Em's Birthday and Witches

I can't believe Emily is now 3 years old!  For her birthday, I made her favorite breakfast: eggs, heart shaped toast, and fruit. She and Jonathan were in a hugging mood and kept pretending to tell each other secrets and giggle. She then opened a few presents and was just a LITTLE excited. It was my last day to babysit Salote, so when she arrived, the three of them played until it was time for the Mommy and Me Music Class. After class, everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to Emily and Salote (who just turned 4), and they all ate the birthday cookies I brought. Cupcakes would have been too messy for this group. :)

The next day, we had a family birthday party for Em. I had a princess balloon for her and pink and blue balloons throughout the front room, that each of the cousins could take home afterwards. Emily was so happy to see the princess cake I made for her.

Ramsi, Tamie, Diana, and baby Ruby; Wade and Claudia with their t-shirt collars up because it’s a cool look

The group eating lunch; Ruthanne telling a hilarious story :) Emily blowing out the candles

Opening gifts...a princess dress-up trunk from G and G Reed; a home-made quilt from G and G Lang (it's a tradition on each grandchild's 3rd birthday. I still have mine from my Grandma Callister);

My Little Pony from Jeff, Elizabeth, and kids; Sleeping Beauty from Jason, Margaret, and kids; winter coat and dress-up doll set from G and G Stoney; cute outfit and princess activity book from Brandon, Diana, and Ramsi; oreos from Austin and Ruthanne; play doe kit from Spencer and boys; money from Great-Grandma and Grandpa Stoney, Jason, Tammie, and kids; and Elmo from mommy and daddy. What a lucky little girl and a wonderful family! Thanks everyone!

After the birthday party, we headed to Gardner Village with Jeff and Elizabeth to see the cool witches and enjoy the fall time activities. Cute cousins: Caleb, Jon, Jacob, and Emily The kids were facinated with the real live witches walking around. Some of them were a little scary looking! A distracted Jacob, Emily, and Jon, and a very happy Caleb :) We could NOT get them all to look at the camera at the same time. It was pretty funny to even attempt to.
Elizabeth and I just had to visit our favorite store at Gardner Village, Pine Needles Quilt Shop. While we were inside, the dads and kids kept themselves entertained relaxing by the pond.

What a great day!

New Backyard

As many of you know, the house we live in is actually owned by my parents. They bought it 3 1/2 years ago as an investment property because it was a great time to buy. Wade and I pay the mortgage, make sure there are good renters for the basement, and take care of upkeep on the yard and house so we can help increase its value. Wade and his dad have spent countless hours remodeling the basement and making other improvements on the house. Although it doesn't look like it, the grass in our front yard was quite patchy because of the roots growing up from the ground of this huge evergreen tree. We liked that the tree provided some shade, but we didn't like that it interfered with the power lines as well as the mess the pine needles made. The tree in the backyard was similar, so one of my dad's clients cut them down a year ago. Then we had to pay for the stump to be removed. But these ginormous roots were still everywhere throughout the yard, so it was impossible to dig trenches and try to prepare a sprinkler system and plant new trees, bushes, and grass, until those roots were gone.

So back in June, Wade' friend, Sean, brought his skid-steer tractor and went to town, digging up all the roots in the front yard and in the backyard.

When it was parked, Jonathan wanted to be a big boy and help. How cute is that?

We were really grateful for the help from Austin, our brother-in law, and Frank, Wade's dad. They all worked together on the yard, including digging a 4-foot deep hole so they could cut into the main water line and put in a stop-and-waste, which would allow the new sprinkler system to function.

Jon bonding with Grandpa Reed

Backyard before: This is where our renters used to park their cars. Now they just park on the cement.

Before the backyard was finished, my cousin, Carolynn, gave us this great play gym. The kids loved it, but kept skinning their knees on the cement. We were so anxious to lay the sod so they could have grass to play on.

Last month, Wade layed the sod. He looked especially smokin' hot that day!

As you can see, Emily and Jonathan were a tremendous help with the project. ;)

Tada! Our new backyard! We are so excited that our kids have a nice place to play now. We can't wait till we have enough time and money to finish the front yard, too.

Dealing with change

Being the Primary Music Leader is my all-time favorite church calling and has been for the last 3 1/2 years. However, it does take a lot of time and energy and because I'm also serving as the Ward Choir Director, I feel spent. Every year, I work so hard with the children to prepare for the annual Primary Program and the second I'm done with that, I'm busy planning a Christmas Sacrament Meeting Program for the choir along with other musical numbers we can perform throughout December. I feel so much joy serving and helping bring inspirational music to our ward family. But honestly, it is quite exhausting, along with having to wrestle my kids (mostly Jon) during church.

So 2 months ago, I went into the Bishop's office and let him know my honest feelings. I didn't ask for a release. I just let him know I feel worn out trying to do it all. Because we combined wards back in June, I knew there were now others who could serve as Ward Choir Director, and I could spend more time with my family and my other calling as Primary Music Leader. He said that he had already talked with the members of the Bishopric, and they all thought I deserved a break. I was relieved to hear that. But the weeks went by, and I never heard anything, so I continued to prepare the choir for special upcoming performances. This last Sunday, we sang "A Marvelous Work." The choir was sensational! I was very proud of them.

