Happiness

It's been no secret. We've been wanting snow. I told the kids in December that if it wasn't going to snow outside then it would inside. And I then proceeded to cover my kitchen in paper snowflakes. But then miraculously . . .

it snowed! I was praying for a white Christmas and we got it! I wasn't the only one thrilled in the house. Waking up Christmas morning, as we opened the blinds in the boys' bedroom Jaron let out a shout of excitement. He then promptly insisted we get him in his snow gear so he could play in it. Who cares about presents - let's get out in the snow!

The timing was a little less than ideal however. Our big surprise gift for the kids was a swing set. We have a great neighbor/ward member who gave us this swing set. The plan was to move it secretly on Christmas Eve and then surprise the kids with it the morning. I had great visions of them running out the back door to go play on it. Well . . . that didn't exactly happen. It was a tense hour or so as I furtively peaked out the blinds at our work crew (Clark, my dad, home teachers and other friends). I never expected it would be such a temptation for the kids to look out the closed blinds but they wanted to see what was going on with the weather. I had a close call with a child almost seeing.

We never would have guess that we would have this type of weather. It wasn't pretty at 4 pm. The rain that started that morning turned to frozen ice pelts. Apparently, it felt like BB's smacking their faces. And I don't even need to tell you about the wind. It was crazy! But they got it up, sans the slide. It looked like it magically appeared Christmas morning all covered in snow.

Despite the wind and the cold we still took the swings for a test ride. Eliza loved it. And typical Eliza screamed when I removed her. She hasn't been back on since. (I haven't been willing to brave the cold.)

The snow is still on the ground. I love the look of it. And it snowed again the other night and we have more predictions for falling flakes. Clark and I even crazily went out on a Christmas Eve stroll (about 11 pm). It was bitter cold, the falling snow was more like intensely blowing bits and it was a short lived walk but incredibly fun.

All told, the snow has brought some happiness to our household.

Hoarding & Tearing

I'm writing this post for my dad. You see, my dad writes a Christmas letter that is sent far and wide. It's pretty darned famous in some circles of our little social world. As a child, it was a source of much embarrassment and amusement. Embarrassment in all the things he finds amusing about you, tweaks a little for humor's sake, writes it in a letter, then sends it to all the parents of your friends and the parents of the boys you have crushes on. Amusing to laugh at all the stupid things your siblings did. This is the time of year in my family you are extra cautious in what you say. My dad really just compiles his material from about Thanksgiving on. I was practically accused today of withholding any jewel comments made by my children. I confess, I do hoard. But I have my own Christmas letter to write. But my dad, who also treasures our blogs for the wealth of material (as long as he only has to read about 2 to 3 months back) also accused me of not writing enough about my funny little boy, Russell.

So here is what Russell was up to today.

Russell loves books. He enjoys going to the library. He'll sit for about 2.3 minutes while we read a lengthy book. Russell particularly loves the privilege of looking at books in bed during nap/quiet time. And why I haven't learned my lesson that Russell also gets quite a thrill out of tearing pages out of books, I can't answer. I wish I could say that this was his first book to destroy. But every family must have at least one child that enjoys ripping books. Russell seems to be the one.

What I find amusing about this book is that while reading it to Russell and Jaron last night, Russell noticed that the book had been previously ripped and then patched up. He asked, "Did I do that?" I went on to explain that he was not the culprit of the destruction on that book. Well, today he decided to remedy that. And it wasn't just one page. He started with the first and every page thereafter until I happened to be walking by his room and heard the tearing sound. 10 pages. 10 pages out of a 24 page book. I'm glad I caught him when I did. Gosh, it sure is getting embarrassing to go to the library and return these books!

So there you go Dad. I wrote about Russell.

Call Us Crazy

Last night after a busy evening, Clark and I finally got a moment to talk. He proceeded to tell me how Madison, Wisconsin was expecting a blizzard. We pulled out the computer looking for reports on how much snow to be expected and talk of school and business closings. While digesting all the information there was a small pause in the conversation. We both then turned and looked at each other to declare, "I wish we were there!"

A little bit of it is a longing for the snow. But a lot of it is longing for a place that in our hearts is still home. It's a longing for the warm memories and thoughts we have of people and a place. So call us crazy, we wanted to be in a blizzard!

So any Madisonites reading. We miss you. We think of you often. And we hope you enjoy the snow, the shoveling and you stay warm and safe!Jaron (22 months) and Clark playing in the snow in Madison.
Winter 2007

O Christmas Tree

We went on our annual hunt for a Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. I love getting real trees and it's fun wandering the Christmas tree farm looking at tree after tree. We decided to get our tree this year in Kansas while visiting Clark's parents for Thanksgiving. I laughed when we showed up to the farm and they pointed out that they had fresh-cut Wisconsin fir trees! I was very tempted to bring a piece of home with me to Oklahoma. But we went hunting for our own Kansas grown Scotch pine.

