Oh Hi...

Yes, I have been seriously slacking on my blog. Sorry to those five people who really look at it but not much has been going on around here- or maybe it is because too much is going on that I haven't been able to keep up. I took a total of five pictures in February and about the same amount this month. My one class and internship have been keeping me very busy, not to mention being a full time teacher on top of that. I currently have 260 essays waiting to be graded (most essays are double sided which means about 520 pages of reading and there are many other good books I would rather be reading! Jenny- thanks for offering to read them but most of them really are painful and nothing like a good book).

Jason and I were lucky to get away over President's Day to Mesquite with Juli and Travis. The boys spent some time on the golf course while we checked out the Parade of Homes. We did get the boys shopping at the Vegas outlets and had a delicous Valentine's meal at the Cheesecake Factory. The best part was wearing flip flops and the warm weather. It was a nice, relaxing weeked which may become a tradition.

Jason and Max have been busy skiing every Saturday. Max took two sessions of lessons this year and just passed level 3 with flying colors. His teacher did say he needs to slow down a bit.... I skied with him two Saturdays ago and nervously followed him through the terrain park. He had to hit every jump and lost both skis on the big one. All he could say after was "that was fun!" Jason had the honor of taking the toboggan down for Lynn Cooper's memorial. It was a neat experience for him and he did a great job even though he was nervous.

Klein has been busying growing up too fast. She says "thank you" any time she is handed something and her other favorite phrase is "c'ya bye" as she walks out the door that she can unfortunately open. We put up the trampoline and the kids have loved being outside in the sunshine. Max already has a tan line even though it really hasn't been that warm. Max decided not to play soccer this year and is looking forward to baseball. We signed him up to play coach pitch rather than tee ball. I am excited for the warmer weather even though in Cache Valley it will probably be snowing until May.

Happy Birthday Max!

Six years! Wow! Max's birthday lasted nearly a week around here. He was spoiled by grandparents, had a fun party with a few friends, and finally got gifts from us when things slowed down a bit. We had to go to his favorite place- El Torro- for his birthday dinner.

I took Max and five friends bowling and they had a blast. This was the first "real" birthday party he has had. Usually we just get some cousins together but this party involved invitations and favors. The bowling was okay but it was too long to wait in between turns so they ran wild through the alley. Luckily, there were only a few college classes there for the first bit and then it was just us. They were checking the black lights so the boys got to experience some cosmic bowling.

I also took treats to Max's classroom and shared some pictures of him. He was so excited to have me there. He wanted baseball cupcakes to share with his class but a tractor cake for later. We had dinner with Grandpa and Grandma Hansen on Sunday and then with Grandpa and Grandma Major on Monday. He was exhausted by Tuesday and I had class on Wednesday night so we finally gave him his presents on Thursday. MarioKart was all he really wanted.

It has definitely been six years of adventure with Max. He has grown up so much since going to kindergarten this year and it is hard for me to see him get so big. He loves to read books to me and loves library day. He doesn't always love doing homework but the poor kids needs to get used to it because he has many years of homework ahead of him. He is full of energy and enthusiasm for life.

His current love is skiing and every day he begs to go to Beaver Mountain. He usually goes up with Jason on Saturdays and spends the day with him. He just finished one session of lessons and will start again in a few weeks. He doesn't wait for anyone and it is top to bottom for him on every run. He loves to find little jumps off the side and to go through the terrain park and little trails through the trees. He is also really into playing farmer and only wants to wear cowboy boots. His room is filled with tractors, trucks, animals, and any cardboard box he can find to make sheds and barns.

Max volunteers to say every prayer at our house. One day he said three prayers and his sincerity melts my heart. He also loves to sing primary songs but not for an audience. I will catch him singing in his room when he thinks no one is listening. He is very sweet with Klein and always willing to help out. The best is to hear the two of them laughing together. I couldn't imagine life without Max. He brings so much joy to our family and I am excited to see what the next year brings.

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

All Alone...

So this is the last of my many belated posts (just for you mom!)...

Yesterday, Max had his first ski lesson of the year. Last week, he skied with Jason for an afternoon and did better than he ever has (I swear he gained confidence from Wii Ski- no lie). He didn't want to leave the mountain and skied the terrain park and trees like a pro. When they didn't come in forever, I thought that something must be wrong or that he wouldn't ski so Jason found someone in the top shack to b.s. with until it was time to go but I was wrong. Max wanted to keep skiing even though the mountain was closing.

Well, I took Max to his lessons, a bit nervous that his one great day of skiing was done and he would revert back to his somewhat timid self but again, he proved me wrong. He did amazing in lessons and the teacher was very impressed.

