Merry Christmas!

 Greetings! Time has flown by as indicated by my lack of blogging, and my knowledge that I'm too far behind to attempt to catch up!  (I did do an album of all the pictures, but you'll have to come over to see it!)

A few of the highlights this year include a cruise which Brett and I took with friends to Belize and Cancun in January, which was a terrific way to start the new year!  In the summer we went on countless camping and fishing trips as a family including going to Calaveras Big Trees to see the sequoias & redwoods.  We went to San Francisco, visited family, hit Tahoe, and spent plenty of time at home playing with friends in the neighborhood, swimming, going on drives, and curling up together to watch movies and play games.  I wasted plenty of time on Pinterest, worked on some crafts, and spent the rest of my days trying out yummy new recipes between loads of laundry and shuttling kids about.  And Brett, ever the hobby whore, raised chickens, built a shed, got a woodworking shop, and is working on building some furniture, when he isn't at Scouts, wrestling the kids, or, oh yeah, working his day job!

In short, we've had a busy, happy year!

Our kids have grown and changed so much.  Here's a little about our brood:

 This little sweetheart is in preschool and is proud to have learned how to pump on the swings by herself and to ride a bike this year.  She is in preschool and can't wait to go to kindergarten and be dropped off with the big kids. She is a charmer and melts the hearts of her Daddy and grandpas alike!  She is a great helper and as sparkly pink and girly as they come!

 This funny kid is a mad scientist who loves dissecting anything and everything to look at under her microscope (don't even ask!)  When she isn't learning how things work, eating other kids' vegetables at school, or playing with friends, she is reading Harry Potter, drawing, and studying up on how to become a mermaid.

 This guy is a daredevil, a comedian, and an endearingly stubborn little boy.  He will try any activity, as long as it isn't eating dinner, and he loves being with the big kids and doing whatever they are doing.  He knows his ABCs, he loves music, but most of all, he is his Daddy's shadow like no other-he LOVES his Dad!  This year this kid got potty trained which, yes, makes it a benchmark year for me-for the first time in too many years to count I don't have to add diapers to my Costco list!  Rejoice!!!  (Listen closely for a choir of angels singing...I hear it!)

 This big boy is our tenderhearted teddy bear.  He will do any chore for a piece of candy, then turn around and distribute his confectionary wealth to anyone who wants it.  He is an excellent reader, an avid Power Ranger enthusiast, a kind boy to everyone he meets, and the biggest sweetheart!  He is a giant sized first grader, with an equally giant sized heart.  We sure love him!

So what will you take from this blog post?  That Wendy is super stoked to have a diaper free household?  Yep.  That my husband is smokin' hot?  Affirmative. That life is good?  Yes, that too!

We hope the holidays find you and your family happy and healthy.  We hope too that the new year will bring good times and laughter into your home, and that we will all recognize and find joy in the little things that make life worth living!
Merry Christmas!

Dear Brett...

Dear Brett, when you check in on our blog, which I haven't posted on in too long, I know, I want you to know that you are right. Yep, I'm saying it. You. Are. Right! The other night you said that you were the only one who does the planning and you do, it's your thing. And you're good at it! I could do it, but I'd never plan anything as good as you do, with as much thought as to what exactly we could do that would leave our kids grinning over the memory for months, so I leave it to you.

What I do though, besides the loads of laundry our excursions create, what I do is take the pictures, and make you an amazing family album every year to remind us of the magic that happened on the trips you plan. (I might post more to a blog too if it didn't take so long to load pics here!) Yep, my thing is the memory keeping.

I'll write about how this girl couldn't contain her smile over her vast new geode collection...about how she set up a museum at our campsite before we even got the tent up...
I'll write about our goofy tradition of wearing matching bandanas, about how you brought us rock hounding, camping, and hiking, before we even hit summer...

I'll write about how I have the most amazing husband and my kids have the best father (even if he grows his facial hair out to look like Neil Young!)

I'll write about how Max is the sweetest most stubborn little Superman, but about how he makes the funniest expressions you'll ever see, and about how he has moves like Jagger if the right song comes on...

I'll write about how you challenge our kids to try new things & develop new talents, and you stay by their side and show them that they can do it!

