Learning Life Skills

I am trying to teach our kids new life skills. As the kids are a bit older now, I feel the responsibility of teaching them to be take care of things, learn independence and feel successful as they do their jobs.

Two weeks ago, we started to do new daily responsibilities.  

One day the kids have to bring me their dirty laundry, which means they get to throw it from upstairs to downstairs, and then put the clean clothes back into their dressers.

We clean the bathrooms together. Saku takes care of the toilets with my help with Eerika wipes the counters.

In the picture below, Eerika picked up all the toys in the play room and then Saku vacuumed it. 

It has been a good way for me to make sure that we keep up with the weekly tasks of cleaning, but it doesn't take over our days so there is a plenty of time to play and have fun.

One day both of the kids made their own peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. While "making" their own lunch is a rare occasion, we have a new rule that the kids have to get their cups, plates and bowls ready while I make their meals. 

Our little baby

Yesterday (May 8th) we went to see Dr. Farias. Usually it is an exciting event to hear the heart beat or see the little one on the ultrasound screen; however, yesterday I felt anxious. I was afraid. I was worried that I would get there and there wouldn't be a heart beat. For most of the pregnancy, since the first ultrasound at 7 weeks, I have felt peace. I have felt like this baby was going to come to our family. 

Yesterday my fears took over. Usually at 14 weeks Dr. Farias brings in the doppler and she just listens to the heart beat and then measures the height of my uterus. We requested to have another ultrasound. Sometimes it takes a second or two to find the baby and hear the heart beat with the doppler and I didn't want to have any moment of uncertainty.

Cami, the nurse, was so understanding and put us in the room with the nice big ultrasound screen. 

And there we saw our little one kicking around. I wish I had words to describe the relief. It was amazing to see the baby so active when I still can't fill the movements. There was kicking, there was flipping, there was toes touching head. 

As we walked away from the room, we had showing the picture to Eerika and telling her how she was going to be a big sister. We examined the picture like first time parents. The little details of the fingers and spine. It was a sweet moment to feel so in awe and feel so grateful and joyful. 

After we picked up Saku, we came home and I asked Eerika if we should share our big surprise with Saku and I asked what it was and she said "baby". 

So I told Saku that we went to the doctor and "guess what we found out" and then I showed him the pictures and he exclaimed "you are having a baby" and gave me a big hug. Then he got distracted with other surprises of coloring books and watercolors that we had:) 

There was a lot of talk of the baby. We watched a little video of what a baby at 14 weeks looks like. We talked about how big the baby is. We talked about the things that the baby can do, such as suck his/her thumb, make a fist and pee. 

I will be a third time mom. This is my fifth pregnancy. However, there is a sense of magic that I probably wouldn't feel if we hadn't gone through the loss of our two babies. Each week, I check those baby websites to know how big the baby is. 

I am grateful for the blessing of having a baby. And I am grateful that I can finally tell people. People have started doing double takes on my belly and for a good reason, so it will be nice to be clear that I am pregnant.

Quick snapshot of one of the ultrasounds so I could text it to our family and friends with happy news.

Community Movie Night

In the beginning of May, our neighborhood's activities committee arranged a movie night at the park. We showed up with our lawn chairs and blankets, to keep us warm, and bought some kettle corn and enjoyed Frozen on the big screen. 

My kids have probably watched that movie 15 times. Troy and I saw it in the movie theater and then we have listened to it many times while driving in the car:)

Our community is so great with the extra events that they have. And the weather was cold enough that we were wrapped in blankets after the sun went down. 

Joy School Graduation

Saku is done with Joy School. We, and Troy especially, mocks graduation ceremonies from preschool and kindergarten because the kids are really just moving on to the next grade.

Tonight Saku's class had a celebration at the Nielson home. 

I have to say that it was quite spectacular to watch Saku and his friends in their little graduation caps and singing "I got joy". Saku LOVES singing but most of the time, he doesn't perform for other people. Tonight I had requested that he would do service for me and let me hear his singing and he sang beautifully.

The kids received a diploma and a candy lei. You could tell that they felt special. Just as they should. Not because they graduated from joy school but because they are special, amazing kids.

Troy was beaming the whole time as well, so I don't think he will think the future "graduations" to be as stupid :)

Beautiful life

"Saku do you want to go outside" Eerika asks and then they will play for an hour so happily.

I so love them. I so love the fact they play so well together. Today has been a good day but at 5 pm I had to sit down and take a breather. Troy is biking home from work so dinner is happening a bit later than usual. That is okay. Yes, I am proud of him.  He is pushing himself out of his comfort zone.  

After our trips in April, I am glad to be home. I know it will be hot this summer. But I am loving my house. I am loving the backyard. I am loving the pool where my kids get to swim. I am loving the community we have here. What a beautiful life I have. 

Fabulous ultimatums and every day life's glorious events

"If you don't let me go downstairs, I will not let you tell me a story for two weeks"

"If you don't let me sleep in your room, I will not snuggle you. If you let me sleep in your room, I will snuggle you"

Today was a good day. It was full of normal, every day things, but it was very good. 

There were sweet moments of siblings reading a book together.

A boy who came downstairs at 7 am dressed up like this! And this is how he stayed for the rest of the day.

This is how I look like when Saku was in my belly. As illustrated by Saku.

 Eerika was looking darling with her headband.

 Somehow Saku was able to capture the fact that my belly was a quite a bit smaller though pointier with Eerika. These illustrations were done while I was in Boston. I am not sure what inspired them.

The kitchen floor got mopped. The kids did their responsibilities of making their beds, emptying the dishwasher and cleaning sliding glass door (Saku) and cleaning kids' picnic table (Eerika). I visited Rachael and Corrye. Delicious dinner was made. We ventured out for a bike ride. The kids went to bed without problems.

The only downside is that I have not seen Troy all day. He was gone when I woke up and he is still at work. 

This ordinary life is good. And I am grateful for it. 

When Ukki and Mummi are the Bosses

Not only did Troy and I get spoiled by our amazing trip to Boston, but Saku and Eerika were very well taken care of by Ukki and Mummi while we were gone.

Ukki and Mummi took Saku and Eerika to the Pima County Fair. They visited the Children's Museum. Extensive crafts were done. There was swimming. Finding Easter Eggs in the dessert trails. They got wash windows. I am sure this was quite the treat as it involved sponges and water.

Ukki and Mummi made sure that they had FHE and roasted marshmallow afterwards.

My heart is so full of gratitude for dad and Paula. It is hard work to take care of kids. And they didn't just take care of them. They provided Saku and Eerika an amazing weekend with Ukki and Mummi.

Since I wasn't there, I won't try to put captions on the pictures, but I think they show the love and dedication that Ukki and Mummi have for Saku and Eerika as well as the friendship that they all share.

Ukki and Mummi, we wouldn't mind if you started to be snowbirds in Tucson:)