the morning and Eden/Ryn in the afternoons, with Darren being my constant buddy :).

The Amazing Getaway :)

The Ellis family has some great traditions. One is our bi-annual no-grandkids trip that includes all of my siblings, their spouses and my parents. This year was a 5-day cruise out of Galveston to Progresso and Cozumel. Unfortunately, Mark and Aup were unable to come because of his rigorous residency schedule and they were greatly missed. But everyone else made it and it was a much-needed break for me at this point in my crazy life and right before we add one more child to the mix to shake things up even more :).  I even got an extra day and a half in Austin with Joy and Darrell's cute family before the cruise started and a fun road trip home with my parents, Emily and Spencer when it was over!

Our first port was Progresso.  Since we'd already been to the ruins on the last trip, Joy, Darrell, Kevin and I decided to take a bus into Merida, the capital of the Yucatan.  The quaint town square was our favorite part.  I think Joy might be pulling for a second home here someday ;)  It was a hot afternoon with lots of exploring on foot, but it was fun just being together. 

  On the ship, for our days at sea and in the evenings, we enjoyed watching and participating in the few family-friendly shows  (the little boy wearing khaki pants on the right in Rachel's shot was hilarious.  SO into this dance)...
playing games... (Kevin pulled out a Settlers victory with his signature "double 11's" real estate plan) eating lots and lots of food...(the first shot is one of Darrell's mile high breakfast buffet trips) ...even if the dining room was an ICEBOX. (The kind waitress brought me an extra tablecloth to use as a blanket one night. Joy and I made sure this sweet man was on his toes, keeping us supplied with Diet Cokes, Joy with her extra lemons and me with limes. Our second stop was Cozumel... And for the record, I am not posting any pictures of myself because I like seeing reminders that I'm hugely pregnant--only to remember that I was there, having a great time :). This first shot is of a fisherman cleaning his catch and a hungry pelican, patiently waiting for a chance to snatch it.

Back on board, we enjoyed a great, windy shuffleboard tournament. In spite of the amazing form you see displayed in these photos, the high scores were really anything in the positive. The wind was so crazy that one final score was -20 to -10.

I also have to include a few Darrell moments :). The "hug it out" T-shirt... and the formal night attire. Here's a look at everyone at our last dinner, all sporting the latest Mama KK designs.

 

We NEVER would be able to even think about attempting a trip like this if it weren't for Kevin's wonderful family.  His sister, her cute kids and his parents all pitched in and camped out at our house for the week to take care of our kids.  Now that is love. 

 

When we got home, we were able to enjoy a Linkous family tradition of the Parade of Homes.  It's always so fun to get new ideas and enjoy the beautiful things people have worked hard to create.  The dancing scene below was in a BALLROOM?! of the biggest house on the list.  I don't see that being an idea we'll be implimenting, but the girls had fun enjoying the moment.