Pretty Girl

I found this adorable outfit for Eliza last summer/fall when they were clearing out all that season's clothes and I got a stellar deal. I have been so excited for her to be able to wear it! I've been telling my mom about it and she requested I take a picture once I put it on her, so we had a mini-photo shoot. Of course, conditions weren't ideal, but I still love some of the shots we got! Once we moved to her favorite place in the yard, the trampoline, things got really crazy...

I love these pictures! Its amazing to me that her hair can be almost spherical. LOVE it!!!

Blessed

Remember when I told you I'd been depressed? Well, it was getting a little out of control (like I wasn't leaving my house for anything but church or meetings/store that COULDN'T be avoided). So I finally decided to get some help and today was my first appointment with a new counselor.

It went really well. He was very easy to talk to and validated a lot of my feelings which is always nice (I like feeling like I'm not totally crazy, you know?). I'm very excited to continue on this path to make the changes I need to feel myself again.

A good friend of mine brought her kids and came to my house to watch my kids (she would have watched them at her house, but her husband is currently working nights and sleeping days). When I came home the kids were all happy and playing in the backyard. We chatted outside for a bit until Jonas knocker her daughter's loose tooth even more loose and made our way inside. When we entered I was overcome...

~Before she came over I cleaned up a lot of the junk that was lying around the house (like taking down the Christmas decorations), but I didn't get around to doing the dishes (breakfast and pans from last night) or wiping the counters and table. ~

... She had done my dishes and wiped my counters and made my house look so clean! I think she even swept! Wasn't that the nicest thing?!?! I felt so loved. I told her thank you and she just said that when she's pregnant she can't get herself to clean it all so she was only doing what she would hope someone would do for her next time she was pregnant. What a blessing!

Incidentally, my new counselor suggested the idea of hiring someone to help with the house because "no matter what you do, you just can't do everything you want to be able to do." I think that lesson was just driven home more than he could ever hope when I came home to my clean kitchen.

Sweet

I looked over at the computer while making dinner the other night and just thought this was so sweet.

I love my kids.

Her Wake

Oh, here she comes

Watch out Mom, she'll mess it up.

Oh, here she comes

She's a mess maker!

Eliza's favorite toys: the kitchen cabinets with cook books and tupperware and stuff.

At least she's starting to help me clean it up now. Used to be she'd pull it out as quick as I'd put it back. Silly girl.

Backyardagins

The weather has been so friendly this January we've been able to spend a lot of time outside playing. We are so blessed to have such a fun back yard for these kiddos, I only wish they wanted to play back there more. Luckily, one evening we spent some time playing and the picture opportunities were aplenty.

I love watching Eliza learn how to play. She's still awed by simple pleasures like how high up the swing goes...

And she's bound and determined to learn how to get up this slide, presumably so she can go down (the only way up is a rock wall, she's not quite ready for it).
Not this time, baby girl!
Levi and Jonas play so well together, I love it! Here they are playing Dead Man, Dead Man Come Alive.
Jonas was showing me some tricks and I captured him mid-air. He thought that was so cool...
...we spent the next several minutes trying to do it again... SUCCESS!!!
Poor Levi, that sister of his just picks on him.
But she really wants that trike.
Uh-oh! It looks like she gets what she wants!
Fortunately so did Levi. I wasn't so successful with capturing his tricks on film, but I do love this proud look on his face after he finished his somersault.
Backyards are so worthwhile! Such easy fun! Love it!

Baby Name Brainstorm

Do you remember when you were in Elementary school and you first learned about brainstorming? I do. It was such a fabulous skill to learn at such an early stage. I love "piggy backing" ideas and "no idea is a bad idea, so write everything down." Its a skill that has seen me through many decisions in my time, including the naming of all of our children. I'm kind of weird about baby naming, I'm very methodical about choosing something (though we never have a name chosen until they are born). We start with a big brainstorm, we eliminate from and add to that list for quite a while and then once its down to 30 or so names Ethan and I generally choose our top 5-10 names (depending on where we are in the process) and the names that occur on both lists become our new list. We'll add to it if we think of something that we really love, but we usually go to the hospital with 5-8 names that we both like. We've never had the problem of not being able to agree on a name... our problem is usually we can't narrow down the names we do agree on.

