The Podium

 

And the winners are... (from left to right): Ellie, Hayden, George and Max!

Halloween 2009

 

 

 

Family Pictures October 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Soccer

Christmas Letter 2008

 

Dear Family and Friends,                                                                                                                            

 

I realize that this letter will not arrive in time for Christmas or before the New Year and hope your holidays were well.  Our family was blessed with the best Christmas gift we could have asked for this year.  Our sweet baby, Hadley Jane, was born on December 14^th, almost 3 weeks early and perfect in every way.  Her early arrival caused us to set aside some of the things on our usual Christmas “to-do” list, the timely mailing of this letter being one of them.  I considered not doing it at all, but finally decided on the “better-late-than-never” philosophy.

 

Austin is a constant reminder of how quickly time flies.  You really feel your age when your children start to reach milestones and have experiences that you remember so vividly in your own life.  He is in sixth grade and heading for junior-high next year.  If you can overlook doors left open, lights left on and a persistent trail of dirty socks that never make it to the hamper, he is a great kid.  He has recently discovered that he enjoys basketball and is looking forward to playing in a league this winter.  Other favorites include: the Sunday comics; chess games with Dad (he recently beat him in a match!); playstation; reading every book he gets his hands on; breakfast, lunch and dinner (this kid can eat!); sword games at recess (too complicated to explain) and time with cousins and friends. 

 

Ashleigh continues to be a little bit of sweet peace at our house.  She is having a great year at school and has deemed third grade “the best ever.”  She has two best friends, and together they are mastering the Chinese jump rope (all of you girls that grew up in the ‘80s with me know what this is).  She enjoys singing (she sang a solo in church the week before Christmas), clogging and piano.  She loves art and has an uncanny ability to make something out of anything and everything (e.g. cereal boxes, milk jugs, paper towel rolls, etc).  Somehow, all of these projects seem to involve tape and printer paper, making these items a hot commodity at our house.  She is a great help to me and generally happy to do her part (not so much if it involves weeding and yard work).  I feel confident that both of Ashleigh’s brothers would count her among their best friends-quite an accomplishment for a nine-year old girl.

 

Hayden is still busy stretching our parenting abilities.  He is five years old and worries on a regular basis about getting baptized (an event that is two-and-a-half years away) because he can’t wear goggles for the occasion.  Cameron attended one of his school programs during the day a few weeks ago- something that doesn’t happen often because of Cameron’s work location and load.  Hayden came home from school and exclaimed, “Mom!  Dad must have gotten checked out of work today!”  Oh, to be five again.  Every time I drive the kindergarten car pool, I experience one of those great mom moments when you take a picture with your heart.  As soon as he sees my van turn the corner, his face lights up and he can hardly contain his excitement to see me.  He spends the entire time I am waiting in the line of cars to reach the curb waving and telling me he loves me in sign language.  I know it won’t be long before he outgrows this, and more than once I have struggled to hold back tears of gratitude for the love of a child in my life.  I just have to remind myself of these moments when I have completely had it and feel that I am going to lose my mind in the daily battle of motherhood.

 

We refer to Ellie as our tornado.  I’m not sure if this nickname started because of her constant crazy hair (any attempt to tame it is immediately ripped out by her) or her ability to blow through any room in the house and, in just moments, leave a path of chaos behind her.  One of our favorite things about Ellie is her amazing memory and vocabulary.  We taught her every animal sound we could think of, including kangaroo (DOINGG!).  One day, I was reviewing them with her: “What does the cow say?”  “MOO!”  “What does the sheep say?”  “BAA!”  After running out of animals to quiz her on, I finally asked, “What does Ellie say?”  Without missing a beat, she responded “Party time!  Party time!”   In early October, I pulled out her witch costume from last year, hoping it would still fit.  As I went to try it on her, I could see that she was apprehensive about wearing it.  In an effort to assure her, I told her that she would be so cute in this costume.  From that day on, if anyone asked her what she was going to be for Halloween, she would say, quite simply, “I be so cute!”  I turned Christmas music on one Sunday morning right after Halloween.  I teased the older kids that Daddy was going to “freak out” if he found out we were listening to Christmas music this early in the year (this is one of Cameron’s pet peeves).  Ellie heard me and spent the rest of the day saying, “Daddy gonna freak out” to anyone that would listen to her.  I’m sure she raised a few eyebrows in nursery that day.  

