Once in a Blue Moon

Last week, according to my husband, who is the king of random cool information, was a blue moon. This means that there was an extra full moon this year, which is rare. I thought it was fitting that it happened on Jane's birthday, since now it is verified that girls like her only come along once in a blue moon. Also, that's about how often I've been updating my blog lately, so I'm going to try a super-post to wrap up 2009 and recap things that have happened in the past while.

We'll start with the birthday girl Janiecakes, who is now the big 7.
Received almost all things Littlest Pet Shop for Christmas and her birthday, and therefore got exactly what she wanted. Informed me that even though we usually light off fireworks for her since her birthday is on New Years Eve, she doesn't really like it that much, so we skipped it this year. Likes coloring, doing crafts, and being read too, but does not like writing in the journal her teacher asked her to keep over the break. Loves hot dogs, sausage, and bacon. Got strep throat on Christmas day and had to wait it out since for some reason we couldn't find a doctor's office open anywhere that day. Likes to eat snow, no matter where she finds it.

Jonathan. Who is called Jono so often he may not even be aware that he has a full name.
Learned to pick bathroom/bedroom doors with a butter knife resulting in no privacy as well as a strange trail of cutlery scattered throughout the house. Loves pretending to turn down his hearing aid whenever someone does the Junior Wilderness Explorer call. Is the most fearless of all kids on the local sledding hill. Hits people in the face to get their attention and then promptly apologizes as though he had no idea he was going to do such a thing. Would rather be visiting his Grandparents than anywhere else in the world.

Jef. Who finished his first semester of his EMPA program, as well as his leg lamp. The real question is, which was he more excited about? Got to (had to) be home with us the last two Wednesday nights and didn't even have homework to do the rest of the time. Helped Santa get Taylor a snowboard and therefore gets to take Taylor to the slopes at least once this winter. It's about time he used the skiis in the basement. May have started a new Christmas tradition by shooting his marshmallow gun at the kids shortly after they acted out the Nativity. As of last week, has been married to me for 10 years.

Taylor. Has started a "slopes" jar to save money in so that he can help Jef pay for the big event. Saved up $6 last month and asked to be taken to the dollar store so that he could buy us each a Christmas present. Loves his new Wii Resort game and begs to have someone play it with him - he does not enjoy "alone" time. Has discovered that he likes reading and vows to have Percy
Jackson read before the movie comes out next month. Is quite the little comedian and does not believe in straight faces, or even just regular smiles in any photograph taken of him.

Logan. Rang in the new year with ringing in his own ears and will probably have to get tubes put in soon. Can pretty much crawl now, but adapts to our wood floors with his own kind of bum scoot/crawl. Discovered that wrapping paper is not only pretty, but absolutely delicious. He loves other solid foods as well and is very advanced for his age in his eating abilities. After months of sleeping in his own bed, decided that this being sick business causes Mom and Dad to hold you all night, which is much, much better. Apparently, requires a very small amount of sleep to keep highly energized. We think he much have some kind of new lithium battery that allows him to keep going with little recharging. Loves his older siblings, but is also learning to antagonize Jono and they fight over mom and dad's lap space. Likes to clap and his favorite place is the bathtub.

Julie. Thanks to Jef even her children refer to her as Bruce some days. Would like to know how to replace her batteries with some of Logan's. Doesn't want Christmas Break to be over yet. Is waiting for her new present of blinds on the front windows to be installed so that they neighbors can't see her walking around in her PJs much later than is socially acceptable each day. After all of the illnesses passed around our home so far this winter, is thinking about going back and getting a Medical Degree. Did almost all of her Christmas shopping online this year and recommends it to anyone with small children and a long way to drive. Thank you sister, for informing me about Walmart's sight to store.

Hannah Banana. May be one of the only people I know who wears dresses and skirts under her snow pants. Idolizes her primary teacher. Can quote movies with the best of them. Has learned from Jane every song and rhyme that a 1st-grader comes home with, and is getting impatient to start school herself. Loves to dance and pose. Is the excuse queen for reasons not to go to bed and apparently has magical powers as well. The other day after she told me that cleaned her room, she somehow enchanted all of her toys to scatter themselves all over the floor again. She swears that she really did clean and that somehow they did this all by themselves, so I can come up with no other explanation.

