A Year In Review: 2014

Here it is the middle of January and we've passed Thanksgiving, a myriad of holiday festivities, Christmas, New Years and my baby turning 2 and I'm just now getting around to writing about it? 

This past year was quite the year for us. I think we could sum it up in one word: busy! In mostly good ways, but in some not-so-great ways as well. Looking back I think we kept ourselves almost too busy, if that makes sense. 

We had a LOT of fun ... the kids birthdays, Jeff starting at Young Living, Landon playing soccer and graduating from Joy School, a trip to California and to Jackson Hole, and our little Liam learning to walk and run (and sing along to Taylor Swift ... it's beyond cute!). A lot of time on our new play set, throwing BBQs, buying bikes, and going to the local pools and museums.

Fall is when life seemed to trip ahead faster than we could keep our feet underneath us. Jeff and I took a trip to celebrate our ninth anniversary to San Francisco, work was busier for both of us than it's ever been in our entire marriage and then suddenly the holidays were upon us. 

We had a fun "pre-Thanksgiving" with Jeff's parents when they came in town to visit on a temple-break (they are missionaries in the Nauvoo Temple Mission), and met a super cute new nephew Bridger. 

Then we had Thanksgiving at my parents house - and saw Big Hero 6, which we thought was super cute. The boys LOVED Baymax (or as Liam says "AAAMAX!"). 

I love the Christmas season - it is always one of my favorite times of year. From decorating the house (is there anything as wonderful as a house fully decked out?!), to the sights and smells to the excitement and wonderment of watching kids experience it. 

Those smiles!!

One of the best parts of Christmas is the cards! I have an inexplicable love of holiday cards. I love putting time and thought into what we send out ... and I LOVE getting cards in the mail. This year's cards might be my all-time favorite though. (A shout out to my friends Kristen at Sage Digital Designs who did the design and Kelli Haub who was our photographer!!)

Front

Back

Landon was so fun this year - he really got it - both the religious reason we celebrate the season as well as the fun "Santa" parts. And his preschool Christmas program and the Primary Program were to-die-for cute. He loves to sing really, really loud. Really loud :)!

Right before his Preschool Show

Liam warmed up to Santa ... which shocked us, and was so cute in his excitement! He is starting to get it ... although his favorite character from the nativity is still the donkey (who, arguably, did play a very important role!). 

We had the opportunity to go to a lovely formal dinner party (it makes my heart happy to think of that night ... getting all dressed up to spend the evening with my main squeeze and dear friends), and had some friends over for a fun "kid-friendly" party. 

The best night of all though had to be the night just the four of us went to the Riverwoods in Provo. They have a fantastic Santa house (where you can take your own pic!), carriage rides, and beautiful lights. It wasn't busy and we got to just enjoy the magic of Christmas, and some pasta, as a family. It was wonderful!

Landon's first letter to Santa - written
completely by himself! So cute! He
asked if he is on the "nice" list!

Liam writing one too!

Santa!

Love them!

I look back on the whole "season" and it seems like a blur in some ways - we packed it with fun! I was surprised Jeff and I were able to squeeze in going to Temple Square on our special date, but true to form, he made it happen :).  

We've done this 10 years now ... 10!

This year, we started what I hope will be an annual tradition. On Christmas Eve morning we went to the Bishop's Storehouse and volunteered. The kids thought it was really fun, and I hope that each year we can spend time doing something that serves others to help remember Christ.

Santa's Little Helpers

Then we spent time at Grandma & Grandpas for dinner and stories and then back to our house to open our "Christmas Eve Box" (jammies, a movie, slippers and a new Christmas story - this year about Pete the Cat).

Christmas jammies from Grandma & Grandpa

Santa, mom & dad and
grandma & grandpa all came!

The best part?! Christmas morning we woke up to lovely snow and rosy cheeked children bursting with excitement!

My parents spent the night to spend Christmas morning at our house and we hosted dinner - the kids loved it! Liam got a little overwhelmed so we snuck a couple of presents into the other room and gave them to him later. Funny enough, Landon was the same way at this age, and spreading it out a bit helped. 

