A Special Birthday

Nathan turned 12 this year. Unbelievable. He has grown and changed so much over just the last year alone. It is hard to imagine him as the little baby I brought home from the hospital as a newborn with bowed legs (he was breech for the last 4 months of my pregnancy) and a cone head (vacuum assisted delivery).

He got a new DS for his birthday. We wrapped it in a giant box so he wouldn't know what it was. He was very surprised. So was Kade (and maybe a little jealous).

Here is his happy dance.

He got to pick a couple of friends to take to a little park nearby for a mini party. Burke took them and said they had a great time. I am so grateful for great friends. They are both a good influence on him.Nathan feels a need for speed.His friend Jordan.

His friend, Trevor.

He received the priesthood by his father the Sunday after his birthday. The next week, he got to pass the sacrament. He was so nervous, but did a great job. I think I may have been more nervous than he was (don't drop the tray, don't spill the water, don't trip, don't go to the wrong place, etc.) There was no need to worry. He has been fine (or the mistakes haven't been picked up by my mom-radar).

He now goes to young men's and I find I miss him in Sharing Time. He has a great time with the boys though, and seems to be fitting in well there too.

It is a great thing to have two priesthood holders in my home.

It's Great To Be 8

She's FINALLY 8. She thoughth it would take forever for her birthday to come, but she got there. The big 0-8.
For one of her gifts, she and I spent one afternoon shopping for her baptism dress and going out to lunch. She got to pick.
We went to the Olive Garden.
And got a beautiful dress.
She was a hilarious shopping companion. I tried to get her to pick a really pretty dress with lace and beading, but she would have none of it.
We got a very simple but elegant dress (and hey, it was also the least expensive!)


Here is her birthday interview:
Favorite thing to do: READ!!! of course she says.
Favorite book to read: Junie B Jones and Ramona
Favorite color: Pink
Best friend: Gracie and Olivia
What she wants to be when she grows up: A nurse
Least favorite chore: Folding the laundry
Favorite scripture story: Captain Moroni

As we all know, once you're 8, you get to be baptized. She was thrilled at the idea and we could hardly keep her contained on Saturday, since she had to wait until 4:30.
By the time we got to the church, she was so wiggly she could hardly sit still.
Grandma Terry and Grandma Williams gave talks after the spotlight by me.
She was baptized by her father.

I had my first opportunity to go back and help with one of my kids after the baptism.
(I have to insert here that we were very speedy. Annika was dried off, dressed up and spiffy in her seat before Burke got there. Ha! He doubted me.)
After the baptism, all of the cousins present sang I Am A Child of God, and then Annika was confirmed by her dad.



Here is her testimony: I know the church is true. I am glad that I have a family and that I am baptized so that I can be redeemed from my sins. I am very blessed to have a family, friends, and food.

That's it, people. Short and sweet.

She looked beautiful that day. I hope she always remembers it as a special opportunity for her father and her to participate in an ordinance to help her return to live with her Heavenly Father someday.
Thank you to all those who were able to be there, and for the best wishes of those who couldn't.

A Birthday Gift

My mom and dad came to visit Nathan for his birthday. They brought him a gift that he could open and a gift that I don't think he realized was a gift.
His Great-grandpa came with them. And he brought his harmonica.We all had a little laugh about that.
Grandpa always finds an opportunity to play for whomever he can find.My kids loved it.
Great-grandpa loved it.
Annika is still talking about when she can get her first real harmonica.
I think the real gift is being able to appreciate family.
I am so blessed to still have all four of my grandparents. (Got some good genes there).

Nathan really enjoyed the gift he opened though. I have no idea how I have not gotten a picture of it yet because I believe that it was surgically attached to his hand as soon as he got it out of the package.
It was a nerf gun. And he loves it. It has been confiscated more than once for my other children's protection.
We are currently working on getting him to focus on target practice right now.
But it is so fun to shoot it at people.
I got Adrienne the other day when she was trying to sneak up on me.
And it was really fun.
Then she took it away.
Darn.
Guess I should be a better example.

Wanna Play Ball?

