Taking it for granted

The other day I was talking to a friend who was wondering if I hated living in Utah so much (what I am always complaining about, especially during the winter) where do I WANT to live? Believe me, I have many other preferences. But that conversation is not the point of this post.

Yesterday morning as I was driving my kids to school the morning had dawned clear and bright. I could actually see the mountains instead of the thick grey smog I usually see. The mountains were so blue and snowy white. And so huge! I felt they were literally looming infront of me like a big over-protective brother. Like someone I love but often overlook and take for granted. It almost brought tears to my eyes...but the noise of my kids fighting over who got to choose the next song kept me from getting too carried away in the moment.

Utah is a beautiful place.

I don't ski, I don't hike, I don't like camping, I don't rock climb, I don't fish, I don't snowboard....geez...maybe the real loser in this situation isn't Utah, but myself.

The Nutty Nutcracker

I have mentioned this before but my family has a tradition of seeing The Nutcracker at Ballet West every Christmas. It is something we look forward to all year. I start playing the CD around July and by December the kids are excited and familiar with the music. If you have never been GO! Ballet West does an amazing job, and thanks to my father and brothers who have been or are sponsors, I have been able to meet many of the dancers over the years.

This year my awesome brother Ron invited us all to the Nutty Nutcracker. This is the third year Ballet West has done this and it was so hilarious! This years theme was the movies, so many of the dancers were dressed as movie characters. Fx: Clara was Dorothy, the Nutcracker was Luke Skywalker, the Mouse King was Darth Vadar, and the Sugar Plum fairy and her Cavalier were James Bond and a the ultimate Bond girl. It was so funny and clever. After seeing the ballet so many times, my brothers and sisters who were there totally enjoyed seeing the dancers be so funny. It kept all the children totally engaged and they laughed and laughed (sometimes really loudly) throughout.

Ray and boy cousins before! I think WE may have been Nuttier than the ballet!:)

Shannan and Shannan.

Ruby and girl cousins. I LOVE this picture!

Anyway, I think my brother had the right idea about this ballet...that we want our kids to grow up loving the ballet as much as we did. And performances like this definitely help get them excited about it. Thanks Ron!

I am a Reader, 2010

At the end of 2009 I declared myself a reader because I had read 37 books. In 2010 I surpassed that number by reading 41 books. That's a book every week 1/2 but it was easy because I love to read. Here are the details.

In 2010 I read:

41 books

12 Yoga Journal Magazines

8 Ensigns

52 US Weekly Magazines (what can I say it comes free to my PO Box)

25 People Magazines

100's of children's books

plus parts of the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon

Somehow I managed to read that much AND watch a ton of TV and movies. It's no wonder I never have any clean laundry or any friends!

Here are 10 favorite books that I read this year.

10. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo

9. The Art of Losing, by Rebecca Connell

8. The Cedar Post, by Jack Rose

7. Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson

6. The Trouble With Poetry, by Billy Collins

5. The Water and The Blood, by Nancy Turner

4. Half Broke Horse, by Jeannette Walls

3. The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls

2. Selected Poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay

And the best book I read all year was.....

1.Anthology of Robert Frost's Poems, by Louis Untermeyer

I knew very little about Robert Frost other than that he was considered one of the greatest American poets. I read this collection and found that I loved, related to, and understood almost every poem I read....and you would too! He was truly talented and had a special gift for capturing those feelings and moments that make our life meaningful, happy, or sad.

If you've never read a Robert Frost poem, click here and read Love and a Question, where Frost tells of a newlywed couple on their wedding night, interrupted by a stranger who knocks at the door and requests shelter from the storm. Through the groom, Frost asks the question, how much does God require of us?

The worst books I read this year were

Mockingjay

and

Uglies

I have nothing against it, I just really don't enjoy predictable, futuristic Juvi-Lit.

I learned a lot from all the books I read in 2010, and I look forward to a new year of great reading!

Shannan finishes the year...

End of the year news for Shannan:

Shannan spends many nights here....

