HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLA!

Happy Birthday to our precious Bella who turned 2!! These two years have gone so quickly and I wish I could rewind and replay all the cute and clever things she has ever said and done.

For the past couple of months when people have asked me how old she is, I answer "Almost 2." Bella must have been paying attention, so when you ask her how old she is she holds up three fingers and says, "Almost 2."

I let her and Gage lick the beaters that had the cake batter on them. I remember getting so excited about doing that when I was little. Bella had it all over her!

We invited Papa Powers, Uncle Terry, Uncle Mike, Aunt Lora, Aunt Alyssa and Uncle Trevor over for dinner and cake. I made chinese noodles (a Powers favorite) and despite Gage's begging to make her a Spiderman cake which he promised she'd love, I made a simple chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. She was so excited to sing Happy Birthday and blow out her candles. Gage helped, of course.

She got some dishes to go in her kitchen from Christmas and some pretend food to serve up on her dishes. She loves to serve us "meals" all day long and she'll ask, "Is it nummy?"

Bella girl, you are our sweet girl. We look forward to coming into your room in the morning as you're calling us from your crib and you say so cheerfully, "Good morning!!" You are a busy little bee who is constantly climbing on counters and tables, getting into everything and anything, except for the toys you're supposed to get into. You love shoes, makeup, lip gloss, toothpaste, toilet paper, toilets, plungers, Daddy's razors, hair gel, and other harmful things. You also LOVE your dolls and want to sleep with them, different ones each time. You love to lie down next to Paisley when she's on the floor and talk to her. You love to play outside with Gage and try to keep up with him. You always want to help Mama when she's cleaning, even when I am certain I can do it faster myself. You'll pull up a chair next to me at the sink and grab the sponge and start washing dishes. You take paper towels and clean counters and appliances with me. You are happy to help clean your room, Gage's room, and anything else I ask you to do. Your favorite thing to call us right now is "Monkeyhead" as you giggle. You love your Daddy so much and when you get hurt, he's the one you ask for. You ask for him about 2 million times when he's out of town. You also ask for Elder Cope (the missionary who just went home) about 3 times a week. You talk so well and understand even more. I wish you could understand that when I take you to nursery I will ALWAYS come back for you. You love people and say "hi" to everyone no matter where we are. This, of course, brings smiles to strangers' faces. You go into the closest closet you can find to do your business in private, even though I keep telling you that there's no privacy like that of a bathroom. You give us hugs and kisses and cuddle with us all day long, these are some of the best parts of our day! We love you, little one, and we are so blessed to have you in our family. Happy Birthday!

10TH ANNIVERSARY

My cute hubby surprised me with a trip to San Diego for our tenth anniversary. He arranged for Alyssa and Trevor and Mike and Lora to watch the kids. We left on Friday afternoon and came back Saturday night. We stayed at The Lodge at Torrey Pines which was breathtakingly beautiful. It was so nice and fancy that when we got to the room, I just thought they gave everyone a dozen of fresh roses. Duh!! Rob arranged to have them delivered there, but I'm bummed that I only got to enjoy them the short time we were there. For dinner we ate right on the ocean, outside with a heater that was burning the left side of my face and back off. I suppose some people were cold, but not me. It was so peaceful and romantic (I know, yucky mushy stuff). We walked around the grounds of the Lodge and then around Seaport Village. It was lovely.

Happy Anniversary to my one-of-a-kind, handsome, darling husband. You already know the many reasons why I love you.

On our plane trip home, the sun was setting and at one point we were flying between two sets of clouds. I've never seen it like this before. The horizon was clear and sharp, a beautiful orange and pink layered between two thick, pure-white as far as the eye could see fluffy clouds. There is no description that could do it justice. And then it struck me, even though I've always known it, that this earth was created with purpose and its beauty is something to behold.

How's THAT for mushy?! I'll stop now. What's happening to me? I barely recognize myself right now.