 

While our family has been blessed abundantly, this year has also brought its fair share of struggles and heartache.  If we have learned anything, it is that we are not meant to make this journey alone.  Our appreciation for family and friends has deepened.  We have felt assured of our Heavenly Father’s love for us and are grateful for His tender mercies in our lives.  We feel especially thankful for a Savior, who loves and understands us perfectly.  We trust in His ability to heal and save us perfectly as well.

 

Much love,

   Cameron, Amy, Austin, Ashleigh, Hayden, Ellie and Hadley

Christmas Letter 2007

Dear Family and Friends:

Merry Christmas to each of you! We hope you are happy and well. This year has been fairly routine for us. The more the years roll by, the more I feel like Cameron and I don’t change that much- we just keep getting older! Our lives are pretty well summed up in the following categories: (1) Family (see letter below); (2) Work (Cam = fixing big people’s big problems; Amy = fixing little people’s little problems and helping them with homework); (3) Church Callings (Cam = First Counselor in the bishopric; Amy = Young Women’s assistant secretary); (4) Driving (Cam = commuting; Amy = driving kids here, there and everywhere) and (5) Hobbies (Cam = yard work and BYU football games; Amy = naps, yard work and various house projects). That pretty much covers it for us. Our kids, however, seem to change every time we turn around.

We finally went to Disneyland this year! Austin has been asking if we could go since he was four years old. Cameron was in law school at the time, and a Disneyland vacation wasn’t offered as part of our student loan package, so we promised him then that we would go some time after Daddy finished school. Well, it took six years to make good on our promise, and I was starting to worry that if we didn’t go soon, he would miss the "magic" of Disneyland. The timing turned out to be perfect for our family. Austin was still beneath the "I’m too old for this" threshold; Ashleigh, our timid one, was courageous enough to go on the "big" rides (Space Mountain ended up being her favorite!); Hayden, our courageous one, was tall enough to go on almost anything (not tall enough for Indiana Jones, which resulted in a meltdown), and Ellie was too little to know what she was missing out on. I was surprised at how much I loved it. It was so much fun to see Hayden’s eyes light up when he met the "real" Buzz Lightyear, to scream and laugh with Ashleigh on Space Mountain, and to race with Austin to ride California Screamin’ one more time before the park closed because we both loved it so much. It was the highlight of our year. The kids are still talking about it - Hayden, almost every day.

Austin is 10 and a solid half. He is starting to babysit some for us, and I am loving this new bit of freedom. He is not ready to deal with Ellie and her diapers, so she is usually our tag-along on errands and dates. Austin has an insatiable hunger for knowledge. He is always thinking, imagining, analyzing, wondering and asking. At our house, it’s "light’s out" at ten o’clock each night, but most nights, Austin will lie awake for at least another hour. I am convinced that during this time, his brain is busy processing and filing all the new information and ideas that he has acquired that day. He is very creative and loves to write. His stories usually involve dragons and heroes and really cool weapons. I say it every year, but the kid truly loves to read. In an effort to maintain order in his room, I ask him to please only leave out books that he is currently reading - for him, this is a minimum of five books at a time. Austin joined the Lehi swim team this year. In the summer, this required him to get up every weekday at 6:30 a.m. and swim with his team for two hours. I have to be honest and admit that this was hard for me. I love my sleep, and this required me to get up earlier than I would have otherwise chosen, especially in the summertime. He, on the other hand, rarely complained, and for that alone, I was so proud of him. He is still taking piano lessons and is involved in scouting. He treasures the minutes that he is allotted each day to play Play Sation and is teaching Hayden to do the same.

