Choir Girl

This girl has been going to choir each Wednesday morning in preparation for their Christmas performance at the Festival of the Trees.  

She did a GREAT job.  I love to watch her sing.  She is so animated and excited.  Festival of the Trees was a treat.  So many trees and so many colors!  I love this girl.

Sick Day & Sewing

This girl woke up sick(er) today.  I got a sub, she took a nap... and then, she found my machine.  

She has been wanting to help me sew, and has to push the pedal when I am sewing.  Today I got brave, and decided to just show her a few basics.  She picked right up on it and was sewing rag edges together for me.  She is my creative little bug... and determined girl.  She had put on EASY SEWING MACHINE on her Christmas list, but I think we can manage to share this one :)  Now I just need to find her some easy projects to sew.

There should be an instagram upload for blogs

Why is it that posting a picture on Instagram is so easy, but doing the same on my blog seems like such a task?  I hope there is a way to upload all of my Instagram into a blog book otherwise, I've done horrible with keeping up to date on my family's activities.

So my goal is to post on my blog each time I post on Instagram. Yeah, we'll see how long that lasts.

We took a little weekend getaway and Aspen found a firepit. This girl seriously cracks me up. If it isn't what she says it's just her cute little behaviors. 
I love this girl.

Gratitude should not be an annual event (note to self)

I was out for my run today, and my heart was full, and I was thinking about all the great and amazing things in my life.  I thought "I need to write these down, before I forget how much I sometimes take them for granted".  So while the rest of the house is in bed full of turkey and pie from the day, I am sitting in bed, intent on not letting my thoughts be forgotten.

This year has been a crazy year with so many changes, so many accomplishments, so many ups and downs.  This had made me come to appreciate some things this year that have heretofore gone unnoticed.

Thoughts of gratitude from my run (in no particular order) (and not all inclusive... just what came to me while running):
1) My kids.  They are as different as the seasons, but each bring its own beauty as the seasons do, as well.
2) Morgan.  I have been able to spend more time with my oldest this past few months, and I forgot how much I love her.  She sometimes makes me want to strangle her, and I know she sometimes thinks I am crazy/weird, but I just really have enjoyed getting to know her again.
3) Running.  Seriously.  This is my sanity... literally and figuratively.  I know that someday I may not be able to run, but today is not that day... and for that I give thanks.
4) Hayden.  For someone who has started from step 1, and had never handled a power tool... and built a company into what he is taking care of today, I am truly amazed and impressed.  He has given up much for me, and I am grateful for his listening ear, his BFF status for me, his crazy work ethic, the friend and listener he is to my kids, and the amazing dad he is to his girl who pretty much think he is THE KING.
5) My job.  I know... I'm weird to love teaching jr high, but it is where I feel I truly make a difference.  My students love me and I love them (most of the time... with the exception perhaps of block days... and maybe sometimes not during 7th period ;)  I have some amazing co-workers who make my job more bearable because they are in my life.
6) Wade.  This kid has grown so much this past year... both in inches and in character.  He is the peacemaker OF THE WORLD and is willing to sacrifice whatever his opinion is for the benefit of others... which is admirable, but more admirable is how much he has learned to speak his mind, and have a say.  And when Wade is around... he is THE KING, and Hayden has to step down from that status.
7) Ability to be introspective.  I hope I never lose being able to take other people's feedback and process it, and decide what really applies to me, and how I can become a better person from it.
8) Aspen.  Holy cow.  This girl makes me grateful EVERYDAY!  She is the "cleaner" of the house as of this past week or two, and if I don't watch, she has moved my stuff to wherever she has decided is "the place" for it.  She has more energy than a herd of chickens (or a classroom full of 12 year olds), and somedays my gratitude is just in having her fall asleep early.  I love her, and she gives love so freely to everyone.
9) Great people in my life.  I have some pretty amazing friends, I have an AWESOME set of in laws that anyone should be envious of, and I have some wonderful people I'm related to that would give their shirts off their back for ANYONE... and sometimes do for  me.  I love you guys, and I truly do appreciate having you in my life!  Thanks Arica, Becky, Jocelyn, Frank & Debra and Kara.
10) Brenden.  Serving a mission in Canada, and I have forgotten how much I took for granted just being able to see him when I felt like it (even if it did require a 3 hour drive).  Aspen is counting down the days to see him, and I know he is going to be such a great missionary.

