Dance Room!!

I am so thrilled this project has come to near-completion! The girls' main Christmas gift was transforming our front piano room into a dance studio. As I was thinking of what to get them, it all sounded like pointless junk just to give them more gifts. But the main thing they do is dance. They love to make up dances and always want to practice their team dances, but we really have no good space to do it.

I was determined to do it all ourselves. We've never layed flooring, but I figured it couldn't be THAT hard? Tucker is used to me roping him into my wild, spontaneous ideas. But I don't think he has the same drive for "jumping into" a project like I do. He's a good sport and only gets mad sometimes ;-) (like when the wood keeps popping apart over and over).

I used my jigsaw and acted like I was skilled with it. There are some portions that are definitely not professional details, but I'm already so thrilled with it. The other night the girls came home from dance and proceeded to dance more in the room showcasing for each other. I just feel this gives them so much more potential to improve! They love it.

I also displayed their dance pics on the wall from the past several years. It's so fun to look back at those pics, and hopefully inspires the girls even more.

Craft Night with Trinkets Gals

Several of the co-ops from Trinkets got together the other night up in Fresno at Danielle's condo. They've done this a couple times and it so difficult to pack up ALL that I need to make signs, that it usually doesn't feel worth it. But I thought I'd give it a try. It was fun to just hang out for a few hours, working on the things I would have been doing at hone anyway.

Making Lists

Jordyn is my list-maker. She knows she needs to write it down in order to get it out of her brain.

So today she went to her good friend Nataly's birthday party. Nataly has a cute little dwarf hamster. This the obsessing began. "Mom that hamster was so cute! I really want one. I promise I'll take care of it! Pleeeaaasse!?"(said to a mom who already has SIX animals!).

I've learned that I have to steer jordyn, rather than give her an answer. So I told her she has to do research on the total cost if hamsters, and then she'd have to save up all if that money and work hard if she wanted that hamster. So she took notes at the pet store, compared prices on Craigslist, and heard mom give lots of examples of pros and cons. I was trying to help her see that she was in the impulse stage of a decision where all you can see is the wonderful, perfect side of it. She thought I was being a downer and said "so you don't think I should get one? You think it's a bad idea?". To which I replied no, it's not a bad idea if you work toward a goal and make sure over time it's still the right decision, rather than jump on impulse and realize you didn't really want the thing after all.

I tried really hard to frame is as though it had nothing to do with me not wanting one (even tho I don't), but more about her going through the proper steps to get one. I told her that anything worth having is worth waiting for. Lets see how this plays out :-)

"Records are better than CDs!"

My mom bought a real record player (that's new and comes with a USB to transfer records to your computer!) and the kids were fascinated! She showed them sings that she sang in 6th grade, her teacher had out them on a record back in 1965. So cool! Jordyn claimed that records are cooler than CDs :-)

A Little One-on-One

I've been sensing lately that Lexi needs some devoted time with me, so today I invited her (and only her) to go to work at trinkets with me. She was excited when she heard it was only going to be her. So she got to help run the register, re-do the chalkboard sign out front, feed the birds and water the plants. It was only about three hours, but I think she liked having no competition with a strong older sister and a whiny younger sister to deal with. I've gotta do this more often!

It was so funny watching Lexi help me tune the FM radio to a different channel. She was so entertained by the static when she moved away from the antenna! I realized between satellite radio in the cars, and CDs and iPods at home, she doesn't have experience with fm radio! Another sign of the times!

Thanks for helping me Lexi! I love you!!

Peyton and School

So Peyton has always been my most clingy child. But it's strange because she's also my most outgoing. But she has never liked me leaving her...like at preschool, church classes, and now Kindergarten. She loves her teacher and she's actually happy when she's there, but she says she's sad to leave us. Lately it's really ramped up into full blown crocodile tears the night before and whole morning as we get ready for school. It's definitely added extra stress to our mornings. And has caused her to be late several mornings.

After trying several strategies, including being a tough mom that says "you're fine, go to school!", I tried one I hadn't used before...

The other morning as she was begging to stay home from school, I finally said "ok, fine. You can stay home today but you have to do what mommy is going to do which is chores all day" (it worked out to be a day I was home). I reminded her there would be no thumb sucking, tv watching, relaxing. She was more than willing to comply.

So we got started. Lots of laundry. Cleaning door knobs. Homework. Picking up dog poop in the backyard. At one point she started slowing down and I thought maybe she'd realize she'd rather be at school. But she quickly pulled out of it and stayed on track for 5 hours. I was surprised.

As she was dry-heaving while picking up dog poop, I told her she'd have to do it again the next day if she stayed home. To my surprise she answered "ok!". My strategy didn't work the way I thought. But what it did do is give her some alone time with mom...and I think she needed that. She did go to school the rest of the week. And still cried, but not AS much.

Oh, I must add one more piece to the story. I tried to give her incentive mid-morning to choose to go to school on her own. I made a chart and told her if she went to school W/TH/F and put a sticker on each day, then I'd take her shopping for high heel shoes (which she has been requesting). She thought about it and thought about it. And finally decided it wasn't worth it! I figured she must really mean it!

Internship "Graduation"

Although it was extremely difficult to fit into my life (or revolve my life around is more like it), I had a wonderful internship filled with supportive, loving people! My master teacher at the school district, Karen, surprised me the last day with a little graduation ceremony (disguised as a birthday party for Heaven and Allen, our blind twins). It was so sweet. She ordered an ice cream cake with peanut butter and chocolate ice cream (my favorite) and made me a graduation cap. Our student, Maral, was able to join too. All three kids were born prematurely and have Retinopathy of Prematurity. Three of the sweetest kids you'd ever meet.

Best Friends!

Peyton and Kayla have been friends since they were 1 year olds. They are not in the same kindergarten class, but play with each other every recess! So sweet.

