We Can't Forget...

...about the Huddlestons visit!

What a pleasant surprise we had planned for Isaac back in January!  His best friend (he reminded us of that again tonight) came in late on a Saturday night for a long weekend visit.  Because it was somewhat of a last minute idea, I decided to keep it a secret from Isaac.  He was so excited and, not surprisingly, they picked up right where they left off.

Isaac was ecstatic to find out that Samuel also had developed a deep love for lightsaber fighting and Star Wars since our move.  I think they must be kindred spirits;)

I was so glad to have Anne-Marie in town for a visit as well.  I learned so much from her, as always, about the benefits of eating vegan, politics, education and the list continues.  Georgie loves Anne-Marie too.  She took her first steps to Anne-Marie and not by coincidence.  She always pulled for A-M from the time she knew how to do so.  We can't wait for our visit to San Antonio!  Thanks for driving all that way to see us!

No More Edgie Wedgies!

Spring Break 2009

 Isaacs skiing success over Christmas break left me thirsty for more.  It was so much fun to enjoy my favorite winter sport with my very own son!  So, as soon as I learned of the Spring Break schedule for Isaacs preschool I began my scheming to get us all up to Park City for some more of it!  I called Gaga and Papa and of course they scheduled their flights with enthusiasm.  Then I asked some of my workout buddies from the ward if they were interested in taking a 17 hour drive with a bunch of little kids whining at us from the back seat.  Lo and behold I found a sucker!  My dear friend (and now an even better friend after 17 hours of gabbing), Kristy, who's husband is currently deployed, REALLY wanted to see her family and get a much needed break from single motherhood.  So, on a Friday morning we piled into her Honda pilot.  2 Mommies and 5 children, armed with DVDs, toys, food, and, of course, CANDY for bribery!  We made it about 20 minutes before our first pit stop.  Kristy had to pee...smaller bladder than Georgie, but I'll forgive her because she kept buying me red vines!  We stayed that night in Fort Collins, Co where Kristy's sister, Natalie, lives.  She might be the nicest lady I've ever met!  Thanks, Natalie.

So, anyway, we finally arrived in Utah where Gaga picked us up in Echo.  Woo Hoo!  Boy was it great to be back at the cabin.  I should have taken a picture of it...darn.  The next day, Sunday, we headed for church where I got to see so many old friends from the days of Med School when Joey and I lived up there.  It was great to talk to some of my Young Women, now graduated or graduating from High School.  On Monday, I took Isaac skiing, but left my camera.  It was a great day but a little frusterating for Isaac who assumed he'd be able to pick up right where he left off several months before.  But he did really well at changing his attitude when I got down on his level and by the end of the day he had made up for all the lost time.  On Tuesday, we took the kids sledding.

Here's a picture of Isaac and Georgie holding their little snowmen that G and I built while Isaac was getting in some more runs with Gaga.  Georgie didn't want to go down again after only 2 turns.  She wasn't even scared...just didn't want to have any part of going again.  She's so wierd;) 

Here we all are with those snowmen again.  Isaac insisted on taking his out to the car with him.  I told him that he could take it to the car but he'd have to leave it in the parking lot.  Bad Idea.   He was fine with this but in the midst of carrying his little man to the car, he dropped it right in the middle of the ticket line/picnic area and let out the loudest, shrillest (word?) cry in the middle of all the crowd.  No, I wasn't embarrassed at all;)  But it's okay, I'm used to it.  It just made laugh.  That's my boy!

Wednesday was my day of visiting with old friends and family.  I had a great lunch with Caroline and Jessica and felt immensely grateful for old friends.  Then I headed over to Cary and Kreggs house for a too short visit (she probably doesn't think so)!  But it was so fun.  Isaac, again, threw a tantrum when it came time to leave.  Isn't that supposed to be the 2 year olds job?  (I do understand you though, Isaac.)  Then I headed off to pick up Mom and then meet up with Abby and fam and Zach for dinner at Cafe Rio.  I had been dreaming for months of this reunion...with Cafe Rio I mean.

