The Wright Way

Nothing Super Exciting

2012-01-29T20:27:00.000-08:00

We're nearing the end of January and I'm actually doing a pretty good job on most (not all) of my New Year's goals. One of those is to blog weekly. Unfortunately, I have nothing even somewhat interesting to blog about this week so that makes it a bit harder. The main reason for this is probably because Dan has been gone for 15 out of the past 18 days so rather than be in 'doing cool things' mode, it's been more about getting through the day. So all I've got right now are a few pictures from the most recent snow. It hasn't snowed many times this winter but when it has, quite a bit has come down.

I should probably add 'Have a better attitude' and 'Be more grateful' to my goals for this week :)

Big Sister Brooks

2012-01-25T11:17:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn is a big sister again. Her Dad and step-mom recently had their second baby and Brooklyn couldn't be more excited. I remember her being happy about Roman, but she had just turned 7 and he was still mostly an inconvenience to her. But now that she's older, she has become a lot more motherly. She visited her new brother, Rhett, in the hospital twice, and then once he came home I took both she and Delylah to see him. He really is an adorable little guy with a head full of dark hair - very similar to Brooks when she was a baby.

What Kind of Mom Gives Her Boy a Mohawk?

2012-01-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

(In case you didn't know, the Mom is me, the boy is Roman, and he still looks pretty dang cute.)

Favorites 2012

2012-01-18T20:35:00.000-08:00

Our favorites as of January 2012:

Brooklyn

Movie: All of the Harry Potters
TV Show: Goosebumps, SpongeBob and America's Funniest Home Videos
Book: Anything Roald Dahl
Music: Taylor Swift
Color: Purple
Food: Mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, brownies and milk
Hobbies: Art and reading
What she wants to be when she grows up: Singer or a helper in the pound

Delylah

Movie: Tangled
TV Show: SpongeBob and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Book: 'I love all my books'
Color: Pink
Food: Rice with butter
Hobbies: Painting
What she wants to be when she grows up: Vet

Roman

Movie: Favorite Nursery Rhymes and Baby Einstein Old McDonald
Book: Rainbow Colors Peekaboo, Where is Baby's Birthday Cake?
Color: Blue
Food: Fruit snacks and strawberries
Hobbies: Terrorizing his sisters and putting on every shoe he can find

Adie

Movie: Bridesmaids (hilarous)
TV Show: Dr. Phil, Modern Family, Fox News
Recently Read Books: Poisonwood Bible, 5 Love Languages
Food: Hawaiian Haystacks, edamame (I eat a bag almost everyday), Greek yogurt with honey
Other: Toms, leggings, Mac make-up, following GOP race, feather earrings

Dan

Movie: Moneyball and Margin Call
TV Show: 30 Rock (I have never seen him laugh as hard as he does while watching this show), Family Guy
Recently Read Books: Killing Lincoln and Being George Washington
Food: Sushi and steak
Other: Wrestling with Roman, playing Wii with the kids, daily bath with Roman, gym, playing Chess on the computer (this happens to be my LEAST favorite thing he does), football with Jaydan and Dylan

Until 2013..

Look Who Finally Decided to Talk

2012-01-13T12:17:00.000-08:00

Roman has taken his sweet time talking. There is a girl across the street who is exactly Roman's age - she had about 20 words before he even spoke his first. It hasn't worried me too much because Brooklyn was a late talker and one thing I've learned by baby number 3 is that it's really not a big deal if they don't hit each milestone right on time. Having said that, the communication barrier has been really annoying. Finally though, Roman has decided to talk. His vocabulary consists of: ball, hot, shoe, uh-oh, apple, water (wawa), juice, Lylah (Yiyah), on, off, baby - and the most frequently used word - MINE. It is pretty cute hearing him finally trying to imitate words and sounds that we make. And having him understand us has opened up a whole new world - he can be having a tantrum and I'll say 'want a fruit snack?' And it's all good.

World's Cutest Bum

Boys Are Crazy

2012-01-09T10:53:00.000-08:00

When I found out I was having a boy after two girls, people started warning me that for the first couple of years, boys are harder. They are more active, rambunctious, and daring. Obviously each kid is different, but Roman has proved what I had been told. A few weeks ago, I was lying on the couch while Delylah and Roman played. I fell asleep for about 15 minutes and woke up to this:

An entire bag of goldfish strewn throughout the house, most smashed.

A container of blueberries, also mostly smashed into the rug.

A pack of gum, most unwrapped, some chewed on the floor.

And the best part, eggs cracked on the kitchen floor. In an attempt to help, Delylah tried to clean up the egg mess with my new dishtowels that hadn't been used yet.

An overall picture of the room that had been pretty much clean earlier.

Let's hope that people are also right about boys being easier teenagers than girls. This boy owes me.

New Year's Bash - 2012

2012-01-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

This year was the second Wright Family New Year's Celebration (i.e. the second year we have come to terms with the fact that getting a babysitter on New Year's is next to impossible and since our kids are older we decided to celebrate with them rather than away from them.)
Our New Year's dinner is pizza but we decided we'd mix it up a bit by making it ourselves. The girls each got their own section to 'decorate'. Brooklyn is a traditional pepperoni pizza girl while Delylah used only an entire can of olives. After dinner we made our numbers (2012), followed by a movie, sparkling cider, and banging pots and pans at 'midnight'. (In the afternoon when the kids were gone, I switched all of the clocks two hours later - so they really went to bed at 10pm but thought it was midnight - they were SO excited.)

Our Guy

2012-01-02T11:58:00.000-08:00

Can you tell whom we are routing for? If nothing else, because he is ridiculously handsome. And plenty of other reasons.

Christmas Fun

2011-12-31T17:33:00.000-08:00

Tubing with Jaydan, Dylan and Alyssa in Park City.

Sleepover with the kids Christmas night

Temple Square with Grandma and Grandpa - always a favorite

Annual gingerbread house decorating

Now onto New Year's

Christmas Eve and Day

2011-12-29T12:36:00.000-08:00

We did a lot of fun Christmissy things this year but I didn't want to take away from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So we'll start here.
On Christmas Eve, we went to my brother and sister-in-law's for a BIG dinner. Despite being 8 months pregnant, Kristin went all out and made a great meal. I must have been really busy eating because I only got a few pictures. And most were of my handsome, little man. Jeans with a button-up and a tie? Where does this kid get his killer style? His Dad, of course. Yeah right.

And one pic of the girls with cousin Audrey. Who dresses their kids in sundresses in December? I do, that's who.

After dinner we did our traditional Andrus Christmas Eve program. It consists of a group of scriptures and songs and takes me back to my childhood everytime. Now onto later Christmas Eve. We have a tradition of letting our kids open their Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve. Only this year, I realized that my kids already have a ridiculous amount of jammies so I mixed it up and gave them each a robe and slippers.

Next was stocking stuffing time. This was an intersting year because it was the first year Brooklyn didn't believe in Santa. She so wanted to stay up and help fill the stockings and I so wanted help filling 6 freaking stockings. Six!! So I had her fill each one except her own. Helpful little elf, she is. Here was the final product.

It is every mother's dream that after staying up all night getting things ready for Christmas morning, that her kids will sleep in. Everything was going as planned until a policeman knocked on the door at 7am waking all three kids. He was letting us know that some people were driving through nearby neighborhoods breaking car windows and we were one of the luckys. Although it was a Christmas miracle that it was Dan's crap-mobile and not my car. I take my car very seriously. Anyway, here are the happy campers bright and early in the morning.

Proof that I was actually there Chrismtas morning. Sweet jammies, Mom.

Here is the Christmas loot for 2011:

Brooklyn: CD player/karaoke machine with Taylor Swift and Justin Beiber CD's, Taylor Swift calendar, Guiness book of world records book, jewlery maker kit.
Delylah: big girl bike, squinkies, doctor kit, arts and crafts, tag reader, twin babies and double stroller.
Roman: little trampoline, trains, tool kit, shopping cart with food.
Jaydan: legos, rip board, books, nurf gun
Dylan: same as Jaydan. Apparently I'm not very original
Alyssa: Easy Bake oven, sketch book, bracelet maker, press on nails, nail polish
And the group gift for all of the kids was a Wii with games. I love the gifts that I get for the kids but deep down it's really for me.

Catching Up Real Quick

2011-12-28T13:42:00.000-08:00

I was about to start on all of the Christmas craziness but came across a couple of things that happened before Christmas. As in like 3 months ago. Now I can sleep easy knowing I'm all caught up on the blog.
Here are the girls before the October Primary Program. This was a pretty exciting event considering it was Delylah's first time participating. She perfectly executed her line: 'The scriptures teach me about Jesus.' While Brooklyn spoke about her baptism. Cute girls.