While Landon loved the toys he got, hands down his favorite present was his Cardinals jersey. There are major negotiations daily about whether or not he can wear it every day. Liam's favorite seems to be his puppy vet kit and his shopping cart from Grandma & Grandpa. Although he also got a jersey and seems to have already developed a love for football as well. How on earth that starts so young I don't know ... but boy, those two LOVE IT (which, I really think is super cute, and Jeff loves having people to watch games with!).

Christmas Morning excitement!

All decked out!

So cute!

New Years was spent with great friends eating Chinese food and ringing in the "New Year" around 9 pm ... but the kids were thrilled with their noisemakers and getting to stay up "so late!"

And now here we are ... 2015. I can feel it in my bones that it will be a different year. But good. And I'm excited! We have a little bitty who has already turned 2 this year ... but that simply must be its own post, celebrating the amazing person he is! 

Hope your holidays were wonderful ... and happy (belated!) New Year from the Terry Clan!

Happy New Year from the Terry's!

Halloween 2014

Happy Halloween!

A few lessons ...

Do you remember in the 90's those posters titled "All I Need to Know about Life I Learned in Kindergarten"? There were a few variations, but that's one that I remember being hung on the wall in one of my high school classrooms (why, I'm not sure). Lately, I've had a few little lessons about life I don't want to forget and wanted to jot them down somewhere, although admittedly, they probably wouldn't make a super cute poster.

Leaving Preschool last week Landon had a car in his bag that I didn't remember if it was ours or not. He was SO SURE it was. We have approximately enough to fill a bathtub, so I genuinely didn't know. Not wanting him to take something home that wasn't his I kept asking if he was sure. Finally, (still not convinced) we decided to ask his teacher. She assured me that it was his, and that ultimately, if he really knew it was that I should believe him. It might seem simple, because as a parent I always believe in him. But do I believe him? That matters to him now, and it will matter a lot more later. I hope I always can believe him, but ultimately it won't matter if he doesn't know that I will.

This morning on the way to preschool pickup I turned on the radio. Liam started hollering "NO!!!" from the back seat. How on earth are they so opinionated about the music so young?! Then he started saying "Temple, Temple!" He wanted to listen to "I love to see the Temple" on the Primary CD. Well, I certainly can't argue with that. As soon as I turned it on he quieted down to listen. I'm grateful for the lesson that the songs playing in the car matter, and that testimonies begin being built at birth. 

We went to the Blake Shelton concert last weekend and the Jim Gaffigan show this weekend ... and had so. much. FUN!  Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the everyday and forget to have fun together, just the two of us. But doing things like that - and finding new things we love together - makes us stronger. And I want my boys to see that mommy and daddy like hanging out together.

I attempted making home made cinnamon rolls this morning. I've never tried before ... I'm a little terrified to make things that are supposed to rise (if you knew my failed history at this you'd understand). But I thought Conference weekend deserved homemade cinnamon rolls. And they turned out AMAZING. Sometimes you just have to try something new ... 

I love listening to General Conference. I feel like I actually get more out of reading them later with Jeff, but listening to them actually speak is wonderful and strengthens me also. This last weekend there was a talk that included a strong message about prayer. Something I do each day, but I sometimes wonder how sincere they are. It's not as though I'm trying not to be sincere ... but it happens. It reminded me that as a parent it's my strongest tool. It's something we should be teaching our children and it's something we should be using each and every day to make us better. And we should include the mundane things ... those things make up our lives, and ultimately our Heavenly Father wants to know about those things.  

I also came away from conference with a strong impression that as a mom I have to make the best decisions (with Jeff of course) for my family, even if those aren't everyone else's choices. As a working mom I have sometimes felt like there are two categories of women in the church - stay at home moms and women who have no choice but to work - and nothing else existed. This time I felt very strongly that whatever we choose for our family, as long as we have really prayed about it and following the promptings of the spirit, is just fine. It still might not be the most common in Utah, but that's ok too. So, for now, this is what works for our family ... and that's just great. 

Speaking of family, we were out to lunch with my sis-and-bro-in-law a couple of months ago and were talking about teaching the gospel. Our young missionaries are expected to really know the gospel when they leave. I made a comment (thinking from the perspective of being in the Primary Presidency) that we have a huge responsibility in our callings to teach the children/youth. She answered, "Think of what they need to learn at home." It stopped me in my tracks. She's right. What are our children learning at home? And how can we do better? What a great example to me ... she has five great kids, two of which are already missionaries. All are great examples to their cousins. 

