Christmas Tree

Well, we said goodbye to our house guests early sunday morning...like 12:30am...we were sad to see them leave. We went to bed and there was no snow on the ground, then we wake up and there is 6 inches or so on the ground, so we were all in the mood to get our christmas decorations up...Erik helped by bringing all the stuff from the cold and I got the tree up! I LOVE putting up my tree every year, and of course, I didn't think of getting pics up of the kids helping...but it got done!!! Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving continued

Here are some more pictures of the weekend.

Thanksgiving

I know it has been a very long time since I posted anything... no excuses...just don't get around to posting anything very often. This year for Thanksgiving we had the opportunity to have the in-laws and Jen and Phillip come down. They didn't get to stay long, but it was so good to see family and friends. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at my sister's house, and then we got to take Jennifer and Phillip up to Temple Square to see the lights and meet up with the missionaries that taught Jen and Phillip the discussions...the Showalters. It was a lot of fun, we rode the Trax all the way to Temple Square, walked around....FROZE! We watched the Joseph Smith movie at the Legacy Theater, (i was really worried about the kids and how they would do, but my prayers were answered and they sat through it like a dream...and I might add, it was very powerful and my testimony was strenghtened about the truthfulness of the gospel and the kind of man Joseph Smith was) It was a successfull family outing, the kids were sooooo good, no running away, they listened and obeyed. They loved the lights and even the cold, but especially the "train" ride to and from.

Some pics of the kids

That one of Isaac needs no explantion!

Ellie's first day of school!

Changes

I know that I don't have very many followers, if any at all... but I thought that I would just give you all an update. Our family moved to Utah at the beginning of August and it has been bittersweet. We love being close to family and cousins, and living with Grandma is just great for the kids. On the other hand, we terribly miss Washington and all of our dear friends and family. We miss our neighbors and even our little blue apartment.

To be honest, I didn't think that it would be that difficult coming back to where I grew up, but as many of you know who have been outside of the "utah bubble" for any amount of time, it was complete cultural shock for me. I am still trying to get used to it, but honestly I don't think I want to. That is all that I will say about that!

As for an update on the family...Ellie started kindergarten a few weeks ago, she gets to go half days, and she does love her teacher and she has made a few friends...but to be honest, it has been more difficult for her to meet friends than I had expected. We are hopeful that she meets lots more as she becomes more comfortable. Her favorite thing about school....recess...2 times during the 4 hours she is there! I am a little scared that her speech therapy is holding her back, and making it a little difficult for her friends and teachers to really understand her. She is still in speech therapy, but over the summer her old habits have kinds creeped back, even though we did try and keep on top of her speech.

Isaac....I really wish that I could just laugh it off and just say he is being a BOY, because he is. But just today...his being a 'just a boy' cost us hundreds of dollars in damage. I was at work this morning, just helping my brother out, Erik was home with the boys. I get a phone call, Erik was frantic. He had gotten in the shower and was in there for less than 10 minutes. He gets out and sees a squirt gun on the floor in front of the flat screen TV...no picture on the tv, but the sound works. Isaac has squired that TV and completly soaked it, frying the picture. Then Erik proceeds to go upstairs and finds a sharp knife on the floor, thinking to himself..."thats dangerous..." he picks it up and then sits down on the couch...he then sees stab marks all over the leather couches...both of them, not just one or two slices....but all over the seats in both couches. These are my mother's couches people.....I was sick to my stomach when I heard this. Well, Erik was so upset and frantic, not knowing what to do with Isaac, that he forgets to pick up Ellie from school, so he gets a phone call from the office...how embarrassing, I just had pulled up from work, when I get the news, so I had to go pick up Ellie from the office 20 minutes late. I want to say that I handled Isaac with love and patience today, but I didn't. I was upset and he knew it. I want to say that I have patience...I DO NOT. Lets just say it was early bed time for the kids today, and we are just asking for your prayers that things are better tomorrow. On the other hand, Isaac is sweet heart, he did apologize and tell us he loves us. He is sweet with his baby brother and loves to play with him... and they do keep each other entertained, but both of them do miss their sissy when she is gone.

Spencer is walking around everywhere! He is so funny, can keep up with his siblings and cousins, goes everywhere, does everything they do. He is a hoot to just watch and see what he is gonna figure out next. He is still speaking in grunts, which just adds to the humor of Spence!

Erik was able to get into the training program at the DI. He will be doing some security training as well as some other marketable training, to hopefully get him more employable. He did have an interview back up in Washington a few weeks ago, for a corrections deputy. He hasn't heard anything back from them, but we are keeping our fingers crossed. We really would love to be back up in Washington, even if it is on the Eastern part of the State. Your prayers would greatly be appreciated in that manner as well!

Allia, well I am holding in there, really hoping and praying that this difficult part of parenting passes, and that I can find some inner peace throughout all this. I do love being a mom, and everything that comes with it. And honestly, if asked...would you have another baby?...my answer would be a resounding Yes! (no I am not making any announcement...but someday, maybe!) I am working really really part time for my brother, doing wedding stuff! Its a lot of fun to get out every couple of weekends and use my creative brain on something other than playdough and painting pictures. I am really really trying hard to "bloom where I am planted" and through prayer and scripture study, and going to the temple...since we now have one 20 minutes in every direction from us...its coming along. I know the Lord has a plan for our family and for me personally. I do have a sense of peace that things are going to work out.

Alright, this has been a lengthy enough post...until next time!

Good News!

I am happy to annouce that Isaac is doing so much better. My wonderful Dad sent me some wonderful parenting books, and I have been putting some of the ideas into practice...and its working. I love that!

Isaac

HELP!!!!

I am in need of some serious advice. Isaac is 2, he turns 3 in July and I can't figure him out. How do you keep a 2 year old engaged and out of trouble. I think I have figured out that he is bored...all the time, so he just gets in trouble. wether(is that the right spelling) it is him randomly chucking a toy or something else across the room....nearly missing the baby or me or something else breakable, to climbing on furniture, to just plain NOT listening to a word I say. I hate feeling like I am constantly telling him "no" or "Isaac, don't do that" The only thing that he WANTS to do is watch shows, and I cannot in good conscience let him do that. I have tried using a show for a reward....but he breaks down and has a tantrum when he doesn't get it WHEN he wants it.I ignore that behavior, obviously don't give in to them, but its the same problem over and over again. I was reading a great book, "Christlike parenting" and it says that if the problem is repeating itself over and over again, then its likely a parenting issue. I thought I was a pretty good parent, but what am I doing wrong? People say that he is a boy...that should explain a lot, but I don't like the person I am these days, I feel like I am going crazy, I am annoyed, frustrated and overwhelmed.

Isaac is genuinely a good kid, and maybe it is just my parenting skills. So how do I deal with this? How do I NOT get anxious about taking him out in public, for fear of him just running away... he gets his blinders on and there is nothing stopping him. I HATE yelling, and unfortunately I have found myself doing just that, and we all know that yelling doesn't do a thing to correct behavior or even get their attention.

What to do??? any suggestions on what to do? how to raise a boy?...seeing as I have two of them now, I should probably get this figured out sooner than later.