Mary Poppins

My mom bought tickets to the Broadway show Mary Poppins for me and the boys for Christmas. We finally got to go on Sat. Feb. 27th. It was soooo good! I knew Noah would love it because he was the one who bugged and bugged me and my mom to buy tickets, but I was a little worried about Owen having the attention span to sit through it. He was a little wiggly but at the end of the show he declared " I will never forget this day my whole life!" It was such a fun and special day. Thanks Mom!

Journaling Jan. 21st

Today a lot of my family is fasting and praying for Jonathan's cousin Ryan who is receiving a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with Leukemia for a 3rd time. I can hardly get him out of my thoughts as I wish for the transplant to be successful and for him to go on living a more healthy life.

This morning Jonathan went up to snowbowl to get in one run before he went to work. He decided to go out of bounds to cut a fresh track and enjoy the fresh powder. The snow was so deep he couldn't traverse back into bounds so spent the next four hours hiking down to snowbowl road in waist deep snow. Other than not making it to work I think he kind of enjoyed himself. He said it was kind of an adventure and that he had a nice prayer for Ryan.

School has been out all week for MLK day and also from snow days. We have been able to get in an outing in each day but today have decided to just bunker down and stay home. It hasn't been too bad but I have to admit I am starting to go a little stir crazy! Tomorrow we will have to plan something to get us out. Honestly, I think the boys have an easier time being home all day than I do.

Preparing

We have heavy snow in the forecast all week so I am mentally and temporaly preparing to be snowed in with my four boys home. I have to make sure I have groceries, gas in the car, movies from the library.

Things I want to do with them this week: read, practice piano, play at the gym, shovel snow, bake, make it to hockey practice, write letters to family, potty train.

I'm hoping doing all of those activities is as fun as it sounds written down. It can get a little crazy when they are all home for extended periods of time. The key is to keep them busy!

First week in a new year.

I feel so good about this new year. It's not only a new year but the start of a new decade! As I reflect on this last year I realize it was a difficult one for me. Jonathan and I were uncertain for a big part of the year if we would be able to build our home; All the while living at Jonathan's parents home and welcoming a new baby into our family. It seems when things have been temporally hard for me they are also spiritually hard. I wish this wasn't the case but it is something I need to work on.
When I think back on the last tens years there are no regrets. Jonathan and I were married, have lived in Hawaii, Oregon, Arizona. We have bought and sold two homes and designed the home we plan to raise our family in. We have had four beautiful children, and have said goodbye to some dear family and friends. We have had successes and also failures and through it all have grown in wisdom and maturity.
My hopes for this year are to get my life in order again. I want to be more consistent with my prayers and scripture study. I also want to get some dates on the calender scheduled for the Temple. I want to improve my fitness level and expand my knowledge of Yoga. With me being a few months away from weaning Oliver I will be a lot more energetic and able to play with my boys more. I am looking forward to that.
As for this next decade I hope to be done with birthing children and settle into growing with them. I would like to improve on my talents and assist my family on recognizing theirs and nurturing them. Most of all I hope to be alive and healthy. Life is precious and I want to be blessed to experience all of it, the joys, pains, trials and miracles.

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Our family is still up in Utah wrapping up our vacation at Jonathan's folks place in Eden. I love this valley. Pine view Reservoir freezes over in the winter and Jonathan and I took Noah and Owen out for a snow mobile ride today after church. Besides Jonathan flipping us over once we had a great time! It was beautiful.

This has been another wonderful Christmas with memorable visits with my mom, my sister and her family, Jonathan's parents and brother Aaron and his family, and a surprise visit from Jonathan's cousin Kelly and her family. I cherish the quality time I spend with different parts of our family and the opportunity to create good memories.

I am so grateful for this time of year, the giving and receiving spirit I feel, and also the sense of renewal I have as I approach the new year with new intentions, goals, and hopes. I love reflecting on Christs birth, his life and teachings, and also the role he plays in my life and that of my family's.

It has been quite the week. Owen has been home sick with the flu. I came down with the shingles, I have piles of laundry and my dryer has just broke. I am seriously close to a break down! And let me tell you there is no sympathy coming from my husband. Let me ask you this..... Who takes care of you when your not well?
You know I feel better already by venting to my computer. I just can't wait for me and my family to be well again. I don't have the best coping skills when it comes to being sick. Honestly maybe I shouldn't be mad at my husband for being unsympathetic. I am kind of a witch when I don't feel good.

On a happier note. Halloween has come and gone and besides Owen getting sick on Halloween day we had some fun! Pumpkin carving and cookie baking were a few of our holiday activities. Here is a picture of my kids after Saturdays festivities. They were pretty worn out.

Spotted Frog, Pea Pod, Einstein, and Mr. Bones

Fall colors in Telluride

Cute little Ollie.

Pretty colors. I love when the aspen leaves cover the trails.

Nice view of Telluride.

The boys always find a good rock to climb. There were a lot on this hike.

We just got back from a trip to Telluride with our good friends Tia and Tim and their kids. We stayed in a really nice hotel called Capella. It was something we never would have put out the money for but we got a family discount which made it possible. It was fun but I think next time we will have to do a couples trip. Not that I don't like traveling with my kids because I do, but some places make you want to be alone with your husband and Telluride is one of them.

Unfortunately I only took pictures the last day we were there. We stayed a little longer than our friends and went on a hike up to the waterfall and ate lunch in town.



Thanks Tia!