Where Did December Go?

December flew by.

We were hardly ever home.

Luckily, I got anxious and set up the Christmas tree before Thanksgiving.

We spent a majority of December at Grannie and Pops' house it seems.

We watched the kids and drove them to and from school and fed them and did laundry etc. while Grannie and Pops drove up to Provo with Elder Shinkle.

We celebrated birthdays, complete with chips & salsa...

and ice cream cake.

We watched the aunties and uncle again while Grannie and Pops went on a little vacation.

And then stayed there for a few days before and after Christmas just because we couldn't get enough of them.

Hyrum solidified his relationship with Uncle "Haydeen" and still talks about Haydeen and how he is is "buddy" etc. etc. etc.

We love the Shinkle family and were glad for all the extra time we were able to share with them.

My Boy is Funny

Hyrum is a silly guy.  Last night we were at Grannie's and trying to have the blessing for dinner.  He folded his arms and made Grannie giggle, which made him giggle, which made her giggle, which made him...  He was just giggling because he liked the attention.

For Family Home Evening, we started singing "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" and he immediately perked up.  He then would jump every time we said "sun-BEAM!"

He talks so much!  He knows exactly what he's trying to say and sometimes I can understand him, but other times not so much.

He loves his Uncle Hayden and calls him "Hadeen."  They are best buddies and enjoy playing together.  They'll play balls, they'll play cars.  They'll play outside, they'll play inside.  I love that my little guy has such a good bud.

Mother of a Teenager

Husband and I have been Mom and Dad to six children (seven if you count Baby Brown) while my parents are gone delivering Elder Shinkle to the MTC.  It's been a fun adventure.  Husband successfully got the kids to school on Monday.  I've picked them up and shuttled to an orchestra concert.  The house isn't a disaster.  The laundry isn't out of control.  We're doing good.

Except when it comes to being the mother of a teenager.

My sister Keila is a busy body.  She's in high school.  She has a job.  She's the manager for the wrestling team.  She likes to spend time with friends.  And it's been my job to keep track of her.

Last night she had to close at work.  She thought she would be done around 9:30.  I was exhausted and didn't feel well, so I told her to wake me up when she got home.  I remember getting a text from my sister Sydney at 11:10 that Keila still wasn't home.  I also remember Keila telling me (at some point) that she was home.  I asked her if she had locked the front door.

Today I was upset with myself.  Where had she been for two hours after she was scheduled to be off of work?  Why hadn't I sucked it up and waited up for her?  Why couldn't I be a responsible mother?

I asked her this afternoon when she got home.  She said 11:00.  I said, "Not according to Sydney."  Fine.  11:15.  Where had she been for two hours?  She hadn't finished at work until 10:15.  She had called me at 9:55 to tell me she was going to be late. (I checked my phone.  This is true.)  After she got off she went to Walmart to get some dinner and then came home and woke me up.

Seriously.  I remember no phone call.  I'm a terrible mother of a teenager.

Elder Bryton Shinkle

Elder Bryton Shinkle was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last night.  He reports to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.  He will serve for the next two years in the Nevada, Reno mission.  We are so proud of him!

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I just wanted to share some of my favorite moments from this weekend as we spent our last couple of days with him...

On Friday night we went and did an endowment session at the temple.  As we were walking in and showing our recommends, the temple worker said, "Welcome to the temple, Sister Brown...and this must be Brother Brown."  Nope, he's my stud of a brother.  Later we giggled in the sealing room when Bryton said, "Do they really expect you to remember all of that?!"  We laughed even harder when I told my embarrassing "You're not my mom!" story.

Bright and early on Saturday morning, Husband and I took Bryton to the temple again to perform sealings for some of our ancestors.  We were glad he was able to have "the whole temple experience" before he left. This time, the sealer thought Bryton and I were married, even though Tony was there with us.  Our hard-of-hearing-sealer was a hoot!  When he learned that Bryton would be serving in Reno, he said "Wow.  That will be...interesting."

Saturday was Bryton's 19th birthday.  He was the bomb-diggity and filled in on a Big Boy Mover move even though he really didn't want to.  We went out to eat at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant that night.  It was yummy.

Sunday was an action packed day.  Bryton spoke in church.  He was stellar.  He seriously sounded like he had just returned from his mission, rather than being ready to head out.  I loved how he used personal experience and testimony, supported by scripture application to teach the principle of missionary work.  He talked about how when people would ask about his mission he would tell them he was going to go teach for two years.  Later on he was disappointed with his explanation because really he will be doing so much more than that!  He will be bringing people unto Christ.  He told the story of the woman at the well who was taught by Christ.  Bryton knows that as a missionary, he represents the Savior.  After being taught by Christ, the woman went and shared what she had been taught and invited others to learn of Christ.  This is the goal of missionary work.  To bring individuals and families to Christ and for them to bring others unto Christ.  We too, must share what we know!

