Mom? Is that you?

Yesterday....

So I was driving in my car yesterday listening to the Dixie Chicks, "Wide Open Spaces"...and I had this total out-of-time experience. I was back in college (Ricks--now BYU-I) excited to face life, feeling like a new person, totally free of responsibility and kids, like my whole life was ahead of me and I was ready for it.

Wow.

Then seconds later that time in college felt like a lifetime ago, or, about 8 years. I glanced back at the three (and for once) QUIET kids in the backseat and Reina smiled at me. As wonderful as that feeling was, as nice as being free and innocent and really excited about all the new things coming: crushes, kids, degree, jobs, new friends.....I can't ask for it back. And I don't really want to.

Blessings

Ben graduated from Medical school! We flew back to Oregon for graduation, and took Carynn with us, a very dissapointed Reina and Vaughn stayed with my parents. It was so great to see some of our friends again. It felt like we'd been gone for so long.

Our beautiful new niece, Emma Rae, Jonathan and Stephanie's baby was born!

And our other niece, lovely Rae'lynn, was baptised!

The Wetzel Fam reunion was a hit!






And I can't BELIEVE I don't have pictures, but we spent an amazing two months in Utah living with my parents (THANK YOU!!), hanging out with my sisters, brother and sister-in-law, and also with my niece and nephew! It was so amazing. We also had another fabulous family reunion at my parents house tucked in there. I only have one picture of the open house at the Ochre Mountain Temple where we got to take the kids, Sharlie, and Tyler and Maddie (I miss you all!!). We also had a really special morning at the Provo temple. We got to perform some baptisms with Tyler, Thomas and Adrienne, Ben and I, and Dad. It was Tyler's first time, and it was really special to be there together! I can't believe how grown up Tyler and Maddie are getting.

We have had so many blessings!! And I didn't even mention getting approved for this house, having to move only twice (to Utah and then Colorado), and having Ben's parents visit us for a week, and going to the Boise temple. Phew. We are happy and well, and I know everyone is anxious to see pictures of the house, so I'll be doing that soon. We love you all and miss all of you in Oregon!!

Here are a few pictures of Garden of the God's in the Springs and the Boise temple.

Rocky Mountain High...

As I have been looking on our pictures since we moved from beautiful Oregon, I'm a little disappointed. There is a pathetically small amount. So, though I'm a firm believer that a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll just have to say more than I show. Bummer.

We are so happy here. I'm convinced that just having all this extra space is doing wonders for us all. We found a house and have been renting it while we were waiting for the bank to approve our offer. Thursday, while visiting this cool park called Garden of the Gods, we got the happy news from our realtor that our offer was accepted and started working on the house that afternoon. It was a short sale, which means just shy of bankrupcy (how in the heck do I spell that?), so the house needs some work. Everything inside and out needs paint. The carpets are really stained and worn, the linoleum is old, the basement smelled like cat, the deck needed to be finished, and the yard is in desperate need of TLC. Just to start. And yet we feel like we're in heaven....

Everyone has their own room (except Ben--he's quick to point that out), and we have so much space. We have almost a quarter acre yard. Right now the yard needs so much work that the kids spend more time in the front riding their bikes down our driveway. Did I mention we are the last house on a cul-d-sac? I would recommend it.

We had great thunder stormes nearly every day in July. But sunny, warm, hot, and cool days all mixed in. They say if you don't like the weather, wait a few hours for it to change.

We already have Zoo passes and are really enjoying the great zoo here. The parks are nothing like Oregon though. Lots of rocks, every park has a sand box, not many trees, sometimes grass, and no shade. I also don't like the library as much as Portland ones. Oh well.

Ben really enjoys work, and he is working with a really great group. The chief resident and his wife had all the residents over for a fourth of july BBQ, and I really think Ben got lucky. They are all so very nice. We had a great time.

Here are a few pictures.

What do you think of Mom?

So, my cousin sent this questionnaire out and I had to try it with Reina. It was so fun. Reina enjoyed it too, and was fascinated that I was writing down everything she said. Afterward, she had to ask me some questions and "write" them down. They went something like, "why does an elephant have wings?" "What is pink on a bird?" I didn't get it.



1. What is something mom always says to you? Don’t touch anything or else they will fall down and break.

2. What makes mom happy? Cleaning your toys.

3. What makes mom sad? When we fight.

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Tickle me.

5. What was your mom like as a child? Being a good girl.

6. How old is your mom? 50 thousand! How old are you mom? You’re 28? I thought Dad was 28. You and Dad are the same age?

7. How tall is your mom? Let’s count! 1…12! (in hands)

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Color with her Sweetie, play with her kids, and be happy.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Play with Vaughn. Do mommy time and take a nap.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Getting married.

11. What is your mom really good at? Juggle and funny faces.

12. What is your mom not very good at? Playing baseball.

13. What does your mom do for a job? Help kids clean up, and help the kids not be grumpy, and help kids be nice and have quiet time.