...infront of the blasted computer either writing, blogging, reading your blogs, or ACTUALLY working on Jo-Sha Wipes. She took full control back from Joe of Jo-Sha Wipes this year and hired the most amazing employee to do shipping (Terrie) and is enjoying feeling like a small business owner again. Jo-Sha Wipes has been in business for 7 years now, and is incredibly, and against all odds, still doing great!

She enjoys everything about her life as a mother except for the messes. If her children would just stop spilling, dumping, or breaking things, she would be overjoyed!

She is beyond grateful for the support and love that was given this year while Ray went through chemotherapy. She is just now feeling the true depth of the fear, love, pain, gratitude, and heartache that come with having a child with cancer. There have been frequent tears recently to say the least and again she says THANK YOU to everyone who wrote, emailed, called, texted, visited, babysat, cooked, cleaned, cried, prayed, worried, hugged, cared, and thought of her family this year.

Shannan was happy to get a new popcorn pan for Christmas and is looking forward to more reading, exercising, and healthy kids in 2011.

Ammon finishes the year...

End of the year news for Ammon:

Ammon survives another day, day after day, despite his many climbs on the counters, up the Christmas tree, slides down the stairs, fingers in the sockets, hands in the oven, etc. etc. It takes an army of guardian angels just to keep this kid from injuring himself.

He plays hard and he sleeps hard! Ammon still adores his "beenty" but is only allowed to have it during naps or rest time. He can often be found sneaking into moms bedroom to lie on the bed during the day just so he can suck on the darn thing.

Ammon gets caught in the act of taking aim and throwing any toy at the other kids many times during the day. He remains the only two year old his mother knows who can make 7 and 5 yr olds cry.

Although he is a terror, Ammon makes his family laugh and is quick to hug and kiss you. He is affectionately called Gags, Googs, Goose, Baby Goose, and The Googer by his family and can often be found dancing to the title music of Go! Diego Go!

Ammon was excited to get his own basketball for Christmas and is happy to be finishing the year with his mom and dad wrapped firmly around his adorable little finger.

Solomon finishes the year....

End of the year news for Solomon:

Solomon enjoys his first train ride on the Polar Express and asks Santa to bring him a Superman watch.

He completes his first "semester" of Joy-School with mom, Ammon, and cousin B and learns his ABC's and how to make a bird nest. He spends most of his free time dressing like a super hero and singing silly loud songs.
He makes regular phone calls to his family back east and speaks with his half sister for the first time. Shy smiles and jumping around usually follow.

Solomon finally learns to try one bite of the dinner mom fixes and expands his meals to include more than Ramen noodles and cheese.

Solomon is looking forward to getting more superhero costumes for Christmas. He has the most darling face and tender heart, and is happy to be ending the year wearing big boy unders.

Ruby finishes the year...

End of the year news for Ruby:

Rubys spends most of her time playing, helping, and bossing her little brothers Ammon and Solomon. They love her and have fun playing barbies and roller blading with her in the garage.
Ruby finishes her first Kindergarten "semester" at a private school. She receives high marks in all subjects, learns to read, and makes many cute new friends.

She is the loudest and cutest singer at her school Christmas choir concert invoking cheers and claps from her brothers and smiles and tears from mom and dad!

She attends a birthday party with friends from school where she gets her face painted like a princess. Girl at the party has seizure and Ruby sees first hand a 911 call; fireman, ambulance, and police arrive.

Ruby is invited to join the junior Olympic team at her gymnastics studio. She is seen doing handstands, cartwheels, etc. everywhere she goes and at ALL times (even in the middle of Primary!)
Ruby battles dry skin daily and tries to remember to get lotion on everyday. (but it doesn't always happen) She gets new fun hairstyles every month or so and cries like crazy during each hairdo-ing session. Mom finds new Carols Daughter products that make the process much much better!

Ruby asks to decorate the tree this year and does a great job placing most of the ornaments on one side just where she could reach. Mom leaves it that way and loves it.

Ruby is looking forward to getting a black barbie for Christmas. She is a smart, active, cute girl and said she is happy to be finishing the year with good friends that play dress up with her.