Important Family News

TOP 10


1. We have finally documented our enlarged family of 7. (Thanks Lexie!)



2. Maxwell has been growing like a milkweed. He is almost 6 months old and full of fun energy.





3. Swen and I celebrated 13 years of marriage.




4. Our annual camping trip was a huge success, in spite of me having sinusitis and bronchitis (talk about nasty). We had a great time touring Flaming Gorge Dam, swimming, exploring, listening to books on tape, and eating yummy food. Two bonuses to being sick while camping are: first, I couldn't smell the bathrooms at all. And second, I couldn't taste the s'mores, so I had celery for dessert instead. I lost 8 lbs. over the course of the 8 weeks I was sick. There is a silver lining to all trials, folks.







5. Ike caught about 847 fish @ Flaming Gorge, enjoyed his first week-long Boy Scout camp, and he started Jr. High. His mom was a wreck on the first day, but he was his usual nonplussed self.





6. Lincoln ate a giant marshmallow that was almost as big as his head. He loves to help me while the 3 biggest kids are at school. He makes me laugh every day.



7. After waiting her WHOLE life, Alyssa started Kindergarten. We now have daily conversations in which I try to convince her that she loves it and she has to go or I'll get in big trouble (and she wouldn't want that, would she?).







8. After I spotted this photo on the cover of an important gossip magazine, Swen was forced to admit to a hidden life as a secret service agent.





9. Joe has launched a duel career as a professional wrestler and comedian. His pseudonym is "Flawless Diamond," as the shirt suggests. He has to keep a low profile, because the kids in his fifth grade class know him as an extra smart, extra nice kid. In spite of his busy lifestyle, he finds time to be helpful in the kitchen and with Max.





10. And last, but certainly not least, we have finally upgraded our couches. Nothing too fancy for our expert destruction artists. We got this baby off KSL for $125! When the arm of our old couch ripped and Swen applied the packing tape, I drew the line. It already looked embarrassingly bad, but packing tape? Seriously, honey. I know we've learned that nothing lovely lasts in our home, but we have to maintain at least a minimum level of dignity, right?

Lately...

I have been way too busy to post the last 2 months. Oh, you want to know what I've been doing? Pretty much sitting right here, nursing my baby.



BUT--my hard work has paid off. Maxwell is getting nice and plump.



Last Sunday, we enjoyed a triple baby blessing with his 2 cousins, McKay and Brennan, who were born within a few weeks of Max. We blessed them in order from fussiest to most content, which meant that Maxwell went first. He's the fussiest baby I've had, which has made life a bit frustrating at times. But, his smiles are so adorable and they make all of the difficulty worth it.











Sunday was such a wonderful day. Not only did we get to enjoy being near tons of family, but we were also able to experience something amazing with Isaac.

He received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained a deacon. Swen gave both Max and Isaac beautiful blessings.



Last weekend we also enjoyed a family reunion with my side. 6 of the 7 Tadje kids were able to come with their spouses and kids. We had 38 people staying in a huge cabin that we rented. 14 adults, 24 kids 15 and under, 18 boys, 6 girls! We really missed Carolyn and Nate and their 5 1/2 kids, which would have brought the total number up to 45.5. AWESOME!!! We went on a nature hike, played games, talked, and ate a lot of good food. I think the most memorable game we played was fear factor. In one of the events, each team picked one rep to lie on a plastic sheet and schmeer whipped cream all over his face. Then the team members took turns standing at their feet throwing Cheeto-puffs. The team who was able to stick the most Cheetos to the face of their rep. won the event. It was totally hilarious. It was also funny afterward to see the children without manners (mine) picking up wayward cheetos off the deck, dipping them in the cream on the reps' faces, and eating them for a little snack.








