New Ear's Eve

According to Mylie, tonight we are celebrating New Ear's Eve! We were at the mall this afternoon and on a whim we decided to get her ears pierced. I have asked her before if she wanted to do it, but she was always a bit nervous about it hurting. She must have been feeling extra brave today, because she jumped at the chance. She used part of her Christmas money from Grandpa Jack to have it done.

She was so brave and only cried for just a minute and then hurried to wipe the tears away so I could snap a picture with my phone to show everyone.

She is growing up!!

On Service ...

This Christmas my parents asked that instead of buying them presents, that we all do a service project and then write them a letter telling them about it. Our family thought about this and decided that we would adopt a family. We decided to work in conjunction with the Criminal Justice Club at CWI - I am the advisor for the club. I am going to cut and paste a couple emails into my blog because this was such an awesome experience, I don't want to forget it! This was the email I sent out to our club after we delivered Christmas.

Hello,
I wanted to update everyone on our Christmas service project. As you know, we adopted a family through the juvenile probation department who was in need this Christmas. It was a large family with 8 kids and one on the way. I must tell you that I am so very impressed with our club members.

Yesterday we spent the afternoon wrapping and putting the presents together and then this afternoon Shale, her daughters, Telena and I went with the probation officer to deliver the gifts. I have attached some pictures, we filled the trunk and backseat of the probation officer's car with more boxes in the back of Shale's suburban. We had three gifts for every child as well as a full stocking for each of them. We had a Christmas dinner which included two hams, and additionally, a large box of non perishable food items. We had gently used clothing for the children, gifts for the parents, as well as some money.

As Shale and Telena will chime in, delivering this to their house and meeting this family was an absolute joy. The looks on the kid's faces as they saw us carry in box after box was something we won't forget. They had a Christmas tree up, but nothing under it. The children excitedly unloaded the boxes and suddenly their tree was full. The children were so excited and the parents so grateful. It was so neat, because so often many of us may donate something at Christmas but rarely do you get to see the joy on the faces of the recipients.

From the bottom of my heart I thank those of you who contributed. Students contributed toys, food, clothing, money, wrapping paper, and their time. I know that money is very tight for many of you this Christmas. It truly speaks to your character to serve others. Shale, Telena and I decided today that this is the 1st Annual CJ Club Adopt a Christmas Event, which means there will be more to come! I am so proud to be associated with such a wonderful group of people.

Merry Christmas to each of you. I will see you next semester!!
Stephanie

And the email I sent to my parents:

Hi Mom & Dad,
This afternoon we delivered Christmas to the family that we adopted. As I told you guys this weekend, this is a large family. They are an LDS family and the dad is in the National Guard. Their home was small, especially for a family of this size. The mom homeschools all the kids. My students did a wonderful job of putting together gifts and food for this family. Our family participated in this as well by donating quite a bit of nonperisable food, art supplies, as well as giving the parents a card with $50 in it. We also took the big box of wipes that mom donated.

Thank you for asking us to serve this Christmas and in turn inspiring me to ask my students to serve. Helping this family was inspiring, but so was watching my students serve. Many of them have told me that they don't have much money. One student lost her house this year, many are unemployed, and most are having much smaller Christmases themselves. This did not stop them from helping this family in need. One student of mine has a daughter who is 11 years old. Her daughter came to one of our meetings with her mom when we were talking about this. When they got home that night she told her mom that she did not want anything for Christmas that year, instead wanted to use the money that her mom would have spent on presents to help this family. This girl and her mom put together 9 stockings for all the family. That 11 year old girl isn't getting any presents for Christmas this year because money is really tight. She helped wrap and deliver all the gifts. I just wanted to hug her, not many kids would do that. Another students went out and bought nice gifts for each and every child. When I thanked him, I asked if I could help pay for part of it. He told me no, but that he had been the recipient of a Christmas like this when he was a child and he wanted to give back.

I was talking to Jeff today at lunch and telling him all about these students. As I told him, we gave and gave generosly, but we are still having Christmas and getting gifts. We have the means that we can do both. Some of these students don't have the means to do both and had the means to do one or the other. I am touched by their generosity and their willingness to give when they don't have much to give. We know that we are blessed to have the means to have a nice Christmas with our family and the ability to serve other families.

