Ugh...

Is there anyone out there who isn't having seasonal depression? This winter has been so hard on so many, myself included.

I miss my Chatty Fams.

I miss my friends from WJ.

I miss my friends from SG.

All I can do is keep on thinking of all the positive things in life; they are everywhere! The studio is going great, I do have friends, I love my students, Spring will come. My hubby works hard, my kids love me, and I have a place to live. Do I really need more than that?

School's Out Today...

...so we're lazy... for us.

The boys decided to move Wakko from downstairs to upstairs. This would be great, except it means that my craft room is no more. Oh, well! At least fights should be reduced... right? Yakko's just as happy as Wakko is; let's hope this works!

Dot's still doing make-up homework. Twenty three assignments done (this weekend) and only seven to go!

Mindy's trying the potty-training thing again today. Not bad for being 20 months old!

I am working on organizing and creating outlines for this week's business and watching baking shows.

Lazy!

Our Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas 2010:

A Year in Review!

January:

Our house was for sale (again).

My Sweetheart didn’t have school anymore! Congrats, Bachelor Degree Holder!

February:

We had an awesome vacation to Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana where we visited family, enjoyed a bunch of cool sites, and had a blast!

March:

I joined a gym and got a personal trainer.

April:

We sold our house in West Jordan.

May:

Mindy turned one and began walking.

We moved to our house in Sandy.

The house remodeling began.

I had a hysterectomy.

Did we mention we now have a swimming pool?

June:

We met Aunt Cathy and Cousin Porsia.

Dot turned 14.

Our kitchen was remodeled.

Mindy began talking more.

July:

Yakko turned 11.

We decided to open our performing arts studio: the Learning Circle.

Our family enjoyed a whole lot of barbeques, swimming days, and more work on the house remodel.

August:

Wakko turned 9.

The Chatterton side of the family welcomed Wesley.

We opened The Learning Circle Performing Arts Studio in Sandy, UT.

The three big kids returned to public school: Dot started 9^th grade, Yakko started 6^th grade, and

Wakko started 4^th grade.

September:

Our student enrollment grew.

All four of our children began many dance/performing arts classes.

Bubba and Cleo become escape artists.

October:

Mindy talks up a storm.

Our family went to Lagoon Theme Park.

Grandpa Bear stayed at our house for about five weeks.

November:

My Sweetheart had a birthday.

We spent Thanksgiving in Hurricane with the M extended family.

December:

My Sweetheart has been at Royce Industries for three years!

Mindy has names for her siblings:

Ki-Ki, Malmoe, and Guppy.

Winter Showcase at The Learning Circle is a huge success.

Thank you for being such a special part of our lives and for your patience this year!

Love, Us

Hello? Anyone Post Here?

Hello? Is there anyone out there? I really wouldn't be surprised if you've given up on me....

Life has been ridiculously busy. Not complaining, just reporting.

Here's the low down:

1. The kids are really enjoying being back in public school. I miss them terribly, but know they're where they need to be for now. Dot is super focused on her grades and is setting high goals for herself. I know she's going to be successful. Yakko is rocking his grades, too. He thinks school is awesome! Wakko is making friends like crazy and has become a very popular kid at school.

2. Mindy is changing every day! She talks up a storm and loves to be understood. Her favorite words are "puppy", "happy", "daddy", "Bubba", "milk", "snack", and "mommy!!!!!!". She knows several words in sign language and points to things all the time. She loves to dance, but only at home. She adores babies and everything to do with them. Her favorite time is bath time and she will eat nearly anything if it's in a little ziploc bag.

3. My sweetheart is amazing. He takes care of dinner at least 4 times a week, cleans the house, helps kids with homework, and runs kids all over kingdom-come... and that's after working all day at his full time job! Just this weekend, he fixed weather strips, winterized our yard and front door, and hung our stove vent. I'm one lucky lady!

4. I am teaching six days a week and loving it! Last week I taught 27 hours. The studio has expanded it's programs to include group and private voice lessons. We now offer yoga and Zumba as well! I love my students, my teachers, and my career! The best part; my kids can take all the lessons they want!

