So Much Fun!

It was a rare occurrence but surprisingly enough, I was prepared for Christmas – much more ahead of the game than what usually transpires. Without gifts to wrap or the many last minute worries that usually accompany me this time of year, I really enjoyed the season – the spirit of it, the traditions, my children and family – ALL of it!

For our 2009 Santa endorsed Scavenger Hunt, the kids were left sleds. Going out to the hot tub to find them in 10 degree weather was not something they were too fond of but they were grateful nonetheless.

We had to try out the new gear and the snow yesterday and accepted the invitation to go to Kory’s house and use the “perfect sledding hill”. Russ invited Jed & Laura North and their family to go with us. Jed brought his 4-wheelers to help haul the sledders back to the top. Without the 4-wheelers, I think the kids would have been good to hike it 3, possibly 4 times at max. Since they had personal chauffeurs, they lasted 3 hours! Russ and I went down a couple times and had a blast. I can see why the kids enjoy sledding. In our group were 20 children and 7 adults. The few children that were on the hill when we arrived soon departed. You might say we dominated the area!

After sledding, Jed and Laura (and her sister Jennifer and husband Steve), Tina and Steve and their 4 children and Steph and Jeff and their 4 children came over for dinner and to play games. Some of our kids played at the North’s house until we picked them up after 11:00 last night. Our house was rocking with competition on the game boards and a bit of rivalry with the Guitar Hero/Rock Band. I’m almost a little frightened to know what happened at the Norths. I guess some things are probably better off unknown.

It is too bad Russ has to work next week - Otherwise, we could have rematches. We may just have to sneak one in anyway sometime soon. Thanks everyone for helping us make good holiday memories after celebrating such a great Christmas!

5 Days and Counting

The gifts are purchased and most are wrapped. Nearly all of the baking is complete and neighborhood gifts have been delivered. Our house is adorned with Christmas decorations (OK, except those that have not escaped ChanMan's touch). I'm feeling closer to being ready for Christmas and our biggest family traditions associated with Christmas Eve.

Though Russ has taken vacation this week, I foresee him sleeping more than being alert - until the kids come home from school. The past 2 weeks have been anything but smooth and seem to have left him restless. That is okay though. I have a few gifts to finish making and then it is on to delivering them to my Young Women on Wednesday. Russ and I also hope to make it to the temple Wednesday morning. We need the peace of the season to inflitrate our minds.

A phrase hit me strong at church today, "Christ died for us." While this is true, I've also thought about how Christmas celebrates Christ's birth. So while I agree that part of Jesus Christ's mission was to die and rise again, I feel it is more important (at least to me right now) to concentrate on his life and HOW he lived as well as the examples he set.

So this Christmas Season, I'm focusing on how I can better live my life for Christ, the way He lived for me.

Thoughts on Opposition and Trials

Yesterday at church the topic of Sacrament Meeting was basically centered around Growth and Survival of Opposition. Many thoughts and insights were shared by individuals who have seen quite a bit of opposition in their lives. I thought about my life and the trials that I've been through. It has weighed heavily on my mind so I read further some of the talks from past conferences and quotes from wonderful men and women who have really experienced life.

The insights I've gained? Well...really, I already knew these things but feel it important to remind myself frequently: Trials are never fun and sometimes stretch us to a capacity that we don't realize we possess. Though I'm grateful for trials after the fact, I'm also slowly coming to the realization that refinement is a tough process and definitely necessary for personal growth. I suppose I have always known that, but now I'm really appreciating some of the trials I've had in the past. (Still, I don't look forward to more trials - though I know they'll be placed in my pathway as I have yet to be refined in the way that I need to be!) I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who thinks I'm worthy of refinement!

Russ was put back into Elder's Quorum yesterday. I don't know why this doesn't scare me but it doesn't. Is it because we've been through busier callings? Is it because I am getting older and "old hat" to some of these positions? Is it because something else in our future? I don't know. I do know that our conception of flying under the radar has not lasted long. That is okay though. I'm at peace. (Strange, I know.)

After posting a few weeks ago, I realized that I failed to post some of our pictures that Whitney (Palmer) Lewis took of our family. So, I'm going to close this week's blog on a note that the pictures from that shooting are contained in various places on this page. Whitney truly captured each child's personality! We were so happy to have her use her skill and talent in helping us document this time in our family.

I'm still somewhat in denial that my youngest is going to be 4 soon and my oldest will turn 14 two days afterwards. Where has time gone? I suppose this is a prime example of one of my trials I've recently undergone. I know my time is short with these children and I'm not ready for it to be even close to over. I hope that the memories we are making will hold the family ties tight throughout their lives (and mine)!

