Anniversary in Keystone

He's been my beau since I was 16. We disagree often, fight rarely and have always shared a great respect for the other. He is a typical male and can frustrate the heck out of me. He likes to relax, I am a driven project doer. He loves high adventure and dreaming big. I like routine and keeping things simple. He is practical and calculated. I am flighty and always changing my mind. I complain about his driving, he complains about my complaining (even pulling over and offering me the wheel---more than once) We like going to movies, taking walks and eating dessert. We still have much to learn about marriage and much to learn about each other. But, 13 years and four kids later, our duo is going strong.

Is it over already?

I felt like we just got our halls decked and the presents wrapped and WHOOOSH, another Christmas gone. Another year that my kids are growing faster than my mind can process. Another year that I am grateful to live near family and another year that my testimony was strengthened by the music, the kind words and the focus on our Savior.




Jro is preparing for our upcoming scuba lessons. This man loves studying and anticipating his hobbies almost as much as actually experiencing them.

A few more pictures

Since I, and my camera, were away from the action, Grandma Marty said she would take pictures of the tree cutting for me.





Thanks Marty! Maybe it's good that I wasn't there to watch my children wield weaponry!

A Griswald Christmas

When I was dating Jason and his favorite Holiday Tradition was watching Christmas Vacation, I should have known that this day was coming. It started off simply enough. We loaded up the family and headed to Grandma and Grandpa's land to find our first fresh Christmas Tree. We started up the steep mountain, but soon realized it was just too cold and blustery for little Autumn. I entrusted Jro with the kids and the picking of the tree



Autumn and I sang songs, counted "10......4........2......10" , and learned the great art of drawing on a fogged up window. They were gone for over an hour! I was getting nervous because Jaxen had hurt his knee the day before and I wondered if he was stuck somewhere or lost.



Frozen, red faced and smiling they came barreling down the mountain. There she was.....our humble tree. I just watched in awe as it was loaded, tied down and tagged. The true magnitude of Jason's "Clarkian" choice was not realized until it was stood up and grazed our ceiling. (to his credit it was a perfect guess..... that is if you want to touch the ceiling with your Christmas Tree) To be honest, the only thought I had was "Holy Crap.....now what do we do with it?"





Now the Rozeski's, like the Griswalds, do nothing half way. So it was secured to the wall and watered. Then, in an act I could watch in amazement, Jason actually grafted in branches he had gathered into the bare places.



Voila! Oh, wait....now it wa time to decorate it!





We all lived, the tree still stands, we are set for the Holidays!

The Two-Bit

1980's Girl Flashback

Feeling Weird

(Warning: Self-Searching Post......not for the merely mildly interested in my life)

I guess "weird" is the only word I can think of. I'm not depressed. I'm not unhappy. I'm just feeling.......WEIRD. I think I am lacking in motivation, but I'm not sure what I am supposed to be motivated to do. Things are going well, not perfect, but well. Still, I feel like there is something I am supposed to be doing that I am not doing. My mind is not lacking in ideas, just lacking in the ability to sort through and pick a direction. I feel like my life is opening up for some new horizons, some new skills, something NEW, but I can't choose which way to go. My interests are so varied, yet I stop myself from believing that I can learn some of the skills I want so badly. Photography, cooking, languages, exercise, interior design, running, painting, pottery and baking. I'm realistic to know I have to knock these out one at a time, but where do I start? Should I be looking for a new way to make some money. Should I just depart from what I know and try something totally new? I don't know, so I am doing nothing. It feels yucky, but where to start?

First snow!

I am not good at traditions! I tend to forget, or try new things too often. A woman in my ward told me about an easy one that I'm adopting. She always makes fresh cookies the day of the first snow. Since, snow is a big deal in the family, basically signaling the start of ski season, I thought we would try it.


Surprisingly, there were no complaints from the crew!

Big Girl Bed

Wow, although I had asked Jason to take down the crib and to put it out for the garbage men, when I came home and saw this sight, my heart sank.


Four babies have slept in this bed. It would always go back into storage with the hopes of more coming. Now, we are entering a new phase in our family. It feels good to be settled, to feel done with the stage..... but it also feels REALLY SAD!!! There is nothing like the anticipation of wanting a baby, expecting a baby and then finally meeting that baby. Ten years of my life have revolved around these decisions and choices of how many, when to try and picking out names. I have been so blessed, and I feel humbled that I was able to have them so easily. I know what a struggle it is for so many of my friends and I am grateful for what I have been given and this time of having babies.

She will be two this month, and while it may seem a big early, the truth is, I was ready to paint the girls rooms and decorate.....Finally! She is doing great. It has been about three weeks and no trouble so far.

Mild October and Pizza success!

This fall has been spectacular! The weather has been so mild, the leaves have lasted weeks and weeks! Colorado has the most days of sunshine of anywhere in the US and I am loving it this time of year.



