Holladay Updates One-by-One: Nathan

Nathan's life has been consumed with work. He stays until 9 or 10 each night and works12-14 hours on Saturdays and he is still consistently behind on patient charts. When he reached 600 on his desktop earlier this spring, he decided this job's gotta go. He had 600 last summer and took 4 weeks off to get caught up and now to be that behind again made him realize he didn't want to live like this for the next 30 years. It is only a part-time job with the hopes of having time for research, but since that isn't happening, it's time to look for a new job. Of course, he doesn't have time, so first he's working extra hard and using vacation time to get caught up and then he'll start looking for jobs. I've found a few he's applied for but we haven't heard anything. I'm trying to stay on top of the house and yard in case we do need to sell and move-- it could be soon, it could be a year, we may end up staying here. Our future is always in the Lord's hands. I'll let you know if anything happens.

So that's what's going on with Nathan. He does make time to go out with the missionaries, give Books of Mormon to anyone willing to accept (several a week), and go to the temple several times a month. He is still in the bishopric and loves it. He is a great husband and father although we've seen very little of him lately. We're hoping a new job would change that. I look forward to the extra help especially as we welcome an 8th little baby to our family.

Seeing as he's rarely around, I don't have any pictures of him, but my brother-in-law took these ones when Nathan came down to Florida for the weekend and flew his rockets and airplanes.

 

 His parents gave him this airplane for his birthday and it's awesome!

 

Nathan with a little nephew blasting the rocket off.

I love seeing Nathan so relaxed and having fun.

Holladay Updates One-by-One: Marcie

I've been pretty busy this spring and summer tackling some big projects. First in March I pulled out the big bushes in front of our house. Spencer was a huge help digging around them and being my support as I was also feeling at the peak of my morning sickness. In the end our neighbor came to our rescue and helped pull some out with his 4-wheeler. We planted azaleas and a rhododendron and some perennial flowers. It looks great now.

I spent late spring scrapbooking like crazy and getting all caught up. It was fun setting goals each day of what I could get done and having the kids encourage me. They love looking through them and reminiscing.

Most of June was spent tearing off wallpaper, plastering, sanding and finally painting the kitchen and 2 baths. It was an exhausting task, but the end result is worth it. We are getting new countertops on Monday for the kitchen and bathrooms and after those are installed I want to put in new pulls and knobs on all the drawers and cupboards and then touch up paint around the house. House and yard projects are never ending!

July I've spent a lot of time on lesson plans and figuring out what we're going to learn in each of our group subjects. We are starting school July 29 so that we can take time off for the baby and Thanksgiving and Christmas and still finish the semester by Christmas.

When I've needed a break from school plans I've done a lot of food preparation things: grinding wheat and making bread, grinding corn for cornmeal, making granola bi-monthly, picking blueberries or blackberries and making jam, harvesting tomatoes from our garden and chopping and freezing them or making salsa, cooking large batches of meat and freezing it, etc. One of my favorite things to do is de-junk and reorganize, so I've done a bit of that for breaks too.

The highlights for me were our trips. I took the kids to the Smoky Mountains for a few days around my birthday and loved the cool, fresh air and days of hiking and picnicking. At the end of May I took Kylie to a homeschool conference in Virginia and had a blast. I've never been on a trip like that with an older child and it was so much fun hanging out together, going to classes (she went to youth conference classes and I went to the parent ones), and not having any little ones to watch out for. It was a big break for me and my only regret is that we didn't stay longer!

I also loved the week my sister came and took my older kids to pageant practice. It was fun only having little ones and a quiet house. Then I enjoyed going down to Florida and having so many other adults to talk to all day and night. I loved watching my kids have a blast with their cousins and aunts and uncles.

The only picture of me I could find is this one where we went to Denny's after finding out the sex of the baby. A few weeks before the ultrasound we did the cake test and I cut into the blue side, so we were expecting a boy and it is a boy! I am officially due October 28, but I am hoping for an early November baby, just to be done with all the Halloween festivities. Spencer is hoping he will be born in October because his birthday is in October. We'll see!

Holladay Updates One-by-One: Kylie

The best word to describe Kylie right now is creative. Her creative side is really taking off. All day long she is creating something. She loves to crochet and has made a million outfits for all of the girls' My Little Ponies, Snap 'n Style dolls, and Polly Pocket Princesses. She has crocheted purses and bags and hair accessories for herself. She also likes to create carriages for the dolls and ponies using cardboard or cardstock and plenty of markers, stickers, or sparkly things. She loves to bake and add her own touch to recipes my fancying them up. I've always felt bad she has a plain and simple mother who is not into frills and sparkles. But at least she has little sisters who are in awe of her creations.

Kylie is still a wonderful leader in our family and can get the kids to clean up better than I can. She is a fantastic baby-sitter and I take advantage of knowing the house will always be better than I left it. We've been going to the temple nearly every Friday night and Kylie is always happy to baby-sit. I leave at four and she will make a nice dinner (meat pie, homemade rolls, fruit salad, green beans was her menu last week) and dessert, clean everything up, play a game with the kids, and have them all tucked in bed when we get home at 10pm. It is a wonderful break for me and such a peace of mind knowing the kids are well fed, happy, and in bed on time. Plus, like I said, everything is cleaner than I left it and I look forward to a clean, peaceful Saturday. I don't know what I would do without Kylie!