This week, we've been trying to figure out how to handle summer. Now that I'm an adult I admire my mom (and feel sorry for her) for the way she handled me during the summer. I was seriously a bump on a log. One time she asked me what goals I wanted to set for the summertime. Sprawled out on the couch with a book in hand, I answered, "Oh, I'm fine. I like it just the way it is." What a lazy bum! I'm afraid I'm not as patient with my own children. If they're not accomplishing something, I feel myself start to have nervous twitches. I'm trying to strike a happy medium between relaxation and productivity. The last few years, we've used the pouch system. I made pouches with 2 pockets--a "to do" pouch, and a "done" pouch. As soon as all of the cards in their "to do" pouches are in the "done" pouches, they can have fun for the rest of the day. That's not too harsh is it? The trick is to enforce it, which I'm hoping I can handle. My sis and her 5 kids are coming to stay with us tomorrow, so we're starting on Monday. Wish me luck! The silver lining is that we can hopefully go swimming every day once jobs are done, so the house can stay clean for longer than 5 minutes. We're usually good at keeping to a schedule for the first little while, but it slowly fizzles out as I get more used do the slow pace of summer. Just when I'm there, it's time for school to start again. :)

Do any of you have good ideas about how to handle kids in summer?

Our Little Sweetie

*Pics taken by Max's Aunt Amie--Thanks!

He's Here!

We are excited to present Maxwell David:

He joined our family on April 6, 10:48 a.m. He was 7 lbs. 12 oz, 21 inches tall. The significance of the day was overwhelming to us. Instead of sharing a birthday with his dad, like we had hoped, he is able to share a birthday with our Savior. Such a beautiful thought.

It was an emotional first meeting. He is so sweet and perfect in every way.

Here he is meeting the rest of the crew:

The kids have been looking forward to his arrival with much anticipation. Even before he began growing within me, they asked almost daily when they would be able to have a new brother or sister. He is very well loved already.

Meeting Grandma and Grandpa H.

Meeting Grandma and Grandpa T.

Today he is 2 days old, and we brought the kids home from their grandparents' house so we could be together. For a while, I have been feeling like someone is missing in our home. Now I know why I felt that way. Maxwell is here now, and we feel complete.

Tall, Dark, Handsome, and 36

Swen celebrated his 36th birthday yesterday. We kept joking that we can no longer round down to 30. We can't avoid the fact that he is fast approaching 40. I had never thought about it before, but when he made some reference to the golden age of 25, I said, "I am SO glad you're not 25 anymore." We started thinking about all of the positive things that come with age. Hopefully we've grown wiser from our mistakes, more temperate from needlessly exerting intense energy over small issues, and less contentious from a lot of practice compromising. Swen and I have come to the point in our relationship where we can practically jump to the end of potential arguments. (Hallelujah!) I hope we're better parents, neighbors, money managers, and disciples than we were 10 years ago.

Of course, growing older does bring some bad news, too. Our bodies are slowly falling apart. I feel that now, especially as I approach the end of my 5th pregnancy. I wondered aloud yesterday, "What do you think I'd look like if I hadn't chosen the family life?" Swen and I came to the conclusion that I would likely have less gray hair, no varicose veins, no stretch marks, and probably fewer wrinkles. I'd also have more clothes, and they might actually be in style. BUT, I'd likely have fewer smile lines and more sad lines on my face, and I would definitely be less fulfilled than I am now. Who knows? (and who cares, really?) ANYWAY, that was a meandering train of thought. What I really wanted to post about is my hubby's birthday.



One of the joys of living close to extended family is that we get 3 parties for each birthday. On Sunday, we celebrated with my side of the family. All of our kids helped decorate this crazy cake. It was quite the project.



Yesterday the 2 younger kids and I kidnapped Swen from work and took him out for lunch.



We were really glad he was generous with his chocolate cake.



In the evening, we had some friends over for homemade pizza and lemon cake. (Yes, that's 3 cakes so far!).



The kids made this candy bar poster for him. I thought it was pretty clever. It says:
Dear Dad, You are EXTRA KISSABLE and worth more than 100 GRAND. We (the Howard RUNTS) think U R as sweet as a STARBURST and a M&M (magnificent and marvelous) person, too! You are a STAR/BURST ing with love, so you have HIGH ENDURANCE to SOUR people. Thanks for playing w/ us and making us SNICKER. Love, Joe-Dog, Ike man, Alyssa girl, Maxwell, and Lincoln-boy.

We had been hoping for a double birthday for the length of my pregnancy, so we were a little disappointed when Maxwell didn't make his appearance. But, other than that it was a fabulous day! Next up: the 4th cake, which will be enjoyed with Swen's side of the family sometime very soon.