New House--sort of

So, apparently, I never published this post.  This was from July 2011.

New siding being installed.

A Whole New World

A lot has happened since I last got onto this blog.

We moved!  Derrell started a new job!  The kids grew and grew and grew!

It's Mother's Day tomorrow.  I'm grateful to be a mother.  I'm grateful my children have a wonderful dad.

Valentine's Day 2012

Ethan high up in our white pine tree, March 2012

Anna after just getting her ears pierced on her 12th birthday, 2012

Fun at the Beach

Recently, we went to the Outer Banks, North Carolina with friends.  We had fun at both the beaches we visited!  Naomi's most memorable event was being knocked off her feet by a wave.  She hadn't planned on getting in the water at the time, but the ocean had other thoughts.

Soundside

Oceanside

Careers

Five-year-old Naomi had a very enlightening experience at Career Day.  Her new philosophy:

I think I know how people choose what they're going to do. It's because of their hair and body. If a person has the hair and body of a nurse, then they'll become a nurse. If they have the hair and body of a fire fighter, then they'll choose to be a fire fighter. If they have the hair and body of a veterinarian, then they'll learn how to be a  veterinarian.

And my favorite:

If they have the hair and body of a rock star, they'll be a rock  star!

Fun with Bubbles

The girls decided to "grow" facial hair.  Or something like that.

Oatmeal

Four of the five children like oatmeal.  And the other one tolerates it most of the time.  Especially when there's a good deal of sweetener added!  It's a quick, wholesome, and filling go-to breakfast around here.  I throw in a variety of goodies to keep it interesting.  In the past we've seen:

• chocolate protein powder & peanut butter--they say it's like eating a candy bar
• frozen fruit & honey or agave syrup
• maple syrup & chopped nuts
• vanilla protein powder, almond butter and strawberries--my favorite

You get the idea.   Just about anything is fair game.  Or so I thought...

Today a new ingredient was requested.

Marshmallows!

I had to think about that one.  Sorta makes it into a dessert instead of breakfast, in my mind.  In the end I conceded just so the oatmeal would get consumed.  Granted, since I didn't stipulate a maximum number, the bowls ended up looking like marshmallows with a touch of oatmeal instead of the other way around.

Oh, well.  Once in a while dessert for breakfast makes for a fun childhood memory, I suppose.  :)

Laundry Surprise

One of my daughters used the hamper as a garbage can. 

While separating out the "whites" just now, at least a fourth of the articles ended up being used tissues.  Fun.

I guess I should at least be happy that they were thrown in some sort of receptacle and not just on the floor...

Snow Fun

Five hours.

That's how long the kids stayed outside playing with the neighbors instead of going to school.

Snowball fights!  Guess who usually had the upper hand?

Just happy to be included.

Showing off his ammunition.

Her Indian name is Runs In Snow With Apple.

Playing Fox & Geese

I think this one should say, "And here we have a nice red minivan driving by for your viewing pleasure."

And what was Abigail doing this whole time?  Reading books, playing with lacing cards, and prancing around like all good three-year-old girls...

...in her swimsuit.

Celebrity Sighting

I just had to surreptitiously take this photo while in the check-out line at BJ's.  I couldn't believe my eyes!  It's HAGRID! :)

Love Letter from the Five Year Old

It says:

I (heart) loove (heart) mom (heart) anD (heart) DaD

HigH mom  HigH DaD

1 26 5011

Naomi

I love the date.

 

But I especially love how she spelled 'hi'.

The Snow Storm Begins

They cancel school here for the tiniest amount of snow.  So, when there was a big storm in the forecast for this afternoon, Ethan woke up asking, "Why haven't they canceled school?"

Well, they should have.  Or at least had an early-out day.

Gratefully, MY kids got home safe and sound and only about five minutes later than usual.  Unfortunately, our friends' kids didn't get home until 5:30pm!  The buses couldn't get through.  The roads were (are) horrendous!

