I Can't Believe She's Eight!

Where does the time go?


I can't believe that Addison is now eight years old!


Here are eight great reasons why we love our little girl...

1. She is a beautiful, young lady both inside and out.

2. She cares a lot about people.

3. She makes us laugh every day.

4. She is a great big sister.

5. She is very helpful.

6. She is a friend to everyone.

7. She is very creative and loves to sing.

8. She made a great decision to be baptized.






Happy Birthday, Addison!

The Great Escape!

"Isn't he cute?" you ask.

Not for long...

Back in September, Richard calls out to me...

"Hey, hon! Guess who can climb out of the crib?"

My response... "No way!"

But... guess what?

Aidan can climb out of his crib. We had just gotten ourselves a new crib too. The old crib was voluntarily recalled. Darn it!

He was not even two years old yet. Twenty months to be exact.

Yikes!

He hasn't slept in a crib or a pack 'n play since.

I Know, I Know, I Know...

I know that it's been a very long time since I've posted a new blog.

I'm sorry!

I've finally found some time to create a couple new posts.

I hope that you enjoy!

Deer?

We were vacationing in Rehobeth Beach (Delaware) a couple of weeks ago. We decided to go swimming at the community pool near the beach house we were staying at, and this is what we saw...

What's a deer doing near a beach house?

Happy 11th Birthday, Alex!

I can't believe that Alex is now 11 years old! Wow! How time flies!

I can't believe how much he has grown over this past year!

In this last year, he has accomplished so much...

1. He played flag football this last winter season. (And... he loved it!)
2. He is a three time published poet. (Thanks to his ALP teacher!)
3. He is the new student body secretary at school. (He ran unopposed!)
4. He discovered that he experiences motion sickness. (Oceanography Trip!)
5. He went on his first weekend trip without the family. (Thanks, Kirsten and Greg!)
6. He went into Mexican waters on his Oceanography trip. (Choppy waters and vomit. Ewww!)
7. He went to Victoria, BC. (Canada!)
8. He has polished his video game playing. (Nintendo DS, Wii, and computer games)
9. He is going into the sixth grade. (He graduated fifth grade!)
10. He learned to play the violin. (Thanks to Orchestra!)
11. He recently graduated from cub scouts and is now in 11 year old scouts. (Arrow of Light!)

(11 1/2... He's made Mom and Dad proud of the young man he's becoming!)

Wow! Look at all he's done this last year.

I'm sure he'll accomplish even more in this next year!

School's Out For Summer!

Need I say more?

Don't You Just Hate When...

A couple of weeks ago I celebrated a birthday. Because of this special occasion, I was able to choose where we, as a family, would dine to celebrate. (Oh, the joys of being princess for the day!)

I chose a nice restaurant where we've dined before.

All day... I was craving a particular sandwich they have on the menu. I was so looking forward to it! What a great way to top off one's birthday, right?

Well! Guess what?

It is no longer on their menu. Bummer, huh? I had to search for another meal. So I decided to choose an item on the menu that Richard loves.

Well... I didn't care for it too much.

Don't you just hate when that happens?

Seattle and Victoria, BC

Our little family left for Seattle, Washington on St. Patrick's Day! We were going to be away until Saturday. We were all looking forward to spending some time with each other in a new and exotic location.

On Tuesday, we arrived at the airport, got into our rental minivan (Despite the cushy ride, Richard and I are still not minivan people. Sorry!).

We finally took off and went to the Pacific Science Center. It was so much fun to experiment with all of the neat trinkets, gadgets, and projects! What's even more exciting was that it was all free! AWESOME! The advantages to having a membership here at the Arizona Science Center.







After the science center, we went up to the top of the Space Needle. It was not Richard's favorite moment of our trip. He is a bit vertically challenged. :) It was cool to have a 360 degree view of the city of Seattle!


We then went and checked into our hotel. It was called the Edgewater Hotel. It was a very nice hotel right on the waterfront. Wow!

On Wednesday, we went to the world famous Pike Place Market where fish fly in the air freely. :) We looked at the various shops and purchased some very nice homemade cheese. Yum!

We were able to drive up to Bellevue, Washington and see the LDS Temple there. It was beautiful as all temples are.

We also had some very yummy seafood at the Crab Pot, which was walking distance from our hotel.

