5 Month Recap- part 2

I recently started reading a novel where the author simply dedicated her book "To My Favorite". It was brilliant and left me feeling inspired. I've therefore decided to dedicate this blog "To My Favorite". Let that keep you guessing family and friends.

I've got the second half of the past 5 months to get caught up on- and we've got everything from birthdays to the kid's first black Santa- so lets get this thing started!

Birthdays
The kid's birthday marathon starts in November with Clara and ends in February with Luke. It gets busy,  but I try to keep is simple- especially for those who won't remember the occasion. Clara turned one this year and while this year has gone by impossibly fast, I also can't remember life without this little doll. She is possibly the happiest baby alive, and her three word vocabulary actually includes the word "hap-py!", which she says all the time. She started walking on Afton's birthday in December and hasn't slowed down since. I can't get enough of this red headed child!

Clara's favorite pastime- squeezing herself into tiny little spaces. 

Let's just get this on the table right now- Afton's 3rd year of life was a little bit trying for me. There were tantrums and power struggles, BUT, that all seems to be fading into the past! This (now) sweet little firecracker somehow manages to get more and more personality each day. She adores her family and I love hearing her little off-key voice voice singing songs about "sisters". She keeps asking when she will be five- but I want to savor every moment of this 4 year old Afton.

The Christmas Season
My father has become obsessed with the reality TV show Duck Dynasty.  (If I'm going to be completely honest, so have we.) The show stars millionaire rednecks who hold a great distaste for all things "yuppy". So, when my dad found out that we went to a tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree, we were labeled as the ultimate yuppies. We should have been offended, but as I reflected upon those cutting down trees with us (all in fancy SUVs, children in matching Christmas colors, fancy DSLR camera hanging from their necks), I couldn't argue his point at all. And really, compared to the others, we really are just wanna-be-yuppies. See dad, there is still hope for us!

Yuppy or not, we love our Christmas tree tradition, and no one had a better time than Andrew who spent a L-O-N-G time selected the perfect Christmas tree for us.

Luke's perfect tree selection-

Ah, the memories!

Next up on the Christmasy-things-to-do agenda was a trolley ride with Santa. Now here's the thing- if you are PAYING good money for your kids to go see Santa, then Santa better live up to some pretty high expectations. However, as soon as we stepped on onto the trolley (with my Dad and sister Becca) we were greeted by a skinny black Santa! It was all I could do to hold a straight face. Luke didn't manage as well. As soon as he got onto the trolley he yelled, "That isn't the real Santa! I can tell by his face!"

I'm not gonna lie though, it was hysterical and I'm glad we have the memory.

A couple of weeks later the kid's faith in Santa was restored.  On Christmas Eve Santa came around on a firetruck through our neighborhood passing out candy. As soon as the kids saw him, they were besides themselves shouting, "It is the real Santa!". Even my nearly 9 year old said, "I knew the real Santa would come!" Think what you will, but it was a magical moment.

Children, you make my heart swell. 

On Christmas Eve day we got together with Andrew's family at our home. As is tradition, the cousins made their gingerbread houses while the adults enjoyed each other's company. It even started to snow- which counted as a Christmas miracle in my book! That night was a low key affair with Thai takeout and a reenactment of the Nativity story.

Christmas Day was lovely and packed full of family. A couple of hours after waking up, Andrew's parents, brother Pete and Aunt Coco came over to exchange presents. Then in the afternoon my parents, sister Becca, my other sister Ashley and her husband Jacob, and my brother Joe and his new wife Vanessa came down to stay for a couple of days. We were spoiled rotten to be surrounded by so much family.

After a few days we all went back to my parents house to spend the rest of the Christmas break. It was wonderful, but also a little tense as we eagerly waited for Becca's mission call to arrive. It finally came the last day were we there! Becca has always wanted to do service in a 3rd world county, so she was besides herself when she found out she would be going to Paraguay for 1 1/2 years.  I'm so incredibly proud of that girl! Becca is going to be absolutely amazing ...even if it is going to break my heart to give her up during that time.

 Between two weddings, a baby due in June for my brother and sister-in-law, and now this mission call, it has been a wonderful year full of blessings.

Family Outings
We are trying to resume our "Saturday Adventures", and in November we took a trip to Fort McHenry. This is where the Battle of Baltimore took place in 1814, and is also battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner.

(above right) I love nothing more than to see these kids running free. (above left) Afton and Luke stuck in jail, and (below) the kids taking a break in the bunk house).

Then a couple of Saturdays ago we took the kids to the Natural History Museum and ice skating at the National Sculpture Garden. Andrew stayed out with Clara, but I look turns with the oldest 3... it was hysterical. They didn't much like sitting out waiting their turns, but for the most part, they were good sports about.

Last Saturday it was a trip to some art museums and the Air and Space Museum (as you can see- we've been having a very mild January).

But I think the horse rides at home just may be what the kids enjoy most.

