Wow a lot can happen in one week.  Last week was one of those milestone weeks.  I turned 40 and Robyn was baptized.  We spent the first few days getting ready to celebrate for a long weekend.  My brother Daniel's family braved the mountains to drive to our house and arrived late Wednesday, just in time for a black-out.  Our girls despite going to bed early were still wired and running down the stairs with flashlights at 10 to welcome their cousins.  I am sure my little nephew Matthew wondered what spook house he had wondered into.

Thursday I officially became middle-aged.  Now I have a great excuse for that lousy memory, rapidly forming wrinkles and a tendency to eat more calories than I can burn.  It was a great birthday.  I met my friend Brenda for breakfast at Kneaders along with Daniel's family.  Then we went up to Taipan trading to do some girly shopping and to pick up a cheesecake before driving to the airport where my parents arrived.  People dropped by during the day to give me a hug and wish me happy birthday and it was just a wonderful family, friend day where I felt loved.  Then that night Allison took on babysitting duty and the adults went out to dinner at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants, Milagros.  Spencer had decided to try out for the high school volleyball club team that evening so I wanted to make sure we were back by 7:30 as tryouts were at 8.  Jeremy dropped off a camera part to Brenda's house and when I came all my friends were there to surprise me!  It pays to be oblivious sometimes as I was sitting in the van turned to talk to my parents I guess people were still sneaking in the door behind me.  So Jeremy gave me a hug and ran off to help Spencer with volleyball and I got to visit and enjoy a wonderful birthday party.  It was truly awesome.  I felt very loved and appreciative that I have somehow earned the friendship of some amazing people.


Friday I checked Spencer, Allison and Robyn out of school early and we went up to Soldier Hollow for some sledding.  Beautiful weather to enjoy sheer fun and lazy sledding.  My favorite part is lying in a tube while music plays and I am being towed up the mountain side with blue skies above and kids on either side of me. Spencer's goal was to get as much air time as possible, Allison to play with Samantha non-stop and Robyn's goal was to get as many people hooked together as possible when going down the mountain.



That evening we ALL went to the pet store for Robyn to buy her birds.  I had told her a long time ago that she could get a pet when she turned 8.  She had her money saved and was ready to go.  My parents bought her a cute bird cage for her birthday present and she bought two little parakeets named Sky and Beauty.  Sky likes to try to nip her but Beauty will hop on her finger and let her pet him.  Yes him, they are both males however their names are not changing.  I am sure the pet store owners thought it was a little bit of a circus as every kid wanted to ask them questions about the birds and the different options and what toys are best etc.

So we got birds set up and did pizza and movie night and early to bed.  Adults did late movie and left over cheesecake night which was wonderful.  Since it was Austenland I think all the males stayed busy elsewhere during the movie.  I know Spencer was a bit disgusted with our choice.

Robyn has been so excited to be baptized.  She had several friends come for it, even Meredith.  I love her sunny, cheerful personality.  My mom gave a talk on baptism and told the story of a shiny penny and a dirty, used penny and how we can be shiny again.  (I remember my grandma giving the same talk at my brother Daniel's baptism).  My nieces, Claire and Samantha and later Brynn and Kayla sang songs, Spencer and Allison each played the piano and even Robyn sang a song.  So there was LOTS of music but Robyn wanted everyone to have a part.  Mimi gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and Robyn was just nodding and smiling at her the whole time with great enthusiasm.  Even Jason and Garion were able to make it as they hurried over straight from a camping trip.  Jeremy baptized her and afterwards Robyn was getting dressed and just talking about how she felt so warm and happy inside.  She just beamed all day long.  One thing I think is a tiny miracle is that once again during the confirmation Taylor got very quiet, raised his head and paid attention.  When Allison was baptized he did the same thing with a huge smile (and that is when he wasn't laughing or smiling for months on end).  I think he knows his siblings are one step closer to being with him.  (I don't know if he did it at Spencer's baptism because I was too focused on Spencer that day as he wasn't in a very good place then.  We just didn't know that he was ill.)


