Before and After

Last year when Isaiah was in 2nd grade, I had to read one of the books he read to make up a test for him (It was too new for the school to have a test on file, and he wanted credit for it.) The books are super popular, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. I thought it was pretty dang funny, especially the part with that picture above. In the beginning of the book, Greg- the first year middle schooler- tells about his Mom, how she's joined the gym, and bought a whole new workout uniform and gear. His Dad snapped a picture of it the day she bought it all, but then she never went to the gym. Then the one day he forgot his backpack in the car, is the day she decides to go- so she shows up in his class in her spiffy workout gear, holding his backpack- embarrassing him thoroughly. Well that was the only time she went to the gym, and a couple months later the dad gets the photo in the mail. Since the lab sent doubles, he thought he'd be clever, and put them both up on the fridge, one labled, "Before" and one "After." That was so me last summer. When I joined the gym in may or June a few weeks or a month after having Truman, I declared I would not be Greg's Mom. Alas, I was... I think I made it there 3 or 4 times, before deciding naps were much more important. When I made my new goals in January... I didn't tell anyone, and I certainly wasn't going to jinx myself by taking a "Before" picture. But I was really very determined. I just decided... 25 pounds from each of my last kids = 200ish pounds, and I just can't weigh 200 pounds for the rest of my life. Even though I'm like 7 pounds from reaching my original goal, I still feel like I'm not quite there- where I want to be, but at least there is the ability to distinguish between "Before" and "After," right? (Sorry, no "After" Picture yet.)

Tidbits

This is last Saturday at the Hogle Zoo Carousel. We went with some friends to celebrate Ali's birthday. (She's eight- unbelievable!)

The girls in their spring/Easter dresses. Christine... you need some girls.

Here's some of the funny things Cori has said lately...

"Someday I'm going to be a good mom, that doesn't spank children...."
"Mom! You scared my guts out!"
"I want to be a mom just like you, except not just like you, like Cori. I want to be a 'me mom.' "

A month or so ago, Cori was sitting/laying like this in church- she made it almost until the end of sacrament awake. (She said something to me a minute or two before the closing song.) After when I was gathering up our belongings someone nearby was chuckling and pointing at her. I said, "is she asleep?" And when I went on that side of her this is what I saw. It was precious and funny. Everyone got a kick out of her.

On Sunday, which was actually Ali's birthday- after church everyone except Isaiah and I was already in the van to head to Robyn's, when I saw Ali's new white skirt on her floor in her room. I yelled at her from the door to come back and hang it up so it didn't get dirty and ruined. Her Dad tried to plead her case to get a pass on her birthday, but I said no, it's white, come hang it up. By the time Ali had come inside, Isaiah had slipped into Ali's room and hung it up for her. Moments like that are so special to me. I mean, really... The moments when the same kids who are crazy, hyper, silly, naughty, moody, defiant, squabbley, teasey...everything except purely kind- show that deep down, a truly good person is growing inside of them. Those are the moments that make me a truly happy Mom.



The other night, before it turned freezing again (I mean, come on- snow in May? Get on with it, Spring!) The moon was near full, and the evening was warm and clear. I knew Truman would LOVE to be outside, looking at the moon, and the trees, so I took him out for a walk. He did love it. He stared at the trees, and the moon, and the street lights. He happily touched the branches of low trees, and his head followed passing cars. It was a one year old's dream- to get out of the cooped up house. When we were coming back onto our property, a neighbors family was passing our house. We chatted for a little while, and when they went on their way, saying goodbye and waving, Truman waved his fat little hand and said, "Ba. Ba. Ba." Does it ever get old? The wonder of a baby's new accomplishments? I wouldn't know, but I suppose it's like a drug to me, a familiar high that comes every so often when they let go for the first time, and stand unassisted. Or when you see the light in their eyes and you know they understand you. Or when they copy the sound you are making, "Ma, Ma, Ma." Who would ever have know a single uttered syllable, and a hand movement could make me so utterly thrilled.

Disneyland here I (we) come...

