I haven't done blogging in so long that I'm not sure I remember how, but a month or so ago my Mom challenged me to start again so that I can remember these busy growing up years and create a family history of sorts. She said my kids would love to be able to go back and read about themselves and see pics of them and things/activities they're doing. She is right, but I have a lot of excuses, none of which I will share at this time... My Mom was inspired by the awesome blogs of my sister Rach and my sister-in-law Becca... so I guess I could say that one of my excuses is that I know I'm not as good of a writer as either of these women and I don't know what I'm doing as far as putting pics in and arranging it cool, etc, etc, etc so why even try right?.... Well, try I must and try I will at least until I give up again for a while....
These first two pics are of our newest addition, Mary Elizabeth Lamb, born on June 8, 2015. These pics were taken by our friend and photographer, Nikki Nelson, a year ago so in September 2015. I love how these pics show how BEAUTIFUL and BLUE Mary's eyes are. They still are just as blue and beautiful, but Mary has changed and grown up so much since then. She has a lot of straight blonde wispy hair, a mouth full of teeth and is walking/running all over the place now. She is developing quite the personality now and we have given her the "Indian" name of "SCREAMING EAGLE" which should be self explanatory. She has been a relatively easy baby, but maybe that's because I have a house full of kids that help me take care of her. She is starting to say a few words, like Mamma and Dada. She also says "Caca" (Cracker), "Dogdog" (Doggy), Maaa or Ma Ma (which either means Erma or Grandma), "no", etc. She says "up" thanks to Grandma Lamb. She also know how to Quack like a duck and make a sound that is supposed to be a kitty cat. She has started to stomp her foot when she doesn't get what she wants. She is also extremely afraid of strangers like the doctor... She has started taking only one nap in the afternoon and goes to bed around 9pm.
John will be 7 years old soon! Unbelievable!!! For better or worse I call him my "Wild Child" and we have affectionately given him the "Indian" name of "CRAZY HORSE". He is full of life. Since this picture he has lost a lot of teeth and his adult teeth look very big in that little mouth of his. John recently started first grade in the Chinese Immersion program at Bloomington Elementary and he is doing GREAT!!! I was nervous that he would have a difficult time adjusting to all day school and to a new language but he is eating it up! I was also worried that he might continue to be a "Fence Pusher" as his Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Bigham, called him - always wanting to push the limits and rules, but so far, so good... I'm sure he still gets into trouble every now and then, but he is doing good. I am thankful for teachers that can take my Johnny and love him enough to teach him and correct him and help him become better than he is. I sometimes wonder what John would be like if Charlie were alive.... As it is, his two older brothers are so much older than him that they don't like to play imaginary games anymore and they have a hard time wanting to go out and play ball with him so he has grown up a lot faster than I had hoped... He has a natural ability for sports, but opts for video games and tv shows if I let him because that is what his older siblings like to do in their down time... I finally signed him up for Pee Wee basketball so we are looking forward to that. Some things I want to remember about John are his "Big Tough Hugs" that he always used to give me especially each night before bed. He loved to wear a t shirt he picked out at wal mart that said "Mommy's Little Champ" and was sad when he was finally too big to wear it. He also used to have this ritual of saying the same thing to me each night before bed that went something like "I love you Mom, you're the best mom in the whole world" and I would say he was the best Johnny boy in the world and it would go on for quite a while like that....
Erma Louise Lamb is 9 1/2 and is now in 4th grade Chinese Immersion Program at Bloomington Elementary - WOW - time is flying by!!! Her most exciting news is that she tried out for 2 plays at the St. George Musical Theatre (SGMT), "Annie", and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and she was cast as Frieda in the Charlie Brown play!!! I can't believe that she had enough courage to try out and I'm so proud of her! She is over the moon excited and I hope and pray that she has a good experience. Erma is happy and helpful. She is a hard worker and does well in school. Along with the play she recently signed up for competitive swim through SUSA stingrays following the example of her brother Paris and the nudging of her parents. She is a strong swimmer and I hope she enjoys it! Before swim she was involved in gymnastics once a week and did well although perhaps not naturally gifted, but swim is everyday and made more sense physically and economically... She also takes piano lessons once a week...
