Cabin of Love...

So for Valentines we decided to head up to our Stratford family cabin located in Eden right at the base of the Wolf Mountain ski resort. We invited a few friends... some could come, some could not...sniff, sniff,... and had a wonderful time. We went up Friday evening and stayed through Sunday after church.

I'd like to say the weekend was full of romance... it was not.

But it was definately a cabin full of a lot of crazy kids (10)

(Tate and Ethan were sleeping so they are not pictured here.)

Some silly long time friends (the 3 dads)

...and some pretty hot mamas (the 3 moms) who made sure things were still standing in the end. (Sorry no pictures of the lovely ladies- we were the ones taking the pictures.)

There was a lot of yummy food but even more JUNK
... which the kids made short work of.

Especially my little "begger boy" Tate:


There was some playing of the WII

This is unfortunately my boys new obsession. They are now determined that they will save all their money up so they can "help Santa buy them a WII"

But mostly there was a lot of SNOW!
Yes, those are all mini vans.
Just breath taking...
Honestly, there are few places I'd rather be than in the mountains, inside a beautiful, cozy cabin while watching the snow gracefully fall and cover the earth.

When we arrived, the driveway was like driving through a tunnel. Then when we awoke the next morning the deck was covered again with 4-5 more inches.
... and it just kept coming all day!

So what do you do with so much snow?
(I could only wish that I was ski slopes with this much fresh powder)

Build a rockin' sledding hill of course.

*Remember to pause the music on our "playlist" (to your right) so you can hear the video.*

It started at the deck, and then the guys built a bank so it would curve around and
you'd slide all the way down the driveway.

It really was awesome!


The kids loved it because it was just their size and they didn't have to climb a huge mountain every time to get back to the top,

the dad's loved it... because they built it of course,

and the mom's loved it because it was right outside the front door of the cabin so when the babes got cold,

they could come right in, warm up, take a nap...


and be sent right back out.
PERFECT!

**Big THANK YOU to my parents for all their hardwork in making and keeping this cabin so amazing!**

"Maaa-ma?" and the Gene Pool...

I have been pondering how amazing it is that even though 2 people may have the same parents, genes, character traits, similar looks, etc... just how different they really are. You know how some families just have "a look"; Like "Oh there goes one of those "Smith" kids" and you know this because they all look the same? Well, neither Dan nor my families have "a look".

In my family there are 2 boys & 2 girls. I think that we each look quite different. Ok, maybe my sister and I are similar, you can definately tell we are sisters, but still we look very different. But my brothers look like opposites. We don't have "a look".

*That pic is about 5 years old... but it is one of my favorites because it was just us being us- silly*

Then there is Dan's family.

There are 6 kids, 4 Girls, 2 Boys. The boys... look nothing alike. The girls... 2 blondes, 1 med blonde and 1 reddish blonde, they range in heights from 5'10 down to 4'10. And then there are the personalities! Wow! All so different. I think the only thing in common with this bunch is their musical and writing talents and their VOLUME!

So... I have been noticing my own boys similarities and differences. I have 3 boys with 3 very different personalites and looks.
Tracen: Golden blonde, fine, curly hair, golden brown eyes, smaller teeth(Dan's side), very tall and very skinny. He is a thinker. Always has been. He has a very pure heart and so desires to do what is right. He was a fairly early talker, but did not say a word until he could say it right. He always answered with a distinct "YES!"

Tyler: Straight, thick, blonde hair with white highlights and black streaks running through it, has 2 wild cowlicks in the front, bright blue eyes, BIG teeth (my side), very tall, thin but solid. He is carefree, acts first, thinks later. Always seems to have his own "Theme Music" going on inside his head. He has a tender heart at times and is very aware of what his "body is telling him". He was also an early talker, but didn't pay too much attention to what was coming out. He knew what he was saying and figured you should too. He always answered with a big "YEAH!"

Tate: Straight, fine, brown hair, HUGE dark brown eyes, a "Stratford smile" with BIG teeth, so far not as tall as his brothers.. kind of the runt. He is silly, silly, silly. Such a tease. Definately my most cheerful baby, yet also my most stubborn. He knows what he wants and expects you to comply. He is also talking very well. He does not hold back in making himself heard and most of the time it is very clear what he is asking for. When you finally answer him correctly and give him what he wants, he always answers with a very happy "Uh- Huh!"

