Funny Jett

6 years big...happy birthday T!

 

Dear Tristan

 

6 SIX- I cant believe it! You have grown so much this year its hard for Dad and I sometimes.  You welcomed a new brother and moved into a new house, started kindergarten, played soccer, started gymnastics, met new friends, navigated school which hasn't been easy, dealt with some hard things friends wise, and learned to read, re-visited your love for drawing ( just not scary/monsters) Ive noticed you have a keen artistic ability and a very intense concentration for crafty stuff.  You have had an obsession with minecraft for months and months.  Almost to the exclusion of everything else.  As of recent the Trash Pak collection is making its way back into our house and its fun to watch you play and get excited about something OTHER than minecraft.

 

Tristan my love...your intensity will always be who you are.  Which can be very frustrating but likewise one of the things I love about you.  Its weird sometimes for me to watch you...its hard to have a child that is so unlike you( meaning me) I don't naturally know what to do, how to handle things, what to say.  We struggle a lot.  Its like you are from me, but you are entirely your own person without anything I recognize.  Its not a bad thing, or strange perse...just fun sometimes.  Like I get to observe you being completely different than me, in our home, interacting with people and it makes me laugh, cry, be frustrated, honored Im your mother, sad, happy, excited.  I get to go along on this parenting journey with you and I don't know what I am doing half the time!

 

Some of my favorite memories with you is playing thumb wars, would you rather games EVERY morning in the car, watching you in gymnastics class and when you look up and see me and smile your biggest smile :).  Coaching soccer- although it wasn't a good time for you I know...it still was nice to be there with you, and do something you were involved in.  I love spending time with you! You and your dad spend lots of time playing trashpak wars, building things in the garage, playing pingpong, or video games.  Really what is neat…is seeing you two together.  He has endless patience with you and you love your daddy!  There is nothing like seeing you act scared or change your behavior if I threaten Ill go get your dad…lol.  He doesn’t get it either – im the hard one, hes your buddy but goodness if you are acting up just the mere mention of dad sets your straight. 

 

You are a protector of Jett…but also very annoyed by him in your room or touching your stuff, but any sight of him in danger sends you to his aid.  The other day he was getting ready to walk out the door and you yelled “ NO jett” ran to the door yelling for me to come…since I knew Jett was fine by the time I came over you were yelling at me “ do you WANT him to die?!” He could mom…good thing IM here to save him.  Haha.  You and Elijiah have had a good year.  Getting along most of the time and playing well.  Its great to see all you guys playing well and getting to the point in life where you aren’t always fighting!

 

Well my dear boy…6 years big…I cant believe it! You are so smart and learning so much…I love you so much.  I hope you have a happy happy birthday. 

 

Xo

Mom

Happy 7 years



Today we celebrate 7 years of marriage.  For some reason it feels like a lifetime.  Or perhaps a second life all together.  When we think back to the beginning its unreal all that we have done, been through so far…and yet we have a long life ahead( we hope)  The weekend consisted of the boys being gone and us just hanging out, watching movies, eating way too much, spending WAY too much money…talking, having fun.  We do date nights but in reality a few hours here and there rushing to get home or getting to bed early because we are so tired doesn’t really refuel our tanks.  We really know for us…we need a few days at minimum.  It forces us to slow down, and really spend some quality time and just being together outside of all our responsibilities, crazy schedules and stress of life.

 

This man means so much to me.  Hes my best friend.  Hes steady, true, listens without judgment and allows me to be me.  What a gift and blessing.  So today- 7 years later I still know I made the best decision to marry him.  I love and adore you honey.  Happy Happy Anniversary.

Champions!

 

 

Missed this last game due to Cory's wedding, but here they are...won their championship game and they rocked it.  Elijiah is just doing fabulous in basketball and we are so proud of him.  Congrats kiddo.  Love you!! xoxo

More of the same...

I believe a more detailed update is warranted…so many things are constantly happening and I keep thinking that I wont forget them but I will… We are doing well in the new house. As I mentioned last post it’s a good feeling here. We are meeting neighbors, kids are meeting other kids…so in all things are good. Ive looked around the house and even though I am committed to changing a few things, other things, im going to live with for a while. After our last house I really feel depleted. Especially of creative juices, ideas, and its so hard to come up with space ideas if that’s the case. I see these great things via blogs/magazines, but nothing is grabbing me. Plus we are still unsure how everything will work out with the financial aspect of living here- increased mortgage, utilities etc…so I want to see how things play out. Ive had some work challenges and interviewed for another job. I got that job but felt so conflicted over taking it in the end I didn’t accept. Its strange too as I have wanted to go back to that place of work for a few years. The stars I guess didn’t align this time around to make me feel good about it in the end.

  Jonathan finally finished grad school. He wrote the nicest thing on facebook the other day about it: “I've been a student nearly all the years she's known me. In the middle of finally finishing a viable under grad when we met then moving to a Masters with virtually no break in between. She's had to endure the heavier portion of MY workload by practically being a single mom on class nights and during hours of homework marathons. Whole weekends shot, stressed out and grumpy hubby, a fair chunk of debt, countless family events void of spouse, and 10 consecutive days juggling every aspect of our lives as I tooled around China. Well, tonight was the last night. The end of a pretty darn long road. She amazes me. Her endurance, her patience, her sacrifice, and her unwavering support -- these things amaze me. And so, it is with sincere admiration, gratitude, and awe that I congratulate Mrs Amber Devenney Bechtold for completing 7 consecutive years of (hubby's) higher education!!!” This is just an example of how its really all his hard work, but he turns around and recognizes me in the whole thing…who does that? Jonathan…always. Hes so so good to me. As such I needed to do something for him…I put together a “housewarming” party but really it was a graduation party for him. The kids and I got him a cake, decorated and had family and friends over to congratulate him….he said it was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for him. ( which im sure isn’t true) but so glad he had a good time. He felt really loved by those who came. Its strange really to have him done. No more nights gone, homework every day…hes ours after work no competing priorities. Ive never experienced this since weve been together. Im excited. 

