Brag Session

Every parent needs a chance to think about how great their kids are. This is my chance...because I really am excited about their accomplishments...and some of these things are just cute things I want to remember.

Austin participated in a camp out with his dad and scout group this week. It was probably around 10 degrees at best during the night. If that doesn't make you more manly than I don't know what does. He is also my go-to guy. Need the dishwasher unloaded, need a diaper changed or Carson bathed, need someone to babysit, need someone to practice the piano without being ask, need someone to make scrambled eggs for everyone---he does it all and I hope he knows how much my sanity appreciates it!

Parent teacher conferences brought nothing but rave reviews for Hayden. His teacher recommended one goal of working on his shyness. Okay, so if that's our weak point we'll take it. Not many parents have the pleasure of getting after their kids for not going to bed because they won't stop reading. He also scored in the top 1% of the nation in math. Yep, he's a keeper.

Now, if we can get Sara to quit playing with friends long enough to start reading a book, it's usually finished in a short period of time. She too received great marks in her conference. The thing I love about Sara is her desire to get Sadie to love her. She would do anything for her sister and worries when Sadie isn't completely happy. Sara oozes love to everyone in our family.

I overheard Sadie cheering in the tub last week "Utah State, Aggies all the way, Go Aggies, Go Aggies, Hey! Hey! Hey!" Yes, she bleeds blue already. She is more than excited about turning 7 and having friends over for Hannah Montana cake. I also had to laugh when she finished spaghetti at dinner the other night and actually started licking her plate. Her eyes lit up when I ask if she wanted more. I'd say she likes spaghetti! I continue to shake my head when she speaks, not with misunderstanding, but with amazement. An entire sentences just comes out of her like it's no big deal. She often leaves off the end sounds of words so we really are trying to make sure she hears them by enunciating them well. My all time favorites are when she wants something and requests "You gig a me." or when she's saying someone did something "like that" its "nad a dah". I'm waiting for the day when I hear her saying "like that" and wonder when it wasn't "nad a dah" anymore. She is starting full day kindergarten tomorrow. She loves telling everyone she has 3 teachers. Teachers are awesome people when you are in kindergarten, and she's extra fortunate to have 3.

Carson my big boy is doing very well in potty training, inspite of his mothers extreme distaste of it. If I could skip one part of parenting this would be it. I know, I know, I haven't had teenagers yet! I finally realized Carson loves fruit snacks and would do anything for them, include going potty in a toilet. I've always said you have to find the one thing that motivates a child and then potty training is much easier. The trick is finding out what that thing is. Carson is so animated right now, which most people don't know because he suffers from public shyness like his older brothers. Everything is said with eyes open extra wide, big nods and super facial expressions. My favorite quote of his this week was when he was looking right at me, he grabbed my face and with complete shock said "You got my eyes!" Yes, we both have the same blue eyes, and apparently he had them first.

Todd is off to China for the fourth time in six months. He's racking up frequent flyer miles and I'm planning how to use them! It's this time of year when beaches start calling my name. But for now, it's back to making lunch for some snow-sleeping, smart, sweet, spaghetti -loving, silly Snyder kids!

Love Is In The Air

Carson has become the resident comedian lately. He must also be running for a political office, because he's constantly telling me things I'd like to hear. "Mom, I love you." "Mom, I need to go potty." Apparently he doesn't need Todd's vote though because at night he loves climbing in bed by me while Todd's brushing his teeth. When Todd comes over and accuses him of stealing his spot he just smiles. When Todd asks where he should sleep, Carson with a sly smile points to floor beside the bed. I love three year olds. Reasoning begins and you remember the sanity that can bring.

I also love hearing children laughing from an entire floor away and discover them in the depths of fun....
It might not be politically correct, but I love when Sadie wears this shirt. I think it's fine because we put it on her with pride...

I love finding notes like this taped on bedroom doors even when they aren't for me and hoping all those lectures about loving your family really are sinking in....

I love a good fat sugar cookie with frosting equivalent in height....and I love my children's heightened interest in cooking when there is cookie dough or frosting in the kitchen.....

I love watching Hayden and Sara play basketball.....and I love catching a candid shot of friendship....

I love looking into my laundry room and seeing these two beauties who just took up residency to make my laundry Monday a little more cheery.....

I love watching my children demolish their gingerbread houses with hammers....almost as fun as decorating them was....

I love realizing my ordinary life is full of things to love!

Ping Pong Anyone?

