Anniversary

On Thursday, David and I celebrated our anniversary early in Midway.  After Zel and Desiree took us to Midway a few months ago, David and I decided that we wanted to make this our place for anniversaries.

We went on a "sleigh ride" at the Jordanelle Reservor.  It was cold, even for me!  But the wind wasn't blowing so it was do-able...especially with David cuddling me.

We stayed at the Zermatt Resort.  Our room was wonderful and the environment on the resort was beautiful.  I had barely started medication for a UTI so I was in a lot of pain early that morning but with the medication and by the time we got to Miday, I was able to really enjoy spending quality time with David.  It was seriously relaxing.  We stayed up, probably way too late, playing card games and watching TV because we didn't want any of our time together to end.  It's funny because I can remember past anniversaries and getting to a hotel and just falling asleep so fast because David and I were in the "thick of it" in raising our little ones and were just so exhausted.  Different stages...and that's ok.

 

Not a teenager anymore

Our family has spent many Christmases with my side of the family in Oklahoma.  With Elton and Levi's birthdays being so close to Christmas (they are a year and 3 days apart in age) they have shared quite a few family birthday parties.  But this year, Elton celebrated with us in Utah!  He was here for a friend's wedding but we'll take it!

We had their birthday dinner a few days ago at PF Changs.  But for the activity, on Levi's actual birthday, we went to Provo Beach.

David looks like he is about to fall off the board here but he was actually purposefully flipping his whole body and board around.  Both he and Levi are pretty good at that.

Provo Beach also has other activities but who needs structured activities when you can make up your own game and rules...I think it's a mixture of croquet and bowling here.  It was actually quite entertaining watching the 4 older boys, well, be boys.

So, Levi isn't a teenager anymore.  I don't think it has fully sank in yet because he has acted so responsibly for so long, I guess it feels as if he grew out of the teenage phase a while ago.  He has 2 jobs, pays bills, owns his own car, and up until recently wasn't even living at home.  He makes time to hang out with friends but is still respectful to David and I as he always lets us know what he is doing.  He and Ruger still has that beat each other up and call each other names relationship (but with smiles on their faces most of the time).  He doesn't treat Brigham and Hyrum like "little brothers" but more like friends.  He probably has no idea how attractive he is because it sure hasn't gotten to his head.  I know I can trust him and I truly am so blessed to be called as his mother.

"Different" Gingerbread Houses

This month, instead of doing the normal Come Follow Me stuff at night, we have been focusing more on the baby Jesus, His life, or what Christmas traditions have to do with Him.  Last night our Family Home Evening had more to do with the latter.  I found this super cute video (CGI Animated Short Film:  "The Real Santa" by Philippe Tempelman) on YouTube about the young Santa Claus and how he was different from all the younger kids around him.  It caused him heartache but in the end, it is what made him who he was:  kind, understanding, and inclusive.  

"It's a gift to be different."

Hyrum let me use him as an example in his Autism.  There was a time when Hyrum came to me and emotionally expressed that he could not find anything good about being on the spectrum.  After letting him know what I honestly love about his being on the spectrum (my favorite being that he is honest.  He has a problem with ever being dishonest) he now realizes that while being Autistic does not define him, it absolutely has influenced his life... and believe it or not, there is good in it.  This is the same with everyones life struggles.  It does not have to define us but is sure can be a great learning lesson and benefit to others if we allow them to be.

We played a game on some symbols of Christmas and then build gingerbread houses.  Levi made this super simple house.  He asked me to take a picture and then to record.  Mind you, the following day he turned 20.

"I call this my teenage years...now I say goodbye to my teenage years!"

He then smashed his gingerbread house!  I had no idea he was going to do that!  His brothers thought it was HILARIOUS!

Mine and David's gingerbread house.  Every year I get a kit with enough houses for everyone but me.  I just focus on them and taking pictures.  And I've loved that!  But this year I made one and you know what?  It was really fun!

Fall and Christmas Catch-Up

Back in October, Arika had some tickets to a haunted forest down our way.  So she came down here and Hyrum invited Corrinne and Ethan since there were 4 tickets to use.  Hyrum had been having a particularly rough week so this little get together was perfectly timed.

