Thanksgiving 2007

We had plans to stay in California for Thanksgiving this year and then sort of last minute, Joseph told me he thought it would be great for me to fly home to be with my family since I hadn't spent Thanksgiving with them for the last 4 years. Isn't he a great husband! I was very hesitant to go because I wanted to spend the holiday with him ( I felt like a bad wife leaving), but we purchased tickets and I flew out with the kids very early on Thanksgiving morning. We tried to work it out for Joe to fly in for a couple of days, but we couldn't quite get the timing figured to work, so he stayed and had Thanksgiving with the Ellis Family.

My dad picked us up from the airport in their new Pilot. It was a fun ride, and made me wish we had chosen a Pilot...for a few minutes, but then my practical self kicked in and I remembered how much cargo space the Odyssey has....but I am happy they have such a cute and sporty car to drive around.

One of my favorite parts was the way my kids went running to my dad the moment they saw him in SLC. It made my heart melt! Aaron ran to him and buried his head in my dad's shoulder for about 5 minutes. It was so cute! I know it made my dad so happy! He was grinning from ear to ear!

Because we arrive in SLC at 8:30 a.m. most of the meal was already prepared by the time we arrived in Spanish Fork. I made a salad and enjoyed catching up with all of my siblings and their spouses and children....and of course the little ones played and played and played!
After the meal I went to check out the after Thanksgiving ads and Aaron climbed on my back for a post meal cuddlle. He loves to nustle right up! He's my little bear cub! When he's not busy running here and there, he loves to be held and so I spend a good part of my day holding him. I don't mind, children are only babies for a brief moment, I love to enjoy every minute of it! Aaron was fascinated with my parent's shutters. There were many times during the week that he would walk over and open and shut them over and over. I think he loved seeing that he could manipulate something and see the cause and effect all because of his efforts.

Here's my bear cub again, taking a little rest on Grandpa's belly.The night of Thanksgiving was crazy! We had a full house. I think we figured that we had 16 people sleeping in the house. I slept with Aaron and Emily. Aaron had a very rough night! Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a deep sleeper. I need my sleep, I don't function well without it. Joseph functions very well on little sleep and so he is the one who gets up with our children when they wake in the middle of the night. None of them have ever taken a bottle, so when they were nursing he would bring them to me and I would feed them, but I think I even did that in my sleep. So, Aaron was having a rough night and I think everyone in the house knew it before me and I was sleeping right next to him. I tucked him under my arm and let him cry and went back to sleep. Emily couldn't stand the screaming so she picked him up and took him to the other room, only to have him scream hysterically and throw himself to the floor over and over again. I started feeling bad so I went and took him to the family room for a few minutes. He still kept screaming and wouldn't settle down. Emily, being the President of the Utah Student Nurses Association that she is :), went to Macey's at 3 a.m. to get some Infant Ibuprofen. They were closed and she still talked them into letting her in to buy it. Now don't you wish you could have a personal nurse like that. But, here's the catch, when she arrived home, I had tucked Aaron under my arm and let him cry it out until he fell asleep. I really can sleep through alot! Sorry Emily! My mom woke us up at 8:00 a.m. with "Wake up! We're going shopping in 15 minutes!" We both groaned and rolled out of bed.

We went to a Christmas store first and then to University Mall. I headed straight to Gymboree to get my early bird discount and to use my 20% off mailer. It was a mad house in there. The line was sooooo long because their computers went down. There were some really mad women. I dropped my 20% off coupon somewhere in the store but the clerk gave me the discount anyway so I ended up getting about 70% off the original price for the items. That's what I LOVE about Gymboree - eventually most things make it to sale price and you can get some great quality stuff for a reasonable price. Gymboree is one of those places where I would consider you CRAZY if you pay full price for anything. We didn't last too long shopping and headed to Zupas in Provo after for some lunch. I definitely recommed it, it was yummy! Thanks for treating us Mom!

While I did minimal shopping in Utah, Joe was in California going to town. My husband is a shopper! He will tell you himself. He LOVES a good deal and so of course he LOVES to shop on black Friday. When Aaron was crying at 6 a.m. I decided to call him even though it was 5 a.m. in California because I knew he would be at some early bird sale. Sure enough he was in Vacaville at the Nike Outlet among other stores. He did get some great deals. I am glad he is willing to brave the storm. Because I love my sleep, I have never gone to an early bird sale and I probably never will. When I called him later in the evening he was on his way to Roseville to do some more shopping at the Galleria. He was on a roll!