Halloween night. No coats, no mittens.









And to my pizza success! I have always wanted to make a super yummy homemade pizza, but I could not get the crust right. Always too thick or it would be too much like bread. Then, Elijah made a new friend, Diano, whose mom is from Italy. I asked her what she does. Expecting to hear something about yeast or a special kind of flour, I was shocked when she revealed her secret. She goes to the bakery of her store and asks for their frozen french bread. I didn't even know you could do that! I must admit that I was nervous to ask, but they acted like it was a totally normal request. Instructions: Defrost, roll thin.

By far the easiest and yummiest pizza of my many attempts.

Jaxen's First Touch Down

In a boy's life there are a few memories that you'll never forget....this was definitely one of those for Jax. He's in the far right corner, #39, playing corner. (I also think for a dad...like this one in the red shirt....this might rank high on their top ten)

A Big Bro

From the day she was born, I have been watching this sweet relationship grow. I have always felt a bit jaded that I didn't have a big brother. I have long felt that EVERYONE needs one! I'm still working on how to make that work, but we all need some big guy who could seem tough and solemn to others, but be tender to you. Someone to protect you, defend you and, most importantly, TWIRL you when you are bored. Someone to bring over his cool friends to flaunt in front of. Someone to teach you cool handshakes and to let you win. Someone to pave the way, but always be checking back to see how you are coming along.






Autumn is particularly lucky. Two big bros, one close enough to share a few interests with and one old enough to erase all jealousies. When I thought of having kids, I mainly thought about me reuniting with souls that I had loved before, but I realized more and more that these four souls are continuing a bond from before, and I am lucky enough to watch them realize this fact.

I dont' stick my tongue out!!!!

Oh REALLY?

NYC

I am blurry eyed and recovering from my first trip to NYC. It was also my first girls trip since I got married, these ladies were ideal travel companions. It's really still just reeling in my head. We walked, ATE, ooooed, ahhhhed, explored, ATE, applauded, belly-laughed, ATE, listened, cried and giggled a lot. We slept very little. We kept a log of all we did, I will post that soon, but for now a few pictures. I loved, loved, loved it. A void was filled, friendships were strengthened.

Fall, First Day and of course...Football

School has been in for a few weeks and may I say..... I LOVE IT!!! Don't get me wrong....summer was fun. Love these kiddos. But my brain needed a break. The questions, the food requests..... "can I have a friend over", "what are we dong today?" I am not a homeschool kind of gal. I love getting them ready, making their breakfast, their lunch, going over the spelling words, but I also love my 3 hours each day while Autumn naps to be ALONE!!! It will end when she gives up the naps, but why think about that now? I am relishing each afternoon, working at lightening speed, watching TIVO'ed shows while I fold laundry. LOVING IT!!!!

Against my urging, Jaxen has started football. I think it's all a little nuts how young they are starting and how intense it is. He is doing well, but feeling a bit behind as everyone else started in 2nd or 3rd grade. I do love our coach, and I love the time Jason and Jaxen are spending together. Jro is coaching the tight ends (does that make anyone else laugh when you say it?) and the corners. Their team is kind of incredible. They just come in and score like crazy....really I feel bad for the other teams. The other parents tell me there will be some closer games, but it makes me sad to see those guys so sad. Really, I sometimes want to pop their "sometime insane" parents, barraging them from the side lines. Still, our parents do a good job of keeping their cool and having a winning team is helping Jaxen get through their tough practices.



Football really seems to be everywhere I look. We were able to head down to the BYU/ AIR FORCE game. Since it was on Sept. 11th, it really was touching to see the fly over and the half-time tribute to survivors of the attack and the soldiers who had served. The cadets are most impressive as they stand together and come down to the field for some push ups after each touch down. As for the Cougs, it was a bit sad. We did get to high-five Cosmo, but overall, it was a sad ride home.




As for fall, it's 90 degrees, and I am still in shorts. I don't like shorts. I like jeans, and I'm very ready to start layering once again. Colorado usually has short falls and springs. I'm waiting patiently, but I hope the snows stay away. Just give me fall and spring, fall and spring all year round.

Part 3: Bear Lake

We had an amazing trip to Bear Lake. I had never been and it quickly became one of my favorite places on earth.

It felt like we had the lake to ourselves. The water and the weather seemed to be on our sides and since we were there during the weekdays, it felt like our own private beach. The Davis' were our hosts, sharing their cabin and large collection of "big-boy toys". We also were able to get to know the Wride family better, us all sharing cooking duty and taking turns on the beach while others went out on the boat. To me it was my favorite family vacation because it was so relaxed, everyone had a friend (even me :)) and we just relaxed....no pressure, nowhere to be. Heaven!



















(I did eventually get up and stay up on the wake board.....I really wish I had proof because it may never happen again.)