Merry Christmas 2012

I've been feeling really guilty for many years about not sending out Christmas cards. For a few years we made up Groundhog Day cards, and that was a lot of fun, but it just kind of sizzled. We were too poor. We were too busy. Every now and then I've done an e-card, so when I got my sister's today, I thought, I can do that. It's free and it involves sitting around "resting", which is what I am supposed to do most of the day. So, here it is, and I have no idea what I'm going to say, but I'm sure something will spew forth as I continue typing:

  Judd (37) keeps himself busy slaving away at his law firm, Wimmer and Pitts, in Cottonwood Heights, Utah.  He coached Tim's and Reuben's soccer teams last Spring and Tim's and Clara's soccer teams in the fall. During the summer, he coached Tim's Summer Select competition soccer team and headed up a fun filled tournament trip to Cedar City.  The boys love him and so do the parents! The soccer organization, AYSO loves him too for his service on the board as age commissioner for the U10 boys and U12 boys, and also for serving as the Safety Director.  He is currently coaching a Jr. Jazz basketball team for Amy and another one for Tim and his buddies. When Judd is not coaching, he can be found driving carpool routes or playing Sequence for Kids, Moose in the House, or the Wild Rumpus game with the little girls.  At church, he serves in the Stake Sunday School Presidency, ward Financial Clerk, and teaches Elder's Quorum once a month.  Since he has so much spare time, he also agreed to head up the ward Christmas Party a few weeks ago, which was a big hit! Judd has also earned his "Substitute Mommy" degree over the last four months.

Judd and Rooster (Reuben)

(Me)Becky (35) I spent most of 2012 playing the Pollyanna Glad Game, or in other words, trying to live the idea "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. . . .It's about learning to dance in the rain."  It has definitely been a dance in the rain kind of year, and I've tried really hard to embrace the joys as they come.  After a year and half of daily pain, I got braces in August of 2011. In the Spring of 2012 I was ready for surgery, but had to wait to get health insurance, or find $20,000, whichever was easier.  Insurance secured, I  had jaw surgery in early September and have been banded shut for most of the day ever since!  The longer it goes, the less it bothers me.  I don't know for sure when I will get my braces off, but I expect it to be in the next 3-6 months and then I'm going to get the coolest retainer they have- sparkly or rainbow, or both!  In November, I had another surgery for a different problem.  Sadly, the healing isn't going well, but I have been blessed with a lot of love and more lessons to be learned in patience and empathy for suffering.  The good news- I lost 20 pounds  from the general anesthesia making me sick. I have spent my recovery time painting rocks and sewing on the machine my grandmother passed on to me just before she died in May. I also play chauffeur throughout the week and spend way too much time cleaning, but not lately.  At church I am the Activity Days Leader, Relief Society Pianist, and Relief Society Instructor- so awesome!  I accompanied Judd and Tim on the soccer trip to Cedar City, but the trip I'm really dreaming of for 2013 is one with no sports and no children.

My new nephew Coleman

Ever since I got braces, people think I am Reuben's sister.

Reuben (14) Reuben gets up, spends 30 minutes on a hairdo that should take 2 minutes, goes to 8th grade, gets mostly A's,comes home, checks his hair, does his homework, practices trumpet, checks his hair, goes to his activities, eats dinner, checks his hair, and goes to bed.  He played soccer in the Spring, but decided to give it up for good in May.  He's been super busy this school year with voice lessons, Janeen Brady Children's Choir, Janeen Brady Show Choir, Granite Jr. Youth Symphony, Scouts/Young Men's, and play practice for Amahl and the Night Visitors, which took up 2-3 nights a week for 2 months.  He was amazing as Amahl and, much to his chagrin, can still sing higher than most women.  One day he'll know how cool it was to be a boy soprano!  Reuben is a great big brother and so sweet to his littlest sister Emmeline.  He also earned his Duty to God award for Deacons before advancing to be a Teacher in October.  Reuben won Reflections at his school for his film, a puppet show about the magical moment of getting 2 pounds of cheese for Christmas. True Story.

Tim(12) Tim is a 6th grader at the district Magnet school for gifted children.  When he isn't going to school or teasing his sisters, Tim eats, drinks, and breathes soccer and computer. His Summer Select team won first place in the Cedar City Tournament, a pretty big deal since they were up against year round comp. teams.  When he isn't playing soccer, he helps out by refereeing.  He is really enjoying his second year of playing violin and trying out basketball this Winter. Timothy won Reflections at his school for his film documenting the moment when Daddy comes home.  He also won at the Council level. He is currently planning the state's greatest History Fair project in hopes of going "all the way!" He recently turned 12 and received the Aaronic Priesthood, becoming a Deacon and joining Young Men's.

Amy (9) Amy is the miniature mother of our home.  Her brothers might technically be the ones babysitting, but when Mom and Dad leave the crew alone, we know who is really holding down the fort.  She is in 4th grade at the district Magnet school for gifted children.  Amy loves school, devours books, and adores her family.  She takes clogging and Jazz and is a member of the Janeen Brady Children's Choir.  Amy won Reflections at her school for her poem about the magical moments during Trick or Treating.  She also won at the Council level.  She has decided that  it is better to give than to receive and is receiving help from Mom to sew some amazing presents for her siblings this year.

Clara (7) Clara attends 2nd grade at the same school as the love of her life, who will remain unnamed for now.  She has named her stuffed dog after this lucky boy.  Clara took the soccer field by storm this fall.  If she wasn't scoring goals, she was leading the parents in cheers on the sidelines.  Everyone who knows Clara, loves Clara, except for evil or selfish people.  She is so exuberant and loving!  She recently asked for my help to make fabric swords for three older boys at school who are mean to her on the bus.  Who does that? Clara does.  She loves to sing, sew, and take clogging and jazz class.  Clara won Reflections at her school for her 3D art, a fabric bird in an egg, and for her poem about the magical moment of realizing her birthday candles were trick candles!  You can keep making wishes forever!  She also won at the Council level for her 3D art.  Clara helps out with babysitting by being the designated dirty diaper changer. She thinks it is fun.

The bird

Audrey (5) After an illustrious one year career as a home-schooled preschooler, Audrey started Kindergarten in August at Hawthorn Academy in West Jordan.  It is a Charter School.  We have finally decided to try something different. As much as we love the gifted school, not all of our kids test in the top 1%.  As much as we love the local school, we aren't thrilled about the Chinese Immersion program. Why couldn't it have been Spanish?  So, we enrolled Audrey at Hawthorn.  Charter schools are public schools. They do not charge tuition and admission is run by lottery.  It's been a little bit difficult so far because the work load is pretty heavy and Mommy has been under the weather for the whole school year, but Audrey is learning a lot and reading is finally starting to click.  She loves to take dance class once a week and is a little bit obsessed with watching My Little Pony on Youtube.

Emmeline (2) Emmeline leads a pretty low key life.  She cheerfully repeats her scripture verse in the morning, eats, plays, destroys, sleeps, eats, plays, destroys, and repeats.  She recently had an entire blog entry devoted to her cuteness. Emmeline's greatest accomplishment this year has been her vocabulary gains.  She can say, well, anything you can say, and say it cuter too!  She has been incredibly sweet and understanding about Mommy being "sick" for several months.  While she will respond to her nickname "Lemon" don't call her a baby or you might just disintegrate from her death glare.

We are having a simple Christmas at our house this year, enjoying being together and feeling the love of the Savior. 

Merry Christmas!