SACRIFICE

I just read a touching story written by a woman about her mother who sacrificed so much for her and her siblings. I thought of my own mother and now that I'm older and a mother myself, I am much more aware of how much she and my dad sacrificed for us. Growing up, my parents endured all kinds of financial struggles and oftentimes marveled at how they were able to make it. I'm not sure you would describe us as poor, but close to it. They never told us of their financial worries and our memories are that we never went without. There were clues though. Other kids wore Keds and had all the different colors - we wore the generic brand and had only one pair, to be replaced when our toes were poking through the fake canvas. We had an old (and I mean old) red Datsun truck that was so beat up and the hood had to be tied down with a rope that hung out for all to see. We also had a VW Bus that was orange and hilarious. Everyone always knew it was The LaDukes coming. Things would break around the house (A/C, heat, dishwasher, toilets, washing machine, dryer, etc.) and we rarely fixed them because of lack of money. To help save money, my mom sewed most of our clothes. We NEVER had brand name clothes, or even clothes with a label at all! We never went shopping for clothes, even for special dances and proms. I don't remember EVER going to the doctor, except for shots right before kindergarten (that memory is extremely vivid - don't know if it's because of the trauma of shots or having to be semi-nude in front of a stranger), but I don't remember being sick either. I can only remember one family vacation where we left in the middle of the night in our orange bus and drove to California. I remember playing on the beach in a red bathing suit. My mom went back to teaching high school and in all her free time she typed dictation for a lawyer in town. My dad woke up in the wee hours of morning to do his newspaper route. On some mornings he would come back home to get one of us to help him get it done in time, if the paper had more inserts or if it was raining, etc. I remember vividly on those mornings, hearing him come back through the door shortly after he left and thinking while I pretended to sleep, "Please don't pick me, Please don't pick me." Most of the time, he chose one of my brothers and I would smile as I drifted back to sleep. What a jerk I was about that.

But, we were happy. So happy. I NEVER felt deprived or jealous of others. I never felt pity for myself or for our family. It was completely normal to all of us. And I felt so lucky and proud to be part of our family. And this was because of my parents. They sacrificed their time, sleep, energy, wants, needs, and all for us. Somehow, Christmas was always so grand. For seven children, we each had what seemed like tons of presents and Santa was always very generous to all of us.

I was a freshman in high school and the "Fun in the Sun" dance was fast approaching. My friends and I couldn't wait. They all were going shopping for their new outfits. I knew we couldn't do that and was planning on wearing something old (or raiding my sister Courtney's closet). I started to get ready and my mom came into my room with a shopping bag and surprised me with an outfit for the dance. I couldn't believe it!! I was beyond thrilled. I now wonder...what sacrifices did she make to buy me that outfit? How thoughtful and generous and what a surprise!!

Thank you, thank you, Mom and Dad. Thank you for teaching us that happiness does not come from money or things. Thank you for teaching us to be confident and secure no matter our clothes, cars, or broken house. Thank you for teaching us to be happy for other people's success and to not feel jealous. Thank you for teaching us that we don't need to compete with others (unless, of course, in sports) about our achievements or possessions. Thank you for showing us that sacrifice and service are what bring real joy. Even now, as you serve in India, you continue to sacrifice for your children. I was proud to be a LaDuke then and even more proud now.

Note: The picture with me in the dark pink shorts and pink and white striped shirt is THE DANCE. These are my friends Mike Ashton (who tragically passed away about 3 years ago) and Kate Malay (now Nelson), my dear friend. I don't know why my other girlfriends weren't in the pic. The outfit doesn't look very flattering on me in this pic - I promise I was thin then (not now, but then, for sure). Ok, how vain is that? So much for confidence and security!! :)

The formal picture is my senior prom and my mom made me this gorgeous dress. I LOVED it and I still have it in my closet. I went with Jerry Hahn who was in our ward.

