When You Wish Upon A Star....

It doesn't happen often, but if you work really hard and persist at something and okay, maybe even beg enough, dreams really can come true. Just last week, one of Andrew's lifelong dreams finally did come to true:

For the first time ever, our little family all went skiing together.

The whole family at the top of our first run. Such a fun day!

Last Friday, after spending several hours gathering up skis, boots, poles, hats, gloves, goggles, snowpants, parkas and snacks, - enugh gear to outfit three kids and two adults, we all headed up to Solitude for a day of family skiing. As much as I hate to admit it, this was actually the first time I have been skiing since before Abby was born - and that was in 2001! That means it was my first time skiing since Y2K - and Andrew has begged me every year. So, yes, it really was a big day for our family.

However, to be honest, things started out poorly. As we drove towards the mountains thick dark clouds swirled around the peaks signaling the disasterous condtions that awaited us. On the way up the canyon it was a literal blizzard. Snow pelted the windshield and I questioned our sanity taking four kids skiing under such unfavorable conditions. As the snowflakes flew I knew that this was going to be a disaster.

Fortunately, Andrew is never one to quit once he has started something and so we continued up the canyon. Once we got there, as I sat in the car watching the snow come down, Andrew started pulling all the gear out of our car. He was not deterred for a second - and within ten minutes, the snow had stopped. Ten minutes later the sun was shining, the sky was blue and the most incredible day of spring skiing awaited us. It really felt like a miracle.

Henry - all decked out in his ski gear. This kid kills me.

The day could not have been more perfect - or more fun. We decided that I would carry Peter in a Bjorn while Andrew helped Henry navigate his way on his first-ever day of skiing. Luckily, Abby and Isaac have already been several times this winter so they are old pros and can handle themselves.

Peter - strapped into the Bjorn and the helmet

It was an incredible day. It was so fun watching Abby and Isaac ski. They really are amazing. At one point, Isaac took off toward the terrain park by himself. We were freaking out that he was going to die, but he took the jumps by himself and then calmly skied down to where we were having heart attacks. Abby was amazing too - flying down the hill making perfect turns with grace and style. I was blown away by those two. There isn't much Abby and Isaac can't ski down with a little coaching and help. Seriously, it won't be long before they pass me up.

Henry did alright for himself too. He made it down the hill twice - with help from Andrew - before he said he was ready to go home and get his binky. Instead he had to settle for the backpack on Andrew's back and his binky. I was proud of him though. He was a little trooper. Peter looked totally official wearing his helmet with the US Ski Team sticker and he seemed to love the feeling of the the wind on his face. He was so fun to ski with.

Henry done with skiing - looking for a free ride.

We had a blast together - and it was only a taste of what's to come in the next few years - until my kids become better skiers than I am. It really was a dream come true - a lifelong dream for Andrew and a dream I didn't even know I had.

Super Dad

I have always known that my kids are lucky because they have such a great dad.


Andrew really is amazing. He has a stressful job and works crazy strange hours, but when he's at home, his priority is to spend time with our kids. Andrew is wonderful - he is there to help with homework , he reads stories to the class at school, he changes diapers, he teaches the kids to ski, he makes sack lunches in the morning, and coaches soccer. He designs Halloween costumes, takes the kids on bike rides, attends school programs, and builds forts in the back yard. Andrew just has an endless supply of energy when it comes to activities with our kids.



Saturday was no different.

I had made plans to go shopping with my mom during the day and had asked Andrew if he would be around to take care of the kids. He said he was more than happy to spend his Saturday taking care of them. As I was getting ready to leave, I noticed that the kids were getting their shoes and socks on and getting ready to go somewhere as well. I asked Andrew where they were going and he said he was going to take them to IHOP for breakfast.

As anyone who has four young children knows, taking them to a restaurant by yourself is no small task. But then, a few minutes later, there was a knock at the door and two of our neighbors - our kid's friends - were standing there. Unbeknownst to me, Andrew had called to invite them to come along because he thought it would be more fun for Abby and Isaac to have some friends there.

