The Weller Family Chronicles

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

We are here, we are here, we are HERE!

Have I really not blogged since September? Geesh. Well, stuff happened. Stuff like:
Halloween (Steve is "French Kiss- get it?)

Family pictures

Abby's first dance recital

Lizzy turned one (no pictures from any sort of birthday gathering... lame I know...)

My first attempt at Christmas PJ pants for the family

Steve's Grandma Weller passed away in March, so we made a trip to Idaho Falls for the funeral. It was great to hear about stories from her life before we knew her. She had been sick and suffering for a long time, so it was a welcome release from her weak body. (Here she is back in 2008 meeting Josh when he was about 3 weeks old.)

This month, my Grandma Johnson suddenly passed away in her sleep. It came as a shock, but it was really a blessing that she did not need to suffer. It would have been especially hard on my Grandpa to see her sick and suffering. I was the chorister at the funeral. The opening song was all the grandkids and great-grandkids singing "I am a Child of God". It was quite an impressive sight to see them all standing- taking up basically the whole center section of the chapel. Every living grandchild was present except for the one currently serving a mission. Here is a picture of my mom with her sisters and their mom (Grandma Johnson). She was such a classy lady. I am going to miss her.

Other than that, Steve is still teaching. I am still homemaking. Josh is a very advanced reader and is loving kindergarten. Abby is already starting to read and is excited to start preschool in the fall. Lizzy is sweet as can be and is quite particular about having things her way. And we are happy, healthy, and blessed.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

During the ...

You know how sometimes you are reading a book, and it shows the passage of time by putting in these little beauties-

. . .

Unfortunately, there should probably be a lot of those in my blogging history. I feel like the whole story of my life will be summed up into 8 or 9 recaps. Sigh. I have the best of intentions. Maybe I should at least get back to good old fashioned journal keeping. You know- for posterity. And I can do that without needing to be at the computer.

Anywho- considering that my last blog was at the beginning of the 8 week challenge I participated in, which ended over a week ago, this is another one of those catch up blogs.

Our summer flew by. I was worried that with Josh so anxious to start kindergarten the summer would creep by at an unbearable pace. But it didn't! July was over before we knew it. The 24th was different for us this year because Steve did not do his caricature sketch booth. He was able to walk around with the kids and see the other booths and enjoy a deep fried twinkie. And I was able to actually enjoy the day and not be stressed with disappearing children and mid-day tantrums. To be honest, I was a little happy to get July over with, because I was in charge of my 10 year high school reunion, and even though it was very casual with minimal planning, it still stressed me out until it was over and done. And, even with my iPhone, I still only managed to catch like 2 pictures of the festivities. Here they are:

Teaching my kids the tradition of marching with flags to John Phillips Sousa on the 4th of July

Josh at my reunion- yep, this is the only picture I took. Lame, right?

August flew by as well with Cove Fort Days (and I actually took pictures)-

This was Abby's favorite part!

My kids and my sister's kids

On the "cozy" wagon ride

-back to school shopping, and Abby turning 3. (See the Abby turning 3 blog). Then suddenly it was time for Kindergarten. I think I was just as excited as Josh- sure, it makes me feel older than I think I am to have a school-aged child, but I can't wait for all the new experiences he has waiting for him. No tears were shed by any of us at the drop off. It was a little sadder the second week of school when he decided he was ok walking all the way to class by himself, so he only needed me to walk him to the front doors. He is loving school, reading up a storm, and thinks it is pretty awesome that he is already learning "real math" (counting, sorting, etc.)

Walking brother to school

If only he was excited for school...

"Love you brother"

And now it is September. Phew! We have been so blessed. Snow College was bracing itself for very low enrollments due to the lowered mission age for the LDS Church, so the English Department let go all of the adjunct instructors (like Steve). We scrambled for a new source of second income so that I could still be home with the kids, and Steve was able to get a job at Kent's Market for the end of the school year and through the summer. With a few murals scattered here and there, he was finally able to save up enough money to buy a second car with cash- his parents Jeep Liberty. About halfway through the summer, the college contacted Steve and let him know that enrollment numbers were much higher than they had anticipated, so they would need him to teach not one but two classes for the Fall semester. What a blessing! He is busy as can be, but it is worth it to be able to have me home with the kids.

