Family Weekend

This Friday we gathered the Asay's in Utah and went to visit Michael, Danielle and Bridger!

 Oh how fast babies change!!! 3 weeks old and it seems he's and entirely different boy!

 Once again the girls had a blast with their uncles.

I should probably specify that Stephen took all these pictures. He is quite the talent, and it's so fun seeing events from his camera.   

I also can't believe how fast we are multiplying! It doesn't seem that long ago that it was just Michael, Danielle, Tyler and myself hanging out, and now we get to throw Stephen in the mix and 3 little kids!

I got to hold Bridger the entire time.  It was precious.  I almost forgot the midnight feedings, colicky scream fests, and 100 diaper days of my own kids and tried to pretend that newborns are nothing but sleeping angels.  

Stephen and Bridger sizing each other up.

Michael is great with my kids.  All their uncles are.  This was the picture of the night, because it didn't just capture a moment, but an entire evening of laughing, giggling and joking around.  

I love that I've got half my family here in Utah.  It's a shame that we spent so much time fighting and avoiding each other as kids, because now that we are all grown, all I want to do is play with my brothers.

Hair Cut Pictures

Here is the before.

Alex would never let me do her hair.  On the few occasions I got it in a ponytail or braids, she would beg for me to take them out or pull it out herself within an hour.

It was getting pretty long before we had Kara cut it.

Here is the adorable after!

It looks so good ALL the time now!  It is never in her face, and it's still long enough I can pretend that she will let me braid or play with it someday. Thank you Kara! You are a miracle worker.

 Sunday I decided everyone was going to look really nice for church.  Then at the last minute I decided we were going to try and document it.

 This is about as far as that got.  I couldn't even get the kids to cooperate on their own. I don't know why I expected we might get a family picture.

 This is as far as that got.  But you can see how it had such potential to be a nice picture if I hadn't been yelling at Alex to get back here and smile for the camera.

 Stephen came over for dinner which was nice.  Heidi loves him to pieces and Alex has gone back to cautious indifference.  Perhaps if he kills another pheasant she will warm back up.

Susan got a Wii for her birthday and a Zumba program for it.  It's great exercise and a lot of fun.  It also came with Super Mario Brothers though which has been good and bad.  I never took myself for the type to become addicted to video games, but I'll admit there was a week there when we were all sick and laying around, that Tyler and I played enough to make our finger tips sore.  I've since discovered that it's not fun playing it alone, and Tyler if far too good for me to do much but float in a bubble behind him.  So I think that phase is about over.  Every now and then he humors me with a coin battle on one of the easy levels after the kids are in bed.  We sit and laugh and tease and forget about the kids, the bills and all the homework he should be doing.  It's been fun.

So..... Preschool????

For Christmas I finally got the first 4 years of my blog printed out into a book through the booksmart blurb program.  They turned out great! Better than great.
It's been so fun to watch Tyler and the kids flip through the pages and remember things we have done.  It was also so nice to finally have a hard copy of this digital "journal" I've been keeping the last 5 years.     For whatever reason I can remember to check my blog every few days and post, but sitting down and writing in my journal sadly never makes it to the check list.  So be prepared for some "boring" posts as more 'un-newsworthy- things turn up here that I just need to get written down.

I can't believe Alex is going to be turning 4 in March.  Where has the time gone?
I have been super anxious lately, my mind can't rest or stop thinking about my Mother skills.  Over the Holidays the kids turned a corner and like every new "phase" it takes some time to adjust and figure out how to deal with new attitudes and such.
I came to the realization that perhaps Alex needed some time away from me.  She is a super smart little girl who picks up on things fast and although she loves Joy school, I think that it's been hard on her having it here at our (grandma's) house so often, and dealing with the struggle of defending "her" territory from the other kids and her best friend/nemesis Archie.  Not to mention having her Mom as the teacher.
As much as it kills me to think it, let alone say it, me might not be doing Joy School next year.  I think Alex needs to interact with other kids in a different setting, and while Joy School is a fantastic program, I don't think it's challenging her, or socializing her like I hoped.  We love the songs, activities and stories and so I think no matter what we decide, I might just buy next year's program and do it sporadically with the kids anyway.
  I've seen from being a teacher how the bored kids act out and I'm wondering if that is half the problem with Alex these days.
  So sending my kid to preschool shouldn't be such an earth quaking thing right? Just about every kid I know is currently enrolled or planning on enrolling, but for some reason I feel a GIGANTIC amount of anxiety about this.
   I think part of it is that I always pictured what kind of a Mom I would be and I'm realizing that I'm not that mom.  I always toyed with the idea of homeschooling and so giving up on Joy School, almost feels like failure.

