I Love to See The...

TEMPLE!!!

So, much of these past two and half months have been full of preparation. Mainly, I have learned and taught a Hoe Down Dance, a fast paced group song with actions called "Arise!" and even a little sign language. All of which, two months ago, I was frankly scared to agree to. I knew it would be a big undertaking, lots of rehearsals, lots of work, lots of yelling, lots of instruction...BUT...I am So glad my hubby, and even the kids, got to be a part of it. The words of the songs I find myself, Morgan, and even James and Sarah Grace at times, words like "We will choose the light, living lives of purity. We are the keepers of His Light." I love that. And it's just by osmosis; just by being around it all. That's a pretty nice side effect. :)

"Look unto me in Every thought; doubt not, fear not."

The pictures shown show me and the kids, and my Mom and siblings, (and Daddy too, he just got so sick he couldn't even get out the van and slept it off, poor guy) visiting the new Phoenix Arizona Temple.  For me, and the hundreds of thousands who got to visit it during it's open house, it was a place of beauty, of reflection, and peace. There was one particular moment, shown at right, where little Jo-Jo, in the visitors tent outside of the temple, looked up into Jesus' face, and many of those around him were touched by this moment of connection. The kids were very excited to see the inside - Morgan in particular on the tour kept asking, "Mom, where is the room you get married in?" The beautiful glass, paintings, tile, etc, were inspiring to behold. For many though, that's all this building was - a building. A very nice, beautiful, elaborate building, but just a building. But, that's just the beginning!  I believe the temple is a small piece of Heaven, it's what helps connect us to eternity, where families can be sealed together forever. Where we can receive guidance and instruction from our Heavenly Father. And, I honestly felt that Morgan sensed that too.

As in all things however, it was not a perfect day. Sarah Grace was tired and hungry, and did NOT want to walk...she wanted to be carried, and let me know over and over...but so did Jo-Jo. So, it was a bit of an endeavor, to say the least, to make it through the temple without losing my temper or my sanity. Without Daddy, it was a lot harder. Thankfully I had family and friends to help me through it, to help carry the kids, so that I could also enjoy the experience. (Wow, just a thought, but that is pretty symbolic. That's why God put us on earth in families! We need each other, and can't make it without that extra support.)  So, even though it was crazy... I'm glad we went. 

So, all in all...I do love to see the temple. I'm grateful the kids liked it too, and that my family, my brother with his wife and triplets in tow, my Mom and my sister Brynn and newphew Michael, all were willing to make the drive with us.  I'm grateful, well, sometimes I am grateful, that life is full of good and hard things to do...because if we include those we love in those efforts, it only helps connect us with that which matters most. :)

Change...is Good, right? :)

So, August 2014 - a time of great change in the Harrop household.
First off, School started! Morgan in 1st grade, James in Kindergarten! Lets just say all-day school has been an "adjustment" for Morgan. She openly admits that she misses Mommy! (This may seem normal, but to me, who often hears how much she misses Daddy, I felt for her, but was also a little pleased that she wants to be with me that much too.) James has also been adjusting to half-day school, but every day. "I miss preschool, Mom," he'll tell me from time to time. But, now as August draws to a close, I think my two big kids are slowly warming up to their new routine. :)

Going on a ride -this little girl loves flowers! "Pick me one, Mom?" 

Sarah Grace is only 3, but she is happily part of a "pre-preschool" co-op group with 3 of her friends from church. One letter and one number each week, plus lots of play time with her best friends, equals tons of fun and learning. And Jo-Jo? Well, he's just along for the ride. :)

Our 1st pumpkin! It's already3x's as big!

Second, can you say rain!! Our little garden has been LOVING all this rain - and the kids are particularly excited about our first venture into the world of that oh-so-favorite sqaush: the pumpkin!
Jo-Jo in particular loves to peruse the tomatoe plants, often extending a not-quite-ripe fruit in his chubby palm. (He does NOT like to eat them...just pick them. Poor things.) However, he DOES enjoy the strawberries which are continuously popping out small handfulls of little berries each week....that is, if they survive his watchful eye.

