update

I've been informed by one of my dear friends that I've fallen off the radar. Which is true. I shall try to rectify this.

For Valentine's Day, Owen made me an over-sized card with four dimes taped to the inside. I love that kid. If you can get past his complete scatterbrainess, his inability to finish anything, his ability to lose everything, etc., he is pretty fantastic.

Holden played in his first piano recital. He was a champ. He played Mozart's Eine Kliene Nacht Musik. If I can get Wade to load the performance off his phone I will post it here.

Nathan is completely out of diapers. He even pees on his own when playing with friends. He brings me his 'any-wears' when he is done to put them back on. He also still sleeps in our bed.

I am still doing a lot of sewing. And wandering around the house trying to talk myself into cleaning. I did manage to pumice stone all the rings off the toilet. That was pretty impressive if I say so myself.

And that's it for now.

what's new with you

I've had several people ask me what I've been up to lately. I pause for a few minutes and try to think, what have I been up to?

The answer is boring. Not much.

I had the worst cold of my adult life that I can remember. I easily went through six boxes of kleenex. SIX. I had to run to the store in the middle of it and I know the girl at the check stand was trying not to notice my raw red nose.

I read a couple of books at the beginning of January and that took up one week, plus de-Christmasing my house. Then I was sick for two weeks, and this week has kind of just been a lazy recovery week. I have managed to do a little sewing, so there's that.

Oh, and I started taking piano lessons again last fall. Owen was having issues sitting still during his lesson (one of my kids, seriously?) so his teacher and I decided to wait until next summer to try again. Then I got the brilliant idea that I would take his spot. It actually has been great. Other than I spend at least one to two hours practicing the piano everyday. I've made vast improvements, but I'm still not where I'd like to be.

My mom and I are taking a basic adult clothing construction class. I am hoping this will someday end with me on Project Runway. Not really, but I do want to learn how to alter my clothes so that they actually fit.

So I guess my answer has to do with expanding my horizons. Lots of people my age are going back to school. I'm creating my own type of school. Sewing, piano, and I'd really like to get back into pottery, but I think Wade would flip if I added one more hobby. Maybe someday I'll talk him into a mini-kiln to go with my un-used wheel in the basement. Or perhaps I can sucker my kids into becoming potters. That's a lucrative career choice right?

Exciting stuff.

Oh but wait! I am about to, at this moment in fact, take on the potty training of my youngest. He's way too old to still be in diapers. But I am lazy and as strange as it may seem, I'd rather change a diaper than have to use a public restroom with a toddler. Even though I rarely take him anywhere. You never know though. You know?

So what's new with you?

October

Every year my parent's neighbor and her sisters decorate their barn and field with a whole bunch of Halloween crap. They have places to roast weenies, a spook alley, hayrides through the field and barrel rides for the kids. All for free. They started doing it for their own kids and then it just kind of exploded. We look forward to it every year.

I really like it because my mom feeds us and then I don't have to make dinner. Plus if it's not cold and windy it's a great photo spot.

The kids love the barrel ride. I rode in it last year and almost died. Well, not really, but man did my butt and back hurt. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone over the age of 12.

My grandparents have been members of the LGCC for 44 years I think. They invited the boys to the annual Halloween carnival. Where we got fish. I managed to keep them alive for almost a month.

Nathan is going to preschool. I wasn't going to put him in because if we decide to hold him back that will mean three years of preschool, but my friend talked me into it. I'm glad she did. It's been really good for him. He's kind of a mama's boy. Plus I get two and a half hours twice a week without any kids. Well, once a week, on Thursday's I help in the boys' class during that time. I need to get out of that. Anyway, his little class put on a performance for the parents. They sang songs and said poems. And wouldn't you know, my son participated. He didn't scowl and tell everyone to shut up. That's what he does whenever I try to sing.

He wouldn't wear his costume, but if you can see his little face he's quite pleased with himself for holding hands with two girls. The one with the pink hair is his Chloe friend. They kiss. Or so he tells me.

This is his original Woody costume. I got him to wear it for about three minutes.

He is winning.

August/Sept

August

Holden finally learned how to swim. Kind of. It's a hot mess. But he doesn't drown so I'm calling it progress. Also, he dove off the diving board. Well jumped. I had to bribe him with a $50 wii game. Don't worry, because I know your are, I made him do it multiple times.

We spent a little time at the dam.

This might have been the end of July, but it's in my August folder, so it stays. Anyway, we headed up to Malad, ID for a little family reunion with Wade's dad's family. These here are the remaining siblings. Spend time in Idaho, talk like an Idahoan. I might could do this all day.

The unfortunate part of this little reunion was I was so sick I sat on a chair and pretended to smile for a couple of days. I hadn't been that sick in a long time. And of course we were in the middle of nowhere. Sleeping on the ground. In a tent. Which is fun if you're sure you aren't dying.

