New Year's Eve!

I'm a little disturbed by how our New Year's Eve went.  I had such high hopes for it.  This whole Christmas break for that matter.  Felt like we just couldn't catch a break.  But then in the back of my mind I kept having these little thoughts of, "maybe this is for our own good", "maybe we needed some down, family time, where we all just sit around together", "maybe we needed to slow down".  Hard to believe that that would be the case for us- we're very slow people for the most part, but I'm willing to bet that at least one of those thoughts came from the Spirit.  So we at least tried to make the most of it.  I am not sure how well we did.  We had to cancel with the Maughans because of all of our germs.  Looking back, I wish we'd just risked it since nobody else ended up barfing again and I kind of think Bradley just hadn't eaten enough.  That bug left you with a stomach ache and some people in this house think that means starve yourself.  So anyway.  We cancelled our party plans but tried to make up for it on our own.  We played Likewise, then Taboo which actually ends up being pretty fun with our kids now that most of them can read and understand what we're doing.  Jack's the only one just floating around the room enjoying the sounds of family togetherness from various areas of the house.  We had some snacks and our sparkling apple cider, but honestly, it was a little bit of a dull party.  I think the most memorable part was when it took about an hour to choose and then download a movie on our TV and then Charity tripped on the cord stretched from the kitchen to the family room, and it had to start all over again :).  Yes, we're weird, we started over.  The kids all killed the time nicely, and we were all pretty happy for 9 and 10:00 at night.  That kept surprising me.  But eventually we were able to watch the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie.  We stopped to ring in the new year with our noise makers and pots and pans... that's everyone's favorite.  Kelly tried a new thing, and filled a balloon (I think she ran out of motivation to do any more :) ) with homemade confetti and then popped it at midnight :).  It was really fun to see Erika and Noah's faces as it popped over their heads :).  If only I'd gotten the camera on quick enough to capture it!  That was a lot of fun.  We watched some of the fireworks from up the street for a few minutes, but it was well below freezing so we didn't watch it all.  Jack and Nate watched some from his bedroom while Nate rocked him to sleep (I still can't believe we let him stay up.  We have been paying for it ever since.  That's what happens when I'm lazy.)).  The big kids and I finished their movie and then forced ourselves to go to bed around 1:00.  It was a little nuts.  But really, we had a great evening.  I really was happy with it, it just didn't compare to years past.  I guess there have to be off years to really appreciate the on ones.  I was pretty consumed with Lisa's news that she was going to be getting a new baby the next day!!  Pretty exciting!!  It was all so sudden and so exciting and overwhelming sounding at the same time, so I couldn't turn my brain off it!  I kept feeling so surprised that I wasn't more jealous.  I think it's because I was thinking I was pregnant at the time.  So anyway- Happy New Year!!  Bring on 2015!!  I'm ready!

hex mix makes everything okay-  this is the only thing the round pretzels are for- that and teaching Buddy to catch food in his mouth.

Things to Remember Week of 1-4-15

NEW
I don't know why, but I've always loved the newness of the beginning of the year.  It's weird because I'm realizing that not a lot of things are all that new other than the numbers that I write at the end of the date.  One thing, though, that is DEFINITELY new with the new year, NEW PRIMARY TEACHERS!!!  I mentally took inventory this year and from what I gather, my kids all love this new thing too.  So Charity went to Sunday School for the first time, wahoo! and I think she liked it okay.  I can't for the life of me think of who her new teacher is though... kind of defeats the purpose, but I'll figure it out eventually and then I might remember to correct it on here :).  Kelly actually didn't get a new teacher, but she did get a whole new group of kids in her class, one of which being her lovable big, little brother!  From the looks on their faces when I ran into them near the bathrooms, they were just thrilled with their new situation.  Yes, sarcasm is included.  But I'm happy they're together :).  Could end up being a good thing.... maybe :).  Kelly only has five months left of Primary, so Brad can have the class and Sis. Robins all to himself then :).  He seemed okay with it all for the most part.  Luke moved up to Senior Primary for 2015! woot woot!  He has Bro. Tenney and Bro. Green whom Bradley has had for the last two years.  Seemed content.  Noah got to move up two classes for good behavior (well, really because his birthday is so early and the only other person in his age group's is so late- they split he and Elyse up).  While I think he was shocked to be the youngest now, he thoroughly enjoyed being in Josh's class :).  This is the only way we can get our kids in one of the Maughan's kids' classes :).  Erika was surprised to find two boy teachers this year and dug her heels in a little when we got there, but quickly changed her mind.  She had a great time and loved that they do coloring in this class!!  Her last class had kind of stopped doing that lately.  She was also very happy to have a new girl in her class and Elyse!!  Doesn't get better than that when you've been in an all boy class for 1 1/2 years :).  Jack Jack is still in Nursery, still blowing bubbles and singing songs (his favorite parts), but he also had a new teacher (from what I was told by Nate- Jack has his Daddy wrapped around his little finger so he takes him every Sunday :)), Sis. Natalie whose new last name is slipping my mind right now!  He seemed to do fine going, so I think she passed the Jack test.  So there ya have it.  No complaining from any of them!  I'd call that a successful first Sunday of the year!