Anyhow, I thought it would be fun to share the process (or at least some of it) with y'all. This weekend (January 17, 2010 to be exact) we held our first big Baby Name Brainstorm and had help from all the boys. It was fun to include them in it. Be forewarned the lists are LONG and there are some ridiculous names included because "no idea is a bad idea" when you're brainstorming. :) See if you can find some of the pathways we followed while piggy backing ideas (keeping in mind that there were 5 of us creating the list, so there may be a crazy one in the middle of some free associations). Oh and please pardon my spelling I realize there are many ways to spell different names and I was just trying to be as quick as possible in writing this up.

eta: I spent extra time and energy to have it formatted into two "columns" and when I published, blogger undid it all so you get one small gap between the names on each row. argh! Boys were done first, then girls, the lists aren't played off one another.

BOYS GIRLS

Larry Alice

Gary Selena

Malcolm Seline

Gene Cecily

Boston Camilla

Brigham Camilla

Bolton Cruella

Gibson Ursula

Matthew Ariel

Mark Mandy

Luke Amanda

John Bethany

Paul Terra

Simon Tricia

Oliver Patricia

Charles Teisha

Henry Alisha

Chad Sasha

William McKenzie

Walter McKenna

Wallace Jenna

Oscar Mikayla

Earnest Brittany

Patrick Deirdre

Adam Ellen

Sid Helen

Max Genevieve

Marcus Erica

Michael Kimberly

Kevin Ethel

Carl Beth'el

David Andrea

Jonathon Veronica

Fredrick Claire

Louis Clara

Parker Jessica

Carer Tracy

Sundiata Amy

Jack Lisa

Andre Nichole

Ronald Heather

Jeremy Danielle

Daniel Kari

Andrew Carol

Jared Katie

Jaron Adrienne

Jason Kathryn

Jacob Caroline

Justin Elizabeth

Jerome Mary

Trevor Michelle

Christopher Sarah

Koby Anne

Gordon Francis

Benjamin Gwen

Eric Carly

Taylor Emma

Shayne Hannah

Tyson Emily

Tyce Sidney

Tyreek Irina

Terrence Nadia

Rex Elana

Terry Ayla

Telly Sonia

Grover Daphne

Bob Josie

Kermit Martha

Lex Bertha

Lester Eloise

Maurice Louise

Dennis Ruby

Adrian Charlene

Dominic Norma

Lance Nora

AJ Gabriella

Jordan Abigail

Josh Marian

Justice AnnaBeth

Clancy Sloan

Lucas Audra

George Audrey

Phineas Maren

Landon Aubrey

Garrett Jane

Noah Roxanne

Porter Idonna

Parley Marie

Phillip Rosanne

Ralph Rosalie

Thomas Sabriel

Spencer Melissa

Bartholomew Alyssa

Kent Sadie

Clark Vanessa

Glenn Valerie

Conner Valentine

Brandon Virginia

Mack Petra

Leroy Clariece

Rudolph Ariana

Diego Alexia

Richard Callie

Raymond Carla

Brad Ella

Quinn Giselle

Hugo Gillian

Harry Jillian

Luther Laura

Cooper Lauren

Cole Greta

Bryan Laurie

Peter Ashley

Percy Bianca

Pedro Breck

Xavier Brooklyn

Kurt Camio

Logan Sophie

Corbin Sandra

Dallin Cassie

Dillon Jean

Hyrum Aurora

James Tabitha

Dixon Marcie

Vaughn Shari

Reginald Sherry

Kaliel Amara

Robin Jodie

Alvin Zoey

Calvin Isi

Theodore Ani

Frank Eudora

Abraham Delilah

Harrison Miriam

Martin Debra

Owen Joni

Ewan Ruth

Evan Gretchen

Whew! That was a lot of names to type! If you made it this far, you get a gold star. In a couple months I'll probably update this list on the blog for y'all to see. Rest assured it will be much, much smaller by then (and we may know if we need girl or boy names). We'd love to see your additions to our list!

2010: My Goals

I decided to follow many of your examples and record some of my goals on the blog as a means of accountability. They are:

• Figure out (and live by) a budget system that works for our family (any suggestions?). We do well at living within our means, I'm just really bad at making the most of my money.
• Call, send a card, or blog birthday greetings to all my nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, in-laws, and parents.
• Organize my life and home. I'm auditioning a schedule this month of some chores that really build up at our house (recycle center, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.). I'm hoping to get my kids involved too. I just don't know yet, the best way to do it (again, I'll ask, any suggestions?). I'm going to follow along with the 2010 New Year's Cleaning Grand Plan Challenge as well.
• Read at least one new book per month. Blog about it.
• Craft at least one project per month. Blog about it.
• Hand write a letter to someone I love and mail it each week.

