The Orchard Team Huddle

Today marks 20 years since since Russell left on his mission. Since I was his girlfriend at the time he left I also have many memories and emotions that come back to me as I think about that day.  He had already turned in his papers before we started dating so the decision was already made for him to go.  We got really close in the few months before he left and it was really hard to separate for those 2 years.  We both knew that we would end up together forever.  It was more of a "wait and date" situation than a "wait" (I was only 16!) but things worked out in the end. Russell was called to serve in the Denver, Colorado Mission.  There was some initial disappointment when he opened his call.  Afterall, Denver is almost like getting called to Idaho! Once he got there it ended up being the best mission ever.  Serving a mission is such a tough thing.  Russell wrote in his journal on Sept. 28, 1988,  "Right now it is my first day in the MTC...

Douglas (Click on picture for larger view) Stockton I always get asked which one of my boys Mason looks like.  It is hard for me to say when I compare them to my current age boys but when I go back to their baby pictures I think it is easier to tell.  He has those beautiful blue eyes and light hair that Stockton had but overall I think he looks most like Douglas did.  What do you think? And, what a treat!  You get to see my scrapbooking skills from years ago!  It was easier to scan the whole page than rip out the pictures.  I must say I improved immensely from Douglas to Stockton and I have improved even more from Stockton to Mason.  That is assuming I even get around to making a page for Mason!

These are Mason's 3-mo.-old pictures.  Isn't he the cutest baby ever?!

I was so ready for school to start this year.  Aren't all mom's?  I was ready for a schedule and a little quiet time but I did not want to send Douglas to Jr. High.  I still remember being the crying mom standing outside the Kindergarten door.  When did he grow up?  I am not ready for Douglas to see the things I know he will see.  I am not ready for him to have the freedom he has and I am not ready for him to be a teenager!  I hope we have taught him the things he needs to know to make the right choices and make it through the next few years.  He is such a good boy and I know he will do great things! It was easier to send Stockton off to 3rd grade.  Things are still pretty innocent there.  After all, when they have assemblies they send K-3rd together and 4th-6th together.  It is still considered one of the younger grades!  He LOVES school and was so excited to go.  I hope he always has that same enthusiasm for l...

It has been 4 nights since we started "teaching" Mason to sleep through the night.  I am happy to say I stayed strong and moved him to his own room.  The first night he cried when I put him to bed but he slept until 5:30.  I knew it was a fluke so I braced myself for night #2.  As expected, he had a horrible night.  He woke up, cried for 10 minutes, received comfort, fell back asleep for 1/2 hour and then started the cycle all over again.  This went on all night.  The kids were zombies when they got up for school on Friday.  Friday night the boys(including Dad) had a sleepover in the basement!  Mason spent one hour of the night waking up but the rest of the time he did great. And, last night after going to bed nicely, Mason slept until 5:45 without making a peep.  I consider that a victory!  I hope that will be the norm now.  I am sure there are still sleepless nights ahead of us but hopefully we are over the worst of it.

Many of you know this sweet little boy that is the newest love of my life.  Up until about a week ago Mason has been the perfect little baby.  He attended his first little league game at age 1 week. He endured his brother's birthday party at Classic Skating at 2 weeks and at 4 weeks old he flew across the country for 2 weeks to New York, sleeping in three different hotel rooms in his stroller.  He has braved wind and rain, heat and humidity and screaming from the sidelines, going with the flow and happy to do it.  He was only an hour or so from sleeping through the night until something changed.  He started fussing at night, waking up 3,4, even 5 times.  I would lean over his bassinet and shove his binky in his mouth and he would be good to go for another 10 minutes.  Yes, you read me right, I said bassinet.  My other 2 babies were into their own rooms by about 6 weeks.  Stockton may have been 4. What is different?  I know Mason is...

I swore I would never do it.  I am a scrapbooker.  Why do I need to blog?  Who wants to read about me and my family?  People share sappy things that no one really cares about anyway.  And, I don't have time!  These are some of the reasons I didn't blog sooner.  Lately, I have enjoyed checking in on my friends, getting to know them more intimately than I would over the phone and following the the progress of one of Mason's dear little baby friends as he deals with a bad heart.  What an amazing world we live in.  Those who care about me and my family can share in our lives at the click of a button, no matter where they are.  Who would have thought? With a new baby and active older boys, I feel like I am missing important things that need to be written down.  I want to remember all of the wonderful daily things that happen to us.  This will give me a chance to share my thoughts when I otherwise wouldn't.  Russell has been...