You'll thank me someday

This is what you do when you have an ear infection and are sensitive to noise but your mean mom still makes you practice piano.

Volleyball

This spring, both the girls signed up for volleyball. They were on two different teams with two practices each week. I don't know what I was thinking.  We were already so busy, but it was a short season and I thought they would enjoy it.

I don't know a lot about volleyball, but it seemed to me that so much of it is linked to confidence.  As the girls became a little more comfortable and aggressive, they sure got fun to watch.  I came to really enjoy my hours of driving and sitting in bleachers each Saturday to attend the games.  In fact, I also enjoyed going to practices and playing games with the girls.  I think I could have been a volleyball player.

But, I digress.  This was a great experience for the girls.  They both want to do it again.  So fun.

This is Emma serving.  When she slowed down and thought about it, she got it over the net every time.  She had a hard time shaking off mistakes, though.  In volleyball, it's really easy to point fingers when something goes wrong.

 This is what Emma does when we have to sit and watch Sydney's match.

 Here is Sydney serving.  Look at her tiny team.  Some of them could walk right under the net.  Sydney was pretty fearless and it was fun to watch her dive for the ball and make a save.

Emma's team was age 10-12.  Her coaches were moms who volunteered.  They were so patient and kind with all the drama that comes with this age.  By the end of the season, the team was pretty decent and even won a few games and a match or two.

Always have to do a funny photo.

Sydney was lucky enough to be on her cousin Mia's team.  In my humble opinion, they were the two stars.  They were both pretty dependable if the ball came their way (or if it came to a less reliable girl, they were happy to step in too.)  So grateful for close cousins!

Candy Crush

To told the kids about Brent being stuck in Alabama because of an ice storm. I mentioned that he had been sitting at the airport for hours. My four year old quickly popped up and said, "he's okay, mom, he gets to play a lot of Candy Crush."

Tesa

Man oh man, have I got a lot of catching up to do.  As I thought about what's been going on over the past months that I have failed to write about, Christmas popped into my head first.  Not only because it's Christmas and all things magical and wonderful happen during that month.  And not only because some of my family drove and flew all the way to be with us for the holiday.  So grateful for sisters and parents who love me.  Those were definitely highlights.

But, this is the reason Christmas was a biggie for us this year....

Cutest Dog Ever!

Let me just backup and say that our kids have been asking for a dog since the beginning of time.  They begged, they pleaded, they cried.  Brent has always been adamantly against it.    I started pushing it harder this fall and he eventually caved.   I quickly said "no take backs" and started shopping around.

To make a long story short, we found a liter of puppies in Utah and my parents offered to drive her down to us in time to surprise the kids on Christmas.  It was two long months of waiting for me.  I was dying to have her.  I was dying to surprise the kids.  Brent was just dying inside wondering what he'd gotten himself into. 

We arranged to have the puppy at a friends for a day and then went and picked her up after the kids were asleep Christmas Eve.  Shara, my sweet sister, slept downstairs with her so she wouldn't get too loud.

Then, Christmas morning, the kids came downstairs to see a large wrapped box near the tree.  We made it clear that this present was from mom and dad (in order to get the glory and to make sure the kids knew we had condoned this).   Once they opened it, they all squealed.  Sydney bent right down and told the dog, "I love you, I love you."   I may or may not have choked up.

Her name is Tesa (Taylor, Emma, Sydney, Aiden).  She is a lot of work.  She is a lot of fun.  Really, I think I enjoy her more than the kids do.  She is my buddy.  We love her so much (even Brent when nobody is looking).

Grandma and Puppy.  

Best. Christmas. Ever!

Insights of a four year old

After a week of being a dog owner, Taylor said she has realized something about dogs.....they don't tell time. Also, people's feet don't stink. They just smell large. What I wouldn't know without her four year old insights.

Merry Grinchmas!

Another large event that I haven't documented was the ward Christmas party.  I was asked to be in charge of it back in September and it pretty much sucked up three months of my life.  In the end, I think we may have overdone it a bit.  But, it was a huge hit!  It was a Grinch themed party.  Everyone came dressed at whos from whoville.  My kids looked awesome, but I was too busy working the party to get a good picture. We had plastic cups hidden in our hair to make it stand straight up and then added all sorts of curly ribbon and Christmas decorations.  I wore my tree skirt.  So sad we didn't get a photo.  