Now I know why they cancel school here for the tiniest amount of snow.  Those poor kids. 

2010

Last year, we made predictions for 2010; things we wanted to happen.  The two littlest girls had gone to bed already.  They were:

Laura (6 yrs. 3mo. at the time)

1. Playing
2. Eat candy & cake
3. Uncle Danny will get a job near us

All of her's came true, even (miraculously) #3.  Danny & Tammy are just four (to seven, depending on traffic) hours away!

Anna (9yrs. 9mo.)

1. Going to have a dog-themed party
2. DisneyLand
3. Pass SOL's

She's still waiting to go to DisneyLand, but successfully completed the others.  (SOL's are the end of year Standards of Learning tests, like finals in college.  They start in 3rd grade here, and are a big deal.)

Ethan (11yrs. 1mo.)

1. Pass SOL's
2. Finish reading Lightning Thief and watch movie  (It is a requirement in our home to read the book before being allowed to watch the movie.)
3. Go to Utah alone on a plane with Anna

Again, two out of three is pretty good.  We didn't feel comfortable sending our kids alone out to reign terror on all the relatives...   Ethan is never without a book.  He finished reading The Lightning Thief, yes, and also about 20-30 other books.  I can't keep track anymore.

Derrell

1. Get dream job
2. Move
3. Go on a cruise

Well, those three HUGE predictions proved to be a little more than one year could handle.  Only the cruise actually happened.  The dream job looks like it may be a reality in 2011.  Check back in a year, and we'll report on that.  ;-)  As for moving, we're thinking that it will take us at least five to ten years to be able to make up for the loss in property value.  We don't dare put it on the wish list this year.

Me

1. Finish 14 year journey to Doctorate
2. Fly mom out to watch kids while we leave for a while
3. (removed because of its sensitive nature)

Thank you very much.  All three are fulfilled!


So, at the end of 2010, we decided to record our most memorable moments.  My mom, brother Matthew, and his cute pregnant wife Suzy were here to participate.

Abigail: My mom painted my fingernails and I loved going at the beach with a whistle.
Naomi: Played outside
Laura: Granna, Matt & Suzy coming to visit
Anna Moira: Having a dog-themed movie birthday party
Ethan: Spending time with family
Matthew: Found out I'm going to be a dad, and took lots of trips
Suzy: Found out I'm going to be a mom
Julie: Getting my husband back, and going on a cruise
Derrell: Graduating
Granna: Coming out here to visit two times  (she had to say that ;-)  )

Gone Cruisin'

To celebrate the doctorate and our anniversary, we went on a cruise to 

The Bahamas!  

It was great fun and very relaxing.  

The first day was unseasonably cold.  The high was only 44 degrees.  Even with the clouds, the terrain was beautiful.

This day was much warmer--60's.  It was a very pleasant boat ride around Nassau.

Waiting on the pier for a boat to take us para-sailing.

Soaring high!  It was very peaceful up there.  We could see all the way to the edge of the earth. ;-)  The water was clear as glass, and it was amazing to be able to see so far down while sailing so far up!

The sun setting on Nassau.

The last day was spent snorkeling and sliding down a 40 foot water slide and getting sunburned.  We are anxious to get the pictures back that were taken with the waterproof disposable camera. 

The kids showing off their nifty gifties.

  

My mom kindly agreed to fly out to stay with the children.

And she brought my little brother and his wife, too.  Good times!

 What we learned:

• Cruises are indeed fun!
• The food is indeed abundant and fattening.
• So, Tums and Gas-X or Beano should be consumed regularly.
• Anti-motion-sickness medicine should be taken before embarking.

