"Apparently, someday I'm going to miss all this crap."

(Sorry for my crude language.  Just keeping it real.)  :)
Have you ever watched the show "The Middle?"  If not, go do it!  (ABC Wednesday nights at 7:00pm.) It is one of our favorites (not really for the kids, but nothing bad in it, just they wouldn't appreciate it).  Anyway, it is about a family who lives in the middle . . . geographically, economically, and parentally (that's not really a word).  They are so down-to-earth and that's mostly why we love it.
So I thought today that I need to bring my blog more down-to-earth and show a tiny bit of what things are like at our house.

If anyone should drop by unannounced (which really doesn't happen very often) and make it past the semi-clean living room, this is likely what they would see on any given day . . . my family room couch covered in clean laundry piles, waiting for the kids to get home and put their clothes away.  This is about 2 loads, with another in the basket that needs to be folded, and this is about average for each day of the week.
Constant. Laundry.
I am not brave enough to post pictures of other messes that are currently in need of my attention.  Yikes.  I'm too prideful.
I keep wanting to blog about things, but always feel pulled in many different directions.  Or that my blog isn't exciting enough, or witty enough, or that my family isn't as perfect as so many others out there.  But since this is a record of our family, I should post about how things really are and not worry so much about making things perfect.  (Man, I seem to have to learn this lesson over and over in different aspects of my life.  You'd think I'd get it by now.)  So, I am really going to try to blog more and try not to worry if it isn't perfect, but so that we'll have a record of it...cuz my brain doesn't remember so well anymore.  Time goes by too quickly and the kids are growing up too fast.
So back to the blog title; it is one of my favorite quotes from The Middle.  I think it to myself frequently when one of the kids is throwing a tantrum, or when I'm trying to get the kids to do their jobs, or when I walk into my house after having a great time at the park to a STINKY dirty kitchen and realize I have SO much to clean.
Again.

Apparently, someday I'm going to miss all this crap.

Crazy Cousin Christmas!

What a fun week we had with the Towne side of the family (well, minus Steve's family - they were missed!).  Jeanie (my oldest sister) and her family came down from Oregon the Monday before Christmas.  The rest of the week, the kids had a great time going on bike rides, ripsticking, having sleepovers, and all sorts of other fun stuff.  We had 12 kids, 12 and under.  Good times.  One highlight was going to the zoo (zoo, zoo...how about you, you, you?? Sorry...reflex.).  Here are the kids in their shirts they decorated the night before at a sleepover.  They loved petting the stingrays.

Whew!  We made it.

We all had a really good time all week.  My dad and stepmom, Kay, arrived Friday night and we were glad to have them stay at our house. It was fun to have company ("Grandma" Helen was here too) for our traditional Christmas Eve pajama picture.  (Megan already crashed by this point.).

Santa came and the kids were so excited!  We told the girls they couldn't come out of their room until at least 7am.  So they did.  Wow.  Katie and Rebecca got new bikes.

Megan loves her new piano.  Being her first Christmas, it was so fun to watch her take everything in.  From the lights, to music, to wrapping paper, she loved it all.

Breanna got a ripstick.  No broken bones yet.

Jonny loves his racetrack.  Maybe as much as Richard does.  :)

Yeah, he is pretty awesome.

After all the presents were put away, we all got ready and went to our ward.  It was so great to have everyone there for the Christmas program.  Gary was the choir director, I accompanied on the piano, Jeanie accompanied on the organ, Lori had a solo, and Richard, Rebecca, and Dave sang in the choir.  It was wonderful.  I was more nervous than I have been in a long time, because I am certainly not as good as Jeanie on the piano.  But despite a few glitches, it went very well.  Tears flowed as we all felt the true spirit of Christmas, which is the Spirit of Christ. (It is mighty difficult to keep playing piano when you are crying.)  I could also sense that our mom was present and was rejoicing with us as well.  It was certainly the best Christmas gift I got this year.
After we wiped our eyes and gathered all the kids (much like herding cats), we took a group picture.  The largest gathering of Towne's in a long time I think.  Rob even added Steve's family so we are all together...at least in spirit.  :)

Christmas Newsletter 2011

Hello again! In case you feel like you’ve missed out on our annual newsletter, don’t worry. We haven’t sent one out for a few years. You are in luck this year though!
Our newest addition Megan was born this past January. Although the first several months she was colicky, she is very happy girl and likes to clap and “sing.” She is now walking everywhere! We are so glad she is here and feel like our family is complete.
Jonathan is now 3 years old. He is all boy and loves any kind of ball. He really enjoyed our trip to Montana this summer and caught his first fish with Uncle Tom (more about our trip here). Even though he is rough and likes to play hard, Jonny has a sweet side too and is always entertaining.
Katie just celebrated her sixth birthday. She started kindergarten this fall and is reading like a pro. She recently had a trip to the ER where she had to have stitches on two fingers (details here).
Breanna is 9 years old and in fourth grade this year. She enjoys tumbling class with Becca and is learning to play piano. She is a great helper with the younger kids or fixing things with dad.
Rebecca is 12 years old and in sixth grade. She is our babysitter extraordinaire! She plays the flute and piano and is doing great on both instruments. She really enjoyed going to science camp in April.
Carolyn doesn’t have much to say about herself. Her biggest achievement this year is having 5 kids and not going (completely) crazy.
Richard ran his second marathon in October (read more about it here). He is still working at Apollo but his position has slightly changed this year, giving him a bigger work load. He also fixed up our backyard and it looks great.
This year has had its share of trials, but we rejoice in our many blessings and are thankful for the lessons and strength our trials give us. We are so thankful for family and friends like you, and we are especially thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ. May we all keep Him at the center of our lives throughout the Christmas season and always.

