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Happy New Year! Roll in 2007! Woah weird to be in 2007. I'll finally be able to remember it's 2007 when I'm writing it down, probably by about mid-March.

We had a great holiday season. It was crazy, like everyone's always is, but it was fun. The highlights:

Christmas Program

Christmas Eve was the ward Christmas Program at church. Rob sang 4 times. Twice with the ward choir, once in a quartet, and once as a soloist. It was fabulous. I always enjoy the Christmas Rob Thacker Show. :) He was struggling with his voice a little bit, but it was alright. He gargled with Listerine everyday for a week and it warded off any huge mishaps with his voice. He decided, though, to show up Sunday morning and pretend that his voice was gone. He went up to the choir director in charge of the program and said in a raspy voice, "T, I lost my voice. I can't sing." She looked at him really sad-like. Rob realized his mistake and quickly said, "I'm just kidding." She started crying anyway. What a jerk, making her cry! :)

I didn't sing at all for a few reasons. First, the choir changed pieces on me last minute and I couldn't be there for the one rehersal when they practiced it, so I didn't know the piece. Second, I lost my voice a few weeks ago. I wasn't sick, my voice just was gone for a full week. It's recovered now, but it's barely now getting back to where I can sing well. Plus, we have 3 kids and having someone else watch them for 2 songs, well, it's just a bother. So I listened and liked it just as well. ... I told one of the young women in our ward that I lost my voice. I told her it went on a vacation to the Bahamas. Another young woman walks in and says, "You're lucky!" For what? "For going on a vacation to the Bahamas." I didn't go to the Bahamas, my voice did. "Where did it go?" Nowhere, I just lost it! "Yeah, but where did you go, then?" Nowhere, ... I'm not sure she ever really got it that it was just a way of saying that I'd lost my voice. And I thought I was being all clever.

6th Anniversary

Our anniversary was great. Rob showed up at home with a bunch of flowers and a cheesecake (our anniversary treat is always cheesecake and Martinelli's sparkling cider). What a doll. Then we went out to eat at a fabulous Mexican restaraunt of Rob's choice. It's called Cancun and it's the best Mexican restaraunt I've been to. Though that probably isn't saying a whole lot. It was my pick of the activity, so we went to go see the Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo. It was pretty neat. Not near as cool as the lights at Temple Square. They don't put in quite the effort that Temple Square does. But it was still really cool.

The highlight of the Festival of Lights was watching a demonstration by a guy who does ice sculptures. Neat! We watched him carve out a reindeer. Then because it was rainy and wet and not many people were there, we got to talk to him for a good 15 minutes afterwards. About how he started, competitions he goes to (one in Fairbanks, AK), the Olympics (he was there in Provo in 2002). Who knew they did ice sculpting in the Olympics? The U.S. took 12th in 2002. Cool. ... It was also nice to be at the zoo without kids so you can read all the stuff kids won't allow you to when you're there with them. We read up on manatees and some insects and stuff. Way cool. We got ourselves freaked out by a centipede. Ick ick. It was hanging out at the top of the cage, so you had to bend down to see it so it looked really really menacing. Rob and I both let out a little yelp.

Next year we're going to take the kids to see the lights. I'm glad we went without them this year, especially cause it was rainy and wet and Teancom would have hated it. But next year we'll have to go as a family.

We got back to our house that night and called the babysitters and they offered to take the kids overnight. Well, we didn't argue. But we did go get Teancom. Although now he is consistently sleeping 12 hours through the night!!! We are SO happy about this. We put him down at 8 or 9 and he goes to sleep. Occasionally he'll wake up hungry at midnight or so. But usually he'll sleep right on through to the next morning and even wake up happy! We are thrilled at this latest development.

Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas day with only one hiccup--I was sick. Oh well. I woke up throwing up at 3:00 a.m. I then piled on blankets cause I was freezing and it didn't help. I woke up with the kids to open presents but immediately after was back in bed until noon. We were supposed to go up to Rob's family's Christmas celebration that day, but I told Rob if he wanted to go, he'd have to leave me at home. I was zonked. I was in good spirits, but my body was just really really really tired. It worked out great, though, that we were around, cause R & C planned on having a lot of people there for dinner and that didn't happen, so we just went over there. I ate a little, the first I'd eaten all day, and it stayed down. I left from their house early, though, to go back to sleep. I slept 24 hours in a 48-hour-period and by the time I woke up the day after Christmas at 8:00 a.m. I felt great! We went to the Thacker Family Christmas Party and had a great time.

We brought home 2 girls, M and A, Miciah's cousins. So Miciah had a blast playing with them for 2 days. By the end of the 2 days I was well aware of all the reasons I am glad I don't have triplets. :) But it was great to have them, since the other plans didn't work out. I was supposed to go up to Toledo, yada yada yada, but it just ended up being best to bring the 2 girls home with us. And I'm glad at least that worked out.

Then it was Friday. Rob and I were supposed to go to a dance, but we didn't cause our kids were monsters and we didn't want them staying up late. So we stayed home and the kids were in bed by 8. Yea!! Saturday there was a youth activity at the church building. We got a date for that instead, and it was a blast! We played ping-pong and assorted other games. I of course beat Rob at them all. It was fun. Plus, the babysitter was L, my cousin, so we watched the kids at our house and the kids went to bed on time again! Bonus!

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve was fun. We invited our bestest friends, the T's, over. They stopped eating sugar at our house at midnight last year, and started again at midnight this year. It was a treat to be there for that. They stayed until 1:30 in the morning and we were zonked today. R & C also came over for a while, as well as our friends the S's. We banged pots and pans on our porch at midnight and that's a fun little tradition that Miciah really likes. She stayed up with us until midnight. Elijah opted out at about 10 p.m. But Miciah was great and happy and I was glad she stayed up with us. She was a little adult. She got a rootbeer float at midnight. I don't think she'd had one before. But she's had 3 more since, so apparently she really likes them.

New Years Day Brunch

And I was hit with a brilliant moment last week and planned to have New Years Day brunch with R & C. I made biscuits, R made gravy and eggs and man, it was SO GOOD. It was noon by the time we were eating it, but we didn't mind that either. :) R makes dang good gravy. It's my favorite breakfast food ever, so it was a real treat.

Miciah and Elijah

The break has been good for the kids. Miciah has been off since the first week of December and she's been playing great with Elijah. Elijah's grown up a lot since summer and now the two of them play splendidly together. One of the times that really made me smile was a time they were playing in the bathtub together. I forget how it came about, but Elijah said, "Birthday." Miciah asked him, "Am I birthday?" Elijah replied, "Yes." And Miciah totally went with it. She knew it didn't make any sense, but she went with it anyway, and that made my day. ... Elijah of course follows Miciah around. But now Miciah will seek out Elijah, too. It's really fun to see them together. Miciah is Elijah's real security blanket. He will be shy or nervous or unwilling and then Miciah will help him or go with him or whatever, and suddenly it's all okay. It just warms my heart.

Elijah

Elijah has now realized he's a boy and this particularly makes Rob happy. Elijah got the movie Cars for Christmas and now if you ask him what cars say he does this really gutteral Vroom vroom! It's awesome. Elijah is also getting really chatty and trying hard to communicate with us.

My favorite two stories of late: Miciah was upset at me for telling her to go get dressed in her room, so she went in crying. Elijah walked around the corner and he said, I thought, "Miciah take out?" I didn't quite get the middle word, but I said, "Sure, Miciah went out." She went in her room at least, that's kind of out, I guess. Then he said, "Miciah trouble?" Oh! No, Miciah isn't in a TIME out. She's not in trouble. She just went in her room. "Miciah sad." Yep, she's sad. Elijah was trying to communicate with me. He realized that I hadn't understood him and rephrased. It was awesome.

The other story: Miciah and Elijah were in the other room. I heard Miciah tell Elijah that she was in charge. Elijah said, "No! I charge!" They fought for a moment and then Elijah came into my room. He said, "Miciah, (something something) charge. No! I charge! Right?" I said sure. He then said, "Right. Okay." and left the room.