So, on Saturday, BY HIMSELF, Andrew took six kids, under the age of six to IHOP for breakfast - just because he thought it would be fun. Now tell me, don't my kids have an awesome dad?

What to Wear...What to Wear?

My Abby has always been a girly-girl. Since the time she was a baby, she has loved dresses and sparkles and the color pink and since finally growing hair (at age 3), she has worn big bows in her hair. To school she would rather wear a skirt with a coordinating sweater, knee-highs and red Mary-Janes than anything else. She is all girl and I have loved every minute of it.

That is until the last couple of months.

Suddenly, Abby's favorite outfit is a pair of jeans and a t-shirt from Target. Granted, she looks fine in them but to be honest, I am a little bugged.

Here's the problem: for Christmas this year, based on past performance, I bought Abby a bunch of skirts and shirts and sweaters. Darling -every one. And now, just a few months later she practically refuses to wear them. I don't really want to argue with her about what she wears - it's not that important to me, except in principle. Why did I spend good money on clothes that she now has no interest in wearing? How many times does a person need to wear something before you "get your moneys worth"? I know there are more important things than Abby wearing the clothes I want her to wear, but it's just a little buggy to me.

The other part of this situation that is hard for me, is the realization that Abby is becoming her own person. She has her taste, her own likes and dislikes, and she is exerting that in her choice of what to wear. I'm sure it will only get more obvious as she gets older - but it makes me a little sad that the days of dresses and frills and girly things may be coming to an end.

Oh well. I guess there are worse things than jeans and a t-shirt from Target. She still lets me tie a big bow in her hair every morning. So, I guess I'll just have to enjoy that while it lasts.

Henry

Lately I have been congratulating myself on our decision to name our son Henry. For those who don't know, the name Henry means "ruler of the house" and our Henry is certainly proving that to be true. Through various means: his sense of humor, his stubbornness, or through sheer whinyness, he tends to get whatever it is he wants. Our home somehow seems to revolve around Henry and his whims. Henry's two older siblings adore him, and Peter already idolizes him. As his parents, we spend our time vacillating between laughing hysterically at his antics and wondering how we are to control him. He is definitely his own man.

Recently Henry's vocabulary has really taken off and he has started saying the funniest things. Last week we went to the elementary school's production of "Alice in Wonderland." We were seated about half way back in the auditorium and Henry had a hard time seeing what was going on on stage. Slowly and methodically, he worked his way out into the aisle and then slowly made his way up to the front. Once there, he stood very quietly and watched the remainder of the show.

Afterwards, I asked him about being up there by himself, and this is how the conversation went:

Mom: Henry, how was it up at the front of the auditorium by yourself?
Henry: Good.
Mom: Did anyone talk to you while you were there?
Henry: Yes.
Mom: Did they ask you who you are?
Henry: Yes.
Mom: What did you tell them your name is?
Henry: Henry B. Eyring.

I can neither confirm nor deny that this conversation actually took place, but that is what he told me happened.

One other thing about Henry: a few weeks ago we were on our way somewhere with our friends. Our friend put Henry in the car and I assumed he had buckled Henry into his car seat. Imagine my surprise when ten minutes later, as we were ON the on-ramp to the freeway, I looked back and saw Henry standing in his car seat. I totally panicked and said, "Henry, you need to sit down and put your straps on or Mom is going to have to go to jail."

Well, needless to say, that didn't happen, but since then, to anyone who is willing to listen, Henry will tell them: "My mom doesn't buckle me in and she is going to go to jail."

Our Henry is definitely a funny kid and we are so glad to have him in our family. Without fail, on days when he is making me the craziest, at some point, he'll come curl up on my lap and put his arms around me and say, I love you, Mommy" and somehow the craziness from him is all worth it.