Ten-Year Love Letter

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love

Dear Lindsey,

In high school we sang this song from the musical Rent. As we approach a major milestone in our lives, I thought it would be fun to look back over the years and look at some of the numbers behind the 10 years of love, laughter and friendship that we commemorate today.

Family

In the last ten years our immediate families have more than doubled from 15 to 31. We've welcomed several new brothers and sisters and even more little nieces and nephews, and together we've mourned the passing of three grandfathers and two grandmothers.

Messy Business

Our own little family has expanded as we have welcomed three wonderful little boys into our home. Each of our cute little boys has come with a cute little bum that is in constant need of changing. To date I estimate that we have gone through roughly 7600 diaper changes between the two of us. At 25 cents each, that's almost $2000; I believe this means that we earn ourselves a pretty nice vacation when we finally get these tykes potty-trained.

Working for a living

You’ve got me beat by a point in the job count, but together we've worked a total of 13 jobs since we've been married. Though you have spent the majority of your time working to develop the impressionable minds of children as both a mother and teacher, I have been impressed by your willingness to roll up your sleeves, supporting the family with everything from chopping veggies to crunching numbers while I finished up with school. My jobs have been more on the mundane side with positions like teaching assistant or grader, but possibly my favorite was the 10 months I spent in an auto shop learning how to work on cars. That training has certainly served us well.

Getting Around

Any guesses how many vehicles we've owned in ten years? We've owned exactly 6 cars during our marriage, and we've named everyone according to its personality. From the twin sisters Trixi and Prixi who were always acting up to get attention; to the Yoda, our regrettable impulse buy; to our current people movers Odie and Hickup. But for some reason our fondest memories have been with Sven (our little Svedish svedan). Sven was the first car we bought together; he brought us 1374 miles across the country to grad school in Wisconsin as well as the 147 miles back and forth to Chicago every month for temple trips; and he was at the center of a rather miraculous repair job when we were our most destitute. But more than anything, we enjoyed the laughter and conversations during our hours of driving around together in his more comfortable than average seats.

And we can never forget the '73 Kawasaki motorcycle that I attempted to restore. I’ve decided to name him Osu, the Japanese word for push, because I spent a lot more time pushing him than actually riding.

Movin' on up

We've managed to stay relatively put over the years, moving just three times from Orem to Madison to Peoria: a total of 1573.6 miles. You’ve kept us organized and sane each time through the process while I did the grunt work.

Reading Between the Lines

One of our favorite things to do is to find a good book and curl up together and read to each other out loud. Together we've read more than 7500 pages from authors like Dan Brown, Grisham, and C.S. Lewis, and from some great series like Eragon, Hunger Games, and Series of Unfortunate Events. Notice the absence of Harry Potter from the list, probably a travesty to many, but we really never got into it. Perhaps that will be the next 2000 or so pages we decide to tackle.

Dedicated Service

Together we've served in a total of 13 callings, from my brief stint as the ward chorister to your latest calling as the compassionate service coordinator.  Most notably, however, have been the 4 opportunities we've had to work together in teaching assignments. It seems like someone was aware of how well we work together as a team. My personal favorite was the year in Madison that we were asked to put together a Mission Prep class for the youth of the stake. We didn't have a prepared curriculum to go from, so we got to work together to develop our own lessons from the new (at the time) Preach My Gospel reference.

In addition to our callings, I estimate that we've been to the temple about 75 times, about 20 of which we were able to sit together and hold hands through the session because of the layout of the Chicago Temple. We will always cherish those trips to Chicago where we made a concerted effort to turn off the radio and instead use the time for sharing memories from our childhood and impressions from the temple.

Windows of Heaven

Based on our combined AGI from the last ten tax returns, I estimate we've contributed (redacted) in tithing during our ten years of marriage. When you look at the numbers on this scale it's easy to think that that money could have constituted a substantial nest egg or perhaps a stellar European vacation or even a dream sports car. But as I look back through the years, it's equally easy to acknowledge the blessings of continued employment, ample sustenance and comfortable shelter. As I reflect on these blessings, it is easier to focus on gratitude than on the sacrifice.

Measure in Love

Even with the conservative estimate of an average 60 beats per minute, I would guess that my heart has beat at least 315,360,000 times since our hearts were joined together in marriage (18,250 fewer if you deduct the average of three times per day that my heart skips a beat when you walk into the room). Regardless of the actual number, I am certain that each and every one of those beats has been for you, Lindsey. You have become my closest confidant, my best friend, and my greatest partner. You are constantly in my thoughts, my dreams and my aspirations. I love you, and after ten years I can't imagine life without you. I look forward to the next 10 years and 300,000,000 heartbeats. I can't wait to look back and see what we have accomplished together.