Three-Year-Old Speak, Part Two

You're tickling me in my heart.--used when she's really laughing hard

I love you a lot of times.--instead of just "I love you a lot." Daddy has responded with, "So, there are some times that you don't love me?" :)

beLAY--ballet

And even more comically:

I'm going to do beLAY at the temple. (We're not sure what she thinks goes on in a temple. I'VE never "done ballet" at the temple! :) )

Recently she asked ten yr old sister, AM, for a piggy back ride. AM said, "I'm not a piggy. I'm a human." So, without missing a beat, the three yr old asked, "Can I have a human back ride, then?"

Three-Year-Old Speak

I just need to get all these fun words down before she grows up!

It's already starting. A short while ago, while talking about the fruit we just bought, AE said, "These aren't 'twah-twobbies', are they? They're 'strawberries'." That was a sad day for me. "Twah-twobbies" was just so cute and entertaining!

uh-scusting----disgusting

atchully----actually

accuse me----excuse me

wellow----her favorite color

waisin brown---her favorite cold cereal

cherr-woes---her other favorite cold cereal

"I want to hold you, Mom"

AH-vuh-dum---all of them

pewter---computer

hanitizer---hand sanitizer, NOT a reference to Sean Hannity. :)

A Wedding

We got to attend a friend's wedding at a golf course in Gettysburg. It was fun! The scenery was amazing. The food was abundant. And the questions from our children were endless. They've never been to such an event!

I grabbed a few photos of my favorite people, of course.
What good lookin' kids!

The girls and I had fun making matching hair clips a couple weeks ago.
They all looked very beautiful with blue flowers in their hair!


The little girl who has finally decided that the camera isn't so bad, after all.


And, the obligatory silly pose!

So, It Has Been Forever

But, I think I'm back to blogging!

D's crazy long year of residency is over. Life is not so busy. I am not so tired. It's time to get back to chronicling our happenings.

D has had an interesting experience since finishing his residency. His old job ended Sept. 10th. His new job was supposed to start the next week, but funding hadn't come through. They told him to fill out a bunch of paperwork, do some online training, and bill his hours as working from home, but not really giving him much work. So, we had a grand ol' time going out to eat, to movies, running errands, doing yard work, exercising, etc. while he was "working from home". Then, the week turned into three, and he's sorta going stir crazy. Transitioning from two full time jobs and commuting and writing a dissertation to nothing is not easy. Gratefully, he's been getting a lot of good sleep! In the last three weeks, he has been applying to other jobs just in case the funding never came through for the pentagon job. We are very humbled to now be faced with the "problem" of deciding WHICH position to take. I lost count of how many offers he's gotten. Most likely he'll choose to be employed by the government (Dept. of Homeland Defense) doing intelligence stuff. (Maybe he will write with more details when it's set in stone later this month or next.) All the offers have been for jobs in this area, so we feel quite confident that we will be staying here for some time.

ED loves middle school. We are so pleased at how well he has taken to all the changes and extra homework load associated with this transition. He is a good kid. He stands up for himself (being slightly built gives him ample opportunity), and is good-natured and witty. Since he decided that reading isn't such a bad thing last year, we've had to actually take his books away occasionally. I really hate doing that because we should just be celebrating the fact that he loves to read, but he does have to do his jobs and sleep... D says he remembers staying up well past midnight using a flashlight under his covers to read "just one more chapter" around this age, too. Soccer season is just about complete. ED is really looking forward to turning twelve next month. We are going to take him to the temple to do baptisms with D & T & M & H over Thanksgiving break. (Anyone have any family names that will be ready?)

AM is growing into a young lady--her patience with her little sisters is increasing, her thought processes are maturing, and her discipline to do what needs to be done (whether she wants to or not) is usually high. She is a social butterfly, and seems to get along with just about everybody. At a church talent show a couple weeks ago, we were blessed with a heart-swelling-with-pride moment when Anna got up to help a mentally-challenged girl (her same age) who was paralyzed with stage-fright by singing her song with her. AM put her arm around this girl and said, "It's OK. You can do it. I'll sing with you." Needless to say, there were quite a few wet cheeks in the cultural hall after witnessing such an amazing act of love. How sobering to have children who are better and braver than me. Gymnastics will start in a couple weeks for Anna and Laura.