I have procrastinitis. It's a disease that seems to hit periodically, especially after Christmas, and leaves me with the ability to do nothing productive. Right now I should be unclogging a toilet, reading to the kids, and delivering a baby gift to the neighbor who now has a toddler. But no, here I sit blogging. The real task looming is finding homes for all the Christmas gifts. Everything is located in it's proper room by now, they just don't have a spot to call their own. They are shoved on shelves or laying on the floor waiting for homes. I do this every year, vow to do better next year, and then seem to get hit with a case of But-my-kids -want- it- so-I-get-it-for-them syndrome. Hayden suggested a ping-pong table this year. We measured the three possible locations it could be placed before purchasing it and realized it wouldn't really fit anywhere properly. Then Kmart ran their Black Friday ad and I was a goner.

So I've tried to overcome my illness with a 17 step program. Each room of the house (17 of them) was assigned a day they were going to dealt with. After 2 1/2 weeks the problem would be solved and I could get on with important things like.....scrapbooking (which is 8 years behind) and reading a book to the kids (I've had sitting on the counter since the beginning of last summer). But alas, the day comes and the day goes, and the room is not taken care of.

I used to make a list and didn't go to bed until it was done. Until one day I crossed something off the list and wrote it on the next day. When the world didn't end I realized I was on to something. So, I keep crossing off the rooms and adding them to the next day. Today I'm supposed to clean every possible spot in the house except the silverware drawer. That's tomorrows job.

How do I get over this disease? How do mom's get through the additional work of Christmas and still be productive in the New Year? I'm going to ponder this while I begin house plans for adding on a ping-pong room.

I'll Be Home For Christmas

The old Christmas song gained new meaning this year when Todd headed to China the week of Christmas, hoping to make it home in time for Christmas Eve dinner. He only had one delay and was here by 8 pm. We would have liked him here sooner, but were grateful to be together as a family. We were all here, in a warm home, filled with food and presents, in a free country.

We were all anticipating Sadie's reaction to Christmas, and she loved it, starting with her first present. We enjoy finger foods picnic style on Christmas eve and then let the children open their presents from Grandparents. Sadie's first present was from her Grandma and Grandpa Snyder, and it was a Cinderella barbie & horse she'd been eyeing at the store. She tore back the paper and exclaimed "For me?". In her eyes Christmas could have been complete with that one gift. As parents we are constantly trying to teach our children, but at that moment I was grateful for the lesson she taught me.

We enjoyed an early Christmas party at Grandma and Grandpa Reeder's--Sadie's largest family gathering yet. Then we had G & G Reeder and Aunt Joyce at our house on Christmas Eve to decorate gingerbread houses, eat and open a few gifts....including new pj's of course. G & G Snyder came up on Christmas Day.

The older boys were in our room at 5:58, claiming their alarm clocks already said 6:00. We'd warned Sadie we'd be up early. Even Carson was pulled from his warm covers. We (alright, I) worried Todd's jetlag would get him up earlier than usual. He's usually worse than the kids, but they are better competition as they get older. Sadie was a little disappointed when her first gift wasn't "Hammah Montamma" like she'd requested, but I also don't think she knew there were more gifts coming. Austin was dreaming of Legos, Hayden's wish was a video camera, Sara had been hoping for a Nintendo DS, Sadie requested Hannah Montana, and Carson had his heart set on a Hungry, Hungry Hippo game. Santa did not disappoint, in fact he brought it all. That guy must think these Snyder kids are as great as their parents do!

Since Christmas someone in the family, if not all, have been sick with colds and coughs. We've been lazy, played games, watched movies, slept, and enjoyed all the new toys and gadgets. We've yet to go sledding....we've yet to see any of the good movies in theaters...we've yet to build a snowman....but January needs something to make it seem more exciting!

(The grandkids/great grandkids ages 12 and under at the Reeders.)

(The annual picnic that must include Grandma's Red Slush)

(The traditional pj present from mom & dad)

(The first presents of Christmas morning...do you open the first one you find, or hunt for the biggest/littlest one you hope is "the"one? Sadie is yawning herself awake!)

(Oh to be 3 again on Christmas morning and get a huge dragon castle....doesn't get much better than that!)

(Santa does bring presents to cute boys that are too shy to talk to him!)

(Austin's dream morning: getting, then putting together a lego set with over 1000 pieces. Best 2 hours on Christmas Day)

Here's to a fun-filled, healthy and happy 2010!

