The Smile on My Face

I can't help but have a smile on my face...

as I think about Jacob (11 1/2 years old) chanting through the house with great conviction, zest, and animation, "I do believe in fairies. I do. I DO... I do believe in fairies..."

as I chart my chronic migraines and I actually have hours AND DAYS without one. Seems that getting a root canal and receiving injections has helped.

as I listen to the music for the CLASSICAL to BROADWAY Concert in April. I love the energy of the choral music and orchestrations. I think this will be the most fun concert yet.

as I watch James & Jacob play basketball. I am beaming on the sidelines. They are playing so well and have improved so much. I love that they are playing on the same team. I am so proud of them I can hardly stand it.

as I watch Jessica & Jayson play together. They are best friends. I have underestimated that power of their connection more than once. Whether they are playing puppies, school, or super heroes, they are an unconquerable duo.

as I reflect on my gratitude for a loving relationship with my sweet Jon. My health this past year has certainly has been very painful for both of us. I am thankful that I married a man who is kind, loyal, patient, and who has amazingly strong fingers and gives deep tissue massages.

2011

I will remember musical bliss with TALENTED friends and our Salt Lake City Tour to perform Brett Stewart's Oratorio, Messiah in America, in the Tabernacle and record the glorious music in Abravanel Hall. I felt like I refound a part of my soul that had been tucked away for many years.

I guess that helped give me the strength to walk into my first doctor's appointment back in June and confront my issues with chronic migraine. My quest to find the right combination to manage this constant frustration to be continued in 2012.

This was also the year to hug and reminisce with my Brighton Bengal classmates. God has blessed me with wonderful friends throughout my life and I have kept many for a long, long time. There's something so very special about someone who can remind you of who you are and what you are made of when you forget. I feel grateful for that. I have found new friends this year too which cheers me up. My life has been so generously enriched by the personalities and characters of others.

Saying farewell to Grandpa brought more sadness to my heart than I can express. My mind has raced through memories and I've remembered moments that have been locked away for years. Deep love has was brought to the surface as those little treasures have come back into my heart. My eyes have repeatedly filled with tears because I miss him and I miss being little Jenni Jo - cause now I'm almost 39 and I have four crazy kids and a messy house and headaches all the time. I liked it when I was the kid and could eat homemade ice cream in Grandpa's gazebo in Millcreek Canyon and then get a drink in the outdoor water fountain before I swung in the tire swing. I am thankful for our eternal family. We are a crazy bunch. I embrace the "Ottley-ness" in us all and cherish it.

2011 has been one of the BIG years swinging in both directions.

Ready of not... Bring on 2012

Stock Report 2011

I was hoping to have a Christmas Letter of sorts posted on the blog, so when you received your Christmas card and dashed to your computer to bookmark our site you would have some current news to read.

Here's the truth... I don't write as often as I'd like. I do in my head. I just can't send it to the printer from there.

We (meaning Jon & I) can't believe that Christmas is next week. The kids have been counting down days all month. We've only undone two of the Christmas boxes to get the tree up. The stockings are still out in the garage along with the books and other misc. decor. Jon started a projects that had a domino effect (what other kind of project is there?). Now our wooden entertainment center is freshly painted with an added shelf - all prepped and ready for a new TV and speakers. Jon has been VERY good this year. He has been especially good to me. My cheerful self has been pounced on and repeatedly doused with chronic migraine pain. We are still on the hunt for solutions to fit my case.

While the year in review is being procrastinated, I did want to jot a couple moments for if I don't I will definitely forget them.

Jayson came to tell me how very windy it was outside. Then to clarify he added, "it's not windy in the backyard, only in the front yard."

Jacob recently made a delicious mix of peppermint cocoa. I asked the other children to stop snacking on the marshmallows. I wanted them to be saved for the hot chocolate. Jayson agreed and then added, "and we want them for when we are at the beach so we can burn them in the fire."

Jessica has been praying, "please bless Santa to bring us lots of presents."

Jacob's First Overnight Backpacking Trip - November 11-12, 2011

Looking For FANS

People are always requesting Facebook Friends and trying to get more Facebook Fans to "like" their pages. I was hoping to get some of my actual friends to come be my FANS in the audience during my concert.