I didn't die. I did swallow a lot of Ibuprofen. Alot. This dog had a crush on me. I kind of had a crush on him too.

We spent some time at the family cabin. And that actually made the blog.

Then we headed up to the Tetons for some fishing and hiking at Colter Bay. This I believe also made the blog.

Then the greatest day of the year came to pass.

Nathan turned three.

On Nathan's birthday we had a last hurrah with Wade's parents before they headed off to Oklahoma City. We drove to O-town, hopped on the train and headed to downtown SLC. We saw a movie at the IMAX, where I decided I wanted to move to wherever they were raising baby orangutangs and raise some too, and, now this is a big one, 3-D isn't as bad as I thought. Then off to dinner and a stroll around temple square.

This is Wade's whole family. And Mackenzie would be mad if I didn't give her the photo credit. Hopefully I spelled her name right.

September
We said goodbye to Wade's parents.

The boys were in the USU homecoming parade. Wade and I timed it a little off this year and missed them. Not to worry, I lied to them and said they were awesome. They said they couldn't find me. I told them we must have been on the other side of the street. I still feel kind of bad about this several months later. Missing their moves, not lying. I'm not sure what that says about me.

Right before the parade I participated in a little Crossfit Fight Gone Bad. I improved a lot from last year. Alot. This is a photo of me I stole from them. It is not doing me any favors.

Wade wrapped up his summer of pretending he was a cement contractor with the completion of a couple sets of stairs that surround our garden wall.

We cheered my brother in law on as he passed our neighborhood during the Top of Utah Marathon. They all looked miserable. And wet.

Holden took 1st place at his troop's pinewood derby race.

And I got to pretend I was a wound care specialist with Nathan's finger.

Recap part III

I hope y'all aren't getting sick of this recap thing. I figure at this rate I might wrap up sometime in February. But hey! Yay! At least I'll remember what we were up to in 2011.

July

We celebrated the 4th with family at the local parade. At the end of the parade every year I swear we won't be coming back. Too many cars advertising their businesses, also, the band was in DC or something. We always do though. Come back that is.

Maybe it's because my grandma is a lot of fun.

That night we had our own firework show with the neighbor kids.

I played golf with my grandma in the annual LGCC mother daughter tournament. We took first place net for the over 30's. It was pajama themed. Ours were the wildest.

One of my favorite places in this little valley is the river bottoms in Paradise. I spent lots of time there as a kid, feeding fish, exploring, not swimming (gross), and watching other people fish.

We spent the evening there for a family reunion. The kids fed fish, there was skeet shooting, food, and ranger rides for all.

And of course fishing.

Recap II May to June

We spent a few days in Maui. And after riding for the majority of the time in the back of a Mustang convertible, I can say without a doubt that my love affair with that car is over. Sorry dad. Also we saw the entire island. Including this lava flow that we drove through.

We hiked to an amazing waterfall. The boys were a little more brave than the girls. I don't know about you but when I read a sign that says don't stand under the waterfall because you could get pegged in the head by falling debris and rocks, I tend to listen.

We stopped for lunch on our windy drive up the volcano and got overtaken by the mist in this picture. Which made for some fantastic light.

June
The boys performed in their dance recital. Just because I can't seem to create little girls doesn't mean that we can't participate in girly things. Right? Don't answer.

Holden participated in his 2nd grade race and I think came in third or fourth. The kid may not be the most coordinated, but he's pretty fast.

Soccer turned into baseball. Which I know, but I kind of enjoyed it. Holden is not a bad little ball player. He pays attention, can run fast, and he can throw pretty far.

Owen is Owen.

And no June would be complete without a redneck father's day lunch. We got rained out so into the shed the tables went.

2011 Recap aka the longest post ever

January

We rang in the new year at our house with my family. Fondue, party hats and our own personal theater room equals fun for all.

My sister had a baby.

And so did my brother.


February
Holden was in a little skit at school. He knew all his lines from memory.

Nathan finally got to drive his tractor outside.

I cleaned out and repainted the inside of my pantry. It was total chaos and only stayed organized for about a month.

Owen turned six. And was loved on by a lot of ladies at his party. Not to worry there were boys there too.

He also fell off the barstool that morning and split his forehead open. I couldn't get him into the doctors office, apparently it was a very busy morning, so Wade bought some steri-strips and we fixed him right up.

March
I didn't take many pictures in March. Which is ironic considering it was the month I got a new camera.



April
We spent spring break at home. I took the boys to the treehouse museum. We froze our butts off at soccer games. Easter happened and my parents found hilarity in giving my kids bunnies.
Oh and the easter bunny got crafty. Owen colored himself. Holden got glasses.

I'm going to pick up on the rest of this tomorrow. Also, I switched over to the new interface on blogger, does anybody know how to switch back? As you can see my post is a mess.