Up-date

Has it really been two months since my last post? Tim's out of town 'til tomorrow afternoon. He's a another class. This time in Chicago. It's a good one: all on occlusion (how the teeth bite and fit together). Also, there was some about photography in there which I know he loves, so that's exciting. Only, how excited can you get about taking pictures of teeth? I can't wait for him to get home. We all miss our "voice of reason" desperately!

So, do you see the time I am posting this? Yes, it's 2:15AM. Sigh. I woke up with a yucky tummy. I guess one really shouldn't eat two huge pieces of pizza with tons of cheese on it, two glasses of milk, and a huge cookies 'n cream brownie when one is almost 36 weeks pregnant. Which brings me to the next thing I wanted to post: did I ever say on here that we are expecting child #6? I guess we sort of alluded to it in our Christmas card, but you had to have read it through to the very end for the little hint: "Julia loves...babies. Lucky for her, Baby Owens Version 6.0 will be arriving this May." We are so thrilled. It will be another little boy, and so far, everything seems to be on track.

So, do you want the real reason I'm up at 2:15AM? (I really do have a queasy tummy, but...) I have been reading "Anne of Green Gables". What a great book. Lindsay saw that I was reading it and wants to read it next, so I felt a sort of sense of responsibility to get it read as quickly as I could. Hee, hee. She gets too involved in the mystery/fantasy genre, so I'm wanting her to branch out a little more. Also, she is such a strong little lady herself that I love for her to read about other strong, admirable little ladies, too.

Anyway, in reading "Anne", I came across just the most adorable, applicable quote. I thought immediately that I had to post it.

Anne tells Diana (her bosom friend), "There's such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that's why I'm such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne, it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn't be half so interesting."

I just love that. There are so many timeless, beautiful sentiments in that book. I've really enjoyed reading it. I also just saw that there is a whole series of them. I guess I'll have to read them. Only so that I know what Lindsay will be getting into, of course.

Only 14 more hours until my Tim gets home.

And, I can't seem to put something on here without a picture. Our main home computer sort of died last month, so we're down to using our laptops. I haven't down-loaded any recent pictures on this computer, but I did find the most adorable (if I do say so myself...) picture from our trip to western New York last summer. It's the soon to be big sister with her big brother out by the lake. Doesn't Tim have a natural knack for photography?

We're Still Here...

Here are a few pictures from our last few months' happenings:

On Christmas Eve, our neighbors invited us over to an open-house. It was so nice. They live a very short way away, and it just felt silly to pile everyone into the car to drive there. But it was seriously like 3 degrees outside. We bundled up Wesley and Julia and took them there Russian style. Seriously, you always see moms pulling around their kids in sleds, etc. all bundled up in winter. It was a really fun evening. We are blessed to associate with wonderful people in all areas of our life: neighborhood, school, church, work.



We were all very tired and sugar-ed out after the Open House, but I just couldn't live through a Christmas Eve without our traditional live nativity. Here we are at the end. Julia couldn't get enough of the Baby Jesus. In fact, most babies are still referred to as Baby Jesus even now in February. One of my favorite moments from Christmas was when it was the shepherd's (Wesley's) turn to hear the angel (Lindsay). We all look over at Wesley, and he's just totally kicking back with a drink of water in one hand and his legs crossed. It was just the funniest thing. He's such a funny little guy.

Christmas jammies.

This was my other favorite moment of Christmas. Julia was the last one up, so we all thought it'd be fun to sneak quietly into her room and show her the stocking that was waiting in her crib, thinking that she was still soundly asleep in there. We all sneaked in, only to discover that she was in there amidst all of her "loot" trading off between sucking her thumb and some candy. She was just all set to stay there all morning. She had her candy. It was just such a funny moment for all of us. She's such a sweetie.

The view of the Christmas tree from upstairs. I always think about how my Dad says that he remembers the "smell" of Christmas. He and his siblings would go and sit out on the landing of their Appleton house and just wait and soak in the smell. Such a cute image.

We had a fun "active" birthday party for Samuel's 7th birthday on the 26th. I think he had a lot of fun. Here are all the attendees.



Then, for New Year's we went out to Utah. My sis, Cath, just moved to Provo, so we made her house our headquarters, even though she had just moved in a couple of weeks ago and was still unpacking her house. Thank you, Cath, for letting us invade.

How much do you think these cousins slept? They all gave it their best shot.

Julia discovering the wonders of dress-up with Emma's stuff. We have a dress up box, too, but it has as much Ninja, Star Wars, crazy wigs, etc. as it has pretty pink stuff. She was in heaven as is evident by her facial expression.

