Lou's Double Digits.

Lou-dog,

How are ya kid? You've been ten for about four months now and it already seems like you're eleven. You were born with an old, friendly soul and you take good care of this family of yours.

For your birthday you wanted to go bowling at Big Al's and have pizza. I'm boring and am super fond of the "family party" so you didn't get a huge extravaganza this year, but you were content with the party attendees. Thanks for being cool like that. Papa and Buckabu are always our honorary guests and it will be hard not to have them at every celebration now that we live in UT.  

Your birthday gifts represented some of your favorite past times - Legos and drawing. You received Legos from Grandma and Grandpa and your parents, which took you like one day to put together, and art supplies from Buckabu and Papa. 

You have a good brain. It's mechanical and creative. I went to a parent teacher conference one time for Ruckus, and met with Mrs. Gardener, who had also been your first grade teacher. She was a special woman and loved you both very much. She was showing me one of Ruckus' math papers where it showed a 100% on the front and then she flipped it over and showed me his incredible drawings (doodlings) on the back. Mrs. Gardener said, both of my boys (you and Ruckus) were talented in mathematics and in art. She said she could see both of the boy's parent's brains on that paper. I nodded but thought, "Nope, that's just my husband's brain." But, why ruin the moment, right? Always take care of that intelligent, kind mind buddy and use it for good.

You were nervous about our move to Utah, but you made friends super fast. Every one loves you which to me makes sense, because I'm your mom, but I think they love you because you love them first. When I went to your parent teacher conference about a month ago your teacher said, "Our class has changed since Lou arrived. It's either his presence or everyone matured over the Christmas Break, which is not likely. All the kids want to be his friend, but in order to be his friend they know they have to be nice to some other people they may not have been nice to before. They know Lou is friends with everyone, and he wants everyone to be friends." Wow. That is the report a parent wants to hear. You can get all the poor grades in the world as long as you remember to be a loving human being... not that you get bad grades. You're a freak of nature in that department too.

You've recently joined the school choir and discovered your love of singing. Your favorite artist is Phillip Phillips, who we used to listen to a lot, but since the soundtrack to The Greatest Showman came out you can't get enough of it. We listen to it almost every morning before school and probably afterwards as well. Even Little C is a fan so win, win. 

I love you Lou. Keep on being you buddy! You're doing excellent at life! Keep that testimony burning strong my friend by nurturing it every day. The Lord has big plans for you if you let Him.

Love, Mom 

P.S. If you'd like to get a taste of his singing, check out his "Shower Medley" below. ;)

Lou grabbing his ball, while I give my dad a little hug. Love those guys!

Since September

A lot has happened since September. We moved out of our home in Meridian and into my parent's abode for three months while we waited to transition to Utah. Here are a few (or a million) memories:

Our sweet baby:

Hard at work, creating.

Must have salsa with those eggs!

She fell in love with the movie Boss Baby.

I took the kids to a Christmas Bizarre one evening. 

Ruckus was not interested in greeting Mr. and Mrs. Claus because he didn't want to sit on their laps.

The other kids were more than willing though.

I told him he didn't have to sit on their laps, but once he got up there Mrs. Claus cheerfully insisted upon it. Ruckus wasn't thrilled. :)

Haha! Sorry, Ruckus.

Little C performed in the Meridian Temple Youth Cultural Celebration. His group did a phenomenal job and I love the patriotism shown! (He's part of the A, dressed in white like a sailor... not that you'll be able to see him.)

Garth Brooks, Baby! 

In October my siblings and I, and our spouses, attended this concert. 

There's a check off the bucket list. 

I love these ladies oh so much!

The Beloved is never half as excited about things as I am. He's like, "Calm down lady." ;)

This woman. Don't you love her? She went and voted and then wore this sticker on her forehead for the rest of the day to encourage others to vote as well. I seriously think she's the best.

Little girls and dance class. 

Who knew I was missing out on such a special time? 

Sweetrotten couldn't have been happier while at ballet and I don't think I could have been either.

I loved watching this little cheeka.

And then we have wrestlemania -

which makes my heart soar too.

I love my boys.

And I love that my girls jump in.

I have cool kids.

Little C is squished flat on the bottom.

We sold this beaut right before we moved. 