Last year my parents flew out to see me for my first concert in Orange County. It meant the world to me. Jon, James, Jacob, and Jessica came too. It so fun for me to perform, but it means more knowing that I have a few fans in the crowd.

Well, my fans are sparse this year. But I know that so many of you would REALLY enjoy it if you just bought a ticket and got yourself there. The music is divine. Being in an amazing concert hall with live music is an unique experience. Having that music be familiar Christmas carol in amazing new arrangements will stir your souls in a good way. Seriously, skip one of the 3D movies this fall and buy a concert ticket - be one of my fans. Come to my concert. It can be your Christmas present to me - scratch me right off your list :)

Tickets can be purchased HERE

It's Saturday, December 3rd. Matinee Performance is 2 p.m. Evening Performance 7 p.m. Adult, Youth, & Children's Choirs will perform WITH ORCHESTRA. Plus you'll get some added guitar strumming and a bit of clappin' and snappin' for the Spanish number.

Pumpkin Patch

BOO-tiful

You may think our Halloween box exploded all over our front flower bed. I know that I did when I saw all the extra pumpkins and ghosts from our light strings in the shrubs and flowers. I checked to see if they had blown off the light strands around the door and they hadn't. Those were perfectly in tact. But I came to find out the Jessica & Jayson had "decorated" the front yard with all our extras - and isn't it CUTE.

Important Insights From my Three Year Old Lately

"Mom, we didn't go to Disneyland, the zoo, or the beach today. We need to go there."

*****

Goose: "Mom, why are we stopping?"

Me: "Because the light is red"

Goose: "But I don't want to stop"

Me: "Well you don't get to choose. There are rules for driving. We take turns so we don't crash."

Goose: "Mom, how long???"

Me: "Maybe a minute - not usually very long."

Goose: "No. maybe eighteen. I don't like stopping."

*****

Me: "It's time to brush your teeth"

Jayson: "No!!! I hate brushing my teeth."

Me: "It doesn't matter. You still need to brush your teeth. Every morning. Every night."

Jayson: "I don't like to. It takes a long time."

Me: "It only takes a couple minutes."

Jayson: "No!!! It takes seven minutes."

Me: "We can brush them for seven minutes if you want. Come now and brush your teeth."

*****
Upon entering a gated community....

Jayson: "Why are we stopping?"

Me: "I have to enter the code so the gate will open."

Jayson: "How 'bout just crash through it"

"Simple Saturday"

*Type & Print programs for Stake Baptism

*Attend & Give Talk at Stake Baptism

*Arrive Late at Church for "Simple Saturday" (formerly called Super Saturday) Craft Day & assemble two adorable soldiers made out of flower pots

*Manage desk clutter & sign school forms

*Scout out new photo shoot location

*Purchase Sweet Incentives for Smiles & Gift for upcoming Piano Recital

*Wait in line behind the shopper who has a coupon for every item in her cart (none of them would scan)

*Family Photo Shoot - first for the Christmas Card Season

*Clean bathroom

*Grab a bite to eat

*Take Jacob to after hours care to get three stitches

*Review Lesson I need to teach tomorrow

Blue Halloween Fing

We were are target to make it to preschool ON TIME today.

Front door locked.

Car door opened.

Jayson turned to me and asked, "Where's my blue Halloween fing?"

I thought real hard, even with abstract thinking I couldn't conceive what that could be. "I don't know where that could be. Don't really know what it is Goose."

"I can get it quickwee."

His eyes were the richest shade of blue holding the deepest amounts of sincerity. I couldn't refuse him.

Back to the front door, undo the lock, follow him through the entry to the family room to see what he would retrieve.

A navy blue bandana. That was it. His Blue Halloween Thing that he's been carrying around from the Halloween costume box since last night is this silly bandana. He loves it. He accidentally dipped it in his cereal milk this morning. He whipped me with it at family prayers last night. It is cooler than any of his toys in his room.

We made it to preschool. I completely forgot to pack him a snack, but he didn't seem bothered. He had his blue Halloween fing.