5. We have spent a lot of time with Grandpa Bear lately. I know him better now than ever before; three weeks with someone can be amazing!

Life is nuts, but it's good. I am thankful to be surrounded by amazing people who love and support me; that's what life's all about!

What's UP?

Since last I blogged, the big kids went back to school....

I finally downloaded a pic of Wakko smiling (it's a miracle that we got a real smile from the boy)...

Mindy's discovered she's funny....
and loves to show you she knows where her nose is.

We did take a trip this weekend to Lagoon, but the camera's battery was dead. No pics, just memories!

Oh, and my awesome SNAP team roasted me, choreography style! (They made up a dance using all my least favorite dance moves...)

Fulfilling a Lifelong Dream...

Nurturing creativity through developmentally appropriate training.

Stephanie Chatterton Maag is happy to invite you to pre-register for the most exciting thing to happen to dance in a generation: the opening of The Learning Circle Performing Arts! We offer classes in classical ballet, Pointe, musical theatre, jazz, tap, and modern by qualified, caring teachers. Doors open this fall: call to reserve your spot today!

801-869-0805

What a Week!

Porsia, Tiffanie, Me, Mindy, and my mom: catching up by looking at pics Porsia brought from Texas

Aunt Cathy, my dad, Cousin Porsia

Aunt Cathy, Dot, Porsia

Tiffanie, Aunt Cathy

Tiffanie, Porsia, and .... me

Aunt Cathy and my dad

Although exhausted, tonight I must shake off the desire to continue being lazy and blog. It has been such a great week!

Although it was only for about 24 hours, we were blessed to see my fabulous brother and his adorable family last week. I was so consumed by how happy I was to have them here... we'll just say photos weren't taken. Thank you, again, from the bottom of my heart for making time in your trip to see us!

Saturday evening we got to meet one of my dad's sisters and one of his nieces. It has been an amazing journey getting here; and it couldn't be more fun! How we love our Aunt Cathy and Cousin Porsia! They are fantastic and it feels like we've known each other for ever. We are lucky enough to have them here until Wednesday... and if you ask me, that's too soon to have them have to go home again. We're already hoping and praying someone rich will hook up all the siblings and their children so we can meet.

Rehearsals for this summer's show, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" began Saturday morning. It's going to be such a fun summer: I feel so blessed to work with so many very talented people. Dot is a cheerleader and Yakko is in the children's ensemble... and we have a bonus this year! My dad is playing the part of Jacob!

Okay, fatigue is winning... maybe I'll get some extra energy tomorrow and will blog some more..............

True Friends

Life has been pretty crazy for the past 18 months. Between thinking I had a miscarriage, to learning I was 12 weeks pregnant, to the sickness of a pregnancy, to having a c-section, and all the medical issues which followed... it has been quite a ride. Today I have a deeper appreciation for good doctors, for modern medicine, and mostly for
TRUE FRIENDS.
Thank you, my friends. Whether I call you my sister or brother (in-law or by birth), mom, child, husband, or friend-- I cannot thank you enough for sticking with me through this difficult journey. Answers are coming, solutions are presenting themselves, and things will be returning to "normal" sooner than later. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

1. Open Mouth...

2. Insert foot.

I am on a roll. I don't think I should say anything anymore; you know, take a vow of silence of sorts. It seems like every time I try to talk lately I'm saying the wrong things.

Who have I offended by this now?

On a more pleasant note...

Mid-West Vacation Part 2

 

Standing outside the Louisville Slugger Museum... this giant bat is taller than a two story building!

  

This was an AWESOME museum, enjoyed by the entire family!

Yakko holding Mickey Mantel's bat

Wakko holding Mickey Mantel's bat

Dot holding David Ortiz's bat

Daddy holding Mickey Mantel's bat

Mommy holding Mickey Mantel's bat

Mindy with her souvenir bat.

...and yes, Daddy bought a personalized bat. It is really cool!

We all got stubs from bats made for the Yankees.

 

Daddy at an old soda fountain at the Schmidt Museum of Coca-Cola... another cool place to visit!

  

Our love of Coke Products was only enhanced after this neat experience.

