Huffman Hullabaloo

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T19:40:00.000-08:00

Today we are thankful for...

Ryan: my family

CeCe: the opportunity to come together and celebrate

(Uncle Brian and Aunt Amanda are with us this year!)

Braden: my house

Emmry: my friends and family

Hadley: my baby, RJ, my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Canella and my mom

Chloe: my family

RJ: the dishwasher

Here We Go Again

2011-11-18T08:13:00.000-08:00

This morning RJ dumped half the contents of a Costco-size bottle of liquid soap on the floor. While he discovered that it may be fun to play with slippery, slimy soap, it doesn't taste half so good.

As I scooped him up all I could think of was how I thought these days were behind me. Thank goodness there's only one of him!

Unearthing Prince Eric - Happy Halloween

2011-11-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

For some reason there comes an age when being cute just won't do. Princesses with ringlets and fairies with sparkle dust; cowboys with plastic guns and sheep dogs with painted noses... they're all so adorable! But there is some allure to being something frightening, something that scares others.

Halloween provides just such an opportunity. An opportunity to become something gruesome for a night and go about terrorizing people in their homes. Our kiddos were no different. Moments before our spooky little ones hit the street Ryan made up the faces of a ware wolf, two vampires and a scary alligator... truly a frightening bunch... though through the face paint, the dripping blood and fanged teeth, there were four smiles that could not be masked! And they must have had a successful evening, because somehow we ended up with four heavily laden bags of candy, much more than I began with.

Without doubt the most frightening thing to visit our home this month came disguised as a headless mummy. Last year for a school project Braden had to make a sarcophagus. He begged Prince Eric, Ariel's handsome prince, off the girls, wrapped it in medical tape, and transformed it into a mummy. You would think they would be appalled, but no, they thought it quite an honor for their prince.

After he fulfilled his role at school, it seems our embalmed Prince Eric somehow found his way into a bush in our front yard. There he had been peacefully resting before being unearthed by a pair of twin archaeologists. You would have thought they'd found King Tut himself by the way they danced their way into the house with his decapitated body. They passed him along to the embalmer himself who seemed to reminisce over this great prince that once was.

Silence.

Then a repetitive high pitched scream that could have been coming from a little girl, but instead from the depths of a twelve-year-old boy.

Emmry running with her own version of the same.

The twins staring mesmerized.

What curse had Prince Eric unleashed on our home?

As Ryan and I entered the living room we found that out of the body... out of that pea-sized neck hole of Prince Eric... had climbed a giant spider the size of a tarantula. Perhaps it was a tarantula. Both empty body and spider lay on the floor where Braden had dropped them. There was little talk of keeping this mammoth arthropod as a pet as I was completely against it!

You can bet we learned two lessons from our archaeological experience: 1) never disturb an embalmed prince, and 2) next year for Halloween dress as a headless mummy!

Happy Birthday RJ!

2011-11-03T14:50:00.000-07:00

What do I really have to look forward to on my first birthday when I'm the fifth child?

I've already had pudding by the spoonful and chocolate chips by the handful. I've shared Popsicles with my sisters and Oreos with the dog. I've had cake and suckers, M&Ms and chocolate bars . I've sucked on a variety of public railings and eaten food from the ground.

I've had scoops and scoops of ice cream which is my absolute favorite. I am quite the expert and am sure to recognize it in any flavor in any shopping cart or freezer.

I wonder... perhaps it's better being the fifth child!

Girls' Night In

2011-10-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

Doesn't he look cute! The boys will never leave him home with us again!

Happy Birthday Emmry!

2011-09-24T23:19:00.000-07:00

We had the great privilege of traveling to Utah to be with family for Emmry's eighth birthday where she was baptized a member of our church.

What fun we had riding on an airplane together as a family for the first time in three years! The kids were so excited to fly and Ryan and I were so excited to cut the travel time, though door to door it still took five hours (half the usual)!

It is not often that we get to spend birthdays with family. We played hard for the 48 hrs we were together, even squeezing in a birthday party with Grammy and Emme's cousins at the Lion House!

We are so proud of our little Emme! It is amazing to see her grow, experience life, and pursue her dreams. Congratulations Emmry!

Princess and the Pea

2011-09-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

We must be truly loved for someone to give up their bed in the middle of the night to sleep like this! This is one princess without any trouble sleeping!

Another Casualty

2011-09-04T22:08:00.000-07:00

It seems Chanel has been aiding the children in their search for another pet. I think it's a sign that she's tired of being dressed up as a princess, carried around like a baby, shut in boxes, locked in closets, and pinned down under arm and covers at bedtime. At the time I found it, I did think it strange that a gecko happened to be stretched out on the floor outside the girls' bedrooms. But we've had plenty of birds find their way into the house, why not a gecko?

While it did find its way in, it likely did not enter on its own accord. Yesterday Ryan and Braden caught Chanel coming through the dog door with a large new recruit. She came in and dumped it on the carpet. All I can say is thank goodness I wasn't the one home!

Braden enlisted it right away and introduced it into his reptile habitat. Unfortunately, by the next morning the little girls were reporting that the lizard was very tired and had been sleeping all morning.

Better luck next time Chanel!

Happy Birthday Girls

2011-08-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

Today is the magic day! Today is the day Ryan and I have been anticipating for the past five years. Today the twins turn five-years-old!

Many people think that the first year must be the toughest with twins. I was also under that impression until I had a set of my own. No, the first year is a breeze. You change two bums, you feed two mouths, you wash two bodies, you love two adorable babies that sit in their bouncy seats, swing in their swings, lay in their cribs, and stay right where you leave them.

When that first year passed I thought I had it made. In fact, I remember challenging the heavens to bring on a third... I could do it. Then the girls started moving.

Year after year, as the challenges persisted, I would ask other twin moms, "When is it going to get easier?" The answer seemed to always be, "Age five." Age five? But they're only two.

So you see, today when the girls blow out their candles they'll be getting a little help from their parents. We will be blowing great big sighs of relief. We've been banking on this day for a long time. Tomorrow everything will be different!

Back to School

2011-08-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

Going from having two in school last year to four this year caught me off-guard. Perhaps it was going from one school to three that did it. Maybe it was just Braden starting middle school.

Whatever it was or is, I find myself longing for the lazy days of summer when I didn't have to pack four sack lunches, keep track of four sets of homework, sift through papers from four backpacks, convince two reluctant kindergartners that school is better than hanging out with mom, and make sure that four beds get made and four sets of teeth get brushed all before the buses come for all four children at 8:15 a.m. OK, I scored on that one.

What I want to know is who scheduled piano lessons for 7 am?

Summer of Adventure

2011-07-30T11:09:00.000-07:00

Braden used to love McDonald's play land. In med school we would spend hours there with friends. It provided exactly what we were looking for: good company, cheap food and cheap entertainment. Apparently we've moved on.

We began our summer at a family reunion in central Utah. Whenever you get 30 people under the same roof, you can expect a little excitement! We hiked Bryce, toured family history sites in Monroe, rafted down the Sevier River, and explored Cove Fort. The highlight was being together. Enough said.

What Braden wanted more than anything this summer was to go skydiving. But with an 18-year age requirement, it would have to wait a few years. It lit the fire in Ryan though, who found a few other tentative recruits, and pretty soon there was my husband jumping from an airplane at 20,000 feet, plummeting toward the ground at 100 miles per hour. Ryan's brother, Reggie, and my brothers, Brian and Daniel, joined him, leaving six spectators on the ground. I have a feeling though that a few of them might be climbing aboard next time around.

Skydiving was out for Braden, so we tried to make it up to him and found the next best thing... plummeting down a ski ramp. Braden enjoyed a couple days at the Utah Olympic ski jumping park where he learned quickly how to remain on his feet on a ski ramp, flip and twist off a jump, and swim in a pool with skis on. Apparently it hurts to fall on one of those things and it's difficult to swim with skis on. Who knew?

And me? I've learned my lesson time and time again. I enjoyed watching from the sidelines, taking pictures, watching "Broadway" shows at Lagoon, and cheering everyone on.

Seeking New Recruits for Dangerous Assignment

2011-07-13T23:10:00.001-07:00

Having a pet is a rite of passage for a kid. It's a way to learn some responsibility and look after someone besides yourself. Pets of course come in all varieties, but the most coveted for every child has to be the dog. Not all kids are that lucky though, and they wind up having to settle for something else.

Yep, I had a gold fish.

So you'd think my kids would be grateful for their dog, but as is the tendency for all of us, they seem to only see what they don't have... and there are plenty of pets they don't have!

Because we as parents drew the line at one domesticated animal, though a 10-gallon fish tank some how made it passed, the kids continue to actively recruit undomesticated ones. They have found that crickets and beetles are easy finds and fun to catch and keep in cups or shoe boxes. A plastic water bottle makes a great home for a dozen or more cockroaches. Yes, the twins somehow managed that one! A prey mantis and a handful of crickets inhabit a reptile habitat that Braden purchased after we received an in-home visit from a gecko. Unfortunately they let it go, so Braden and Ryan are currently seeking a new, good-looking recruit.

Chanel has even joined the search and enlisted a baby bird for a few days this summer. Perhaps you would call it a forced enlistment, as she literally climbed a bush and knocked it from its nest, but the kids are not picky on how they join up. For Braden it brought back memories of his beloved Perry from our Ohio days (let's just say a few tears were shed) and for the girls it was another baby to be loved. Every morning the twins would run down to the bush to make sure the bird was in its nest. If it wasn't they would scoop it up and place it back in. They

must have decided that life in a nest by yourself was lonely though, because they began carrying it around and playing with it. It even passed a wonderful afternoon cradled in Hadley's hands watching a movie in the comfort of our air conditioned house.

Now Chanel could take offense at the kids' determination to find a suitable pet, but she doesn't seem to mind. In fact, I think she's happy that they're focusing their attention elsewhere, because unfortunately our recruits never seem to make it out alive!

118 Degrees

2011-06-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

It's never too hot for feet jammies!

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T12:19:00.000-07:00

Our favorite things about dad:

Braden ~ He tells me stories.

Emmry ~ He swings me around and jumps on the trampoline.

Hadley ~ He goes to work and gets money. He comes home and picks me up.

Chloe ~ He makes my bed with me and cleans the fish tank.

RJ ~ He feeds me applesauce and cereal.

We love you dad!

Never Grow Up!

2011-06-12T22:15:00.000-07:00

This weekend Emmry, Hadley, and Chloe performed in their first ice skating show. They were adorable dressed as Tinkerbell, skating to "I Won't Grow Up" from Peter Pan. You might suppose their favorite part of the show was the glittery costumes, the audience, or watching the other skaters perform... maybe showing off their swizzles, backward skating, and spins they've been perfecting all year... but no. Ironically, their favorite part of the show was getting to wear makeup and look so grown up!

Don't grow up to soon!

Kiss It Goodbye

2011-05-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

Braden started 6th grade last fall with green in his eyes. Ryan gave him a challenge and Braden is always up for a challenge, especially when there is money involved.

Braden's elementary school holds an awards ceremony at the end of each quarter, recognizing the students' academic achievements. Students with all As and good citizenship are placed in the Lynx club and those with As and Bs with good citizenship make the Bounding Club. Ryan challenged Braden to make the Lynx club all four quarters of 6th grade. A certificate and handshake from the principal would not be enough to lure our boy in. The reward... $100 in cold, hard cash.

