Denmark + Grandma > Mom

Dan and I went to Denmark. Just the two of us. Those kids who keep following us around and racking up our grocery bill and leaving all of the doors open and all of the hot air inside and who can never find a single shoe were not allowed to come. We broke away like bandits, and we almost never came back. 

Aside from one 48-hour trip, we have never left our kids. And this was for a full week. Grandma Sandy came because she is brave and strong and too nice for her own good.

Some of the things we saw:

The Denmark Copenhagen Temple. It. Was. Closed. The whole time we were there. I was devastated. Dan and I both have ancestors from Denmark and how cool would it have been to do temple work in the land of our ancestors. But alas, it wasn't meant to be. 

We stumbled across Kierkegaard's grave, totally by accident.

We biked an hour to find one of the Forgotten Giants on the outskirts of Copenhagen. 

I'm sure you think the Giant is amazing, but the part of that sentence that should have really shocked you is that we biked for an hour. Everyone bikes in Copenhagen, and it was scary! So many bikes AND so many cars. Dan rode a bike on his mission, so he was fine. I wanted to ding my bell the entire time I was riding--HERE I AM COME GET OUT OF MY WAY I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING! I fell once and knocked over a construction barrier. Dan was way ahead of me and heard the crash and tried to come back to help me, but a nice Danish man got to me first and kept asking if I were okay. 

Dan reassured me that "everyone falls when riding a bike--everyone!!" I wanted to believe him. And then I felt better when I saw another woman fall later that day. But then she started speaking--and she was an American too. Danes do not fall. I saw a woman scrolling through her Insta while riding through a busy intersection like it was nothing. It was amazing.

We met up with a Danish elder who served in Romania, and we had such a grand time catching up. He took us to the Vor Frue chapel where the original Thorvaldsen Christus statue is. Also at this chapel are statues of the 12 apostles, including Peter holding the keys to the priesthood. If you want to read a cool story about this statue, go HERE.

We went to castles and cathedrals. We learned a lot about Christian IV, whose statue Dan poses with below. Dan doesn't understand my desire to travel. Then I get him to finally go, and he won't stop learning and asking questions the whole time. The man loves history. The man loves bugging tour guides. 

At Roskilde Cathedral, where all of the Danish royals are buried.

Cronus eating one of his babies. Dan is grossed out that he didn't at least use some ketchup. Dan loves ketchup.

The Viking Museum. I felt a leeetle bad that the kids and I studied Vikings this year, and they were way more into it than I was, and then I was able to go to the Viking Museum and see actual Viking ships, and the kids didn't. But not really that bad. Neener, neener kiddos!

We are on top of Kronberg, or castle setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Look at this close-up. I am a Far Side character.

We ate lots, slept lots, walked lots, biked lots (perhaps too much, in my opinion), and talked lots. It was so nice to be with my husband and to just have fun. No budget talks, no disciplining children, no alarms. 

Meanwhile, my mom had her full share of kids and fighting to deal with, and she handled it in her saintly way. When we arrived back home, I asked Gwen how the boys were while we were gone. She gave me a thumbs-down, which is how I figured it would be. Poor Grandma Sandy!

The kids had the time of their lives. Ice cream outings every day! Trips to the park and library! Movies with Grandma. They didn't miss us one bit and barely looked up at us when we got back. However, when Grandma Sandy left the next day, there were major tears. And when they were reunited with Gilbert (who had been staying with a friend), they were so excited. Dan and I know where we stand. 

Pics from time with Grandma Sandy:

When we got back, Harris asked me the very serious question-

"Mom, why are grandmas so much more fun than moms?"

I know, Harris, I know.

Other stuff:

Gwen had her big recital a couple of days ago, and she did well! No more practicing "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!" Hurray!

She received two awards--one for practicing 200 consecutive days and one for passing off a Suzuki book within a year.

Nerds Unite!

By the way, when we got back to the Newark airport, there was our car with a flat tire. We get more flat tires than anyone I know. We met over a flat tire. I tell myself that it is heaven's way of reminding us our sweet meeting. Why couldn't we have met over something like tons of money or on a plane to Hawaii or in a chocolate store?

The End.

Birthdays and Easter and Concerts, Oh My!

Yay Spring! Bring on the warmer weather and end-of-school-year events.

