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We took a trip to Seattle last week (more on that later, tons of fun) for the birth of my sisters baby. I was not only excited about the new edition to our family, but super excited to have a chance to take pictures of my new nephew. I new my sister would let me experiment with all kinds of fun photo ideas. Here is how they turned out, what do you think?
So life has got considerably more crazy the closer it came to the end of the school year. I totally redeemed myself from being the mom with the potty mouth to being the rockstar mom my kids all wish they had. I not only made it to all required events, but managed to pull off a BBQ and water party for THE WHOLE 8th GRADE (and still made it to graduation on time).
I will admit that I have a huge tendency to bite off way more than I can chew, but I am just delusional enough to think that I can do it all. This time I out did myself with the craziness. In all fairness most of the commitments were not my doing. The school forgets that most of us have more than one child so therefore you can’t fill the last two weeks of school with a dozen different events.
Now that the craziness is over I managed to get Sadie and her cousins off to EFY and Ash off to a conference in Seattle. I’m sitting around wondering where all these extra hours were when I really needed them.
Here is photographic proof of the awesomeness of Sadie’s party. This is her and her friends playing water balloon dodge ball.
Sadie and her friend
Here is Cole ready to rumble with the big boys (and loose miserably).
On a very funny side note one kid was told by his mother that he couldn’t come to the party because she thought it was going to be a s*x party (I don’t want creepy new followers). Obviously she has never met me, but seriously what would make you jump to that conclusion? What part of a BBQ in the park sounds like a s*x party to you?
No worries his dad let him come.
Everyone who knows me well knows that my dear sweet hubby and my wonderful children have my heart, and always will. It’s moments like this that I completely melt. How did I get so lucky?
Ash thinks this photo makes him look chubby so next time you see him make sure and tell him how slim he looks. He’ll love it.
So I have a theory, a theory I have been contemplating for a while. I tend to need an explanation for why everything is the way it is. In my OCD need for understanding I tend to come up with a lot of theories (most of them probably complete crap, I admit it).
My newest theory is that it is genetically impossible for little boys to aim properly. I truly am coming to the belief that its part of their DNA to completely loose all sense of direction while urinating. What other explanation can there be for the places that I find urine in the bathroom?
Last night while explaining my theory to my wonderful husband he knobbly tried to defend his two young sons by explaining to me that “it’s not as easy as it looks.” Really? That’s your story and your sticking to it, really?
So lets give them the benefit of the doubt that it really is more difficult than it looks that doesn’t explain me finding urine on the door opposite the toilet. I mean seriously HOW DO THEY MANAGE THAT ONE?
So tell me what interesting theories about life do you have, I would love to hear them (it helps me feel a little less crazy).
The kids came home on Friday with all their Valentine’ s goodies. All I have to say is there are a lot of over achievers out there. I can’t imagine how much time it took to make some of the Valentine’s my kids came home with. One of the mother’s I know has 9 other kids! Where does she find the time?
I admit that I usually help my kids make their Valentine’s, but not this year. They begged and pleaded for the cool store bought generic ones and well I gave in. It was cheap, fast, and easy I love it.
Ash had a 3 day weekend that he turned into a 4 day weekend using some vacation time. We decided to spend the weekend with the kids having fun. Some much needed and long overdue family bonding time. So on Valentine’s day we headed to Salt Lake for the Monster truck rally because we are white trash fun like that. For Ash something like this is a novelty, for me it’s just like every other white trash event my dad ever took me to as a kid. I tried to get out of it, but it was no use.
The up side is the kids loved it.
Giving up mine and Ash’s Valentine’s weekend was totally worth it, but I still think Ash owes me a hot Valentine’s date. I’ll let him make it up to me this weekend.
I think that 2008 was a hard year for many. Can we collectively decide to put 2008 on a shelf and forget it ever happened? For me 2007 is already on the denial shelf, and 2008 will be joining it.
Now in all fairness 2008 wasn’t all bad, some really great things happened. I guess 2008 just had really high highs and very low lows. Lets just focus on the positive shall we?
My wonderful mother-in-law won her battle with cancer and is enjoying renewed health and happiness. Miracles happen and prayers are answered. With her new found health they decided to embark on an adventure of a life time and accepted a call to serve a two year mission. Not only is this great for them, but it is such an awesome example for my kids especially my boys.
Ash got a new job, and is loving every minute of it. I have never seen him this happy and fulfilled. He works with great people and looks forward to going to work everyday. More importantly he is finally getting the recognition for being the genius that I always knew he was. He is enjoying the success he deserves.
The kids and I had an awesome carefree summer and hated to see it end. We played and had lots of fun adventures. We enjoyed visits from cousins and explored fun places in Utah.
In September our baby started kindergarten and this was very bitter sweet. For me more bitter than sweet. Cole is loving every minute of it, but sometimes thinks he should get to choose which days he goes and what days he stays home and hangs out with mom. He doesn’t quit get the idea that school isn’t a choice.
Ash in his wisdom knew that I wouldn’t handle this as well as I thought I would and encouraged me to pick up an old hobby I had long forgotten about. So for my birthday I got a new camera and have been filling my time with picture taking.