She still loves to play the violin and piano and practices a lot. At 12 1/2 she is a full 2" taller than I am, maybe 3 by now, and is still growing. She is a good eater and loves to style her food on her plate and show off how pretty it is with an extra celery leaf or something looking like parsley. Her favorite thing to make is rolls and she makes them several times a week and eats them for lunch with butter and homemade jam.

I could go on and on about Kylie because she is really developing her talents and interests right now and becoming a delightful young woman.

 

 Kylie playing her violin while the other kids do a line dance. She is the instigator of group activities and I love her fun ideas and how well the children cooperate and respect her. They love her so much they'll do anything she asks. April 19.

 

 Kylie crocheted this scrunchi complete with beautiful beads. She has always loved fancy things and is really going to town making things and coming up with fancy hairstyles. May 5.

 

 This is an ipod picture that didn't come out, but she loves to crochet fancy dresses for her, Madalyn's, and Alexs's dolls and take pictures of them. May 11.

 

 Kylie on the purple outfit day. It was her idea to match and take pictures. June 8.

 Kylie got to go to girls camp for the first time and when I pulled up with her the kids jumped in the van and smothered her with hugs. It was so sweet to see how much they missed her. June 14

 

 Kylie loves to try new recipes and be creative with them. After church one Sunday she decided to make cherry tarts. June 16.

 

 I bought some silky black pants at Goodwill then cut them off to be capris. Kylie quickly snatched up the remaining material and was ecstatic about how it was perfect for a purse. She went to work and turned out this lovely purse. June 23

 

 At young womens one night they did cake decorating, something she's always wanted to do. She was so proud of how her cake turned out. June 25.

 

 These are pictures Madalyn took when they were playing dress-up. June 29.

 

A second purse she made out of my pant material.

 

 A bag she made last week. When she saw me posting about her she took these 3 pictures and wanted me to post them too.

It's hard to tell what these are without them being on the ponies, but she wanted to show a sample of Rarity's clothes. I think some are saddles and some are skirts. She loves to glue beads all over them.



Holladay Updates One-by-One: Madalyn

Madalyn is a sweetheart! She is a lot like Thomas in that she's quiet, calm, and content with life. They are both happy children--not the exuberant, bubbly type, but the non-complaining type. Nothing seems to bother them and they don't have tempers. It's hard for me to get to know them because they don't say what they love, but they don't say what they hate either. They'll play anything, eat anything, and do anything I ask them. They seem to have no opinion, a trait I wish I had more often. Like I said, they seem to be content with everything. Madalyn, at 11 1/2 is officially taller than I am. She is a huge help with her buddy, Makenna. She often gets her dressed, gets her out of her high chair and cleans her off (remember the messy eating-style), or just plays shape sorter with her and cheers when she gets one in. She's great at putting her down for naps and baby-sitting too. I'm so grateful for two baby-sitters!
In January Madalyn had the opportunity to act in a trailer for the pageant. You can view it here. She really enjoyed it. She still excels at the flute and loves to play the piano too. I love it when she plays the flute and Kylie plays the piano. They play young women's songs and it brings a sweet spirit into our home.

Dressed for church one Sunday. Her hair was a headband braid pulled back into a braided bun, but you can't see it.

 The kids and Aunt Lori all matching before going to pageant practice.

 

 Kylie took these pictures of them playing dress-up one day. They love to dress up and pose and take hundreds of pictures. The green outfit my sister wore when she was 10/11.

Kylie and Madalyn at the bird zoo park. They are still best friends and I love watching them play together and have a wonderful time.

Holladay Updates One-by-One: Spencer

This post is about Spencer! Not much new is going on with Spencer. He is 9 1/2 and is always looking for something fun to do. The girls escape to their room to play everyday for hours and Thomas is content to play cars by himself, so Spencer either has to play at a neighbor's house, talk Thomas into playing with him, or play with the little girls. He loves to chase them around the house, tickle them, or give them horsey rides. He can really get them laughing and although it's loud play, I'm grateful that they're entertained so that I can get something done without them underfoot. He loves to ride his bike around the neighborhood, play in the sandbox, and read. He is the best yard worker! He mows the lawn every week and helps me with whatever other projects I have like pulling weeds, trimming branches, or going to the dump. He was also the best helper when we pulled off all the wallpaper in the kitchen and 2 bathrooms. I really count on him to help me with the many projects I have going around the house and yard and don't know what I would do without him. He isn't too excited about school starting, but he is excited for a new little brother to join our family. It will be his buddy and he's been looking forward to it since Makenna was born--knowing his buddy would be next--- so I know he can't wait.

