You Are Invited

I Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I Can

I Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I Can, OK, here goes:

Guess who had a birthday?



That's right! Jack turned three in style.



We, of course, had cupcakes.



And some other, non-traditional January food. But when you're three and you ask for corn and watermelon on your birthday, that's exactly what you get....especially when you look so cute eating it.






And then, a month later, we had another big birthday...big as in TEENAGER big birthday.



Here is John taking care of the wrapping paper trash and Maggie just looking cute.



Speaking of Maggie, she made Joe this lovely two layer cake all by herself.



Well, she had a little help from her brothers:





As part of his birthday celebrations, Joe invited a couple of friends to EFY in Santa Barbara. Here he is enjoying the benefits of having a mother who buys neck ties by the dozen.



Sadly, two days after the big birthday, my dear Grandma LaRue passed away. She was a wonderful woman who taught me so many things. I am sad that she is gone, but happy that she is no longer in pain.



I wasn't able to attend her funeral as I had already made plans to visit my sister Chelsea who had just had her first baby. We had a lovely weekend snuggling with little Nash...such a cute baby.




And Friday, just three weeks after the passing of my Grandma, my Grandpa, her husband of over sixty years, passed away as well. I am so sad to have them both gone from our lives so quickly. But I am happy that they are together again.



Tomorrow I'm taking the kids on the train, and we'll all travel together up to Oregon together for the funeral. One mom, six kids, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.... I guess I'll let you know.

Christmas in Oregon

We spent a really lovely 10 days in Oregon with my family for Christmas. We had fun with cousins, went ice skating, saw movies, went swimming (Madras has a pretty cool indoor acquatic center), opened lots of presents, and just generally had a great time. Thanks so much to my Dad and Mom who worked hard and were so patient having us in their house. I know it must be hard to go from two to ten people in your home. It was truly a Christmas for the record books. Here are just a few of the highlights:

Got to stay the night with Robers up in Sacramento on the way up. The kids picked up right where they left off:



Ice Skating:














This isn't the greatest picture, but it illustrates the first comment the Joe IV heard everywhere we went, "Wow Joe, you're so tall". He hasn't passed me up yet, but he did pass all three of the aunts we saw over the holiday:



These two were fast friends:




As were these two, granted without the public enthusiasm as the five year olds:




A little Christmas Eve wrestling...wouldn't be Christmas without it:






ANd then of course the traditional Christmas Eve present:





Christmas morning lineup:



Then off to church at NINE am:





This boy is looking more and more like the man I met fifteen years ago:






After church it was back home and back to pajamas for present opening:








Maggie made hats for each one of her FIVE brothers:









Maggie and I got some matching Toms - I think I was more excited than she was:









Still couldn't completely keep out the cupcakes:





And no trip to Oregon is complete without a trip to super cool aunt and uncle Jann and Alan's for some target practice:






Don't forget the hearing protection:



This might be my favorite picture of all....all five of my boys out playing together at my childhood home:



Minus the snow, our Christmas was pretty much picture perfect. One I'm sure we'll always remember.

Nine

With Harry's Birthday, we are now officially 2/3 of the way through Brundage Birthday Season. On Friday, Harry turned nine, and we celebrated. Here's the details...

Wake up to presents...





This kid is always so enthusiastic about presents. My other children should take note. It's more fun to give gifts to kids who get excited about what they get. Here's a little known detail about Harry.... He's never once asked for a video game system, video game, online gaming membership, ipod, or any other electronic device that would require sitting for long periods of time. He has, over the years, asked for many "odd" gifts...crutches, airbrush tattoo kit, costumes, and this year, a pipe. Yeah, a pipe. I don't know why...maybe he's been watching Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter lately. But at the top of a list was a pipe. Second on the list was dry ice to put in the pipe so it would look like he's actually smoking. I know it probably isn't politically correct parenting to give in to these whims. But I have a hard time saying no to such an imagination. So, this year he got a pipe. I did say no to the dry ice. I don't think I took a picture of it, but I wanted to write about it so I don't forget it. He also said to me, "Mom, when we go to Oregon for Christmas, I want to wake up every morning, get my pipe, sit out on the porch in a rocking chair and smoke my pipe". Because in Oregon it's cold enough to see your breath...so it would look more realistic. Again, hard to say no...although I did find it necessary to have a little chat about the Word Of Wisdom. I think we're on the same page there. I hope we're on the same page there.

Anyway, after the morning of presents and pretend pipe smoking, it was off to school. It was a busy day there...last day of school before the break, school assembly in which Harry performed and Charlie received an award and three room parties. By lunchtime, we had had enough, and we checked Harry out and took him to a Firestone Birthday Lunch with Grandpa and Grandma:



He spent the afternoon flying his new helicopter, and then headed to the church for our Ward Christmas Party/Ward Birthday Party for Harry. Again, no pictures. I was pretty much running on fumes at this point. Remember, I still had to pack eight people up to go to Oregon for two weeks and I hadn't even started. Oh! I also had to give a talk in church on Sunday that I hadn't even started to formally write. So things were a little fuzzy for me.

The next day started off with a bang at the Christmas Piano Recital, and rose to a chaotic crescendo as we attempted to take 12 kids, 12 and under to Alvin and the Chipmunks, Chipwrecked. And then back to Coldstone for Ice Cream Cake and a silly string fight. Harry even invited girls to this party. They didn't get anywhere near each other or speak to each other the whole day, but still, that's a pretty big step!





I think, all in all, the day/s were a success. If you consider me not completely losing my mind a success that is.

Happy Birthday Harry. You are and always have been my little Happy Harry. We are so blessed to have you as part of our family.