The very best thing about 2008 is the family time we have spent together. We as a family are better than we have ever been. We have really learned this year how wonderful our friends are and are grateful for everyone of you. We really have the greatest family and friends and are truly blessed, and that is what I am going to take away from 2008. The rest… good riddance!
I just really haven’t felt much like blogging lately. I’ve been really busy and have lots I could say, I just haven’t felt like it.
So instead of a real blog post, here are some cute pictures I’ve taken of my kids lately. I was going for a real contrasty look, what do you think?
Most photographers would agree that taking pictures of your own family is the hardest. Photographers children tend to do one of three things A) Act like complete super models, B) completely clam up, flop to the ground in the fetal position or C) make the most obnoxious goofy faces.
Sadie and Dallin tend to fall in the super model category and poor Cole rotates between the fetal position and goofy faces. Needless to say getting decent family pictures for our Christmas cards is no small feat.
We ventured up the canyon this weekend to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and attempt some decent shots of the kids. As soon as we got up there I realized that it was much MUCH colder than I thought it was going to be so we had to make it really quick.
Considering all the obstacles I think they turned out pretty decent.
And one really goofy one just for the fun of it.
Then just for fun a goofy one.
This is what happens when your teenage daughter gets a hold of your camera.
Lets just be honest, the best family nights are the ones when they A( all get along and B( listen. Last night we had a double success. To top it all off the cousins came to celebrate with us.
We celebrated back to school with a kid friendly dinner, and then topped it off with a family home evening were we introduced our families them for the year. I stole borrowed an idea from the fabulous NieNie and made “Be Prepared” our theme for the year.
We talked about being physically and spiritually prepared. We wrote a poster of our ideas on how to work on ways to be prepared.
Then we wrote our goals, hopes and dreams for the year on a balloon,
We saved the best for last and had homemade Blizzards for desert. (Can you believe the cousins didn’t know what a Blizzard was ;0) They are a staple in our family)
The End
It seems that all the blogosphere talk has shifted towards babies. Everywhere I turn people are talking about having a baby, being pregnant, or considering becoming pregnant. I think it’s great. I love hearing about everyone’s families.
I have a few friends who have recently announced they are expecting and I couldn’t be happier for them. I must admit I’m feeling a little left out. It is a strange feeling being 31 and having your youngest and last baby turn 5. Part of me says I’m to old to have anymore, and part of me can’t believe that I’m done. At this point the idea of starting all over is to overwhelming to think about, but the idea of the next baby in the family being my grandchild is even scarier. My daughter turned 13 this year and it seems like life is flying by way to fast. If she follows our families pattern I could be a grandmother in about 6 more years. How scary is that?
The idea that my youngest will be in kindergarten next year, and I could choose to do something for myself like go back to school is a wonderful thought. I am feeling free to pursue things I’ve always wanted to do, but is this a selfish thing? The idea of him being in kindergarten also scares me. I have wanted to be a mother for as long as I remember. My job has always been to take care of my little ones and now I feel like that is coming to an end. If I’m not just my kids mom anymore then who am I? Dad’s have it easier because they also have there career as part of there identity. I’ve been a wife and mother only, and wonder what else am I?
This may seem like a pity party, but it’s not. I really am enjoying the idea of having options for my future. I just don’t know what I want more, freedom in my day, or more babies to cuddle.
So tell me how did you know if you were done or if there were more babies meant for you?
The stupidest Mormon pick up line EVER.
Guy: “Is your name virtue.”
Girl: “No, why?”
Guy: “because you garnish my thoughts unceasingly.” (D&C 121:45)
Seriously. Are you kidding me? I couldn’t believe this actually came out of the mouth of a boy my daughters age. Some kid said this to one of her friends. In all fairness he is only in the 7th grade, but give me a break!
So tell me, what is the stupidest pickup line you’ve heard?
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Growing up in Seattle we didn’t see a whole lot of snow. Rain yes, but snow no. When it did snow, it was a big mushy mess, and everything shut down. We could get less than 1/2 an inch of snow and the whole city would come to a grinding halt. No stores open, no work, but most of all no school.
The city was just not equipped with snow removal gear or at least not enough. Since it only snowed once or maybe twice a year, I guess they didn’t think it was worth it to buy a bunch of plows.
Of course we didn’t mind, we loved snow days. We would brake into the golf course and slide down the hills.
When we moved to Idaho we had lots and LOTS of snow. The first week we were there it snowed about a foot and a half. I waited for the announcement that school would be closed and planned on a fun day with snow forts, sledding and hot coco. The announcement never came, Idaho schools don’t close because of snow. I couldn’t believe it how did they function with all this snow.
In all the years we lived in Idaho they only closed school once, and that was not because of snow. It was because the heater went out in the building and it was about 5 degrees outside. That brings me to another fun fact about Idaho, if it is above 0 then the kids have to go out for recess. They are only aloud to stay in if the temperature dips into the negative range. How crazy is that?
This morning we woke up to a winter wonderland outside, and I couldn’t’ get off our hill to get the kids to school. A very nice neighbor put chains on his car and drove them to school late.
