Updated pic of the crew...

Fan-C, Tank & Tiny-T

They are growing up so stinkin' fast!

Pond Update!

Well I sort of let this blog 'die' after our horrible October 2012.  

But today is a new day.  

2013 came and went and we are almost 1/4 of the way through 2014... *sigh* life has gone on.

We have been loving living in the PNW again.  We love Oregon... the green trees, all the blossoms that are sprouting right now on the trees.... oh I love it!  I have become one with my bottle of allergy meds but that is just fine to experience Oregon's beauty.  My allergies go to my ears first (post-Texas) and so I have been wandering around in a fog of sorts.  I can't hear much... I have to keep reminding my crew and (unfortunately) everyone around me too.  I just need my ears to calm down and then I'll be GREAT!

So updates:

Fan-C is now eleven going on fifteen!  That girl has a strong will and we get to experience it on a daily basis.  She is so tall and done with her first round of braces.  She'll be getting her full set of braces once a couple more of her permanent teeth finish growing in.  She is our family librarian.  She loves her books... she is never far from at least a couple books at all times.  We have to MAKE her go outside (without a book) and move!  She is awesome.  She thirsts for knowledge and I am constantly telling her to "go research it".  I don't know everything but she still asks me questions (some crazy) every day!

Tank is ten (next week) and is 100% boy!  He played spring soccer last year and was a natural.  He took to the field and was a power house for his team.  He won't be playing this year but he will be playing touch football in the fall again.  His last season was crazy but he had a great time.  He was in the older group 4th & 5th graders and he was BY FAR the smallest dude out there.... but SO FAST.  He had an amazing coach who served as an amazing advocate for his wee men.  There was some VERY aggressive teams/coaches.  He kept things in perspective for our boys... Thanks Coach Collins.  Tank still LOVES animals and is obsessed with foxes right now.  Yes, he knows every word to that horrible song, "What Does the Fox Say"  - drives me batty!  He finished his Bears (cub scouts) and will be joining the Webelos on his birthday.  I can't believe he is only one year from "big boy" scouts!  Crazy how fast all this is going.

Tiny-T is eight.  She was baptized by her Daddy last fall.  She and Fan-C take piano lessons and are both doing great!  Tiny-T loves all things Barbie and accessories!  She loves jewelry, hair bows/clips, purses, shoes... she is a girly-girl and I have NEVER been one.  She is leading me to uncharted territory.  She wants to SHOP.  I hate shopping.  She loves to sing... has a great voice.  I love it!  She has become an avid reader too.  I love that she clicked with reading... I was so worried that she would spend her life struggling in that respect... but she does really well.  I want to start encouraging her to join a sport... she has wheels!  We'll look into fall soccer.  

A is now 28 and he lives in Georgia.  He was transferred with IB and is running their Atlanta location.  He is doing really great!  Last week he got engaged to his sweetheart.  We are so excited for him.  R will be leaving to serve in the Peace Corp for a couple years but that will give them time to get to know each other and plan a wedding.  I'm so excited for them... and I'm excited to become a Nama!  

Lance is serving as the Elder's Quorum President and I'm still serving in the Young Women's Presidency.  It keeps us busy.  We are so glad to be done with this winter... too much snow and ice for our liking.  We spent some time in December in Texas (Lance's father passed away) and expected warm weather... it snowed and there was over three inches of solid ice.  Not fun.  I fell trying to climb into the truck and during that fall I tore the meniscus on my right knee and I'm still healing... that is one SLOW spot to heal.  

So that is the update from our pond.  We hope all is well with your families.  I do enjoy reading all the updates on y'alls blogs.  
 

Our hearts are broken...

We finally found out that the wee one we have been preparing for since August is not going to come.  We don't even know if it was a boy or a girl. 

(I have a feeling it was a boy... I don't know why... I just think it was a 'he'.) 

The baby didn't survive. 

That's all we were told.

No further explanation. 

No details. 

No rhyme or reason... just 'didn't survive'. 

I have actually known for a few days... I just needed time. 

This loss of course stirred up a whole batch of aches and pains that we thought were done with over baby Onica. (a wee one we 'lost' at nine months old)

I was in shock when we thought a wee one would be coming to alter our sleep schedules and laundry cycles.  I almost thought... I don't know if I want THAT.  But then we started receiving donations from friends and family members... furniture, clothes, bottles... everything started falling into place.  Excitement started flowing through our home and we were giddy with anticipation of a new lil man or lil lady coming to fill our home with their sweet lil spirit.  

We are offering to return all the donations.  

We thank all the many families that came forward and tried to help us ready our home for the new baby.  We appreciate you all so very much.  We appreciate all the other families that were ready to help once they knew whether our bundle would be wearing blue or pink... thank you.

It's amazing that we could fall in love with a baby we never saw or felt or heard.

We loved that baby.  We prayed for the baby and bio-mother, daily.

I pray that bio-mom is doing well and healing from her loss as well.

 

Ready or not... here (it) comes....

Wow! 

I haven't posted anything since our Christmas countdown.  Ummmmmm, lame.

We have had a ton happen in our ducky household. 

We MOVED back to the promise land ~ OREGON!!!!

Lance got transfered again... we love love love love love being back in the great Pacific Northwest. 

We still own our home in Texas and that is turning out to be an adventure... (another post for that story).