Ashleigh is almost eight and is looking forward to her baptism next month. In some settings, she can be shy, but she has no problem coming out of her shell at home. She is developing what I like to call "spunk." It is this cute feistiness that lets me know she is gaining confidence in herself and discovering her own sense of humor. She is sandwiched between two brothers, and I often thank my Heavenly Father for her place in our family. She is such a good sister to both of them. She and Austin can play all day together and not have a single argument. At the same time, she is so sweet and patient with Hayden. He adores her and loves to have what he calls "best friend time" with her. She is a peacemaker and heaven knows we can always use a little more peace at our house. She is learning to love reading and is doing well at piano. She is a great student and wants to do every assignment just right and in her nicest handwriting. She started clogging this year and although I know it is hard work, I have never looked in on her in class without seeing that she is doing her best and having a great time.

Hayden is our entertainment. He is such a funny kid! If I ever need to smile, I just sit down and have a conversation with him. I have often wished that, for just a moment, I could see the world the way he does. In some ways he is so "street smart" (thanks to big brother and sister), but there is still such an innocence about him. He loves to put things together and take them apart. I took him to a plumbing store last summer and decided that he would be happy if Santa filled his stocking with sprinkler parts. I was there for forty-five minutes and he spent the entire time connecting pipes and elbows and tees. It kept him entertained, but when it was time to go, I had a hard time figuring out where everything belonged. He loves to work outside and tells everyone that he is my "best helper" in the yard. As far as attitude goes, he most certainly is. He will spend the entire day, by my side, pulling weeds, raking dirt, and digging holes (he works so hard at this and feels so proud when he is done that I don’t have the heart to tell him that our yard isn’t actually in need of these amazing holes). If he ever wakes from a nap and finds me working in the yard without him, he is truly offended. Now that the snow is here, all he wants to do is shovel it. If the walks and driveway have been done, he asks why we can’t shovel the grass. He loves preschool and playing with friends. He plays the air guitar better than any four-year old I know. He is good at making messes, pushing buttons (mine), saying "I’m sorry," and melting my heart with his hugs and kisses and "I love you’s!"

Ellie is the icing on the cake at our house. She is sweet and adorable. She loves to be the center of attention and always has a captive audience. Every time she does something that she feels deserves praise, she will look to us and clap her hands, waiting for us to do the same. She is just beginning to walk and is a speed demon behind her walker. Her first words were: Dadda, Cookie and Mama, in that order! I’m not sure how I feel about placing behind cookie, but at least I’m in the top three. Ellie has acquired a funny way of saying hello. I like to call it her Miss America wave. She spreads all of her fingers and then gently rotates her wrist back and forth. She knows that she is super cute when she does it and often woos strangers at the grocery store or the mall with her charming wave. She has figured out that Dad sits on the stand during sacrament meeting and spends much of the hour trying to get his attention. She will wave at him and if he doesn’t respond, she will try waving with two hands. If this doesn’t work, she will resort to making a lot of noise in his direction. So yes, Dad tries his best to acknowledge her and be discreet when waving back. Many people have commented on how much fun they have watching this father-daughter bonding each Sunday.

For the past two years, I have been trying to decide on a scripture to put on the living room wall; something that my children could look at every day and find strength in, something that would be meaningful to our family. I finally found it in D&C 6:20. It is the Savior speaking, and He says, "Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love." If there is anything I know for sure, it is that the Lord always blesses us when we do our best to follow Him. I love that the Savior says He will encircle us in the arms of His love. It is a gesture that is personal, and loving and protective, just like a big brother should be. Life can be tough - bad things do happen to good people. We have watched members of our extended family struggle with different things this year, and have prayed fervently that they would feel encircled in the arms of His love during difficult times. We feel so grateful for His ability to love, comfort and strengthen us, as well as those we love.

Merry Christmas and much love,

Cameron, Amy, Austin, Ashleigh, Hayden and Ellie

Christmas Letter 2006

Dear Family and Friends:

I must be getting old, because time seems to fly these days. It feels like I just put away the decorations and vacuumed the pine needles up off the floor, and already, the holidays are here again. I spent most of the year being pregnant – one of my least favorite things to be. Somehow, instead of the pregnancy glow that people talk about, I end up with swollen feet, achy hips and monumental weight gain that haunts me long after the baby is born. However, I have also spent a lot of time counting blessings this year, and having four happy, healthy children is right at the top of my list.