The kids are keeping me pretty busy as well- with soccer for Josh and dance class for Abby, our calendar is full almost all week long. I guess the next phase of life has arrived. Bring it on.

Oh- and here are some adorable shots of Lizzy as a reward for perservering and reading this whole novel.

Monday, July 1, 2013

8 Week Fitness Challenge

Today I am starting an 8-week fitness challenge with a bunch of people in my neighborhood. Everyone participating paid $10. We weighed in and did measurements today, and we will do it again at the 4 week mark, and again at the end. Each person keeps track of "points" they earn by exercising 30-60 minutes each day, drinking water, eating fruits and veggies, getting sleep, and (since our spirits are important too) praying each day. Exercising is the biggest point-earner of course. At the end of 8 weeks, there will be 3 winners who will split the pot. One for most pounds lost (%), most inches lost (%), and most points earned.
I am not necessarily in it to win it, although that would be awesome and is motivating. Mostly I just want to get into a more healthy lifestyle- especially with eating fruits and veggies. I am not posting this to brag, but to have more accountability (to the dozen of you who read my blog that is).
There are other things happening in our lives of course, but they will have to wait for a different post. For now, here is a motivational video from my sweet Abby- in case you need an extra push to accomplish anything today.

*I am taking BEFORE pictures today, but I am not going to post them until I see if the AFTER pictures are anything to be proud of...*

Monday, June 10, 2013

Picture Perfect?

I am sure I speak for many parents out there when I say that family pictures are not exactly my favorite thing in the world. First, there is the issue of what to wear. I hate spending money for new clothes when I feel like we all have pretty nice things to work with already. But I saw great advice somewhere online that suggested that the mom should pick her favorite outfit- the one she feels the cutest in- and make the rest of the family match with her. So that is what we did. Once that issue was decided, there were haircuts to schedule. And trying to nail down a day with Steve working nights at the grocery store here was no picnic. But the day finally arrived. And of course

Summer Fun

Our summer fun started before school was officially out for Steve. The middle school had an activity day where they played water games, etc, and Steve invited Josh and Abby to join him. Being one of the favorite teachers, he took his turn at this balloon burst game (think dunk tank, but instead of being dunked, a balloon full of water is popped right over your head).

Josh wanted to join in the fun. Also- this may be the most perfectly timed picture I have ever taken.

We also invested in a kiddie pool this year (if you can call $9.88 an investment). We have used it twice and it is already the best almost-$10 we have spent.

My great-grandpa loves working with wood. When I was growing up, he made cradles and rocking horses for his grandkids. Now he has started making these corrals for the next generation to play with. He is 87 and just finished the corral for my kids. What a fun gift for them!

Graduation and Education

Josh graduated from preschool in May. He is such a smart cookie and is very ready for kindergarten in the fall. Mommy is ready too!

Meanwhile, Abby is doing her best to educate her little sister. Here she is reading to her.

I honestly believe one of the greatest things about having more than one child is seeing the interactions and love between siblings.

Josh Turns 5

Josh turned 5 in April and had a great birthday friend birthday party. Ten 5-year-old boys made for quite an exciting afternoon. I am so grateful my brother and his wife were free to take Abby off our hands. I am also grateful Steve was home to control the masses since for the first half of the party I was inside feeding a baby. I didn't get great pictures, but luckily I had Josh "stage" some while we were setting up for the party.

Here he is demonstrating the "cross the lava pit" activity... (plastic table cloth, random piece of wood from the garage)

Pin the Shield on Captain America (we made shields for each of the boys, and of course Steve drew the picture!)

We also had foot races across the lawn to practice racing "at the speed of light", shot water guns at a picture (provided by Steve) to "vaporize the villain", and decorated capes made out of T-shirts. It was a very fun and surprisingly cheap party!

And, thanks to Pinterest inspiration, his birthday cake and cupcakes for preschool were actually almost crafty looking!