Spring - All of It

Sporting their new matching spring outfits from their surrogate grandma. I really need to learn to sew, but I have too many excellent seamstresses around me to be truly motivated. (Also pictured - suckers from the bishops office, now an expected stop on our way home from church).

Rather than remove the fleece blanket, Sam just unbuttoned for a little ventilation.

After many nights of complaining about Sam's "snoring," I told Morgan to read for awhile. Books and flashlights in bed have become the new routine.

I guess this is why children aren't supposed to operate power tools.

Bowtie boys

After another season of watching Morgan trot after the pack and show more interest in refreshments than soccer, I wasn't surprised when she told me she didn't want to sign up again. Hallelujah. I've decided I have no problem with soccer (after all, Erik and I both played for years), but watching Morgan's complete apathy and lukewarm participation was pretty painful. 

The wind started blowing out of the canyon one Saturday night, and it gusted well into the next day. As new homeowners, Erik and I got very little sleep listening to our property being blown away. On Sunday the whole neighborhood turned out and traveled from home to home with power tools, trailers, trucks, and an abundance of neighborly kindness, helping any and all in need. Our 20-year-old roof was pretty hard hit, but thankfully everything else was minor. After seeing enormous pine trees uprooted and long sections of missing fences, we were feeling pretty grateful to be spared. We had been saving up for a new roof anyway, but because of the storm our insurance company paid for it instead! We still can't get over what a blessing that was.

In May our bossy adorable never-stops-talking Kate turned 2 and was pretty delighted with all the attention. Every time we try to teach her how old she is, she rounds it up to 3. She is determined to be as big and privileged as her older siblings.

The little bump and I on our way to the opera.

Kate with her namesake, Aunt Kay, who is finally being allowed some affection from our only child with any stranger danger.

Morgan "graduated" kindergarten and was devastated to leave behind her beloved teacher. We finally crossed our fingers and signed the papers enrolling her in the Chinese immersion program for the fall - something we've been debating and agonizing over for months. Chinese... such a practical language to learn here in Utah... but any language is good for their little brains, and she was already bored in school, so here's hoping.

Coming soon: the adventures of summer, where we balance my desire to keep the kids busy with my unexpected and continuing morning sickness.

Skiing and other dramas

For his birthday, Sam got a ski lesson from his grandparents - the beginning of an expensive family tradition. However, he woke up sick the morning of the lesson, so Morgan unenthusiastically went in his stead. To my complete surprise, it was a success and she enjoyed herself enormously. 

When Sam finally got his turn, I was again surprised that he was less thrilled with the experience and not sure about continuing. Talk about role reversal. But just like boating and national parks, skiing is not considered an optional past time in Erik's mind, so next winter will see more ski lessons, cheese fries and endless hot chocolate (Sam liked that part). Thankfully kid season passes are only $10 - Erik's, not so much. 

Kate has formed a near obsession with brushing teeth, and she isn't choosy about whose brush she's using. 

We tried moving a dresser into the basement on our own (meaning Erik and an ineffective cheerleader) and this was the result. Turns out cardboard slides are useful not only in moving furniture down stairs but people as well. An Instacare visit confirmed there were no broken bones, but it has still been alarmingly slow to heal.

Sam's artwork really started blossoming this spring. So far we've had no luck in fixing his somewhat dyslexic name - he doesn't see the problem. 

We went in for the 8 week ultrasound and discovered that we were actually 11 weeks along. We still don't know how that's biologically possible, but I wasn't going to reject news that placed me closer to being done. 

An impromptu neighborhood hike in pajamas that Kate was clearly not consulted on.

I've been so sick with this pregnancy that I completely missed the Easter egg hunt. I bought and filled eggs and then went to bed while Erik and his parents handled the parts that required movement. 

Erik wanted me to try for an Easter picture before they shucked their nice clothes - I should have said forget it. Getting a nice picture of all three of them is nearly impossible. Sam refuses to look directly at the camera anymore and Kate is way too easily distracted. 

It didn't take too much whining about my sad state before my mom hopped on a plane and came to help. I don't think she minded much. I'm still not sure she's forgiven me for taking half her grandkids away from her. 

 A recent development when they learned about Captain Underwear. After I kiboshed underwear on the head, they grabbed Sam's pull-ups and called themselves Captain Pull-Up. Erik was so proud.

Old Stomping Grounds

We promised ourselves (and others) that we would return to Arizona in February, when the weather is gorgeous and Utah's is not. So we dusted off our summer gear and made the trek down south, breaking our journey in St. George. Taylor and Kaitlin were kind enough to settle in a perfect half way point for our trips. Our kids were so thrilled to see each other again that they had to be reminded that our goal was to leave Utah for a week.

As soon as we arrived, Arizona experienced a heat wave. We were pretty glad that the snow cone shops are open year round.

Princess Kate with my beautiful dad. Why can't everyone that we love just live by us? Maybe we should build a compound. 

We bravely went "hiking" as a family (we are definitely more in the brainwashing stage than the successfully hiking stage), but Erik and I enjoyed our morning hike sans children far more. We took the same trail from our dating years and remembered that we are a couple as well as parents. 

We were looking forward to fresh citrus again, but discovered that picking oranges a month later than our usual New Year's Eve tradition makes a big difference.

