Buzz….buzz...buzz..

       I decided to take a break from my busyness to write about my busyness.  We are supposed to close on our house soon. (Feb. 1)  But there is a problem with the title of the home and the title company is trying to resolve it.  So for now, the closing is up in the air.  I have hopes it will get worked out soon - because that’s about all I can do.  There have been so many more requirements and documents needed this time around, I have been printing, scanning, faxing, signing, emailing, running to the bank, and running to the broker a lot.  I am kind-of sick of that.  When I am not cleaning, cooking, teaching Gabe how to read, playing with Abigail, running Emma to school, dance, or basketball, helping out in Gabe’s class, doing projects for our family reunion in July etc etc…….  I am studying for my real estate test.  I hope to take it in two weeks!  Yea!   I’m excited to start my real estate career.  I have been really enjoying studying for the test.  I just wish I had a little more time to do it.  I’m trying to stop wishing for things that are out of my control, but I still have such a strong desire to be a person who doesn’t need to sleep.  Oh, the thought of the things I could  get done!

This was Emma’s school picture this year.  She had on a really cute sweater with buttons, but Emma thinks sweaters are to be worn like coats and she took it off.  But she’s cute anyway.

I switched Emma over to her new school already because she was not enjoying her class at Arrowhead.   I am happy to say that her teacher is great and she loves her new school!  Happy Day! I just have to drive her every day until we move and then she can walk.  She has been enjoying basketball, ballet, and gymnastics.  She is still a little smarty pants.  Mark and I have been teaching her multiplication and she’s got it down pretty good. 

Gabriel has been doing puzzles like crazy.  He does puzzles every day.  They range from 24 to 150 pieces.  He loves it.  Today, I asked him if I could do the border, and he said, “um, no thanks.” He also enjoys preschool, and he is learning to read.  He is doing great, and is reading simple books on his own.  He still has a hard time eating anything different or nutritious, but he is healthy and happy (unless we try to get him to eat something he doesn’t want to. Then he is very sad.)  He is my good listener, and has been such a great helper lately.  Gabe also has been playing basketball and is a great dribbler!

Abigail is our crazy girl.  She is talking much better now.  Sometimes when she’s upset, she starts talking fast and whinny, and it sounds like words, but is totally incoherent.  It’s so funny.  She loves to dress up and is seen in a princess dress quite a lot.  I let her go out in public in her dresses because she likes it, and I don’t want to fight her to take it off and it’s cute.  It is one of those things I never let Emma do, but I have no idea why because now it seems perfectly fine.  I hope my parenting is not getting too lazy. She hangs out with me all day, and loves to copy whatever I’m doing or saying.   She is generally in a good mood, and can always make me smile with one of her big smiles, which she gives often.  She is a sweetheart and growing up so fast.  Mark and I just love her to death.

That’s pretty much what I am up to.  I feel like I am going going going all day.  It’s so hard to do everything I want to without feeling like I’ve neglected something else.  But I just keep trying.

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.”

Phew! I think I am done with the holiday posts. On to the here and now. Our most exciting news is . . . we are buying a house! Yay. I am so excited! I can't wait to use my own dishes and furniture, and to have a little more space. I feel like we have been in a wierd transition period that has gone on for so long. It will be so nice to be settled in a ward, and a neighborhood with the understanding that we will be there for a while. I feel bad Emma has to change schools - again. Poor kid, but she has adjusted well so far.

It will be an adjustment living on our own again. There are many great things about living here with my parents. We put the kids to bed and have babysitters almost anytime. This has been great for Mark and I. We've been able to play volleyball and go on dates together a lot. It's just easier with 4 adults in the house. We share cooking and cleaning responsibilities, help each other out in a bind, pick stuff up at the store for one another, and there is always someone to talk to. I remember the days when I didn't talk to another adult the whole day. I hope I make friends fast because I'm worried I will be a little lonesome. The kids are going to have a rough transition too. They've had 4 adults to care for them and love them all the time. They've been able to get their needs and wants meet much easier here.

I'm so grateful my parents have opened their home to us. It was so important for us. We have been spoiled because they take any opportunity to help us. I get asked everyday, "What can I do for you today Sara?" My mom cooks dinner for us all the time, and my dad will drop anything to help me fix a flat tire on my bike (just some examples). Hopefully, I have learned from their generosity and service, and I will take it with me.

I am a little scared and excited to move. It will be a new chapter in our lives.

winter wonderland

Uncle Brian showing everyone a good time, as usual.

It’s no secret I love playing in the snow.  Mostly snowboarding, but sledding is pretty good too.  I may have passed this excitement on because  for some reason, Gabriel was so excited to go sledding in Idaho.  We got to the cabin at about 8:00 at night, and as soon as we announced we were here, Gabe yelled, “Can we go sledding now?”  Mark and I laughed and said, “Gabe, look at it outside.  It is pitch black.  Do you really want to go sledding now?”  and he yelled, “Yeah!” 

