A New Year: January 2010

Welcome 2010! We rang in the New Year with breakfast at Cracker Barrell and sledding after with Ryan and Leslie's family. Happy New Year to all our family and friends!

January was full of activity. Royce had 2 Buckit gigs: One New Year's Eve until 2 am at Charly's and at Oak Creek Brewing Co. in Sedona 2 weeks later. They are growing in skill and popularity! He also got some new WarH figures for Christmas he's been putting together, and he saw the band "Humphrey McGee" at The Orpheum here in Flag with Vaughn. His practice is doing well, and he is learning new skills as he fills the role of owner now.

We went to Mesa over MLK weekend to visit family and swim at Dad's hotel. We saw Richard and Lindsy's new place and Jared and Kathy's. We also visited with Dad and Jason and Julie. The pool was chilly, but Brynne jumped right in. Maren frolicked around the deck, picking flowers and talking to herself. I noticed how nice the flowers smelled and how each one, though small, was unique and beautiful...like my children.

The night we drove back, a snow storm hit Flagstaff, lasting until Saturday. The kids were out of school the entire week! The kids played in the snow, sledded, played with friends, had sleep overs, and stayed up late lots. Royce joined in on the fun on Thursday when the worst of it hit, and they closed the office early. He did a lot of shoveling but also enjoyed the down time.

In the spirit of setting goals, I made a decision this year to have more fun and to develop my interests and talents more. So...I'm now attending a Scrapbooking group, re-started Book Club with a friend, am writing weekly, will be leading a church group on Parenting, and am creating a blog about overcoming depression and anxiety, focusing on Pres. Monson's adage to "Find Joy in the Journey." I also planned a getaway for the Porter family in March at our Bishop's vacation rental.

Duncan had a blast recently digging snow caves with Royce for a Scout campout. They slept in their cave overnight and survived, with minor frostbite! At the campsite, he sledded with the Scouts and learned some snow survival skills. He is doing well in school still and reading series after series. If I can't find Duncan, I know to check his room where he is often reading or inventing something.

Brynne was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints on the 9th. Lots of family came, making the occasion even more special. As I helped her into her all white dress, I reflected how one day I'd be doing this same thing for her wedding. She is a beautiful girl, on the inside and out. We did a "Great To Be 8 Countdown" with her the 8 days before. She is still enjoying music class, piano lessons, and Activity Days.

Maren is glad that Music, Pre-School, and Story Time are back in session! She is a social girl and likes to be doing and playing with her friends. She loves books, dancing, music, singing, and playing dress up. She is also becoming a shrewd shopper, having found a 3 Musketeers Dress on clearance to buy. Maren's rule of thumb for dressing/shopping/learning is: If it's not cute or princessy, she's not interested.

Eva, though barely one, is already filling the role of girl/sister: she fights with Maren over Maren's things-screaming, pulling, and sometimes hitting (Maren is already talking about her own room); she wanted a purse to put things in and carry around (we hang it on her shoulder and she holds her hand up to keep it on); and she likes to give kisses and talk. In her repertoire is now "owie." She also shakes her head no adamantly now and knows what it means.

Hope your new year is off to a great start too!

December 2009

We did it! We made it through the holidays healthy and sane, though this was the latest we've
ever done Christmas shopping before!

December Highlights:

Royce achieved his goal of playing a large-scale Warhammer game. They tied in the end, but he
had a great time and made some new Warmonging friends!

Jen got to go see "The Christmas Carol" with Duncan at NAU for school. Excellent production.
She took Maren and Eva to the Lollipop Concert-a short version of The Nutcracker production
with lollipops at the end. She made her first necklace at a friends' gathering, went to Enrichment
which was fondue dinner and dessert and a white elephant gift exchange. And supported 3
service activities : Munos, make cookies, wrap presents. Sang in the choir.

Duncan went on a fieldtrip to the Landfill-the coolest trip ever. he came home asking why he
can't just go get things out of the pile-so much cool stuff to build with.

Brynne obtained 2 American girl dolls-Marisol and Kit-for Christmas and her birthday. Her mom
drove her and the kids to Sedona to get them, at night during inclement weather-a 4 hour trip!
She also went on a daddy-daughter date to "The Christmas Carol". And she attended her first
Acitivity Day on her birthday and got to wear her pjs.

