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Saturday, May 23, 2009

Happy Birthday ALEX HENRY RICHARDSON




My first baby is NINE years old today. I wasn't sure what I was doing when I became a Mom nine years ago. All I wanted was a cute, healthy baby with an easy delivery. I got the cute and healthy baby and delivery... well we all have our stories, but an emergency C-section was not in my plan. He is my child that has made me more patient and loving. We have learned a lot together. He loves being around people of all ages and makes friends easily. He is especially patient with Syd and helps me soo much. Thankfully, she adores him too. He has been a great 3rd grade student and is excited for summer to begin. We LOVE you Alex!

Newest Member of the Family

I had forgot about my teaser at the end of my last post until I ran into a friend and she congratulated me on being pregnant. I was a little confused since that isn't a possibility and she said she had been reading some blogs late at night and thought it was me... Oh yes.....

Well, the newest member of the family is OSCAR III Yamamoto. Not a puppy, but a very sweet, mature dark red Dachshund. Cris' Grandma passed away a few weeks ago and we are the lucky ones who get to care for Oscar. I must admit I was a bit nervous about adding him to our family as things can get a bit crazy at times, but he is soo sweet. Eddie and Oscar have gotten along fine. Eddie has a little more energy that Oscar prefers but they enjoy each other's company. Oscar definitely likes to be in the same room as someone. He sleeps at the foot of Alex's bed and likes to get up early. I hear his little feet going across the wood floors letting me know it is time for morning. Syd has put herself in charge of Oscar and he hasn't seemed to mind.

Needless to say, we feel privileged to be caring for something that Grandma and Grandpa loved soooo much.

(someday, I will add a picture...)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

It's been a while...

Two of my three loyal readers have asked for an update so here it is!! Warning it may be long and sometimes I ramble. And no pictures. My computer died, my temporary one is lame and thus no pictures.

When we first moved to Boise it was great because suddenly we had lots of free time. Well that free time is long gone. In fact I would like to lobby for a few extra hours in the day so that I can complete my entire 'to do' list. I am hoping to find the balance of being busy but having time to play.

We have had a wonderful couple of months with lots of visits with family. We spent Easter in Burley with almost all of my Dad's family. It was time for the annual clean up day at my Grandma's. We added in an Easter Egg hunt for the kids, a pre 60th Bday celebration for my Dad, and announced Woods in the Woods. It was a great time. Who doesn't love a game of Duck, Duck, Goose being played by the cousins and our kids ranging in from age 2 to 33. Grandpa Don, also known as the "big trouble maker", made the long drive from Indiana to visit. We had a great time and appreciate all his help and the four days of driving he did to come and visit us. We made another trip to Idaho Falls for the blessing of the newest Wood grandchild, Bentley McKay Wood. He is a cutie! Syd and I are off to Burley tomorrow for a weekend with my High school friends. Hard to believe it has been fifteen years since we have all hung out together. Should be some good times.

Here is an update of what we have been up to.

Cris: Keeping busy with work. Traveling about three weeks out of the month. He is helping coach Zach's soccer team and is keeping the Boy Scouts on track as the Committee Chairperson. He has taken many tips from Carla Wandelt and it has payed off. Thanks Carla!! He is in the middle of getting the flag fundraiser ready for Memorial Day. He graduated from therapy on his ankle and even ran a mile last week. He and Grandpa Don built three garden boxes. We have planted a number of things and it is fun watching the veggies grow. He made a special trip to San Diego to spend some time with his Grandma Yamamoto before she passed. I am glad he was able to spend a wonderful weekend with family. It isn't often you get to celebrate your life before you pass. More on Grandma at another time.

Jen: I am officially a soccer mom. This is our last week of practices and games. I love watching them play. Both boys have done great and improved from last season. I have been working on lots of random projects (girls weekends, sewing projects, reorganizing my house, starting a financial knowledge group, learning about and planting a garden) and have more on the list that I want to do. I am also learning that stretching my aging muscles is a daily and necessary task. Cris got me golf clubs for Mother's Day. I tried them out last night at the driving range. I am pretty sure I need more practice. But it was fun!

Alex: Earned his Wolf in Cub Scouts and some arrow points. I take no credit. He has great leaders and a Dad who helps him. He is also a great speller. Every week he brings home a perfect test. He has also increased his love of reading. The library is now a favorite place to visit. He has done great with soccer and I hope he plays again next year. He is very excited for football in the fall -- no surprise there! He turns 9 next week and is such a help to me.