With a zeal I haven't seen before, Braden tackled the first three quarters without difficulty. The money began to be real. On what might a 12-year-old spend $100?

Oh, he's constantly talking about things he would buy. He has quite an imagination and access to the Internet which feeds it. When we were kids I don't think we knew what we were missing. Our parents were smart enough to keep us out of the stores. About a month before Christmas, the Sears catalog would arrive with an inch and a half of fun all bundled together into a book. We would pour through it, tabbing down all the pages of everything we wanted. Kids now days only need to click a mouse to find anything they can dream of. And everyday I hear of something new that he just has to have: an iPhone, fish tank, Foosball table, gold coins, shocking lasers, iPhone, bigger fish tank, base jumping suit, throwing knives, horse, Samurai sword, iPhone, and on and on.

What will $100 buy?

Then came forth quarter. At Braden's elementary school, the 6th graders have the opportunity to take a three-day field trip to Catalina Island as part of their oceanography studies. So Braden and about 90 other 6th graders, with Ryan as one of the chaperons, boarded four buses Easter Sunday evening, bound for California.

After a nine hour overnight bus drive, for what would be a five hour car ride, and a two hour ferry ride, a significant number of the kids were perhaps wondering why they didn't stay home. They could be tucked behind their desks doing their math or science work instead of puking into the ocean. Not our boy though. He truly has some sea legs on him, not a quality he inherited from his mom.

Once on land no one seemed to mind being in class studying marine life, likely because dissecting squid and painting your face with squid ink wasn't part of the previous curriculum. Hiking and snorkeling in the 50 degree Pacific Ocean, chaperons included, were also part of the itinerary.

As a bonus several bison were spotted roaming through campus. And while Braden tells me it was aMAZEing (you'll have to ask him what that means), he still says that Hawaii was better. What kind of competition are three days of fun with 90 friends to a week hanging out with your parents? Thanks B!

With oceanography on the mind and the prize nearly in hand the possibilities grew... perhaps $100 would buy a 100 gallon fish tank that could be filled with a small shark, some frogs and fish.

Perhaps, perhaps...

That $100 was so tangible, that when Braden got a B+ in social studies it was as if he had dropped the money out of his pocket and lost it.

Heartbreak... for all of us.

At the end-of-year assembly Braden was recognized as a Bounding Club member for the first time all year. In addition he was presented a trophy, with just a handful of other students, for his reading achievements. It did little to pacify the appetite of a 12-year-old boy with an empty outstretched hand.

Though Braden feels he is leaving 6th grade without his $100 prize, he actually really gained exactly what we had hoped for... a recognition of the importance of working hard and doing your best. And that is exactly what he did...

worth at least $50, don't you think?

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

I remember being a kid and asking my mom why there was no Kid's Day. If there was a Mother's Day and a Father's Day, certainly there should be a Kid's Day. My mom is wise, as mothers tend to be, and speaking in true mom fashion she responded, "Every day is Kid's Day."

Just moments ago my cute four-year-olds, Hadley and Chloe, interrupted my Mother's Day solitude asking if they could have a snack.

"I don't know. You have to ask Dad. He's in charge today."

"No, you're in charge."

"Not today. Today is Mother's Day. Today Daddy is doing nice things for Mom, so he's in charge."

Then I add, "You get to do nice things too," for good measure.

"Mom, when is it going to be Kid's Day?"

"Every day is Kid's Day," I answer. I learned from the best.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Ouch! It Stung Me!

2011-05-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

It seems we have finally decided that bees do not make good pets. Thank goodness!

A Room with a View

2011-04-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

There is something about a beautiful view that brings perspective into your life. It reminds you that there is more going on than just the chaos within your own walls. It helps you remember that you are a small part of something great. Each time I look out my bedroom windows at the layers of mountains south of us I am reminded of this.

And more often than not I am reminded that my little girls still don't like wearing underpants!

Gardening

2011-04-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung and for many, including a few in my family, that means time to pull out the planting soil, shovels, and watering cans.

I could never be considered one to have a green thumb. I have had an occasional live plant in the house, but they don't last long. Ryan and I have grown herbs, pumpkins and tomatoes in some of the different places we've lived with varying success, but Arizona looks to be a bit more difficult.

So far our only Arizona gardening venture came last year when the kids gave me tomato plants for Mother's Day. Braden was vigilant in taking care of them, watering them twice a day to overcome the stifling heat. And we did get some, perhaps a half dozen or so, tomatoes to grow.

This year my budding gardeners are branching out. Braden has decided to grow avocado trees and we currently have three pits germinating by our kitchen sink. They say it takes two or three years before they produce fruit. I guess it will be a while before we see how avocados like the Arizona heat.

Perhaps Hadley's plant will do better. Hadley's growing a chocolate plant. Apparently no germinating is needed as she removed the "pit" (macadamia nut) from her Hershey kiss and plopped it right in the ground, burying it with a mound of dirt. She has been diligently watering it, but so far she tells me only flowers have grown. If a baby tree heavily ladened with kisses doesn't sprout soon I think she'll be devastated.

Actually we all will be!

Thank You for Coming

2011-04-27T22:04:00.000-07:00

While Braden and Ryan were out of town for Braden's 6th grade field trip to Catalina Island, we girls decided to party it up. For dinner last night we chose a favorite... Chic-Fil-A. It's fast, delicious, and has free entertainment and a parting gift filled with helium to make leaving easier. The servers are also very courteous, always responding "It's my pleasure," an added bonus, teaching my children manners. There is also a thank you sign right outside the store. Does there goodness stop? Have you seen it? It's a red sign posted just at the end of the drive-thru so that just in case one of their courteous workers has forgotten, you are aware they are grateful for serving you.

Chloe knows just where that sign is. She got a great look at it. She would tell you it is very hard too.

Chloe tripped on the way in to dinner, splitting her head open on the bright red sign. As I looked at her head, I lamented that my husband was out of town... the husband who received eight years of specialized training in the medical field. Aren't they always out of town when you need a good stitching? So it was off to the ER with four kids in tow. It's important to note that even showing up with four small children, one gushing blood, won't bump you in line at the ER. Four hours and five stitches later (and a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls to a good friend), we are all healing.

The most unfortunate thing was that our girl party was cut short. We didn't get to paint fingernails, we didn't paint toe nails, and we never made it into Chic-Fil-A for dinner. Perhaps it is a good thing Chic-Fil-A posts a thank you sign outside their restaurant, otherwise how would we have known they were grateful for our visit!

Happy Birthday To Me

2011-04-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

Today I went to pick up the girls from the child care center at the gym. I got talking to one of the women working in the center. She asked me about my children and didn't seemed ruffled in the least that I have five children, an oddity until I found out she has four herself and it turns out is a Latter-Day Saint.

It wasn't having children, she explained, that caused her to lose her figure. It was getting older. It was when she turned 37 that it all went downhill.

I'm 37 today.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

Six o'clock a.m. and the kids are out dressed in their Easter clothes looking for Easter eggs. Is there no respite for the Easter Bunny?

"Pets"

2011-04-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

Today Chloe asked if she could give her pet Liv a bath. Normally I would encourage my children to be responsible and would be thrilled. But in this case, I told her no.

No, I don't think crickets need baths.

But she's dirty. And off Chloe goes to prepare Liv the Cricket a bath.

It's no surprise that our "pets" don't live much more than a day. While I do not encourage the collecting of them, I did provide a receptacle in which to hold them. You would have done the same had you been the one to discover a cricket in a little pants pocket.

The girls are fascinated lately with bugs, spiders, flies, bees... really any critter from outside. Their favorites, based on abundance in the backyard, are crickets and mosquito eaters, but we have also been fortunate to have a preying mantis, a beetle, a caterpillar, and a bee. Our "pets" are often found "sleeping," though we have only had one burial, and being "awake" is not prerequisite for making it into the collection.

Now, I do believe in setting boundaries and that boundary came yesterday when Hadley rounded the corner saying there was a crab in the house.

A crab?

Hadley found herself a scorpion and trapped it under a cup.

No, there will be absolutely no scorpions in our "pet" collection. So in true boy style, Braden scooped it up, took it outside, and burned it with a lighter...

all to the sounds of Hadley protesting in the background.

I'm thinking pet crickets in pockets aren't so bad anymore.

Aloha!

2011-04-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

Imagine that you could go anywhere. Where would you choose to go?

Ryan and I decided a while back to take a trip with each of our kids when they turn twelve-years-old and this is the question they face. It's just them, with us. They can choose anywhere they want to go, within reason, and whatever they want to do, within reason.

Braden turned twelve last month and he chose to go to Hawaii, and reluctantly we agreed to accompany him. His plans included surfing, body boarding, snorkeling, snuba diving, cliff jumping, driving to Hana, and seeing the sunrise on top the volcano in Maui. In just six days we somehow fit it all in.

In the mean time we learned a thing or two about Braden. We learned he would like to own a solar panel plant or windmill farm and produce clean energy. We learned he has ambitions of being a professional photographer. We learned he would rather spend four hours driving in the car to see the sunrise in 30 degree weather than stay in bed under the covers or six hours to drive the road to Hana rather than surf on the beach. We learned he loves plants (his exact words at the arboretum were, "Look at that fern!"). We learned, as we broke into a coconut and explored a black sand beach, that he is very curious.

I guess what we really learned is that Braden is really growing up. He is a young man with ambitions of his very own.

I guess if I could go anywhere for a week... well, I might go back a few years, to a time that was a little less complicated. A time with a little boy... a boy with lots of ambitions.

Good Dog, Naughty Girls

2011-03-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

My linen closet is right outside my girls' bedrooms. It really wasn't good thinking on the builders' part or perhaps mine, I'm not sure which. While the blankets and quilts are a great source of entertainment and have been used for a variety of forts, games, picnics, and make-believe stories, I am constantly folding, refolding, and returning them to their shelves. This morning upon opening the closet door I was surprised to find an occupant inside.

All I can say is it's a good thing R.J. isn't so fun to play with!

Viva La Greece

2011-03-24T19:21:00.000-07:00

How many 6th grade boys would stand in front of the student body, dressed in a Toga, and sing an Elvis ballad to a girl that loathes him? Not too many, but Braden did. What did his teacher offer him? Surely she must have at least offered a bit of extra credit in Social Studies. But, no... the part was by audition.

This year's 6th grade play was an Elvis spoof of four Greek myths entitled "Viva La Greece." Braden played the role of the love stricken Apollo. He favored the beautiful Daphane who had been shot with an arrow of loathing and ran from his advances, finally finding refuge by becoming a tree. Braden played the part perfectly. He not only chased Daphane around on stage declaring his love for her, but he also sang Elvis' Don't Be Cruel. It was great!

Whatever Mrs. Miller has, I need to get a bit of it.

Winter Sports

2011-03-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

We turned a corner this year. Braden gained a love for basketball. While it's difficult for him to agree with anything his dad says, being on a winning team really helps. The Spartan's fought their way into second place at the Thunderbird Boys and Girls Club and went on to the city tournament. Great "D" Braden!

Field Day came and went, which is sad because it is simply the best day of the year according to one 6th grade boy. Braden competed in relays, 100 yard dash, 600, long jump, and high jump. He did awesome, though not as awesome as he would have done had he trained on the backyard high jump he repeatedly asked for since last year's track meet. But despite that disadvantage, he still took third place!

Way to go B!

Why do we run?