There are my profound life lessons for now :)!

Lots of Learning Around Here

It's back to school time!! Luckily since Landon is still in Preschool he didn't go back until after Labor Day, which was so nice - it helped us feel like we really got to finish summer out right. He was SO excited about his first day!

He's going to Mother Goose Preschool. The week before school his teacher held a fun social for the class to meet each other, and a meet and greet for us so the parents and kids could explore the classroom without the first-day jitters! Here he is with his teacher, Karen Daniels. They actually have a few teachers, so the 16 kids always have at least two teachers at all times (we loved that about them!). And naturally, all the teachers have nicknames, which the kids love!

No need to worry about jitters around here! He was so excited he was practically jumping up and down to get out of here and get on with his first day.There is a tiny part of me that wishes he at least pretended he was going to miss me, but I love that he is so eager and so confident. He had to have these "cool" red shoes to wear on the first day, which I love ... he's so much like Jeff and I :)!

Oh he looks so grown up ... 

So far he LOVES it. The first day was butterfly day (that's the name of his class), and after school we went to a park to a have a picnic to celebrate. He also had a "homework" sheet to do, which he took really seriously. He told me, "mom, please tell all my friends who come to play that I'm busy doing my homework." It only took him a few minutes, but when a friend's mom texted about playing he insisted that I tell them he needed a few more minutes to do his homework! I'm going to remind him of that in a few years ...

A couple of weeks in he still loves it and is eager to go and loves telling me all about it after. I'm so glad! He had a great experience in Joy School, which I think helped set him up, and ultimately that's what we want for both our boys - to love learning. This preschool is known to help give kids a good start on reading. And with the first set of sight-word books coming home it was all I could do to not push him. He did great with them ... but I know he's so close to reading (and already has some of the sight words down), but I have to keep reminding myself to just let him be little ... and that I want him to love school, not dread it. But at the same time when I hear him sounding words out, I get SO excited. 

Other than school we've had some other big learning experiences lately ... Landon is practicing his two wheel bike without training wheels. It's coming along ... he's still a ways off, but he's doing well, and can go for short distances already. And he's loving soccer this season! He scored two goals at his game on Saturday, and still loves it. I asked if there was something he wanted to try when his season ends and he said "no ... I just want to play soccer." Super cute! But I think I'll still try something this winter to expand his horizons a bit!

Landon isn't the only one learning around here. Liam took a few steps after he was 18 months, but when he hit 19 months and was still not walking we started to get worried. His little feet point out pretty badly, which makes his little ankles roll his feet to really flat position. I made him an appointment (which naturally in between making it and having the appointment is when he started walking more), and his pediatrician agreed he should be seen by a specialist. There is a program called Kids on the Move, which is an early intervention program run through the school district. He was tested by them to determine if he needs to see a physical therapist. 

He tests really low on gross motor skills (no surprise there!) but not low enough to qualify for services. Their physical therapist gave us some great tips - like have him wear shoes all the time, and try using a baby stroller so he thinks he has more help than what he does - which have really helped. He's already doing SO much better! And he loves the stroller ... it's super convenient to carry snacks and trucks around in. (Luckily we have friends with little girls so we didn't have to purchase one!) We are supposed to watch for a couple more months. He might still have to have inserts of some kind for his shoes, but we're hoping not.  

Who wouldn't want something to carry trucks around in?!

However, he blew them away with his verbal and comprehension tests. He tested in the 93 and 92 percentiles respectively. So, apparently we make very verbal children :)!

Or SNACKS?!

Liam is obsessed with pirates right now ... it's
too cute for words!

One of  absolute BEST parts of being a parent is watching kids grow and learn more. I want to keep them little, but then when they say and do cute things, or learn a new skill, I'm happy they are learning and changing.

A little journey called love...

Today is our ninth anniversary. NINE YEARS! Which means, that come November, we'll have been together (counting our time dating) for a decade. Thinking about this over the last couple of weeks has made me really happy. I love this time of year that helps me reflect on a great decision ... and one of the people who helps make my life so happy. As I did I kept coming back to this picture: 

It isn't a wedding pic. Or even one of the two of us. But this, my friends, is a metaphor for our relationship. Many of you might not know, but I'm not a bike-rider. I wasn't ever great as a kid, and I have ridden one MAYBE three times since I was 12. (That's 20 years if you're doing the math, but there is NO need to dwell on that!). 

