What You've Missed

So here are a ton of photos from Jan, Feb, and March. I know I am a million blogs behind, but we had a rough transition coming home from a month long vacation. Abby and Ollie needed my full-time attention. We are nearly as high as Alaska on the map and we don't get much sun during the long January/February days. The sun doesn't go up until I drop Abby off from school and it starts to set when I pick her up. It's about two months of only being able to play inside, which can make any parent crazy. It's enough to drive the happiest person into a dim, dark, world of bitterness. That's overly dramatic, but you get the picture. January = a lot of comfort eating.

This is what happened when I ran inside to get the phone yesterday. I came back to Ollie asleep in the swing. I was gone for less than a minute. The swing was still swinging when I got back. I literally ran to the phone, picked it up, and went back outside to start the conversation. Sleeping is his talent.

Susanne was kind enough to invite us to her house the day after we returned from Budapest. She is the cupcake and cake queen, so she's trying to teach us all she knows before she moves away and deprives us of her baking goodness. As you can see, Jill pretty much has it down.

Ollie got to lick the beaters. He was thrilled.

Here is Ollie in nursery. He has the best nursery leaders. He literally loves it there, even though he screams for the first minute or so. They always take photos of him and send them to me Sunday evening. It's fun to see what he's up to when I'm down in primary.

Abby was pretty heartbroken that we didn't get a chance to go ice skating while in Canada. She cried about it for WEEKS. Finally I found an ice rink in Berlin and off we went.

I foolishly decided to take a few of her friends with us, which meant that I had four children and two hands to teach everyone how to skate. We made it about 10 meters in one hour. I actually had to leave some of the sweet babies on the side of the rink while I picked them up one at a time and skated with them in my arms to the door to get off the ice. It brought me back to my high school days.

The primary had a carnival activity day and it was awesome. I had a guess-how-many-candies-are-in-the-jar station and the kids were hilarious. Abby guessed there was one M&M in the mason jar. There were actually over 400. Her guess wasn't even the worst one. We had an all-you-can-eat ice cream buffet. I love being the primary president and working with such wonderful children. Sariah was in charge of this event and she blow it up. My counselors rock.

So Abby had a HUGE meltdown when we got home because she wanted to fly back and see her grandmas. We tried to explain that they were both coming soon, but she isn't a time expert yet and couldn't quite figure out what we were saying. I ended up making a wall calendar from January to August. We put in all the fun activities we have planned, including pictures of the grandmas when they will be here. Abby loves to cross off the days as they pass. She was kind enough to write a backwards no on the day that is my birthday. I guess she's not a fan.

My friend's grandma made these awesome knit headbands for Abby and I. I am in love with them. 

We made it about 18 months before Ollie decided to start throwing tantrums. You can now find him, quite regularly, in front of closed doors, huddled in a ball, crying his eyes out. Everything I do is mean, apparently. Life is so hard when your mom will do nearly anything in the world to make you happy. The sadness is palpable.

Here he is throwing a tantrum because I tried to take Abby's toothbrush away from him. He wanted to spend all day in his snowsuit chewing on it. Sounds fun to me.

One of my goals this year is to actually read the Ensign and not just collect it. I'm a few issues behind.

We only had enough snow to go sledding once, but Abby and Ollie got my money worth playing with it in the sun room. Abby's kita encourages the children to wear leggings and undershirts during the day since the room is insufferably hot. Abby loves to dress like this at home, but our house is drafty and much too cold. I find myself telling her all the time, "put some clothes on; you're not at school!" 

We had a Chinese New Year party and invited some German friends (and our old American favs) that we were dying to know better. Over 30 people showed up. We immediately put them to work making dumplings.

My friend, Susanne, made this wicked dragon cake. Mad skills.

After the dinner we played a variety of games. One was a trivia contest about China. Another involved them moving raw eggs with chopsticks from one side of the room to the other. I laughed until I cried. 

Abby forces Ollie to sit at the table with her but won't let him play with her toys or color on her paper. Surprisingly, he's content just watching them have fun.

Both Abby and Ollie were pretty sick when we got home from America. Abby took turns lounging with both her dogs and Ollie. Dora can work wonders on any fever.

Here's Ollie having some strawberries and PB&J. He quickly reverted back to only baby food at the next meal.

The tulips here are beautiful and super cheap. I get 50 of them for about $14.00 every week. 

Abby is always a princess, even without the costume.

My Family Seriously Rocks

It has been a long time since we've had family photos taken. This year we made a pact to suck-it-up and spend a few frustrating hours trying to look like a big happy family, which we usually are when we aren't forcing four kids to all look the same way and not have tantrums. We sort of had a color theme until we realized that Pam hated the colors we chose and then matchy matchy went all out the window. Regardless, I would call the whole experience a success.

I am so proud of my mom. We had every reason in the world to check out and take a pass on life after our dad died, but we all got great educations, jobs that we love (and, YES, being a stay-at-home mom is a job), found loving and nurturing spouses, and contribute in our communities. We all became accomplished, charitable, independent, and intelligent woman because my mom would not accept any less of us. Every day I am thankful she made us accountable for who we are and what we should become. Being a single parent is insanely difficult -- I know, I did it for seven months last year -- and my mom somehow made it look easy. 