2011-03-05T15:00:00.000-08:00

Wake up before 6 a.m., run for 13 miles, and pay to do it? Who does that and really why would they? These are the things I asked myself as I dragged myself out of bed at 5:30, fed a four-month-old, and dressed for the annual Run for Ryan's House.

The Run for Ryan's house helps raise funds for a home for children undergoing life threatening illnesses and their families while they are being treated away from home. The house is named after Ryan, a 4th grader at Braden's school, who benefited from a similar home while being treated in England.

Braden and I joined another 1200 plus people Saturday morning by tying up our running shoes, donning our numbers, and standing at the start line. It was quite an experience, with principle, teachers, parents, students and others racing, cheering, and volunteering. Braden received a medal by placing second in the 5k in his age division, running a personal best of 25:21. I ran a personal best also of 1:51:12, but was really just thrilled to finish on my feet.

So why do we run? We run for a cause, we run for the thrill, we run to keep our sanity (ok the last one is just me).

Happy 12th Birthday B!

2011-03-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

This is the one he has been waiting for. No more sitting on the back row of primary. No more sharing time. No more Once There Was A Snowman or The Wise Man and the Foolish Man. No more primary talks. No more primary programs or Mother's Day Songs (sniffle, sniffle). It's on to the big boys.

We Love you B! You're looking sharp!

Let It Snow!

2011-02-27T08:25:00.000-08:00

This afternoon we went for a Sunday drive. This was no typical Sunday drive though where you leisurely drive, enjoying the company and scenery. This Sunday drive we had a mission... we were looking for snow.

During the cold night and early morning, rain had drenched the valley. We could see snow on the mountains and we were determined that our afternoon would include a bit of the white stuff. As we drove north though, we got discouraged. It seemed that to have been successful we should have worn our hiking boots. Snow covered the mountains, but our scouts could find none on the ground.

Ten minutes in to the drive (our scouts are a bit impatient) we were getting discouraged, when we saw snow on the cars coming from the other direction. There were whoops and hollers from the scouts as a pick up truck with a snowman in the back of it came barreling from the other direction!

Our mission was a success and though the snow pack level wouldn't be considered much for you snow snobs up north... it was a wonderful surprise for those of us living in the Valley of the Sun!

New Years In Utah

2011-01-03T21:55:00.000-08:00

The girls and the boys hit the jackpot!

Skiing, snowboarding, movie watching, party going, iflying, surfing,

rock climbing, gaming, swimming, sleeping over, cousin playing,

Hires eating, grandparent spoiling, ice skating...

never wanting to go home!

RJ's Blessing

2011-01-01T12:52:00.000-08:00

We were fortunate to be able to bless our sweet baby RJ while we were in Utah over the winter break. Though a snowstorm postponed our original plans, we were able to have a beautiful blessing on New Year's morning. Truly committed and loving family members dragged themselves from bed after celebrating the new year the night before, driving up to an hour and a half to be there at our side. RJ has come into a wonderful family!

RJ was named after his father, Ryan, and his grandfather, James. He has a lot to live up to with a name like that. Or perhaps it is better to say that he has a lot to look up to with a name like that!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

This year we decided to stay home for Christmas, our first in Arizona. What with that and a new baby in the house, it could not get much better!

The most unusual present of the day had to be Braden's unicycle from my parents. Who asks for a unicycle for Christmas? And doesn't it come with training wheels?

We did miss cuddling up by the fire and enjoying hot cocoa. But being able to be outdoors enjoying Santa's gifts seemed a fair trade! No one complained about missing out on snowmen and sledding as they donned their shorts and t-shirts. Not one peep about snowballs and snow angels as they climbed atop their new bikes and scooters. In fact, not one complaint about anything until Braden challenged Emmry to a race on their new electric scooters. Perhaps someone should have taught Emme how to stop. I imagine that would have been a much softer landing in snow!

Ho, Ho... Hmmm

2010-12-18T12:51:00.000-08:00

About a month before Christmas I realized I had not been utilizing the best thing that Santa has to offer... the threat of no presents! The little girls were skeptical. Each time I put his name forward, it was pushed back at me with a practical response.

"Santa can't see me."

"Santa's not here."

"Santa doesn't know what I'm doing."

Time for the big guns!

"You know who I'll have to call?"

Well I was certain they did, but Hadley said no. Chloe had a very good idea though. She looked at me and said,

"Nanny McPhee?"

I started to tell her that no, I had meant Santa Clause, but thought... why not?

"Yes, Nanny McPhee. I'm going to call Nanny McPhee!"

"You don't know her number."

"I looked it up on the internet."

I picked up the phone and heard the familiar pulsing dial tone that signifies there are messages on the line. I dialed my phone number and began retrieving my messages. The girls went crazy. They were in tears and begging me to hang up the phone. I listened to my message with as close to a straight face as possible. By the time I hung up the phone they were like putty in my hands.

I've decided Santa's reign on managing children's behavior is on its way out. It seems he's too happy, fun, and red. And his laugh... well, it's adorable. And come on, he's way too seasonal. Parents can only capitalize on him three months of the year, max. But Nanny McPhee... now she's just plain scary and always accessible!

Thank you Universal Pictures!!!

Baby RJ

2010-11-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

There seem to be few great surprises in life, so when Ryan and I found out we were expecting again we decided to wait to find out the gender. We envisioned the moment when the child would be born and we would hear the words, "It's a ...!" To my disappointment, at the 20-week ultrasound I discovered the sex of the baby. We would be having another girl. I mourned for two weeks over the boy we thought we would have. Ryan was aware that I new but did not want his surprise spoiled, so I never told him. It wasn't as hard as you might think, we just didn't discuss it. There was no mention of setting up a baby's room, or shopping for baby items, or even baby names. Inside my heart I came to terms with my "little Liv" who would be joining our family and was grateful for the mental preparation I was given. I felt badly though for Ryan who absolutely new we were having a boy to cap off our family and for Braden who so badly needed a brother.

When the contractions started late Tuesday night, November 2, and continued into Wednesday morning, we packed up and headed to the hospital. No one else new that I was aware of the gender, and the hospital room was filled with excitement over the pending delivery. When our little one was half-way delivered, guesses were made by the hospital staff as to the sex of the newborn. It's a girl, I kept saying to them in my mind...

"It's a boy!"

What?????? It's seems I got my surprise after all.

Welcome to our hullabaloo RJ!

Ryan James Huffman

Born November 3, 2010 at 5:58 p.m.

7 lb. 11 oz.

20 1/2 inches

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween from the Greek God Poseidon and the Huffman roller derby girls!

Father Daughter Campout

2010-09-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

The father/daughter camp out is an annual tradition in our ward each September. In the past it has been a night Emmry and Dad enjoy camping out with friends, sleeping in a tent, eating outside, and hiking together. For me it has been a night of trying to please the ones left behind: toddler twins oblivious to the fact that they are being left out and a jaded boy old enough to know what he is missing out on. In my craziest attempt to satisfy the latter troops, we ventured into Phoenix to a Cardinal's baseball game. Not my greatest idea.

But this year's idea was truly great! For Father's Day the kids and I gave Ryan an eight-man tent. Genius! With the twins old enough to understand the meaning of father/daughter camp out, and with a tent big enough to house them, there were no excuses for anyone to be left behind.

Since camping this summer in Utah, all the girls could talk about leading up to the camp out was when it would arrive. So when Dad came home from work throwing up with a migraine there was nothing he could do but give the toilet one last look, pack everything in the car, and head to the mountains. I felt bad, but it was a father/daughter camp out after all.

The night turned out successful. Braden and I thoroughly enjoyed a quiet dinner and movie out, while Ryan was delighted to find the young women enchanted with the girls and was able to sit back with the other dads. It seems we both had a relaxing night.

Happy Birthday Emme!

2010-09-15T21:29:00.000-07:00

What does a seven-year-old girl want for her birthday? As Emmry becomes more grown up, we are learning that princesses aren't nearly as magical as they once were and they are definitely not cool. We gave up the Tinkerbell backpack this year for a black and white one with peace symbols all over it and the Tinkerbell nightgown is rarely worn. So I found that pretty much all a seven-year-old wants is a party with all her friends. Not the greatest thing for a pregnant lady, but thankfully Ryan had the foresight to buy a carnival birthday party given by the young women of our church at a fundraiser last spring. The party came complete with invitations, games, prizes, cupcakes, set up, and clean up. Emme was thrilled... but I don't think quite as thrilled as I was! I'm sure she didn't realize that the party was actually a present for me!

With the friend party behind us we had a few gifts of our own to supply. The little girls had picked out some craft supplies and Braden a lava lamp night light. Both a success. And what was left for Ryan and me? We were giving her a "hair styling head" doll. Go ahead and laugh. I know I did. I remember several years ago my girlfriend was buying one for her daughter's seventh birthday. Braden was also turning seven and I was likely shopping for some battling toy. I remember saying to her, "I always wondered who bought those things." Well, the mother of a seven-year-old girl that's who. And why not? I already have three little heads of hair to do. Perhaps I can train Emme to do a few. If this last one comes out with a pink bow as well, my investment will be well worth it!

Happy Birthday Girls!

2010-08-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

Four is my favorite birthday! Looking at these faces you can see why. We have been anticipating this day for the good part of this past year as they been compiling a list of things they want. Every where we would go I would hear, "For my birthday mama. I want this for my birthday." And I would agree, "Yes, for your birthday." It was a great way to get out of any store without incident or an empty wallet. I felt very smart. But as August loomed nearer I began to worry. Did they really think they were going to get all those stuffed animals, the real animals, the baby dolls, the fairies, the dress ups, the thing that goes in the water that spins and lights up (????)... and everything else? Boy, this great idea of mine was going to backfire!

But birthdays are magical at that age and when they opened up their measly roller skates and snap and go dolls they were thrilled. No mention was made of the list of things I had agreed upon over the past nine months that were missing; including the squirrel from Jackson Hole, the Dora doll at the grocery store, and the $65 babies at the toy store. Instead they were elated with their yogurt date with mom, trip to the toy store (to actually buy something), cupcake tower, the mound of colorfully wrapped presents, and all the birthday wishes. Good thing they're only four!

Back to School

2010-08-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

Braden has been dreading this day all summer... the day school starts again. It's a big year for him though. He's in sixth grade.

How did I get old enough to have a sixth grader?

I remember sixth grade quite vividly. We played double dutch at recess, I wore my hair in a french braid everyday, and we learned German from a video on TV. I was sitting at my desk watching the launch of the Challenger Space Shuttle when it exploded.

Yet here I am and here he is, certainly getting closer to my 5'8". I do enjoy that we wear the same shoe size now though. When I'm looking for a pair of flip flops I can always find a pair lying around.

Emmry has had no problems moving into 1st grade and I'm realizing how fast the days pass. Braden will be 17 and Emmry 13 when this last one enters kindergarten. So until then I guess I better enjoy them... 1st and 6th grade only happen once!

Utah Pilgrimage

2010-08-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

Going to Utah is always an adventure, the success of which is a delicate equation between the number of things we break at my parents' house and the amount of fun we've had. We were fortunate this year to have Ryan with us for two of our four weeks, so we may have just come on the positive side this year.

We were determined to truly vacation this year in our home state while visiting family, so we took advantage of all Utah has to offer. We hiked in Little Cottonwood, camped up Ogden Canyon, swam at the neighborhood pool, and surfed at Ogden's indoor wave. We visited museums, zip lined at Park City's Olympic Village, and rode Wicked at Farmington's Lagoon. We trekked up to Jackson Hole for a few days and floated down a creek in Evanston, Wyoming.

