Happy Holidays 2011

Family Photo August 2011

I have been absent from blogging so long, I almost don't remember how. But, for the sake of the 2011 Holiday Letter and my New Year Resolution to get back to "blogging", I will give it my best.

The update for 2011 should really include 2010, because for two years now, I have ordered Christmas Cards and not sent them. So if you are reading this due to the web address you found on our holiday card, consider yourself one of the chosen few. Chosen that is because you fit one of the categories

1. You are an immediate family member and I sent your Christmas present and threw in a card as an afterthought

2. You live in SoCal and have come to visit us in our new temporary home and pick up your own card, OR

3. You received a some sort of blogland notification that I finally posted something!!! Sorry you did not receive a Christmas Card. Maybe before the year end. :)

So without further ado...

AUDREY (10) Double Digit Diva!!! Audrey has advanced past the little girl years! She got her ears pierced for her birthday and did not even flinch! This year she has worked hard at gymnastics and finished her first competitive season scoring 9's in all four events. Audrey is getting better on the piano and was beginning guitar lessons before we moved. She is a big help to her mom and dad and all her brothers look up to her!

CORBIN (7 1/2) is quite the athlete! This year he played baseball and football and loved both! And he did a good job! Although he says basketball is still on his list to try before he picks a favorite. He has lost several teeth this year and anxiously awaits the arrival of permanent teeth. He is tender hearted and thoughtful and was recognized at school for being an outstanding citizen amongst his peers. Corbin is learning to play the piano and the violin. In true brother fashion, he is the tease of the family that pushes everyone's buttons.

DREW (4 1/2) transformed from a toddler to a boy overnight. He has grown so much physically and mentally this year. He continues to have a contagious personality that draws others to him and makes them laugh. He is so cute and funny from his grin to his antics. He knows all the letters in the alphabet and the sounds they make. He loves computer games and playing with friends. He is a good helper to me when the older two are at school and takes such good care of his little brothers. Drew will go, go, go, insisting he is not tired until finally we catch him "resting" his eyes anywhere, anytime.

JAKE (2 1/2) is happy, mischievous, angelic, devilish, sweet, almost always guilty, and the bound and determine to put me in my grave. 2011 will go down in history as the year Jake quit wearing clothes and became a perpetually lost child. To his credit, he potty-trained himself. However, he undresses for the feat and refuses to put the clothes back on. To MY credit, I have relied more on Heavenly Father to tell me when Jake is in trouble and hope the angels are watching over him until I get to him again. He escapes frequently and has no qualms about his solitude in the great unknown. He has also followed closely in the footsteps of his siblings and his parents in their toddle-years (so we are told.) He makes more messes and is destructive beyond imagination. Brandon and I think we have been "repaid" in full and then some. But who can resist that grin?

FISHER (16 months) is a JOY! He is so happy and sweet we all fight over who gets to snuggle him. And is he ever the SNUGGLER! In this past year, he has learned to crawl, walk, eat, climb, and use his voice to be heard amongst the competition. I am sad he is growing up so fast! (DID EVERYONE GET THAT??? I SAID I WAS SAD!) Let the mourning begin...because he sure fits the "baby" mold perfectly! He's quite the momma's boy but he gets toted around the house by everyone except Jake. (Jake pushes him around, finally glad to be bigger than someone else.) Fisher is quick to give anyone a smile and is so tolerable of most things like being hungry and tired. He truly is a delight!

BRANDON & DIXIE Just about the time we think we have things sorted out enough to make a long term plan, plans change. :) Ahhh, such is life. In late spring, Brandon and I decided to buy some property in Grand Junction, CO, build a house, and stay put for a while. So, this year, I have spent a big chunk of time working on house plans. That is, right up until we determined we would be moving to California. Brandon continues to work for his Aunt and Uncle and enjoys the challenges each new day brings. He now oversees the Warehousing (CA) and Trucking (CO) Businesses for Links Logistics. He manages to fit in fishing, surfing, lots of play time with the kids, and working with the youth at church. I continue to develop my skills as a mother and fit in biking, emotional work, essential oils, and cooking for fun every now and then. Travel has taken a back seat during this stage of our family, though we did escape to New York for Thanksgiving this year. Here we are in Grand Central Station. Good thing we had our phone camera to document the event. :) Something is better than nothing!