Easter being so early this year (March 31st!) threw me for a loop. Nevertheless, we had a great Easter egg hunt activity at the church. Dan was in charge of the egg hunt, and he went all out--hiding eggs in the hardest places, even on the ceiling of the gym. However, like all egg hunts, it was over in 4 seconds flat. I went to get my phone to take a pic of the hunters, but it was already over. Next year, we are going to make it an obstacle course so that the kids can work a bit harder.

First we had a lesson about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We also had an Easter hunt with our neighbors, and the kids made out like bandits. I think we had 7 kids hunting and over 200 eggs. I didn't feel one bit of guilt eating all of my favorite chocolates out of the kids' eggs from this hunt.

Easter Sunday:
 

And we had our last supper the night before.

That poor dog cannot get away from these kids. He wishes he were an only child.

Easter is the best holiday. I am so grateful for the Savior and that He suffered and died for us and then was resurrected the third day. Every year, this means more and more to me.

June turned 12 on March 26th, and it's just the most ridiculous thing. I mean, she's had teenager attitude since she was born, but it's crazy to think she's actually almost a teenager now.

Her birthday fell on the craziest Tuesday since Mardi Gras began. We drive to a co-op 45 minutes away every Tuesday. I came home from the gym, yelled at everyone to get up, and June wanted chocolate chip pancakes. It was her birthday, so I couldn't say no. This made me very late. Beck kept complaining of a hurting tum tum, and I kept ignoring him as I am wont to do with sick kids because I find sickness very inconvenient. 

I threw some chicken in the crockpot and plugged it in, and my crockpot made a loud popping sound and some fiery thing happened, and then I reached for the cord, and it was no longer attached to the crockpot. There went my dinner plans. 

I finally got everyone into the car, along with cupcakes for June's Creative Writing class, and we started the 45-minute drive. Then Beck started throwing up, and I pulled over and helped him puke on the side of the freeway. This happened several times on the way. I kept trying to turn around, and then June would bawl her eyes out about not being able to take her cupcakes to her Creative Writing class, so then I would keep driving to co-op with no plan on what I was going to do when I got there because I obviously couldn't have a puking child there with me the whole day.

We arrived at co-op, and a friend offered to bring my girls home. The boys and I drove back home and had a quiet day while the girls were able to attend their classes.

June was thrilled to receive the Notebook of Doom series from Grandma Sandy, and a couple more charms for her charm bracelet from Grandma Kristi.

She also wears a pearl necklace every day, including when she wears her favorite workout clothes.

The three older kids had their final choir concert for the school year.

The kids did an amazing job. There is nothing cuter than little Harris and his primary choir singing their guts out. The girls are in the junior choir (upper elementary), and the choir sings two different parts for all of the songs. So impressive. The middle school choir is quite good, and the high school choir is amazing. They sang John Rutter's Requiem, and it made me want to keep my kids in choir for years, even though the last week leading up to the concert is always biiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy.

Harris did a great job for a long time, and then eventually made his way to where I was sitting as a parent monitor for the middle school choir and told me he was so tired. I found an empty pew and told him to go to sleep, and he actually did in about 30 seconds.

The next day was his birthday party, and we had about 40 people over. We had hot dogs, chips, cake and ice cream, and a pinata full of candy. The party was supposed to be at a park, specifically for the reason that my house was a mess. But of course we had fantastic weather all week, and then the day of the party was cold and windy, and we moved the party to our house. I was cleaning like a psycho banshee and was barely ready to go when the first people showed up. Alas, the party was still fun at our house, and Harris loved it.

He begged me for a watch that would be waterproof, and all he has done since receiving it is show it to everyone. He thinks it's pretty special, and I'm glad that a $16 watch from Amazon still does the trick for him.

Miscellany.

Gwen's bestie talked her into a return from her soccer retirement this season. She's enjoying it more than other seasons. This is Gwen's fourth season playing soccer, and she had never had ONE win EVER until last Saturday. They won, and I yelled more loudly than any parent should at a soccer game for 9-year-olds. But then they lost in a major way yesterday. But we will hold on to that one "W" forever.

My favorite yard with the purple phlox has been looking wonderful. I'm sure the people at this house think we are weird that we take this picture every year.

We went on the most amazing field trip of Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster. This year's show is "Daniel", and we were able to see the set, many of the props, and some of the animals in the huge show. 

Beck continues to get a hold of my phone and take zillions of pictures like this.

Gwen's violin studio played at a nursing home today. She is halfway through Suzuki Book 2!

Church today.