On Thursday, this was probably my most favorite part of our trip. We took the ferry to Victoria, BC. Alex was a bit nervous as we first got on the ferry. It was pretty sloshy! A little bit of Dramamine in Alex, Addison, and myself, and we were knocked out for a bit.

Once we docked in Victoria, we decided to get a rental car to allow us to have a bit more freedom during our few short hours there. Unfortunately, we had to wait for an hour for our car. Ugh! It made us all a little sad since now we had one less hour to sightsee.

We drove up to the Butchart Gardens. It was beautiful! It was a little drizzly but very green. It would probably be even more beautiful with the many flowers and plants in bloom in the spring and summer. It was amazing!

On Friday, we hung out in Seattle and went on an underground tour of Seattle. It was so much fun to see that the town of Seattle all began many, many feet below where it is now located. After our underground tour, we made our way halfway between Spokane and Seattle to a little town called Moses Lake to meet up with Richard's older sister Melanie and her family. Despite the short time we had to spend with her and her family, it was nice to see family again.

Saturday was a day of lounging and preparing for our trip back to sunny and warm Arizona. We spent almost all day traveling and spending time in airports.

We had a blast during our time in Canada and Washington. It was great to relax and spend time with family, but.... it is sooooo nice to be back at home!

Was it all worth it? Just look at these faces...

Spring Break 2009

Hallelujah!

It's spring break! And I am in need of a much needed break from school and life itself.

It all began with my oldest child going away for the first time by himself. Being away from family didn't seem to phase him at all. He was going away with his friends. He was going to stay up all night, and he was going to eat junk all day long. What more could a ten year old want?

HOWEVER... He had troubles figuring out his calling card the first night away. Being the good boy that he is, he told Richard, "Daddy, I'll call you in the morning to make sure I have figured out this calling card thing." Awww! (Not so much when it's at 5:00 AM!)

Alex went to California on an Oceanography Club trip. On Saturday, we discovered that he experiences some fierce motion sickness. Getting sick off the side of the floating lab boat was definitely not his idea of fun! Thanks, Mrs. Kaus, for helping him get cleaned up! On Sunday, he got sick again on the bus. Thanks, Miss McClintock, for helping Alex! She even had him call home that morning to get verbal approval for children's Dramamine. I think that Alex did not just experience motion sickness, but a combination of a lack of sleep and eating junk food probably didn't help either.

How sad it is to have your little one go away for the first time without Mom and Dad! But we were happy to say that he was in good hands. Greg Mazenko and Kirsten Berrett were his chaperones. Both of whom are good friends and neighbors. Thank goodness!

Alex had a lot of fun, but as kiddos hopped off the bus, this is what I heard....

"Alex got sooooo sick on the trip." (Nice, huh?)

Will he be up for a ferry ride on our family vacation? "Sure!" (What a trooper!)

I am looking forward to a nice vacation to Seattle and Canada with my family and rejuvenating my energy-less self. It will be nice to relax and take time out for myself and my neglected family.

We'll be sure to update our blog with the goings on and photos from our trip.

YEAH!!!!!!

Snow in Arizona?

Our kiddos have been asking to see snow for quite some time now. We thought that we might see some snow when we went to eastern Arizona in early January for a day trip. But... alas! There was no snow. Bummer! (Alex was VERY disappointed.)

We recently had a long weekend, lots of rain in Phoenix, and snow in the high country, so Richard and I decided to take a little road trip. We all wanted to see some snow! We didn't want to go up to Flagstaff and fight the crowds of people, so we asked several native Arizonans where we should go. Many suggested Show Low and Payson. We hit the road and went past Payson and a little town called Strawberry, and this is what we saw...

Awesome, huh?

It was a much longer trip driving there and back than originally anticipated, but it was worth the short time we spent there throwing snowballs and sliding on our backs and tummies down the mountainside. We tried REALLY hard to find some snow toys, but they were all taken as many others had the same idea we did that weekend. Luckily, our snow jackets were nice and slick enough to allow us to slide down in.

Happy days are here again!

Just An Update...

Last night (Sunday), Alex got sick after eating a lot of something he should not have been eating.

After cleaning up and taking a shower, he comes downstairs and says with a smile, "Mommy... It's only a week late!"

Better late than never?

