Eleven

Isaac is Eleven now.  

Eleven. 

This boy right here:

Which really is impossible because it was just a few short years ago that he was born:

That he was my giggly baby boy...

His Daddy's little helper:

It was just a few years ago that he looked like this:

And didn't he just start Kindergarten?

And now look at him!  All grown up and skinny and tall and 11 years old.  I can't even believe how fast the time has gone.  

 Isaac asked for Skylanders for his birthday... and we obliged!  I think between us and GiGi, he got like 10 Skylanders!?  My Dad got him a new Baseball glove and ball, which is great- he had long outgrown his.

 The only other thing he wanted was lots of Nerf Weapons, so Matt's parents got him a big set of them:

 As you can tell, he was just a little bit happy!  

 Isaac Matthew, You have brought (and continue to bring) so much joy into my life.  Your precious smile and laugh are contagious and I love your happy helpful heart.  I cannot believe that you are 11- I'm sure you will be taller than me in no time!  You are already over 5 ft 3", so who knows what the next year or two will bring?!  I love you, sweet boy.  Thank you for being you and I hope you had a wonderful birthday! 

Sledding Day!

It's cold.  Like totally, bone-chillingly,wicked ,crazy cold.  Yesterday was the coldest day in twenty years here in Northern Utah.  It was 0 degrees when I went to bed.  We have had 5 pipes freeze over the course of the past 4 days and poor Matthew has spent every single spare minute trying to identify the frozen pipes and thaw them out (oftentimes until the wee small hours of the morning).  Right now we are down to 1 frozen pipe.  We're praying we get it thawed before it bursts.  Especially because it's the pipe that runs to my bath tub ....  and I think we all know that life would be unbearable without my bath.  "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy", right? So I thought I'd reminisce on the brighter side of Winter.  (I know-  I think it's an oxymoron, too, but I'm trying.) 

Last year we had a rather dry Winter  here in Utah.  We never got enough snow to do much of any fun snow stuff... like Sledding.  But, thankfully just in time for Christmas, we got a huge downpour!  Matt had the Friday after Christmas off, so we decided to head down the road a few minutes to this killer hill and do some damage.  Well, we were mostly hoping to just do some sledding and not do any damage, but you get the idea.  They were so excited to get going:

Schlepping back up the ginormous hill was less thrilling... but they were determined little adventurers!  I, on the other hand, was huffing and puffing to drag the sled back up.  It was one of those moments where you think, "Oh... so I can't just Not exercise for 4 months and eat whatever I want and then run up and down hills like a teenager?  Dang it!"   Nice way to motivate myself to exercise again, though.  

Victoria and I went down together.   I am clearly a Sledding Novice, since I have no concept of how to slow down or change my course whatsoever.  I just go down and hold on to Victoria, praying that she won't crack her head open on something.  A concept you can see illustrated here:

Shortly before that happened, there were two cars parked in the lot and Isaac and Daphne rode down together.  They went so fast that the slid right in between two parked cars!  Thankfully, neither the kids or the cars were harmed.  

 Matt explained to me a few different ways to slow us down:  Drag your Arms, Drag your Feet, Or, as you are slowing, just stand up.  I came to find out that all three of these techniques are much easier to apply when you are a Giant.  (Like Matt)   For those of us normal sized folks, it ends up more like this:

Matt mostly stayed at the top helping everyone get started safely and head down a clear path, but we convinced him to try it after a while!

After a few times down with Isaac, Daphne got brave and was ready to try a trip on her own!

We sledded and sledded and sledded until the sun started to go down! Here is Victoria just before we left for the day!  Isn't she a doll?!  

We had so much fun!  I'm sure the kids can't wait until the next time we can go sledding.  I guess Winter isn't completely devoid of happiness after all! 

The Funniest Stuff My Kids Said in 2012

I had so much fun compiling last year's list of funny comments that I thought we'd have a reprise!  So... without further ado and with absolutely no prioritizing( I couldn't pick my faves), here are our Funniest Comments of the Year along with some of my favorite snapshots from 2012:

1.  Tori burst into the kitchen and exclaimed, " I'm gonna be a big sister!" And I said, " I don't think so." 

Daphne said, "You'll never get the chance, Tori. But don't worry. It's much harder to be the middle child." 