LL has a grandmotherly teacher this year (2nd grade). After the yeller she had last year, we were praying for someone loving. Her first words off the bus the first day were, "My teacher is so nice!" We are grateful. She actually wants to go to school most days, and she is thriving emotionally and academically. We've especially noticed her excelling reading skills at family scripture study. Her desire for order and truth is admirable, but can be a little uncomfortable at times. It's difficult for her to keep her mouth shut. "But, why shouldn't I tell that lady that she probably shouldn't eat so much? She's fat!" She honestly wants to share her wisdom to help others. We're working on social etiquette. ;-) And she is making progress. A while back she proudly announced, "I wanted to say what I was thinking about that man over there, but I kept it inside because it might not be very nice."

NE is a strong little girl. Both she and LL are built for athletics. NE is doing well in kindergarten. She can read real books now (well, most of the words), and that has opened up her world. She is very responsible in getting up in the mornings, bathing, and packing her lunch. Sometimes she even packs it the night before! She loves riding the bus and feeling so grown up. She and AE get along swimmingly. Most nights they would rather play than go to bed. NE wants to take ballet lessons. Tomorrow she is getting her hair cut to maybe shoulder-length. It's close to her waist right now and always snarly.

All three school-aged girls have joined girl scouts. They are all very very very excited!

It is very quiet here during the days with only AE home. She plays well alone, and loves having both mom and dad all to herself. Her 3 yo personality is really starting to shine through. She is very lovey and cuddly and says, "I just love you so much!" all the time. She has also been talking a lot about being "great". Today she asked me, "Mom, are you great? Because Daddy says he is TRYING to be great, and I'M great, so are YOU great?" Then before I could respond, she answered, "Yes, you're great." AE talks about going to nursery with "all the babies", and I seem to recall that cousin Ella made similar comments. :-) She loves her long, blond curlies. There are no plans to cut them off (even though she did take the scissors to her bangs a couple weeks ago). All is normal around here!

Family Pictures 2009

A photographer friend took our family pictures this fall.
Location: Civil War battlefield & cemetery site.

I am very pleased with myself for orchestrating the outfits. They all actually look good together! At least I think so. If you don't, keep it to yourself. ;-)

Our youngest, 2 1/2 years, was very uncooperative. Zero smiles. When we got the CD of all the photos, she kept pointing at the screen while saying,
"She wasn't happy. She wanted her Mom & Dad. She didn't want the pictures."
I agreed.

Overheard in the Car

Observations by the four-year-old; comment by the two-year-old.


NE: Ewww! It smells like crabs in here!

Me: Crabs? You think so?

NE: Yes! I think Daddy and Uncle Matthew got crabs and ate them in the car on the way home from the airport.

Me: chuckling and confused (Uncle Matthew is half-way across the country.)

AE: Yah, it stinks! I think Uncle Matthew pooped in here!

Me: laughing so hard I'm crying


Of course I had to call Matthew, and inform him that our two-year-old thinks he needs to work on his personal hygiene.

Our First Break

Boys will be boys, the saying goes. And ours has now officially been inducted into the
Royal Order of Boyhood.

He broke his first (and hopefully last!) bone.

Being left-handed, this left elbow break was a bit inconvenient. The writing difficulty was nothing compared to the torture of missing out on PE at school, though!

Some lessons learned:
Humans cannot fly. Gravity is real. Showing off can get you hurt.

I was inside, and didn't see the actual event. But from eye witnesses I've gathered that the kids were taking turns swinging really high and jumping out of the swing. ED said that this particular time, he thought while in mid-air, "Wo. I'm really high. This is going to hurt." It did. He landed just right (or wrong), and heard the crack. It was a Saturday. We got to spend four hours in the Emergency Room.