I love, love, love my family. As all of us get older,and life gets crazier with more and more kids added to the mix, there are fewer opportunities for us to get together and talk. Some of my favorite moments this holiday season were spent right here in front of Mom and Dad's fireplace, burning our backs, talking, and listening to stories of Andy and Lee's high school shenanigans. They were really naughty boys. Anyway, for me, these gab sessions were the highlights. I love you, family!

Very merry.

Handsome boys on the Sunday before Christmas.

CHEERS! If you think this looks like a wild and rowdy party, you are correct. We had Kate and Andy over for our traditional Christmas Eve fondu event, and it was a TREAT! We ate soooo much. We do a cheese fondu first, with veggies, bread and meats which we eat til we are sick.

Then we read the Christmas story from Luke, and act it out with our little nativity set. We then watch the LDS church's "Joy to the World" DVD. The kids are always wound up, and don't pay much attention to the movie, except for the part of the story when baby Jesus is born. I was very choked up watching all those little kids lined up on the couch watching silently and reverently as Mary showed her baby boy to the shepherds and wise men and the stable animals too. It's not always easy to shift the focus away from presents on this holiday, so I was glad to see this very bright glimmer of understanding and awe in their eyes as we watched.

And then it was back to chaos! We usually also play a game at this point, but forgot this year/ ran out of time. Anyway, then we delve into the desset: chocolate fondu. We dip all kinds of good stuff from fresh fruit to shortbread, gingerbread, pretzels and more. The kids love it. And noone lost an eye with the sharp little fondu forks, so that was an added bonus.

Santa brought everyone what they wanted, and everyone has had a great time playing with their new special toys. Oh, except Bennett's new light saber, which is currently in time-out for 4 days after a MASSIVE tantrum thrown on our way home from his cousins' house in Highland...

Other than that, it's been very merry. VERY, VERY MERRY!

Snow big deal.

So Bennett and Owen have totally passed my up in the world of snowboarding. That's right, my 4 and 6-year-old boys can ride better than I can. They can even get off the lift without hurting themselves or anyone around them, which I cannot do. Even Jake rode the snowboard down Old Main! I'm so proud of them, although it does really freak me out that Bennett is riding the lift alone. Agh! I need to get more photos from Jason of the big boys riding Little Beaver. They both took a 2-hour lesson last week and have been up a few times since then. Jason gets a little teary-eyed with the joy of it all.

Holly Jolly Dollies

Here are some pictures of the dolls I  made this year.  I have lots more cute fabric, as well as a list of people I want to make them for, so if you didn't get one, you still may.  If you really want to make sure you get one, feel free to put in your request now, and I will get to work.  I didn't get pictures of all of them, but they were all darn cute, and they all went to good homes.

I must note here also:  These dolls are NOT my own design.  I found the pattern for them on Martha Stewart online.  Emily Martin, of Black Apple, did a tutorial for these little sweeties.  Hers are of course much cooler, because she is much cooler.  But I think she was really nice to share her pattern.  Don't you?

Finally!

Bennett finally lost his first tooth.  I basically had to trick him into letting me yank the thing out.  A new tooth is halfway grown in behind it.  Oh boy.  Orthodontics, here we come.  But he was really, really excited.  A little freaked out by the blood... guess I forgot to mention that part of it to him.  The tooth fairy gave him $5!  Man, she pays a lot better than she did when I was a kid!  But she told him it was only because this was his first tooth, and because it took so long for him to lose one!  She let him keep the tooth, because he had placed his new metal handcuffs over the tooth with a note that read, "DON'T TAKE IT!"  So she left his tooth alone, and left his money on the Christmas tree instead.  

Bennett's big debut.

Here's Bennett with his first grade teacher, Katie McClellan.

Tonight was the Adams Elementary Christmas recital at the Logan High auditorium.  It was so fun!  All the songs were darling, and the kids were so proud. I was nervous, because I had all the kids while Jason is in Virginia, so I was very grateful to all my boys for being so well-behaved.  They may have just seemed quiet because everyone else around us was so LOUD.  That's okay; it was fun.  We sat on the balcony, which makes everything more exciting!  Bennett was such a grown-up boy tonight, sitting with his buddies and his class, all dressed up and smiling.  I was really proud of him.  He has come a long way since last year when he refused to take part in the concert!

Creativity abounds.