Look Who's Walking!

So yeah....Megan is walking.  I haven't wanted to post this because I really don't want my last baby to be growing up so fast.  She has been walking for a couple of weeks now.  I thought maybe it was just a phase she was going through, but apparently not.  I forced myself to take some pictures of her this morning, even though she isn't all dolled up.  It is hard to take pictures of a constantly moving/getting-into-trouble target.

Jonny was trying to help Megan stay still for the picture.  Thanks bud.
She is now 11 months old.  I'm not sure how much she weighs, but she is not very chunky.  She is a climber too.  She works her way out of the high chair seat belt and, if we aren't watching closely, will stand on top of the tray.  She hates to be confined and already thinks she should be able to do all that her older siblings are doing.  Stop growing up now, I mean it!  (Anybody want a peanut?)

Katie turns 6!

Katie had a birthday earlier this month.  She has been so excited for her birthday and counting down the days for a few months now.  The day finally arrived and she got a few presents in the morning before school, such as her new birthday outfit and a new purse and wallet.  (Really, that's what she wanted.)  After a yummy breakfast, she was off to school.
 

Richard went to the school for lunch and brought Katie her order of a junior bacon cheeseburger, french fries, and a vanilla frosty with M&M's.  He was the most popular guy at school that day because he really likes to play.  Apparently he was jump roping, hula hooping, playing tag and kickball.  He said all the kids were flocking around him, trying to get his attention and wanting to play too.  Yeah, he's an awesome dad.
Later, I went into Katie's class, where she got to stand on a chair while they sang to her.

 

Then we all went outside where we had donuts!  And she got this awesome hat.

 

After school, Katie was able to invite 3 friends to go with us to Chuck E. Cheese.  Oh boy!  What a party!  (Actually, it is a great place on a weeknight.  Hardly anyone else was there!)  Katie wasn't too sure about this ride. 

 

She is a very competitive bowler though.  Don't mess up her concentration!

 

Here she is with her three friends she invited!  What a bunch of cute girls!  Blythe, Raquel, and Gemma had a great time too.

 

Katie loved all her presents. 

 

 

Happy Birthday Katie!  You are such a sweet girl and we are so glad you are in our family!

Katie's eventful week

Katie had a bit of a rough week a while ago. She was getting her second loose tooth, and Dad convinced her to try one of his methods for yanking it out. Tie a long piece of floss around it and the other end to a remote control car, and go for it! After several hours of coaxing and playing with the truck, the tooth was still not out. Katie was a very careful driver. (ignore the mess in the background)

 

The tooth came out on its own a few days later.

Here is Katie on Nerd Day at school. Isn't she cute (even with a mouthful of chocolate Cheerios)?

 

That night she got to go to a special family activity: ICE SKATING! This was her first time ever and she had a great time. She was doing really well...until she tripped and Dad could stop fast enough and stepped on her hand. Oh dear! Richard scooped her up and rushed to the first aid station, where they quickly determined she would need stitches. So Richard and Katie drove to an Urgent Care, and the older girls got a ride home where I was with the younger kids. After they got home, I met Richard and Katie at Urgent Care. Here is her hand after it was washed up (you should thank me for not posting the bloody one).

 

Unfortunately, we learned not to go to an Urgent Care for anything urgent. They told us that she would need to see a hand specialist, but because they had given her pain medication, she would have to be transferred by ambulance. Richard gave her a priesthood blessing that promised her that her hand would be fine with minimal treatment necessary. Katie was a little nervous about the ambulance, but the stuffed animal they gave her really helped. Really, she was kinda silly from the pain meds and didn't really care about anything at all.

 

Once at Cardon Children's ER, and another 2 hour wait, the doctor looked at her hand and said it was most likely broken but would see what the x-rays showed before calling in the specialist. The x-rays came back normal! No broken bones. No ripped tendons. She just needed a few stitches in each finger. What a miracle! So, although we didn't get home till 4:30 am, we are grateful that this was little more than a mild inconvenience.
She has since had the stitches removed and is doing great!

Rebecca's busy November

This month was full of fun stuff for Rebecca. Near the beginning of the month, she and two of her friends competed in the "Battle of the Books," where each team has to answer questions about 4 books that they have read. Their team won! Now on to reading the next 4 books.
Next, Becca had her first Young Women in Excellence, which is kinda like a Court of Honor. She had only been in YW a month but she was asked to accompany the opening song, something she has never done before. She played "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," and she did great.
The next night was mind-blowing for mom and dad. Becca got to participate in a Young Lions choir concert. Kids (mostly 6th graders) from all the elementary schools that feed into Red Mountain joined with the junior high and high school choirs. It was surreal to have one of our kids up on the stage that Richard and I sang on a few years ago (or so it seems). Here is the combined elementary choir.

Keeping her eyes on the conductor...good job!

Cousin Jenny was also there! What a fun surprise!

It was a great concert and we are so excited for many more choir concerts in our future. :)
The following week was the Young Lions Band concert. This was pretty fun too, although not quite as exciting as the event was not organized as well. Still it was great to hear a big band playing, and Becca was very impressed with the HS marching band.

Becca's final event this month was a piano composition recital. She worked really hard and wrote a beautiful song called "Megan's Lullaby." (If only Megan would sleep whenever she heard it!) She (and mom) got to perform it at a recital and she got a small trophy.

We are so proud of all of Rebecca's blossoming talents. But what I love most about her is her willingness to help, her kindness, her sensitivity to others, and her good nature. We are so glad to have Rebecca in our family and we love her so much!