But it was time to buy Landon a bike with pedals, and Jeff loved it growing up, so we decided that maybe this would be a good thing for all of us. So we dove in ... we now all have bikes (or in Liam's case a bike trailer), helmets, and the bike carrier for the back of the car.

I know. This is serious.

But folks, isn't that what love is like? You jump in. Starry eyed. Naive. All-in. Along the way there are bumps, and bruises, and lots and lots of beautiful scenery and thrilling rides. 

I've found that I actually CAN ride a bike. I'm still not amazing. But I really, really like it. I love this new little shared hobby of ours. I love that we can look back on this time together and remember jumping all-in. And being really glad we did.

Yep, there have been bumps and bruises. Isn't that what growing together does? It bangs us up a bit. And asks us to be better people. And sometimes that's a painful, and itchy feeling. But in the end it's worth it. 

Mainly, there have been beautiful times together ... traveling together, growing up together, buying houses together, encouraging each other. Deciding to start a family together, bringing home two beautiful boys and watching them grow. 

And ultimately deciding that we love each other enough to try new things. Stretch ourselves a bit, enjoy new hobbies, and become that much more of a couple and a family.

I love this man of mine, and all that we've learned together. Happy Anniversary babe!

   

The things that undo us...

Do you remember that saying "it takes a village?" Generally I've always heard it in reference to raising children. I'm pretty certain Hillary Clinton even wrote a book about it once when we were just children ourselves (my generation, not Hillary's) ... but I'm honestly too spent to bother looking it up for you. Trust me. It's a saying.

Never before have I felt this so acutely, or been more grateful. Let me rewind my story a bit so it makes more sense.

A couple of weeks ago I was feeling stretched thin. Not just "life is hectic like always" thin, but "at some point someone is going to poke me and I'm just going to shatter" thin. It was Kailee's last week before school started (If you don't know, Kailee is an almost-family member who has been our summer nanny/babysitter for a long time), and I had been working frantically for the past several weeks in preparation for the transition to squeeze as much in as possible. 

Everything at work had been piling up in general, and I was starting to feel like no matter how fast I race I'd never, ever catch up. And how was I supposed to without Kailee there part of the week? And how on earth was I supposed to be a good mom to my babies? Not to mention be a wife, a friend and do my calling at church...

But it was that middle sentence that had me on the verge of tears or in tears daily for a couple of weeks at that point. As fall approaches I know Landon is "only" going to Preschool, but he just seems so big lately ... like he's slipping away and growing up in leaps and bounds overnight. And Liam ... my baby! I'm not sure when his round cheeks started thinning out and when he started talking so much. Again, it's like one day he could have a "conversation" with me. In reality I know I've been there for each step, but at the same time was I really? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

Then one morning I decided to go on a walk with my kiddos and the neighbors. It had been a rough morning ... for reasons I can't remember now. I'm sure I was busy trying to answer emails, but make it seem like I wasn't occupied and being short with the kids when I didn't really need to be. By the time we made it outside and were ready to go I felt like I'd run a marathon by 9 am (please keep in mind I've never technically even run an entire 5K, so I'm generalizing here :)!).

I kept trying to insist that Landon ride his new "big kid" bike we had just bought him. He was upset because it's still so new. And big. And he doesn't like change. As we were arguing (and I, being too stubborn just to admit it didn't matter - I mean WHO CARES if he wants to ride his balance bike ... it's not like we were talking about a life or death decision) my sweet neighbor came over.

She told me, ever so gently, that he had done a great job the day before when he rode his new bike with Kailee (and them). But that he was a bit slower than the other kids and might have been frustrated because he couldn't keep up like he is used to. 

And it undid me. Not because she told me. Goodness no, I was so grateful - she was that village I needed that morning. That every so gentle reminder that I needed and the ability to let go of my stupid argument and realize it was just better to be with the kids, than care what method we were using to be together. 

No it undid me because I didn't know what bike Landon had ridden the day before. That might sound silly, or stupid even. But still, almost three weeks later, it can still bring me to tears. 

