Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, another year older...it was so much more exciting to get older as a little kid! Like when you're 5 and a few days, and you try to stretch it out to 5 and a half, or even "almost 6." Those were the days! Up until yesterday I was like, "I'm only 34...and Tim is 37." That made me sound so much younger than him. Those were the days...

It's been a great day, though, filled with many of my favorite things: music, Sonic onion rings, phone calls with family, lots of facebook well-wishes and emails, cupcakes, and Papa Murphy's chicken/garlic/bacon pizza and Olympic ice skating pretty soon! Doesn't get much better than that for me. :)

Tim and I went to dinner at Tucano's last week for Valentine's Day and are going to go see the movie Valentine's Day Saturday night for my birthday date, since tonight the boys both have basketball practice. I'm totally o.k. chillin' at home tonight with the kiddos, my man, some pizza, and some ice skating. I'm pretty easy to please! Especially since I already got my present (a new fridge) earlier this week...

Every birthday I'm reminded of that birthday 15 years ago when the cutest boy I know took me to Porter park after spending all day together and there, in the moonlight, told me he loved me and wanted to marry me. I tear up just thinking about it...cheesy, maybe, but I'm still crazy in love with him and each day I can't wait for his return from work. He is truly my best friend.

I'm also reminded of the woman who was in a whole lotta pain 35 years ago and was probably so happy to no longer be pregnant! And hopefully not too disappointed to be looking at her 4th daughter (sons would come next). Thanks, Mom, for not stopping at your 2 girls and for bringing me into such a great family! Love you!

Curly Girly

I've been wanting to get some new curlers like a friend of mine uses for Sydney's hair, but they're a little spendy...well, last week, Sally Beauty Supply sent me a random 20 % off coupon, and since I have a hard time passing up a good sale, I splurged. Megan and Maggie were here visiting for the weekend, too...so fun!! Anyway, the curlers are so funny...you don't have to wind the hair around them; instead, they come with a huge sort-of crochet-hook thing that you use to pull the hair through the coils that twist on their own. Here is the look the night before church:
And here is the after...love it!!! The best thing was that she loved it, too! She was so excited with how it looked. And I was just so excited that she kept them in all night long. It helps that she can't really get them out on her own, haha!!

Me and my girl...love her more all the time!

All ready for church!

The lost photos...

There's good news and bad news...the good news (well, GREAT, really) is that we got a new computer last week. I have been wanting one since last summer pretty much since our old one goes on the fritz occasionally with little or no warning. I was proud I had put up with it for so long. Anywho, Tim spent a couple days moving files and info from the old one to the new one, and I kind-of assumed he had all the pictures moved over, but turns out he only moved the ones from the last time I backed them up, which was about August of last year.....and of course, I only realized this yesterday--now that he has completely erased everything from our old, pathetic computer. SADNESS... :( He meant to get the rest later, but then forgot.

I do have a CD with all the pictures from our family reunion last month, so that is o.k. Then I also realized that I can get some of the most important ones off of this blog that I've written about, so that's what I spent a while doing last night. I made a new file folder called "Lost photos." Haha! The more I did that, though, the sadder and sadder I got as I truly realized what was missing. Things like last year's Christmas pictures....Jake's first birthday...Halloween...the list goes on. I seriously almost started to cry...lame, I know... I'm just so happy I've been blogging, and I can recover a few of my favorites from here. Now maybe I've proven to my husband just how important blogging is...haha.

So that's my sad story for the week. Tim felt really bad, and I know it was just a silly mistake, but I think I've learned a lesson in backing up things a little more frequently. I'm sure going to try and do better at that.

Sydney's Beauty Shop

So Sydney wanted to "make me beautiful" one day last week. I couldn't resist! I love when she wants to do sweet little girl things like that, plus I'm always making her sit still day after day to make her pretty, so I figured I owed her this much. She probably used every hair bow and clippie we have, but it was SO worth it! I mean, just look at how amazingly hot I look!!! Haha! It really was fun, though, to have an hour of just me and her, and I'm so glad I took the time, because I know someday all too soon, she's no longer going to want to do things like this anymore and that will make me a little (or a lot...) sad.

P.S. Can you see how cute HER hair was that day?

Woodman Reunion 2009

Great People...

Great Food...

Great Moves...

Great GOAT!!!

Well, I'm finally getting around to blogging about our big, fat family reunion last month. Jake and I went to the great state of Texas Dec. 28th through Jan. 2nd. It was so much fun to see everyone, play games, and eat, and eat, and eat... We were the last ones to arrive, and everyone else had been waiting and waiting to have pie and Madi's birthday cake, so they were very happy to see us!

Melanie and Peter let us ALL stay at their house, which so SO gracious. It was really crowded, but we all made it work. It would have been so nice if my parents' house had been completed in time, but no such luck...

We played lots of games. My favorite was Apples to Apples, mostly because I kicked everyone's trash!! We also went bowling, which I haven't done in a really long time, and what do you know--I still stink at it! It was really fun, but I think from now on, I'll stick to WII bowling!

We also went to the Longview Stake New Year's Eve dance, which I haven't been to since I was single...more than a few years ago... It was pretty lame when I was in high school, and it still is, big surprise, but it was fun to be there with a gazillion members of my family and just play and laugh and dance. We did the Cotton-eyed Joe, each got a dance (with a dip) from my dad, and plenty of line dancing. We left WAY before midnight, which was fine with me, and even better with Jake, since he was uber-tired.

Tim had the other 3 kids at home for those 5 1/2 days. He was awesome! He remembered to take them to get their swine flu booster shots (with NO reminder from me!!!) and even took down and boxed up all my Christmas decorations. I know it was a long week for him, but I so appreciate his help and making it possible for me to go bond with the fam!!

