Bitter Sweet

It's been a busy few months, however I have beat my goal and am updating my blog before that 6 month mark!

Sawyer is getting close to turning 11 and finishing up some requirements for his Arrow of Light in Cub Scouts. He spent some of the weekend working on Welcome posters for a nearby camp for sick children. It was fun watching him become engaged in a good cause and really doing his best for those children.

Our little Liam isn't so little anymore. He has been busy working on outdoing his older siblings in his weight and height for the 4 month mark. Sawyer holds the current record at 18lbs 11oz and 27". We will find out on the 19th of Feb. when Liam visits the doctor. While he grows he also enjoys smiling and talking to anyone who will give him attention- even if it's just the baby in the mirror. He is very ticklish and continues to love his baths. I couldn't ask for a better baby, except his length between feedings 24/7.
Macy came home from school the other day informing me that she wanted to have a Lemonade Stand and send the proceeds to Haiti. I purchased Lemonade, cups, and poster boards. She invited her friend, Britta over on Saturday. They spent lots of time on the posters and then several hours outside selling. Fortunately it was a beautiful day. They weren't getting the foot and drive-by traffic they wanted so they took to a delivery service; getting orders by going door to door and then delivering their sales. They also took advantage of the neighbor kids and siblings, hired them with free cups of Lemonade and sent them selling too! They shut down shop after the sun went down and came away with $82.96 to send to Haiti. Snuggling her later just before bed, Macy got that glimmer in her eye and told me how she discovered that drinking 8 cups of lemonade turned her pee clear. Only then did I remember how many trips she had made to the restroom during the afternoon!!

In the dark of night....

Wow! I have neglected blogging for quite some time. Not much has been going on in our house, so no excuses right?

We relocated our family from sunny warm Texas back up to the Northwest rains and clouds (didn't we learn the 1st time?) in August. We stayed in temp housing until moving into our home in September. Fortunately, the weather was beautiful and the kids and I did a lot of swimming and touristy activities before starting school. It was fun catching up with old friends and hanging with the sis and cousins here.

September brought the move and start of school. The kids are now in 5th, 3rd, and 1st. They were thrilled to discover that they could talk during lunch and also get THREE whole recesses a day! The principle was the highlight though- apparently he is very funny and friendly. I hear lots about Mr. S. The cul-de-sac is filled with lots of children the same ages. With the nice weather, the kids played outside from the end of school until after dark. We had many a marshmallow roast and capture the flag games in the backyard. Asher had another successful season of soccer, he is quite the aggressive player.

Not only did the rains and cold weather come in October, but also the arrival of little Liam James on October 21st. Labor and delivery was quite uneventful (fortunately), and we were able to take him home the following day. The rest of the month was a blur to me. My mom was here doing all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, kid duty, etc. She was fabulous help. The older kids enjoyed Halloween dressed as they did last year, made it easy for me that they wanted to wear the same costumes... they weren't even bribed! They each ended the Halloween 'season' with over 7 pounds of candy after the Ward party, Microsoft's, and running through the Sundwall's neighborhood. It was a good end to the month...

November brought a friend from Texas and her daughter with it. We had fun doing some site-seeing, hanging out, shopping, and I slept while she ran circles around me with the day to day drudges. She was a great 'assistant' to me with helping little Liam, I miss my extra 2 arms! Here's to the second half of the month!

We feel so blessed to have a happy healthy baby boy. Liam has surprised his older siblings by not being a 'crying baby' as Macy puts it. He does however like the night hours to be wide awake. We have tried everything to switch his habits, no success so far. Any suggestions!? Both Dave and I feel very sleep deprived!

Hopefully it won't be another 6 months before another blog... if only for my own personal history...

Ultrasound Results....

Can you tell who isn't too excited about the news? 

Texas Size Storm

Typically there isn't a lake in our front yard!

Just over a week ago, a storm swept through our town in Texas. It wasn't a tornado, but what they consider a 'straightline'. Meaning the wind is just as strong, but all moving in the same direction. It left as fast as it came and we were left with water in our office and front entry. Even the closed, locked windows on the front of the house seeped water through them. 

(typically there isn't a river in our backyard either!)

The biggest loss, to the kids, was what we found in the backyard. The playset had been ripped from the ground, tearing through the 4x4 supports and tossed across the yard. Macy was the most saddened by the site, as she spends several hours a day on it. It didn't take long for her to proclaim that it was fine though, that now it was just a different playset, get her water clothes on, and summit the 'new' pile. 

What remains of our playset now lays in a heap in our driveway, waiting to be disposed. The kids... are finding plenty of pleasure on their bikes. Now we just need to decide if and when we want to invest in another item that might be destroyed by a Texas storm.  

We Love Mom

I've decided to "hack" Anna's blog account to post a few thoughts from Mother's Day.  Hopefully I won't embarrass her too badly.  

