Thomas

Great Friends = Great Girls Night Out

I just really have to take a few moments and just mention how much I love the friends that I have.  Tonight there was a "girls night out" of sorts planned by a friend to celebrate another friends birthday from earlier in the week.  Now having lived in this house for nearly 12 years we've seen a lot of neighbors come and go.  Some I've been sad to see go, and others are here so short a time that they move before I know who they are.  But there are a few of us that have been here for a while and we get along well.  We're all of various ages some of the older women could be some of the younger ones mothers.  But we all get along and it's great.  

I love how we can get together and have fun and chat and be there for one another.  We don't have to be drinking or smoking or being completely WILD to have fun.  But in our own way we are crazy wild, but we always have a great time laughing.  And uplifting each other.   This truly is what life is about beyond the scope of your own family.  These ladies are accepting and honest and fun.   Next to my college room mates (who will always be my best friends), these are the other "best" friends that I have.  I always feel accepted and appreciated while I'm around.  And sometimes when we're out and about, I feel uplifted even if it's just a wave as we drive past one another.  

I know back in high school I didn't really feel like I had a "group" to belong to. Because on the weekends most activities were of the nature that I didn't want to associate with and that was fine with me.  As I've gotten a little more mature and wiser I know that I now have friends and groups taht I feel like I belong to, and know that these ladies will help me out in a pinch if needed.  And some of them have and I'm sure they will in the future and I'd do the same thing for them too.  

It's a great lead in to my Sabbath day tomorrow.  A great day to go and be filled with spiritual matters to help me be a more Christlike person and really trying to push myself into becoming the best me I can be.  My weeks are made bearable because I get this chance to refill my reservoirs of spiritual nourishment and then can proceed to do those things which are best.  

Mostly just for my benefit. 
(So a huge thank you to .... Brittany Scott, Elisha Trask, Kanani Horito - her birthday celebration - and her daughters, Rachel Whipple, Cathy Jackson and her daughter Brittany, Clarissa O'Connor, Aja Floyd, Jen Bates)  A few others that weren't there tonight  Brenda Hendrickson, Cheryl Sheffield, Anne Gregerson, Linda Dayton, Natashia McClean, Jean Ashby.    I'm sure I'm forgetting someone but just know that I appreciate them all.  So when I have time, I make sure to let them know that I'm thinking about them.  

Friday Ramblings

So ....

It's a new year and all and we've been going crazy around here. 

This is a Friday so I want to get back to my Friday Ramblings posts that I used to do.


Christmas:  Went better than expected.  Why?  Well, I (Wendy) came down with some strain of the flu on Christmas Eve and slept in my bed all day.  The older kids tried to pawn the baby onto me, but I simply explained that I was too sick to do anything for her or any of them really.  So they took over and watched her until Chris came home around 12:30pm that day.   I realized that I was sick, had no energy and that whatever wasn't done would have to be done by someone else or just go on the wayside this year.  And pictures pretty much did.  I snapped a few but haven't really even seen what I got yet.   But come Christmas day, we still celebrated by opening presents but we did it much later than usual.  And ... the best part I got a Christmas nap -- and that NEVER happens.   Poor Ethan and Kaylee were also sick at that time too.  Luckily now, we're all doing much better and fairly healthy except for a few sniffles and random coughs here and there. Here's a picture of us from our ward Christmas party back in December

New Years:  We didn't do much, mainly because we were just over having been sick, and those whom we would have done something with had gotten some sick kids also.   However, we did have our niece Ashley over and she spent the night and I think Kaylee and Katherine really enjoyed their time with her.  They watched (and Chris and I bombed the party)  Snow White and the Huntsman from Redbox, and then they just do what teen girls do ... talk a lot, giggle, play some games, not get any sleep, and actually wake up earlier then they ever do normally the next morning.   It's a new year, and I've set out to make some more improvements.  

Photography:   LOVE IT!!  I've had the chance to do some photo shoots over the last several months, and I'm hooked again!!  NOt that I ever became unhooked, but being preggo and having a newborn baby to care for for the last little while kind of put me in the "slow down" and do nothing with photography mode.   I have done a lot of newborn sessions and one from just last Saturday that I really enjoyed ...

To view more from this session or any other pictures I've taken please visit my photography blog.

So I finally decided on a name to go with for my 'business'... Wendy Lynn Photography.   I'm hoping to really get up and going (meaning making some $$ ) come Spring and through to next Fall.   Here's a link to my photography blog ....  It's definitely been a journey, but one that I've enjoyed.  I've also decided that I want to do a High School Senior Rep program starting this spring also.  And you can read all about that here.    So please keep me in mind when you find yourself needing photos taken.   Newborns, children, High School Seniors, and I'd like to venture into doing more couples pictures like engagements.   I know a little plug for my photography work, but it's something I really enjoy and is almost like an addiction, but a good one.  *wink*

SCHOOL:   We have been at a new school for this school year and the children have settled in quite nicely.  There is still homework which is good, but the load isn't as heavy as it was.   And that has relieved a lot of stress form the child it was really affecting.  Katherine tried out for the intermediate ballroom dance team at her middle school and made it for this next semester.  However, currently we're working on her schedule to see if we can fit that class in, but so far no luck.    Kaylee has been in band and is picking up on the clarinet so quickly.  We love to listen to hear practice.   And the other kids are adapting just as well. 