This video was taken about a month ago but just so happens to still be Roman's favorite activity. It goes a little something like this - place an object in the middle of the floor. Run round and round in a circle. Repeat.

I do job charts for the girls. If they get all of their checks they get their allowance. Now they always get most of their checks, but rarely enough to earn their allowance. I'm kind of a nazi like that. This is Delylah earning her first dollar. As you can see, she's pretty excited.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T20:01:00.000-08:00

See above picture with Santa - this describes our kids' temperaments perfectly.

Jaydan Turns 12

2011-12-19T13:29:00.000-08:00

Jaydan turned 12 earlier this month. Yes, Dan has a 12 year old - which happens to be the same age he looks when clean shaven. Coincidentally, it is also the age Dan frequently acts. It is the number of years Dan would keep each item of his clothing if allowed. And of course, just about the number of kids Dan has. But anyway, Jaydan turned 12 and we had a little party up here. We took the kids to Noodles for dinner and then back to our house with a little party with our family, Grandma Glenda and Grandpa Larry, and Aunt Cara with cousins Cameron, Eamon and Matilda.

Thanksgiving 2011 - Only a Month Late

2011-12-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving was worlds better than last year. My parent's were on their mission last year and for the first time, we celebrated Thanksgiving without them. I had my brothers over and cooked the entire meal - this is no small feat in the kitchen the size of a cardboard box. But we did it and I'm glad it's over. This year, however, was great. We celebrated in Park City and the entire family was there. It's not often we are all able to get together. And the food - better than in years past. Slowly, my mom began buying more store made food and prepared less homemade. But this year I requested everything be homemade, and between all of us helping, and it was.
Each year our family (Dan and I and the kids) makes a Thankful Tree and on leaves, we write what we are thankful for. Here (for records sake) are what we ended up with this year. I am thankful for:

My Mom, Dad, sister and brother (Delylah)
Family, friends, and all the people I love (Brooklyn)
Delylah being so patient and sweet and Brooklyn being such a big helper and great big sister (Mom)
Daddy and Delylah helping to rake the neighbor's leaves (Mom)
Food, macaroni, popcorn, chicken nuggets, raspberries, and bananas (Delylah)
Mom and Dad wiping my butt (Roman)
Daddy spending so much time with the kids and helping Mommy out so much (Mom)
Santa giving me presents and my sister and brother and food (Delylah)
School, toilets, pets, food, birthdays, friends and family (Brooklyn)

What? Daddy didn't do any? Shame on him. Maybe next year.

Top: Dan, Tyson, Grandpa, Grandma, Ryan, Daron, Luke

Couch: Delylah, Adie, Brooklyn, Jeremy, Kristin, Maryn, Shonni

Laps: Roman, Audrey, Claire, Ian, Gabe

Hawaii Part 2: My Break From the Kids

2011-12-11T18:42:00.000-08:00

Everything about Hawaii was amazing - from the 6 hour flight (6 hours to read and sleep uninterrupted?) to the perfect weather, good food - and much more.

This was the view from our room. We had a balcony off of our room and probably my favorite part of the trip was opening the doors, sitting on my bed, listening to the ocean. I spent a lot of time doing this. Also, the sunsets were beautiful. Dan and I watched a few of them - romantic, huh?

My second favorite part of the trip? Drinks in pineapples. Real pineapples!

Dan and I snorkeled 3 times. Now, I am not an 'active' vacationer. I am more than content sitting in the sun, reading a book. But I felt like I had to get out and do something. We had a great time snorkeling and saw tons of different fish and even some big sea turtles.

And it wouldn't be a vacation without a lot of eating, which we definitely did. It was great spending quality time with my hubby, siblings and parent's.

Hawaii Part 1: The Kids Break From Me

2011-12-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

I usually think of time away from the kids as my break from them but in a way it's also their break from me. A break from me telling them to clean their room. A break from me being impatient after a long day. For 5 days, the kids got a break from me and were able to spend time with funny, silly, cool Auntie Leesh. The girls absolutely adore her. She came a few days early to spend time with me and to get familiar with the kids and their routines so by the time we left she knew what she was doing. And because she knows me so well, she knows my 'mom issues' with leaving my kids - she frequently sent me pics and updates and the kids couldn't have been better taken care of. Here are some of the pictures she sent me throughout the week:

This is the first picture Alysia sent, the morning after we left. It was a good feeling to see the snow but not feel the snow

She even braved church. And she said they were pretty good. That's when I knew she was lying - my kids (i.e. Roman) are not good at church.

Bath time

She couldn't believe how much breakfast they ate - my kids love their cereal.

Too much fun for Delylah

They look pretty happy to me

When I got home the kids were happy, the house was clean, the laundry was done. It made coming home to freezing weather much more bearable.

Enjoying Every Last Minute

2011-12-05T15:17:00.000-08:00

Just over a day left in sunny Hawaii and then home to reality. It's a good thing I love my kids so much or I might never come home. Between sunning myself, reading, sleeping in, eating well, snorkeling and spending time with my fam, it's been an amazing trip. Pics to come.

Roman and the Girls

2011-11-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

I recently had Roman's 18 month pictures taken, along with some pictures of the girls. Luckily I was able to get great pictures of each kid individually but didn't end up with the three of them together - thank goodness for photoshop - all I have to do is pick out my three favorite 'heads' for each kid and he'll create a perfect picture of the three. But for now, these are pretty cute.

What a Surprise

2011-11-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

Let me start by telling you how beautiful I think Brooklyn is. She has long, light brown (no clue where she got that) hair that is ridiculously thick and unruly - but when tamed is very pretty. Then she has her mama's dark eyes and a cute little nose. As she gets older, I see her turning into a beautiful big girl - I can't quite stomach the term 'young woman' yet. Having said that - this girl is not photogenic. Don't get me wrong, she loves to pose, but with the pose comes a fake, forced smile that my brothers affectionately say makes her look like she's taking a crap. That is why when this years school picture came back I was pleasantly surprised. It captures her perfectly and naturally. I adore this picture and the girl.

Some More Thanks

2011-11-19T21:45:00.000-08:00

Some More Thanks

2011-11-19T21:41:00.000-08:00

Thankful Part 2

2011-11-13T19:48:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for fresh flowers. I've never been a flower person until having a house of my own, but nothing brightens a house like fresh flowers.

I am thankful for my friends - yes, I do have a couple. I have so many great friends here in my neighborhood. I love spending time with them and they are always willing to help watch my kids when needed and for that, I'm appreciative. I am especially thankful for my best friend of 10+ years. Alysia and I met our freshman year of college. She was such a huge help during the 3 years I was single with Brooklyn - she was Auntie Leash, watching Brooks frequently while I was at school and pretty much whenever I needed. And now a husband and two more kids later, she's still there - across the country, but we're still as close as ever. (A and A 2003)

I am thankful for skinny jeans. My wardrobe aquired a whole new dimension with skinny jeans. I realize I won't get much sympathy for this, but it's not easy to find jeans that fit well because I'm somewhat thin and have long legs. But skinny jeans not only fit great, but look great with boots, flats and heels, and are so comfortable. I love you, skinny jeans.

18 Months

2011-11-12T20:55:00.000-08:00

Roman is now 18 months! This is a big age. It means he's closer to 2 than 1. It means he is nursery age - which would be great if Dan and I weren't stuck in nursery. But still, it's a big milestone.

Roman's Stats:

Weight: 24.9 lbs - 50%

Height: 32 inches - 45%

Head: 19.3 inches - 85%

Roman still is not saying many words (except 'uh-oh', 'shoe' and 'juice') so the doctor referred him to speech therapy. I'm excited to get it started in hopes that it may calm him down a bit once he can communicate

His motor skills are pretty amazing. He can run, jump and climb like crazy. He can reach up and grab something and pull his entire body up. He can run after a ball and kick it.

He is still our super high-maintenance boy. He screams loud and very frequently. He pushes anything down that is in his way. He throws books off shelves, things off the table, and pretty much requires eyes on him at all times

Roman is a hair puller. Bad. Whenever any one's hair is within his reach, he grabs on and won't let go. And the weird thing is, it isn't because he is mad. He will do it to anyone at anytime. It's gotten to the point that I don't even want to take him out because he'll get random kids at the park, McDonald's, library, etc. I have tried slapping his hand, putting him in time-out, but nothing works. Any ideas????

