February--Mason's Belated 4th Birthday Party

Mason had his first friend birthday party.  It was so fun.  Brenda and Joe came and spent hours making a balloon arch for him so his bike party would be as cool as Bryson's was :).  I am forever touched by the way they serve and love our family and kiddos.  Mason had a great time and could hardly sleep as he saw it all getting set up.  I loved to see him so happy.  My love for this child has grown deeper in this past year. 

December 26, 2010




Dear Mason-



Tonight we baked a cake. I set it on the stove and then accidentally turned on the burner under the cake. It burnt, the expensive Pampered Chef Pan I purchased busted, and to me in that moment it felt so representative of the day and how I felt. Yet, you looked at me and said, “Mom that’s ok. We can just make another one and if you don’t have vanilla you can make chocolate. I love chocolate.” Thank you for understanding little man. One of your gifts is the way you look up with those big brown eyes and touch someone’s heart, my heart, with your stories, your excitement, your love, your energy and desire to feel.



I love that you are intense. You love to do and feel everything as you wander and explore and ride “your world”. In some ways you want to be older and in other ways you’d like to stay our little boy forever. I can understand the dilemma.



You and Ellie are such little friends. It is inspiring for me to see the way you love each other and especially the way she loves and forgives you. You help each other to develop some of your natural gifts and other character traits that are important.



You have taught me a deeper love this year. I am learning to forgive myself for not being a perfect Mom for you as I diligently seek how to best be your Mother. I really, really love you always…no matter what.



Mom

January 2011-Firecrackin' New Year and Brian's Birthday

Too Cute Girls - by Olivia

Olivia , Ellie , Emma enjoy the pool and beach. They Love to see each other at Mexico. When they have time they play card games, Scrabble, and many others. They were posing very well for the picture.

August 2010 New Slide and Play

For Christmas we had this rather large fort built by this great guy, whose name we got off of Craig's list. We loved working with him. When we saved up enough money we finally had the slide built and installed by that same guy many months later. The kids were so excited...especially when the irrigation water came a few days after it's completion and it seemed as if we had our own mini-water park. Talon of course was napping during the fun, which seemed like a tender mercy so we could determine the best way to let him enjoy it.

It was also a time in life where the power of having kids enjoy the simple things made life feel so rich. I love to see Brian love and play with the kids and the kids love each other. I think those times my just top all others as a mother...well holding a sleeping, healthy child is up there too. :)

Family Camping Trip to Big Lake

In July, Brian took us up past Pinetop, Arizona to an AWESOME campsite just near Big Lake. We spent several nights there and had such a blast exploring things, fishing on the lake, and waiting out afternoon rain showers under the man-made shelter Brian set up. It was the first time we didn't actually wonder why the heck we try it. Then we realized it was probably because for the first time in YEARS we did not have a child under two, who just handles such sleeping environments and such a little different. Especially in the middle of the night when it may get a little cold. I loved being with the family in nature. It's great to see the life and appreciation for creation that it brings out of everyone.

Olivia's 9th Birthday

Olivia decided to go and watch the sunset with Grandma Rudd and then eat at Sweet Tomatoe's as a family. It was a family birthday year. It was nice and simple. Brian bought a new truck right before her birthday so we drove two cars so he could pick up Grandma and we could watch the sunset in his truck. It is small moments like that that leave me in a place of gratitude to have good health and to be living and loving my family.

Dearest Olivia,

For your birthday, we were to have a family outing. You wanted to go watch the sunset with Grandma Rudd and then have dinner at Sweet Tomatoes. It was such a calm and fun night to be with you. We are amazed by your simple desires at times. You love to plan lessons for our family; to sing and perform songs for us, to share poems, to write plays…at least partial plays . You love to finish your homework in the car on the way home from school…almost. You love to give gifts to others and to wrap them up and make them look pretty. You love to do your own hair and really don’t like when I comment on what you wear or look like, unless it is to tell you that you are beautiful. You love to sing to yourself in the mirror. You love to be in charge when I run a quick errand.

You are my daughter-friend Olivia. I love to ask your opinion on what I am wearing, cooking, smelling, or thinking. You are honest, even to the point of telling me you are tired of smelling food to see if it has gone bad . You take such good care of Talon and help him when he his sad. He runs to you sometimes. It is so sweet. Thank you for all the help you give to our family!!!!

I love that you have shown such kindness to people at school. It is hard for me to have you gone all day. I miss you and the opportunity to see you grow and learn about being a kind and educated person. Thank you for sharing some of your day with me when you get home. I hope we have more time to share soon.

Thank you for all your help in general. Thank you for your strong testimony of what is right. I am so grateful for you example of righteousness for me and our family. Your sister and brothers look to you and count on you showing them how to choose the right.

I love you so much! Happy 9th Birthday. Will you stop growing now?

Love, Mom

December 2010-Truck, Santa, Christmas

Christmas season is so fun. I love the chances to see people's families, whether by card or event. I love the updates in whatever form they come.  This Christmas we had the Hall Progressive Dinner and the girls each played the piano at the Hall Christmas Eve Program, and we exchanged gifts with Mom Bentley for a family night.

On Christmas morning it was fun to see all of things Brian hadn't gotten the kids. He had down a bunch of shopping on line and the kids had so much fun seeing the surprised he had for them. It is the first year that I remember him take such a huge interest in getting things for them. It was way fun.

We went to the Grandma Rudds on Christmas morning late. We had breakfast, talked with Mom and watched her open presents, and then played at the park for a bit. It is so fun to see all the cousins interact and share their Christmas joys (presents)...Dad was missed as always.

We did get several Santa photo opportunities, which was fun because they fell into our lap and we didn't have to put a lot of energy into it :)  The kids love that and I enjoy it when I don't have to take a ton of time to make it happen. 

We went to visit Kathleen Haymore Graham. We stayed with her for a night and ate her yummy food and then went up to Flagstaff for our yearly snow exposure. The kids loved to play with her kids and she and I shared some sweet things about life.  I love her.  Brian had to work. We had as much fun as possible without him :)

Brian got a new truck and the kids have LOVED it.  We are so happy he got the one he really wanted.