Joyful

Well, here it is! The family picture for 2010. I thought that we would probably forgo the picture taking for the entire family this year, as my dearest and talented friend moved this summer. I had not put too much (but just a little) thought into how we might get a picture when another wonderful friend called and offered for her husband to take our picture. Love that! An answer to an unspoken prayer!

I have so much in my heart at this time. It has been a truly difficult and heart breaking year for Walt and I, but I am indeed grateful for so many blessings in our lives.

I am thankful for a husband who is brave enough to love me in my entirety. A whirling ball of emotion in the way of my life. I feel things so deeply: sadness, compassion, anger, love, and joy. I'm glad that Walt is ever loving and truly knows me best and is encouraging. He is my best friend...forever. Hooray for that, FOREVER!

I am also grateful for this trying time in my life, for it has shown me where I am weak and where I am stronger than I ever knew. I have fully relied upon my testimony of the Savior. While I have felt pain and grief, it is He who has borne all pain and grief and can best comfort my soul. My heart is constantly swelling within me to feel the mightily love of my Father in Heaven. I know he is there. He is evident in all that surrounds me. The beauty of the earth, the sweet faces of my children, and the beautiful music of this Christmas time.

I am striving this Christmas to seek the Spirit of Christ. I am ever seeking to be like the Savior, but with each passing year I gain new understanding and recommit myself to celebrate His birth and life and not just go through the motions. "Joy to the World! The Lord is come." Let us truly receive Him, and let His love and atonement heal our pains and glory in our gladness.

My Luke!

Just a few words about Lucas. He turned 3 at the beginning of September. He is adorable and difficult all rolled into one. He is FIERCELY independent, but loves to be doted on. He is a bundle of opposites; he is a toddler turning big boy.

Now that the three oldest kids are in school, he is just loving "his" time. About a week or so ago, as soon as Laurel got on the bus, he turned and hugged me tight and said, "My mom!" I replied, "My Luke!" That has been an ongoing sweet moment with him nearly everyday. Now daddy has joined in on the fun and Luke will say, "My dad!" But ever so often he will tease Walt and say, "My mom!"

The child is just in the last 6 months starting to really talk. Sometimes he just won't say the simplest of words, but then something like, "That tastes disgusting," will exit his mouth. No, "I'm sorry," or "I love you," but "Where's daddy? He at work? He come home now." Although, he doesn't say, "I love you," he does say it and show it in his own way.

I love you, my boy! You are something else, but we love you for it! You are going to be an amazing man, but not too soon...I am enjoying my Luke for now.

Ballet and Photoshop

Laurel saw these brightly colored petticoat tutus at Costco a couple of months ago. She HAD to have this one. "It's a rainbow, Mom!" I insisted I could make her one that was cuter (at least in my opinion). Nope. She really wanted this one.

When we got home she was all smiles and ready to dance. Funny how the bright colors and gerneral availability to the public first turned me off to this tutu, but I figured out it was just perfect for my little sunburst. She really enjoys "balleting" around the house. I think I may look into some real classes for her soon too. Have I mentioned how much I love that she is a girlie-girl, most of the time.

As for Photoshop, I've been playing around a bit. I don't know if it really makes my photos look better, but it sure is fun.

Laurel in Wonderland

It's no secret that I spoil my kids on their birthdays. I love to make cakes for them and please them as best I can. Sometimes my cakes turn out to be family masterpieces, other times they're alright. My kids appreciate them whatever they seem to look like.

This bit of creative craziness around their birthdays makes me feel like I am creating a magical atmosphere. My mom seemed great about doing this at Christmas every year, and I remember a birthday or two with that same special feeling. I think everyone has their own times and abilities that make those "magic" moments for their family.

This year, Laurel has been enamored with "Alice in Wonderland". She really wanted to dress up just like Alice. I was out to do my best. I bought a pattern for Alice, but it turned out to be women's sizing. Oops! I picked up the wrong package. Rather than get a new one, I just altered a different girl's pattern. The apron I had to completely design myself. I think it all turned out quite well.

Making an "Alice in Wonderland" cake was going to take a little more interpretation. I made an inspired by cake. It was a lot of fun for me. The house was a complete disaster, but I loved the outcome and so did Laurel. We didn't have a birthday party this year. After the dress and the cake I just wasn't up to it. Besides with trying to sell the house I didn't want to worry about new toys. I talked with Laurel's preschool teachers and they graciously allowed me to take this beauty to school on her birthday for the snack. Perfect! She was with all of her friends, I had no clean-up, and she was the star of the show.

She was just beaming all day. Here she is eating her cake at school.


Later we still had the bottom round of cake left, so I put her preschool crown on top and her painted rose, and she blew out the candles for a second time. For some reason my children think that they turn the next years age right when they blow out those candles. It's funny to me, but I guess it helps them mark that change in their minds. So for a second time, Laurel was 5 that day. I think the day was pretty special, and the magic was definitely in the air!

The Derby (dar-bee)

Pinewood Derby was a greatly anticipated event in the Williams' household. Walt and the kids started a month before. So great was the excitement that not only did Ethan make a car, but Cameron and Laurel each "needed" one of their very own. That's right 3 cars.

Walt let each child pick and draw their design on a paper that he cut out and then cut the pine with. Ethan did all the work on his car except the cutting of the wood. It was truly HIS car. He loved it.

