Year in Review Part 2

You can find part 1 of my Year in Review on Facebook, but that one is focused on the kids and I needed some space for personal reflection.  Luckily, that is what a blog is for.

I graduated from high school in 2002.  From August 2001-October 2002 was hard for me.  I was way too busy, I was sick all the time, and had some very difficult social situations to deal with.  Yet I still managed to get perfect grades that year.  It was the hardest year of my life.  Until now.

From August 2011-December 2012 is now the hardest year of my life.  I've express a little of that on this blog, but for anyone who saw me in person, I think it was pretty obvious I was struggling.  But after listening to our dear Stake President on Sunday, I decided to spend this time in this personal space taking inventory of all the blessings that I received throughout this difficult year.  But I'm just doing the fiscal year.  So here goes:

January

After spending most of the month as a single parent while Johnny worked the night shift, I learned the value of a good husband.  This lesson sustained me through the year, since my relationship with Johnny was strengthened through all my difficulties.

February

I discovered how much I rely on my friendships and how much we all need each other to make it through this crazy life.  Truly, no man is an island.

March

I learned how to ask for help.  I've never been good at this, but it was too obvious to ignore this time.  I hired some help to clean my house, and it was marvelous.

April

I regained some self confidence by spending my time developing a new talent.  I took photography classes and saw a huge improvement in my skills.  It was nice to know that I can still learn and grow and use my talents to help others.

May

I got to build my relationship with my sister and her family when they came to visit us.  I love them so much and it was great to serve someone else for a week.  It got to forget about my problems for awhile, which I needed.

June

June was my test, where I learned that I am willing to sacrifice everything, including my own selfishness for my family.

July

I got back into some of the most beautiful wilderness in this country and remembered how much peace can come from nature.

August

I had the most wonderful seminary training and was told yet again why I sacrifice so much for my calling.  It was only made better by the fact that my dear friend was joining me as a help meet this year. 

September

I was able to finally feel like a good mom again. Hey, I let my kids play on dangerous equipment, what do you do?

October

I learned the joy of scheduling little projects.  It kept little hands busy and our house decorated and non-preschool days fun.

November

The first vacation we went on that I wasn't stressed out during.  It was amazing to relax and say yes to the kids.

December

Johnny was gone for a weekend, which meant 13 days alone with the kids.  For the first time this has happened, I actually enjoyed our time together and wasn't pulling my hair out by the third day.  I rediscovered how much I love these kids.  

I'm very much looking forward to a new year, a fresh start.  I know it will be great for me, and hopefully all of you.  

Happy new year! 

Christmas has come to Town

I didn't really take lots of pictures this year during Christmas.  Sorry about that.  But our Christmas was pretty mellow with few presents and lots of family Skyping time, which doesn't really make for great pictures.    But we were happy to talk to those of you we got a hold of, and we thought of those of you we couldn't talk to, as well.  We're still working through all the Christmas calls, so we'll probably talk to you before January's finished.

Anyway, here are some of our festivities.  On Christmas Eve, we dressed up and acted out the Nativity story for Family Home Evening.  The Captain was an awesome shepherd.  

.

Joy was not happy to be wearing a costume

But she liked holding the baby and she was good at "treasuring things up in her heart" rather than speaking, so she made a good Mary.

I was the angel.  Here I am with my little angels: 

Then we opened up our new Christmas jammies and waited for Santa to come.

And he did!  

Stockings!

The Captain's big present this year was a bike.  This is his sweet helmet.  He pretty much wore it every second for two days straight.

Joy got a shopping cart.

And some jewelry.  

And when presents were over, we all ate some delicious pumpkin sweet rolls.  

  

see, they're really delicious.

We hope your Christmases were bright and happy.  I promise to post this week about the new year and all our plans.

Santa's Big Helper

That's me.  I'm Santa's big helper.  It's time for the annual letters to Santa posted in my local newspaper. I want to make sure they make it to the big guy, though I'm sure he already knows what the good children want.  The letters were good this year, as always, but the older my kids get, the more aware I am of the trendy children's toys and the less strange these children's requests become, so this will probably be the shortest of the previous years' posts.