And I'll write about how blessed we are to live this life of ours with all these sweet kids to fill our home and memories of events with them to fill our pages...

With that said... you'd better get on our summer vacation itinerary already Easy Rider!!!

Pretty Little Thing

This beautiful girl turns 8 this month. My baby. My stilt walker. My tree climber. My tomboy. She's a math whiz, a pack rat, and a spit fire. She can eat with chopsticks and write a word with three variations of spelling. She plays piano. She reads Harry Potter. She farts with her armpits and has a grin that melts your heart. She loves learning, camping, cupcakes, and being with buddies. She is her own person.

She is a pretty little thing.

And I love her.

Happy Birthday Monkey!

Sweet and Bold

Today while walking to the school to pick up the girls with my neighbors, Quinn and his friend Addie fell into stride and their hands slid into one another's with ease. Izzy joined in and for most of the walk there the three of them held hands, talked, and laughed. Angie and I watched and felt a longing for them to stay just as sweet and tender as they were, for time to just stop. We also wished we'd had a camera. On the way home Quinner got ahead of the group and his friend Warren saw him, sprinted towards him, and they too held hands and continued on.

Tonight as I think about this afternoon I feel a little sad. We start out in life so bold, so brave, and, I realize, we often lose part of that along the way. As children we talk to anyone around. We become instant best friends with kids we only just met seconds ago at the park. We make friends of strangers. We hug. We touch. We hold hands. We are magnetically drawn to others. We notice when people feel sad and want to comfort them. Children are so uninhibited. So able to stop and see the beauty of a flower, to wonder at a bug, to notice with awe a rainbow, a sunset, a dandelion. To see that someone needs a friend or a smile and to give it without hesitation.

Children are so sweet. So bold. I think we lose some of that along the way. Quinn had a pocketful of candy from a pinata and on the drive home from the party he'd attended he stated, "oh, there's some laffy taffy in here, Anna likes those a lot, I will give it to her." How often do we look at what we have and think first about who we can share it with? How different would the world be if we could live like our children? If we could be friends with everyone? If we could hold hands and laugh and love as freely as a five year old? If we could love others without hesitation or judgement?

I'm so grateful for the chance to be a mother and for all the learning that comes along with it. Oh, and for my tender hearted Quinn, may he always stay this sweet!

New Thinking

The other day I was at Becky Higgins blog and she posted this printable which I liked. Go to her sight, she explains it. Basically, if you look at each thing you're doing and think of it as a way to build your relationship with the person you're doing it with, or for, then you will have a new attitude about it. Homework, cleaning my daughter's bedroom, doing laundry with Izzy-these are small tasks which provide time together to be us and talk about simple things. It makes sense. I was thinking about how much I love working on a project with Brett, painting a room or a piece of furniture-it's a relationship building task. I want to work this year on changing my attitude about the things I'm doing and focus on strengthening my relationships.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Look at these two, aren't they cute!? My baby girl and her Auntie smooching. It warms my heart.

I used to hate Valentine's Day. When I was single it was a day to feel awkward and lonely. A day that felt like a mockery of your solitary situation. Also, a day to binge on ice cream or cookies to feel better about said singleness. One year in Provo a bunch of us had a girls' night where we got together and ate and celebrated our singleness/talked about boys all night. I remember distinctly a V-day in Hawaii my freshman year, my friend Katherine and I holed ourselves up in her room watching Friday, burning incense, eating Cheetos and Chips Ahoy chocolate chunk cookies. She had a long distance boyfriend, I had her, and we had a good time, we laughed and talked all night. Why are these nights so memorable? I think feeling loved is what the day is about, not necessarily romantically, but having someone who knows your heart, who spends time with you, and who loves you for you.

I do admit that I think Hallmark invented the holiday to make guys feel guilty about not being romantic and thus forcing them to buy marked up flowers, and jewelry, and giving them a deadline to do it by. Or maybe a teenaged girl invented the holiday to put her boyfriend on the spot about who he really likes. Remember the candy grams? The girls carrying roses and balloons around at high school? Remember getting awkward gifts from guys you weren't really into? Or having an expectation and then being let down? And now, am I the only woman who grumbles if my husband spends twice as much on a bouquet that Hallmark told them to buy when it could be five times as meaningful and a fraction of the cost on any other day? Also, teddy bears. What grown woman wants a teddy bear!? The commercialism of it all is too much.

