Four Score and Seven Years Ago..

Okay, so it wasn't that long ago from my last post, but I sure feel like a slacker :). I can't believe that a whole school year has gone by, and the summer as well and I posted nothing (except to say a post was coming soon). I will post pictures to go with this update later.

I  think I was going to post about our RV trip to South Dakota, or perhaps it was anything in general. I now have time to write and play a bit of catch up thanks to Robert taking the kids to St. George this weekend, all but Jacob. That is why I didn't go. Jacob is a horrible traveler. He cries non stop and will not sleep in a moving vehicle, at all.

The kids had an eventful school year. I didn't help much as far as PTO goes. I can't even say I feel guilty about that. I was worn out! But, now that the new school year is upon us, I am ready to get down to business.

Molli loved the 7th grade and I think her favorite class was World History and then choir. So this year in 8th grade she dropped orchestra (I basically told her that was causing her a lot of stress and I would rather have her focus on something else, so I am okay with that decision), and has a full year of choir as well as an advanced History and Science class. I think she will like this schedule better than the first one she got this year. Orchestra wasn't the only thing she switched around.

Michael had fun as a 5th grader and there was never a dull moment of conversation between the two of us. During his 5th grade year he did many things and came out of his shell a bit. He also started 11 year old scouts and is not sure if that is fun or not, yet. He was initiated (?) in by getting a huge black eye at their first camp-out. It took about a month for it to heal, which when it did heal, he promptly broke his arm in two places (on Hannah's birthday of all days).  He and Hannah went to a school sponsored camp over the  summer called Pine Basin. I think they both had a great time there.

Hannah tolerates school. She likes math and art, but really can't find a reason to be there. She gets headaches constantly (maybe 3x a week) and she misses out on a lot when those come around.
I took Hannah with me to California for a weekend in July and she loved the ocean and collecting sea shells. I can see her living on a coast when she gets older.

(I wish my kids were around so I could ask them what their favorite  part about summer was...)

Anyway, Hyrum had a rough go at 2nd grade but he persevered. It is not a good day when the teacher calls and says that she and Hyrum are in a battle and he is winning. Apparently he had a good friend in that class that he talked to constantly. It didn't matter how far apart they were in the room they would still talk. Towards the end of the year the teacher told them they would not be in the same class next year and now Hyrum and his friend aren't really friends anymore. On his baptism day this friend came to his baptism and he went to hers in May. They had some good times. I did end up taking Hyrum with me to Boise for a night so that he could have some away time from everything. I think it was good timing. Doing pitching machine over the summer was not for him. I think their team lost every game and Hyrum only hit the ball once and it was a foul, then the ball hit him and that was the end of him liking the sport. 3rd grade is off to a good start and I have only had one phone call from his teacher and that was to tell me that he did a kind deed at school that day.

Evan loved kindergarten and everything about it. His teacher is in our primary presidency so she got to see him six days a week. He did T-ball over the summer and thought that was great.  His favorite thing to do is play on the computer.

Jonathan and Jacob I will combine because their year and summer was about the same together. Jonathan cried when the kids headed off to school last year, but this year he was just fine. Jonathan is a very happy kid. They both love to play outside and go for rides in the bike trailer or the wagon. Jacob is legal in nursery now and he actually did okay today even without Jonathan there.

For the summer we went to My. Rushmore in a rented RV and had a fun time (despite Jacob hating long rides and not sleeping in a car). We stayed at some KOAs along the way and other campsites. I even felt relaxed a lot of the time. We went to Independence Rock and Martin's Cove. The two youngest were asleep for Martin's Cove so Robert took the other kids and I took a nap :).

A week before school started I filled it up with activities around town to end the summer with a bang. On Monday I took the kids swimming at the athletic club where I work. Tuesday we went bowling. Wednesday we went horse back riding. Thursday was to a place called Sqeelers that has go carts, bumper boats, rock climbing walls, and things of the like. Robert came with us to that place. And Friday we went to a hometown baseball game. What a week. but, you know, after all that I was still not ready for school to start, but start it did. Now Molli has play practice for Peter Pan and Hyrum has soccer. Michael is going to take up the flute and Hannah really wants to do that as well. I have Symphony performances and that about sums up our life.

