Feeling Sort of Lost

So the kids went back to school today, and I didn't. I am not even sure I know how to feel. I woke up with a burst of energy, so I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast, got the kids up and ready, drove car pool for Caleb, then took Zach to the bus stop on the way to take Libby to school. That is where it hit me. Seeing all my cute co-workers, and having to let my little girl off at school with out me. AHHH! I honestly got choked up and felt pretty lost. This morning Libby asked me if she could wear one of my necklaces to help her feel me. Again, I almost lost it. She isn't used to me not being there and I am not used to it either! The boys thought it was pretty cool to have mom not stressed this morning and Zach kept thinking he was late.

There will be some adjustments for me. I love that I get to do my laundry during the day...you know little things like that. But I will miss this:

So I will just have to get used to a quiet house...being by myself...wearing my comfy mom suits...and getting things done. I have wished for this for a while and now it is hear! Hard to believe but it will be good for everyone! I feel like I can be the mom I have wanted to be for a long time! I hope it is as easy as I think it will be!

Cabin Here We Come!

Here is the deal...my computer power cord got pinched under the recliner of my couch this past weekend. This means I have no way of charging my laptop until the new cord comes. I am so bummed. I am resorting to using Craig's computer which doesn't have any of my current photos on it. At least I have one right!! I have a few posts ready but I need to add the photos, they just aren't complete yet.

But that will all have to wait, see today we are heading up for our annual family gathering at the cabin. We will be there for a few days. The kids are so excited they can hardly wait until Craig gets home from work (and he just left about 20 minutes ago). So today will be spent packing the final things, getting all our food ready for the meals we are assigned and so on. I hope it will be a great time for everyone. Hopefully I will have my cord so I can post the photos of our adventures when I get home.

Have a great week, wish me luck up in the mountains.

A Random Tradition

BBQ In December? NO PROBLEM!

This was a photo of how much snow was outside on the deck...Caleb had to uncover the BBQ!




Okay so we started this crazy tradition a few years back of BBQing cheeseburgers on Christmas Eve. This year we had to change the day because of family parties, but we didn't let it die. It is always freezing, this year we had to dig out the BBQ, but it is just something we do. We make sure we get all the yummy fixings that everyone likes so they can pile it on high. Caleb went out to dig out a path to the BBQ and uncovered it a little bit. Craig ventured out with his head lamp on to do the grilling. Luckily burgers cook fast. I couldn't resist taking some photos of it. I don't know what the exact temp was but it was pretty bitter! Everyone loved it! They were cooked to perfection as usual. I wish I would have taken a photo of Caleb's burger dripping with every kind of sauce imaginable coming off it. He had a double with bacon, you should have seen him open his mouth that wide. Next year I will take a photo...it was pretty amazing. Craig and I just laughed. Zach made his all up and just ate bacon and chips instead of the burger. Liberty likes just the pattie...no bun with our special sauce. I think it was Zach who gave us the idea of doing this, the funny thing is we don't BBQ burgers here at home much if ever during the summertime. So it is a special treat. Like I said a random tradition. But a fun one!


This is the first time Craig went outside ... He ran in shivering!

Burgers are done...notice the hood was on...every little bit helps.

I know it is a weird tradition, but the only way to eat a burger is grilled...yum!

Our Christmas!!

***WARNING: This is a very long post. SORRY***

So this year I must say has been the best Christmas ever! We of course were busy, and running right up to the last minute, but once the day came, it was great! The week of Christmas was packed with fun times spent with family. Here is the week in review:

MONDAY Dec. 22nd :

The entire Veenker family decided to try something new and fun. After a big storm that lasted all day long we ventured out to Provo to eat at the very yummy Brick Oven we headed down to the Provo River for a Christmas Cruise. Don't get too excited, it's not what you think. It was for sure different and funny. We all piled up onto a raft with sides and were pulled along the river by our guide. We saw fun Christmas lights along the river and listen to great music while we floated. The big surprise was Santa rowing out to meet us in his canoe. He greeted us, talked to the children, and gave us candy. It was a fun activity, I don't know if we will ever do it again...but hey, how many of you have been on a Provo River Cruise??? I know you are jealous.

Check out the photos of the fun time.

This was the lit up sign that was greeting us!

Here's the family right after the cruise!

Zach was loving the cruise so much he couldn't control his emotions!

