An Update

Disclaimer: I just re-read this and it reads like one of those Christmas letters that people write bragging about their incredible lives or one of those Mormon mommy blogs ("seriously so blessed"). This is why I don't blog. I just can't get the tone right. Oh well, I'm going to publish it anyway. . .

I had fully intended to be better at blogging this year, but well, that didn't happen, obviously. So, I will just follow Marci's lead and blog about a few things and do it with a list. Now that I think about it, I will write one thing about each member of the family.

1. Tyler's third birthday. My friend Amy took this great picture. He just got a haircut yesterday and he looks even cuter if that is possible. He is really starting to talk and it is super fun. I'm thinking we might reach the point where I wonder why I ever had any concerns about his speech and I begin to wish he would stop talking. Tyler loves his pajamas (Batman and Cars ones being his favortie), rain boots, Star Wars, Batman, and french fries (is it just me or does that sound like some crazy personal ad?)

2. Ryan is our video-game playing machine. I never really intended to have a son who played video games, but it just happened and it makes him so very happy. We do exercise restraints and time control, so I'm not terribly worried about it. Lego Batman and Lego Star Wars are the preferred games. But Ryan is also doing a great job reading and enjoys the Biscuit books which he reads on his own, and pretty much any picture book I will read to him. The Water Hole is this week's pick. He likes to find the hidden animals.

3. If you haven't yet, you need to hear Katie play the piano. Man, she's getting good. She also thoroughly enjoyed playing basketball and has mad b-ball skills. Paul says she is a rebounding machine. I think what I liked seeing the most was that even though she clearly dominated on the court, she was incredibly concerned and aware of her team-mates and made sure to pass to them and really focused on the team's progress rather than just her own.

4. Paige's dream of being on the stage is about to come true. She has the part of "Sam," in her school musical, "The Emperor's New Clothes." Sam is basically the character who tells the Emperor that he has no clothes on. She will have a solo (song and reprise) and it is a fairly large role. She has already memorized all her lines and is ready to dive in. The play is April 17 & 18.

Wow, I really didn't mean to turn this blog entry into one of those brag-fest about my amazing children.

5. Paul's been playing racquetball 3 mornings a week and has been loving it. I get a kick out of listening to his play-by-play recap when he gets home in the morning. Did I say that it is at 5:30 A.M.!! How does he do it?

6. I'm still swimming and walking and something not everyone knows is that I finally geared myself up and joined WeightWatchers. Turns out I should have done it years ago, as after just 9 weeks, I am down 2 sizes in jeans. Wahoo. I fully intend to get pictures someday. . . .maybe when we finally sell our house.

Little Boys

So, as most of you know, Tyler has some speech delays, and we have things we work on with him. Specifically, we are trying to help him say the ending sound of words (i.e, "t" with cut). The other day as we were driving home, I took a shortcut, and said I was doing it. Tyler is now (finally!) starting to repeat what I say, so he said his version of "cut," to which I repeated it, emphasizing the "T" sound. Then Ryan pipes up from next to Tyler, "CUT--like chop off your head. Whack" (Making a machete swing in the air). Tyler immediately yells, "No--YOUR head!" And fires back with a light saber sound.

Ahh, the halcyon days of raising little boys--machetes and light sabers. Should I be worried about too much violence?

Fifty Words for Marie on Her 50th B-day

Beso, Besito, Besoto (3)

Charlotte's Web (5)

Silverado, the little Mazda (9)

A good parking spot --"it was meant to be." (18)

The Messiah Sing Along, Kennedy Center (24)

BYU Admissions Office visits (28)

"They better not ask if I'm your mother!" (36)

The Blue Bird of Happiness (41)

Late night call after that date (47)

Kids, phones, chatting (50)

Happy Birthday to Me!

For my birthday, I (ok, Paul helped) added a spiffy new background (thanks Jim and Nadia, once again--I think I'll just keep copying your blog trends). While doing that, I realized that a few months ago I had turned on the comment moderation. Oops, completely forgot about that and thus hadn't seen any of the comments from the last few months. So--thanks for commenting, and sorry for not responding to those comments.

Big fun birthday plans. . .dashed by the stomach flu. Oh well, that's life, right?

Christmas Card

So Jim and Nadia did such a fine job of using their blog to send Christmas greetings, I thought I would do the same.

