Daddy Daughter Weekend

Years ago, Graci pointed out that I took the boys on father/son camping trips, but didn’t do daddy/daughter camping with the girls. So we started an annual daddy/daughter camping trip. Several of those have blog posts on this site. But after 5 years of camping trips, the girls decided they weren’t really tent campers. (Given wheelchairs, blindness, lack of appendages, etc., who can blame them???) So we changed our annual daddy daughter trip to renting an Airbnb for two nights. We go to a movie, go out to eat, play games and watch more movies at the Airbnb, and just have a generally fun and relaxing time. I’m so grateful to have these amazing daughters!

Braille Uno!

Daddy Dates!

 Two weeks ago our town festival, Fort Herriman Days, was in town. There was a parade, a carnival, a big fireworks show, lots of fun. On Saturday morning I walked Elli down to the festivities. I wasn't sure how she would respond, but she used to really like rides, so I decided to try it with her. I asked "Elli, do you want to go on a ride?" In her unique way she replied, "Yes." "Do you want to go on a big ride or a little ride?" "Big ride." I figured I'd start out on a medium ride so we got on the Scrambler (sometimes called the Sizzler). She did pretty well on it and seemed to enjoy it. Afterwards I asked her if she wanted to go on another ride and she said yes. I asked, "A big ride or a little ride." "Little ride." So we rode the Ferris wheel (big in height, little in impact on your body). Afterwards she asked for another big ride, so I took her on the biggest, craziest ride there. You're clamped down with one of those large body clamps that comes over your shoulders. You're on huge swing arm that takes you above parallel with the ground as you swing on a radius of about 30 feet. At the same time, the seats, which are at the end of the arm, are spinning like a merry-go-round. It's pretty intense. She liked it as it started going but got pretty clingy by the time it was full speed. Afterwards I asked again if she wanted to go on another ride. Yes. "Big ride or little ride?" VERY emphatic "LITTLE RIDE." So we did the Yo-yo, which turned out to be her favorite. We had some lunch from a food truck and headed home.

Later in the day I went down with Lexi, Sophi, Jesi, Conner and Graci. Elli came again and enjoyed more rides. Really fun day, and it's great that it's only a couple of blocks from our house:)

Lexi and Sophi acting master class

Miss these two little girls!

-Dad

Parenting skills

Wednesday was the last day of school for our Providence Hall kids. Today is Elli's last day.  Since most of the kids don't have to get up, Christi and I get to sleep in a little bit, but Christi still gets Elli ready and on the school bus.  Yesterday when her alarm rang, she said, "I'm so tempted to just keep sleeping and then drive Elli to school later in the morning."  Sensing an opportunity to gain some always-needed husband points,  I told her I'd get up and take care of Elli. (Poor Elli.  I've given up on trying to make her hair look even remotely good.  I just make sure it's in ponytails and out of her face.)

By the time Elli was on the bus, Sophi and Lexi were awake.  I was needing to get started on some projects, so when those two asked me to make them breakfast, I told them they could do it on their own.  Now I know they face some obvious challenges in this course of action, but they really are quite capable and often feed themselves, usually working as a team to take care of everything they need.

About ten minutes later I hear scrambling in the kitchen and start to smell smoke.  I rush in and, even in the midst if disaster, they've taken care of things.  The burning item has been taken outside and they got it out there before the smoke alarm could go off!  Apparently they had found some leftover french toast in the fridge.  Lexi thought it would be better with some chocolate syrup on it, so they unwrapped a couple of mini Hershey's bars (leftover from Halloween) and put them in a bowl in the microwave.  Sophi asked Lexi, "How long should we cook it?" Lexi replied, "I don't know. Try two minutes." Hence the smoke.

Undeterred, they kept going.  They melted another round of chocolate and heated up the french toast. When they finished their creation, they were so proud they invited me in to see the final product.  Three layer french toast with chocolate and whipped cream between the layers and topped with strawberry yogurt.  Gourmet!

Poignant Moments

Being the parent of blind children is a tremendously humbling experience.  Watching (and I can see the irony here) Lexi and Conner perform the simplest of daily tasks can sometimes bring me to tears. Most of the time I don't even notice it, partly because they do things so well and partly because I'm just used to it.  But once in awhile the significance of living without sight hits me hard.  It may be Conner clearing his dinner plate and his helpless realization that someone has moved the kitchen garbage can.  Or Lexi sitting with us as we watch America's Got Talent and suddenly realizing that she can only really experience the singing acts.  Or transporting the two of them home from a camp with the Utah School for the Blind and watching as they struggle to get their suitcases back in the house from the garage.  Life is not fair.