On Saturday part of the family went to the BYU vs. Utah game (and yes all is right in the world now) and part of us took the kids to the movie "Enchanted." It was a cute movie. The girls loved it, but we all agreed that the Susan Serandon was a little over the top as the witch and the dragon at the end. Abby has been up for 4 nights this week having nightmares about it. Why do they have to make the evil villain that evil, I mean, really it doesn't take that much! Now she is afraid of every witch and last night even started talking about being scared of Elpheba.

We ended the evening together again with dinner at Bajio. YUM! Green Chile Chicken Salad with Mango Salsa is divine!



After the movie, we stopped at the park near Mom and Dad's house for the kids to play.

My brother Scott always walks to church. Whenever we have stayed with them in St. George or whenever he visits he always walks to church. Abby LOVES my brother Scott. Last year when we stayed at the Pine Valley cabin Abby and Scott were walking to church and we tried to pick them up so they would be on time. Abby refused! They eventually got there. So whenever we are with them, this is a common sight you will see, Scott walking to church with the kids. On her way out the door Abby fell and tore a hole in her tights, so we had to go put socks on and drive her in tears to where Scott was so she could walk with him. She was determined to walk with Scott and when she reached him all was well!
On Sunday we went to Grandma Shawny's house to spend some time with the Lee family. Everyone was there except for Eliza and Casey and Melissa and Joseph of course. I think there were 44 people there that night. Grandma has 3 playrooms and many areas around the house dedicated to toys and games so there is always room for playing and fun. The girls had lots of fun playing with their cousins.

Thanks to Shawny for hosting everyone. It's quite the task when we all get together and she always provides the most delicious food and has such a welcome spirit in her home. We never want to leave. I know it takes alot or work to put all the pieces back together throughout the whole house when we do leave, so we appreciate it so much!

On Monday we got things ready to go home and Chad and Jenn came over for Family Home Evening. They taught the lesson and then after we all piled illegally (oops!) into the Pilot and went to see the Festival of Lights. I love experiencing the sights and sounds of Christmas with my children, I feel like a child again and it brings back so many wonderful memories!

On Saturday we did the Nativity at Mom and Dad's since we won't be together with everyone for Christmas. We decided to dress Aaron as a sheep and he loved it! This is the bunny costume that mom bought at Gap when Brynn was a baby. It makes for a great sheep costume when the ears are pinned up. On Tuesday morning Dad drove us to the airport to fly home. Joe was out of town in Calistoga for a work retreat, so we were sad to miss him when we arrived home, but we had fun reconnecting the next day when he arrived home! I love visiting with family. We feel really blessed to get to see them so much this month. Mom is going to stay with our kids while Joe and I go to Laguna Beach next week, and then Mom and Dad and Emily are coming to spend Christmas with us! Hooray for family!

Davis Turkey Trot 2007

I ran the Davis Turkey Trot 10K the Saturday before Thanksgiving with my friend Karen and her sister Brenn. It was a great run with a beautiful course winding through neighborhood parks and greenbelts in Davis. The scenery was gorgeous ! I loved it! I can't remember everyone's offical times, but Karen ran it is 47 minutes, Brenn 51 minutes and 53 minutes for me. Not my best time ever, but it was a great day and lots of fun! This is a race I definitely plan to do again in the future! The day started out quite over cast, but by the time we left the event, it was warm with blue skies overhead! Notice how green the grass is! That is one thing I LOVE here. It doesn't turn brown in the winter. In the summer, things look more golden because it is so hot, but in the fall and winter is starts to get green again. Joe is ready to move to Davis for a few different reasons, mainly because he thinks it's a beautiful place with lots of great places to bike. After the race we enjoyed all of the post-race events. There were quite a few races that took place especially for families....a 5K walk/run, a 1/2 mile run, 1 mile run, and the 10K. The kids enjoyed the free Jamba smoothies, homemade cinnamon rolls, the rock wall, the bouncing castles, and jamming to the live music. Joe did the girls hair that day because I left earlier. Don't you think he did a good job?! He better be careful, I might try to solicit help more often! All of us girls tried the rock wall. It was fun! My pride prevents me from posting pictures of my backside in in the harness, though. :o) Karen and her husband Peter, are avid rock climbers, they climb in Tahoe and all over quite a bit. One of these days when we get babysitters coordinated for all of our kids we are going to go to the climbing gym for them to give us some pointers. Rock climbing really is fun.
Aaron ordering Joe around! Very typical of this little guy!