No Cable:  We've been almost a year without cable, and it's been NICE.  I do miss it sometimes but only sometimes.   We didn't have the kids whining to us about "I want this, I want that and have these lists for Christmas that are insanely loaded down with all this JUNK.  We've been working on trying to get the house more tidied up and looking good all the time.  (And I say this as my house looks a bit of wreck)  
The kids have really picked up on reading and of all the things that Chris thought his kids would need an intervention with when he was younger, he never thought he'd have to tell them to quit reading.  We have one kid that will stay up late into the night reading.      So we are making frequent visits to the library to make sure that these kiddos have fresh new material to read. 


And finally our HOUSE:  This place was perfect for us nearly 12 years ago when we bought it.  We had just two little girls who were nearly one and nearly two and had only planned on being here maybe 5 years. You know just until Chris was done with school.  Well guess what?   It's not so perfect for us anymore and we won't be in a place financially to upgrade for a few more years.  So if you really and truly thing we're needing it NOW.  I agree.    Since we've moved in we have added 4 more children and the children don't stay little for some reason, they get bigger and thus their space needs become a little bigger too.   So, if you'd like to see us upgrade sooner rather than later, please pray for us, or .... throw some business my way.  (Remember up above where I am hoping to make some money this year)  that's the business I'm talking about.  Spread the word --- PLEASE!    The sooner we can save up for a down payment the sooner we can upgrade our living situation.  We have a 3 bedroom, one bath home with just under 1200 square feet.  We're feeling just a bit REALLY cramped.   

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 2012

Christmas 2012

We’ve had another busy year attending soccer and t-ball games, dance performances, and band concerts. We decided to switch schools this year and all the children are in our local public schools, and have all adjusted rather nicely and are making friends.   I think we’ve all enjoyed watching our little Esther continue to grow and develop more skills.  We were excited when she started walking while Wendy’s parents were in town to share the moment with our family.  The biggest change happened in August when Chris was called to be the 2^nd counselor in the bishopric in our ward.  It’s been an adjustment but one in which we are noticing the blessings. Wendy has been dabbling more and more into photography and really enjoys it.  As the New Year approaches it is our goal to keep the family blog more updated so you can keep up and catch our latest happenings there.  Here’s the blog address:  http://cwrfamily.blogspot.com.  

Kaylee:  13 years old  

1. She’s in 8^th grade and is a teenager now.
2. She’s playing clarinet in band at school
3. She loves to read.  
 

Katherine:  12 years old   

1. Likes sewing, and is a quick learner.  
2. Just made the Intermediate dance team for her school starting in January. 
3. She’s in 7^th grade this year.

Heidi:   10 years old

1. She has braces on just her two front teeth.
2. She’s in 5^th grade..
3. Played spring soccer and loved it!  

Thomas:  7 years old.

1. In 2^nd grade this year. Turns 8 in Jan.
2. T-ball and Spring Soccer 
3. Still loves to find projects to help out with around the neighborhood.   
 

Ethan:  5 years old

1.        T-ball for the first time.

2.        Can make his little sister laugh like crazy.

3.        Started PM kindergarten this year.

Esther: (1 year old)

1.        Loves to look at books.

2.        Walks all over the place. And loves to climb on chairs.

3.        LOVES FRUIT especially bananas!

Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year

 

With Love,

Chris & Wendy Randolph  

And Family

 

From the Mouths of Babes 2012

While Ethan was cleaning up his blocks he realized they weren't all there, so Wendy looked around the room and pointed out at least three that she could see. Wendy said, “There’s one over by the swing, one under the desk chair, one by the breast pump." Ethan went to the closest one, which was by the swing and then he shot up and ran across the room and said very enthusiastically, “Where’s the gas pump?"

One morning Wendy had cut up a lot of fresh fruit; pineapple, cantaloupe, strawberries, green and red grapes. So the kids were enjoying the fruit, and then Ethan (our then 4 year old) says, “Yay, it's a fruit day!" and then quickly popped a pretzel in his mouth.

Heidi was getting a drink of water and said, “I’m getting hibernated"

Our son Ethan, started eating one of those drumstick ice cream cones, and was told to go to the front porch to eat it, a few seconds later he comes in the front door and says he needs to go to the bathroom. And he isn't holding onto his ice cream cone. And Wendy asked him where it was.... he points to the planter box sitting on our porch. He just jabbed the pointed end of the cone into the soil and let it stand there.

