This winter proves to be the same as last with lots of skiing to keep us busy. We went skiing as a family on Christmas Eve. The kids were there all day, while Steve and I joined them later in the day. It kept their minds off all the goodies in store and out of trouble by searching to find the store of pressies in advance.
Boxing Day was also spent on the hill as a family. Caleb was the only one not on the hill. He was busy working in the Ski Chalet Kitchen on his first day of work!!!! We're so proud of him. He has quite the week ahead of him, working every day 11-8 Monday through Saturday. He's excited for the money.
Declan and his regular ski buddies, Emma and Ian, used Declan's camera to put together a mini video of them doing 180's at the hill. It's Declan's first editing on the video software. He did a great job.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Declan's First Ski Video Boxing Day 2011
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Conference Time
Grab your pencils, your comfys, your snacks and in my case, your knitting and get ready for an awesome conference session. We love conference weekend at our house. We spend it in our comfy's (pj's), eating our favorite foods and enjoying lots of great conference talks. The kids love the conference packets that they get to work on during conference. The last couple of conference sessions the church has put out these conference packets and downloads for the kids and have online games for them to enjoy too. They've been a big hit in the OneinaDeMillion house.
Here's a link if you haven't discovered them yet. http://new.lds.org/general-conference/children?locale=eng
They also work great for family home evenings too!
The October Conference Weekend is the beginning of the Holiday Season in our home. Time to feast on good food, good words, and enjoy good family time.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Friday, September 3, 2010
School Days, Sad Days
I wasn't really emotional when Caleb started school, he was so ready to be there, or too sad when the others started as my hands were full with babies at home. However, this year was hard to see them off to school.
This was our busiest summer ever with four kids in activities and camps and vacations, I often felt like I was running ragged and thought occasionally of the quiet days when they would all be in school. I'll admit, I may have longed for those quiet school days. However, as time drew closer it started to hit me... I was going to have a high schooler and my lunch date and Starbucks buddy was going to be in Kindergarten.
As I drove Caleb home from High School orientation on Tuesday, I started to cry. It's all going too fast. Before I know it, he'll be gone. They'll all be gone. Suddenly, I wanted time to stand still, maybe even turn the clock back. Because Caleb is such a kind young man, he comforted me, which to be honest made me feel sadder. I wished he were still little and we were still crawling around on the floor of our apartment (on the lovely green shag carpet). Him having just learned how to crawl and wanting to race around the apartment chasing me or me chasing him. To be able to pick him up in my arms and snuggle him and his cute baby smell. There's not a chance I'd be able to pick up this football playing Freshman any more.
This made it so much harder to see Ethan off on the bus that day. He was so excited and ready and gave a quick wave and was gone. I managed to hold it together until I walked in the house and fell to the carpet and cried like the baby I wish they all were. Luckily I have Winston to lick away all my tears. So then I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. I had over eight hours until they would be home and I needed to fill every last minute of it.
I need to cherish more of every moment I can with these children, knowing that they'll be grown and gone before I know it. I'll hold them a little tighter. Listen more attentively to them telling me about their days. Soak up every minute I can with them. And hope and pray I've taught them what they REALLY need to know.
I was so emotional that I didn't get pictures of everyone before they left for school (doesn't help that Declan is gone by 6:45 and I drop Caleb off at seminary at 5:55am every morning and don't see him until football practice is over at 6pm - he's gone 12 hours a day - is that supposed to break me in for when he'll be off in college, because all it really does is make me want to vomit)
Madison arriving home from school.
My sweet little boy, Ethan arriving home from his very first day of school. He was tuckered out, but informed us that everything was "AWESOME" at school.
Celebrating Declan
Declan turned 12 in August on the same day that Grandma and Grandpa arrived in Wausau for a visit. Declan is a huge steak lover so we headed off to one of his favorite restaurants "Texas Roadhouse" to celebrate his big day.
Ethan may have celebrated a little too hard!
(don't worry, that's not Miller Lite that EB's drinking, but locally brewed Point Root Beer - one of Ethan's true loves in life)
Declan is an all-american boy who loves nothing more than a great big steak on his plate. He had a big smile on his face the entire time he worked on his New York Strip Steak of which he ate every bite. Don't be fooled by this kids size - he eats enough to feed five people with. A 16oz steak is merely a snack for this boy.