Miles really acts the part of the beloved, worshipped, older cousin well. In fact, I don't think he minds it at all that he's got 7 younger boy cousins who follow his every move. Here's a picture with Tate.

We made it up to Salt Lake Temple Square to see the lights. They are even more spectacular than I remember. I think the last time I went was on the day after Thanksgiving my freshman year at BYU when Becky Pulley's family so graciously hosted us. We had fun then in the crowd, but now we have a crowd of our own.

Don and his boys were able to meet up with us. It was snowing and cold, but it just added to the magic of the beautiful lights.

Enjoying the snow in the Grames' backyard.

We also got to go up to Kaysville and enjoy celebrating Jacob and Jared's 11th birthday. Brandon was there, too. He's getting sooo old. I think he's 13 now. Crazy.

It was a great holiday season. Now we're gearing up for a visit from the Grames and Grandma and Grandpa Call for Presidents' Day Weekend. More fun

Here's Hoping for a Snow Day

So, my kids have this funny superstition thing that if they sleep with their pajamas on backwards and inside out, then it will be a snow day the next morning. No school!! I don't even know how it all began, but they're convinced it works.

Also, notice the duct tape securing Julia's diaper. Yeah, I was welcomed by one too many crib-fuls of you-know-what. Tim suggested the duct tape. It's worked so far. Bless her little heart.

Lindsay's sleeping with the phone, so she can be the one to answer it when the automated school district phone call comes telling us that school's been cancelled. I just watched the news, and I don't think that there'll be one tomorrow. Just in case, I got another canister of hot chocolate at Sam's Club this afternoon, so I'm prepared if the weather guy's wrong.

Halloween 2009

Girls choosing pumpkins...

Boys choosing pumpkins...

The whole fam posing at the pumpkin patch...

Girls carving pumpkins...

Boys carving pumpkins...

Miss Julia, a butterfly...

Wesley, a skeleton...

Samuel, a vampire...(he had the perfect "fangs" this year)

Miles, a mad scientist (which wasn't really dressing up for him at all...)

Lindsay, a funky clown...

The whole gang by the carved and lit pumpkins...

The pumpkins all aglow...

The skeleton, the butterfly, and the mad scientist "trick or treating"...

I say it in quotes because this was actually the night after Halloween (yes, a Sunday) when we were requested to go over to our sweet neighbor's house. She had special little treat bags for each of the kids and was so disappointed that we didn't make it by on Halloween night. We had had a fairly hectic night with Lindsay trying to navigate two different 11 y.o. girls' parties and fifteen 11 y.o. girls' feelings, so we hadn't gotten to everything that night. Also, I never got pictures Halloweeen night, so I was happy to get everyone dressed up again, get their pictures taken, and head over to Jessi's house. We even sang her a pretty "stirring" rendition of "Stirring My Brew", if I do say so myself. :):) Also, I love that the butterfly in the last picture has a "blankie". So cute.

Wesley's First Day of School

Wesley is in Pre-K this year at the Harmony Preschool. It's fun school where he can go FOUR afternoons a week. I've never had my 4 y.o. go to 4 days of pre-school, but I thought he'd enjoy it. His teacher is super nice, and he seems to be enjoying it. I am also loving that I get a few hours a day in the house when it's quiet, because Julia naps while he's a school. It's been great all around.

Here he is on his first day of school. Again, we only had Daddy's fancy camera with the macro lens. Sheesh.

Mommy and Wesley outside Harmony Preschool

Wesley outside school

Wesley at the door to his classroom with Julia not standing still for a picture behind him

Wesley said, "Mom, if I do one nice one, then can I do a silly one?"

Yes, of course, son.

A Family Tradition Continues

It felt like every single Saturday night we'd take a bath, get in our jammies, and head downstairs to get our fingernails and toenails clipped while we watched "The Lawrence Welk Show". Seriously. If tradtions are something that families do to increase a sense of belonging and well-being then this one surely served its purpose. I think my brother Chris was the most fond of the show, but we all enjoyed it, I'm sure.

Well, the other Saturday night when Tim was still out of town, wouldn't you know it? "The Lawrence Welk Show" was on PBS. It was great. I was telling the kids how I used to always watch it growing up. Then, I was laughing with them about the guys' bright red suits. Lindsay realized that they matched almost exactly to the red suit coat she had "inherited" from Great-Grandma Shirley's closet this summer. She had to run upstairs and put it on. Thus began a great Dress Up Dance Off. I was so glad I had my camera.