So Ethan and Wendy were playing "I Spy" -- and Wendy was naming the colors of something for him to figure out. So she said, “I spy something that is red, white, blue and has some orange." He so confidently and in a sweet voice said, "My eyes".

This weekend Chris and Thomas have been busy working hard outside, and in the process have been replacing a few sprinkler heads, and Wendy went out to check on them one time and told Thomas that he had been a good worker, and then he said, "Yep, Dad and I know how to get dirty!"

Heidi was coming into the living room using a slightly loud upset/whiny voice and kind of stomping her feet, “Kaylee’s hiding things from me that are rightfully HERS!"  Katherine and Wendy cracked up laughing.

Ethan said after waiting patiently for more than 10 minutes while Dad and Mom were visiting with a friend they saw outside as they began their walk, “Mom you said we were going on a walk, NOT A TALK!"

Kaylee says, “I have homework that's due tomorrow and I don't want to do it." Wendy said, “Well then you better get on it soon." Kaylee says, “But I don't know how to do it." And Thomas comes into the room and says rather loudly, "Welcome to my world Kaylee!" Katherine cracked up laughing.

Thomas woke up this morning and asked if he had to go to school. Wendy said, "Um.... Yes!” And then he said, "But it's Esther's birthday, I don't want to miss it!"

Ethan came up to Wendy and said, "Mom, I can make a noise that sounds like a pig, and a lion". She said, "Really?" Ethan made the sound (which sounded exactly as he described it) and then Wendy said, "Wow that's awesome!” He came back with, "And impressive!"

While in the a hall at school one day Wendy and Ethan hear a strange animal sounding noise coming from the girl’s bathroom, and Ethan starts laughing and said, “Whoa! Is there an elephant in there?” 

Ethan was eating crackers on Wendy’s seat in the van while she was busy volunteering with traffic duty one morning, and Wendy said, "Why did you eat crackers up here, and get crumbs everywhere? You are such a stinker!" He said, "You mean, Brat?"

Wendy noticed that our son, Thomas, had his hair wet and had combed it more toward the side, rather than his normal "forward" style. Wendy asked him if he was trying to comb it more to the side now. And he responded with, “Yes, I'm trying to look extra genius."

After running into our Bishop at Costco, Thomas held up his hand like a "Vulcan". And he asks the Bishop if anything looks familiar about his hands. The Bishop says, “Are your fingers Vulcan?" Thomas replies with, “No, my fingers aren't broken!"

Ethan was playing with Esther, our 1 year old, and they were playing "blanket train". What is it? He has a blanket on the floor, she gets on it and sits or lies down and then he gently pulls it across the floor and she laughs!

While in a grocery store Thomas and Wendy were looking for some pizza sauce. It's a store they are not too familiar with, and he knows we like to buy generic if possible. So as they are looking, Wendy says “I don't know where it is." And Thomas says, “Are we looking for the genetic kind?"

Wendy said, “I guess we should get your coats ready to wear since it's so cold outside." Ethan said, “It’s a good thing I'm fluffy then!" Wendy said, "You mean a fluffy ostrich?" (He has been pretending to be an ostrich lately) He said, "Yeah!" Heidi says, "It's a good thing your a Randolph" and Ethan replied, “No, I'm a Fluffdolph!"

Halloween 2012 - A Glimpse

I know -- STOP THE PRESSES !!  I'm patting myself on the back for getting this done the night of! 

And I'm blogging about it!  Enjoy the glimpse of our night this year! 

Rock Canyon Oct 2012

 We've lived in this place since July of 1999 and just this last weekend did we actually get out and discover this amazingly gorgeous place. (Actually a few of our kids have gone on field trips up here, but Chris and I have never been up here)  I'll tell you... it will be a place that gets visited quite a bit from now on!  So, so pretty in Autumn up here.   The kids were excited and brought bags for collecting leaves, and we came home with a lot!    Once we were home a few of them attempted to make some paper plate wreaths with the leaves.  Which turned out really cute.    They also found rocks that they really liked and so we came home with a few of those too.       We got lucky that while we went up there the rain had stopped, because it was a rainy weekend.  So we might not have been able to do our family pictures this weekend, but we did get some fun pictures up in Rock Canyon.   It's just East of the Provo LDS Temple in Provo, Utah.   I'm not into rock climbing but there are fantastic places to do that up there too.   So many people were there.     So here are some fun memories... some pictures by me, and some by Kaylee.   

  I love this picture below!! So many fun colors to see, its just so gorgeous and heavenly!

Look who's a year already!

I can hardly believe she's already 1! 

I decided to do an unplanned photo shoot with her this morning that

lasted for about 10 minutes.  And I finally feel like I have a keeper image! 

I wish she would have one of those all out smiles, but she's still

cute like this. 

Maybe next time!

I love this little girl!