At our house this day is usually celebrated with a heart-shaped pepperoni pizza and some pop. Are we classy. Absolutely. I will say though that tonight I think it'll be lasagna, we had pizza on Friday. I usually buy a few things for the kids and we look through their valentines from school together. We make sure that the little guys know they are loved, and Brett and I give each other a cheesy card. Will I perhaps give him a foot rub and buy him a Super Big Gulp of Pepsi? Yeah. Because to us, that is what love is.

Happy day to you all!
I love you!

More Than Just a Little...

Merry Christmas! I've been eating more than just a little fudge, and attending my Jazzercise class, well, just a little. 'Tis the season! I'm not ashamed. And it's not going to end until January at least!

Today I started wrapping gifts and I finally ordered Christmas cards. So, if you're one of the two people who reads this blog, send me your address and I'll send you one. It might be February before you get it, but the minimum order at Costco is 50, so I might send you 25 to make up for my tardiness!

Today I am in awe at how my Mom pulled off Christmas with 9 children and somehow maintained keeping up with friends, sending out cards and family letters, cleaning toilets, making dinner, etc. Yesterday I went through my kids' toy closet and pulled out a big box of stuff to get rid of in anticipation of whatever Santa brings. I'm already having anxiety about the toys I'll be tripping over in a few weeks. I may be somewhat of a scrooge in that respect, but what I love about this season has nothing to do with gifts.

What I love about this season is the music. My Pandora "Jingle Bells" list has been playin' since October! I love the lights, going on drives with hot cocoa, and cinnamon or cider scents in my Scentsy warmer. I love making fudge, press cookies, and toffee. I love eating most of it and drinking milk right out of the jug (that's right Mom!) I love that my little Anna writes letters to Buddy, our family's "Elf on the Shelf." I love that every 30 minutes or so, and/or whenever she sees something Christmassy, Izzy squeaks out in her tiny little voice, "Happy Cwismas Mom!" "Happy Cwismas Dad!" I love remembering times when my little brother Carson and I would go shopping and pick out "the perfect gift" for each family member and buy it together with our paper route money. One year in grade school we bought each of our siblings different colored lucky rabbit's feet. (his gift picking skills have improved, sadly, mine have not!) I love that my kids know why we celebrate Christmas, and that they love to hear about Jesus' birth. I love pulling out my Nativity set each year and knowing that I"ll think of my Mom each time I do and there will be a reverence to it, like when we'd unveil our homemade dough Nativity set as kids. I love that my children have that same light in their eyes about the magic of the season that I had when I was little. Quinn asked today if we should make reindeer treats. Anna prayed tonight that our house elf would find somewhere high to land after going to the North Pole so Max doesn't touch him and cause him to lose his magic. Izzy keeps talking about Santa bringing her "pink stuff." I keep remembering little nostalgic moments of my childhood which endear me to my family. The memories, the beauty of freshly fallen snow, the melody of a song, the smiles and wonder and giddiness all speak of love. What I want is more than just a little of THAT. I want to bottle it. I want to preserve it. I want my children to have memories of times together that bind them. I want new traditions to bring us closer, and I want to continue with old traditions too (that means CHINESE FOOD for Christmas Eve, with or without Caralee!) I want to let go of being stressed about what my house looks like or what I'll be giving as neighbor gifts, and I want to just hold on to the good stuff and focus on how beautiful and sweet and innocent and perfect my kids are. I want to "be calm and carry on." That's what I want for Christmas, more CALM. Now, where do I buy that???

So what are you doing to make this year special? What traditions do you cherish? What makes your heart beat at Christmas time?

Housework Avoidance

This morning I sucked a nasty boogered metallic pink bead out of Izzy's nose with a straw. Gross, I know. I also saved myself a trip to the doctor, and decided that I'd have a great day afterwards, I mean, what could be worse than putting your mouth to the end of a straw and sucking at a place that mouths and beads have no business going near!?