Along with this I'm currently doing a Healthy Family Challenge with my siblings/parents so that includes a lot of physical and spiritual fitness goals. Hopefully I'm building good habits for when the challenge is over.

Our family also has lots to look forward to this year as well. Some highlights of the fun we're planning on:

• Levi being a Sunbeam!
• Going to visit our families in March for Spring Break! I can hardly stand it I'm so excited to see them!!!!
• Welcoming baby #5 to the family this summer! I've got to get started on making baby names lists...
• Jonas starting Kindergarten! Wow! These kids grow up fast!
• Taking a trip to Disneyland as a family and meeting up with my brother and his family and my parents! YAY!!!
• Hopefully visiting family again at Christmas!
• Finding out where our next adventure will lead us summer 2011!

So much ahead of us its going to be a fabulous, fabulous year!

Blogology

I feel like I need to apologize for the following post, but I'm going to post it anyway...

Many of you know I have a BS in Sociology (yes, that's right I have BS Degree...). I've been thinking about my classes at good ol' WSU and wondering how long it will be until there is a class focused on Blogging.

I'm sure that the topic is coming up in classes, but I wouldn't be surprised if before long the powers that be realize there is enough to talk about for an entire course. I can see the syllabus now, Blogology 1010; Week 1: Types of Blogs, Week 2: Types of Bloggers, Week 3: Why People Blog, Week 4: Commenting on Blogs, etc. etc.

I'm sure there is even statistical information to be gleaned about when people blog and when people comment. These topics are the reason I've been having this class in my mind. Some of you may have noticed that I didn't blog for quite a while (I know its all relative) the last month or two. The truth is, I was depressed. I didn't want to dampen anyone's holiday spirit by my negativity. The only things I thought of to blog about were how much I missed my family, how I didn't have any friends, how hard it is to be a good mom (motherhood isn't hard, its when you throw in that "good" qualifier that things get difficult)... I was a complete downer and out of respect for all of you I chose not to blog much. However, I'm sure that my absence could just as easily have been due to holiday busyness or just being so overwhelmingly awesome that I just wanted to spend every waking second enjoying my sweet children~ which is clearly why some of you have been less present the past while, I'm sure.

So, I say it was out of respect for all of you and while that is the truth, there is more to the story. I also didn't think anyone (besides a select few, maybe) would really care~ remember one of those topics was that I didn't have any friends. Of course I know that's not entirely true. I do have some friends. Its just the blogging friends are different. Think about the reason you blog. I know some of you blog to record random tidbits in your life that are interesting or funny, some of you blog about food, books, crafts, or whatever it is that floats your boat. The main reason I blog to keep in touch with my family and, yes, friends.

Keep in touch is an interesting descriptor though, isn't it? Doesn't it imply some sort interaction between two people, rather than just one person spewing out information. It does to me. This leads to the interesting topic of Week 4: Commenting on Blogs.

I think most of us who blog for the purpose of keeping in touch really love to get comments. In place of the "# comments" on the bottom of each post on a dear friend's blog it says, "# People Like Me Enough to Comment." So I'm know I can't be the only one who feels its disheartening to check my blog and see no new comments. Considering this got me thinking, if we all like comments so much why don't we comment more? Of course, in my times of despair I consider the reasons I don't get comments with a skewed perspective. Thinking things like Wow. People really don't care what I have to say, do they? Or People always leave glorious comments on her blog, they must not love me as much... Or Why don't people miss me? I know, I know, I can get pretty whiney in this pretty little head of mine.

Many of you might consider me a regular commenter. I try to be, for the most part. But there are times when I don't leave comments. The reasons vary depending on the blog, person, or day. Sometimes, like right after the holiday, I have so many blog posts in my reader that I just want to get through them all and don't take the time to comment. Sometimes I feel too insecure to leave a comment. For example, Ethan's cousin is a really funny, charming beautiful girl whose blog posts almost always make me laugh out loud, but I rarely leave a comment on her blog because I'm so not funny, what could I possibly say? (sorry Christa). Other times I fall subject to the crowd theory. You know, if someone is in need in the middle of a city nobody stops to help because they mostly all think someone else will. Well, at times I think She doesn't need a comment from me, she has loads of other friends that will surely leave a comment. (sorry Kate). And still other times I just think its awkward, like when its a post by my high school boyfriend's wife about how much she loves her husband. (sorry Lori). And sometimes I just don't know if a person values comments or expects them. Maybe it bugs some of you when I leave a comment?