Summer Lovin'

It's 5:50am and I have already been to the gym, and Hayden is already gone to work. Wade has been back North since Monday when I took him to the train in SLC.  I had him come twice to our 5am workouts while he was here, and he thought that was pure torture.  He did say that one of the things he misses from being in Tremonton during the summer, is that they don't make him exercise. So... in my "motherly" way that I have... I have come up with a "long distance workout plan" for Wade. If he runs 7/9 of the days he is there before coming back here, I have offered him an itunes gift card. So far, he has 2/3 days down... :)

carriage ride @ birthday party

We had Aspen's birthday party on Tuesday. It was B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.!!! My definition of beautiful means stress free. Other than getting the kids to the party, because we had to pick up a few, everything was done for us. They rode ponies, fed all the animals, had a carriage ride, ate cake, opened presents, and played. Now I don't have to listen to her and all her birthday party plans... for about a week, anyway, then she will start planning her next one. 

She stayed at Grandma Fraser's for a couple days last week, but she never makes it more than a couple nights before she is dreadfully homesick. Sure enough... her Sunday return home date had to be moved to Saturday, and that was pushing it. Friday night she was in tears on the phone begging to come home. We definitely took advantage of having her gone. Thursday we went to the Toby Keith concert, Friday I got a manicure, did a "long"-ish run on Saturday, ran a million errands, and got her birthday party plans taken care of. 

We took Wade for a little IKEA initiation last week. He had never been before, and I was pretty sure by the time we ended that he was just going to pack a bag of stuff and move into one of the little model apartments they have set up. 

Our fridge... with an artist in the house.

Aspen got her first bee sting last week as well. She was poking a stick in the hammock stand and apparently there was a hornets nest just inside the hole. We knew something had happened because the scream that came from the backyard was HORRIFIC. Seriously. A bee sting and the loss of a leg sound pretty close to the same thing, I'm sure. Aspen isn't dramatic at all. :)  After a good dose of bee-spray, we killed off a few nests hanging around the back yard.

Punching ball

I have a half marathon on Saturday in AF Canyon. I haven't really trained for it, but then again... I hadn't really trained for Ogden and I managed to pull out a PR on a marathon and felt GREAT afterwards. Something to be said for cross training I guess. 

Brenden is in his third week at the MTC, and is district leader.  His companion had to be sent home for medical reasons, so he has been adjusting to a new partner.  I have been guilty of driving by the MTC very slowly and looking for him when I have to be in Provo for meetings or whatever.  Aspen misses him already.  His blog address is elderoxborrow.blogspot.com.  I post his letters there as they come in.

Happy #5 to My Little Spit-Fire

My little fire-cracker.

 Painter and artist (especially of animals and people).

Dare-devil and stunt man (hanging upside down on your swing by your legs with no hands)

Determined little gal.

Homesick after 3 days... yes, even at Grandma's house.

Daddy's little princess.

Trampoline master (still trying to not land on your head on your "flip")

Lover of going on walks... even when it's 92 degrees.

Particular little bugger... who REFUSES to wear any color of pant that doesn't match EXACTLY with her top (and jeans don't match ANYTHING).

Photogenic girl.

Runner wanna be.

Diva.  Fashionista. 

Creative little story teller.

Pouty little fits (onto her bed) when she doesn't get her way.

Chocolate milk lover.

Cuddle bug... kiss giver... affectionate.

Misses her dogs and her space when she is away.

Daddy's little fellow beach bum.

Her brother Wade's little shadow.

We sure love you.

Thanks so much for loving us... literally.

Funny...

The sad part about this funny picture is the story behind it. Aspen has had three or four nights of hours of crying in her sleep from dreams. We have tried everything from getting her a drink to try to help her reset, to having her listen to music before bed. Tonight we are trying the "no tv, play with dolls and draw" routine. We'll see how it goes.

Sunday morning with Aspen

Window

The girls loves to dance... and is in her first dance class this month.

Spiderman has a sister

Spiderman has a sister...
Her name is Aspen.

Wishing for change

We managed to avoid housework and hit a few stores for after Christmas sales (H&M.. Of course). Aspen's favorite part was the little bridge over some water. A few minutes into our first store, she approached me with a mile wide grin and showed me her find. A dime and a penny she had fished out of the pond.  She was so proud of herself.