Here is the invitation.  The bishop likes each family to get a formal invitation and we printed another 100 to get passed out to non members.

 It even rhymed Dr. Seuss style.

 The biggest hit was the indoor sled run.  Elizabeth, my good friend has a husband who love these kind of projects.  He spent two days setting it up. One track was about 10 feet high and the kids slid down cardboard on cardboard.  Another was about 6 feet high and 20 feet long.  It was a wooden track.  The kids sat in a box with wheels.  The kids were so happy!   We decorated the sides to look like a mountain and the sled looked like the Grinch's sleigh.

You can see Brent at the top, helping kids get on and off.

This is "Sydney Lou Who" going down the sled run.

The gym was decorated like whoville.  See those center pieces, aren't they cute?

 The stage was set up like a who's living room with a life sized, pose able Grinch.  It was a perfect picture spot (or so I heard).

 We had a who's feast complete with "roast beast" (ham) and who hash (potatoes).  The desserts were all green, but were still super delicious.

 It was a big hit, a super success, and tons of fun.  But, boy oh boy, I was tired of Seussical looking anything for a while. I had an awesome group of ladies help me pull it off.  We have a very talented and helpful ward.

Girls Night.

Girls night out. Beauty and the Beast and Macaroni grill. Sure love these two!

Fall Fun

We spent the day up the canyon enjoying the cooler weather.  

Can you tell there was a sale on Gap sweatshirts last week? 

Important things to know

"Mom, will I ever run out of tongue slober?"  Taylor asked.

"No," I assured her

"Good," she said with a sigh of relief, "because I have a lot of things I need to lick."

The Unheralded Role

     While staying at my mom's house this summer.  My dad turned to me while driving in the car one day and told me what a great mother I was.  He told me how I was doing a wonderful job, to keep up the good work, and how amazing my children are.  I immediately looked out the window to hide the tears streaming down my face, surprised at the impact of those words. They were just so wonderful to hear.
 
     Oftentimes, motherhood is a thankless job.  My children rarely tell me how grateful they are I made something yucky for dinner (again), or how they are so appreciative that I make them do homework and get to bed on time.  My husband is sometimes gone for longs hours and I feel alone in my exhaustion and frustration.  The work I have done feels overlooked, taken for granted or forgotten. Like nobody even noticed.  So, when I finally got a simple "atta boy," I couldn't hold in my emotions.

     How different would the world be if we gave mothers the applause they deserve?  Can you imagine getting a high five every time you controlled your temper and didn't yell even though you just mopped the floor and that orange juice is sooo sticky.  What if WE got a certificate of appreciation every time our kids accomplished something? Because we all know that if it wasn't for mothers, lots of kids wouldn't accomplish much.  What if the world gave prizes to mothers who made it out the door, on time, with everyone fully dressed?  What if raising a family was society's top priority?


     I've thought a lot about the experience with my dad. I joked with my friends a few days later that they need to call me every week and tell me what a great job I am doing so next time I hear it, it won't be such a big deal. Since then, I have tried harder to be that voice of gratitude and encouragement for other moms.  I look at the young moms at church remembering those days.  I remember looking at the clock and wondering what on earth we were going to do for the next six hours until bedtime.  I remember what a wonderful gift an hour to myself was.  I remember how overwhelming and discouraging it was to try to keep the house clean.  I just want to wrap my arms around those mothers and tell them they're doing an amazing job.  I hope they hear how wonderful their children are and that their imperfect efforts are enough.

     But, amidst the absence of glory or small amounts of appreciation, I am still so glad that I am a mother.   I am grateful for my four little gifts.  I am grateful that God loves me enough to teach me through them.  I know that if Heavenly Father came down today and gave me a list of my most important duties, being a mother would be right at the top.  I know I am doing exactly what He wants me to.  That gives me great strength and peace.  Having that knowledge makes the awards and accolades of the world seem less important.  It doesn't matter if anyone notices what I am doing, I will continue doing it.  Motherhood is that important.

Here is Elder Holland's talk on the subject that always makes me cry:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1997/04/because-she-is-a-mother?lang=eng

Growing up with style.

 I am six!  This boy runs at full throttle all day, every day. 

This is an accurate picture of how I feel trying to get him to sit and do homework or clean his room. AHHHH!

