When Michael leaves on early flights from San Diego, he sometimes unintentionally wakes Ryan up on his way out the door. The problem with this is that the wiggle bug comes into my room to “sleep” with me. I think Michael enjoyed getting a little call around 5:45 the other day while driving down the I-15. “Hi Dad. Dad at work?  Wuv you.  Bye.” Last night, Ryan decided riding around the kitchen on his tricycle would be fun while I made dinner.  I told him bikes belong outside and he gave me a huge smile and rode away quickly. He’s quite the little jokester.  Later last night I was cleaning up the front yard area.  Jonathan and James were playing basketball while Gracie and Ryan rode bikes.  James kept accidentally getting hit in the face so he wore a batting helmet to keep him safe.  The boys accidentally threw the ball over the neighbor’s fence and had to knock on her door to see if they could get it.  She stopped by to chat while helping them and gave Ryan plenty of praise for being my “helper”.  He was sweeping the grass with a big push broom.

James and Jonathan were champs in their school fundraising jog-a-thon again this year. Jonathan is pretty sure his 56 laps got him second place for the 3^rd graders. James got 36 and said he did his best but he was pretty disappointed he didn’t get as many as Jonathan.

Most mornings, I just get hugs from the boys but the other day James gave me a high five, hug and kiss. He also decided to help clean up blocks without being asked.  James is especially responsive to praise and responds with the sweetest smiles.

Gracie wants to know why she doesn’t see Heavenly Father and Jesus.  She also asks questions like why we named her Gracie and doesn’t understand why some people spell it with an “I” and others don’t.  She really wanted to see a bridge.  Last weeks trip to Coronado provided the opportunity.  She wants to have a girl baby with short enough legs that she can swing around and around.  If she is really in a loving mood she’ll give me her blanket.  This act is universally recognized as a true sign on love since she’s so attached to it.   

The kids have had some quality time with grandparents as of late.  Grandma Neyens invited Jonathan and James over for an overnighter with cousins Dallin and Sterling at the end of Christmas break and they had a great time playing games and attending church with her.  Last weekend was a three-day weekend.  Grandpa and Grandma D. were already in the area celebrating their 40^th wedding anniversary (woohoo!) and came by Friday morning so Grandpa D. could watch kiddos for the day while Grandma D. and I made a day trip to visit my great aunt, Gwen.  She’s my Grandpa Vroman’s sister.  Gwen is 96 but still very sharp and a great lady.  We spent Saturday through Monday with Grandpa and Grandma D. and my brother Joseph, sister-in-law Nicole and their kiddos, Elle, Hyrum, Chloe and Dane.   The weekend consisted of fun: puzzles, bike riding, games, going out to dinner, a Mormon Battalion visit and perfectly lovely Coronado Beach.  While in San Diego, we stayed at the same building where Michael and I lived when Jonathan was born.  It sure brought back memories.  We went out to breakfast and Ryan started licking up some yogurt he spilt on the table.  I guess he just wanted to show Grandma D. what good manners he learns around our house.  I asked him if he was a boy or a puppy dog and he didn’t hesitate to tell us he was a dog with a big smile.

The other day Michael asked me where the iron and ironing board were.  I told him that they are in the same place they’ve been in the last two years that we’ve lived here.  He didn’t know where that was.  Somehow he goes to work everyday wearing a clean, ironed shirt so I guess I’m the invisible ironing fairy lady.

I had Jonathan play I Am a Child of God (easy I Can Play It version) as prelude for Sharing Time today.  We’ve been working on it.  Now I need to spend this next month catching up on all the scout requirements he needs before he turns nine.  We took a break from scouting for a few months because it conflicted with swimming and our ward was split a couple months ago so scouting alone will keep us busy all month.  He’s been doing a good job at helping me out when Michael’s out of town.  He comes home and gets everything on his to-do list done without complaining most of the time.  Baseball skills assessment day was yesterday.  This will be his first time playing. 

According to James’ report card, he is pretty much perfect.  He and Gracie were adorable holding hands and jumping over waves together at the beach.  He loves babies and is good with them.

Gracie loves singing, cuddles and drawing.  She gets lonely in her room all by herself and jumps at any opportunity she has to take her pink blanket and thumb sucking (which she is fully aware she is too old for) into the boys’ room.  When Grandpa and Grandma D. came to visit, Ryan showed off his skill of riding down the stairs on his tummy.  Seeing the attention he got, Gracie decided to show them she could do it too.  However, she hurt her knee and looked away so no one would see her sad face.  We do reading lessons, read books and play house.  She rides James’ old red bike with training wheels and Ryan has inherited her tricycle.  All the kiddos like to cuddle but they love it if they get cuddle time with Michael and me together.

Ryan loves to help empty the dishwasher.  He is active and has a prominent receding hairline.   The older kids were playing a board game tonight with Michael and he often makes playing games difficult so I read him about 45 board books in the rocking chair.  He couldn't get enough.   

I gave Michael 12 envelops with gift cards for dates as a Christmas gift.  I planned one date for each month of 2015.  Our first one was Rubios and game night with friends Jodi and Stephen last night.  We rarely go out (thus documented on this blog) but had a great time.  Here’s to 11 more pre-planned dates for the year!  I was just called to be the Laurel advisor in our new ward (I lost my primary calling when boundaries changed).  I taught for the first time today.  The girls seem nice and can sit still much longer than primary kiddos.  I don’t really have much free time since Michael’s often gone but I’ve enjoyed a few good books and occasional runs.

I signed Jonathan up for a Book Club that meets at the library on certain Tuesday evenings.  He went last night and each child that attended got a new book, The City of Ember.  However, he doesn’t think he should go back because the teacher and other kids used bad words.  I asked him what they were and he spelled them out: “h a t e”, “d u m b” and the last word which he thought was probably inappropriate but wasn’t sure, “s u c k”.

Gracie had “Missionary Moment” at church.  She got a little bag of M&Ms.  She didn't open them for Sharing Time or her entire hour of CTR 4 class so she could share them.  She shared one M&M with each of her family members, the twin boys down the street and the bishop.

love this song

Michael left super early this morning to catch a plane.   I got up at the same time to comfort James who randomly had a nightmare about me and Grandma getting eaten by sharks so I was up early.  In the spirit of New Years resolution and realizing this will be one of those months where Mike will be out of town for half of it, I committed to take my Mommying up a notch: more books, less cleaning, more cuddles, less scolding, to sum it up, just more conscientious parenting.  So in Mommy mode, I fed the kids, untied crazy knotted shoelaces, read scriptures, prayed, hugged and kissed the boys and held back Ryan wiping his tear-filled eyes (in his little backpack) while waving good-bye to Jonathan and James as they walked to school.  About ten minutes later Jonathan and James appeared on our doorstop to inform me that there is no school today.  Sure enough, Christmas Break officially ends tomorrow.  Why don’t my kiddos just call me Super Mom?