Robyn had invited her friend who isn't a member to come but I think she was a little hesitant to come by herself even though her mom had given her permission.  So as soon as we got home Robyn ran over to get her so she could join in for the afternoon.  We had some friends come over for sandwiches and brownies and just visited.  It was very fun.

After all the excitement kids were happy to run to the gym to fool around with balls and then play in the hot tub.  The little girls gave me an enthusiastic performance of every song from Frozen.

Somehow Daniel and Mimi were convinced to stay another day.  So Sunday we got to enjoy church and hanging out with family and puzzles.  The puzzle we started December 1st finally got finished.  My mom worked at helping Allison figure out how to knit socks.


Jason's family joined us for Jason's famous wings and other junk food and the super bowl.  One of the most painful football games ever to watch but Jason and Jeremy were thrilled their home team won.

And then Monday unfortunately had to come and end it all.  Daniel's family drove home and I took my parents to the airport and returned to a life of household chores and regular life again.  I cannot imagine my life without my family and were grateful to share the weekend with some of them.

But regular life goes on.  Taylor has had two meetings these last two weeks to get him set up for the yearly IEP and then for his transition out of the school system in 4 years.  Although he is a senior he gets to stay at his school till he is 22.   Biggest news is that his stroller arrived.  I love it.  It is low to the ground but all the wheels pivot which is huge and I can easily lift it.  If you have ever seen me breaking my back trying to get his wheelchair in and out of our van or putting it together in rain and snow you would understand why I am so excited about his stroller.  He failed two hearing tests at school during the last two months so we spent an afternoon with an audiologist to learn that his ears are just fine.  He must have just had some fluid build up or something that was tweaking the tests previously.

Spencer decided to try out for the boys volleyball team.  It is organized by high school but it is a club sport.  He is very excited about doing it.  He was very nervous for the try-outs and Mimi graciously gave him some pointers while she was here.  (And I mean very, very graciously as Spencer listened only a small fraction of the time and the rest of the time wanted to show what he already knew.  But he now brings up things she told him, so some of it must have stuck despite appearances.  The hair pulling aspect of teaching Spencer things.)  At try outs a kid accidentally reached back to serve and hit Spencer right on the nose causing a gusher.  Heavy emotions and he was sure if he left to take care of the nose bleed that he would never make the team, life is ruined etc.  But he pulled it together with a very patient Jeremy and made it through the night.  So he is on the team.  Its the feeder team and basically as long as he was willing to learn and work hard he was on it.  Jeremy told the coach that Spencer didn't have much skill but the coach told him he can teach skills but he can't teach height.  Spencer has been practicing his setting every night and his four step jump approach.  He is looking better.  Hardest part is that practice goes until 10 at night which makes for a rough morning.

Allison has been working with her friend Samantha since November on a science project, "what blades work best on turbines".  They were one of the finalists for their school so they went on to the regional competition at UVU this Thursday.  She was there all afternoon and evening and had a great time.


End of the night she and her friend along with two other friends who were there won and are going on to the state competition at BYU in March.  She was thrilled.

I think she is most excited about is the fact that its during the school day.  So she and her three friends get to roam BYU campus having activities all day.  Ahhh the life of a science nerd.

Saturday Spencer, Allison and I got to heads up to Roots tech conference for the youth program.  Their favorite part was the Studio C presentation.  We ended up meeting three girls and two moms from our ward so Spencer not wanting to be the only guy headed off on his own for awhile while we did a temple square scavenger hunt.  I wasn't sure how much of the classes sunk in but today Spencer and Allison have been busy finding cousins in our genealogy that need work done.