I am officially crazy, and have signed up for my first half marathon... I'm not sure if I am more excited, nervous, or just scared. Right now I'm only running just under 3 miles, and so I haven't started a half marathon training schedule. I hope to be at three miles next week and when I get comfortable with that, I guess that's when I'll start it. I want Cameron to run it with me, and if we can get someone to go with us to watch the kids while we run, he probably will. The kids are of course excited. It has nothing to do with Disneyland. They motives are pure, and they just want to go to support their mama in her endeavors. (ha! ;-) ) Anyway, I hope I survive it... I'll write more later I guess!
(BTW, not that I ever posted my intentions or my goals, but at the end of January I made a goal to loose a little over 50 pounds by the end of May, to reach 150 lbs- I weighed between 140 and 150 before kids, and again between Ali and Cori, but gained and didn't lose 25 pounds with each of my last two babies... So the update is I have lost about 45 pounds, with 9 to go to hit 150. Yay, me! I feel like I will probably keep trying to loose another 5-10 after that, because I still have too much belly fat- so I'll have to see if my willpower can hold up. Now that Cameron is back to working 2 jobs, I can't get back to the gym until Truman starts walking- our gym doesn't have a "day care" but a "kids play area" I guess the running training will be a good thing!)

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Kids and Biking

This was a few weeks ago at the Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy or Draper. We met Tamber's family there, and Ali was so happy to see Jessica. The kids all enjoyed it. Cori thought she was old enough to just take off and wander by herself at one point, so I had a heart attack while we all searched for a good 25 minutes until one of the staff finally found her.


After we went to a McDonnalds, where Isaiah took Trumy to the top of his first playplace. It was love hate relationship. He alternated the crying with the laughing all the way up.


After, when it was time to go, Ali attacked Jessica... She is her best friend and Ali did NOT want to leave her!

This is what our car often looks like when we get home from a trip or even just a day at Robyns house. So sweet and innocent when they're sleeping, eh?

When we went to the store a week or two ago, I was dramatically sobbing about how big Isaiah was, and how he used to be the little one that rode in the cute little shopping carts, and now he's so big... so he runs over and hops in with a big grin.

Every time the weather teases us with a warm day, the clouds and snow or cold rain roll back in. this was one of the almost warm days that we were able to to out to a park. Cori and Trumy and I had a nice little picnic at castle park, and we played around for a half hour or so- then it was too cold. I want summer!

Swinging was both their favorite, but Cori also made a cute little friend she ran around with for a while.

We had 3 kids with cavities, cori only had 1- it was her first, and she hated getting it done, even with the meds. Ali had the most, she had 6 0r 7- so they decided it would be easiest to give her a shot for her to sleep, so they could do them all in one day. I don't think we'll ever do that again. I didn't like it at all. Not only was she super stoned and loopy for an hour or two after, she was sick and puking ALL day long. She was miserable.

Trumy is our second little vampire baby. Cori's side top teeth came in first too. I think it's awfully cute- hard to get a good pic. All these pics come from my phone, because it is what I always have with me, but obviously not the best quality.

This is my favorite... Trumes love to look at water in creeks and rivers, and really enjoys robyn's house. Cameron dipped him down so he could touch the water, and he LOVED it. He was so happy... splashing and giggling. Every time Cameron would bring him back up, he would cry to go back down again.



Here's a video, you can kind of hear his giggling between all the splashing!

Trumes had a poo explosion while we were working in Robyn's yard, and after I cleaned him, he happily crawled up the stairs naked to the bath. He loves the stairs so much, he got to the top, went back down, and crawled up again (twice) before continuing on to the bath. Kathy was scandalized.



I am stupid, and forgot on my phone I can't turn it when I'm videoing, so if you want to look at this (poor quality) clip of Cori and Truman going on a wheelbarrow ride, you'll just have to tilt your head.



We are so proud of Isaiah... The kids didn't take gymnastics from November to March, because we just didn't have the money. And 2 weeks after they're back, he is doing his back handsprings, and almost his back whip! By the time I videoed him this day, he was tired, and only landed one on his feet, but he can do it. On Wednsday's lesson- he did a round off 2 back handsprings in a row. It's really something to watch him get the big long body up in the air like that! on the side you can see Ali practicing a little too. She is still getting better and better at her back handsprings, and almost can land her whip and tuck.