Now we did break a few things... perhaps a decorative plate and a pot... the abacus with its beads strewn all over the floor took a while to put back together... and I shouldn't forget to mention the flu that ran like wild fire through the family bringing one to throw up in a sleeping bag and tent and another on the floor of the Sweet's Candy Factory (although that one was likely car sickness). But all in all, we enjoyed the cooler weather, the company of family and friends, and all the activities. We deemed the vacation a success, although that really is relative to who is looking at the equation... me or my parents.

Jackson Hole

2010-07-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

Ever since Braden was five-years-old he has wanted a hang glider. I remember having to come up with many excuses year after year as to why Santa Claus could not bring one: it's too expensive... it won't fit down the chimney... he only brings age appropriate toys... where would you keep it?

So this summer when we decided to vacation in Jackson Hole as part of our annual pilgrimage to Utah, we looked to make Braden's dream come true by going hand gliding. My parents accompanied us on the trip and to our surprise, my dad joined Braden and Ryan as they glided over the Wyoming Rockies.

Who in their right mind would attach their 11-year-old behind an "experimental" plane, to be towed 2,000 feet in the air and released? That's what I was thinking as Braden began his tandem ascent from the Alpine, Wyoming Airport. Thankfully the bread winner of the family whose life insurance policy excludes extreme sports, had been the guiney pig and was already safely on the ground. I can only imagine the thrill or perhaps apprehension Braden felt as he was pulled at 100 mph behind an airplane, then released to soar to the ground. Perhaps in that moment he changed his mind, maybe he didn't need a hang glider after all... no such luck. It seems that not his, but all three riders' fuels were flamed as they have already made plans to sky dive next year!

But the boys weren't the only ones having fun. My mom and Emmry joined them the next day for river rafting down the Snake River. And while one rafter went overboard in the rapids, the five in our group entered the cold water only by choice.

Of coarse someone had to stay behind with the little ones and as I'm just coming up to my third trimester, I was the obvious choice. While Hadley, Chloe, and I didn't sail through the water or sky, we enjoyed the beauty and much cooler weather of Wyoming from the firm ground (really a better place for the three of us prone to motion sickness anyway!). We visited a petting zoo, played at the park, and hiked to the falls at Jenny Lake with the rest of the family.

Jackson was a welcome relief to the dry, hot desert of Arizona and it offered us as parents the opportunity to make Braden's dream come true - a truly rewarding experience for a parent, one I'm sure my parents also felt as they watched me with my family.

Can We Please Buy a Boat?

2010-07-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

Ever since our boating trip on Memorial Day, the kids have been asking when we would be going again. We try to tell them it's a bit difficult to go boating when you don't own a boat, but they don't seem to grasp where the problem lies. So when friends invited us to go boating the day of our drive to Utah, we had no problem rearranging our vacation schedule, unpacking our suits, and heading up to Lake Bartlett for the day.

With Memorial Day's boating trip fresh in his memory, Braden was a bit nervous to give the wake board another try. We were hopeful that our friends' boys would offer some new advice that would help Braden succeed in getting up this time around. Unfortunately, we found ourselves circling back time after time to drop the rope.

Failure is very discouraging and it takes a strong person to continue on with its constant nagging. Thankfully Braden has no shortage when it comes to determination and it payed off. It only took getting up just once, and after that we had a hard time getting him down.

While Braden and Ryan enjoyed the wake and surf boards (skiing, what's that?), the girls squealed on the tube and swam to cool off. It was a great time! The only problem... we still don't have a boat and all we've heard since leaving the lake are constant pleas to buy one - and it's Ryan and I doing the pleading!

Getting Old

2010-06-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

There comes a time in your life when your kids are old enough to outperform you in a task and you realize they are no longer the little ones whose bottoms you wiped for all those years. And though I can still best most my children in any activity, Braden has begun to surprise me. It started with board games, moved on to racquetball, and now that swim team has started, I'm completely losing my footing.

Today Braden and Emmry both competed in the first swim meet of the season. This is Emmry's first year in swim team and though she describes it as "long," she enjoys the heightened status that is associated with it. She competed in a 25 and 50 meter freestyle race, and while she did amazing and came home with a third place ribbon, I would have had no trouble finishing before her. Braden on the other hand competed in the 50 and a 100 meter freestyle, taking third and second respectively. His time on the 100 meters... 1:27.

The problem with this lies in the fact that the previous day in my swim class we swam a 100 free for time. I swam it in 1:37. So the next day I told my coach I wanted to beat my 11-year-old son's time. "That's doable," he tells me. So I swam fast, I kept my head down, I lengthened my stride, I waited to pull through, I kept my arm over the barrel pulling as much water as I could. I was sure I had him. My time... 1:35.

Now I'm faced with the question: does this mean that I'm getting old? Possibly it's just that Braden is getting older. Oh... either way... it means I'm getting old.

Tough Night?

2010-06-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

There were four in the bed and the little one said, "Roll over, I'm crowded." So they all rolled over and one fell out...

Unfortunately that was me.

Memorial Day

2010-06-01T20:48:00.000-07:00

Growing up visiting my grandparents' bay-side home each summer, I learned early the joys and pains of being pulled behind a speeding boat. My kids thus far being denied this opportunity, I felt it was time. So we took advantage of the holiday, headed up to our closest lake, and threw the kids in the water.

The girls loved tubing with the exception of Chloe who was traumatized when she got dunked on her first turn out - fell right off the back with me when I lost my grip. Braden was thrilled to have his dad try to dunk him on the tube and even got up on the wake board for a few seconds.

We did find it difficult to tell, with a boat engine roaring and our children 20 feet away, if they were shouting out of elation, or screaming out of desperation. We, of coarse the optimists, assumed they were having a wonderful time and continued to pull.

Maybe we should have informed them to let go of the rope!

Piano Recital

2010-05-29T20:43:00.000-07:00

Two months ago Braden and Emmry were handed the music for their piano recital. They practiced those pieces nearly everyday for the past sixty or so days. I am sure it was with a bit of relief that they finally sat in front of that concert Steinway and performed their well-rehearsed songs.Of coarse we are slightly biased, but they were the very best of the night. Braden and Emmry even succeeded in playing a duet without too much conflict. It was a long two months!

We are very proud parents and will be sad when the day comes that they can play all the hymns in the church hymn book. It is on that day that they are allowed to quit. Braden already knows three!

Woolfy Preschool

2010-04-24T15:44:00.000-07:00

Hadley and Chloe graduated this week from a five week preschool at a local high school. They named it "Woolfy" school in honor of the mascot that stands in front of the school.

Though we will miss preschool (boy will some of us really miss preschool!) we are thrilled for our little graduates! Congratulations!

Spring Break

2010-04-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

Ryan and I took a trip to San Diego nearly twelve years ago. We were on summer break from the University of Utah and I was a few months pregnant with Braden. We keep a picture in our kitchen of us standing on the cliffs overlooking La Jolla beach to remind us of how beautiful it was. Medical school and residency took us to the Atlantic Ocean for vacations for a while, but being back in the west has given us the desire to make a return trip. So for spring break we packed everyone up and headed to San Diego, which proved a bit more work this time around.

While a few of our plans were repeats from our first trip, i.e., Coronado Beach, Sea World, and the San Diego temple, we threw in a few new ones to please the expanded group.

We had a couple of us fall in love with the polar bears at the San Diego Zoo and a few the view from the Cabrillo Light House. There were some amazed by the Lego structures at Legoland, maybe one that enjoyed body surfing in the cold ocean, and nearly all that lost their breakfast while whale watching.

I'm not sure who thought that whale watching would be fun for a family afflicted by motion sickness... ok, I guess I'll have to admit it was me. When will I learn. I should never do anything that requires my feet to leave the ground. Small airplanes, parasailing, boats smaller than a cruise ship... none of them have ever ended well. So you can imagine that three and a half hours on the open sea looking for whales was disastrous. Braden was the sole member of the family with breakfast still in his stomach at the end of the voyage. Amazingly, he stood at the bow of the ship the entire three and a half hours. We apparently saw a blue whale, which Braden will confirm, though at that point I'm not sure how many of the rest of us even cared.

Despite our misadventure on the sea, we had an amazing time. It was fun to see the twins buried in the sand like mermaids, Braden surfing, and Emmry collecting shells at the ocean. And along with creating memories, it seemed the most fitting vacation for our family. On our first trip to San Diego we were expecting our first child. On this second trip, we're expecting our last.

Come Visit!

2010-03-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

Unexpected visitors are always welcome! Come any time!

A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

2010-03-07T17:22:00.000-08:00

Emmry had been complaining about her tooth hurting for a few days before we figured out she had her first loose tooth. At six and a half we should have seen it coming, but what can I say... we didn't. Ryan is a lot like my Dad when it comes to things that need fixing, the two of them just can't leave them alone. So when a loose tooth presents itself, it's just asking to be pulled.

So before Emmry new it, she had a piece of floss secured around and under the tooth. Emmry was not party to it being pulled, but the floss offered a way to wiggle the tightly packed in tooth so she obliged. What she couldn't foresee was that the only way for the floss to come off was with the tooth.

In the end, Ryan got his tooth and Emmry has a beautiful window in her smile.

Name Calling

2010-03-06T20:45:00.000-08:00

I'm often asked if the twins play well together, and of course I tell them that they are best friends, "BFF, right mom?" And they truly are. But like all siblings they have their moments. Actually, at age three they have a lot of moments and they've developed a few endearing ways to make their feelings known. "I shate you!", "Poo, poo Hadley!", and "Bad Chloe!" are among my favorite. But the one that gets the most reaction and is the biggest insult of all... "You Prince Eric!" Because what princess wants to be a handsome prince?

Happy 11th Birthday B!

2010-03-04T06:59:00.000-08:00

The morning of March 4th Braden presented me with a wish list for his special day. It read:

24 hour screen time

No piano practicing

Skip school

Choose dinner

Tease babies

Ryan and I contemplated the list. It just so happened Ryan had taken the day off work so he and Braden spent the day on the golf course and at the movies. The girls joined the boys at the baseball field that night for Braden's opening little league game. Go Giants! The restaurant of choice was In-N-Out and dessert was the traditional tower of doughnuts.

Though I'm generous and gave into nearly every request including 24 hours of screen time good for March 4th only (it seems he didn't get around to that one), I drew the line at teasing the babies. A kid's got to have some limits!

My Baby Allos

2010-02-23T21:34:00.000-08:00

We went through a right of passage this week, one that nearly every child does... The girls found a pair of scissors, holed up in my closet, and took turns cutting chunks of hair from each other's heads. Oh how I wished I had a camera in that closet!

"Hadley, what did you do to your sister?"

Instant tears.

I saw only two solutions: buy some pink hair dye and complete the punk rock look, or make it a girls' outing at the beauty parlor. So, to the beauty parlor we went.

We're a bit sad now that we can't do ponies or piggies anymore, but we're enjoying the new pixie cuts. In fact, the girls' cut resembles that of my paternal grandmother Mommy Allo and Hadley recognized it immediately. Hadley took one look at her new self and gave herself a new nickname... Baby Allo.

Field Day

2010-02-18T13:41:00.000-08:00

If there's one school day Braden dreams about all year, it's field day. And this isn't a field day like I remember them, with water games and obstacle courses. Here in Scottsdale they don't mess around. The kids have to qualify in gym class to participate in relays, sprints, a high jump, long jump and a 600 yard race. The competitor atop the podium in each event goes to the district competition.