In addition to going out for Steak, Declan received some rather nice gits. A new iHome pad for his iPod, some cool new skull candy earphones for his iPod, the Discovery Channels Sharkweek DVD set (he is fascinated by this series and has gotten Ethan hooked on it too), some candy, and .... because he is an all-american boy - he wanted a new gun. He has a couple of actual guns, and an airsoft gun already, but he had his eye on a awesome new airsoft rifle that we ordered online.
He was ordained a Deacon at church the following Sunday and last week I was able to sit and watch Steve, Caleb and Declan pass the sacrament together. It was so special! I couldn't help but reminded of how it only seemed like a moment ago that we moved to Wausau (Declan was 3) and on our first Sunday in church, Declan was sat there winking at Holly and Heidi Beck (who were in College and High School at the time). He's such a player still!
Unfortunately, time flies. We realized that when Ethan turns 12 Caleb won't be able to pass the sacrament with his brothers and Dad because he'll be half way through his mission. Some days, I wish time would slow down just a little and I could have more time to cherish with these special kids.
In the meantime, Declan will keep us laughing, crying, loving, possibly threatening to kill him occasionally, but most of all cherishing the special young man he has become.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Where in the world is Caleb????
Mainly cyberstalking Caleb while he's been on his 8th grade field trip to Washington DC, Virginia, and New York City.
It has been such an awesome tool. We can look at his location as either a map shot, aerial shot or birds eye view, where we can zoom in and circle the building. It's so cool!
This has been an amazing trip for Caleb and we are so pleased that he was able to go and see these wonderful sites. It has been a whirlwind trip but he's young - he can handle it.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
May 5th
Some days seem to be more important in our lives than others.
May 5th is mine! Some of the most impactful events to my life have happened on that date.
May 5th 1993 - My Nanny Taylor - one of the most lovely and special people I have ever met - passed away suddenly on this date. I was in the states, newly married, and poor, and couldn't afford to fly home to her funeral. It was a very sad time and I was heartbroken.
May 5th 1995 - I found out I was pregnant with our first child, Caleb! We had desperately wanted a child and had been told that it didn't look hopeful for my being able to get pregnant (hard to believe four kids later). I still remember looking at that test in the bathroom and jumping up and down crying and laughing. I quickly jumped in my car ran to the hospital lab and had a blood test to confirm it as I couldn't believe it. I then drove to Steve's work and excitedly told him the news, while he sat in shock listening. He continues to be such a huge blessing in our life, as have the other three special children that have since joined our family.
May 5th 2010 - Today I head off to the hospital for surgery to resolve a medical problem that has been progressively getting worse. For the benefit of my health I have to have an alternative to a hysterectomy that would make it very dangerous to both my health and a baby if I were to get pregnant. So, today, my baby making career ends. It's such a hard thing in many ways to do. I know that I have been blessed with four wonderful kids and have a lovely family. However, I love being pregnant and feeling that baby move inside of me. It is when I have closest to my Heavenly Father as being a tool of his creative powers. I do know it's what I need to do though and am blessed to have the options offered to me that will enable me to be free from the health problems that have plagued me recently. I have an amazing doctor, who is also a friend and I trust him completely.
So, instead of feeling sorry for myself. I am going to celebrate the four miracles that have entered our family, and celebrate the life of my beautifully Nanny Taylor. She continues to be an inspiration to me of strength and courage when faced with adversity. Next chapter of life, I'm looking forward to seeing what you bring.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Mimic
Another funny Ethan Story:
Today EB was taunting the dog and quite honesty getting on both mine and the dogs nerves, so I told him to stop and he continued. I grabbed him and tickled him and said "You want a piece of me?
Without missing a beat he said in a funny squeaky voice, "You dare point a gun at me. Do you want a piece of me? I'll tear you apart."
Apparently he is a little obsessed with Transformers and has most of the movie memorized. He was mimicking Ironhide.
This kid keeps us in stitches. Some days I think he might have just a little TOO much personality!