I asked the kids yesterday to think of some of the reasons they love their Mom so much - the specific question was, "Why is Mom so special to you?"

Asher:  "Because I know that she loves us ..."  Dad: "Well, how do you know?"  Asher: with a sheepish grin on his face ... "Because she gives us BIG, WARM snuggles every single night!"

Macy:  "Because she's so much fun..."  Dad: "What type of things are so fun about her?"  Macy: "Well, Dad you know..."  Dad: "Sure I do, but I want you to tell me yourself..."  Macy: [getting impatient] "Daaaaaaaad" [Pause - her fingers are busy tracing lines up my arm] "Oh ok - it's because she takes time to play so many games with me and do arts and crafts and all that stuff..."  

Sawyer:  [long thoughtful pause] "Dad - it makes me feel good that she doesn't go to work so she can spend time with us here at home."  I didn't see a need to follow-up on that one ...

I asked our fourth child, but all I heard were gurgles and gas bubbles.  

So there it was - in the mouth of my babes - they love their Mom because they see and feel, unconsciously, the amount of time she spends with them.  It's kind of like that cheesy commercial that every now and then pulls at your heartstrings or mists your eyes a bit ... "It's all about time."

I would never want to diminish any other mom out there, because I know there are many who are stellar lights for their families.  But ... I just want to brag on Anna a little bit, because she's a remarkable mother [and wife, but that's for another post].

Here's a few reasons why I think she's such a fantastic Mom (not in any particular order):

1. She loves the Lord more than anything (or anyone) else - and because of that, she knows exactly what her priorities are - things like her role as a Mother, her commitment to her family, her willingness to serve others and care for them, etc.
2. For those that know her well, Anna is a talented designer and has a real knack for ... how shall I say ... planning and organizing empty space into functional environments.  It reminds me of something I've heard somewhere - "see yonder is matter unorganized ..." Ok, anyway, she really could make some moolah if she chose to ... but she's chosen to set that aside for now and focus on being a Mom. 
3. Anna's tough on our kids when they need it - she doesn't "cave" to their tantrums or emotional manipulation.  She follows the counsel to "show ... an increase in love" after an episode of admonishment or discipline, hence love is able to prevail in our home.
4. Lastly - one of the things I love about Anna that will hopefully pass to our children - she's a realist with hope.  Over time, she has developed this wonderful ability to let the past be the past and devote her extraordinary gifts and talents to the "holy present" - thus her ability to confidently exclaim to me or the kids, "it is what it is - get over it and make the best of it..."  It is good, strong medicine for us.  It reminds me of a talk given by one of my theological and personal heroes, Neil A. Maxwell.  He commented as follows, "Thus, within our allotments we see how the saintly display kindness even within barbed-wire circumstances, yet others have barbed attitudes even within opulence. Meanwhile, the discontented continue to build their own pools of self-pity, some Olympic size."  That comes from a great talk of his titled "Content with the Things Allotted unto Us" ... you can read it in its entirety here: [http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-4-28,00.html]

Well, that's enough pontificating for now.  I'm so grateful for Anna and how committed she is to being a stellar Mom.  She's incredible - and a true blessing to our little family.  I love her dearly. 

And no, for those of you who thought it, I'm not writing this because I "forgot" about Mother's Day.  The kids and I had a lot of fun w/ her yesterday ... and you'll have to ask her about the peanut sauce.  

New Tradition

Now that the kids are old enough...too old they tell me for the traditional Easter Egg Hunt, we tried something different this year. A friend suggested that we do a 'flashlight Egg Hunt', making it more difficult to find the eggs for our 'advanced in age' children. So with more than 200 Easter Eggs, friends gathered, and a dark night, we moved forward with our plans. A storm loomed in the distance (for other Texans, you know that storms in Texas in April can mean chaos!) Fortunately, we didn't have to move our activity indoors, we made it inside just before the down pour, with all eggs and children in tow. The kids loved the added mystery and challenge of finding eggs outside around the house. Pros: we found several 'obvious' eggs the following morning. Cons- they were wet and muddy. Another negative- no cute pictures due to the lack of light! Will have to make this activity an annual event! 

Not a chance for outdoor Easter pictures this year- too much moisture!

This is what happens when three bodies have consumed an unnatural amount of sugar and are expected to sit for more than a few seconds (no matter how old they are getting!) 

In her White Dress

There is nothing like witnessing a 

daughter of Heavenly Father

 being baptized by her daddy. 

Especially when she is yours. 

This is one 'spirited' girl.

An emotional rollercoaster.

A leader and dictator.

A confident child with

high-self esteem.

A sweet and loving angel. 

I am glad that she made the

decision. I am glad that she 

is clean. I am thankful for repentance.

I am proud to be her momma. 

May you always stay as clean as the dress that you were baptized in...