We feel very blessed to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and find great comfort and strength in the gospel. We are grateful to have such wonderful family and friends that enrich our lives and make the future something to look forward too. Our door is always open and hope to have many visitors in our new Southern California location! We plan to live up the time we spend here, because if a pattern is developing, we won't stay put long!!! Come and play with us and enjoy the new year!

BAD DEAL!!!!

In one click, and I don't know how I did it, I deleted my friends and family blog list. :( Please send me your blog URL so I may add it again. SAD DAY!!! But it could be worse. I guess I'm going to have to start doing my own blogging while I sit at the computer instead of reading everyone else's.

These Strawberries are NOT NORMAL!

We have gradually made changes over the last couple years to eat "better." By that I mean buying products that are healthier because they are either organic, or have less hormones, or less sugar. Some of the family appreciates the changes, some do not. I KNOW all of their bodies are thanking me for it, but "sigh" once they figure out their agency and go behind my back (does that sound like I'm controlling), it's up to them. :)

We have friends that we buy farm eggs from, purchase organic cow's milk, get raw goat's milk for the little boys, beef from another friend who grain feeds their cows, agave syrup instead of Mrs. Butter's worth, flaxseed granola instead of sugary cereal, turkey products vs. pork, and we try to grow a garden for fresh produce when we can. I've even started to make wheat bread on occasion, grinding the wheat first.

So you would have thought I would have been alarmed by the strawberries I bought the other day. Nope. Just looked at the pretty red color, noticed they were large, thought the price was good, and bought them. I included a normal-sized "little cutie" for comparison.

Now, my kids LOVELOVELOVE berries, so I usually have some variety on hand. (Here's another control issue....) I have to place them high in the fridge and limit Drew because he will eat them all before anyone else has had any. It's not uncommon for me to come downstairs in the morning before breakfast and see him with red all over his face and an empty raspberry container. Or him and Jake having a hayday with the blueberries on the family room floor. I love berries too. But I know how expensive they are so I try to ration them for all family members over at least a couple days! :) Guess I better plant some berry bushes.

ANYWAY, it may be time to go with the organic fruit. These babies looked like they are hyped up on steroids and bigger is not always better. Especially when they are sprouting fingers.

This is the Stuff

This song was written for me. As I was driving home tonight, the tune caught my attention, and then the lyrics shouted to me. "I lost my keys in the great unknown." Sadly, that statement is 100% true. In fact tomorrow, the truck will be towed to the dealership so a new key can be made.

Even the next line tags me spot on. So I had to share. It's another moment, when I feel "not enough" and then I am reminded, I'm in the same boat as millions of other people. :) If I sink, at least I'm in good company. But I'm trying to remember to pray more often for that life preserver. And remember all the ways I'm blessed. Because I am soooooo BLESSED!

K-Love is a christian radio network that plays in our area and that's where I heard it. If you want to listen to the tune, stop the music player at the bottom of my blog and go to Lyrics Mania and click the play arrow on the left side of the window.

This is the Stuff by Francesca Battistelli

I lost my keys in the great unknown

And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use

How many teeth do you really need?

We in the Williams' household have been having teeth issues. Sure, isolated incidents may go unnoticed, but when several family members have cause to draw attention to the pearly whites inside their mouth, makes me stop and wonder! Some "toothy" developments are normal. Some are not.

Cute little Fisher at six months old (and a couple days) was breaking through with his 4th tooth. Like his older siblings, the first two that cut through were the two middle bottom teeth. He was four months old.

And then the next two that made their appearance were both eye teeth on the top. Makes him look like an old man or baby vampire. Too cute. We all get a good laugh at his expense until his front teeth come through (and they've started.)

