The Winder's Circle

2012-02-06T20:21:00.000-08:00

Here is Rhyse blowing bubbles with Pepper. If that dog survives its first year, it will really be a miracle. She still seems to love being around the kids, and is usually a little overzealous when they are all around. Today Rhyse started getting soap in her mouth for the naughty words she emits. Sometimes today I've heard her swear (stupid or whatever) and then all by herself start saying, "no I don't want soap." I'm thinking she gets it. She is also using lots of new words; enormous, beautiful being a few I can think of. One night last week she was sleeping in my room cause Getti was here with her kids. I wasn't feeling very hot and it was awfully late and I really wanted her to go to sleep. I kept putting her down over and over and telling her to go to sleep. Finally, I gave up and lay down by her and just let her talk. She talked incessantly about the movie Peter Pan and all the characters and plot. It was a reminder to me of how rarely I really just stop and listen to her. She had a lot to say.

Here is our wood floor project. Thanks so very much to Brigette and all her powertools and skills. She is an amazing woman. We loved having her and the babies over and we so appreciated her assistance. We think it looks great, but are sorta wishing that we didn't still have to sand, stain and finish it. We had some initial trouble with the floor nailer, but once that was working we were a good team. Like any long project, we even got a little silly and apathetic at the end. Can I just say, that Brigette has a totally AWESOME miter saw!

The kids have been working hard to teach Pepper sit. Here is a cute picture that shows her sitting. When she looks up her ears flip back which we think is pretty funny. I caught a cute visual today. I looked outside and say Capriel in her night gown and coat, bare legs stuck in some big sisters shoes, looking intently down at a little puppies squatting bum to see if she is actually doing her business so that she can come inside and report it to us all. She is such a good sport at taking Pepper out and trying to help. Sometimes a bit smothering and controlling like she is with life in general, but still very loving.

Because of Landen's knees, we aren't doing as many active things as a family. Our favorite past time of late is card playing. Ruckus, Uno, phase 10 are a few favorites. Capriel has found a new love. She picks up the rules quickly, isn't too emotionally attached to the games outcome (like some in our crew) and just loves having something that someone big might want to play with her.

Here is our beautiful Brecklyn. Her hair is the longest ever and getting so gorgeous. She loves to try new ways of doing it and she is very good at it.

Talia seemed to have a little "ah ha" moment in her baskettball game Saturday. It was like she all of a sudden realized that she is tall and pretty fast. She scored four shots and seemed to bounce with joy from her success. She has the makings of a great athlete. She is fun to watch because she seems very serious. I love watching my kids make a score or a goal and then immediately looking over to catch my eye. It reminds me of how important my approval is and how much I need to provide.

Talia also picked out my outfit for church yesterday. A sparkly dangly necklace, tall strappy heels and a skirt, and cardigan. Craig that it was one of his favorite outfits. She loves the cowboy boots that Grandpa Harrison brought to her and loves to notice styles in people or magazines and talk about them. I got a haircut recently and after I came home she said to me, "Wow Mom, now you just need skinny jeans and boots."

Craig was home with Rhyse this Sunday so to help Breck I took Capriel up to sit on the stand with me. Apparently, during the opening song, she stood up on the bench and conducted right behind me! That girl really keeps me on my toes!

We've taken three of the kids to the dentist in the last week. So far we have a running total of 15 cavities!! Can you imagine?! Apparently this dentist has the latest (we're not sure greatest) technology that allows them to spot more cavities. With Craig's new job we don't have dental insurance, so that number really really bites! Needless to say, we are having some serious chats.

January 29, 2012

2012-01-29T19:09:00.000-08:00

Talia made her first basket. We are trying to have Pepper go to the bathroom outside instead of inside. It seems to working better. It seems that a puppy is a full time job for an entire family. Breck and Lan and taking the training seriously and have been doing a lot of reading about training and informing us all. Breck wrote up a doggie document with rules and reminders as to how to work with Pepper. They are starting on sit. The kids all love to play though we've certainly found Rhyse dragging her by one leg at times.

