Brinley's Broken Arm!!!!

One day after school Brinley came to the front door and instead of coming in like she does everyday she stood at the door and knocked. I thought she was being funny so I opened the door ready to scare her. She was standing there just sobbing. I picked her up and tried for a half an hour to get her to tell me what was wrong. She would not, she just sat on my lap and cried. Then she moved to Kylee's lap and she tried for another 15 minutes to get her to tell her what was wrong. Finally Kylee came and told me that she thought it might have something to do with her arm. She let me look at it for just a minute and it was swollen and would not straighten. I knew by the look of it that somthing was not right.

Emilee had 3 friends coming to eat homemade pizza (which I was in the process of making) and then we were supposed to drive them to the middle school dance. I called Chris to see when he was coming home and told him it looked like we were going to spend our Friday night in the ER. I finished the pizza while Brinley took a little nap on the couch...definatley our 5th child or I'm sure we would have rushed right to the hospital...and then we told Kylee to get the girls to the dance and headed for the hospital.

Brinley was so funny. She did not want anyone to ask her any questions or even look at her. She hated the whole process. They took x-rays and then put her arm in a splint. When the doctor came in to confirm that it was broken and she would need a cast...she started to cry. She did not want a cast. We left the hospital and took her to a dollar store where she got a prize for letting the doctor look at her arm. We had to bribe her, otherwise she was not going to let him look at or touch her!

The following Monday we went to get the cast. She chose pink and once again did not want anything to do with the doctors or nurses looking at or touching her. She insited that she was not going to school that day either!! The whole drawing attention to the cast she was wearing was far more painful for her than the actual break to her arm. The next day I made her go to school. She did not want me to take her or go and talk to her teacher. She did get on the bus and go though!! As a meddling mother I did go right in the house and call the school to give her teacher a heads up. I told her that if she was crying it was not because she was in pain, but just didn't want anybody making a big deal about her cast. As a very smart little 5 year old she solved her problem and came up with a great solution...she didn't take her coat off at school so no one knew!! Her teacher never said a word and luckily because of Christmas break she only had to go to a couple days of school.She got lucky and only had to wear the cast for 2 weeks!! She was so happy to have it off and be done with it!


Just for the record, she is the first broken bone in our family! Well, except for the time she fractured her scull by falling in the tub...which did not require a cast! Hopefully this is not a pattern of things to come!!

Ward Christmas Party

This year for our ward Christmas party we had dinner and then a couple special visitors...Santa and Mrs. Clause. This was Brinleys first experience sitting on Santas lap. She was scared and didn't think she wanted to do it, but then her little friend Kate talked her into standing in line with her. Both Quincy and Brinley sat on his lap and told them what they wanted. I tried to get all 5 of my kids up there for a picture, but the oldest 3 completely boycotted that idea!

Gingerbread Houses 2011

The kids favorite Christmas Tradition...making Gingerbread Houses!

Houses glued together...candy in bowls...almost ready to start!!

Diving in to create their masterpieces!

We had lots of fun and ate lots and lots of candy!! No wonder it is their favorite tradition!

Christmas Lights at Temple Square

At the beginning of December we sat down as a family and made a list of things we wanted to be sure to do during the Christmas holiday. The month seems to fly by and we miss opportunities if they are not on the calendar. On the first Friday in December we met Chris at the frontrunner station in Ogden to go to temple square. We brought sack lunches for dinner and ate them on the way there. We took trax to the temple. The temple was beautiful and we spent time going to both visitor centers. It was a cold night so we didn't spend too much time outside.
I'm pretty sure the hightlight of the night was riding the frontrunner. I would like to think it was the temple, but I'm pretty sure I would be fooling myself.





Great tradition...hopefully we can do this every year. It is great to start the season out with a trip to the temple!!!

Quincy

If you are around Quincy for very long you will see her do some kind of acrobatics. She is sooo flexible. She can drop into the splits both sideways and from the front. She loves to do backbends and can drop into them standing. She keeps begging her parents to do gymnastics...but she has not been successful yet!! Maybe someday. Her parents are loving that she is focusing on piano and becoming quite a good little piano player. Maybe if she practices really well it would show her parents that she could do both...hint, hint, hint!!

