Happy Cacophony

The other day Thobe woke up at the break of dawn with Alden. While I tried to get Alden ready for school, they were running all over the house talking loudly about the Buckeyes and Star Wars and who knows what else. When Hyrum wakes up early like that, he is a bear to be reckoned with. He's horrible, so of course, I wanted to keep my loud yappers quiet. It didn't happen, but fortunately, Hyrum slept through the chaos. That night, we ran a few errands. When we got in the car, the incessant chattering began. Michael turned on some music hoping to quiet the noise, but unfortunately, it only worsened things. All the boys, including Hyrum, started singing in their loudest voices making silly variations to the songs. Despite the ringing in my ears that was caused by all the noise, I couldn't help but laugh at their crazy variations to "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More," "Old MacDonald," and "Three Blind Mice." I must admit that I was somewhat relieved to step into the cold Ohio weather to run one of my errands. When I got back out to the car, Thobe and Hyrum were sleeping soundly, and Alden was quietly working on something that Michael gave him.

We ran the rest of our errands in peaceful quietness and softly talked about our lives and our crazy little boys. Despite the cacophony that our boys make, Michael and I both appreciate the happiness that accompanies it. What a wonderful thing it is to see children who are truly happy! I love how they happily play together (for the most part) and how even when they get in trouble that they still are happy. God really does want us to be happy. When he says that he wants us to be as little children, he means it. Not only are they loving, teachable, and forgiving, they also find joy in life, even when things are hard. I'm so grateful for my little ones who remind me to be happy and to enjoy life. I'm so grateful that God has blessed me with happy cacophony.

Life after a our Christmas Adventure

As much as I loved our Christmas vacation, I must admit that getting home was nice too. I especially enjoyed sleeping in my own bed. However, our transition back into normal life has had a few minor challenges. Since we returned to Ohio we've gotten nearly a foot of snow and it has been terribly cold (at 8:00 this morning it was 17 below zero). This type of weather leaves me shivering in my boots. The weather hasn't been a big deal, but we've had a few issues with the kids that have caused us some minor concern. For example, Alden has struggled with doing is work at school. He's a very smart boy, but for whatever reason, he often has to stay in for recess to finish his worksheets. While I think there may be some underlying problems beyond Alden himself, I also feel strongly that we need to teach Alden that despite the challenges or difficulties that he needs to "take the bull by the horns" (for lack of a better phrase) and focus on doing his work. We've come up with a rewards system that is we think is motivating to him, but so far, well, he has room for a whole lot of improvement. Despite this frustration, I love this little guy so much. He really does want to please Michael and me and has such a creative imagination. It's so fun to watch all the new things he can do and all the new responsibilities that he's beginning to take on.

Since returning from Utah, Thobe, for some unknown reason, has decided that he doesn't need to use the toilet any more. I have bemoaned on this blog numerous times about our potty training woes with Thobe. Just before we left on our trip, I thought that we had made it over that horrible potty hill and were seeing new horizons. Little did I know that we would somehow get turned around and head down that path all over again. I must admit that this causes me more consternation than most things in my life right now, but that's the way it goes. If there is anyone out there who has any advice for why this might be happening and what I can do, I'm certainly open to suggestions. I am also willing pay big bucks to send him to a potty training boot camp, if such a thing exists. I will also send Hyrum too. I am a complete failure at potty training children (just for the record, Alden is potty trained, but I credit that completely to Michael, Luke Skywalker, and Yoda).

That being said, I must also say that Thobe can make me smile quicker than almost anyone. He loves giving hugs and kisses and says the funniest things. He loves being like Alden and tries for a little while to be really patient with Hurricane Hyrum. He is also very serious and loves going to his preschool. I am constantly amazed with all the things he says and does and have been especially impressed with how well he is speaking Spanish these days.

Hyrum has been a bit more clingly since we returned. I don't know if he's worried I'll leave or what, but he always has to have a tab on where I am. He also has really gotten into his tempertantrums lately, which are so much fun. For whatever reason, he often takes his aggression out on Thobe. When Hyrum wants to steal Thobe's toys, Thobe will often take the toys that he's playing with and run away from Hyrum. Hyrum takes off after him, and when he catches him, he wraps his arms around Thobe's waist, literally picks him up, and throws him to the ground. I didn't know I was raising a WWF wrestler, but I am disappointedly impressed with all of Hyrum's strength. He's a crazy cat. As I often say though, he is so, so sweet. I love how he can light up a room with his smile. He has the funniest sense of humor and is really loving, even to Thobe (at least when they're not fighting over the same toys). He is saying so many new words now and always has us laughing. The other night Michael asked the boys what would happen if Hyrum turned into an alligator. As soon as he asked the question, Hyrum shot out his hand, clapped his thumb to his fingers and yelled, "Snap, Snap, Snap" over and over again. We all laughed. I love the close relationship the two of us share and am so grateful for him, even when he's clinging. I just keep reminding myself that this doesn't last forever and that I need to enjoy it while I can.