What Santa will be eating this year:
Traditionally milk and cookies, but there were some specifics:

Cookies

• chocolate chip
• 100 cookies -Zachary (if you give me what I want)
• frosted Christmas tree and wreath cookies -Michael 
• chocolate cookies
• cookie dough - Lexie
• football shaped cookies - Conner

Milk

• chocolate
• pink milk -Ethan
• hot chocolate -Danny

Other things

• cheesies and a juice box -Lukas
• cake and milk
• muffins -Brock 
• gingerbread house
• brownies -Michael adds "We will clean [the table] off before you come so you can find the brownie."
• carrots -Gregory
• a present -Shiane
• candy cane -Gracyn

What the reindeer are getting fed

• apples
• carrots
• puppy chow -Sally
• reindeer food - Ian
• oatmeal -Abbie
• fruit - Michael
• magic oatmeal - Blaine
• a path of oats - Conner
• cereal and a carrot - Hannah
• chocolate and strawberry cupcakes and candy -Logan

Questions for Santa:

• How is Mrs. Claus baking? -Anna
• I'm so excited! How do you do Santa? - Quenton
• Can reindeer really fly?  I just can't believe that they can! -Gabriel
• How old are you Santa? - Andrea
• How many times to you eat cookies? . . . How many presents do you think you will deliver?- Kian
• Does Rudolph's nose actually glow and when was the snowstorm you needed him in?  What does an elf look like? - Liam
• Who delivers your mail? - Hayley
• Is it cold or is it warmer than usual? - Ava
• How do you make your reindeer fly?  How do you get to EVERYONE'S house on Christmas Eve before we all wake up? - Kaylee
• Did Mrs. Claus have a baby? - Abigail
• Are the deer well fed? - Hunter
• What is the temperature at the North Pole?  I learned that the North Pole is one of the two coldest places on Earth.  - Sam

How do you know if you've been good?

• I have been good and I help my sister with the dogs. - Caleb
• I did clean my room - Walker
• I have fed my pets and cleaned my room.  I also helped my Mom cook. - Nicholas
• I do all my work good. - Eden
• [I] have helped Mommy cook cheesy pasta. - Madison
• I don't think you know if I should be on the good list or the naughty list yet. - Gavin
• I helped Daniel collect eggs, and Jonas milk the cow.  For Christmas I'm asking for a flashlight to wear on my head, and an Amish Dressed baby. Love, Rachel

Living in the Bible Belt

• . . . And the best part about Christmas is its Jesus' birthday!  Isn't that exciting?  If its not exciting to others it is to me!  Isn't that right Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause?!:) - Sydney
• . . . Thank you for all I got last year be sure to remind children that Jesus is the reason you bless our hearts for Christmas. - Conner
• . . . I hope all kids get stuff they want this year.  I would give my gifts to kids who need them if it would help them be happy.  I would not be sad because other kids may need them more. - Alley
• Because we have Christmas is because it was Jesus' birthday.  He died on the cross for our sins.  I want this for Christmas,  a Squeanky Mansion, the boat is for the squeankies and the Sponge-Bob Squeankies and Squeanky Aquarium.  They need to make a Squeanky Church.  Love, Tori

It's a good thing Santa deals with kids a lot, cause he might need an interpreter for these letters:

• Dear Santa, I love you and I like Christmas.  I hope you love Christmas. I love it a lot I love when you gives us presents.  I love you Santa.  Wunder what he will get you for Christmas.  Maby some toys mayb some rocks. - Emma
• I would like for Christmas is a babby alive. The babby alive is so so so cool.  And I want like a bolly ball.  I would really would like a bike.  My old Blike has a pot tinder.  Buy Buy Santa.  Ho! Ho!
• What I want for Christmas is a Peanoy that is Big. Or a Drum Set or a Big thing to see your reindeer and to be able to spind time with my family cus my family is the most important then eny almost eneyone. -Gracie
• . . . And I want a Plant that eats durdie jack. . . . And a Boe and Airoe.  And Boe Bie traps. . . . and some shirts they have to be Boyish  - Caleb
• A new coenputr. Have 1000 dollars. . . . 5000 tine squeakies. - Ivy
• . . . Dance hugrehepois. - Andy
• . . . One more thing Santa, I really want a little monster.  It's green and ugly but just a toy. - Sebastian
• I want a Moxie Girl for the bath tube.  Ink or purple! - Faith
• I want a chocolate ham and a chocolate candy cane. - Frankie