He is an excellent eater. Whatever we put on his plate, he eats. He especially likes strawberries, raspberries, mangoes, and fruit snacks.

Aside from being a wild, little boy, he loves to cuddle. Each time before he goes down for a nap or to bed, I read to him and then spend about 20 min rocking him. He'll look up at me and point to different parts of my face and make sweet little noises - it's my favorite part of the day.

We have cut back on the binky, but he still loves it. Each time we pass the cupboard in the kitchen where they are kept, he gets all worked up and points. And then I usually give in.

I Can Be Thankful Too

2011-11-09T14:38:00.001-08:00

I've noticed that a lot of bloggers have been writing about things they are thankful for during the month of November. I need to do that too. I was thinking the other night - I was helping Brooklyn with homework while Delylah was watching TV and Roman was running around with just a diaper, being his crazy self - and as with many nights, Dan was out of town. I realized that I had two choices. The first would be to get frustrated and impatient with the kids - afterall, it had been a long day and bedtime just wasn't coming soon enough. Or, I could turn this into a 'thankful moment'. So I did the latter. At least I tried to.

I'm thankful for Brooklyn. I'm thankful to be able to help her with her homework because if she's anything like me, it's only a matter of time before she won't want my help. I'm thankful for the amazing big girl she's turning into. She takes such good care of her younger siblings and as of now, she adores me. I'm thankful for that while it lasts.

I'm thankful for this little monster. This boy has been more than a handful from the day he was born but he's also such a sweetheart. I'm thankful for his crazy wave that utilizes his entire body. I'm thankful that he is healthy, happy, and growing by the day. I'm thankful each time I look at his face and see a part of his Dad looking back at me.

And of course, I'm thankful for my little angel in the middle. She sometimes gets overlooked because she's the middle child and she's just so easy and sweet. I'm thankful that she loves to cuddle with her Mom. I'm thankful that each time her Dad leaves for Las Vegas, she is sad and doesn't want him to go. I'm thankful for her unconditional love that she has for everyone.

More to come.

Texas Getaway

2011-11-06T19:13:00.000-08:00

Dan and I went to Texas for the weekend for the BYU game. My mom recently returned from a mission so this was the first time Dan and I left the kids since Roman was born. I'm not a weirdy mom, but at the same time, I have a hard time leaving my kids for days at a time. But my mom is great. She did lots of fun things with the kids and frequently emailed me about how well the kids were doing - thus I was able to enjoy the trip that much more. Dan and I had a great time walking around downtown Dallas, touring the stockyards, eating out and sleeping in. Oh, and going to the game. It was played in the new Cowboys stadium and was pretty amazing.

The stockyards is a touristy area where back in the day people brought their cattle to trade. Dan and I found a big bull that was double fenced in. I guess we thought we were in highschool again because we thought it would be funny if I climbed over the first fence to stand on the second fence. But then I noticed the bull was coming toward me. Hence, my nervous smile.

Good times.

A Dead Ute, A Cute Owl, and a Monster

2011-11-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

We had a perfect Halloween this year, mostly because of the weather. It was perfect, 60's during the day and no need for a jacket for trick-or-treating. This was especially great compared to the rainy cold of last year.
Brooklyn dressed up as a dead Ute cheerleader (her way of hating on the Utes), Delylah was an adorable little owl, and Roman was a one-eyed monster.

Halloween Decorations and the Little Moster

2011-10-30T19:45:00.001-07:00

35? Wow.

2011-10-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

Sidenote: I remember growing up, my mom and dad referred to each other as 'mom' or 'dad' around the kids. For example, my dad would say 'go ask your mom'. But when they were talking to each other, they called each other by their first names. Because, why wouldn't you? But I remember having a friend whose parent's referred to each other as 'mom' and 'dad' during normal conversation with each other. Like I would overhear them say 'what should we do for dinner tonight, Dad?'. I thought it was weird. Which is why it's even weirder that I now do that! 9 times out of 10 I refer to Dan as 'Daddy' whether kids are around or not. I sometimes put 'Big' in front of 'Daddy' to justify it as a term of endearment, but regardless, I have become that weird person.

ANYWAYS, Big Daddy turned 35. Yes, 35. We kept his birthday pretty low-key. Partly because that's how he likes it, and partly because things have been busier than usual lately. It started with breakfast in bed. Actually, it was breakfast in the bath since he takes a bath almost every day. But he would be embarrassed if I told anyone so I won't say anything. Next came lunch as Great Harvest, followed by a steak dinner at home with my family. He doesn't like cake (what??) so I made him his favorite Chocolate Layer Dessert, and of course, presents.
Happy Birthday, Old Daddy. We love you!

And the other handsome man in my life.

Girls Day

2011-10-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Dan took his older boys (Jaydan and Dylan) to a BYU football game. So I planned a fun afternoon with his 8 year old daughter, Alyssa, and my two girls. Roman stayed home with a babysitter - he and I were both very happy with this decision.
We started with some games at Trafalga. That didn't last too long because the girls went through tokens pretty quickly:) Next we went to do what girls do - get our nails done. Each girl picked out totally different colors: Delylah rotated every other finger pink and green, and of course, sparkles on top of all of them. Alyssa did hot pink with polka dots and sparkles. Brooklyn rotated black and orange with a pumpkin on her thumb. It was funny to see the girls sitting there like little ladies in giant chairs.

Showing off their nails

Next I told them I would take them anywhere they wanted for lunch - the catch was that all three of them had to agree. Somehow we ended up at Del Taco:) Brooklyn and Alyssa realized that if they slid down the slide on their trays, it went 5 times as fast.

Next we stopped at Halloween City - that place is heaven for a Halloween junkie like me. Last, per Alyssa's request, was Jamba Juice - the Pumpkin Smash is sooo good if you're into pumpkin-ey things.
I adore my little girls and always love time alone with them. Having Alyssa there made it even more fun.

Mr. Late Talker

2011-10-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Roman has been in no hurry to talk. At 15 months, the doctor said to cut down on the binky. She warned me that if he didn't have 5-10 words by 18 months than I may need to begin speech therapy. Well at 17 months, Roman has FINALLY said his first two words. Mama and Dada? Nope. His first word was SHOES. My manly little guy that I have bred to be a serious athlete decides to say 'shoes' for his word. Shortly following came 'uh-oh'. Now I have about 3 more weeks to teach him at least 5 new words.

Gardner Village and Wheeler Farm

2011-10-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

This is not news if you've been hanging around my blog for a while but I LOVE Halloween. We did a couple of fun Halloween activities recently that I would recommend for anyone in the Salt Lake area.

First was Gardner Village. I hadn't even heard of this until a couple of friends mentioned it. It's an area in South Salt Lake that is set up like a quaint village with boutique-like stores and pretty surroundings. And during Halloween, it is full of decorations. Delylah, Roman and I met up with some friends and had a great time. Among our favorite stores were the doll store and candy shop.

Wheeler Farm is always a favorite. The kids love the corn maze, hayride and picking out their pumpkin. We were able to take Dan's other kids with us this time and it was a lot of fun.

Funny Sparkles

2011-10-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

I had a funny conversation with Delylah the other day:

D: Mom, why did you name me Delylah?

M: It was actually Daddy's idea and Mommy loved it too.

D: You shouldn't have named me that. You should have named me something pretty.

M: Like what?

D: Like....Sparkles!

So for the next couple of days I call her Sparkles a few times. Today we had this conversation:

M: Hey Sparkles, come here.

D: Mom, please don't call me that. I want to be Delylah again.

Fair enough.

Bruiser

2011-09-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

I can't remember the last time I saw this boy's head without a bump, bruise or scrape. And it's not because he is uncoordinated - because he's not - but he is such a boy! He climbs too high, runs too fast, and plays too hard. The other day he climbed up on a rock in our front yard, and fell face first onto the cement curbing. Recently he ran outside, not taking into account the porch steps and again - fell face first. We have a little toy piano that has survived both Brooklyn and Delylah. They loved this piano and frequently played it. Roman's favorite thing is to climb on top of the piano and stomp on the keys. And then fall off. I'm so glad I've had the boy experience because it doesn't compare to girls. But I'm also glad I only have one.

And last but not least, Roman sitting on the cat. Because why wouldn't you want to sit on a cat?