After church we had lots of family over.  Grams and Papa, Casey and Jeff, Trym and Emily, Teonna and Luke, Rocki and Brett, Marlene and a whole slew of children.  We ate lots of yummy food and treats and had a great time visiting. The best entertainment came when Hyrum was caught throwing rocks into the pool. Much to our dismay, we realized he probably wasn't the only one who had done it and they had been at it for a while.  There were eight golf balls and a ton of rocks and limes from the tree at the bottom of the pool.  The uncles in all their glory told the kids they would pay them for retrieving the rocks and things.  So four or five of the cousins started diving in the freezing cold pool.  It was so cold they couldn't even finish (and they were being troopers)!  So then Jeff and Trym decided since they put their kids up to it so they had better show them they could do it too!  So they finished it off.  The pool was free of rocks, golf balls, and limes.   We all had a good laugh!  And yes, warm showers and hot chocolate was provided for the martyrs.

On Sunday evening, President Reader came over to set Bryton apart.  We were able to sit together as a family, give Bryton our advice, bear our testimonies, and learn from President Reader.  Bryton was then set apart as a missionary.  We all were pretty emotional.  I think for the first time I realized that my brother was leaving for two years--really leaving!  He is going to be awesome!

We love you, Bryton!  Be exactly obedient and remember that the Lord loves you!  He will strengthen you!

I'll be keeping up Bryton's blog with letters and updates.  If you'd like to write him, here are his addresses!

MTC Address:
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle
MTC Mailbox #211
NV-RNO 0101
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Mission Address:
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle
Nevada Reno Mission
1146 Prayer Way
Sparks, NV 89431
United States

Thoughts I've been saving...

I think being pregnant and not telling is the hardest thing in eternity.  Your whole world has changed and you can't tell anyone...

Here are a few thoughts I've been saving:

1. I think I knew for sure I was pregnant when I realized that once again sneezing/laughing was synonymous with peeing your pants.

2.  That moment when your pediatric faculty says something to the effect of "not that any of you are pregnant...that I know of..." And you just want to raise your hand.

3. Sitting through OB lecture getting excited for the excitement and beauty of pregnancy while everyone else groans and talks about never wanting to be pregnant...like ever.

4.  Going into the clinic to get a flu shot from Dad.  Having to check the yes box after the "Are you pregnant?" question.  Hoping he's not too observant.

5. Every time another nursing student complains about being tired, wanting to rolls your eyes and say, "You have no idea...really."

6. Remember the good ol' days when all I was taking were prerequisite courses and I didn't have a toddler demanding time and attention?  Yeah...those days are long gone.

Baby Number Two is on the way!  Baby is scheduled to arrive somewhere around June 13, 2013!

Small Update

Husband:

Husband is working crazy hours.  8:30pm - 2:30am.  It wouldn't be bad except that he has to get up with the boy on the mornings I'm gone for school.  That can be rough.

He made it to the top 10 (out of 51 applicants) for the Worland, Wyoming FM position.  He has another interview on Monday.  Life could change drastically real soon.  Or it could stay the same as it's always been.  We'll see what happens.

He's signed up for 18 hours of overtime the week of Thanksgiving.  Whoop!

He's my favorite person (besides Little Boy).

Momma:

The end of the semester is so close I can taste it.  Seriously.  I have one paper. A few more exams.  A couple of finals.  Three more OB clinicals.  One more Community Clinical (if you can count mini golf as clinical).  Then I'm done.

I'm excited for Thanksgiving, even if Husband is working overtime that week and we only get to spend a few hours at Grams and Papa's on Thanksgiving Day.  I'll drive two and a half hours both ways for that food any day.

We put up the Christmas tree yesterday and wrapped presents and I've been listening to the Christmas Pandora station.  I'm not cheating.  Christmas and Thanksgiving are just two parts of one great holiday.

The Christmas shopping is almost complete.  One more gift and we are done done done.  That feels good.

Hyrum:

Hyrum loves singing "The Wheels on the Bus."  He knows the actions for the wheels and the horn, so that's all we sing around here so far.

Nursery is the coolest thing since chocolate milk.  Baths are also on the top of the list.

He loves balls, all sorts.  Especially the ones hanging on the Christmas tree.

Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?

For those of you who are upset by the results of the presidential election, just remember what Dr. Seuss said:

"When you think things are bad,

when you feel sour and blue,

when you start to get mad...

you should do what I do!
 

Just tell yourself, Duckie,

you're really quite lucky!

Some people are much more...

oh, ever so much more...

oh, muchly much-much more

unlucky than you!"

How blessed we are that we live in a free country.  How blessed we are that we can vote, even if our candidate doesn't win.  How blessed we are that our home is not ravaged by war.  How blessed we are that we can worship our God as we choose.

"That's why I say, "Duckie!

Don't grumble! Don't stew!

Some critters are much-much,

oh, ever so much-much,

so muchly much-much more unlucky than you!"