Merry Christmas - we love you!
Stephanie and the Breach crew

Through this whole project, I think I was most touched by the 11 year old girl, Kendra, who gave up her Christmas to donate to this family. I called her mom the next day and told her that I could not stop thinking about her daughter's generosity and asked if we could go Christmas shopping for her. We did and I heard from the mom the other day telling me that she hasn't seen Kendra that excited in a long time.

What a wonderful feeling each of us in our family had this Christmas season as we truly thought about what we could do to ensure that others have a wonderful Christmas. We have the service bug and I hope to see it continue into 2011.

Christmas re-cap

The rest of December has just FLOWN by! We had a fabulous visit from Gramma and Big A the weekend before Christmas. I think the kids wore them out! Papa probably hasn't played blocks that much since HE was a kid. They came to church with us on Sunday and we all enjoyed the Christmas program. The primary kids sang, and Mylie did such a good job!

The week before Christmas was a busy one. I was finishing up grades/end of the semester stuff. Mylie got to go to the Rockettes with Grandma and Grandpa Breach and had a fabulous time!! Grandma and Grandpa Breach came over on Christmas Eve afternoon for lunch and we had a lovely afternoon together.

The kids were so excited and hyper on Christmas Eve! Mylie kept asking if it was bedtime (starting at about 9 am) because she couldn't wait for Santa to come! We had a nice Christmas Eve night reading the Christmas Story, watching A Christmas Story, and writing letters to Santa. Daddy slept in Blake's room, to make sure he didn't escape in the night.

The kids must have stayed on the nice list, because they woke up to this on Christmas morning.

Christmas Day was so nice. Mylie was so excited that Santa brought her a pillow pet, a spin brush and some silly bands. Those were her big requests. Santa also brought her a new doll and princess barbies! Blake asked Santa for a truck and he got lots of trucks!! Santa also brought him a remote control car (which has provided hours of fun for all of us!) and a pillow pet. Jeff and I both stayed on the good list too. We all had a fun day just hanging out and playing with our new toys.

On Monday, the kids and I decided to take an impromptu trip to Idaho Falls for a few days. We had a great time, played with cousins, saw the Great Grandpas, rode the 4-wheeler (well I didn't - too cold, but the kids did!) We had an icky drive back on Thursday, but made it eventually and are glad to be home. It was a wonderful Christmas season. It seems to go quicker every year, but we definitely enjoy it!

PARTY!

On Friday, Mylie had her Christmas party at school. I went to help and brought Blake along (yes, I was nervous! But he was such a good boy.) Mylie's teacher had an extra gingerbread house and so Blakey got to do one too. It was funny because she asked him his name and he said "BUBBA!" He was working hard on this gingerbread house, though I am pretty sure he ate as much candy as he put on.

Mylie's cute gingerbread house and reindeer antlers. I have so much fun helping in her classroom. I took Christmas pictures of all the kids in her class with their gingerbread houses and antlers.

We had a wonderful, absolutely fabulous weekend with Gramma and Papa here. The kids wore them out on Saturday playing the whole day. They read stories, build towers, played dolls, played cars, the works. It was wonderful. Mylie sang in the Christmas program on Sunday so it was fun to have them there for that. They headed back to Idaho Falls after lunch.

Sunday night we had our annual progressive dinner with the Bennett and Brady families. It was lots of fun as usual and lots of good food. This week is busy, busy. We are very excited for Christmas at our house!!!

Christmas Program

Here are a couple pictures from the kid's Christmas program at daycare. They did a great job and it was a lot of fun. Mylie, with the chicken pox.

Blake was OK with Santa, as long as he got to sit next to him, not on his lap. Silly boy. He did tell Santa he wanted a TRUCK!

Uncle Ben was in town for court so he got to come and watch their program as well. Lots of fun!

She's mad as a fox!

Tonight was Mylie and Blake's daycare Christmas program. The did great singing and Blake actually stayed on the stage the entire time (major shocker). Mylie had a speaking part at the end. She did awesome!

You can't really see, but she has chicken pox painted on her face. Too cute!

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to the North Pole we go!

Earlier this week, Jeff decided that he would get tickets and take all of us on the Polar Express this afternoon. The kids have been so excited. Grandma and Grandpa Breach took us on the Polar Express when Mylie was 3, just before Blake was born. She doesn't really remember and she and Blake (especially Blakey, he loves trains) have been so excited the last few days getting ready to go on the train (choo choo) and to meet Santa.

