Milla Making Mighty Moves

Yep, this girl is going places. Milla graduated with honors from the University of Colorado, Denver in December 2021 with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology. I don't think we even realized all she was doing. Milla is like that; quietly doing her thing. Working, playing, creating, serving. And before you know it, she's way down the path in front of you. Milla always loving and supportive, never judging. She has had a couple of interviews this week for jobs in ABA therapy, where she will do 1:1 therapy with children with autism in their homes under the direction of a licensed therapist. This would give her on the job training and give her a path forward in helping kids. Her favorite! We can't wait to see where she will go! (chess pieces were made by Milla for a final project for her 'Psychology of Death' class (yes, that is a thing). Each character represents one cultures symbol of death)

2022 Giving it a try

Well, thanks to Alyssa's amazing consistancy with her blog, I am again reminded that mine exists. During COVID I have managed one post a year. Getting 2022's in early! Never know, maybe I'll even fit in a 2nd. I don't take a lot of pictures as most of my kids cringe when I attempt a shot, but I get some in here and there. Below is a schmattering of my life over the past little while. WORK: I'm finishing up my third year at North Middle School this year. I've maintained my webpage for parents, although I always wonder if it is EVER looked at. The COVID pandemic has had the silver lining of building much stronger relationships with my coworkers- especially admin and my truancy officer. Everyone has pitched in and helped me out and vice versa, for which I am so grateful. My team is a positive bunch of patient (well most of the time...) people. In the team photo, I'm the one being squashed by the back leg of the polar bear.

My recent claim to fame:

We have always had an Autism Classroom (Sam, their teacher is in the foreground below), but this year was my first with an SSN Class (Significant Needs). They came together a couple weeks ago for a Unified Basketball tournament with a class from a neighboring school and did awesome. They had baskets set at 3 different levels so that all kids could participate. Student from the 'regular' classes ran along side the SSN and Autism students to help manage the ball. They also help in the classrooms daily, which is great experience for all. I unfortunately had to leave the game early when a (turns out drunk) student in the stands vomited... but fun while it lasted. We have 2 kids that are quadreplegic, 4 on gtube feeds, 2 with a trach, 2 with downs syndrome, 1 with epilepsy, and a myriad of other concerns. They are such a joy. Our newest student was born and raised in a refugee camp in eastern africa and has been fed and cared for by only his mother all of his 11 years. He has been a quadreplegic since birth and never had a wheelchair or gtube or been to school. It is remarkable to me, the work and love of his mom. Although severely malnourished, he is growing every day. He has the brightest smile I have ever seen! Always having been laid down, he has very poor neck strength. But after only 1 month, Olivier is already able to hold his head up for longer and longer periods of the day. He is insanely curious, looking about at everything going on. I can't wait for them to get him a speaking device to see what all his brain is capable of. I am constantly communicating with mom and his providers to work through frustrations of getting him to his appointments and school and to work through medical issues that arise. Mom can't read even numbers and speaks no english. How does someone track time and coordinate with transport when even the concept of a 7 day week is foreign to them? Despite there being language interpretation when calling Children's hospital, how does a mom even find the correct number to call on a device (phone) where she can't read the names to find who to call? It's been an interesting year and a learning curve all around.

My Go Bag with med supplies for out of office emergencies that I just fixed up with new labeling. Sorry I don't have more interesting pictures Home: Remembering seeing Emme and Cor utilize a cleaning app a couple years ago and being frustrated by constantly having to create chore lists and follow up with kids, I finally decided to try one out for the fam. After a bit of effort inputting all the chores in various areas of the house, noting how often each needed to be done and who should rotate through doing them, we are up and running! About 4 weeks in now using Tody, and I am pretty pleased with it. I don't mind getting behind a few days on most chores, but I did have to screenshot and send a text reminder to one child who needed a push.... All are getting accostomed to the app and basically keeping up, so yeah for when tech works!

To my Brandon

 

25 years is how long we have been married. It has been a road of never ending change. 

Moves: 7, Kids: 4, Pets: dog, beta fish, guinea pig, with some cat/dog/bunny fosters along the way, States: 4, Cars: 10, Adventures: more than I can count. 

Brandon is, above all, loyal. To me and to his kids. Thomas recently described him as 'Santa Claus' who is full of fun, hugs, chortles and gifts. (Mom is the scheduler, driver, and motivator). Brandon is a kid at heart. He loves movies, Disney, and singing at the top of his lungs. He loves to go out: dinner, movies, shopping, plays. He believes in autonomy, letting the kids decide when they want to participate in a family activity. He is amazingly intelligent and quick to make connections. I love 'debating' a range of issues with him, although he sometimes gets frustrated with my 'devil's advocate' approach. Although his introversion and my increasing need to be around people sometimes clash, he is always willing to participate in things important to me. He is constantly thoughtful: bringing home flowers or a sentimental gift or offering a backrub or to cover a chore when he knows I've had a hard day. Or just because. He has a gift in explaining gospel principles. I look forward to family scripture time because I learn and get a broader perspective than I have before. He has always encouraged me in whatever venture I want to do in life. Although our hobbies differ broadly, we also have a lot of overlap: singing in the car, rock climbing, biking, decorating and renovating our home, doing creative 'projects' (the full size Big John 'Solo' frozen in carbonite comes to mind), and spontaneous road trips all come to mind. 

