Summer Fun, week 4

Saturday we headed down to Hollister for an early birthday celebration for my niece, Mina. Mina had a gymnastics party and the kids really enjoyed climbing like monkeys and jumping around on all the equipment. 

One of our dear high school friend's family owns this gym so Lane and I really enjoyed visiting with Scott's sister and his dad. They are such lovely, kind people. 

I just had to snap a photos of these darling and delicious birthday cupcakes. 

We then returned to Uncle Tim's house for the afterparty. He made chile verde for us from his garden tomatillos, the kids ran around playing together while the daddies enjoyed some beer and guitar playing. 

sunday was a lovely Father's Day celebrating Lane and the outdoors on the Summer Solstice. 

I snapped a pic of my belly. This baby is just over one pound. Just look at the mansion she's living in!

I took the kids to a new park on Monday to meet a new friend. Last month at a field day for our homeschool, Gabriela and this other girl really hit it off; they insisted the mamas exchange numbers. 

On Tuesday, Gabriela's friend Maeve came for a sleepover. They drew pictures together, chased chickens, climbed outside, baked cookies, played dress up. We had a movie night and made ice cream sandwiches from our homemade cookies with our homemade ice cream. Mmmm

Well, what would you wear to test the royal oatmeal coconut chocolate chip cookies?

I was a little wiped out after the sleepover. I kept worrying that the girls would wake up during the night and got no sleep myself, as a result. 

After a lovely nap, we decided to visit Auntie Cynthia for the evening. We went out for pizza, had ice cream for dessert, went walking on some nearby trails, and spent some time in front where the neighbor gave Gabriela a rose trimming lesson. 

Easton was so sad when it was time to leave and begged to sleep in Auntie Cynthia's bed. My kiddos love their Auntie Cynthia!  

We too it easy and had a day at home on Thursday. Friday, Nana and Papa visited us on their way home from a road trip

As soon as they arrived, Gabriela tooky upon herself to set an entire plate of snacks on the table. It turns out she's quite the hostess. The kids read with Nana and Papa, we played games, and had lunch together before they headed back on the road home.

Lane got home nice and early on Friday so we spent the evening at the pool. 

Baby Grover 4.0, week 22

One thing I have been feeling extra nervous about is feeling this baby move.  Already I am a nervous wreck, and I could tell I wasn't feeling movement anywhere near the levels I've felt with my other three babies.

We found out when I had my ultrasound, that I have an anterior placenta. It's right across the top of my belly, so when the baby moves, she kicks the placenta, which acts like a pillow, reducing the sensations I might otherwise feel. So in addition to being super busy with my living kiddos, and especially anxious about noticing that the life inside of me is, indeed still alive, I've got a soft pillow for a placenta preventing me from feeling what I so desperately need. 

Until today. I mean, I can feel subtle movement sporadically. But today, I felt a consistent series of kicks, strong enough to move my belly and actually see it move from the outside. I almost woke Lane up so he could see and feel too. 

This pregnancy is something I have to take day by day. I find it nearly impossible to think clearly about delivering a baby, or what life will be like after this baby arrives. Sometimes, it is even difficult to believe this pregnancy is for real, despite my ever growing front. 

Seeing this baby girl move from the outside of my belly was something fascinating; I mean, isn't it always? But there was something extra special about it for me this time. 

Happy Father's Day

Father's Day began with Easton and me sneaking out of bed to get Lane's favorite coffee cake in the oven and start a batch of ice cream for dessert that evening. 

The kids wished their daddy a happy Father's Day, gave him some pictures and cards they had prepared for him on Friday, and we devoured that coffee cake together. 

After some lunch and a rest, we loaded up the car for an afternoon at the park. We painted, the kids rode bikes and scooters, we walked on some trails and flew kites.  Lane even gave Gabriela some lessons on flying his stunt kite and let her try all on her own. 

That helmet is from bike riding. Kite flying isn't so dangerous that we need helmets. 

Same goes for painting and helmets. Easton asked me to paint a dinosaur in the bathroom brushing his teeth. I worked so hard to paint his request. He then proceeded to paint black over the entire page, explaining they were curtains because the dinosaur didn't want anyone seeing him in his bathroom. 

The kids made kites last summer with some friends, and they still work wonderfully. 

Easton was so proud of his kite. 