Jett…I wanted to remember a few things lately…hes obviously all over the place but whats funny is his interest in eating random things. Taking the cereal boxes for example and carrying it through the house leaving cheerios everywhere…His learning to kiss. He doesn’t know how to pucker, but he leans in and gives lovely open mouth slobbery kisses….( those I cant get enough of) His hugs, his jumping on top of you to wrestle. Wanting to dance in the kitchen when there is music on with Tristan and I. He bobs up and down to the beat….his grunting and pointing instead of talking…hey if it gets him what he wants why sign or talk eh? Sleeping like clockwork…12 hours to the dot. I know if I put him down at a certain time…12 hours later Ill be getting a wake up call…so anything before 6pm is a bit painful. Hes discovered trucks, cars…loves to push them around but likewise anything construction related…tractors outside, pictures of farm stuff, trucks, etc his word for them? Dadda. Points to a tractor…Dadda…I guess he figures there are men working on those things and that’s like dadda…sooo that’s what they are. His extreme love of his blanket…the other night he had it in the kitchen with him…he put it in a pile and fell on top of it burying his face and rolling around with it. Most precious thing. He loves to play peek a boo with it. Hold it over his head in the AM to block out the light….This kid loves books. He “reads” for hours turning pages, talking, pointing out stuff…his favorite…kittens. Anything cat…he gets so excited when Tink and Bob are around running after them as they run away. If he catches them look out…kisses and body hugs are in order…( poor cats) He will hunt them down finding them in their hiding places. So there you have it a bit more of an update.

Moved

Two weeks we have been in the new house. It was a very hard move...a full 3 days. We have mountains of boxes in the storage room and garage, but we are getting close on getting the inside in order. Just trying to hang pictures and find places for all the nicknacks. the house itself is much better for our family...the layout and feel. we just had so much work in the other one and as jonathan put it...negativity. he doesn't miss it he said. our neighbors and ward yes...house now. for 2.5 years there wasn't a time when we weren't doing a full renovation/construction project which caused numerous fights and hardship...so to move into this new home...there is a feeling of peace...its hard really to explain, but its very homey and feels good. now this isn't to say there are no projects...but the scale is different so I don't believe we will kill eachother here lol. with not having a dedicated office, we haven't been able to figure out where to put everything that once occupied an entire room. we have come up with a solution to the desk/computer issue that I think will work for us. in the corner of the living room off the kitchen there was this alcove that had a built in shelf. not too user friendly. we figured if we knocked it out we could put in a computer hutch and the kids would have a place to use the computer in plain sight and it would store the printer some office supplies etc. we are still figuring out if where we will be putting books, filing, and the billion other office things...but for now... jett is growing so fast. feeding himself, walking like a pro now, loves to wrestle, give BIG hugs and kisses, quick to laugh...hes such a joy. Tristan -looking into some new school options...friends/bullying for him hasn't changed. hes so sensitive and it kills jonathan and I when hes struggling. elijiah- reading constantly, playing basketball and their team until sat was undefeated, hanging with friends, doing well noel...has a boyfriend. :) is thinking about coming spending more time with us in the summer in part to get out of az for a bit, hang with this boy..so we will see. ONE more week for Jonathan to finish is MBA. ONE week. It feels anticlimactic...but its such a huge accomplishment I need to think of something cool for him to celebrate this milestone....

Jan 2014

Noel came into town. It was a good 10 days. so many pictures taken but since I am at the mercy of others I just pulled these few off facebook. we had a lot of fun...sundance, swimming, movies, hanging out with the boys, daddy daughter/ momma daughter dates, girls nights with my friends, family stuff...in all a busy and fun time. Shes met someone here and so she was out and about a lot as well. Cant believe shes all grown up!!! :) Boy do we miss her already. ( side note) Jetts walking!!! 14 months. Hes developed some strange reactions to things...very allergic to certain types of milk( regular, coconut, almond, lactaid, etc- so hes on soy with his reflux meds...and hes got eczema, and severe issue with amoxicillin sooo its been a fun month or two with these things...but hes doing fabulous... says: mama, dada, Tristan, elijiah, bob, tink, baba, more, please, bye bye, I think that's it. Hes a super star :) we are moving next week...sooo much to do, so little time. im exhausted just thinking about all that still needs to be done. Jonathan started his new job...selecthealth. crossing fingers...but so far so good. 4 weeks left till hes done and graduated with his MBA!! I honestly cant believe we are so close. Kinda anticlimactic considering all that we have going on and whats happened the last 6 months but we are super close.... Tristan - got into the French program and we are excited about that...doing a science class afterschool and start gymnastics. hopefully he will continue to do well...some challenges with school, friends etc hopefully it will pass. Elijiah doing fab as usual in school, basketball is underway, and soccer in the spring. seems like hes always so busy and engaged the time just flies by for him. hes not thrilled to be moving but I hope it will work out okay. Nothing is new really for me...same ol at work....super busy juggling life with the boys...my foot still injured so haven't worked out in months and im getting restless...that's about it for the bechtolds these days!!!