Through the years we have regularly reevaluated the roles we each play in our family and relationship. Who does finances (me- excepting one small stint where he took it off my plate to try to reduce my stress- it didn't), yardwork (usu Brandon on the lawn and I do everything else, although kids have done lawncare for the past 5 yrs or so), financially support family (primarily Brandon, with myself increasing my contribution in recent yrs), make appts (usu me), housework, repairs and checking in on kids schoolwork (both throughout our marriage, but definitely weighed on my side early on with Brandon balancing it out now that I'm working). I'm grateful for having a husband that is always willing to step in and support me. A husband that helps me to keep life a little 'lighter'. A husband that wants to be in this relationship as much as I do. Love you, Brando!

And so it all began. February 16, 1996

Thomas and Brandon in 2019, spiffed up before heading out to a 'broadway play'. Brandon encouraged us to get an annual subscription to plays at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. We get about 8 pairs of tickets a year and have seen many a musical we otherwise would have missed! Plus we like supporting our community.

Hike at Painted Mines in Calhan, CO 2019

Kitchen demo 2020

Rewiring an outlet 

Infamous post prayer family hug (...I mean 'smash')

The kids were sad about holiday traditions being disrupted during our reno. Brandon make sure we still had a full Thanksgiving spread. He started the tradition of everyone getting their own bottle of martinelli's at dinner.

We often get an ornament to commemorate that year. This is the back of our very first one. Note the inscription, '1st Christmas -Vancouver Dec 25, 1996'

Brandon is king of bdays. There is always a morning spread of presents, games and the themed cake. This one was Star Trek, 48 yrs. 

Finishing touches on the built in shoe bench we created.

Climbing in Red Rock Canyon, Colorado Springs with our old La Grande friends, the Olsons, earlier this year.

About to go under at the Mollie Kathleen Mine in Cripple Creek, CO, June 2021

WDW trip for our 25th. This was at a German restaurant at Epcot where we had a 4 course meal and sang along with the performers. It was amazing!

Compiled after riding 'Spaceship Earth' at epcot. The ride where you are actually in the big ball. 

Manatees at Crystal Springs, FL! My favorite. Thankfully our tour provided a photographer. Brandon and I have always been hand holders and while snorkeling was no exception. The manatee wasn't too happy about it, though, and rose up, separating us. As we used to always say to our kids when they were little and tried the same maneuver 'It seems that something has come between us' ;)

My favorite shot of the trip taken on the last day as we looked out over the bay watching the sunset

to give hope for spring

Every year when the ground is covered with a foot of snow I begin to grow worried that everything is dead for good. But then the sun comes out, little sprouts begin to grow and *most* things spring to life yet again. In 2019 I let some pumpkins take over most of my lower beds, enveloping several newly planted grasses, roses and my haskap berry bushes. Only the penstemon and hyssop could come close to their vigor. A few pics to let you know that Spring always returns.

I am a succor for roses. Just pure beauty.

Decided to bring in a caterpillar we found in the garden to see what it would be. You can see the cocoon in the corner. This ended up being a pretty non descript moth, but it was fun to see the process nonetheless.

the pink in front is hyssop, larger penstemon (mexican sage) w/ red flowers was my most vigorous grower and new this year, to the left near grass w/ yellow flowers is a smaller pineleaf penstemon and is my favorite as it stays green through most of the winter and is a nice compact plant. On the upper level you can see some yellow flowers on my reliable oenothera macrocarpa (evening primrose)

I do like the dog tuff grass (a variety of bermuda grass) that has filled in well and needs little maintenance (low water and no mowing),  however definitely needs to be trimmed up on the edges a few times each summer to avoid it becoming invasive, which is a concern. 

Only mid summer in this picture, the pumpkins took over our entire patio in 2019. We ended up with 4, 50lb pumpkins, which were amazing and I somehow managed to NOT get a picture of. Or at least I can't find it... There will be no pumkins for 2020. Hoping to let some of my other plants recover that were suffocated by the bounty.

Pooka Poo

my christmas present, painted by Rin, after having a local artist teach her this technique at school

Rin, Pooka Poo, Catherine

All my brilliant 3rd born who walks to her own beat. She is uber particular about having an organized google drive and school work plan (not as much an organized bedroom), is amazingly creative and skilled at design, is always on time and makes sure her mom is as well, is unwavering in her faith and not easily swayed by others, is the first to correct a grammar error and loves to boop her papa's nose.

