They're coming...

They're coming...The holidays I mean. Randall is already a tad tired of me freaking out and saying I'm feeling overwhelmed. This time last year I had all my lists made and even most of my Christmas shopping done. Now that we don't have TV the kids haven't mentioned anything they want even once. Maybe because without TV not only do they not see advertisements but don't realize what time of year it is. Especially since the weather here has been gorgeous. It's been in the 70's all week and sunny and beautiful with a little rain here and there to keep it cozy. I'm loving it. The colors on the trees and bushes are almost to their peak. The reds and yellows and pink are so much more vivid than any I've ever seen. Even Randall in his state of color blindedness can see a change in the leaves. One of my favorite sites is to look out the window and watch the leaves falling from the trees like snowflakes, and leaves billowing up in bunches behind a passing car.

My expectations for the holidays this year are even bigger than ever, which is a problem. I have learned in the last few years that the lower my expectations the happier everyone is in the end. I think this year though knowing we are on our own, away from family I feel like all the responsibility falls directly on my shoulders to make sure our children have the most fantastic memories and traditions ever. The last 4 years we have had family all around us, and that helped fill the bulk of time and our holiday traditions were already set. The thought of choosing and starting our very own family's traditions is exciting but also very daunting. I like to place a fair amount of blame for my desire for all this fabulous and magical on miss Tasha Tutor. Do you know who she is? When I was a little girl my mother would read to me out of a book of hers that was beautifully illustrated month by month encompassing all the holidays. she wrtoe of all the amazing and sweet traditions that would take place. Things like pressing apples for home made apple cider, and sleeping in the barn with the cousins with so much family in town for Thanksgiving. Doesn't that sound magical? I pulled out that book the other day just to check up on Halloween festivities. I can't find it now and I can only think that Randall has hidden it. I mean who doesn't want to celebrate their birthday with their birthday cake floating down a stream with candles all a light? Me, me! Ok, so I know that sort of thing isn't practical but I sure wish it were. For now I need to just try to take a deep breath and a huge spoonful of reality and realize that if things don't come out to be as I dream them up in my head, my children will be no the wiser and my husband that much happier.

What are some of your holiday traditions?

Read about Tasha Tudor HERE

A Break Through!

Anna just came to me with head hung and something hidden behind her back. I asked her what was up and she said, "I did something and I don't want to tell you?" I calmly asked what she had done, and without much hesitation she handed me a broken pearl necklace. This necklace is one that Randall bought special for Anna when he was in China a few years back. Even with real pearl's it wasn't expensive but it has meant a lot to me that he bought pearls to bring back to his little girl.

This little confession of hers was no little thing. Just a week ago I went into the bathroom to find someone had "drawn" all over the mirror with their finger and soap. Every inch of the mirror was covered in beautiful swirly patterns of soap scum. Not a big deal, but I still wanted to know who did it so they could clean it up. With a little deductive reasoning we knew it was Anna. She cried and screamed and bawled, swearing it wasn't her, which is often the case. For some reason whether big or small she has not understood that she should just tell us what happened and she will be much better off than freaking out and lying about it.

So... that's why this morning was sooo big. After she told me I knelt down and gave her a huge hug and told her how proud I was that she was honest with me. Then she told me how sorry she was and she was completely sincere about it. I told her to go play and to leave the jewelery alone. No tears, no screaming, no fighting and yelling. It was awesome. I think we've had a breakthrough!

No ordinary day

Today we were in the car running many errands. Ethan was getting a little frustrated that it was Saturday and we weren't doing "fun" things. I reminded him that tonight was his first Pack meeting and he would receive his Bobcat badge. He suddenly yelled "YES! I thought this was just an ordinary day, and it's not, I get my Bobcat!" Needless to say he was pretty pumped. We hope his enthusiasm continues...

It's Great to be 8

The proud new scout
Singing Happy Birthday
My mad cake decorating skillz

Lego guys, he loves to collect these.


Anna getting ready to get in the canoe



Isn't it gorgeous? Wish I could have been there.

On August 29th, Ethan turned 8. It was a Sunday so we invited a few families form the ward with boys Ethan's age over to celebrate. I made to cakes, a white cake and a chocolate cake. To celebrate over the weekend, Randall took Ethan and Anna camping Friday night with some families from our ward.

The campsite was near a lake so the kids were able to canoe and kayak for the first time. At first they were very nervous and really wanted to "get back to shore". After some time though Ethan jumped in a kayak and paddled all around the lake on his own. Randall said he was a natural and Ethan was so proud and ended up loving it. Anna even warmed up to the canoeing and in the end told Rand that "it's good to try new things". I guess it was a beautiful area and there were even blueberry bushes all around. They even threw some of the berries in the pancakes for breakfast.