Every now and then we put her hair in two simple braids and even with her red hair something about her reminds me of her Grandma Louise Crosby and a pic I've seen of her when she was little with bangs and braids. Erma and Paris also have the privilege of taking art lessons from "Grandma Weezie" almost every week and I love to see Erma developing her talents in so many areas.
Erma is the one who will ask me on her own if she can help me with whatever I am doing and I am grateful for that. P.S. Erma's "Indian" name is "BALD EAGLE" because she was bald till she was about 2 years old.
Paris Parley Lamb is already 11 years old and is named "WISE OWL". He just started his 6th grade year at Tonaquint Intermediate School and is really enjoying the change from elementary. School and learning come easily to him - he's not a genius by any means but he gets good grades and understands things easily. This past summer we found out that one of his adult teeth that was growing in was coming in at an angle and destroying the root of another one of his adult teeth that was already grown in! He had to have oral surgery and braces which we weren't expecting, but all went well and his smile is completely different now with braces - although still just as handsome. We aren't sure if the tooth that had its roots destroyed will fall out or not so we will wait and see. If it does fall out we will eventually need to get him an implant.
Paris, Erma and John have all done summer swim team for a few years now and this past year before school was out, something got into Paris and he kept pushing Chris and I to let him do competitive swim team through SUSA stingrays (perhaps the fact that his "crush" Emma B. was on the team influenced him a little too). It is expensive, but we felt like if he really wants to pursue this we should try and make it happen - so he tried out and was put on the team. He just had his first swim meet on 9/24/16 and did very well. I can't wait to see how he grows and improves throughout the years! In order to do swim team he had to quit football, but he was fine with that. I think I had a harder time with him quitting football than he did simply because I love the coaches he's had and the friends and connections we've made there.
Paris is also very interested in Programming and wants to continue the programming class through 4H. He also takes piano, He loves magic card tricks and reading the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit books. His scout leaders have commented to me multiple times now that Paris is impressive and a "top notch" boy and scout.
George Wendell Lamb is almost as tall as me now! He still has about an inch to go though. He is in 8th grade at Dixie Middle School!!! He is 13 1/2 years old and is handsome and hardworking. His most recent passion is his lawn mowing service he started this past summer. He created flyers and passed them out and little by little he has created a little clientele of customers. He was given an old but good condition lawn mower by a neighbor and earned enough money on his own to buy his own gas powered weed wacker "Stihl". He has learned how to take the blades off the lawn mower to have them sharpened and how to care for the lawn mowers and weed wacker. He now wants a gas powered leaf blower. He's also learned how to mix up the solution and spray weeds, etc.
George's "Indian" name is "RED BEAR" due to his red hair and his teddy bear like nature. He is quiet but respected and will get the job done. Last year I had some of his teachers and at least two moms tell me how grateful they were for George because he sat next to their sons in classes at school and was a calming influence for them so that they didn't misbehave at school and understood the subjects. I was grateful to hear that since the side I see of George is the teasing older brother at home.
George continues to love football and is on the A team in the SUNYFL league. He worked hard all summer with coach Washington and is doing well on his team as one of the offensive linemen. It was hard for him and for me when we found out that Coach Washington would no longer be coaching George since he was hired to coach at Snow Canyon High School... Coach Richie is great though and wants the boys to work hard and be honorable young men so I am grateful for that. He currently serves as the Deacon's Quorum President in the ward so that is a good experience for him and his scout leaders also have commented to me that he is a top notch young man as well.
Chris is a year into his Nurse Practitioner program and will be done by this time in 2017 - we can't wait!!! Its been a long year already and it will only get harder from here on out. He is also serving as first counselor in the Bishopric. I get the kids to all their activities, schedule patients from home for the medical clinic Chris works for, take care of a little boy during the day, keep up with Mary and try to keep a home. Life is beyond busy......