Abby considering the daunting task of making it up the rock wall.


I love my boys!

Crazy Hair Day

Now it's catch up time.....

Brynn sporting her crazt hair for spirit day. She asked for pink rollers and then ponies and curlies all over her head. She was a little disappointed that the curlers didn't produce more curl, but after much reassuring she decided it was acceptable enough. This little girl is pretty visionary. When she envisions something in her mind, she wants you to produce exactly what she has envisioned. The trouble is my hands are not as talented as her mind.
The finsihed product! I think it looks pretty crazy, don't you?
Brynn also received an award at the Hawk Assembly. This month she received the award for excellence in reading. A couple of months ago she received one for math. Way to go Brynn!
Abby wanted to take part in all of the craziness. This is her crazy do! She said she wanted "horns" for her crazy hair-do. Yes, I know it just adds to the misconception about Mormons and horns.
And my little bud Aar-Bear! He got a double whammy of a black eye, his first one happened while Joe was changing his diaper and he bucked himself into the bed frame. Then, while we were at Costco he started pushing the flatbed cart around and fell and hit his eye on the corner,. Now, as I write this, he has a cut on the other side, I can't'remember how that one happened. So much for a Christmas picture! Maybe we'll send out Happy New Year greeting cards!

Making the Switch...

We are in the process of making this a "private" public blog. I know that I don't have everyone's email addresses, so I'll leave this post up for a few days and give you a chance to respond..... and a chance for me to get all of my addresses updated. joe_amylee@hotmail.com or bikinglawyer@gmail.com

So, if you would like an invite.....please don't be shy, we value our human connections and we don't care how we know you or even if we know you through someone else :)....leave a comment even if you don't normally do so or email me and I will include you....and hopefully a sign in won't keep you from visiting. We love our associations! Hope to hear from you soon!

Bread in a Bag

Just wanted to share a fun activity that we did when I taught school many years ago. During the week of Thanksgiving we talked about how bread was made and then each of the students got to make their own mini-loaf to take home. When we did it I remember thinking what a fun activity it would be to do with my own children. This year I finally feel like they are old enough to enjoy it. I have searched my files for the original recipe, but I can't find it. So....I consulted Google and of course I found a very similar one. I think we'll try this when we get back from our Thanksgiving trip. So if you would like a very fun, easy and relatively non-messy activity here is a link to a recipe. Enjoy! Bread in a Bag!

Little Treasures

I have lots of pictures to post from this weekend, but my computer is feeling a bit under the weather and I have to reinstall Windows XP in order to download all of the pictures.

But.... I had to write down a few things Abby has said this last week that have really made me laugh.

The kids were out playing in the backyard and on the patio and Abby tripped over "Rocky," the big rock that Brynn brought home from Lake Tahoe. When I came to get her to take care of the repairs she said, "No mom, I just need to sit hewe and wulax." When I did finally get her in she yelled in a very dramatic way, "I beg of you! Please stop! .....Love doesn't save the day mom!....What your doing is not working!.....

A few minutes later we found a note outside just outside the bathroom that read, Sore (sorry) Letr. Inside was a picture of Brynn putting her arm around a tearful Abby. It was pretty cute! Inside it read..."Abby is sad, Brynn luves her."

Brynn had written a special note to herself and misplaced it. We looked everywhere for it and finally found it. This is what the special note said.....

moms brthday list

Micl Bloobay crismus cd

loshn

So many things to smile about!

Boiling!

This was the male version of me last Saturday. Earlier in the week I called The Student Loan People to payoff one of the groups of our law school loans. When I called to make the transaction, I was very clear to the representative that I was not making a regular payment...that was already in the mail. I asked for the total payoff amount for this particular loan. The man gave me the amount, which was a very random number of course, and told me that I would receive a payoff notification in the mail in the coming weeks. I was so excited! I walked around the house for the next few days singing, "Another one bites the dust...and another ones gone and another ones gone...."