To the cheers of his sisters, Braden ran his way to a first in the relay, second in high jump, and third in the 600. Though I have already been informed that we need to buy a high jump mat and bars. We're in training for next year.

Way to go B!

Girls Weekend

2010-02-09T13:40:00.000-08:00

This year's second annual girls' weekend was hosted in sunny, yet not quite warm enough, Scottsdale, Arizona. The kids camped on the floor, while sisters, sisters-in-law, and mom took over the kids' wing of the house. We crammed in just about everything a mom wants to do, but never gets a chance to. We shopped for make-up and clothes, ate at trendy restaurants, visited a salon for pedicures, ran races, hiked mountains, and watched movies without a G rating. There was no crying or whining after the third hour at the mall, no arguments over movie choices, no crayons at the restaurant tables, no midnight feedings (except our own), and no crying or screaming out in the night... oh, except the night of Lori's nightmare... and there were no diaper bags... oh wait, wasn't that a diaper bag Ashley was using as a purse? Correction, there was only one diaper bag, but as far as I know no diapers!

Sedona Race

2010-02-07T20:40:00.000-08:00

I have never really wanted to run a marathon, or even a half-marathon. I wondered how anyone could, and why anyone would, run so far for so long. But I was inspired over the fall and recruited a few "volunteers" to train with me. My mom was supportive, volunteered to take pictures, and offered some advice she obtained from a marathon runner: his secret, find a cute girl and follow her for the duration of the race.

After four months of training, my recruits and I headed for Sedona, Arizona. Touted as one of the most scenic runs in the nation, the Sedona race coarse progresses through the gorgeous red rocks

that typify the area. Of coarse, it was a little difficult to enjoy.

As you can see in the elevation map, none of the running was on flat ground. We had heard it was hilly terrain, but we had no idea the hills would be the envy of every child holding a snow sled. The 5k gained a total of 150 feet in elevation and the half-marathon a total of 1100 feet! The race was an out and back - half way through there was a turn around. Every hill we descended in the first half gnawed in the back of our minds throughout the race... we knew we would have to run back up them. It was utterly exhausting at times... and where was my training partner to encourage me?

Ryan and I had made a pact. Our plan was to start together and end together, for better or for worse. But just one mile into the race I see my partner pull away a quarter mile in front of me where he stayed for the duration.

Then there was the promise of adrenaline. We had heard of the rush of adrenaline that would see us through the end of the race. Where was our adrenaline? The last mile and a half of the run was all uphill. Every turn we made there was another hill and someone cheering that we were almost there. With every turn there was no finish line and no adrenaline, just a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me not to walk. If I walked I knew I would never make it under two hours, which was the goal, and with the difficulty of the coarse I would be lucky to make it. When I finally turned the corner on the finish line, relief swept over me, yet still no adrenaline.

Ryan's time was 1:57:04, finishing in twelfth place in his division of 35, 118th of 554 overall. My time was 1:59:10 in eighth place in my division of 46, 135th of 554 overall. Amazingly, the full marathon runner came in just 45 minutes later at a new coarse record of 2:44:22. My other recruits, Braden and my sister Maggie, finished their 5k in good form as well. Braden finished at 29:23 in 15th place of 66 in his division, 107th of 636 overall.

Would I run a half-marathon again? Sure, but probably not this one. I'm happy to say I've done it though. I feel a great sense of accomplishment. I did something I never thought I would! It seems I can be proud of setting a pretty good pace too. After the race a man approached me and thanked me. He said I set a great pace and that he followed behind me for the duration of the race. Well, if I couldn't inspire my husband, at least I could inspire someone!

Flagstaff

2010-01-31T21:30:00.000-08:00

This weekend our family took to the slopes of Flagstaff with our friends, the Tullis'. With Emmry on skis and Braden on a board, Ryan and I were thrilled to see them finally develop a love for the slopes.

Our skiing in Utah last month wasn't quite as successful. By lunch Emmry was in tears and Braden had taken a bad tumble, leaving both kids ready to head home. But the gentler slopes in Flagstaff and the miracle "Edgie Wedgie" on Emme's skis, had Emmry and Braden flying down the slopes for two entire days.

Unfortunately the little ones didn't quite take to the mountains like the older kids. Chloe vomited a 32 oz. cupful during the drive up, and Hadley found it all a bit dull and slept. Perhaps next time we will be just crazy enough to throw them on skis as well!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T15:23:00.000-08:00

Who ordered the wild entertainment at Grammy's New Year's Eve Party?

Merry Christmas

2009-12-26T15:15:00.000-08:00

It seems our children are so good that Santa never has a problem tracking us down. At their grandparents home in Utah on Christmas Eve, the girls were thrilled to set out cookies and milk for Santa, hoping it would push them even higher on the nice list... and they were not disappointed. Under the tree Christmas morning was everything for which they pleaded during their earlier visit with the big man...

Snow White and Belle with their sparkling horses, a collection of Littlest Pet Shop animals, and a skateboard. He also dropped off a bit of tradition, tickets for Mom, Emmry, and Grammy to Ballet West's The Nutcracker.

Yet after three weeks full of visits with family and old friends, parties, food, traditions, presents, and snow, we were all ready to head home to warmer weather. And as Ryan struggled to fit all our spoils into and on top of the car for the drive home, it would appear the kids were definitely on the nice list this year...

and it's a good thing, because our dog Chanel ate the cookies.

The Greatest Snow on Earth

2009-12-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

When you live in "The Valley of the Sun", you don't see much snow. In fact, snowfall is so rare in the valley that there are only eight recorded instances since records began being kept in 1896, the most recent being 1990.

So what are a family of Phoenicians to do while they are in Utah...

Live it up!

Meeting the Prophet

2009-12-13T17:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at my grandfather's funeral my kids were privileged to sit in the front of the chapel and look into the eyes of the prophet. Braden had the wonderful opportunity of shaking President Monson's hand.

Today the girls looked disappointingly up at the pulpit during our church meeting and asked,

"Where's follow the prophet?"

Pappy - Tried and True, Through and Through

2009-12-12T23:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had the privilege of gathering as a family to celebrate the life of my grandfather, Royden G. Derrick. As a former member of the presidency of the Seventy for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, my grandfather had close friendships with prominent members of the church, so we were fortunate to have in attendance at the funeral Elder Russel M. Nelson, Elder M. Russel Ballard, and President Thomas S. Monson. And while a funeral is never welcome, a gathering to celebrate the accomplishments of one's life is.

My father and uncles chose for the topics of their addresses a few of Pappy's quotes that demonstrate his great character:

"The key to happiness is doing what you should do when you should do it."

"Service is its own reward."

"The key to success is making up your mind where you are going; then working hard to get there."

We also had the wonderful opportunity to meet President Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, and hear him speak. Particularly memorable was what he asked the grandchildren and great-grandchildren to remember of their grandfather:

"Royden Derrick was tried and true, through and through."

My children will likely remember very little of Pappy - his wheel chair, his delight in seeing them, and his smile full of innocence and glee. At the end of his life, Pappy became as Christ admonishes all of us to be, as a child. He became truly perfect. And though they didn't really know him, they will inherit his legacy, his drive for success and happiness in life. They will always know he was tried and true, through and through.

Three's A Charm?

2009-11-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

Dead bird number three dropped at my feet today. I did not sign up for this.

Halloween

2009-10-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

Life is full of tough decisions. Like, what were we going to do with a big, beautiful pumpkin brought home from the store Halloween day? Scary jack-o-lantern or pretty princess?

These decisions are difficult as our home is one of extreme opposites. Either you love lip gloss, Sleeping Beauty, and dancing class in the living room, or you do not. You love video games, skateboarding, and trying to burp, or you do not.

While we support one another, we are two different teams that very rarely defect to the other's side.
So there was sure to be a face-off with the appearance of the pumpkin. It would be be two dainty tinkerbells and a darling black cat staring down the eyes of a menacing Death Eater who, if defeated, was prepared to threaten the peace of muggle and magic world alike.

Thankfully a team captain stepped in and the pumpkin became a truly hideous double-faced creature. On one side, a gory jack-o-lantern with gashes and wounds and terrible teeth. On the other, a beautiful princess with voluptuous lips and a tiara.

Two teams victorious! Could it be that easy?

Mom, which face will point outwards to greet the trick-or-treaters?

Tips for next year: 1)each team captain must provide their own pumpkin; 2) remember to brush teeth before the movie.

Adendum to Happily Ever After

2009-10-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

I spent my morning outside today dreaming and humming to myself, enjoying a typical fairy tale day... only to be interrupted by the voices of my twins.

"Bird in the house! Bird in the house, mama!"

Could it be that it's hanging the wash? No, it is another ordinary bird. How unfortunate!

And now I have another dead bird. What's a girl to do?

Well, is this a modern-day fairy tale or not? Surely I need not wait around for Prince Charming. So I'll scooped up the bird in a dust pan and disposed of it myself. The Prince will have to find someone else to save...

OK, like me tonight at dinner time!

Happily Ever After?

2009-10-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

My Dad often asks me if I feel like I'm living in a fairy tale... beautiful home, wonderful family, caring husband, great job...

Yes, a fairy tale...

In fact it must be my constant singing and waltzing about that attracts the birds. In the eleven months we have lived in our home we have had five birds in to visit. Unfortunately they are not the singing, helpful breed that go around making beds and doing dishes. They are the common, unfairy tale breed, that chirp about, run into windows, and poop on the floor (as if I haven't had enough of that).

Fortunately I have just the unfairy tale type dog to chase away such ordinary birds. She has successfully chased all the birds out, that is until today. Today, our bird was not quick enough. As I stood by appalled, Hadley cheered Chanel on.

Now I have a dead bird on my floor. What to do? There is no protocol for a dead bird in a fairy tale. Well it simply couldn't stay. It would have to go as it threatened my fairy tale existence. So I did what any fairy tale princess would do... I threw a plastic bag over it and a pink sequined hat for good measure. I am now waiting for my prince charming to come rescue me.

Arrow of Light

2009-10-08T23:09:00.000-07:00

Tonight Braden received his cub scout "arrow of light" award, the highest award a boy can earn in cub scouts, and the only award that can be worn on the boy scout uniform. Is it obvious that I'm in charge of scouting?

As the person in charge I naturally hosted the event in my backyard. It was a bit exciting for us as it was our first official "event" in our backyard and with tiki torches aglow and the fire pit blazing, the mood was perfect for the ceremony. The official "arrow of light" ceremony was performed by a group of "Indians" with a lot of fire and fanfare.

While I'm sure every other parent was looking on with pride as their son handled the arrow, pulled back on the bow, received their award, and crossed the bridge from cubs to boy scouts, all I could think of was who decided that having a fire ceremony in their backyard in the middle of a dry desert sounded like a good idea?

We're proud of you! Congrats Braden!

Suckers

2009-10-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

While soccer season is winding down elsewhere, it is just beginning in Arizona. The weather has cooled to the 80s and low 90s and is beautiful, which may make a few of you laugh!

Braden had his first soccer game on Saturday where they came up with a respectable tie in the last five seconds of the game. We cheered them on as we basked in the sunshine and played on the grass.

Later that day Braden found it interesting that the high in Utah was 53 degrees and it sent him searching for temperatures in other places we have family and friends. His comment, "Suckers!"

A Day to Celebrate

2009-10-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

Today Braden came home with a 100% on his math test, Emme "clipped up" in her kindergarten class, and we found out Ryan passed his board exams. Today is truly a day to celebrate!