Well, I've decided all those reasons are garbage! If I have time to read through your post, I certainly can take an additional 10 seconds and leave a comment too. So what that I'm not funny? My brother once reminded me that there have to be people like me to appreciate the good humor of all of you. If you made me smile, I should tell you. Awkward, smawkward. We're grown ups and quite frankly, I'm glad you're happy. And what if people aren't leaving comments for me because they don't know how much I appreciate them? Everyone likes feedback, even if it is on a book they read or a recipe they made.

I love the TV show LOST and frequent a blog about its awesomeness (Thanks Steph!). The writer of said blog has been holding contests in the hiatus to help pass the time for all us nerds who just can't wait for the final season to begin. The most recent contest was a "Things I've Noticed" about LOST, where she asked people to say something tongue in cheek about what they've noticed while watching LOST. One of the winning entries said, "I've noticed that life for the survivors (and the viewers) would be a lot less frustrating if they would just talk about things when they happen." Oh, the truths being taught on LOST! Life for all of us, not just the Losties, would be better if we would just communicate!

So, no more frustration from my end, I'm putting it out there. I love it when you leave me comments! It makes me feel like we really are friends. Like you really do like me and care. Does that make me annoying and needy? Sorry if it does. But this study into Blogology has opened my eyes to what frustrates me about blogging and what I love about blogging, and that is all of you!

Our Gift to Ourselves

As a special gift to ourselves for Christmas we headed north to see some family! Ethan's grandma was visiting his aunt and uncle (and cousins) in Missouri and they graciously let us come crash their party!

It was so much fun to see all of them, but we were especially grateful to see Grandma. Its hard to believe that Eliza is the same age that Bryant was when we moved out of Grandma's basement to move to Oregon.

Eliza was quite a busy body while exploring Lisa and Duane's house, but she sat with Grandma a couple times~you can tell she's ready to run again in this pic. And the day we left Grandma told me as she was eating her lunch she was able to see Eliza better than she had the rest of the time we'd been there. She was so glad that she got to see how beautiful she is. Well, that about broke my heart.

We are so thankful to Lisa and Duane for letting us come! Thanks for loving us like your own! It was sure fun to see you guys!

Katie took a ton of pictures while we there, but I don't have them yet... I'll see if Ethan can find them on facebook yet so we can post some more on here.

Happy Birthday to our Savior

Ethan's family had a fun tradition while growing up where they would have a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve. We decided that we wanted to start up the tradition again with our own little family, so we had cake and ice cream on the Sunday after Christmas. It was sweet to make our holiday a little longer. We talked a little about the gifts we can give Him and sang "Away in a Manger." Then everyone got to blow out the candles together.

I'm excited to continue with this tradition for many years to come, it makes it more like an actual celebration for His birth rather than just about the presents everyone gets.

From our house to yours...

We hope your Christmas was filled with wonder and joy.
As we hung the stockings we realized that our family is really quite big... it was strange to think that next year we'll even have one more stocking to hang... I don't know where we'll put it.
I woke up at 6 am. I have always been and always will be the early riser on Christmas morning. I just can't sleep in! I woke Ethan up and we had fun chatting about our expectations for the day and waiting for the kids to get up...

Finally at 7 we ventured out of our room and turned on some Christmas tunes. I checked the kids' rooms to see if anyone was awake yet and I had one little boy staring in awe out his window at the snow covered back yard. It was sweet. I poked my head in and said, "Merry Christmas Jonas!" and he got the biggest grin on his face like he just realized that it was actually finally Christmas morning. He started getting out of bed and changing into his jammies (yes, you read that right... see Christmas Eve for the full story). He was all to eager to wake all the other kids, it was great!

