The Perfect Tree

Christmas time is here. It is hard to believe another year has passed. I think I'm getting old. I love this time of year. It is a time for draping my house in hundreds of red and green trinkets and about 7 different Nativities, a time for baking not-so-good-for-me sweets, a time for the smell of cinnamon and pine, and also a time for unbridled exhuberance from everyone under the age of 10. (If anyone out there has any tips on how to make my children simply breathe, focus and calm themselves through this month, I'm all ears! Yoga for kids anyone?)

Growing up, my mom always got real trees. Truly, there is nothing better than the feel of real pine needles and mmmmmm, the smell. It says Christmas to me. Todd and I got a real tree our first year of marriage and I assumed that is always how it would be. Then we had a baby, cut our income in half AND bought a home all in the same year. Crazy? Yes we were. The former owners of our first home must not have itemized in their divorce settlement where the fake Christmas tree was going, because it was left in the unfinished basement. For the past 10 years that has been our Christmas tree, not my choice, I might add. Every year I want a real tree. A few of those 10 years we actually took the kids and looked at tree lots, only to walk away empty-handed because sheesh, can you say markup? Who wants to pay $100 for a dead tree that will only be used for 30 days? Never made sense to us on our very tight budget, and especially around Christmastime to spend the extra chunk of change we didn't have. Luckily, we always had our inherited tree from the divorced strangers. Thanks guys.

Well, this year is different. Todd decided about 4 weeks ago, after my very gentle suggestions, that he would wake up at 5:30 a.m., drive out to Heber, pick up a permit for $10 so we can cut down our very own tree. Yeah! Bless you Todd. So, per tradition, we pulled out our Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving, after, I might add, a very long, very exhausting morning of Black Friday deal shopping. We knew it was time to set out on our quest to find the perfect tree. Because we were so tired (see above) we got started out later than we had planned, not getting to the mountains until about 3:30 p.m. Not knowing a thing about this process and trying to follow a very vague map, we ended up somewhere near Strawberry Reservoir, driving on a narrow dirt road.

The first about 10 minutes were great, but what was supposed to be a fun, family activity very quickly turned into a "I'm cold/hungry/tired" whine-fest. So much for bonding. I sent Todd out to run around both sides of our dirt path, jumping through the snow, to find a tree that looked halfway decent. Because they grow in clusters, it is hard to find one that isn't bare on one side and is full enough for all our stinking ornaments! I truly wish I had video of Todd in his white jacket dashing and jumping from tree to tree, looking much like a frantic Abominable Snowman. A picture will have to suffice.

Just as we were about to give up hope and lose light all together, I suggested to the kids that maybe we should say a prayer. I knew we needed to find our perfect tree and be guided to it quickly before we lost light. So that's what we did and only seconds after the "amen" Todd's voice crackled on the walkie-talkie, "Uh, I think I found one." We got the car as close as we could (praises to the inventors of 4WD) and took the kids out to the tree, still a good distance away. By this time, the kids were in no mood to wait for dear old Dad to saw away at the surprisingly thick trunk. Poor Todd. Prego wife and 4 kids were no help. I think he nearly passed out trying to use the handsaw to take that tree down. Once down, the kids were by now already in the car, and though my feet were soaked and frozen, I helped him drag the beast to the car, hoist it on top and tie it down. No sooner was the last knot in place then we noticed not even a dull hue remained from the sun. Just in the nick of time.


We got it home and still had to cut several feet off, but once it was up, to us, it is the perfect tree. I still ask Todd if it is something he wants to do again next year. He hasn't given me an answer yet. Dusty, old, inherited tree might be sounding pretty good come this time next year.

Washington D.C.

Just got back from spending the weekend in DC with Todd, accompanying him on a business trip. I had never been to this historic place and it was a city of amazing architecture, art and yes Obama-pride. The city that lacked color (with most people wearing only blacks, blues and grays) made up for it in the colors of the changing leaves. I felt safe there, with a cop or security officer on every corner, even asking me to drink a sip of my water bottle to assure it was only water before I entered an exhibit. Even with the very efficient Metro system, I think we walked an average of 10 miles per day, thus keeping the many deliciously yummy calories we took in at bay. The Capitol awed me. The White House stunned me (it was smaller than I had expected). The Library of Congress and the intricate art therein wowed me. The Ford's Theater angered me (even early day terrorists killed good men like Lincoln, out of hate). The Smithsonians educated me. The Arlington Cemetary reverenced me, humbled me. The Holocaust Museum brought me to tears and left me with no words. This country of ours continues to be shaped by events and people who believe in freedom. It is amazing to see how far we have come and yet, still have far we have to go.

Halloween Weekend

Well, it came. It went. And left us a truckload of candy I wish wasn't in my house right now. It was fun and here are some highlights:

The annual Hillam Halloween party was at the Crocketts this year and I must say I was thoroughly impressed by all the creative costumes the fam pulled off, wouldn't you have to agree?









I got this eyeball doughnut hole idea out of a Family Fun magazine this year. They looked a lot easier than they turned out to be, so we had to capture a picture to remember the frustration that went behind making them!