And yet, these children who cannot see the light bring so much of it into the lives of others.  Lexi's infectious smile, gregarious nature and willingness to sing for pretty much anyone and everyone she ever meets brings joy to so many people.  Conner's dry sense of humor, continual insistence that he needs a girlfriend before he dies and his talent on the piano make those around him alternately laugh with him or be amazed by him.

I haven't mentioned Elli because the poignancy of her life transcends the struggle to sightlessly do what everyone else does.  She is often happy, and equally often at least contented.  But she also has many moments (or hours!) when she is in anguish, crying out for something.  Something we cannot discern. I don't know how much even she understands what it is she wants.  Sometimes she seems completely lost in a different world, but sometimes it feels like she knows exactly what she wants and is tormented by her inability to communicate her needs.

The other day I had two moments, one that made me so happy as I witnessed the ingenuity and cooperation of my kids, one that was a simple representation of what they have to overcome.

First moment: I walked into the kitchen and saw the cooks.  Lexi and Conner are both able to prepare their own ramen noodles in the microwave.  We have two microwaves, one above the counter and one below.  The lower oven has braille stickers that enable these two to use it.  Conner had put his noodles in the lower oven and started it.  Lexi didn't want to wait until his were done, so she put her noodles in the upper oven and shut the door.  Unable to tell where the numbers were, Lexi wrapped both of her arms tightly around Sophi's torso.  Lex then lifted with all her might, and leaned back so that Sophi was angled up.  Sophi reached out with her toes to put 3 minutes on the timer.  I wish I had taken a picture!!!  Watching these kids demonstrate their independence was a great way to start my day.  (And yes, it was breakfast they were cooking.  In China, there's really no difference between breakfast food and dinner food, so ramen noodles are great any time of day😋.)

Second moment:  I was tasked with changing the sheet on Lexi's mattress.  Lexi sleeps in the upper, built-in bunk in the room she shares with Sophi.  If you've never changed the sheets on a bunk bed, consider yourself lucky.  It's a bit of a challenge.  When we designed our home, we wanted built in bunks in the girls' rooms and we put in electrical outlets by each bed for reading lights, alarm clocks, etc.  A couple of incredible local artists volunteered their time to paint both girls' rooms with a Disney Tangled theme.  They painted pretty much every square inch of the walls, and it really does feel like you are walking into whatever kingdom Rapunzel lives in.  Part of their efforts included painting the cover plates on the electrical outlets.  As I climbed up to Lexi' bed to change the sheets, I noticed her outlet.  Again, one of those simple moments that sucked the breath out of me.  I saw this:

Once completely covered in paint, much of it has now been scraped clean by metal prongs as Lexi has tried to find the holes to plug in her phone charger.  Such a small thing, but a great representation of how challenging life can be.  It is also a great example of determination and perseverance.

I didn't start this post with any intention of advocating adoption, but I am suddenly overwhelmed with  a combination of compassion, sorrow and hope for those who could adopt but haven't yet.  Please consider it.  It is wonderful for the kids who become part of a forever family.  But perhaps the most powerful blessings come to those who bring these children into their lives.  You will be blessed.  Your current kids will be blessed.  Grandmas, grandpas, cousins, aunts and uncles will be blessed.  Neighbors, church congregations and entire student bodies will be blessed.  We have truly been blessed beyond comprehension by these giant spirits in slightly broken bodies.

Jeremy

On a humorous note: Sophi and I were talking and my large belly was stretching my t-shirt a bit tight.  I commented, "I can't believe I used to be 25 pounds heavier than this!"  Sophi looked at my stomach and said, "How did you fit on rides???"  Great question, Soph! 😂

Random Photos

Best friends!

 Christi loves my beard, but she will not come near me with this thing on my face:

Elli taking a break at church...

 What a lucky dad to have so many delightful daughters!!!

Cutest Blossom Ever

Each night before bed, either Christi or I tuck in the kids.  The older ones don't care so much any more, but the younger ones (and one medium one;) pretty much can't fall asleep without it.  We have a little sing and respond we use to send each one into peaceful slumber.  In our routine, each child has a nickname.  Lexi is our "little blossom."  It's such a great nickname for her.  She really brings the joy of a flower into our home each and every day.

I thought this picture that Christi snapped at Thanksgiving point this evening perfectly displayed the way that Lexi glows.  She truly is a little blossom.  Thank you, Lex, for being so perfect!!!