The Polar Express train departs from Horseshoe Bend and arrives at the North Pole an hour later (Banks area).

What a fun surprise to have Mrs. Claus and one of the elves on our train!

There were also carolers and Mylie got to pick a song for them to sing. She picked "Frosty the Snowman."

And lo and behold, Santa was on our train too!!

Mylie was very excited to tell Santa what she wanted, a pillow pet, a spin brush, and silly bands. Blake totally ignored Santa and pulled the old, "if I don't look at him, he is not really there" routine.

Other than seeing Santa, he totally loved the train.

He really loved it when we got off at the North Pole. He was very interested in checking out the train, and in stomping in the snow.

He was totally OK posing with Santa, as long as Daddy was there. Mylie couldn't wait to sit on Santa's lap and get her picture taken.

Then they had to check out the rest of the North Pole.

What a wonderful afternoon! If we weren't in the Christmas spirit before, we certainly are now!

In the last week ...

We have had snow, lots of snow.



And even a snow day. The kids and I used our snow day to play, to make Christmas cookies and watch Christmas movies. Fabulous!

This weekend, Mylie and I went with Helen and Melissa to Cinderella the musical. The girls had a fabulous time and the show was delightful!

Tonight we decorated our tree. I have silly kids, this is how they pose for a picture. Crazies!

It is hard to believe it is only 19 days until Christmas. Time flies when you are having fun!

Thankful.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving WEEK! The weekend before Thanksgiving, Mylie and Blake stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Breach. They had such a blast and got to be farm kids for the weekend. They rode in the pickup, did chores, and had a fabulous time. Jeff and I also had a nice weekend, including two dates in two days. Unprecedented! Sunday afternoon the whole Breach family spent the afternoon together having lunch and just hanging out. It was a great day.

Mylie and I were both out of school all week. Monday, the kids went to daycare while I did a little work and a little Christmas shopping. Tuesday it was cold and icky - so we all stayed home and enjoyed our nice warm house all day long. Wednesday morning we left to go to Idaho Falls. The roads had been nasty and some of them closed on Tuesday so we were a little hesitant about going. The drive which normally takes 4.5 hours, took 7 hours. Ugh. To say it was a long day was an understatement. Thankfully Jeff drove like a rock star, the kids were quite good in the car, and I had a great book. We were definitely happy to arrive in Idaho Falls.

Thanksgiving was fabulous. Mom cooks Thanksgiving like no one else and it was a fun day. The guest list included, Grandpa Hammond and Grandpa Jack, Ben's family, Bailey, Jalyn and her kids and Uncle Doug and Aunt Marilyn. Of course we missed Courtney, Jason and Lila.

The kids all had so much fun playing all day Thursday and Friday. On Friday, I got to have lunch with TeriAnn and her husband Dylan. It was so strange to be having lunch with her and telling Mylie how TeriAnn and I met when we were HER AGE! Yikes. Does that make us old? We hadn't seen each other in three years, so it was so great to catch up. They are expecting their first baby, so we had lots to talk about.

Later Friday afternoon, Jeff and I shopped and shopped. Goodness, I really love shopping. I think we are about done with our Christmas shopping, which is great, except I still like to shop!! LOL. We decided we had better head back early in the day on Saturday since there was supposed to be a storm coming through. Before we left, Papa had to take the kids on the 4-wheeler again. For some reason Blake did not want to ride in the sleigh this time, he wanted to help Papa drive.

It was super cold, but the kiddos loved it! I think we were just ahead of the weather because we made it back safely in good time. The news that night told a different story about the roads, so we were glad to make it back safe. Sunday we did not even get out of our pajamas. I have been battling a bad cold/cough for over 2 weeks, and the kids woke up sniffling and coughing yesterday. We called it a day and just relaxed and napped and tried to get ready to get back in the swing of things.

There are so many things I am grateful for this year. I am grateful for this little family I have. For a wonderful husband that I love with all of my heart. For two little kids who have my heart. I am grateful for our big family. We are both so lucky to have wonderful parents and families, and our kids are so lucky to have the best grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I am grateful for our home and our jobs. I am grateful we have cars that run well and health insurance. I am grateful that we believe in God and that we live in America. I am grateful that we can provide for our children spiritually, temporally, and emotionally.