BITTERSWEET
So today was a bit of a stress for me!  I got the call this morning to meet with Bro. Jacox at 3:50 today.  I always assume those things are for Nate so I rarely get nervous, but when I said Nate couldn't and he said it was okay if I came alone, I started to wonder!!!  I was so far from wanting to be released from my calling as Mia Maid adviser.  This has been such a great blessing in my life.  I don't want it to be over at all!  So I was stressing all through church.  I even made the mistake of asking Debbie if she knew anything about it.  Assuming that if I was being released, she would know.  She seemed surprised by it, but didn't say much.  So then I just got frustrated.  Then before Sacrament meeting Nate went up to ask Bro. Jacox if he really didn't need to be there.  He said it was okay as long as Nate supported me in any calling.  Thus, I was getting a new calling.  I was on pins and needles for the rest of the afternoon!!  Drove me nuts.  I know I'm just a little crazy right now, so I know I was overreacting, but I was really starting to get frustrated by the time I walked up to the Bishop's office.  I stood outside the office and talked to Bro. Huntington for a minute about Alaska and then the saddest thing ever, Debbie walked out of the Bishop's office in tears!  My heart sank!!  I didn't really think I was going to be released, even more, it had never occurred to me that Debbie would be!  According to her and Keri, just a week ago, we had a year left before that would happen!  So the shock!!  They released me from Mia Maid adviser.  Rats.  I really am still a little bummed.  Luckily they quickly hit me with the good news that I am "being recalled" (you can imagine where that term sent my mind :) jk), and I am going to the new 2nd counselor in the YW.  PHEW!!!!  That was a HUGE relief.  Still a little sad, but mostly good- I just LOVE the YW!!  I hate to leave my Mia Maids, but I will get to be Charity's teacher and in a half a year, Kelly's too!  It will be fun!!   I'm really excited about who the new President is, Jami Caldwell, and also who I am suspecting is my partner, Michelle Jackson (I HOPE!)- beehive adviser.  I will miss working with all the other ladies, but I kind of think a change could be good for our YW. I'm trying to keep it a secret from the girls, I want them to be surprised next week in Sacrament meeting, but I'm really excited.  1-4-15

YELLOW
The other day Jack was trying to use Charity's phone (ours look the same now) and I said, "No that's Charity's, it's white, so it's Charity's" (we've been doing a little bit with colors with him lately, he knows a few of them)  He understood and walked it over to Charity.  Then he came back with this accomplished look on his face, climbed up in my lap and said, "Mom.  LUH-LOW"  It took me a minute, but then it hit that he was relaying the fact that he knew MY phone is yellow!!  It was adorable.  Sounds simple, but the look on his face and his struggle to say yellow and the pointing in the direction that my phone was, it was just so sweet!  He is so smart!  1-4-15