The weather was beautiful and warm. No hats, mittens or coats needed. Although we did enjoy apple cider and hot chocolate. Eliza had no problem wandering aimlessly with us as we considered each and every tree.

Russell contemplates a tree just his size.

Checking out the leaves.

Ok, I laugh myself silly every time I see this picture. I even asked Jaron if he thought he looked funny in the picture. He didn't think so. Was this excitement about getting a tree? Or posing for a family picture? Nope, he thought the sun was in his eyes so this was his attempt to block the sun and still pose for a picture. Hmmm, no one else seems to be squinting. And we were so glad that Grandma and Grandpa Miller could join us on our search!

Is it Cold Yet?

Not really! Sorry cold weather friends. It's the beginning of December and the weather is just barely turning cold. And come on, it's really not that cold. But alas, we had to discover if people had hats, mittens and what-not to wear.

Poor Jaron. He's desperate for snow. Every day he tells me it's going to snow for some reason or other. A while back on a bright sunny day with puffy white clouds in the sky he walked outside, looked a the clouds and said, "Mommy, I think those are snow clouds." Oh really?

Eliza enjoyed trying on her hat. Thanks to a Wisconsin friend. Maybe that hat - and of course Eliza - might actually see some snow this year.

Birthday Buddies

Here is Neil and his buddy, Eliza. They were both born on the same day though miles and miles away from each other. I'm convinced that she "delayed" coming to spend more time with him. And then we she discovered she was being induced he decided it was time to come too.

It is fun seeing them together although it must be confessed, he is much better at sitting than she. She is up and about and walking and climbing and getting into everything. (She loves the dishwasher. That silly child.) We look forward to many family get-togethers where these two "buddies" can play and enjoy having a cousin the exact same age. What will they be like 10 to 15 years from now?

As Requested

Here's Eliza showing off her skills. I know I'm biased but she is so cute!!

Some Halloween and Some Irony

As most of you probably did, we thoroughly enjoyed Halloween this year. Although, I think it's more like Halloween week or month with all the fun and games that goes on around here. I still can't get over the bucket loads of candy my kids bring home. We were surprised to find our large bowl of candy empty after 1 1/2 hours of being gone. Someone was having an glutenous night!

I love this cow costume. And Eliza was all smiles all night. She was great for the marathon trick-or-treating and was offered plenty of candy that we declined. Our line finally became, "She's strictly on an all grass diet."

Russell was in to being a frog. I was willing to make or buy him something different this year but he was happily hopping and ribbiting around the house. Why mess with that?

The irony this year was Jaron. He decided he wanted to be a mailman. I find it sweet and amusing. Sweet because I love that this was so completely thrilling to him and just a great idea because it was very different from a lot of the other costumes. But ironic in the fact that I've detested the postal system this year. Lots of our neighbors asked if he had some mis-delivered mail for them. Yah right! However, I believe that if Jaron was delivering the mail there wouldn't be one mistake. He has such strict attention to detail and routine there wouldn't be one problem!

Some cow and froggy lovin'.

An Anniversary . . . of Sorts

(Clark and I dressed up for a dance. Circa 1997)

Halloween has never been the same for me since Freshman year of college. You wouldn't think that Halloween would be known for romantic and nostalgic memories but for me it is. It is when Clark and I first held hands. It is an amusing story and the version of the tale is different depending on who tells the story.

Fact 1: We were both Freshman at wonderful Brigham Young University (BYU aka Breed'em Young University - according to my dad ).

Fact 2: Clark lived in Tingey Hall - of the Heritage Halls variety. I lived in Deseret Towers S-Hall which is no longer standing. May it rest in peace.

Fact 3: We had been friends since the first week or so of school. We would frequently take late night walks. (Oh, the shame of it!)

Fact 4: We spent our Halloween evening separately. I can't account for Clark's evening but I spent it partying at a ward party.

Fact 5: I received a phone call from Clark around 11:00 pm. Do we want to rendezvous near the basketball court for a walk?

Fact 6: While walking on the bridge near the Law Library I decided to jump up onto a wall to demonstrate my incredible ability to balance. Or something like that.

This is where things get muddled. Clark ever being the gentleman extended his hand to help me down. Me being a rather flirtatious girl was bold and determined I wasn't going to let go of his hand. Clark insists he was the one who didn't let go. Either way - hand holding was happening.

We meandered our way to the Wilkinson Center. Still fresh from the success of holding his hand I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I heard Hootie & the Blowfish crooning over the speakers "Hold my hand." I had never liked that song before. Now, I'm catapulted to that moment whenever I hear it. There is something magical about campus at night, especially when it is essentially deserted. I can still feel the chilly wind, remember the yellow lamp light gracing the sidewalks, and the crunch of leaves under my feet. I remember seeing the stray cats exploring the quiet campus. I remember sitting on cold concrete benches next to the Kimball tower until I was afraid that my posterior was going to be so frozen I wouldn't be able to walk.