Liberty making some weird faces...she was loving it!

I think that Caleb was overcome with oooo's and ahhh's!

Tuesday, Dec. 23rd:

Tuesday we wanted to do something with just the five of us. We thought about going ice skating but then second guessed the idea because we have never taken the kids, and I wasn't about to strap on the skates being big and prego. We changed our minds and went to Temple Square instead. We actually haven't been up there the last few Christmas seasons in fact Liberty couldn't even remember ever going. First we made a stop at one of our favorite places the Training Table for a bite to eat! Yum, Blue Bacon Burger and cheese fries, can't go wrong. Off to Temple Square, parking was a nightmare but we know a secret parking place...and no I won't tell. We had fun wandering around checking out all the beautiful lights and just enjoying to sights, sounds and being together. Check out these photos:

Craig and the kids infront of some of the cool trees covered in lights.
Caleb and I waiting in the North Visitor Center while everyone else was in the bathroom.

The gang who even knows what is going through their minds. Kind of goofy photo

Here we are in the Tabernacle, we were listening to someone play the cool organ.

The kids and I in front of the large Christus statue in the North Visitor Center. Not sure what Caleb's doing, I think he was saying something to me when Craig took the photo.

Wednesday, Dec. 24th:

Wednesday we made our final preparations for the family to come to our house. We had the Peterson family Christmas Eve party here. It was a fun event just like always. The soup everyone made was delicious as usual, and the talent show was once again a hit. The grand children came up with some darling talent numbers. Everything from piano, singing, dancing, trumpet, xylophone, reading books and more. The best part is just being together as a family enjoying one another's company, laughing, singing, and crying. There is just something about being together with family around Christmas. Here's some photos of the fun.

Some of the younger cousins laying down listening to Papa tell stories about his Grandma. The were so cute and listening to the stories.

Liberty did a cute little tap dance to Jingle Bell Rock. It brought back alot of memories.

Caleb and Zach tought it would be fun to take Craig's deer antlers from years past and put red noses on and sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. It was quite funny!

After everyone left for the night, we hung out, watch Joy To The World and basically waited for bedtime. Liberty had made this magic reindeer dust at the Kids Village Christmas Party and she couldn't wait to go outside and dump it on the snow to draw the reindeer to the house.

Here's the cute reindeer dust before she went outside.

Here she is sprinkling it all over the snow out front.

Thursday, December 25th:

We were awaken by the kids at 6:00 am. I am sure it would have been earlier except we told them that they couldn't come up until then. We had a great time we took our time, the kids assembled/played with their gifts from Santa for almost 2 hours. It was almost 8:00 am before they actually opened any gifts. They had alot of fun opening things from each other and playing all morning. I loved it, no stress, everyone happy and getting along enjoying their new things.

Zach thowing his new football to Caleb. Caleb gave him this and a flag football kit.

Liberty showing off her fun and groovy new doll house. This thing is so cool, it has a silver spiral staircase, elevator, and a disco ball. It's a girls dream come true. Santa did a great job!

Craig opening up his new Toaster Oven that I gave him...I wanted a new one!

Caleb checking out his cool new remote control truck Santa brought. Both boys got a truck, and now we have races all over the house. Fun stuff.

After shoveling the walks, yep, once again we woke up to snow...it feels like it has been snowing forever! But the kids love it. After the walk was cleared we headed to Veenker's for more celebrating. Everyone was excited to talk to Elder Veenker in Argentina. We ate a yummy brunch and opened gifts and hung out. Some of the family went over to sled at Todd & KyLee's house, I went home for a nap. We had a wonderful Christmas Dinner in the evening, and played games after.

Over all it was a perfect Christmas Day. No stress, that is just how I needed it to be. Just before going to bed, I told Craig I hope every year from now on can be like this one. I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Merry Christmas to all!

My Christmas Wish for You!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas. I hope you are safe, sound & happy! I love this time of year, seeing people happy with a spirit of giving and love. I love being able to spend time with family and enjoy each other laughing, walking down memory lane and just loving each other. I hope each of you will have the spirit of Christmas with you always. I know I get so caught up in everything that I have to do a reality check from time to time. Have a wonderful holiday! Love from the Veenker home.

** An update of what we have been up to (which is a lot) will come soon! In case you were wondering!**

A New Chapter, Again!