 I would like to blame it on circumstances, right now we are in the 'debt, school and living in the parent's basement' phase of life.  I know that someday when Tyler is a successful P.A. we will have a house, 2 cars, and money for clothes that arn't hand-me-downs.  We will go on vacations and be able to afford trips to the museum every week and somehow all of this will make me a better person?  Sigh, my first world problems. I know that everyone goes through their own struggles and that we can't just jump from teenager right to married and living the american dream (even though it seems like everyone else got to).
  Or maybe it's age, perhaps I'll be a really great Mom to my 6-10 year olds.  I will admit being a Mom is a lot more work and tears than I ever thought, and more days are a fight to get through than a simple pleasure to enjoy.  But I'm secretly hoping it's the weather and being stuck inside.  I remember what seems like a century ago, Summer being a great time to be alive.

More realistically than anything, maybe all this anxiety and stress is about my little baby growing up and not needing me.  In fact she needs to be away from me!  2 1/2 hours 4 days a week seems like high school suddenly.  She will be making friends with people I don't know, learning things I can't teach her and having fun, without me. Is it that she is growing up and moving on, or that I'm being left behind?
 
 Tyler thinks I'm crazy- in a loving, supporting spouse kind of way.  I'm sure he is thinking that if I'm freaking out over preschool, he had better start preparing for my meltdown following High School Graduation.

Is this normal? After much MUCH thought and consideration I know that Pre-school would be the best for Alex, academically and more importantly at this point, socially.  She will learn to behave in a way that I can't teach her, and I think that if she were to wait until Kindergarten, she might be forever crippled as the shy child.  I've thought about it, talked about it and prayed about it and I know what I need to do. So why is it still so hard?

Did you guys go through this with your oldest?!

Not the best pictures. But at least its a post

I have no idea what we have been up to the last 2 weeks.  Tyler started school and a new job and so we are trying to figure out schedules, car sharing, and what the next 4 months is going to look like.

We did get to go visit Bridger at home before sickness hit again and we had to quarantine ourselves from him.  I don't know why Heidi was looking at me like that, but her eyes look HUGE and she almost looks terrified.  

The kids were glad that even though there is a new little bundle in Uncle Michaels life, he still has time for them.

Heidi insists on sitting on a big chair during meals.  She either has to stand or kneel because she isn't big enough.  This morning she insisted on reading the paper while she ate.  She new favorite words and phrases are -

"Come on." said urgently while pulling on your finger to make you follow her.

"I DID IT!" Usually said with both arms thrust in the air and a huge grin on her face, after stacking a block tower or doing something similarly cute.

"I DO!!" Also said with one or both arms thrown excitedly in the air while doing mini hops on her feet.    In response to a question like "who wants to go outside" "who wants a treat" or "who loves Daddy"

"Watch- Mommy" this has replaced "Why" in her vocabulary, and I am more than happy to watch her do anything instead or try to answer the why why whys.

She has also become quite the tattle tale, running to me in a fury with her entire face squished in on itself, telling me frantically that someone pushed her or stole her toy.  All she needs is a bit of validation and then it is all instantly fixed.

Archie and Alex hate it, but I can't help but laugh every time Heidi teases them.  She is very good at picking up on exactly what those two DON'T want to happen and then doing it.  Stealing a pivotal toy in the game.  Knocking down a tower.  I know it's on purpose because the second she takes the item she runs like the dickens in the opposite direction with a HUGE grin on her face. 

About a month ago Alex was obsessed with having long hair.  She would always tell people that she had long hair "Just like Mommy", and loved brushing it 'longer'.  Well a few weeks ago she became rather concerned that soon it would be too long and "get in the toilet while I'm going potty".  I told her she had a long time before she had to worry about that.  A few days ago I ran to the bathroom while she screamed frantically for me.  I opened the door only to have her tell me quite calmly that her hair had finally gotten too long and it needed to be cut.  