I didn't ever write about our trip to Guatemala during Christmas break, but I did write about it in my journal, so maybe I will post about it some day. So, if you have read this far, Congratulations! I hope you learned something new about us and you weren't too bored. I bet I can keep up better on this now that Evan is not dominating the computer and I can actually use it. Until next time :)

Stay tuned for an updated post soon :)  ..........

Life is Good in Idaho

School started a few weeks ago and the kids are adjusting well. At back to school night 5 days before school started Molli got a new schedule that included Spanish. She didn't sign up for Spanish and we were a bit worried as to how she would get from one class to another having to switch buildings and what not, but it all worked out and she is actually having a good time in Spanish. However, if anyone is willing to help her out every once in a while, don't hesitate to let me know. I open my mouth to speak Spanish and Tagalog pops out.

Evan loves Kindergarten and loves the computer even more. I need to find learning games on the computer so I at least feel he is understanding what is being taught in Kindergarten. He will run home and tell me what letter he learned about that day so he can play on the computer right away. The other day he couldn't remember the letter but he knew it started the word Iguana. I wouldn't give in, he needed to give me the right letter. After many tears, his siblings helped him and he was able to play on the computer.

The others are doing fine, I guess. I haven't heard too much complaining. I am no longer PTO president (YEA!) so I don't hang out at the elementary school as much. I spent a few days helping in the middle school orchestra instead. I really enjoyed it. I am playing my violin more and I am officially a member of the Idaho Falls Symphony, not a substitute anymore. I also play in the Teton Chamber Orchestra and in little things here and there.

Robert is busy at work and is heading to Washington DC next month for about a week. He is still enjoying his time as a member of the Iona Bonneville Sewer District. We went on a four wheeling trip a few weeks ago and had a good time. I was the driver so he could take pictures. He took a lot of pictures, but I am sure most of the time he was hanging on for dear life :) . The pictures below are not in chronological order, but it is things we did in the past few months.

PS - In the last post I mentioned about Michael's broken foot, Well, he did break it, but the specialist was not worried about it at all. Michael expressed how angry he was when we left the dr's office that he had psyched himself up for surgery or a cast or something... but nothing. He had mentally prepared himself and now was angry that it didn't happen. I understand where he is coming from, but I am sure glad he didn't need a cast or surgery.


We live in this beautiful part of the country, we might as well enjoy it



Getting ready to float the river in the rain

Molli's first time at the Temple doing baptisms for the dead



At the Zoo



Jacob is a happy baby



First day of school 2014



Jonathan didn't like the idea of them all leaving for school



My first thumb sucker



Jonathan is happy, too



Michael really was stuck, but he got free

A present from Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Rebecca

Tired after a day of 4 wheeling in Island Park and West Yellowstone

Molli with her hair all braided

He wants to go to school, too





We are still alive and well

I guess I should really post more here in case some people still read it and it is somewhat of a family history. I haven't posted lately because we have had a doozy of a 2014 so far and our other camera is inoperable at the moment so all of my pictures I want to post are on my phone and I haven't downloaded them yet - I don't know how would be a good excuse.

I will catch up more on past events later when I have pictures, but for now, I will say that Michael broke his foot the other day while helping Papa set up for the 4th of July festivities in Utah. We didn't know it was broken so he walked on it for two days with a limp until I took him to the doctor yesterday and they say a part of bone broke off and he has a torn ligament. We will be seeing an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow to find out what action will need to be taken. He may just need a cast, but he may need surgery to put a pin in his foot. Worse case scenario we do nothing and his bones fall away from where they are supposed to be and the words of the radiologist "that would be catastrophic."

He has been a trooper and hasn't complained too much. He is on crutches now, but the doctor said no walking on it.

Other than that, no real news on the Esplin front. I had a good time playing in the orchestra before the fireworks the other day at the river. Jacob is sleeping through the night most nights now and I am not so nervous when he does so. He is a good baby and the kids love him very much. Jonathan will even share his favorite blanket with him.

Jonathan has tried nursery a few times, but I have been there with him except for once and Robert was there. He does a pretty good job, but just when he gets used to it we will be missing our own ward for two weeks in a row.