So, I was right. A good day it is turning out to be. I have one kid at school, two at Grandma Pat's having a Halloween craft day, and that sweet little one is napping as I type. I may or may not have a Dr. Pepper in front of me, and I may or may not also be dipping into the trick or treating candy early. I just received a sweet email from my brother, a box of Halloween goodies from my Mom, and I've had a really great birthday week. Life is good. Thank you everyone for the notes, cards, gifts, etc. Thank you for making me feel special and loved. That's all anyone ever wants on their birthday is to feel remembered, like they matter to someone. It makes sucking slimy beads out of kids' noses really seem trivial, although I'll hold onto that story because I'll want to share it later when Izzy is old enough to realize how funny it is, maybe when she has a kid of her own who likes to stuff strange objects up her schnoz.

So a week or two ago I came across this blog with a list of journaling topics. I've been thinking about how important it is to keep a journal, or to write at least occasionally about life's events and how you feel about them. It helps you remember what you feel, it helps give perspective, it helps get the angry or the mad or the sad out, it helps you work out internal conflicts, and it helps you see your life more clearly, and in your own handwriting. I think too, that writing helps you to sit down and look at your life and see all the good in it, it helps you have a grateful heart. So I do it here on my blog, but during this season I hope too to write in my personal journal about my life at this moment in time.

Sweet and SImple

This week I've been going through the pictures from this year and conjuring up memories of outings, special occasions, birthdays, trips, and everyday activities. I'm working on an album for Brett and all the while feeling blessed by all of the sweet and simple times we've shared and the silly things too-like this face that Izzy gives me to make me laugh...

This was from a drive through the mountains, eating bagels and enjoying the perfection of fall.

This was from last weekend, we took the kids to the corn maze and they LOVED it! Brett and I, we enjoyed chucking corn kernels at the kids and following them in circles.

This was another drive-a "3 Moose Drive" up Mantua we took recently.

And this is just a sweet picture of my favorite people. Okay, so all of these pictures are from this month, but I have 10 months and hundreds of shots-2010 has been so good.

Have you been through your pictures lately? Nothing makes time feel so short or your life feel so great as looking through pictures of all the big and little events that have mattered to you. Take time today to look through your albums and remember the little happy moments that give life meaning.

Laughter, tears, gas, and anxiety attacks

So why the picture of my baby brother "Taffy" in his undies on the beach you ask? Simply because it's funny. And because he LOVES any chance to show off those boy thighs of his.

Last week we went to San Francisco to celebrate Browski's 40th birthday by scattering his ashes. There were tears, we had tissue. There was gas, Jill brought Gas X. And there was sadness, but we had some smoothering buggles and laughter to cover that too. There were also rodents of unusual size, but the only remedy for that is to RUN! Dad was good enough to escort us around to see the sights, like the manscaping of Castro, the park, Chinatown, and the area where he grew up. We also did some scavenging for sand dollars, but only came up with 50 cent pieces, Ashley determined that we all had bad credit.

This week as the announced layoffs are weighing in heavily on my mind and I'm working on my first ulcer, I'm trying to stay focused on the good things in my life and the multiple blessings I have right now. I have an amazing family. They are quirky and innappropriate and eat unhealthy amounts of cheese and bacon but they are so much fun, I wouldn't trade them for any other family out there. I have, hands down, THE BEST husband around. Brett truly gets me, he never judges me, he rubs my feet, he laughs at my jokes, he loves my music, and he encourages me and appreciates the little things. I have four healthy sweet kids who are silly and dirty and who's laughter is the most beautiful music I have ever heard. I have a healthy body, my mind however is questionable. So we may or may not have a job at the end of the week, but we still have each other. Sadly, I still have gas too.

Summer Fun

"What's up?" Our summer has been so busy, the weeks fly by but the days are SO LONG! Anyone else feel that way?

Here are a few shots from some of our adventures...

we've gone camping and fishing,

four-wheelin',

and out on the town.

We've had some laughs,

some cuddles,

and some good times with friends and family.

Some of us have hit milestones: losing teeth, riding a bike without training wheels, scaling stairs, and potty training to name a few.

And we recently welcomed the newest member into our family, baby Hopper.

Oh, and this sweet baby just turned 1!

Life is good. I can't complain too much, but man, I sure could use a maid to cover our tracks!