We have been trying to grow our some of her bangs and battling some crazy layer issues, so I jumped at the chance and had Kara do a cut before either of us lost our nerve.  This is a terrible picture, but she really does look cute and I am so happy that most of her hair is now the same length.  She seems to like the cut although was a bit sad that she couldn't play with her long locks in the bathtub anymore.  Kara chopped about 5 inches off!!!!!  I love it.  She reminds me of the little girl she was 2 years ago when we got her hair cut for the first time.  Hopefully she will let me do clips and bows this time around.

We are still waiting on snow here, but indoor life isn't half bad now that I've discovered the trick to motivating Alex into cleaning up.  In Joy school there is a character named the "Gunny Man" who comes and eats up all the leftover toys and keeps them in his tummy for a long time.  I made a Gunny girl with Alex's help and it's been a charm!!!!  Gunny girl mixed with a sticker chart has made Alex actually cleans up after herself willingly and quickly! More about that later.

Made up songs

I've been trying to sort through old video files, delete pictures and generally try to reclaim some of the memory from the computer.  I found some clips of Alex from almost 2 years ago and I laughed and laughed.  She has the same attitude now as she did them, but somehow the adorable baby voice made it cuter.

Bridger Scott Asay

Friday night my Sister in law Danielle gave birth to a beautiful little boy!

Unfortunately there were a few minor complications and so when we got to visit on Saturday it was through a window.

The kids were VERY excited, and very disappointed that they couldn't hold him. 

Especially when they saw that the big people got to hold him.

 
What made the visit all the more fun was that Stephen had gotten a nice camera for Christmas!  He is a really good photographer and I'm really excited to be in family pictures.

There is something so sweet and special about newborns.  Especially when you are tired from a hard week of dealing with your 'not' newborn children.

It was a fun visit to the hospital.

Sunday Alex and I stole away after church and went to visit again.  

Bridger was allowed to be in Mom's room and Alex was THRILLED to be able to hold him.

I think everyone was.

When she wasn't holding Bridger, Alex was making Danielle give her rides up and down on the bed.

The poor little guy was still hooked up to all the wires and IV, just in case.

I'll have to say right now that I think the little man is a sweet mix of his two parents.  He came out beautiful and perfect and I'm going to try really hard to not visit more than once a day to hold him.

Alex didn't want to leave.  Having Michael, Danielle, Mommy and Bridger, with no Heidi to steal the attention, was a dream for her.

I'm so happy for these two.  What a cute family don't you think!

But this has to be my favorite picture of all.

When we left the hospital Alex asked if I would take a picture of her.

Her specific words were "Will you take a picture of me and my metal family?"

Before we went to the car she had to give them each a kiss and a hug.  

Announcing the birth of.......

Bridger Scott Asay

Born January 6, 2012.

6.8 lbs    19.5 inches

I'm very excited that my new Nephew has arrived!  And I am DETERMINED to be the favorite aunt.  Michael and Danielle did some good work, he is a little doll!

Finally some GOOD news!

Our Christmas cards this year were nothing but a picture.  Because is seems nothing interesting or sharable happened to us in 2011.  I almost sent out the following letter, but Tyler cast his vote against it and so it died.

Dear Friends and Family,

It is that time of year again!  We hope this year has treated you well and been one of magic and wonder.  Not much has changed for our little brood.

Heidi almost 2 is quite a talker. She continues to amaze the professors at the University with her intuition in foreign languages.  It was fun for her to serve as a Official Translator for General Conference this fall.  She intends to spend this Holiday transcribing War and Peace into Arabic and Cantonese.

Alex, now 3, is growing in leaps and bounds.  When she got her first box of art supplies she seemed quite interested in animation.  This year she created and produced her first film for Disney, with a line toy figurines due out in the spring. 

Kristen had a very busy year.  In between her work as President of the Children’s Miracle Network and volunteering as an Engineer for NASA she introduced a line of children’s novels and hand made active wear.  We are particularly proud of Mom as a starting forward representing the United States in the World Cup.