Lindsay and Wesley (both sporting numbers from Great-Grandma's closet)

Samuel looking good in a dress from Great-Grandma and the wig and hat from our dressup box (the modeling pose and suave look are all his own)

Wesley busting a move

Yep, we let Wesley's hair "grow out". It would probably look similar to this without frequent cuts.

Miles doing a pretty good "Elvis". Thank you, thank you very much...

Samuel

Julia had to be part of the action.

Tim took my dinky camera with him to Guatemala, so I had his fancy one from the office. Unfortunately, it had on the really fancy "macro" lens, I think. So I could only get close-ups of everyone. Oh well...

He's Back

And we're all so happy he's home safe and sound. He had a great time: driving up riverbeds in the back of Toyota pick-ups, pulling teeth by head-lamp light, and just all around experiencing another culture. It's always such a good reminder of the blessings we enjoy here in our country and of the fact that we are all God's children and do share somewhat of a responsibility for each other.

Here are some pictures:

the lush country side of Guatemala

the crew after a trip in the Toyota. Love the wind-blown hair, babe

such a beautiful little girl and she doesn't even look that traumatized

Aren't these children beautiful? The moms would always make sure that their kids got treated first, and then, if there was still time at the end, they'd let themselves get treated.

6 Down and 3 To Go!!

At the last minute, Tim decided to join some dentists in our area and head down to Guatemala on a humanitarian trip for 10 days. 10 bed-time routines on my own. I have to say that I've been pleasantly surprised by my ability to remain mainly in control (of myself, that is. I'd never pretend to have "control" over my children...). I guess I should admit that I am sort of a "rise-to-the-occasion" kind of gal. Seriously, I do better when I know there is no possibility of a "bail-out" than when I know Tim will be home any minute but he's somehow taken 4 minutes longer than he said he would. Do you know what I mean? Sigh.

On top of the 10 nights alone, I even survived a holiday on my own. It ended up being very fun. We went to the pool at my gym and enjoyed swimming and hamburgers. We survived Sunday with the help of some friends being brave enough to invite us over for dinner. The weekdays aren't so bad at all. We just have our normal daily routine. It just gets lonely at night, and I miss my Tim. A two minute phone call every night or so just doesn't cut it. Now we just have Saturday and Sunday, then he's home.

Does this sound negative? Are you all wondering "why can't she handle her life/kids better"? I wonder that sometimes, too. What is my problem? Part of it boils down to the temperament of my children. As our Bishop likes to say, "You were not denied the blessing of active children." Also, I struggle with modeling calm, temperate behavior in stressful situations. This has led to my children also having a hard time remaining calm in stressful situations. Stressful situations come up a lot in a house with 5 active children. I'm working on this. I also have the honesty gene deeply embedded in my genetic code. So much so, that, if anything, I ere on the side of being too honest, and in that effort to be honest, I think I say or admit to things that come across negative. Who knows. Either way, I'm proud of myself for my good behavior in my husband's absence, and I'm so excited for him and the adventure he's having.

I also must record here that I do deeply love my five little people. They have been so instrumental in the development of who I am and who I want to become. Parenting, while relentless, is also the best way to learn and grow and change and improve that I know of. It's funny to look back 11 years and 2 months ago at the mother I was and see how I've changed. It's been such a journey. So worth it in every way. I'm so grateful to my children and the way each of their individual personalities and spirits have contributed to the mother I'm striving to become.

Thank you to the friends and my sister that I've called and talked to almost every night during my lonely times. Keep me in your positive thoughts until Sunday.

Happy Anniversary to Us!!!

We celebrated our 12th anniversary this past Wednesday. 12 years!! We got a cake and sang, "Happy Birthday to our family" with the kids, then we went out to a nice dinner by ourselves. It was a great day. We've really had a great 12 years. We look back and can't believe how we've been blessed time and time again.

August 19, 2009

August 19, 1997

It almost never rains in August in California! It made for some good pictures.

When we got home from dinner, the kids had some sweet notes and cards on our bed. So cute!

While the kids had dinner, I reminisced and told them some memorable moments from our wedding day. I told them about the Father's Blessing Grandpa Call gave to me that morning before we left to the temple. I told them that Great Grandpa Call had performed the sealing ordinance for us. They all listened attentively. But, of course, the story that they all got stuck on was how Uncle Kevin messed up our car. Wesley could not get over it. When we looked through the wedding album before they went to bed, he could not figure out why we didn't have a picture of the car with peanut butter smeared on the door handles and dry potato flakes sprinkled all over the dashboard. Mind you, it was like 11pm and raining when we finally left which meant there were then mashed potatoes all over the dashboard. Thanks again, Kev.