Puzzled, I said, " Says who?" Daphne replied, matter-of-factly,
 "I do. I've experienced it."  (Feb 2012)

2.   I put some music on for the girls downstairs... (a tv channel that plays music.) so they could have a dance party.  I was heading upstairs to wash dishes and I said,"Daphne, come get me if it starts plays raunchy songs."  Daphne looked at me with a slightly condescending face and said,
" Do you mean come and get you if it plays inappropriate music?" (Feb. 2012)

3.  Victoria and I were snuggling on the couch next to Matt and I asked her where she got her beautiful hair and her beautiful eyes.  She looked at me and said, "God did it."  I said, "Of course he did!  But did you also know that you have hair just like Daddy did when he was little?  And your eyes look just like his? " 

 Tori said, "So Dad helped God make me?"  

And I answered, "Well, Yeah, in a way"... and tried to explain a bit.

  After a minute Tori looked at Matt and said, "Did you go up to God and say, 'Are these the bum pieces?'     so you could help put me together?"  (March 24th 2012)

(See?  They don't ALWAYS fight.)

4.  Isaac and Daphne were fighting for about the 50th time today and Daphne screamed at Isaac, "You don't care about anyone but yourself!"   Isaac replied somewhat calmly,

  "I care about everyone but you."

(Okay, so that also could have made the list for the meanest things they said in 2012, but I don't make on eof those and it was pretty funny after the fact.)

(April 2012)

5.   I tried a new recipe, which was a complete disaster.  

No one liked it.  

Isaac asked, "What's this called?"   "Teriyaki Chicken.", I answered.

Without skipping a beat, Tori exclaims,
"I LOVE this!  It's TORI yaki chicken!"  (June 2012)

6. I really like the Elementary School in our neighborhood.  There is, however, a particular Kindergarten teacher who I do not want any of my children to have. (Mrs. Rigby)  She will actually take the children's work (little 5 year olds!)  and if she deems it unsatisfactory, will rip it up in front of the class.  True Story.  

Anyway, they had a Kindergarten round up recently and this teacher made some comments that were particularly disconcerting to me.  Namely, she said that, "School is about work.  We don't have fun and we don't share.  We only share in our hearts."  (Why the heck is she teaching little kids?!)  Anyway,  we were driving along  I was discussing this with Matt and the big kids and explaining why I really want Tori to go to another Kindergarten or have the other teacher.   Shortly thereafter, a song by Hilary Weeks song comes on the radio.  It's called "You Have a Song to Sing".

Daphne (as usual) asks, "What's this about?"

I explain that some of the lyrics say, "You have a song to sing, you have a story to tell... there is a destiny that only you can fulfill.  So if you're wandering, just put your trust in Him.  He'll give you a song to sing."  I tell them that everyone has a purpose and God cares about each of us, so she should feel important.  

Isaac says "Because she's important to God."

Daphne:"Yeah, Everyone is important to God."

Then Tori pipes up, "Yeah.  Even Mrs. Rigsby."

(August 2012)

7.   My kids play this obnoxious game in the car called, "Dibs".  Essentially, they see a car that they like and they yell, "Dibs that Corvette!" or whatever.  At first, it seemed like a fun way to keep them entertained, but then it just became one more thing to quarrel about, i.e.: "I saw that first!"  (As if it matters whether you both dibs a car into your imaginary "Dibs account".)  That's Isaac's terminology, by the way.  (Not the imaginary part.)  Every now and then he'll say something like, "I have 25 mustangs in my Dibs Account.  Seriously.

Anyway, so we're driving down the road one hot Summer day and Daphne says, " I see 1 naked guy"  (which to my children means a man jogging or biking with no shirt).

 And my precious little Tori Grace ( in her best Hubba- Hubba voice) says, 

" I dibs him!"

8. Something incredible has happened here in Utah: We now have decent BBQ!  In August, a Dickey's BBQ opened about 30 minutes from us and now we have one about 5 minutes away as well.  We stopped in for our first visit and walked into the door and  Victoria says, "It smells like Texas in here!"
That's my girl!  (August 2012)

9.  While watching the Republican National Convention, Victoria randomly pipes up: 

"I don't like Americans.  I only like Texans!"

(September 2012)

10.  Tori walked up to me at the grocery store and said, " Mom, I love you."  

"I love you too, Tori Grace."