The last picture is our family picture that we used on most of our Christmas cards this year.

Catching Up

Wow....Has it REALLY been three months since I've blogged? So many events, changes, and adjustments have been given to us. I'll try to catch up the major events with some of the less important thrown into the mix for journaling purposes. Tonight as I write, I'm a bit homesick and missing so many people who have touched my life. Bare with me...

My mom came to visit for a few weeks the end of September. It was fun having her here as Tanner turned 12. We partied hard that week. Since my grandparents came as well, mom briefly moved upstairs to Tanner's room so that my grandparents could have the guest bedroom on the main level. Mom has several cousins in Utah that she hasn't seen in over 20 years so we had a cousin reunion. The Rhotons, the Harmans, the Schurters and the Johnsons all became reaquainted. Russ grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. Unfortunately, it was rather chilly so everyone packed into the house after discovering the fire pit didn't provide adequate warmth. (Utah weather can rise or drop 20 degrees in 24 hours....Its crazy!)



















The next day, Tanner was ordained a deacon at church and Russ grilled fajitas for everyone afterwards. So many people came and participated in the circle. It was a special day for sure! (Again, for journaling purposes - Marcos & Chelsea Gomez, Marcelo Gomez, Mark & Danielle Davis, Jed & Mikel North, Tanner's school teacher - Megan Ford & her husband, Mia & Todd Chase & Alyson, Ken & Caroline Johnson (Great grandparents), Carol Curry (Grandma), John & Danika Pope (Cousins), Richard & Marie Scadden (Grandparents), Dean Scadden (Great grandpa), Kory & Melanie Scadden & Sadie, Ian, Sam and Ava, Jeff & Stephanie Scadden & Addy, Tyson, Jackson and Boston, Tina & Steve Estoque & Brandon, Amanda, Lauren and Nate - all came. It was a bit crazy afterwards but very special to us all to feel the support we had!)

Well, I keep trying to add a picture of John and Danika and just deleted a picture of Tanner with the Three Markscateers. I can't figure out how to format this blog so...Maybe next time. :(

The end of October was our traditional trailer
trick or treating. Cousins and friends (The Flannery's) came and participated as Russ hooked up the trailer, we decorated it with lights and pulled everyone throughout the neighborhood. It was a fun night, but we definitely missed the Kings and Rehmans!





After my mom left the middle of November, we celebrated Thanksgiving by taking the kids to a movie. Friday we had Thanksgiving dinner with the extended Scadden family in Kaysville. We enjoyed it but were so tired after pulling Black Friday all nighters. Was it worth it? You betcha! I can honestly say I'm 99% finished with Christmas shopping...YEAH!


On a sidenote, Russ took me to see Blindside this week. I loved the story theme but even more so, I admit the scenery made me a bit homesick. I appreciated the fact that Tim McGraw didn't have to "fake" a southern accent and that what he said came naturally. The huge oaks and beautiful magnolias along with the antebellum style architecture did not escape my notes. I long for an extensive walk in a grove of large trees with moss hanging down and green all around me. Perhaps sometime next year that will happen.


Changes occur for a reason. While I appreciate some, I hit others a bit more reluctantly. Russ enjoys his job. For that I'm grateful. I'm back in Young Women. I'm grateful for that. Our kids are healthy and though some are adjusting easier than others, they are supportive. I'm very grateful for that! We miss our friends and southern family something fierce. Some days are worse than others. I'm grateful for Facebook allowing me to "stay in touch" and virtually "see" those I long to touch. When all is said and done, we are doing well.


We've survived our first snowfalls, finished a football season for the boys, celebrated our first major holiday in our new house, decorated for Christmas for the first time in Utah, witnessed the fact that our kids are growing faster than we ever thought possible (and we THOUGHT we were reasonable regarding their timeline with us), and reaquainted ourselves with many friends and family members on the Scadden side. I feel accomplished as I've nearly completed addressing my Christmas cards, I have stamps in my desk and a plan to mail them this week. I'm so excited Russ was anxious to put up lights and help outdoors with the decorating!

Lovin the Weather...

Well, after 4 months of being in Utah, I've decided I absolutely love the weather. Given - Winter has not reared her ugly head yet but I hear the snowfall in Herriman is not nearly as bad as other parts of the valley.

