A year in review

We had pictures.... and the disk in the camera crapped out.

I had intentions of Christmas cards... but never got around to it.

We had a busy year and I wanted to tell all about everything and then time just got the better of me.

Thank heavens for a blog... and facebook... and email.... now I can get you all caught up at once.

Our family's 2013 top 10!!

1- Swim was born!!! January gave us the best gift and our 5th little boy was born.

2- We moved cross country from North Carolina to Utah. It was quick and unexpected but we made it all in one piece and a moving truck and trailer.

3- Steve opened his own practice, and while it has been slow starting, it's starting to pick up.

4- The 3 older boys went to school this year. It was a weird transition, but they are doing well and excelling at most things.

5- I have had to redefine myself from a homeschooling mom to a mom that sends kids to school. It has been weird for me to and have found myself board on some days, but I am ejoying the time with Swim and Benji.

6- Having the boys in school was actually a really good thing at the beginning of the school year as I found out that we are expecting again. It was nice to send them out the door before I started feeling sick for the day.

7- We still have Captain. He's going deaf... or has very selective hearing.

8- We all have enjoyed being back in Utah but as winter set in we soon realized that we were not prepared for snow or cold. You actually need shoes and socks here!

9-Swim started walking at 9 months. Benji is potty trained. Tim was able to take some golf lessons. Tommy has found a love for Minecraft. And James turned 10!!!

10- We found out it's a GIRL!!!


Here's to a productive, healthy, safe and happy New Year.

Not Like Lot's Wife

Do you remember the story of Lot's wife? Lot was living in Sodom and Gomorrah and God told him to leave because it was so wicked. Lot asked God to save the city if there were even a few people who were righteous, and unfortunately other than Lot and his family, there was not even one other righteous person in the city. So God told Lot to take his family and leave the wicked city that he was in.

Lot and his family left and Lot's wife turned to look back at the city. Had she followed the Lord and looked forward she would have been safe, but instead she turned and looked to what was behind her... what was in her past.

So at this new year I'm not going to look back as what was. I am going to look forward to what will be. I am not going to forget the lessons that I have learned, but my eyes are forward to the future.

We are planning a big move this year. Steve will be finishing up school and we are going to head back west. And while I won't miss Florida... at all! but I will remember the things that I have learned here. I am looking forward to making new friends and putting down some roots and have a white picket fence.

I have a few goals that I am going to work on, and I haven't done too well in the past, but I think that was the reason is that I was like Lot's wife and was to much in my past.

So this year I am going to start fresh, and new and make some realistic goals that I can really work on and achieve.

1- I am going to get up in the morning and be productive while the house is quiet. I am going to get up to pray and read my scriptures, I am going to make breakfast for my family. *I will do this on our school days... weekends and breaks I'm totally taking advantage of!*

2- I am going read along in the Relief Society manual.

3.I am going to work on my homemaking skills... making bread... creating and sticking to a menu... making our home feel peaceful and a place where the spirit can dwell.

4. I am going to try to be more girly. Being in a home with a bunch of boys I sometimes get lost in the sea of blue, and dirt. I'm not exactly sure yet how I am going to do this but I am going to make it a point to dress up a little bit, I think I'll feel better when I do.


Four things... that's it. I think I have some things that I can work on that are actually obtainable.

I am going to keep my eyes forward while remembering the lessons from the past.

Here's to a great 2012 with all the adventures and excitement to come!!

2011 Year in Review

Holy Moly!!! This year went by so fast!! I seriously blinked and it was gone! {please tell me that you think so too!!}

January 1, 2011

We have had a whirlwind year!!! Here is a look back!
 
1. Benji turned one in August. He has been growing so fast! At 10 months he was walking/running and at one year he was tipping the scale at a whopping 30 pounds!! He loves to eat and can't get enough of anything.

2.Tim is 5 and dirt seems to be part of his wardrobe. If I can't find him I don't need to look any father than the dirt pile in the back yard. Poor Boy has had more bumps, bruises and scrapes this year than ever before. He is working really hard on reading and is the sweetest boy who will be friends with anyone.

3. Tommy is now 7 and had a great StarWars birthday that is still talked about. He learned to ride his two wheeled bike and lost lots of teeth. He is such a clown and says the funniest things!