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So when Cameron and I were dating, he took me snowboarding. I'd never been. Not even skiing. But he faithfully promised he'd teach me. We went with a couple of his buddies, and Cam and I headed to the 'bunny slopes.' After 5 or 10 minutes or so, he was bored. He said... "I think you've got the basics, you need to go on a little bigger hill." I looked scared, but he assured me it wouldn't be a big deal. Next thing you know, I'm in the lift with him- headed to the top of the Brighton mountainside. I swear we just kept going up for EVER. I was so scared. How was I possibly going to survive the way down? Well, he helped me off the lift, and we went down the first hill. I fell 15 times probably. He waited at the bottom. Impatiently. I understood- he loves snowboarding. When I finally got down to where he was, I said- "I'm going to fall 1000 times on my way down, whether you're here or not... Why don't you just head down and have fun." He said, "Are you sure? (0.5 second pause) OK, bye!" I had fun still and although I thought I wouldn't survive, I did. He wasn't at the bottom when I finally reached it, so I just got back on the lift and headed up alone again. and again. All day- for hours. He never bothered to check on me, just hung with his buddies all day. A couple guys I rode up with were really nice and cute, they couldn't believe Cameron just ditched me. I should have gone home with them. ;-) But anyway, we all had fun in the end.

My point in telling this story? 10 years later, I finally give in and let Cameron buy me a mountain bike. I've always hated bike riding- I don't know why. But I have been trying to get back in shape, going to the gym every day so my before and after picture don't look the same, right? Cameron thought biking would be a good activity for me, and I finally agreed. So Wednesday Robyn needed our help moving the remains of 3 giant pine trees. I was glad to do it, because Cameron was too lazy to watch Truman so I could go to the gym that morning, and I still had a calorie burn to hit. After a few hours of that, it was about 6pm, and Cameron said-"Let's just go on a "little" bike ride." After my snowboarding story, can you guess where this is heading? Well, he didn't abandon me on a mountain top this time, but that little bike ride? Half way up a mountain, two hours, across the canyon two cities later... yeah. About 15 minutes in, when the trail got so narrow it was crumbling down the 100 yard steep drop off as I rode, I knew I was going to get more than I bargained for. Mud puddles, gravel pits, sandy slopes, huge rocks and holes, up and down up and down...

Cameron snapped this pic of me with his phone on our ride.

But crazy enough... I totally loved it. I guess it's because in the last couple months I've been constantly pushing myself at the gym or wherever I'm getting my workout in... I've learned to actually enjoy the challenge instead of hating it.

So of course Cameron is totally stoked- I told him I had to get a helmet, because I know the chances of me crashing are well above the 50% range! So he went to the bike store today and bought me some awesome accessories for my bike. He wants me to love it, because it's always been one of his favorite activities. All these 10 years I've said to myself I need to just learn to like if for his sake, but just dreaded getting into it, because like I said it was always my least favorite. I would much rather play baseball, basketball, soccer, hike... but biking was always his thing.

Anyway, I'll let you know if I survive the next ride...

The great news, the good news and bad-but-not awful news, but mainly good news, YAY!

So, really? It's been almost a month since I made a blog entry? How does time go by that fast? Yikes. Well first the great news...
Truman's heart has healed all the way! His 3 month follow up appointment since he had the issues, turned out a clean bill of health. We are so blessed to have such a sweet beautiful boy, and we are so grateful he was able to come through everything okay.
Now onto the good news...
Cameron got a job, yay! He'd not been jobless completely, but since March of last year, he has only worked part time, or temporary full time.
The bad news...
His dream job fell through. The Portuguese job he tested highest- and was was recommended for was just completely eliminated. Cameron loves Portuguese, and was looking forward to doing a job he really loved. It's not so bad, because the job that came through is the same job, just with Spanish instead of Portuguese, and possibly some day- either someone in the Portuguese position will retire, or the old slot will be reopened- and he'll be in the perfect place to slide into it.
So his temporary orders end April 10, for his stateside deployment with his National Guard Unit, and his orders in Ogden for his new job start April 11. The stars aligned themselves for us, or more realistically our children's humble little prayers were answered.