On Thursday Papa and Gaga took Isaac skiing and he felt like a VERY special boy!  They were very impressed by his skiing AND, more importantly, his great attitude.  I think he learned a lot that day because when it came time for me to take him again on Friday, I was blown away!  Papa had shown him how to do a "Georgie turn" and an "Isaac turn" (to the right and to the left) and he did them both while keeping a small little pizza.

He found a ball of ice to munch on during his first trip down and skied without even thinking about it.  The next time we spied the kids hoops course and Isaac HAD to try that.  He did a marvelous job of turning to go through the hoopes, using his "pizza" and keeping his balance.  He didn't fall even on the first try.  The next time, Mom and I decided that he didn't need those Edgie Wedgies (the c clamps that hold the ski tips together).  I wasn't sure how he'd do but he was game to try.  He did an awesome job and only fell into the splits just one time!  I could tell he was pretty proud of himself!  After about 3 hours of skiing though, he was ready to go home.  We met Papa and G for lunch, I took a few runs by myself and then we headed home.  

See the bright orange Edgie Wedgie at his ski tips?

This picture is a little out of order, but I think it was Thursday night that we took the kids swimming.   That was really fun too.  Papa forgot his swimsuit so he was our photographer.

ANd now, no Edgie Wedgie!  YAY!

I'm so proud of you Isaac.  I love skiing with you just as much as I like skiing with Daddy!  We had such a fun time.  I loved staying up late and talking with my family and watching Pride and Prejudice with Mom.  The drive home seemed to drag but that's the way it always is and we made it!  I think we'll do it again next year....so here's to Spring Break 2010!

Snowman in the Sun

We woke up Saturday morning to freshly fallen snow and frozen tulips (darnit:). 

 Within a few hours of next day sun, it was perfect snowman weather.  

Isaac and Joey built the cutest little snowman right in our backyard!

Who'd a thunk...snowmen in Oklahoma!

Good Job Boys!

A New Boy

I got a haircut yesterday.  It was kind of an accident that Mommy cut it so short but she just couldn't make the scissors do what she wanted the to!  But, Mommy says that, just like me, it was a fortunate accident!

drum role please.....

Note:  I couldn't help but think of those deceitful weightloss advertisements when I posted these pictures.  Notice the bad lighting and grumpy facial expression in the first picture, then the good lighting and happy face in the second.  No, we did not do this on purpose.  Isaac just hates getting his haircut.  He was miserable to be just beginning it and ecstatic to be finished.

Three Cups of Tea and The CAI

Did you notice my new blog buttons over there to your right? I hoped you would! They were inspired by the great book I just finished, Three Cups of Tea. I've become a little obsessed with it actually. But from the Amazon book reviews I've read on it I don't think that I'm alone in this;) So, don't be turned off by this non-fiction books ill-fitting title! It's probably not the kind of book you're thinking it is. (or maybe you've already read it and I am WAY behind in the game;) When I heard "Three Cups of Tea" I expected another Khaled Hosseini type book but less interesting, another page turner that, in the end, blended in with all the others. The title sounded so... fluffy. But within 50 pages of its front cover I knew this was no wall flower. It was going to be my favorite book EVER! In the end I am completely devoted to its cause. There are a lot of great charities out there and I'm sure a lot of them have great stories like Greg Mortenson and the Central Asia Institute. There are probably even a handful who's leaders, like Mortenson, are sacrificing their lives, physically and monetarily, selflessly devoting all that they can give to their particular charity. The thing that makes this one unique, in my mind, is that this one, while simultaneously educating young girls, fights the worlds biggest problem in the way that it needs to be fought: terrorism. I you read it you'll also see that not all Muslims in the middle east are crazed terrorists. But you might also see that they all have the potential to be with madrasses (jihad schools, the training ground for future terrorists) popping up at EVERY corner in Pakistan and Afghanistan. With no other schools to turn to, the families who so desire an education for their children will send them there unless a CAI school is built nearby. In addition to madrasses, the way our military is fighting the war over there seems somewhat counterproductive to our goal. Thoughtless killing of civilians with little consideration of the families left living (the book only goes into this just a little bit) also contributes to the future of Jihad. Showing that we want to make their country a better place and educating them about the world, like the CAI does seems pretty right on to me;)

