2009-Our Year In A Nuthouse...I mean, Nutshell

*Rob done with Master's program...no job

*Moved in with Rob's parents

*Sanity hangs by a thread (flaxen cord...if you will)

*Isaac cracks head open...seven staples


*Mel and Rob weekend away

*Weekend away results in job interview with CH2MHILL

*Easter in Utah


*Rob accepts job for CH2MHILL...trip to Chuck E Cheese

*May--super busy month:
--Rob graduation commencement (So proud...way to go Roberto)

--7 years....wow....
--Wedding trip to Utah (Congrats Andrew and Lessa)

--Move to Tri-Cities


*Life starts to settle down--Melanie gets on medication (it's about time)

*Andrew and Lessa visit for 4th of July

*Conrads come for a visit--talk about a nuthouse...but totally worth it (4 adults, 9 kids)

*Baby #4 on the way


*Rob goes to San Fran....Mom and Christy come to visit...lots of visitors...we LOVE IT!

*School starts--all heck breaks loose


*Heck is somewhat contained

*Still pregnant


*Life still getting better---family starts smiling and laughing together :)


*Baby Brogan is born---rough start...all is well

*Baby #4...ANOTHER BOY!

*Fun holiday season (October-December) with lots of traditions



*Thanksgiving in Utah--LOVE MY FAMILY--annual turkey bowl, talent show and hike

*Wonderful (Star Wars themed) Christmas--trip to Spokane....FUN!



*Still pregnant...another Ultrasound---everything looks good


*Baby Aidan is born--mother and baby doing well

*Plans for New Years Eve....quiet, relaxing movie night at home....bed around 10PM.



Are we ready for a new year?

I don't know,

but HERE IT COMES!

Happy 2010 to everyone!

" I am going to PUMP YOU UP!"

The kids and I had a grand time this morning. We put on a bit of hyperactive aerobi-sized Christmas music and lifted weights together. What with it being Christmas break and I in desperate need to help the children "burn off some energy" (thanks for the idea Amy), I thought it was a good plan.

Good Times...Noodle Salad.

Gabe was quite impressive. I voted on him bowing out long before Cael but that was not the case. He stuck through...clear to the end.

His favorite moves:
Push-ups
Tricep dips
and most of all...lateral pull downs (he used THREE pound-ers baby)

It was fun. I hope I'm sore tomorrow.

Sign of a hard days work.

A life without my sisters would be no life at all!

I am blessed to be part of a wonderfully large family. I have 2 brothers and 4 sisters, all of whom I love dearly. Although I am very close to my brothers, and would not give them up for the world, there is something about the relationship between sisters that can never be matched or replaced. Our crazy female hormones, emotions, insights, and hearts bind us together in ways that are inexplicable. At least that's the way I feel.

Two years ago, I was trying my best to get through my first Christmas away. I was terribly home sick, suffering from horrible postpartum depression, and feeling isolated from my family.

While watching TV one night I heard a holiday jingle from a JCPenney commercial that left me with an overwhelming desire to be the one place I treasured most.......HOME. I still don't know what caused that particular jingle to settle into my soul that Christmas, but it touched me deeply. I LOVED it from the very first time and still get all "tingly" when I hear it.

In an attempt to connect with those I love, I downloaded the song, called each of my sisters (and my mom) and shared it with them hoping they would "feel" it too. Somehow it made me feel closer to them.

A few weeks later, Rob, myself, and the kids had the chance to go visit my family. During my families annual "cousin gift exchange" on New Years Eve, my sisters surprised me with a gift as well. Using their incredible talents (which are not few) they had arranged a musical performance. By means of guitar and beautiful voice they had put together and prepared an arrangement of my new favorite "home sick" song and sang it for me.

That memory will forever be burned into my heart and will continue to endear them to me forever. To know that they care that much about me is amazing.

So....to my sisters: Jennifer, Christy, Natalie, and Stacy....I love you. I'm so very blessed to have you! Merry Christmas!


Stay for a spell and listen to the song. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.

When all is quiet....

Peace and quiet are rare.....very rare, oddities in our house.

It usually means one of three things:

1. Gabe is at school and the younger two are off playing by themselves (this NEVER happens when Gabe is home....he and Isaac have invented a new form of really loud, really obnoxious, really out-of-control play. The minute Gabe comes home, all heck breaks loose.)

2. The children are all tucked snug in their beds and for a short 8 hours (if we are lucky) they are asleep

or

3. They are doing something naughty


Apart from "being naughty" (which quiet I do not relish) I have recently had the pleasure of experiencing a few of these other quiet moments........and I have proof.


Yesterday I found Isaac playing in the box of winter clothes in the closet. Quiet, happy, and having a wonderful time.

