Merry Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas to you and your family! 2014 has been quite an eventful year for us. A year ago I couldn't have imagined we'd have had the year we have had!

Brett finally succumbed to his itch for banking and left the law firm to go back to Zions Bank. Yes, that's right, full circle. He now works in downtown Salt Lake, riding the FrontRunner train to and from work each day. It makes for a very long day, but he is enjoying the work. He misses his wonderful coworkers from the law firm, but overall considers this a positive change. Brett started his new job just a few weeks after our family welcomed our fourth daughter.

Boston Rachel was born on July 11, at 7# 13 oz. She is a sweetie and we adore having her! She started smiling at 5 weeks (which was such a welcome sight to her frazzled Mommy!) and is a happy, delightful baby. And so cute, if I do say so myself!!

I have been completely wrapped up in Rachel, trying to get accustomed to Brett's new schedule, and keeping up with the big sisters' various activities. Most days, I run full speed and barely keep up. But they are days full of good things, and I’m told that shortly we'll look back and miss these days, so I try to enjoy them! I do catch a “break” every once in a while when I cover a shift at the clinic.

Katie made the decision this summer to be baptized. We are so proud of her choice and her desires to choose the right. Katie continues with gymnastics; in the spring she was invited to be on a team and has really improved her skills with the extra practice. She is often found doing handstands, cartwheels, round-offs, etc. whether it is outside or inside the house. She is in 3^rd grade and her third year of Chinese Immersion. Her teachers rave that she's a great student and quiet in class. (What?!? We wonder if her teachers are really talking about our daughter.) She is learning multiplication this year, and is often heard chanting the times tables in both English and Chinese. It's been a delight to her parents to hear her coaching Amanda in Chinese! For Halloween, Katie dressed up as Pocahontas, even making her own moccasins to wear!

Amanda was also invited to participate on the same gymnastics team as Katie. They love competing and doing all things gymnastics together. Amanda's smaller frame lends her to enhanced gymnastics abilities. She has a bubbly personality and easily makes friends wherever she goes. Amanda started 1^st grade and also started the Chinese Immersion program. She comes home every day singing in Chinese.  She is a voracious reader, preferring reading to most other activities. She joined the Frozen throng this year and was Queen Elsa for Halloween (thanks, Grandma, for the dress!).

Ellie started gymnastics this year as part of the toddler class at the gym. She loves to wear her leotard and go with the big girls. She also started a preschool this fall that she LOVES! She is picking up lots of new songs and working on letters, numbers, and social skills. She loves to share what she learned at preschool with her dad when he gets home from work. It's hard to believe she'll have another full year of preschool before she starts kindergarten. Ellie loves all things Ariel, peanut butter sandwiches, and Daniel Tiger.

 

We pray the spirit of Christmas will distill upon your family as we celebrate the humble birth of our glorious Savior!

the News

Introducing. . .
Boston Rachel (we call her Rachel)
Born July 11 at 7:41 pm
7 pounds 13 ounces
21 inches long
My biggest baby yet!

The girls love her and beg for sessions of holding her. We are still trying to come out of the haze, but Brett has been my lifesaver for the past 2 weeks. How would anyone ever do this alone? Welcome Rachel!

 

 

Freeze

I've been completely horrible about updating or recording anything. Sometimes, I just wish I could freeze time--somehow hold on to it for a little longer. I could say that I'm going to do better about recording things, but I know that I won't at least for a little while. Here's to a couple of moments that I did recently freeze.

Some other things I want to remember: 

Having a weekend without kids for our TENTH anniversary, but then I got stomach flu and ruined the entire thing.

Ellie, who sings so loudly during Sacrament Meeting that the people in front of us giggle, refused to go up and sing to me on Mother's Day--but cuddled on my lap instead.

 More to come. . ..  .

Happy Valentine's Day

Brett door-bell ditched the girls on Valentine's Day with some fun treats: pink marshmallows, roasting sticks, and a Valentine card for each of them. "Katherine, Life is S'MORE fun with you, Valentine!" "Amanda, I love you S'MORE every day, Valentine!" "Ellie, sending you S'MORE kisses, Valentine!" "Wendy, hoping for S'MORE of your love, Valentine!" So that evening, after Brett took me to my current favorite restaurant for dinner (Los Hermanos. . . Hhhm Horchata!), Brett lit us a fire and toasted us marshmallows for s'mores. I'm glad that was before our heat wave! :) He also brought me a bouquet of roses and lilies. It's so great to be loved!