Anyway, Happy New Year! We hope this next year brings as much fun stuff as the last, and maybe even more.

A Whole Handful

Hannah turned five this week. My Grandma Callister used to tell me that when I got to be five I would be a whole handful, and Hannah loves this story. She's been telling everyone that she's now a whole handful, but I think she has been for a while! This afternoon I took her to get her five-year-old check up and shots. She now thinks that she needs to start Kindergarten immediately, and asked me tonight if she will be going to school in the morning. It is hard to explain to her that she will start when she is five, but not until next fall.

I've decided that since Jef and I have 5 five kids now, that means we have a whole handful. I admit (and you may have sensed from my last few blog posts) that I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately and sometimes I get a little sarcastic/whiny about it. But I want everyone to know that I am thankful for this life I have, for my family, for our blessings. I wouldn't change it. I am thankful for the peace and love I always feel during this Holiday season . I am thankful for our Savior and all the ways I can see his hand in my life.

Now, here's some pictures of the last little while:
Logan isn't crawling, but seems to get around pretty well. He has learned to do the old scoot backwards-and-get stuck under the couch bit, and so I took a picture of it.

The other night Logan pulled himself up to standing in his crib. Jane and Hannah called for us to hurry and get in there and see. We all cheered and laughed and took pictures and even lowered his crib mattress to be safe, but he hasn't done it since. I talked to Jane about it again the next morning and she admitted that she may have "helped" him. Taylor used to do the same thing with Hannah - telling us she could roll over, but somehow she only seemed to be able to do it when we left the room. Ah well, at least we got some cute photos.

Here's one last shot of Hannah as a 4-year-old. Just posing like she always does.

Thanksgiving dinner with Jef's family and Jono at the head of the table (with his shoes and socks off - his latest obsession.) I don't think I've ever been out to eat for Thanksgiving before, and I must admit, it was pretty awesome to get lots of good food and fun and not have to cook anything or wash any dishes. We also went out to a movie afterwards, something we haven't done in ages. Thank you Jef's family for a fun day. And Jay, Taylor has been bragging to all of his friends that he has ridden in a mini-cooper AND a Scion.
Everybody loves parfait.

Jane thought that the food coloring I always put in when I make birthday cake frosting was what made it so good, so she tried drinking some. I think she was quite surprised to find that it doesn't taste nearly as good as it looks. Somehow we didn't believe her when she first told us that she didn't do it - the purple mouth might have given her away.

The birthday bash with my family. Hannah came out all dressed up, so we spread the word that everyone else who wanted to was welcome come in costume. Apparently, all of the kids wanted too. And they looked awesome.
I always refer to these as "cousin parties," but Hannah kept asking when all of her "friends" were coming over. I'm glad that her cousins are some of her best friends. Yea for cousins.
Cousins pictures. I loved these shots.

In the midst of all of the holiday/birthday excitement, poor Logan had a rough couple of weeks. He had a cold and an ear infection and then had an allergic reaction to his antibiotic. He got hives all over and his his entire face swelled up. I know this picture is so sad, but this was actually taken after he was doing much better. I didn't even put the saddest ones on here. I am happy to report that he looks and feels much better now, and we are so relieved to have him almost back to himself.
Jono really love the movie "UP" and keeps putting lotion in his hair and saying, "I'm Mr. Fredrickson." I'm not sure how the two connect, but it is always cute to hear a 2-year-old say the words "Mr. Fredrickson," regardless.

Taylor showing how we have mostly decorated for Christmas. We still need to put the finishing touches on Jef's leg lamp.
The stockings were hung by the chimny with care - in hopes that a mantle soon would be there...
Jef got some new home improvement-type tools for his early Christmas presents. He has already made some awesome improvements to our kitchen cupboards and uncompleted wood floors. We have great plans to start finishing the basement, but we've lived in this house almost a year now and are just getting to this point, so don't hold your breath.
Hannah's real birthday. (We had her party a little early.) She really loved this 5 candle. She made me put it in the hot dogs she was having for lunch and sing to her.
Since the kids get so many wonderful and much-appreciated presents from their Grandparents, cousins, and even Great-grandparents, Jef and I don't need to buy them much. So way back when Taylor turned two, we decided to start a tradition of using the money we would've spent on presents to go do something fun - we went on a steamboat ride to be exact. The tradition has kind of evolved to simpler things and we don't even spend much money most of the time, but we still try to do something around each kids birthday. On Hannah's birthday night we went out to eat and then to see the lights on temple square. It was a really fun and special night. We love you Hane-bo-daner.

