Frogs!

We are now a family of 10. Mom, Dad, Quinn, Keely, Callie, Rudy...and 4 frogs! The kids each got a FrogOSphere for Christmas but they were out of the frogs in store. So we had to mail order the frogs which I waited until after our trip to Florida to do. They arrived in two installments over this past week. They live in sets of two in a tiny aquarium that seems pretty low maintenance. They only get fed once per week too so that's easy enough. The other animals in the house have not noticed the additions...oh, except for when Callie almost ate one. Yes when we were transferring them to the aquarium, one got loose and began hopping on the kitchen floor. Callie was instantly thinking snack time! She has grown accustomed to things that taste good falling off the counter :) We were quick to react though and she was sent out in the backyard while Quinn scooped up the loose frog and deposited him into the tank. Phew! Close call. So when the second set of frogs arrived, we let Callie out ahead of time. But still one was jumpy and got loose, hopping into Quinn's closet. Again, Quinn to the rescue and he was able to scoop it up and into it's tank where it belongs. So without further adieu, I present the latest additions to the family.

Quinn's frogs, Flipper and Flopper. They are placed on his bookcase with all the dinosaurs. I think he thought they'd feel more at home with other animals peering in :) Keely's frogs, Gabriella and Tiny. Gabriella of High School Musical fame and Tiny for obvious reasons but not really because one is smaller than the other. I doubt either child could identify the frogs with the names consistently each time :)
And a close up of Keely's. One was literally suspended on one leg. They don't move around much, I guess to conserve energy since they only eat 2 small pellets of food per week.
So there they are. Not sure how long they will last but for now, the kids are enjoying have their own pets in their rooms!

Tell Me How You Really Feel

On Sunday, I went downstairs in the basement to run/walk on the treadmill. Keely followed as she typically does. Upon seeing the television screen, the following conversation ensued.

Keely (exasperated): Mama, are you going to watch football again? (?!?!)

Me: Yes, I am.

K: When I grow up, I am NEVER watching football! (emphasis on NEVER)

Me: Okay, that is your choice but I like football.

K: Well, I am NOT a fan of football! (emphasis on NOT)

Well, her point was clear and I loved her matter of fact-ness in this conversation. No one will tell her how to live her life, that's for sure!

And as a counterpoint, Quinn enthusiastically tells us at the dinner table last night...

13 Days Until the Super Bowl!!! :)

A Little Piece of Heaven

Earlier this month, we traveled to Florida. It truly was heavenly, that's just the best word to describe it. We got to leave cold, snowy, air polluted Utah for much greener and warmer pastures. Even in Florida's cold fronts they are still warmer than our winters. We gained 30-40 degrees and the sun, boy did that feel good. I took this picture one night, just because I was in disbelief that it was this warm at this time of day.
The doors at Lois & Ryan's house were never closed, they have these great screens and the weather is so balmy. I always get the itch during the winter months...the itch to move somewhere warm. I was spoiled in Tucson and I took it for granted. I just hate being cold. I don't like snow. I am sure in a couple of months I will like it here much better but the winters seem longer each year. I guess if that's all I have to complain about, then life is good. But I've digressed. The whole reason for the trip was to meet the newest member of the Donovan clan, Adelia. She is now 3 1/2 months old and we could not get enough of her. The kids adored her and we miss her now that we are back in Utah. Of course we miss Lois and Ryan too, but she was such a cutie :) I wish we could see her more often, but we will have to use Skype that much more often now. She's getting to a fun age where she can interact and I'm glad we waited to see her until she was a bit older. She loves to smile and laugh and so much reminds me of Quinn at that age. So much energy, her legs are always moving it seems. Short naps, lots of eating...that was Quinn. Hopefully she will follow his trend because when he could sit up, crawl and then walk (crawling at 6 months, walking at 9) he was a happy camper. All that bottled up energy finally had somewhere to go. But in the meantime, she loved to interact with both Quinn and Keely as well as Cassidy and Aedan. Boy when those 4 get together they have so much fun. Adelia liked to just watch them play and have fun on the swing in the front yard and play football. Every time Quinn threw the football, she laughed. Keely loved to hold her as did Cassidy. Girls just love babies! Quinn did not want to hold her but he liked to interact and make her smile and laugh. We filled the time in Florida mostly by hanging out at Lois & Ryan's, but also swimming in the pool and frolicking in the ocean. Yes, my kids were the crazy ones playing in the waves. Hey, when you live inland you have to take every opportunity to enjoy the ocean even if the water is bone chilling cold. I took almost no pictures, so I have "borrowed" some of Ryan's.

