Saturday, November 3, 2007

I need to keep track...


The days all seem to fly by so quickly. I used to keep a monthly journal for each of my kids so we could look back and laugh at a the funny little things that they said or did. Sadly that has become a thing of the past.

However, I'd like to have a place to share and put my thoughts. I don't have a mind like a trap, and sometimes if I don't write things down they're lost forever.



I'll start at the beginning. Matt and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 12, 1994. We have had over 13 years together. Matt is currently the Principal for the local High School in Othello, WA. We have lived here in Othello for 10 years. He is on the High Council and also serves as our Ward Activities chairman. I stay at home with our children doing the mom thing. There is nothing that I'd rather be doing. I am the Primary President. Need I say more. With 5 kids we are busy!



Aubrie is our oldest. She is 9 years old. She was baptized last year. She is an avid reader. She devours books. She also races to read the comics in the paper every day. But her absolute favorite is Calvin and Hobbes. Matt has a few books that she can't keep her hands off. I'm sure she had read them each 12 times. This scares me a bit. I'm just waiting to see which of Calvin's favorite moves will be tried out next. I've already had to abolish 'attack the babysitter'. Aubrie plays the piano. She is on her third year and hates to practice (what kid doesn't). She does well in school, and was the Student of the month in her grade this month. She can do anything she sets her mind to. Aubrie likes to tell jokes and make people laugh. She will do anything if it means she can spend time with me. She wears glasses and has braces too. She's a good kid and tries hard to do what's right.

Keeley is our soon to be 7 year old. She is a lot of fun, always laughing and dancing. She is in first grade this year and loves going to school all day long. At our family football games in the backyard, Keeley always wants to be the cheerleader. She loves being a girl and all of the frilly things that go with it. She also loves to collect things. For example her current collections include: rocks, shells, beads, broken crayons, cool pencils, and anyone's favorite cool toy that might be set aside for a moment too long. If anything is missing, Keeley's junk drawer or under her pillow are the first two places to look. Keeley is learning to like reading. She is getting better and recognizing more and more words. She loves to cook dinner with me but hates to set the table. She doesn't do well if told what to do or given no say in the matter. But if you give her a choice -- even if it is between practice the piano now or in five minutes-- she's happy.




Henry is 4. He is all boy. He enjoys cars, dirt, mud, mowing the lawn, working outside with Matt, wrestling with Jesse- or whomever is closest to him. His new passion is football. We have had multiple family games this week alone. He has an infectious laugh. He is a lover. He loves to give kisses and hugs. He thinks it is extremely funny if he kisses me on the lips. Just tonight he gave me a butterfly kiss. He loves to help do any thing with Matt or I if we use the term"work". Poor kid, he thrives on working. This summer and last he loved digging holes to bury the rocks for my path in the backyard. He loves pulling weeds with me and he was in 7th heaven when he painted the house with Matt this summer. He is my sweet boy.






Jesse is 2 and recently potty trained. It only took three tries until he decided to do it. I was ready several months before he was. He is such a good boy. He is literally my shadow. He prefers to be with me all day. It doesn't matter if I'm folding clothes or changing a messy diaper. He wants to be right there. I love the funny conversations that we have. He loves to tease --wonder where he got that from-- Matt and I are both terrible teases. Hmmm... He loves his tennis shoes. He refused all summer to wear his sandals even when it was 110 degrees outside. He loves to play cars and wrestle with Henry. He frequently jumps Henry from behind and tackles him to the ground. He loves to 'smooch' my cheeks and give hugs. It is so funny to see his little body in underwear. He's very proud of the fact that he wears underwear.

















Andee is our newest
addition. She is three months old and loved by all. She was born 7-7-07. What an easy birthday to remember! She is a good baby. She sleeps from about 10 pm until 7 or 8 am. Occasionally she'll wake up at 5 to eat. She loves to see the kids and have them talk to her. She is discovering her hands and voice. She loves to play with her new toys --they are new to her-- especially the links and her stuffed elephant. She smiles readily and is mostly content. It won't be long before she is rolling over. Just this week she is rolling to her side. I'm hoping that she'll be a lefty like me. It would be nice to have at least one!