 Stripping wallpaper behind the fridge. June 12

 

 Showing off his biggest piece. When ever someone got  really big piece someone would yell, "Three cheers for ____! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!" I loved how encouraging everyone was of each other. June 16

 

Spencer as a pioneer boy in the Promised Land Pageant. June 22

At the strawberry patch back in April Spencer saw that they were selling some tomato plants and bought some. He planted them all by himself and has been taking care of them. This is how many he picked in one day. He took a picture of the tomatoes to show my dad, who he's having a competition with. Behind the tomatoes is my blackberry jam I made after we went blackberry picking.--I was proud of that. July 6.

In Florida we went to the park and Nathan launched his model rockets and flew his airplane.

 

 I thought these pictures were sweet because they get to spend so little time together. Spencer really craves Daddy time and I know he savored every minute of flying the airplane with Nathan. Nathan was only able to come down to Florida for the weekend while the kids and I spent a whole week. July 13.

 

Holladay Updates One-by-One: Alexis

This brings us to Alexis, our very middle child. There are 3 children older than her and 3 younger. The first word that comes to mind when I think of Alexis is "silly." She came with her own personality. She doesn't try to be like anyone else and doesn't care what others think. It is fun to have someone so full of life and energy and humor in our family. She is easy-going and will play anything with anyone. She will do anything I ask her to do including changing dirty diapers without complaining. The only thing she has an opinion about is food. She will eat whatever's on her plate but the actual repertoire of foods she likes is quite small: cheese & crackers, pizza, macaroni & cheese, and cereal. She absolutely hates condiments so if she does have a hot dog or chicken nuggets or salad she won't have anything on it--no ketchup, no ranch, nothing.

Alexis has had an eventful past few months. On April 23 she cut her thumb opening a poptop can on a can of cream of chicken soup while helping me make dinner. It was her very first time going to the pediatrician for a "sick visit" and got a very funny doctor who matched her personality perfectly and who gave her 7 stitches. At the end of June she participated in the pageant with Kylie, Madalyn, Spencer, and my sister Lori. On July 12 she turned 8 and was baptized in Florida (but not at the beach) with all of Nathan's family in attendance.

Waiting for the doctor to come in.

 Just about done getting stitched up. She was so brave and didn't have a problem with anything. Like Thomas when he got 4 stitches last summer, she thought it was pretty neat.

 

Leaving the pediatrician's office after getting bandaged up. Madalyn, who's never had stitches before,  came along to watch and Kylie stayed home with the rest of the kids.

 Changing the bandage the next day.

 

Playing dress up with Kylie and Madalyn one afternoon. They took 500 pictures of themselves in many different poses and smiles as they pranced around the yard and went to a ball. June 8

 

Kylie, Madalyn, Aunt Lori, and Alexis dressed as Nephites for the pageant. June 21

 

 

She got Playdoh as an early birthday present and loved making realistic food with it.

For Fourth of July she and I made a flag cake and flag rice krispies. She loves to cook but waits for me to invite her so this school year I'm going to incorporate cooking classes into her school day. She's so excited.

 

 

 

 My camera was missing at the baptism and birthday party for Alexis, but here are two pictures Uncle Dave took as we sang to her. I'll have to find someone who has pictures of her in her white dress. That day was the best one of our vacation! We had the baptism at the church at 10:30am and then a pizza and fruit salad lunch, then potato sack races in the cultural hall, then birthday cake, then a huge family talent show. It was all really fun and there was a strong, sweet family spirit there.



Holladay Updates One-by-One: Thomas

Thomas is my easiest child. He is very quiet, easily entertains himself, and rarely needs anything. He loves trains and cars and is content to play all day. I usually feel guilty that I haven't spent much time with him because he doesn't ask for my attention like the other children do, but I get the sense that he likes playing by himself or with his siblings and doesn't feel slighted. We've always called him our "Joy Boy" because he's always happy and never complains.

 

 One night the 3 older kids slept at Grandma's with their cousins and I took the younger 4 to Aunt Sara's where we were sleeping. So that they wouldn't feel left out we had a little party of our own. We played games and ate chocolate animal crackers with Whole Hearts cereal. It was a lot of fun.

 

 Tom and Kait

 

 With around 25 people eating dinner at Grandma's every night, Thomas elected to take his plate out on the trampoline and Spencer usually joined him.

 

Holladay Updates One-by-One: Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn turned 3 in April and she is a delight. So far it appears that she has each of the other children's best qualities all in her. She is attentive, a great communicator, compassionate, selfless, fun, outgoing, silly, smart, and easy to get along with. Like Makenna, she is a big girl for her age and will eat anything. She'll also do anything I ask her and I love her willingness to help. One of my favorite things about her is that she tells me I look pretty when I come out of my room in a dress or hairstyle I wasn't sure about and when I'm sad she rubs my back, asks what's wrong, and says, "I'm sorry. Aw, that's too bad." Or something similar. She is an excellent comforter.

I wish I had better pictures of her but here are a few from the past 4 months:

 

 Swimming with Thomas while the older kids were at pageant practice. They get along great and I love watching them play together.

 

 Kaitlyn with her ice cream sundae she made on her 3rd birthday.

 

Wearing the dress my mom gave her for her birthday.

 

Playing on the swing at Grandma's in Florida.

This particular day she wanted one hair in a ponytail and the other in a braid. I love how she knows what she wants and is confident in her choices. She is a ray of sunshine in our home.