Jake has been cutting molars (I imagine 18 month or 2 year molars - who knows what they are called), but that would explain why he has been waking in the night more frequently and doesn't seem to have an ear infection. (Also translates to tired, groggy mom and cranky toddler.) I don't even remember when the older ones cut their molars. Which too me says it was uneventful. Gratefully they are coming in straight and are pretty white. And lately he like to show them off. In his limited vocabulary, he has learned to say "cheese" and does so often while handing me my phone. My other kids pretended to talk on my cell phone. :)

Now Corbin. A few days before his 7th birthday we sat (a.k.a pacing the halls) during church listening to Corbin cry. His tooth hurt. Now, if you recall the last time his tooth hurt, he ended up looking like a chipmunk who got in a fight. He had to have his abcessed tooth pulled and now has a spacer. As a mom who is trying to learn from past lessons, I thought it best to have it checked out sooner than later. And as blessings go, the oral surgeon is in our ward so I was waiting until the break so he could peak in Corbin's mouth before his face blew up like a balloon. Turns out he had a ruptured cyst due to his 6-year molars trying to break through unsuccessfully. Apparently if the tooth needs "help," he can have a cut made in his gums. So far, only one has come through, but he's no longer in pain and gives us a status update daily on his tooth progress.

Drew, Drew, Drew...I wish he came with 9 sets of teeth like cats come with 9 lives. It's a good thing he's cute and full of personality because that's the only way he can pull off this toothless grin. He's down four teeth, (barely turned four), and knocked one more loose last week.

I can't even try to prevent the damage. He and I were running from preschool to the car on the sidewalk. Who knows what he tripped on, or why he landed on his face, but it's his trademark. He and concrete just do not get along. First loss was when he was two and faceplanted on the concrete by jumping off the trampoline into Corbin's waiting arms. Tooth #2 and #3 fell out shortly after that due to the same incident. Tooth #4 held on for quite some time. It took several injuries, each time knocking it loose a little bit more. Dangling fang. The mean old dentist told me to just pull it. He said it wasn't "adding anything asthetically." After Drew told Brandon to push it back in because it was so wiggly, he finally pulled it himself and handed the tooth to grandma while visiting in Idaho a couple months ago. I think we still have two more years before any permanent teeth start coming in. Still might be too soon if he plans to keep them through adulthood.

And then I have my own mouth full of issues. Five years ago I crashed on my mountain bike going way too fast downhill trying to keep up with the fellas. (I know, I know, apples don't fall far from the tree.) Anyway, I suffered severe nerve damage in my jaw. The dentist told me I may have to have a root canal, but I told him I'd wait and see. I've definitely struggled with toothaches and parts of my tooth that keep breaking off, but I made it five years longer than expected!!! I had a root canal in the fall and now I'm waiting for my permanent crown. Five days to go and my tooth broke again!

Coincidence???? Maybe. Maybe not. Perhaps I should start looking for deeper meaning. :) Or get better dental insurance. In the meantime, I wonder if they make bridges for 4-year olds.

Spring Break in the Snow

This year for spring break, I was anti-plans. I have friends who joke and laugh that nothing will slow me down when it comes to travel because I LOVE to travel. It is true therapy for me. Usually with Brandon, or with friends, or on my own to see friends. But when Audrey and Corbin were 4 1/2 and 2, we went to Costa Rica and had the best vacation ever. Amazing to come back from an out-of-the-country trip with two toddlers and feel like you really had a vacation. It almost ruined me and my perception of vacations with little kids. So, starry-eyed, we returned to Costa Rica when Audrey was 6, Corbin 3 1/2, and Drew 7 months old. That was a wake up call. My first dose of differing interests and needs amongst our children. Drew had no idea what a cool trip he was on. He just wanted to sleep. And Audrey and Corbin didn't want to be tied to the hotel room, not to mention the close quarters and different bedtime schedules. I decided kids needed to be at least two years old to go on family vacations. :) But how do you do that? At times we have left the kiddos with grandmas and grandpas, but that's precious time that we try only to utilize when we can get away on our own. (Even that is getting harder with a growing family.)