This picture is of Gabe and Cael having their weekly "sleepover". It's such a special treat for them. I'm just happy they're asleep.

I look forward to many more of these quiet times in our household.

I know they come few and far between. It just makes them all the more sweet to savor.

Sorry Ms. B. Widow, there is only room for ONE alpha-female here

I was unloading groceries this morning and noticed a very shiny, very sleek spider crawling just outside the garage door. I was tempted to squish it but curiosity got the better of me. I got a jar and captured it. Turned the jar over and saw a small, red hourglass staring back at me.

Ms. Black Widow!

I decided to save her so that Rob can get a look at her when he gets home. I am a little weird-ed out about having her camp out in my house for a while but the kids are fascinated (and have been warned by punishment of death if they open the jar).

Gabe questioned why we didn't poke holes for her to breath and I replied that we were going to kill her, eventually, anyway.

"But mom....what if she has a family?"

"Well, if she does, and I find them.....I will kill them too!"

So the kids continue to play with the jar. A few minutes later I catch them shaking it and enjoying watching her fly all over the place. I stopped them immediately.

"Guys....that's now how we treat one of God's creations."

Gabe was clearly baffled....."but your going to kill her anyway."

To which I replied, "Yes...but that doesn't mean we have to torture her first."

Does that make sense to anyone else?

I had to explain that yes, we were going to kill her because she is/was so close to our home and could cause us harm but that it's not okay to be cruel "just because".

I'm sure I will get the pleasure of squishing her later. Rob's not really "the spider/insect killer" in our home. He gets a little squeamish. Not that I blame him. They give me the willies too.

Hopefully my children were taught an important lesson today. Don't ask me what the lesson was, exactly, but there was one....wasn't there?

Totally a case of pregnancy-related retardo

So...pretty much I am totally pregnancy-related retarded. I should be stopped.

This is how my morning went:

Drove to the store to fax some papers...

forgot the papers...realized halfway there....

turned around...

ran stop sign I had just gone through (totally by accident)...threw my hands up in surprise....

look over...there's a police man at the other stop sign....wait for it....wait for it....lights flash....

I pull over....he could tell I was feeling quite retarded (and he saw my reaction when I realized what I was doing (hands flailing)) and I have a perfect record....NO TICKET...thank goodness...

got home...got papers...

back on my way to the store....

wrong fax # (pregnancy-related dyslexia)...had to call the company again....Isaac wandered off in the process and I could not find him...whole store on alert.

Found Isaac....fax complete...couldn't wait to go home.

Maybe I should consider confinement for the duration of pregnancy?

This (as in above) is the reason they used to MAKE women stay hidden away until it was all over.

Seriously!

Our week in Utah

Me and my wonderfuls had the opportunity to go to UTAH for the week of Thanksgiving. It was awesome. We had such a good time. I was so happy to be there with my family. I love them.

I was so NOT ready to come home. Oh well.........

Here are a few highlights:

*stayed in a fabulous hotel on the way down and visited with Aunt Cherie, Michelle and family in ID.

*kids enjoyed TONS of time with their cousins....and me with my parents/siblings.

*night out with my husband....including a little Christmas shopping

*family pictures (23 kids, 16 adults....oh, and one teddy bear (Issac refused to let it go.))

*a trip to Chuck E Cheese (oh joy) with LOTS of cousins.

*awesome Thanksgiving day food and company!

*Gabe and Rob went flying with my dad. It was Gabe's first experience. He LOVED it (until descent when his ears refused to pop....ouch!). He took my camera and captured some excellent pictures/video's. Oh...and apparently he LOVED wearing the headset. At one point Grandpa had to turn off Gabe's microphone or risk hearing loss for both Rob and himself. :)

*Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl with the Conrads, Uncle Andrew and Grandpa H. Lessa and I sat on the sidelines and cheered. It was Gabe's first time playing in an actual "football game" instead of just playing catch. He was a little discouraged by his "non-perfection", but did an awesome job.

*Taking part in the "Thanksgiving night talent show." Again, 23 kids...17 adults this time...all crammed in one small family room. It was really loud but lots of fun. I forgot to take pictures....but I do have a video (thanks Jason). :)

*Annual "Day After Thanksgiving Hike" to "Thanksgiving Rock" (just some big random rock up Dry Canyon given it's name by my family). I must admit that hiking 5 months pregnant would not have been too bad except that the elevation change between WA and UT just about KILLED me. I won't complain. It was a good workout...in fact, my ONLY workout all week. I enjoyed it but was ever so happy to bring up the rear. :)

It was such a great week. We all had a super great time. I hated to go.





Did I mention I really didn't want to go home?