Looking forward

...to a summer of many mornings sleeping in and cuddling with my sweeties.
5:14am. That's what my clock says...and I think I've already been up for a couple of hours. Thinking and looking into summer activities on the Internet. I can't wait for summer. I can't wait for warm weather. It's raining and it's supposed to for a couple of days. I'm not SO excited for summer that I decided to get up at 3am. I have a cold and my throat's a little dry and sore and I had to put Sammy back in his crib...so he doesn't have to sleep with a sick Momma...but then I couldn't get back to sleep. It's these early hours of the morning when you get to think and ponder and read and write and sometimes its therapeutic.

I was thinking that I have been ungrateful. This winter was hard for me. I knew winter was going to be long. Long and cold. But I didn't know how dismal and gray it would be. I know I could have gotten out more. That I SHOULD have gotten out more. Instead I chose to hibernate. Not wise. However, hibernating is easy to do when you have an adorable baby Sam to do it with and when the thought of going outside makes you shiver. Sam and I did a lot of cuddling by the fireplace this winter and I loved that part of hibernating. But hanging around the house too much isn't so good for my disposition. I know I haven't been the easiest person to live with.

When I woke on Mother's Day it was pretty early. Early enough that I knew I was the first one up. I was wrong. Jason had gotten up even earlier because minutes after I woke a beautiful breakfast tray with my most favorite raspberry and cream crepes was brought to my bed along with some loving and kind words on paper. The kind of words that made me cry. Soon after, handmade cards and gifts were brought by my children. I felt so undeserving. I also felt so blessed. I know I have been ungrateful. I know my family has been patient with me.

I have missed warm weather and getting out everyday to enjoy it. I miss Kauai. But until we get some sun and all my kids are home with me for the summer, I have to focus on what I have. I HAVE SO MUCH.

Winter's STILL not over!

It's been over four months since my last post...when I was blogging about winter arriving. Well, tomorrow is May 1st and winter is STILL here. In fact, it's snowing right now. Am I surprised? Do I think this is unusual? No way, not for Cache Valley. I won't even be surprised when it snows in June.

So today as I sat at my computer with the furnace blowing out warm air on my toes I decided it was time for a winter recap...because here in Cache Valley we just can't get enough of winter.

TUBING

YURTING

Uncle Jeff planned a "Man Trip" to the yurt in Green Canyon and somehow my Aidan and Cole were manly enough to be invited to accompany their dad on the journey. They had a great time planning, packing, trekking in the snow, and eating lots of food. And Aidan even got some of those men to play a few hands of "Old Maid" with him.

ICE SKATING AT CENTRAL PARK

I love to skate at Central Park because it's something I did as a kid. I love to seeing the temple in the background. Plus it's a great family activity during a long, cold winter. But I'm sure I've never had as much fun skating as I saw my kids have this winter. Aidan was a little speed skater racing as fast as he could all over the rink...never tiring. And Sadie would twirl and twirl and twirl. Cole loved to run and slide down on his knees and see how far he could glide on the ice. And it was always best when the cousins were there with us.
Jason is a beautiful skater...graceful and smooth. he can skate backwards, he can turn and do tricks and he can skate fast. After about an hour of skating my feet hurt, I'm cold, and I'm done. But not my kids...every time we went skating they were NEVER ready to leave.

OUR VERY OWN NAPOLEAN...(as in dynamite)

Aidan wore these beauties to school EVERYDAY, so it's a good thing that his Karren cousins passed down not one, not two, but three pairs of Napolean Dynamite boots. In April I told Aidan he couldn't wear his favorite boots to school anymore....at least not until it snows again next year. I hope I'll be ready to pull those things out again because I know Aidan will not forget them!

HOT CHOCOLATE CLUB

Sadie has every other Wednesday off. Many of those Wednesdays were spent with the hot chocolate club. While I pushed little Sammy in the stroller on the ice. Emma and Sadie worked at perfecting their skating skills until it was time to get the yummiest and chocolatiest hot chocolate ever.

AIDAN'S SPECIAL BIRTHDAY

Aidan looked forward to turning eight for a long time. He had prepared and was so excited for the opportunity to be baptized and to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

His baptism was very special. Grandma and Grandpa Karren had just returned from their mission in Chicago and were able to speak at his baptism. Grandma Murray gave the opening prayer and Aidan and his cousins sang together about baptism. After Jason baptized Aidan, Grandpa Murray confirmed him a member of the church. It was a great day for Aidan and for our family. We were so happy that so many people who mean so much to Aidan were able to attend this special event in his life.

BOARDING AT THE BEAV

I learned to ski when I was in middle school when I went up to the mountain on ski day with my school. But I really learned to ski after I married Jason and we moved to Jackson, Wyoming. How can you live in Jackson and not ski? Jason had been skiing his whole life. He took me to the top of the black diamond runs at the Jackson Hole Ski Resort and I tumbled down while he skiied gracefully down the expert shutes. I'm still not a great skiier, but I can get down the mountain without tumbling.

Then one day I tried snowboarding. It was painful. The next day I couldn't walk up or down the stairs. I think these are skills best learned when one is young.

A couple of years ago when we spent the winter in Logan our boys wanted to snowboard. So, at 39, Jason learned to snowboard with Cole and Aidan, while I skiied with Sadie. Jason amazes me. A couple of painful days and he could board....really well I might add. He took Cole and Aidan every weekend and THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN! He asks me all the time if I will try it...but I am too big of a wimp. And I am so glad he can take our kids to do something they love together.... and, of course, that he makes them wear a helmet.

Cole getting big air

Aidan jumping off Ted's Rock

BIRDING

Aidan has a new love....BIRDS. He has learned all about birds from Grandpa Murray. He loves to watch them in Grandpa and Grandma's backyard and talk about them with Grandpa. One of his favorite birds is the pheasant. He wanted very badly to catch one so he could have it's tail feathers.

Jason helped him set up a trap in Grandpa and Grandma's field, but all he caught were cats, magpies, and.....

THIS GUY!

Aidan did his science project on the birds he's seen this winter and learned about from Grandpa Murray. He continues to collect bird nests that he finds all over the place. On our spring break trip he caught a gray jay in his bare hands. It was awesome!

Our SAMMY...nine months!

VERY early this morning as I lay in bed looking out my bedroom window at the moon I thought about my beautiful baby Sam and how it was nine months ago today that we welcomed him into our family. Then I thought about how he came to our family at the perfect time and how Heavenly Father truly blessed our family by giving us Sam to love.

I love, love, love his slobbery open mouth kisses and his tight grasp on my neck when we're cuddling.

And I can't kiss his cheeks enough.

Winter Has Arrived!

After much anticipation we got a nice snowstorm over the weekend. The kids have been outside playing every chance they get making snow forts and snowboard ramps in the backyard. The joys of winter!!

Last night for Family Home Evening we went to Old Main Hill and stayed way past the kids' bedtime. Someone had spent some time making some great jumps. Cole and Aidan never tired of climbing that hill to catch some air. Oh, how I wish I had their energy AND their enthusiasm for the snow. After some encouragement from Daddy, Sadie had a great time too, making tracks with her skis. She remembers how to use them and was soon full of laughs and giggles.

And then there is one of the not so joyous aspects of winter....the WET boots, gloves, hats, mittens, socks, coats, and snowpants.