Brinley's Stories

Brinley is into writing stories. She has afternoon kindergarten so she has all morning to get into her "zone" as we call it. She reads books to herself and her dolls. She gets out the calculator and writes millions of numbers all over paper...which she knows exactly what each and every one means. Some days she gets out all of the card games and sorts them all over the couch. She is constantly pulling the paper and boxes out of our recycle bin in the garage to create something with them. She fills in the forms on all the junk mail. Hopefully she doesn't accidentally apply for something some day!! She writes stories and draws lots of pictures. My living room gets transformed every morning into whatever she feels like doing that day. She is a smart little whipper snapper...and I think there is a reason for that! She does not enjoy watching TV or movies or playing with most normal toys...but hand her some scrap paper, a calculator or a notebook and pen, and she is in heaven!!! Chris and I often look at each other and wonder where she came from and what in the world she will be when she grows up!!!

Here is a sample of some of her work. She wrote this story this morning...complete with Kindergarten phonics!

1. oun day sum wun wuz fiteeng with hr frend named britney the end. 2. ouns a pon a tim there ouz sum leftovrz frum last nit i ast if i kud havsum the end. 3. ouns a pon a tim mi frends kam ovr to mi haws to ask if i koud play i sed no they ast wiy be kuz i am sik they sed ok and they wokt awa the end.

In case you need an interpretation, the story says:
1. one day some one was fighting with her friend named Britney (interesting how close this name is to hers!!) the end. 2. Once upon a time there was some leftovers from last night I asked if I could have some the end. 3. Once upon a time my friends came over to my house to ask if I could play I said no they asked why because I am sick they said ok and they walked away the end.

Oh how I will miss not having any more spelling challenged 5 year olds!!!

The Great Eight! Kylee's varsity volleyball season

These are 8 amazing young women! They are an unusual group of girls...and have had a one of a kind experience. They have been on the same team for the past 6 years and have played together from 7th grade to their senior year. All 8 of them played varsity every game...which doesn't happen very often. We were the only team who always announced 8 seniors as our starting line-up! But more importantly, they are the best of friends. There are not 8 more kind, caring, fun girls in the world!! They are all beautiful inside and out. They have never said an unkind word to or about each other on or off the court...and that's saying a lot! Even when they are down in a game and the pressure is on you will only see and hear them building each other up. They cheer each other on in everything they do...volleyball, school, anything. I think that is why they have been so successful and had a great season. They are always positive and treat each other with love and respect.
Lacey, Shelby, Sommer, Savannah, Alexis, Allie, Kylee & Brooke...The Great 8!!

They got together and hired a photographer to take their pictures together. They got some fun shots. They have spent a lot of time together over the years. They did team retreats and camps, went to sadies dances all together (and played some awesome mud football both years), did lots of service projects together, attended football games together and spent countless hours together perfecting their volleyball skills at practices, club tournaments and season games.

For the past two years they have had the awesome opportunity to attend the state tournament at UVU. They have gone in both years as Region Champs!! Woohoo!! They didn't do as well this year as they had hoped...they all had their sights set on a state title...but they still had a good experience. They played hard and it was so sad to see this season come to an end. Volleyball has been a huge part of their lives and they will have great memories and friendships for years to come.

Walking out to the bus to leave for the State Tournament under their balloon arch!

The bus...decorated inside and out!!

Emilee, Quincy and Brinley came to wish Kylee good luck and see her off!!

All of the girls and families released purple and white balloons before they got on the bus.

A few shots of Kylee doing her thing at the State Tournament.

It has been so fun to watch her be so successful this year at something she has worked hard at for years. She had a great season. At the Volleyball banquet she received some of her stats. She led the team in blocks and the next person under her was 35 less! She also was 3rd in kills, only 1 under the 2nd place. She received the "defensive player of the year" award. This usually goes to the libro but this year her teamates and coaches voted that it go to her for her amazing ability to put up a great block.

Her coaches have really tried to encourage her to go on and play at the college level. They are pretty certain she could play and receive a volleyball scholarship. After a few weeks of painful thinking :) Kylee decided to keep all of the great experiences and memories close, but to wrap up this stage of her life and be done with volleyball. She feels like it's time to look to college and focus on that as her next stage. We are proud of her...it's not everybody that even has that decision to make. It says alot about her skill, desire and determination. Her parents think she has made a wise decision!!! I am excited to see all that this next phase of life will bring for her. Volleyball has taught her some important life lessons and she is a better person for all that she has learned over the past 6 years.

This was a statement from Kylee's coach that was printed in our local newspaper. I think it sums their team up beautifully...

"Harding said she is honored to have been able to coach such a special group of athletic talents with a real passion for the sport. She also commended their character, saying they were respectful, generous, kind and always looking for ways to serve others. They won't remember the win/loss at the end, said Harding. They are going to remember their teammates and the way they treated each other, and these girls get that."

Great Job Kylee...we are proud of you!!

