Day 4

Today and everyday I am thankful for a great husband. Mark made our favorite and very yummy Market Street clam chowder for dinner tonight AND apple crisp for dessert.  He is the best and calls me his favorite. I love that Mark of mine.

Day 1

I am thankful for a little boy that insists his mommy plays on the trampoline with him every afternoon. Playing Duck-Duck-Goose with two people is quite suspenseful.

Day 2 and 3

Nov. 2 - Yesterday I was reminded how blessed I am to live where I do. I stepped out on the porch and heard some cows and chickens not I-215 or sirens.

But today, Nov. 3, I was reminded how much my life was enriched by living in T-ville. We went there today. It felt like going home, and I was surrounded by so many wonderful people that I love dearly. Miss them so.

That's my big brother!

Today Brandon was appointed by the govenor as Idaho's 21st state controller. Can I help it that I am a little excited for, not to mention, pretty proud of him? Brandon is an all-around good person and is married to one amazing woman. I love this photo of the two of them. Brandon and Jana make one great team. They always say behind one good man is an even better woman.



I am sure Grandpa Woody is up there singing for you Brandon, "And here we have Idaho! Winning her way to fame!"

Growing Up

Alex started preschool today. He attended a preschool through our local school district for four months prior to our move and loved it. He adored Ms. Aubrey and Ms. Mindy (Not me, his teacher also named, Mindy). He stills loves to wear the little apron and baker hat they made there.

This time we decided to try something different. I, along with three other moms, will be taking turns teaching in our homes. I am excited about this and think it will be good for both Alex and me. I am happy to be taking an active roll in teaching him and the other cuties. He really seemed to like it. The real test comes on Thursday when he realizes this wasn't a one time deal. Happened to each of the boys the first time they went to preschool. Loved the first day, cried the second. Some the third, and the fourth. You get the picture.

In a few more days Alex will be turning four. It is crazy to think about how much he has changed our lives. I couldn't imagine life without Alex. He helps me slow down and enjoy the little things in life. He has always taken things at a slower pace than everyone else. That's just his way; I hope he never changes.

I am grateful to his old physical therapist, MaryAnne, who told me to find what he enjoys and let him develop his talent in that area. I can't imagine Alex being a star athlete or top scholar, but he has so much more to give. He really is an amazing little person.

Alex loves music, and today he came home singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Pretty sure I have never sung that one to him. He cracks me up when we're riding around in the car and he starts singing along to the radio. Half of the time you can't get this kid to repeat the words you are trying to get him to say when praying, but put it to music and he may just surprise you.

My morning was a little more quiet with him gone. I'm not ready for him to grow up!

This kid has the best blue eyes ever, maybe even better than his dad's.
His long, dark eyelashes are killer.

He had to wear his gator shirt and shorts.
If you ask him, the shirt can only be worn with this pair of shorts.

Bye, Mom! I'm off to preschool! Big Boy back pack and all.
Don't tell him it's one of Aaron's old ones.

Roll Me, Mom!

This one is for my family. I told you about the big pipe we played with before Mark put it in the HUGE hole we dug. It was fun. I almost got inside once. All three of the boys had their turn at some point playing in the pipe. I laughed and told Mark we needed to buy one for each of them, but then remembered just how much a big ol' piece of pipe costs and decided the boys could find other ways to entertain themselves.

I had never rolled Aaron over more than once, so this time I was a little worried about how he was doing. My camera man didn't move with the action, but Aaron was able to maintain his stance the whole rotation. Love my farmer uniform - shorts and boots. They are pink leopard from Target.

Another school year

Summer was over before we knew. We had to drag ourselves out of our beds and make the walk up to the bus stop. This year the bus stops at the top of the lane, rather than down by Grandpa and Grandma Gull's. It takes us roughly five minutes to get there, faster if you know you're late or she's early...

First school picture taken on the porch at the new house.
Seemed a little surreal.

Ethan started 6th grade and is in the orchestra playing the violin. He surprised his mother completely with that request. He's quite excited! He just got his violin on Tuesday. He goes to the high school twice a week before school and then is bussed over to the elementary. Can't believe this is his last year in elementary. Next year I'll have a junior high kid. Not sure how I feel about that one!