Anyway, I'm sure everyone shares the ups and downs of travelling with kids. My latest dilemma has been the span of ages getting wider. The older kids have been trained by their mother and want to go and do. Yet in the last year, I've become more and more a home body because it is almost always somebody's naptime and I feel outnumbered. Shocking. Who wants to do Disneyland, or New York, when everyone is whining, crying, hungry, tired, yada, yada, yada. I know you do it, just to do it, but lately, it's not worth it to me.

So as spring break has approached this year, I have had mixed emotions on going anywhere! After weighing options, I settled on two short trips on the weekends and the majority of the week at home for a "staycation." That way I had access to babysitters and could take the older kids to do fun stuff around Grand Junction in the warm weather! Of course since we would be staying home, it would be easier for Brandon to work and me to be distracted with household activities that would not break us out of routine. For those reasons, getting away has it's advantages.

The first weekend we were going to Steamboat Springs, CO to spend time with Jared and Janet at their new cabin. They barely took occupancy, got the carpets cleaned, and set up camp!

We thought maybe the next weekend we would head to St. George or Vegas. Somewhere not too far to drive and warm! Well, for as much work as it was to pack up and leave the first time, I resolved we would not be going anywhere the next weekend. Because the cabin was completely vacant, we were packing bedding, camp chairs, a couple meals, toys, games, snow gear, swimwear for hot springs, and a long list of miscellaneous that comes with a family of seven.

As we got here, spent a couple days, and Brandon got internet access so he was not so stressed, we decided to extend our stay to ALL WEEK LONG. Thanks Jared and Janet! (Sadly they had to go back home after a few days, as did Ty and Desi, and Lexi.)

With the sleep sound machines I bought online, Jake and Fisher settled pretty good. The machines block out a lot of noise so they sleep better with all the commotion going on right around them. And the older ones have only complained of being bored a few times. :)

Can you believe we were here less than 24 hours before Aunt Janet checked into the hospital? She prides herself on rarely getting sick and going to the doctor. But she was one sick woman! After battling for three weeks, she found out she had a kidney infection that had moved into her blood. Her white blood count was almost 5 times higher than normal and her blood pressure was low. So rather than spending time with family in her new cabin, she got to recoup in a hospital bed, bored and grossed out by the brussel sprouts served for dinner while the doctor and nurses pumped her full of fluids and antibiotics. We made a quick visit before she checked out Sunday morning.


We felt a little guilty having fun without her, but we tried! We went sledding

We rode the snowmobile and pulled kids on the tube.

Video coming...


I built a snowman family with the kids while Brandon went to work for the day. (There's an office 45 minutes away.)

Brandon rough housed the kids...here's daddio "steamrolling" and then giving camel rides.

Played a little "Just Dance" on the Wii. (Pictures or video were not allowed when the grownups were taking their turns.)

We were fortunate to find a source for goat's milk since we did not bring enough for Jake. Turns out there is only one lady in the entire county that sells raw goat's milk and milks her goats through the winter. And, just our luck, she lives really close to the cabin. Notice the goat ready to eating Brandon's jacket.

The lady was kind enough to give the kids a tour of her "farm." Jake was hilarious. He gets so excited around animals.

Video coming...

We also went to the hot springs, watched movies, ate lots of junk, and got to know each other just a little bit better. :)

It was a big week for Fisher as well. He started sitting up for long periods and pulling his knees under him ready to crawl.

Video coming...

All in all, we avoided amusement parks, airplanes, and public places in general. Good times. Fun memories. I give us three years before we are back to rock-n-rolling where little ones can go without naps here and there. By then Audrey will be a pre-teen. I'm sure that will pose a whole new set of challenges. Glad we are discovering the art of adaptability. Besides...look at how cute and fun our family is right now.