Cameron is still running on the treadmill of life – doing his best to keep up with family, work and church responsibilities. The kids love it when he comes home at night. They all come running and yelling his name. They want to know if he will wrestle with them or tell them an "animal story." These are bedtime stories that he makes up using their stuffed animals as the characters. I don’t usually join in because this is their special time with Dad, but it always makes me smile to walk by the bedroom door and hear bits and pieces of his very creative storylines. If only his clients and co-workers could see him in his true element!

We welcomed a beautiful baby girl into our home and hearts this year. Ellie Kate was born on August 30^th and has been a joy in every way (minus the 2 a.m. feedings). We have a large picture of her on our wall in which she is wearing a big bow on her head. Every time I look at that picture, I think she looks just like a gift, wrapped up with a bow on top. I love this because she truly is a gift to our family, and we are so happy to have received her. Our favorite things about Ellie are her bright blue eyes, her chubby little thighs, and her happy radiant smile.

Hayden is as energetic as ever – still giving us a run for our money. "Curious George" is one of his favorite movies. We find this fitting since he reminds us in every way of the cute mischievous monkey. He likes to talk more than the rest of us combined, which is a problem when it is two hours past bedtime, Mom is exhausted, and he is still thinking of topics that he can get out of bed to discuss. This can also be his most endearing quality. He just cracks us up with the funny things he says and the facial expressions that accompany his thoughts. Often, when he can tell I am reaching my limit with his non-stop chatter, the conversation will go something like this: "Mommy!" "What?" "Mommy!" "What?" "Mommy!" "What!?!" "Mommy!" "WHAT!?!?!?" At this point he can sense that I am just about to lose it and, in his sweetest voice, will say, "I just love you." When he finds himself in trouble and knows that a good dose of discipline is on its way, he will usually cry out, "I just want you to be happy!" He is potty trained (happy day!), but still sucking his ring and middle fingers (what to do? – I haven’t a clue). Nursery and preschool at Miss Suzee’s are the highlights of his week. His favorite things include his blankets (a particular kind that Grandma makes for him), treats, cars and trucks, wrestling with Dad and "best friend time" (his words) with big sister, Ashleigh.

Ashleigh started first grade this year and is turning out to be a great little reader. She is very social and has more best friends than I can keep track of. She loves to sing and dance. She started piano lessons this year. This has been a challenge for her because she is a new reader, but she rarely complains about the daily practice required. However, when she broke her finger last month, she was quick to look on the bright side of things – no lessons for four weeks! Ashleigh loves all things art and craft: drawing, painting, gluing, cutting, etc., etc. She has such a gentle spirit, always wanting to do what is right and eager to help whenever she can. She is also developing a feisty, competitive side. We see it most often during the wrestling matches that take place with Dad in our living room on a regular basis. Let’s just say that she is always a valuable asset to her team.

Austin informed us the other day at dinner that he is "almost a pre-teen." We laughed and then decided that yes, he was indeed right. Where has the time gone? At almost ten-years old, he is too big for most toys and more interested in books, movies, music, video games and friends. He surprises us all the time with the things he knows and understands. He has a great imagination and can draw an impressive dragon. He is still devouring books faster than I can buy them. He has read Eragon (a 497 page book) seven or eight times and is counting the days until the movie comes out (four more to go!). He keeps busy with piano lessons and cub scouts. He is a good big brother to the rest. They follow him, chase him, and sometimes pester and bother him (we won’t name names, but he shares a room with a certain three-year old that has perfected these skills). But, mostly they adore him, look up to him and love him like crazy.

Cameron and I can’t begin to express the gratitude we feel for the abundance of blessings in our lives. Healthy kids, a good, steady job, a place we love to call home, and neighbors, friends and family that fill our lives with love and happiness. The list goes on and on. We have so many reasons to give thanks, especially at this time of year when our thoughts turn more often to our Savior. We celebrate His humble birth. We give thanks for His perfect life. We rejoice in His victory over death. We recognize that He is the source of all that is good in this life. Because of Him, we have reason to sing "Joy to the World" when much of the world feels otherwise. We testify that He is our Joy. We pray that He is yours. Merry Christmas!

much love,

Cameron, Amy, Austin, Ashleigh, Hayden and Ellie Sabin