Update from the Ben and Marinda clan

It has been forever since we've posted, and I've been doing a lousy job of keeping up on our family blog lately, so I thought I'd give you guys all an update… TRY to contain your excitement.

This kid is potty trained!  He learned quick, but the first couple weeks were a pain with accidents and fear about going on the big toilet, in public places etc, etc.  I think we've worked all the kinks out now and he has been accident free for a couple weeks!  Way to go James!  He's singing "Wheels on the Bus" in these photos.

Went on a family ski trip to Austria over President's Day weekend… the girls attended ski school with mixed results.  Every time I checked on Caroline the first day she was in this EXACT position… she had a very long suffering instructor.  The second day while the other kids advanced to the slope, she got sent back to the itty-bitty beginner's course because the instructor said she wouldn't listen.  Em enjoyed it until they took her to the slope with the others… said it was too scary.



Ben took me on some runs on the second day... Being 20 weeks pregnant I just wanted to stick to the blues (which are the greens in the U.S.)  He assured me that the reds were just like the blues and took me to the very top of the mountain, which had a glacier on top.  I'm here to verify that the reds are NOT exactly like the blues in Austria. Yeah, that was kind of crazy. Glad I had no major falls and the baby is still alive and kicking!

The announcement I posted on social media announcing the gender of #4, in case you hadn't heard :) But I'm sure you have :)  I won't lie, I shed a tear or two realizing James may never have a brother.  But we're grateful to be having a healthy baby, regardless.

Ben took me to the opera for my bday.   We saw La Boheme… it was an Italian opera with German subtitles… so yeah, at least we had read up on the plot before attending so we could follow along… the music was beautiful!

Caroline lost her first tooth, which was a VERY dramatic ordeal.  With her tooth already very loose, we had corn on the cob for dinner but she wouldn't let me cut the corn off insisting she only likes corn ON the cob, not OFF the cob.  Sure enough, first bite her mouth was bleeding and she promptly went into drama queen mode. One little tug and it came out… of course this was while Ben was at meetings and of course my dinner was cold once I got to it, but what else is new?  Also, she was very amused with herself sticking her tongue through the gap and calling herself a lizard.  She's a weird-o.

We didn't get much snow this winter (mostly sleet rain, horrible!),  just a little skiff over MLK, but enough to go sledding outside.  

The family pic we submitted for Ben's attache packet.  Still waiting to hear if he gets the nomination.  The kids and I have 2.5 months left here and we don't even know for sure where we're going next. (Well, we are going to Utah for two months, that's for sure).  I have faith it will all work out though… I have a good feeling! (I hope I didn't just jinx it!)

Fitness night at the school:  Caroline's attempt at a Warrior Three.  She has a ways to go. 

Attending a Scottish Burn's Supper where the Israel Desk farewelled Ben.  He is now on the Poland Desk. Proud of all the hard work he's done… I know he's very well esteemed/liked by his colleagues.

Porsche Museum… first time visiting it even though it's only a ten minute drive from our house.

Valentine's Day

Ben after his eye surgery… thanks for all the prayers… he seems to be recovering well.



I don't know what was worse, the food or the view.

Em had strep throat one weekend, so we stayed home together while Ben dragged the other two to a family work party (he's a glutton for punishment).  Em stayed up sewing and making random comments while watching the PBS News Hour with me.  "Mom, there's a war in Syria...  Mom, there's a tornado in Virginia...  Oh, look at the cute kitty!" She's a gem! 

My study buddy! Downtown breakfast at a cafe.

Off to the school's Sock Hop… in which they played mostly hip hop… thanks to Grandma they were dressed for the occasion!

James' favorite thing in the world is to ride the busses and trains around town… so on the girls' day off of school we took public transpo to the mall.  He would have just stayed at the train station all day if I would have let him.  Also, now that Caroline can write, she takes this little journal around and jots down random things in it… the best part is that she pulls out these glasses, which have no frames, every time she takes up the pen.  She takes herself very seriously.  

My very left brained girl using the label maker to organize her new lego storage.  She's in her happy place.

In between Sunday meetings and home teaching… he's a busy (and tired) man.  The girls made sure he was comfortable though :)

Crazy leprechaun on St. Patty's Day

And last but not least, Caroline's 6th bday. For breakfast she requested Lucky Charms and biscuits. Unfortunately, she was sick that day, didn't eat a thing, and stayed home from school.  Luckily she's all better now and was able to attend her Star Wars bday party this afternoon!