TOYROOM
So today, Erika and I had this plan to clean the toy room.  She is #6 this week, so she has the downstairs anyway, and I've been wanting to go through the toy room since before Christmas, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity.  We worked on that room for four hours!!!  I couldn't believe how bad it had gotten!  We definitely need to clean that room more often.  I am getting rid of 3 boxes of old toys that we don't need anymore, and then there were also 3 huge bags of garbage!  Like actual garbage.  We need to have a talk with our kids about the way they do their jobs because I found several things that had been in the family room and then mysteriously moved to the toy room.  Not sure what that's all about, seems harder to take stuff to the toy room than the kitchen, but whatever.  So anyway- yes, we are slobs.  But now we are a little more organized in the toy room :).  It was all worth it too, because I got to talk with Erika the entire time!  She was talking up a storm.  It was a lot of fun.  1-5-15

STAIRS
So I stepped on a pencil when I was walking down the stairs and my whole life suddenly flashed before my eyes.  My feet went out from under me and I totally body slammed it back down into the stairs.  UGH.  Hurt so bad!!!  After I came to, I thought I was going to be able to tough it out, but I totally didn't!  Cried like a baby for a good five minutes.  I totally couldn't get up, my back hurt so bad!!  It wasn't til I got up that I realized my elbows were on fire.  Not literally,  I think I banged them on the banisters.  My poor behind is bruised as well, which is saying a LOT!  That was the worst thing that's happened to me in a while.  I could barely walk for the rest of the day.  I did want to make note that my sweet Erika was right there the instant that it happened and regardless of how freakishly I probably seemed crying like I was, she still just wrapped her cute little self around me and tried to love me better.  It was priceless.  I actually took her up on her offer and cried into her shoulder for a good minute.  She proceeded to reprimand Jack for not joining in.  Poor little guy, I wonder what was going through his little head.  I hope the pain wears off soon, it's now been about nine hours since it happened.  We'll see how it goes.  1-5-15

FHE
I was so proud of us tonight.  We ALMOST skipped FHE tonight.  Everything was making it seem impossible.  We had a book we were trying to locate that Charity only has a few days left to read- shame on her for not getting it sooner, I almost want her to not find it in time so that she learns her lesson (not really), then Kelly wasn't feeling well, Bradley needed to run to the store, Noah needed to pass out his invites (we're already so late), and Erika, our lesson girl, was asleep on the couch!!!  Not to mention how sore and tired I was.  It was going to be so easy to put it off til tomorrow (which probably would have meant last week), but something in me made me think we needed to have it no matter what.  No matter how simple and short it was.  We needed to do it.  So luckily Nate was on board.  We got Erika up in time to do her "Button button who's got the button" lesson.  It was a nice, quick, little FHE, but I think it served it's purpose.  The kids seemed happier with each other- not as much as I'd like, but happier than they were before!  So that was the blessing for tonight's FHE.  I am grateful we have been counseled to do that and that I know it is something we can do right.  I'm grateful for the fact that we didn't give up on it tonight!  1-5-15

DYLAN'S
Luke asked me if I would take him to Dylan's to get a shake a couple days ago.  Kind of random, and while I'd like to think it was just so that he could spend one on one, quality time with his mother dear, I'm sure the yummy shakes have something to do with it :).  We went tonight after family night and I loved it :).  Not just the shake too :).  Luke was very talkative and we had a lot of fun sitting in the car talking about everything under the sun... and all the happenings of the third grade.  He got Twisted Caramel with crunchy chunks of pretzel, and I got my usual, Reese's PB cups.  My favorite line, "I'm not surprised at all that I'm going to be nine."  What a stud.  I love my Lukey.  1-5-15

