2013

It's time to say goodbye to another year. X and Fred have grown older,. Josh and I have learned more about parenting and still continue to learn every day. For many of our friends 2013 was a bad year but for us I'd say overall it was a great year. It was a very relaxing, low maintenance and we were very blessed to spend lots of time together as a family. 

2013 kicked off with a New years eve party at home. We made party hats, drank from wine glasses, smashed our ginger bread house and released balloons with wishes for the 2013 year.

One year ago

We were blessed with lots and lots and LOTS of snow in January. So much that we had to shovel ourselves our of the driveway a few times. The air quality became very poor and stayed that way until April.We all got sick with colds and I got bronchitis it became pretty depressing around here for awhile. We were happy to see blue skies return. 

In March Fred underwent surgery to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. He also had his tongue clipped and he now makes a slurping noise after finishing each sentence. I think his tongue is to big for his mouth now. ;) The surgery went really well and by day 3 he was bouncing off the furniture with more energy than he'd ever had. We were amazed at how quickly he recovered. 

Fred also graduated his first year of Preschool and began his second with Miss Monique. She has been so wonderful. Fred loves finding his alphabet everywhere and caught me off guard the first time he shouted out "Eff Mom!" It took me a minute to realize he had spotted the letter F and wasn't cussing. :) He still LOVES Superman and had a big Superman party for his 5th birthday. He also still sings and role plays throughout the whole house and loves coloring. He's got a very big imagination! 

X finished up 1st grade and started 2nd grade at Voyage Academy with the most amazing teacher who I LOVE sooo much!!! He's doing wonderful in school and is known for always including others and making others feel "warm and fuzzy" by doing acts of service for them. He turned 8 this year and was able to start scouts which he loves and he'll be baptized in January. He still has a great love for Legos and has developed a new love for video games, which I'm not to sure is a good idea but it's good bonding time with Josh so I let it slide. He still plays the piano and got a guitar for Christmas which he's hoping to learn to play. He also plays soccer which he loves. 

Voyage Academy opened!!! 

It was amazing to see Voyage open it's doors. It was a dream I'd spent the last 2 years working on along side six other amazing people. When I look back on how much work the seven of us did and that it was all without pay I'm amazed at what we accomplished and that we would dedicate that much time to a dream. It taught me that if you want something bad enough you can make it happen with a lot of prayers and dedication. Getting that school approved also strengthened my testimony of prayer. I know that we would have never been able to do all that we did without the power of  a Heavenly Father behind us. There was to many bizarre things that happened for it to of just been us at work. The school is more then I could have ever hoped possible. It makes me cry when I think about it. The staff at Voyage love kids so much and each child is important and cared about. It's truly a dream school. I love it sooo much and it was worth every second I sacrificed to get it approved. I often will drive past it on my way home from work at night and think to myself "I helped in creating that! That school is possible because I didn't give up!" Silly I know. :) I stepped off the board at the beginning of the summer. Once the school was approved and the Principal hired I was okay turning it over to somebody else. I LOVE the Principal and I had full trust that she'd make the school everything I wanted it to be. I miss it sometimes but my family scarf iced a lot while I was on the board and I was ready to catch up on some long lost time spent with them. 

With the EL director and Principal at our ground breaking. 

The board who I spent many hours with. 

Ape, Melissa, Mindy, April, Anna, Seth and Me. 

In June Josh's baby brother Keith got married to a wonderful girl named Tiffany. We were so happy to welcome her into the family. She's a super sweet girl that brings lots of heart and fun times to the family. Their wedding was a blast, with a picture booth, candy bar and dancing. The boys got to be ring bearers and they looked ADORABLE! 

In July we built our very first float! With the help of a other moms with kids at Voyage we designed a Viking ship. I had spent a month collecting cardboard boxes from Lowes and paint from friends and family. They took up a big chunk of my garage for awhile. The float turned out so awesome and we won first place! X and Fred got to ride in the float as Vikings. It was super cute and super fun! 

Humphrey and Soot are still around. Humphrey lays around sleeping most days and will occasionally break out in barking for no reason, he's getting so old and the other day he fell down the stairs. Made me so sad. for him. Soot is beginning to mellow out a bit and become a nice cat. 