The big kicker happened after lessons. I wasn't dressed to ski but was waiting for him by the lodge to catch him when he skied by so we wouldn't have to hike so far. He skied past me begging to go one more time. I panicked because I didn't know who he could go with and I didn't know where Jason was. Max was not stopping and skied right into the sparse lift line. He assured me that he could do it on his own and he was standing next to a 10 year old girl so I assumed he would ride up with her. I repeated numerous times that he needed to ski toward the patrol building and be careful. I hung back to watch him get on but started going up the hill to meet him. When I looked back, he was on the lift BY HIMSELF. I couldn't believe my eyes. I stood there watching, nervous that something might happen and then when he neared the top, I waited for the lift to stop because he couldn't get off but no, apparently he was fine. He then proceeded to ski right down Little Beaver, across the cat walk, and right to me. I could not believe he did that and then he wanted to keep going! He veered toward the Dream lift ready to do it again. Luckily, Jason arrived just in time. What a day! Now all he talks about is when he can ski again and all I can say is "please, don't ride the lift alone! and always ski with a buddy!"

It is funny how you spend your child's life waiting for them to get big and be able to do things by themselves... but then they do and you want to go back!

Max- all smiles and very proud of himself!

The New Year

Well, I can't believe it is already 10 days into the new year. I am not a huge resolution maker mostly because I am constantly making lists and plans that the resolutions just fall into my perpetual planning and dreaming. I am always striving to be a better mom and be more dedicated to my scripture study. I definitely need to be a better friend (sorry Jamie and Jenny!) and I make a goal every year to 50 books which I can never quite meet. Once I finish my administrative internship and one more class at USU, I will be forever done being a college student (really, I promise, there will be no more PhD for me- if ever I mention it, please someone remind me of this post). I always have the dream of scrapbooking and sewing more but realize that this probably won't happen as much as I hope. I want to be a great teacher and will be motivated toward this goal when I get my AP results and think I should do better. This year I am not making plans to lose weight but I am going to continue going to the gym (almost) every morning at 5:30 am. I started in October and found myself addicted to going. I try to work out five days a week and have enjoyed the diversity of classes. I can't go on Fridays because of our early morning meetings and Saturdays only if I want to get out of bed and be there at 6:00 because of ski patrol.

Really, I just need to focus on what is most important in life...

Killing Time

The break was fun but very unproductive. I was lucky to be ready for Christmas and by the time it was over, I was exhausted. I did get the decorations down in a timely manner but that is about all I accomplished. (Jamie- I promise I will get your Christmas to you before Spring Break and Lindsey- yours will hopefully be in the mail tomorrow). The problem with going back to school is that I had to face reality and get everything ready for Parent/ Teacher conferences tomorrow. I let the grading pile up and have been buried under it for the past week. Klein still hasn't been sleeping like her usual 12 hour self but I am still going to the gym at 5:30 so by 8:30 at night, I am pretty much done.

Here are the kids mesmerized by the Wii... as long as Klein is holding a controller

she thinks she is playing.

Klein in Grandma's iPhone... maybe next year babe!

The Big Day

It has been a very long month for Max waiting for Christmas to finally arrive. It always seems to come so quickly and then it is all over. Santa brought Max everything on his list- a scooter, skateboard, remote control monster truck, and a harmonica plus plenty of other surprises. Klein got a stroller, a doll, and some dress up shoes- all of which she loved right away. The family finally got a Wii and it was a hit with everyone. Jason and Max played nearly all day. We ventured over to the Hansens and they spoiled the kids too. I surprised Jason with a TV for the bedroom (maybe now he won't fall asleep on the couch every night) and he got me a Bosch mixer. It was a great Christmas and it was so nice to be home. The only problem was that Klein forgot how to sleep all night. She got sick and threw up for three days (I don't know where she got the silica but the package is right about not eating it). She only slept for about three hours on Christmas Eve so we were lucky Santa even made it to our house. She hasn't slept all night since. Going back to school was not any fun at all but at least I am on the downhill slide.

Grandma pulled out the boxing gloves to help the kids get some energy out... maybe not the best idea but no one was hurt in the fun. Those boxing gloves have been in the family since I was probably Max's age.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve with the Major family. DeeAnne always has so many fun activities for the kids and lots of good food. The kids each made a scrapbook page with a picture of them by the tree which they loved doing. They also pulled taffy and played games. Max and Klein got to open their presents that night and were both spoiled by loving grandparents. Klein loved hanging out with the girls (Aunt Steph and Karlie) and learning how to use a cell phone while Max enjoyed wearing himself out with cousins- he loves his older cousins Jake and Riley. It was a wonderful night of family and memories.