For her 15th birthday, she let the parents choose the theme. We decided to go over the top on the classic American birthday and did 'Light Pink' (her favorite color) and 'Spirit' paraphernalia. The banner, the plates, the table toppers, the birthday button and horse ears, the balloons. She got it all.

Loves to my Catherine.

4th of July 'Talk to the hand'

Her design that won her a display at Arapahoe Community College. (the colorful one)

Reading to Milo during our Christmas visit

Have I mentioned how much I love plumbing?

I still remember back in the day when I was fascinated by plumbing. Hanging around with mom getting the toilet adjusted just right so that it didn't run. Following my handy plumber around in La Grande as he replaced probably 90% of our plumbing from whatever they used back in 1900 (actually I don't thing the house HAD plumbing then...was probably retrofitted in the 30's. Nonetheless) to brand spankin new stuff. LOVED. IT. The flow. The simplicity. Everything working seemlessly together. I didn't redo the pipes but I was always quick to change out old faucets or toilets. You know, satisfying get-your-hands-dirty kind of work.

Then our upstairs toilet overflowed. Into our REALLY old bathroom downstairs so insurance payed for most of the remodel. Still okay with plumbing!

Then came 2019. Really. Year of the PIG. What do pigs have to do with water!! Do they leak regularly? Do those cute corkscrew tails bear the essence of the water slides of my youth? Maybe there is some link to another year of the pig, 2007, when my home was built. I may never know.

What I do know is that I just want the water to stop flowing with such poetic ease. It began with the sprinklers, popping their pretty little heads not once, not twice but 5 times this season. Then it was the girls tub, damaging 2 floors of the house. Then our waterfall began popping leaks under, around and through (everywhere but INTO) the big whole at the bottom. Next was water from the master sink making it's way to the laundry room. And for good measure, if you want to count last year as well with it's mischievous chinese dog, you can add the freezer ice dispenser and leaking dishwasher to the list.

What is left to leak you may ask? (or maybe you are just ready for me to get to the point). But I'm not done yet. The washing machine!! No, don't even say it. That's the one appliance that is still intact! (although it's neighbor mister dryer did give out this year as well).

I got a call from Sean as I drove out of the North Middle School parking lot today. 'Mom! There is water running down the sides of the water heater! (in the basement) I directed him to the water turn off valve over the phone which he said was stuck and he couldn't move. But then he indicated water was on TOP of the water heater and he thought maybe it was dripping from above. As this was 30 minutes after torrential downpours w/ flash flood and tornado warnings that kept Thomas stranded at school for an hour after release, I thought it was conceivable that some water had gotten in. Sean dutifully followed all of my directions to feel for water on beams and pipes running above. He went into the crawl space with a flashlight highlighting more that a few cobwebs to continue the inspection. Some false alarms but no water. We then went to the dishwasher, an earlier culprit, which he pulled out completely and reinstalled. Looked under every sink on every floor (b/c as I have learned, water travels!). We finally went back to the water heater. 'No wait. the water I feel is warm! I can see now! It is definitely from the water heater.' So out came the plumbers wrench and with a mighty heave he told me the water supply was off, and the flow was lessening. This was 30 min later, just as I turned at the final traffic light prior to my home coming into view. My hero.

So I went into the house, inspected to make sure that the water was all going down the drain as it was supposed to, turned the gas line off and sat down for a home show with slice of pizza and an apple. Trying not to think about the cold shower that was in store for me in the morning...

FYI: My fascination with plumbing has come to a close. thanks to all those that have dedicated their lives to the art of directing water while practicing contortionist moves. You have my respect. And my money.

Feeling blessed

I feel very guided in life. Often very unprepared, inadequate and unstable. But guided none the less. It did take me a few months do decide on the path to take for my career after moving to Aurora. But once I started on the path, after I made a decision, I feel like it just happened. Opportunities presented themselves, people were placed in my path and my often muddled mind seemed to get clarity when I needed it. I've dealt with a fair amount of intermittent depression and relationship/parenting struggles through the last few years, but through it all I still felt regular reaffirming confirmations that I was going in the direction I needed to. I can't imagine not having those to bring peace to my life and mind. I have to regularly thank the Lord for that.

I've finished my senior immersion at Rangeview High School. I've turned in my last assignment of nursing school. I've interviewed for and accepted a position as school nurse at North Middle School in Aurora Public Schools for the 2019-20 school year. Now I just have to pass my state licensing exam, set up my school clinic, and start to see my self as an actual nurse. The last being the hardest part.  I guess it's time!

I feel overwhelmed and scared and I feel happy, which is really all I've ever wanted. (of course I'm crying as I write this- right on cue)

A few more wrinkles and grey hairs than I remember being there. But look! a smile!

Just throwing this in cause we had to get our house repainted this spring and I think it turned out so pretty! I even got my orange-y front door.