But first a little back story. Every year, I debate sending cards out. I so enjoy receiving them, the photo cards from old friends, the beautiful cards, the letters, etc. But it really, simply put, is just a major stress for me each season. Forget the letters, all that writing puts me over the edge. I just can't seem to get the tone right--what is bragging about your kids and life experiences, what is sharing? A clever list, a poem? Aargh. And a picture--oh my word!! This year was fairly typical--the stomach flu and winter storms conspired against my simple desire to have a family picture with all 6 of us looking decent, at the camera, and maybe in Santa hats (that would have been cute, right?) I wasn't even dreaming of actually having us in matching/coordinating clothes. But no, that didn't work.

So, I finally gave up the dream of a recent, decent picture and instead opted to use a family shot from our great trip to Cannon Beach. Paul likes this picture, but I don't (pure, unadulterated vanity--I think I look like something the cat drug in). Margaret created a beautiful card for me to print and send out. I was almost convinced to just buck up and do it, despite not liking the picture when it occurred to me that 1) I would have to set up my printer to the new computer and get it all plugged in (it has been in the garage since the house is staged for selling)--a pain; 2) I would have to get Word loaded on the new computer so that I could access all the addresses and make address labels--another pain. We don't have Word on the new computer, because the Seattle-crippling winter storms hit and we didn't get to the Microsoft store to buy the new software. Sure, I could always handwrite all the addresses, but again--a pain. Do you see how the Grinch/Grouch stole Christmas cards from me this year?

My new goal is to try and do "We moved! Here's our new address cards" once we sell the house and get moved into a new one. And then Nadia and Jim did their Christmas cards on a blog, and I thought, heck I could do that, especially since the only people who look at my blog are my family, Paul's and a few friends. I can handle that.

Like I said, Margaret graciously designed the following card for me, when I was still optimistic about sending out cards. She does a great job, doesn't she?

And, drum roll, here it is.

Christmas Tag

So here are my answers to this pass-along blog tag. Here it goes.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, but it is commonly known that I don't wrap very well. Usually function over form at our house.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real trees are best, but we bought an artificial one this year for a few reasons. It will be nice to have it in the attic for the years when we need it.

3. When do you put up the tree? Never soon enough according to the kids.

4. When do you take the tree down? In time for the boy scout troop to pick it up.

5. Do you like eggnog? Not really.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Grover, definitely. Thanks again Jim!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My friend Beth gave my answer: "everyone". I definitely do not have "gift giving" as one of my languages of love. Pretty easy to buy gifts for the kids, but otherwise, hit or miss.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Each year it is different. This year it was definitely Ryan.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Several. I get a new one each year for me as well as one for the kids (a "kid-friendly, play-with me one"). This year's kid one was from Grandma Gwen and is one of those wood puzzle ones. My new one is a "Eastern European" one, which I got the Holy Family. I'll buy the other pieces (the wise men and the camel set) next year.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Whatever happens. Finally have figured out that I do value sending cards out, but I need to start planning earlier. I'm going to do a blog one later today. I think.

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't think of one.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? "It's a Wonderful Life" watching it on Christmas Eve as Paul and I wrap the last gifts, make the breakfast casserole, and finish last minute necessities.

13. When do you start shopping? I did my only Christmas shopping this past Saturday. Paul took care of pretty much everything this year. Yeah, he rocks!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably, but I can't remember.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Our Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole! Delish!

16. Lights on the tree? Is there any other way? This year's artificial is great because it is pre-lit. I like clear, Paul likes colored, so most years we do a combination.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Just one? Here are a few: "In the Bleak Mid-Winter," "Gesu Bambino," 'Gabriel's Message," and my all time favorite traditional is "Away in a Manger," from the humnbook, the last verse and the alto line.

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at home, although the one and only time we did travel to Utah was fabulous.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Most definitely, as can my kids. We did it just this morning.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Haven't established a tradition on this.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. Paul thinks it is absurd to even think about doing it Christmas Eve, but I have some pleasant memories of doing one on Christmas Eve. Also, we have established the tradition of making Christmas Eve more about Christ, with a nativity play, reading scriptures, etc.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? My own anxiety about getting everything done.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? We don't have a theme, just a hodge-podge adorable tree. We all get a new ornament each year and Paul and I always buy an ornament from whatever vacation spots we have gone over the year. I can't find my Leavenworth one, though. Bummer.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham, rolls, au graten or funeral potatoes.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? The new computer that I typed this up on. Thanks Paul!!

Merry Christmas to all!

Fall Soccer

So here are some pictures from Fall Soccer. I've been looking through my pictures the past couple of days, getting some picked for Christmas cards, and also deleting a ton so that when my new computer gets here (shout hurray!!) I don't transfer over all the out-of-focus, duplicates to my new laptop (again, shout hurray!! and also--THANKS, Paul!)