Utah - Christmas 2012 (Thanks to Jeannine for all the pictures!!)

 

Due to traffic, we had to stay in St. George overnight Sunday night...and hoped to arrive in SLC about 1 or 2 p.m on Christmas Eve (Monday).  We tried to beat it, but there was a huge snow storm that moved in about 10:00 a.m. which forced us to arrive closer to 5 p.m. We were just glad to make it safely!  We pulled up to Neal shoveling the walks (in shorts!).


Everyone gathered at the house around 6:30 and the party began.  Of course we had our annual Christmas Eve Dinner prepared lovingly by Jeannine.  Jeannine and Neal kindly moved some furniture upstairs to make room for the 28 family members that would be present.  It worked out beautifully.

I was asked to read the Christmas story from the bible.


After dinner we put tables away and gathered in a circle for our annual present exchange.  This year we had decided to do a ‘homemade’ Christmas.  The presents were very clever and very fun.  We had each family take turns opening their presents so we could all see what everyone made.  Emmi went first.  She made each family a chip dip bowl in her AP pottery class.



After Emmi’s surprise we passed out all the presents and the opening began. Lynda Ann gave Jeff H. a U of U quilt.  Jeff was home sick so we didn’t get to see his surprised expression when he opened it.  I think Tucker was a bit envious.



Lyndsy made Jeff G. some coasters out of Mt. Dew and other bottle caps.  A big hit and very clever.



Maren made me a wooden picture block set.  There are six pictures on the blocks and you can change them to the one you want.  The kids have already changed it a dozen times.  I love it!  Lyndsy created a Bat Man checker board for Tucker.  The home made gifts were very well thought out for each individual person.



Mindy made a hat for Taylor.  I know she made some scarves for other family members, but I didn’t get a chance to get a picture of them.  She also made Annie and Jeannine casserole carriers. 



There was so much going on that we didn't get pictures of everyone’s gifts but these will remind us all of how fun Christmas can be without spending a lot of money.  By the way, Taylor is sitting on a huge bean bag that Maren made for Jordyn out of t-shirts! 

Of course there was the traditional cereal exchange.

 

This was Peyton's first time really truly playing in the snow.  Two years ago when we came and played in the snow, she was 4 and not very interested in it.  So cute!




(I was really sick Christmas Day. Tucker and the girls hung out at Maren's most the day.  The picture above is the only one I have from that day). The day after Christmas the plan was that that everyone was coming over to eat and play games.  The weather didn’t cooperate for the Gertsons coming in from Stansbury but everyone else showed up.  Jeff and Mindy picked up CJ at the airport that morning and so having him with us was a bonus! 



Jeff Hintze fell in the parking lot at LDS Hospital and wrenched his knee and maybe fractured his hip.  They are waiting for the results from the x-rays. 



We spent the evening eating, visiting, playing Six-handed Rook and enjoying watching the kids perform for us.





Tucker made chocolate chip cookies for the family and they were gone almost as fast as they came out of the oven.  I think every cookie was eaten within 30 minutes.  When the kids realized that Tucker was making cookies they all came in to the kitchen every now and again to check and see if the cookies were done and of course, to see if Tucker would let them have some dough. 






We all wanted to see the new movie, Les Miserable.  The only day we could work it in was Thursday.  We also wanted to have lunch at Café Rio.  As usual, the restaurant was incredibly crowded. But they serve so fast that the wait wasn’t very long and we enjoyed a great lunch.  Then Tucker, Jeannine, Neal and I long with the kids, drove out to Stansbury, picked up Jeff and Lynda Ann leaving Emmi and Mallory in charge of all the kids.  The movie was incredible and we all want to see it again.  We left Lynda Ann’s about 6:30 and headed to Wendy and Norms for the cousins Christmas gathering.  We called Maren and told her we were on our way so she could meet us there.  It was fun for Maren and Tucker to get to spend some time visiting with cousins they haven’t seen for years.  Maxfield gatherings are always a bit overwhelming and vast for me, but they sure are a friendly group.



I was able to play Mallory’s new piccolo that she got for Christmas!


It was fun to have CJ with us during the holidays.  We spent a few  hours visiting with CJ and catching up on his life.  One night we were up until 2 a.m. just talking.   


And, of course, sleep overs are a must.  Abby and Hayley were going to stay but at the last minute they decided that home was where they wanted to be.  Andrew went over to Jeff and Mindy’s to spend the night with Grayson. 




On Saturday, Annie and the kids were at Jeff and Mindy’s for the evening and on their way home dropped by to say their final goodbyes to Tucker, Jamie and the girls.  Lyndsy and James dropped in hoping to play games which we did after the Gertsons left.




We all decided to go to Neal’s ward for Sacrament Meeting (at 9:00 am which felt VERY early considering how late we had been getting to bed!).  Very different to attend a young adult ward as Lexi pointed out..  She told me “this church is really different from ours at home.”  She noticed that there were no kids and it was extremely quiet.





After sacrament meeting we came home and got dinner ready.  James, Lyndsy and River came over to join us for dinner and then we played Six-Handed Rook for about three hours.  Then we played beyond Balderdash, which James hated :-)



Peyton REALLY wanted to play a game of Old Maid with Gam.  She picked out the card game and gave it to me for Christmas.  I believe she won both games. She was thrilled!


To finish off the evening the girls BEGGED to play What Were You Thinking – a favorite game of the family.  We each read one question and then the kids were off to bed.  I had to take a picture of Peyton’s paper because she wrote all the answers herself. 





It seems that our phones are constantly attached to each one of us.  Whenever there is a break in the action, out the phones comes.



What a wonderful trip, despite our illnesses and bad weather!  We are very blessed to have so many people to love, and who love us back!