Maren went caroling for preschool, finished out her music class, had preschool Christmas party.

As a family:
We watched "The Sound of Music" for the first time. The kids loved it!
Attended Tithing Settlement: the older kids were full-tithe payers.
Attended the Porter Family Christmas Party in Mesa-dinner and Temple lights and music.
Grandpa gave the adults a weeklong houseboat vacation at Lake Powell every 2 years.

Ryan and Sandy (Royce's parents) drove from Washington for Christmas. They came the 23rd
through the 28th. The kids loved it! On the evening of the 23rd, we had Brynne's 8th birthday
party. She decided she wanted to have it with Grandpa and Grandma instead of friends this year.
The cousins came too and made gingerbread houses, Brynne's favorite. The boys focused on
accumulating as much sugar as they could on theirs, and the girls' houses actually turned out cute.

On Christmas Eve, we went to V and T for visiting, dinner, and a Christmas Eve Program
Christmas Morning: short b-day celebration for Eva, since the kids didn't see her until then.
Boxing Day: Triple date to Avatar-3-D





New Year's Eve: Family Party, then Charly's for a gig-the biggest turnout ever with people

waiting in line outside in the cold for an hour to get in.

November 2009

October 2009

Over General Conference weekend, Christy and Jose came up. We celebrated her birthday Friday night with dinner at Black Baart's Steakhouse, which has live theatrical singing. Afterwards, we went to the NAU Observatory and viewed Saturn (we saw the rings!) and its moons through their telescope. At home, we looked at the moon through my telescope and had ice cream to celebrate.



We went with some friends Geo-Caching at the Aspen place, found some treats, did a haystack maze, then off to a football game. Royce played at Charly's

We went to the trunk-r-treat at church, then Duncan went with Cameron around the neighborhood while the girls passed out candy. For FHE one week, we "BOOed" several families. The kids had so much fun knocking and running. Duncan had to hide on someone's porch once to avoid getting caught, and we took off and left him for a minute. On Columbus Day, Duncan had a friend bday party at the Aquaplex, invited Cameron Larsen and Koby Dillon. They swam and then opened presents and had dessert at home. For our 12 year anniversary, Royce and I attended the U2 concert in Phoenix October 20 and did sealings the next morning at the temple. Christy watched the kids while we went, and took Duncan on a birthday hike the morning of his birthday. Brynne went with me to Craft Day where we made some quiet books and Halloween blocks.



Jen pulled off the Primary Program, yeah, then got released a couple Sundays later!

Washington Trip Pics

September 2009

September went by in a blur. The fall always does...it is so busy! Eva turned 9 months and is growing by leaps and bounds, astounding us every day with new skills and growth. She says Ma-Ma all of the time now, has perfected crawling on her knees, is walking holding on to things, and even let go of something to stand a second by herself and take a little step! She communicates joy by squinting her eyes, scrunching up her face and smiling or blowing noise and spit out of her mouth. She sits at the table with us and loves to eat too and screech once in a while so she can be part of the table banter.

Duncan had his first official football game at Chino Valley Saturday the 12th. He has improved a lot, earning compliments from both teammates and coaches alike. They say they can't believe how hard he can hit/tackle for how little he is. The team consists of 9-11 year olds, so he is the youngest group, and this is his first year playing. He did so well recently that the coach announced to the whole team that he would start at the next game as Cornerback, telling everyone Duncan proves that size doesn't determine how well you can play. The coach calls him the Atomic Ant because he's little but hits so hard. Duncan found out his Grandpa Porter played football too and could have gone to the local college on a football scholarship but chose to attend BYU instead. The Peterson side loves football too, so it goes to show.

He is flying through different series at school, reading above his grade level, and in the highest math class. He loves to take care of his baby sisters, carrying Maren on his back and teasing her, and also playing with Eva as well. He is our early bird, and we recently gave him the charge of waking everyone up on time, including Mom and Dad if necessary!

Brynne is excelling at everything she touches as well. She is a little ball of energy, always busy creating something-she's very artistic like her grandparents on the Peterson side. She reminds me of her Grandma Peterson-happy, easily excited, always working on something, full of enthusiasm and ideas, expressive and spirited, and loving. She reads a ton-a babysitter recently couldn't believe she was already reading chapter books. One of her favorite series right now is American Girl-her cousin Nichole introduced her to it. She is staying busy still with piano and music lessons. At school, her teacher says she is doing wonderful-responsible, a hard worker, quick, if a bit shy. I had to smile at this because at home Brynne is our loudest one!