Third, with the two oldest at school, the two youngest are getting a little more Mommy time. A few precious moments so far have been during exercise time. The other day I put in a Yoga video, and Jo-Jo stood right next to me, hands almost in Namaste position, then extended his hands overhead following the lady onscreen. :) So cute! And today, Sarah Grace, as I did pilates to some music on my phone, began to dance, all of her own accord. Her cute, still slightly rounded little girl legs twirled and bent quite gracefully, being completely free and loving moving...that is, until I decided to join her. "MOM! I DONT WANT YOU TO DANCE!" I immediately dropped into a push-up position, as if that is what I had meant to do all along. (Sometimes, she just wants to do things by herself...I've found this to be true when it comes to singing "Frozen" songs as well.) She definitely has a mind of her own, and makes her mind known. We've also been going to the park a lot more often after we pick up James from school, to help him transition better. We've made some good memories already.

Picking "Dandelion Fuzz" - one for each member of the family. :)

Fourth, and hardest change: Daddy has been working...a lot. He is transitioning to a private company family and marriage therapy practice, but has been "slowly" (and painfully) transferring patients from his old company, while simultaneously building a clientele in his new practice. Short and simple: long work days. :( And it has been affecting all of us. Jonny sleeps very little, working hard to complete paperwork. He does an all-nighter usually once a week. All of the kids miss him, and so does Mommy. We all are ready for this change, which Daddy is making so he can have more family time, which we all need. So, we're praying for strength to endure...and the end is in sight! I hope we don't have a month like this for a long, long time.

Daddy catching some quality time with the kids :)

Finally, on a more positive note, we are getting ready for a new temple only one hour away from us! I miss having the temple so close like we did at BYU, and now, if not up the street, one will only be an hour away. :) The Phoenix Temple will be dedicated on Nov. 15, and Jonny and I have been asked to help get the youth of our ward ready for the cultural singing and dancing celebration that will happen the night before! So, we attended a training afternoon, got the Hoe-Down and other dances at least a little committed to memory, and now we get to begin, over the next two months, to teach our youth! It's going to be an adventure, but a fun one! I'm actually really excited, the biggest perk being I'll get to be with my hubby during the week too! And dancing together. :) It takes me back to our college days when dancing was one of our favorite things to do together. I'm grateful for one more excuse to hang out with him. :)

So, all in all, a month of great, and sometimes hard, change.
Good-bye August. A good month in some ways, but...I honestly can't say I'll miss you that much. ;)

James Isaac - Year #4 almost gone!

James - boy through and though!

I can't believe it, but my crazy, big-hearted boy is growing up. I figured, since it his birthday is coming up next month (and to set a fun trend) I would do a post just about him, and then continue to do a post about each of the kids around their birthdays. :)

So, James will turn 5 on August 29th. His birthday is right before the deadline of entry for Kindergarten, and he is SO excited to go, especially since he will get to go to school with his big sister Morgan. :)

S'Mores: a favorite Family Home Evening Treat!

 His fourth year of life has been a full one - He loved going to Preschool with Miss Gina, where he made new friends, had a ton of fun, and learned a lot! I am blown away especially by his recognition of numbers! Maybe he's a math guy! Which, with his love of all things electronic, I could see such aptitudes coming in quite handy in a lucrative future career! :)

He has continued his love of scootering - he can ride with the big boys at the skate park, going up and down ramps like a pro! He learned to do more tricks on the trampoline. front flips, bum wars, and crazy tricks that he makes up names for, like "Ninja bomb!" or the like. He also jumped off of Grandma Patsy's roof onto the trampoline below, blowing away his uncles Skye and Tadj and cousin Michael! Not to mention Grandma! 

His interests have been as follows: swords, swords, swords, x-box, swords, jumping on the trampoline, reading books, having books read to him, swords, riding his scooter at the skate park (and boy can he go! He is so daring!), riding his training wheeled bike (hand-me-down pink one from his sister, but he doesn't seem to care), swords, playing hop-scotch, wrestling.....HARD, swimming (especially in a life jacket), playing with friends, and did I mention swords? I need to get a picture, but he will stick one down his shirt behind his head so that his collar holds it in place, and then put the other through his shorts, with the end hanging out the bottom!

Burn that marshmallow!