I am four! This girls is loves to chat and snuggle.

Taste of Home

Fresh peaches always remind me of my mom and make me a little homesick. I guess I will have to eat these with ice cream to make myself feel better.

 

My baby is Four!

Taylor turns four today.  I love four year birthdays because it means we have survived three and I finally get a little bit of my sweet, obedient child back.  Taylor is not exception.  She has been defiant and a tease for the past year.  Lately, I have seen her become more complacent and kind, which I think is her true form. 

 I have said before that we have mold A and mold B kids.  Taylor and Sydney are my mold B.  This is true with looks and temperament.  Taylor is typically thoughtful, calm, and easy to play with. She is happy to let others have what they want, and doesn't mind sharing.  She loves all girly things, especially dress ups.  She will put on something fancy and then walk around with her hands bent at the wrist like a dainty girl and speaking in a high tone.  She will then grant you a wish or leave you a present.  Its pretty adorable.  She also loves to play with dolls, barbies and our pretend kitchen.

As girly as she is, Taylor is happy to switch gears and play guns or swords too.  She will go fight monsters and bad guys.   She loves Jake and the Neverland Pirates (hence her cake), and My Little Ponies.

She is pretty social and loves her friends.  She is always having playdates and sending her friends letters in the mail.  Preschool starts in a few week, which she will really enjoy.  Her teacher's name is Miss Nichole and Taylor can't stop calling her Mr. Cool.  She has some imaginary friends called Cub-a, and Sub-i-da.  She will talk to them or sometimes buckle them in the car next to her.  She also has a family of squirrels living in her tummy and will tell me detailed stories about what they're doing or what they would like to eat.  Obviously, imagination is easy and fun for her. 

Maybe it's because she's my youngest, but I think Taylor is the cutest thing ever.  In many ways, she has her dad and I wrapped around her finger.  I'm glad she is too sweet to take advantage of it too much. She has one dimple and beatiful dark eyes that sparkle when she's happy.  She's also the tannest one in our family by far.  I'm already dreading all the boys who will surely be coming around in 10 years.

 What a blessing this little girl has been to our family.  Everyone adores her and I you could call our family the "Taylor fan club."  She still loves to be my cuddle bug and is often my shadow while the big kids are gone.  I am going to miss her so much next year when she starts school.  

The only pictures I could scrounge up for now were ones on my phone.  Most of these were taken this summer while we lived at my mom's house in Utah.  What fun we had!  

Happy Birthday my sweet Taylor!  I thank Heavenly Father everyday that I get to be your mother.  I love you!

One of the big kids

This girl has been more excited for preschool than she was for Christmas or her birthday. Me, on the other hand felt super sad last night thinking about her growing up.

Summer at Grandma's with Grandmas

I have decided to write my Grandma Madge's life history.  That's a whole blog post in itself.  As part of that process, we spent our whole summer in Utah at Grandma Robertson's house.  Grandma Madge came and stayed there too.  So, I spent several hours each day interviewing her about her life.  It was an amazing experience.  I know I will look back over her stories and the time we spent together with gratitude.  I love her so much!

It was also an awesome chance to spend a summer at Grandma's house.  I spent a lot of time planning fun things for my kids to do.  We got passes for Seven Peaks Water Park.  Each kid got to pick a class/activity to do.

Taylor chose swim lessons.

Aiden chose a karate class, which he took with Max and Sam.

Sydney took horse riding lessons. Emma took a performing arts class at the Scera theater in Provo.  Unfortunately, no photos of those.

We had lots of fun around grandma's fire pit.

 The big girls participated in a cake decorating contest. Thanks to lots of help from Aunt Shanlee.
  

Amelia and her family came to visit while we were there.  We went to a local fish hatchery.

And spent a night camping up Hobble Creek Canyon.

We went to the Thanksgiving Point children's museum several times.

We loved all the great cousin and grandma time we got to have.

And I got some quality sister time too.

It was a really fun summer.  Brent did come visit us for the July 4th weekend, so we were only away from him for about 4 weeks at a time.  We drove home just in time for school to start. 

Ultimate Laziness

Aiden has come up with a brilliant plan. He decided that if he sleeps like this his bed will already be made when he wakes up in the morning. Seriously. That's his endgame here.