Emma turns 6

Emma Grace,

My very favorite thing about you right now is this: "Mom, what can I help with?"
That pretty well sums you up; you ask every day. You're so helpful and caring and responsible, I forget that you're only six. You play with George. You fetch things. You help me clean and organize and even cook, always cheerfully. I'll tell you how grateful I am, but I don't think you'll understand unless (until?) you have your own very helpful daughter.

You had another exciting year. We changed everything about our lives when we moved from Roosevelt to Kaysville. Our Battistone cousins moved far away, which you frequently lament. You graduated from preschool, lost your first tooth (that seemed really early!), and started Kindergarten, which you LOVE. You're reading well - tested high enough to get invited to a special advanced program in another school. You started going to speech therapy in school to help with your "disfluencies," AKA stuttering, so we've had something to work on. Most importantly, you have a great heart. You watch for other kids who need a friend, and then you become that friend.

You also started taking karate. I tried to persuade you to take dance, tumbling, or something else, but when you heard that Will was doing karate, there was no talking you out of it. Maybe it's a phase (Lego Ninjago?), maybe you'll stick with it forever and become a master. We'll see.

You love to laugh and joke with Will, play tea party with Lex, and try to boss George around. You're a dedicated artist and would draw/paint/color your life away if we'd let you. I'm constantly picking up, throwing away, or deciding to keep pages of your artwork.

We've had some hard and stressful times over the past year. They'd have been harder if we didn't have you around. 💖
We love you so much, Emma.

Will's 7th

Will,
I'm writing this much after the fact, but don't think I just forgot. Our lives have been unbelievably crazy in the last year. In August of last year, your dad left for DevMountain. You started 1st grade and, to be honest, it was a rough start. You didn't want to go to school, you cried often and never wanted to do homework. It was a hard transition and having Dad gone all during the week didn't help. Your teacher was very kind and understanding, and over time, you made some good friends and changed your attitude.
Dad finished bootcamp in November and god a job in March. It was far away, so he was gone again, and we had to move. We started packing up and preparing ourselves for the big change ahead of us. You weren't really sure what "moving" meant. Then AFTER we moved, we went back to Roosevelt to finish the last week of school and clean out the rest of the house.
After that, we drove to Cedar City and you stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Morgan for a few days while Mom and Dad went hiking to Havasupai. You had loads of fun, and when we were done, we all went to the Aquatic Center for your birthday adventure.
We haven't had much money to throw around for a while, but we've had lots of time together and lots of love. You are brave and strong and we love you for everything that you contribute to our family and lives. Excited to see what the next year brings!
Love,
Mom

Living in Limbo

For some reason, anytime I've taken a blogging hiatus I feel the need to explain myself (EMILY)  (KIANA), so, here's my explanation this time around: I've been in limbo.

Major limbo, like don't-know-what-the-next-month-holds limbo. Where-will-we-live. How-long-until-the-bank-account-hits-0. What-should-we-do-with-the-house. Which-possessions-do-we-sell-off-first. What-is-life-even-about limbo.

Sorry about all those hyphens, but I think you get the point?

And I've been through some stuff in my life, and now I know that the very worst thing in the world (for me) is NOT KNOWING. And not being able to plan anything because of the not knowing.

But this time, even after all these months and all these questions, I knew things were going to work out. I've felt almost like a spectator on the sidelines, waiting to see what happens in this game. I know we're going to win - so it hasn't even been a real nail-biter.  

Isn't that amazing???

Now, this is where we're at.

After a full year, countless applications, at least eight interviews, and many nights apart, Slice got himself two job offers in 24 hours. And we had to make a decision: stay or go? Stay in Roosevelt and keep this house, our cars, our side jobs, our security? Our entire lifestyle? Or go out on a limb?

We chose the limb.

George.

My dear, sweet George,

We've reached a year with you!! Your first birthday was as low-key a birthday as we've ever had in this family (partly because you're in a full leg cast) but you are as low-key as they come, so it was fitting. You've added a precious element of calm to our family, and I am so grateful for you and your sweet spirit. As I've told anyone who would understand, "I finally got a Type 2!"

Your dad and I have had many questions and varied reactions about your name over the last year, and since I haven't yet written it down, I thought I'd tell that story.

Long ago, when I got the ultrasound to tell us if you were a boy or a girl, I brought Will & Emma with me.  They sat in the chair and watched as the tech showed your different body parts, and finally we saw the one we were waiting for - "It's a BOY!"
Afterward in the car, we called Dad on speakerphone to tell him the news.
"What should we name him?" I asked.
"George!" said Will, without hesitation, and I laughed. It was a totally random thing for him to say. No one uses the name George anymore, I thought to myself, and I didn't plan on doing it either. I don't even know any Georges in real life. So, I logged that away.  We picked out a handful of other good names and waited for you to come.

Months later, you were born. Your birth was incredible! I felt in control through the entire labor, and once you arrived I was ecstatic. We called and texted family, even though it was late. Grandma & Grandpa Eddington came to see you right away; so did Grandma Morgan.

The next morning, congratulatory texts started coming in. "Anna and I both think he looks like a George," T.R. said.
"That's weird," your dad and I said.
Then Kiana came to the hospital to see you. "He looks like a George," she said.
"What the heck?!" your dad and I said.

Seemed like a pretty strong message.

But I didn't want to name you George! I looked up the Etymology of the name ... Farmer; Earthworker.  Not as romantic as I'd hoped. We kept going over the other names we had picked out, trying different combinations ... none of them really fit. You really did look like a George, and the more we said it, the more right it seemed. It still took us 2 days to give in. You were George. George Thomas Morgan.

It was really nice of you to tell us your name, and nice of you to come early and small and (relatively) easily. You've been nice to me your whole life, except for those few weeks of sleepless nights when we were never home last summer. I forgave you for those.

You love everyone, but especially your siblings and your Grandma Eddington. You love the car, and strawberries, and music, and nearly-hot bottles. You also love the bath and the toilet and banging any cupboard door you can find. We chase you around and you chase us right back. You are my sweetheart. I love you.

Mom

Lex turns 3

My Dear Lex,

You turned 3 today! It's been three whole years since you joined our family!

We had a princess tea party today with your friends at Grandma's. It wasn't your first choice (that would have been Angie's house with your "best friends" Dannica and Lydia), but it was great anyway. Your birthday presents are pretty indicative of the stage you're in - magnifying glass, bubbles, princesses, ponies and tea party sets - and you loved everything you got.

The last year has been hard on all of us, but probably you most of all. You became a big sister, stopped taking regular naps, and when Dad was gone for weeks at a time, your insecurities manifested themselves in the middle of the night. You spent many nights in my bed. You don't like to be left behind, by me or anyone else. You're old enough to play with Will & Emma now, and old enough to get your feelings hurt when they don't want to play with you. It's hard being the third wheel.

Still, you are the most delightful thing around. You're beautiful and smart and playful and loving and hilarious. Everything you say is funny. Especially "dee" instead of "the"... I'll be really sad when you stop saying that.  Every Sunday in Sacrament Meeting you choose someone to go sit with (usually Emma Forsyth, because she's your favorite) and everyone else is jealous. You are the best entertainment.

We love you so much, Lex. We can't imagine our lives without you. I can't wait to see what this year brings!
Love, Mom