Christmas sweetness

• On Christmas Eve I will hang up my stocking by the woodstove and we won't have a fire that night. -Michael
• Dear Santa, I don't want to get you in a rush, but I want a ipad or ipod, a new bike, big VT bed kit, my owne room, a puppy, a kitten, a fish, And also wish I had the rest of my baby pictures, the best Christmas ever, a joyful family, I know I can't have all of these but most importantly I would like a joyful family.  Love, Haleah
• Thank you Santa for reading my letter.  I will try to be good on Christmas Eve. - Lakyn
• All I want for Christmas this year is a pair of black cowboy boots, I have been really good and I hope I can have just this one thing.  I already have a lot of toys so I don't need anymore.  - Kyle
• I would like a Ipad for Christmas.  If it's not too much trouble I know that I've been bad and backtalked daddy.  Just please try to get me one.  I would like a DVD player if it's not too much.  I'm sorry and I will try to be better.  Please let my family have a good Christmas and I hope you have one to.  - Carolyn
• My name is Alex, I would like to get adopted.  I would like a new outfit, and shoes.  And a Babbie doll.  Ipod case.  A pair of long socks.  Lots of snow to play in.  I will leave you milk and cookies to keep you fat.  I am thankful for my warm home.  Also I like family games.  Merry Christmas Santa.

I love kids!

• My name is Ceira Bealand.  I am changing my name to Kyra Ann Roberts. . . . 
• My name is Brianna and Santa can I have a bike because when I was for you gave me a bike and it broke and Santa can I have a hamer too and can it be green.
• This is Madison.  I believe in you and I want you to know that I love you.  You make Christmas fun and my brother said you are not true.  Thank you his name is Billy.
• Hi Santa.  I saw a laguna blue water bed station that bubbles at Target that I would love to have.  Thanks.  Love, Rosan
• I've had a good year.  It will be better if you bring me presents.  We make our house look good Christmas is the best day! By Bryceson
• I wish for a Wii but how are you doing?  I need to know so if you are in the mood please bring me a Wii.  Love, Sadie
• I hope all the children get presents   How are you doing at the North pole?  I'll make sure the people on the naughty list be good so they get presents.  - Aidan
• I want a Furby and a camera and I do not want a flip Phone I want a Phone . . . From Alana to Santa
• . . . I want my own computer with games already on it that I don't have to pay for. - Taylor
• . . . Please bring Dad a new Pillow and Duck tape so he will stop snoring.  I love U.  Love, Casey
• . . . and can you tell Fireman to let Snowman let it snow in Virginia?  I'll leave you a present on my porch, then you can go on the rooftop on my house.  And you can use your magic for a chimney and put presents under my Christmas tree. . . . - Richard
•  . . . I would also like a black puppy that I could name Selena Gomez . . . -Audriana

And my favorite:

Dear Santa,

How do you get into houses if they don't have a chimney?  I would like the Lorax doll because I already have the movie.  I would also like a smurf doll because I already have the smurf movie.  I think mommy would like some slippers.  Daddy will definitely like a new lawn mower because our other mower is getting spiders in it and I do NOT like spiders!  Noah would like a new bat because some of his bats are lost.  I'll give you a card.  I love you!

Love, 

Sarah

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Thanksgiving Part 3

The Philadelphia Children's Museum is called the Please Touch Museum.  If you didn't love Philly before, hopefully their awesome naming skills will help.  And perhaps the following pictures:

We got discount tickets to both Sesame Place and the Please Touch Museum through the Sesame Place website.  It was sweet since they were the two things we planed on doing anyway.  This place was huge.  The above picture is not the entirety of the building, and the basement is also part of the museum.  I think I got pictures of every section except the last because it was exhausting.  One would think that watching children play would be relaxing, but Johnny and I tuckered out WAY before the kiddos did.  I kept checking my watch and thinking, "we've only been here two hours?  I could have sworn it's been 5."  And in the end, we had to drag them out kicking and screaming (well, mostly metaphorically) after a little less than 4 hours to start our drive home.

  It was the only freezing cold day of our vacation, so we picked the perfect day to be inside.

We started with water . . . and duckies.

Johnny helping The Captain build a boat.  And Joy sneaking in, too.

Did I mention they have the piano from the movie Big?  Cause they totally do.

Joy's favorite thing.  When you turn the wheel, the boat moves up and down.

