A little Update

It's a quiet Sunday evening, all 4 kids quietly watching a movie downstairs, hubby in the kitchen, the casserole he put together baking and in the process of making cookies, and here I sit, all alone on the couch, enjoying the quiet. I just haven't felt a huge desire to do much with my blog for the past almost year - so here's just a little update and who knows? Maybe more will follow!

Rick has been busy with work (so thankful for his job!) and enjoying being a member of the American Festival Choir. The choir just recently performed a Requiem of some sort, that took him away for pretty much a week (between work and the choir we pretty much didn't see him). It's nice to have him back again, but I am glad that he has this fun thing he can do. He is always busy doing some kind of website design or other technical computer stuff that my non-technical brain does not understand, but that is enjoyable for him. Oh, and last nite I finally got him to start on a little demolition project in the basement! Fun times were had by all as we used crow bars and jack hammers to tear apart some brick work!

I have not been up to a whole lot. The last few weeks I have been busy with several vendor booths at local craft fairs and other events, selling Usborne Books (they are truly the best!) and doing some home parties. I've recently started attending Zumba classes and love my Zumba time! Such a fun workout that really does kick my bum!

We, Rick & I, celebrated out 10th anniversary last month in style. We went on a Norwegian Cruise to the Bahamas. Other than a couple little things that were out of our control, lost luggage & not being able to go to one of the ports of call, we had a great time! I highly recommend a cruise to anyone! So nice to be pampered and waited on for a little while. So glad we went and took that time for us that we really did need! And the kids had such a blast being spoiled at Nana & Papa's that I don't think they even noticed we were gone!

Gabriella is now 9 years old and in 4th grade. When did I become old enuf to have a 9 year old? She has started playing the violin in the school orchestra and is really enjoying that. She is still a little book worm (like her mom!) and is doing fantastic in school, and though she misses her best friend from American Fork, she has made some great friends here that she keeps busy with. She loves going to Activity Days (Achievement Days - I never know what to call it!) and wants to be a veterinarian and an artist when she grows up. She is such a great helper to me, I often have to remind myself that she is only 9!

William is 7 and in 2nd grade. He was excited to discover that one of the boys in his class lives right behind us. Hooray for new friends! He is a little bit of a book worm as well, though not as much as his sister, and doing fabulously in school. This summer he learned to ride a bike. We'd started working on it last summer, but he was just too nervous and worried about falling. He finally got over his fears and got it figured out. He loves trying to keep up with his sister and do whatever she is doing. He is a very active and loud boy a lot of the time - often getting reminded that we are right here and he can use a quiet voice, or to hold still while he is eating his dinner - what is it with little boys just not wanting to hold still?

Tabitha is 5 and started Kindergarten this year. She loves it! Always comes home with crazy stories to tell - I really don't know how Kindergarten teachers do it! They are amazing! The patience for 20 5 year olds. Wow! I worried that she was a little behind on some things, I knew I had not been as diligent with her as I had the others, on learning and practicing certain things, but she seems to be right where she should be. She is so excited to be learning to read. She loves "reading" to Jackson when it is just the 2 of them home in the mornings. She is taking dance, which is probably the highlight of her week! She is quite the little dancer and performer. She also learned how to ride a bike this summer - just took off almost as soon as we took the training wheels off. She really keeps us on our toes - she can be so stubborn, but then so sweet and loving with random hugs and kisses.

Jackson, our litte Bubba, is not so little anymore. If you call him a baby (which he still IS my baby!), you will be corrected and told "I a toddler!" Why does my little boy have to grow up so fast?! He is such a sweet, fun boy (most of the time!). Loves to give hugs and kisses. Loves to pretend that he is a dinosaur, or a puppy, or a fire engine, or jumping frog. Loves Yo Gabba Gabba, and is often heard shouting "Yo Gabba! Yo Gabba Gabba! Yo!" and Bob the Builder he has recently discovered. He has recently hit that common 2 year old "Me do it!" phase. It's always "No! Bubba do it - Bubba do!" He loves play-doh, playing cars, the movie Cars, Toy Story, rubber duckies, and fire engines. And for some silly reason, no idea why, he thinks he has to have a cracker in his hand to go to bed. Oh how I love this silly little blondie boy of mine!

We are excited to see ALL of my family for Thanksgiving this year (ok, me and the kids are excited) - all 9 of us and our 14 kiddos will be at my mom's, plus a few friends. Crazy times to come, I am sure!