Christkindlmarkt

Hyrum is taking German this year and the older 2 boys took it when we lived in Washington Terrace.  Interestingly enough, I took it in high school.  Who knew our family would be so interested in Germany!

The first year that Levi took German, he went with the German Club to Salt Lake City for the German festival there (Christkindlmarkt).  I remember, when he told us about what he saw and did there, I wanted to go also.  With Hyrum being in German this year, I was reminded, so our family finally went on Saturday!

(Here is the boys eating a German "waffel" and drinking "gluhwein."  At the festival, the gluhwein was non-alcoholic but usually it is pretty much a wine and hot cider type drink)

There were performances there, German food, and lots of little booths.  It was pretty simple, when I think about it (We didn't stop to watch the performances because we knew Ruger would never stay still for that).  We didn't do much and there were TONS of people there.  Normally, that would be too much for me and anxiety issues.  But I had such a wonderful time.

After we left, we found a Taco Bell and ate there.  After we ate everything, we just stayed there for a while and talked.  We never do that!  I always worry about Ruger being too loud or running around but I was so calm.  At one point I just sat back, watched, and couldn't believe how different I was.

I have been on a new medication for a little bit and my life has changed.  David feels like he's married to a different woman!  To put it into the right perspective, I was literally crying everyday (multiple times, actually) before this medication.  Having David gone during the week and only seeing him on the weekends was very tough on me emotionally.  And honestly, I haven't been fully well (as far as depression and anxiety is concerned) since our time in Oklahoma anyway.  It has just been intensified these past few months since I started school and David started living in Saint George for his job.

I still can't fully believe this new medication is working the way it is.  I feel so blessed.  But I've been depressed for so long and with that depression comes very low self esteem issues.  A part of me feels as if I don't deserve it.  But that is crazy right?  I deserve a "win!"  I know, deep down, that I do.  And David deserves it too.  He deserves a sane wife.  And he deserves not having to worry about his wife so much.

I have really gotten off the point of this post.  Christkindlmarkt.  But is was so good to really see the difference in me at this festival.  The difference that started a couple of weeks ago and without a doubt, manifested its effects on Saturday.  

Oh, Christmas Tree...

This is what the top of your Christmas tree could look like if you let teenagers have their way.

Yep, that would be a play trumpet, a garage door opener, a Comcast ribbon, and an inhaler.

Boys are weird...and FUN!

Thanksgiving Week 2019

 The majority of Thanksgiving week was spent with David's side of the family.

Rachael came home from a mission and Stephen Jr came home from college...

 ...so Grandma got to be with all her Grandchildren again!

 And of course, her boys!

The sister-in-laws got to get away for a much needed lunch date.  I'm always surprised what I learn when women get together without husbands and children.  There is just a different type of conversation that can be had and is usually something that I come away from gaining something that never could have been expressed if we were chasing little ones around or comforting a teenager.  All 3 of us got to be heard, we got to listen, and it was all uninterrupted.   

 When Stephen Jr and Levi were next to each other, we were reminded just how much these 2 look like each other.  Cousins?  More like brothers!

 We found a place inside to play (since it was cold and snowy) yet they ended up playing football outside anyway.  

 We also just hung out, went to a movie, and met up in Salt Lake City to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square.

I'm ending it with these 2 cuties!  The first picture is of them at Temple Square and the last is of Stephen Jr. with Ruger when he was a little over a year old.  They have always liked each other but seeing them 2 together this last get together cemented it. Ruger would call Stephen Jr, "His friend, Stephen" instead of his cousin Stephen.  It was so cute!

We have a 5 year old!

We originally thought Daddy would not be home until after Ruger went to bed, on his birthday, so we decided to celebrate the Saturday before. 

We went to the mall and let the 2 little ones ride on these mechanical animals and then afterwards took them all to the candy store.

Then we went home, had Ruger's favorite meal (Taco Salad), opened presents, and then had cake.

I had to put a picture of him and his movie.  This kid won't stay still for anything but a computer game.  And even then, he gets up to jump around now and then because he can't handle it.  Sometimes it gets so bad, that if he is on my bed while playing on the laptop, he stops and digs his head deep into a pillow and screams!  He can't stay still or quiet for long at all.  BUT, when we watched The Greatest Showman he stayed in the living room the whole time!  The whole time!  And it wasn't even a cartoon!

On his actual birthday, I took cupcakes to his preschool class and they all celebrated his big day.

Ruger loves school, loves people, loves rocks, loves the computer, loves outside, loves babies, oh goodness....I could go on and on.  He just loves life!  I mean, he really truly does.  I guess with his kind of energy, how could he not?

Animals, animals, animals

Ruger was invited to a friend's birthday party last week.  They had a company bring some animals for the kids to pet.  Which reminds me of something cute about Ruger.

There is this baby that he sees almost everyday that he has preschool.  He "pets" her everyday.  It is the cutest thing but I wonder how many times I am going to have to tell him that "you pet dogs, not babies" before he actually gets it!

 So, they had hedgehog, a boa snake, a bearded dragon, a ring tail, and a chinchilla.

 I saved my favorite 3 for last.  The turtle, tortoise, and skunk!

When This Man Comes Home

I don't know which is more telling.

The look in this man's eyes or him cuddling in.

His being gone during the week has played a toll on my emotions but I can't deny the closeness it has brought us during each and every weekend.  I am grateful for what this experience has forced us to realize in purposefully making time for each other and realizing just what each other does for one another in building a strong marriage.

Halloween 2019

Halloween began with a church dinner, activities, and trunk or treat the Saturday before the actual holiday.  The older boys dressed in dark clothes as they did their part of the activities (they were in charge of a "haunted" room).  And even though they apparently made a little kid cry, I was still proud of them for helping out with the festivities.  It is fun watching your kids grow to take on responsibilities like this.  They could have been out and about having fun but instead they were entertaining others.  I don't know why it made me so happy but it really did.

 Ruger was Batman/Spiderman!  He couldn't make up his mind on which one to be so I thought, "Why can't he be both?"  It turned out to be a pretty funny costume considering the 2 super heroes come from 2 totally different comics/universes.  David pointed that out to me after I had decided to get all the stuff Ruger needed for his costume.  I knew Uncle Chuck would be proud!

It had been a real tough week for me so it was hard to put on a happy face but I'm glad I went.  It forced me to socialize and it was a good reminder that our family belongs to a really great Church full of members who care about each other.

 On Halloween, Levi actually dressed up for school...if that is what you want to call this!  So, he already had this hoodie that everyone says looks like the 90's Solo/Dixie cup, so he decided to get the matching joggers and went just as that.  That kid cracks me up.

Hyrum got with a few of his friends from school and they all dressed in some kind of blow up dinosaur costume.  He went out with his friends on his own while David and I went trick or treating with Ruger.  Brigham had a friend come over and they just played games and ate a lot of junk food.

It was a very cold night but that didn't slow Ruger down one bit.  David and I laughed often that night as we watched him run from one house to the next, never once getting tired or complaining that it was cold.  Oh, to have his energy!