Christmas Letter 2017

2017

       

 It’s that time of year, the annual Christmas letter from the ‘House of Homer’. 

Lets start at the top of the family.

Jeff- (older still) You will hardly see this guy sit still. Copper Canyon, Jeff’s cabinet shop, moved locations; they found their new home in West Valley City. It’s been a great move to some much-needed space. They have continued to expand and most importantly create beautiful cabinets and furniture. Jeff is still in the Stake Presidency. He loves our stake family and does a great job serving. Our family was lucky enough to go to Philmont Scout Ranch this last summer for training. Jeff had to sit in meetings while the rest of us played and had classes. It was actually a really amazing trip. Then Jeff and I made it to Girls camps, youth conference and we have had some incredible church meetings.  Jeff also kept his bike seat warm this last season. He not only completed his second year at Lotoja (204 miles) But, also received the Triple Crank award. This means he completed the three hardest rides in Utah. To top it all off he, put in 3,850 miles on his bike.  And in between all that, he accomplishes things on the Honey-do list. Which included our new room. We are over the moon about it.

Brynn- (how am I this old already?) I am busy as ever too. I am the scheduler, taxi, feeder, organizer and mess cleaner-upper. I have no idea how people get so much done. I still serve in the nursery, with the best little class. I will be so proud to see them move onto primary. I only do a teeny bit of hair, here and there. (Mostly because I can’t leave Asher unattended for too long.) When I am not taking care of my 6 favorite people, I take a minute to get out in my garden, read a book, or do home improvement projects. I have never bricked before, it was an adventure to say the least.

Ryleigh-(13) Officially a teenager. OH. MY. HECK!!!!  She seems to have grown up, taller than me even, over night. Ry created a science fair project that won school, Region, and State. She applied for Broadcom Masters, A national science fair program, but didn’t make it in, darn it. Ry graduated the 6^th grade, yahoo!! Because we are in year round schedule, she had to start summer school gym while she was finishing out 6^th. She took summer school in order to make room for her extra French courses. Ry’s braces came off and she chopped off all her hair and I even let her have a bit of nonpermanent purple. She played Rec Volley Ball, went to Hogwarts camp, had a blast in Florida at CMN momentum, was in Roger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and her most favorite trip was Philmont. Ry still cleans the shop for Jeff, and is a fantastic babysitter.

Alex-(10) Alex has the busiest schedule of all the kids. The first stage of braces came off and his smile has improved so much, he had a weird hematoma from a baseball injury on his lip that had to be surgically removed, but is all better and has had nothing but awesome health. We are so thankful at this time of year and always for Julie and her family. This time of year because we remember how sick Alex was. In January it marks 3 years since his transplant. He is now in the 4^th grade, continuing French  (and loving it) He has been working like crazy as an ambassador for Primary Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network. We went to Florida for Momentum tour for CMN, he has spoken at various golf tournaments, has done recordings for CMN/Walmart, and short films for Extra Life Gaming, and The credit unions. Lots of you saw his commercial for Festival of Trees filmed 2 years ago. We are all just happy to tell anyone how thankful we are for Primary Children’s Hospital and all those who contribute, the staff, and all those who have made our burden light. (Which, probably includes you and your family so ..THANK YOU) This year Alex tried speed skating and fell right in love. He is also part of Lego League at school. His art also moved on in the Reflections program, He loved Philmont, he got to throw out the first pitch at a Bees Baseball game, he loves scooters and skate parks, boating, and playing with his friends every chance he gets.

Eden (7)- Eden Started out the year toothless and losing more and more, then one morning she woke up with her adult teeth all grown in. She sprained her wrist, but only needed the sling for a couple of weeks. Eden started first grade and with that, begins her training in the French language. (I really need to learn, so I can keep up with the kids) She is so excited to be able to talk to her brother and sister. She also started Art Classes at a studio in Gardner Village. She loves it and continues to adore all art. Which was evident when her two pieces were chosen to move on in the Reflections program. She is the little peacemaker, and tries really hard to get her chores done quickly so she can play with her friends or come up with games to entertain her younger siblings. She is such an easy kid.