Both kids made some friends.

Joy's first tea party.

Construction Zone

Hospital

Paging Dr. The Captain

Checking on her patient.

X-ray machine.  It totally showed different bones on the screen depending on where you pointed the light on the shadow man.

MRI.  Yes it flashed lights and made noises.

There were several sections set aside just for children 1-3.  Joy loved these sections and it was great not to be trampled on by the older kids.  In this particular section I fell more in love with The Captain's preschool as he took charge helping everyone push the doorbell on the front porch, making sure everyone got a turn, and helping the kids who were upset.  It was sweet to watch.  

Joy was more interested in gardening than doorbell pushing.  

Supermarket!

This picture is for Grandpa.  Apparently vehicle maintenance knowledge skips a generation.  So here's your female mechanical genius, Dad.

Don't let the face fool you, she loved those tires.

And this was The Captain's favorite: build your own race car.

And we ended the day with some magnetic modern art.

I may have taken pictures of all the sections, but I certainly didn't post them all here.  I'm not joking about the immensity of this place.  We ate lunch there, too.  Much more reasonably priced than the amusement park.  It was the third day in a row of pizza, so The Captain was happy.  See what I mean about this possibly being the best vacation ever for him?  The kids were okay on the drive home until we got 4 hours of Joy screaming.  Don't worry, we're working on it.  She still has yet to go on her perfect vacation, which I'm pretty sure would involve no car or airplane rides.

Thanksgiving Part 2

We woke up around 7 to doughnuts and cartoons.  Then when everyone had finished eating, we went for a swim in the hotel pool.  We came prepared with floaties, so The Captain was actually excited about it.  He did great.  And Miss Joy was super cute with her cherry swimsuit on.  Sorry about the lack of pictures, but I just can't seem to bring the camera around large bodies of water.  One day I will capture the cuteness . . . 

While Joy took a proper nap, the only one of the weekend, Johnny took The Captain shopping.  He was supposed to just go to Trader Joe's, but they went to Walmart, too.  Cause apparently he's crazy.  And I got a peaceful hour and a half in the hallway with my knitting.  

Then we drove to Sesame Place, a Sesame Street amusement park.

Don't let his face fool you, he was really excited to be here.

They had it all decorated for Christmas, muppet style.

The first thing we did was watch a show.  The kids were pretty entranced.  The Captain took it very seriously.  But they made it snow in the theater, so it was pretty cool.  

We got to meet Grover, one of The Captain's favorites.  And yes, I did plan on him wearing his Elmo shirt.  And there were several others in the exact same Elmo shirt walking around, too.

They had a place just for toddlers to play.  And while Joy was moving around shapes in her socks, The Captain was three stories up, climbing through rope tunnels.  I'm still not sure why I decided to be his chaperon for that part, I got really freaked out.  

He survived the Monster Pit, though he was knocked over a second after this shot.

I was very grateful that Johnny chose to go on the "teacup" ride with The Captain, since I do not do well with the fast spinning.  

He loved it.  And they were the fastest spinning teacup out there.

I chose my favorite ride to take The Captain on--the swings.

Most of the rides we could all go on together since Joy is tall enough to ride with an adult.

The kids lasted quite awhile.  I was impressed.  I did forget to pack some snacks, however, and food prices at amusement parks are akin to a punch in the kidneys--we survived, but it hurt.  

We ended the day with two rides on the roller coaster, once with Daddy and once with me. 

A super long wait for a bounce on Ernie's Bed.

I call this series "everything The Captain will never be allowed to do on a bed again"

We ended with Big Bird's Balloon ride, which stuck all of us in a hot air balloon basket that could spin, which The Captain wanted to do, very fast, and lift us up in the air and turned all the balloons in a circle.  So it was a combination of a Ferris wheel, swings, and the teacups.  Joy was not a fan.  And I got a little nauseated.  So we went on the carousel. The we took a break to look at all the pretty lights that they had turned on.  

And ran into one of my favorite people--Oscar the Grouch.  

I was putting on my grouchiest face.

Along the way, Johnny could not resist buying a big bag of kettle corn.  

Which is why when we were waiting for our dinner at IHOP, Joy threw up all over the table.  Sure, I could blame it on the spinning and face stuffing, but I like to think that she was so happy she just couldn't keep it all in.