HIGHLIGHTS

At the beginning of December, we went to Disneyland and had a ball. They really outdo themselves for Christmas there. A lot of people, I'm sure, think we're crazy for taking our three young children, but Rob and I LOVE Disneyland. It makes us feel like kids again, and I never went as a kid, so I see it with the same amazement and awe that the little ones do. The batteries died on our camera after the first night there, so this is the best we got. I know, lame. Karla, we needed you!

Soon after we got home, our ward had a Christmas party in the park right across the street. The kids got to ride ponies, Rob flipped burgers, and they had a live nativity at the end. Oh, and Santa came but Gage said it was a fake Santa because he wasn't wearing REAL boots and his beard looked funny. We told him he was one of Santa's helpers. (I thought Bro. Lunt did an outstanding job as Santa's helper.) Bella admired Santa from about a foot away. She was very cautiously curious.

Christmas was great. We had fun doing all our family traditions, making and delivering goodies, seeing all the beautiful lights, etc. And we went caroling with Alyssa and Trevor, and our friends, The Frosts and The Thibaudeaus. It was really fun to spread some Christmas cheer to our neighbors. We also enjoyed some much-needed rain during this time. (Your eyes don't deceive you - Gage is NOT wearing pants outside in the cold rain with no shoes. Please don't report me.)

We were so entertained at Gage's preschool party. They performed songs for the parents and they each found a different country (they learned about Christmas traditions around the world) on the map. Gage found Sweden (coincidence?) where a Lucia dresses in a white gown with a crown of candles and spreads good cheer.

We spent Christmas Eve day at Nathan and Mary Kay's house with some of my family. It wasn't the same without Mom and Dad, and we missed Aaron and his girls, Courtney, Jim, Billy and Alicia and fam. Mary Kay and Addie came up with some cute games and a craft for the kids, which they all enjoyed. Christmas Eve, we went to Mike and Lora's house for some fun company, good food, and LOTS and LOTS of presents for our kids. Christmas morning the kids were so excited to see what Santa brought and before we opened presents from under the tree, we called Mom and Dad to wish them Merry Christmas in India. Later in the day, all my family came over (this time Aaron and his girls too) and we played fun games and visited. It's so cool to see the cousins together. This year, it seems, the Christmas season went really fast....too fast. We sorely missed Mom and Dad and the absence of Rob's Mom was a big void. (About a week before Christmas, we watched a home video of Christmas Eve at our house last year with the Powers. We want the kids to know her and remember her. It was good to see her so happy and loving her family just 2 1/2 months before she passed.)

New Year's Eve was very quiet and nice. The girls went to bed early and Gage, Daddy and I enjoyed a nice fire out back, cooking s'mores. While watching all the hoopla on TV, we discovered there was a NO BURN that night. Oops!! Gage went to bed at 10pm, Rob followed at 10:45 and I made it until 12:01am.

We have lots of resolutions - personal, family, church, etc. So far, so good...as of today, January 5th.

Note: I am including this picture of Aaron's girls because he doesn't have a blog and SOMEONE has to brag about them. I'm happy to do so as their aunt and fan club member. I mean, are they beautiful, or what?

AUNTS AND UNCLES ROCK

I just stumbled across these pictures of Gage with his Uncle Mike, Aunt Lora and Auntie Pam who took him to this Build-A-Car (like Build-A-Bear, but with cars instead...did I really need to explain that?) place out in West Phoenix about a month ago. They treated him to lunch and to this really cool car he got to make and pick out all the designs and stickers for. They are so sweet to spend their Saturday with Gage (they have special dates with him now and again and he loves it). Any kid would be lucky to have 'em.

IT'S COMING....

I really don't know how all of you have found the time to post, not only once, but multiple times since Thanksgiving!! I'm a total blog loser. I made a resolution to be better about it to be sure I capture my family's thoughts and memories. But, I just got home from a LOVELY tenth anniversary trip with my hubby and cannot start the resolution just yet.

(Just to be clear, I don't actually think anyone is waiting on pins and needles for me to post my mindless babbles, but I am anxious to get them down before I forget them!! I forget EVERYTHING lately!!)