Do you know how much tape we go through at our house?  LOTS.

All my boys are very much into creating things.  Some of it may appear to be junk, but creative junk none-the-less.  I love it! Owen created a Walle-E costume last week all by himself using a butter knife and a diaper box.  It's awesome.  We couldn't locate it this morning, and I feared that Jason may have recycled Wall-E.  Fortunately, he was just behind the couch.  Phew!

Also pictured here is a cool drawing by Jake.  The boys were drawing roller coasters the other day.  This is Jacob's roller coaster invention with lots of little stop signs sticking up to tell people to slow down.
There was a big, big block-building convention here last night with the neighbor kids.  It's never great when 5 kids are trying to build their own special thing, and one of them stretches out their leg or turns around suddenly, knocking everything over.  Tears were shed.  Owen's frowny face was a result of my taking his picture before his fort was completed.  I ruined everything.

Some other ways my boys have been creative recently is through words.  Tonight Owen was coming up with different ways to spell Finn's name.  (We call him Finners.)  Completely on his own, he said we could spell it like this: F-I-N-N-A-S or like this: F-I-N-N-R-Z-Z-Z.  (Gangsta style.)  Also, Owen's vocabulary is starting to amaze me.  Here are some of the words he has recently used:  opaque, rather, prefer, hilarious, towards.  Too cute.  

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to help Owen unravel a mystery I could tell he had been pondering on for quite some time.  He asked, "Mom, is it Give Said the Little String or Stream?"  I answered him that the song says "stream."   "Ohhh," he said, with squinty, thoughtful eyes, "So water..."  I could see that this really helped him understand a song which had previously been really weird to him.  "Give, said the little string as it hurried down the hill," just doesn't make sense.  I loved it.

Speaking of words, Bennett is honestly freaking me out with his reading abilities.  I love watching him encounter words he's never seen before.  He literally laughs out loud when he reads a word that I have told him is too hard for him. :)  Examples from his take-home books:  crescent, amphibian, nonpoisonous and commercial.  Also amazing to me is that he continues to think that math is the greatest thing in the world.  I'm so glad!!!

Now, lest you think this post is just a big brag session about my kids...  Oh wait, IT IS!  Because they are smart and funny and that's what blogs are for, right?  But let's round things out and keep it real with some recent quotes from Jacob McGregors, as we affectionately call him.  I don't know how it started, but that's the latest nick-name.  This kid CRACKS US UP. 

"Believe in yours self.  Dat's what Yoda says."

While eating ice off the ground he asked, "Tan dis be yummy?" instead of, "Can I eat this?"

"If I shoot da bad duys, dey will by tozy (cozy) and dead.  Dead and tozy."  What???

"If bad duys tome (come) in ours house, I will punch them and say, YOU. ARE. DOIN'. (goin') DOWN."

"I didn't pee in my pants...      It's just raindrops.            From my pee-pee."

And one I've been hearing a lot lately:  "I DIDN'T DO NUFFIN!"

Now picture him walking around with a funny little rooster-strut all the time, using a deep and growly voice, and often carrying a little gun made out of legos.  Sweet.

Snow at last!

It sure has been an amazingly mild November and December!  I have loved the sunny weather and being able to ride bikes and walk to and from school.  BUT, there's nothing like the first snow of the year!

Catching up.

Boy, oh boy, am I behind in my blogging. Yikes. I will try to do a brief catch-up with a few photos of some of our latest adventures. First of all, Finn is almost 7 months old. He has started eating solids, sits up like a champ, loves his brothers, and his own reflection. He has two deadly wicked teeth that look like tiny saws. Two more are coming in on top. FUN FOR ME! Honestly, though, he is the best baby. He is so very charming.
Thanksgiving was delightful.  Jason was busy making a mince-meat pie that morning, complete with a cursive "L" on top.  L is for lovely!  I should also add that he sewed himself a hat the night before, and smoked a turkey with his friend, Todd Strickland.  As he put it, he is running his own home-school home-ec course at our house.  I think it's so cool.  I don't know very many other fellows spending their holidays in such a fashion.
Well, we did it again.  The great Christmas  tree hunt of 2008 was definitely one to be remembered, and hopefully not repeated.  Let's just say we do have a fresh tree in our living room, which our boys think is the tree we cut down in the woods near Cub River.  But it's not.
What better way to bring on the holiday cheer than a trip to see the lights at Temple Square?!  It's a magical place to me.  We had such a good time with Mom, Dad and Cami.  I love my family so much!  I loved watching the nativity story with my boys and remembering how it felt to watch it when I was a kid.  I love it still.  I also loved that it was 50 degrees that night, instead of freezing, as it normally is whenever we go see the lights.  It was delightful!

