Big Brothers

I took some time this weekend to go spend time with some of my favorite kiddos. I'll be honest, everything seems right in the world when you are in the company of three amazing little guys. Porter and Mason wanted to sing for the baby that we were anxiously waiting for. They practiced for at least ten minutes, laughing and enjoying every mess up. The above was the 'perfect one for Benny ran around the house singing "Twinkle Twinkle" but ultimately decided against sharing with the world.




From the looks of these pictures you might think that I have a bias towards Mason, not so. I love each of these little ones the same. Porter ~ because he makes me laugh with his stories. The child can somehow make something as simple as brushing his teeth into a ten minute story. He is getting to the age where there is reason, and a good one, behind everything as well. For example, he picked a book for us to read prior to bed time. It was a bit of girly book and so I inquired as to why this book was chosen. He looked up at me and simply announced, "Marsha, I need to know this book so I can read it to Quincy when she comes. Mom is going to have a lot to do, I can read to Sister." What a thinker and a lover this one is! Benny (Bennett) for the little guy he is becoming. With Quincy about to take over 'baby' status in the home Benny needed something. And he has done EVERYTHING. This little one can be found behind the chair reading to himself, using your legs as the crash course for his favorite cars, or cuddling up on your lap telling YOU a story (he takes after his oldest brother that way). If it weren't for Translator Porter I would not understand a word but Porter is amazing and understands every word of it. Mason for his laugh. Whether he breaks the quiet dinner time with a funny laugh because he thinks his food looks like the dog from across the courtyard or he turns to me right before bed, grabs my face, and laughs 'But Marsha, bed is boring. Let's play tickle again' ... this kid gets me EVERYTIME ~ we might have gotten up and tickled the WIGGLES out of these little ones!! All in all these 3 guys are fabulous! Kirst and Dave have done an amazing job with the first three and I am excited to see what happens when this little girl comes into a home so full of love and excitement!

Locks

Here you are.

Happy Anniversary

I can hardly believe it! I’ve been here, in the 8410… zip code for an entire year. I left the shores of Sunny, Melo, Perfect California to come to Utah. God and I had made a deal which consisted of me coming to Utah with a large question of why in my mind and His endless love and patience as I figure it all out. We’re still in the figuring out process.

But I fear that I more often than not give the downer side of living in Utah. With the post below I realize that some ‘click-byers’ might assume I am not a fan of the circumstances I find myself. Let me clarify ~ some days are hard but there were hard days in CA (the knock on the door at 12 and the quiet Kas contemplating things while Greys or SportsCenter play is evidence to that) and hard days back home. LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR ~ I like living in UT … I’ll say it again, I like living in UT.

The mountains that once made me feel like the world was caving in on me have now become the beautiful blanket landscape that surrounds me. I saw the most beautiful moonset today over the far away mountains ~ I don't know which range is which yet ~ as I drove west … it was breathtaking.

The City of Salt Lake, which I previously would only refer to as a ‘large town’, is now a quaint city with discoveries of amazing architecture and perfect people watching benches. I am certain M&M and I could enjoy 4th South for hours.

The weather, albeit dry, is manageable ~ sorry, I like my Chicago fall and California spring.

My homes ~ yes, prior to the ringing in of 2009 I will live in another house, 3 in one calendar year!! But I love each of them. From the red and yellow kitchen in the Fairview house … to the cozy quarters on Bryan … to the heated bathrooms and ginormous kitchen at Pete’s (I might like the last the most!) I have been at ‘home’.

But what is most important is that I have ‘people’ here. I have people that I trust and that I count on. I have people that I laugh with and can scream at (I apologize). I have people that will walk with me and people that will pull me. I have people that will argue with me and people that will wipe away the tears. I have my Liberal friends and my die hard Conservatives. I have my Grey's watchers and my Bear's Club. I have my walking friends and my Wii friends. My ‘person’ is here, I am here.



HAPPY ANNIVERSARY UTAH! I know I don’t express it nearly as often as I should but … I kinda like ya, from Lay’en to the moun’ins, you’re not half bad. Thanks for a WILD year … here’s to another 365 days!

I Propose ...

Sunday Night depression didn’t hit until 1:30 last night … I kept myself busy. I like my job, my other job, and my other job (when did that happen?) but there are some nights when the thought of a routine day coming with the next sunrise is not happy.

During my last jaunt to CA we discussed an option that sounds more and more appealing with each passing week, day, moment. Last night, before sleep came, I made a few additions to the original plan. Here’s my final proposal ~ and by final I mean can be altered at any moment as long as we get one and go.


We’ll purchase one of these. I believe in these.


She’s going to drive and obviously we'll be bringing the Girlfriend and Cowboy ~ we can't leave them behind!! She’ll still be working and so we’ll drive from show to show and in our free time meander the country.


He’ll be the photographer for the adventure. Occasionally we may need a bit of extra gas money and he has volunteered to … do things for that money.


She’ll be teaching the kids so they don’t fall behind as well as organizing the jewelry business we will need to start up to keep up with the energy costs of parking the Big Boy.


She’ll be the labor for the jewelry business and the social coordinator. If you want on for an hour, a day, or to journey with us for a time … contact her.

I’ll be in charge of the map … Bad idea. I’ll be in charge of the meals … Bad idea. I’ll be in charge of the people I put in charge of those things. I’ll also do bedtime with the kids ~ others allow the kiddos to eat in bed!

Lights and Trees

So it got a little chilly on Wednesday night ~ I sleep with my windows open, I'm my Father's daughter. When I woke up … after a resting three hours of sleep … I found my mind immediately turned toward Christmas, a subconscious thing I do when I feel even an ounce of winter weather! I am that girl that gets excited when she finds the Christmas station weeks before Thanksgiving on the radio, rents the Christmas movies months in advance, and finds every reason to begin this Holiday as early as possible.

Halloween is great … it’s better with the kids around though. Thanksgiving is up there too but to find a good flight home, not miss too much work, and not spend more time in the airport with delays than I do with my family tends to put little Thanks in my heart that weekend.

CHRISTMAS is my favorite. I love snow. I love carols. I love lights. I love seeing beautifully wrapped gifts (Robs, why aren’t I there? D&P are going to have to step it up and teach this girl how to wrap a gift). I love watching the traditional movies. I love staying up late and discussing the same topics that were discussed the previous 20 years of my life but now I’m a grown-up (of sorts) and so I get to participate. I love the ridiculous competition of games on Christmas night. I love the ridiculous gifts that Buba comes up with. I love missionary calls. I love the house hopping on Christmas Eve. I love watching faces as people open the gift that I so dilligently searched for ... that perfect gift. I love CHRISTMAS.



So naturally … I’m preparing myself. I called the Christmas Light Professionals and Vance is on it ~ our Little Brick House is going to be simple and beautiful ~ no colored lights (the M&M both gave that stamp of approval immediately). I’m thrilled! I’m also trying to figure out how to get a license to get my tree, as in cut my tree down on my own. There were two years in college Paul and Gunnison clan brought home beautiful trees, freshly cut, but I’m certain they did it under the eye of the law. I am not as slick, nor as knowledgeable in the cutting down of trees, I shouldn't take that risk … so I'm going to figure out how to do it legally. Sure, the tree last year was great … but I want to do it all the good old fashioned way. Anyone game? Paul and Tara/ Brent and Collette, do you want to come for a weekend and show me how to do this?

And so it begins ...