After riding bikes down some very steep hills, and exploring creeks and trails, we decided to head back home. After all, I had to prepare the Father's Day BBQ. Lane requested bbq country style ribs, which had been resting in their spiced dry rub since the previous morning. We also grilled squash and corn on the cob, and I roasted these lemony garlicky oregano potatoes. Yum. We feasted outdoors and then enjoyed some homemade vanilla ice cream with delicious ripe peaches, one of Lane's favorite desserts. 

We had a lovely day together as a family. I am so lucky that our children have Lane as their dad. He works so hard to make sure we are taken care of. He knows how to love them and care for them, he makes them laugh like they never laugh with me, and shares his sense of adventure with them. My love for him grows as I watch him care for our babies, as we continue to grieve the loss of our dear simone, and as we ever so anxiously await the arrival of our fourth beloved child. 

Summer fun, week 3

After clocking nearly 25 hours swimming at the pool during the week, we decided to take a break from the pool over the weekend. I was looking forward to a restful morning, but that changed when we heard our chickens going crazy at 4:30 in the morning.

Lane raced downstairs to find a possum inside our coop! He poked at it with a stick until it squirmed its way out. Luckily, our chickens made enough noise to alert us, and none of them were injured. 

Lane ended up out of bed early in the morning to fortify the chicken coop, keeping those possums and any other creatures out for good!

So we got a late start to our Saturday day of Alameda fun, but it was still a delightful day.  

We wishes our friend Thomas a happy fourth birthday at Lincoln Park, where Lane dutifully played Monster and chased children all over the playground.

Next stop, Art Show for Gabriela. Her art class had an end of the year party she was eagerly awaiting, and then we skipped it to visit Grandma Chaney at the last moment. So we decided to have our own special Art celebration the following weekend, with stops at a few of our Alameda favorites, like Burma Superstar or, as Easton calls it, Grandma Superstar. We were so glad Auntie Cynthia joined us for the day.   

After a delightful and always delicious meal, we stopped a few doors down for Tuckers. I think the grownups were looking forward to Burma Superstar with the same excitement the kids held for Tuckers. These sweet babes insist on bubble gum ice cream nearly every time. So many delicious flavors, but I guess what is childhood without bubblegum ice cream? I used to love it myself, but now I cannot say the same.

Gabriela was thrilled to show Auntie Cynthia her work, to spot her own pieces on display, and admire all the other artists' creations. We also invited her preschool friend Maeve and her mama to join us. 

Gabriela and her spirit animal, a dolphin

Gabriela's pigeon is in the blue frame on the left.

The Dia de Los Muertos "bones to blossoms" section was my favorite. Gabriela's piece has a turquoise background. I think it turned out for the better that we had our own private showing and we able to add some extra special fun to our day. I am proud of my Gabriela for not complaining about missing the show with her teachers and fellow students, for being flexible, and positive, and also for all her hard work this year in art class.

Sunday I answered a Facetime call in bed from Uncle Matthew and quickly recognized the door in the background as my front door. Surprise from Uncle Matthew! The kids were thrilled to see him, Easton reported that there was a "real live uncle Matthew" at his front door. Uncle Matthew came bearing gifts for the kids too. So sweet. We like that he is our Oakland neighbor now. 

After an afternoon of yard work and chores, we drove 30 minutes to Concord to visit Auntie Cunthia at her new house for a BBQ. We loved her darling place, beautiful backyard, complete with bocce ball court, but the kids' favorites about the house were the miniature sized doors to the attic space. 

They also adored getting to see Uncle Dan, who carried them on his shoulders and played hard with them, like he always does. 

Uncle Dan and his BBQ assistant

I am glad I have pictures from the weekend, because despite my resolve to start blogging and snapping photos again, I didn't manage to capture any moments from this week. 

The kids and I are working on our own summer reading program that I found online. It's giving us all motivation to read different times of books than we might otherwise, and Gabriela got her first prize, making homemade ice cream! Our neighbors generously gifted us their ice cream maker that they rarely used, and I am very confident that we will be putting that machine to work this summer! 

I also took the kids to see Dolphin Tale 2 at the movies (total admission price: $3), we started working on our make a plate project, hung out at the pool one afternoon, and went to park day on Friday.

 Easton found the steepest hill possible and insisted on riding his skuut bike downhill, coasting so rapidly his bike would wobble. I am trying to realize that I am raising a little boy who has grover daredevilness in his blood, and let him adventure, but boy, it's not easy!