You can only imagine then how I felt when I checked the account online, only to find that they had NOT put the money on that particular loan, that instead he had disbursed the money onto all of the loans (both federal and private) as early payments and thus indicating that no payment was due for the next 4 months. AHHHHH! You may ask, what's so bad about that? I'll tell you, it's the interest rate difference between the federal and private loans. All I could think about was the money we were losing in interest because of their mistake. Really, why in the world would I have chosen such a random amount to pay? Of course I had to notice it on a Saturday when no one was in the office to answer my phone call. I am not very patient when I want to talk to someone and they aren't available. I told Joe I felt so mad, my blood was boiling and it felt venemous! I found a way to email my complaint and left it at that, but I was still as mad as ever!

Next on my list was to finish preparing my YW lesson on Optimism. I didn't feel I had it in me to think about Optimism. I was not feeling positive feelings at all so I chose to go with Joe and kids to Davis to blow off some of my steam. On the way there, I talked myself through things and realized that it was not the end of the world, and that I needed to work on my coping skills, especially since I was going to teach my Laurels the very next day how to deal with disappointments. Because of an experience my mother in law related to me with WaMu, I realized that these types of mistakes usually cannot be corrected, I chalked it up as that and decided I had to get over it. I figured out all of the numbers and realized there were still measures we could take for us to experience a minimal loss. Okay, so by the time we arrived in Davis (about 15 minutes) I was over it.

Today I had it on my list to call The Student Loan People, with a much kinder tone, to see if there was any way to clear things up. I dialed the number and waited for a representative....I decided to check the account online one more time and guess what I found? Drumroll...........the balance for the loan I tried to pay off was $0! YAY!!!! I didn't have to try to negotiate with anyone on the phone. Who knows what happened? Maybe what they did is normal and they always get the money in the right place eventually, maybe my email complaint made the difference, maybe it was a miracle. WHATEVER it was I am now relieved and happy and I think now it's time to properly celebrate! I don't know which is better, my victory in patience or that this particular group loan is wiped out! I think I'll celebrate both!

This thought by President Hinckley came to mind while we were driving to Davis that day. It's one that I repeatedly think of when I experience life's speedbumps. “It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers” I'm so glad we have a living prophet to give such wise perspective. He's always right!

Blue Diamonds 2007

Last week Brynn finished her first soccer season. We had lots of fun as a family going to support her at her practices and games. I'm kind of sad to see it end for a few different reasons. We loved Thursday nights because that's when Brynn would practice. It would give us an excuse to go to the "park" again and to let all the kids run around in wide open spaces. Aaron was often found running onto the field to give Brynn a great big hug or to try to throw a soccer ball to one of the coaches. It was pretty cute. Abby became quite good at manuevering the ball across the field, maybe they will let her start next year. We'll have to figure out how to coordinate that I guess. How do you mom's with more kids do it with organized sports?

Another reason I'm sad it's ending....I'm slow to warm up to people and so just when I feel like I've gotten to know them....the circumstances in which we are acquainted always seem to come to a close. Of course it happened with soccer, but the coaches would like to keep the same team next year, so hopefully we will be able to keep in touch with them.

It was fun to see Brynn improve her skills and confidence each week. The best part was seeing her thrive in a new social situations.

We ended the season with a pizza party on the historic Woodland Main Street at Steve's Pizza. It was fun to chat with the other families, otherwise with whom we wouldn't have associated. It always makes me happy to know that there are good people out there trying to teach their children values and serving in the community. I find myself wondering what motivates people to serve? It's easy sometimes for me to think that because I am serving my family and serving in the Church it excuses me from any civic responsibilities, but lately I've been thinking alot about improving communities. It's easy to recognize problems and complain, but it's not always easy to be the problem solver. I need to do much better at finding ways and being willing to serve at home, church and in our community. Okay, that was a tangent.

While we were eating pizza it was fun to ask the other parents about what brought them to Woodland. Some came here from the Bay area for a slower paced life. Some were born in Woodland, married in Woodland, and will most likely die here. (Joe calls that hatched, matched and dispatched.) And some are like us, had no clue that Woodland even existed and then were transferred to the area for work.