After church, Bishop told me that the time had come, and that I would be released as Choir Director. Of course I broke down into tears, and just said, "Thank you," feeling a huge burden lifted from my shoulders. As I walked home from church, I cried the whole way and thought about the last 2 1/2 years serving in this calling. I remember when I was first called, working with individuals who had sung in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and other prestigious groups. I was only 23 years old at the time. How could I be their leader and teach them anything? It was the most intimidating experience of my life, but since then, I've grown and learned that I do have much to offer. As I've learned more about music and people, I've been humbled and become a better person.

What's been equally difficult for me is losing the wonderful opportunity I've had babysitting Salote Lauti 2-3 days a week. Her mom, Darcy, is pregnant with twins and is on bed rest in the hospital at 30 weeks along. So Darci's ward members have volunteered to babysit Salote for free to help her out. I knew this was coming, but I didn't know I would hurt so bad losing her. My income from babysitting has paid for groceries, car repairs, and other expenses. But it's not the money I care about as much as what an angel she has been in my life and in our home, and it breaks my heart to let her go. She's like another daughter to me, and Emily adores her more than anything. So after a year and a half of caring for her, potty-training her, getting her to finally drink milk, and teaching her, I will no longer babysit her.

It's been a struggle dealing with these changes and I just needed to get my thoughts out. Thanks for letting me open up.

Has it been 5 years already?

I can't believe it's been 5 years since Wade finally convinced me to marry him. ; ) I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite times together...

We met on January 12, 2003 in our singles ward in St. George. I was teaching the Gospel Principles class and was elated to see Tim, a friend who was not LDS, walk into the room. When Tim stepped aside, I saw this really good-looking guy with him, and I welcomed them both. After we introduced ourselves, I asked Wade to give the opening prayer, just to put him on the spot. : ) Wade participated with enthusiasm in my lesson, and told me afterwards what a wonderful lesson it was (and how hot I looked...well, he was thinking that!) From that day, we both knew there was something special there.
Valentines Dance, February 2003 Giving each other a classic high five because we were still in the buddy stage. What a fun time in our life...throwing oreos at each other, eating home-made French meals he cooked for me, doing baptisms for the dead at the temple, serving as ward missionaries together, studying at the library, talking on the phone till 3am, and always insisting that we were JUST FRIENDS. No one believed us though, and after 5 weeks of knowing each other, I finally let him kiss me when he told me he loved me.
"D" Dance at Dixie State College, March 2003. Wade's sporting my dad's old green barbershop tux, lookin' pretty hip.

May 2003

On June 24, I was teaching at a summer school for children with Down Syndrome. I was in the middle of reading a story aloud, when Wade walked into the room and stood in front of me. I asked him with surprise, "What are you doing here?" He didn't say a word. He just got on one knee and looked over at little Suzanne, who had a box in her hand. She opened the box, and there was a ring. Then I looked at him, back to the ring, and finally my eyes fell upon him again. "Catherine Lang, can I take you home?" was his question for me. We had talked before about how we knew Heaven is our true home, and I knew I wanted to be with him forever. So of course I said, "Yes!" Then we kissed and all the kids said "ewww, gross." It was hilarious!
Even though we were engaged, I had been planning on serving a humanitarian mission for 5 weeks in Quito, Ecuador that summer. So I left, had the most amazing experience there and grew in so many ways. When I arrived home in August, Wade was at the airport waiting for me with a dozen roses.

Our wedding announcement

On October 16, 2003, we were sealed in the St. George Temple for all time and eternity.

the happy couple

For our honeymoon, we went to Catalina Island, Disneyland, Los Angeles Temple, and just enjoyed the Southern California beaches.

Bahamas, 2004. Wade wonders why I insist we kiss each other every time we cross a bridge. I think it might have something to do with my favorite movie, Anne of Green Gables. ; )
Graduation day, May 2005. Wade received his Associates of Science Degree, and I received my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education.

The day after our 2 year anniversary, in October 2005, Emily Eileen was born. Two weeks later, we celebrated Halloween together. I was an angel, Wade was a Frenchman, and baby Emily was an M&M.

The summer of 2006, we lived in France as a family so Wade could participate in a study abroad program. We finished off our European experience by visiting our good friends, Jon and Cherie Dick, in London, England.

March 2007, Jonathan Wade came into our lives. Having a newborn and a 17 month-old toddler felt like having twins at times. And with Wade still in school full-time, we were busy, but happy.
Father's Day, June 2008. I love this moment.
Wade, we have experienced so much together, and I'm so thankful to be on this journey with you, babe. Happy 5th Anniversary. I love you!

Dinosaur Discovery

Last week at preschool, the kids learned about dinosaurs. Here they are marching outside with dinosaur feet. We also made fossils, colored pictures, read books, and played with toy dinosaurs in green play doe.
After class, we had a picnic lunch with all the moms and kids and then headed to the Utah Museum of Natural History. Admission is free on the first Monday of the month if anybody wants to go with me next month. It's an awesome place!
Jonathan was pretty excited to see all the humongous dinosaurs. He was so cute, pointing to each of them and then giving a great big "roar."

Of course he didn't last long in his stroller because he wanted to get a closer look at everything. Emily started crawling on her hands and feet and said, "Look at me, mommy. I'm scary like a dinosaur! Rarr!"

Emily and Jon just loved the many hands-on exhibits.

Emily, Etta, and Annie grabbed hands and started singing "Ring-a-Round the Rosies." It was so random. What funny girls! And here's Emily inside a huge dinosaur footprint.

Lastly, the kids got a chance to dig for dinosaurs bones, themselves. It was a great day.