Grandma and Grandpa read some fun Halloween books to the kids, we made mummies, made bracelets, played pin the nose on the pumpkin and did a pinata. We had lots of yummy food and I'd say we all left happy and very full.




As usual, the kids had fun helping scrape out the pumpkins, prepping them for carving. Even though we do this every year, they all still get so totally grossed out at the feeling of goo that they have to scoop out. Colby refused to participate and frequently would run away saying, "It's biscussing!"





Every year Todd unleashes his creative abilities on our pumpkins for Halloween. I think he really enjoys it. He asks each of the kids what they want on the front and then carves it for them. He's getting better at it because this year he did them so quickly! Good job honey--they turned out great!

Soccer

Fall season for soccer has ended. Both Alli and Andrew were on teams with great coaches and great teammates, yet I just can't decide if my kids enjoyed themselves. Sometimes they looked like this:



But I'd say the majority of the time, mid-game, they looked like this:





So what do you think? Big thank yous to their coaches for their patience and training. I guess I can chalk it up for another "good, learning experience" for them, right? They might never be the next David Beckham . . . but run, children, run! At least LOOK like you are playing! I pace my house in anticipation for Spring soccer.

11 Sweet Years

Happy Anniversary Baby
I love you even more now than then.

Boy Brains

I decided long ago (whilst growing up with brothers) that boys were just plain mean. Then as I got into my dating years, I decided that boys were just plain weird. It wasn't until I had two boys of my own that compassion for this gender really started to set in as I realized that they honestly and truly are missing part of the gray stuff between the ears.

Why is it that they are completely unable to determine that everything they do has a consequence? How do you teach a child to "look before you leap"? I am awe-struck every day as I watch my boys (4 and 2) do things that a normal person, under any stretch of the word, would stop and say, "oh, dude, hey let's think about this." I've compiled a list of things that surely they must ask themselves nano-seconds before the action actually takes place. What should follow is the thought of what will happen should they follow through with so-planned action. With boys, that is the element that is missing. An alarm should sound every time they get those wild eyes coupled with wide-spread grins, and throaty giggles. For me they have. And this is why:

"What would happen if . . ."

- I threw this entire box of Disney Trivia cards, or dominoes, as high and far across the room as I can? (Better yet, what would Mom do?)
- I ran top-speed, head first into (what looks like) a soft couch? (Unfortunately, the 10+ year old couch if bare bones with only the illusion of puffiness.) I know this fact as I've repeated the same action countless times, yet don't learn from it.
- I flew, again face-first, down the slide while baby brother sat unawares at the bottom? Consequence = bloody lips and heads
- I ran and body-slammed my Dad who is sound asleep on the floor?
- I climbed to my sister's top bunk, wrinkle free and perfectly made for the day, and chucked every item around each corner of the room?
- I took a mouthful of mom's arm and decided to bite HARD?
- I sucked on the tube of toothpaste?
- I held sister's long, red hair ribbon over the toilet bowl, directly in the stream of my pee. (This one took coordination, I'll give him that!)
- I jumped Superhero high on this Pogo-Stick, a thing, I might add, I know absolutely nothing about? (Anyone who has seen his now dead, black front tooth is witness to the consequence of this one.)
- I threw this towel straight up into the ceiling fan spinning on high-speed?
- I ran straight for my brother, who is running straight for me? Consequence = split, bloody lip and a trip to InstaCare.
- I squished my banana/muffin/cold cereal/pbj sandwich/syrup-filled pancake with my fingers and better yet, wiped it into my hair?

- I dipped my Cheetos into my Kool-Aid?
- I took handfuls of dirt out of my mother's only potted plant and flung it across the formal living room, oh and smeared the black soil into the couch?
- I poured this bucket of water over baby brother's head?
- I dropped a penny or a toy or a tissue down the A/C registers?
- I quickly pushed my plate of dinner that mom just dished out, so it slid off, spilling all over the newly-mopped floor?
- I dropped my pants and ran through my aunt's wedding dinner in my underwear, laughing all the way?

Nope. Nothin' in the noggin.
So why is it that, rather than getting totally exasperated, nay furious, with them, I find myself trying to stifle a giggle? Then I might possibly take them tenderly into my arms and say, "Well, honey, what did you think would happen?" Okay, so more often than not the whole tenderness thing goes by the wayside and I find myself clamped-jaw, yelling, mad at their inability to think, and then totally and completely full of remorse as I realize that this time I did not think before I acted. Could this brain-dead behavior be hereditary? Do boys just know how to melt their mother's hearts this way because we can relate to them so well on this "look and leap" theory? Either way it doesn't matter to me. I'm just darned glad I have them.

Sunday Reflection

I am filled with so much love today--there are so many people around me that I care so much about, yet I know I don't show it or say it enough. I came across this message and thought I'd pass it along. The truth drives deep into the soul. Let us choose love over anger. Love heals. Love enlightens. Love is eternal.

Huh?