I didn't take a picture, but Katie and I dipped strawberries into chocolate for Brett. We even ventured to add white chocolate designs on them too. Happy Valentine's Day!

All in a day

7:30 wake up call from the 3 year old, who is a bad guy that kills monsters. Turns out that Dad is the monster, but this little "bad guy" killed him. He needed about 15 minutes to be revived.
8 am breakfast with the entire family--doesn't happen every day. Costco blueberry muffins and milk.
8:30 Katie is off to school. She even did her own hair today--comb and clip the side.
8:40 the rest of us get dressed and head to the church for some exercise. Ellie does #2 in potty! Great start to the day!
8:55 Ellie and Amanda build a fort out of chairs in the gym. I walk laps in the hall and shoot some baskets. Brett shoots baskets and jogs.
9:45 return home. Amanda and Ellie play so well together (school) while Brett and I shower for the day.
10:15 I do three sets of hair (Mine, Ellie's, Amanda's). Kiss Brett goodbye as he's off to work.
10:30 out the door--head to Macey's to pick up milk, and Amanda's un-birthday treats for her kindergarten class: Donuts with green frosting and rainbow sprinkles. They look very appetizing to the average 5 year old (and 3 year old).
10:50 run to the library to avoid paying late fines on items that are due today. Grab a couple of random movies on my way out.
11:10 home to microwave canned ravioli for lunch (the un-birthday girl's request), and berries (so we don't die from toxins in the ravioli)
11:50 kindergartener out the door with neighborhood group (she actually ate in 40 min-- record time!)
11:55 the 3 year old finishes waving goodbye to playmate (said kindergartener) and has a last potty trip before we head out the door again
12:05 I leave with Ellie to take Amanda's treats to kindergarten
12:10 when we get to kindergarten, another child is being birthday treated--miscommunication after a long weekend!
12:15 Dear kindergarten teacher switches to highlight Amanda's unbirthday. There are birthday spankings, which send her giggling, birthday song as well as unbirthday song, birthday march, birthday dance, birthday crown, birthday balloon animal (green hound dog), birthday gift and book (Turkey Trouble), and Amanda invited me to be the guest of honor to read a favorite story to the class. Amanda chose "Llama llama, mad at Mama!". She even gave a proper introduction: "Class, this is my mom. Mom, this is my class" and they all chanted "Pleased to meet you!" I love that there are still manners, somewhere! :) During all this, Ellie is vigorously exploring all the nooks and crannies associated with a kindergarten classroom. Some kids were quite distracted by Ellie.
1:00 Ellie and I leave kindergarten and let them get back to reading
1:05 Ellie can't leave the school grounds without using the playground equipment for just a little bit. I read email and news on my phone, as well as eat the food (wood chips) she's bringing me from her store and save her when she climbs too high on the bars.
1:50 I finally convince Ellie that we really need to leave and get home.
2:00 Ellie's panties are still dry! Yippee!
2:10 Ellie and I read 2 stories and I tuck her in with Penny so she can help Penny take a nap.
2:15 I call Brett to tell him that I can hardly keep my eyes open. I'll be turning off my phone and hopefully rest until the school kids arrive.
2:30 phone is off and so am I.
3:25 I wake up to the sound of lots of school kids playing their way home
3:35 my two come through the door with lots of birthday stories, and some extra donuts.
3:40 after unloading backpacks, I go through all their papers, Katie enjoys a donut, and Amanda can't wait to start her new birthday book, which she promptly sits down and devours 5 chapters (this is my girl who is so motivated by food, until there's a good book involved).
4:00 start homework--Katie does journal writing, Amanda still can't put her book down. Meanwhile, I start dinner. Browning ground beef makes me want to barf. I chop celery and onion, add rice, cream soup, milk, put it in the oven and try to not barf. . . . while still going on the homework. . . how to spell x, Amanda please save some book for tomorrow. .
4:30 dinner's in the oven--30 minutes later than I'd planned. Nausea slows me down!