MayLee (4)- May is always off playing with her little toys or begging to play with a friend. She loves singing and is learning all of her letters and numbers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) club and Preschool. MayLee learned to ride a two-wheeler this summer and loves swimming any chance she gets. She is following in her brother’s footsteps and had her first appearance as an advocate for Primary Children’s Hospital at a golf tournament. She loved it! She had another great year of health. A sleep study showed, mild obstructed sleep apnea as well as sleep desatting, congruent with her lung disease. She continues to wear oxygen at night, the only treatment for her condition. It has been nice to have her healthy as well.

Asher (2)- looking at my sweet little cherub, you would have no idea that he can do more in 1, one, ONE unsupervised minute than most people can do all day. It takes him 30-45 minutes to be convinced to go to bed, but he can open three apps, delete iTunes and pinterest and call daddy in less than 17 seconds. If he were an adult we would applaud him. Asher has learned to fearlessly ride a scooter and balance bike all over the skate parks, much to the dislike of all the other park users. Asher is doing really well in Nursery; he has managed to survive each week…. Oh, Wait, that is his leaders. Asher loves art; his favorite mediums are Clorox powder and toothpaste on carpet (that stuff does not vacuum up), and marker/sharpie on upholstery and walls. He has found that butter knives are perfect for opening most interior locked doors, chair can be moved to various locations around the house with ease, and the food in the kitchen is easy to get to with the other two items mentioned above. He loves chasing around his siblings, being outside, is his daddy’s best pal, and has huge huge plans for potty training.

We are so thankful for this time of year to look back at all that we have accomplished, and look forward to another full and happy year. We are thankful for the continued love and support we get from all of our friends and family. We love you. We also think of the Savior, His birth and his example. We try to follow Him.

Merry Christmas and have a ROCKING New Year!!!

Christmas Traditions

Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!! It's such a fun time of year! I have tried so hard to stay up with everything; like gift buying and wrapping so that I can actually enjoy the holiday. The things I don't get done, meh, I am not going to worry. It took us until December yesterday... Um, the 5th... To even get the decorations up, and Ry still has to put up her ornaments. That is one of our traditions. Each year the kids get a new ornament to put on the tree. Sometimes there are a few from a particular year because they make one in school or they found one they really like and I make them one. But they can add them to our tree and their collections grow. I have even begun the tradition for Julie (our donor) I buy either a heart or an angel ornament for our tree and one for her family. We send it to donor services and hopefully it ends up with her family. Someday the kids will move into their own homes and have a whole box of tree decorations. Our tree isn't very perfect matching, but I love those smiling toddler faces, ornaments that have been glued back together a million times, Angel's and hearts, reminders of places we have visited and a few from when we were poor newly weds and made all our ornaments. We have a nice matching tree, it's darling with all London related orbs, lights and ornaments. It lives in the London themed family room downstairs. But I didn't put it out this year and for good reason. Asher smasher.... I had started getting out the decorations, and setting things in order and he went right over and began to pull the little snowmen, buttons and beards off of my Santa guys. So we have very very limited decorations that cannot be destroyed by my little guy. Maybe another year and we can get the whole shibang out. 

For the first time ever we have an elf. Eden wrote a special letter to Santa last year and asked that he visit. Well it has been an adventure. Not because having the elf around is hard, it's because Asher has touched him repeatedly and just about sent the little girls into hysteria. And so, a phone call was made to the big guy, Santa Clause at 951-262-3062, explaining the situation and we worked it all out. There is a clause that states that if the elf is touched by a toddler who doesn't understand the magic will remain. Use this number if needed... It works, no lies. You get to leave a message. 

The tooth fairy tied up Kirby to keep him from telling on the Homer Children about not flossing. They have been better at flossing and brushing. 