I'm not as cool as you may think… I borrowed all my ideas from the internet and only did the easiest ones… still, a bday party is a lot of work!  No joke! Instead of Hot Potato it was pass the Death Star…

We played Pin the Bun on Princess Leia but they're on the other camera and I'm too tired to go get them :)  We also went on a moon rock treasure hunt.

A fun game of Sith/Jedi tag

Haha!  They're supposed to be Princess Leia cupcakes.

The kids had a blast and now I cannot get out of bed!  I may be here recovering for a day or two!

Updates from Gramma Shaha (the younger) in Utah

 

Grandma comforting Macho before he undergoes dental surgery....he had to have four teeth extracted, the results, I'm sure of eating too many Fig Newtons.

 

 

Talking to Ben on my birthday during a lavish shopping spree.

 Our first home together in Orem...this is where we lived when we brought Ben home from the hospital.

 

 

 Williams gathering at our new house...left around the table are Uncle Pat, Uncle Jeff, Craig, Sarah, Steve, Katie, Shea, Chris, and Nick...it was wonderful to have all of these lovely people around my table! A forlorn looking Jack and Natalie are in the background. Linda was with Lauren and family in Colorado.

 

All of the birtdhay loot for the most recent Senior Citizen....thanks for all of the cards and gifts...you are all the best.

 

 I went to the Cougarettes' 70th anniversary celebration on my birthday and had a blast...Liz, Candace and I were the only ones there from the 70-73 "teams"...was great to see them.

 

A sure candidate for Awkward Family Photos...we were all freezing as Grandma was ordering Pat to get in the picture.

 

The Tanner men...L to R...Patrick looking very uncomfortable, Josh, Darien (Brittany's fiance), and Uncle Steve (still limping from getting hit by a car as he walked across the street in San Antonio with his bag of groceries. Kathy said the rottisserie chicken saved him from breaking his leg!

 

 

Jimmy's clones, er I mean daughters. Other than Kate (far left) who looks just like Erin, the other three look just like Jimmy.

 Beautiful Abby with Jake's boys, Alex and Ian.

 

 

Most of the Tanner/Stockton contingent....don't know where Buffie and Peng went!

 

Steve had to come straight from work so got there a bit later than the rest of us. 

 

 

 

 

They're not getting older; they're getting better! Grandma was ecstatic to have all of her beloved children together again. Love to all of our beloved children and their terrific families...xox

Christmas Catch Up from Gramma

The girls hanging around the fabulous spaceship Pat made out of moving boxes...my favorite part was the sign Lucy made outside the entrance, "Plese knok."

 

 

Christmas morning with the J&B contingent.

Note Ryan's concentration with the Shaha tongue tradition...he's addicted to dinosaurs.

 

Jack sharing his Avengers anthology with a charmed Ryan.

 

Movies on the big screen with Hailey and Lucy.

 

FHE games with Ryan...who do you think he resembles in this photo?

Gramma and Grampa Catching Up

Who says it's not an age of miracles?! We sold our home in Kansas (por fin!) and packed up our junk and headed off to Utah to seek our fortune--or rather to exhaust our meager savings. So there are many benefits of moving closer to family, like sharing Halloween . . .

 

. . . pretty scary for the rest of the inhabitants. Yes that is Hulk, Ariel the mermaid, Wolverine, and Nick Fury--and that other clown was invited to hand out candy at the Enniss home. 

 

 
Bethany and Lucy, Hailey and Ryan came out for Thanksgiving--and we got to celebrate Hailey's fifth before they headed back to California. We had an awesome visit from the Thanksgiving turkey . . . uh, no, that's Steve with  Lucy's turkey crown from school. And a good time was had by all, especially Steve!



It's been snowing a lot since Nancy and Pat got to Utah--we got about 6 inches at our house right after the movers dropped off all our stuff.




And then we got to head out to Spokane, WA, for Josh and Kelsie's wedding on 17 Dec. Josh's Grampa Tanner was able to officiate as the sealer which made for an especially amazing ceremony. As sealer, Bill Tanner mentioned missing Patty and Jim--and that he was confident Jim was there with us. And the Tanners and Barnes families put on some great parties for the rest of the day. Here are the Tanners able to attend--Brent and Janet, Gramma Elizabeth and Grampa Bill, and Troy.