(This post is in reference to his desire to stay home from school on the Monday after winter break to help extend Mom's winter vacation.)

Got Milk?

Several days ago, we started Aidan on whole milk since he is now a one year old. As you can tell by looking at the photos, he didn't care for it too much. I don't remember our other children having such a difficult time drinking milk.

Aidan did not care for it all!

Well... as time has passed, we have realized that he really does enjoy the milk if it is warmed up quite significantly.

And why do we need to do that? Cater to his desires?

This is why...

Play Ball!

A few months ago, Alex expressed an interest in playing football. We were like, "Huh? Where is this coming from?" Despite the love of sports and watching it in our household, our oldest is not the athlete of the year by any means.

So... who's to say no to that little burning desire in his heart?

Why not? His best friend from school also wanted to play, so his mom and I signed them up.

We are not looking for the next Joe Montana, John Riggins, or Jerry Rice. We are just hoping that he has fun and enjoys his time playing flag football this season.

Things, as of yesterday, were not too organized with the league we signed the boys up in. Jerseys are not yet in. The boys played in practice jerseys. The games were running late, so we didn't even begin our game until 45 minutes after it was scheduled. Our team didn't even have a head coach until yesterday, the day of the game. Wow!

A couple of parents were overheard saying that the team was stinky, but what do you expect when no one steps up to the plate before the first game to head coach? Our new head coach doesn't even have a child playing on the team (Now that's dedication!), but he seems eager to teach the kiddos some football. We were not the best team by any means, but now with three practices a week (Ugh!)... I'm sure that they will only get better. Alex and his friend will only be able to make it to two practices a week since scouts is on the same day as one of the practices, and it means more to Alex and the family that he continues with his growth in scouting. But... we are looking forward to not necessarily marks in the win column but a boy who learns more about football, begins to enjoy playing more sports, learns good sportsmanship, and grows even more to be the good, young man that he is. And... this was evident when I observed him, on a couple of occasions, patting his teammates on the back saying things like, "Nice job!" or "Good try!"

Play Ball!

Go, Scorpions!

Now That's Love!

As I contemplate going back to school tomorrow, I have to relay a cute story...

A couple of days ago, I stated, "I so do not want to go back to school on Monday. I'm not ready!" I actually said this out loud, and Alex listening replies, "That's okay, Mommy! You can take the day off. I'll stay home with you. I'll try to make myself throw up on Sunday night."

What more could a parent want!

Happy New Year!

We, in the Wood household, wish each and every one of you a very happy and safe new year!

14 Years and Counting...

Wow! 14 years seem to have flown by. It seems like just yesterday when the butterflies were building in anticipation of Grace's response to my marriage proposal. Now after four states, nine homes, and three beautiful children, we can say, "Wow! What a wonderful life!"

In commemoration of our 14th wedding anniversary, here are fourteen reasons why I love her.

1. She is thoughtful and kind.

2. She is faithful and dependable.

3. She puts up with my many imperfections.

4. She is a loving mother.

5. She is a wonderful teacher.

6. She is organized.

7. She is intelligent and welcomes open communication.

8. She is a great listener.

9. She is easy to talk to.

10. She keeps the house in order.

11. She is as beautiful today as the first day I met her (maybe even more so).

12. She is respectful to her parents and others.

13. She follows her heart.

14. She chose me. (I'm the lucky one!)

Here's to fourteen years and counting!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary!

Richard and I recently celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. So... I have decided that this would be a great opportunity to think about all of the reasons I love my husband and list 14 reasons. (*These items are not listed in order of priority.)

1. He is a wonderfully loving father.

2. He is a very helpful and involved father.

3. He is a caring and compassionate spouse.

4. He is passionate about his profession.

5.He is a very caring person.

6. He is a very spiritually in tuned man.

7. He makes me laugh every day.

8. He knows how to have fun.

9. He listens (most of the time!).

10. He is considerate in his advice.

11. He is very handy around the house and with cars.

12. He is healthy.

13. He takes his responsibilities seriously.

14. He married me!

These are only a few of the reasons why I love Richard and have treasured our 14 years together as man and wife.

Where Does The Time Go?

Aidan Christopher Wood

I can't believe it! Our little baby is now a one year old! Where does the time go?