Happy Anniversary!!

Love,

Ryan

Merry Christmas!

Here's what we've been up to in December...

Sickies
To follow up with other health post, Ryan & I got the puking-bug the week of Thanksgiving. It was a great diet plan for Ry - He ate all he wanted at Thanksgiving dinner, and then his body rid it all from his system the following 24 hours. It was awful. I was sick Saturday night and Sunday, so I missed my last Sunday teaching Primary. (Read on if you are curious about my new church calling.)

Then Brennan got another cold, a nasty-coughing-horrible cold. He has been sick for two weeks now. We took him to the doctor, and... DRUM ROLL, PLEASE... he has a double ear infection. Sigh. We haven't had a healthy week since Ethan arrived. In fact, Ethan is battling his SECOND cold himself. Christmas Day he had a terrible fever, and he's throwing-up a good amount of each feeding. This has got to end!

Ward Christmas Party

This year's Ward Christmas party was a Cowboy Christmas. Ryan built the stand for this cute photo-op board. Here are the boys when he tested it in our dining room.

Fearless Collin sat on Santa's lap and asked for a bike horn. Chicken Brennan sat on the bale of hay next to them.

Here they are looking adorable next to the pretend campfire. The committee even arranged for line-dancing and campfire carols.

The last event of the evening was a nativity play performed by the youth. Ethan was cast as Baby Jesus, and I missed the whole party (except dinner) trying to ensure his happiness for the skit - He was fed and napped to perfection. Here's the first scene. How does he look?

 

Ah, did I fool you? Yep - Surprise! That's my baby doll from when I was little. He got all fussy backstage when he needed to go on, and I swapped him for a doll at the last second. (Yes, I came prepared with a doll.) Here I am coming through the door as Ryan realized he'd been snapping pictures of a pretend doll and not our baby.

Anyway, Ethan didn't end up being Baby Jesus after all. It would have made a great story too, since Ryan and I were both the Baby Jesus in our ward's nativities 32 years ago. (October babies make the best Jesus' apparently.) Unfortunately, Ethan just hates the hours of 7-11pm.

Advent Tree
I finally came up with an advent calendar idea I like. So here's what we do...

Each night the boys find the number on the tree. On December 1st we did number 25, and we did number 1 on Christmas morning. Each card has a picture (and the number) on the front and on the back it has: scripture verses, Gospel Art picture, online LDS bible video, and an assigned ornament. So we look at the picture, read a verse from the bible and watch the video. Then the boys put the matching ornament on the tree. I adapted it from the Pinterest idea called "25 days of Christ." It's awesome! The boys really look forward to it too.

Three Boys

I have THREE BOYS! Can you believe it? I sure can't. Here are my three boys in their "City Jammies."

Collin and Brennan have had theirs about a year, and they were so excited that Ethan had pajamas with cars and buildings on them too. They insisted they all get their picture together.

Aren't they cute?

Christmas Around the World Family Home Evening
I can't remember if I have ever blogged about this tradition before, but I absolutely love it. Everyone should do this!

For the past three years, we have been inviting over 2-3 families one Monday evening in December. Each family is assigned to plan an activity or craft or bring pictures or a treat from another country. Anyway, over the years we've heard about Germany, France, Venezuela, Russia, New Zealand, Brazil, and - of course - Japan.

Usually Ryan teaches some origami, but this year our group was a little younger; Collin was the oldest. He found this cute game that translates into "Other people laughing at you while you're blind-folded." Anyway, it's a 'pin the tale on the donkey' kind of game, and the little ones loved it.

Our friend who served a mission in New Zealand taught the kids the Haka dance. It was cute.

And our friend who served in Russia brought his wolf hat and stacking dolls.

We ate some fun treats, and it was a great evening for all. With all the multicultural experience our returned missionaries can offer, I think everyone should try this tradition. It's really fun, and we all learn something new.

Weather

It snowed early this year, beautiful fluffy snow. Collin and Ryan built a snow tunnel in the front yard again. We also had our second storm this weekend, which started with rain, then ice and finally snow. Church was canceled for Christmas Sunday. Sad huh? Anyway, it is beautiful... as long as you are safe and warm inside.

Gingerbread House

 

I missed this whole event (napping, I think), but check out this creation! Ryan and the boys decorated this great gingerbread house two Sundays ago. See the car out front and the W above the door? They even crafted a chimney with Starbursts for bricks. And the brick-mould around the front door actually matches our own real front door.

