366 Laughs- January 24th 2016

1/24/16

A Sunday in which 9 children stayed home, and Mom and Dad went to Ward Conference with Michael.



We haven't been to church with just one child since... Benjamin was born.  Benjamin and Emilie cared for the rest of the recovering children.  I came home after Sacrament meeting.  Tom and Michael came home after the rest of the meetings and then Michael attended the YSA ward in the afternoon.  Yes, he's done that since October or so.  Two wards.  Well, for three more weeks.






Finally getting Christmas letters/pictures ready to mail.

Out with the old, in with the new... 2015/2016

2015-

It's been quite the year.   Here we are at the end of 2014.



There's been a lot of growing this year.

Ginny knows how to walk now.  We have three permit drivers.  Jules is potty trained.  But that's not all I'm talking about.  I'm so proud of my family.
2015-

• In January, Samuel turned 10, Michael served a mini-mission, there was a Pinewood Derby, lots of illness, and Ginny started walking.  
• In February, Ginny turned 1 and Emilie spent time in St. Louis with family.  
• In March, Nathanael turned 12, Christopher turned 7, and spring seemed to start as we tried to start our garden.  
• In April, we had Michael's Eagle Court of Honor, Emilie turned 15, Juliana turned 3, the Worlds of Fun season started (Michael and Benjamin work there for Kaman's), and we headed out to Utah for a trip to see family and friends and the Payson Temple open house. 
• In May, we came home from our trip, Emilie also got a job with Kaman's at Worlds of Fun, and Benjamin left for Scout Camp as staff, which would last all summer.  Oh, and it rained alllll summer long.  Michael graduated from high school, too.
• In June, we finally planted our garden only to have groundhogs decimate it (and deer... and squirrels...), we missed Benjamin, we had Cub Scout Day Camp as well as Young Women camp which ended early due to violent storms.  
• In July, our washer and dryer died, we got to see Benjamin for a short time as he came home for 4th of July, Emilie and Michael both went on mini-missions, Youth Conference for Michael, Benjamin, Emilie and Dad in Nauvoo, Illinois, Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A, Scout Camp for Nathanael, and had lots of fun... crazy busy!
• In August, Benjamin came home for good, we replaced the alternator in the van to FINALLY fix the battery problems, we gained an organ (musical) and a ukulele in addition to the trumpet, viola, guitar and piano we already have going here, and just tried to recover from July.
• In September, we started a new homeschool school year with Benjamin in 11th grade, Emilie in 10th grade, Nathanael in 7th grade, Samuel in 5th grade, Timothy in 3rd grade, Christopher in 2nd grade, Liberty in 1st grade, and two hangers-on.  We freed two monarchs.  We canned jalapeños and salsa.  (not a lot of produce this year between animals, being late and too much rain) 
• In October Benjamin turned 17 and we learned that Michael got accepted to BYU-I AND BYU.  He will defer going to BYU until after his mission, but SO exciting for us as homeschoolers AND for him because that's where he wanted to attend!   We had fun with Halloween as well.
• In November, Liberty turned 6, Timothy turned 9 and Michael turned 19.  Michael's mission papers got turned in even though some additional things needed done before they were finalized in December.  We traveled to Washington, Illinois for the first time since the tornado destroyed much of the town in November 2013.  We were there for Thanksgiving and enjoyed seeing family.  Emilie finished her Nanowrimo novel.
• In December, we celebrated the birth of our Savior and the end of another year.  Michael submitted his mission papers and Benjamin got work started on his Eagle project as well as starting another new job.  Tom and I also celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.  I still like him.

Thus ends another year.  It's been good.  I am so thankful.
What will 2016 bring?

• For sure, a mission call.  Sometime in the next 2-3 weeks.
• A missionary leaving.  We don't know when or where, but we know he's going.  *sniff*
• Another Eagle Scout project.  Earlier than later.
• Another Eagle Scout Court of  Honor.  Party!
• Samuel turning 11 and going from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts
• Nathanael turning 13 and having another teenager, our 4th so far.
• Nathanael growing taller than me.  It was supposed to be 2015, but he missed by half an inch. 
• Ginny turning 2.  Another era of my life is coming to a close with each year that goes by without a baby.  She's getting so big!
• Samuel's first Scout Camp.  (11 year old Scout Camp)
• Christopher turning 8, and thus, being able to be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.'
• Christopher starting Cub Scouts!
• Tom's 4th year directing Cub Scout Day Camp, with this year being in a new location with a new district.
• Juliana turning 4 in April, and starting Primary this weekend (no longer being in Nursery!  My 9th Sunbeam!)
• Emilie turning 16... and whatever that means.  Watch out.
• Benjamin turning 18.  Wow!  Another adult son.  
• Scout Camp for Nathanael, and Scout Camp staff for Benjamin again.
• A Worlds of Fun season without Michael working there.  Benjamin and Emilie probably will.
• At least one or two children getting their drivers license.  We'll see about the third.
• Liberty turning 7.  One more year until Activity Days for Girls!
• Timothy turning 10.  All great milestones, in Cub Scouts, at church, and in school.
• Another year of Seminary and school.
• Another year of going to the temple and church and all the service opportunities there.
• Michael turning 20, in the mission field most likely.   I can't believe I've been his mom that long.
• Living here 6 years, or, longer than we've lived anywhere, even Texas.
• and whatever else the Lord has in store for us!

I hope your 2015 was wonderful and that 2016 is even better!

365 Joys- December 31st 2015

12/31/15

It's the last year of 2015!  Can you believe it?

I have no idea what I'm going to call next year's posts.   I'll think of something.  Before tomorrow?  Maybe not.  My fingers are sore because we finally got the strings for my new viola today!  I love it.