  

The last museum we visited was the General Patton Museum at Fort Knox. This was super educational and very very cool!

 

  

  

  

 

We spent a lot of time driving and seeing the beautiful countryside as well. It was a memorable trip for everyone... except maybe this lady...

After 4 and 1/2 hours on planes to get back home, we were super grateful for a little time to recover from jet-lag...

...and Daddy and the kids were thankful to have their Wii back.

What a trip!

Blahhhhhhhg.

I'm just not feeling "it" today.

Yesterday dawned with a horrible back ache and stuffy nose. Since my sweet Yakko was playing with Mindy, I went back to sleep, waking early enough to realize I was too late to go to church: oh, and had forgotten I had committed to saying the closing prayer in sacrament meeting. Score one for naps!

Today I awoke with a scratchy throat. This is ultra irritating since we're leaving Saturday for an awesome vacation (our family's first big trip since Disneyland). Airborne, you are my truest friend today. The official diagnosis: stress.

Let's hope the peanut butter balls I made for the kids keep them happy this afternoon...

Sorry this post is so blahhhhhh. It matches my mood.

My Honey's Side of the Family: Christmas 2009 part 1

We had all sorts of fun at the big Christmas party this year! Between the prizes, the games, the food, the family, and all the rest... it was a great way to start off the party season!

Turning Over A New Leaf

I spent most my pregnancy with Peanut rather sick. As an unfriendly result, I was in bed a lot. I lost a lot of muscle tone, strength, and stamina while gaining weight, fat, and bad habits. Don't get me wrong: I am so thankful for our little blessing, I just need to get back in shape.

Perhaps the most frustrating thing about it is that last year, I finally lost most of the pre-babies weight I had gained over the past 13 years. I am confident I can do this again.

Thus being said, I gave myself six months to completely heal from the c-section... which was up yesterday. Today, I hit the treadmill for the first time. Although it totally kicked my rear, it felt great to exercise! Between the treadmill, teaching ballet, and stretching, I feel pretty good. Pilates will start up tomorrow. *sigh* It's going to be a long road, but I look forward to being in shape again!

Suppose

Suppose


Suppose, my little lady,
Your doll should break her head;
Could you make it whole by crying
Till your eyes and nose were red?
And wouldn't it be pleasanter
To treat it as a joke,
And say you're glad 'twas Dolly's,
And not your head, that broke?


Supposed you're dressed for walking,
And rain comes pouring down;
Will it clear off any sooner
Because you scold and frown?
And wouldn't it be nicer
For you to smile than pout,
And so make sunshine in the house
When there is none without?


Suppose your task, my little man,
Is very hard to get,
Will it make it any easier
For you to sit and fret?
And wouldn't it be wiser,
Than waiting like a dunce,
To go to work in earnest
And learn a thing at once?


Suppose that some boys have a horse,
And some a coach and pair;
Will it tire you less while walking
To say, "It isn't fair"?
And wouldn't it be nobler
To keep your temper sweet,
And in your heart be thankful
You can walk upon your feet?


By Phoebe Cary

Wakko read this poem to me today as part of his literature lesson. I must say the timing for this poem to enter my life was perfect. I find I've been whining, complaining, unloading, etc. far too often. I have fell victim to my own self pity: over loss of a friend, over family issues, over life circumstances. It is my sincere hope that any whom may have been witness to myself pity over the past year would forgive me of my shortfalls and offer me the chance to redeem myself over time. It's amazing to me how a poem for my third grader could strike me so poignantly today... one of life's little miracles, I suppose.

Chatty Family Pictures

 

Shawn and Kim
 

Tiffanie and Alvaro
 

Natalie, Tony, Hannah, and Emily
 

Stephanie, Troy, McKenzie, Matthew, Jacob, and Ellie
 

Nate, Melissa, Sydney, Macey, and Porter

Karen (my mom) and Galen (my dad)

 

The Whole Crew!

Remember 4Ever Photography took our family pictures again; this time, we got all my side of the family! Although I usually use code names, for the sake of our newest found family, I decided to push anonymity aside for the sake of knowing who the heck we really are! (All descriptions are listed as my siblings, their spouse, then kids oldest to youngest.)