My New Calling
I got released from Primary. I've been there 3-1/2 years (since I got pregnant with Brennan!), and I am/was devastated. I cried when I found out that a release was in the works in September, but I had about two months to come to terms with the change. I finally got officially released and called to my new calling on Thanksgiving Sunday. I found out the night before (between bouts of puking) that I was getting called to be the new compassionate service leader in Relief Society. I was pretty speechless, and my mom's and mother-in-law's jaws literally dropped when I told them each via Skype. Anyway, I really felt like I was in need of service instead of needing to arrange for everyone else's services. Ethan was only a month old!

But this past month I have learned how wonderful the sisters in our ward are. I have yet to call someone (though I know it will happen soon enough) and be turned down to take a meal to someone. Our ward has already had three babies born (all the same week in December), and other needs for meals as well.

I know I'll be busier than I was with primary, but so far the boys have been understanding of my need to make a lot of phone calls. Hopefully we can all adjust, and it won't be too painful a transition.

I think it will also be cool to get to work more closely with Ryan. He is the elder's quorum president (and has been for almost two years), and he does all the arranging for giving priesthood blessings, loading moving trucks, and assisting with broken cars. Now I arrange for the meals, packing of moving boxes, and rides for car-less members. What a team we make!

Christmas Eve
We stayed home this year, for the first time ever. In the morning, we went bowling with about ten other families in the ward. It's a tradition for one of the families, and she invited all of us to join her. I hate bowling, but Collin is begging to go again, so I may just have to suck it up. Ryan and the big boys had a great time playing, and I had a great time socializing. :-)

In the evening, we had over our neighbors for soup and appetizers. We also decorated sugar cookies. Their children and grandchildren were with other family, so we were able to steal them away. It was great. We're so glad to have "family" now in Peoria.

After Jake & Laura headed to their church's Christmas Service, we opened this year's "Nana Jammies." Here are our little tigers.

At bedtime, Brennan was having a hard time calming down. I went in their room and told him he needed to go to sleep so Santa could come. He said, "But I am listening to hear the bells on Santa's sleigh." Yeah, think we've read Polar Express a few too many times this year? It was adorable. Then Collin told me that he had said his first personal prayer. He had thanked Heavenly Father that we could celebrate Jesus being born. That melted my heart too, and I left smiling.

Christmas Day

Being home to open presents with just our little family was awesome. First, we read the Christmas Story in Luke 2 and finished the last ornament on our Advent Tree.

Then we sorted our presents and took turns (youngest to oldest) opening one present each. Here's a random assortment of photos - monster hats, Curious George blanket, kitchen/cooking toys, books, a Marble Run, dress up clothes, and Mr Potato Head.

 

 

Ryan made eggnog donuts, scrambled eggs and sausage and bacon. We played toys the rest of the day! It was nice to be home and relaxed.

Unfortunately, Ethan was sick all day, and I spent the whole day in a panic. He had a raging fever, and on any other day I'd have taken him to the doctor. But we did NOT want to be in the ER on Christmas Day (miserable experience with Collin at 4-days-old in the hospital), so we did piggy-backing doses of Motrin and Tylenol all day. When Ethan is sick, he pukes up all his feedings when he gags on the mucus in his throat, so Ryan and I (and Ethan) went through several apparel changes throughout the day. Laundry on Christmas Day? Yuck. The fever finally broke after his 1pm dose. That part wasn't the best. He seems to be doing much better now. Thank goodness.

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you are enjoying lots of time with loved ones.

Ethan's TWO months!

Somehow little Ethan is already two months old. He's grown out of the newborn and size 1 diapers, and my "newborn" is looking less and less like a newborn. He's already in size 3 month clothes, and he's got all kinds of pleasant rolls of chub. His cheeks are totally, kissably pudgy. He looks like all my other babies at this age - chunky and smiling and adorable.

Now a little run-down on what he's been up to...

EATING

Ethan is still eating about every three hours during the day. He's a good eater and gets the job done in just less than a half hour. We've given him gas drops (simethicone) with each and every feeding since he was three days old. (He had stinky gas from birth and always a constant bubble to burp, which caused LOTS of screaming. Collin had the same problems, only it took us until he was a month old to discover that the drops helped. He started the drops immediately with Ethan, and he is a much happier baby.) He is burping pretty well now, but he is my first spitter-upper baby. I always have a burp rag on hand, and we both usually have a wet spot after a feeding.