Small Crevices

2009-09-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

What is it about small crevices that is so enticing to little kids? The smallest gap will tempt a child to drop a toy, paper, or DVD within its confines. When they tear down the walls in the loft of our old Shaker Heights home, someone will find a hoard of goods from the time we spent there. It then should not be surprising that a nose nostril would be so alluring to a three-year-old. Yet, you have to wonder, why? Why would you stick something up there?

Chloe came to us crying. There was something in her nose and she was not happy about it. Ryan got out his otoscope for a better view. Barely visible in the back of her nose he could just make out the shape of a yellow polly pocket shoe. Why do those things come with shoes anyway? They don't stay on their feet and are lost within moments of the package being opened. It's a wonder Chloe even found one in the first place.

After we tried all we could do, we called on the services of a pediatric ENT who was able to extract and return the shoe. On the drive home, a traumatized Chloe clutched her plastic baggie containing the small yellow shoe as if it were a prize from a gumball machine.

It was a lesson learned, and it seems that more often than not, lessons are learned the hard way. Chloe tells us she will not be sticking anything else up her nose. She has learned the painful consequences. Unfortunately, those consequences were not passed on to her twin and Hadley now has a dolphin nose up hers!

Happy Birthday Emme

2009-09-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

When we first moved to Ohio one of our first outings was to the North Chagrin Reservation where the remnants of Squires Castle are. Though just a gate house for Squire's planned estate, after 120 years it appears to be a small castle. Emmry was not even one-years-old at the time but on that visit I planned her fourth birthday party, which was to be her last birthday in Ohio. What would be better for a little girl than having a princess party on the lawn in front of a castle? The girls would dress-up and we would play games, eat fancy food, and hunt for pixie sticks all with the castle in the foreground. Summer and early fall weather in Ohio is beautiful, so it would be perfect.

Unfortunately, while the weather in Ohio can be beautiful, it is also unpredictable. Mid-September, 2007 was windy and cold. It did not stop my princess party dream though. We had the party at the castle, though Emmry actually wanted a flower party. The kids dressed up, we played games and ate, but all with our jackets pulled up around us. The tissue paper flowers I painstakingly made for decorations tore and blew in the wind. The table cloths would not stay put and the watermelon shaped like daisies looked out of place as we huddled around the BBQ.

Thankfully weather in Arizona is a bit more predictable. This year with just a few months planning we threw a beach party. With eight of her friends dressed in suits and sun screen, we played games, ate, and swam in the warm Arizona sun.

As a family on the 15th we drove to Sedona where we played at Slide Rock, a natural water slide in Oak Creek Canyon, and snacked on its banks. Emmry even braved the cold water and slid down the chute with her dad. It really was perfect!

As we put Emmry to bed with her presents around her, I couldn't help but think that age four started out so unpredictably, despite three-years of planning, and at the end of that year we were in Arizona. Hopefully age six will be much more predictable... we'll just stay right where we're at.

Outsmarted

2009-09-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Why is it that when a toddler and adult go head to head, the toddler always finds a way to outsmart the adult?

The girls have recently figured out that all the "good stuff" in the pantry is on the top shelf. At eye level they see dried beans and milk, wheat, oats, rice and oil. The syrup would be perhaps the most tempting and I'm sure with a bit of ingenuity they could get the lid off, but by just craning the neck upwards there is a wealth of goodies to tempt any child: fruit by the foot, fruit snacks, granola bars, crackers, chips, pudding and candy, including a Costco size bag of M&Ms. So not surprising, it did not take them too long to figure out how to scale the shelves and pull down their preferred treat.

Climbing eight feet off the ground, reaching one handed into a box, and scaling back down was sure to take us back to the orthopod who already had plenty of questions for us. So I made a trip to my local Babies R Us and produced a child lock to Ryan. After nearly an hour of wrestling with the "easy to install" device, Ryan had the lock on the door and we were sure to avoid any more questions.

However, it took Hadley less than one day to figure out the secret to the lock. Hadley shared her new found knowledge with Chloe and the "good stuff" was accessible again.

That night, the girls exhausted from not napping fell asleep around 5:30 p.m. We flipped the lock upside down which restricted any downward movement of the handle. We've got them this time! We assumed they didn't understand the door could be opened by pushing up on the handle.

The next morning the girls were up at 5:00 a.m. I was not. When I pulled myself from bed at ten to six I found them sitting at the table with a box full of Oreos strewn over the table. Breakfast anyone?

Kindergarten

2009-09-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten was made for little girls... the coloring, cutting, pasting, creating...

While volunteering in Emme's class the other day I was able to observe the children's' artwork. Emmry had drawn a picture of a flower on a bed of grass with a rainbow spanning across the sky. How bliss! I could have laid on that grass for hours, smelt the flower, and gazed in awe at the rainbow. Where is Mary Poppins when you need her?

Then I came across her friend's picture. This friend is a boy. His picture reminded me so much of Braden's kindergarten artwork. Not that their pictures were not wonderful in their own way... perhaps they will be great contemporary artists. Their pictures had the sporadic quality of a rushed hand and a mind full of the upcoming recess... of balls, sand, slides and swings. Perhaps just a little less attention to detail.

I could see from Emmry's picture that she loves kindergarten. She loves the coloring, cutting, pasting and creating. She loves learning to read and write in her journal. And though I am missing her, it is fun to see her in her element. She has truly found her calling in life... kindergarten student!

Happy Birthday Girls!

2009-08-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

Sharing a birthday has got to be tough. As a twin you have to share everything already - a room, friends, toys, clothes... even underwear. It's always they, not she. It's always them, not her. It's all about sharing and compromising. But, I just know they're thinking, "Really? Do I really have to share my birthday too?"

Three is a fun birthday. It's the age they really begin to understand it. They talk about it for months after, they sing happy birthday at any moment, and they want to buy everything "for my birthday." So I wanted to make it special for them (I mean her and her). Our first compromise was the birthday dinner. Chloe loves peanut butter, Hadley does not. Hadley loves french fries, Chloe does not. Compromise: they both love snacks (imagine this in unison, "Snack, mama, snack)! Their birthday dinner consisted of cheese and crackers, deli turkey, olives, corn on the cob and melon. Braden deemed it the best dinner ever!

Our second compromise was the birthday cake. The girls have an obsession with princesses which has only deepened since our trip to Disneyland. (Whose idea was that anyway?) While they love them all, Hadley has developed a fondness for Snow White and Chloe for Belle. Voila! We made a Siamese princess!

The girls had a wonderful birthday, compromises and all. The best moment of night for me was easy. It wasn't our snack dinner, our swim party, the presents or the cake. The best moment was producing two beautiful new princess dolls - one Belle, one Snow White - and then seeing two empty-handed-girls look on as their mom ripped the legs off and jammed them into a cake. They went into a hysterical fit! I really wish I had that picture to share.

In all, it was a wonderful 3rd birthday and we're looking forward to year three. Their vocabulary is improving and they can be caught jabbering away to each other. My favorite things they say? "Chloe, so cute!" "That really hurt!" "I love my mama." And when you ask them how old they are, "One, three, two."

Though I hear the older they get the easier it will be, I am thankful today they are just three. They still don't know any better. Sharing things like birthdays... and underwear... is still great fun!

Fleeting Moments

2009-08-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

What memories do you have of your great-grandparents? Mine are pretty patchy. I remember a few things here and a few things there. I remember visiting my great-grandmother Gankee and her siblings at their small home in Salt Lake. Right as you entered their home you climbed a few steps and were in their kitchen. In the second drawer down they always had cookies. They had a wheel chair out back that we liked to ride on. I also remember visiting with great-grandparents at Mommy Allo and Pappy's home (my grandparents). They sat in a rocking chair. That's it.

Mommy Allo and Pappy are now in their mid-90s. I took my children over to visit while we were in Utah a month ago. What do they remember? They remember Pappy in a wheel chair. They remember him asking them questions and saying what beautiful children they are. But they are constantly talking about Mommy Allo. "Mommy Allo paint my nails," they say. "Go to Mommy Allo's house."

It's interesting the memories we hold on to. The moments are so fleeting, but the memories can last forever. My girls will always remember their great-grandmother Mommy Allo and how she painted their nails!

Finding Magic

2009-08-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

It has been a dream of mine to take my kids to Disneyland. The rides, the magic, the memories. I wanted that for my kids. I wanted them to ride blindly through Space Mountain and get dizzy on the tea pots. I wanted them to watch the shows and dance in the parades. I wanted them to eat expensive ice cream and drink overpriced lemonade. I wanted them to pick out and buy their very own souvenirs. I wanted the magic of Disneyland for them.

It was a dream fulfilled from the first moment to the last. Upon our arrival at the hotel there were three boxes waiting for us. Inside were princess dresses, stuffed Minnie and Daisy duck dolls, tiaras and wands. The dresses were immediately put on, and once they were on it was very difficult getting them off. Hadley, dressed as Snow White, and Chloe, dressed as Belle, refused each morning to take them off to go to the park. Once there, they loved the Dumbo ride and spent a good part of our early entrance at the Pooh ride. FYI, there's no one in line for Pooh at 8:00 a.m. You can ride it over and over and over again. You don't even have to get off as your children chant in unison "'gin, 'gin"(sigh).

Braden was the most reluctant of the kids. He equates Disney with everything girl and princess, because it pretty much is at our house. When he entered the parks, he came with a little chip on his shoulder and Disney definitely had something to prove. Poor Crush the sea turtle from Finding Nemo felt it, as Braden gave him a bit of a hard time. Their conversation went something like this:

Crush: So, what's your name.

Braden: Braden

Crush: Where ya from?

Braden: (long pause)... I don't think you'd know it.

Crush: That's why I'm asking. So, let's try it again. Where ya from?

Braden: (long pause)... Up on the surface.

Crush: Where abouts up on the surface?

Braden: On the land.

In the end Disney won Braden over. He and Emme kept Ryan nauseous for the entire four days. Braden loved the Tower of Terror while Emmry's favorite was the Matterhorn. Ryan's favorite may likely have been the park bench, and my favorite? I loved the shows (When did I become a boring adult?).

On the last day we let the kids pick out their souvenir. They had had four days now to look in every shop and contemplate just the right trinket. In the end, it was pretty easy. Braden chose a double-sided light saber; Emmry, a Minnie Mouse Polly Pocket; Hadley, a bucket of princesses; and Chloe, the cat in a princess purse she fell in love with at the Pooh ride.

The dream vacation was truly magical for me and I was not disappointed. But it was really more than the magic of the park, Mickey and the princesses, Small World, and Sleeping Beauty's castle. For me, it was what the vacation represented. It represented the end of our journey through school, our finally making it, and the opportunities that are ahead of us. That is what made this dream truly magical!

Puppy Dog Eyes

2009-08-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

We have been in Utah for exactly one month and we can definitely taste the bitter sweet as we pack up to leave. The kids are excited. Tonight we'll be in St. George staying with our friends, the Nelsons, and tomorrow we'll be in Anaheim. But we're all sad to say goodbye to friends, family, and the fun we've had here in Utah. We have that sort of expression on our faces. The longing you see in a dog's face when something they can't have is dangled right in front of them.

Staying in a house with up to six adults, eight kids, and two dogs has been quite a party and definitely one of the highlights. Braden was adopted for the better part of the month by his Aunt Launi and her four boys. They hiked to Timpanogos Cave, visited the Kennecott Copper Mine, camped in Logan Canyon, and played Wii daily at the break of dawn. We have enjoyed the "cool" Utah weather and just sitting on the grass in Liberty Park.