Quincy's "Fun things to do" list

One summer day Quincy had some friends over and could not find anything fun to do. She was being a couch potato and just wanted to watch TV. Her friends actually got so bored with her that they opted to just go home instead. I was a little upset with her and made her turn the TV off and write a list of "fun things to do" to hang on the fridge for the next time she had friends over and needed some ideas. It actually turned out pretty cute. Here is her list (with her spelling)

play go fish

go jump on the tramp

hop scoch

side walk chalk

ride bikes

water color

opstical corse

make cards

animal match

crazy eights

take a walk

play tag

swing on swings

build a hut

play school

stuffe-d animals

color

moon sand (pick nick table)

play dress ups

write a silly story

shoot hoops

paper w/stickers

run around the house 4 times

play simon says

santa says

play games in the closet

golf

air hockey

go to school and play on the playground

play socker

play catch

play hot potato

blind fold and find

ride scooders

musical chairs

This list has hung on our fridge for almost a year now and it has come in quite handy a couple of times!!

My new hobby!

I can't let 2011 pass without including a post about my new found favorite store to shop...which has kind of become a hobby in a way. It is the DI. Grandma Barb refers to it as the "special store". Kylee told me the other day that she has been there more in the past 6 months than in her entire life. Early in the summer I started frequenting the DI to try to find trek clothes for Kylee and Emilee. I not only found trek shirts but I started finding sooo much more. I was hooked.

We have a DI here in Brigham City as well as a big new DI in Harrisville...only 15 minutes away. I started looking for school clothes for Quincy and Brinley. They loved it. They don't know the difference. They were thrilled with their "new" clothes. By the time school started I had completely outfitted both little girls for school from the DI. It was awesome. They actually have cuter clothes than they would have. I would never pay for the name brand cute things that I bought them at the DI for a couple of dollars. Don't tell Kade...but several of his school clothes came from there as well. In fact, all of us are sporting "new" DI clothes.

Besides all of Brinley and Quincy's school clothes, we have found Emilee an awesome pair of capris, and Kylee found a couple really cute skirts. Quincy found school shoes and we found Quincy and Brinley a "Barbi laptop" that really works. It has worked out sweet for volleyball game entertainment. We also have a giant bag of new Christmas balls for our quite bare christmas tree downstairs! Kylee and Emilee can claim that one. Whenever we need anything...we head to the DI first.

Sooo...when Brinley decided she wanted to be a princess for Halloween...you got it... Chris, Brinley and I headed to the DI to see what it could produce for us. This was probably our luckiest trip yet. They didn't have any great costumes out on the floor but as we walked past the door leading into the backroom I could see what I thought looked like a blue cinderella sleeve. But I could only see the sleeve so I wasn't sure. Chris, being much braver than I, opened the door and asked if these costumes would be coming out soon. The man told us 30 - 45 more mins. So we sat on the comfy couches for sale and waited. Pretty soon they brought it out, but the Cinderella dress was not there. We were just ready to leave when a man came and tapped Chris on the shoulder...he pointed to another new rack that had just barely been brought out that we hadn't seen. The blue sleeve was there, and it was attached to the most perfectly beautiful size 6 Cinderella dress!!! We had to scrub a spot off the front, but it looks brand new. Brinley was so excited. $5 bucks!!! That's the best part of it all. I am sure someone paid $40.00 for this thing. I am glad it wasn't me!! So Brinley gets to be the most beautiful Cinderella for Halloween. I think I might have to claim this as a tithing blessing. It was just too perfect!

So that's it...my new hobby. I love shopping at the DI. I can have anything I find, nothing is out of my price range! It's like a new challenge every time I go.

The kids bettter watch out...Christmas is coming and I don't know if I can stay away from my new favorite store!!!

Emilee's 14th Birthday!

Ooops! We somehow forgot to get out the camera for Emilee's birthday. She just had a famly party this year. She thought about having a friend party but she ended up going to a friends Halloween party on the night she was planning to have it. This seems to happen alot having a birthday so close to Halloween. She didn't know what she wanted for her birthday, so Chris and I took her shopping that night. She found an awesome camera that she was very excited about. Em usually likes surprises but I think she had fun picking out her camera.

We did have a family party. Everyone came to our house for dinner. Presents weren't too exciting because she got money to go towards her camera.

I can't believe she is already 14. She will go into Miamaids now. She can also go to Stake dances if she chooses!! She has a million friends who love her and her fun bubbly personality. I get told almost every week at church how beautiful she is! She does great in school and is becoming a great little volleyball player as well as an awesome saxaphone player. It has been so fun to watch her grow into a beautiful young woman. I am so grateful that 14 years ago she came into our family!!