He takes a bottle on Sundays from Dad at church, and one from a friend who babysat on Thursday night for Collin's school program. As long as its warmed, he's been fine with it.

SLEEPING

Ethan is a great sleeper, just like his older brothers. Unfortunately, his timing is a little off right now. We can't seem to get him to go to sleep until about 11pm. But after that 11 o'clock feeding, he always sleeps until at least 5:30-6am. I can't complain about the sleep I'm getting, I know.

After I feed him about 6am, he naps again for a long while. I always have to wake him to run errands or get his brothers to school, but I think if I could get him to sleep earlier in the evening, I wouldn't always have to wake him at 9-ish to go places. Anyway, it's a work in progress to move up bed time.

During the day, he usually gets tired again about an hour after waking, This past week I've been able to get him to stay awake - and relatively happy - for about 90 minutes before his next nap. The last 30 minutes though I have/get to play tickle games, sing silly songs and let his brothers play with him. It's been fun to see more and more of his personality.

The big brothers are great with him, by the way. Collin and Brennan are very gentle, and they love to make him smile. Ethan loves his big brothers. He always tries to turn his head when he hears their voices, and they can always coax a big ear-to-ear grin out of him.

Ethan only sleeps in a swing, day and night. We've tried the bassinet, but he chokes on his spit-up. At his two-month checkup (not until January) I'm going to talk to the doctor about acid reflux. He HATES laying on his back, and he spits up EVERY time we lay him on his back or tummy (even diaper changes). He has to be inclined, like in the swing. In fact, we now have THREE swings, so we can have one in each location of the house; two we've borrowed from friends. Thank you guys!

Other than that, he cries himself to sleep, just like Collin did. As soon as I figured that out, my life got a lot less stressful. Rocking him and holding him and singing to him while he shrieked his head off was killing me, just as it did when Collin was a baby. Then I figured out that if I swaddled (only lightly; he hates tight swaddling) him and put him in his swing, he'd only cry for a minute or two and then go right to sleep. Success! I guess some of my babies just need a good cry before sleeping. Whatever works.

He doesn't take a pacifier, despite our constant pushing. He'll suck on it for a moment sometimes, but usually he pushes back with his tongue and gags on it. We got another stubborn one on our hands. Silly boys.

HOLDING

Ethan is pretty happy on his own during the daytime, but evenings are another story. About the time the big boys go to bed (7pm), he gets really fussy. Does he know he can now have our undivided attention!? In the evenings he makes up for his easy daytime temperament by crying a lot. We pretty much hold him until bedtime at 11pm.

But Ethan doesn't like to be held laying down in your arms. I know all the picture books show mommies holding their babies that way, but Ethan really only likes to be held upright. He likes to lay cuddled up against our chests. I think it's the constant gas and spit-up problems. Anyway, sometimes he'll lay across your thighs on his back, as long as he's pretty tired and you sway your legs from side to side. Sometimes nothing calms him down until you stand up with him. I've heard of other babies wanting to be held while you stand, but this is our first. It makes for some uncomfortable tv watching in the evenings.

Oh well. As you can see, we are figuring him out. And the happier he is, the happier we all are.

I sadly have to admit that this is my first baby I've enjoyed cuddling so much with. Collin screamed for the first six months, and I cried most of those months too. My first baby was rough. Then I was too blasted busy when Brennan was a baby (they were only two years apart) to just hold and cuddle with him. He didn't like cuddling anyway. But now with Ethan, I just hold him and kiss him and play with him... whenever I can. Collin and Brennan, even though they fight a lot, really do love playing with each other. They are great buddies, and it definitely gives me more time for cuddles with the baby.

Love you, my Ethan-baby! Don't get any bigger, little one. I want you to be my baby forever.

Happy 5th, Tall!

(Title explanation: Brennan can't pronounce his C's, so he calls Coll "tall." It's his family nickname now.)

 

Today was Collin's birthday.

We started the day with snowman pancakes, which is quickly becoming a tradition around here with all these winter birthdays. Then we headed to Monkey Joe's for some jumping and sliding time. After playing, Collin chose Culver's for lunch. Just as the rain switched over to freezing rain (ice storm tonight just like the night he was born), we headed home.

While Mom, Brennan and Ethan napped, Dad and Collin finished decorating his Christmas tree cake (by request). When we all woke up, we had cake and ice cream and opened presents.

He got a new notebook for church, some Thomas books that read themselves, some puzzles, and a keyboard (we are starting some pre-piano practice).

 

He had a wonderful day and couldn't have been happier.

Now on to some things about our Collin at age 5...