Jake's MIA

What I have found lately is my emotional tank is empty, so when I experience something upsetting, my recovery time is longer and longer and my physical health is more susceptible to all the ailments going around. Recently there was an article in the Ensign about filling our spiritual reserves, and I know that to be true for emotional as well. This morning I am shirking household duties (dinner dishes from last night are still on the counter, dirty diapers laying everywhere, and Corbin’s birthday cake has yet to be made.) But I feel I should write about my latest emotional drain while Jake and Fisher are asleep and Drew is at preschool. Precious, precious time.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The day had been filled with the business of motherhood, plus some because it was Drew’s birthday party. Seven four-year olds is exhausting all in of itself, but as soon as they left, the older kids walked through the door from school and I was on duty for taxi service. With babies in tow… Corbin to piano, Audrey to achievement days, and Drew to friends house so he won’t fall asleep in the car. (Any type of power nap extends bedtime to from 7 to 10 PM because he’s “well rested”.) Picked Drew up ½ hour later and back to home base.

Once I was home, the shuffle of party cleanup, phone calls, and dinner prep began. Drew had so many new fun toys and the backyard was still arranged from the party for maximum play, the kids were in heaven. About 5:20 Audrey was dropped off and Drew’s friend who had made it to our house, left with his mom. I was on the phone with a neighbor who had the flu and her little boy had missed the party because of it. We arranged for a play date the following day to give her a break and let the boys get to know each other better. All the while I am frying taco meat. I recall Jake in the kitchen with me when I put the meat in the pan, but when the meat was done cooking, I got off the phone, and noticed out of the corner of my eye, the front door was ajar.

Immediately I was concerned and I knew it was Jake (Time was about 5:30.) I had not locked the door after the interchange. We have a high lock that not even Audrey can reach and alarms on all the doors. But with the backdoor opening and closing, sometimes I tune it out. Anyway, I ran outside, looked all around the house and jogged to a better vantage point to see up both sides of the street. I ran through the vacant lot across the street from our house that drops off to a trail leading down to the river. I even went down the rocky trail a bit in my slippers but did not see any signs. Back inside to check the backyard. Garage and upstairs. Out front again. Closer inspection. Nothing. Two people happened to be passing by our home out front. One of the kid’s babysitters, who I asked to keep an eye out for Jake as she walked home, and a friend who was driving by. I signaled for her to stop and explained I couldn’t find Jake and would she mind looking for him as she drove up the road. Unbeknownst to me, she got on the phone and starting making phone calls to get people to help find him.

I ran back inside, told the kids to look everywhere in the house, keep Drew inside, and answer the phone if anyone called, which was against normal protocol. I had this sense of urgency. I started to get tears in my eyes but did not want to scare the kids so I fought back emotion. I quickly found shoes and ignored the thought to get my tennis shoes on. I rationalized that would take too much time.

Audrey and Corbin followed me outside and wanted to help, so I asked them to go knock on the neighbor’s house across the street and tell them we had lost our 1 ½ year old boy and would they help us look for him. And then they went inside to wait and answer the phone.

The neighbor dad sent his 11-year old out to run the neighborhood and he got in his truck. I told him I was going to drive one direction, would he go the other. As I aimlessly drove in a direction that I felt was “wrong” and I tried to make a few phone calls myself to ask friends to help. After one short loop, I went home, back to the vacant lot. Got out of my car, and started jogging the trail down to the river.

The river is a ways off from our house, but the slope to get there is steep and there is a small stream that runs alongside for a little bit. I called Brandon on my cell but only got his voicemail. Enough time had passed. Jake was lost and I was scared. The thought had not entered my mind, but the time was about 5:45. Close to dark. With all the trees, visibility was much less. I saw a trail that ran parallel to the river just down from the houses, but I headed towards the river.

I stopped running, feeling a bit of defeat and said a prayer. I remembered the words from a book I had recently read. It’s by Elder Richard G. Scott entitled Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy. (I love it. I love the stories he shares and his insight.) He says, “Your determination to live righteously will make it possible for you to be protected from the dangers that surround you. I will also provide great peace…Your obedience and your faith give you the greatest assurance of protection in times of need.

I told Heavenly Father I felt like I was living a righteous life and doing everything I could and needed help finding Jake. I turned to go back up to the road and scanned the hillside as I went. When I arrived at my car, the neighbor dad had Jake in his arms and a couple friends who had been driving were stopped in the road.

