From my phone

Sweet little hands waiting for their sister to kick them. 

Why is it that she moves all over and as soon as I tell someone to feel, all movement stops. Always. It's so weird. They each did get to feel one kick though. 

Leah got bored.  The three younger boys stuck it out. 

Laying on my couch while listening to little John rake outside with Leah. And waiting for my noisy kids to come home. I was enjoying my view. I LOVE thanksgiving. And the whole thanksgiving/Christmas season all together. 

One of Leah's many photos. You can see in her eyes how she's feeling. Yucky cough and cold. 

She snapped a photo of me. I better get one from the front soon. John and I think I'm bigger than I've ever been in a pregnancy. Just over 5 weeks til due and I can't imagine it's possible to get even bigger. 

Johns been finding his way to Provo as much as possible. Last Saturday he went with friends and his friends dad to the football game and basketball game. Last night, same dad took them back to the basketball game. 

Leah probably got this shot of the boys with Aaron playing "Sorry". Aaron stayed the night last weekend and they had a great time together. 

The beauty driving up my street. 

Emily's selfie. She doesn't take many serious selfies. They're mostly silly. She prides herself in pulling weird faces like her dad. 

She's beautiful. I love her. Even when she pulls goofy faces. 

Aubrey, emily, and Jacie at the jazz game. John was there with two of his friends and we were there with the rest of the kids and Jolie and Ryan and their families. 

I cleaned off this shelf in my room and Leah turned it into a bed for her, San, and jack. It kept her busy for a long time. 

Jack and his self portrait at school. 

My favorite tree and its coming down to make room to pull a trailer in and out of the side yard. 

Leah kept herself occupied for over an hour by putting paper clips on jazz ticket Stubbs. 

Emily sang the national anthem with the madrigals at the boys basketball game. It was really pretty. 

I'd like John to build me this dining table sometime. Has two benches and seats 10-12. Gorgeous. 

One of those days

You know those days when you just can't seem to get a handle on anything but you have a perfect view of everything. Like seeing every little mess happening in front of you, and asking and telling people to clean it up, put it away, but no one can hear you. 

When nerves are on the very edge and every little thing makes you snap or blow up. Or just be completely silent and maybe even disappear.  

A day when your voice is louder than you want it to be, every time it makes sound. 

When it feels like the gates of hell are cracking open in your own home. 

When hours and hours of work by a child are saved and then somehow completely lost and that child has to start all over and you feel so bad that there's nothing you can do. 

A day when your son put forth so much time and effort and felt confident just to be shut down and not make the team. 

A day when you beg your children, after prayer and scriptures, to please be in bed and quiet in five minutes, and they all agree but not one follows through. 

A day when no matter how many times You ask for the tv to be turned down then turned off, it just doesn't happen until you make everyone mad and do it yourself. 

A day when your husband is at meetings for two days and won't be coming home but you know it's better he doesn't because you'll find some reason to be mad at him too. 

A day that you are told the blood tests you prepped for and had done 5 weeks ago somehow disappeared and you have to do it all again. 

A day when no matter what good you do, it can't be seen because of how fast it falls apart. 

When you've had the mortgage payment written and in the envelope for two weeks then realize you forgot to mail it to get there in time, just causing more effort to find the number and have to call tomorrow to get it taken care of. 

A day when you try to sneak away with two older kids to the store and the youngest, and hardest at the store, cries and runs to the car to join you. Then when it starts to fall apart at the store you just have to get out of there as fast as you can. 

A day when you get so tired of hearing yourself say the same thing over and over and over. 

When you desperately need a haircut. 

A day when finally everyone else gets quiet but the youngest insists on not going to sleep. 

When your three year old breaks a glass jar out front. 

When you wonder why on earth you've been blessed with so many children. 

A day when your 11 year old immediately grabs a broom and cleans up the three year olds broken glass jar. 

When the 15 year old sweeps 3 feet of the kitchen and puts away 5 things and is so proud of his effort. 

A day when you feel grateful you made one of your families favorite dinners and it was easy to make, french toast, and it felt good to feed them. 