When Morgan was about Sam's age, my sister Becky took her to a shop called Girly-Girlz for a glamorous make over experience. Morgan has never forgotten it, and has talked fondly of it for so long that Sam started asking when Becky was taking him to "Boysy-Boys." Since no such place exists, Uncle Travis took him to Fat Cats and introduced him to the manly world of arcade games. Somehow Sam did very well, collected a pile of tickets, and traded them in for cheap prizes and candy which he called "loot." I love having indulgent younger brothers and sisters. 

It's become something of a yearly tradition for my parents to take the grandkids to a pint sized amusement park in Phoenix. All the rides and roller coasters cater to juvenile sizes and thrill levels and the kids eat it up, while we adults roast in the heat and take way too many pictures out of boredom.

And of course no trip to Arizona is complete without seeing Rick and Diane. By the time we revisited everything we loved about our old home we were doubting our decision to move.

 

Kate's unruly locks were out of control, so we took her for her first haircut. If Kate had her way, it would be the last. See the red eyes and dejected look? She sobbed through it all and insisted that I be in reach, meaning the poor hair dresser had to work around me and cover us all with hair. Since regular hair cuts appear more vital to curly hair than straight, I foresee a lot more trauma in Kate's future.

Ready to come home, full of sugar and low on sleep.

Then I was sick for several days, took a pregnancy test just to rule it out, and surprise! Baby four is coming in October against all odds and definitely out of our schedule. I guess I should be grateful I didn't get sick until we finished our vacation.

Moving On

I never get sentimental about my kids birthdays. Honestly, I'm glad Sam is 4 now! The older they get, the more self-reliant they become (theoretically). He was pretty delighted too - he'd only been counting down since Morgan's birthday in October. 

He has a real love of bowling that he didn't get from me, and that's what he wanted to do for a birthday party. Our bowling alley doesn't have kid ramps, just bumpers, so Sam would push the ball down the lane and wait for a few minutes as it made its painstaking way to the pins.

 

Snow was still a novelty in January - now we are just impatient for it to stop already so our tulips don't die.

While their parents traveled, our New York cousins came to Utah and we got them for a few days. They were so delighted to see each other. This is how they worked out sleeping arrangements - blankets, sleepings bags and pillows piled up on the playroom floor. It's a miracle anyone got any sleep, but they were very pleased with themselves. For some reason, JJ was more than happy to sleep by herself in the basement...

My brother's family also stopped on their way to and from Canada for Christmas for another all-too-brief cousin interaction. Here they are in the family band. Somehow, we received three harmonicas, an accordion, and a duck call for Christmas, all from grownups with really malicious smiles on their faces.

In the latest addition to Morgan's drama, this lovely family portrait. Now that her reading and writing skills are improving, we are treated to all sorts of tender messages. I usually can't help but giggle a little when she stomps up with her declarations, which offends her all the more. I think she expects devastation and tears rather than gleeful picture taking. Being a parent can be the most frustrating and maddening experience, but it's also hilarious.

The Holiday Season

Our first order of business in December was finding the perfect Christmas tree. We got two of the last tree permits for the mountains by Heber, and drove out with the grandparents for the full experience. Of course, with three little kids, we didn't look too far from our campfire, but we still managed to find some pretty nice trees. Somehow, in our 8 years of marriage, I had never been along on the great Christmas tree hunt. Work, school, babies (and maybe a fear of hiking the entire mountain range to satisfy Nana's zeal for the perfect tree...). The kids were in heaven with hot chocolate cooked over the fire, and Far Far spinning doughnuts in the Suburban, and helping with the saw.

 

One tradition I have been part of is attending the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert, ever since Erik and I first started dating. Every time we go we remember starting to fall in love listening to Sissel sing. Tickets are wicked hard to come by, but this year my diligence in signing up all my siblings paid off - Erik and three of my family members won the lottery! It was so nice to share tickets with the people who have helped us go in the past. ALTHOUGH. They've got to cut the dancing. It's ridiculous. And seriously, they need to pick songs based on the artist's strengths, not just from the list of Christmas songs they haven't covered yet. Laura Osnes has a beautiful voice but they didn't highlight it very well.

What with the concert and several outings with family and friends, we spent a lot of time at Temple Square over the holidays. It almost reminded us of Disney World - that many people and the magic dissipates. I found myself in a distinctly Scrooge-like mood this Christmas and excessive crowds did not help.

A real highlight of December was the day Morgan decided to run away. We clash on a fairly regular basis, and this day Morgan decided to take drastic action. She threatened and blustered, I watched her pack her two backpacks, but I was still surprised when she actually walked out the door and set off briskly. Once I realized she was nearly out of sight, I got nervous and bundled Sam in the car. Kate was napping and was left behind as Sam and I slowly drove after the runaway. She trudged up the mountain for quite a while, and I realized that she was never going to give up with me behind her - she's equally as stubborn and prideful as I am. So after a half hour or so I pulled over and told her to save the running away for better weather. She agreed to finish her rebellion in the back yard, and she did, with snacks pilfered from my pantry. 

Showing off their Christmas loot. Santa always stuffs underwear in their stockings...

Morgan was thrilled to go the Nutcracker in SLC with Nana the day after Christmas, wearing the dress her other grandma made for her. I love that Morgan is getting old enough to appreciate more mature entertainment.

Hooray! December is over.