The Big Ten

Brett, at this time ten years ago you were sitting in the temple waiting room, anxiously waiting for a bride who was, and still is, always just a little bit late. Here we are with ten years under our belts. Ten years of drives on dirt roads, inside jokes, sarcasm and laughter, moves, camp outs, hikes, bagels, sunsets, movies, births, deaths, Christmas mornings, autumn sweater weather, Scrabble games....and more.

We have such a blessed life with four little fountains of frustration and joy in our hands, and one another to balance out whatever life brings. Thank you Brett for loving me through it all, for getting me through the bad times and for making the good times unforgettable. Thank you for being you and for letting me be me, even when I'm late. I can't imagine my life without you. Thank you for ten incredible years! I love ya Babe!

Fifteen

I brought Anna to get her hair cut recently. She got a cute little a-line, she couldn't stop looking in the mirror for a few days afterwards, she felt so pretty. So grown up.

A couple of days later I brought Anna and Izzy shopping on a girls' day out. We tried on clothes and bought a few outfits, then went out for Chinese food. On the way home I turned on Anna's music in the car and listened to her belt out the songs. During this Taylor Swift song I looked back at Anna's sweet little smile as she confidently sang along and I started crying. I realized that my baby was growing up. I know she's only turning 7 this month, but I listened to the words in the song and realized that I don't want her to be a teen yet (maybe ever). I don't want her to get her heart broken, or to quit kissing me goodbye, or to want to be with her friends more than her family. I don't want her to care about what boys think of her or to change who she is just to fit in. I don't want those cute little freckles to fade or those twiggy legs to get longer-I'm just not ready!

I keep thinking about that drive, that perfect few minutes when we were laughing and singing and nothing else mattered.

I keep telling my kids to quit growing too.

They don't listen!

What's Up

Okay, here are a few pictures of what we've been up to recently.

We finally had family portraits done. Remember how paranoid I was about it? Yeah, well, when we scheduled to do it the weather turned ugly within an hour of portrait time. We headed out early and it was windy, rainy, and FREEZING. We were only out there for 20-30 minutes but Amy took some great shots, thanks Amy, you're the best!

Soccer came and went. It was fun, and now we're on to t-ball...

The kids are in awe of all the critters around this place. Anna wrote a report on Killdeer yesterday after observing a few that are nested in the neighborhood. Izzy is LOVING the horses and "sickens"(chickens) down the road too. She brings carrots to feed them and is the most comfortable of all the kids around animals.

Izzy is also wearing herself out on a daily basis, playing SO hard, then crashing so hard.

Last weekend we were in Payson to attend Maddie's baptism and the kids got to go fishing with Papa John.

I sat back and snuggled this guy.

Quinn did some light reading.

And the girls had a good time.

And we got to meet this little sweetie, Avery, our newest tiny little niece,

who makes my Max look like a monster! A skull crushing monster by the looks of this picture!

Oh yeah, did I mention EVERYONE has been worn out lately? Two of these people are truly asleep in this picture, try to guess who...

Oh, and this Squirt, I know I'm in for it and he isn't even 1 yet! I'm tired just looking at this shot. I know the work I'm in for! Luckily he has that cute smile to smooth over my frustration at whatever mess he's making!

Ah, and my Quinner finished preschool last week. Here he is with Teacher Becky. Teacher Becky gets lots of loves from Quinner. He won the "Ladies' Man" award at school, apparently he's sharing the love with all the shorties there too! Such a sweet boy!

Brett got a new toy last month which all the kids are eager to ride on every chance they get.

And, we sold the Brown Trout to pay for the new Banana on wheels. He's off to muddy up the water for some other lucky family while we take to the mountain. Oh, but we will always have the memories...will we ever!

And we have wizards to entertain us as well. The kids now fit into the capes Jill made for the twins and G.G. painted up some wands for some sorcery. If only the kids knew some magic that clears toys and shoes out of the family room-that would be amazing!Oh, and we FINALLY kicked the pink eye and sinus infections. Now we're just down to one ear infection and two goopy noses. Isn't this the saddest picture? Yeah, my girl recovered from that just to turn around and get sick again. I blame it on the weather. Who knows though, maybe we'll all be better in time for summer, whenever that season decides to show up!