Russ helped me yesterday go through more boxes in the basement. Let me just say: Baseball! Everywhere I turned, there was some type of baseball equipment. I counted the number of bats and found we had 15 baseball bats of varying sizes and weights as well as a couple t-ball bats. I didn't begin to count the baseball pants or jerseys or helmets or gloves. It suffices me to say we could outfit an entire baseball team with practice gear and equipment! Luckily for us, Chandler will start t-ball in the spring. As he begins to outgrow said equipment, we can pass it on to others.

Taylor has decided he is our resident baker. I found an easy cookie recipe and he has it memorized and down to a science. Last weekend, he made cookies. They didn't last long. Boy were they yummy! Russ is recruiting Taylor to make cookies for his hometeaching families.

Another recent development is that our three older boys are playing flag football. We couldn't get them registered for regular football and were too late in the season to get them on a baseball team. They had their first practice on Saturday and will have another practice on Tuesday after scouts. Of course Russ is an assistant coach.

I'm so glad that the boys have a father who looks for ways to be involved in their lives. I realize they are at the age where they still need mom but are looking to dad for more direction. I suppose it is the nature of the beast and part of a boy's normal development in growing up. :)

Speaking of growing up, Chandler is finally sleeping in his own bed! After a week of doing so, we took him to Wal-Mart and bought him his very own bike. He thinks he is super cool and as big as his siblings now. (He even asked if he could ride his bike to school like everyone else!)

Looking ahead...

My mom is coming in a week to visit for a little while. I am frantically trying to get more of the boxes cleared away and things put in place before she gets here. What is left over, I'll work on after she arrives in hope that I can put everything away before more family arrives the following week. Mom has not seen many of her cousins in 20+ years. While she is here, we are going to host an open-house, small family reunion type activity for them. I hope the weather cooperates and stays as beautiful as it is today.

Looking into Autumn

Russ and I have enjoyed the fresh fruit stands and the many farmer's markets off the side of the road. We went to Herriman's first annual farmer's market today and bought fresh squash, tomatoes, peaches, corn, potatoes, peppers, honey and some preserves. Afterwards, we found a little mexican place that makes breakfast burritos. Ahhh - and they weren't bland! We love exploring this area and finding little gems.

Though it is still a bit premature to say fall is here, we're getting excited for the change of weather. I particularly love the crisp air and the ability to open the windows, airing the house out. I've not experienced autumn in Utah and only hope that it lasts a long, long, LONG time. The winter snows have me a bit gun-shy and I'm not particularly looking forward to living them for months at a time. (At least the locals claim winter never ends. We'll see....)

Tanner is turning 12 October 1. I can't believe it has been 12 years already! I remember bringing him home from Seton Hospital after 3 weeks in NICU so happy he was finally with us. Now, he is in and out of the house slamming doors behind him as he grabs a football, a bat, an airsoft gun, or one of his many other "boy toys". As a mom, it is fun to watch the parade of followers he has with many neighborhood boys and of course, his 3 younger brothers in tow.

We're excited that so many family members are coming to visit us next month. Actually, Grandma Curry comes on the 28th of this month with Granny and Bampa Johnson following in early October. Robby and Paula with their children will be flying out the middle of the month and are staying for a little over a week. The kids are thrilled to have the opportunity to see some of these cousins and grandparents again. We are sad the rest of the family can't come but understand finances. Still, I don't know how Tanner will react to not having Kristin around for one of his birthdays. It will be different for certain!

August Adventures

We decided to make a long-awaited trip to Arizona last month. Since moving to Utah, we have all greatly missed the water, sun, sand and all that goes with the joy of being outside. Lake Powell was on our way and well, we just couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a quick detour off the road.

The great leader of our family, aka "Dad", is nothing more than a big boy. Since the suburban is a 4-wheel drive, he thought it would be lots of fun to go 4-wheeling in deep white sand pulling a trailor.

Note the pictures on this page of what transpired. Our first trip to Powell will not soon be forgotten.

While in Arizona, Debi's grandfather gave us his jacuzzi that he could no longer use. We drove 15 hours back from Arizona at 50 - 55 mph pulling the trailor and the hot tub. The only mishap was a lost set of straps - and for that we are truly grateful! Lots of fun awaits us over the coming years as we enjoy this wonderful gift. Debi and Brenna think they might actually survive a Utah snowstorm now that they can sit in the jacuzzi and pretend with their eyes closed that they are actually on an exotic beach somewhere in the Caribbean.


School started last week and the kids are excited for the changes taking place in their life...well, sort of. They are still adjusting to the many changes and expectations of schools in this part of the country. In time all will be routine...