***Editors note*** After Cameron read this blog entry, he informed me I misunderstood him, and the bad news is not bad news really. They are hiring him on as a Spanish linguist, calling him a Spanish linguist, but having him do the Portuguese job he so wanted to do. This will not be permanent, but for at least a year he'll get to work in his favorite language, and then possibly he'll be switched to an official Portuguese position, or if that doesn't work out- he'll do Spanish... Hard to say, but we're so happy he is getting the opportunity to do work he loves, at a place he enjoys!

These two pictures crack me up... The first one is Isaiah's turn to read the scriptures... Ali was really listening, and cuddled up to him soaking it in. I thought it was really sweet and unusual (they weren't bickering) Then came Ali's turn. Ahhh, so much for Isaiah listening... He's always been an early sleeper.

Praying people in the house

I was close to getting a good dependable full time job now it is possible that it won't happen I feel like it is teetering on the edge. Anyone who follows this blog and prays and wishes us well please make a request to Allah, Buddah, Heavenly Father, The Great Spirit, Elvis whoever you pray to please put in a good word for us.

Maybe Tomorrow

Last August we were able to take a trip to San Jose, for a mini-reunion of the Dryg family. I think all seven of Great Grandma Dryg's kids were there, but we were among only 2 or three grandchildren to go. With the exception of Uncle Fred, and Great Grandma Bertha Dryg, our kids and I had never met any other Drygs in person. Now we feel like there really is actual other Drygs out there... they're not just myths. Right before we left, Bertha (98 years old) said, "It's a good thing we did this this year. I'm 100 years old, and that's long enough. I won't be here this time next year." I don't know if that was an old wise woman's premonition, or just chance... but she passed away a couple weeks ago. Isaiah and Ali had visited her in Michigan a few years ago, but we are glad Cori and Truman got a chance to meet her.

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Cute Truman

Isaiah and Cori at the zoo, on the giant elephant statue

In San Jose at the ebay park

At Layton City Park, feeding the ducks

Truman in St George, enjoying weather with no snow.

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I've been sulking a bit over my inability to do "everything." Kids, homework, housework, church calling, house fix-up/redo projects, scrapbook, (what's that?) exercise, organize, play with kids, read to kids, do projects with kids... and of course blog. Sometimes instead of everything, I feel like I'm getting nothing done. Then there's Christine in Qatar... 4 kids, foreign country, husband working a lot... blogs all the time, and in the blogs are details of her doing everything I need to do. Granted she does have a few more interesting things to write about- with so many new experiences they are having. Some days I feel like if I were to blog more often, it would go like this:

Isaiah and I got into another fight. I grounded him. He said I was mean. Ali ran around the house making fairy beds and another messy project I never saw (but I saw the mess) Cori screamed every 32 minutes, sometimes more- depending on how often her sister and brother teased her. Truman is cute. He pooped a lot today. He's still spitting up, maybe by the time he's 2 he'll stop. I cleaned the kitchen. The kids dirtied the kitchen. I cleaned the bathroom. Isaiah peed all over the toilet, and the girls got water and bath toys everywhere. (EVERYWHERE.) We were 5 minutes late for school again today. Sigh. Maybe tomorrow.

The Inn at Temple Square

These pictures were taken by Cody Anderson, who worked at the Inn's restaurant, Passages, right before the Inn was closed and demolished. I cried 214 times looking at them- Cameron and I met and were married here. A good portion of our courtship took place within the lobby. Cameron was the night audit desk clerk, and I would often stay after ... and play chess, scrabble, scatergories, or take-down (wrestling) into the wee hours of the night. We were married in the Brunswick Room, the banquet room facing South Temple Street on July 27, 2000. This album is dedicated to any who worked at, stayed at, was married in, or had special functions like weddings and anniversaries within the beautiful walls, before they were destroyed. Okay, now I'm crying again.

My boys...

I was downstairs working on the computer and I heard my cute buns cry upstairs... I came up and found him in this position, stuck. It was so funny, and he was a good sport to stay there while I went to find my cell phone and camera. He was happy as long as I was there talking to him, but that couldn't be too comfortable.