Brooksabella

2011-09-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to see is Brooklyn reading to Delylah or Roman. A small part of the reason is that she used to struggle with reading. It took her a while to catch on. Now she is a GREAT reader, reading beyond her grade level. Not only that, but she LOVES it. I frequently find her shut in her room reading. Besides that, there's just something very sweet and motherly about seeing her sit next to the younger two, reading. Sometimes I ask her to, but more often than not, I will just find her doing it, like here.

They're Home

2011-09-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

My parent's returned on Sunday from an 18 month mission in Africa. While they were gone, Brooklyn turned 8 and was baptized, Roman was born and has turned into a crazy little boy, and sweet Delylah is still sweet Delylah.
The girls made them 'welcome home' signs and we met them at the airport. The girls were SO excited, as were we.

Family Picture Time Again

2011-09-09T21:02:00.001-07:00

Each year around this time we have a family picture taken in hopes that one will turn out well enough to put in our Christmas card. This is a big ordeal for me - first I decide what look we're going for. Last year it was very modern and formal. This year I wanted something more natural and fall-ish. I like to have everyone coordinating, but not totally matching. Once outfits are chosen, the next challange is getting everyone ready in the morning. Aside from getting myself ready, I have to do the girls hair and make sure outfits go on just before leaving to avoid spills. And then the photo session itself - with each kid it gets exponentially harder. Luckily, the girls can be bribed. But Roman, he is a tough one. However, it is over and I think it went well. The photographer (whom I loved if anyone wants a recommendation) emailed me a couple just so I had an idea of how they turned out.

Another First Day of School

2011-09-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

Delylah had her first day of her second year of pre-school this week. This is a huge deal to me because it means that my little girl will go to kindergarten next year! Delylah went to school 3 days of week last year; this year she will go twice a week. I always thought the goal of school was to get a break from your kids. I haven't changed this view completely, but I have Delylah only going twice a week because I love having her home. I don't know what I'll do when she's gone 5 days a week. Now Roman is another story...

Dancing Delylah

2011-08-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

These are pictures from Delylah's first dance performance - May 2011.

Roman - 15 Months

2011-08-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

Roman at 15 Months:

Weight: 23.4 lbs (30%)

Height: 31.5 inches (60%)

Head: 18.7 inches (50%)

Roman is walking like a champ. Actually, he's walking, running, climbing, falling and kicking.

He loves to go for walks and play at the park.

He nearly always has at least one bruise on his head - he is definitely all boy.

He is a great eater, eating whatever we are eating for each meal. Some of his favorites are Frosted Mini Wheats, raspberries, bananas, pancakes, popcorn and peanut butter and jelly.

He points and yells when he wants something. We are hoping words come soon because it's getting old

He understands quite a bit. He will go get things we ask for.

He loves shoes. He frequently will put on other people's shoes, or bring me his own to put on.

He loves water - sprinklers, the pool, bath time.

We love our baby boy but it's amazing we've made it this far with our sanity intact for the most part. He has by far been my most difficult baby. His emotions are up and down - nothing in between. He is either laughing or crying. He has definitely given us a run for our money. But it's worth it when we see his big smile.

This boy is changing by the day.

3rd Grade?

2011-08-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn has matured so much over the past year. She is so sweet yet so defiant. But I can hardly fault her for the latter considering I MAY have contributed to that. She is so, so helpful with the younger kids, especially Roman. She hates when he is sad and at his first unhappy noise she'll run and get him a binky. If she hears him first, she'll get him from his crib which is so funny to watch considering he is more than half her weight. She loves to sit beside him in the car and make him laugh. I absolutely adore my Brooklyn.

Brooklyn makes me laugh because she couldn't care less about clothes, whereas Delylah (and me for that matter) is very opinionated. If it were up to Brooks, and she frequently reminds me of this, she would wear sweats every single day. So it surprised me when a few months ago she wanted to grow her nails out - generally, she's not very girly. I wouldn't let her because I think kids should be kids. But as a surprise for starting school, I got her these little press-on nails with designs on them. She thought they were the coolest thing ever. I think they aged her about 5 years. Hopefully they don't last long:)

And while we're at it, here are my other favorite little people.

Last Hurrah

2011-08-17T20:14:00.001-07:00

We recently returned from a week long trip to San Diego with good friend's of ours. Between the two of us, there were 7 kids, so needless to say, it was crazy. Here are some highlights:

Buffet breakfast every morning. I was very sad when I woke my first morning home to only a limited selection of cereal and no milk.

No cooking or cleaning for a WEEK. Priceless.

Spending time at the beach. The girls loved the sand and Brooklyn even braved the water. By the end of the week, Roman would run toward the water and let the waves cover his feet.

Delylah's run in with an angry group of fire ants. (This wasn't really a highlight, but something to remember nonetheless)

Disneyland - note to self, Disneyland in August is CROWDED. We had fast passes which definitely helped but there was still a lot of waiting.

Roman's sad (yet funny) incident with the goats. There was a small, fenced-in area with mini-goats for the kids to pet. Roman was SO excited. He loved chasing the goats around and petting them. First he stepped on a fence to reach a goat, and then he tipped and fell head-first onto the rocks on the other side. (scrape #1) Then he leaned on a goat the moved to quickly and he face-planted in the dirt (messy shirt, dirt in mouth, bruise and scrape #2). Last, he reached for a goat and missed (more messy shirt, more dirt in mouth and bruise and scrape #3). At this point we decided we needed to go. A girl working there felt sorry for him and gave him a gift certificate for a free Mickey Mouse shirt.

Carlsbad outlets

Ghirradelli's and downtown San Diego

Tour around San Diego harbor

Mormon Battalion and panning for gold

4

2011-08-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

Delylah turned 4 last month and she had quite the party. Our house can only accommodate so many people (and by 'so many' I mean 'very little'). So we rented a bounce house and water slide and invited the neighborhood kids her age as well as their families. Dan and I spent a lot of time getting the backyard in shape, which was long overdue. Between the waterslide, pinata, cake and presents, Delylah was in heaven.

Delylah at 4:

Favorite show is still Spongebob
Loves riding her bike around the neighborhood
Very social - everyday she is asking for a playdate with friends
She is her sister's shadow
Still loves pink
Her new defense from Brooklyn's teasing is to scream - loud. We are working on putting an end to this
Loves to cuddle and is very affectionate

There is something very sweet about Delylah. A few people have told Dan and me that they would have more kids if they could guarantee they were like Delylah. Dan and I frequently talk about how lucky we are to have her because she brings so much happiness to both of us. We love you, big girl.

Walking

2011-07-21T21:54:00.001-07:00

At 14 months, Roman is walking. He wasn't an early walker like I suspected, but from the time he took his first step, he has practically been running. Well not really, but kind of. Most babies, my girls included, begin with a couple of tentative steps. Roman stood up and took 7 or 8 steps and from then on was walking the length of the room. He only crawls when he's in a big hurry but walks most of the time. Here is a video of one of the first days he took steps. You can see he bends down to pick up pieces of food from the floor. That's my boy.

Saying Goodbye to Sydney (1994-2011)

2011-07-14T23:39:00.000-07:00

I have been taking care of our 17 year old dog, Sydney, for the past 5 months. I realized, or maybe finally admitted to myself, that it was time to let go. If you're not a dog person you won't get this - but Sydney as been a big part of my life since I was a teenager. She was there everyday when I came home from school. She was there when I left for college. She was there when my parent's moved with her to Utah. She was there when I married and when I had each of my kids. So it was hard coming to terms with putting her to sleep.
My siblings came over the night before to spend time with Syd and say goodbye. The next day I took her to the vet. I thought I could watch them administer the shot and see her go but I couldn't. I stepped outside the room and only came back in when they had finished. Syd was curled up, lying on the floor. Except for her ribcage not expanding while she breathed, everything was the exact same. I was able to spend some time with her, petting her, and saying goodbye. I know she's young and happy wherever she is.

The Grandkids and Siblings with Syd

4th 2011

2011-07-10T19:58:00.000-07:00

We had a really fun 4th of July this year. We started way too early with the ward parade and breakfast. The girls decorated their bikes and rode proudly, while Roman got pushed in his car. That afternoon we had an Andrus Family BBQ at my grandparent's house with all of the extended family. And in the evening, we rode our bikes to Sugarhouse Park to watch the fireworks.