Asher is giddy about these Yoda-Santa lights.... He thinks they are about the coolest thing ever. He helped me put them up and he plugs them in for a little before he heads to bed. I go it and unplug and put the cord up for the night after he is snoozing. 

I need to get a handle on the Christmas card and letter, but it may be January or even February when it gets mailed... Or maybe I will save myself a whole ton of grief and just email our letters this year. 

Last few days.

When Jeff and I did our room expansion, we knew we wanted to take out the old linen closet and open the boys closet. We finished up, now the closet it usable and after Christmas we will finish painting the trim and it will be done. I think it turned out awesome. 

Alex finally has a place to display all his gators..

Asher is my biggest helper, he always asks to see what ever I am cooking. I have to lift him up to look in the pots. If I am doing something he thinks he should be part of, he pulls the chair over and gets right in the middle. It is tough to work around those kitchen chairs. I then have a  Asher fit on my hands because he is mad I get him down and move the chair. I try and let him help as much as possible, but sometimes there is more mess than help.

Ryleigh loves to practice hair on anything that will hold still long enough for her to get a rubber band in.

Asher was cool with the shark tail after.

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Young women in excellence is a great time to showcase progress from the last year. The Young Women get to showcase a project that they worked on. Ryleigh was really proud of her science fair project and was thrilled that it could be used under the "knowledge" projects. Kind of a two for one deal.

Feed the Birds

I found some bird feed in the clearance section at the store. So we bought three huge bags with idea that we would feed the ducks at Gardner villiage, the ducks at Day Break Lake and the ducks by Papa and Grandma's house. Day Break lake was our first stop.

Vote for miracles

Skate park

Alex took all of his saved up money and bought a new scooter. He needed to try it out at an official skatepark. Eden actually loves the skatepark too. She is almost as brave as the boys. Asher Crasher Basher is the perfect name for my little dare devil. He just doesn't stop... He falls down one minute and is back up for another go, the next. I try and stay with ash to keep him safe, but he either goes too fast for me to keep up, or he is down in the bottom of the half pipe and I can't be up down and up and down the whole time. Plus also, he doesn't have very good skatepark etiquette. Asher will scoot right in front of other skateboarders or bikers, or who ever happens to be there. I know that they get annoyed, but I try to apologize. My pardons and what not, are usually met with grunts and  occasionally I will meet a kind hearted guy who laughs and is easy going. But not many, those skatepark guys are hard core. We try not to stay too too long, just so they can have their park back quick. And we try and go while May and Ry are at school. Alex was off enjoying himself so much, I didn't even get a still photo of him. But he sure did look awesome on his fancy new self paid for green scooter.

Work to be done

When Jeff was called to serve in the stake presidency, I was lucky enough to get to be a part of the council meeting the general authority offered. There was so much good advice, my very favorite thing was a story he started with. He said that they had a huge huge log pile that HAD to be moved every year and it was the job of his children to move it. It was hard work and would take a whole Saturnday to complete. They didn't even have a wood burning fireplace, so the wood just needed to rotate to keep it good. 

Then he said remember to teach your children to work hard, and to not be afraid of hard work. Work that makes you stay at it for a whole day even. We don't have a wood pile, but I have found there is other chores that would be so much easier for me to complete alone. But, all of my children will learn how to work. My garden couldn't have been possible without their help, and windows to be washed, and yard work, and of course their house chores. I am not asking them to do much, I don't think. But they all help, including the baby, who actually thinks he is left out if everyone else gets a job and he doesn't.

 So here are a few "mean mom" photos of the kids raking leaves. Alex wasn't exactly thrilled, because he came out to ride his bike, so he chose to rake with his helmet on. So did MayLee and Asher. Ryleigh was at school, so I only enlisted those who were home. Lucky little kids...

Oh my

I can't even, I just can't... It took lots of scrubbing. It's lipgloss.. or lipstick.... who really cares... but I got it out of the carpet. His clothes were a loss. As well as his cape. Around his eyes were the hardest part, so he just sported pink around his eyes...