One set of parents a the pizza party gave us an ego booster when they asked if we would give them lessons on patience. They have an only child Brynn's age and they said, "We 've been amazed as we've watched you two with all of your children....You have so much patience!" I wanted to say, don''t be fooled, we are tolerant of a lot of nonsense and we both lack skills in disciplining children. This is closer to the truth, but we'll take the boost! On another side note, when Brynn was a baby my mom said, "Amy, you and Joe need to decide who is going to be the disciplinarian, because neither of you are doing it." Hopefuly we haven't ruined our kids. :)

Anyway, here's to a great first soccer experience. Thanks Brynn

(taken from a previous post by Joseph) Brynn plays soccer at an old elementary school in the middle of the city. During her first game last week, I yelled and cheered and tried to give her directions from the side lines. This was a new experience for Brynn. In her past performances with dance and ballet, we cheered and clapped for her energetic efforts, but here at the soccer game I was yelling directions! "Stop the ball... Go Go.. Kick it... Run!!" It was all too much for my sensitive little angel. In a dramatic moment, 5 year old Brynn took the ball on a solo breakaway, dribbling all the way down the field, passing the other rug-rats and scored a goal! I was whooping and hollering.... and Brynn was overcome in the moment. She started sobbing on the field! She didn't know what to make of her baffoon of a bellowing, screaming father. I called for her and she ran to my arms. She wanted to go... never to play that aggressive sport again. I calmed her down, explaining to her that I was cheering and yelling because I wanted her to have fun and do her best. It didn't matter to me if she "won" the game, but it was always important to try hard and give her best effort. Well, she overcame her reservations and yesterday had a marvelous, enjoyable, soccer game with her team. I toned down on yelling directions, and focused on big smiles, thumbs up, high fives, and happy hollers. She jogged off the field happy as can be. (Victory)

Left to right, Brynn, Delaney, Isabella, Mia, Jessica, and Maya.

CaLEEfornian Idol

Press pause on the music player at the bottom of the screen to hear last nights performance :)

Momma's Takin' us to the Zoo Tomorrow....

Mom - I wasn't able to get the movies of the girls singing downloaded, I'll do that tomorrow if I have time. We just arrived home from the park and I was able to put these on while I made dinner. I'll get those pictures ready and send them to you tonight. If you can think of any you had in mind call and let me know.

The week of Halloween Brynn was off track for school. We were excited and had lots of fun planned...then everyone kept getting sick! Brynn was sick on Halloween day and she was the last one to get through the yuckiness so when Thursday rolled around we were ready to get out! We headed to the zoo in Sacramento and had a great time!

The zoo train was really funny. It was really cute, but so small! They charge twice what the Hogle Zoo charges for their much bigger train. Oh yea...I forgot...this is California, the only thing I've found here cheaper than other places are bananas. Don't ask me why, but they are.

Aaron trying to climb the glass wall to get in with the red pandas.

Abby labored a little too hard for this one...don't you think?

Quite the wingspan, Miss Brynn!

Aaron didn't last long in the stroller, luckily it was the day after Halloween and the big Boo at the Zoo event, so they weren't very busy. I let him roam around on his own and he LOVED it!

It was so funny to see the intensity in Aaron's face as he tried to manuever this big rig. It was pretty cute!

Our cute little butterfly!

Meet Charlotte!

Meet Kanga and Roo!....Everybody move like Kanga and Roo, wherever you're going, go hop, hop, hop!

The girls favorite animal, the Anteater. This thing eats 30,000 ants a day, wouldn't that be nice to have around!

Aaron trying to go down the world's slowest slide and my favorite animal was the White-Handed Gibbons...watch the way this monkey swings, wish I could move like that!

The Bats are All Asleep

Mom, this is what the girls were doing on Halloween night when you called. Watch the way Aaron copies what they do. Brynn was in bed all day feeling sick, so we didn't go trick-or-treating but as you can see she started feeling better and we had our own kind of fun. Push pause on the music player at the bottom of the screen before you start so you can hear the music they are dancing to. Enjoy! I'll post the other one underneath this one, I can't get both videos to work on the same post.

Dance, Dance, Dance Little Skeletons