Thanksgiving was so relaxing and just a really good time being together.

Brigham had a small procedure done and all is well!

Every few weeks or so, between me and Leia's Mom, we try to make sure that Hyrum and Leia get to go out and do something.  Since Hyrum and Leia's love of Japan brought them to each other's attention a few years ago, it seemed perfect that they go to the new rotating sushi bar in Vineyard that just opened up.

A few weeks later Arika came down and spent half the day with Hyrum and our family.  After doing random things, I knew we needed to take Arika to Tsubame to see if it compared to any of her experiences when living in Japan.  She was pleasantly surprised how good the sushi was.

Every Tuesday, and sometimes Thursdays, the Martin boys come over for a few hours to eat with us and play so that their Momma can get a little break and things done.  On this night we decided to do something a little special and make it all about Christmas.

On that same night, Okayu kept getting in the tree and the Martin boys thought it was sooooo cute!

 And it was!

It's great to be 8!

Ruger turned 8 at the end of last month.  And just like any little 7 turning 8 year old, he would often talk about his upcoming birthday.  He went to a friend's birthday party at the Classic Fun Center a few months ago and he knew he wanted to go there too.  We rarely buy the birthday packages (where you get your own table, food and activities, and well, pretty much everything is included).  But I had this specific memory come to mind a few weeks before Ruger turned 8.  My mind went back to when Levi was probably in Kindergarten and he wanted to go to Chuck-E-Cheese real bad.  We could not afford a private party at that young stage of mine and David's marriage.  But somehow my Mom and Dad found out.  So, even though we were in Utah and they were in Oklahoma, they made sure that Levi got that party!  It was such a warm memory of my parents every ending giving.  

And then I wanted to make sure that Ruger got that "private party!"

I think there were 10 kids that came.  I can't remember...it was hectic for me trying to make sure that 10 kids stayed in the building!  Ha!

For our children's birthdays we don't give them presents.  We give them an experience and then where ever they choose to eat.  Well, Ruger had been begging to go to a Japanese Steakhouse for months - one of those places where they make the food right in front of you.  Well, our chef was amazingly talented and he fed off of Ruger's enthusiasm!  It was cute to watch them interact.

Well, what do I say about this 8 year old of mine.  He still is quite hyper but has calmed down...a bit.  Everyone is still his friend and everyone wants to be friends with him!  I should record sometime me picking him up from school.  Its "Hey Ruger!" "Bro!" every few seconds!  I swear that kid knows everyone in that school!  He shows love to his Momma more and more these days.  I wanted to record that because all of Ruger's life has been about his Daddy.  It's nice to get some of that love now!  He is my only kid left who will cuddle with me.  He loves animals and wants all of them.  He loves to skate around the house or throw a football.  He's a good eater and slowly learning to cook real food by himself.  I just love him.  He's so unique.  There really is no one like Ruger Adams.    

Halloween Alternatives

 A few months ago, Ruger had his head shaved and was outside playing.  One of our neighbors suggested that Ruger be his Daddy for Halloween.  We thought it was hilarious and got matching shirts and a fake beard for Ruger.  Ruger ended up wanting to be something else but I still wanted to take pictures...even if his hair had grown in.

David loves wearing shirts that support vetrans and Nine Line is one of his brands.  When I got the matching shirt, I thought of my Dad and how patrotic he is.  I knew he would love one of these shirts.  So the plan WAS so have Poppy and Ruger with their shirts on and me take a picture (while we were out in Oklahoma a few months ago) so I could have Ruger with 2 of his favorite people side by side.  But I forgot so this collage will just have to do.

Halloween 2022

The Saturday before Halloween our ward had a chili/games/trunk-or-treat like party.  Levi may be older for trick-or-treating but he still got in on the fun!  It was so funny watching the children's reactions to this huge Peep!  Some would stay far away, with an almost scared look in their eyes.

Others were like this little girl who was sooooo cute with Levi.  Everytime she would come by, she would stop and get in his lap and her parents would have to pry her off of him!

One of the perks of David having his own business is he gets to go to homeroom parties!  And Ruger loved it!