Other then that we spent most of our days lounging by a campfire in the back yard, going camping in Henry, going to Lagoon, checking out the new Lego store, building lots of Legos, playing video games, buying a new car.We've also been spending time with family and friends, hanging out at Voyage and fulfilling our callings in Church. I spent the first six months being the Primary Chorister (which I loved) and was recently called to teach Relief society. That's been a bit more challenging for me because I can't just bounce around like a big dork I have to actually study and I am learning A LOT! Josh is still the Scout Master and enjoying it. X had the opportunity to play the piano in Sacrament meeting. He played "My Heavenly Father loves me" he did a great job and got lots of compliments. Both X and Fred love bearing their testimony in Sacrament and they both ask each week if it's testimony meeting. They crack me up:).Yeah, we're pretty big church junkies right now. I can't help it, it just makes me soo happy! I love the people in my Ward! They are all so loving, funny and compassionate. It's been an awesome Ward!  Life has been good this past year and I hope 2014 brings many more happy days. 

At the lake in Henry 

 Yearly trip to Lagoon. 

Sobo bought the boys Lagoon season passed for Christmas 

so we'll be spending lots more time here in 2014

 Classic Water slides

Our new fire pit that we've very much enjoyed! 

At the new Lego store in Fashion place. The boys got to help design a Hulk Lego

Art work by Fred

Hanging out with the Roberts Clan 

At the Nutcracker

Hanging out with the Walker clan at Grinch Dinner

Building Legos. He had three lego sets built by the end of Christmas day. 

Temple Square with the Walker fam

Hanging out with freinds

We ended the year at home again with our annual New Years tradition OF Miss New Year and her hour bags. We use to bring in the New Year with a big party with our friends but a few year ago Josh talked me into staying home and I tried the New Years bag activity. We had so much fun that we've done it every year since. Now New Years is a relaxing night with my favorite people in the whole wide world. We dance, we sing, we watch movies and then we yell and spray silly string outside. We also release a balloon with a wish for the new year tied to it and do an Apple Cider toast to the New Year and smash our gingerbread house to say goodbye to the previous year.  

The Hour Count down bags for New Years

From 5-10 or midnight if your kids can make it that late, you open a bag with an activivty. For us it's....

5pm Party decorations and hats. 

6pm Fancy Dinner (we did Chinese food not that fancy) 

7pm Dance party (to work of the dinner pounds you've gained)

Josh got a fun new stobe light for his bday. It made the dance party even more awesome! 

8pm Watch a movie together

Dispicible me was soooo cute! 

9pm Party poppers and noise makers

10pm Happy New Year New York time! 

A New years kiss. Bag full of "Kisses"

2012

It's been a year since I've done a blog post. I started a private journal last year because it was to much pressure to keep up with my blog posts, but since I never got a Christmas card out and it's been awhile since I've talked to some of you I decided to share my New years journal entry with all of my readers. If there is any readers left in bloggerville, most bloggers have abandoned ship and moved to FB. I do miss the days of blogging tho. I hope you all had a wonderful 2012 and that 2013 brings many great blessings to you and your families. 

12/31/2012

Another year has come and gone and I must say 2012 was a WONDERFUL year! To celebrate we stayed home and had a nice quite evening with the four of us. I use to love going to big parties and hanging with lots of people, but the older you boys get the more hermit like I become. I love being home with you guys and dad..My best days are when it's the four of us. We have an awesome little family. 

We started the night off with Chinese food and then played games together. Spot it (which was a lot of fun, even Freddy did really well at that game. You have to find the two things that match on the card and often times you boys would spot things before dad and I did) We also played Yahtzee (that's moms favorite game) and UNO. We then watched "Diary of the Whimpy kid" it was pretty funny. By 9:30 you boys were pretty tired since Fred has been sick with an ear infection, cold and the flu and you boys haven't been sleeping well. So we decided to celebrate New York time. I pulled up the ball drop on the computer and you boys counted down to the new year and then we went outside sprayed some confetti, shouted happy New year and made a mess. We then released balloons with a New Years wish tied to the bottom of them. This was something new I started this year and it was fun so I think we'll continue it. 

After that was all over we came inside and did our annual gingerbread house smashing and drank our sparkling cider with cotton candy in it. I then gave all three of the wonderful guys in my life a kiss and we went to bed. 

The End

A breakdown of 2012

This year we did the Classic passes again and spent our summers lounging at the Water-slides  Often times friends would join us for the fun. Aunt Steph paid for us all to spend a night at Cherry Hill and you boys had a blast. It was one of your favorite events this year. We also took our first trip to Disney Land this year. It was the most magical week of my life. We had so much fun together as a family and many activities we do as a family seem dull in comparison of what we experienced at Disney Land. I think they put a magic pixie spell on us when we entered the gate because it truly is the happiest place on earth. You boys still talk about it and Fred always says "after we do this lets go back to Disney land!" It's a memory we'll cherish forever. 

We also finished remolding our kitchen this year. We put in really nice pergo flooring and bead board on the walls. I LOVE our kitchen now! It reminds me of a little country kitchen. The other big project we did this year was our front yard. What a mess! Don't ever rip out a lawn. I was embarrassed of our yard all summer, but by the fall the new nice grass started to come in and hopefully in the spring it will be a beautiful lawn.

