Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Journaling . . .

Having found myself with a few extra moments this morning (WHAT? EXTRA TIME?----Quick scrub the bathrooms, sweep the floor, dust the front room . . . .right. That is how I always feel. Something can ALWAYS be done.) But not right now. Wanting to write about all that is going on in our lives right now. Hum. Starting with me. I am learning to value my talents. Talent. Yes. Something I was not always sure I possessed, maybe it was because I was too busy admiring or envying other peoples' talents, that I failed to recognize or appreciate my own. Do you have to turn 30 before you feel like you can give yourself a pat on the back? Or was I just too distracted by everything else-- a self centered teen (who isn't?) and then having 4 babies in my 20's (who has TIME to remember who they really are among all the diapers and laundry?) The past few months I have been teaching TaVaCi and gymnastics and I find myself quite enjoying TEACHING. Being able to work and interact with these young children- my students- and see them grow and develop. And see myself grow in confidence in my own ability. Feeling good about me because I taught someone something . . . I am using my talents and getting to earn a little extra money for our family. I like it! I am having fun! Yes, all this makes us a very busy family, but Scott has been here for our kids while I am gone. They LOVE spending more time with Scott and I think he is seeing that being "the mom" is not very easy. He works really hard to take good care of our 4 kids. I am grateful for his efforts and how this has allowed me to reach outside of the laundry and dirty diapers and develop a part of me that I really enjoy! Being a teacher. :)



Scott is, of course, still busy being a Chiropractor. This past football season, he was the team trainer at Madison and he in now gearing up for Basketball. He will be the assistant J.V. boys b-ball coach again this year; along with being their team trainer. He is also hunting for Elk and Deer right now . . . no luck yet . . . Hopefully something soon! He actually got a good size deer last year and we ate it all. Yea us. I was a little leery about eating a deer . . . not having grown-up eating "big game" meat, but it was actually pretty good and the kids liked it! Most of the time I just didn't say anything, everyone ate dinner and assumed that they were just eating beef, even Scott. :) I was the only one who knew what was actually in it.

Samantha is now 9 and in 3rd grade. She LOVES her teacher and is learning cursive writing and her times tables. Sam has been taking piano lessons for the past year and I am so amazed at how well she can play in such a short time. She has really excelled at piano. I am encouraging her to stick with it because I think she may have found a real talent. She has also started basketball, this is her 2nd year playing. She has 2 close friends on her team and she is having tons of fun. She definitely has the "height" to play basketball. I can already see how far she has come in just one year.

McKenzie is now 7 and in first grade. She had a bit of a rough start to first grade and was really STRESSED out by being at school all day. She was having lots of anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. I met with her teacher and we are all working to help her and she is doing SO much better. She is still learning to read . . . and can read lots of words, but I am still waiting for it to really CLICK for her . . . just not quite there yet, but close. She is in her 2nd year of DANCE! Dance class has been so good for Kenzie, it has boosted her confidence and her self-esteem. She is a natural. She has great rhythm and can just move to the music. She is very flexible. She is a darling little dancer---she pulls really cute "dance faces" and everything. Love it.

Whitney is now 4 and is FINALLY in pre-school. The interesting thing about Whitney is that she has really enjoyed being "the baby" of the family for the past 3 1/2 years. She can do lots of things herself----- eating, dressing, bathroom duties, brushing teeth, turning on lights etc. . . She just doesn't WANT to do them for herself. She has been throwing LOTS of tantrums lately. At four years old this is kind-of crazy . . . we sailed through the "terrible twos" only to find ourselves at "flipped-out four." Whitney has always been very opinionated. She knows what she wants and is stubborn to get it. This has made for lots of "head-butting." She is just having a hard time letting go of being "the baby", she wants me to rock her and carry her to bed. Which is actually really sweet . . . but . . . . We are really trying to help her GROW-UP and take responsibility for herself. Oh Whit. She still loves to tease us and make us laugh. She has also started dance lessons this year, she likes it,but I am not sure if she is as taken with dance and Kenzie is. We will see. We are committed for this year.

Dallas is now 8 1/2 months old. He is rolling (front to back and front again) and rotating on his tummy and can now get all the way across the room. He sits up pretty well on his own--still will face plant every now and then. He just cut his 2nd tooth this month (bottom rt.) He EATS so much! I can hardly keep him full! We are almost finished nursing. I think he will be all the way weaned by the end of this week. He is also SOOOO heavy to lift. I swear his bones are made of lead. When our girls were his size they did not weigh so much, they were never this heavy to lift. He continues to be a mild, sweet, easy going little guy. He is calm and happy to play on the floor most of the day. He does love to jump in his chair that hangs from the doorway! He is the perfect caboose to our family. :)

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Our Boise State fan!