                           

5 Month Recap- part 1

Warning: This post reads like a bad Christmas newsletter. I'm going for quantity people. Not quality, quantity. 

It's 2013 and I feel like a brand new person. For the first time in months (5 months to be exact!) I feel like my old self. What a lovely, fantastic feeling.

I really, truly thought that moving back to the States would be a piece of cake. It's home, right? How hard could it be to get settled back into our old routine? Uh, hard. The reality is that we had been living a very slow paced lifestyle for the past 2 years. Andrew was minutes from work, the kids didn't do any extra curricular activities... in short we created a nice, cozy lifestyle and we got soft. Coming back to the U.S. felt like someone dropped me into the deep end of the pool- with all 4 of my kids.

Sorting out our overseas move (customs an such), medical records (especially for the child born overseas), drivers licenses, school records, residency, taxes, along with all of the usual moving hassles- not fun. Add church callings (4 days after getting back!), family obligations, 2 out of state sibling weddings, house renovations, and the holidays- and I was starting to burst at the seams. Then add in the stress of the fast paced American lifestyle, and I was one step away from the crazy house.

BUT, I survived! The craziness has died down, the house is finished, and I've acclimated to the pace here. More importantly, our calenders are empty for the next foreseeable future. I by no means have it all together, but everything feels manageable. I'm sure things will get crazy again- it always does- but for now I'm savoring the moment. And really, despite stress of relocating, it has been a great 5 months. So lets get on with the recap.

School

I should have begun this post by saying that the kids adjusted like champs- and all within the blink of an eye. They were thrilled to get back to their cousins and friends and that happiness hasn't let up for one moment. It makes any stress I felt more than worth it. Sam is in 3rd grade, Luke in 1st, Afton in preschool 3 mornings a week, and Clara is attached to my hip. They love it, I love it- it's all good. (No, Sam does not have a club foot- it just is an awkward shot.)

   

The House
Getting work done on our house taught me one thing- I could never build a house from the ground up. The stress of redoing two rooms is about all I think I could ever manage. The good news is that we were able to stay at Andrew's parents (who live the next street over- talk about convenient) while the work was getting done and while our belongings were being shipped back overseas. We did a little of the work ourselves, like ripping out the stucco walls, and we were in our house around mid October. I wanted the rooms to have lighter colors with a relaxing feel to them, and we're pleased with how everything turned out.

Before and During:

getting rid of the awesome stucco ceiling and walls

and at this point I was seriously questioning my sanity

After:

 I really wanted this tile layout and I would frequently ask our contractor if he hated me while he was laying it out- 

luckily he was a good sport about it all.

Jill, this last picture is for you. 

Remember, the next time you build a mansion and need to get rid of your old furniture, I am totally there for you!

And just for fun, Ashley and Becca, this is for you guys. Minute 2 is when Luke really starts to get into it. As you will see, I think it is hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9yGua00F8k&feature=youtu.be

2 Weddings and a Trip Home 

The traveling festivities started off with a quick trip to Grandma and Grandpa Walker's home in Cape May. The beach, seafood, naps for me, tractor rides for the kids, hugs from the grandparents- it was perfect.

Now for the weddings. In Mormon culture the bride typically gets married in the temple nearest to her childhood home. For my sisters and myself that happens to be the Washington D.C. Temple, which is conveniently located 20 minutes from my house. My sister, however, chose to get married where the groom is from... California. I eventually forgave her. Andrew and I were able to take a extended weekend trip for the wedding (with Clara in tow) and had a fantastic time. Prior to the wedding we squeezed in a couple of San Francisco tours and a trip to Muir woods. Everything was perfectly beautiful, and we couldn't be happier to add Jacob to our family!

Ash and Jacob were married in the Oakland temple and the reception was at Jacob's parents house. Everything was perfect! (Note- the picture perfect photos were taken by their photographer-not me!)

 

I get teary every time I look at this picture! 

Next up- my brother Joe who married Vanessa in the Salt Lake Temple. This wedding took place on Thanksgiving weekend, so unfortunately I had to leave Andrew and the kiddos behind. Actually, this was only the second time in 9 years that I traveled by myself, and I have to say that I really, really enjoyed myself! The wedding was beautiful, Vanessa looked stunning, and as always, I had the best time around my extended family. After the wedding there was a luncheon at the Lion House, and if you are ever in the Salt Lake area I highly suggest stopping if only to have their rolls and honey butter. Holy Hannah. Vanessa is a sweet as they come and we are so excited for another sister!

(My cousin Richard took the following pics.)

Ah, amore!

Fall Festivities 
Fall was busy for us (at least by my standards!), but it was still great.

Sam played some Fall Ball-

we frequently had a houseful of cousins and friends-

we trick or treated-

hunted for pumpkins and mums-

 

....and enjoyed the splendor of an East Coast fall.

Next up: 5 month recap part 2