Life for us really is good. It's easy to look at my minor problems worries and think that my life is really challenging. It doesn't take long though to look around me and see that there are a lot of people who have much worse challenges than I do. When I think about it, I become very grateful for the challenges that I have and realize that my ]life is really wonderful. I have a knowledge that God lives and is aware of me and loves m\e, a really wonderful husband, incredible children, a supportive and loving extended family, and a lot of really great friends, some of which I recently came into contact with after a long time. I'm so thankful for all my blessings and hope that I can show my gratitude, not by complaining, as I've done in this post, but by helping and serving others as so many have done and continually do for me. Life after my Christmas adventure is still a great adventure, not without its challenges, but rich and full and splendid.

Our Adventurous Christmas Spontaneity

I should have known when I married Michael that life would never be dull or predictable. After all, it was only four weeks before he asked me to marry him that he told me he thought we should date other people. Little did I know that only two weeks after he told me that, that he would be on the telephone telling me how much he missed me and couldn't wait to see me again. Don't get me wrong; I still get butterflies in my stomach when I think of the excitement I felt when he told me this, but like I said, it should have been a clear sign to me that life would be somewhat, well, unpredictable.

So as I stated in my last post, we planned to spend Christmas in Ohio. Originally, we planned to spend it with Michael's parents, but they had an opportunity to go to Utah to spend it with Michelle (Michael's sister), and so they did it. I was really happy that they went because it's been a long time since they went there for Christmas, but I must admit that I was a little bummed because I've never spent Christmas without extended family. We did a lot of things to compensate though. We flew my parents out to spend eight wonderful days with us prior to Christmas, we planned parties that were going to be held at our house with a lot of friends, we bought Christmas cards that were ready to be addressed and written on, and we planned to make goodies and treats and start our own Christmas traditions. With many of our plans underway and many of the supplies purchased, Michael called me the Friday before Christmas and said, "What do you think of driving to Utah for Christmas. I have a few days off that if I don't use I will burn."

I wondered if he was crazy. We had made a lot of plans, and I knew that a lot of storms were brewing around the country, but the thought of going to Utah for Christmas, I must admit, made me really excited. We decided that we wouldn't tell anyone, not even the kids, and if the weather looked okay, then we would go. So on Friday, we cancelled our parties, made our family video Christmas greeting, and wrote a few Christmas cards. On Saturday, we finished our Christmas greeting, ran errands, wrote more Christmas cards, and tried to tiddy the house (an impossible feat with Hyrum around). On Sunday after church, we made Christmas treats and took them around to neighbors and friends and that night looked at the weather report. It was so bad that on Monday, I woke up sure that we were not going to go. I got out of bed and prayed that if we were supposed to go or if we would be safe that things could fall into place and that Michael and I could both feel good about going. Michael got up and got the car in for a quick oil change, and I got the house cleaned. Michael called me and asked what the weather looked like. Everything actually looked surprisingly clear, especially if we timed everything right. It looked like if we made it through Missouri the first day and to Denver the second day, that the weather was going to cooperate. I quickly got things packed, Michael grabbed a lot of snacks for the road, and we were on our way around 2:00.

The boys had no idea where we were going. We told them that we were going to a hotel, which always makes them very excited. We put up our portable dvd player, and when Hyrum saw the screen turn on, he exclaimed "TV!" He loves watching the TV. They were entertained, and Michael drove like a mad man, obeying the speed limit the entire way of course (seriously). At 2:00 a.m. (Eastern time) we arrived in Topeka, Kansas, where we stopped for the night. The next morning we were on the road again around 10:00 a.m. (Central time). Prior to leaving, we prayed that God would protect us and allow the weather to cooperate, and then I began driving. Michael was asleep and the kids were watching a show and a very peaceful feeling came over me. I looked up in the sky, and it looked as though five big fingers were pushing the clouds away and clearing the way for us to travel in safety. I know that God heard our prayer and protected us. We did meet a little snow just before we got to Denver, and the mountain pass between Denver and Grand Junction had a lot of snow on the road, but we were safe.