Party On

We've been celebrating at our house! With Hayden's birthday there was the mad rush to finish up the requirements for his Bear award and Arrow of Light. He was looking forward to getting his award along with the actual arrow they present the boys with in our pack.
At our house birthdays sometimes turn into weekend events. Hayden had his friend party (pizza and a movie at home) on Friday night, a good snowy actual birthday on Saturday where he attended the Aggie game with his dad, and a family treat night on Sunday. We prepped him on getting older and receiving "quality" gifts over "quantity" gifts...and then gave him an ipod nano....which I'm surprised he hasn't wore out already. It has a video recorder in it and the casting, directing and editing has been in full session the entire week. We should have been recording his basketball game this weekend. Inspite of a loss, I've never seen a team of more scrappy eleven year old play a game of ball. They gave it their best effort and hopefully left that court feeling like winners. Hayden was dribbling through guys much taller than him and making shots that left me shaking my head in disbelief. Both teams were exhausted in the end and it's a disappointment when your team's shots are the ones not going in. Hayden did have a career best of 8 hard earned points.

Then there have been class parties at school, a trip to see Santa, and a dinner out with friends to the new Texas Roadhouse in town. Sadie loved sitting on Santa's lap and requesting a "Hamma Montama". Carson wanted more than anything to tell Santa how much he'd love a Hungry, Hungry Hippo game, but being a Snyder boy means shyness hits at the most inconvient times. Even with the friendliest Santa in town, he couldn't muster the courage to look at the old guy, let alone tell him his Christmas wishes. Mom and siblings passed along request for him and he got close enough for a quick picture.

The week ended with a family party at Grandma and Grandpa Reeders. This was probably the biggest family gathering Sadie's attended and it didn't disappoint. Yummy food, Aunts, cousins, babies and presents were all there to enjoy. Even with a few family members not there, the house seemed to be bursting with people and fun.

So even with all this excitment, the presents wrapped, the goodies delivered, the cards mailed I headed to church today without much Christmas spirit. Among all the parties we've had sick kids, a dryer die (always at the best times) and today Todd left for China. If all goes as intended the kids will soon be well, the new washer and dryer will be delivered in a week, and Todd will be home in time for dinner on Christmas Eve. As the songs were sung I found the source of Christmas spirit I seemed to be missing....the real source of it all.

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is giv'n!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of his heav'n.

No ear may hear his coming;

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, still

The dear Christ enters in.

I hope the next few days can be spent sharing with my children what really matters about this holiday. As we keep our fingers crossed that Todd makes it home in time for Christmas it makes us realize we are blessed to have a family and a knowledge of Jesus Christ. We must find the gifts in his presence, not in the presents.

Merry Christmas!

one...

two...
three...

four....

five....

six....

seven....

eight....

nine....

ten...

guess who's ELEVEN?!!

Happy Birthday to a great kid!

Legos and Lights

The above picture is of a lego. Probably the smallest lego that is made by the company. At our house it's the most expensive one we've got though. We paid $40 for this lego. Why you ask? Because that was the copay required by the insta-care office that removed it from Carson's nose! While we'd prefer an entire set for that price, we'd like to think we've also purchased a bit of knowledge for Carson of NOT STICKING THINGS UP YOUR NOSE.

The week did have a bright side as well. We headed to SLC to visit our social worker for the 6 month visit (it's a bit early), seeing the capitol building (checking off a merit badge requirement for Austin) and seeing the lights at temple square. It was cold but beautiful.

Sadie was able to have a friend from school come over for a play date this week. It was a big first for her. I have to admit to being a bit nervous, but it went as smoothly as one of the other kids having someone over. I also talked with her ESL teacher for a minute and she shared a cute experience. Last week they were learning names for family members--mother, father, sister, brother. She said Sadie was very enthusiastic to share with everyone that "she has a Heavenly Father!" At home we use the term "dad" and at church she hears "father". I had to smile at her innocence and was happy to know she is learning in all areas of her life. As I sit and do homework with her I am amazed. She is smart. She is brave. She is silly. She is happy. She is willing. I wonder how many children could thrive when faced with such a new lifestyle, yet she continues to progress and do it with a smile.

On Wednesday I wore my USU shirt, since Todd and I were going to the basketball game that night against BYU. Sadie saw my shirt and asked "you go Aggie Bull?" She is more settled with my leaving now. And yes, we did go see the Aggies. And yes, they did beat BYU. And yes, Todd watched the game twice more this week. And yes, it was loud and lots of fun!