Visiting the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House was a memorable experience. The kids had the unique opportunity to walk through the temple before its dedication. With four kids it was not exactly the reverent, spiritual experience for which I had hoped. But it definitely was memorable. When else will you see a two-year-old jump on the step of the alter?

With thoughts of returning home to Scottsdale in our heads, Braden and I took to the golf course for two days of lessons. Braden has developed quite the swing! When Ryan got into town it was fun for us to spend a little time with Braden on the golf course. If paring the ninth hole doesn't keep you coming back, that will.

Of all of us, I think Chanel may be the saddest to leave. She has developed quite a fondness for our parents and my parents' dog, Daisy. She has not only found a warm spot in their hears, but in their beds also. She goes on daily walks and wrestles with Daisy. Not sure we could compete with that, with the good of the dog in mind, I proposed she stay in Utah and we could come for visits. But the kids couldn't be fooled and quickly vetoed the idea. So we'll all leave - packed tightly in our van - with our puppy dog eyes focused on Utah, our family, and our friends, just out of reach.

Are You Kidding Me?

2009-07-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

"Are you kidding me?," is a phrase I've found that I'm often repeating lately. It's amazing to me the kind of trouble a toddler can cause in the literal blink of an eye.

Week three in Utah has been spent sewing Emmry's summer project. At the beginning of the summer Emme decided it would be fun to make a dress. Having only sewed from a pattern on one other occasion, I decided my extended trip to Utah with my mom at hand might be the perfect place for this project. At week three, I was definitely feeling the pressure of our looming departure date as I struggled through my "Easy to Sew" dress. (Isn't there an "Easiest to Sew" category?)

Like any perfect, wonderful children, mine seem to find trouble when they are left to themselves for too long. Don't believe me? Read back a bit. I was working on the hem (which means I'm almost done, hallelujah!) when Braden came running into the sewing room with our dog cradled in his arms dripping blood. Blood! Blood matted all in the dogs hair, in my mom's new carpet, and most likely on a twin. After a quick sponge bath it was clear the source of the blood was a cut on the dog's ear. Hadley was quickly produced holding a pair of scissors which also explained Chanel's interesting new haircut.

As I tried to curtail the bleeding in the bathroom I registered a familiar sound coming from the other room. With the threat of the dog's life currently on hold I dropped Nell to the ground and rounded the corner to find Chloe pushing the pedal on the sewing machine where I had left Emme's nearly complete dress.

Are you kidding me?

No one tells you it will be this hard, but as with all things, it is completely worth it. After stopping the bleeding, cleaning up the blood, and unstitching the dress I peeked in on my kids in bed. They really are perfect and wonderful, aren't they?

Family Reunion

2009-07-26T16:46:00.000-07:00

I have so many wonderful memories of family vacations from when I was young, most from our trips to California to visit Tami and Papa Del. We loved water skiing in their backyard in Discovery Bay, camping in the Sierra's at their cabin, and taking day trips into San Fransisco.

I enjoy trying to recreate these memories for my kids.

If I could take them up to the Sierra's to
drink hot cocoa by fire in the morning, sleep under the stars at night, play in the river, drink soda from the underground water fridge, swing in the tire swing, and cook over the fire, I would.

So in the spirit of camping, the Derrick family "camped out' for a four day reunion at the Homestead in Midway, Utah. We golfed, swam, cruised down the Alpine Slide, competed in tennis tournaments, and tried our hand at fishing (note: the husbands were off golfing for this last one). Braden surprised the park rangers by actually catching one. The kids shared secret cousin presents and Chloe, who caught the flu, shared that as well.

So while there was no camping under the stars or cooking over an open fire, there was family... and that is what memories are all about.

Bonding

2009-07-19T23:57:00.000-07:00

Ryan and I feel the hardest part about living away from family is that our children have limited opportunities to bond with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. It was then out of sheer selflessness that we decided to leave them for a week in Utah with my parents to strengthen those bonds while we played in Alaska with Ryan's family.

What can I say... it was amazing. We hiked, rafted, shopped, and toured on land. We read, hot tubbed,

watched movies, dined out, and went to shows on board... things we never have a chance to do at home. It was a very relaxing week...

Well, it was for us. For my mom on the other hand, it was a bit more work. She was not doing any reading. She was not shopping, or hiking, watching whales port side, or sleeping in either. She was taking kids to the parade (one covered in throw up), the swim pool (two naked hiding in lockers), and the zoo (bless her). She was keeping the kids busy so they wouldn't miss us. She must have done a great job of it too because she said the only reference the kids made to us was the babies' daily naked salute to our picture on the wall while riding dog-back.

Yes, my parents have a dog and they were dog-sitting Chanel as well, which worked out nicely for the twins... they each had a dog to torment. They rode them, walked them, and played house with them. Poor Daisy! Chanel is used to being locked in closets, dragged around by the collar, pushed in strollers, and carried around. Daisy was a novice but was quite the sport! Fortunately she has the advantage of size that Chanel does not have and could not be lifted. My mom said the girls loved going on walks with the dogs, and just like the dogs, would always stop to check out the port-a-potty.

Ryan and I are happy to be back and grateful for the time the kids were able to spend with family. After a week, I think the grandparents and grandchildren must have truly bonded. "No, me Hadley," is now a part of Hadley's everyday language (even yelling it out in sacrament meeting to my dad at the pulpit) and the twins gave my mom their own affectionate nickname by contorting grammy into "dum-dum." I know she appreciates it after taking care of them for a week and we're working our hardest to make it stick!

A Blessing Amidst Chaos

2009-07-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

When you're leaving home for a month you plan. You plan what you'll pack and what you'll do. You plan for who'll fill in for you while you're gone. You plan to not receive your mail, newspaper and bills. You return library books and make arrangements for pets. You clean your house and clean out the fridge. What you don't plan for is losing your wallet just hours before leaving town.

The day we were leaving we had just a few things left to do: swim lessons in the morning followed by a stop at the library, then a little cleaning. It appeared we were on schedule to leave as planned that afternoon. I never would have guessed how opening my car door for Emme to drop our books in the return slot at the library would throw my afternoon into chaos. When the door was opened, my wallet was kicked out and left behind. It wasn't until hours later after a second visit to the pool and library, the canceling of all my cards, ordering of an express driver's licence, and the saying of a family prayer that the library called.

In a large family, leaving town is always a bit chaotic and you're nearly always behind schedule, but that afternoon proved to be even more so than anticipated. As we pulled up to my mom's house the next morning as the sun rose over the mountains, we new that the time spent on the loss and recovery of the wallet was not a waste. Our kids learned a valuable lessons that day. They learned that Heavenly Father answers prayers. They would also soon learn another valuable lesson, the reason for cleaning out the fridge before leaving town.

Barf Bag Anyone?

2009-07-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

The cues have gotten easier to read. It always begins with a cough. A cough followed by gagging and then finally the pivotal moment, the spewing of the contents of an overly snack laden, upset stomach. We came prepared this time though with cue in mind, spare clothes at hand, barf bags within arms reach, and a dog to clean up the mess. When you are prepared there's nothing to fear. Right?

We were still plenty fearful, but when the coughing started Ryan didn't hesitate. We were immediately at the side of the road with Chloe stripped from her seat and thrown over Ryan's arm. A moment later, settled back into our drive, Ryan and I smiled at each other. We had outsmarted the nuisance of so many of our past travels. It would be left behind, not traveling with us to our next stop until the next borrowed washing machine would rid us of its smell. We left it just outside Wickenberg, Arizona and we were all elated. Well everyone but the dog.

The Summer of Reunions

2009-07-03T09:13:00.000-07:00

When the weather starts to warm up in Phoenix and the thermometer consistently reads over 100 degrees, Phoenicians scatter. They go to California or their cabins in nearby mountains. Anywhere the weather isn't so oppressive. For a month or two in the summer the city is pretty quiet. So naturally, we followed suit and headed out of town for the month of July.

For us, it was a month of reunions. Reunions with our med-school friends, residency friends, and the Huffman and Derrick families. People with whom we share so many memories. People we love dearly. It's was a great summer!

Easter Hunt

2009-04-19T16:37:00.000-07:00

Easter morning is just plain fun. Who wouldn't like looking for candy filled Easter Eggs and filling a basket with treats? The tradition of the hunt is often more enjoyable than the spoils themselves. The search for Easter baskets is a particular highlight in our family as it not only holds the obligatory marshmallow Easter bunny in it, but a special surprise picked out for each child. While the kids proved to be good seekers this year, the parents did not fare so well.

After the candy was collected and breakfast was eaten, we loaded everyone in the van for 9:00 a.m. church. It was then we noticed one of our little chickies was not with us. We searched the house, the backyard, and even began walking through the neighborhood. Five minutes is my limit. After five I begin to worry. Ten minutes is my breaking point. Thankfully not too far into the ten minutes Ryan found our little Easter surprise hidden in the laundry room. Hadley had climbed into the dirty clothes hamper and piled clothes over the top of herself. How Ryan thought to look there was a definite Easter Miracle.

Perhaps hiding things on Easter is not such a great tradition after all.

Great Expectations

2009-04-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

A year ago, our move to Arizona held with it a promising future and great expectations. While Ryan looked forward to a new job and finally beginning his career, Braden and I had our own hopes for what was to come. For Braden, it was the Grand Canyon. For me, wearing sandals at Easter. While wearing sandals at Easter seems a small thing in comparison to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon or a job twelve years in the making, to me it is all about the underlying significance. Sandals at Easter means no more spring flowers dredged in snow; no more tiptoeing through slush in open-toe pumps; no more winters in April and May.

It was then with some excitement that Easter weekend we headed north for the Grand Canyon. Our short 3 1/2 hour drive was full of anticipation and speculation, though plagued with car sickness as we didn't even make it out of the valley before our first incident. Nothing could dampen the moment though when the six of us peered over the railing for our first look at the infamous canyon. I think Emme said it best when she said, "It looks just like a picture way out there."

Taking two two-year-olds to a steep-sided canyon that drops 6000 feet was a bit unnerving to say the least, so it was not long after that we piled back in the van for the next leg of our trip. Thankfully we were headed just an hour away to Flagstaff where our friends the Tullis' live because our car, a car seat, and a couple days worth of toddler clothes were in need of a good steam cleaning.
Other highlights of our trip: hiking down to a waterfall near Flagstaff; sliding down a natural 80-foot water slide in Sedona; and sledding. Yes, sledding. The kids were thrilled to wake up Saturday morning to find snow. We left the mid-west only to find snow on Easter in Arizona. We have been teaching Emmry a new word... ironic. Yes, I would say it was ironic. But strangely, the snow did not dishearten me despite my great expectations for Easter this year. In a way, at someone else's home in someone else's town, the snow helped us to feel at home.

Congrats Braden!

2009-04-17T13:52:00.001-07:00

Ask Braden if he likes school and he will tell you what you would expect from any forth-grade boy. Ask him the classic question, "How was school today?" and he is as equally unenthusiastic. But he isn't fooling us. His achievements speak otherwise. During second quarter, he wrote a poem that his class voted one of three to represent them in a school contest. He has recently been placed in his school's prestigious Lynx Club for outstanding academic achievement for third quarter. And he has now preceded to reach his reading goal for forth quarter in one week thanks to Percy Jackson.

