Twelve for 2012

This was my grand idea for our Christmas card letters, which (of course) didn't happen.

At any rate, here are some of our 2012 highlights:

1-  Nathan started a new job in February.  He works for Qualtrics and is the the Creative director of the marketing department.   He makes videos like this:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcW3b_Li2XI

2-- Nathan also serves in our ward Bishopbric and spends lots of time at church or fulfilling church-related responsibilities each week.  He works hard and does a great job.

3--Zak is flourishing as a 7th grader.  His favorite subject is math which confuses his mathematically challenged parents.

4--Brock survived 3 separate head injuries in 2012.  Two required stitches, and one incurred 4 staples.   His mother hopes his modeling potential hasn't been compromised.

5--Brock loves 1st grade and his music class

6-- Lucy loves art and dance and is definitely our sensitive, artistic soul.  She has a kind and tender heart.

7--Zoe is anxiously awaiting her 12th birthday in March.  She is a great babysitter and loves pop music and her acting class.

8--Dylan rules the roost and gives us near constant commentary on the happenings in our home.

9-- Nathan coached Zak's football team this fall.  They won both the division and the tournament.

10--We attempted to teach our family to love hiking this summer.  We went on several hikes a month, and the good news is:  we improved. 

11--Nathan and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary with a trip to Hawaii in November.  We had an amazing time and hope we don't wait 15 more years to take another trip together.

12--  I teach Gospel Doctrine in our ward and spend a lot of time preparing, so I don't look foolish.  My efforts are usually in vain, but I am learning a lot.  I try to keep our house together and get everyone where they need to be, when they need to be there.

A New Era

I feel like I have been making excuses for the last 7 years.   I have wanted to help, watched others help, and tried to help in little bits and pieces, but I have never been able to commit to many regular school volunteer times.  

 When Zak started kindergarten I wanted to volunteer.  And I think I did.  Twice. 

I also remember sitting out in the hall for an interminable 55 minutes reading "Green Eggs and Ham" with first graders who weren't great readers with a chest that was aching telling me my newborn baby needed to eat.

I have always tried.  I just haven't been room mother caliber.  Now, I have all 4 of my big kids in school full-time and Dylan gone 3 mornings a week.   I am cautiously trying to commit to more, while being painfully aware of how quickly I can become overbooked.

Today I sold $100 worth of $.75 suckers  at the Junior high.  Zak refused to make eye-contact with me.  No sucker for him.  

I am planning Zoe's class Halloween party and have already purchased supplies.  

I am spending 3 days cooking for the teachers' dinners during parent-teacher conference week.

It feels like I will be contributing more in the fall of 2012 than I have in the previous 7 years.   I guess it is about time.

Nathan's cousin recently wrote this article.   It kind of makes me want to live in Switzerland.  And not just for the chocolate and cheese.  I want to live in a world that values independence, and that is safe enough to enable it.

When Zak was in kindergarten, I was required to pick him up from his bus stop.  It was down a small hill and around the corner from our home, yet inside our subdivision.   When I think about it now, I feel like it was more dangerous for him to be on a bus with middle-schoolers than it would have been  to walk 6 minutes alone on our quiet neighborhood road. 

Another neighborhood we lived in had a small park and walking path.  Zak would beg me to let him play basketball at the park.  I could see him from my window, yet I was always relieved when he was safely home.  

When I was 10 years old, I would ride my horse through orchards and on faux trail rides through our city.   I loved it.  I didn't feel too young, or too inexperienced, though I probably was.  

I am the first to admit that the differences between my experiences and Zak's are unfair.   But I don't know how to reconcile the two as a parent.  If I let my guard down, could I forgive myself if something unforgivable happened to one of my children?

I don't know how to cultivate  independence, self-reliance, and confidence in my own children, in a world that I feel necessitates constant supervision.   I'll let you know when I figure it out, or maybe, I'll just move to Switzerland.    

Is it horrible that I didn't remember it was Father's day on Sunday until today? 

2011 Round-Up

The other day, someone told me they were sorry that they didn't know what was happening in my life because they hadn't checked my blog. For the record, you can't really tell what is happening in my life by reading this. But...here are 12 things that happened in 2011.

January--I went to North Carolina to see my sister and her new baby. Her husband managed to mostly avoid me other than grilling us a bird. He also took a few photos of the two of us in our new skinny jeans from Nordstrom Rack.




February---The annual IHOP for Valentine's day eating experience. My kids love this tradition. I love it too, and always feel very pretty at truck stops early on Saturday mornings.

March-- I had a party with new Utah friends. I knew it would be a great night when my friend's husband told me (in all sincerity) at the beginning of the night, that he was having a much better time than he expected.

April-- I managed to capture a darling photo of my children in their Easter attire. Hmm..not so much.

May--Dylan turned two, it has taken about 6 months for the terribleness to surface, but it has now and she can by quite tyrannical, particularly when choosing her daily attire.

June: After a 17 year absence, I made a triumphant (and still extremely carsick) return to girls camp. I celebrated my birthday there, wearing a unflattering poncho and getting the giggles during a song that was supposed to be serious. The photo if of me during our "virtue" walk. I had to wear a gold lame scarf that didn't remind me of virtue.

July: We went to Zion's National park. It was really fun and super-hot.

August: New school year, Zak turned 12, My brother and I hiked 20 miles to the top of Mt. Timpanogas. We slid down the glacier and nearly died.

September: Lucy turned 8. She was baptized in October.

October: We visited my parents in Taiwan. It was awesome. All of it. Beautiful people. beautiful country, seeing my wonderful parents in action. Loved it.


November: All of my siblings were together for the first time in a year and a half. We shared some great times and also the stomach flu.

December: Nathan was called to be in our Bishopbric. He will be great and we try not to be too loud on our bench without him.

Wish list

In case you are still wondering what to get us for Christmas, Nathan and I could both use new hats.These look much worse in person. Also, someone could teach me how to rotate pictures in blogger.

Dear Manager at Applebee's.....

Dear Manager at Applebee's,

I would like to inform you that children's ears, though smaller than adult size ears, work similarly. When speaking to small children, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SHOUT. It is actually a bit intimidating to be screamed at by an overly-animated stranger who pretends to care about your dining experience. Being long winded and being sincere are not the same. Instead of screaming at our kids about your love of Halloween candy, maybe you should tell our server to quit rolling his eyes at our table.

Sincerely,

Me