Lan is still on his crutches. We took him to a pre-team practice this week to see if that would be a good fit for him for a while. The coach said that he was ready for the first level of team and was pretty impressed with Lan. He is such an athlete. Unfortunately he felt like it hurt his knees, so we are waiting to hear from the Dr. if we should continue. He cycles back and forth with his attitude. Sometimes he is furious and sometimes a good sport. We have an upper body workout for him and I've been doing it for him. I hurt everywhere. He is up to 11 pullups. We are shooting for 20 to get a double scoop ice cream. He has some friends who stay inside at recess and play card games for him.

Breck is working on reupholstering a chair in her room. It is surprising how many staples are in one chair. She is planning on a citrus colored theme. She is also working on painting a mural in Rhyse's secret hideout. Her bball game this week showed so much progress in passing, shooting, and positioning. She raised her math grade to an A which is a major accomplishment.

Talia is cooking and cooking. Tonight's treat was a secret recipe she created. Pretzels, chocolate, powdered sugar topped with ice cream. She has also made cornbread this week. She likes to come in my closet and pick out my outfits on Sunday. She saw some high heeled rain boots and commented about how cute they are. She lays out her outfit the night before and almost always sleeps in it.

Rhyse has added idiot to her list of swear words. She still is applying any available ointment to her hair. She loves to dance.

We are still working on getting the correct wood for our wood floor project. We are hoping to lay it next weekend.

Centerville Play Day

2012-01-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

This is the cutest picture. Rhyse and Sanders giving "hi" hugs as Sanders came to play. We were so lucky to have so many of our friends come for our sledding (without the sledding) party.

I do seriously regret that we didn't take more shots, but here is one with a couple of very large gaps. First, we took this after the Burnett's had already left, and second, the Ellis's (who got sick at the last minute) were certainly there in spirit and were missed.

It was so wonderful to have friends come and see us in our new place. Due to the weather and peoples different schedules we just ended up having lunch and hanging out, but it was so wonderful to be together. I feel so very blessed to have been a part of such a wonderful group of good people. My kids were in heaven with their buds again. The girls had a tea party and the boys shot guns and rough housed and the rest of us ate scones and talked. It meant a really lot that so many would take so much time out of their days to come and be with us. I have so much to learn from these great people. The day made me want to make more efforts to maintain those special friendships and also to create new ones here in North Logan.

Note Landen's crutches. More on that later.

Arrow of Light

2012-01-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

We have been having some extremely mild weather. The kids have been shoveling the snow quickly off half the sports court and then going out to play bball and ride bikes. This picture also shows Matthew our 16 neighbor who often joins the group.

Landen and Pepper continue to be great buddies. Landen is working hard to be a good dog trainer and owner. He has even taken the dog to meet another dog and taken Pepper for many longs nights. Pepper can be found sitting on Landen's lap during about everything as well as trailing him around. Pepper is a happy, social dog who loves people, loves to run and romp outside, but also seems to love to cuddle (puts up with being dressed up) but really really doesn't like to use her potty pad. She has brought a lot of enjoyment to our family.

This last Thursday after a lot last minute "scout work" Landen received his Webelos and Arrow of Light. Go Chief Landen! I have to point out his scout shirt that actually fits and has emblems on it. We had to borrow a shirt from his friend.

Holidays and Birthdays

2012-01-16T06:39:00.000-08:00

We had so much fun over the last couple of weeks spending time with family and celebrating what seemed like an endless stream of birthdays. We were lucky enough this year to have Trevor and Lauren and their family and even Dad down around their b-day times. This is a picture of Trev and his boys on Trev's b-day. It was such a treat to spend time with their darling family. Trevor is such a good soul and I felt touched by his goodness and dedication to good things. How we pray that they can be closer soon!

Here is a picture of Gma Harrison and Landen enjoying a very serious football game together. We had to have kind of a quick dinner that night so that we could fit in the national championship game.

Here are Claire and Brielle, partners in crime. So fun to see their different personalities.

This is a favorite shot. As part of Dad's b-day party-we had him tell the kids family history stories. I love how focused Dad is here on the story. It was wonderful to see him relaxed and happy.

