Christmas

Trent's family came this Christmas. Wonderful, but I ma so tired I can't possibly write anything witty. Trent and I dreamed one day we would have a magical Christmas in our wonderful home. It was a wonderful Christmas and I think it will be a long wait, 364 days to go till the magic of next year.

Fawn came to visit

My friend, sorta adopted daughter, Fawn came to visit pre-Christmas. What a treat. All the kids love her like crazy and I always have so much fun with her. She is 18, almost 19, and from Seattle. I met her when I lived there and I just thought so much of her and we became great friends, lucky me!

Christmas wish

All Trent wants for Christmas this year, Santa (and he's been a very good boy), is a ice rink. He has gone to the trouble of buying $60 worth of lumber and nailed together a rink as large as our back yard. He comes home every night and sits outside in the freezing cold spraying the rink with the garden hose. Thankfully it snowed the weekend after Thanksgiving as he needed a nice snowy base. Poor Trent has been at work all week and has not been able to pack down the snow. Thankfully he has a wife who loves him and she spent 2 hours this morning, as Gabi snoozed, out packing down the snow by inching across the surface of the rink using the two kid's sleds. It looks like Trent is going to get his Christmas wish. We will keep you posted.

Happy "fit" Thanksgiving!

I woke up this AM to run 3.5 miles and I did it averaging and 8 and a half minute mile. I am so pleased with my fitness goals. So grateful to Abby, Shannon and Randi, for being my loyal and wonderful and inspiring running partners. As I walked home after my run I had a minute to reflect at 7:30 in the morning on this Thanksgiving day. The beautiful 16 degree weather gave the grass the appearance of being coated in a million shimmering diamonds. I looked at the kid's school and had such a warm feeling. This is my kid's school. What a wonderful place it will hold in their memories forever. I look across the field and saw my house, our wonderful home! I love it so much. I am so grateful for our home. We have our dream home. I love it. I love what is inside it even more. 3 beautiful babies. I can't tell you who I love most. Maybe the man I married. Trent was baptized 16 years ago yesterday. I think that is what I am MOST grateful for, without that we couldn't be the wonderful family that we are. We are an eternal family, so come what may nothing can take that from me, well, nothing unless we break the Lord's commandments. I am so grateful for the gospel. I am grateful for my grandma Gibb and my mother who are strong and wonderful women of faith. I love my sister more than I can express. So thankful for her. I have so many wonderful family and friends. Life is wonderful. Happy Thanksgiving. Happy day! (Teague is playing hockey in the basement with Trent right now--he is healthy!--happy everything!)

Thanksgiving Divorce -- Haha

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving and says,

"I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.

"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams.

"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this,so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this."

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife.
"Okay," he says, "they're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way.

Skating

The kids and Trent have been skating 3 times at the beautiful downtown rink. I went and watched today. Teague and Ryleigh speed around the rink like little mice! So precious. Trent is the best skater in the world. I love to watch him. I think Trent is in heaven because Teague has really latched on to hockey. They play on the Playstation. They go skate hard, they even watch "Miracle" together.

My Most Thankful Thing-- A letter to Ryleigh

Ryleigh Ruth you are my most thankful thing because I get to spend the days with you, watching you grow and be the most amazing little girl. I thought of all the times of day that I think of you and what makes me most happy:

6:45 in the morning. I get to see your smiling face when I get home from my jog. I am thankful you always have a hug for me when I see you.
7:00 you draw me a picture. You are a talented artist and I am thankful for all of your beautiful pictures.
7:15 you laugh at something totally silly that Barney does on TV. Your laugh is the best!
7:30 you practice your piano. I don't even have to ask you to practice, you just do it. Way to go!
8:00 you help me et Gabi up. We laugh at her stinky diaper together. Peeee-eeew. I am thankful that you are so kind to her though.
8:20 I get to do your hair. Sometimes you don't like me to, but sometimes you are happy and we have fun. I like those days best. Your cute little hair-dos make me thankful to have a sweet little daughter.
8:25 hair is done, oh my you look cute, now we spray a little parfume so you can remember Mommy all day. I love that!
8:30 you get ready to leave and we say our prayer and you give me the best hug and kiss goodbye. I know you will be safe because we always say a prayer before you leave. I am thankful for prayer.
RYLEIGH'S AT SCHOOL I WAIT UNTIL SHE COMES HOME
3:05 you scurry home from school. You always report having a great day. I am thankful that you work so hard at school and have many friends. Another hug for me! I am so lucky to be your mom.
3:15 we have snack time and you tell me about your day. I am thankful for all your fun stories.
3:30 out to play! I am thankful you have friends and have fun each day.
4:30 you write a little book and let me read it. What fun that is!
5:30 you help me with dinner. I am so thankful to have a little daughter so willing to help.
7:00 you read your book. What an amazing reader you are. I can't believe you can read chapter books!
8:00 You get all ready for bed and then Mom comes to tuck you in. I am thankful for wonderful day with Ryleigh Ruth May. I am so thankful to have you in my life. You make our family better. Your laugh, your talents, your love for each of us. I love you so much.

Mommy

Little CeCe!!!

Welcome to earth little CeCe! You are so gorgeous. CeCe Angeline Hirsche, my sister, Angi's baby girl was born Monday. One year younger than our little Gabrysia. I am sure they will be best cousins. Now Sachi has a gang of little girls to lead and boss around. Why are little girls so precious? There is something about little girls! I love little Gabi. I want to just freeze her at this age and while I am at it I would freeze Ryleigh at age 6! Do they really have to grow up?

Utah Trip

We went to Utah. My sister is due to have her baby, CeCe, anyday, but she never had her while I was there. Trent went on his annual golf trip, "The Gibby Classic" and had a blast with Ron, Preston, Bomber, ect. I shopped with mom and Ig and ate at the usual places, yum. Teague wanted to move back to Utah until I reminded him that he was getting chickens in the spring (with our neighbor, Dan Tenney). We went to the haunted forest with the kids. That was really the funnest, or funniest part. Ryleigh cried to leave her Bella. I am not sure how soon we will make the drive again, it was a LONG ride witha 1-year-old. It was fun to see Lacy (my returned missionary cousin) and her new boyfriend. Gerald Keith and his wife looked great and they were sweet to babysit the kids one day. We all got together for Sunday dinner at Mom's (the one thing I miss most about Utah).

Utah here we come

We are off to Utah this week. Lots to get ready. Can't wait to see my prego sister and my mom. The kids are so happy to have some time off school. They are such home-bodies.

I ran 5 miles this AM and it felt amazing. I love to run with the girls in my ward. They are all so great. Speaking of ward memebers, we went to the Barrington's to watch the game last night, we really like this family. Trent made us wear Yankee gear! The Barrington's are Red Socks fans. All the kids ran around wild, and even Gabi had so much fun.

We love Spokane. I am feeling like we belong here and that we are making life-long friends. It will be nice to be with our family this week (wed.) though. We are so blessed.

An Introduction

Candy & Trent: Best friends since 1988.
Teague: Mighty boy of 8 years. Cancer conquerer (diagnosed Jan. 05). Frog loving, soccer playing, Darth Vador slaying, guitar-hero playing, third grader... Daddy's joy, but, Momma's boy.
Ryleigh Ruth: 6 years old and fabulous. Spits sunflower seeds with her dad, loves dogs, plays NintenDogs at 6 am over a bowl of Cherrios with honey. Jet setter at 6? Went on a cruise this year with her "Bella." Spritzes on "Angel" perfume before school everyday so she can remember her momma. Proudly plays Mary-Had-a-Little-Lamb on the piano second week into lessons.
Gabi: aka Gabrysia or, more commonly known as "GAB-A-LICIOUS." Our perfectly chocolate-colored, one-year-old whose first word, uttered a day ago, was "GET!" (A subtle reminder that maybe I should stop yelling at the dog so often?) Gabi has more friends as a on-year-old than I do at 30-something. All the neighborhood kids love her. She is perfectly squeezable. She weighs about 21 pounds. She loves everyone and she loves to sleep. She is perfect.
Cookie: The May family pet who is often told to "Get" on her mat because her feet are wet from being outside.