Chirstmas (better late than never...)

So I know I wrote all about making Christmas cookies with my girlie, but I didn't ever put up the pictures, so here are a few. I can sometimes be anal and bossy about how the cookies look and what type of sprinkles need to be used, but every now and then I remember to be the "fun mom" and I relax (I'm working on it, o.k.!). So Santa got some Christmas cookies AND some Valentine's Day cookies. It was so much fun to just have a little Mommy/Daughter time. I love that girl!See how happy she is to have full control of the sprinkles?!?

Here, you can see some of the fruits of our labors. Not that this is the place to brag, but dang, I make amazing sugar cookies! Those of you that have had the pleasure of tasting them know what I'm talking about! Too bad I ate so many...now I have to be more careful and watch the sweets for a while. :(

All my kiddos in their new Christmas Eve jammies waiting upstairs to start our Christmas eve movie, Home Alone. I just love jammie pictures!

One of the hit toys in their stockings: squishy worm-thingys that have flashing different colored lights that go off and on. They're pretty cool!

Sydney Christmas morning with one of many presents: a magnetic doll set--like paper dolls, but without the ripped paper the next day!

All Ryan wanted was a WII game called Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games. I hope it's as cool as he's been imagining!

Brandon also had video games on the mind. His request: Madden 2010 football.

Jake just wanted to finally be able to rip open some presents without getting in trouble. He was much better at opening Christmas gifts than he was at birthday gifts. Must be all that practice he got in the weeks leading up...let's just say that I had a lot of re-wrapping that took place.

The usual family Christmas morning picture. This year I was smart and put on some make-up first. :) It was a great Christmas. We love to always be in our own house and make our own memories. Tim's parents came over for a nice ham dinner around 1 pm and the kids loved showing off their stuff. They all have plenty to keep themselves busy now!

Christmas Eve

So I just realized that I haven't posted this whole month yet...lame...I've been getting ready for Christmas. I can say that yesterday morning I wrapped my last gift, which is not my usual routine! Most years, I'm up really late on Christmas Eve wrapping stocking stuff and am so tired the next day. I'm excited that tonight we can watch our Christmas movie (Home Alone) in our p.j.'s and go to bed at a normal time and hopefully be un-crabby tomorrow morning. :)

Today the kids and I made our cookies for Santa and they each wrote their letters to Santa (Uncle Ray, also known as Satan Claus, haha). Sydney is at such a cute age this year and loved putting the sprinkles on the cookies. It would have been so great if I had thought to take pictures, but alas, I did not--we were too busy having fun!

On Monday, Jake and I are heading to Texas for my family's reunion, for 5 days. I'm so excited to see all my siblings and the parentals. The only bummer is that Tim has all of next week off with the kids, and I will miss almost the whole thing. I wish I weren't missing his time at home. But it will be so nice not to have to worry about the older 3 while Jake and I are away.

Since I still haven't gotten my cards/letters in the mail and won't until after Christmas, here is a copy of our Family Christmas letter for 2009. Consider yourselves informed and loved! And for all of my family, I'm hand-delivering your letters on Monday...doesn't that make you feel special?!?!?


It doesn’t seem right that it’s already time to write another Christmas letter. Didn’t I just do that?!? To say that this year has flown by is an understatement. We have had many adventures, good times, and blessings. It’s good to take some time and list them and remember to be grateful. Our biggest family adventure was a week-long trip to Disneyland and San Diego in July. We had a great time and were grateful to Cathy’s mom for keeping Jake—he can come next time.

Tim had a memorable year this year, finally drawing for a bighorn sheep hunt in August. He trained for months and still wore himself out on the hike up the mountain, but made memories to last a lifetime, even though he was unable to find a ram. Maybe next time. Last month he was released from the bishopric (on his birthday, haha) and was called to serve on the Stake high council, where he’s still trying to learn the ropes.

Cathy spent most of the year trying to keep up with the four kids. They keep her busier than ever, but in the small amount of spare time she had, she enjoyed re-joining her singing group, where she played piano, sang, and sewed many, many costumes. She also helps in Sydney’s class each week and loves watching the kids in their many different sports. She is the Primary secretary in church right now.

Brandon is 12 now! He received the priesthood last month and is so happy to be out of Primary! He also started middle school this fall, which he says is SO much better than elementary school. He played basketball and football again this year (football is still his favorite). He also enjoys hunting with his dad and shot another turkey this spring. He is now old enough to hunt big game, but couldn’t find a deer this year. He just earned his Star rank in boy Scouts and is well on his way to Eagle Scout.

Ryan is 9 years old and in the 4th grade. Last May, he won a brand new dirt bike for perfect attendance and good scores on his state testing. He was thrilled and has gotten a lot of use out of that bike. He played baseball and basketball this year and says basketball is his favorite. He still loves his video games and is a great help with the baby. He earned his Wolf badge in cub scouts and is working on his Bear.

Sydney is 5 and started kindergarten in August. She loves going to school like her older brothers and has become an awesome reader in such a short amount of time. This spring she took tumbling and dance, and her favorite part was being able to wear make-up for the recital…she’s going to be a handful one day! She loves playing with her friends and rides her little bike all over the neighborhood. She learned how to ride without training wheels before her 5th birthday (much sooner than her brothers did).

Jake will be 15 months old at the end of the month, and has been the cutest addition to our family! He started walking about a month ago and now thinks it’s time to run. He loves music and sings along and dances to it. We call him Ry-Ry all the time, because he reminds us so much of how Ryan looked as a baby. He definitely completes our family and we’re so glad to have him.

Best wishes to all of you and we hope to see you or hear from you soon.

All our love, Tim, Cathy, Brandon, Ryan, Sydney, and Jake Bryson