*Side note: I think it is funny how their "affirmative responses" fit their personalities so well.*

This morning was the event that got me thinking about all of this. First a little background.
Now I will be the first to admit and be eternally grateful that all 3 of my boys are and have always been EXCELLENT SLEEPERS! They were all sleeping through the night- 10 hours sleeping through the night_ since they were about 2 months old. Once they no longer needed to be nursed at night, I was pretty strict about it. As hard as it was (at first) to let them "cry it out", I would do it. I could go in, give them their binky and blanket, a big love, and then walk away and.. it proved to work nicely.
BUT, this morning Tate through me a curve ball. At 4:45am I awoke to... not crying, but a sweet little voice calling out "Mama? Mama? Maaaa-ma!" I went in, gave him his binky and blanky, laid him back down on his pillow, rubbed his back,(I'm becoming a softy)sang him a song, and walked out. As soon as the door closed there was an eruption of heartbroken cries. Now remember, I can do this, I can hold my ground. He is NOT going to be wide awake at 4:45 in the morning! So I crawled back in bed, the alarm goes off for Dan to get up and meet Aaron for their P90X workout, and Tate stops crying. GREAT! That was quicker than I thought it would be. Then... that sweet little voice calls out "Mama? Mama?! Maaa-ma!" He kept this up for another 15 minutes or so. No crying just calling my name sweetly. Ahhhhh! I can handle, even ignore the crying, but sweetly calling for "Mama"? This was almost more than I could handle. I just about caved and went in for the snuggle. But, I decided to give it a bit longer to see if he might go back to sleep. In order for me to do this I had to jump in the shower so I couldn't hear that incredibly sweet voice beckening me. When I got out, he was sound asleep and will probably sleep another 3 or so hours. VICTORY!

Actually, as I sit here I am feeling a bit guilty for not immediately jumping to my baby's sweet request for a little extra snuggle time.

Hmmm... that was definately a random mumbling.

Happy B-Day Bro!

Here is a little Birthday Shout Out to my amazing brother, Shane!



Love You!

Tagged!

So I was tagged by Heather a LONG time ago (sorry Heather) and I am finally posting. Here is the 4th photo in my 4th folder!

Boy was I thrilled to find this. Any guesses as to who this might be?

This is me Madre and Padre! They are wearing their actual clothing from high school. My mom was a cheer leader at CHS and my dad was a typical geeky football/swimmer at OHS. The CHEER outfit, pom poms, and leg warmers were my beautiful moms, and the taped glasses, the letterman jacket, and yes even the patriotic star stud belt was really worn by none other (and I really mean none other) than my very own daddy! And you wonder why I LOVE Halloween so much!

I tag my sisters Melanie, Brittany, and Kenzie and my MOM! (post them to our Stratford blog as well as your own) I am excited to see what pictures are drug up!

Or So She Says...

Check out these amazing GALS! Click on their button to the left. I don't think I need to say much here. Once you've seen them, that is all you'll need to be hopelessly hooked! So many great ideas! Hint: the lastest topic is food storage... so incredibly helpful!

Proud Mommy: Part 2

I'd just like to add another proud mommy moment.

This moment is all about TYLER:
Tyler, as many of you know, has always been one to pull out the surprises. You seriously never know what is going to come out of his mouth or what he might do next. Such a funny kid.

He has also surprised us with what he knows. For example, one Christmas morning, when Tyler was just barely 2 years old, my mom came up to me and said, "I am so impressed that Tyler knows all of his colors." (me) "What?! He knows his colors?" Same thing with his letters, one day I over heard he and Tracen talking about them, and Tyler knew every letter and their sound.


So why would I be surprised about this last event?


Today, Tyler said he wanted to write a letter to his cousin Riley. (they are always coloring pictures and sending them to each other) So he got out his notebook and said,


"I want to write Riley first and then Tyler and then write a picture of Riley and Tyler."

I usually hold his hand and help him write the letters.

