Families are Forever

Troy and I and Katie just got back from Grandma Wulffenstein's funeral in Hurricane, Utah. It was a quick trip in and a quick trip back, but well worth it! Katie was a trooper - she slept for most of the plane rides and all of the funeral. You can't ask for better than that!

The funeral was just beautiful - exactly what I want when I go - short talks full of laughter and lots of music. The speakers all did a wonderful job - especially my mother-in-law. She is a woman of many talents, but I had no idea what a wonderful speaker she is.

My favorite thing that she said was when she read from Grandma's patriarchal blessing. It said that she was the kind of woman whose children, and whose children's children would one day rise up and call her blessed. This could not be more true! I hope that this is something that will one day be said about me.

It was so great to see all of our extended family. Troy and I haven't been able to see the aunts and uncles and cousins for YEARS. Everyone looks so great and I cannot believe how the family has grown. Everyone that was little when Troy and I married are all big now, and many have married and have children of their own. Time doesn't stand still for anyone.

We had a little family reunion the day before the funeral. We have a family tradition of doing this crazy dance that is called Tooty Tot. This is my mother-in-law Marietta caught mid-dance. I have another great one of my sister-in-law Paulette doing the dance, but I am saving that one as something I might be able to blackmail her with.

I also wanted to say that I am really grateful for good friends, who stepped in the take care of the kids so that we could make the trip. Anne and Ben took Mikayla, Emma, Joe, and Becky. Rob and Andrea took Josh. They said everyone was good, but it's still a J-O-B to take care of other people's children - so we are really thankful that the good friends we have are so willing to be there for us during our times of need.

This is Katie with her cousin Joy.

This is Katie (Katelyn Eva) with her namesake Aunt Eva.

This is Paulette with her newest grandson Kody.

More Please

How cute is this?

Katie is just starting to eat and she doesn't really enjoy it - not that you can tell by looking at her.

She is my sumo baby. Even her fat has fat.

Don't you just want to kiss her silly?

The Best Christmas Present EVER

I got my favorite Christmas present the day after Christmas, and it came from, of all places, my three-year old daughter. She pooped on the toilet! YEAH!!!!

What more could the mother of six ask for on Christmas than poop in the toilet? (Dad, of course, would have also asked that this independent miss wait to get help with wiping before she smeared everything on herself and the toilet -- but Mom was just grateful that Dad was home.)

I love my life.

Christmas

I love Christmas. I always have.

The best part about this Christmas was the joy on the faces of my children as they opened their presents. We have a whole range of children who love and appreciate Christmas for very different reasons.




We have my sweet baby Katie, who was just happy to be here. She didn't need much, and what she got went right into her mouth.

Then there was Becky, whose birthday was right before Christmas, and wanted us to know that everything she had gotten was for her birthday because Santa brought it to her. She just kept saying, "Is this for ME?" Like every present was a little miracle and she just couldn't believe that she had gotten so much.




And Josh was so excited he couldn't contain himself. He was DYING to open presents and I thought he might actually burst when we made him eat breakfast first. Afterward he yelled,"This IS the BEST day of my WHOLE life!"









Joe was so happy to get his gifts he couldn't stop giggling. And of course, while he enjoyed everything, it was the little things that got the biggest laughs - like his sponge bob whoopie cushion!

Emma was eager to see what Santa had brought this year because she had asked him to just surprise her. Unfortunately, Santa and Emma's best friend Mary, have the same taste in Christmas presents, so Emma wound up with identical Monkey WebKinz. Luckily, she decided that they would be boy/girl twins.

Mikayla, my jaded 11 year old, knows it all, and finds her dad and I quite embarrassing at times. But even she found lots to smile about and couldn't have been more excited to get clothes for her Build-a-Bear. (Who knew?)

And last, but CERTAINLY not least, is my dear sweet husband. He got many things this Christmas, both big and small, but his favorite things were coupons the kids made for foot rubs and a picture frame I made him that said "101 things Denise loves about Troy."

I didn't know if it would be too corny, but he liked it so much it actually made him cry (he says it made him "misty") anyway, it was so sweet, it made me cry! I couldn't have asked for a better reaction.

I can't forget to mention that the kids also got a Wii for Christmas and they were beside themselves! (I would add that DAD was even more excited about it than the kids were!)