Nathan just celebrated his birthday with a fun family party.
I got an opportunity to have a one on one lunch with him since Adrienne was at preschool. I checked him out for the lunch period and we dined at McDonald's. It was fun to spend time with him alone.
We got some donuts for him to take as a class treat and he was the most popular guy around for the afternoon. That evening he got to open his gifts: new scouting items, and a basketball standard.
That was a big surprise.He was so excited, even though he had already unknowingly found it despite Burke's best effort to keep it hidden. Nathan hadn't realized what he found, thankfully. Maybe the best gift would be the two and a half hours Burke and I spent putting it together.Nathan used the new basketball Grandma W. gave him and would have spent all night out there if we hadn't made him come in for bed.

He didn't want a birthday cake, so we celebrated with birthday brownies. It was a nice afternoon spent with family. Happy Birthday to my first born son!
A Birthday Interview is upcoming...

Birthdays

We celebrated my birthday a couple of weeks ago. It was a nice evening full of family fun and a good meal that I didn't have to cook, although I did have to endure some singing after Annika let every person in the restaurant know that it was my birthday.
All of my children love to give gifts when there is a gift giving opportunity.

Adrienne gave me some of the crafts she has made in preschool, along with her favorite stuffed animal.

The older kids gave me some cards and breakfast in bed. It was thoughtful and appreciated.


I got a mirror from Burke for my bedroom. I have some plans for that room... But I think I will have to wait for a few more months for all my children to be in school.

It's Great to be 8!

My number two son is 8. He couldn't be more thrilled.
Nor could I.
8 is a very important birthday.
He gets to be baptized.
We have the date scheduled: January 2, 2010.
He's already had his interview with the bishop,

Here's his interview with mom:
Favorite Color: Yellow (despite currently being a brown belt)
Favorite Food: Macaroni and Cheese. From the box. (It was his request for his birthday dinner. I didn't complain, but wondered exactly how bad my cooking really is.)
What he wants to be when he grows up: A school teacher
Requested Birthday gifts: Tools, to be able to make gifts for his loved ones.
(Burke was privately pounding his chest about that one.) Tools were all that he asked for. Really. I had to get creative and we got him a camera as well. He was so surprised. He loved it.
Favorite Activity: Art projects
Favorite Movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks
Favorite Book: Magic Treehouse series.
Favorite Family Vacation: Disneyland. (I personally think the best vacations we took were when we lived in Michigan, but he probably doesn't remember them.)

We are so happy he is in our family. He is a sweet little guy and so easy to get along with...
A HUGE change from how he was 8 years ago. His Aunt Kellie used to say he gave everyone the stink eye. Which was true, when he wasn't busy crying at the time. So glad he is the easygoing, intelligent, and thoughtful boy he has grown to be. I am so proud of him.

Happy Birthday, Kaders!

The GC Extravaganza and Girl Fun

A couple of weeks ago a bunch of guys that Burke works with organized the third annual GC Extravaganza, basically a big guy party. It takes place in a very very remote tiny little town, and was complete with overnight camping, four-wheeling all day, and eating lots of good stuff.
Each year, they all invite their wives and kids, but the ladies all know that the invitation is just for show. It is all guys, all the time that weekend. Burke took my boys so that they could get their infusion of manliness, and I stayed home with the girls.
The Ladies played beauty shop, went shopping, had dance pictures taken, and saw the movie "Up". It was just a really fun weekend for all of us, and nice to take a break from the craziness of life. The girls and I liked the movie a lot. I laughed, I cried, I can't wait to go see it with the "boys".
Hmmm.....
I got some free movie tickets through the grocery store a few weeks ago. They're good for the drive in. We LOVE the drive in. Wanna go?

Mother's Day

It was a wonderful day. Breakfast in bed, dinner made, some wonderful cards. All of it designed to make me feel special. It did.
One of my favorite things was actually a sheet of paper Nathan filled out at a restaurant we went to a couple of weeks ago. It said "My Mom should win Mother of the Year because..."
Nathan wrote this:
She is kind and generes and looks out for me and she loves me and does things for me to I think she should win mother of the year.
So sweet!
Annika's teacher had the kids in her class write down their favorite recipes and put them in a book. This was Annika's recipe for Angel Food Cake:
With flour and a couple of eggs and some sugar. Put everything into a bowl and mix it together. Put in a pot that has a circle in the middle and bake for 20 hours. Then take it out and put whipped cream and strawberries on it. Put whipped cream all around and strawberries all around. That's it.
Not bad for a 6 year old. But I don't think I trust her to bake anything quite yet.
Kade gave me a sweet little coupon book good for some chores. Woo hoo. I'll definitely use that.
My husband gave me a picnic table. I am so excited to have it because now we can eat outside occasionally. We actually ate lunch outside today. It was beautiful weather and we enjoyed it. Especially the "family jump" on the trampoline after dinner. It was fun.
Overall, the day was nice and relaxing. Thanks to my great kids and husband. Love you guys!