Zach: Developed a love for all things military. His friend introduced him to army and navy stuff and he loves it. He recently wrote a book for his friend about Navy Seals. He has been bringing home military library books and playing military with anyone who will listen. He will wear layers of clothing to protect him from bullets and always wears an Old Navy T shirt with a big "N" on it for the Navy. He loves soccer and has great feet work. Last week, he scored two goals. He has thrived in kindergarten and is a great reader. His dream of being able to swim daily is about to come true. The neighborhood pools open Memorial Day weekend. At least once a day, he wants to know when we are moving back to AZ so he can go swimming every day of the year. I have to remind him that it wasn't everyday of the year, just half of it!

Miss Syd: My sweet girl is growing up fast. She thinks she should be able to do everything that I do and wants to help with EVERYTHING! She packs Alex's lunch every morning. Most of the time I like and appreciate her help. But sometimes.... not so much. She has had fun helping me with the garden and loves to water the plants and flowers. We just finished her preschool co-op and she has loved it. She has been a great sport being the tag along to soccer and chiro appointments. Syd got some Barbie golf clubs for her birthday and I must say she was the cutest thing hitting balls on the driving range. She has more skills when it comes to putting.

That is about it for the last couple of months. The boys are done with school in three weeks. We are all anxious for carefree days of summer and warm weather. We have had some beautiful spring days, but nothing too consistent. Last but not least, we are adding a member to our family. But more on that later!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Spring Break Staycation

Last week was our Spring Break and we just hung around town and had a staycation. Not that we really ever going anywhere, but did try and and have some good fun. Grandma Wood and cousin Myelle came and visited. I told Sydney when they came we could paint her and Myelle's nails. Within five minutes of them being here, she was ready for her pedicure and manicure. Soon we had 20 tiny, pink toe nails and 20 tiny, pink fingernails. There was lots of games of Candy Land played and Zach and Grandma played several games of Paddle Ball outside.


 

 


Cris took a couple of days off and it was fun to have him home to play with us. We made a trip to the local library to find some new books to read. Alex and Zach have became avid readers and finishing books rather fast. We also rented a couple classic movies -- Indian in the Cupboard and Star Wars. The kids loved Indian in the Cupboard and and fun pretending to be Indians themselves. Thanks to Zach's friend, he has become a Star Wars kid. Star Wars is not my cup of tea but I am quickly learning all of the characters.


 

I am officially a soccer mom. Zach and Alex are playing soccer this spring. Zach is a veteran having played in the fall and Alex hasn't played since he was three. It has been fun watching Alex play a sport when he is not in his comfort zone. He is doing great and really likes being goaly as that is where the action is. Zach is loving it once again and Cris is helping coach his team.



 
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We made our first trip to the Discovery Center. What a fun place! There were lots of experiments for the kids to try out and a really cute kid size grocery store to play in. They loved it! I think we will be making a repeat visit in the future. We also had fun playing with friends and expanded our culinary skills and made 30 containers of Strawberry Jam. Alex said he must be in heaven when he tasted it. I have to agree with him, it tasted great! Thanks Celelste and Karin for the help and motivation.

We had a great week and now we are back in the routine of homework, soccer practice, scouts, ect. I love routine, but am anxious for the carefree days of summer. Now if we can just have some Spring/Summer weather I will be happy as can be. It is currently raining and the forecast for the rest of the week doesn't look too promising.

Pinewood Derby Action

The Competition The Track
 

 
Alex had his first Pinewood Derby a couple of weeks ago. It is much more high tech than the days of my brother's Pinewood Derby. Cris and Alex built a sweet BYU car and unofficially got 4th place out of 12 boys. It took a couple of trips to Home Depot, the Scout Store and some online advice and his car was ready to race. We prepped Alex to prepare for anything (cause he really, really likes to win) and that he may come in last. There were lots of smiles when he won a few races. Grandma and Myelle came to watch the action and cheer Alex on.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Syd's quote of the day

 

 



Syd: "Daddy, my favorite things to do with you are play basketball and dance."
It is a nightly routine and I love it!
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Time flies when...

Your kids are sick and then you get sick, husband is out of town a lot - was off to Seatle, Phx, and Omaha,NB during the last three weeks, host dinner group for three other families at your home, make some cute decorations for a baby shower, spend a day hanging out with your BCF and her mom, have six kids over for preschool to learn about the letter R, spend and afternoon catching up with a friend, join Facebook and spend way to much time - but enjoy reconnecting with long lost HS and college friends, and spend some time outside soaking in the sun. We all have SPRING FEVER!

 

 

 

 

I love the color scheme. The box is a tissue box cover for the nursery.