I'm feeling just swine, thank you

Well, it's a good thing we squeezed in a vacation when we did because we spent the rest of the the month of October getting sick, then getting better, then getting sick again. By some miracle Jef was the only one who never got sick at all. As punishment for his doing well while we all felt horrible, he was forced to take care of us and listen to us complain. He handled it quite well, but I have a feeling that it wasn't the funnest vacation time he's ever taken.
The silver linings: I didn't eat nearly as much Halloween candy as usual this year, we got to spend lots of quality time together watching movies and not having to change out of our pajamas, we have become close friends with all of the lovely people at the Pediatrics office, and we don't have to get vaccinated for the swine flu. Please do not call it H1N1. The swine flu is definitely the more appropriate name.
Also, when we have all been able to get out and do stuff, we certainly appreciate it more. This has been one of the prettiest autumns I remember in a long time.
Logan at the park. Can you believe he is 6 months old now and has gotten his first tooth. He also says Dada. So far the score is Jef -4, Julie - 1. Jonathan was the only kid to say Mama first.

This is the stone pillar at our park that says "park" on it. I think it used to say the whole name of the park at one point, but all we really know is that Hannah likes to climb on it and do some major belly dancing for the whole neighborhood.
Taylor at his school costume parade. Jane didn't go to school that day, but she wasn't really sick that day, she just refused to go. We think there was a little first grade drama going on, so we tried to be patient and firm at the same time. We told her if she was going to stay home, she was absolutely not allowed to have fun. It was a little hard to monitor, but it must have worked a little, because she was anxious to go back again on Monday.
Where Jef found Jono watching TV. He may be just a little jealous these days. The other clue is the fact that he follows me around hanging onto my clothes and fake-crying. He has also started trying to change his own diapers. A step towards potty-training, I suppose, but not a very sanitary one.
This is Halloween night. Hannah was "Sick-or-treating," which means that she had to watch out the window. You can tell she didn't feel good because she hardly complained. Good thing she dresses up like a princess all of the time, so she will still get lots of chances to use the costume that we didn't have to buy for her to begin with. Taylor and Logan were both in bed at this point, and didn't even bother to go to the window.
Little does he know, his turn will come in a couple of days. He is just enjoying being a really useful engine.


I got this dog costume for Taylor when he wasn't even two yet. Talk about one size fits all. I love it that Jane didn't even ask for a new costume and just figured she'd use something we already had.
Please tell me if you notice anything out of place in the above picture.
Happy late Halloween everyone. And hello Holiday Season - I am sooo excited to spend our first Christmas here in our home. Last year we really enjoyed the time spent with my parents, but it will be fun to be able to get out our own tree and all that stuff that was in storage last Christmas. We've already started watching Christmas movies.

BYU & UEA, FYI

I know, I know, you've heard all of the jokes before. But it's not often I get a chance to say it and mean it without feeling guilty afterward, so allow me this indulgence - We went on the best dam trip ever last weekend!
Jef was going to go the the BYU game in Las Vegas with some members of his family. Somehow at the last minute we all managed to get ourselves invited. It was fun all around with lots of good memories. My mom always says that no matter how much fun you have on a trip, it's always the things that go wrong that you remember the most. Not much went wrong, luckily, but here are some of the weird things that we'll all remember:
-Frantically packing late Friday night and leaving early Saturday morning.
-Lots and lots of gas station and fast food restaurant bathrooms.
-Jonathan's heart-stopping sprints away from us in crowded places.
-Seeing the funny looks people all gave us as we walked through the casino to go bowling in the bowling alley that had like 100 lanes.
-Explaining to the kids what slot machines are. (Later Jane described them as machines you put money into, but not as much money comes back out.)
-Jef gambling away the kids' college funds in a matter of minutes. Ha, just put that in to see if you were listening... Our kids don't even have college funds!
-Hannah becoming enchanted with Jef's cousin Kevin and not leaving him alone the rest of the trip. Don't worry little brother, she called him "another Kevin."
-Jay and Taylor in their new BYU hats, and Taylor's first Cougar football game.
-Taylor exclaiming every time we passed a sports car.
-Jane falling out of the hotel bed in the middle of the night.
-Hannah waking up and realizing we'd moved her into Jane's bed and then wandering around the hotel room requesting me to get her towels from the bathroom so she could make her own bed on the floor.
-Waiting in lots of dam traffic.
-Logan being amazingly good most of the time and then inexplicably screaming his head off on the way home.
We've been talking lately about trying to get away and take a long road trip and discovered on this one that a 6 hour drive and two days was plenty long enough to do for quite a while. How did we ever manage to drive from Minnesota and back? Anyway, thanks to Jef's parents for the fun time!