Molli is looking forward to Activity Day girls day camp and then Young Women camp over her birthday. Hannah, just finished summer school and I think she will miss it, but summer can now begin. Michael has a robot lego camp coming up and He is excited for that.  Hyrum and Evan finished t-ball last week and both of them enjoyed it the whole time. Playing in the dirt is inevitable, but they still had fun.

Robert is still plugging away at work and might go to a conference in October in Washington,  DC (perhaps). 

Life is good.

New post, anyone?

So, it has been about 5 months since I posted last and I figured it was time to post again. About what? I have no idea. This has been a whirlwind of five months and I am glad we are where we are. Summer was fun and the kids enjoyed their pitching machine/ fastpitch/ t-ball (depending what age group). Michael did soccer again in the Spring, so he didn't get to play pitching machine with a group from our ward. I think he would have had a good time, but he chose soccer. That took up all of our June and the first days of July. We headed to SLC a bit later than I wanted to because Molli and Hannah had tournaments that went in to July.

Andrea and I didn't run a 5k for the 4th of July this year, our first time in four years. I kind of missed it, but we were needed at the parade route for one reason or another. Molli, Michael, and Hannah stayed with Aunt Andrea and Nana and Papa for the 4th of July evening festivities while the rest of us went back to Idaho. Robert took the other kids to Menan to watch the fireworks there. I, on the other hand, stayed in Idaho Falls and invited a friend to come watch me play in the orchestra that played right by the fireworks by the river. It was really cool and I hope to do it again next year.

Towards the end of July Michael and I ran a 5k and then Michael, Molli, and Hannah ran a kid fun run. That same day we headed down to St. George for Daniel and Erika's baby blessing for Mayli and stayed in a condo there for two nights. It was fun to be there. Then our adventures led us to a resort in Las Vegas with my family. Shan, RJ, Jaycen, Ryan, Andrea, Nana, and Papa were all there and we missed Celeste and Lorell with her family. Family was coming and going throughout the week, but we were able to be together for a little bit, anyway.

Later on in August I took all the kids and me to spend a week in Hyde Park with Grandma and Grandpa. They loved helping Grandma in the garden, we went to the zoo and had a picnic at a park. We went to the Aquatics Center for a swim and on the last day they went camping with Grandma and Grandpa and Ben and Becca. Robert came up for the night and we stayed in the house with Jonathan. It rained the whole night while they were camping so I was glad to have been somewhere dry.

School started after Labor Day and I think the kids have gotten the teachers they were supposed to get. I never recommend teachers or ask that they don't get a certain teacher. Being PTO president again might have something to do with that. We just had our first Parent/ Teacher conferences and there wasn't a "B" for any of my kids :), so I guess they are all doing well. Some A-'s, but that is okay.

Robert has been busy at work, sometimes having to go back after the kids are in bed and staying into hours that no one should see on a clock at that time of day. The kids went trick-or-treating there this year and had a good time.

I have been busy with PTO, of course, and taking the older kids to swim club (which is now thankfully over) and picking Molli up from orchestra. Amongst other things, I was asked to play as a substitute for the Idaho Falls Symphony twice. We just finished the second concert last night...... and it was hard. I wasn't the only one saying that, either. With another orchestra I have played with, we did a concert with Mindy Gledhill in October. I enjoyed that one and Robert got to bring Molli to it. She had a good time, too.

Well, that about sums up our last five months. Oh, I guess I should also mention that baby Esplin #7 will be joining us towards the end of March. We don't know a gender yet, but the kids all want it to be a girl. A girl for the last one would be great. We just told the kids last week we were going to have another baby (Robert and I have known since August). I waited so long to tell people because I have heard a lot of people suffering miscarriages and even still births lately, and I didn't want to seem haughty taughty, for lack of a better word, that #7 is on the way and I have no problem getting pregnant and carrying it to term.

If you made it this far reading this super long post, I congratulate you. I will post a few pictures now and if you skipped to these, I don't blame you :)

            

Molli swinging

Hannah swinging

Evan at bat

       

Hyrum at bat

At the Museum of Idaho

After running a 5K and a kid's run

      

At the Condo in St. George

Mayli's blessing day

       

Hannah and Hyrum at a museum in Las Vegas

Happy Jonathan

     

Molli, Michael, and Hannah after a triathlon

Robert cleaning out the gutters

       

After the Mindy Gledhill concert

Evan as Batman for Halloween