Dear everyone,

Thank you for your sweet thoughts. I am so fortunate to have animal-loving friends who understand why in the world I could be so sad over a dog. Bennett seems to be feeling better, although we cried together in his bed tonight. School and friends have been a great diversion for him, and I'm so glad. I, on the other hand, can't stop crying. Little things set me off. It's absolutely impossible to look in the backyard and not miss her. So basically I am thinking of her all day as I look out the back windows of my house. I'll find myself go to turn on the light for her, or look for her at the gate when I pull up. It freaks me out when people come to the door without me knowing, because Lucy usually barked like a maniac when anyone pulled up or walked by. Yikes. So many habits I had no idea I even had. Here's what I wish: that I had sat outside and petted her for awhile that day. I am glad that I fed her the crusts of my kids' peanut butter sandwiches that day. She looooved peanut butter. We used to laugh when it would get stuck to the roof of her mouth, and she'd lick and lick and lick. Awww, Lucy.

The kids keep forgetting she's gone. They are so careful to hurry and close the gate so she won't get out. Owen wanted to play out in the backyard with Rose's kids yesterday and said, "Don't worry! I'll put Lucy in!" Then he looked up at me with big, sad eyes and said, "Oh. Yeah." Mmm-hmmm. More tears.

Anyway, this might be too much information about how much I miss my doggie, but so be it. I miss her.

Goodbye, old friend.

Tonight our loyal friend, Lucy Lou left us for a better place. A real farm with wide open spaces to run free in, and lots of dirty socks to eat. Lest you think I'm taking this lightly, I'm totally bawling as I write this; tonight has been the saddest night I can remember.

Sometime around 4:15 this afternoon, Owen came running in to tell me that the gate was left open and Lucy had escaped. I immediately dashed out the door with a piece of bread in my hand to use as bait, and ran down the driveway. This is when I hear the most horrible noises I can even think of: a dog yelping in horrible pain, and a little boy screaming in fear and horror. I started running for 200 East where the sounds were coming from, and saw Bennett rounding the corner, still screaming, face grief-stricken. I knew what had happened, and my stomach tightened like I've never experienced. I ran to Lucy while the boys stood on the sidewalk and watched. A big blue truck was pulled over, along with a small red car. Lucy was still alive when I reached her, but I knew she was not going to survive. Her eyes were glazed over; I'm hoping she was unconscious. I don't think I was screaming, but I might have been. I can't remember. I just held her, aware of the boys across the street, and stroked her, saying her name again and again.

The man who had hit her came over with his cell phone. I called Jason, who was on his way to the bike shop, told him what had happened. I asked him to send for our vet friend, Jason Gibson. Then I called Julie to ask if she would check on Jake and Finn, who I had left at home. It wasn't long after my phone calls that I knew she was gone. Oh, my heart ached! I went back across the street and brought the boys over to pet her and tell her goodbye. The driver of the truck had moved her out of the middle of the road. Neighbors started coming out, taking care of the kids, comforting the boys just as Dr Gibson and Jason arrived. Edna, Julie, and Natalie all came over, and then took the boys home while Gibson looked Lucy over. He then lifted her into his vet truck and drove her to our house.

We buried Lucy tonight, in a special burial place for special dogs. She is resting with the dogs of a few of our close friends, in a beautiful pasture near the animal hospital. The big boys wanted to be there when they buried her. Owen came right home and drew a picture of the event.

I just can't tell you how much the boys, especially Bennett, need your prayers in the coming days. Bennett is so upset. All of us have been crying all evening, and we are all devastated. But because Bennett witnessed her getting hit, I worry that he will take this very hard.

We have had some wonderful friends bring things by: dinner, treats, handmade cards, phone calls. Each visitor brings a fresh flood of tears, not just because we are sad, but because we feel so lucky to have such amazing people in our lives. Dr. Gibson, we thank you for the care you took of us and Lucy tonight. It was so appreciated.

Tonight we looked through our iphoto library and found some pictures of Lucy. The pictures made us all feel better, so I'm going to post a few.