Aaron stared 3rd grade and loves school, being with friends, and learning. He also loves that he is taller than his older brother. They certainly have their own style. And as they get older it is harder to not force my own style on them. They are who they are. And I love them for it. At least Ethan will pull down his socks a bit for me, you can see the slouch in the socks here.

No time like the present

Thought I better do some posting. Life has been passing me by.

Yesterday we took the boys up to the Brigham City Temple Open House. Of course the bus ride is always fun. Alex thought it was great. The two big boys wanted their school bus to be as cool as this bus was: reclining seats and a bathroom. While watching the video presentation prior to the tour, Aaron leaned over and said he was thinking about making a goal. I nodded, and he told me he wanted to make a goal to go to every temple. Maybe we'll just start with the ones here in Utah -- made my heart smile. I think he got the spirit of the temple even in that small moment. Elder Holland's comments made me reflect on how much Mark and the boys mean to me when he said heaven without his wife just wouldn't be heaven to him.

The temple was beautiful, and I'm so glad we took the opportunity to go and take the boys. We are also taking them to the dedication later this month. Ethan said he just wants to go inside the Salt Lake Temple, RIGHT NOW! I can't believe he has less than a year before he can.

The front of the temple was really crowded with people, so we went to the side and found this cute old man to take our picture. He was asking us to say the funniest things before taking our pictures, that I was laughing a bit too much and look like a mess. Well, that's me - laughing, double-chin and all.

Aaronisms

Aaron is one funny kid. He surely keeps it interesting around here. I got an email from his teacher that cracked me up and had to preserve it. She wrote:
"I know many of the boys in the class will really miss him and I’ll miss his fun sense of humor. I joked with him that it is a shame he can’t stay until the end of the school year and he said, 'No, my Mom wouldn’t let me, that’s why I haven’t even asked.' "

Poor kid, he isn't always laughs and giggles though. The other morning before school he broke down crying and told me he didn't want to leave our house and move away. He said that this was the perfect place to live, and he didn't want to go. We had to quickly come up with a long list of great reasons to move. He said he didn't buy any of it. He had me crying too. I think this is going to be harder than I ever imagined.

Boxing Day

My new nightly ritual -- boxing up the house. I know we have several more weeks before the move, but we have been in this house for nearly 14 years. In that amount of time you can really pack it in.



There are so many memories that live within the walls of this home. Mark brought me here to check it out when he was looking for a place to call his own. We were just dating, and I really didn't think I would one day be living here, let alone, marry this guy. He said he knew it all along. He even bought the stove we have now with a "power boost burner" just so I could can. I'm not even sure I knew how to can. But, alas --- here we are, three boys later and lots of stuff. We have made this our home, both inside and out.

It will be a bitter-sweet day when I have to leave. As for now, I'm reliving lots of memories as I box up what I can. Ethan just found his long-lost Lego Lava Monster. I am sure there will be many more great finds as we continue to box up and clear it all out.

My boy Ethan

This is a totally random post, but I decided I just had to get this on today. I have put it off for several weeks. We found a half destroyed paper ball Ethan had made in class with favorites of his. Rather than throw it away, I kept it, but I knew I wouldn't be saving it forever. I would just have to document his responses. Here they are:
Favorite Movie: Star Wars - like this was a big surprise!!!!
Favorite Book: Harry Potter
Favorite TV show: Tom and Jarry -- Tom and Jerry
Favorite Song: Call to sere -- Called to Serve
Favorite Subject: Sientce -- Science
Born: Salt Lake
Birthday: 81 -- That's literally how he wrote it, and it cracked me up. I joked and asked him if he thought he was 81 years old.
Least Favorite Food: Brocole and peas -- broccoli and peas, he knows when I've cooked broccoli for dinner and comes walking in the house in fear that he'll have to eat it.
Free Time: Draw
Favorite Number: 10
Person to be like: Mark -- how sweet. This one made me smile.
Future Job: Lego deziner -- Lego designer
Favorite Color: Black

He really is a good kid, and I love him so much. It is hard to see your kids struggle in life. I'm sure it will never get any easier being a mom. Love you, Tate Man.