Lincoln Logs

While adding to her endless list of Christmas wishes, Aspen ran across a picture of Lincoln Logs in a toy magazine.
"I want that", she said.
So I went into the boys room, and unearthed some old boxes with toys in them.
It was like Christmas early.
She played for hours.
Not sure I've ever seen cowboys and Indians next to My Little Pony before, but I guess that comes with the territory when a 4 year old girl is in charge.

The Daily Drive

The drive to Emily's in the morning is either a great experience or a miserable one, depending on the mood of the 4 year old in the house.  When it is good, it is very good... Yes, and when it is bad it is horrid.
This past week we parted with these words from her.
"I won't disappoint you.  I'll make you proud.  I love you with all my heart."
The bad days can't hold a candle to this.

My Balloon Lover

Every trip to the dollar store results in the acquisition of a balloon.  

Usually a purple one (but occasionally pink sneaks its way home with us).  

Silly girl... can't even bear to part with it while she naps.

Aspen's 4th Birthday Party

Aspen's 4th Birthday

When it comes to throwing parties... I am an EPIC FAIL.

Thank heavens for Monkey Island in Lehi. 

Invitations + cake + friends = SUCCESS!!

Aspen was able to see her friends from daycare that she had missed since summer began, and I was able to relax (if that is possible with 10 kids under the age of 5), take pictures, and check my email via wireless internet.

Monkey Island... thanks for redeeming my party-throwing reputation!

Best Summer EVER!!

Pretty much the best summer EVER.
Why?
I'm not sure.
Perhaps it is because we didn't have our "bucket list" to have to answer to.
Perhaps it is that my garden was smaller, therefore my time was more plentiful.
Perhaps it was because I didn't listen to the hesitation of my 15 year old, and drug him out for things I knew he would later be glad he did.
Whatever it was... it was wonderful.
We swam, and hiked, and traveled, and talked, and walked, and hiked, and swam.
We cooked, and jumped on the tramp, and so many other relaxing fun things.

I will forever be behind if I expect to update each thing with a long post, so each picture of our adventures gets a tagline, a "who was there", dates for the picture, and the most memorable part of the event. These will be my next several posts.

I got my shoes, mom

We GET to drive by Trafalga each day on our way home from school, after picking Aspen up from Emily's.  Every day that the water fall is going, she lets me know that it is NOT closed (like we tell her it is so often).  Tuesday, she came home, got her non-flip-flop shoes on, and grabbed me by the hand and said "Let's go climbing... I'm ready".

I gave in.
I need to more often.
She had a blast and stayed on the wall CONSISTENTLY for a good 45 minutes.
I think she likes the hanging from the rope on the way down almost as much as she likes the climb up.

I went again with her yesterday as well... she is pretty good.  It is the most recent passion of hers.
And with the cooler weather in store, the water falls should be going off shortly for the afternoons... which means :)  that it is REALLY REALLY hard to tell if it is closed or not.  Pretty sure it's closed.  No water... no open.

At least that's the story I'm sticking to.

Doctor, doctor

Aspen has been having issues with her bladder since she was about 2.  Lately, with kindergarten quickly approaching next year, we realize we need to get some things checked so she is not humiliated in front of friends.  We took her to Utah Valley RMH to have an ultrasound done on her kidneys and her bladder, and then a VCUG to test for any reflux in the bladder.  Most everything turned out looking good, other than the amount of liquid the girl can discharge, even on a day when she hasn't had anything to eat or drink.  They gave her some meds that helped her relax and to not remember anything about the procedure when it was all over.  She had fun, if that can be said of a procedure.

That night she is sitting on her bed and calls me in.
"Mom the cat peed in here"
"Where?"
"Right here, under my bum"

Yeah... so we still have the bladder problem...
and thankfully, we also have an appointment to see someone at the University of Utah on the 29th.
She is such a great sport.

The "helpful" child

Aspen watered the plants the other day...doing me a favor, apparently. But any plants watered for six hours with a hose on full blast creates a problem.

This problem resulted in both basement bedrooms packed up (including my massive scrapbook stash) and some new carpet. Thank heavens the only thing that came out if it harmed was the carpet...and I had the "opportunity" to paint the rooms as well.
Lucky me.

A little worried

Aspen is a bit nervous about the whole "someone might buy our house" thing. She is afraid of leaving all her things for someone else to play with...

So... To prevent that from happening, she has gone around the house over the course of several days and filled her bags and purses with her favorite things.  They go with us each time we go anywhere...just in case.