Best Quote of the Week. Gwen threw a 2-liter of root beer across the table at dinner today. I yelled at her to stop and asked her why the heck she would do such a thing. With serious eyes, she told me, "You never told me I shouldn't do that."

I must go now and type up a list of the zillions of things my kids should never do.

The End.

The Jolleys go to the Hospital.

I went to urgent care for the flu when I had it last week.

Then on Friday, Harris was hit by a car while riding his bike in front of our house.

I always figured I wasn't good in high pressure situations, and now there isn't a doubt in my mind. I didn't know what to do. Dan brought Harris inside and yelled for me to come downstairs. I came down to see a bloody and messed up Harris. Dan told me that he would check Harris for broken bones and told me to go outside and talk to the lady driving the car.

I went outside and met a sweet older lady who was totally shaken up. We hugged, and I told her I was sure it would be okay. And then I went inside. 

"Did you get her name and number?" Dan asked. I hadn't. Later, people asked me if I had called the police. Nope. I didn't do any of the things you are supposed to do. I was just shocked. I kept talking to Dan about Gwen's Very Important violin recital that night and what we would do about getting her there if we weren't available. 

We decided to take Harris to urgent care. Urgent care! After getting hit by a car! As soon as I showed up, carrying Harris in, the urgent care nurses said, "We are calling 9-1-1." You know, the thing you should do after your kid gets hit by a car.

The ambulance and a police officer came to the urgent care. The same police officer who pulled me over in my driveway last year. Office Holley and Heather Jolley. We meet again. He seems very impressed with me.

Harris was taken to Hershey's children's hospital. When I arrived, I was met by the chaplain. This really freaked me out. He assured me that he didn't know anything, but was sent to talk to me. Soon a doctor came and reassured me that Harris would be absolutely fine. He has a cracked rib, a cut on his kidney and liver, and lots of bruises and cuts all over his body. But he's going to be fine!

Harris and I spent the night at the hospital. Dan brought me some dinner and an overnight bag. I slept on a very terrible fold-out couch/bed/board. Harris slept very well, for which I was grateful. My ministering sisters from church took Gwen to her Honors Recital. We are blessed.

The recital was for all of the students who completed a Suzuki book this past year. I was supposed to do Gwen's hair in curlers and the whole bit, but we were just glad she made it to the church before it started.

The next day, Harris had some visitors from his primary class. Then we went home. When we came inside the house, Beck announced, "I don't want to look at his face." We affectionately call him "FrankenHarris."

I asked Harris what he learned from the experience. He said, "When a car is coming, you have to ride your bike extra fast not to get hit."

NO HARRIS. THAT IS NOT IT.

It's been a little over a week, and Harris is back to his old self. He is supposed to stay away from bikes and sports for a little longer, but he's still receiving time outs for torturing siblings. And he has received a TON of presents. 

One of those presents was a nerf gun from his Aunt Corrine. Which Harris used on Monday to shoot his father in the eye at close range. I took Dan to urgent care. Are you keeping count? I told Dan I wanted to drop him off at the urgent care and then keep driving to Mexico by myself because this family is so nuts. But I didn't! That's called being committed. Luckily, Dan only burst a blood vessel, and he's doing great.

Speaking of being committed, Dan and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary on Tuesday. We celebrated by taking kids to co-op, dance, and horseback riding, cooking dinner, and paying bills. Because that's what Tuesdays are for! But then on Saturday, we went to dinner while the kids stayed home with their favorite babysitter, Natalie, who just got back from her 18-month mission for our church to Argentina! Yay, Natalie is home! 

This week, we also attended a class on making maple syrup.

Every family in attendance was entered into a drawing for a free container of pure maple syrup.

And we won.

And I turned it down because my kids were fighting during the class. 

And then one of my kids told me that I'm the worst parent in the whole world. Not even mother, but parent. I beat all of the dads too. I told that child that I was happy to be number one at something and that I'm going to do my best to maintain my title, even when I don't feel up to it. Consistency is the key!

And today we went to church on St. Patrick's Day. There was a lot of concern among the kids about being able to wear as much green as possible. It got to some truly ridiculous levels of angst. At one point, Dan offered to Gwen that she could wear her Irish costume from her ballet recital last year, and at another point, Dan put a green dress over his head and neck and asked me to confirm for the girls that it was a really pretty and definitely-green-not-blue shade of teal. His neck looked pretty good in that dress.

And yes, that is Beck wearing camo pants to church! He needed some green.

They're coming for you. And for my sanity.

The End.