Happy 14th Birthday Emilee!!

A funny story!

I was sitting in relief society a couple weeks ago and my neighbor who is also a teacher at the High School congratulated me for Kylee. I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about so I said, "oh, congratulations on what?". She said, "didn't Kylee tell you, she left my class the other day to have her picture taken because she was voted the girl with the best personality in the Senior class?" I had to tell her that I had never heard a thing about it.

After church I told Chris and we decided we needed to have a little fun with this. Once we were all home and getting some lunch she did something and I said, "Man Kylee you just have the best personality." She looked at me funny and didn't say much. Then about 15 minutes later it was Chris' turn. She did something else and Chris said, Gees you guys (to the other kids) doesn't your sister Kylee just have the best personality." Still, no light is going on for Kylee!! She is blonde for a reason...just kidding Kylee. She's the smartest blonde I know!! Anyways, then I said, "yeah, like maybe the best personality in her whole senior class". She got this big smile and said, "Oh my gosh, is that what all this is about?" We all had a good laugh. Chris and I asked her when she was going to tell us that she had been voted best personality in her senior class???? We like to know these things as parents! She said, "do you know what my week has been like?? I was so crazy last week I didn't have time to care about a dumb thing like that".

So I guess the moral of the story is....that's why she has the best personality, because she is not into herself and just rolls with the flow! We could all take a lesson on that from her.

I am proud of her. She is juggling a job, volleyball (which is almost around the clock right now), an AP and 2 USU College classes, becoming a Certified Dental Assistant from Bridgerland during a couple hours of her school day, and trying to have time to be the Laurel President in our ward. She even finds time once in a while to hang out with friends and go to a few dances and football games! She has accomplished much this year and is really making the best of her last year of High School. She will have some great memories, lots of friends, and know that she gave it her best and accomplished lots.

Alex & Kacey's Wedding

On September 30th Alex and Kacey were married in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a great day. We all love Kacey and are glad she is a part of our family. Alex has waited a long time to find her and we are glad she was finally found. We started at the temple in the morning. The kids waited in the waiting room with their cousins. Then we traveled to Perry to go to Maddox for the wedding luncheon. Later that afternoon we went back to Layton for the reception. It was a long day, but a great one. Grandma Barb thought it would be great to have a song sung to Al and Kacey at the luncheon. She asked Quincy if she would do a solo. Quincy wasn't too sure about it, so Grandma brought a little money to the table and told her she would pay her $10.00 if she would! That was all it took. Quincy practiced and did a great job the day of the wedding. It was beautiful. Grandma told her she was a true star because at the age of 8 she had already been professionally paid to sing!

Quincy singing her solo
Brinley outside the temple waiting for Al and Kacey to come out.

These 3 silly girls on the temple grounds.



We didn't do a great job at taking pictures but it was a beautiful day and everyone looked lovely in their green and purple attire.



Congrats Al and Kacey!!

First Day of School!

This year is the only year in the Southwick household where we get the rare opportunity of having 5 kids in 5 different schools!! Kylee is at the High School, Em at the Middle School, Kade at ACYI, Quincy at Three Mile Creek Elementary, and Brinley at Willard Elementary. They all come and go at different times! I told Chris if anything happens while my children are at school I would just have to hide under my bed because how would I choose which child to go to??? This is the last year all of my children will be in my home for the school year. I cannot believe we are to this stage of our lives. It doesn't seem like it should be possible. We are just going to have to make it a great year!! This year Kylee is an awesome SENIOR...I can't believe it, Em is a beautiful Middle Schooler in 8th grade, Kade is our Cool Dude 6th grader, Quincy is our sweetest ever 3rd grader and Brinley is our smartest ever Kindergartener!!

Good Luck at School...may your mother have some hours of peace and quiet!! Just kidding!

Summer 2011

We have had a great summer this year. It was busy and full but we also had enough time to just play. For me...not having babies...all the children freely running the neighborhood... has been a pleasant next stage of life. Crazy sometimes, but I have really enjoyed it. Time seems to be flying by and I know that my days are limited with all of my children here at home with me. I want to remember what a typical summer day in the Southwick family looked like. This a little piece...

* Quincy and Brinley in their swimming suites all day everyday...they looked like dirty little orphan children sometimes!

* TV in the mornings...I don't especially love this part, but it is part of summer.