When you actually did read scriptures and say prayers, alone and as a family, even if it was in chaos. 

When you had a good visit with sisters, good friends and visiting teachers. And an offer from your best friend to come help you put into real life the vision you have for your Christmas tree. 

When you put forth the effort and finally called your grandma and had a great, long conversation. 

When your other grandma sent a surprise in the mail. Just for you. 

When you were able to get to the store and get the milk and bread and apples and even chocolate milk.  

When your sister finds at the store the paintbrushes you need for the relief society project you're in charge of tomorrow. 

When you somehow muster up enough energy to load the dishwasher, wash the counters and table, sweep the floor, wash your face and get in bed with enough time to think about the day (even with your daughter still up redoing all her hard work, while singing). 

When your kids hug you even when it's been "one of those days".  

And when the youngest insists on rolling all over you, getting up and down, talking non stop, getting drinks, getting cold and turning off the fan that your hot, pregnant body needs blowing, and even critiques the way the writing for this post looks. 

I could keep going. But you get the point.

Perspective. Patience. Anxiety. Family. Forgiveness. This and so much more.  

Just one of those days. 

Jazz Game

John was given tickets at work and from a neighbor so Jolie and Ryan's families and Laura's family and two friends each of John and Emily's all went. They lost. It was boring to me but I think the kids had fun with their cousins. 

Nice playground in the hall. I enjoyed sitting and watching that more than the game. :)

Long busy day today and so much more to do to prepare for this baby. And Christmas. 

Higginson Sunday Best

Welcome to our Circus!!

Cool kids

Emily practiced and practiced and practiced and this girl is avrockstar on the volleyball court. She may not have made the school volleyball team but all that practicing sure paid off for church volleyball. They play in the championship game tomorrow!!

This is how the scouts camp out in our ward. In a ward members barn with heat, movies, and sometimes four wheelers. 

Thomas and John, the dad, are roughin it tonight. But so am I at home with the rest of my kids and Jolie's four kids. :)

Hawaii

I need to get going with a hawaii album. I finally downloaded all the pictures. Just need to turn them into a memory book. Until then, I love this picture. Other than the fact that Sam would not look at the camera. Stinker. 

John

John took john phone before the game and headed to the floor. Then he found a friend and sat on the 10th row. Funny kid. Alec Burks said he could have a picture if he tagged him. Done. 

They were there with Thomas and Jack and their junior jazz teams. 

Leah

Election is over. Thank goodness.

I wake up with lots of energy then Mid morning every day, I get exhausted and g o lay down. Yesterday to buy some time, Leah put stickers on me, took pictures, then took them all off. It gave me about 30 minutes and was great!

Emily and jacies last day with lily. 

YW in Excellence was wonderful. Emily is beautiful. She's displaying guitar, her hard work with volleyball, and her service journal. 

Thomas and Scott cutler out getting people to vote. 

Yeah!!  Paul won!!  So did tami Fillmore. Fabulous turnout!!

The air was beautiful today. Had to snap a couple pics. 

Today

Today our Christmas lights still didnt get put on. I was hoping but wow the day filled up fast. 

It started with 3+ hours of hanging door hangers for mayor candidate Paul cutler. All 8 of us helped. It also included plenty of donuts for everyone. 

Next John and John went to the temple to do baptisms for 66 people grandpa needed done. It was packed and they spent a couple hours there. I visited with neighbors, chased my little ones around the block, and hung out at home. 

We then sold some ties to a friend and loaded a trailer with all the branches we cut from our trees yesterday. 

Next, John and Thomas were wrestling and Thomas was slammed into the corner of the wall. Ouch. It swelled right up. 

Now?  John, John, Thomas, and Jack went to the jazz game with jr. Jazz teams. Sam and Leah are watching a movie then Sam will get a haircut and both will shower. Emily's three doors down at her friends house and I'm about to go find the Christmas lights and get them ready for John to hang. 

Busy day but a good day. Leah's graffiti face?  That was last night. Thanks to Sam and Leah. 

SAMs always a big help when it comes to outside work.