The only downfall was not having John (my sister's new finance in the picture). We've been waiting FOREVER for him to propose and he did it just a few days after these photos were taken. We were worried that we would have to cut him out if things didn't end up happily ever after. Instead, we now have to worry about pasting him into these photos. I guess we'll just have to do it again next time!

Jeremy was really sick the night before we took these photos. He gave us only 30 minutes of smiles before he bailed out and laid on the couch for the rest of the day. That's why there are a lot of pictures with me and the kids and none of Jeremy and the kids. There are also no couple shots of us. I guess you'll have to take my word for it that we are still madly in love.

Love, love, LOVE these kiddos.

My sisters make me so incredibly happy. We are super close and I consider them my best friends. 

Kim drove me crazy while in high school, but she's become my closest confidant and supporter once we both started having children. One night, when Jeremy was deployed, Abby was up for hours with this dry, nagging cough that drove me crazy. No one could sleep, including the baby that was going through a must-nurse-every-hour phase. I was beyond exhausted and completely overwhelmed, so I called my sister Kim at two in the morning. Instead of giving me the same old boring speech -- It will get better. Pray for strength. All these trials will make you stronger. -- she paused for a minute, cried really hard for 30 seconds, and then croaked out, "sometimes being a parents *&^$%#%#& sucks." Sorry if that offends you, but it was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. Her brutal honesty saved me from entering totally meltdown mode and instantly we were both laughing. She's the best sister ever. I know my sister Pam feels the same way about her. Every person deserves a Kim in their life.

My sister Pam is also a rock star sister. She is hilarious beyond measure and is incredibly witty. She's a fashion maven by trade, and is quick to offer her services and make us over. We are so excited for her to get married. I am totally thrilled she chose a destination wedding for next Spring. She is going to be the most beautiful bride! We are all in love with her hubs-to-be John. He makes everyone feel comfortable and the children can't get enough of him. Pam gives great advice and is super positive. Every time I think we're done having children I think of my sister Pam and how boring life would be without her in it. What if my parents stopped after me. BORING. Every family needs a Pam -- I just hope we got ours already!

Isn't Reese darling? Those curls are precious.

This photo is SO Abby. Can't you just feel the joy?

We also love Greg! It amazes me every day that Greg and I are the same age and we went to school together and now he's my brother-in-law. I'm really thankful that we didn't run in the same circles and don't have an awkward past. He is so incredibly kind and easy to talk to. He isn't a man of many words -- in fact, he can respond to my one page emails with one liners, which always make me laugh. They are super cute and cheesy romantic.

Canada!

If you have never played the game "Headbanz: 80s Edition" you haven't lived. Three rounds of that and you'll laugh until you sweat.

Sourpuss cousins!  

Aunt Kim took us to the indoor playground. We had a blast chasing the kids and getting some exercise in at the same time.

That being said, the kids were just as thrilled to play in this ginormous cardboard box. Well, everyone but Ollie who ended up underneath it at one point during the evening.

No Lewis/Zavitz Christmas is complete until we've had cookies, more games, and tons o'presents. This year did not disappoint.

This was Abby's third Christmas in one week and she was ecstatic. Next year is going to be such a HUGE letdown for her. Santa pre-spent this year's allotment on the 2012 trip extravaganza (the second honeymoon for mom and dad). Surprise! Hopefully you won't notice that half your birthday presents are going to be wrapped again and under that tree.

I remember loving the London Children's Museum as a child. It had the best hands-on exhibits. Kim and I were giddy to bring our budding babes to the old haunt and it didn't disappoint. 

They still had the underground dinosaur tunnels that I could still fit in and explore.

The space museum section rocked.

The highlight was definitely the McDonalds play center. I was lucky enough to have worked at McDonalds (front counter and the window) for a few years in my high school days. Say whatever you want, but it was a fantastic job. I loved working with my cousin Monica. I met my first boyfriend there (and we kissed in the freezer during lunch breaks!). It was the happening place to be on a weekend. And if you dropped a bucket of nuggets and fries 10 minutes before closing time they were totally going to let you eat it. I can totally see "May I Take Your Order" in the future for these two. 

Oliver had no fear of the dog sled.

While Aaron was all about the kayak.

Sweet Kim had the best bedtime stories and snuggles. She has more energy than both my kids put together. I, on the other hand, took the extra time to watch TV and eat Canadian chocolate bars (the best ever!).

I think Aaron's snowman looks more like a poop pile. Better luck next time, sweet pea!

John was the superman with the Ipad. He got all the kids addicted to Fruit Ninja. We are so happy that he is going to officially be a part of our family next year!

My sister and I are such dorks.

For those of you who know, I am a SUPER competitive person. As soon as I saw this tube I knew that we were going to compete on who could get through it faster. It's not as easy as it looks, especially after you've done it a few times (in order to beat your best score!) and have raw elbows. 

Kim, apparently, does not care if the kids hit each other or her things with swords. She's real cutting edge like that.