Maren is enjoying pre-school and loves to play with friends. Every day she asks me if this friend or that friend can come over. She is our social one! She loves to talk and had a friend over that also loves to talk. They spent at least an hour telling each other stories in our living room-doing nothing else but that! At bed time, she never fails to ask for a story or two or four, however many my patience and time can handle! Her favorites are any involving princesses, ponies, rainbows, and happy endings with little babies. She says the cutest things like, "Okay Mom. It's my turn to talk and your turn to listen." She makes us laugh, but if we laugh and she notices, she gets sad and says "People laugh at me." She is loving and tries to help with Eva every way she can.

Royce had another gig at Charly's over Labor Day Weekend. They are popular and do well. He loves it more than tongue can tell. Charly's had a cancellation recently so they will be playing there again in October. They also were asked to play New Year's Eve, which was a huge compliment because it was a choice between them and another very popular Flagstaff band. I'm glad he has constructive hobbies that develop his talents. He stays busy painting too, when he can find time after doing dentistry, working on the house, serving with the 14 year-old young men, and spending time with the family. He stays busy-sometimes too busy!

Jen has stayed busy with family, writing the Primary Program for October, and the Wellness Challenge. Royce and Jen finished in the top 10. Hopefully we can keep up all of our new good habits!

As a family, we've had several rewarding activities and vacations. We ran as a family in a fundraiser for a neighbor boy with leukimia. Serving made everyone feel good. Over Labor Day, we went to the Peterson Reunion (Jen's side). It was fun for the kids to swim with second cousins and for me to learn more about my grandparents and see my family. September 17-22 we drove to Vegas and flew from there to Pasco to visit Royce's parents and brother Aric, recently returned from Iraq, and his family. We had never seen his children in person, having kept missing each other with different pregnancies. What a lovely family they have-all sweet girls. It was all Duncan could do not to go stir-crazy teasing all of his female cousins. He was the only male cousin present! We loved being able to see his parents, grandma Inez, and Sabrina and Gary and kids. The kids really enjoyed picking and eating fresh fruit and vegetables from Grandpa and Grandma's garden and a neighboring apple orchard.

August 2009

August was a crazy month as summer break ended and school began. Maren and Brynne finished up their soccer season. Maren improved greatly, going from sitting down in the middle of games to running the whole time, and even kicking the ball! Brynne is a natural and scored several times-she is naturally competitive, quick, and a go-getter. Duncan started Football-it is very time intensive but he gets compliments from the asst. coach often who is his best friend's dad. He was lucky enough to get on the same team-the Steelers-as his best friend, Cameron.

Royce went on a canoe trip with the Scouts for a weekend and to a Cult concert w/Vaughn. Jen went to her b-day dinner with the RS, out to a movie with friends on her b-day, and to a friend party for August b-days. R&J had their 12th Anniversary-we'll be going to a U2 concert in October to celebrate. We met my dad and Catherine in Sedona on a Saturday and enjoyed the company and scenery, going out to eat at the UFO Diner. Dad also stopped over and spent the night one weekend, taking the kids out for breakfast and going on a bike ride.
Before school started, Royce gave the kids blessings and we had a big swim party at Bear Paw w/friends. Maren started a Pre-School with friends and the moms switch off teaching; she is also in a music class called "Let's Play Music." It is a piano-prep class and she kept asking Royce to give her piano lessons, so she's enjoying this until she's old enough for R to teach her.
Brynne is in 2nd grade and has Mrs. Susan Davidson, the same teacher Duncan had. Mrs. D loves Brynne and has already showered her with compliments. She is also taking a music class like Maren's and enjoying it with her friends.
Duncan got a new teacher for 4th, Ms. Brown whom he enjoys. He injured his knee in f-ball and sat out for a week. Both he and Brynne are still taking piano lessons from Royce.
Royce has been practicing for another performance in the band "Bucket" this weekend. They are good and fun to watch and dance to. Jen is trying to get back into writing and scrapbooking.
On the weekends, we've been improving our backyard, adding grass and preparing to add new woodchips. And lastly, Royce and I started a Wellness Challenge that lasts through September. Already, we are seeing the positive results!