Unfortunately, even with starting a month earlier than the race we ran into some snags. Ethan was sick. He got sick the week before the race, when they planned to have all the painting and wheels on, pretty much done. Then Ethan and Walt were going to test the car and tweak it. We he just didn't feel up to it. So the car didn't get finished until the night before.

The morning of the Pinewood Derby Ethan woke up sick. Really sick. His throat hurt. I took him to the doctor to find out that he had strep throat, again. Normally, I'd have made him stay home. But come on, the kid spent a whole month designing and building his 1st car. Not to mention the years of watching previous derbies. Oh the anticipation was very high.


So this was our solution. I gave him 2 doses of antibiotics and he wore a mask. He had strict instructions not to touch anyone or any other car. He washed his hands about 10 times (I exaggerate, but it was a lot) during the event. To my knowledge, no one else got sick and Ethan enjoyed himself immensely! He also took 3rd place, of which he was pleased. It was a fun night, even if he was sick. Success!

In the eyes of the beholder

Love this little boy who is growing too fast! His eyes only have love in them.

"Turn around, and your tiny. Turn around, and your grown."

"Come what may, and love it!"

"Come what may, and love it!" My newest motto spoken by Elder Wirthlin in the October General Conference of 2008. Some days are not so easy, and life has seemed to have thrown a lot of difficult things in my way lately. Yes, I have pouted and cried, and then cried some more. This is not what I wanted for my life, but it has come none the less. After weeks of daily crying and pep talks, I think I'm okay. I WILL be happy again. I am a happy person, so "Come what may," and keep smiling. Who can frown all day long when you wake up to the most beautiful 6 faces in the world to you?

If anything, I am most grateful for those faces--healthy and strong, vibrant and happy (most of the time)! I am grateful for a wonderful husband who just loves me so deeply. I think that even after nearly 11 years of marriage I am coming to fully understand and trust in that love, though I know that it is fully reciprocated by my love for him. Life has thrown us a lemon or two lately, but I am grateful for the chance to make lemonade! But please Lord, grant me time to find enough sugar for the lemons I have before allowing another one to come my way!

Holy Smokes!

I just realized how long it's been since I last posted. Seriously, there's got to be an easier way to do this. To add pictures on here takes FOREVER!! I'm on a mission to get this blog to be easier to update.

So, no pictures today, but an update none the less. Christmas was great. I didn't seem to feel the usual stress of Christmas that I normally feel. Well, to be honest Christmas 2008 I didn't either, but I did feel morning sick! This Christmas there was a rush, but not the "get to the store, did I get everything I think I'll need/want, will my kids be happy with what they got" kind of rush. Nope. I didn't feel that. I was so focused on making it meaningful. I had the 4 oldest kids make something for one of their siblings and they could buy the others. They each got some homemade gift, and I think they were all quite happy with them. Yes, this equated to me do most of the work as my children are all still young, but this was happy stress to me. I also used things we already had. Very little was bought in the making of the gifts! Love that! The last couple of years Walt has urged me to make Christmas more simple and smaller. Well, he was right! It's great and wonderful. My kids may not get tons, but somehow it seems better than the gotta' get 'em everything they want kind of Christmas. I hope that this way they will realize that our most precious gifts at Christmas are the Gift of the Savior and our family.

After Christmas we were fortunate enough to go down to Vancouver, WA to visit with Walt's brother's family. I was refreshing for me to get out of my normal routine for a bit. The kids cousins are all older than my kids, their youngest is a year older than Ethan; however, they were great with them! The teenaged girls spoiled Laurel and listened to her non-stop chattering about anything and everything with sweet smiles of adoration. They thought she was "So cute!" Yes, she is, but she sure can talk. As for Ethan and Cameron they followed Jonny all around and I think Jonny enjoyed playing with boys close to his age. There are 6 kids in his family and the only other boy is the oldest.

While in Vacouver we had planned to visit Walt's best friend, who lives outside of Portland, on a specified day and time. Well, shortly before we left it began to snow. As we traveled the snow kept falling, falling, and falling. We had just exited onto the 450 bridge, when our friends called to tell us to abort because they had already gotten 4-5 inches of snow. However, it was already too late. We had to go over that bridge. It took us a riviting 2 hours to cross that sheet of ice! It was scary, and I am so happy that we made it safely across. Walt showed some mighty fine driving skills!! We saw plenty of people who had to park their cars and hike off that bridge. We got turned around and crossed the opposite direction which goes under the top bridge we previously crossed in about 5 minutes. Big difference! So we didn't get to see the friends, but we were safe and that's what counted that night.

When we got back to Vancouver, it was about 8ish, but my kids still went sledding on the hill my brother-in-law lives on. They were out there until around 10 p.m. At least they have a good memory to go along with the tense one from earlier in the evening.

The excitement didn't stop there. We returned home and I had hoped to get things back on track. I had the kids help me unpack and clean. This led to much screaming, moaning, and fighting. Yah, I'm sure you know the kind if you have kids. Well, long story short, Cameron ended up sitting on the drain in the shower, and it overflowed and went through the floor/ceiling in to my kitchen. So we started the new year with 30 half inch holes drilled into my new kitchen ceiling and a very loud fan blowing. The dry wall took a week to dry out, but at least there was no major damage.

This week we are heading into some events. I am having carpal tunnel surgery on my wrist and the following day is Walt's 29th birthday yet again. He hasn't been excited for his birthday for a few years now, and this birthday is no exception. I wish I could say it looks promising that we can make it extra special, but I am worried it might be a rotten day. I think I will have to prepare early this week to do something thoughtful and loving for him that day.