He also loves his sisters (sometimes in rough and tumble ways which they don't always appreciate) and especially his little brother Joseph, who he has christened Jo-Jo, or sometimes Bo-Bo, both of which have stuck. And he really does love them. Jonny and I have loved seeing how much more caring and concerned he's been toward them - seeing how his rough play can make them feel, hugging and kissing it better, and saying he's sorry. He really is a big teddy bear - and I hope he stays that way. I could see him being the kind of guy no one wants to mess with at first glance, but also the kind of guy who would never start stuff, just be there to protect and watch out for his sisters. :)

His mind and body have constantly been on the move. You can see it in his eyes when he's processing things. and I love the funny things that can come from his ever-moving mind. The other day, in a moment of frustration upon seeing the state of his room, Daddy and I were explaining that we can't let our house get SO messy, because it's hard to find what we need and even more important, hard to feel the Holy Spirit. We compared it to our bodies and how we need to keep them clean and put good things inside them too. He thought about this a moment, then said,  in his matter-of-fact way,"Yeah, because we shouldn't eat too much chunky food." (I.e. Junk food). I couldn't help but smile. Another favorite was from a bottle of root beer with a bull-dog on it. He told me, "Mom, look! The bull-dog makes the bubbles chubby!" :)

James is a warrior - he is not afraid of anything. Ever since he could start walking and climbing, he would push the limits. The memory of him climbing up onto a high picnic table, and then jumping off, and he wasn't even 2 yet, still amazes me! But, like most of us, he doesn't like not getting his way. He can be quite free-spirited... and un-bending, which I hear will serve him well someday, but....since he didn't get those traits from the sand-man (James and I are very similar in many ways), we often will butt heads. However, we're both learning a lot from each other, and for that I'm glad.  We love our James!

James is creative - after lots of sprinkler fun, when I put the hose to a trickle, and put it on the trampoline, he made his own pool, and even included his little sister in the fun! That's our James: always wanting to share the moment! He is a quality time kind of guy - "Mom, come watch me do tricks!" "Mom, will you come jump on the trampoline with me?" "Sarah Grace, do you want to go outside?" These are common requests - he just likes to be with you. :)

James has the best laugh, and his eyes shine when he's happy. When he was a small, well...smaller... (he was never really little, we called him Bull-dog as a baby - those big jowels of cheeks!) though, people would often ask if he ever smiled....he was SO serious. Not as outgoing as his big sister, and not needing to be in the lime-light, James would sit back, observe, and approach people cautiously. But boy, could that baby eat: my best nurser yet, 10 minutes or less, and he was done...and he has been a fast-moving guy ever since.  RapiJames is his "Pokemon" name from the night-time stories Daddy will tell to the kids, and he lives up to it every day. We love you Buddy!

"Frozen" in Summer!! (And the power of one Prayer.)

After an hour of being held, Jo-Jo finally braved the waters. 
And never looked back!

So, it's a Saturday night (yesterday) and what are the Harrop's up to? Watching "Frozen" of course! Our whole family loves the songs and the story. :) Morgan, with a little coaxing, well, maybe a lot, cause she doesn't like to perform under pressure....will belt out "Let it Go!" and Sarah Grace, in her little, adorable way, will sing, "For the First Time in Forever." Even at 3, she knows the words so well! James just loves Olaf the snowman and Sven the reindeer. Jo-Jo sat in his chair enjoying his popsicle, laughing when we did, bouncing and dancing in time to the music.

Half-way through, the missionaries came over from our church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and shared a message about how God still speaks today. They asked us how that knowledge has affected our lives. I remembered back to when the missionaries first came to my home, when I first prayed to know if what I had read from "The Book of Mormon" was true, and how the Spirit confirmed to my heart. And I realized how much my life has been changed for the better because of that one prayer, that one unmistakeable confirmation that Yes, God still speaks today, and continues to reveal His words to his servants!
Looking at our squirming, bored kids, who were having a hard time taking a break from their favorite movie for the spiritual thought, I realized I probably wouldn't have half of them at this point in my life without that confirmation almost twenty years ago. I mean... four this close together (4 born in 5 1/2 years), what am I, crazy? Yeah, probably, but every child has come after sincere prayer seeking God's will for our family. Then, I thought that perhaps I never would have even met the amazing man I've married, if it hadn't been for that prayer. (We met at BYU, the church's sponsored university.) And I thought of my relationship with my Savior - how much closer I've come to Him, how much better I've gotten to know Him, through the words of modern and ancient prophets. What joy I would be missing, no? See below:

What would my life be without my girls? 
Less dramatic, maybe, but less sweet for sure!