They were super good sports as we came home, ate dinner in 20 minutes, changed and then went to the adult session of stake conference where the youth had been asked to attend as well.  Jeremy rewarded them with ice cream after.  While we were doing our busy day Jeremy was at BYU doing photos for the church.  So Robyn had a great day made possible by two of Allison's friends who looked after her and sometimes Taylor.  Robyn really likes Allison's friends and even more so when Allison isn't around to interfere.

Friday night for movie night we watched The Three Amigos.  I now know that it isn't little kid appropriate as Allison and Robyn had to take their friends down to the basement at the 30 minute mark.  And now Robyn can do the Three Amigos salute which included hands on hip, pelvis thrust, cough to the side.  Probably not what an 8 year old should do.  She has a very different childhood than my other kids did.

This is a universal favorite - except for Allison whose vote we no longer count.  I originally got the recipe from: http://bakerette.com/manicotti-with-italian-sausage-and-cream-cheese-sauce/ and then just tweaked it a bit for how I cook.
1 package 8 oz manicotti noodles
1 lb bulk Italian sausage
1 lb bulk ground beef
1 onion
1 garlic
16 oz cream cheese
2 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried parsley
32 oz spaghetti sauce
1/4 c parmesan cheese shredded

1 pkg Manicotti Pasta cooked according to directions on the box.  Drain and cool.

Cook 1 pound Italian Sausage,  1 pound ground beef and for the last 5 minutes of browning add in 1 cup onion and 1 garlic head cut up.  When meat mixture is all browned, drain out the grease and take out half the mixture to save for a future use.  (I will save it for manicotti in the future or for pizza toppings)

To the meat mixture add 16 ounces cream cheese softened, 1 1/2 c shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried parsley.  Stir till well combined.  I will sometimes turn the heat on low to help the cream cheese soften and mix in easier.

Use 32 ounces spaghetti sauce, either made or bought.  Pour some on the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  Stuff the pasta with the meat mixture and arrange the filled pasta over the sauce.   Pour remaining sauce on top of the noodles.  Sprinkle with 1/4 c Parmesan cheese and a 1/2 c mozarella cheese.  Spray a piece of aluminum foil with Pam and put it over the pan OR lay a piece of parchment over the noodles and then foil.

Bake at 350 degrees covered for 40 minutes and then uncovered for 10 minutes.

We spent Sunday celebrating this cutie turning 8.  We made Mexican haystacks for dinner and played with cousins all day.  On Monday, there was no school so more cousin playing time and going out to lunch with her dad.  Jeremy had to send me a photo to point out that she chose spinach salad from the pizza buffet.  She wore her sparkle shirt so she could be a human disco ball as they drove in the convertible.  It involves lots of singing loudly while posturing with her stomach.  Spencer pointed out that birthdays around here last a lot longer than one day!

Cousins left Monday afternoon and everyone had to return back to their normal routine.  I wonder if kids will look back and remember the fun they had or the fact that I came down with a cold.  Halfway through this week Spencer asked why I kept going to bed right after dinner.  He had no idea that I felt bad and just thought I was loosing my voice and coughing so much because I had been cutting onions recently or something.  I obviously need to be more vocal in my demanding to be given some TLC when sick.  So I spent the week cleaning something, then watching part of Sherlock or staring into space for an hour and then repeating the process.  But luckily it has left me and gone over to Spencer.  So now he is laid flat by the fire with a fever and is making up for any silently suffering I might have done.  He is not a quiet or patient sick person.  Hopefully all these microbes leave our house before family comes this week or I will handing out anti-microbal wipes as they enter.

So this week was pretty slow.  Jeremy had a photo class he hosted Friday and Saturday that he went to.  Friday night he rushed home to wisk me out to dinner while Spencer and Robyn did a Merlin marathon.  And Saturday night after being gone all day he rushed home to join us to go to a BYU men's volleyball game.  One of our favorite sports to watch.  He is always so good about remembering family things.