4:40 Ellie's awake still has dry panties! Yippee! She helps me set the table. Katie practices piano (but mostly plays around at the piano).
4:50 Brett walks in the door expecting us to have started dinner since the girls take an hour to eat.
4:55 pull dinner out of oven but it's not done. Finish it in the microwave.
5:05 We all sit for dinner--rice stuff with chinese crunchy noodles on top. Sliced cucumbers, strawberries.
5:30 Katie and Amanda rush to clear their dishes and change into leotards. Poor Ellie is desperately trying to finish as well, afraid she'll be left behind.
5:38 Brett takes the older girls to gymnastics in Lindon. Ellie gets her own shoes and jacket on and wants to "go too!"
5:40 Ellie and I decide to take Penny for a walk. Ellie is content with this plan, but walks sooooo slow. So we meander down to the school park. The sun is almost set and we're getting cold, but Ellie doesn't seem to mind.
5:50 Ellie is back to feeding me wood chip food at her playground store. She loves to drive the bus and run up the ramp to swoosh down the tube slide and bump me (I'm sitting at the bottom trying not to freeze or fall asleep).
6:30 I convince Ellie that it is too dark and cold for us to play so we head home.
6:35 Stop at the neighbors tree swing on the way for a quick 2 minute swing.
6:42 Arrive home with numb fingers.
6:45 Ellie and I put away all the Costco stuff we brought home last night and dumped.
7:00 Ellie and I fix a loose board on her toddler bed. We're so handy! Ellie also finds a toy ice cream cone and licks away!
7:10 Ellie's panties are still dry! We change into PJ's--mostly cuz I'm ready to call it a day!
7:20 Ellie and I do puzzles in the family room. Ellie can spell her name (verbally) but still has trouble identifying the letters in the puzzle.
7:40 Brett, Katie, and Amanda return home and the chaos begins. Ellie and I clean up puzzles while big sisters get ready for bed. I help Ellie and Amanda brush teeth. Where's Katie? Dawdling in her room. . . . .
8:00 Scriptures in the family room. Amanda loves to read (2 Ne 18) and really reads the scriptures so well--even though it's Isaiah.
8:15 prayers around the table.
8:20 Kisses for girls. Last call for chapstick, lotion, etc.
8:25 Brett tucks in the older two girls while I read a story to Ellie and tuck her in with Penny and Bolt. I love when I tell her "I love you Ellie" and she says back "I love you too Momma".  :) She'll often also repeat my "sleep well" or "see you in the morning". So sweet!
8:30 The house is quiet except for the lullaby music. I remind Brett it's garbage night. We both gather garbages and try to unbury all the papers (between school and mail, we probably kill a small forest each day!)
9:00 Garbage is out and I crash on the couch. I should go to bed but I'll wake up too early if I go now. I make a few phone calls for my calling (comp service-meals for families with new babies).
9:15 Brett and I start "Field of Dreams" saying we're going to stop it in an hour (since we don't have TV) but of course, the movie's too good so we just keep going.
10:40 stayed up too late, now I feel queasy going to bed!
10:55 Brett's reading me a Bruce R. McKonkie quote while I try to ignore him and wish the light was off.
11:15 pm I'm pretty sure I'm asleep.
3:00 am wake up in a cold sweat with another intense pregnancy dream. Toss and turn
4:00 am finally get up, use the bathroom, plug in my cell phone, wish I were sleeping
4:30 am back to bed
6 ish fall back asleep
7:05 am wake up call from the 3 year old. Rise and shine! I have to go to work today. Ugh.

Chinese New Year

We made our traditional trek to Asian Star in Salt Lake for Chinese New Year. They are the only ones that I know of that perform the Lion Dance (Dragon to us Westerners). Ellie was still terrified of the dragon, but summoned enough courage to feed it one red envelope (while clinging to Dad). The older girls weren't so intimidated, and even followed the dragon around as he ate lettuce and money filled red envelopes. Katie and Amanda loved it and hopefully as they continue to study Chinese, it will bring more meaning and tradition for them.
Even weeks later, when the girls received dollar bills in a Valentine, we asked Ellie what she would do with her money. Ellie remembered feeding the dragon the dollar bills and said she was going to feed them all to the dragon, because dragons eat moneys, not little girls. :)