Product gone awry

2012-01-15T21:16:00.000-08:00

Rhyse is two. She is also fascinated with personal hygeine products. She has always loved to sit on the counter and watch her Daddy shave, turning the water on and off for him and applying a little of her own "cream" to her oh so smooth cheeks. I would often rub a little deodarant under her arms, pat her cheeks with bronzer and send her on her way. But lately she has been taking this fettish to a whole new level. In the last three days Rhyse has applied various salves and ointments to her hair during those quiet moments that happen when we are distracted or inattentive. Today it was massive ammounts of toothpaste and during another episode triple antibiotic ointment. She has tried the heavy cream diaper ointment frequently as well as Eucherin. I'm not sure her hair will ever be the same. As her hair is finally growing, but is still as fuzzy as ever she is beginning to make quite a statement when she ventures out. I can't tell you how many comments I get on her hair. Even if I take the time to do her hair, within 10 minutes she has pulled it out and it is sticking out everywhere.

Tonight we were trying to get her to kneel down for family prayer. Craig as her if she was going to join us and she said in an annoyed manner, "yes, in a half an hour."

The all time best hair style ever was a couple of nights ago when we had given up trying to keep her confined for scriptures and prayer and let her wander off. She came from the kitchen kind of stiffly whining and saying, "my hair." Honestly, it looked like someone had thrown up on top of her head. After a good deal of staring, and double-taking, and then laughing we realized she had pulled down a bowl of banana bread batter that was half way finished onto her head. She has taken an awful lot of showers under the kitchen sink recently.

Entering ....Pepper

2012-01-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

Pepper our cockapoo (cockerspaniel/poodle) mix, came to us last week for Lani's birthday. Craig asked him to come to the grocery store with him and they ended up in SLC picking out a puppy! Lani was totally surprised and obviously thrilled. He has been a great owner and even has taken the puppy for a number of nights (long nights). Pepper is very young and still has to toilet during the night and gets homesick. One morning I went to wake Lan up for school and found him asleep on the ground next to Pepper's kennel. We are trying to house train her. The goal is to include the kids in this ordeal and they are all trying really hard to clean up after her and help her learn. She is a very fun puppy who loves to cuddle and put her head on Breck's shoulder as well as chase Capriel (who is still faster) and play wrestle with Lan. Breck has already sewed a tutu and booties for her and Lan has taken her over to meet Chet our next door neighbor dog. They put on such an entertaining show with Pepper running and jumping up onto the much bigger Chet, running under her belly, and bounding around like a rabbit -every once in a while running to hide between Landen's safe legs. Sometimes I think she gets help and loved a little TOO much, but I guess that is her lot in life. Could be worse.

Transition Time

2012-01-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

So I have decided that I want this blog to be my new scrapbook/photo album/journal for our family. I'm going to try and put more pictures and documentation primarily for my own families sake. Please forgive me if it begins to seem overbearing or extremely dull. I have found that I was just spreading myself to thin (or not spreading myself at all) in trying to take pictures and keep albums, keep a journal of special things for the kids, and a journal of personal thoughts for myself. So I will still keep my own journal (so far this has mostly been in theory-since I've been less that regular). So this may just be for my own mental sanity. I feel a real need for simplifying and an organizing of systems in my personal life, family, and home. Wish me luck.

Rhyse is our Jazz girl

2012-01-05T20:27:00.000-08:00

Rhyse seems to have gotten some rhythm lately. She can often be found with hands on cocked hips, wiggling, toe pointing and doing some moves. Capriel, though quite a dancer really has more of a classical/defy gravity acrobatic style; so it has been interesting to see a little more beat coming through in Rhyse. Her opposition to nearly everything also seems to be escalating. Last night while we were desperately trying to have family prayer, Craig was attempting to get her to kneel down and be quiet. She adamantly refused finally hollering, "I'm TWO!!!!!" As if it wasn't obvious.

Rhyse

2011-12-13T20:01:00.000-08:00

Rhyse is beginning to show more and more signs of her age--2. She is not napping, rather ravaging her room and eventually ending up by the door hollering, kicking it and using other obnoxious measure to get me to release her. Today, while I was actually sitting down to read a serious book I found myself listening amid the banging to , "Cock a cock a dooo!, Mom, I'm a rooster, Cock a cock a doo! Come get me!