For Christmas I asked Jeremy for a plane ticket to go visit my family in California for a weekend...and the solo dad duties that would go along with such a trip.  So last weekend I flew off to my parents to visit them, my sister, and my two brothers and their families.  My brother Peter called before I left to see if had cancer or something and that was why I was coming out so I could break the news.  I guess I need to do quick solo visits more often.  It was wonderful to catch up and just talk with everyone.  I even got to go breathe in the beach air.

And indulge in some sourdough and clam chowder.


And I got meet my new niece who is not so new anymore but still the cutest thing.

I love my family and always so motivated and impressed by the people they are and what they do with their lives.  And then I was back Monday just in time to meet Jeremy for lunch and get the low-down on the weekend and pick kids up from school.

This week we were gearing up a bit for today with Robyn turning 8.  Hard to believe that someone who had a rocky start and was labeled as failure to thrive is now this big!   Jeremy made her some cute treats to hand out to her classmates.

On Saturday Robyn had her birthday party.  She invited two of Allison's friends to come help and had 11 of her friends over.  The played games:

She blew out her candle on some popsicles - her choice instead of cake.


And then it was off to the pool for a few hours of mayhem and fun.

Robyn is really happy here -she was just trying to look cool

Great time by all.  Spencer, Taylor and their cousin Garion spent the afternoon with Fudgsicles and computer games so everyone was happy.  Cousins had come to spend the weekend with us which meant a late movie night with brownies, Sunday morning of games:


Robyn came down sobbing that we had forgotten her birthday but once I explained we were just playing while the cinnamon rolls rose so we could bring her breakfast in bed she quickly ran upstairs with smiles, put her PJs back on and waited for us.


She is having a great birthday. 

The rest of the past two weeks have been spent with the ups and downs of life.  Reading about Abraham Lincoln and how he said when he lost an election he felt like the little boy who stubbed his toe in the dark - too big to cry yet it hurt too much to laugh.  Hopefully we remember to laugh most of the time.  Our water heater broke so we had to replace that.  Our van had to be taken in get the heater fixed.  And then they had to order parts so we brought the van home a day later and will have to go again.  Allison tried out for her play and got assigned her parts over which she is very excited.  Macho is still urinating blood everywhere like bathtubs and laundry baskets and beds.  I am giving him another week and then its vet time.  Jeremy had several photo events that he had to juggle.  I seriously underestimate the amount I place on his shoulders sometimes.  Friday we were able to go the temple with our ward.  Jeremy went after rushing to finish a job and pick up Spencer with a hurt rib that Spencer tried to push into place while putting all his weight on Jeremy's bent finger and seriously spraining it, wasn't time to have dinner, gets to the temple and its an hour wait because the sessions are full.  And he still managed to get up early the next day to take Allison out to be tested for the junior high at 7 am.  He juggles a lot with a smile.  Currently trying to figure out why his new thermostat (his birthday present from my parents) won't stop blowing cold air.  There is always something.  We did however finally find a cabinet supply warehouse that had our hinge for our broken cabinet.  Only took us a few months but it is now fixed!  So that is life, ups and downs and everything in between!

I am not sure how we will handle tomorrow and the end of vacation.  This week we have turned off alarm clocks and become slugs around here.  Robyn and Spencer are in a close race for how many hours of sleep they can get in one night.  Movies have been caught up on along with lots of late nights laying around on couches.  It has been wonderful.  Christmas decorations are put away and paperwhites are blooming to remind me that a New Year has started.  I always remember spring and paperwhites at my mom's house growing up.



Taylor had two days of throwing up which was not so cool but is back to his usual happy self.  I think the highlight of his vacation has been laying in a beanbag next to the fire while his massage therapist has worked on him.  If you threw in a beach there somehow he would think he was in heaven.