It's so much fun to be an aunt again and I took every opportunity to hold her :)Keely liked to hold board books up for her to look at. Of course she's not looking at the book in this picture, but they really did hold her attention for a few minutes...Baptism day. Parents, Godparents, Baby and Priest. The other baby in the Donovan Torvik household...Nutmeg. The kids had so much fun playing with her during the trip. Not sure Nutters appreciated it all though :)This epitomizes the warmth...Quinn sweating after running around playing football so he's using ice cubes to cool himself off!Uncle James entertaining Adelia. He just has that knack for keeping babies happy and smiley!We introduced Adelia to her first movie, Up. She was enamored by the dogs and graphics. And she's sitting in what is my favorite invention since my children were small, the Bumbo. Boy is this thing neat allowing them to sit up and work on that strength before doing it on their own. Wish I would have thought of this idea!
Most of the whole group of family, both Torviks and Donovans hanging out after eating yummy NY style pizza.
We decided to celebrate Grandpa's 75th birthday a little early since we were all together. Keely liked helping him cut the cake.
We were definitely sad to return to Utah. Keely must have said about 100 times on the plane ride back, "I don't want to go back to Utah. I want to stay in Florida." I asked her why and she said because it's warm and I want to be near Aunt Lois, Uncle Ryan and Adelia. I can't say I blame her, I think we all felt that way after the fun times we had in Florida! We were definitely glad to arrive home, but it felt that much colder to us and we did not welcome the snow.

New Year's Weekend Recap

Nana and Papa arrived on New Year's Eve, albeit a few hours later than scheduled due to some weather issues in Newark. Their bags were not so fortunate, and didn't arrive until almost noon on New Year's Day. We made it work though and postponed the 2nd Christmas just a tad :) We weren't really planning on doing much in the snow but we got some fresh powder that week and it was too good of an opportunity not to take advantage. On New Year's Day, we went for a snow hike in Dimple Dell. There still wasn't much snow on the ground but we enjoyed the fresh air and a nice walk. The kids are happy to pose for a snowball picture.
Here's the whole family, minus Rudy since he held down the fort at home, or more likely enjoyed the time without his torturer (aka Callie).
Keely recieved a very favorite present from Nana & Papa for Christmas, a pair of pajamas she had spied at the American Girl Doll store in NYC with a matching set for her doll. She wore those things non-stop once she got them until she went back to school after the holiday break (or so it seemed). They were more like lounge wear anyways so she would wear something else when we went out and then soon as we arrived home would change back into her lounge wear :)
We also took what seems to be a traditional trip downtown to the Gateway for some shopping and some ice skating at Gallivan Center. Only Keely and I partook in the skating as Keely had been bugging us for some time to get on the ice. She is actually a pretty good skater and we went around numerous times. She said it was the bestest time she'd ever had in her life.
Keely showing off on the ice...
On Sunday, we went snow tubing. This has also been a favorite activity for these visits but we'd never tried this hill at Gorgoza Park which is closer to our house than our usual haunt at Soldier Hollow. It was about the same honestly but not quite as serene since I-80 traffic is whizzing by.
We all enjoyed the tubing during the 2 hour session...notice Keely is relaxing in her tube almost like she's tanning herself :)
Keely liked getting pulled while on the line for the tube lift...can't say I blame her!
I had to post this photo to show where Keely spent most of her free time while on break from school. Notice she is in her lounge wear...but the more peculiar thing is that she's sitting in the corner of the living room sandwiched between the wall and the relocated coffee table (due to presence of tree in living room) sitting on top of a heating vent and watching her favorite movies on the portable DVD player. Her choices included Marley & Me, Up, Home Alone and Love Actually. Even more funny is that she doesn't watch any of those movies as a whole, just skips to her favorite parts and watches them over and over and over...such a funny girl :)
Now for some funny ones....me and Quinn being silly.
And an exhausted Nana with her buddy Rudy. My dad will try and try to be his friend but Rudy will pick Nana's lap a lot of the time....
And not to be left out, Callie curled up with a sleeping Papa...what a nice 50 lb lap dog
So that was the high points of the visit from Nana & Papa. This year was certainly unconventional but I know we Utahns had a great time and I'm pretty sure I can say the same for our guests!

Reflections on 2009

We have entered a new year and I have been thinking back on 2009. I always get excited at the beginning of a new year thinking about what it will bring to me and my family. The excitement always lies in good things though when the year will bring with it good and bad times. I had no idea when the calendar turned to 2009 that within 6 weeks I would be unemployed and searching for a new job. That initially was a bad thing but it would turn out to be for the best. As my loyal readers know, I was only unemployed for 2 months and have an even better job now...good pay, low stress, working from home one day a week, and a secure job for at least the next 6-9 months. 2010 may bring another job change for me but at least this time I will know ahead of time and can prepare. In 2009, we had a lot of fun times. We traveled to Denver, Las Vegas, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Blacksburg, New Jersey, and New York City. Quinn started 2nd grade and Keely started official school in Kindergarten. Quinn continued playing soccer and Keely started her first season. Quinn had his first birthday party and the kids both enjoyed a few sleepovers. I'm sure there is more, but my memory is lapsing as usual.

We already know a few things about 2010. We will travel to Florida next week (!) to meet, cuddle, adore and attend the Baptism of the newest family addition, Adelia. Quinn will participate in a monumental Catholic sacrament of First Holy Communion in May. Keely will enter 1st grade in the Fall, her first year of a full day in school. Quinn and Keely will both be enrolling in soccer for the spring season. What else will 2010 bring for me, James and the kids? I don't know but I am excited to go through it with them. I am sure it will have its ups and downs but there's no other people I would rather be with through them and for that, I am grateful.