Later after I let her out mostly so I could get a little peace I was talking with her about using her good manners. She tends to speak mostly in loud demanding tones lately. Anyway, after one such rude retort I looked at her and said, "Rhyse, where are your good manners?" She looked down at a necklace she was holding, thought for a moment and said, "all tied up."
At least she was being honest.

Early December 2011

2011-12-12T20:04:00.000-08:00

I wanted to record a few of the happenings that have been going on lately. Talia finished her first sightreading book for violin. She has been working on it for a number of years. She loves violin but sightreading has not been her favorite. I am so proud of her efforts and work ethic. In just the last couple of weeks it seems to have "clicked" and she understands how the notes on the music actually translate to her violin. We celebrated by going just the two of us to Pizza Pie Cafe, a personal favorite of Talias. We enjoyed lots of pizza options (I really liked the baked pototoe, pasta-she alfredo and me roasted red pepper, and of course the dessert pizzas. (which is really the reason that we came) It was fun to sit in a booth, dim the lights and just chat. Talia is a lot of fun.

Here is a shot Breck took the night Craig and I had his work party. First of all, I don't know has happened but I look huge. I guess it is time to start doing my pushups again! We had a good time. It was so much younger, smaller, and simpler-which works great for me. The food was good, the entertainment was safe, and the conversation was alright (thanks to Craig-the master conversationalist). Craig seems to fit in well with the attorneys and they seem to enjoy him. That makes me happy.

Certainly one of the highlights of the week was Capriel's dance performance. Each performing class did a little nutcracker variation. She couldn't have been more thrilled. She ran on as the last and shortest little clown and was simply beaming and bouncing with glee. It made us all just grin and grin to watch her. I like this picture because it shows the real reason why many of my children participate in extracurricular activities-for the treats. She still has boundless energy and can often be found doing spins and just sliding around on her back on the hardwood floor. She is really coming along with her reading and is even beginning to do "add on" math on her own. Capriel has just learning Long Long Ago on her violin and is also starting to get it.

Landen has also been playing some indoor soccer. They play at USU's indoor training facility. It is a beautiful facility but they divide the field up into tiny fields. Landen is playing with a local team 2 years up. He feels a little awkward with them cause he's so much smaller and younger, but they are kind to him and once he starts playing things seem to work out fine. This last game they played U-17 girls which was greatly anticipated. Lucklily they didn't turn out to be the brutal giants that he'd been anticipating and they were able to beat them which was a relief for all! He is just so glad to be able to play. Really the once a week that he is getting really isn't cutting it. Next year we'll have to do something else.

I have been having a good time making homemade gifts with the girls for Christmas. As hard as it it to start and finish and clean up a project, I'm always glad afterword that I did it. Landen has mastered the six-sided snowflake.

Our Christmas activity for the year was to attend the Voice Male Christmas concert. Voice Male is a group of 6 accapella guys who create their own background music, percussion and harmonies. They created a fun, fascinating sound, and their humor was just right for the kids. We had a good time and created some fun memories. Rhyse got lucky enough to get to go and stay for a couple of hours with Grandma and Grandpa Harrison. She was excited to go, taking a little back of snacks toys and books. When I arrived it was apparent that she'd had complete control of the situation and she was silently thrilled with her experience. Grandma and Grandpa had to make me stop and look at all the "smart" things Rhyse had learned while there. They are so great!

Rhyse is getting quite challenging. Loud, opinionated, manipulating, and so messy. She is often found collecting things in baskets and other containers from all over the house.

I have been finishing up Christmas(is it ever finished?), trying to get up in the dark mornings and hit the treadmill, and keep things going. We are getting used to the cold little my little. The locals tell us that the real cold hit a month or so early, so we might be in for a long winter. As long as the sun will shine I'm ok, though by the end of the day I'm really really ready to get out of my kitchen/great room. Breck is the only child whose parents don't drive her the block to the bus stop in the morning. We are proud of all she is becoming as she braves the elements each dark cold morning.