Some Pics and Events from 2009

Here Carly and I are on Christmas Day. We enjoyed a nice and slow morning at our own home and the kids relished in ripping the wrappings off of their presents. The holidays are so much more enjoyable when you can watch a little child's eyes light up from something as simple as a new toothbrush. Those little kids appreciate the smallest things in life. Who cares about the big ticket items when you can have your own box of cereal, a new toothbrush and enough candy to last you a month. I will soak up these simple and easy holidays while I can, there is only a matter of time before they start wishing for bigger, better, more...unless I can do a good enough job of raising them that the issue of getting is not as important is giving and remembering the real reason of this holiday season.

Santa came and paid a visit to the kids here at our house one evening before Christmas just to make sure that they truly were on their best behavior...Carly wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. Connor asked Santa "Do you know Papa Bud? You sound a lot like him. You should meet him." How much longer do you think Santa can come and visit before the charade is up? Papa Bud is Santa...smart little guy we've got there.

Did you think I had forgotten about Halloween? I didn't. All three of the kids had a lot of fun (despite the expression on Connor's face) and got to dress up quite a few times. Carly was Minnie Mouse, Connor was a parrot (yes, the same parrot he was last year, at his own request) and Abi was a princess.

Todd took two weeks off around Christmas and the time we had to spend together as a family was wonderful. We slipped away to Richfield for three days and spent them with Todd's grandparents and his mom. It was a peaceful and relaxing little get-away. Todd and I have decided that with children in tow, there is no such thing as a "vacation" only "trips" or "family outings." Anything with kids involved takes a lot more effort than can truly be tagged as a vacation. None the less there was a fabulous snow storm, so the kids went sledding (I have yet to acclimate to this Utah winter weather) explored the farm, went for tractor rides, fed the horses, and just took time to remember what it is that we like about each other.

The New Year has gotten off to a somewhat slow and uneventful start (my mom just reminded me that at this time last year Carly had just broken her leg). No major bodily injuries of that nature...yet. Carly is giving us a run for our money and I have to keep reminding myself that the other kids did things like her too...but they didn't. Truly, she loves mischief more than the other two. I don't know which stories to write about here...I would rather save them for her blog, but to give you a minor glimpse...drawing on the fridge with a crayon, then the walls, then the floors. Not once, but everytime she finds a crayon (thank heaven for the Magic Eraser...she's gotten really good at using it). Pouring water on top of her dad's laptop. Hitting, shoving and teasing her older brother & sister.

Connor is the ever-eager learner and loves to write and illustrate his own stories. He is eager to help (most of the time) around the house and has just started the tattling phase of life. Sometimes it is helpful, other times it is just annoying. Preschool has been wonderful for him and I love seeing the little projects he comes home with and the explanations of what he has learned. He also has a terribly active imagination and can usually be found running around the house in a costume of some kind being an alter-personality.

Abigail is still rather whiny and emotional (whining right now, actually). I hope that she is getting all of her hormones in check right now because if it only escalates from here til we get to puberty...Todd and I are in for a terribly traumatic time. Just after the holidays I attempted the potty training thing again. We aren't 100% with it, but she has more successes than failures...phew, just one more to get out of diapers (and then comes another one). Abi does have some very endearing qualities. She sings and sings and sings and makes up her own songs and they are fabulous....no chorus' yet and nothing you would ever hear on the radio (and they usually involve death or something dark). And, being the girly-girl she loves having her hair done, lip gloss on and being clean.

Todd is working hard at EDA and also on a small side project drawing up beautiful plans for a home he and his brothers plan on building in the spring. He does a really good job balancing his time (between work, studying for licensing exams, church calling,and other stuff) though, and tries to be home before the kids get into bed. Connor and Abi have made it a habit to be awake when he leaves for work so they can say good-bye...sometimes that it 6:30am. No sleeping in around our place.

I have taken up reading. Lots and lots of reading. With no internet at home and tending (so no major outings) I find the simplified life rather enjoyable. I am also working on a few sewing projects right now.

Life is good. We may be poor, but aren't the poor people sometimes the happiest? I feel bad when Todd comes home with the weight of the world on his shoulders because their isn't enough money in the account to live the life that would allow us to spend money when we wanted to and on what we wanted. If only he understood that the kids and I have everything in the world we need. A comfortable roof overhead, enough food that we aren't losing any weight, and clothes on our backs and a dad/husband that makes us laugh every day.

2010 is off to a humble start...isn't it the humble circumstances that the most personal growth comes from? I am excited to see what it brings and what kind of person I can become.