Our lawn most of the summer

Our lawn by the Fall

Our new kitchen

 Other side of our new kitchen

Individual updates 

Fred- Started preschool this year and is doing wonderful! You never liked to sit and color and now Ms. Monique has you all into it. You sing songs other then Superhero theme songs and you love to write the letter A. You write it everywhere. Your still obsessed with Superheros with Superman being your favorite. You were him for Halloween and you made a very cute one! Mommy was your sidekick Lois Lane and your buddy Parker and his mom were Batman and Catwomen. You've grown up so much this past year and it amazes me how smart you are. Your still the funny guy  in our house and your always making us laugh. 

X- Graduated Kindergarten and stepped up to the big first grade! Your reading skills are awesome and you catch on to everything very quickly. Your teacher says your a very smart kid. Your still doing piano and you do very well at it. Your piano teacher says you catch onto things quickly.You still have a great love for Legos and when you grow up you want to be a Lego designer. This year you started playing soceer and you loved it. Your New Years resolution is to make a goal. You made your first neighborhood buddy this year. His name was Ryder and you two spent every day together through the summer. You were both into aliens and determined to prove they exist. You never quite made it and at the beginning of the school year Ryder moved. You still go to school together, but he's in a grade older then you so you don't see each other much. You were pretty heartbroken, but dad and I are trying to teach you that Fred should be your best friend because there is nothing better then having a brother as your best friend. 

Mom and Dad- Dad got a new job as a web designer  He is still the Scout Master and is really enjoying it and has become an amazing husband and father because of it. Our lives have been so blessed from that calling. 

 I completed one of my New years goals by running a 5K. My girl friends and I ran the "Kiss me Dirty" mud run. It was so much fun! Except the part of my little sister Rachael tackling me into the mud filled with rocks and cutting my knee wide open. ;) Nah, it was all in good fun and my knee healed so I'll for sure do it next year. We got free admission passes for next year because we won best team name. The Gynosaures Rex's. I also completed my BIG project of getting an Expeditionary Learning school brought to our town. It will open this coming Fall and mom can't wait for you boys to attend. It was a draining project that has taken almost three years to complete and I'm happy we're almost there. I've also been called as the Primary Chorister. At first I laughed and thought they had called the wrong person, but after doing it for the last month I have found it's right up my alley and I'm loving it! 

Humphrey- Is getting old. He's now blind in both eyes and his hearing is going. He mostly just lays around all day and sleeps and he hobbles a bit when he walks. He's going on eleven years and pugs only live to be 10 or 13. It makes me sad, he's been with us for a long time. He was daddy's best man at our wedding. He was there when we brought each of you home from the hospital and put up with you stealing his bed and food when you were trouble making babies. He's been a very patient and sweet dog. Even if he does snore and smell like fritos. We love him sooo much and it'll be a sad day when we have to say goodbye.

Soot- Our newest family member! We got a kitty cat this year. Dad named her Soot because she reminded him of the black fuzz balls in "Spirted away" She's been a fun kitty and makes us laugh especially when she pounces us or chases the red laser light. She did ruin our Christmas tree this year by constantly climbing and knocking off the glass ornaments that would shatter when they hit the ground. I  was about ready to strangle her by the time Christmas came, but I'm a sucker for a kittens purr and cuddle so she's still here. Plus it's been nice for Humphrey to have a friend. I think Soot likes him more then he likes her tho. ;) 

The great balancing act

Last night my Ward did an awesome Enrichment night. I loved it and learned so much that I decided to share it with you. There was a lot taught but I'm just going to share the key things that stuck out to me, that I needed to hear. 

First class: Spiritual balance by Bishop Jared Jones 

I have the coolest Bishop. He never makes you feel like crap about what your doing wrong in your life he only  praises you for the good your doing and encourages you to keep trying. He's what every Bishop should be. 

I am terrible with scripture study. Terrible terrible terrible!  But, last night something was said that has changed my mind about scripture study. I don't remember exactly how it was said but basically if you will read your scriptures and put the Lord first in the day then the Lord will hold back the sun and the moon and you will be able to accomplish all that is needed to be accomplished in a day. If scripture study will give me more hours in the day to get things done, I'll become the best scripture reader on the block! :) I tried it today and it worked! Okay to be honest I didn't get all accomplished that I wanted to but I was satisfied at the end of the day, instead of feeling like I hadn't done anything I had a more positive feeling at the end of the day. So I'll be doing it again tomorrow. 

