A love note from Annie

Annie is the best at writing love notes.  She knows how to make a mom feel loved!

Coming Back

I've been thinking about this for quite a while, and I think it's time for me to start blogging again.  This blog helps me not only document some of my family's experiences, but more importantly, it motivates me to find more joy in life.  With our oldest child now in high school and our youngest just a toddler, we are in the thick of raising our five children, and sometimes I lose sight of the joy.  But it is there, and I am a much happier, more content person when I cherish all the good that surrounds me.  

"We shouldn't wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available--all the time!  Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect.  'This is the day which the Lord hath made . . . ,' the Psalmist wrote.  'Rejoice and be glad in it.'

" . . . no matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish.  There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see and appreciate it."  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

As good as it gets! 

Catching up a bit.

Now that temperatures have climbed above freezing the past few days, I've thawed enough to post some pictures. We haven't disappeared completely from the blogging world--we've just been enjoying our time together.

For a few freezing weeks, the only convenient way in and out of our home was by going under this row of icicle daggers.

Then when the icicles melt a bit, they can leave one side of my van completely covered in ice. This is when you just curl up with a good book or movie, stay in for the day (or week if it's during the holidays), and be glad your kids can walk themselves to/from school.

In front of our home, late at night.

I'm so glad Chris likes to get out in the snow and play with the kids. They are too.

The igloo.

Blake: another reason I haven't blogged for quite a while. I can't get enough of this adorable--and I mean adorable--boy. He is sunshine on these cold and cloudy days.

Sweet Annie, she's been counting down the days until her birthday for weeks now. Just two days left!

Seth and Blake, on the sled that lasted one fun day.

Happy Josh

We are alive and well and enjoyed our holidays so much. We loved the freedom and flexibility and laziness of the time out of school, but it is nice to feel productive again now that we're back in a routine. We are filling our time with the usual:

Chris: Loving his job, coming home for lunch, spending lots of time with the family, helping Josh with his pre-algebra homework, reading, preparing lessons for sunday school and the young men in church, baking, and shoveling snow.

Tami: Trying to be a little more organized, making sure everyone gets to where they need to be, reading to the little ones, enjoying time with the young women in our ward, reading, trying to keep tummies full and the kitchen sink empty, enjoying my time with my precious children.

Josh: Enjoying his new Christmas Legos, drawing comics, reading, practicing piano, going to scouts, hanging out with friends, working on his science project, eating, trying to avoid his math homework, and playing on the computer.

Seth: Also enjoying his new Lego sets, reading Harry Potter, going to Bear scouts now that he's nine, practicing piano, jumping on the furniture, playing Wii, working on his pinewood derby truck and a school report, playing with friends.

Annie: Loving BYU preschool, asking for playdates with friends daily, trying to read and spell, changing outfits, making cards and gifts, drawing, eating mainly cheese and toast and pasta, saying very sweet and thoughtful prayers, playing house with her little brother.

Blake: Playing with his trains, singing ABCs and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little _____" (fill in the blank--my favorite is the monkey version), talking and talking and more talking, climbing and jumping from high places, quoting movies, and keeping us all in stitches and head-over-heels in love with him.

2010 was a year of much change for our family due to our move for Chris' new job. We have been greatly blessed, though the changes certainly required some sacrifices. But whatever we have given up to be where we are now has been worth it and then some. We look forward to all the experiences and joys this new year will bring.

Saying Goodbye to My Diaperbag

I was amused this morning as I emptied my diaperbag.

This is what I found:

Costco receipt

Target receipt

roll of scotch tape

pair of Blake's socks

empty diaper trash bag holder

2 hair bands

2 small sunscreen bottles

hand lotion

6 toy cars

2 train cars

4 Duplos

1 Lego

3 cough drops

spool of thread and 4 needles

1 button

4 safety pins

1 rubber band

1 magnet

chapstick

2 small hand sanitizer bottles

1 bean bag

1 ball

1 doll bottle

1 Little People person

1 Leap Frog toy

spare van key

spare car key

pink crayon

8 pens (that's where they've all gone!)

1 pencil

bag of stale Cheerios

3 old shopping lists

1 used Kleenex

2 coupons

2 Dum-Dum wrappers

empty ziplock baggie

1 Cinderella costume accessory

$6.05 in change

2 diapers

my wallet

box of wipes

travel size antibacterial hand wipes

small chain

and, a broken Happy Meal toy


Time to use a smaller bag.

Pie Day

Today I made an apple pie. From scratch. It is hot out of the oven and smells delicious. I don't know how it tastes yet, but I have a feeling it will be really good. This is quite an accomplishment for me as my first-time-all-by-myself-made-totally-from-scratch real pie.

Unfortunately, it was loooooong overdue. I grew up watching the master piemaker in action and assisted on many, many occasions. My mother was the absolute best piemaker I know, hands down. Her creations were among the highlights of our holiday feasts and special occasions. Some Thanksgivings she would make an unbelievable assortment of a dozen or so pies.

Until now I was too intimidated to try making my own--she simply set the standard too high, and I was afraid to fail. But recently I determined to change that. It's time to begin making scrumptious pies for my family and friends and neighbors, just as she did. What took my mother years to master will likely take me decades, so I better not waste any more time.

So in honor of my angel mother I'm dubbing today, September 10 (my LEAST favorite day of the year), as Pie Day. And I've made my first delicious yet imperfect apple pie to celebrate. I wish everyone could drop by and enjoy a slice with me.

*Special thanks to my sister Cindy for coaching and sharing this experience with me. You are great! I'll be cutting into your coconut cream pie very shortly. And to my other sisters, Amy & Lisa, I'm happy you joined in via phone/skype. I was thinking of you, too, William and Dad, and will eat a slice for you. In fact, if you drive over I'll make you your own! xoxo