Preschool

Collin LOVES school this year. He loves his teachers, the activities and the other kids. He just loves going. He's never cried or whined or asked not to go, even when Nana was here visiting or Ryan has been home from work. He begs to go every day and is sad when it isn't a school day; this year he is attending three afternoons per week. I couldn't be happier with our well-spent money. I love the curriculum, the teachers and the facility.

Thursday night was Advent Night (kinda like their Christmas program). He was so adorable. He loves to sing, and he did all the motions while smiling at Ryan and me. Watching your kid in his school program is pretty much my favorite thing ever. I had no idea when I was teaching how much parents loved it. I should have hosted more evening performances for sure.

 

Wild Kratts

Collin loves the PBS show called Wild Kratts. I plan on hosting a joint half-birthday party for Brennan and him at the end of June with a Wild-Kratts theme. I have to admit that I haven't actually ever seen an entire episode of the show, but it seems harmless (and adorable) enough.

He actually loves all tv. Between having a sick, tired, pregnant mommy and then a sick, tired mother-of-a-colicky-baby mommy, he's gotten a lot of tv time this year.

So one of their favorites games right now is to dress up like animal rescuers. He has a few different versions. Sometimes it's his bike helmet, head lamp, snow boots and flashlight.

Other times it's a second pair of pants, a construction helmet, goggles and the head lamp.

No matter the get-up, they run around the house rescuing animals (or Mommies, I don't really get that) and getting them to safety. Sometimes they transport them in the laundry basket to an animal shelter. These boys can do some elaborate pretending.

Mr. Helper

Collin is world's best helper. He loves to vacuum the stairs and sweep the kitchen floor, and he even gets mad if I clean the bathrooms and he misses it. He gets me binkies and diapers for the baby, and he's always more than willing to do Brennan's buckles in the car or get B's shoes and socks. The problem is Brennan almost never lets him help. Luckily, Ethan can't pitch a fit about Biggest Brother's assistance.

This mommy definitely appreciates all the help she can get. Thank you, Collin!

Goodbye Scaredy-Cat

Remember when Collin wouldn't try anything new or do anything fun? Well those days are long past. He loves bouncy houses, sitting on the Easter Bunny's and Santa's laps, high-fiving Chuck E Cheese, studying bugs with a magnifying glass, pretend-driving Cat equipment, jumping in leaves, and being blind-folded for games.

 

 

I can't think of much that scares him anymore at all. Oh, maybe riding in the car without his buckles.

Rule Follower

Collin is a rule-follower. Here's a classic Collin story - One day he saw the picture on the back of the baby wipes with a picture of a toilet inside a circle with the cross-out slash. He pointed it out to me - and then has never flushed another wipe. He does not break rules... though he does have a good deal of problems with sharing, taking turns and allowing others to be the boss sometimes. Sound like anyone you know? :-)

Testimony
Collin is developing his testimony of Jesus Christ. Each night before bed we read a verse of scripture. He almost always understands what it means and teaches Brennan. He knows just about every accompanying story to the pictures in the Gospel Art kit. One night we were singing Primary songs and he leaned over to me and reverently whispered, "Mom, I love when I feel like this. I am so happy. I know it's the Holy Ghost." He loves Primary and is usually eager to tell me what he learned in his classes.

Nature Explorer

Collin loves to be outdoors. He camped a whole bunch of times this past summer.

His summer was filled with jumping on the trampoline, riding with his training wheels, and digging in the mulch and sand box. In the fall, he raked leaves and played in them for hours.

One of his favorite activities is to go on hikes with Dad. He took his own camera (just like Dad) and insisted on taking pictures of "all the different kinds of mold."

 

Here's a classic Collin story - So the other night I was reading the older boys a story called "The Fish Who Cried Wolf." Throughout the story, the fish encounters many different kinds of ocean animals. At one point there was a picture of one of those deep-sea fish with the antennae hanging over the front of his head with a light on it. So I said, "This fish is really cool. It lives so deep in the ocean that it makes its own light so it can see." Then Collin says, "Well, Mom, it is actually works because of a special bacteria that makes it glow like that." Yeah, how the heck did he know that? Apparently they talked about it on The Cat in the Hat. Maybe this tv babysitter hasn't been so bad this year...

He loves plants and animals. He loves facts, and he loves learning. He is a sponge for information, and his mind is like a steel trap. He's my little brainiac.

Camera Lover

Collin has perfected the goofy smile and now loves to get his picture taken. He can really ham it up. What a cutie!

Happy birthday to my oldest son. I can't believe you'll be in kindergarten in a few short months. Ahh!