Outside a Carl's Jr. No matter where you go in the world, isn't it comforting to know that all fast food restaurants basically have the same facilities?

Sam Boyd Stadium or Bust

While some of the kids argued that they most enjoyed "swimming" in the hotel's hot tub, the rest of us agreed that going to Hoover Dam was our favorite part of the trip. We didn't take the dam tour, but we did think just walking around looking was really cool. They are building this HUGE bridge above the dam so that people don't have to drive on the dam anymore. The bridge was nearly as cool as the dam. I hope we can go back someday when it's finished.

Come on, vamanos!

Possibly the first person ever to cross Hoover Dam while simultaneously devouring rice cereal.

"I'll turn this bus around!"


Jane was really worried about getting back by Monday so that she wouldn't miss her handwriting segment in school, but she tried to have fun for our sakes.

Jono trying to explain to Sandy that he "NEEDS to run faster."



Now Jono is trying his tricks on Ray, but he is foiled again! Thank heavens for quick grandparents.

The whole dam family
(Sorry, but it's just not getting old for me yet.)

What could cause such awe? We were passing a train when I took this picture.

If the trip last weekend wasn't good enough, we had UEA this weekend so there was more fun and two days off school. On Thursday the kids and I went to my Mom's and we all visited my Dad in his office at the BYU.

Thank you, Mom for always being willing to help me take the kids on fun expeditions.

Grandpa has the coolest stuff in his office!

Thanks for the candy Grandpa!
But maybe we'd better go now - I don't think this office is used to such "excitement."

Nothing like the good old Bean Museum.

Tarzan, meet Jane

Taylor and the Kodiak

Just when you thought this post would never end, here are more pictures. Logan's first haircut. Doesn't he look different and older?

He's learned to tilt his head. Quite a fun diversion when you're 5 months old. It makes everyone around you laugh too.

Suckers are necessary equipment for haircut night. Only the boys got the cuts, but apparently all enjoyed the suckers.

Last but not least, Jef doing more really neato stuff with our camera. Have each kid take a different glowing device and wave it around. Fun for them, fun for Jef, and makes a really cool picture.

So, some much needed fun and vacation. We have not seen much of Jef lately with his new school schedule, so we were excited that he took a day off on Friday. He spent the last two days doing some projects around the house and hanging out with us, which was really nice, especially since Logan has been sick and the extra hands are welcome. The older kids played with their friends like crazy in the nice weather. Since we moved into this neighborhood, they actually like to stay home and hang out instead of constantly begging to "go somewhere." Jono even managed to run away yesterday and made it to the next neighborhood over, but that's another long story.
Today Hannah and Jono are getting sick, too. It's getting to be that time of year, I guess because I've heard that lots of kids have been missing school lately. What can you do? Just give them lots of love and attention, and enjoy the excuse to have some down time, I guess. The result is this very long blog post, so there you have it.

What DO I do all day?

Yes, it's true, I lead a glamorous life.