14. What is your mom's favorite food? Pizza, pepperoni and pineapple.

15. What makes you proud of your mom? Doing a puppet show.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Herself!

17. What do you and your mom do together? Watch a movie, and have quiet time.

18. How are you and your mom the same? Blond hair, blue eyes, same eyebrows, lips, ears, fingernails….(it went on for a while and then started to repeat).

19. How are you and your mom different? We do different things.

20. How do you know your mom loves you? she shows me a happy face.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad? She married him.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? To her friends house.

Match Day

Today we found out where Ben matched for residency. We will be calling Colorado Springs home for the next four years! We are excited, Penrose Hospital in Co, was where Ben wanted to go the most, and it was also our closest residency program to family in Utah.

We plan on leaving Portland April 28th, and then going on to Utah for two months. While in Utah we'll travel to Co, to find a place to call home, visit family and take a fun break from reality. Ben will start residency July 1.

We are going to be so sad to leave all of our friends, beautiful Portland, and especially my aunt and her family, my sister and her family, and Grandma and Grandpa Wetzel. I don't even like to think about saying goodbye. We love you all!

The reason I haven't done much for two months

The following is a series of pictures taken seconds apart.

A Dinosaur in time out.

A hurt Sweetie--look at those tears!

And someone who just got put in the swing for five minutes.

Breakfast in Bed

Who says kids can't give you breakfast in bed any day of the year? The kids woke up before me and were playing so well together that they didn't wake me up until they started bringing all their dishes into my room. And what did they serve? Peas, pancakes, donuts, hot chocolate, medicine, and pop.

Baby Carynn

At 1:50 pm, Saturday, January 10th, Carynn Ellice Wetzel was born into our family. She was 6lbs 12oz, and 19.5 inches long. It was a very smooth delivery and everything went about as perfect as labor and delivery can go. I--thankfully--didn't tear at all so my recovery in many respects has been quick and a lot less painful. I can actually sit!! I am still tired and we're still figuring out how to train her to go to sleep without being rocked. But she's still so little and precious that we pretty much just pass her around between Ben, Reina, and myself.

We're very happy. And we love her very much. The kids are adjusting better than I am. They are excited to have her in the family and love to show her off to their friends and visitors. Reina wanted to take her to show and tell at school.

Everything is going well, and we've had a lot of help from friends, ward memebers, and family. Thank you!! We feel so blessed.

Family Picture Friday Night


Before


Not Much Happening


Sisterly Support--Nothing like it


Free!

Count Your Blessings

At the beginning of December Ben was flying around for interviews; he was gone for 9 days. During that time I had so many wonderful friends and family thinking of me, praying for me, and helping me out. It was just after Thanksgiving so I was thinking of things to be grateful for anyway, but this long week with Ben away, me very pregnant and the kids very active was going to be really difficult and I was really worried about it. But just to show you how wonderful and thoughtful people can be I made a list of all the things people did for me, for the most part purely volunteer and unasked for (but so much appreiciated). I learned that there are so many little things that one person can do to make someones day better.

1. Ben left on a Sunday, that night I called my mom practically in tears and asked if my sister could use some of her Frequent Flyer miles and spend some time with me. Mom made it work and so my little sister who I haven't seen for a long time (she's been studying abroad in Italy) spent Tuesday through with me.

2. Sunday I got several calls from ward memebers asking if I was okay and if I needed babysitting or anything (I took one of them up on it for a doc appt on Monday).

3. One of the friends who called to see if I needed anything brought me a care package! Complete with two free movie rentals, little toys for the kids, relaxing foot lotions and such. It was so surprising and sweet!


4. My sister, Sharlie, came! We went to Salem to visit our other sister, Alaina, and an old roommate who I haven't seen for 3 years. I spent the night with my sister Alaina and we had a great talk that night and the kids had so much fun with their cousins. It was awesome.

5. Sharlie helped SO SO much. She always made sure my kitchen was clean. There were never dishes in the sink, and she did all sorts of things to help round up the kids and entertain them (and me).

6. Ben's Grandma (from Klamath Falls) sent us a care package with candy and a kids movie.

7. Saturday a friend offered to watch Reina and Vaughn for a couple hours, then Ben's parents took the kids to the mall for a couple hours.

8. Sunday it snowed a TON. We missed church and had a great day together.
We made snow flakes and hung out in PJ's.


Our neighbor shoveled the snow off our porch steps every day until Ben got home.





There were so many more calls and people checking up on us. We are so grateful for our friends and family.

Here is a picture of the stockings I made while Ben was away, and also the wreath that Sharlie made!

Super Hero

Yesterday Ben and I were talking about some things that Ben had to move around as prep for the baby coming. Well, of course, Reina was listening and thinking. She said, "Are you going to move that by yourself, Dad?" Ben answered in the affirmative. "Wow, you're strong. Are you a super hero?" Ben and I laughed, but of course he answered in the affirmative. She was very impressed.

A few hours later Ben and I were arguing about (discussing loudly) something that had to be brought up from the garage--right now. As Ben, disgruntled, walked down to the garage Reina gave me a piece of her mind, "Mom, you can't talk to dad like that. He's a super hero, and you're not!" What could I say? She's right.