Christmas Card 2011

Family Pictures 2011

After 5 years we finally had new family pictures taken.

Here are the results:

Of course we needed to have one done of the kids together

and individually


Sarah - age 14
Isaac - age 11 (almost 12)
Josh - age 9 (almost 10)

Emma - age 6

ZUMBA!!

I love Zumba! It makes me so happy. Not just happy when I am dancing, but happy about everything. It brightens my days and nights. When I am dancing I feel power and joy.

My instructor, Desree is the best person. She gives us Zumba ladies so much. (you can see her in the video about half way through. Front and center in the neon green tank.) This is what I love about her. She posted this on Facebook:

"I need to say something about our zumba girls...they are the true essence of Zumba, the heart and soul. They are not professional dancers, none of us, but dance Zumba because in those precious moments they feel love and self acceptance, they feel the truth and value of who they are...amazing, beautiful, strong, fearless! I love what Zumba has given us! Love to you all!!"

Another of our Zumba ladies said this about Desree: "Thank you, Desree, for helping us all make wonderful memories! You have helped me overcome a lot of fears and you've challenged me to be a better person. You are beautiful on the inside and out! You have no idea what a blessing you have been to me. You help me dig deep in my personal life and on the dance floor. I owe you so much!!!"

I feel the exact same way. This has truly changed my life.

This past Wednesday I had the opportunity to Zumba dance for the Flash (basketball team) half time show. Here is a video of the half time show. My friend, Heidi is just right of me in the turquoise shirt. Thanks Heidi for dancing with me. Enjoy!

My favorite part is the end. You can hear my kids cheering. I love that my family came and supported me. And, I didn't embarass them. You guys are the best.

Jasper

Our much loved dog Jasper died yesterday.

The poor thing was hit by a car.

We will miss him terribily.

He loved to wrestle and play tug-a-war

He loved Emma's unicorn pillow pet.

He would try to steal it and nap on it.

But most of all, he loved his kids.

He slept on their beds with them.

He protected them.

Jasper we will miss you so much!

Jasper we love you!

I spy:

Dagwood Sandwiches

Yellow

Red

Tree Climbing kids

Heber Creeper

A great fall day at Vivian Park

October is....

October is Pregnancy and Infant loss awareness month. I have a story. I am not sure if I will tell it here. I am not a writer and I want to make sure to get it just right. To honor. To validate. I may be able to, maybe not.

Kindergarten

Emma started Kindergarten yesterday. She is so lucky to have her best friend in her class. They walked to school together. Thanks to Luann for the awesome pictures. I am also lucky to call her a friend.

I am not one of those Moms that want to keep my kids babies. I love seeing them grow and develop. I am so amazed at the people they have become. I am blessed to know them.

The Girl's Room

In May Sarah told us that there was water under her bed. Of course I thought it was the dog, but on further examination it was clear we had a leak. We took her bed out of the room and discovered a huge mess. Mold was growing up the wall and on the carpet. The water leak had been going on for some time. So we moved the girls out of their room (Emma to share with the boys and Sarah to enjoy the family room). We took the carpet out and scrubbed the floor and walls. The process of remodeling the room began.The brown paneling was lovely, but we decided to texture it and hide it and pretend it never existed. A neighbor had some lavendar paint that she had decided she wasn't going to use, so she gave it to us. (Thank you Edris for the paint) The color matched what we had picked out, it is great. We love it.

The room came with two closets (which is great for two girls). The closet doors were awful, so we decided to go with curtains. After many and many hours looking at all kinds of curtains and drapes, I found the perfect fabric. (Thank you Brandy for the advice to look at HomeFabrics) Now I am not a seamstress, or anthing remotely close. But I know people. I have a fabulous friend (all my friends are fabulous) Sandie who made the curtains for me. Thank you so much!

Even before we started this project, the doorknobs were broken and the door could not be shut. Of course that meant that we got to look for new ones. I had the idea to use crystal doorknobs. Sarah and I had a great time visiting antique stores looking for just the right knob. We finally found it at Treasures Antique Mall here in Sprinville. This is probably my favorite part of the room.

After two months of mudding, sanding, painting, glueing, carpeting, and sewing, the girls were able to move back in. I am very happy with the results. I want the room for myself! They look happy to be back in their own room.

How Time Passes

It is official. I am a mother of a teenager.

Oh, she has acted like a teen for about 2 years now,

but today it is OFFICIAL.

She is my firstborn.

She broke us in to parenting.

She was walking by 10 months.

She was talking (full sentences) by a year.

She wanted a red convertible when she was 3.

She ran away from home when she was 5.

She built a cardboard diarama city in her room and used all the tape in the house.

She fell in love with Harry Potter.

She has decided she is going to Harvard Law School and I know she will.

She is the bravest person I know.

She is an example to all her family.

She loves her Daddy the best.

She is now 13.

I love you Sarah.