I understand that a ten-year-old boy has an image to maintain, but I don't believe for one minute that this over-achieving boy hates school.

Staying Happy, Come What May

2009-04-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

I recently read some advice from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of our church.

He said, "The way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life." He advised us to learn to laugh.

It was with this council that I approached my day yesterday. With no problems in the morning, I hit mid-day with a triumphant stride... a stride that ran me right into two two-year-olds covered in chocolate. How they pulled those fudge bars from the freezer I am not sure, but they are crafty. And when one can't figure it out, the other one is sure to.

Deep breathe. Genuine laugh.

A bit later Braden asked me why there was chocolate all over the couch.

Deep breathe. Laugh.

Next the dog was found with chocolate drippings.

Deeper breathe. Forced laugh.

I was wiping up the couch when I noticed water running. Quick calculation. How long had that been going? Too long. There was one girl in the tub acting as receiver, the other making deliveries... blankets, dolls, beach towels, dress ups.

Deep breathe, deeper breathe. Smirk.

So I spent a bit of time wringing out some things in the sink before I rounded the corner to the girls' bedroom. What are the brown puddles on the carpet? Chocolate.

Deep breathe with a smack on the end. Grimace. Good thing I have plenty of wet towels.

After twenty minutes on my hands and knees I think I have managed the crisis quite well. The melted fudge bars have been cleaned from every surface, except the dog (Sorry Nell!), and the wet items have been put in the washing machine. I have reacted to my adversity well. Elder Wirthlin would be proud.

But wait, on the kitchen floor is a corner of a chocolate chip bag and a pair of scissors. Now not everyone would have the eye and experience to know that those two things equal trouble, but I have been highly trained by the best.

It did not take long before I found my sweeties outside on the trampoline with not one, but two opened bags of chocolate chips.

Sigh. Get the camera. Maybe I'll laugh later.

Elder Wirthlin must not have had twins.

Ooo-la-la!

2009-03-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

We came up with a stupendous idea! That’s a fancy word for great!

Emmry and I went on a “Fancy Nancy” date last Saturday. We could not entice the boys to come along, really they were not even invited. We dressed up in the craziest, fancy outfits we could come up with, invited some friends, and met for breakfast. I have to say I was a the slightest bit tentative about getting out of the car with giant bows tied around my ankles and a tiara on my head, but Emmry couldn't have been more in her element.

We were so posh!

Fine Cuisine from the Huffman Kitchen

2009-03-19T18:50:00.000-07:00

When Emmry's preschool friend came to play last week she brought along her favorite lunch and awakened Emme's taste buds to a fabulous new dish. Of coarse, I would not hear the end of it until we purchased some of our own. This week the kids and I went to the store, made our selection, and served it for lunch the next day.

Upon trying the new delicacy Braden said, "This is awesome! What is this called?"

"Top Ramen." My poor deprived children.

I'm Gonna Make Millions

2009-03-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

Forget the Nanny Cam. This is much better. I'm going to patent a hat, a cute pink one with bows and flowers but with a solid chin strap that can't come undone. In the hat will be a camera. It will be much like what you see sky divers wear to document their jumps. The parent will wear a small screen on an arm band like a watch that receives video stream from the hat 24/7. The parent can know at all times where the child is and what she is doing.

You know those moments when it is quiet... when you don't want to look in for fear you'll be seen, yet your afraid not to look in for fear of what you will see. You will never have to worry about that again. You will never again hear, "Mommy the babies..." and hold your breath for what comes next. "Mommy the babies are playing in your makeup... mommy the babies dumped the cereal out on my floor... mommy the babies are naked on the trampoline... mommy the babies dumped all the dog food in the water bowl... mommy the babies pulled the shower curtain down, dumped out all the toys, and are in the bathtub with their dolls."

I imagine it will make millions, just like my sound proof glass separating the front seat of the car from the back.

From the Mouths of Babes

2009-03-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Emmry commented today on the excessive amount of hair on my arms. As a second-grader I remember this comment would send me running away in tears, but I have long since overcome the insecurity. In fact, there are many virtues to having a bit more hair on your arms, of which I can't think of any at the time being, but trust me there are.

The comment of excessive hair brought Emmry's thoughts around to her female piano teacher. She said to me, "My teacher has hair above her lip."

My comment, "Oh, that sometimes happens."

Her response, "Yah, she said she doesn't like it."

Am I glad I wasn't observing piano lessons that day.

Happy Birthday Braden!

2009-03-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

It is amazing to think I have a 10-year-old. Where did the time go? On Saturday we will be holding an on-line Wii tournament with friends and cousins here and across the country. It's hard to move and lose friendships and we have been on the move since Braden was born. We have left a trail of dear friends in our wake, both our own and our childrens'. It has always been difficult, but for Braden this last one was especially hard. The other day someone asked him where he was from, his perplexed look said it all. Forget the 10-donut tower, the fondu dinner, and the presents. Perhaps the best gift we have to offer this year is stability. We're finally settled.

Happy Birthday Bubba!

Love Hurts

2009-02-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

We had a parakeet for a while when we lived in Ohio. I found it one day beak down in its empty water dish. We have a few theories. Perry either died of dehydration, as evidence strongly suggests, or possibly hypothermia, as our 1940s house had no insulation and was a bit drafty. A third and probable theory is that Perry died from a lack of love.

Our dog, Chanel, on the other hand is sure to die from too much love. We are constantly amazed at the abuse she takes, just to return for more. Hadley and Chloe adore her and have a few nick names for her including Nell, Chin-chin, and baby. They tote her around as if she were their offspring, pushing her into car seats, beds, child-size chairs, strollers and closets. Amazingly, she shows no resistance when they come for her. With one arm under her belly and the other under her neck, they whisk her away. A few weeks back we were all gathered together, but Nellie was not there... quite unusual as she is usually underfoot. Our calls to her elicited no response. Not so much as even a bark. Finally we thought to ask the little girls... and no surprise, they knew just where she was. They had shut her in an empty box.

If any of this were not bad enough, their favorite act of torture is dancing with Nellie. By picking up her front paws they have found she will stagger back and forth at their whim. They also discovered that by picking up her back legs she will play wheel barrel. And yes, I have had to stop them from finding out what happens when you pick both up at the same time. You would think the poor dog would run when she sees the two of them coming, but she doesn't. She knows from whence the good food falls, and plants herself under highchair at meal time.

Though the little girls make Nellie endure a lot, they do show they love that poor dog. They snuggle up on the couch under blankets with her and build her forts out of the cushions. I've witnessed Chloe sharing a drink via a straw out of Nellie's water dish, and Hadley one of Nellie's favorite bathroom spots in the backyard. Everyone has grown very attached. Thankfully hypothermia will not be an issue in Arizona... I have come upon a very dry water bowl though.

Fourteen and Counting

2009-02-17T14:32:00.000-08:00

Happy anniversary babe! It seems we've packed a lot into the past fourteen years and I've loved nearly every minute. Here are a few of my favorite:

$400 rent in 450 square feet (it was a simple life)
Reunions after two weeks at AIT training (lots of lovn')
Sharing a car at the U (love notes left and car gone missing)
Living in D.C. suburb (oh, the places we went!)
Golf date on my 33rd birthday (9 holes in your world)
Three ultrasounds, four babies (need I say more)
Med-school graduation on the White House lawn (surreal)
Our first house (a 1940s fixer-upper that underwent four years of fixin-up)
Two days, two nights interviewing in Twin Falls (the end of the tunnel's a'comin')

Too many prayers answered.

We've come a long way baby! I love you!

Staying True

2009-02-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

Despite receiving pressure from family and friends at school to root for the hometown Cardinals, Braden stayed true to his loyalty to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mr. Smith, his third grade teacher in Ohio, would be proud!

Mr. Smith is from Pittsburgh and a devoted Steelers fan. His mission was to convert over as many Cleveland Browns fans as possible. It was all innocently done through homework assignments and extra credit points. Braden found himself finding the sum of the Steelers' running yards from the previous game or the number of touchdowns from a point total. Tuesday mornings we would be looking up the score of the Steelers game on the internet for a few bonus points.

I'm not sure how many impressionable minds Mr. Smith wins over each year, but he had a lasting impression on one. I have to admit, I was secretly hoping for the Steelers to pull out a victory as well. I didn't want Braden to have to return to school Monday morning and face his classmates defeated.

Way to go Steelers!

New Carpet Conspiracy

2009-01-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday it was Chloe and the nail polish, today it was Hadley and the dog.

As we were loading everyone up in the car to leave for church, we noticed one little soul missing. Ryan went to track down the wayward one and found her exiting Braden's room, pulling the door shut behind her. Elated to return her to the fold, we threw her in the car and rushed out the door.

It wasn't until our return that we found what mischivious act our errant Hadley had carried out. As it turns out, being the kind-hearted soul that she is, she had taken pity on the kenneled dog and released her. Her nursery teachers would be proud of the compassion she showed in opening the cage and the responsibility she showed in shutting Braden's door. If it were not for the behavior of the sinful dog, she may have even found herself advanced to the high rank of Sunbeam. Unfortunately, Chanel was not happy even with her larger enclosure and had attempted to dig her way out.

You would think someone has begun a consipiracy for new carpet in this house. I promise I was not behind any of it!

No Gum Allowed

2009-01-24T22:44:00.001-08:00

When I was growing up my mom had a rule about gum. It was simple, no gum allowed in the house. I don't know what event spurred the creation of the rule, though I do not doubt there was one. We are a bit more liberal with gum in our house, though we do have a rule: you can chew it, but when you spit, the gob of gum must go in the toilet or a tissue which then goes directly in the trash. It's a bit longer than my mom's rule, but it seems to have worked as we have had no gum incidents in our home.

Today was cleaning day. Cleaning day is a family affair with everyone busy with their assigned undertaking. The babies are good at scrubbing the insides of toilets, a task I am happy to pawn off, but otherwise not much help. Today while we were diligently scrubbing and sweeping, Chloe found Emmry's nail polish that was left out in the bathroom. It is a wonderful shade of bubble gum pink and looks divine on Emmry's fingers and toes. It does not look so divine painted all over a two-year-old or spilled on cream Berber carpet.

No, we have no rule banning gum in our house. What we do have is a ban on nail polish.

Aren't They Adorable!

2009-01-15T23:04:00.000-08:00

Being in public with twins is a very unique experience. People are always stopping me to tell me how adorable they are, ask questions, or share with me a twin experience from their life. While at first enjoyable, I've now learned to block out the whispers and giggles and become as immune as possible to the attention.

So I gave very little thought to the women who were pointing and giggling at the babies at Christmas time as I searched through an entire display of every kind of character underwear the commercial industry has imagined up for a size 5 of anything. I really didn't care if I got princesses or Mickey Mouse, I just needed a size 5. It wasn't until I turned to Emmry to vent my frustration that I became aware of what the finger pointing was actually about. Perhaps yes, it was because they are twins and oh, aren't they adorable. But I think it had more to do with the fact that they were sitting on the floor, naked from the waist down with an opened pair of underwear beside them. Hadley had one leg in, and Chloe was trying to determine which pair was pink enough. One more leg in and a couple inches higher, I would have found myself the owner of a brand new pair of incorrect sized underwear.

If this weren't bad enough, I barely got the underwear packaged up and returned to the display when I found myself in the boy's underwear section with the same problem.

Oh yes, I agree, I think they're adorable. I just think they're much more adorable in their beds asleep!