Eating My Words

2011-07-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

I mentioned a few months ago that Roman was going to be my earliest walker. He doesn't have stiff competition with Brooks waiting until 18 months and Delylah around 14 months. Roman was standing and cruising months ago. And guess what's he's doing now? He's still standing and cruising. Just in the last two days he has begun to take steps, about 3 at a time. Yesterday he even stood up unsolicited and took steps. So he's getting there. But it looks like Delylah is our winner.
Aside from that, I am already noticing big differences between boys and girls. Roman, although he can't walk, he can stand up and kick a ball. He can climb like you wouldn't believe, on and over just about anything. He can climb a flight of stairs about as fast as I can, and then make his way back down. Also, he gets dirty. Not just food falling on his shirt dirty, but like digging in dirt and then eating a mouthfull dirty. And it doesn't even phase him.I love seeing these subtle and drastic differences between boys and girls since I've been in girl mode for so long. Roman is definitely all boy.

Cougar

2011-07-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

I have always had a soft spot for animals. That is how I recently went into the pet shop to return something, and came out with a kitten. I love dogs but cats don't usually do much for me. But this little guy is adorable - he's a siamese with light gray fur, a darker tail and ears, and blue eyes. And the best part is he is a great with the kids. He cuddles with Delylah every night, and has yet to scratch Roman when he man-handles the cat. In support of our favorite team, the girls named him Cougar.

Cute Cousins

2011-06-23T20:29:00.001-07:00

Delylah and Audrey are 6 months apart and absolutely love playing together. They have a lot in common - both take dance lessons, both are girly-girls, both love pink, both love dress-up, and both prefer skirts to pants anyday.

Claire is only 4 weeks older than Roman and right now, they don't really care much about each other. But I'm sure it's only a matter of time until they become little buddies. Hopefully in the meantime, Claire will teach Roman how to walk.

A Day For Dad

2011-06-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

We had a fun Father's Day. Well maybe I shouldn't assume we all did, but I did. The day began with Dan sleeping in (how is that like any other day you might wonder), followed by a yummy breakfast (that's how it was different) of french toast with strawberries and whipped cream, and this homemade buttermilk caramel syrup (which I will soon post the recipe of because it's too good not to share)

We lounged around until it was time to get ready and go to church in the POURING RAIN. This has been the wettest, coldest spring - but that's another post.

Delylah made a tie for Daddy at church and was so proud as he wore it

We enjoyed dinner with family and that was the end of our big day. Here are a few things I love about Daddy Dan:

He is so, so patient. In the 5 years I have known him, he has raised his voice at the kids about the same amount of times that I do in any given day

I'm sure Dan loves his plethora of kids equally, but he has a sweet spot for Delylah. He adores her and she feels the same way.

He is very hands on - he changes his share of diapers, wakes up in the middle of the night and on early mornings, feeds the kids, and spends a lot of time watching them when I have other things going on.

Instead of assuming the kids are my domain, he likes to be involved in all choices regarding the kids.

He frequently travels but still remembers to call and check in with the kids

Of course there are plenty more but we don't want him to get a big head. Happy Father's Day!

Happy Anniversary To Us

2011-06-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

If only I'd known then...

June 16, 2006

What I know now...

June 16, 2011

I wouldn't change a thing.

Loving My Camera

2011-06-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

I mentioned before that Dan got me a camera for my birthday. This was one of the nicest gifts I have ever received. Partly because I had been wanting a nice camera for years - I love documenting my ever-changing kids and this camera has excellent quality. Also, Dan is very...cheap. Or maybe I should say frugal. Either way, never in a million years did I think he would get me this camera. Bottom line: I love it (and him) and am having so much fun taking pictures.

A Couple of Firsts

2011-05-31T20:46:00.000-07:00

Brooks played in her first piano recital. Truthfully, it didn't go very well. She was supposed to stand in front of the audience before she played and introduce herself and state the names of her songs. Instead, she introduced herself to the piano with her back toward the audience. Then she sat to play and just couldn't find the right notes. Halfway through, her book fell on the ground. She had to open it, find the page, and finish playing. But I was so proud of her! It took a lot of nerve to keep on and finish the song. She is a very brave girl.

Delylah danced in her first performance, 'In A Princess Garden'. It was absolutely adorable. On stage in front of about 200 people, she danced with her class. I would have been terrified at her age to do that. And she couldn't have looked cuter (even though this picture doesn't quite capture that:). Professional pictures in her actual costume on stage will be posted soon.

And this boy is still his same cute self.

Little Men

2011-05-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

From the time Roman was born, people have said he looks like Dan. But we both thought that was by default - he's a boy (like Dan), he has blue eyes (like Dan) and blonde hair (like neither of us). But recently, people insist that Roman looks 'identical' to Dan. So I pulled out pictures of both Dan and Roman at 1 year. Turns out there is a Daddy/Son resemblance.

1 Year

2011-05-22T15:33:00.001-07:00

Rather than take Roman in to have his 1 year pictures taken, I had a photographer come over the night of his birthday and take some candid pictures. I'm so glad I did because it perfectly captured the evening, and also allowed me to be part of it rather than hidden behind a camera. There were a lot of tears to start with, but Roman warmed up and was as adorable as always. Happy Birthday, Romey!

Roman - 12 Months

2011-05-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

Weight: 21 lbs 6 oz (25%)

Height: 30.5 inches (75%)

What a year - my boy is now 1!

He is standing for longer periods of time but still hasn't taken a step

He loves to walk while holding our finger

He thinks it's very funny when we 'chase' him as he crawls

He frequently says 'mamamama' but I don't think it's actually referring to me

He is a great eater - if it's on his highchair, he'll eat it

He likes peanut butter sandwiches, cereal, oatmeal, grilled cheese, rice, beans, strawberries, chicken, pizza, quesadillas, and so on

He still loves attention from other people but he still won't let anyone besides Dan and me hold him

He is in the process of switching from 2 naps to just 1

He can climb up stairs

He has had the same 6 teeth for the last few months

He has exema on his back that looks and feels uncomfortable

Just walking toward the bathroom gets him so excited in anticipation of a bath

Church has become much more challenging now that all he wants to do is get down and move around

He gives me a long hug each time I take him out of crib

I love this boy and look forward to another year!

But I'm glad I'm finished with these monthly pictures - they're next to impossible

Busy Toothfairy

2011-05-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn made a living last week losing teeth. She didn't lose her first tooth until she was about 6 1/2 and lost two the same day. Almost two years went by and she just lost her third and fourth. The toothfairy started out giving her a dollar per tooth, but when she lost number three, the toothfairy actually forgot to leave her anything. Can you believe that? How does the toothfairy forget?? Needless to say, the toothfairy felt awful. So do make up for it, she left Brooks a $5. She then lost number four the next day and the toothfairy was still feeling bad, but not quite as bad, and left her $3. I love her little gap-toothed smile.

A Week To Remember

2011-05-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

What a crazy week. Here's a rundown of the highlights.

Sunday: Mother's Day

Sleeping in followed by a good family breakfast

Being doted on all day by my hubby and kids

Dinner and clean-up done by Dan

Adorable, homemade gifts from the girls

A new cookbook and other goodies

Monday: Pre-Birthday

Lunch with girlfriends for my bday

Enjoying each hour left in my 20's

Spending the evening with the entire family (our kids and Dan's kids) at Grandma Glenda's

Tuesday: My 30th Birthday

Sleeping in and waking up to Delylah and Daddy baking me a cake

Spending the day at Chuck E Cheese for both mine and Roman's birthdays. I bet you can't guess who's idea that was:)

Cake and presents - getting the one present I have wanted for years but didn't expect to get - a new camera! My exceptionally frugal husband definitely caught me off guard and I love it!

Wednesday: Roman's 1st Birthday

Preparing the house, decorations, cake and kids to have a photographer over to capture his big evening, and a big evening it was. Pictures to come.

Friday: My Birthday Party

A couple of my good neighborhood girlfriends threw me a little party

No kids - just couples and lots of good food

Sunday: Roman's Birthday Party

Yes, we typically end up with two birthday parties per person

Great-grandparent's, Grandparent's, and Uncles came to celebrate the big boy - hopefully next year he'll actually let someone other than Dan or me hold him

More good food and family

What an amazing week! But I'm ready for some down time.

Fieldtrip to the Firehouse

2011-05-14T20:15:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day To Me

2011-05-09T22:28:00.001-07:00

From: The Three Little People Who Made Me A Mom

Look Who's Standing

2011-05-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

Roman can now stand on his own for about 15 seconds. He then gets nervous and lowers himself to the ground. It won't be long before he takes his first step-he's definitely going to be my earliest walker. I love this age!