TUESDAYS ARE USUALLY CALMER
So we are still adjusting to Nate's new schedule.  One of the new things is his absense on Tuesdays.  It's produce day, and every other week, it's our grocery shopping day.  Erika Jack and I had to do it all on our own for the first time in a while!  I'll admit I am glad that Nate and I will have that time to do something else during the week, rather than running dumb errands and stuff, but it was still kind of a bummer to not have him there.  We actually did a lot of errands this morning, picked up the produce, made our menu and shopping list (sounds simple, but it's really not), picking up Charity's book in Sugarhouse, stopping at Zurchers to find out that they, too, do not have any cool "jet" party things, mailing a package to the Hatches (before you think we're awesome, it was a coat my Dad had asked me to send for them back on Christmas... go ahead and thing I'm a jerk now... but I did slip a couple boxes of candy in there for the kids... hopefully that makes up for how late it is- yeah right), and lastly, the grocery shopping.  We were all so hungry and tired by the time we were done- one of the differences between running errands with Nate and running them without- Nate would have stopped for lunch way before 1:30.  We never go hungry when Nate's around.  After that we drove up to Ogden, then picked up the kids, made dinner, passed out a few more party inviations (I'm so embarrassed that we are getting them out with such short notice), and then took Bradley out for our Keva Juice date that he won finding Erika's Sunday shoe :).  (I had found a whole bunch of keva juice cards in my purse adding up to a couple free ones, so I offered that as a reward the other day- been wanting to do more dates with the kids again) Although, it was so late and since Keva juice is in Bountiful, we ended up going to Dairy Queen instead ;).  Not sure how that worked out, but whatever :).  We had a good time.  I enjoy being with Bradley.  He wasn't as talkative as usual though, I had to pry some things out of him, and we played the question game near the end- an old time favorite- but yep, I still love his guts!  He's a good boy.  It felt like a busy day.  Oh, I didn't even mention the Potty Train that boarded here at our house!  We were out of diapers and decided to give potty training Jack a try- we'll see how it goes.  Nate and I had an abnormal amount of patience during the three or so hours it took to get him to take off his wet pants and put on underwear.  Still trying to get him to sit
on the little potty.  Do we know what we're doing?  Nope.  Just following our instincts.  It's worked in the past, but we will see.  I can't wait to get his midnight accident all cleaned up tonight- that should be fun.  I'm hoping for yet another miracle.  Noah and Erika delivered :)  I know it can happen :).  1-6-15

Last week with this leadership

FOUR WEEKS
Before reading this please refer to THIS POST under the heaqding "TESTING TESTING 1-2-3".

I did this with my last pregnancy, kept track of all the gory details, and it's been kind of interesting to look back on.  It's been a while, and since my blog has had a more than a three year break from the hormones, I figured it was okay to jump back into these.

Words can't express how excited I am to be pregnant!  Not that I haven't been in the past, it's just so incredible when it's been so long and so prayed for!  A year and a half!!  I feel so blessed!  And so in denial at the same time- still doesn't feel as real as it needs to :).  I get that wave of yuck every couple hours though, that feels pretty real, but I still just can't believe we're finally here again.
I cannot stop thinking about this new baby.  I feel like I know things about him or her already.  This is my motivation to wanting to tell the whole world already.  I've only told Annie and Heidi (besides Nate of course), but the desire to shout it from the roof tops has been stronger than usual!  I hope I can keep it in for a while.  Although, I just feel like this baby wants people to know and be excited for their arrival :).  How cute is that.  I guess we just have to be careful since the kids really can't find out yet.  It just drags on too long when they find out too soon.  They're kids, they lose interest :).
So anyway- staring to feel the tiredness pretty much all day, but I've been fighting it really well, which I'm proud of!  The nausea as well.  My goal is to make this pregnancy a good one.  It might be my last so I want to go out with flying colors, ya know.  Not like last time.  I was the biggest wimp last time.  I plan on keeping all complaints to myself and this blog.  It never helps to tell people anyway.  Unless of course, something huge happens, it's not important that anyone else know about it.  I regret that so much from the last time.
So.  There.  I am getting so anxious to meet this baby already :)  I hope we have lots of fun in the meantime, so that time will fly :)  1-6-15

CASTED
I took Kelly in for her wrist (again), they x-rayed it, and found nothing to be wrong.  Dr. Tew said it really shouldn't be hurting still and that if she had more protection, maybe it would stop hurting so much.  He recommended that she get a cast.  SURPRISE!  I was.  So he put a cast on her!  Kinda crazy if you ask me, but whatever.  I am glad it might stop hurting.  Poor Kelz.  1-7-15

POTTY UPDATE
Nate got Jack to sit on the potty while I was at YW, this was the first time he had! but when I came in the back door, there was my cute little Jack, completely naked, sitting on his "car", eating a nice juicy apple, watching a "Wee wee"(movie :) ).  It as such a happy sight :).  After about an hour of sitting there (and he even requested that I sit down next to him), he finally peed in the potty!!  It was yellow :) his favorite color :).  He took it upstairs with Daddy and said goodbye to it in the big potty.  It was SO CUTE!!!  He was so proud of himself!  Hopefully this is a beginning.  1-7-15