So, I know that the title of this post sounds a bit ridiculous...but I am not sure how else to put it. You see today was my last day of work, due to my new baby boy coming in a few short weeks. (that's like 10 weeks, but it sounds short to me!!) I honestly have been looking forward to this day for months now, but now that it has come I am having some emotions come to me I wasn't thinking would. The feelings I had today as I watched some of my 400 students (because I teach art in the morning and cooking in the afternoon I teach every student at the school) I found myself getting choked up!

Let me tell you what I will miss about Kids Village:

Walking into work and finding this waiting for me. This school is not like anything I have ever seen. When I first walked in and was telling my mom about it the closest thing I could say was it reminded me of Main Street at Disneyland. The place is darling and very inviting. Someone a week ago said to me it reminded them of a snow globe. It made going to work so nice. I mean check this place out. I didn't even get photos of the awesome kitchen and art room I got to work in.

This is the Village...see I told you it wasn't like any other school.

I will miss being with Liberty all the time. It was great to be walking to pick up a class and hearing "MOM" being called by her across the village just to see her wave or run up to give me a hug. It was great to be her teacher (even though she was sometimes my hardest student, you know your own are hard!) I will miss looking out my kitchen window at the end of the day to see her dancing to the music ringing through the village.

This happened almost everyday! I loved to just sit and watch her!

To be a kid again!!! She would dance around parents coming in to pick up their children. She didn't care one bit! I love it!

I will miss seeing these darling little children day in and day out. They are so fun and they say some of the funniest things ever! I will miss them so much!

This little brother and sister duo could melt anyone's heart. It was pajama day for him, he doesn't usually wear a sleeper to school!!



This guy would say the funniest things ever! I will really miss his humor and just look how cute he is.

If I could I would take this little one home! I love her to pieces. She is so expressive and has an imagination beyond anyone I have ever met! I just love her!

I will miss the amazing women that I taught with. I am not kidding when I say these women were incredible in every aspect! The bond we have is great and I will miss being surrounded by them, laughing with them, crying with them, and wanting to scream with them! (yes us teachers do need a good scream from time to time!)

(I wish I had a photo of these ladies...but I don't. I still love them!)

The list goes on, but I will spare you. This wasn't a normal job...it was fun!

I will admit this year has been so physically challenging, this being pregnant at my age has been difficult, that it will be great to have a break to regroup and prepare for my little guy to come. I need this time. My list of things to do it a mile long at least, but I am looking forward to going back to being a mom & wife full time. I even celebrated and bought myself a new "mom suit" as my sister calls them...definition: cute sweats! I am feeling like many things are starting over for our family. All the kids are getting so big and we are starting a new phase once again! Diapers, waking up in the middle of the night, complete dependency! It will be an adjustment that is for sure.

So as of today I am a full time mom & wife again. It has been awhile, but I am so happy. My children and husband mean everything to me that I am excited to be there for them fully and not torn between work and them. I am sure it will take some time to get used to it, but by then the new guy will be around and we will all be so wrapped up in him that nothing will matter.

I guess what I am saying is that even though I left work today in tears, I am happy to be where I am and doing what I get to do now! This will be a good chapter.

My Martha Moment!

Okay so on Saturday just before our Ward Christmas party I got this hairbrained idea to make Liberty a skirt. You have to know that growing up my mom was famous for staying up late one night and making me a dress for the next day. That is how it was all through my childhood. So and hour before we are supposed to be at the church I decide to do this. How hard can an elastic waist skirt be. I had some fabric downstairs and after a couple of measurements...I was off.

Okay so it didn't turn out perfect...I wish I could have done the bottom different. But she was all excited and I felt pretty good that I was able to whip something up like that. She looked cute and got alot of compliments. I have a long way to go to live up to my mom's work, but hey, one step at a time. Right?

Here I am having my Martha (stewart for those who don't know what I am talking about) moment at my sewing machine. Libby snapped this one of me.

Here is one of Libby playing in the tulle that I added to the bottom of the skirt...she was enjoying herself while I was sewing.

Here she is in the finished product. I know you can't laugh..but not to shabby for 35 minutes of sewing. I think next time I will try a pattern. That could help the bulging sides of the skirt.

Please pay no attention to the random items in my office...the stuff hanging on the back of my office door and the box of lightbulbs are practically permanent objects in there but pretend you didn't see that! It's on the list of things to get to...but who knows when that will get done!