Being new to Utah, I’m just wondering what is Utah’s policy on snow days, and what are your favorite snow day memories?
On a side note, I got a phone call from my mom last night. She called to tell me that the girl in Lehi who was killed by her husband at church was my childhood friend Christy from Seattle. I hadn’t put it together since I haven’t seen her since we were little and her last name is different. I’m still processing this, I’m sure I’ll write more about it later. Until then please pray for her family.
(Disclaimer: Ash uses the word sexy A LOT. He says things like “look at that car, that’s sexy” and “our new TV is sexy”, things like that.)
Cole:Â “Mom what does sexy mean?”
Me: ” Um, sexy is when something looks really good.”
Cole: “Oh, ok I’m going to go put on my sexy socks.”
Happy 5th Birthday Sugar Bear!
So I asked for suggestions on what I could write about, and I got a couple of great ideas. Lucky says that I should write about my childhood, but I don’t have interesting stories like getting run over by a taxi while laying in the middle of the road on a speed bump like she does. Really you should ask her about it sometime.
Compulsive writer suggested that I write a year in review, and since it is New Years Eve I thought that wasn’t a bad idea. The problem with that idea is that we had a really REALLY horrible year that I have so generously spared you the details of.
I think a year in review is the perfect way to say goodbye to a horrible year. If you choose to click away now I would totally understand. If your still with me here we go.
January started out as a total whirlwind. January is our busy season (we do wedding trade shows) and we worked even more than usual. My hubby travels about half the month, but this year he was gone the whole month except for a few days when he was home in passing. So I spent the month playing single mother, while putting out fires at work. Ash spent the month in airports, and hotels.
January spilled into February, and although life was suppose to slow down we found ourselves working 7 days a week through all of February. Ash was asked to speak at conferences so he ended up out of town about half of February.
March came, and we were ready for life to get back to normal for a while, but it didn’t happen. While going to the doctor for a physical so she could put in her mission papers, my mother in law found out she had breast cancer. When they went in to do the surgery they found that it had spread through her lymph nodes and was worse than they thought.
By April we decided that we were in desperate need of a family vacation. There was a huge divide between us and the kids because we had been in survival mode for so long. We set off for southern California to hang out in the sun, swim in the pool, and be with Ash’s mom while she recovered from surgery and began chemotherapy. The day after we got there I received a phone call that my dad had passed away.
My dad left before I was 2 years old, and only made brief appearances in my life for the next 18 years (that is probably a post for another day). I never realized how much pain and grief I could feel for the loss of a man a barely new. I grieve the loss of opportunity to spend what little time I had with him. I find myself angry at those who kept my dad from being part of my life (his second wife). I once read another bloggers post about her dad, and she said she felt like she had “a dad shaped hole in her heart”, and that’s how I felt.
The next few months are a blur, as I put my head down and avoided life. I trudged through every day until the dark skies finally parted.
In June Ash got me a new puppy, that I love.
In July my mother and father-in-law moved to Utah, and I threw myself into taking care of her to distract myself from my own pain and problems. I cooked, cleaned, and ran errands for her while taking her to many appointments for her cancer treatment. We also had 3 teenage nephews come and stay with us. Two of them came for 10 days and the third stayed for 6 more weeks until mid August. We had a great time, and it was a wonderful distraction, but was also very tiring.
August was spent entertaining the nephews, and showing them all over Utah. I went to Cub Scout day camp with my Wolf den. During lunch I got a phone call that my mother-in-law had a seizure and was on her way to the hospital by ambulance. She ended up ok she had a few stitches and a huge black eye but over all she was fine. They did take her license away for six month so we started having to drive her everywhere.
At the end of August we decided to try another family vacation since our last attempt was a total disaster so we left for Hawaii. Ash and I have promised the kids a trip to Hawaii for years (Ash is from Hawaii). We can’t mange a family vacation without a major disaster, and this one was no different. We had a earthquake, and a hurricane during our trip.
Is anyone still with me?
Well next comes September, and September is our second really busy season so Ash was gone the whole month, and half of October to. By September I realize that we need to make some major changes and I started doing some serious soul searching.
October brought still more craziness, but attending the temple while Ash was out of town, and a lot of scripture reading brought a little peace to my life.
I got a phone call in mid October from Ash’s brother in Iraq asking me if I knew what had happened to his friend Ben. I will spare you the details, because I wrote about it here and here, but after a little detective work I found out that Ben had been in an accident, and was now a quadriplegic, and I spent the next few weeks at the ICU helping out as much as I could.
November was spent at the hospital doing what I could.
Mid November the bishop called me in to let me know that he was going to release me from my calling because he thought I needed a break.
In December family relationships came to a full boil (because of the family business) and we decided that it is time to leave the family business and do something else. I know this is the right thing to do, but it makes our future a little unsure. I have faith that the Lord will take care of us, but I don’t know what the next few months will hold for us.
If this whole post isn’t pathetic enough I’m spending New Years Eve taking care of my hubby, who is horribly sick.
I’m sure by now I have lost you all with my whining, but on the off chance that anyone is still reading this I need to throw in a few good things that happened this year.
Here is hoping for a better new year.
Happy New Year everyone!