NATIONAL ACADEMIC LEAGUE
Charity had her first meet for NAL.  I was busy with Kelly at the Doc, so I didn't get to watch, but Nate went and cheered her on (although it was in the library, so I'm not sure how much cheering was going on).  She did well according to Nate, but her team lost by six points.  Kind of a bummer, but it was the first time, so I think they've got room to grow :).  Hopefully the nerves are less in the future.  1-7-15

GET AIR
Went to Get Air with the YW.  Debbie changed the activity to something a little more exciting I think since it was our last one as a leadership.  It was a lot of fun.  I didn't jump for several reasons, but I did have fun chatting with Liz.  I'm going to miss working with her.  Debbie too, but luckily I get to go visiting teaching with Debbie and to Keri still.  It's just weird to think I will be back in with a different group of leaders.  I'm excited for the change, but I am going to miss the old.  So, last activity as the Mia Maid adviser went well... minus that Charity twisted her ankle.  1-7-15

Things to remember First week of 2015

MOPPING
So this is lame, but it's really the most exciting thing that has happened around here in a little while.  Nate and I cleaned up the whole kitchen and then mopped the floor by hand together!  Took us about 3 hours to do it all, but it was so worth it!  We're starting a new plan to deep clean one room a week this year.  We will do our regular everyday maintenance of course, but I'm looking forward to the deep cleaning.   Our house really needs it.  Sadly, considering we've only lived here a year and a half.  1-3-15

TESTING TESTING 1 2 3
So this is crazy to put on here, but if my suspicions are correct, there are only a few of you still reading this blog- and probably even less reading these boring pictureless journal entries.  So hopefully this doesn't backfire.  But if you cannot keep a secret then you better stop reading right now.  I have one and I"m gonna burst if I don't let it out :).  Here it is: (seriously, you canNOT tell ANYONE!!!  And don't talk to me about it around anyone, especially my kids!!!  This is for THEIR own good!!!) So, I was supposed to start my period on the 1st.  That would have been the 29 day cycle that I had last month, so that is what was predicted on my ovulation app.  It didn't come on the 1st, which is not a surprise since I've been completely irregular ever since I started trying to get pregnant back in July of 2013, yes it's been a year and a half!!!  SO, I decided not to get my hopes too high until the 3rd, which would be a 31 day cycle, another common thing for me.  But the suspense was killing me, so the morning of the third, after realizing that none of the cramps I had had the day before or even that morning were  accomplishing anything- I took a test!!!!  It's an old test, so I reminded myself of that before taking it, and felt like I should test with caution, so I'm telling all of this without the surety of a new, fresh test, so really I don't even know why I'm saying anything, but I guess for the time being, I am VERY EXCITED!!!!  It had two lines!!!!  POSITIVE!!!!  When I looked at it the words, "That would be too cool!!!" Came out of my mouth in a whisper.  I really hope it's really real!!!  I have a tendency to get my hopes up for these things.  Like back in August of 2013 when I was 10 days late... ugh that was devastating.  But anyway- hopefully that's not the case this time.  I am hoping to get a new test and have a real SURE answer.  I'll update you when I do. I  think Nate will need a second test to believe it as well.  He's in the "are you sure?" stage.  He will be so excited if I really am though!!  I can't believe I'm putting this out there- I am usually so good at keeping it a secret!  This has just been so long awaited! The main reason we don't tell people is so that our kids don't find out til we're further along. So you really can't say anything to anyone!!  And please, please, please, do NOT tell my mother!!!  She does not need more to worry about in her life.  She worries about me too much and it's annoying because it's not like she does anything to help me, she just wants to talk about how stressful it is to have me pregnant.  And I think we better wait to tell my Dad, he always makes it difficult too.  Plus, if he knows I told anyone else before him, that would be bad.  SO really, it has to stay a SECRET!!!!  When it gets hard to keep to yourself, just think about my children!!!   Even 4 months is like an eternity when you're excited to get a little brother or sister. (we know from experience)  Have I scared you enough from telling people??  I hope so :).  It's so funny that I'm assuming anyone is reading this in the first place :).  But who knows.  I have not been able to keep this one a secret for some reason.  I'm just bursting with excitement!!  I hope that test was still good.  Who am I kidding though, even if there was nothing wrong with it, I think I would still need a few tests to really believe it!!  Seems too good to be true!!!  Okay.  That's all I have for now :).  More later.  1-3-15