Tyler was immersed with his school studies, and managed to co-author a paper on The Chemistry of Multidimensional Quantum Physics and accept a Nobel Prize for his discoveries in Cellular Biology. Dad was also active with the kids, teaching Heidi Ballet and helping Alex qualify for the Olympics in swimming.

We were able to squeeze a little traveling in this year. We started in Aspen, went to Belarus, the Congo, Denmark, Ethiopia, the Falklands, Greenland, Holland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Venezuela, and Zaire. Our trip sailing around the world was a great experience for the kids, we learned to communicate with Dolphins and discovered a new region of deep water volcanoes.

And Ashes, our Australian Shepherd mix, learned to speak Latin. Other than that, it was a very quiet year. So from our household to yours, all the Blessings of the Season and may your New Year be as prosperous as ours.

The Brady Family

Well, obviously none of that is true, but I finally have something exciting to report!!!!  Other than a nephew due to be born tomorrow, today Tyler got an awesome JOB!!!!

He has been a Teaching Assistant for the UVU Anatomy lab for awhile now, and a few weeks ago his supervisor turned down a teaching offer at Salt Lake Community College but referred Tyler in his stead.  Well, Tyler got offered the Job and will be getting paid pretty well to teach college kids how to slice open sheep brains, dig through bone marrow and other stuff I can only pretend to be interested in!!!  I am so excited for him and so happy he was able to get a job doing something that makes him happy!  He is still planning on applying for P.A. school this spring, but for this semester at least he will be a teacher AND a student as he finishes up a few pre-reqs like Advanced Anatomy, and Organic Chemistry.  What a smarty I married.  

As for the children and I, Alex blew me away today when the goal she set for her Joy School Goal Chart, was to save her money and buy Mommy a Christmas dress.  It made me tear up, what a sweetheart.  Heidi is still a sponge, soaking up everything (good and especially bad) that anyone does.  I'm trying not to focus on anything except my New Years Resolutions, and still failing.  But we are excited for 2012 and all the changes to come!

New Years

New Years Eve turned out to be a pretty good day.  Alex and I cleaned the house while Tyler went to work.  In the afternoon we went up to Salt lake and Tyler watched the kids at the Museum of Art children area, while I went to my dearest friend Gwen's baby shower.

 Watching them walk away without me was a mixture of feelings.  While I dream of alone time, I always have such a hard time going off on my own because I want to be with those 3 cute ones.

The baby shower was great and it was wonderful to see Gwen and her family again.  I only wish she lived at least an hour closer!  On the drive back to rescue Tyler and the girls from the chaos of Temple Square I snapped this picture.  What a view!

 Michael and Danielle made the day by driving up to Salt Lake just to go to dinner with us and see the lights.  We went to this fantastic pizza place, which I can't remember the name of, and which has spoiled me on authentic Italian Pizza.  We got some gelato afterwards and chatted while Alex and Heidi both stole away and downed the cups of gelato bought to share.

 We made it back to Temple Square which was quite busy for being New Year's Eve and enjoyed the lights and the Christus statue and the Nativity.

 There was actually a line to go up and see the statue so we were going to skip out until Alex cried in her saddest voice "I just want to see Jesus!!!!"

 The long day had finally gotten to the kids and so we headed home and put them to bed.

Tyler and I fried some onion rings and shrimp, drank sparkling cider while watching Psych and then went to bed way before midnight.  By far the most fun we have had on a December 31st.

January 1st fell on a Sunday and so first thing in the morning we went to church.  This year I get to teach the 9-10 year olds about the Book of Mormon and I'm very excited.  Alex is a Sunbeam!!! I can't believe I have a kid in Primary, I feel so old.  Sunday was just a great day all over, a wonderful start to the new year.

January 2nd was another great day.  We started out shopping as a family (which we NEVER do) and it went really well.  Tyler got new pants, Alex got purple sheets for her bed and Tyler got me a really cool mini speaker for his Nook.  We went to the mall for lunch and then let the kids play at the play place there.  We then decided it was too nice a day to be indoors and took the kids to the park.  Everyone had a great time and was so happy.  I'm excited about the New Year, and happy that if it's not going to snow, at least it's warm enough to play outside.  I've got my list of goals and I'm set to stick to them.  Things are going well and we are happy.