Auntie Cynthia came to watch the kids one night so Lane and I could go to our SAND meeting. The second she arrived, my kids were begging me to get out of the house so they could have their special auntie time. I am so grateful they can see their auntie three times in one week.  

Friday night Lane came home early from work and we went to the pool for the evening. Easton had to show daddy his fancy new swim moves. We got him some toys that sink to the bottom of the (2 foot) pool, and he was a champ, swimming down to get them, insisting on no help whatsoever. This kid is determined. We had a lovely evening together. 

Summer Fun, week 2

While we were in Paradise, we stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's property they call The Farm. The kids got to spend a little time riding bikes and scooters, swinging, and picking berries and flowers when we weren't at the hospital.

On Sunday, we met our neighbor's new puppy, Bruiser. Easton is in love. 

The kids started swim lessons this week at the pool we joined. One of the lovely mamas in our homeschool group offered free lessons to the kids. How lucky we are to have found this awesome group. 

Monday was also a scorcher. We were at the pool from 8:15am until around 2. We then returned after dinner to escape the heat of our house. They kids are having so much fun and wearing themselves out with all their homeschool buddies at the pool. 

Tuesday we saw a silly clown show at the library and joined the summer reading program. Easton and Gabriela laughed out loud the entire performance. 

Wesnesday we popped in at a different library branch to meet a police officer and her police dog. Easton was so excited to meet a real live police officer. He wasn't shy at all and kept interrupting her talk. 

"Guess what? I am wearing knee pads so I don't get hurt. Guess what? We are driving our little car because our van isn't working." Gabriela was dying of embarrassment. My favorite one was this.  "Guess what? My mom is having two babies. No, you had Simone, mommy. And now you are having another one. That's TWO!!"

The beautiful weather Thursday and Friday had us at the pool from Easton's 8:30am lesson until late in the afternoon. Thursday Easton surprised us by willingly going under water. On Friday, we were totally shocked to find him truly swimming under water. Easton holds his breath, goes down, moves his arms and legs, and doesn't come up until he's out of breath. and then he does it all over again. This kid is determined! He wants an audience, too, which is why he called to anyone whose attention he could catch in order to demonstrate his newfound skill. Easton then got a little fancy, doing somersaults under water and reaching down to touch the bottom of the pool. We are so proud of our little swimmer. This explains why we'd find him like this after a day at the pool 

Meanwhile, Gabriela was off with her friends, playing Marco Polo and being a fishy herself. She somehow managed to remove all the sunscreen from her face, no matter how many times I insisted on reapplying, and now she looks like we sent her to the tanning salon. 

We met Lane at a restaurant for dinner Friday evening, listened to music, and played Go Fish together.  Easton totally held his own, and even won a few hands. He was so proud to play a game with his family with no help. We thoroughly enjoyed our game night with our babies. 

Visiting Grandma Chaney

We made a last minute trip to Paradise last weekend to see Grandma Chaney in the hospital. She is very weak and very slowly trying to recover from an emergency surgery. We love this sweet woman so dearly. 

Gabriela and Easton made her some colorful drawings and we brought her flowers to bring some color and cheer to her hospital room. 

Easton read Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? to Grandma while she rested. 

We were at the hospital for more than an hour on Saturday, and Grandma opened her eyes for less than five minutes of that visit. But when she did, it was to see Gabriela and Easton. 

Lane was holding Grandma's hand, talking to her, and when she realized it was him, a tear rolled down her cheek. He told her that Gabriela made her a big sign and she perked up, opening her eyes all the way, and smiling as she looked at the drawing. "What a little artist", she said. Another time, Grandma happened to open her eyes, and she noticed Easton. She sat up, smiled, eyes wide open and said his name. And then she went back to resting with her eyes closed. 

We visited her again the next day, gave her kisses, and  told her how much we love her. We are really glad we made the trip to see her, that she recognized us, and truly lit up at the sight of our children. We are also very proud of our kids, who did so well, spending as much time as they did well behaved in a tiny hospital room. Gabriela really noticed the difference her presence and drawing made for Grandma Chaney and I could tell how happy that made her feel. 

Summer Fun, week 1

What better way to start our summer, than with our annual summer fun list. Gabriela was so excited, she couldn't wait to start working on it. I keep seeing extra items on the list like Get New Baby Chicks and Harry Potter Summer Camp. Easton's contributions were Go To Gilroy Gardens, Play Train Tracks, Get Doughnuts, and my personal favorite, Don't Get Into Trouble With The Police. (Gabriela has crossed that one off already.)