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Charity had her first basketball game Saturday night.  We were running a little late with dinner, but we were able to throw our spaghetti (with homemade sauce I might add) into our faces quickly and then got to the school to drop Charity off with the jerseys just in time.  We remembered at the last minute that her team never did a treat sign up so I hurried and ran to Bowmans to grab a treat before going back to the school with everyone.  Luckily Heidi had been there to cheer her on during the first 10 minutes of the game that I had missed.  Unfortunately Nate is not able to coach the games.  With his new schedule he works on Saturday night now.  The guy who runs the rec basketball said he would provide a coach in Nate's place, but the person never showed.  Luckily there was a Dad there who stepped up to the plate and filled in.  Charity's team played SO WELL.  They were like 20 ahead the whole game and won 28-4.  It was a lot of fun to watch her.  She's got some stellar defense!  All over that other team!!  She attempted a few shots, she's getting better!  It will be a fun season.  She loved our cheers!  Heidi came back after to hang out, it was a lot of fun to sit and talk to her.  1-3-15

Question Time- GOODBYE 2014!!!

I like telling a little about our family at the end of the year, thought this would be a fun way to do it :)

1.  If you could rub a magic lamp and get three wishes, what would you wish for? (no wishing for more wishes- much to Bradley's dismay)
B- More than a quadrillion dollars, everything I need, being able to shape shift.
L-
C- World peace, that I could breathe underwater, for it to be able to snow but still be hot- so we could go swimming in snow that would still be frozen outside, even though it's hot.
E- I only have one: to get a bunch of candy.  And my own car.
N- that everything would be made out of chocolate and whenever you ate it it would grow back.  I could fly.  I could breathe underwater and swim perfectly.
K- time machine, peace on earth forever, and that things that tasted like candy and sweets and stuff would still be healthy.  J- (we're guessing his) Daddy to be home all day everyday.  No diapers.  And unlimited supply of Pringles.
Me- A washer and dryer, world peace, all the rubbermaid totes I could possibly need :)
Nate- A healthy family.  Financial security.  That there were sufficient amount of time in the day to get done what I want to do.

2.  What are two things that most people don't know about you?
N- I get picked on a lot.  I like drawing.
E- Some people don't know that I'm smart.  And.  People don't know that they don't know that I like candy.
L-
B- That I"m only 10 years old.  That I don't like sweets.
K- That I have exzcema.  People know everything.  My age.
C- That I love to have company and don't like to be alone.  I like school.
J- I know way more than I let on.  I love my Mommy :).
Me- I love to organize, I love to improvise, Emergency situations excite me.
Nate- How sarcastic I am.  How much I enjoy art and drawing.

3.  What's the coolest thing you did this year?
B- I caught two lizards while camping in Arches.
N-
K- Got to spend my birthday in Arches and experienced Grandpa's four-wheeler crash
C- Auditioned for and performed in the school talent show
E- I learned how to write my name and read kind of.
J-
L-
Me- Planting and reaping the rewards of a garden.
Nate- Arches

4.  What's the worst thing that happened to you this year?
K- the ground duties banning the sixth graders from four square for the rest of the school year
B- Buddy ate my lizard, Hypes
C- I got in the biggest fight with my "friends'
E- I don't know
L- A lot of people being mean to me from November to December
J- Spiral fracture in his humerus
N- Corbin, Josh and Kate threw dirt into my face
Me- Appendicitis and 4 month long "Pneumonia" (actually I think the tendinitis was the worst part)
Nate- Spraining my ankle

5. What is your big goal for 2015?
B- Get into the championship in Basketball
L-
E- Go bowling
K- To not eat anymore sweets
C- Get straight A's
N- Playing soccer
J- Get potty trained
Me- Eat less sweets, exercise everyday
Nate- Reading my scriptures EVERYDAY