Miciah

Miciah is still a doll and is amazingly responsible and thoughtful. She's the little woman of the house and I love it. On New Years Eve she was trying to repeat a phrase someone was telling her. She came over to me and said, "I want the munchies." What? "I NEED the munchies." I just busted up laughing. She finally came out with "I've got the munchies." ... Miciah has things down, and now we're teaching her all the subtle things you don't think about when they don't get even the general rule. Like that it's rude to talk over someone. Or it's rude to keep playing with a toy when an adult, at their house, says, "Miciah I don't like you playing with that toy." It's like she's between worlds now. She's no longer a little kid, but she's not fully understanding things either. So it's fun to identify things I'm not sure I really would have put together otherwise.

Teancom

And Teancom gave us a wonderful gift for Christmas. He rolled over for the first time ever on Christmas Day. He's late, according to the doctors. But whatever. What a thoughtful kid, giving us something for Christmas! He has since almost mastered rolling over from back to front, too, and that won't be too far behind. 5 months till he can roll front to back and another week until he gets the back to front. We can handle that. Teancom is very smiley and loves to laugh. ... We thought Elijah was the best baby in the world, but Teancom is quickly taking that prize from him. The sleeping 12 hours through the night helps his case a LOT. :)

And that's our holiday season. Not that you neccessarily cared that much, and if you didn't I hope you stopped reading a while ago. Now we get ready for our January off! We leave Friday to go to Utah for a week and then California. It will be a fun, long trip and we're really looking forward to seeing everyone and getting a little break.

Hope everyone had a very wonderful Christmas and New Year! We love you all.

Tamra, Rob, Miciah, Elijah, and Teancom

Here is our latest family picture, taken on our anniversary.

Family Update

November has been a busy, busy month for us. Our weeks and weekends have been filled to the max with things we had to do and things we wanted to do, too. Plus, we've all been sick off and on, so it's made for some interesting times around here.

Rob and Scouts

Rob has been having fun with the Scouts. Two weeks ago he went on a camp out but didn't get to stay overnight cause I was sick. I called him home cause I just wasn't up to watching the kids by myself because of how I was feeling. But the camp out was fun with the usual instances of shaving cream in kids' shoes and on signs, and kids hiding in the van so they didn't have to clean up. It makes me laugh how different the Young Men and Young Women are. Things are about to change in the ward, though, so the scouting program will be changing anyway. Rob will be going to more camp outs from here on out, which will be great fun for him. I'm a little sad he didn't get to stay the whole time this last time, but it couldn't be helped. I don't mind camp outs at all. I know some wives do. But it's only like 20 hours away from Rob and half of that is sleep time. What's wrong with that?

Excuse Me, Could You Pass the Family Sickness, Please?

I was sick this month immediately after Elijah got over the flu. I thought I was getting the flu, too, but apparently not, which is good. It still knocked me out with a variety of symptoms for about a week. I got my sense of taste and smell back just in time for Thanksgiving. Thank goodness! ... Rob, who was spared all month while me and the kids were sick, has come down with the same cold. He'll probably be coming home early cause he feels pretty crummy. Bummer.

Miciah had an ear infection. Elijah had the flu. Elijah is still cranky, which is weird for him.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great! We spent Thanksgiving Day with R & C and their daughters and their daughters' men. It was way fun. The turkey was EXCELLENT, which is one of the first times I can say I enjoyed turkey. We made pumpkin pies and then ate 2 pies, just Rob and me, in 2 days. Yumm! I think I gained 5 pounds in a single day. :) No holding back this year. Rob had to go into school the day after Turkey Day, so while he was in school the kids and I brought out some Christmas decorations. Miciah and Elijah have been having a grand time playing with the Nativity set we got out. It's my favorite Christmas decoration. We have yet to put up the tree, but that should be happening in the next few days (or Miciah will hurt us!).