Saturday, we met up with the Bushes and had a tie dye party. The kids need a summer wardrobe right? Lane got very fancy and made a skull tie dye shirt. Here are most of our newly dyed creations. 

We had our ultrasound and found out we'd be putting these itty bitty shoes to good use 

I bought them at a thrift store in Santa Barbara, just in case. Easton got a concussion, never a dull moment around here. 

We went swimming several times at the pool we joined this summer. Tons of our homeschool friends have joined as well. It's like the homeschool pool, hardly anyone else is there yet. 

We visited John Muir's home in Martinez with our lovely friends, the Bunkers

We visited a park in Alameda, a favorite of the kids when we lived there. 

Park day was Friday. And we also squeezed in a trip to the library, a trip for a free doughnut, bike riding, and a movie night. 

Summer break is off to a good start. Oh, and as a bonus, I found this photo on my phone

Beautiful pose, Easton. 

That bucket is filled with bath water that we'll be watering our trees with. 

Natalie's Poem about Simone

My sixth grade niece is always writing Simone's name in sidewalk chalk and in the sand, and thinking about the baby girl cousin she never got to meet.  When we visited, she read this poem to us that she had been working on.  Not for school, just out of love. She told us she thinks of Simone every day.  Sweet, tender hearted Natalie, thank you for sharing your heartfelt, beautiful poem.

Simone Esperanza Grover

Simone is a song that I will never hear, but she is the beat in my heart.

Her beauty could stop time all around this wonderful world.

Simone's garden filled with love I where her spirit lies, untouched.

Simone is the butterfly that carries our burden through life's unknown adventures

Simone is the reason for the salty teas that roll down my cheeks.

When I close my eyes, I can hear her laughter, see her smile, touch her soft skin, and wiggle her tiny
toes.

Simone is the yellow brick road that leads me to new thing I've never experienced before.

Simone's wonderful name that is writing in grans of yellow sand and surrounded with love. 

Simone is a running stream that carries us all with her, to enjoy life.

If I could, I would do anything and everything to be able to ear her precious voice.

Simone's time on earth was brief, but my love for her will never end.

Simone is my shining star, whose light will always shine in my heat.

Simone's life walked by, leaving footprints in our hearts forever.

Simone is the flowers in the garden and the wind beneath my hair.

Simone will always be a part of our family, and we will always treasure her tiny little heart, though our tears of sadness still remain.

She changed our lives forever, as we remember the joy of anxiously waiting for her to arrive, and the pain of having to say goodbye.

I miss you my little baby, I wish I had you here, to hug, to hold, and never shed a tear.

We love you very dearly, and miss you every day.

It's almost unbearable when so much hope turns into deep sorrow, but it will get better tomorrow.

When Simone came to he end of the rod, and the sun set for her, it was almost as if our hearts had set along with her.

Simone was a special little one, with a precious face, she is someone we love and cannot be replaced.

She never took a breath and never made a sound, but she made a sound of love that rung through all our hearts.





























































our hearts.

Baby Grover 4.0, 19 weeks

As we approached our 20(ish) week ultrasound, I became extremely anxious. I was so terrified something would go wrong at our appointment. Every night for weeks as I tried to fall asleep, I have been willing each part of my baby's body to be formed perfectly.

I thought a lot about whether Gabriela and Easton should even be there, in case they had to break some awful news to us. I eventually decided that, even if something did go horribly wrong, I wouldn't be able to, nor would I want to hide it from our other children. So we all went together. 

As I was fretting over the baby's anatomy, Gabriela talked incessantly  about how much she hoped it was a girl. I stressed over and over again that the reason we were having an ultrasound was to see if the baby was healthy. And that, girl or boy, what we really wanted in our famy was a healthy, living baby. Lane, my sweet husband, took Gabriela aside and said he really, really wanted a baby girl too and might cry if it's not a girl. 

So there we were, and the ultrasound technician spent so much time looking at our baby's heart with furrowed eyebrows. Finally she said baby's fist was on its chest, preventing  her from capturing the age she needed. I was so worried there was something wrong with that precious heart. 

The technician checked the baby very carefully from head to toe, measuring arm and leg bones, checking the brain, the heart, the kidneys, the blood flow, and double checking the placement of the cord in the placenta. She said everything looked perfect. 