  I went sledding three times while we were there and it was fun.  Although Gabriel and Emma didn’t have as much fun as me.  Even Abigail wasn’t a huge fan.  Gabe enjoyed it for a little while until he got cold and would go wait in the car.   Emma sat around for a while until I forced her to go down and then she slowly warmed up to it and was enjoying it by the end.  

Abigail insisted on carrying her own sled up the hill.

Mark’s idea of sledding.  I like it. :)

Emma was not excited to go down.  But that’s how they learn to have fun. You make them.   Shelby, Riley, Aaron (above)   Kayla and Kenzi (below)       Riley and Brian were crazy.

Dave and Hannah

 

Chris was in charge of Shelby one sledding trip, and they had fun cruising down the hill.

      

Ahhh Snow.  I love to play in it.  Hate to live in it. 

CHRISTMAS!!!

The kids in their Christmas Eve Jammies.

Christmas was so fun this year.  We spent it at our family lodge in Victor Idaho.  The lodge is 2 stories,  with a big open sleeping area on the second floor.    There were 11 adults and 12 kids.    The kids had a blast running around with their cousins.  There are four holes in the floor of the upstairs, to let heat up and those holes entertained them for such a long time.  We went sledding a few times and spent a lot of time playing in the snow.  We’d usually play some games in the evening when the kids went to bed, and then I’d stay up watching a movie after the first round of adults went to bed.   I was a wee bit tired, but held myself together fine.  It was a very relaxing trip with nice lazy days.

Cute Cousins

  

The womenfolk hot-gluing gingerbread houses for us to decorate. 

 

 

The Bachelors

We decided to just do stockings this year, but with our humongous stocking, and they were all overflowing, we had plenty to open.

If you can tell, this is Gabe dragging his stocking.  

 

The kids got one present under the tree.  My kids all got roller skates which were a huge hit. They skated all over the lodge which was a great setting for learning.      

Abigail was the last one wake up Christmas morning.

   We finally woke her up       

But she spent most of the morning cuddling with Dad.   

Overall, it was an awesome Christmas.  There is something special about the lodge and being in close quarters all together.   There’s fewer distractions and it’s just rustic and cozy.  I love the lodge and I hope we don’t wait too long before we have Christmas there again.    But what really made Christmas great was the family. I am so blessed to belong to a wonderful family who loves each other, and can share two bathrooms together for 5 days.   :)

December

December was a full month.  After returning from Thanksgiving, we headed to California the following Monday.  We wanted to spend some time with Mark’s parents and we were able to visit Tom and Krista and Amy and Spencer.  It was a fun trip which we posted on Mark’s parent’s blog here. 

When we got back, we were busy with shopping, wrapping, decorating, school parties, and lots of Christmas fun.  One magical day it snowed, and the kids immediately put snow clothes on to go play.  It’s a good thing because it melted pretty quick. 

This is what I call a St. George snow angel.

Abigail loved to eat the snow.  She just kept shoveling it in. 

Snow is so fun!

Thanksgiving 2009

It’s been so long since I’ve posted, I’m not sure where to start.  Do I try to post  from Thanksgiving, or just skip it and start fresh?   What to do, what to do. 

Well,  I would like a little something to remind me what happened over the holidays this year so I guess I’ll get posting.   Here goes Thanksgiving.

We went “up north”  as I call it, for thanksgiving, but we left early to attend my cousin Maggie’s wedding.   This was a special occasion because I have not seen my aunts, uncles, and cousins in so long.  We used to spend time together frequently, but since my Grandma and Grandpa died, we have not gotten together.   I love my extended family, and we all had a lot of fun.  I didn’t get a lot of pictures of the family, but I did get a lot of the kids doing what they did all night.  DANCING.  They loved the dancing.  Abigail spun in circles for a straight 45 minutes.     

Emma- dancing with her cousin, Shelby. 

   Dane is an amzing dancer and he taught Gabe some moves.  Emma learned the Macarena.  It brought back 7th grade flashbacks.  Scary.  

The ceremony was beautiful and so was Maggie.  With so many brothers and sisters, and cousins, I went to weddings all the time as a kid, but this was my kids first.  I’m so glad we were able to go. 

The real Thanksgiving                      A day and a half  later, we spent Thanksgiving at Brian’s apartment complex clubhouse with most of the extended family again.  Mark and I got a game of basketball in with Gunnar, JJ, Brian, and Chris.  It is a lot of fun to beat my brothers at basketball.   It was good food, and a good time. 

Abigail and Chloe found their own spot to play