4th Grade Utah Program

Isaac had his 4th grade Utah program last night at the elementary school.

They sang some great songs and each child had a speaking part.

They took the program from the book A is for Arches.

Isaac got to play the Ukelele for one of the songs.

He did such a good job.

Balancing

We have a beautiful new couch. I have wanted/needed a new couch for awhile. Ever since the devil dog chewed and ate the last one. We got it from some awesome neighbors that are downsizing. We really couldn't afford a new couch, sigh. But, being the problem solver that I am I decided that we needed to have a yard sale. So we started cleaning out closets and storerooms. Last Saturday we held the yard sale. Man, people go crazy at yard sales. At the end of the day we came away with the money to buy the new couch and a bit left over (for our 15th anniversary dinner).


Another plus to all this is we have very clean closets. We probably got rid of a third of our "stuff". It is good for my soul to clean things out.

It's Over

The toughest thing I have ever had to do is over.

Yeah!!

Let's celebrate!!

Let me just say, Sarah is my HERO

She is the bravest person I know.

She stood up, told what is what and did so better then most adults could.

I love you, Sarah.

(Isn't she beautiful?)

Tough things

Ever feel like you just want to run away? There are some hard things I need/must do this week and I really don't want to. I want to run away and hide until this week is over. Maybe somewhere warm and secluded.

Happy 5th Birthday Emma

Happy Birthday to my sweet, blonde pixie

She is a delight and a joy.

She is the cherry on top of our kid cake.

I have said before and I will say it again...She is so sweet she gives me cavities.

Here are some facts:

She must comb her own hair everyday.

She is a romantic.

She must pick her own clothes or there is no dressing her.

I want to be like her.

Pinewood Derby 2010

Race day

After 4 hours of intense instruction and guidance from the den leader,

we have our cars.

Extra anticipation and excitment.

Will the extra work pay off?

Jason was biting his nails.

Isaac's car "B.A.C.A."

Top view

Back view

Josh's Car "Coca-Cola"

Top view

Back view

After racing 3 times each against all the other boys,

Isaac's car was 2nd fastest in the pack

Josh's car was 3rd fastest in the pack


The boys were .006 of a second apart. Awesome!

(The den leader's son won 1st - I guess he didn't share ALL the secrets)

Isaac's 10th Birthday

Happy 10th Birthday Isaac!

Thursday the 14th was Isaac's actual birth day.

However, it was so crazy with 20 things happening at once.

We decided (Isaac agreed) to celebrate on Friday.

The kids were out of school and we would have the whole day to celebrate.

Starting the day of great with presents.

A FedEx Box with presents from Grandma and LaNette and Tyler.

Wii Stars Wars Lego game
(Providing hours of fun and smack talk with Josh - Brother bonding)
Isaac wanted to go bowling - real bowling with a ball and lanes
we went to the lanes at BYU.
Awesome bowling shoes
We had a great time learning how to bowl and
watching Emma's ball roll ever so slowly toward the pins.

The boys tied for the highest score.

Great form.

After bowling we went out to eat at Sizzler and had a great time.

The day got away from me and I forgot to make his birthday cake.

He quietly asked me, "Did you make my cake?" at about 10pm.

I felt horrible.

Such a bad mom.

I told him I would make him one on Saturday and we could enjoy

one more day of celebrating his birthday. He liked that idea.

Saturday was filled with Wii games and shopping.

As the day was once again getting away from me,

Sarah stepped up and said she would make his cake.

What an awesome sister!! She did a great job and even decorated it.

It was yummy!

What else to say about Isaac? He has the biggest and softest heart.

He feels everything. He is so good at origami and building legos.

He is very creative and loves to draw.

He gives the best hugs and I love you so much!

Home Improvements and Reject Paint

One day Jason and I opened what we thought was a closet and found a bathroom. Yeah! Who doesn't need a second bathroom?? Well, it needed a good scrubbing and new paint. We went to Wal-Mart in search of paint and found this great reject paint for $6. We couldn't decide what the shade of green should be called. I think we have settled on mental institute green. Anyway, here are a few pictures of the new-old bathroom. Once we got the colorful shower curtain up and many bright towels, the color doesn't look so bad.

We are very happy with it.

So is Sarah.

She has claimed the bathroom as her own.

The new bathroom is really quite small, so we had more then half the gallon of reject paint left. Oh, what to paint next? Despite the lovely brown cheap paneling, we settled on the boys room.
After getting the first coat done, I wasn't so sure we had made the right choice. I decided we needed accent colors to make it better. Deciding on navy blue and red. I got this awesome Cricut cartridge called Indie Art and made plans. Plans that included vinyl.

Here is the completed room.

Welcome to

The Bomb Shelter

I used 3 images; the nuclear symbol with a skull in the middle,

a torpedo,

and a mushroom cloud.

Every other image is red and blue.

The boys love it.

I love it.

Mission Accomplished.