Dog walk

'Mom, will you help me walk the dog'
'Sure Thomas, let's go'

We weren't even past our front yard when our kid-magnet attracted the 3 yr old across the street.  'Dog!'.  James pets Henry and then follows Thomas and the dog to the park.  The dad and I chat while slowly making our way there as well.  A few minutes later I look up to check on the kids.  Picture 9 yr old Jacob on hands and knees with the dog leash hooked to his belt loop with sister Sydney, Thomas, and James circled around 'walking' him... very endearing scene except for the obvious problem...

'Thomas! Where is the DOG!'

'Ummmm', scanning the park, 'right over there'.  (No big deal, mom!) Probably a good 100 feet away, but happily sniffing bushes.  The clump of kids quickly overtook Henry and landed in a heap on him.  Not that he was going anywhere fast.

Saturday

Well, it's been awhile. I have so many things racing through my head, I don't even know where to start.  Decisiveness has never been my strength.  Whenever Brandon asks what I'd like to do for my birthday, for date night, etc my answer is usually, 'I just don't want to have to decide! Surprise me!'.

It's Sunday morning.  Thomas is sleeping peacefully beside me (as my love is in Utah for the weekend for his mother's 75th birthday bash).  Thinking of family.  Of yesterday working in the garden.  Milla and Sean trimming and mowing the lawn without but a minute of instruction from me. (When did they become so self sufficient?)  Having a couple of kids stop by to see if Thomas could play and him responding, 'sure, but I have to help mom work on the fence and do my other chores first'.  I asked if they wanted to come help and Trey replied, 'sure, it's better than wandering around!'  So he, Adante, and Thomas each grabbed a hand rake and dug out 15 feet of rocks from the fence line before calling it a day (I am putting in finer metal mesh along the bottom 2 feet of my fence to *hopefully* keep out those pesky rabbits).  Got to chat and hear about their families.  (Since when did our house become the neighborhood hangout spot for 2nd to 4th grade boys?).  Then hung out with Catherine for a couple of hours.  First ballet and then to Target for another eye exam and new glasses.  On the way home we were (arm?) dancing in the car to Brandon's Irish CD when Catherine says,'I'm happy'.  I asked why and she said, 'People always ask that and I think, why wouldn't I be happy?'.  Kind a 'happy until proven sad' attitude.  I like that.  Why not?  Smiling is good.  Not my general default face.

I've also been thinking about Coreen and some of her recent article posts on depression and anxiety.  A friend of mine said she was complaining to her husband (a bishopric member) about a lady that would always volunteer to do something and then would inevitable not follow through.  Her husband responded that in his experience interacting with people because of his church calling, when this was the problem, 9 times out of 10 he later found out that these were people dealing with depression.  Kind of opened my eyes.  I've not dealt with long term depression, but have had shorter bouts of it (mostly coupled with social anxiety) and I think it has taught me more than anything to not make quick judgments on peoples actions.  Everyone has to go at their own pace.  My kids each have their own inner struggles that are often perceived by others to be arrogance, irritation, disobedience, short-tempered-ness, rudeness, or being unaware.  In reality though they are scared, frustrated, overwhelmed, unable to control some physical body responses to stress, and embarrassed.   As my husband and I have found, both of us being social anxiety sufferers, it takes many many hours of practice and often painful experience to be able to function in today's world with such conditions.  But we can and we have and so will our kids.  What we need is a little more patience with each other as we learn.  And probably more smiles and Irish music.

Family time

So I'm home from church feeling pretty cruddy today, healthwise.  Have been feeling progressively so all week with feverish chills and the morning sore throat, but then I know what's coming as Brandon is at the end of the same thing.

Despite this, it's been a good week.  I've just had a lot of moments.  Good moments with the kids.  Meaningful discussions.  Surprise service from different family members.  The things that make you smile inside.

Friday morning was Catherine's district spelling bee competition that she went to with 3 others from her school.  Because there were maybe 150 kids, 4th-8th grade, that progressed to this point, they had all of the kids do a 50 word written test first.  Only the 25-30 top scores participated in the oral portion.  I ran down after work to be there for the announcement of these top scorers.  Although she had worked hard studying, Catherine didn't make it, but we enjoyed having some one on one time afterwards.  Made better with french fries and a hot fudge sundae.

Friday evening Brandon and I went to the 60th birthday party of my choir buddy, Sarah Chatterly.  It was a done up affair at our neighborhood clubhouse with dinner.  It was very personalized with everyone getting to share memories and sweet talent displays by the grandkids.  The most touching part, though, was done by her husband Larry.  He wasn't able to attend as he had a detached retina and had doctor's orders to stay laying down.  His kids, however, had recorded him singing a song for his wife which they played for her over the sound system.  I don't know the name, but it's one all could sing along with...ends 'But I...can't...stop....falling in love with you'. Although the voice wasn't polished and there was some cracking on the high notes, I couldn't help but tear up.

Saturday we decided to do a family day.  The kids got off the hook for MOST of their Saturday chores (the bathrooms just have to be done...I can't let them go ;).  First we went to the Movie Tavern for lunch and a movie.  The Lego Movie started out slow, I thought, but built momentum and ended strong.  The kids were cracking up and now have a new stock of quotes to quote in the coming weeks (the last month has been dominated by the random phrase 'cause...I'm Batman' from Sean. Which I've enjoyed, but wouldn't mind a little variety).  Afterwards we went ice skating at our local, seasonal outdoor rink, 'The Pond'.  There were some sore ankles, but overall was a treat.  After a few times around holding the sides, the whole family finally got comfortable enough to skate on their own.  I even got to hear the phrase, 'Mom, how come you are so good?!'.  Ha ha.  They were actually being serious, but I think 'good' is very relative here.  The strangest thing to see as a parent were some teenage girls hitting on Sean as he skated.  Not ready for that yet.  