And there were some of the Shaha reps at a table in the corner--where they belong.



It was cold and slushy and we got to the luncheon a little early so rather than stand around in the cold and get sloshed by passing buses we ducked into a nearby deli and had some hot soup--which was GREAT. And Grampa Pat even figured out how to do a selfie--no end to his talents.



The reception was held at a big home in the northwest hills above Spokane--a pretty precarious trip getting to it on some unplowed roads in the dark, but the place was very interesting. Had a whole bunch of baseballs and baseball bats collected over the years from major athletes--signed game bats from Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Frank Thomas, Pete Rose and others; and autographed baseballs from Ruth, Aaron, Mantle, Koufax, and a whole slew of others. Was pretty amazing. And there was this grizzly bear upstairs . . . .


 

 



Truth be told, the crew sort of descended into depths even lower than usual following the festivities--photo evidence follows. Nancy will have to fill in the story . . . .Nancy here. So upon arriving at the hotel in Spokane, we were all disappointed that we'd forgotten our swimsuits since there was a nice pool and hot tub. So of course Stacy  had a great idea that we needed to go to Wal-mart to find shorts and tank tops. The bargain rack provided Santa shorts and tank tops (Buffie's and Nancy's shirts say "meow" which explains the clawing gestures). The Tanners came back from the reception to see the Shaha reps acting like idiots in the hot tub in our Santa shorts...we all thought it was hilarious but are a bit concerned about our penchant for loud laughter and light-mindedness!



 

 

 

Once back in Utah we were able to check out the lights at Temple Square with Steve, Lucy and Hailey.

 

And today Lucy marshalled the forces available and staged an impressive Nativity--Natilie and Jack as Mary and Joseph, Hailey as the angel, and Ryan and Grampa as the wise men (casting was desperate). For some reason Ryan did not want to wear the wise man hat he chose--a Star Patrol helmet. It was an awesome production.

At Ryan's right hand are the gifts we brought as wise men--some paper props provided by Lucy. Not the spellings of 'Mr' (myrh) and 'Faksins' (frankincense).

 

Sunday Picture

Well, I will never be as good as Wendy about posting pictures or writing captions but here's my second for the year. Maybe the last...we'll see. This was taken on Sunday as we were leaving for church with the sword in hand. The sword only made it to the car and was not allowed to attend church much to Ryan's dismay. He folded his arms and refused to leave the car door without his sword. By the time we crossed the parking lot he changed his mind and I had to go back to get him.

The California Shaha's

Lucy and Ryan being silly.

Sweet Hailey Jo Jo

Aunt Danielle did her hair. She's enjoying her reflection.

Hailey's First day of school. She's in Pre-K at the school my mom teaches at. I have to get her up at 0630 and my mom picks her up at 0700.

Lucy's first day of school. She doesn't have to leave until 0800.

The Great Utah Visit by Grammy and Grampy

Greetings all. This is being typed by the Old Geek so will not be as witty as coming from Gramma. But we had another wonderful visit with Katie and Shea and Natalie and Jack, and got to spend time with Steve and GreatGramma Shaha.

 

Here are Natalie and Jack on their driveway. They had created a highway system for Natalie's new toy Smurf car to travel, being chased by the lion scooter driven by Natalie's stuffed beaver--his driving skills were very suspect.

And Natalie rode on her bike over to the park--Jack scooted over on his little self-propelled racer thing like Peter uses (only Jack doesn't use his feet to get propelled like Peter). Anyway, had a great time at the park playground--as you can see the beaver had no fear of the fireman's pole (although his landing was very flat and abrupt, fortunately Natalie was there to pick him up and brush off the sawdust).

Jack was very interested in going UP the slide--had a good view of the ongoing softball game from the top.

 

Well, pretty lame entry I know, but that's all the photos I took--can you . . . of course you can believe it. I got to meet Steve's date the night before I had to leave; Sarah was a very attractive, smart, articulate and fun; I hope Nancy gets to meet her when we go out for Thanksgiving.

 

Stay cool out there, and be excellent to each other. We hope to see you all again soon. Nancy and I are working up a proposal for a gathering of our family next summer, when Joe's back and the families of Dave and Ben are moving--hopefully in conjunction with the Shaha Reunion. We'll keep you all posted.

Love, Grampa and Gramma