our birthday 2013

 The first week of December our birthday arrived with the first big snowfall of the season. 

 The snow was on William's wish list, and the orange rolls and cinnamon rolls for breakfast were on mine.  I felt like I spent the day driving through the snow. Not to complain, what better thing to do on your birthday than face your fears.  Grandma treated us to lunch at Carl's Jr.  When Kyle and Mary came home, they took William out to the park for sledding. I still had a lot of dropping off and picking up from dance to do in the evening and went out in search of the pinata that I had promised William.

 Success! He loved it so much, the monkey received a pardon, and still sits atop of the television cabinet today. 

 Later, we had pizza and presents. William agreed to postpone Nickle City until the following Saturday, due to the weather.  I was harried from the bad driving conditions, and he was ready to play with his new toys.

                  My Superman.

 Kyle was quite pleased with the present he found for me.  I named him Hugh.

My dear friend Robin brought us this Red Velvet cake from Costco. I love sharing a birthday with you, William.

 Next day, home from the preschool celebration.

November 2013

 In November, Bethany turned twelve on a Sunday, and graduated from primary to join the Young Women's organization at church.

 Ben performed in his high school's production of Damn Yankees.

Grant's kindergarten class made oatmeal drums for the class powwow,

and William came home from preschool looking like a pioneer.

Wednesday before the holiday, Aunt Judy and the cousins joined us for dinner at Pizza Pie cafe and a long awaited sleepover. The next day, Grandma Julia and Uncle Jeremy came down for Thanksgiving dinner.

Halloween 2013

my cell phone went missing

My cell phone went missing in December along with all my pictures, and intentions to upload them and catch up with my blog before the new year. It being just barely the afternoon of the thirty-first, I'm still hoping to be current by 2014.

  I feel grateful for each day with my children, in all honesty, notwithstanding the fact that I just excused myself to pound the mop on the dining room floor in futility, my effort to quiet an argument in the girls' basement bedroom. So I will gather up what pictures I prudently posted to Facebook, and call it my archives for the past few months, although I know that there are many that I've neglected, and are now lost somewhere in the memory of my very cracked iphone, in a random drawer, under the bathroom sink, tucked into Sophie's glittery dress-up purse. The possibilities are endless with a three-year old in the house. Much better to post pictures quickly, I've learned.

Lovely Olivia turned ten in August.

 The present opening.

 Grant started Kindergarten.
 Sophie's third birthday in September, and the first day that Grant got to ride the school bus.
 Our front yard,
the day of the great flood of September 2013.
 Our favorite event of the year, The Riverwoods ward September Salmon fry.
 Another favorite Fall memory, picnics with Grandma Martha at Paul Ream nature park.  Hunting for leaches.
And feeding the ducks.
 The kids performed on the hay wagon ride at the Spanish Fork Harvest Moon celebration.
 Grant turned six in October.
 We celebrated with a picnic lunch in the canyon, and dinner at Nickle City.
 And just before Halloween, beautiful, spirited Mary turned nine. She hosted a small party with friends, and dangled doughnuts from the ceiling fan--one set of pictures I really hope to find again.

Lagoon 2013

In August, some of the big kids and I drove up to Lagoon. Thank you to Grandma Martha for entertaining the little ones at her house. It gave Sam the opportunity to torture me on all his favorite roller coasters.

The moment before Caitlin's first roller coaster. She was actually fearless from that point on, and accompanied Sam on all the rides.

Sam bought everyone shakes when it was time to go. This was definitely one of my favorite days of the summer.