My warrior, ninja, jedi James. What a hoot!

Jo-Jo loving the Splash pad at the zoo!

So, after a week full of swimming and sun-burns, zoo exploration and 5 hours at the car mechanics, splash-pads, late nights,  fresh peas from the garden, S'mores, mosquito bites, peed beds, clean sheets, braided hair, hissy-fits, musical Mommy-daughter night, and reflection, I'm a happier mom. Thank God for summer, my children, my husband, and for answered prayer.

Morgan's response to watching Bye-Bye Birdie? "I want to be in a play, Mommy!" With that smile, charm, and voice, the sky's the limit for you, Morgi!

The Grand Canyon, July 9, 2014 - and Technological difficulties/downsides

So, what's the question mark for? As in, adventure, mystery, or is it just that  they have no idea what you're going to be up to??

So, currently trying to work out all the technological facets to this blogging world - how to get pictures from my phone to this site...I hope I'll get it straight. Sheesh! Facebook is easier than this. However, the "easiness" of Facebook is one of the reasons I want to blog. On Facebook I've noticed that I only post a sentence or two about what we as a family do/have done, and even then, not very consistently. I usually just let myself get sucked into the black-hole that is my newsfeed. However,  I want more to look back on 10 years down the line. I want to be able to have things the kids have said, little cute things they do that might not stick in my memory, and aren't necessariy huge, but like all small things, they lead to great things (see Alma 37:6-7, one of our favorite scriptures.) Plus, I want them to have something to have to look back on when my memory flops...as it seems to do all to quickly, even now!

So, it's gonna be worth it. Just wish I wasn't so technologically-challenged. I just get frustrated with technology too fast, I guess. But wait! I just checked back...and my photos are up! Here they are! (Well, here are a few of the Grand Canyon, our most recent outing, on July 9, 2014, on our way back from BYU, as you can tell by our hats and shirts. We are True Blue and proud of it!)

The Grand Canyon! Jonny and the kids' first time!

Jo-Jo and James enjoying the view

Morgan is actually sitting on the fence over the edge...she's a gutsy little thing, I told her. She then asked, "Mom, what's gusty, mean?" I love that they are constantly hungry for new word definitions!

Isn't God's handy-work amazing? Coming out here, we were again reminded of His majesty. :)

Family Adventures - Summer 2014

So, blogging...me an you, well, we've had an....inconsistent relationship, to put it nicely. However, since going to the Harrop Family Reunion in Zion's National Park in Utah, I feel more inspired. I met one of my husband's cousins, and through talking with her, my desire was rekindled to make a record of our crazy, hectic, happy, awesome life together, me, my hubby, and our four blue-eyed, blonde kidlets. :)

Morgan loving the water at the Harrop Family Reunion.

So, this summer...we have traveled! From the beaches to CA and SeaWorld in June, to commencing again in July toward the towering peaks in Zion's, to the awe-inspiring breadth and depth of the Grand Canyon...from camping, to crowding into friends' living rooms, to a beach house, and camping again, we have once again repeatedly slept in one room as a family. :) (And again gained immense respect for what they did in the olden days! How did they ever get private time back then??? Not to mention a good night's sleep? :)

At any rate, the kids have loved it. And so have Mommy and Daddy.

Highs: Jonny seeing the Grand Canyon for the 1st time! How cool is that. :) Seeing a double rainbow, TWICE, in Utah. Going to our old stomping grounds at BYU, telling the kids exactly where we first met, at the base of the stairs near the door in the WSC, and acting it out! They loved it. ;) Horseback rides for the kids at the Garrett's home,

Not so high: Jonny getting stung by a sting ray in CA, but learning that putting the stung appendage in as hot water as you can stand, was a good thing to learn. Now we're ready for next time...which hopefully will never happen, right?