Jake had gone between the neighbor dad’s house and the next one over, to the backside of the hill with no fence to stop him. He had taken one of Drew’s new toys and was playing in the dirt. He was about 75 feet past the backyard and the dad said he went outside and just listened. He heard him whining/fussing. He must have fallen or gotten hurt earlier because he had tears on his face. He was wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and slippers.

(Had I ran on the side trail, I may have seen him. That trail goes behind the neighbors house, but is much lower.)

However, I asked for help and Heavenly Father still granted my desires and answered my prayer. Brandon showed up five minutes later, never having received my message. He just found the search party in the road, me hugging Jake, and crying.

Fisher was sleeping through the event.

As I shared the story with Sam (mother-in-law) this morning, she told me when she goes to the temple every Tuesday evening, she sits and thinks if there are any of her grandchildren that need increased blessings. That day, Jake came to mind and she put his name on the prayer roll.

I pondered why I felt the urgency. Or even alarm. Last week both Drew and Jake got out and a friendly neighbor returned them. I was embarrassed, but was not upset.

Sam offered her perspective. The spirit was prompting me with the urgency. There was cause for intervention if I was willing to listen.

Last week I had a friend share with me her tender story of losing her 6 ½ month old baby four months ago. He choked on a balloon. She was distraught because she didn’t feel like she had received a prompting or “missed” a prompting. After counsel with her Stake President, she felt more at peace with his words. “Promptings are given when intervention is possible.”

I am grateful I prayed that morning to be lead by the spirit as I raise my family. I am grateful I am living a life that allows the spirit to be present. I am grateful Heavenly Father answered my prayer to find Jake and for the love and assistance of so many willing to help. Audrey later shared with the family when she went upstairs to look for Jake, she said a prayer as well. An experience like this is a wake up call for priorities. My children are so important to me. And as my family grows, I feel the weight.

While searching for the passage I wanted to include from Elder Scott’s book, I found a few sentences I had underlined. “You know that feeling when there is more weight on your shoulders than you think you can possibly bear, far more questions than answers. That is a test to teach the importance of establishing priorities.” It emphasizes the wondrous treasure of time. When you encounter more vital things to do than you can possibly accomplish yourself, you will learn how the Lord can, through the guidance of the Spirit give you help and assurance.”

“The Lord puts challenges in your path to mold your character. For your own personal growth, He will often let you struggle with a matter for a while, even when you are pleading for help. But as you follow true principles, He will finally see you through. He intends that when you have reached your extremity, you will turn to Him for comfort, peace, and assistance. He will send those blessings through the quiet prompting of the Spirit. He will give reassurance and guidance that are essential to finding solutions for the challenges of your life.”

“Have you noticed that when you have determined to accomplish a very important task, many good ideas for other things to do seem to come to your mind? If they are allowed to interfere, they will distract you from the more important objective. I have found help by writing down those alternate thoughts as they come, promising myself that as soon as I finish the important task I will attend to them in priority. That practice focuses me on those matters that are essential. I believe that there can come into your life, because of your righteousness and your determination to do what is right, times when Satan will not be able to deflect you into serious transgression. He will switch then to the strategy of placing before you a banquet of good and worthwhile things meant to distract you from those which are the most important and essential to accomplish in you life. Fortunately, as you pray for guidance, the Holy Ghost will help you identify those matters that are vital and necessary to accomplish above others. That guidance means at times you may have to set aside some things that would be worthwhile and enjoyable to pursue those that are most vitally important at that period of your life.”

I appreciate two things from his words. Maybe Satan thinks I’m living righteous enough to tempt me with “priority” testers. And maybe Heavenly Father thinks I’m living righteous enough to help me. Because HEAVEN knows, I need some help slowing down and weeding out some of the lesser important activities in my life. Sometimes, my priorities are a bit skewed. ☺

Now…off to make that birthday cake. Because making my children feel important, special, and loved, especially on their birthday IS IMPORTANT. What's not as important is the bowling ball and pin's idea I wanted to concoct. May have to stick with the round chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and two white lines as he requested. 1/2 hour verses 2. Hmmmmm.