We will miss Lucy so much. She was our camping friend, hiking friend, snow-sport friend, protect-the-house friend. We have loved her for 7 1/2 years now, just 2 years fewer than we have been married. So it really feels like someone is missing tonight.

Bye, Lucy. We love you.

Logan's got talent.

I was able to help with a talent show for our Stake last night.  It took about a gazillion hours to plan and carry out, and I basically have about 3 terrible, dark photos to show how great it was.  I wish I had been better about documenting it, because it really was a great event.  I was in charge of the displays of all the fine arts, home arts, creative arts, etc.  It was absolutely amazing to see such a different side of people.  They were coming out of the woodwork to demonstrate their filet crochet, quilting, photography, wood-carving, painting, drawing, set design, etc... We really do have great talent in our stake.  It was so fun to see.

There was also a program which both Jason and I participated in, although I have no proof of my part since there are NO photos of it.  Jason was the leader of the Cache Back rock band.  They were so awesome.  They played "I'm a Believer," "Heart of Gold," and "Twist and Shout."  It wasn't mellow either; it was completely rockin'.  I'm pretty sure nothing like it had ever been seen in our stake's cultural hall.  People were absolutely loving it.  Old and young alike were clapping and whooping it up.  I was so proud of Jason.  They really did sound so great.  

My part was tamer, but also very fun.  Julie Kirby and I taught and danced with her Activity Days girls in an Irish dance, and it was the cutest thing ever.  Those girls were so thrilled to be wearing costumes and dancing on stage in front of a huge gym packed with people.  Mostly they were thrilled about the costumes, and they did look so very cute.  But again, no photo.  So sad.  Maybe some kind person will email me some???

Then Bennett took part in the program when they invited all the primary children to come up and sing with the accompaniment of the Festival Orchestra, led by Nancy Law.  It was such a fun experience for Bennett.  He watched all the performances with rapt attention. There was a Tai Chi sword form, a bagpiper, and other cool stuff to watch.  The best part, though, was to watch Bennett smile while watching his dad rock out with the band.  He was clapping and whistling, so so so proud.

A big ol' thanks to my angel mother who took care of the three youngest boys for us that night while we were performing.  Owen developed a weird high fever early that afternoon, and was asleep on the couch for most of the evening.  He definitely wasn't up for a party at the stake center, so I don't know what we would have done without her.  And thanks also to Jaime & Porter, Cami and Dad for coming to watch us perform.  It was so nice of them.  It's the best when your Dad is still proud of you for a dance performance or anything else when you're 33.  I love my family so much!  And finally, I'm so sorry that this talent show put a damper on my ability to participate in my little niece, Clara's incredible, amazing, beautiful princess birthday party Saturday afternoon.  Happy birthday to her and Kate both.  I will make it up to you girls!

When I grow up...

I have record a conversation I overheard my brother, Lee, having with some of the neighbor kids and my kids the other night.

Lee:  "Owen, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Owen:  "A scientist."

Lee:  "Cool!  Bennett, what do you want to be?"

Bennett:  "A scientist and an artist."

Lee:  "Cool.  Ruby, what do you want to be?"

Ruby:  "An artist."

Lee:  "Cool.  Olivia, what do you want to be?"

Olivia, with no hesitation at all:  "A dishwasher."

It was so cute, especially when she elaborated further by saying, "I want to be a dishwasher so I can always help my Mom."

Julie, I thought you would like to hear that.  What a girl!

Weekend With Jack

We had a great time with Jack this weekend!  Thanks for letting him stay, Kate and Androo!

We went for a chilly but lovely hike and picnic at Spring Hollow.

We found the most amazing climbing tree!

Check out these faces!

Holy handsome boys, Batman!

Why we should donate to public television, and pay our teachers more...

Owen and I spent the morning experimenting with these slabs of ice he found on the slide in the backyard, a la Sid the Science Kid. "I learned something new, something new today!" Owen came up with some really creative things to do to the ice. He drew on it with watercolor pencils, melted it with salt, melted colored sugar on it, chipped at it, poured hot water on it, etc. He really does have a scientific mind, and he asks the coolest questions.  It doesn't hurt that Sid the Science Kid also asks cool questions, and shows kids cool experiments they can do with real life things all around them.