Mother Daughter Social

2011-05-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

Brooks recently began Activity Days. Can you believe that? I can't. They have meetings every other week and she absolutely loves attending. For the past month or so they have been planning for a Mother/Daughter Social. Coincidentally, it was scheduled for the same evening that I was leaving for a weekend with girlfriends. For a split second I was town, but then I knew there was no way I could miss this evening with Brooks and I'm so glad I didn't. We had dinner - the girls had created a menu and served the mom's. Then they had a talent segment where each girl shared a talent - Brooklyn shared a picture she had drawn. I absolutely love this picture of the two of us at the activity. Isn't she a cutie?

Easter 2011

2011-04-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

We love Easter around here. Between the church, neighborhood and family egg hunts, and our own Easter traditions, it's been busy. And lots of pictures.

This is Delylah at the church egg hunt. She reminds me so much of me as a kid. There's definitely a family resemblance.

Dan took the girls to the neighborhood egg hunt at Cactus and Tropicals.

Later that day was the Wright family picnic and egg hunt

This is Roman's first time on a swing. He's always been a big laugher, but I have never seen him laugh this hard. The pictures don't quite capture it but it was pretty funny.

And last, our family Easter. We colored eggs the night before.

As usual, Roman was more interested in the dog food

The next morning, the girls (and Roman) found their baskets and all of the eggs. The girls also got a handmade bulletin board with their Easter baskets. The Easter bunny must have spent A LOT of time on those.

I think Roman enjoyed his first Easter

Easter Sunday

Easter dinner with family

Roman - 11 Months

2011-04-17T16:02:00.000-07:00

The countdown as officially begun until Roman's first birthday - it is hard to believe. This boy is sure growing up.

He pulls up on everything and can walk while holding on

He is much more squirmy and although he always wants to be held, he always wants to be put back down

He eats three meals a day, bottles, and is proficient with a sippy cup

One of his favorite toys is a little piano that has been passed down from Brooklyn, to Delylah, to Roman.

He loves being outside and is my first baby who doesn't mind the feel of grass

He still has the same six teeth so I'm sure more are around the corner

People always comment how he looks like a little Dan

His favorite pastime is cleaning out one of the drawers in the kitchen

He is regularly sleeping through the night, and will even 'sleep-in' every once in a while

He is my most emotional baby yet - either super happy or really sad. We never have to guess how he's feeling.

He poops every single morning before his nap, without fail

He and his binky are still inseparable

We are loving this boy more every day

Blogging Hiatus

2011-04-10T22:31:00.001-07:00

This is the longest I've gone without blogging. It just seems like there hasn't been much going on that's blog-worthy - we've all been really busy, but with the usual mundane stuff. My goal this week is the find something to post about and actually take some pictures. Dan is still frequently driving to Las Vegas for work. It's going well and he really enjoys what he does. He's training for his first triathlon of the season which is this weekend. He actually loved his weekend taking care of the kids while I was in San Diego and even had the house cleaned when I got home. I've been reading more than usual - I just finished 'The Glass Castle' and 'Half Broke Horses'. I recently started the 'Love Dare' and for the next 40 days I will do something nice for Dan each day. I'm on day 2 and so far so good. My weekend in San Diego was perfect. Alysia and I relaxed, slept in, ate, shopped, talked non- stop, and then did all those things over again. Brooklyn is an avid reader, reading every chance she gets. She doesn't love piano but she loves art. She is so creative and will frequently write her own books. She really likes the days that I help in her class - I know this won't last so I'm enjoying it while she still thinks it's 'cool'. Delylah loves school and always comes home talking about all of her friends. She recognizes all of her letters and numbers and is just learning to write them. I just started teaching her to read. While I was out of town, she woke up in the middle of the night while Dan was watching TV. She cuddled with him for a while and then said, "Don't tell Mommy, but you're my favorite". She is such a sweetheart. But for the record, I am once again her favorite. Roman will be 11 months tomorrow, so the countdown to his 1st birthday will begin. He pulls himself up on everything and walks with support. He will definitely be my earliest walker. His new obsession is toilet paper. We don't have a single roll without a bite mark. I swear he has said 'mama' a couple of times, but Dan says it doesn't count.

The Latest and Greatest

2011-03-30T20:32:00.001-07:00

I fly to San Diego tomorrow and couldn't be more excited. Partly because the weather should be perfect and I could use some serious R and R, not to mention a break from the kids. (Although this is my first time leaving Roman and I'm already missing him.) Also, I'm meeting Alysia, my BF, out there. I haven't seen her for almost 3 years which is way too long.
I've been meaning to post a couple of things. First, Delylah gave her first talk in Primary a couple of weeks ago. She was so brave - she didn't hesitate and wasn't shy at all. This is probably totally inappropriate, but I took a picture and a video of her. The video is too large to post, but here's the pic. Of course Dan was the one to help her. Talks aren't my thing. Here's a pic of Roman playing with trains for the first time. After two girls, I'm loving the boy stuff. And the boy. The light is terrible in this video, but it cracks me up. Roman loves to give the leather couch 'raspberries'. It wouldn't be quite so funny if he didn't find it so funny.

Mr. Blue Eyes

2011-03-25T09:53:00.001-07:00

My Boy

2011-03-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

When the girls were young, I took them in regular intervals to the mall to have snapshots taken - 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months. I've done something different with Roman. I haven't had his picture taken as frequently - newborn, 6 months, 10 months - but I've had a photographer take more candid pictures of him rather than portraits at the mall. Although more expensive, the results thus far have been priceless. Here is Roman (and others) at 10 months.

Dear Grandpa and Grandma

2011-03-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We love and miss you!

Love: Brooklyn, Delylah, and Roman

Roman - 10 Months

2011-03-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Weight: 19 lbs. 12 oz.

Height: 27.5 inches

Roman stands with support
He is crawling around much faster than last month
He enjoys his Baby Einstein movies and will actually sit still for about 15 minutes
Just this week he decided he didn't like formula anymore (which I can understand) so we switched him to regular milk which he loves
His favorite foods this month are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, any crackers or cereal, strawberries and mac and cheese
He usually sleeps through the night from about 8pm-7am
He was sick this month with a high fever and rash, but is doing much better now
He has 6 teeth and every time I see them I'm glad I am no longer breast-feeding
He loves going for walks
His favorite toy is his Baby Einstein table
He loves to 'play' (grab) the dogs
He gets so excited every time Brooklyn comes home
He is still a mama's boy but does great with his daddy
He still is a cuddle bug - love it

Our Permanent House Guest

2011-03-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

Sydney has been the family dog since I was about 13. She made the move a few years ago with my parent's to Park City and has lived there ever since. It's amazing she is still alive - Dalmatians typically live to be 11-13, possibly 15-16 if well taken care of - Sydney is almost 17. We recently had Syd move in with us while my parent's are on a mission so she can receive better care. And I have to say, although she is super old, she seems happy here. Having said that, she is a lot of work. She frequently needs to go out to the bathroom but if we take our eyes off of her, she wanders off. I think we've lost her 4 times already, but she has a tag with our phone number and she never makes it far. Occasionally she doesn't make it outside and has accidents in the house - but really, who in this family doesn't have the occasional accident? She can't walk well and needs to be carried up and down steps. She is on two medications that need to be administered daily. Having said all that, we love having her here. Anyone who grew up with a dog knows how much that dog is a part of their life and how attached they can be to them. I'm glad Syd can spend her last days with us. And now when my parent's get super old and need constant care, I can opt out because I've now done my time.

Baptism Pics Cont'd

2011-03-08T11:34:00.001-08:00

Brooklyn Gets Baptized

2011-03-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn was baptized on Saturday! She was so excited and the day turned out perfectly. She was baptized by her Dad and confirmed by her Uncle Ry. Then we all went to lunch to celebrate the big day. We missed not having Grandpa and Grandma there, but are very grateful for our family and friends who were there to support Brooks and our little family. Thank you!

Favorite Place to Play

2011-03-02T13:13:00.000-08:00

The girls think the dryer is the funnest place ever. They put blankets and stuffed animals in there and Brooklyn will read to Delylah. It's all fun and games until someone turns it on.

My Sweet Girl

2011-02-26T21:39:00.000-08:00

I have mentioned many times what a sweet girl Delylah is. And I'm not being biased because I have no problem pointing out my kids and husband's flaws. But really, she's awesome. Anyone that comes in contact with her will say that. Teachers, parent's, doctor's, everyone. My neighbor has told me a couple of times that he would have more kids in a second if he knew they'd be like Delylah. When I recently took her to the doctor for an ear infection, the doctor said she was the most compliant little kid she'd seen, as she poked and prodded in her sore ears.