Victoria answered back, "Do you know why I love you?

Because you have all the ingredients to make Pumpkin Bread... Can we make Pumpkin Bread when we get home?"

(October 2012)

11. Victoria:

"Mom, You know what?  Even when I go on Time Out, you love me."

I answer: "Of course I do."

Tori:  "Even when you're mad at me, you love me.

Because you always, always love me."

(Long Pause before she continues)

" Until I'm a grown up."

(November 2012)

12.  Victoria was having a DUM DUM sucker during Church.  She sorted through the suckers and found a grape one, and knowing that this is Matt's favorite flavor, gave it to him.  He pretended to eat it with the wrapper on.  But Victoria grabbed it out of his hand and said, 

"Take the wrapper off , Dum Dum!

Dear Isaac, Daphne and Victoria, 

I wish I could describe to you how much joy you bring to my life; and not just with your clever comments.  You are honestly the brightest parts of my life; I cannot comprehend me without you and I'm not sure I was me until you each grew inside me.  You are the most precious and delightful creatures and I thank God every day for you all.  I love you and look forward to a 2013 full of laughter. 

Love, Mom

We had a fabulous New Year's Eve bash at our house this year!  We had Matt's parents and siblings and their kids as well as a few friends and their families and had a great time.  I wish I had been aware enough to be a better photographer, but alas, I was too busy having fun.  I saw an idea on Pinterest where you put clock faces on bags and mark each one for each hour until midnight.   Inside each bag, you hide a paper with an activity to do for that hour.  I didn't use many of her ideas, just tailor made some for our kids.  It didn't matter that they were simple-  the kids LOVED it and counted down to every hour.  So here's what we did:

6.pm.- Build a Marble Maze Together

7pm- Play Hide and Seek

8 pm-   Make New Year's Punch!

9 pm- Dance Party & Pictionary

10pm- Movie

11 pm-  Fill Out Resolution Papers/Karaoke Party  

(We were waaayyy too tired for Karaoke at 11pm, so we just did the resolution papers and got all set for Fireworks!)

Midnight- Fireworks!

Here are the bags:

Marble Maze:

Tori and Penny having a Tea Party in between fun activities!

New Year's Eve Punch;  essentially they got to choose a flavor of sherbet and top it with Sprite.  (There was SO much food at my house it was insane!)

Isaac mixed 2 flavors of Sherbet together so his looked pretty gross, but he said it tasted great!

A little Dress Up Party between activities!  This is Adde, Mallory, Penny, Daphne and Victoria.

Victoria, the Egyptian Princess:

Not  everyone could stay the whole time, so our crowd had swindled down to about 50% by the 9 o'clock Dance Party!

From about 10 on, we were a pretty tired bunch. Relaxin watching a movie and waiting for the big 12:00!

This is a terrible pic, but there they are doing some fireworks.  David and Matt had some great fireworks for us this year-  Thanks, Guys!!

Victoria and Penny were so excited to watch the fireworks, but within about 2 minutes of being outside they were both terrified.  I think it was a combination of exhaustion and cold because they both loved fireworks on the 4h of July.  I took them back inside and we watched the rest from the window.  I can't believe it, but we were so distracted with the fireworks that I forgot to open up the sparkling cider at midnight!  I even had cute little cups and everything.  My kiddos were pretty excited to have some at lunch the next day, though!

I hope you had a safe and blessed New Year's!  

Christmas 2012

While scrolling through Facebook on Christmas Eve, I came along this photo:

I re-posted it, wistfully wishing it would only be One Day More until I would see the film.  But alas, Matt and I rarely make it to the movie theater because I am so picky about Babysitters.  Like, I only leave them with family.  Or my friend Tiffany, who is practically family. :)    My wonderful Matthew found out that there was a 10 pm showing of Les Mis on Christmas Eve!  It is important to not the distinction between a 10 pm showing and a midnight showing.  I mean, we aren't teenagers anymore.  I can't do movies that start at midnight.  Matt also realized that since the kids would be sleeping soundly in their beds with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, it would be a pretty easy baby sitting job for GiGi!  So, my wonderful Mom agreed to stay with them while we headed out to the movie!!  