We just got back from a little vacation to Utah's Dixie, my dear-ol-St George. It was beautiful, warm, and super fun. We could actually see the sky, a beautiful bright blue. No inversion. Warm enough to play at the park without jackets or even shoes. The kids all had a fun time. Truman got to swing for the first time at a park, while Isaiah walked on top of the monkey bars. Isaiah is so stinking big, and my heart is wringing as I realize Truman is growing even faster than Isaiah. It's true... Time really does speed up as life goes on.

Isaiah and Truman's mohawk day

If Dr Seuss wrote the Book of Mormon

Nephi:
Of goodly parents I was born
I’ve never drunk, I’ve never sworn
This is Lehi, he’s my dad
Laman, Lemuel, they are bad
And who is this? Why this is Sam.

Sam:
Yes, this is Sam; Sam I am

Laman:
That Sam I am, that Sam I am
I do not like that Sam I am

Sam:
In a tent, my father dwelt

Laman:
And it’s so hot, I think I’ll melt

Lemuel:
Our father’s brain is out of whack

Laman:
Yeah, it’s too hot, I’m going back

Lehi:
Then go and get the plates, my dear

Laman:
On second thought, I’m staying here

Nephi:
You said you’d leave and go away
Now all you want to do is stay?

Lemuel:
That Nephi always gets his way

Laman:
Here we are in this damp cave

Sam:
We would not be here if you’d behave

Nephi:
I will go and I will do
There’s the angel, that’s my cue
Laban’s had too much to drink
Now he’ll lose his head, I think

Nephi:
Look what I found, a brother from the quorum

Sam:
We will take him home, we will call him Zoram

Laman:
Our gold and silver we have spent
I do not like it in this tent

Lemuel:
I cannot read the Liahona
I must have drunk too much Corona

Laman:
We hate it here, we have no lives

Lehi:
Then go back to the city and get some wives

Lehi:
A tree, a tree, I see a tree!!
The fruit is white, the fruit is free!
A floating building, could it be?
Why do they laugh and stare at me?
Laman, Lemuel, come and see!

Laman:
We will not eat your precious fruit

Lemuel:
We will not wear a tie and suit

Laman:
We will not help you build your boat

Lemuel:
We do not think that it will float

Laman:
No not this boat, it will not float
Not even in a shallow moat
I do not care what Nephi wrote

Lemuel:
We will not eat your fruit I say

Laman:
We will not eat it on a tray

Lemuel:
And we won’t eat it in a tent
Not even if your clothes you rent

Laman:
We’d rather have a can of spam

L&L:
We will not eat it, Sam I am

Sam:
You do not like it, so you say
Try it, try it, and you may
Try it and you may I say

Laman:
Sam, if you will let us be,
We will try it, you will see

L&L:
Say, we like this fruit of life
Sorry that we caused such strife
You’ve saved us from an awful jam
Thank you, thank you, Sam I am!

Our 2009 Christmas letter

There are even more discards from our crazy attempt at a photo session this year, it is so impossible to get 4 kids to look and smile at the same time. There are more pictures of Cori, not because she is our favorite, but because she was the good sport that endured when others burned out from picture taking. The Christmas letter is down below the last pictures.




