So as I reached for his hand I said, "What letter does Riley start with?"

(Ty) "Rrrrr R" (me) "Good" and I helped his hand write the letter R.

Then I said "what letter makes the 'I' sound?"

(Ty) "I"

......... and he wrote it! All by himself!


He then proceeded to write all the rest of the letters and went on to write his own name without any help from me! I was shocked! I tried to make a big deal out of it...


(me) "Tyler! Wow! You just wrote your name all by yourself! That is AMAZING!"

(Ty) Without looking up from his paper, "Uh- Huh." No emotion what so ever!


Maybe this is normal for most 4 year olds, it is for his cousin Riley, BUT again I had no idea! Not because I had never tried to sit down and "work on it" with him. Tyler is just not one to let me "sit down and practice" anything with him. He OBVIOUSLY prefers to learn things on his own and thank goodness he does!


I was so proud that of course I took a picture of it!

Pretty darn good-eh? I do love the 4 lines on the 'E'.

Out of the mouth's of babes...

TATE:

"Mama!!!!!!! Mama!!!!!!!!!" (at the top of his lungs)

"Brier?" (where are my brothers?)

"Dadda? Da---da? DAA--DA?" (he usually says this when he has woken up in the morning or from a nap)

"Yaaaamy? Yaaaaamy!" (which is for AMY when daddy doesn't answer after waking up)

"No! I Go! (most commonly heard)

"Cookie...... Kaa kaa (cracker).... Bee Bee( Binky & blanket)... Ba Ba (when thirsty)....
Goo! Goo! Goo!!!(grape-which he cannot stop eating---this can be bad) Geezzz! (cheese)... Mo(more)...
*Mah-nah-mi-nah (which if for M&M's but can also mean any kind of treat that involves SUGAR)

***My all time favorite:
I ya you. (I love you- followed by a big slobbery kiss)

TYLER:

"Daddy, you're not listening! You didn't let my voice go into your ear."

" I don't know what to do, my brain is not talking to me."

He often says,
"My heart is telling me... that I need to get some more good exercise" or that "it is feeling sad" or " really happy."

Right before going up to say the scripture in Primary, he leaned over and whispered, "Mom, before I say my scripture, I am going to go up there and say BOO!"

TRACEN:

"Mom, can we go to the bottom of the world? Is Antarctica REALLY at the bottom of the world? I would really like to see the penguins that live there. "

"Mom, can we talk about gravity? I would like to know more about that."

"Dad, I just love doing Kenpo X. I think I am really good at it. See I can do this (demonstrates a typical Kenpo punch or kick) and I am also getting really good at Dance Dance. I can totally beat you, Dad."

(Trace)"Mom, can I take my picture of Jesus for my 'Show and Teach bucket?
(me) "Sure Trace. Why do you want to take that?
(Trace) "Because Easton in my class doesn't know about Jesus."
(me) "What will your 3 clues be so your class can guess what is inside the bucket?"
(Trace) "Hmmm... I think I will say:
1-It is a picture of my brother. 2-He loves everyone. 3- He is my friend.
*I gave him no ideas or promptings on that one and his teacher told me that he said just that.*

Another PROUD MOMMY MOMENT:
I'd also like to make a note that at Tracen's SEP conference with his teacher this last week, I was informed that Tracen is well at a first grade level in his reading and math skills. He is reading chapter books and knows addition, subtraction, and the beginning concepts of multiplication. I don't think we really thought of him as being that much farther ahead because his cousin Sammy is doing the same stuff. ( I'd like to note that this is NOT because of me or Dan. Tracen is a thinker, so he is the one bringing up the concepts and insisting on knowing how it all works.)
His teacher said that when the year began she realized her challenge as his teacher would be to make sure that he is being challenged, but she quickly realized that Tracen is really good at making a challenge for himself out of whatever topic they are learning.
*Most importantly to me, was when she told me that she usually puts the kids that are struggling with something next to Tracen, and hoped that was OK, because she knows that he will be kind to them and help them if they don't know something.

Thanks for letting me brag a bit about my CRAZY but AMAZING boys. I couldn't be a prouder mommy.