I've been walking around my neighborhood these last couple of days and always see things along the way to take pictures of. Today I brought Ammon's camera that we bought him for Christmas. It's smaller than mine so it right fit in my pocket and I wanted to test it out. I took a lot of pictures along the way, but these were the best ones. I wasn't happy with the quality of the camera at all. I like my camera better...even though it's a dinosaur! All the pictures with the exception of the first are from the park near my house. It has a really nice walking/biking trail and beautiful mossy trees. I love mossy trees! These are nothing like the ones in the Olympic Forest, but they'll do.....for now.
I've been having back problems and they all started when I was chasing my puppy Lucy around the house wearing socks on wood floors. Normally I take them off, but for some reason I didn't this time...and it cost me big time. I slipped and went down hard! My back has NEVER hurt so bad! I even had to spend two days in bed just lying down. I even went somewhere with Anson and decided to stay in the car because he wasn't supposed to take very long. Right. He took awhile and I really needed to use the bathroom, so I decided to get out of the car. That was a HUGE mistake! It was SO PAINFUL and I couldn't stand straight up and walk at all so I got back in the car. Anson came out probably 10-15 minutes later and I told him what happened. He actually had to help me up and walk me to the bathroom. I felt like an OLD LADY!
Wednesday was my birthday and Anson had scheduled a massage for that morning. It was a GREAT massage! One of the best! I spent the day thrift store shopping and found a couple of good finds. I also decided to pick up pizza for lunch and brought home enough for dinner as well. Later that night I took the kids to get an ice cream cone. It was a pretty uneventful birthday which they all have been most of my life. I got a lot of birthday wishes from friends and family on facebook and Ammon and Ashton made me cards.
THIS YEAR ANSON FORGOT MY BIRTHDAY!
He was in Seattle at school which I can understand. I never said a word about it when he got home yesterday afternoon. He only found out when his brother Rob called to wish me a Happy Birthday! All he said was, "I'm sorry I missed your birthday". Um, I forgave the fact that he forgot, but now that he knows he forgot what is he going to do with that information? Apparently NOTHING! That's what makes me mad. He didn't say let's go get dinner, let's go see a movie, let's pick up a cake and ice cream, or let's celebrate....NOTHING. What is wrong with him... Now I'm just hurt. Oh, he finally said "Happy Birthday" to me today. Gee, thanks. Last year for his birthday I organized a dinner at a restaurant and surprised him with his family and my family all waiting there. He's like "What do you want? It's not like I have a whole bunch a money to spend on you." It doesn't take money to make me feel special. Now he sees that I'm mad and wants me to tell him why I'm mad. I can't though 'cause I'm not talking to him!!! He really doesn't get it!
I just wanted to update a little bit. We had snow last week and I never posted the pictures of the boys playing outside. It seemed like it snowed all day. It was really beautiful to watch and it wasn't expected at all. It was a nice surprise.
Every year for Christmas Eve, we go over to my parent's house and play games, eat dinner, have a little program about the true meaning of Christmas and then open presents.
Ashton , Hannah and Kenzie playing some sort of game.
Ammon, Ashton and DadAdam and Kenzie.
Ammon, Ashton, Kenzie and Hannah.
Megan and Kenzie. (Lots of pictures of Kenzie! She gets around apprarently!)
This is the Christmas card I sent out this year. Anson's picture is a couple of years old, but I never got around to getting them all together to take a Christmas photo this year.
This is a letter that I wrote just in case I sent the cards out early.
Everything was last minute, so this letter was never sent, but you can read it here.
Dear family and friends,
A lot happened this year! I’ll start with the kids first.
Anson Jr. turned 13, Ammon 10, and Ashton 7! They sure are growing fast. Especially Anson Jr.!!! He only wears a pair of jeans for a couple of months before I need to go out and buy more. He has already passed me in height and is gaining on his dad. He is still attending the art school and loves it. He is taking American Sign Language this year and wants to take Spanish next year….inHIGH SCHOOL! I still feel like I am high school so how could I possibly have a child that old?!
Ammon is doing awesome in school too, of course. Social Studies and Math are his favorite subjects and he’s very interested in geography, particularly Norway. He recently purchased a phrase book in the Norwegian language and his room is decorated with world globes and travel books.
Ashton is a little smarty too. I was worried at first when we decided to put him in school a year early, but not anymore. He learns quickly, is good at math, spelling and reading. Ammon tells Ashton that he reads better than a lot of kids in his 5th grade class. Ashton also LOVES video games. Ammon and Ashton both got an award at their school assembly last month. We are so proud of all of our boys and thankful they are healthy.
Angela went to back to school for 3 semesters in the 08-09 year and did very well in the art program. She had 2 photographs and 2 drawings selected to be displayed in The Archer Gallery for the student art annual. She also had 3 art pieces selected for the college’s art and literary publication. (You can view her pieces online at: http://www.clarkphoenix.com/gallery/visual/index.html (Go to page 7. Mother, Olympic and Yellow are the titles of her work). Her trictograph, “Yellow” was chosen from that publication to be made into a greeting card by the college. She and Anson also have a screen printing business where they work out of their garage. Most of their business is done for the “Dazzled By Twilight” store in Forks and Port Angeles, Washington.
Anson Sr. still commutes twice a week to Seattle where he attends school. He just recently passed his Comps and is officially a Psy. D (c) (which means he is a candidate to become a Dr. in Psychology. He started his practicum this last fall and is doing therapy and testing in 2 different clinics here in Vancouver. If that wasn’t enough, Anson was able to fly to Utah and play keyboards for the Mitch Hansen Band. While there, they did played events and did radio interviews and television interviews too. AND, the most exciting and recent thing is that Anson published his first book called, “The Littlest Acorn”. http://www.paramountpacificpress.com/Top_Selling_Books.html
Other things that happened this year are that we bought a Thousand Trails membership and an RV which has been very enjoyable. We also had a little girl! Her name is Lucy and she’s a Chihuahua! She’s still a puppy, but she’s very smart and learning quickly. AND we moved…only a couple of miles from where we were, but what a difference! We love it here.