The next morning, Christmas Eve, we got up and ate breakfast in Grand Junction where a girl dressed as an elf served us. The boys had all kinds of questions for her about Santa Claus. After eating breakfast, we drove the rest of the way to Utah. Alden asked several times, "Where are we going?" We told him that he would soon find out. When we were driving through the beautiful desert mountains of Eastern Utah, Thobe exclaimed, "We're in the Mountain West!" Can you tell that Michael watches a lot of football? We also stopped in Cedar City to return our Red Box movies and take the the kids to the bathroom. Alden was aghast with all the Utah license plates that he was seeing. I was shocked that it didn't dawn on him that we were in Utah. When we finally arrived at my parents' house, Alden exclaimed, "We're at Grandpa and Grandma's house? WE'RE AT GRANDPA AND GRANDMA'S HOUSE! I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE COULD DRIVE HERE!!!!" (He's only driven cross country at least 5 times). My sister Laura, who told Santa the previous Saturday that all she wanted for Christmas was for us to be there, saw us out the back door. She ran outside crying because she was so happy to see us. We then went to the door step and started caroling. I told my sister Diane previouslly that we were coming in case we had any problems, so she got my parents to answer the door. My mom opened it and feel against the door with a shocked look on her face. She then also started crying. All my nieces and nephews started hugging us and screaming with delight. My dad just stared at us unbelievingly. My other sisters were shocked and gave us big hugs. My mom immediately called my brother, who wasn't planning on coming until the next day. He and his wife canceled their plans and came right away. It was really wonderful to meet my newest nephew Joseph (or Joviss as Diane's little boy Bridger calls him). It was a Christmas I don't think I'll ever forget. It really is wonderful to be so loved by so many people.


That night Emily and I made Nativitiy costumes, and we read the Christmas story from the Bible. My mom gave us each a book that she made, complete with pictures, that told the story of her and my dad and how much they love each of their kids and grandkids. It was beautiful and must have been so much work for her! She also gave the kids a picture of her and my dad to hang on their wall. Then we got the kids to bed and after such a long day, I felt sick and was exhausted. My sisters were so good to wrap all of Michael's presents from me and all of the kids' presents while I laid on the couch and moaned. I'm so grateful for them!

The next morning was so much fun. As it always is in my mom's house, Christmas was magical. The kids had so much fun opening their presents, and with twelve little kids in the house, after all the presents were opened, my mom and dad's big family room looked like a toy store. Hyrum was having a hay day! With ten of the twelve grandkids being boys, there was a lot of light saber fighting, gun shooting, and yelling, but a whole lot of fun too. I'm so happy that my boys love their cousins so much. Alden, Davin, and Noah were inseparable as were James and Thobe. What a great blessing family is!

While I was there I was able to see my thoughtful friend, Lisa Alger. She is one of the most amazing people I've ever met. She also brought me a very cool gift that must have taken here hours to make. I really appreciate her friendship. I also got to spend a lot of time with my family, and even though I felt sick for much of the time I was there (unfortunately), I loved every minute of it.

On Sunday after church, we loaded up the van and headed up to Michael's sister's house. They didn't know that we were coming either, so we decided that for them, we would put Alden in a box and address it to his cousins. Michael rang the door bell, and we hid in some bushes. Our oldest nephew, Ethan, answered the door. He saw that the box was coming open, so he pushed it shut. He was very surprised when the present said, "Ouch!" Ethan immediately, opened the box and was reprimanded by Alden. Ethan then went and got the whole family, and they were completely startled to see Alden and the rest of us. They too were so excited and happy.

We had such a nice time with them too. We were able to go to a Jazz game and a BYU basketball game. We also had a lot of fun going out to dinner, watching movies, playing video games, watching Utah win their bowl game (Michelle, Eric, and I were cheering for Utah while Michael cheered against them), and just sitting around talking. The boys loved playing with their cousins and were enamored with Elijah. Thobe even let him do his hair, just like Elijah's. We really had such a wonderful trip. I was able to see Shirley and Lora Monson and her family and our family went and had dinner with the family of an old roommate of Michael's, Andy Hill. There were a lot more people I would have liked to see, but we did what we could. It was really a great trip!

Our trip home went without a hitch as well. I'm so grateful for God's protective care and the family that he's blessed me with. I truly am very blessed!