Okay, maybe it doesn't sound that cool to someone who's never tried it, but it keeps me busy and happy and learning a LOT. I can't stand it when people say I'm not a "working mom." I know that I am really, really lucky that I've been able to be with the kids full-time, and I don't want to sound ungrateful. I just don't like being referred to as someone who's not working!
I thought once summer was over and things were more "routine" that I might have a little more time on my hands, but it hasn't felt much like that so far. In fact, it feels like our family has been really, really busy. Busy with what, you ask? Well, I don't really know.
I've come to the conclusion that motherhood is like running on a treadmill. You work really hard, but rarely feel like you are getting anywhere. For example, I clean the house, and yet, it never seems to be clean. I cook the food, and then I have to cook more. I change the diapers, and they always seem to fill up again. I ask the kids to do things and they look at me like I am completely crazy. Also, Jonathan throws his sippy cup at me and calls me an idiot.
I do it all with the hope that somewhere down the road I will suddenly realize that my kids have grown up into very cool people. I get glimpses of that all of the time, and think that maybe we're all getting somewhere after all. In the meantime, like a treadmill, I know it is definitely making me a much stronger person. Also, even when it seems really sweaty and gross, I have a lot of cool songs on my mp3 player. And then there's Jef, of course. He's like the guy at the gym who always turns the TV to stupid channels. Ha, ha. Please know that is a joke, I'm just not one to gush about my EC in public, but we really do love each other and all that.


Here are some pictures of the last month since I haven't blogged in ages. I've already written a novel, so I will try to give condensed explanations.

Jono, bath. No sippy cup thrown, but much splashing.

Goodbye summer, we will miss you.

Logan in crib. Wide awake as usual, but cute enough to pull it off.

Cousin party. So fun. Thank you coolest Aunt ever.

Lord of the Dance.

Mom, why are all the people at Wal-mart smiling at me? Well Hannah, I think they really like your hat.

May not look a lot alike, but act much the same.

Woah, Logan and solid food have really hit it off.

Midair shot, nicely timed, Jef.

Windgardium Leviosa to you too, Taylor.

Train conductors hat meets fashion diva.

Yes, dear, your hair does look okay in the back.

One more tooth to go, and you'll be able to sing that song for Christmas, Jane. You know which one I mean.

Toby, Oh Toby.

No tea parties here, but plenty of kool-aid parties.

Pop Quiz

School is back in session. Let's see how you do on this:
Who did we spend the most money on school supplies for?
A. Jane and her Tinkerbell lunchbox
B. Taylor and his colored pencils.
C. Jef and his new laptop computer.
Yes, the answer is C. Jef's new laptop. I don't have a picture of it, but he might.
Anyway, Taylor is a big third grader this year and Jane is in first. I do miss having them around, but it is also fun to have time to spend with the other three. It is also nice to not have anyone in Kindergarten so I can actually go places during the day. The other morning I dropped the three youngest off with Mom and went to the temple. In the middle of the day. How cool is that?
Anyway, I thought the kids might be sad to leave me, and so I offered to drive them on the first day, but Taylor and Jane sped off on their bikes with no problem. I guess that's a good thing. They both have people they know in their classes so that's nice too. I don't really like packing lunches, but actually have found I don't need to. Apparently the kids can go play at recess as soon as they are done with lunch, so mine just don't eat theirs. Well, sometimes they drink their Capri Suns and down their fruit snacks, but that's about it.
Jef has started the EMPA program at BYU's Salt Lake Center. He will be gone every Wednesday night for the next three years. If anyone wants to come up for some chick movies, you have a standing invite for Wednesday nights. He was gone three nights last week for orientation - they had to do a ropes course together one night. I feel like I'm sending him off to EFY instead of a University! Ha ha, just kidding Jef, I'm only saying that because I know how much you enjoyed it.

What is one of Taylor's favorite movie quotes lately?
A. Who ordered the poopoo platter?
B. Even Mantis has those "thingies."
C. You are a sad, strange little man.'
D. Cherry red Ferrari for freeeeeeeee.
The answer is B. Even Mantis has those "thingies." (bonus points if you know the movie...) The other quotes are the favorites of Hannah, Jane, and Jono.




What are we reverently gazing at in this picture?
A. The new Dollar store being built in Saratoga Springs
B. Jono running speedily away from us.
C. The new temple.
C. The new Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Since the majority of our family weren't old enough to go to the dedication, we drove up that night to see it. But if you guessed B. you still get points because I think that's true too.