I am grateful. And I love this time of year where we take time to slow down and remember all the reasons why.

Time Marches On ....

This morning was Jeff and I's first time ever going to parent teacher conferences. It was great to hear from someone else how neat my kid is. For some reason it seemed kind of fitting that today was our first parent teacher conference and that nine years ago today, Jeff proposed to me. Nine years ago is a long time! I look at us then, and I look at us now. So much has changed in our lives, but I would not change it for anything.

But time does go fast. It is hard to believe my baby girl will turn six next week. And Blake is growing into such a boy, there isn't much toddler left in him. Though there was a moment earlier this week, he had just gotten up and I was changing his diaper. He was still kind of sleepy and he stretched and yawned ... his whole face scrunched up and for just a moment, he looked exactly like he did as an infant. I wish I could have put that in a bottle. Or when they both want to climb up on my lap and snuggle with me, I'd like to bottle that too.

It makes me think about what the next nine years will bring. When Mylie is 15 and Blake is almost 12, will they still argue over who gets to sit with Mom? Will they still talk my ear off all day long telling me every single little thing that happened in their day? Will they still be best friends?

But time marches on, there is no way of knowing what the future holds, only the knowledge that you need to enjoy each and every day!

Boo!

WHAT? Its the last week of October?

This month has gone by in a rush! I feel like I have much to share, but little time to do so. It has been a busy month of teaching, of soccer, of volunteering in Mylie's class, and of learning. Here are a few short updates with more to come.

Blake has his final speech therapy appointment today!! He has a final evaluation and he did so well on it. I am in awe of him and so grateful to the therapist who worked with him. When he started this process in March I had to make a list of his words and he had 10. I made a new list last week and it was over 170 and I have heard him say so many words in the last week that I didn't have on there. He is a different kid, he is more confident and a little chatter bug. He is so funny and always has a story to tell us. He is using sentences and communicating so well. I had no idea what to expect when we started the process, but I did not expect this!! I am so happy and proud of him, and proud of Mylie too, for working so hard to help her brother.

It hit me the other day that it is the last week of October and we still hadn't done pumpkins!! Yikes. Off we went this afternoon to pick out pumpkins and then Jeff helped the kids carve them. Great work guys!

It doesn't feel like it has been fall for very long, but it also feels like it might be winter at any moment. In fact the high for tomorrow is 45, I was digging the kid's winter coats out tonight.

I had to capture pictures of my favorite trees. Both these trees were probably only 5-6 feet tall when we planted them. They are huge now and I love the beautiful colors.

My summer reading spot transformed.

This week promises to be a busy one as well. It is the 10th week of the semester, yikes, I cannot believe it. I have decided the only time I will ever be caught up on grading is at the end of the semester, after grades are posted! :)

A beautiful day in McCall

Nine years ago on a beautiful October day, Jeff and I took a day road trip to McCall. We hadn't been dating for long, but we both had the day off of work and went on a drive to admire the beautiful fall scenery. Although we had not been dating long, it was that day that I knew I would marry him, that I would have babies with him, that we would live happily every after!

Every October we take the same drive. Then it was just us:

But of course, now there is them too.

The leaves were beautiful and the sky was so blue.

The kids had a great time hanging out at the lake.

And looking at boats with the binoculars.

Or smiling at Mommy.

Posing with Daddy.

And running from {fake} turtles - that he later shot with a {fake} gun. Don't ask, he is weird. :)

It was simply a quite lovely day. We told Mylie stories about when we were dating and first married. She asked all about when she was a baby. It was so fun to just laugh and tell stories. While at the lake, Jeff and I sat and held hands and watched our babies play. Nine years ....

Looking forward to a day off!

I am so excited about tomorrow. I am off of work and there is no school and I CANNOT wait to spend the whole day with my babies. It has been a busy month at our house. Kindergarten starting for Mylie, new daycare/preschool for the kids,soccer three times a week, a busy semester teaching 12 credits for me, and a busy last few weeks of training youth court volunteers.

But tomorrow there is nothing. I'm hopeful the kiddos will climb in bed with me in the morning and we will watch cartoons and cuddle. There will be no hurrying or rushing to get anywhere. No packing lunches or backpacks. I look forward to playing, to going to Toy Story 3 at the dollar theater, and maybe go to the park.