Yesterday Owen was telling me, "Mom, did you know that in the olden days, people thought the world was FLAT? So if you walked to the edge of it, you would just fall off into outer space! PFFF! Can you believe that?! [laughing] We know the earth is round, even though it looks flat. It's just so big, it's hard to tell."

I'm pretty sure I've never talked with him about this, so I thank his teachers for taking time to talk to him about big things, and not underestimating what he can comprehend.

Bennett for President!

Bennett brought this assignment on what he would do if he were president:

And this one gives me insight into why he has a hard time finishing his work in class... More fancy writing from Bennett!

A Day in the Life of a Mother of Boys.

Rose came over with a bottle of bubbly (okay, sparkling cider), and donuts to celebrate the election results on Wednesday. I then walked her out to her car, where we stood in the cold and talked about various topics, including motherhood, and how it's a wonder we all survive some days. Honestly, just as we were talking about that subject, Owen came to the back door, crying about something. And immediately after that, I saw a shiny silver object come flying out the door, hitting Owen in the face. It was, in fact, a knife, thrown by Jacob at his brother in a fit of rage. True story. Here's the resulting cut above Owen's lip:
And the resulting afternoon nap that inevitably comes after a full day of crying:

Kudos and Congrats!

Kudos to Senator John McCain for his gracious concession speech last night.  I was very impressed with his words and actions last night.  (If only his audience had been as gracious it would have been perfect.)  I bet he was really excited to get into bed and sleep soundly last night for the first time in many months.  His defeat must surely be mixed with relief. 

Barack Obama undoubtedly has many sleepless nights ahead, and has his work cut out for him.  I am simply grateful to any man or woman who actually wants  the job of navigating our country through the crises we are facing!  I thought the tone of Obama's victory speech reflected his understanding of the enormity of the job ahead.  He was somber and passionate and celebratory in the same speech.  It was so powerful!

If you missed the coverage last night, or just haven't felt a stirring of your patriotism for awhile, you should flip on your television or look HERE on your computer for a recap of last night's events.  I was teary-eyed again this morning watching the Today Show's reports.  

I think and hope the hearts of Americans everywhere are softened today by the historical significance of this election if nothing else.  I even felt compassion towards President Bush as I watched the congratulatory speech he made this morning from the steps of the white house.  Of course he played no small part in the election of a Democratic president, and I'm sure he realizes that.

I look forward to the next four years.  People across the country are motivated and inspired to be better citizens right now, myself included.  People are feeling hopeful, and positive, and ready for the changes our President-Elect has talked about.  The problems he is facing, starting today, are huge, and he is not super-human.  I don't expect him to be able to fulfill all his campaign promises, but I do expect great things.  The whole world does!

November 4, 2008

I love election day.  I love going to our designated polling spot, a church less than a mile from our house, and first checking to see how many cars there are in the parking lot.  Yesterday we parked between a Lincoln Continental and a black Mitsubishi race car.  Definitely a good sign that there was representation for voters of all ages. :)  

I love walking into the gym and over to our table where LuAnn Nielson is always sitting.  She flips her book open to our page, we sign our names, and then choose a booth surrounded by very old people and very young people (as in toddlers) accompanying their mothers and fathers, and the young college-types.  The sight of voters makes me happy.  The atmosphere is electric and stirring.

I love looking over the names on the screen, names I have seen in headlines and yard signs for months and  months now, and making my selections, then casting my ballot, with confidence and freedom. This is not a universal experience, and I am grateful to be a woman who is able to have a say in the outcome of political race.  Tiny though  my voice may be, it is still my voice, expressed with no fear of death or maiming for making my views known.  The whole thing is very exciting to me.  I am also glad my children can come with me and witness the whole thing.  I hope they won't take voting for granted, even if they live in a red state their whole lives.

Bennett scolded me yesterday after school for not voting.  I insisted that I had indeed voted, and showed him my sticker to prove it.  He said, "No, Mom, I didn't see you at my school, and that's where people were voting. Hundreds and hundreds of people were there to vote and YOU WERE NOT THERE."  He was so disgusted.  I was able to explain that our voter precinct goes to a different location to vote, and that people were voting all over the country in different places, libraries, schools, churches, even grocery stores this year.  He smiled, relieved and proud.  And I was absolutely delighted that he cared.  I was also so glad he was able to witness the event firsthand at his school.  Democracy in action at Adam's Elementary!  

This is a great nation, and yesterday was a great day.