CS's Baby Blessing

Saturday we went up to C's house and it was wonderful. Sunday was CS's baby blessing and it was fun to be surrounded by family. I had to take Elijah out in the Primary Room to listen to the blessing cause he was throwing a huge fit. He's still not back to his un-sick self, so he was really really grumpy. He hasn't been napping well since he's been sick, or sleeping well, and it's starting to show. The branch president offered me a piece of candy but said I had to tell him one thing I learned at church today. I told him I learned my kids are better at our own ward than at other people's wards. He said, "Take 3 pieces." :) He's a great man and really really funny. He's the one that always has to tell us as we're leaving the church, "Kids, your parents will give you candy if you cry in the car." Funny.

The Trip Home

We got home last night at 10:00 or so. It was mostly a dang good trip except Elijah was so tired. He woke up in the car about 10 minutes away from home and was out of it. Rob finally took him in the shower and dunked his head in the water so he'd calm down. It worked. But it was a long long 20 minutes of him kicking and hitting and screaming. Elijah has also lost his voice, partly from being sick, and partly from screaming so much. But it's now a cute little raspy voice.

Teancom is an excellent traveller! The 2-hour car ride north was amazing. Teancom didn't sleep for any of it, but he was quiet the entire time! Wow! Teancom is turning into a great baby. Elijah was our good baby before, but I think Teancom is working on stealing that prize. He now goes to sleep on his own. He will get fussy and you can put his binky in, lay him down, and he's asleep in about 5 minutes. It's amazing and wonderful. He doesn't sleep through the night yet, but he sleeps during the night for about a 12 hour stretch. When he's awake he's generally very happy and smiley. He's not an easy laugher, but he'll smile at anything. Teancom also loves to hold his blanket. I wonder if he'll be like Elijah in that regard. I guess time will tell. Teancom is a joy to have and we are grateful he's in our family.

Dates (Woah. Did I say Dates?!)

We went on 2 dates this month without any of our kids! Wow! We haven't been on a date in a long time, especially one without the baby. We went first to see Aida, a musical put on by the Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts. The lead was amazing! And the show was great. I'd never seen it or even heard of it, so it was a pleasure to see. One of the YW in our ward was in it, hence why we went. We saw the closing show, but had we gone earlier, I would have made Rob take me again. It was SO worth it. Rob had seen Aida as an opera in Germany. He saw it in Italian with German subtitles. So I told Rob now he's seen it in 3 languages and 2 genres. How many people can say that?

The other date was a surprise date Rob took me on the day before Turkey Day. He took me out to eat at Panera Bread (my favorite place to eat out at here in Ohio), and then we saw Pirates 2. Sadly, I did not like it near as much as I thought I would for a number of reasons. Rob really liked it, though. I am reserving final judgment on the movie until I see # 3. So for any of you wanting right now to talk me into liking # 2, save it until I've seen # 3. Cause very likely I'll like it after seeing the last movie. But it was nice to go out on a date.

Our next date will be our anniversary date on Dec. 21st. Can you believe it, we've been married 6 years! I'm waiting to see how this year's date will top last year's, though. Last year's ended with Elijah throwing up all over multiple times. Might have been Miciah, too. How do you top that? :) I guess we'll have to see what's in store for us. Rob says he's planning the date and just a few days ago told me we would be going to someone's house to watch BYU play in the Las Vegas Bowl. Wowee! Does my man know how to be romantic or what!? I'm a lucky one.

The Holidays are Upon Us

And then it's the holidays. I can't believe it's almost that time of year again. I feel like I'm just waking up from being asleep for the last year (pregnancy plus recovery), so it's amazing to me the time that feels like it's just slipped away. I have SO MUCH more energy than I used to. I find myself randomly dancing or running, just cause I can and cause I have more energy than what I use up during the day. That's a NICE feeling and a very welcome change.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I talked to a lot of you and told you how grateful I was for each of you (in a very personal way, I've been told ). For those of you I didn't talk to, thank you for being a part of our lives. We love you!

Tamra, Rob, Miciah, Elijah, and Teancom