When the kids got home we let Ethan open his Wii game and he played quite some time that day. On Sunday he opened his other gifts and one of his favorite things was his scout shirt and neckerchief. He immediately put it on and wore it for most of the day. He has been waiting for years literally to be a scout. Thankfully now that he's started he is still very enthusiastic. He will receive his bobcat on Saturday at his first pack meeting, and is well on his way to his Wolf already. We are hoping to help him along quickly while he's excited about it all.

Ethan is a good boy and a lot of fun. He does well in school and is very charming and gregarious. We think he will end up being quite the popular kid at school. He already has a girl at school named Olivia that really likes him. In fact, Olivia's mother called me last night to see if they could have a "play date". Randall said if he was asked to have a play date with a girl when he was 8 he would have died, Ethan on the other hand is really excited about it. We'll see how that goes.

We sure are glad Ethan came to our family a BIG, bright, blued-eyed boy. It's hard to believe that 8 years have passed so quickly. Next Sunday he will be baptized and both of our parents are coming out for the baptism. We have lots of fun things planned and hope to all go in to NYC to celebrate Anna's birthday and have some fun. I haven't been to the city since we moved here so it's about time. We're glad the kids have great things like birthdays and baptism's to celebrate!

Kids R funny

Today like most days we had some funny things happen. After story time at the library we were playing at the park where two darling little twin black girls started playing with my girls. After some time one of the girls said to my girls "You have the most beautiful hair", and proceeded to quickly run her fingers through the length of Kate's hair, then gave her a big hug and ran off with a big smile. I thought it was so funny. I remember as a small girl meeting a little black girl and wanting so badly to touch her her hair...

When Anna got home from school today I asked her about her day and what she did. She pulled a paper from her backpack and told me she was asked to draw pictures of what she did before school today. Anna is not a gifted artist as of yet so I always nicely say "tell me about your drawings" since I have no idea what they are. She pointed to one picture and said "this is us eating lunch and this is us at the store." Then all of the sudden she bursts into tears and throws herself on the floor. Why the fit you ask? Because we didn't go to the store today, we went to the library. Apparently a mistake that big was just too much for her to handle. :)

Then later I was reading Anna her homework book and it was "Eloise" and it talked about Eloise and her dog named "Weenie". The kids just started laughing their heads off. Now hours later they will suddenly say "Weenie" and start cracking up.

I sent Anna to school today with a flower clip in her pony tail. I noticed this afternoon that it wasn't there. I very nonchalantly asked her where her flower was? She suddenly, again burst into tears and started freaking out that she could never go to school again yada, yada, yada, because she had left it and she couldn't find it etc. I don't know what losing a flower has to do with never going to school again but that's what she decided. Thankfully I found the flower by the couch where we were reading. Disaster averted...well almost. Aren't girls and their drama so much fun? Thank heavens I'm not emotional ;)

Where's Dad?

When Kate wakes in the morning her usual question is "Where's Dad?". I usually just say, at work. The other day when I told her he was at work she said "No him's not!" to which I replied "Ok, he's on the train." and she said back even more adamantly "No him's not, him's in New York City!"

New Jersey- 2 months in

We are now just 2 days away from our 2 month mark. I admit that a few weeks ago I kind of hit my "wall". We came here and were so amazed at the beauty here, and at all there is to do and and see. Oh, and the trees? So. Many. Trees. I love it. I often hear people say that they miss the Mountains when they move away from Utah. Not me. I'm not what you would call an "out doorsy" person. I am rarely if ever found in the mountains. I enjoy a night around the campfire for some s'mores and a hot dog, and then more than happy to come home to my bed and a toilet that flushes. That's just me. I get that the majestic mountains surrounding a valley is beautiful, but here we are surrounded by beauty everywhere you look. Trees everywhere. In fact as much as I am looking forward to the leaves turning their beautiful Autumn colors I'm enjoying the green. Anyway... Suddenly real life settled in and as much as we have been welcomed here and we are generally happy and into our routine, there was a sudden overwhelming feeling and realization of the life, though imperfect, we had left behind, and more importantly all our family and friends. Now, admittedly with technology these days you really can still be in almost constant contact via phone, text, video chat, facebook etc. but I was still suddenly feeling an extreme sense of loneliness. We have met people and made "friends". But they are just still acquaintances. We have people we feel like we can call even in an emergency and we have. But somehow I relate this experience to dating. When you are dating someone you feel like you have to be your best self all the time. You want to always be positive and cute, and fun, and funny etc. You constantly wonder if you are good enough for whomever you are "dating" etc. Now, as you think I am probably waaay ridiculous or stupid that's fine but for what it's worth that's how I was feeling. I was just missing having people around me who really get me, warts, and all. I wallowed in my sad and lonely state for a bit and then decided that I don't need to look to others for their acceptance. I need to just be who I am and not hope with all my being that someone will "like" me. Good news is I'm feeling back to my old self.