Delylah sometimes gets confused - she knows that Brooklyn has two daddies, and sometimes thinks she has two daddies too. We explain to her that she only has one - Daddy Dan. Tonight, she and I had this conversation while lying in bed:

D: Mom, I have two daddies.
M: No, you just have one and it's Daddy.
D: No Mom, I have two.
M: Brooklyn has two, but you just have one.
D: Mom I have two daddies. My teacher told me.
M: Ok, who are your daddies?
D: Daddy and Jesus Christ (although it sounded more like 'Daddy and Cheezus Cwiste)

Cute girl.

Roman's First Haircut

2011-02-24T21:16:00.000-08:00

Now don't let this title mislead you. Roman did not get a haircut because he desperately needed one. His hair by no means was long and shaggy. But it was starting to grow just a wee bit over his ears and I don't like untrimmed hair over the ear. So we (I decided and Dan did the cutting) went with the shape of his natural faux-hawk and shaved the back and sides. These blurry phone pics don't do it justice, but let me tell you - he is one handsome little guy.

During:

After:

Notice how he is strapped in and eating a cookie both before and after. That is the only way to get this boy to sit still for a second.

Brooklyn's Big Birthday

2011-02-22T20:02:00.000-08:00

Brooks turned 8 today! The birthday festivities began last weekend with her friend party. I am that parent that worries too much - I worry enough kids will come, I worry that Brooklyn will have fun, I worry about the other kids having fun, etc... It's stupid, I know. Having said that, her party went great and Brooklyn couldn't have been happier. Because our house doesn't have a big eating area, we decided to put the tablecloth on the floor and eat from there. The girls ate pizza, did a craft, had cupcakes, opened presents, painted nails and watched a movie. Dan was great, helping with the party and watching Roman.

Today was her actual birthday. She didn't have school today and was able to celebrate from the time she got up until she went to bed. She woke up to balloons and flowers - we have a tradition of Dan getting flowers for the girls on their birthday. For her breakfast of choice, she chose 'sticky pancakes' - Dan's version of Swedish pancakes. This worked out well because it got me out of making breakfast. Later, Dan drove her to Park City so she could have lunch with Uncles Ty and Ry - she thought this was so cool. For dinner, she chose Shivers where we met her Dad and Lola and ate together. Last, home for cake and presents.

Breakfast and flowers

Lunch with uncles

The rest of the evening

Brooklyn really wanted a bike for her birthday. After opening her presents, she assumed she didn't get one and we went on with the evening. Then we asked her to go down to Roman's room and get a diaper and she found this:

She was so excited. Brooklyn will be baptized in two weeks. What a big girl she is!

How Fast They Grow

2011-02-18T22:44:00.000-08:00

Occasionally I catch a glimpse of the girls and can't believe how old they are looking and how quickly they are changing.

Valentine's Day Part 1 & 2

2011-02-14T21:09:00.000-08:00

My mom always made Valentine's Day special and it is one of my favorite memories from when I was a kid. She would make a good breakfast and have some goodies by our plate when we came down for breakfast. Now I do the same for my kids and they love it. We have the same breakfast each year - if you haven't had French Breakfast Puffs you need to try them - along with some treats by their plate.

We did our breakfast on Saturday, partly so we would have more time, and partly because Dan and I went away for Sunday and Monday. My brother gave Dan and me a gift certificate to Johnson Mill B & B that we used - it was our first time leaving Roman for the night. Dan's mom was nice enough to come stay at our house and watch the kids. We left Sunday around noon and went up to Park City for lunch, outlets, and walked Main Street. Next we checked in - I had never been to Johnson Mill and it was perfect! It was very quaint and so relaxing. Our room was SO comfortable and homey. My favorite part was the double-sided fireplace between the bedroom and bathroom. We relaxed for a while and then went to dinner in Midway. We slept in the next morning and woke to breakfast being cooked - it was so nice. We checked out shortly after and went to lunch and a movie before heading home. I missed the kids, but really enjoyed the one-on-one time with my hubby.

They had each couple's name outside their room which was cool - very personable.

View from our room

Happy Valentine's Day to us! And hopefully to you as well!!!

Roman - 9 Months

2011-02-11T20:05:00.000-08:00

Weight: 19 lbs 8 oz

Roman at 9 Months:

He has graduated from the army crawl to the hands and knees crawl and is moving all around the house.
He is still a screamer. Big time. Happy, sad, bored - he screams to show every emotion. And they are frequently high pitched - not cool.
He still has 4 teeth with more on the way.
He is eating more and more table food. His favorites this month are still Cheerios, bread and bananas.
He generally sleeps form 8pm-7am. Occasionally he sleeps through the night, but more often he wakes up and needs his binky back in - this boy is high maintenance.
He thinks the girls are hilarious - his new favorite thing is when we put him in the crib and one of them gets in an bounces.
Aside from Dan and me, there is only one sitter he likes to be left with - he is very particular.
His new 'trick' is standing up in his crib. This was so cute the first time - not anymore. Each time I put him down to sleep, he immediately stands up holding onto the crib. The only problem is he get can't get back down. So he cries and cries until I lay him back down. Then he immediately gets back up and cries, and cries, until I lay him back down. Etc.

He is sporting a mean faux-hawk. It naturally grows that way - short on the sides, long on the top.
He loves dog food. Both of the girls tried dog food when they were younger - once. Roman on the other hand, loves it. Each time we make the mistake of leaving it out, he eats it by the handful.
It is nearly impossible to change his diaper and get him dressed - he squirms like crazy.
A lot has changed but he is till my little cuddle bug. His nap and night routine consist of reading a book in his rocking chair - as soon as I close the book he immediately lays down and turns his body to cuddle. And every time I get him out of his crib he gives me a big hug.
He is still a handsome little devil.

Hard To Believe

2011-02-10T13:15:00.001-08:00

It's hard to believe that this girl:

Is turning 8!

It was apparent that my little girl was growing up when she chose her party theme. Instead of Princesses, Dora, or Hello Kitty, Brooklyn chose a 'slumber party' theme. There was no way I was going to have a group of little girls sleep over so we decided to just make it a 'late' night. I can honestly say I haven't seen Brooklyn this excited about one of her parties. She has the entire thing planned out, from the food, to the cake, the craft, and the movie. Our list of five girls to invite somehow turned into ten, so it is sure to be a wild, girly night.

Fat Man in a Little Drawer

2011-02-10T12:54:00.000-08:00

You Know You're A Binky Addict When...

2011-02-08T19:57:00.000-08:00

...You have to put it back in your mouth between every single bite.

Popcorn On My Mind

2011-02-02T12:29:00.001-08:00

Delylah came home from preschool with a book she had made by filling in the blanks.

It says:

I can taste POPCORN with my tongue.
I can hear a DOG with my ears.
I can touch POPCORN with my hands.
I can see a HORSE with my eyes.
I can smell POPCORN with my nose.

The End

2011-02-01T20:24:00.000-08:00

January is by FAR my least favorite month of the year. Hate it. Coming down from the high of the holidays is so depressing, not to mention the gloomy, freezing weather. Granted, November through March can be pretty dang cold but November has Thanksgiving, December has Christmas, February has Brooklyn's birthday and Valentine's Day, and March is bearable because I know that April is right around the corner. The good news is January is over! Now if it would have only taken the ten degree weather with it.

What Won't He Eat?

2011-01-31T19:45:00.000-08:00

Roman recently got his top two teeth, bringing his tooth total to four. Now that he has two top and two bottom, he is able to chomp through much more.

The other day I was reading a book while he was on the floor playing. I looked down to see his hands and face covered in white. Turns out he had opened the Desitin and made it his afternoon snack. And he liked it.

I took Delylah and a friend to McDonald's this week and gave Roman a couple of french fries to entertain him. Apparently it wasn't good enough because he got his hands on a chicken nugget and downed it. Then another. And another. I finally cut him off after three.

Because They're Cute. That's Why.

2011-01-23T19:19:00.000-08:00

Favorites As of Today

2011-01-14T18:55:00.000-08:00

I thought it might be funny to look back in a year, or years from now, and see what some of our favorites were as of now - January 2011.