I'm not sentimental about many things but this trailer was hard to let go of.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the irreplaceable memories this trailer provided.

Thanks Uncle Kerry for handing it off to me.

I hope the next owners cherish it as much as we do.

Here's the cutest pineapple in existence.

Happy Halloween time!

Hot chocolate tea party with the funnest grandma in town! She even provided peppermint straws.

The little girls doing their chore of vacuuming.

Breakfast Time.

A trip to Alberston's Park.

Man, we miss those beautiful downtown Boise parks. 

Look at this cute kid.

The Queen of various poses.

There's our sweet Lou.

A few more models.

Our fun Ruckus.

Sweetrotten and Moo busting a move.

So Beautiful.

Jake and Kelli's family were sealed in the St. George temple last October. 

It brought such joy to my heart to be able to attend.

I love my Patton family.

See our pirate eyed niece?! What a doll!

The Beloved loves his girlies.

Grandpa teasing cousin M.P. 

Little Grandpa with his buddies.

Sweetrotten with her cousin pals.

Pure joy. Families are forever ya'll.

Modeling their McDonald's Happy Meal surprises:

More Halloween Photos:

Moo - the black Ninja, Sweetrotten - pink Power Ranger, Lou - Scream, and Ruckus -  the red ninja.

\

Sometimes we find random bags of crackers in Sacrament Meeting and let the two year old eat them. She's mostly okay with it. 

Happy Birthday to Buckabu!

To celebrate her birthday we went out to lunch with my dad and my Uncle Monte and my Uncle Rex.
I'm related to incredible people. Love you Mom! Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Pumpkin painting:

Snuggles during scripture reading:

Lou and I went on a Mommy/son date to the Lego Ninjago movie.

I fell asleep for a minute (I felt bad), but I really am a fan of the Lego movies. They're some of my favorites-

just like this kid here.

Sleepy Baby.

Selfie Time:

I attended a Naturalized Citizens Ceremony in Nampa, ID where I witnessed 197 people from 47 different countries become U.S. citizens. It was the coolest. And props to this great state I was born in for welcoming in so many refugees. 

I was proud of everyone involved.

Do you ever just gaze at your children walking into school together and think, "I love them so much." 

I do. 

A lot. 

I love my people.

Here's the annual Fun Run.

Ruckus
 (He was mostly my chatty walker, but he started running when he saw I was about to snap a picture.) 

Go Moo! 

Do you do weird stuff while you're waiting in the car?

We do.

Everyone loves when Daddy comes home.

Again.

I love my humans.

I love watching them take care of each other.

 We attended my parent's ward Christmas party and the primary was invited to go up and sing some songs. I told my kids to join them and they were like, "No, we won't know what to sing." And I said, "Yes, you will. They're just the normal Christmas songs." 

So, they obediently piled up on stage. 

Unfortunately, they were not just the normal Christmas song arrangements. My kids had no clue what they were doing.

The Beloved and I laughed and laughed and laughed while they looked awkwardly from side to side. Whoopsy.

Sorry kids.

"Uh, why are we up here? Thanks Mom."

 Our wonderful friend's, The Onishi's, invited us over for a marathon birthday party where we celebrated everyone's birthday in attendance. The Onishi's are made up of everything wonderful, fun, and good, and we wish we could have brought them with us to Utah. 

Mountain West Championship Game -

Go Boise State!

Papa reading stories to Sweetrotten.

Ahhh... so tender.

Lou received his Bear! (His scout shirt was packed away in storage.) Way to work hard buddy!

Child wellness check up.

Totes Adorbs.

Papa playing a hot game of tic tac toe with Moo.

Ruckus performing his song with his Wolf pack.

This is our George. 

We had to sell him when we moved.

We miss our pal, but he went to an excellent bull-dog loving home.

Here's the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie I served the kids for dinner the night before Thanksgiving. My parents were gone and so was The Beloved so I said, "dinner is served." 

It was a good night.

 Thanksgiving with the Andrus Family.

Some of our favorite humans in the world.

We miss them mucho gusto.

So delicious.

More weirdness because that's how we roll.

Pulling out of our house in Meridian.

Goodbye house.

Goodbye wonderful friends and neighborhood.

Goodbye sweet parents.

Thanks for being so good to us.