As for me - I got too much stuff - I always feel that way when it's over. But my favorite gifts this year were that my family was together and healthy and my husband's appreciation for the gifts that I got him. Oh, and the bracelet that Troy got me from Tiffany's wasn't bad either. (haha)

I just wanted to say that Christmas is wonderful. Not because of the gifts that we get, or even the ones that we give. But because everyone is a little nicer to each other at this time of year and we all work so hard to show each other just how great our love is. I am grateful for my family and the dear friends that we have. I am especially grateful to the Savior, without whom, there would be no Christmas.

My Sad, Sad Spouse

So I told Troy I was going to call this entry "my biggest baby", but Troy threatened me with my life. So instead we'll go with "my sad, sad spouse".

Poor Troy is so sick today. It never fails. I make all these big plans, but nothing ever works out how I thought it would. That's okay. When you have six kids and spouse, someone is bound to throw a monkey wrench into the plans. That's what makes it so fun.

So I woke up last night to the sound of retching, as Troy has finally caught the stomach flu that has been going around. The loving, wifely thing to do would have been to go and check on him, but instead I went back to sleep. What can I say? Someone had to be rested to get up with the baby and the kids!

When he woke up this morning he was groggy, and he had the chills. He is hard of hearing anyway, but his sad factor goes up exponentially when he his ill. He just kept saying, "What? What? What?" whenever I would say anything. That and, "Do I feel hot to you?"

You are always hot baby! ; )

Code Breaking

On the list of things that I can say I am good at, I could add code breaker.

It isn't a skill I learned at a fancy training school, nor one that has any commercial value, but the fact that I can speak "kid" and many dialects therein is a skill that comes in handy.

This morning, for example, my 3 year old wanted to "shirster". But before she could do that she needed a frink" because she was "firsty" and could she please have some "frocolate" milk.

Now, for those of you not as well versed in "kid" as I am, she wanted to take a shower. But before she could shower, she needed a drink, because she was thirsty, and she wanted some chocolate milk.

"FRHUH?"

I know, it's amazing!

It's a skill that even amazes my husband.

This same child came into our room the other night just inconsolable. She was crying and my husband kept asking her what's wrong.

She just kept saying "Katie! Katie!" over and over. Troy assured her that the baby was okay and she could go back to sleep, but she wouldn't.

Her crying finally woke me up, and I listened for a moment to the conversation, and heard her say loud and clear, "Kiss me, Kiss me."

Well, for goodness sake, kiss her and send her back to bed!

Oh.

He leaned down and kissed her cheek, and she merrily toddled off to bed.

Of course, because there are many dialects in the language of "kid" there are bound to be times when all the skill in the world just won't help you.

My five year old had something really important to tell me the other day. He went on and on, and no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't figure it out.

Finally, I just had to tell him that I didn't understand. He gave me that look (you know the one where it is so exasperating to them that they know so much more than you do?).

He then said, "Mom, why don't you speak my language?"

I don't know, son. I just don't know.

A Future in the Theater

Josh was in the school play yesterday at preschool. He was Joseph in the Nativty. He was really cute, and very excited to be in the play. He sang loudly and performed well.

After it was over, he blew kisses to the audience. He is so his father's son!

Missing Grandma

Troy's sweet Grandma Wulffenstien passed away yesterday. Troy talked this morning about how he didn't have a lot of specific memories of the fond times that he spent with her, but he really remembers that when he was with her he felt like he was special. Isn't that what we all want?

Grandma Wulffenstien was sick for a long time. I am grateful that we had her for as long as we did, but also that her mortal journey is ended and that she can at last be with those she loved so much who passed before she did.

I am also grateful that my children were able to know their wonderful great-grandma. She was amazing. We spent some time with her this summer, singing and playing the piano. We will never regret the time that we spent with those we love. So, today, just love someone.

HOLY CWAP!

So my cute Becky turned three today.

She is such a ray of sunshine.

I get such a charge out of watching her grow.

She likes to think that she is big, even though sometimes, she wishes that she were still the baby.

It's the difference between thinking that she can make her own peanut butter sandwich and sneaking binkies when she thinks no one is looking.

We were out the other day and went to find our car. When we got there, the person who parked next to me was so close that I couldn't open my door.

I was peeved, and surprised and said, "Holy Crap!"

Well, my curious ray of sunshine wanted to see for herself, and poked her head around the corner to see what was wrong. As she gazed at me with her serious face and big eyes, she said, "Holy Cwap!"

Yikes.

They really do listen. Just not when you want them to.