Here We Go.......

I am sitting in my Family Room and listening to the sound of boxes, paper and tape.  It is loud - add Noah's sick little self to the mix and wow this is so much fun!  I love moving!

My Tater is Five......

Dear Tater,

Oh my goodness, will you please stop growing so fast.?  I cannot believe you are five, but how grateful I am that you are.  Despite being a little tiny mite who came into this world much earlier than I would have liked, you have grown into such a tall kid.  I love your silly smile and your chicken little glasses.  I love that since you were just little you have always loved to sing and I'm pretty sure you still sing yourself to sleep.  I love that you always give me snuggles, but I have to admit I miss having 'eye-dash' kisses like you used to give me, (I think I'll blame it on the glasses).  I love how much you adore your brothers and sister and I'm pretty sure they love it too.  You are so determined that sometimes it drives me crazy, but I know that it will come in super handy for you someday.  Your sense of humor makes me laugh and I love that you will forever be my little blond boy!  Happy Birthday!  Thanks for being as cute as you are -

I LOVE YOU!

Mom  

Brooklynn's Birthday!

I promised, last year I promised. Yep, I did it - I promised Brookie she could have a birthday party.  I didn't want to do it, but I knew that despite my moving stress I had better come through with that promise.  Let's be honest here people I AM NOT GOOD AT PARTIES.  So, thanks to Auntie Kari's idea, Brookie invited 3 of her adorable little friends to go to Color Me Mine with us.  We even got to go on her birthday thanks to no school for MLK day.  It was the perfect little party and in the words of Brooklynn, 'I loved it mom!'  She is so adorable and so easy to please - I love her.  The girls all had a good time and each created something very different.  Brookie made herself a piggy bank, Taylie painted a horse, Grace made a cupcake, and Lily painted a water bowl for her cat.  I cannot wait to see how they turn out when I pick them up later this week. 

After painting pottery the girls came home with us and Brooklynn was able to open her gifts. We then sang to her and ate some delicious cupcakes from the Sugar Shack. (Honestly, it is a good thing we are moving because the Sugar Shack is around the corner from my house.  I am not a huge cake eater, but dang people them's are some yummy cupcakes!)

Anyway, it turned out to be the perfect birthday and the Birthday Girl got her wish for a party......

She's Eight!

Dear Brooklynn,

I can't believe it has been 8 years since you came into our family.  The time has gone much, much too fast for me.  You are such a sweet, adorable girl and I feel really blessed to have you for my own.  Although we had a rough start, remember you liked to cry a whole bunch, I have learned so much from you!  From my sweet little girl who used to be 'hummery for faffles' to the little lady who just had 'a pink drink of um juice,'  you never cease to make me smile.  I'm always so grateful for all your help, especially with your baby brother.  You are always willing to help me with the things I need.  I also love that you are such a sweet loyal friend, you have always been so good at taking care of people and are able to see when someone needs some help or just a friend to talk to.  I know it is hard to be the only girl and I know that you will be teased by your brothers and you dad your whole life, but so far you handle all that teasing pretty well and don't worry I will always be here for you! Thank you for being my amazing, wonderful, happy little girl! 

I LOVE YOU!

Mom

P.S. - Don't Grow Up So Fast!!!

Our New Home

With our BIG move coming very quickly - at the end of the month - we were able to buy our New House this week.  We  feel very blessed that it all came together so quickly.   We are also very excited (and a little stressed) about it all, but really we can't wait to call this place Home!!!

Our House from the Street

From the side

The entry (stairs)

My Kichen (I Heart this Kitchen)

My desk (in the kitchen)

The Family Room

My Bathroom (Yay for a real Tub)

The Mud Room

The kids desk area!

Steve's very own Office (He is very excited about this one!)

Noah's Words

I must document a few of Noah's words.  All of a sudden he is really trying to talk.  While I was definitely 'Bob' for a few weeks, I am now back to 'Mama'.  Here is a list of some of the other things he says or tries to say.

Daddy
TyTy
Sissy
Joshie
Light (this one sort of sounds like dat)
Clock
Gilk (Milk)
Grampa
Boo (this is what a cow says - don't you know that)
Quack
He is starting to roar for what a lion says
Ah Gone
Ah done
Bah (Ball)
Hat
Uh Oh
He says please in sign language
He says eat in sign language
Ah Guck - for garbage or something yucky
He also rolls his arms - which I love
One of my other favorites is when he folds his arms for the prayer. 
He also LOVES to put things in the trash can.  Sadly, I have caught him throwing much more than just the trash away. 

This little man is such a Turkey, but I Love Him so much.  Even when he is a cranky pants he can put a smile on my face!  He has a grin that we like to refer to as the 'Tommy Boy' grin.  He puts his chin down and he gets a double chin and gives this big old cheeser of a grin.  It reminds us of when Tommy Boy says, "Tommy hungry, Tommy want wingy"  If you know what I am talking about.