Which of these children underwent surgery last week?
A. Jono
B. Jane
C. Hannah
D. Taylor
E. Logan
The answer is A. Jono. He joined Julie and Taylor in the official "No tonsils" club last Thursday. (The drs have been trying to get Jef to join too, but he won't.) Jono also got new and improved ear tubes. He has had a rough and long recovery, including a trip to the ER late Friday night to receive fluids after he absolutely refused to drink anything the entire day Friday. He is finally doing better now, but still up a lot at night. Luckily Logan doesn't ever sleep, so we are up anyway. Jono was already our skinniest kid, but looks even slimmer after his IV diet. We love you Jono and even though we have enjoyed your extra hugs lately, we are excited to be reunited with the boy who doesn't hold still.

What part of Logan gets too hot when he sleeps?
A. His head because of all his hair
B. His back because of his cute back-fat.
C. His toes, but we don't know why.

That's right. It's C. Those darn toes. Otherwise why would he stick them out of his blanket like this?

Last week during safety week the kids got to dress to a different theme each day. Hannah participated every day even though she isn't in school yet. This picture is taken on crazy hair day. The question is, who in our family wins the award for craziest hair?
A. Taylor
B. Jane
C. Hannah
Ha! Trick question.
The answer is D. Logan. He didn't even try, it just always looks this way.

Lost and Found

Lost: Some money is missing from our bank account.
Found: We found a camera mysteriously delivered by FedEx.
Coincidence? I think not.
If you didn't know it, Jef and I both LOVE taking pictures. We especially love taking pictures of our kids - which is good, because we've got plenty of subject matter. Anyway, we've had a blast with the new camera so far and have already taken hundreds of pictures. Seriously. Jef has done a really good job of researching and reading up on how to use it, and I'm trying to follow in his footsteps. We are even going to try to justify our purchase by taking "professional" pictures of the kids ourselves this year and foregoing school pictures altogether. We've already discovered by some trial and error that Walgreens does a better job than Walmart of printing them off. These are two of the stores that we have close, but if anyone has suggestions of someplace else that does a good job, let us know. It would be worth the drive.

Lost: On the way to Trial Lake in the Uintahs, but only lost for a second.
Found: Jef's Cousins, Aunts, and Uncles for a family get together.
That was me and the kids' first trip there, but not Jef's. We had a great time. Not only was the view beautiful, but the company was great. After playing with Spencer for only a few minutes, Taylor informed me that he was one of his best friends. That's what you call family bonding. It was really cold up there, and I never heard - did anyone actually brave it and stay the night? We felt brave enough just going for the evening. Logan unexplicably cried most of the way home. We wondered if the high elevation hurt his ears? Anyway, he was all smiles as soon as we got home. Go figure.
Lost: Jono, about 20 times.
Found: Lots of rocks to throw in the water.


Lost: Taylor's skateboard.
Found: A new sport. Driveway Luge.
I have a neighbor with lots of boys who keeps telling me that boys are so much crazier than girls. I think they are all crazy - girls just look really sweet to fool us, and that's when the trouble starts.

Lost: TV privileges for not keeping our rooms clean.
Found: Taking away the TV just encourages us to make more mess. And also causes other problems, like the kids playing together and using their imaginations. This is a two story house with a built in generator and secret tunnel to get upstairs, just in case you were wondering.
(PS - the first pictures were taken with our old camera and the rest with our new one. Can you tell a difference? Say yes, even if you can't because it will make us feel better.)
Lost: Track of time. Where did the summer go? We actually needed jackets to go play at the park last week. Just a reminder that we need to squeeze in as much fun as we can while it lasts.
Found: Out who the kids teachers are. They have several kids from our street in their classes, which is so great. This will be Taylor's first time actually starting school at the same place he went last year!


Lost: A lot of sleep due to a strange sucking noise in our bedroom at night.
Found: A thumb.


Lost: Our regular time to regroup and catch our breath after putting the kids to bed.
Found: A meteor shower that was well worth letting them stay up for. For this picture Jef figured out how to take special nighttime pictures. We think he actually caught a shooting star. You'll have to look at the picture closely, but it's there.

Lost: Some of Jonathan's apprehension towards Logan. He ignores him less all of the time and even gives him kisses now and then. Don't they just look like they will be making trouble together soon?
Found: Out from Taylor that Uncle Jay's car is "sweet! Because it has black rims." Also, Hannah will pose for any picture, anytime.

That's all of the lost and founds I can think of, but here's some more favorite pictures.