* Fun trips together. This year we spent time in Nauvoo with Grandpa Tom and Grandma Barb, Rexburg with the Southwick family, Crystal Hot Springs with the Hadley family, and Park City together with just us. We also played alot for the few days that Mike and Debbie and their family came to visit. Chris and Kade were also able to slip in an overnight backpacking trip right before school started. It was so fun to see and do all the fun things we were able to.

* Night Games - our house is the gathering place for night games. All children from all over the nieghborhood ages 5 (Brinley) to 15 play almost every night. The come out of the woodwork and start showing up about 8:30 and play until 10:30pm. They LOVE it!

* Late nights - our bedtime this year seemed to be 11:30!! Pretty late for some little girls!

* Smores in the fire pit...only a couple times this year, but at least we did it a couple!!

* "Monk" and "Psyche" - my kids were addicted to these two shows this summer. We probably watched at least one episode every day! I have to admit...I became addicted too. Kylee got into "the dress show" where brides try on wedding dresses. The rest of us weren't too impressed...it scares me to think what this says about Kylee!!

* Little girl friends. In our neighborhood Quincy and Brinley are kind of a package deal. You don't just get one...you get two! They like to play every waking moment that they are home. We often have 5 -6 little girls running around our house. And let me tell you...they can make one big mess!!! I'm sure my poor neighbors have figured that out too!

* Kade and Chayse's summer produce adventures! These two boys talked Chayse's grandpa into letting them have some land to plant a large garden on. They planted, weeded, and watered their garden every few days for a large part of the summer. Towards the end they set up a stand on the side of the road and sold their produce. What they couldn't sell they put in a large basket and went door to door. They came home from their door to door sales with a very interesting observation. The people in the newer houses bought more...conclusion...they don't have gardens yet and they are rich!! This has been a great thing to keep 2 eleven year old boys busy and out of trouble for the summer!!! We are lucky to live next to nice neighbors who share their country way of living with us city people!

* Quincy and Brinley have arrived at the great opportunity to be able to go around the block together...by themselves!!!! They can be seen on scooters, bikes or rollerblades.

* This is the summer we have watched our Brigham City Temple go up. It has been awesome. You can see the temple from our backyard!!! We watched Moroni be placed on top and we are waiting patiently for the "red roof" to be replaced. There is nothing better than driving down the Walmart road and seeing the temple rising up above the trees in the middle of the city!! Hopefully next summer is the summer of open house and dedication!!

I can only say one thing...we are very blessed. It's been a great summer!!

Chris & Kade Backpacking Trip to Adam's Canyon

Right before school started Chris and Kade were able to find time to sneak in a boys only backpacking trip. Kade was so excited...I think Chris was as well!! They left on a Monday evening and hiked up and stayed the night. They came back on Tuesday afternoon smelling like dirt and campfire which tells me that they had a great time!!

Great boy bonding!! Kade you are one lucky boy to have a Dad who loves to spend time with you! I am pretty grateful Chris got at least one boy so that he could do the fun manly things they do together...us girls aren't so good at that!

Kylee's 17th Birthday (August)

All that Kylee wanted for her 17th birthday was to have a Princess party with her friends. I really never thought I would be throwing my 17 year old a princess party...but whatever works!! She invited her 3 closest friends and told them to dress up like princesses. They were as excited as she was, with the exception of Shelby, who came dressed as Mulan! On the day of her birthday we went to the DI and she scored this lovely yellow Belle dress. Emilee told her it was "hairy" but Kylee loved it. She tried on many dresses in the dressing room and had the time of her life. How grateful I am that she is still fairly easy to please. She created the invitations herself...small princess castles. She made her own cinderella cake, with a lot of help from me! And she decorated the basement for her party. I thought it was pretty funny. Brinley thought she had died and gone to heaven. No wonder those two have a special bond...Kylee is a lot like a 5 year old!! I kept asking her what they were going to do at this party, and she told me she didn't need it all planned out and they would figure out what to do. She was right. They jumped on the tramp, swang on the swingset, took flying leaps off the wall outside, and played tetherball...all in their princess dresses. I know our neighbors were probably just laughing. They ate cake and ice cream and then settled in the basement to watch "Tangled". Of course...what was I worried about. She had it all under control.

Jumping off of the wall...in their dresses. Who knew what 17 year olds would find fun!!

We did have a family party for her on the Sunday after her birthday. She had Grandma and Grandpa come and eat turkey steak...another dream come true!

We love you Kylee. I am glad you are so fun and can just be yourself. I am glad you have great freinds who can also have fun and not worry about what other people think. I hope you love princesses for the rest of your life! Your future daughters will think you are awesome.

HAPPY 17TH BIRTHDAY!!!