I've always been a proponent of doing whatever makes you the best mom you can be. Is that working? Great! Is that staying home? Great! Is that finding middle ground? Great! Is that dedicating hours of your time to your children's school as a volunteer? More power to you!

But sometimes, those decisions just aren't so cut and dry. They aren't easy. For anyone. Whether your work is done inside the home, or outside, or in some other shape or form depending on the season you are in, it just isn't easy. No matter which way you slice it. We all make choices - the ones I hope that, given our circumstances, hopes, dreams, etc. are the best for our family and ourselves. 

I choose to live this life. But are there sometimes sacrifices associated with that choice? Absolutely.

But you know what? I know that what you are choosing right now is making you sacrifice something too. I firmly believe that. 

Maybe you put the career you love aside to stay home with babies and your days are wonderful and sweet. And maybe they feel endless sometimes. 

Maybe you are struggling to help your family make ends meet, and each time they do you are so grateful that you are still a family that it is enough. 

Maybe you love your kids more than life itself, but you also love your full time career. And you've sacrificed a lot to get where you are at, and it is best for your family. But maybe it also keeps you up thinking about what you might miss.

Maybe you decide to juggle everything you possibly can because despite the insanity sometimes, and the doubt it occasionally brings, it's just who you are. 

Whoever you (we) are, I hope, and pray, that we can all be that village to one another. I don't mind writing things but am not a great out-loud sharer. I don't like getting emotional in general. So for all the times that you have been my village - thank you. I hope, in some small way, I am yours as well. 

Liam is 18 Months!

Every time I blog I swear that THIS time will be different. THIS time I will blog again in just a few days. And yet ... here we are again. Next time I'll be better.

In the mean time we have had a LOT going on around here. I'm going to skip our vacation to California completely for a bit and instead focus on our sweet Liam. Who is now 18 months old. WHAT?! How did that happen?

I just love that little face!

He lights up our whole house - we just love him to pieces. He's sweet, quite funny and has lots of spunk. You have to with an older brother who likes to wrestle. 

He loves being the center of attention ...
unless he's causing mischief,
then he'd prefer we look the other way!

He FINALLY took a few steps just after the 18 month mark. He's very happy to walk holding hands, but won't do more than a couple of steps on his own. It's coming though :)!

Talking is another matter. He is hilarious and really articulate for his age! Some of our favorites:

*Thank you (people are always surprised at his very clear, and very polite expression of gratitude)

*"K" (He loves to use this when we've finally figured out what he needs and this tells us we got it right)

*When he "sings" Popcorn Popping or Happy and You Know It

*Pirate (no joke, cutest thing ever). He also loves the Jake and the Neverland Pirates theme song and will sing along.

*Fut nack (Fruit Snack)

*Wuv ooo (Love you)

*Kaeee (Kailee), Husson (Hudson), Memy (Emery) and Doo (Drew) - All his little friends

*Bemple (Temple), Pair (Prayer) and Jesus

*Fork, truck and shark ... naughty, I know, but sometimes an accidental swear word is just funny

*He also makes a LOT of animal noises. He's quite prolific at them :)!

We also love that he calls Landon (which he tries to say, but hasn't really gotten down yet) "bruder." The other day Landon did something to tick Liam off (as he's wont to do from time to time). And Liam came crawling up the stairs to "tattle" on Landon hollering "BRUDER! BRUDER!" while pointing down the stairs with all the righteous indignation his little self could muster. I tried really hard not to but I laughed. It was too cute!

Brothers are the best superheros ...

Liam LOVES to be outside and he's fearless! There isn't any slide to fast, or water too deep that he isn't confident he can't handle just fine on his own (scary!!). He loves books and will let you read to him endlessly. He loves to play with the big kids, his most recent favorites are playing Pirates and trains. 

Us and our baby!!

He has his spunky moments as well ... he's VERY opinionated. Really, really wants his own way (and has already tried out throwing fits), and has been known to bite if something is in his way. He's a great eater - we are very concerned about our future grocery bills. Here he is eating off of all four kids' plates at the dinner table that night! 

No signs of stopping!

He also has the sweetest side to him too. He loves to cuddle and give kisses. He sucks his left thumb, and his lovey is a blanket he has dubbed his "night-night." We love him so much and are so glad he's part of our family!!