Thankfully I could. And we were still holding hands.

So in memory of our "anniversary" go out and do some hand holding this Halloween. I know I will; with all the loves of my life!

Baby Steps

Yes, sadly it is true. Eliza has started walking. Well, I should rephrase that. She's attempted. And she continues to attempt multiple times a day. She loves to let go of the couch, or wall, or chair or whatever and just . . . walk. She gets a good four or five steps into it before in her excitement she just has to stop and sit.

And me? I just can't seem to let go of the idea that she should still be a baby and I'm not ready for a "toddler". I especially love watching her crawl. I'm sentimental about her crawling. I need her to continue crawling. I find the moving posterior of a crawling baby so randomly sweet and comforting. But she is much like her brothers. She is busy, busy, busy and she wants to walk. So yet again another child who starts walking by 10 months.

However, where she is different from her brothers is her climbing. I have yet to experience this. She is up on everything. Eliza really gets into some precarious situations. On stools, boxes, even the oven drawer to name a few.

Today I found her here. I was busy doing dishes in the kitchen; her brothers were busy goofing off in the bathroom when I went to see why they were having so much fun. Then I heard her whimpering in the boys room and this is what I found. I had to re-stage this for a picture. She was more terrified the second time than the first.

Slow down please. Slow down.

Obsession Convert

About a year ago I confessed my obsession with collecting box tops. My obsession increased this summer when I learned that the preschool I was enrolling Jaron in used box tops toward purchasing craft supplies. I was hooked. And I also had a convert to the box top frenzy.

Thanks to the ever scouting eyes of my 4 year old "Mommy, I found a Top Box", the contribution of Grandmas (and even their friends) we have been amassing them. I have also been pilfering these treasured pieces of cardboard off of items I find at church (the Cheerios box in nursery) and even removing them from boxes in the trash bins next to sample tables in the grocery store. I'm pathetic. But hey, it's been paying off. Since this summer we've collected 145. That translates into $14.50 for his school ! I know. I'm strange.

But this kid loves it. And he is so darned proud when he finds one. The thrill last week was a box of cereal with not just one but 3! And I must tell my friend Devon, I never realized it before, but I guess I've reached fogey-hood because I do indeed collect something!

Whistle a Happy Tune

This is one little boy who came home from preschool last Friday thrilled with his Bingo prize. A whistle!

And here a mother's love for the preschool teacher fell just a teensy-weensy little bit. A whistle?! What a thrill. (You can't hear the sarcasm in my voice. Just as you also can't hear that whistle. Consider yourself lucky.)

Is that a trill I hear? Not really, more just a squeak, squeak, S-Q-U-E-A-K. I tried to be kind, I tried to be patient. I tried to be deaf. I attempted to put on real music which he insisted "playing" along to. By 3:00 pm I had a headache.

What could be more thrilling than a whistle? Playing it outside!! I convinced Jaron that he could play it to his heart's content outside.

And what I heard . . . lovely silence. Now if I can conveniently loose that thing life would be great.

Enjoying the View

On the end of a breezy summer evening I was attempting to get the kids ready for bed. It had been so hot for weeks and weeks and we hadn't had the windows open at all, I don't blame them for being far more interested in what was going on outside instead of what needed to be going on inside.

They were enjoying the view.

I was enjoying the view.

And Eliza, well . . . she seems to enjoy everything.

Conquering

Sneaking off and conquering the stairs while Mommy has her back turned is such a fun thing to do.

And such a happy girl about her accomplishment, though a girl on a mission. Not much time to stop and smile.

New Buddies

While Jaron is off enjoying the great big world a few mornings a week (aka Preschool) Russell has be left to fend for himself in terms of entertainment.

So while the house is admittedly a little quieter and calmer those mornings, Russell has discovered buddy Eliza. The pace of play is a little slower on one side, a lot more slobbery, less controlled . . .
and more reflective as our little people enjoy some time together.

Fishing

A little fishing for a lazy Tuesday morning. Grab your fishing pole, boat, attach your lure and be careful not to fall out!

"Come on get into the boat: Fish, Fish!"

What to do when the fish loses interest? Keep on trying.

Moving Right Along

It a short matter of weeks - or even days! - we move from this:

To a little bit of this:

To a lot of this:

and this:

A small request from Mommy. Please, please, please slow down. I'm not ready for this! Not to mention the fact that I have nothing to protect your little head from the fireplace, the stairs, or let's face it, even from your brothers. Maybe this?On to other news, Russell is still self-styling during nap time. Awesome.