The Move

Christmas is fast approaching and so is our move.  It has all happened very quickly, which is probably good so I don't have much time to think about it.  We will miss our Moonlight Beach, but I also love my mountains.  

Here is my Top 5 miss list:

-My sister and fam.  :-(

-The climate, (Molly complaining she was hot yesterday cause she was wearing long sleeves)

-Trader Joe's, no really, this is a tough one for me.

-Plumeria, hibiscus, etc...March is incredible here...the smells, the beauty...

-Our friends

Here is my Top 5 NOT miss list:

-the rate that MOLD grows here...ug

-the taste of the water...seriously...it is bad

-traffic...actually not that bad...just random times(I hate unpredictable traffic)

-Molly in full day Kindergarten, and her teacher was fantastic

-hmmm, can't think of a 5th one.  We really enjoyed it here...oh wait, Sam's job. :-) That is why we are moving in the first place. :-)

So on we go.  Transitions are hard, but this one is needed.  We just hope the kids will do well, especially with the new baby on the way...this will be a big couple of months for all.  We have enjoyed our time here.  We met many wonderful people who have touched our lives forever. And nothing beats being able to take the kids to the park(with cousins!) in February in jackets.  

But, we are excited for Sam as he starts at a different place.  We are excited for the people we will meet.  We are excited to be around even more family.  And I am just trying to hide my distaste for the cold so my kids will think it is great.  :-)  So catch the next post, coming live from P-P-P-R-O    O-O-O-V-O   P-R-O   O-V-O  PRRRRROOOOOVVVVOOOOO!  (Only those who went to Provo High or played against PHS will know that cheer.)

Christmas Tradition

I love Christmas traditions...but one that I hope will become permanent in our family is the one we just did tonight at the nursing home.  We have done it the last couple of years originally with the youth in our ward.  It was a youth activity, but I brought the kids along for fun.  Well, the kiddos were a hit.  Old people love young people.  They love watching Garrett be out of control and just jump everywhere he goes.  They love the energy.  They loved all the songs from the youth.  They loved the two little ones as they got up and held hands and sang Rudolph with Garrett interjecting a few words here and there and a loud Ho, Ho, Ho and Molly singing loud and proud.  They all got a kick out of it.  They all get a little gift and a hello and Merry Christmas from a youth in our ward, and hopefully don't get hit by the crazy Garrett running around everywhere.  But it was a joy, to see a little joy in those old eyes.  Those eyes that have seen a lot in this world, and now who are stuck in a nursing home during the holidays.  It is memorable for our little family, and reminds us of our blessings.  So...go visit a nursing home.  Take your crazy kids...they will love them!  :-)

My Favorite Holiday...

I have always loved Thanksgiving.  I think that it is my obsession with food.  And when else can you fill a plate up with every kind of pie...and it is normal.  I love it.  I love focusing on our gratitude.  And I am grateful for so much.  Top of the list of course are my family and lately, the clear perspective the gospel brings.  We hit traffic on the way up to Orange County yesterday and Molly said in all sincerity, "Wow, there are a LOT of people going to Debbie's house."(My cousin who we spent the holiday with)  Then Garrett at the end of a drive that took twice the time it should have said, "Can I come too, pease?" and when we got him out of seat, he said, "Oh fank you Daddy, fank you!"  I was laughing pretty hard on our way in as I thought of my two year old thinking we drove an hour and a half for nothing and he was SO grateful that he didn't have to stay in his seat anymore.   We had a great time, and it was finished off with a little ukulele playing with my cousin.  I know Grandma was smiling down on us all.  :-)  Here is a little taste of our 1st Annual Family Thanksgiving Play.  It consisted of Molly pretending to be the Turkey, Sam pretending to be the Farmer and Garrett the Fireman coming to save the Turkey's life.  Here are a few songs from the "production."

Happy Birthday Molly Ann!

Our Molly turned the big 5!  She was ridiculously excited for her birthday party(meaning we had been talking about it for 6 months, seriously, I had to make a rule finally that we would talk about all her "plans" after Halloween, because it was getting to be too much).  Anyway, I think after all the hype, she still had a great time.  They earned their cowgirl(and cowboy) attire by participating in the "apple catch"(the game morphed from bobbing for apples to apples hanging on a string because of some logistics), barrel racing(or garbage can racing), lasso the pony, and horse, horse, pony(duck, duck goose...but Molly changed it to horse, horse, unicorn minutes before the party started).  They had a great time we think...and I am still laughing at how much ALL the girls became obsessed with the Snow Queen outfit that Logan got her.  

We sure love our Molly.  She is generous, smart, kind, loving, a great big sister, sensitive, and wants to do what's right.  I have especially been proud of her as she started into school, and is learning to read.  She is growing up very quickly.  Crazy stuff.

Happy Halloween

We went trick or treating at Sea World today.  When I told Molly, she asked, very genuinely, "Are we going to trick or treat for fish?"  :-)  Pretty cute.  Garrett of course wanted to wear a hat to be like the very scary pumpkin head in "The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything" book.  But we didn't have a top hat, so he resorted to Dad's ski helmet.  :-) The song they are singing is from some I taught Molly's kindergarten class, and Garrett has picked it up too.

One of those Pregnant Days...

I have been so grateful for my husband lately, and his loving and caring soul.  His children love him...Garrett is a little obsessed with him.  When Sam is around, Mommy needs to "go away."  He makes dinner, he does dishes, he does laundry, he wakes up with Garrett who has been waking up at infuriatingly early hours, he takes care of the bills...and I think that is the only reason pregnancy seems even possible.  And it also doesn't hurt that he tickles my back until I am asleep every night.  Mostly, I just know he loves me.  People talk about "angels on earth." Well I married my angel...I lucked out.  

Moving on to the story of the day.  I was kneeling on the floor "watching" Garrett build his very tall tower.  But I was more looking off into the distance...with obviously not a very happy look on my face because Garrett asked me, "What da matta Mom, what wong?"  I responded that I was fine, just a little sad today(mostly exhausted cause he keeps waking up too early, and it makes me sicker during the day...I left that part out).  He then came over and gave me one of his kisses and his snuggle hugs.  He went back to his building and a few minutes later, he very thoughtfully asked, "You miss your mommy and daddy?"  (Then I thought, yea, it would be nice to have them around for this) :-)  But I really thought...oh good...Garrett is just like his dad.  He has his thoughtful and caring little soul.  Well...after this great moment, I read a great quote that I will share, cause I don't want to forget it.

"There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity." -Washington Irving-

My little ones crack me up...

I went to Molly's class to do a Halloween singing time today.  All these little girls before I left were asking for play dates with Molly(b/c I keep telling Molly that we will do that soon...I am not sure I can put it off much longer...when I am sick, I feel like committing to very little).  The singing time was fun.  And other than my Molly running up every few seconds to hug my leg, I think things were totally under control.  :-) We'll see if her teacher lets me return.  

Garrett and I were playing with his cars.  As he was taking his little farmers out of the tractors, he started playing make believe.  But instead of it being in first person.  He was telling it in 3rd, like a narrator from a book.  "Fawmer Gawwett said, "Can I hewp you fawmer Mowwy?"  "I need my Mommy" said Fawmer Mowwy.  "Oh NO!  I need to hewp you Fawmew Mowwy" he wondered?  He has no idea what "he wondered" means, but uses it excessively.  This went on for quite some time.  I am definitely looking forward to the next "story."  Hey...that shows he is at least paying attention when we read to him. Right?  :-)

When I read this blog years from now, I hope I can remember the smile this put on my face.