I know that life doesn't slow down, so there is no use waiting for it to happen. I have to make it happen. Our lives are busy, and that is OK, we are OK with that. But it is important to carve time out. Time where I am not multi-tasking. Time where we can just be.

"I'll always be here for you Bubba."

Today I had one of the most touching moments I have had as a parent. Blake fell asleep on the couch late in the afternoon watching football. When he woke up he was not a happy boy. I tried to calm him, but he wanted nothing to do with me. Jeff tried, same result. First he laid on the floor and sobbed. Then he got up and went and found Mylie. He was sobbing, saying, "Sissy, sissy." She came in and said, "Do you need me Bubba?" She sat on the couch got his blanket, and lifted him up on her lap. He laid his head down and held her hand. She rubbed his head and whispered, "I''ll always be here for you Bubba."

I get tears in my eyes again just thinking about it now. He calmed right down and laid there with her for awhile. She talked quietly to him and when he felt better, she went and got him a drink and off they went to play. Oh how I love these kiddos of mine!

Boys are different.

So, without a doubt, I am learning that boys are different from girls. This morning I went into Blake's room and there were raisins on the floor. He had undoubtedly snuck these from the pantry. I told him that he could not take food into his room or bugs would get in his room. This always worked with Mylie. I thought it would work with Blake too. I was wrong.

I asked Blake, "Do you want bugs in your room?" His eyes lit up really big, he started nodding and saying, "YES!" Then he proceeded to excitedly act out when I interpreted to be he killing "hoppers" (grasshoppers) with a "hamma" (hammer).

Yes, boys are different!

Learning from them!

Tonight, when Mylie was saying the prayer at dinner, she included the following request for help from Heavenly Father, "Please help me to write my name good, and my lower case Es. Help me to hold my pencil the right way and to not hurry too much with my work." I couldn't resist grinning, but it was also a good reminder that we can go to the Lord with all our problems. Something like a lower case E may not seem like a big deal, but to her, that was what she was working on earlier in the day and I was touched she would ask the Lord for his help.

After dinner, she and Blake were in his room playing. I went in to check on him and she was helping him clean his room and teaching him how to fold his blankets.

Somedays these kids are so wild and crazy, but I am always reminded by simple things about what a blessing they are in my life.

Joy.

Is it cheesy for me to say how much JOY Mylie brings me? Probably, but I still will. The other day we were sitting at the table having dinner. Jeff and I were just asking her about her day. She was talking about recess and told me how Timmy (a boy in her class) didn't have anyone to play with and so she asked him to play with her. She just told me matter of fact, no big thing, but it make my heart swell with what a sweet little girl I am blessed with. I love that as soon as we pick her up from school or I pick the kids up from daycare, she and Blake run to each other to hug. I love that without being asked she unloads the silverware and tupperware, so I am surprised when I go to do the dishes. I love that when I was having a bad day the other day, she put a card in MY lunchbox ... my day got much better when I found that!

I love being a mom to these two kids. It isn't always a easy job, and sometimes I don't think I do a good job, but I love this job and I love them!

I love how her mind works!

Tonight Jeff was talking to Mylie about the two of them hiking Tablerock here in Boise. He was telling her how she would be able to see all of Boise from the top. After he told her that she got really excited and told me when she got to the top she was going to call me. She told me she would tell me to go outside so she could see if she could see me! It was so cute to see her mind work.

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Jog/Walkathon

Mylie had her first school fundraiser today. A jog/walkathon. I tried to convince her to wear shorts, but she wanted to look cute while she was running. Well, she did.

They jogged/walked for a half hour and she did 10 laps! Jeff, Blake and I, as well as Grandma and Uncle Devin cheered her on.

I was taking a few pictures of her and then Blakey looked at me and kept saying cheese. It is a rare day that he wants to pose for me. What a cute boy!

The girl can kick!

Seriously! Look how high her leg goes when she kicks! Mylie had her second soccer game on Saturday. She is playing in a U8 league. I was a little nervous about her playing with mostly 1st and 2nd graders but she is doing a great job and holding her own.

Grandpa and Uncle Devin came to watch her game. It was fun to have them there and I am pretty sure she likes an audience!

Model girl

Mylie modeling for me on picture day. She is really loving school.

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