Brucey

Sophie throwing a fit:

I just wanted to remember how awesome Bruce was today.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Last night I went over the busy schedule of today with Bruce and we divvied up responsibilities: 

*I was going to get up at 5:25am and drive Dallin to school for his wrestling tournament by 5:45am
 *Bruce was going to take Logan to his 8am basketball game.

But when my alarm went off at 5:25am, Bruce jumped up and said he would go... then he took Logan to his game too, leaving at 7:25am.  Then after the game him and Logan went to breakfast together then Hobby Lobby to get decals to finish decorating Logans Pinewood Derby car, which they finished together when they got home.

Then he helped me clean the basement for over an hour. He sewed up the ripped bean bag, and ripped pillow.

Then this was the kicker:

Today was my cousin Emily's baby shower for her first girl.  Tiffany asked if Emma could watch her boys during the shower at our house, but Emma was busy so I said Bruce would.  Then my sister asked if we could watch baby Trace during the same time... and I said I wouldn't be here, but Bruce could.  Then Lily's friend wanted to play and I said, bring her over Bruce will be watching lots of kids. And then I informed Bruce of all the kids that were coming over for him to watch (Sophie too), and guess what?  He didn't mind at all, I knew he wouldn't.

And I was just thinking about what a wonderful husband I have.

Then tonight he had to run in to work to do payroll, and he took all the kids with him so they could see the big tarantula he has there. That left me home alone in a quiet house, which was wonderful, but also helped me reflect on what a good man he is. We aren't perfect over here, but I got pretty lucky in the husband category.

♥♥♥

{I took this picture earlier today,
when he was playing with his girls in the living room}

Lights no more...

We finally took our Christmas lights down wednesday, Jan 9th.

The night before, Dallin and I were driving and he pointed out that we were officially the last ones in the neighborhood with our Christmas lights still on... darn it. 

 They were pretty while it lasted.

(though Logan informed me regularly that we were one of those boring houses with only white lights and no cool big blow up decorations in the front at all.  ha ha.  But it was dang expensive enough to just buy enough icicle lights to go across the front.)

Real Log Fire

 One of my favorite things we did in December was go visit my dad.

Usually we invite him over to our house, or to whatever things we have going on.  Bruce had some meeting, so even though we had had something every night that week, I told the kids we were bringing grandpa dinner and going to his house for the evening.

We got there with our still warm grilled chicken breasts, pasta, Alfredo sauce and broccoli.  And my dad made a real fire in the fire place I sat by since I was 4 years old.  After dinner we watched a Christmas movie with my dad.  It was so good to be home where I grew up.  And Sophie sat on my dads lap during the movie, just like Ashlin did with him when she was little... just like all the grandkids have.

 It was such a peaceful moment.  Our hectic life doesn't seem super peaceful.  But that night was.  I love my dad so much.  I have worried about him so much since my mom passed away.  My mom always loved it when my dad made a fire.  I can remember her saying "Tracy" in that certain tone of voice when she wanted him to do something.  When he started making the fire for us, it made it feel like my mom was there and it reminded me of my childhood.  We have a gas fire place in our house now.  But in my parents house, where I grew up, its real.

Big Sisters Lap

I forgot to post pictures of Logan and Lily's school Christmas concert last month.  Bruce, me and all 6 kids went, with the St. Martins. Then the Cleggs had some last minute seating crisis and sent their older 2 to sit with us too.  We took up a whole row, plus Sophie on a lap.  Luckily for us she preferred Ashlins lap.  ha ha.  I maybe wouldn't have posted concert pictures... except I found all these below that Ashlin took with her iphone, and I laughed.  Sophie insisted on wearing her purple sunglasses the whole time... 

          

   

One thing I love about their new school, is going to the Christmas concert as a family.

My Now...

And amidst all the Riparian Preserve adventure,

I took a picture of each one of my kiddos alone. 

Finding Stuff

 The ever-loved Statens came to stay with us the day after Christmas.  This is kinda how the email I got earlier in December from Christine went: 

"We are coming up to stay with you guys from 

Dec 26-27.I know its going to be crazy, being the day after Christmas, but its the only time we can come, so you don't have a choice. My kids are excited, can't wait to see you!!"

Ha ha, it made me laugh. 

They took us right to a park to show us how to go "Geocashing".  Which the non-scouts in our family had never heard of.  They told us there are these hidden spots all over the place that you can look up on the internet and go find.  What?! We went to the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert because there were multiple of these little Geo things hidden there. Ashlin got out her cell phone so we could follow the online compass to the spot.

The Compass thing tells you how many feet you are within, and you just have to search for it. Morgan found the little bottle in a sign post, we took out the paper, and added our name to the list of "finders"...

 Then we went on a walk around the preserve.

{looking for more, to no success, which made Christine really frustrated, but we all had fun anyway, ha ha}

Look how beautiful Sydney-Bean is:

 And we found this underground meeting spot for water. It was like "Niagara Falls" down there. Which I personally thought was dang cool. I ♥ the rushing gushing sound of water.

Then Morgan made up a "Lets Go Eat" cheer. It made me laugh. So we cheered that while we walked back to the cars. Then we went to PETER PIPER PIZZA, Cherryl's favorite pizza in the whole world. And I was shocked because our 2 families at 5 pizzas.  {we had gotten 1 free because of a mix-up} After that we went home, laid around visiting, then our other trailer park friends, the Hunts, came.  We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking and it was a great time, as always.

Dates

Ashlin and Cassidy both have 1st grade little sisters. 

This winter break they have done a few different "little sister" dates.  

It is so sweet.  Lily has loved it.

Watching those sweet little girls, dressed so darling for their big date, and holding hands with their older siblings... has got to be one of the sweetest things to ever leave my house.
**last 4 pictures from Ashlin's iphone