The entire time, Gabriela was in awe, seeing the baby's whole body, watching it move tremendously, like all my babies do at this stage. And, of course, she kept asking when we would know if was a boy or a girl. She told us her heart was beating so fast and how excited she was. When the technician told us it looked like Gabriela was getting her wish, Lane and I couldn't help but cry. Another baby girl, in our little family. Our technician even cried too, since she knew about Simone. 

Gabriela is absolutely, over the moon, beyond thrilled to have another baby sister. 

What makes me happy though is when people make comments like, "oh, you get to have a little sister!" Ot to Easton,"you get to be a big brother!"  Gabriela is always quick to agree and say that they do already have a sister and that easton already is a big brother. Makes me a proud mama. 

Obviously, Simone's 20 week ultrasound went splendidly as well. And I know this good news doesn't mean we are in the clear for delivery of a living baby. But it does give Lane and me both great relief temporarily and reduce my anxiety for the time being. I know things will be different for us as my due date approaches. 

I still can't believe we get another chance to have another baby girl in our family.  Baby Girl, you are already so well loved, so wanted. We are all very anxiously awaiting your safe arrival into our family. 

Easton update

Easton's big news is that he learned to ride his pedal bike on Sunday. While I was comparing homeschool curriculum with other mamas, Easton was practicing his skills at the park across the street with Daddy. I came back to find him going down hills, and pedaling his little self around. What a big three and a half year old! Easton still needs help getting started and he stops himself with his feet, like he did with his skuut. But he sure got it!  Easton keeps telling me he wants to ride his pedal bike at the park and tell all his friends that he can ride a pedal bike. We are proud of him too!

In other Easton news, he seems to have gotten a mild concussion yesterday. My poor baby was sitting in the car, not yet buckled in, and being his independent self, he reached over to try to close the car door for himself. He has done this successfully many times before, but this time the side of his precious face landed on the pavement. Oh, my baby. 

Minutes later, he seemed fine, finished his lunch, listened to some stories in the car read by his loving big sister, and was his normal self. 

Then, at the ultrasound office, he as crying that his head hurt and was sleepy. It was naptime after all, but I was still a little worried about him. 

After we dropped Lane back off at work, I was thinking to myself.  What if something happened to Easton while I was driving? How would I help him? Would Gabriela be able to call 911? Must have been my mama instincts, because the next thing I knew, my poor baby was vomiting all over himself in the car. 

After a quick clean up, and a phone call to the doctor, we had just enough time to  get Easton changed and finish wiping down his car seat before his appointment. 

The doctor had him talk and asked him questions, checked his vision and ability to focus. She said he looked fine, but that I should watch out for abnormal behaviors in the next two weeks that could be a result of his concussion. Things like vomiting, seizures, inability to wake up, you know, those kinds of things. 

We are being extra careful. Easton started acting like himself again immediately after he threw up so I am hoping that was it. 

Monday was a very eventful, nerve ridden  day for our family. 

Gardening and Smiles

After eating a carrot that Lane had picked the day before, Easton must have felt inspired, because he came to me in the kitchen saying, "Wook how many cawwots I found, Mama!!" I turned to find this:

He picked every single carrot that was in the ground. Every. Single. One. I have no idea how he managed to climb up stairs and open the door with this garden goodness, but he did. 

I wish I'd seen Easton's joy at plucking each one from the ground, but then again, if I had been there, I wouldn't have let him pick so many. 

Next he told me, "I feel like I want to wash these cawwots" and then I found him like this

Feet dangling from the countertop, diligently washing his harvest.

Next he dried them all, and decided to snip off the greens himself. And here are the goods:

Some of these are just little baby fairy carrots. I mean, really. 

No problem, these bite sized sweet carrots were all devoured by Easton and Gabriela both. Time to plant more. This is just what I hoped for when I planted our garden. That our kids would be a part of the process and enjoy eating the foods that they watched grow in their own yard. 

Meanwhile, Gabriela was concentrating very hard on wiggling her extremely loose tooth. She had me try wiggling, she did it, asked Easton to wiggle, and even to pull it out. Finally, she came to me with her prize in hand.

And here is my big girl with her newly revised smile, cute as ever. 

Look how proud she is, this growing girl of mine. The tooth fairy did not disappoint. 

It was a busy Thursday for Los Grovers.