The crew have been enjoying a glorious summer where they can actually play OUTSIDE all day since it isn't 110 everyday.  Have I mentioned that I love being back in the PNW?!? 

We are also getting our home ready to have a new wee one!

Another zoo crew member will be arriving soon...

We don't know if it will be a boy or a girl.

We don't know exactly when (it) will be arriving. 

We are scrambling to get all the baby-stuff assembled that we will be needing. 

Seriously, I had forgotten how much crud you need for such a wee lil person.

The crew is so excited to be getting a new broski or sister...

I am still in a wee bit o' shock...

Most get some notice... I will have a whole six weeks, if the baby isn't born early.

So... welcome back.

Enjoy our pond and all the chaos that we call life. 

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 25

We made it!!!!

One final night of activities...

We will be bundling up the crew and going to see the Interlochen lights down in Arlington.

Over 150 big homes all decked out in Christmas lights.

There is a local business man who finances all the city fees to keep the lights going... meaning he pays for all the police who do the traffic controlling for this piece of heaven!

Our crew will most likely fall asleep but that is just fine with me.

Have the Christmas music playing while looking at gorgeous light displays... my Christmas present to me!

You've made it... you read through all our countdowns for this Christmas season.

I'm glad I got to share them all with you...

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 24

We spread out Reindeer Dust all over our yard.

We pile up a bunch of carrots onto a plate for Santa's team.

We leave out Santa's treats.

This year he is having brownie bites topped with strawberries and white chocolate trim:

(YUMMMMMMMM)

AND snowman donuts ~ fresh.

(we made them earlier in the countdown)
Then when the yard is done and the treats laid out for Santa and his team...
We read:

Check back one more time...
we still do a countdown activity on the 25th as well.
Merry Christmas Y'all....

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 23

We are taking the crew to see:

They don't get to go to the theater very often.

This will be a treat for them indeed.

Daddyduck isn't working, so we'll take them to the early showing.

(Hopefully, before all the crowds <---- this is why I'm done with shopping by October 31st. I can't deal with all the crowds.)

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 22

We will be playing my crew's FAVORITE board game:

They LOVE this game. The Tank asks if he can play this almost everyday but because it takes several people to play we don't play it that often. So we thought we'd surprise the crew and add a game night to our Christmas countdown this year.

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 21

~ Singing around the Christmas tree ~

OLD picture from Springfield...

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 20

Assemble cookie/treat plates and go caroling!!!!!

This is from last year's caroling night.

They willingly wear the Santa hats...

We are a small but mighty choir, going from house to house spreading Christmas cheer.

Merry Christmas y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 19

We are doing our annual FHE night at Grandma and Grandpa Stanley's to eat pizza and make graham cracker houses with all the local cousins...

Lots of hyper children eating tons of pizza and TONS of candy.

A great way to kick off the final week of Christmas.

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 18

The crew dresses up and act out the nativity while Lance reads Luke 2.

I know traditionally this is done in many families on Christmas Eve, but out Christmas Eve schedule is CRAZY so we do this the Sunday before Christmas

(or Monday at FHE ~ but our Monday is crazy too).

Usually we end up with a Mary, an angel and whatever Tank decides to be. Some years it is Joseph but there have been a couple years where we have Mary, an angel and a cow/dog/horse.

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 17

The crew will be telling us the Christmas story with our Nativity activity folder.

When my crew were wee babes, we had the most AMAZING home teachers, Carl and Christine Davis. The kids were 3,2,1 and newborn and Chris made a series of activity folders that the kiddos could play with during sacrament. This was to HOPEFULLY keep that masses quiet. They were sent from heaven! My crew still likes to look through the folders and do them. (not a church)

So this is an example of the folder... same artist... just imagine cows, stars, shepherd, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus....

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 16

We will be watching:

and assembling and snacking on these:

Elf is one of our favorites!

Our donut snowmen will have candy corn noses (bought and stashed at bag at Halloween but Brach's sells them year round), chocolate chip eyes and mini chocolate chip smiles. So excited to have the kiddos make these.

I will be making these again for one of the Santa treats we will be leaving out for him on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 15

Reading this book with my crew...

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 14

We will be having a picnic dinner by our Christmas tree with only the tree lights lit.

(Not our tree ... stock photo)

I have wanted to do this for years but the ages of my crew will finally allow this to be possible. I love the tree lights....

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 13

The crew will be creating their own Christmas cards to send to their family and friends.

I am HUGE into cards. I get our family cards done and sent the day before Thanksgiving. Then, with any luck from the postal service, cards should start arriving on Black Friday. Kick off the Christmas season with some holiday cheer from Texas.

Merry Christmas Y'all....

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 12

Touring Christmas lights...

We LOVE to drive around and look at the light displays in different neighborhoods.

We dress the crew warm (usually in jammies) and drive around and listen to Christmas music... my two FAVORITE parts of Christmas ~ music and lights!!!!

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 11

We will be reading:

This book brings me to tears every time.

I can not believe how fast this month is going!!!

Seriously, two weeks until Christmas!

Merry Christmas Y'all...

Countdown to Christmas ~ Day 10

We will be making Christmas cookies!!!

The kids are so excited to frost them and decorate them.

I have mini m&m's, tons of sprinkles, frosting and my cookie cutters ready.

I remember doing these back in Oregon and having my niece, Tiana, with us.

I babysat her all week, so she was a part of a lot of our traditions.

Miss her...

Merry Christmas Y'all...