Sisters Are For Sharing

Sisters are for sharing.....birthday fun

Sisters are for sharing.....fancy hair-do's
Sisters are for sharing....a hand to hold

Sisters are for sharing....laughter and giggles

Sisters are for sharing....a hug

Just Sadie

I'm wondering if I moved to China and lived with a Chinese family that only spoke a handful of words in English and I had no formal language training if I could do (in 5 months time) what Sadie did yesterday. She answered the phone. Sounds simple enough, but is it really? Could I understand someone speaking at their normal rate enough to answer their questions and take a message? I'm guessing it would be a maybe if I was lucky.

Sadie: Hello
Other: asks for Hayden
Sadie: What you name?
Other: answers her name
Sadie: Hayden no here (which he wasn't)
Other: says goodbye and hangs up
Sadie: (hangs up and gives me the message) That Brynn. She want talk Hayden. I say Hayden no here.

Maybe she could give the boys (ages 10-40) in the house a few lessons.

Sadie was very excited about her birthday. We've counted the days and held up fingers for how many days were left until the actual day. She wanted us to do the same things we'd done for Hayden on his day....wake the birthday person up by being sung to and spanking them later in the day once for each year. She'd requested the singing multiple times, but wasn't so big on the idea when seven in the morning came. She covered her ears. I'm sure it couldn't have been our singing. She got a Kai Lan shirt and pajamas with feet from her Grandma & Grandpa Reeder. She's been wanting "baby pajamas" like Sara has. When I was doing her hair that morning she said "China...no birthdays." Then a few minutes later she said "China, no jamas (pj's), wear shirt to bed." It was so sweet. She isn't sad about things she didn't have in China, but she understands we want to know about her past. I love when she tells me little insights like this. It helps me love this little girl that has accepted us as her family without a single hesitation. She will eat our food and join in our lifestyle and learn our language. I won't ever know hardly anything about her first 6 1/2 years and I realize even her memories of them are fading, so I want to record the few things she does tell us. They feel like saving a lock of hair, or writing down the first spoken word in a baby book.

She also got a blue bike from Mom and Dad that morning and was a little disappointed when she couldn't ride it to the bus stop in the morning. She got to take fruit roll-ups to share with her classes at school. We had to go for a bike ride as soon as she got home--cold but fun. The best was going out for chinese food for dinner. We ordered 4 entrees and ate family style. The kids were all saying which was their favorite. When we ask Sadie what her favorite was she promptly pointed to each thing on her plate. She said "yummy" no less than 5 times during the dinner.

Each milestone we celebrate with children feels important, but Sadie's 7th birthday will always be one that stands out. Happy Birthday Peanut!

My Happy Birthday Party

Sadie has been counting the days until all her friends were coming over her party. While delivering invitations a few friends weren't at home and we had to leave the invites wedged in the door. She questioned if they said "come to my Happy Birthday party"? I reassured her they would know what it was for. Sadie went with the Dora the Explorer theme, one of her favorites. Go figure, the Chinese girl watching a spanish speaking cartoon in America!
We did relay races, hid Dora and her friends around the room, played Duck, Duck, Goose (Dora, Dora, Swiper style), and had a treasure hunt that included Hayden as Swiper trying to steal the clues. He was the hit of the party.

Sadie is now going to both sessions of kindergarten (morning and afternoon) and has plenty of cute friends to invite. The smiles on 5 years old showing up for a party are priceless.

I worried about what Sadie had in mind for her party and what was actually planned wouldn't be the same, but she seemed pleased. She had a great time preparing for the party by filling her goodie bags. I think seeing Hayden's party a month ago helped her understand what we usually do. We all wonder if she's ever had a party before? Did they celebrate her birthday in China?

And we can now say....fun party games....check.

Yummy cake with white ice cream....check.

Great presents we've played with all weekend...check.

First birthday party for Sadie.....check.
Happy 7 year old....check!

Letter To The Future

Dear Kids,

There are many things I hope you become when you are grown, and there is one characteristic I've been thinking of all week. I'll never remember this when I'm asked what I want my kids to be like and I'll probably forget to remind you enough times over the next twenty years, so I'm writing it down for you to find someday.



Of all the great things you can become, one of those that are high on my list is a man/woman of your word. If you say you are going to do something then DO IT! If you know you won't follow through, or even really mean to but know you probably won't, then don't say you will. If you apply for employment and get the job then show up and do the best you can. If you say you'll call somebody do it. It doesn't matter how small or how big the task at hand is, if you say you'll do it, then do it.



I realize life happens, but it's happening for everyone else as well, and they are depending on you. I'm not writing this because of some great let down. I've just realized this is important to me and hope to pass this value on to you, but wonder how you can do this other than by example. I greatly appreciate people I know that value keeping their word. I hope I am one of them.



Love, Mom

Real Life

Remember how I was bragging two days ago about my great kids?

Well Carson summed up our new circumstances....

"This underwear thing is not working!"

Thanks Carson.

I was wondering what the problem was.

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!