Double Digits!

Nathan had his 10th birthday. I have had an amazing, humbling, growing, and educational experience as his mother over the last 10 years.

Although I am grateful that he is growing up and moving away from me (metaphorically speaking), I miss the little things he used to do as a baby:

He called his blanket his "bee"

He called his drink his "doo"

He talked very early, and was frequently taken out of Sunday meetings because he wouldn't stop babbling.

He used to love Toy Story and all things Buzz Lightyear.

Now it is Star Wars, Legos, and Robotics. He likes Drake and Josh (if you don't know what that is, you don't have a tween). He is beginning to show an interest in girls, actually asking advice from a friend recently. (What does mom know, anyway?) He has even come home with little notes, proudly showing me, yet making me pledge not to show them to anyone else.

It is exciting and sad at the same time to see him grow up and experience new challenges and triumphs. I am so grateful he chose me to be his mother. I have learned more from this experience of motherhood than I could have anywhere else.

Just 9 more years until a mission.

So much to do!


For his birthday, I checked him out of school and took him to lunch. He got to pick the place. Arby's it was. It was a fun surprise for all the kids.
That evening,after some fine birthday dining consisting of corn dogs and tater tots (picky eater!) we went to see Monsters vs Aliens. It was cute, but a little scary for Adrienne's taste.
After the movie, we came home, had birthday brownies (did I mention he hates cake? see picky eater) and opened presents.

Mom's effort to encourage reading something worthwhile.

The centerpiece of the night...the Millenium Falcon. This picture doesn't do it justice. It really is pretty fun.

Happy birthday Nathan!

All Things Easter

We had a great Easter. It actually lasted for two weeks, and began with a birthday/Easter party at Grandma and Grandpa T's house. Of course, we had the annual Easter Egg Hunt for the kids, and the little kids too. The big kid (aka adult) hunt actually went a little better for me this year. First, let me say the adult hunt closely resembles Black Friday. There are elbows, pushing and lots of grabbing. And the worst offenders are the dads! It didn't descend to actual tackling as it sometimes does when my brother-in-law shows up. Somehow he really gets the machismo flowing in all the other guys and they have to race to outdo each other. When it gets that crazy, the ladies usually settle for pilfering goods from the children's bags when they are not looking.
The next weekend, we hit the easter hunt in our own city and then spent the day wasting time and finishing up our prep for our new Sunday callings...
Easter morning was beautiful. The kids found their baskets, all the eggs, and the goodies the Easter Bunny brought. I hurried and got the girls ready, did their hair and headed out to my first correlation meeting in our ward.
Burke finished getting the kids ready for church (by himself, hee hee--payback) and got there on time, despite having to spot clean Adrienne's dress on his way out the door. They all looked so cute.
It was strange to have an extra body on the bench with us. It really messed up the seating chart I have had for the last three years: Nathan, Adrienne, Mom, Annika, Kade. There are no exchanges or substitutions.
The funniest thing that day was when the sacrament was being passed, Burke actually bowed his head, acting like he was planning on actually thinking about the sacrament and all that stuff. What is up with that? I had to straighten him out by reminding him that down here in the trenches, we work on keeping the kids quiet and stop them from getting into the "quiet activity bag" before the sacrament is over. We all know that is what the Sacrament time is really for, right?
He has forgotten what Sacrament Meeting is all about. Or maybe that's me.
Maybe Annika's comment about needing some butter and jam for her tiny piece of sacrament bread brought him back to earth.
After church, and Primary (see post below). We headed to Grandma and Grandpa W's and then Grandma and Grandpa T's. It was so nice to be able to visit with them on such a beautiful day.
Here are the pictures of all the festivities and my cute girls in their cute Easter dresses.

Fun with the easter finds.

Coloring Eggs, Hands, Pajamas.

These are the eggs we colored. Burke is especially proud of the eyeball egg he helped Nathan with. Kade did the patriotic red, white, and blue egg.

We got to have another Easter egg hunt with Grandma while Grandpa rested inside.
Hope you had a great Easter weekend!