Ruger fought hard to get to use this blow up dinosaur.  We didn't think he would be able to bring it to school, let alone not pop a hole in it by the end of the day.  But come Halloween night, he proved us all wrong!

Some neighbors had a Halloween party that we went to before trick-or-treating.

 

Okayu

Introducing Okayu (Oak-Eye-You)!

Trying to help Hyrum with his mental health has been a learning process.  And that is ok.  Trial, error, and successes are going to happen.  Our latest adventure involves this adorable Siberian kitten, Okayu.  Studies show that time spent with kittens decrease depression, anxiety, and even help Autistic children learn social skills.  Siberian cats are known to be dog-like in that they follow you around the house and jump in your lap when you sit down.  After much research, we really believe a cat and this breed with help Hyrum.  And she is so sweet!  She already shows Hyrum so much affection.  

 

We all love her!

Thursday Getaway

My parents made sure that on mine and David's wedding night, we got to stay in a suite at a Marriott in Oklahoma City.  I know this is going to sound cheesy but I was just so excited to start my life with David that I felt that was special enough.  Plus, I had never stayed in a suite before.  After that we were heading to Utah to get back in time to get David back to college before the new semester began.  I honestly can't even think about the last time I realized that David and I never got to go on a honeymoon.  But maybe to a husband, he thinks about the things he can provide for his wife?  Even now?  Well, he found out quickly that if he mentions that to his cousin, Zel, he just might make sure you get a little do-over.  And he did!  He and Desiree were at Disneyland with their children this year on their wedding anniversary so it worked out well that we could do this together.  David and I first checked in at the Blue Boar Inn (Midway, Utah) and took this beautiful picture just outside our balcony.

We got dressed in our swim suits and met Zel and Desiree at the Homestead Crater.   We went swimming in a geothermal spring located in a 55 foot tall crater with water that always stays between 90-96 degrees.  With it being mineral water, you can see through it clearly...until it gets dark with a depth of 65 feet.  I have a fear of being in water I cannot see through so I did not know if anxiety would get the best of me or not.  I also do not do well in hot tubs as I get dizzy from the heat.  But you know what?  I loved it!  I could easily see to my feet, the heat didn't bother me, and David kept me busy with conversation to distract me from thoughts of something being in the dark part of the water.  I did it!

After that we went back to the inn, got ready, and then met in the restaurant and had some of the best food I've had in a restaurant in probably ever!

We feel so blessed that we were able to do this.  And it came at a perfect time as I had just gotten back from being away from David for a week while I was in Oklahoma.

Family time in Oklahoma

Hannah and the kids were the first to come and visit Ruger and I while we were at Dad and Mom's house.  Hannah, Mom, and I talked for a couple of hours while we put together stuff for the future table decorations at the scrapbooking retreat.  Hannah and I Marco Polo each other from time to time but she was able to really go into detail, in person, what she has been up to while we were visiting.

Ruger got to play with his cousins.

For dinner, Uncle Chuck and Grandpa came over.  It was quiet, as I'm used to these dinners with the whole family but it was kinda nice to be able to just talk to Grandpa and Uncle Chuck.

But...the cutest part of the night was watching Ruger and Uncle Chuck together.  Ruger has a special bond with Chuck.  He is one of the first one's he goes to when Chuck is in the room.

Later that night we got to go out to April and Elton's house and see it for the first time.

The following day was when Mom, Amanda, April, and I went to the scrapbooking retreat.  Poppy and Ruger went with us to help us unload and on the way back, Poppy took Ruger to Fantastic Caverns in Missouri.  Can you pick out Ruger?

 

Poppy made many memories with Ruger making sure cousins were involved, garage sales, and taking him out to unique dinners like a place that served crawdads!  Which Ruger loved, by the way!  Not as much as he loves his Poppy, though.

I had to include this picture of Mom.  This picture doesn't do it justice but her eyes were super blue that day.

Poppy had to work one of the days that I was at the scrapbooking retreat so Stephen watched Ruger that night.  Ever since Ruger was a baby, Stephen has always really loved Ruger so I knew he would be safe with Stephen...plus, he got cousin time!

And one final picture of Ruger getting even more cousin time!