Read the book and find out what I'm talking about. I think you'll be touched by this story as well. Also check out one of its charities, penniesforpeace.org. This is the easiest way for MOms to get involved. By introducing it to a teacher, your child and his/her school can get involved by simply donating pennies. I think this is a great way to teach children about current events, the importance of education and a little bit about foreign cultures on the other side of the world not to mention the lesson of sacrifice for the benefit of others. ANyway, I have to go...there's my two cents. And if you want to borrow the book I'm more than happy to loan mine out! XOXOX Ash

Still catching up...

For the third week of February the kids and I drove down to Houston with Gaga and Papa.  A few days after we arrived Adam and his family came down for California's "winter break".  I did a poor job documenting our trip (as always) but here's the best of what I got:

We spent most of our days needing sunglasses.

Isaac and Max enjoyed a sporting game of karate.

And they let Gaga play for a little while too.  Look at those stances.  Mr. Miagee {sp} would be proud!

It is rare to have a visit with Papa without a car being washed.

  The grandkids LOVE it!

Pretty Girls.

The center of our entertainment.

Mom, Grandma Nina, Will and Adam.

Getting creative with two swings.

If she were looking at me and didn't have a blue tire chip on her chin this

 would have been a really cute picture.

YEA!!  

Grandma Nina's here!

The best thing about Grandma Nina, at this point in my life, is that she watches my kids for me.  She loves to hold the little babies, push the toddlers on the swing or sit on a bench watching the older ones throw bread to the ducks in the pond.  Most of the time she even brings the bread.  The kids love her because she is calming.  She walks slowly, is never in a rush and is content just to be.  That's definitely something I don't offer them.  

The duck pond in Mom and Dad's backyard, another center of our entertainment.  It almost makes it worth moving from 13306 King Circle.

Pettey Boys...

forever in Houston sporting attire!

Sisters...

my Aunt Reta is one of the most generous people I know.

A girl after my own heart

I love seeing Max all grown up. 

Six is such a good age.  Or maybe Max just makes it seem so.  He is so good to Isaac.  I think Isaac always feels a little bit cooler after being with him.

Speaking of idols, here's Georgie being carried around by hers...Reese.  Reese loved it at first but I think by the end of the week she was ready to be rid of her sidekick.  

Grandma Nina...the worlds greatest great grandma!  I put this in gold because she is "golden" (my siblings and cousins will really appreciate that statement).

Can someone please get this girl a little sibling?  

She would make the PERFECT big sister!

Catch Up

February 12:

Isaac and Gigi can't get to the car fast enough to get hugs and kisses from Gaga and Papa.

Oh, so Sweet!

Merry Christmas...finally!  Our Gaga and Papa Christmas was quite delayed this year!

Here, Isaac is showing off his new, amazing and oh so favorite Star Wars set.

Georgie:

Breaking into flight in her new fairy costume!

February 13: 

Gaga and Papa came with us to Isaac's Valentines party, wrestled on the bed and lazed about doing NOTHING on a rainy day in boring old Altus.  

It was nice having Mom and Dad here but I must say I did feel a little guilty that there was nothing for them to do.  They enjoyed playing with the kids but even I got a little antsy.  The weather wasn't nice, there were no soccer games or anything of that nature to go to and I just wasn't very creative at hostessing and making our own fun.  We did go up to Quartz Mountain Lodge for a Valentines Day dinner.  But, alas, the food was...um...excuse me but, NASTY.   Summertime visits will be a little better because we'll have the pool!  But I did head home with them for a visit to Houston.  That post up next...