2nd class: Financial balance by Brother Nielson  

I am a terrible spender! I've gotten better since I've been married and had a family but I'm still awful at it. Last night I learned of a website called www.mint.com. I'm sure everybody in the world has heard of this site but me. It's pretty cool, you can link it to your bank account and then it will track all  of your spending.

I also learned how to set up a budget. 

4 things you should pay every month in this order

Tithing

Yourself 

" It is amazing to me that so many people work all of their lives for the grocer, the landlord, the power company, the automobile salesman, and the bank, and yet think so little of their own efforts that they pay themselves nothing" .L. Tom Perry

Fixed Expenditures 

House,utilities, car, debt, 

Variable Expenditures

Groceries, Gas, clothEs, fun

   

You should also set up a savings account for your children and have 6 months worth of income in a savings account. 

3rd Class: Social balance by Nicole Jones

There are 3 numbers you should remember every day. 

4, 20, 5:1

4 stands for 4 minutes: The first 4 minutes of contact with your spouse or children should be all positive. This will set the tone for the day or the evening. 

20 stands for spending 20 minutes a day with the people who are most important to you. Your spouse and your children. She said on average a mother will only spend 3 minutes a day with her child. Sad, but I can see how that can happen.Moms are busy! Running around doing errands, house work, things for others and then when you add a job into that routine, the day slips away sometimes. Today I made sure to take 20 minutes and really dedicated myself one on one to each of my guys. I also included myself in this because if you don't love yourself how you can you possibly give love to others. So today I worked out for 20 minutes while listening to some of my favorite songs

5:1- For every 1 negative thing you say you should replace it with 5 positive things. Look at the positive side more and you'll be an overall happier person. 

4th class: Physical balance by Natalie 

In case you didn't know the food pyramid is a thing of the past. It's been replaced with the dinner plate. Which you can view on www.choosemyplate.gov  this is a website that teaches you how to eat a healthier diet. The other thing I learned about is to "Just do it" so many days I wake up and think "I should exercise today" followed with "I will after I get the house clean or after I do this or that" then night time comes and I'm to exhausted and I crash into my bed. So today when that thought popped in my head I remembered Natalie's word and I just did it! I ran for 20 minutes. Not much, but it was worth something and I got to listen to some of my favorite songs while doing it which made me happy and gave me the boost I needed to get going. I didn't shower until 11am so my morning was shot but that's okay, I'll just start earlier tomorrow. Hopefully each day I can follow this balance until soon it becomes routine and then I can help my children create balance in their life.I know there will be days that I fail but I'll just try again the next day. Today I was proud of X when he asked for grapes, carrots and a bagel for breakfast rather then sugary cereal. That's my boy!:) 

A new year a new me

It's time to say goodbye to 2011

What did I achieve this year? 

As quoted from last year....

Develop my mommy skills. I'm going to learn to Sew, Cook, Organize, Capture the  moment in photographs, get on a schedule so that I can help X learn piano, and teach Freddie his ABC's.. I did learn to sew and I love it! I hope to continue this hobby into 2012 and make more things. This year I made aprons and rag quilts. I learned to cook a few new things too like "chicken pillows" and I've improved my tacos. Those are my favorite dinner now. and  I got better at "candy dipping" and biggest of all I remodeled my kitchen so that I enjoy to cook now. 

I took photography classes this past year which got me better at Photography. I still have a lot to learn. I've been better about spending time with X and Fred although I still haven't taught Fred his ABC's I'm in the process of making a Super Hero ABC book to teach him because other wise he just isn't interested. I volunteer at X's school once, sometimes twice a week, so I'd say I'm doing better at being a good mom. The other thing I did this year was started to look at the positive side. I now look at all the things I DID do in a day instead of all that I DIDN'T do. It's made me a much happier  person. Also I've started putting my little family first and that's made for a much happier home. 

. 

Other things that happened in 2011

Looking ahead to 2012. 

The things I hope to achieve 

Sleep

Every morning at around 3am a warm, cuddly, little heater crawls into my bed. I know it's not good to let your kids sleep in your bed, but during this cold time of year I can't help it. He's like my own little heat pack curled up next to me. He has Walker blood and Walkers never get cold. Wish I would've inherited that gene.  I also love to lay and watch him sleep, so calm and peaceful. Nothing like the wild thing that runs through my house throwing items that he thinks are grenades and singing, very loudly, all the Super hero theme songs. Especially when I'm on the phone! From 3am to 8am he's quite and unmoving, breathing slowly and deeply and stretching out long and tall every couple of hours. It's in these hours that I don't want this little guy to grow up. Each passing day he grows bigger and bigger and I hate it! I want him to stay my little Super hero Freddie forever and ever.