December 22, 2009

Dear Friends and Family,


Merry Christmas and a happy, lucky new year from the Dryg Family! Here’s what’s been going on in our lives…
Cameron’s favorite pastime is playing soccer, and this year he enjoyed a new experience in coaching Isaiah’s rec. team. I think he prefers playing to coaching, but had fun playing with Isaiah. When he gets a chance, he continues to work on projects fixing up our home, the summer was spent fixing the sprinkler system and landscaping our backyard. Through his diligence in stalking yards that were putting new sod in, and had leftovers they were going to trash, he was able to bring home sod to put in our back lawn without paying a penny. He also found a fun large schoolyard-like swing set for free, and spent days taking old bolts and poles apart and reassembling them again in our yard. The kids are so excited about that. His winning project of the year was getting the hardwood floor in our front living room installed… We love it!
Tara tried to go back to work for JetBlue after having Truman in April, but decided her priority is simply with her family- so for now is not working. She enjoyed 3 years as a Cub Scout leader, but right before the baby was born, a new leader took her place. She misses working with the scouts very much! Someone has some pure unfounded faith in her organizational skills, as she was just called to be the Primary Secretary, so the new year will be full of learning experiences for her.
Isaiah started 3rd grade this year at a new school, the Oquirrh Mountain Charter School. He is a bright kid and we are happy with the curriculum at the school and feel he is being challenged there. Isaiah was baptized in July, on the same day we blessed Truman, which made for a special family day. He started Cub Scouts in March, and he’s earned his Bobcat and Tiger badge, and will be earning his Wolf badge soon. His passion is soccer, like his Dad- and he spent the spring, summer, and fall playing in various leagues and camps. He also does tumbling, which is a bit difficult for his tall frame, but is helping with his coordination and strength. Isaiah was delighted to finally get a brother this year, and loves the little guy so much. He is such a great help to his Mom, and a wonderful oldest child.
Alexandra, or our little Ali, is the physical opposite of Isaiah, she is a cute little shortie. She is sure strong though! Ali has also played on rec. soccer teams, and several camps this year. She enjoys it, and is a good little defender, but her true love is tumbling. She practices daily, and is often guilty of doing round-offs, back walk-overs, or back handsprings when she should be cleaning, reading or doing
homework. But she is a talented gymnast, who has no fear in learning and growing her skills. She is a 2nd grader at the Charter school. She enjoys reading, and science, and is quite sharp in all her school subjects. She’s very creative and often is doing a project that includes markers, scissors, tape, glue, paper, staplers, and paint. Ali has a beautiful, kind heart and loves people, and her Heavenly Father.
Corinne, our beautiful Cori, provides the spunk in our family. Her screams can be heard round-the-world! But as long as you don’t cross her, she is really a very good little girl. I’ve never seen a child so truly welcoming of a younger sibling replacing her spot as the baby. She has never once been mean to her baby brother, and sincerely loves him. She does jump into a vacant spot on her Mama’s lap whenever she can, and enjoys getting love from us- and we love giving it to her! She has a marvelous imagination and mind. We love to sneak up on her and listen to her solitary play… “Aah! help me, Mr. Elephant, I’m falling off the cliff!” “Don’t worry, I’ll save you!” Recently Cameron heard her in bed one morning sleepily saying, “Eenie-meenie-miney-mo…” pause “Okay.” Then she rolled over and went back to sleep. Every day we are entertained by her sweet expressions and ideas.
We were extremely blessed on April 29th, when Truman joined our family. I don’t know if there is a more loved being on the planet. Of course his parents adore him, and then there’s Isaiah, who waited 8 years for a brother, and his crazy sisters can’t get enough of him either. He is the happiest little stinker you’ve ever seen, always smiling. When someone looks at him, his eyes light up, and he sticks his tongue out at them with a smile. That’s his first form of communication… we love it. He’s slower than our other babies to sit up and crawl, probably because everyone is always fighting over a turn to hold him. Of course we are all delighted with the normal (but not normal to us) head shakes, hand claps, mouth tricks, rolls, jiggles, and laughs that come with the first year of a baby’s life.
Medically, we had an interesting year. Besides the usual Ali breaking a yearly bone with her monkey climbing activities, Isaiah broke two of his permanent teeth going down a slide of all things, Cori recovered well from her leg being run over last fall by our van. In October, Truman gave us a scare. He was hospitalized for bronchiolitis, although it seemed like a mild case, his doctor errored on the side of caution. Due to a string of fortunate events during his doctors care and hospitalization, they were able to catch a random heart issue that had set in. After transferring to Primary Children’s Medical Center, he was diagnosed with SVT (Supraventricular tachycardia) and an atrial flutter. The cardio team there is amazing, and they were able to quickly diagnose and treat this within hours. The SVT had probably been going on for a week or so, and although there was some damage and wear to his heart, the doctors believe it will recover and heal itself fully. We feel once again very blessed with this fortunate outcome, and for our darling baby’s health. We’ve decided we must have our very own set of guardian angels.

We wish you all a very merry Christmas time, and we love you all!

Love,

Cameron, Tara, Isaiah, Ali, Cori, and Truman