Allison has been busy rearranging her room (again), and buying a rabbit named Oakley to replace Midnight.  Bonus is the Oakley does not give her hives like Midnight did.  She is very cute.  Allison has spent a lot of time working on her science project with her friend Samantha and window shopping at the mall.  Seriously when did she get old enough to want to be taken to the mall with friends?!  One day we went to Classic Skating and burned off some cabin fever.


For New Year's Eve the kids wrote down their summary of the year and goals for the next.  Robyn had the hardest time trying to think of a goal that didn't require any work on her part.

Spencer Hall - 6'1 7/8" - favorite book: Enders Game or Divergent, Favorite food: meat, Favorite color: blue or black, favorite activity: reading, video games, cross fit, greatest lesson learned this year: staying in shape, hardest thing this year: starting cross fit, favorite memory: getting an ipod for Christmas, what he loved about 2013: having lots of fun, wants to learn: all the stuff to get his eagle, wants to get better at: crossfit, goal: save $180 and do crossfit all year

Allison Hall - 4'91/2" - favorite book: all of them, favorite food: stuffed shells, favorite activity: reading, greatest lesson learned this year: patience, hardest thing this year: midnight dying, favorite memory: going to Lagoon with cousins, what she loved about 2013: getting into Algebra, wants to learn: French, wants to get better at: kindness with siblings, goals: stay caught up with math, keep desk organized, read scriptures daily and finish 3-4 goals in Personal Progress

Robyn Hall - 4'41/2" - favorite book: Matilda, favorite food: Nachos, favorite activity: reading, greatest lesson learned: learned she can do hard things, hardest thing this year: swim team, favorite memory: Montana, loved about 2013: having fun, wants to learn: how to knit, wants to get better at: science, goals: going to sleep better, getting baptized, making people happy

After our traditional dinner of fondue New Year's Eve, Spencer had his first big dance party to go to.  He had the composure to ride with two Chinese exchange students and had fun playing games and jumping around.  Allison and Robyn threw a New Year's Eve party in the basement with friends.  None of Robyn's friends could come so she loudly made sure she was included in Allison's friends and they were very accommodating.  Lots of treats, minute to win it games and running around at midnight banging pots and pans.


New Year's Day kids decided they were too cranky and it was too much effort to try to go skiing.  So instead Spencer chose to go bowling with me while girls played with Jeremy.  Then sledding as a family.  Then Spencer watched guy movies with Jeremy while the girls and I went to Color Me Mine.  Everyone was happy and I was tired out by 8 and sent everyone to bed.  And these next few photos were obviously taken by Jeremy:
Spencer wanted to know why I was having such a hard time sledding with him - I was trying my hardest to just stay on the tube!
Allison still sticks her tongue out while concentrating.  She has since she was a newborn.  And she has a big tongue...I am talking giraffe size here.
And just to prove that Jeremy really was at these events, I took one of him:



Jeremy has spent the week fixing all those things that break around the house and need repairs.  Throw in making stuff for Primary for me and playing with kids and he has had a full week.  Last night we got to go out to a play together and just relax.  It had been nice being able to stay up late with him this week and just hang out.  And he even showed Spencer how to take down the Christmas lights!


Maddie has gone back home so our house is a little less pet crazy.  Rocky has been in mourning since she left, he really thought he got to go to Jason's house too.  Our cat Macho has taken to peeing blood everywhere - laundry baskets, showers, clean laundry neatly folded on the counter...TWICE.  So he is living in the garage.  I think he is going to be just fine as he is acting healthy, probably just some trauma or kidney stone got him.

I am excited for the alarms to go off tomorrow and schedules and routines to start again.  We have had a great time together but there were definite hiccups like Spencer convinced his bowling was being messed up by a misshapen ball or Robyn giving me a whine free day and loosing it at dinner time so she had to give me another freebie or Allison plugging up the bathtub while cleaning out her guinea pig cage or standing by the van catching throw-up in my hands while Spencer wants to know exactly what kind of towel he should grab.  Good time.  Although seriously they were good times just with the hiccups that I choose to overlook.