Forever

Last Friday, we took the kids here:

It was beautiful. They loved being able to go inside and see what it looked like. Annika's favorite thing to see was the baptismal font. Everyone else liked the Celestial Room.

My favorite thing was the sealing room. I loved being able to look in the mirrors and see the altar. It is a very important and special place.

Burke and I were able to go see a couple from our ward sealed together with their children last weekend. What an incredible experience it was. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. This couple have gone through a great many trials since deciding to go through the temple last year. We were so happy to be able to support them in the culmination of their efforts. It was an honor to be there.

I am so grateful for the blessings of a temple marriage in my own family. Life would be so difficult to endure, knowing that once you passed away, you never get to see your loved ones again. I am glad to know that it is at least a possibility.

I am also glad that I "picked a good one" to marry in the temple. I have a good man who works hard to be a good husband and father, and is always trying to do his best in everything else. He is a great example to me and to our children.

Bliss?... Sometimes. Happiness?... Always!

It has been 13 years of ups and downs. What a lot we have learned since the day we made our promises in the temple.... in the middle of one of the worst snowstorms in two years. It did make for some beautiful wedding photos, though.

We were married one year to the day Burke came home from his mission. He told me he wouldn't get married before he had been home a year. Otherwise, who would ever get married in January?

Now 13 years, four children, two states, three university degrees, and 8--yes 8 --moves later, I love him even more.

My latest RS lesson was President Monson's talk: Finding Joy in the Journey. That is what I think we have done all these years. We met when we were 14. We have grown up, grown together, and made a family. I am so grateful for what we have been able to experience, and I am proud of what we have accomplished, and even more proud that we were able to do it by working together.

I love you baby!

It's All Fun and Games 'Til Someone Gets Sick

We recently celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary. It was Burke's turn to plan our Anniversary Date. We started the evening by dropping the kids off with Grandma and Grandpa (thanks again). We headed to our favorite Brazilian restaurant for some really yummy food. I actually liked the feijoada the best, surprisingly.
After dinner, Burke had a surprise planned for us. We went to an indoor racetrack to race go-karts.

We paid for a 40 lap race, watched a little training video, put our gear on, and got ready to go. I was ahead right at the start, but there were some really sharp tight turns, and Burke pulled ahead soon after. After a few more laps, I caught up to him and was trying to pass, but he kept blocking me out. (Thankfully, we had the entire track to ourselves).
We kept at it like that for a while, when I was finally able to pass him. I was feeling quite proud of my driving skill when I noticed he wasn't even keeping up with me. He got further and further behind until I finally passed him a second time. I became a little concerned when I saw him pull into the station to get out of his kart.
And then it dawned on me.... HE'S CARSICK! After all, we are talking about the man who got sick on the merry-go-round at Disneyland. *Sigh* I finished my race, gathered my stats (I did have the fastest lap time, even before he got sick. Girl Power!) and gathered up my husband. He was looking a little green, but felt a little better after getting rid of some of that yummy dinner we had.
I drove him to Grandma's where he spent the next hour laying down before we left to go home.

He may not be the next NASCAR sensation, but I love him!

January Birthdays

We have party time here during the first part of January. Annika's birthday is one week before Burke's. We have lots of cake, presents, and cards to celebrate with.
For Annika's birthday, we went to Chuck E Cheese. I have to say that Burke and I wanted to run the other way when we saw the chaos inside, but her sweet little disappointed eyes melted us, and we dove in head first. We had a lot of fun and got enough partying in to last until April (when Nathan will make us go back for his birthday).



The next day Grandma and Grandpa W came to visit. They got quite a show and were able to hear all about Christmas (whether they liked it or not). After they left, Annika got to eat her birthday dinner (lasagna: it is all over her mouth on the rest of the pictures, oh well). We ate birthday cake and opened presents. It was a really fun day.

Burke's birthday was the day I got home from Ohio. We celebrated by going out to dinner with his parents and my parents. He got to open his last present when we came home. I had made arrangements with a "little bird" to deposit an air compressor in the garage for him to find when we got home. It is so exhilarating to pull off a surprise. I like being rightfully sneaky.
Of course, no birthday dinner is complete until the guest of honor has been loudly serenaded "Happy Birthday" so the entire restaurant can hear. This time, it was Annika that told the server about Daddy's big day.

Happy Birthday to both of you. We love you so much!