4. James' big news is that he turned 8 this year and was baptized. He also started Cub Scouts. In April he did a project for the Science Fair and won first place.

5. I am still here at home, and have learned really well to ignore the chaos unless it comes with death screams. I am working in the Primary as the Secretary and have gotten back into spinning and do that 3 times a week.

6. Steve took Part One - Boards and passed! Starting in January he will start his final year in Chiropractic school. He has enjoyed what he has learned but is excited to be in the clinic treating people. He is working on a technique that he will be using called Upper Cervical.

7. In December Steve and I ran the Tough Mudder. A 12 mile course that had 25 obstacles and lots of mud! We finished it and look forward to doing it again next year.

8. In October we decided to take a family trip to North Carolina and found some cabins on a working farm called Randell Glen. It was so fun to just hang out as a family without any outside technology. We fished, and hiked, and took care of the animal. So far the best vacation that we have taken.

9. We are in our 3rd year of homeschooling and are still enjoying it very much. We have been working our way through the Periodic Table and saw the downfall of the Roman Empire.

10. We have had NO broken bones and only one set of stitches.

 December 31, 2011

2011 was a good year but I'm glad that it is over. I am looking forward to 2012 and all the changes that are going to happen.

Resolutions... I Hope.

Well, being the New Year and following the trend of making resolutions I'm going to let you all know what I'm going to try to accomplish this year. So following a blogging friend Lori, I'm going to start with really easy goals that I know I won't mess up on. This year I'm NOT going to jump off any cliffs, I am also NOT going to rob any one. See if I keep my expectations really low at least next year I can look back and say, "Hey, see I have some resolutions that I kept!!"

So at least I have a start huh.... Here are some others that I hope to stick to this year.

1-I'm doing my own take on Becky Higgings' Project 365 but I'm going to post my pictures on my other blog, See What I See. One picture a day.

2-In my ever quest to be more organized this is again on the list this year. Some people just are organized and some can only dream about it.... I am neither. There is to much chaos in my brain to have an organized dream. But hey, here's to hoping, and working hard.

3-I'm going to get a curriculum and files ready to homeschool the boys next year. I know there are some that are saying, "Good for you, I could never homeschool my kids." I think you could.... You taught your kid to walk, talk and use the potty... it's really not that different. {There will be more on this later.}

4-I want to get my Esty store going. I have some good ideas that I wan to get out there and get paid for. There will be a link soon.

5-So if I'm wanting to do an Esty store I guess that means that I actually have to do more crafting

6-To find Joy in the Journey. I am going to work on waking up each morning with a good attitude and ready to embrace the day and find the joy. {But I do reserve the right to have bad days and blog about it}

7- To grow closer to and have a closer relationship with my Savior. Through prayer and scripture study I'm going to get to know Him better.

So I think I'm going to stop there.... I mean I don't want to get to ambitious. I actually want to try to reach some of these goals. Please have high hopes for me... I'm going to need it.

Happy New Year Resolutions!!!

Sparkling Cider, Mailboxes, and Forking.

Welcome to the new year!!! I went to a friends house to celebrate and I had the best three dates that escorted me to Lita and Kent's house. After crazy games and crazy children we were ready to welcome in the new year. The boys did really well and were up the whole time... yes, all the way to midnight.

I tried to get Tim to look at the camera but he was too busy looking at the glasses filling up with the sparkling drinks.

All the kids were really excited to get the blow horns and bang the kitchen pots and pans. Once all the kids had the noise makers there was no stopping the chaos.

Like I said once the banging started there was no stopping.... I thought of making James like Little Cindy Loo, but decided against it. {What would I have have told his mother???}

Here is Tim eyeing the bubbly, either that or he is really tired and is having a hard time holding his head up.... you take your pick.

When we finally made it to midnight we sent all the kids outside to make all the noise they wanted... Tommy had an urge to be the first to check the mailbox, there was no mail yet, Tommy was slightly disappointed.

After all the noise Lita was happy to hit the sparkling cider,


And so was Tim.

All Kent could think about was the glorious time he would be having the next day watching 14 hours of football.

Anne was really happy to have a chance to show us all that could do better than all the kids in blowing the noise maker thingy.

And really what would any party be with out a complete melt down.

And what other way is there to end the night but a kiss.