6. What was your favorite thing we did as a family in 2014?
N- Arches
K- Arches
L- Bear Lake
E- Arches and Bear Lake
B- Catching like 24 fish in the ponds in 2 days for like 3 hours (maybe we were with him in spirit?)
C- Going to Arches
J- Playing with all the rocks at the condo in Bear Lake
Me- Jet Skiing with Grandpa Hatch
Nate- Collecting sea shells on Bear Lake

7. What is your favorite thing to eat for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner?
L- Crepes, Ramen noodles, Ham and Cheese sliders
E- Cereal, Sandwiches, Meatballs
B- Crepes, Sandwich with chips, a treat, and fruit; Pulled Pork Sandwiches
C- Funnel cakes, Sandwiches, YOUR meatballs with Dad's Mashed potatoes
K- Muffins, Fruit, Meatballs or Ham and Cheese sliders
N- Breakfast burritos, Sandwiches and chips, Meatballs and Mashed potatoes
J- Muffin tops, chips, chips
Me- Omelettes, chips and salsa, Anything I don't have to cook
Nate- Eggs on toast.  Sandwich.  Ribs.

8.  If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
C- Sweden
N- Bethlehem
B- Atlantis no Sweden
K- Jerusalem
L-
J- Pringles factory
E- Disneyland
Me- Jerusalem
Nate- Sweden

9. Who is your hero?
N- Brad
K- Grandma Ruthie's Dad, oh, and you Mom
C- Jesus
B- Dad
E- Jesus
L- I don't know
J- Ball
Me- Grandma Mottishaw
Nate- John Stockton

10.  What do you want to be when you grow up?
E- teacher or something else
B- Air Traffic Controller or an NBA player
K- A vet, like Mrs. Williams either that or a Mom
C- A second grade teacher or a Mom
L-
N- Police Man
J- Bubble
Me- Nurse
Nate- Smoked meat salesman


Here's a little summary of what everyone did this year too- since I don't do the whole Christmas card thing (yet):

Jack has grown a little this year, but mostly he's tried to stay the baby :).  He is still only using a few words on a regular basis, and they don't sound a whole lot like what they mean :).  But we continue to let him use his barbaric grunts and all is well :).  He successfully started Nursery this year and I think it's safe to say he goes to Nursery like a big boy now.  Of course he'll be getting new teachers this Sunday so we'll see how it goes :).

Erika has grown a lot!  I can't believe she's going to start school next year.  We've done a lot of fun new things together while her best friend Kate is at Preschool.  She has also really been enjoying learning to write her name and reading a few sight words.  She gave her first talk in Primary this year as well.  So brave!

Noah started all day school as a first grader and has been doing really well regardless of the funnel class situation.  He has his own email address and is one of our best readers at family scripture time.  We're always surprised at the big words he can decipher.

Luke made one of the biggest decisions of his life and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He continues to wow us in so many areas academically.  He loves the math games online and has been "#1 in the school" several times.

Bradley played on his first basketball team this year and continues to magnify that talent of his.  He is still our most faithful testimony bearer and I look forward to him getting up each month.  He is our go to guy for all the man of the house chores when Nate is at work.  That has been a blessing.

Kelly is now one of the oldest in the school as a big sixth grader!  She loves that.  She has been having a lot of fun getting ready for her play "Into the Woods" that will be coming up in April.  She is getting more and more anxious to start young women's, she's still got 6 more months.  Kelly has started babysitting this year too, Earned a LOT of money in the process.  That's been really nice as well.

Charity became a big Junior High student this year and took that plunge!  She's got three honors classes and mostly A's.  She has been enjoying her first year of Young Women's and even makes her mom feel welcome there as well.  Her first Girls Camp goes down in the books.  She is still one of our top babysitters and is doing it more for neighbors now that she is 12.

Nate enjoyed a whole year of hiccup free controlling.  He can control traffic in his sleep now (not really :) ).  He has mastered the art of his smoked meats.  He's seriously planning on getting a food stand and selling it someday soon.  Right now he is serving in the Elder's Quorum Presidency, but he spent a short time in the Young Men's too this year.  They are still mad that he had to leave.  It was a bummer for everyone really.