Love,

Dad

Zion National Park

Last week on a work trip to Cedar City, I planned on doing a short hike in Zion National Park.  Taylor, Parker, Xander, Sophi and Lexi wanted to come with me.  We also invited their three cousins that live in St. George to come meet us for the hike and swimming in the hotel pool afterwards.  When we got out of the van in the small parking lot across from the trailhead, Trey looked up at the sheer cliff face in front of us.  He quickly spotted a bighorn sheep!  We were all excited.  In all of my hikes, this was the first bighorn I had seen in the wild.

As we started hiking, the sheep worked it's way towards the trail from above.  It ended up on the path just ahead of us, and we followed it for several hundred feet.  It was a really neat experience, and the kids were fascinated.  This particular trail is less than two miles round trip without much elevation gain, so it's pretty easy.  But the views at the end are unparalleled.  Even though it was short, it had lots of rocks and ups and downs and even overhangs that we had to navigate.  I was so proud of Lexi for working her way through all of that.  And a huge thanks to Taylor and Parker who guided her through much of it.  For most of the hike I carried Sophi in a backpack baby carrier (thanks Matt and Carla!), but she did walk some of it.  

The hotel we stayed at was right at the entrance to Zion NP and the views as we played in the pool and ate breakfast the next morning were breathtaking.  It is so much fun to have such great travel companions!

-Jer

Ready to Go!

A new friend...

Great rock formations along the way...

Incredible views and vistas...

Taylor is having fun growing his hair out, but it gets in the way during a sweaty activity.  Fortunately, Sophi was willing to switch from pigtails to a ponytail and let Taylor borrow an elastic:)

Our hotel was fun.  It had a pool table and some computers in the lobby.  Something for everyone...

We stopped and visited Grandma Larsen in Richfield on the way home...

Summer Work Trips:)

I occasionally have to drive to southern Utah and stay overnight for work.  During the summer months I always take some of the kids with me when I go.  Usually we head to Cedar City.  We swim in a hotel pool and go out to dinner and see a movie.  But last week I went down to Moab.  I dropped Xander, Lexi and Sophi off in Ferron with Grandma and Grandpa Nelson.  The kids were so excited to be able to stay with them for two nights.  (To any of my children who are reading this, remember how awesome it is to have grandparents who live within reasonable driving distance!  Don't move across the country once you have kids!!!)

Of course it was a wonderful getaway for all of us.  While I was overnight in Moab, I hiked out to one of my favorite places on earth: Corona Arch.

Bowtie arch is a "pothole arch," meaning the water pooled above and eroded through over millennia.

Corona Arch

To give you an idea of the scale of this massive arch, here are two pictures of it with people directly underneath.

The people are the tiny dots towards the right side of the arch opening.

Also, this complete awesomeness was filmed at Corona Arch (sadly I was not one of the participants;)

Meanwhile, the kids were kept entertained with a visit to the community pool, Millsite state park and the complete joy of staying with grandparents.  Sophi and Lexi got in some sewing with Grandma:

Lexi made a pillow for her stuffed animals.

Sophi made a sleeping bag for Cooper, her new, very lifelike, puppy.

 And Xander was schooled in the finer points of shooting BBs by Grandpa:

And since six of the kids were gone on trek, Christi had close to three full days with just Elli at home.  Not exactly a vacation for her, but a bit of a respite:)

Family Night with the Greens:)

Every Monday night our family gathers for an evening together.  It is something our church has advocated for years, and it something the kids really look forward to each week.  (Admittedly, the older they get, the less they look forward to it.  But honestly, even the older kids usually enjoy it and they are always really good sports about it!)  We open with a song and a prayer, we have a lesson and an activity and a treat and close with another song and prayer.  Sometimes the activities are really short, sometimes we go to a park or a movie.  But it really is nice to have a night where everyone knows we will be spending time together as a family.

Yesterday had been a hard day at work and I really wanted an activity that would take my mind off of those stresses.  So I came up with this: anyone who wanted to could put their name in a hat.  (Those who did not want to participate just watched the hilarity:)  We would draw one name as the winner, who would then get to spray one of the other people with the hose for 12 seconds.  But we wouldn't know who was going to get sprayed until the water hit us.

Parker won the draw and the rest of the brave souls (Lexi, Sophi, Xander, Jesi, Christi, Taylor and me) lined up in the back yard.  Parker walked back and forth behind us, sometimes squirting the water near us, to ramp up the tension.  At the beginning you can hear Graci narrating the events to Conner.  Then you hear poor Lexi asking Xander "who got squirted?" because she kept hearing Parker tormenting us with the hose.  I also love Lexi's squeal when Parker gets even vaguely close to her.  Park did a great job of making us all squirm and definitely chose the victim with the biggest payoff:)

Parker ready to dish it out.

All of us lined up and ready to take our medicine!

Best dance moves ever!!!

I love our family💖

-Jer