My Very Happy Birthday

The following week on December 8, my parents flew into Detroit from Utah. I can't tell you how much I loved every single minute of their visit. In October, we decided that we would spend Christmas in Ohio, so we decided to fly my parents out to Utah a few weeks before Christmas to spend my mom's and my birthday together. Despite me being pretty sick for the first days that they were here and having a mound of papers to grade, we really had a nice time. My parents did so much around the house. My dad changed light bulbs, fixed cabinets and drawers, hung our Christmas lights, drove Thobe to school, and even mopped my floor (don't tell my sisters that, they'll be jealous). My mom cooked all the meals on the days that I was sick and most of the days that I wasn't sick, went grocery shopping, did my laundry, and did homework with Alden every night, even on the days that I wasn't sick. As much as I appreciated all this, I was even more grateful for all they did with my kids. Sometimes I worry that because I live so far away, that my kids won't have the kind of relationship that my sisters and brother's kids have with them. This trip really disspelled many of those fears. Hyrum saw my parents and lit up like a light bulb. The first night that they were there, I put Hyrum to bed. Immediately, he started wailing and crying, "Oh Grandpa! Oh Grandpa!" My dad sang him to sleep that night. He was inseparable from both of my parents the entire time they were here. He loved to tease my mom. She would say, "Hyrum, say, 'I love.." and Hyrum would quickly say, "Grandpa!" Then he would laugh and laugh because she was trying to get him to say Grandma. It was so fun to see them have so much fun together. We also all went to the Old Barn Out Back and saw Santa Claus. The kids were so excited, and I think my parents enjoyed watching them with Santa. I will give them a hard time though. I had to run up to the college to mail all my papers out and left the kids with my parents. While I was gone, Hyrum and Thobe were spinning in a chair that tipped over. Hyrum rammed his eye right into a table. He got a huge black eye. My parents felt terrible! He looked pretty cute, though.

For my mom's and my birthday, we went to Cleveland and stayed in a hotel on Friday night. Michael's parents and uncle and aunt stayed at the same hotel and visited his grandparents. It was fun to spend time with them. On Saturday morning, we got up and went to Kirtland, OH. The last time I went to Kirtland was at least six or seven years ago when they were in the middle of remodeling. I would highly recommend a trip here, even if you aren't a member of the LDS faith. They have done such a nice job of preserving the history of Kirtland. There is certainly a special spirit there. I really enjoyed it. We stopped in Cleveland for dinner with Michael's parents, and then headed back to Lima. The next day was actually mine and my mom's birthday. It was so, so nice.

I love sharing a birthday with my mom, especially when we get to spend it together. She always tells me that she loves it too because it means that she will forever be 20, but I'm sure that having me on her birthday (not that she had a ton of choice in the matter) has required her to sacrifice a lot for me. Words can't express how much I love her and am grateful that she is my mom. She is such an incredible, beautiful, and giving person. Perhaps the quality I love most about her is her ability to make everyone who knows her feel like they are her favorite person. I especially admire that after having seven kids, each one of us feel like we are her favorite. I don't know how she does it, but I can say that I am thankful and love her with all my heart.

For my birthday, my parents gave me a bunch of neat scrapbooking stuff, and Michael gave me a Vitamix blender. Michelle, Michael's sister, has one and makes delicious, healthy smoothies for us. I insisted on making one for my parents. When I put an entire orange, peel and everything in, my dad was very skeptical and worried that I might do the same with a banana, which I didn't. I told him that it would be very delicious and not to worry. I was a little disheartened by all of the "zest" in our smoothie and discovered in my instructions that peeling an orange was highly recommended. My dad did think the smoothie was good, despite all the peeling.

My parents left on Tuesday night. We were all sad to see them go, but are so thankful that they came. We hope that they will come back, and I think I improved my chances when I told my dad that if he came back, I wouldn't make him drink a bunch of orange peelings. Anyway, I took them to Toledo, and Michael's dad generously offered to drive them the rest of the way to Detroit so that I could make it back for Thobe's preschool Christmas concert. The roads were really treacherous, so I feel even more grateful to Warren for doing that for us. I'm happy that my family and Michael's family get along so well.

Thanksgiving

We planned to have Thanksgiving at our house with Michael's parents and grandparents. Michael's mom, being the the thoughtful, adroit person that she is, recognized that I might not be up to hosting Thanksgiving and called and offered to host it herself. I hadn't thought about the challenge of such an undertaking before, but when she brought it up and made her generous offer, I felt very grateful and even more thankful on Thanksgiving day when I felt miserable most of the day. It was very fun to spend Thanksgiving with Michael's parents and grandparents as well as our good friends, Bob and Kathy Deck and Seana Beavers. The next day, Michael and the boys went with Michael's dad to the Toledo Rockets game to watch the Rockets play my Falcolns. They had a great time, despite Toledo's poor performance.

Perhaps my favorite part about our Thanksgiving was watching the boys interact with the grandparents. As usual, they had a wonderful time with their Grandpa and Abuelita, but they also were able to play with their great grandparents. We loved hearing their stories and songs and building memories that will last for generations. Families really are wonderful. I'm so grateful for both my family and Michael's family.

Perhaps our most exciting news about our Thanks giving, however, is that Alden lost his first tooth. He was pretty excited about it and was especially thrilled about his tooth fairy visit. He's quite the silly boy. We sure do love him.