I have spent most of the year being sick, as sad as that is.  From Appendicitis to Pneumonia and Tendinitis!!  It hasn't been the best, but I'm hopeful and feeling pretty good about 2015.  Hopefully the only yuckies I have to feel will be the morning sickness of pregnancy... I'll keep hoping and praying :).  I have really been enjoying the Young Women calling I have as the Mia Maid adviser.  I loved being able to go to Girls Camp again!!

Things to Remember Week of 12-28-14

A NEW WATER HEATER!
So it was a quick three days without hot water.  I really didn't feel like it was that much of an imposition.  Maybe it's because no shower was necessary since we were just sitting around all day.  I was, however, EXTREMELY grateful that I'd taken a shower on Christmas like I did.  That was a blessing.  I would have been pretty stinky by Sunday :).  HA!  No, I probably would have bummed a shower off of someone else if I'd had to go that long!  We were very grateful for the hot water though, once it was back on the kids all jumped up fighting over who got to go first :).  That was like Christmas all over again :).  12-28-14

NO CHURCH AGAIN
I hope people don't start thinking I've gone inactive.  Although, I do feel myself becoming more and more comfortable with staying home than I ever have.  We decided, and with some strong suggestion from the Bishop, that we would stay home from church.  Even though we thought we were all better.  He must have been inspired because the bug is not gone!  I started a new thing with the kids, for us to do on Sunday nights (now that Nate works- I've gotta plan things to keep my sanity :).  We're starting our own personal histories.  One page at a time.  We are just drawing one strip of paper- ideas of what to write about- from this little jar that I have, to tell about ourselves and our lives.  So far it's been a lot of fun!  We wrote about our Dads the first week and this week our favorite season and why.  Should be a fun little way to break up the monotony this year.  12-28-14

DISHES
I just had to document that I finally did all the dishes that were piling up all over our kitchen!  There were lots BEFORE the hot water went out, and then there was no washing the big stuff, so it sat.  But yesterday, I tackled them ALL!!  Took me all day, with all the other stuff on my agenda, to get them done, but I did!  I wish I'd gotten a before and after picture- although my pride would stop me from posting them anyway.  It's just cool to have my sink and counters back :).  And to have dishes to eat on and cook in.  It's like Christmas :) HA!  12-29-14

SNOW!!
I don't think I even mentioned the snow we had dumped on us this Christmas morning!!  It was a beautiful WHITE Christmas afterall!  Well, it really hasn't stopped much!  The kids took advantage of it the day after Christmas went sledding at the park down the street and built some forts and snowmen in the back yard.  Then yesterday the kids all went out to shovel driveways!  They are so thoughtful.  They really wanted to help the neighbors with their driveways.  So cute.  12-29-14

SICK AGAIN
Bradley is puking again.  UGH.  This is round two for him.  Not sure what is going on in this house!!  I have been cleaning and "Santa"-tizing, (THANKS KIM :) ) like a crazy person (takes one to know one) so you would think we could be done with it all!  I pride myself on germ control with such a big family- this has really humbled me!!  12-29-14

NOT LATE YET
SO... I probably shouldn't even say anything about this, because I"m not even close to late yet, but I keep wondering if I will be!!!  I've had some interesting pain, could just be this dumb flu bug, but hopefully it's not!!  We'll see.  Pretend I didn't say anything :), just getting my hopes up is all :).

NO TRUCKS
Tuesday morning I woke up to a text from Lisa saying that our produce truck was not going to make it because of the wind, no trucks allowed on the freeway.  I was kind of glad because Brad had been up all night sick, so I figured it was a good thing, but keeping the produce in the truck overnight sure didn't make passing it out on Wednesday very fun.  Most of it was frozen and ruined.  So annoying.  The lettuce, basil and tomatoes were horrible.  Luckily the clementines were perfect.  I am mostly worried that people will drop out because of it.  The one consolation though- when I called to tell them things were bad, they were very apologetic and said to keep track of everything we are not able to use and they will credit us back.  So that's encouraging.  It's just such a new group.  Anyway- bad things always happen on my week.  12-30-14