Of course, that evening, we had to get some Olympics in.  

All in all, I'm just glad to have time to hang, work, chat, discuss, grow, and laugh with my  family. That's the good stuff.

Christmas

Merry Christmas!

We sung, we laughed, we played, we baked, we acted, we gave, we received

(and these pictures are the only remaining proof of it all)

Ah, well.

Photo shoot after the nativity.  Catherine asked to be in charge this year instead of Milla, and Milla generously agreed. Here we have the Shepherd/Angel/Kings (Rin), Mary (Milla), Joseph (Thomas), Narrarator (Sean), and Sheep (Henry)

Brandon picking out his Nochebuena gift under our wild tree.  This year we found a tree farm that ended up being a guys property that happened to have a bunch of pines on it.  With a sign out front.  I've always liked forest trees, though, and everyone was a good sport in picking a tree out despite the fact that the tree choices were neither 'full' nor 'green' (according to Rin).   And after paying nearly $200 last year, I was happy with our 11 feet for $30.

Henry immediately knew what to do with his gift

And last but not least, the families reaction to receiving HeroQuest (that the Uffenorde's tracked down for us on Ebay...Thanks!)  FYI A childhood game of Brandon's that the kids LOVED, but 2 years ago was in such a state of destruction, Mama tossed it.  And has never lived it down.

Pavlovian

Pavlovian: the word that landed Catherine 2nd place at her school spelling bee this month.

This is the first time that I remember attending a school spelling bee and I was soo nervous.  With each child that got up to the microphone, I would think each letter in my head, willing them to be said.  All the kids were awesome, but still there were a few tears of nervousness and disappointment.

When it was down to five students, Catherine began the round with 'bodega', and missed one of the vowels so sat down with her class.  Then three of the next 4 kids proceeded to miss their words as well.  3+1 alternate would be able to progress to the district spelling bee in February.  So after congratulating the winner (the girl standing by Rin below), the other 4 got back up to compete for the other 3 spots.

The final 4 with Principal Wynn (and not sure who the lady is...)

The only other words that I remember her spelling were 'obsidian', 'chicle' and 'chimney'.  She was so cute because she would get up to the mike all composed, spell her word, sit back down, and then look at me with the biggest excited smile and double thumbs up.  As a parent it was so sweet to see a child feel success for something she studied really hard for.

I Believe

This morning we had our ward Christmas Party...always a lot of fun here in Colorado.  Some very creative people willing to plan, dress up and have fun with the theme.  This year was 'Polar Express'.  We followed railroad tracks on the way in where the kids got train tickets (and they took down our name so later they could call a few families at a time to see santa instead of waiting in an insanely long line. Nice).  After brunch the conductor...our snake man (his basement is full of them and they often make appearances on different occasions) Brother Struhs...led the program with different musical numbers interspersed with a reading of the Polar Express.  Beginning with little Heidi Struhs rendition of 'I want a Hippopotomus for Christmas', in the middle getting a whirlwind delivery of hot chocolate from the YM and YW during 'Hot, hot chocolate', and ending with an 'I Believe in Christ' number by our bishop. And, of course, Santa got his appearance at the end.

It was a really fun time.  Nice all of the kids got to participate in one way or another.  Everyone is making friends and beginning to feel comfortable here.  Good to feel like we are at home.

The girls and I made this table decor (along with a blue version) to use for centerpiece decorations at the party.  I enjoyed just sitting down for a few minutes and 'hanging' with Milla and Rin.

I blame my camera phone, but this was the best shot I got of Sean in his cap doling out cocoa.  Perhaps you can imagine them whizzing by with great speed as they do their work.  Not unlike Santa, I suppose.

Milla adding marshmallows to the cups

Catherine took part in a chime choir (chime hidden by the girl in front of her) that welcomed us to the 'North Pole'

Look! One of my children NOT crying on Santa's lap! 

My beautiful Rin waiting to put in her wish for a Guinea Pig to Santa.  She has been good this year...

And lastly, is it just me or does the missionary dress code seem to be getting a little lax?

"Hey you! Hug!"

Or perhaps he is saying, "Save me from that monster dog that keeps trying to eat my nose!"

Actually this reminded me of a visit I recently had to see a friend who had just had a baby.  We chatted for a little while and then I got up to leave.  I was not 4 feet out the door when I hear a little (but BIG) voice say, 'Hey, you!'.  I turn to see my friend's little 3 year old looking at me, his arms outstretched and his deep brown, sweet Laotian eyes demanding. 'KISS', he says.  'KISS'.  So I go to him and he lands a big smacker right on my lips.  Hee hee.  What a cutie.

Ahhh.  Well we did get a good storm through last week.  Not our first storm of the season, but it certainly brought the cold.  Brandon's 20 min commute turned into an hour long one that day.  But the rest of us enjoyed it.

 Here are a few shots of the kids at play:

Henry would run out to be with the kids, then would get snowballed a few times and beg to go back inside.  Two minutes later he'd be whining to go out again.  Too bad his lack of opposable thumbs makes it hard to get revenge...

Little self-portrait with a new friend