This past weekend we (Me, Scott, and Dallas) went to Boise for Scott's Chriopractic Seminar. I spent the day Shopping, with Dallas (who was an angel for me). And Scott spent it in lecture . . . not very fun. But then that night we got pizza and salad and ate it at Uncle Damon's house and watched the Boise State game. It was fun and relaxing! We bought Dallas a little Kellen Moore jersey, Go #11! :)

Sam turns 9!

Sam's bowling celebration!

Sam and her friend!

Sisters.


This year we went pretty simple for Sammy's b-day, because last year--she got so CELEBRATED it was a little much. We went bowling and had pizza, as a family and she got to invited one friend (Alivia). Then when we got home we made home made milkshakes. Happy 9, Sam! You are wonderful! We love you! :)

Whitney starts Pre-school! FINALLY!





Little Whitney finally got to start pre-school after labor day, September 8, 2010! She has been so excited to go! Everyone we would talk to, she would randomly say, " . . . And I am going to pre-school." She is loving her teacher, Mrs. Homer. She is really tired when she gets home. She almost always takes a nap after lunch on those days. It is good for her! :)

My Cheerleaders.

Sam, Kenz, and Whit

After the football game, where they got to perform at half-time!
Aunt Becca and Uncle Nick came to visit that week-end and just barely missed seeing the girls dance at half-time, they got stuck in road construction . . . . too bad.



Kenzie and Whitney did the little girl's cheer clinic this year. I love seeing my girls do cheerleading. I hope one of them actually sticks with it when they get older. :) They were super cute and did a great job, especially Kenz, she is a great little dancer!

August, 27 2010-Mesa Falls Half Marathon

Scotty ran his first half Marathon!
That is 13.1 miles, mind you!

He finished in 2 hours and 3 min.'s! That is FAST.

Me. And my Runner.

Go Scotty! You Rock! We are so proud of you! What an accomplishment! It was a beautiful day, and the Mesa Run was hilly, and gorgeous.

Friday, October 1, 2010

First Day of School Fall 2010

Sam- Our grown-up 3rd grader

Kenz- Our grown-up 1st grader




This year Sam is in 3rd grade and Kenzie is in 1st grade. Kenz was so excited to get to eat lunch at school and stay all day. They are both loving school so far. I actually miss them, having them gone all day was such a change from summer. We had a fun summer together . . . getting to go to the library for the summer reading program, eating lunch at the park, going to the summer movies, and playing city rec. soccer and gymnastics. I really enjoyed being with them and having their help around the house and with Dallas. I love my girls.

McKenzie Ann White is 7!

Little Kenz is 7.

Hailey, Kenz, & Whit

Kenz and her Jessie Doll.

Kenz, Sam, & Whit

Kenz and her friend Hailey




August 23, 2010 our little Kenzie turned 7 years old. She got to go to the CRAZE for her birthday with our family and (one friend). Then they came back to our house for Jello cups and presents! She had a great time and is such a sweetheart! We love you Kenz, we are glad you are 7!

Dallas first taste of Baby food!

August 11, 2010 Dallas @ 6 Months old
He ate Rice Cereal for the first time. He did great! Good eater right from the start.

Poor kid, in a hand-me-down GIRL bib. We have since gotten some boy bibs. I just didn't have any at that time. We love you Dallas!

Whitney turns Four!





August 11, 2010 Whitney Larie White turned 4 years old! She has always been our movie girl. She LOVES to watch movies and T.V. From the time she was first able to talk, she would always ask, "Watz tom-ting?" . . . "Watch something?" So for her birthday we had a movie party! We invited all our families to come over and the girls made movie tickets for everyone. They were made out of legos, it was actually really cute and creative. Each lego ticket was original and personally crafted for each person, based on things about them. For example: Uncle Dan's had a lego-baby on top, because they are having a baby and Aunt Macie's had a lego-picture of milk on top. I asked the girls why they didn't give Macie the baby, since she is the one who is pregnant? and they said, but mom she is going to have MILK. Ha Ha! Too funny).
Whit wanted a purple cow drink as her special birthday treat! We don't do cake and ice-cream, because we have SOOOO many birthday's all clustered together and everyone gets sick of it. So they all get to choose what kind of treat that they want. Then we watched a movie together and had popcorn and movie candy. It was a fun night! We love you Whitney and we are glad you are 4. :)