On the same day Richard and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary, we celebrated our little one's first birthday. :)

He has achieved so much in the one year he has been with us.

Aidan has always slept and ate well. (Mom and Dad are truly grateful!)

He is quite the talker, and sometimes he gets a bit angry when he doesn't get what he's asking for. ("Don't you know what I'm saying, Mom and Dad?")

He has been cruising along furniture since the age of eight months. This concerned Mom a bit about having an early walker, but Aidan is still only taking a few steps at a time. Mom thinks that maybe there's a bit of a lazy streak in him. ("It's just faster to crawl, Mom!")

He is just about to start on whole milk (Hallelujah!). Why is formula so expensive? A baby's gotta eat, right?

He is now forward facing in the car seat and enjoys traveling all the more now that he can see what's going on.

He smiles a lot!

He is very ticklish! (He'll even start laughing before you touch him.)

He is a very happy baby.

He loves blowing kisses to anyone who asks.

He has been a great addition to our happy, little family!

All of these things we are truly grateful for. We have been blessed with easy going babies, and Aidan is no exception!

Happy Birthday, Aidan!

Christmas 2008 - Happy Holidays!

Disclaimer: Some may have already received or will receive a copy of our Christmas letter for this year, so I apologize in advance.

Dearest Family and Friends...

Seasons Greetings from sunny Gilbert, Arizona! We hope this letter finds you all well and able to enjoy the spirit of the season. We have had a busy year in 2008!

Richard has now been working in private practice as an optometrist for a couple of years. He is enjoying the benefits of private practice. He had a couple of health scares this summer; however, he has received a clean bill of health. We are truly grateful for this!

Grace is still surviving as a second grade teacher! She has had many challenges this year, but she enjoys her time with her class. She is enjoying her time as a mom to a new baby. It brings many adventures and experiences, but Aidan makes it quite fun, exciting, and enjoyable! With all of her free time (NOT!), Grace has also begun blogging. Check out our family blog at woodfamilyaz.blogspot.com!

Alex is doing very well! He is now ten years old. He is in the fifth grade and is an excellent big brother to his younger sister and baby brother. He has been a great caretaker to Aidan and is awaiting the day he can really play with him. He has shown us that he is still quite the responsible young man. He continues to enjoy school, video games, and friends. He also loves reading! Grace affectionately calls him “Nerdo”. Alex continues with his piano playing, and he has even started the violin at school. He is actually quite good with both instruments! He even throws an impromptu concert for the family on occasion. Mom asks him to play thirty minutes of piano and twenty minutes of violin each day with only Sundays off. What a mean mom, huh?

Addison is now seven years old! She is enjoying the second grade and being next door to mom during the school day. She is still quite energetic and enthusiastic about life and learning. She is a very good big sister and is an amazing caretaker to her baby brother. She still enjoys her status as the princess in the family. Addison is quite sociable, loves drawing and coloring, and is very musically inclined. She began violin lessons this year, and she is quite a good violinist!

Aidan is now almost one year old. We welcomed him into our family on December 28, 2007. He came quite a bit earlier than expected, but he has thrived ever since entering into this world. He is a very smiley baby who is full of life and much energy. He is quicker than Speedy Gonzales! While Richard and Grace had to make some adjustments to parenting a new child, we are truly enjoying our new addition to the family!

We are grateful this season for our many friends and family members. You all have been such a great support to us, and we miss you all very much! As we reflect on our Savior’s birth this Christmas season, we hope all is well with your families and homes. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Love, The Wood Family (Richard, Grace, Alex, Addison, and Aidan)

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are thankful for so many things this holiday season! We are taking this opportunity to list five things we each are grateful for.

Richard - "I am thankful for beautiful children and a beautiful wife. I am thankful for my Savior. I am thankful for health. I'm thankful for friends."

Grace - "I am grateful for my family members and friends. Health, freedom, and the love and patience of our Heavenly Father."

Alex - "I am thankful for video games, football, fun, family, and friends."

Addison - "I am thankful for my family and the earth. I am thankful for my Heavenly Father. I am thankful that I am a kid. And I am thankful for my friends."

Aidan - "My mom for bringing me to my family; my dad for taking awesome care of me; my big brother for looking out for me; my big sister for making me smile; and my awesome babysitter for taking care of me when my family is away!"