Brooklyn:

Movies: Home Alone 1, 2, 3, 4 (Who knew there even were 4 of them?)
TV Show: Spongebob
Books: All of the Ramona Quimby's; James and the Giant Peach; Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Color: Purple
Food: Cheese quesadillas and pasta
Hobbies: Reading, piano, art, writing in journal
What she wants to be when she grows up: wants to always be a kid (smart girl)

Delylah:

TV Show: Team Umizoomi; Spongebob
Books: Primary Songs (Follow the Prophet and I Hope They Call Me on a Mission)
Colors: Pink
Food: Cereal
Hobbies: Dance (dance class, and dancing around the house)
What she wants to be when she grows up: 'a sister'

Roman: (as interpreted by Mom)

Color: green
Food: Cheerios
Toys: blocks, teething toys, basketball hoop
What he's into (if I have anything to do with it): sports, guitars, trains, dragons, sports. And sports.
Best friend: binky

Adie:

TV Shows: Modern Family; Cougar Town; O'Reilly
Last movies I saw and liked: Eclipse; Little Fockers
Recently read books: A Seperate Peace; The Help; The Forgotten Garden
Food: Grilled cheese dipped in tomato soup; jello with whipped cream (random I know)
Items of Clothing: skinny jeans; leggings; Uggs; wearing Dan's warm-up pants and other comfy clothes
Pet Peeves: people driving slow in the fast lane

Dan:

TV Shows: Entourage; Archer; Sports, sports and more sports
Last movie he saw and liked: The Other Guys
Recently read books: Hunger Games series; Super Freakonomics
Food: Protein shakes (he's back on his health kick)
Pet Peeve: 'stupid people' (luckily he doesn't think I'm stupid..that I know of)

Roman - 8 Months

2011-01-11T18:11:00.000-08:00

Weight: 18.8 (according to our scale at home)

Roman learned to army crawl, and although it's quite an effort, he can get where he wants to go
He recently has begun to get up on his hands and knees and rock - so crawling is just around the corner
He just began eating three meals a day and has tried (and loved) many new foods: bread, Cheerios (his favorite), cheese, quesadillas, muffins
He is using consonants to make sounds, like a-da. He understands that 'ba-ba' means it's time to eat
He is officially a bottle only baby - and I'm glad to have that process over for the last time
He takes two naps a day
He is sleeping through the night, although I usually have to go in once or twice during the night to put his binky back in - but at this point I'll take it
He loves, loves, loves his binky. I don't know what changed, but he can't get enough
He is very ticklish
He only likes to be held by Dan or me, but we're working on that. Luckily, we have found one babysitter he likes and we were actually able to go to dinner AND a movie last weekend
He is much more difficult to photograph because he will grab (and eat) anything within reach - see below

Chop Chop

2011-01-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

After 3 years, Delylah's hair was finally starting to get long. As in this long:

She apparently decided that it was too long, because she took a chunk off of each side. Luckily, it could have been far worse. I've heard of little girls cutting their hair down to the scalp. But after a trip to Cookie Cutters, it looked like this:

I think she regrets her decision because whenever someone compliments her hair-cut, she always says she doesn't like it because she's not a princess anymore - because, of course, princesses have long hair. Either way, she's a cutie.

Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That

2011-01-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

D and R love their baths. Roman just discovered that he can roll over in the bath and does so immediately after getting in. He used to kick with his feet to splash, but has now realized that his hands will do that trick as well. This makes for a very splashy bath time.

This boy loves his binky almost as much as he loves his mama.

Dan and Delylah braved the snow the other day. I think they lasted a whole 8 seconds, but to their credit, they made a few snow angels. You couldn't pay me enough to lay down in the snow.

This is from the first Sunday of the new year. It was a big day - Brooklyn moved up to Senior Primary, and Delylah had her first day of Sunbeams! She got the sticker for 'most reverent'. That about sums her up - such a sweetheart.

Three of the Cutest Girls

2011-01-04T20:25:00.001-08:00

Minus Eminem in the background

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T20:06:00.001-08:00

We started some new Wright Family New Year's Eve traditions. We decided that pizza will always be the New Year's Eve dinner of choice. After dinner, came games. For 2010, the games of choice were Skip-Bo Jr. and Word on the Street. Following games, is movie time - Toy Story 3. Last, we rang in the new year by banging pots and pants and 'cheers-ing' sparkling apple cider. Dan and I strategically planned things that the kids can do with a babysitter since in years to come, we hope to go out:)

By Far My Least Favorite Chore

2010-12-30T21:18:00.000-08:00

The never-ending pile of dirty laundry

Welcome, Sniff

2010-12-28T09:42:00.000-08:00

Having pets is such a dilemma for me. On one hand, I love animals. I always have. We always had pets growing up. I also think they're good company for kids, as well as responsibility. HOWEVER, I hate mess and stink. And I already have three little people that produce ample amounts of mess and stink, so why add to it? Having said that, I gave in and let the girls have a hamster. We already have a dog, but Brooklyn has been begging for another pet forever. The girls adore Sniff, and would take him everywhere if they could. So as of now, I'm feeling good about my decision. That is, until it gets about time to change the bedding in his cage and Brooklyn's room begins to smell like crap. The things we do for our kids.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-26T20:06:00.000-08:00

The girls are at such a fun age for Christmas - they were SO excited. Brooklyn was up at 6am (that wasn't so fun) but Delylah was still sleeping so I had her wait until 7am. The girls were surprised when they saw Santa had brought a dollhouse bigger than both of them. Now that it's assembled, I'm not really sure what Santa was thinking. It's half the size of our own house.

Roman was more concerned with devouring his blueberry muffin and the wrapping paper, rather than his presents.

We had Christmas dinner at Jer and Kristin's and it was one of the BEST dinner's I've had in a while. Roman was looking very dapper in his onsie and tie.

It's been a wonderful Christmas season, but I'm ready for it to be finished. Until next year.

Christmas Eve-Eve and Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T19:26:00.000-08:00

Dan's parent's came for dinner on the 23rd. We exchanged gifts and sang our traditional 'Happy Birthday to Jesus'.

We had my siblings over on Christmas Eve (minus my parent's of course) for food and the traditional manger scene. Roman was able to spend time with cousin Claire for the first time in a while and he wasn't quite sure what to think. It didn't help that he had just woken up from a nap.

Things started out well until Claire got a little too touchy-feely

Roman expresses his displeasure

But after thinking about it, he decides it would be more effective to just talk to her rather than getting upset. Claire listens intently. All ends well.

The cast of the manger scene this year included: Brooklyn as Mary, Delylah as an angel, Audrey as Joseph, and Roman as baby Jesus. We missed having my dad around to play his usual role as donkey. Luckily, we had Dan around to be a jack ass.

Last, the kids posing in their Christmas Eve jammies.

The Lights

2010-12-17T22:26:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is seeing the lights at Temple Square. This was a first for Roman who was entranced by the colored lights, while the girls were captivated by the manger scene. We lucked out with cold weather, rather than the freezing weather we're having now.

Unrelated, here are the kiddies ready to go to a Christmas party. I want to freeze my kids just as they are now. Minus the crying, whining, pooping, teasing, screaming and not sleeping. So I guess what I really want is just a cute picture of them. Which works out well because I have some right here.

Roman is probably the most kissed baby ever. Every time I see him I just want to kiss his little face off! Just look at him!

Roman - 7 Months

2010-12-12T17:47:00.000-08:00

This was an interesting month for Roman. The first three weeks were much the same as usual, but during the last week he cut his first two teeth and became very mobile.

Roman's first two teeth poked through on December 1st
He proficiently rolls from tummy to back and back to tummy - this enables him to now cover a lot of ground
He can turn in a full circle when on his tummy
He puts everything within his reach, in his mouth. This makes it difficult with two older kids who leave things on the ground.
He has found his loud voice and frequently screams. Mad screams, happy screams, and screams just because.
The reddish tint is gone from his hair (whew!) and it is a sandy blondish/brown. His eyes are still a pretty blue.
I was set on Roman taking a binky so from the day he was born I would stick one in his mouth. I tried over and over and he just never took to it. He would latch on occasionally, but really didn't care - until about a week ago. Now he can't get enough of it. He absolutely loves it and we don't go anywhere without it.
He takes two naps - which leads me to the one complaint I have of this baby - he isn't a great sleeper. He has a hard time going down for naps and still wakes during the night. Although I don't feed him, we still go in and sooth him. So it has now officially been 7 months since I've had a good sleep.
He is definitely a mama's boy. He does great with Dan but has a preference for me. We haven't left him with a sitter lately, and at this point, I don't dare. But I can't complain - I love this boy.

He still loves to cuddle

And he's very excited for Christmas

An Early Merry Christmas

2010-12-10T21:13:00.000-08:00

Love This Face

2010-12-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

I was going through my phone and found these pics.