We started the morning with a family prayer and remember why we get and give gifts at Christmas time, as a symbol of our Savior's gift to us. Then we began checking out our stockings. Santa left some lovely surprises... watches and goggles, candy and most exciting of all... red apples (Mom's too mean to buy them for the kids because she thinks they are YUCKY! The skin is so bitter... or something).
After we thoroughly went through all the good stuff in the stockings and ate all the candy and poptarts we could handle we headed upstairs to the tree and all the wonderful gifts from one another and our generous families in Utah.

I made the boys each a winter hat because I've never done anything like that for them since they've been old enough to remember... isn't that sad? This mom will do better from now on.

I love that I captured Eliza showing her new sock monkey to her dad. Isn't she sweet?
Jonas was so thrilled to get his GI Joe. Its basically the only thing he really asked for. And while all the kids were setting up all sorts of other stuff and playing with a variety of things he just sat and played with his new GI Joe, for at least a couple hours. It made me happy to see him so enthralled.
Bryant was also super excited about getting his new skateboard. He wrote a note to Santa for school that said, "Dear Santa, I would like a skateboard, a wii, and a new puppy." It was fun to be able to get the kids something they really wanted.
And everyone really loved the skateboard. :)
The boys all got some different car track things that set up all together. The best part about this toy is the daddy time that comes along with it. Nothing better!
After a few hours of playing with all the cool, new stuff we decided to open the big gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Woody. As you'll see below they are awesome! We highly recommend them to everyone. Too much fun! It was really funny watching all our neighbors faces as they passed by while we were out riding them. We got a lot of laughs and even had a few come over to try them out.

Oh and later even still we had a fashion show of sorts with a couple of the kids sporting their new digs. Jonas had a super cute grin on his face the first time I tried to take his picture... but my silly camera was on the wrong setting so this is what we got from there on out. Grandma Hoss made this awesome sweater in Gryffindor colors special for Jonas. He loves it and looks so handsome... (the hat I made him is in coordinating colors and is tied around his neck).
And little miss Eliza looked so cute in her new clothes from Grandma and Grandpa Woody. I'm just amazed at how much these kiddos are growing up!
For our Christmas dinner I attempted making Chicken Saltimbocca. Unfortunately, I was brain dead when I did my grocery shopping and bought the wrong chicken so it wasn't as wonderful as Tom's but I'll try it again. The orange/butter sauce was super yummy! Tom is Ethan's brother and has lot of great recipes, you should check out his helpful tips too.

It was a very laid back day. Full of playing, relaxing, and just enjoying being a family. Just what it should have been. We sure love these kids and all the fun and joy they bring into our lives.

Christmas Eve in Texas

We had our own special Christmas miracle show up Christmas Eve morning... SNOW!!! The kids were beyond excited! They bundled up and went out to play as soon as possible. And I'll tell you, its a good thing they bundled up, it was COLD! The wind was blowing so with the snow coming "down" it was more like coming "across", as in horizontal. As you can see in these first couple pictures the coverage isn't that great on our grass...

...but here, its deep enough to make an honest to goodness snow angel.
Bryant was our biggest snow bunny (what do you call a snow boy?). He lasted the longest in the morning.
Later in the afternoon Jonas just didn't believe that he needed long pants, a coat, or shoes! Crazy kid would got out for about 30 seconds and come back in crying about how much his hands hurt and how cold he was.
These are Ethan's legs in the deepest part of our drift. Its about halfway up his manly shins, not bad for Texas.

We spent most of the afternoon watching videos. The kids watched Elf and then they begged Dad to let them watch some more Presidents of the United States videos. They love "Peaches" and "Old Man on the Back Porch" and we sang those songs all day long and laughed and laughed and laughed.

That evening we opened new jammies (well, the kids did. Mom and Dad did without this year). Jonas wouldn't put his jammies on for bed which is why he isn't pictured here. He really wanted to wear them as clothes in the morning... man that kid has a mind of his own these days!
After jammies we had a little devotional, if you will. We sang some songs and talked about the birth of Jesus. Then we attempted a nativity with the kids acting out different parts. It was, as I'm sure you can imagine, crazy!

And for your viewing pleasure (total tongue in cheek, here-really I'm sure only a select few of you will even enjoy this glimpse into our crazy life) a video of the first portion of our own family nativity. Its long, sorry. But it just makes me giggle from Mary eating baby Jesus to the angel with the Batman wings to the terrified shepherds...

It was a Christmas Eve to remember. We really missed being with our families, but had a great time celebrating with one another.