And tonight is the oft spoke of evening of snack dinner (as my kids call it) and fun foods night as we wait for the New Year and play games, enjoy snacks, and watch movies as a family.

I'm thankful that most of us are healthy and most of us are here.

Benjamin is on the Stake Youth Committee and emceeing the youth dance tonight (that got changed TO tonight even though everyone we know wanted it NOT on New Year's Eve so the kids could be with their families... ah well.)  So Emilie and Benjamin are at the dance, hopefully having a blast, and we're all here.

Our home is open to whoever wants to come snack with us! 

Happy New Year to anyone who reads this!  I hope your 2016 is better than 2015, and it doesn't matter if last year was good or bad, we just hope 2016 is even better! 

A special Anniversary gift

Over 20 years ago, Tom asked me to marry him.  We met in January of 1995 in the men's locker room, were great friends first, started dating in March, he met my family in April, we talked about marriage sometime in May, I met his parents over Memorial Day, and he finally asked me in August of 1995.  My grandmother provided her engagement ring from her first marriage.  Tom told me that since he got the engagement ring for free, he'd buy me a viola.  Over the years, I kind of forgot.

Fast forward 20 years to Christmas day, because Tom can't wait 4 more days until our 20th anniversary.


I cried.

Yes, I do play.  Yes, I started playing in junior high, continued in high school, stopped in college and through marriage and having many of my children, started again in the fall of 2011 when we moved here and we played in a Thanksgiving multi-denominational performance of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and other numbers.   To do so I borrowed my wonderful sister in law's viola.  I still have it.  It was so great to be playing again.

I was also 6 months pregnant for that performance, haha.

Fast forward to fall of 2013, when we prepared The Many Moods of Christmas cantata by Robert Bennet and Robert Shaw.  Also difficult.  It was also fantastic.  I was also 8 months pregnant with Virginia, haha.  We performed it again in 2014 and just a few weeks ago in 2015.

This poor viola, though.  It's brand new so it needs TLC as I warm it up to playing, tuning, etc.  Withing moments of opening it the D string broke (kind of important, like the A string on a violin...).  We ordered a new set of strings.  The package came on Monday.  The envelope looked like it had never been sealed, haha, so, no strings were left in the package.  They are replacing them and they should arrive today, the 30th.  Here's hoping!

365 Joys- November 30th 2015

11/30/15

This is in honor of a They Might Be Giants photo...

With the same instruments.

Michael is teaching himself to play guitar, and Benjamin has taught himself to play yet another instrument.

Yes, he can play it, at least some songs, already.

365 Joys- November 29th 2015

11/29/15

Today we celebrated this guy.  He turned 19 over the holiday but we still had to do our family stuff.  We didn't bring the presents with us, haha.  Or his cards.

So here he is, in all his greatness.

The one, the only, Michael, the leader of the pack, the eldest, the experiment (haha), the first...

He turned 19.

(no, doesn't sound real to me either.)

Cake.

Presents.

I think this one is getting stolen while he's on his mission.  Or tomorrow.


Fun stuff!



Oh, and here is the 3 year old sister playing "dead." Because that's what you do when brothers are having birthdays.

365 Joys- November 28th 2015

11/28/15

Thankful for family and safe travels!  It was possibly icy that night.

Travel back to Kansas City via St. Louis to see more family!  But first, the family IN Illinois.

Friday night we actually saw this family with cousins...



Then before we left Illinois we got this picture with cousins...minus Benjamin, who we can photoshop in later haha.

Tom with baby Susan again... man, I love this guy with babies.

Picture with the grandparents.  Plus Aunt Ariana.

And then barely into Missouri we got this picture with cousins (and one aunt)...

In fact, the only Valencic cousins we didn't see this trip were the ones in Las Vegas, Nevada and the ones in Spanish Fork, Utah.

Family history... Dad Valencic's Accordian. Now in our home.

Cousins Virginia and Vivian meeting...

365 Joys- November 27th 2015

11/27/15

Today we celebrated my oldest son turning 19.  We ate pie for breakfast.  We did some sightseeing with family.  My mother in law made a cake.  We had a fun day together.

Here's my husband and his father sharing a moment.  Haha.
No, really, they were having a good time.
Jules still knocked out in the hotel room.  They slept well once they fell asleep!

Jules and Benjamin next to the life size model of a GIANT CAT TRUCK.  This was a really cool visitor's center.  Worth the entrance fee, for sure.  Not expensive, either.

Samuel next to one of the Caterpillar toys.

Some of the kids trying out the older steering mechanisms.

What's better than pretending to drive giant vehicles?

Cousins wanting to drive the same one?

Not sure if this is frightening or just cool... Jules driving a huge steam roller...


Michael and a really big bulldozer.  He's been into this stuff since before he could talk.

Benjamin and cousin Toby.

Here's the touristy picture... Christopher and Uncle Alex and Michael.

Here's Michael next to the actual size replica of the CAT dump truck... soooo cool.


Benjamin doing a simulator (they have a lot!) kind of like their training simulators.


Emilie also working on one of the simulators.


Christopher was right in his element.  I love that toothless grin!


Typical day... Timothy running over Christopher with a steam roller.  Seen it.


Juliana climbing Caterpillar treads...


Nathanael on one of the simulators.


Dad, Michael and Juliana in trucks...


Liberty excited about EVERYTHING but especially all the new family friends we were there with.


Our awesome family.  Yes, I think we're awesome.  So is the big truck behind us!


My baby girl looking out at the rain in central Illinois.  Love this picture.


Aunt Ariana surrounded by little people.


"Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men!"


Someone took a nap.  And I rested with her.  Good day!