My baby sister is serving a LDS mission in the Philippines right now. Being the sweet, generous person that she is, she sent a slightly bulky letter to my family a few weeks ago. Inside were 3 tiny packets probably measuring 1" x 2". Inside were mini beads. She said these were all the rage in the Philippines and the kids will love them. The front of the package reads "Seven Color Crystal Boll". I turned over the package to read the directions. I think the first person to decipher what it is I am supposed to do should get a big, fat prize! This is EXACTLY what is written:

product use information:
1. add water 400G on the product, about 4 hours it will grow up.
2. one clear beauty satiety face will grow up.
3. when the flower want to oxygen and nutrition, I will help you too much.

Not only did it leave me and Todd scratching our heads, but we laugh with every letter and every phone call from her because her broken English sounds just like the above directions.

Well, needless to say, we figured it out. Below is about 2 hours into the process.


The final product. They grew at least 10x their original size; and they are squishy, gel-like balls. And, yes, my kids do enjoy playing with them!



We are in the process of trying to dry them out because we heard they can be used and reused, hydrated and dehydrated. We shall see. Thanks Lace!

Catching up

Whew, I feel like it has been a whirlwind at my house the last few weeks since school has started. We've been busy and the blog feels neglected, so hold on to your seats for lots of pictures and a chronological catch-up.

Mid-August Kendra had a summer dance concert and did fab in her two numbers. This is a picture of her with her good friend Ella. Aren't those dresses beautiful? Rental--even better! Great job Steph!



August 20 was the first day of school. The girls were so excited to get back to school. We all walked together the first day and the cougar mascot was there, with "Mission Impossible" music blasting, to greet everyone. The first picture adequately shows the new length of Alli's hair, from the 6 inches we cut off of it the day before! She loves it and it sure makes my life a heck of a lot easier! No tangles baby!






The first weekend after school started, we took a family camping trip with Todd's family. Between wedding planning and summer activities we hadn't been able to get together much, so it was a much-needed, very relaxing (scratch that, camping is NOT relaxing!) getaway. We went to Ephraim canyon where there was a little pond just steps away from our campsite and the kids had a ball catching fish, skipping rocks and playing in the mud. Man, did they get dirty! I couldn't stand it any longer, so that's why Saturday night I filled up a cooler with warm water (isn't that the oxymoron?!) and bathed the boys. Colby wasn't sure about it, but Drew loved it! Other highlights included, but were not limited to, hiking, playing games, making bottle rockets out of Alka-Seltzer and film canisters, water fights, making crafts with the kids, wrestling with Uncle Dave (the kids did), enormous flying black bugs with 4-inch antennae (Todd says this is an exaggeration, but I think not), Dutch oven cooking, homemade ice cream in a bag, campfires and of course, s'mores. We had a great time and here's proof:



Last Monday we decided to take a little hike up American Fork Canyon for FHE. We are so close, yet we don't utilize the beautiful canyon enough. We had driven, hiked and were back home getting ready for bed all within an hour. We love the outdoors and we had a great time.



Kendra planted a cabbage near the end of the school year and it grew, and grew, and grew over the summer. I've never harvested cabbage before so I was unsure when to pick it. Consequently I will take the blame for it splitting, being eaten by numerous bugs and eventually going bad, BUT it was fun to see how big it got. Needless to say, we won't be eating it.



After MUCH anticipation, Andrew FINALLY started preschool last week. I swear he asked every day of the summer if it was time to start preschool. He has had a great time his first two days and hopefully his teacher can teach him his letters more effectively than I can. I have tried and tried, but it just won't stick with him!




Friday I went with my sisters and Mom to Park City for a ladies getaway. We had a great time laughing and having some great food (LOVE Bangkok Thai!) and going to Swiss Days Saturday. There were way too many people there, but it is always fun to go and see what the vendors have. Everyone but me got a bratwurst sandwich with sauerkraut and pickles (doesn't that sound disgusting?) and Ki even asked for extra kraut! The pregnancy hormone in her necessitates some strange things I guess.




While I was away (thanks Jana for watching the boys!), Todd was at a Father/Daughter campout with the girls. Sounds like they had a great time dancing, chasing the "candyman" and watching chick-flicks. They took lots of silly pictures. Here are a few:

Good things come to those who wait.

It has been a long time in coming. There have been many, many, MANY prayers. Faith AND hope that have had to be found, and re-found. There have been many unsuccessful setups, some down-right crappy relationships, frogs kissed and hearts broken. BUT, after all that, and even at 36, my sister-in-law Melissa, has found the love of her life and solemnized her unity to Jason on August 6 of this month. The night before the wedding I asked her if he has been worth the wait and with conviction, she quickly and assuredly answered yes. It was so great to be a part of their day and there was a moment where I couldn't control my emotions as I watched the two of them look at each other and sense the love and completion there are now feeling. She is beautiful. He is handsome. But it comes from more than just an outward glimpse of them. They radiate from the inside.
The reception turned out beautifully. The transformation of my inlaws back yard created Missy's childhood vision of her dream garden wedding. Even through the wind and the chilly August weather (I know--can you believe it?) everything was perfect. Congratulations again Missy and Jason. This is just the beginning. . .






Being goofy with our wrist corsages after a long day. Notice the time on the clock behind us--and our kids were still up, all the way up until the drive home!