We really are liking it here. Some of my favorite things are the rain. Since we have been here I think it has rained at least once a week if not twice. It's amazing too because it's beautiful and sunny and suddenly the sky goes dark and a few minutes later it is pouring outside!! Oh, and thundering and lightning. We have had some pretty intense storms. Thankfully our kids don't mind thunder and lightning one bit and I love it. Storms are so cozy. We have just learned to always have an umbrella. I even bought the kids rain jackets yesterday because they actually need them here. We may even purchase galoshes at some point :) I also love the little town we are in. I love that we are within walking distance to so many great things. It is such a fun thing to just say, hey want to go down town and walk around? I also love all the various church's. There is something really nifty about the beautiful and grand church's. There are too many church's of all different faith's to count. I love the stained glass windows, and spires. Most of all I love the church bells. At 8am every single morning the bells begin to play in a near by church. I rarely get to hear them because I am rushing Ethan to school, but I try to listen and can almost always recognize a hymn they are playing. I like the diversity of the people. There are people here from all over the world. I hear languages I don't even recognize. The diversity factor has made for some good conversations with the kids and needing to be kind and accepting to everyone.

Cheese. This one deserves it's own paragraph. We love cheese. There are so many to choose from and they are so yummy and fresh. Fresh, soft mozzarella? Yum.

Anyway, we have our ups and down's but for the most part we are still really glad to be here. We are meeting new people and trying new things. Yes, there are some things that I don't like here, but even some of the things I initially hated, like driving, are now not a big deal. Who knows, in a few more months we may like it even more, and maybe by then I won't hate grocery shopping!

Hurray for Fall!

I love the that General Conference falls in my two favorite seasons with Spring being a favorite with all things budding and fresh, but my very most favorite season by far would just have to be Fall! Yeah for fall! I am especially excited to be here on the East coast. I've dreamt for years of coming East to see the colors in their glory changing on the trees.

When we were living in Michigan we had the most beautiful Autumn seasons. It was soo cold there. A tad too cold for our liking. I'm holding out hope that Winter here in New Jersey will be a little more mid. We are getting varied reports on how bad and or mild Winter actually is and when the snow flies etc. I guess we'll see for our selves in not too long.

I figured that in the spirit of my favorite season and all, I needed to have some sort of celebration. So Friday, September 24th the second official day of Fall we hosted us a little get together. I thought it would be a good way to get to know some people and do a fun activity. I made some cute invitations to up the festivity factor and then we had us a nifty get together.

We invited 3 families over from our ward that we enjoy, and have children our ages and stages. All in all we had 24 people over for a caramel apple dipping party. One of my best friends gave me the book "Autumn" by Susan Branch a year or two ago and I absolutely love it. It just makes you want to cozy up and do and make fun fall things every day. She is what prompted our families Halloween party last year and this years little get together. She writes that when entertaining you should ask these questions: Does it smell good? Look good? Taste good? Sound good? So I of course followed her grand advice and had citrus, cinnamon, and nutmeg simmering on the stove top, lamps lighting the way, and a little Sinatra playing in the background. I made the always tasty pumpkin spice muffins with chocolate chips to nibble on while we chatted and waited for the caramel to be ready.

We dipped the apples in caramel then had the choice to roll each in M&M's or crushed toffee or drizzled with chocolate. Can you say yum!? It was delicious. I was hoping the night would be a cool one so we could sip us some spiced cider but it was a balmy 84 degrees! I think the families enjoyed themselves and we had a good time. Although by the end of the night I realized I had broken the number one rule in entertaining. I choose a "food" that can't be prepared ahead of time. So, basically that meant that the couples all enjoyed each others company while Randall and I basically stood in the kitchen the whole time stirring and testing preparing etc. By the end of the night everyone left with smiles on their faces and bags in hand containing their beautiful, tasty apple and I basically waved a hello and good-bye. Lesson learned. Next time, do something easy that requires little or no prep work once guests arrive. If at first you don't succeed, try try again...