(It is at this point that I was incredibly thankful that I made Matt stay  up late with me on the 23rd to get ribbons on everything!)  So My super tall and handsome elf Matt and I stuffed all the stockings with care, arranged all the gifts around the tree....

and ran to the movie theater to see Les Miserables!  Raegan, Jude and Natalie met us there so we could all see it together!  I was incredibly glad that Raegan was sitting next to me, because every time I cried, she cried; which made me feel less of a drama queen.  Anyhow, if you haven't seen Les Mis yet, Go!  It is incredible.  I will offer two points to you:

• Whenever I see the musical, I feel that the vocalists offer as much emotion as possible without compromising their singing and vocals.  In the film, they let the singing be compromised to tell the story with as much emotion as possible.  (With the exception of Russell Crowe; he sang terribly and still had no emotion)
• I would not buy or listen to the Soundtrack, but I would buy the movie.  GO SEE IT!

Now, where were we?  Oh yes.  Christmas!  So it turned out being a double bonus having my Mom here Christmas Eve, because when my kids woke up at 7, they ran down to her room instead of waking us and she held them off for another hour.  Thanks, Mom!

We started with Stockings!

And then presents!

Daphne got a a Merida Barbie Doll (from the movie Brave)

Isaac is such an easy -going kid!  He rarely asks for things.  He is easily amused and typically content.  It is One of my favorite things about him (and is a characteristic gleaned from his Dad).  So, when he mentioned that he wanted a Nerf Cross Bow, I took the time to write it down.  His wonderful GiGi got him one for Christmas and he was totally stoked!

Victoria wanted lots of Barbies for Christmas and particularly asked for one with pink hair. She was just tickled pink when she got it!  (I know- terrible joke.)  This is why you should not do 6 months worth of blogging in 2 weeks.  You run out of clever things to say!

Daphne was so thoughtful this year.  She used her tokens at school to get a book for Isaac rather than herself and saved it for Christmas.  She made a calendar for Matt and me as our Christmas gifts.  She used her hard-earned money to purchase a book for her cousin, Abbie.  And Daphne worked for over a month writing this book about Tori and She as fairies.  She decorated it with Lolly Pops and gave it to Victoria for Christmas.  I was so inspired by her thoughtfulness.  I don't make my kids get each other gifts or tell them to do so, she did this all on her own and it warmed my heart! 

Speaking of Daphne:  She really, really really, really wanted an IPOD touch, but Matt and I both felt like she is too young for something like that.  First of all, it's unnecessary.  Secondly, she wold have internet access all the time and I don't feel comfortable with it being right at her fingertips just yet.  Thirdly, that's a very pricey gift for an 8 year old.  BUT... she is always borrowing my phone to listen to music, and loves to choreograph  dances to her favorite songs.  So, Matt searched around and found her a turquoise mp3 player and her own speakers.  She loves it!  

Matt was pretty helpful with the gift giving this year!  He found a crazy good deal on this Skylanders Giants starter Pack, and Isaac was thrilled!

We also got a big keyboard for all three of them.  Daphne and Isaac really want to start taking piano lessons and we needed a way for them to practice until we are ready to buy a piano!

And last, but not lest, my wonderful husband bought me bar stools.  I know it may seem kinda lame, but I almost cried when I found out (which unfortunately was a few weeks ago.)  It has seriously changed my life to be able to have them use the counter for breakfast and lunch so I don't have to clean the table 4 or 5 times a day!  They were delivered early in December and Matt thought that I saw the boxes so he just started putting them together since it wouldn't be a surprise anymore .  I was so impressed with his thoughtfulness and told him I wouldn't use them until Christmas anyway.  So, he put them each together and then wrapped each one! On Christmas morning, I finally opened them!  Thanks, Matt!  I love them!

(Do you like my super hot Christmas morning look?)

Unfortunately, I was having so much fun that I didn't take any pictures!  All of these are shots Matt captured for me, which is a bummer because I didn't get any of the kids with GiGi this day.  But suffice it to say that we were so grateful to have her here!  The kids were so bummed when she had to leave Christmas night; especially Victoria.  She wouldn't stop crying, so Daphne sat down and read her some Christmas stories.  Unfortunately, we should have just kept GiGi with us, because her plane was delayed and she got stuck in Denver for the night.  Bummer!

I pray that you and your family had a blessed holiday; that your day was full of family, friends and most importantly: a sure knowledge of the Savior and His unending love for you.