Noah also is a big tease and already he purposly does things that he is pretty sure he shouldn't.  The best part is he'll do it while looking right at you while you say NO and he'll grin at you as sweetly as possible.  We are so in trouble with this little man! 

Ready, Set, Go - -

I am not ready and I definitely am not set, but we will very soon be going.  Our big move is only a month away.  I am completely flustered with all the things to accomplish and wrap up.  I have been trying to write it all down, so as not to forget, but I am quite certain I will forget something.  As long as it isn't one of the kids - I'm pretty sure we will be ok! 

As the time inches closer, my heart is starting to ache more and more for all the wonderful friends we will leave behind.  Thank Heavens for technology, and blogs, and facebook - they will keep us in touch I hope!!! 

One More Christmas Story....

I completely forgot to add one more highlight to my Christmas post. 

After all of our Christmas Eve Festivities, we tucked the kids into bed.  They all slept in the boys room - As I was tucking them in Tyler asked me where in his Scriptures he could find the Christmas Story.  I helped him find Luke 2 and then left the kids to giggle and at some point fall asleep!  A few minutes later we could hear him reading the story of Christ's birth to all the kids.  It was so cute!  All I can say is I LOVE that boy!!

A few Christmas Highlights!

Our week with Kari and J went MUCH, MUCH too fast for my liking - but let's be honest it always does!  Here is a run down of what we did after Christmas.

Monday - Boys day out - this was Steve and J's Christmas Present.  They went golfing, shopping, eating, to a movie and I'm sure fit some more eating in there. 
Tuesday - Girl's day (parital day)  Kari and I hit the stores and went out for lunch.  It was so fun and we stumbled on some GREAT finds!  I even bought myselft some HOT boots and a pair of skinny jeans (Yikes!)
Wednesdy - We just hung out!
Thursday - We attempted a day up at the Snow Park, but due to all the rain in the valley and snow in the mountains, we were without chains for my car and couldn't get all the way up to the park (I will say for the record that I was NOT willing to fork out the money needed for chains, especially with our move to Texas in the near future).  This kids were a little disappointed, but we found a patch of snow and let them play for a bit.  It was still fun and besides that Cleetus Clydesdale came along with us.  Cleetus made his debut last year in my families untalent show and he has been talked about often since.  He came out again this year and boy did we get some interesting looks and whisperings with him along for this outing!



Kari found this sweet hat at TJ Maxx



Again with the sweet hat!  Kari is the best!

These two are buddies!  They had so much fun together and really get along so well.

My Maggie - she is so cute and so funny!

Cleetus!  Noah is not a fan and cries everytime he sees him.

  The looks we Cleetus got were hilarious, there were two ladies in Particular that just kept looking over at him and then whispering - it was awesome!

Thursday was also date night!  We treated ourselves to dinner at Flemmings and ate way too much food, but loved a  night out with no kids!

Friday - On the Happy side it was Jake's birthday and he turned FIVE!  Sadly this was also the day Kari and J had to leave.  I tried to convince Maggie to stay with me, but she wanted to head home with her Mom.  I hate saying goodbye!  We miss them already and the house seemed really lonely the rest of the day.

The week was so fun - We watched some great movies, ate some yummy food, had many a good laugh and just enjoyed being together.  At some point during the week I became Auntie Hederford and Brookie was changed into Burkie - I told you Maggie was cute!  Haha, I love it and I think I will keep the name.  The week was just RIGHT and just what we needed before all the stress of moving comes full force!! 

Christmas Time!

How is it that Christmas come and go so fast?

This year for Christmas our very best present was Kari, Jason, Jake and Maggie comeing to visit us.  It was so awesome to have them here for an entire week plus a day.  I always need to get in some good Kari time and we had so much fun. 

The Symons crew arrived on Christmas Eve Eve.  We spent Christmas Eve eating and cooking and eating and having fun with the kids, while Jason and Steve spent the day fighting the crowds for some last minute shopping!  Of course the evening was topped off with the kids climbing into their new Christmas Jammies and setting out some food for Santa and of course some food for Rudolph and the crew!  Maggie was most concerned with making sure all the reigndeer had food! 

The kids woke up bright and early on Christmas morning - I of course I needed to draw it out and torture them with bed making and teeth brushing and all of those very fun things.  Eventually we let them in to see what Santa had brought.  It was a fantastic morning.  The kids had fun and we all had fun watching them!  Noah was so funny and was most excited about all his gifts - his reactions were priceless. 

I LOVE Christmas!  This year was no different.  Spending the holiday at home and having Kari and J come made it just right!