Movember!

The boys' school held a carnival to raise money for prostate cancer research.  The boys had an absolute blast.  

All of the games were sports related (Wilson touchdown pass), obstacle course, etc.  except the bouncy house.  

They even had a photo booth where the boys got to wear football gear.

They had cotton candy in Seahawks colors.

There was a touchdown dance off.  So many good moves. ; )

Gymnastics

Jase and Evelyn are in a gymnastics class on Mondays.  A friend gave us this darling leotard for Evelyn.  She loves it.  Both kiddos love to go to class.  It's funny to see their little personalities.  Ev does the stunts fearlessly, Jase is hesitant at first but then he loves everything.  Jase has more athletic ability and Evelyn doesn't quite jump yet and she kind of flings her body when she has adult help.  They love to do the exercises and stretches at the beginning.  Today they learned pike, straddle and tuck.

Teacher Kristy shows them how to do a leg lift with "pancake hands"

Jase loves spider walks.

Backwards somersault on the beam.

Bear crawls on the balance beams were the favorite.

Daddy was able to come today and watch.  He helped them do his own move on the bar.  These videos really highlight how different they are when it comes to trying a new gymnastic move for the first time. :)

Our Big Kitty

Jet is now 5 months old and he is a big kitty.  He loves his new scratching post with a dangling fluff for him to play with.  He loves to get into any sack or bag that is open.  He loves to explore and play.  I'm looking forward to seeing what he does when we have a Christmas tree.

Happy Birthday Uncle Alan!

We love our family and love to sing Happy Birthday.  November 20th was special for two reasons.  Uncle Alan had a birthday and we've been home owners for 1 year!

Uncle Alan is stationed in Italy so we had to try many means to get in touch (facetime, video, text).

The kids made this little video.  I love their faces.  

     

Teacher Conferences

Tony and I attended Max and Ryan's teacher conferences.  We are so proud of them.  Ryan's reading level was higher than I even knew.  Max loves to read so much that he tries to read during Math.  We had to talk to him about that. :)

Proud of these cute kids and the love they have for learning.

Daybook 11-17-15

Outside My Window...

Our neighbors had to cut down a large tree because the anchor roots had died.  There were squirrels who lived in this tree so we were happy when we saw them playing happily on another tree.

I am Thankful...
for so many things:  my family, a warm house, etc.  I think of all of the refugees in the world and my heart aches.

I am Thinking About...
murder mysteries.  The shows I watch are:  Bones, Castle, CSI: Cyber and Once Upon a Time.  I guess I just love solving mysteries?

Notes About School...
Max missed school yesterday because of a head cold.  We have teacher conferences this week, but I had an early heads up that Max is doing his work too quickly and missed quite a bit of his Math test.  Overconfidence and working too fast.  I'm hoping to find a way to encourage him to work more methodically.  I can't wait to hear more about how Ryan is doing.  His reading is improving as we read together.  We're reading a novel about the minions now.  

From the Kitchen...
Stir Fry tonight. Yum!

I am Creating...
a new wall hanging (well, finishing the idea that started awhile ago)

I am Working On...
quiet books

I am Reading...
Sink Reflections

I am Praying...
for success in relieving Tony's ankle pain.

I am Struggling...
with getting things done.

I am Hearing...
Tony watching puzzle solving.

Around the House...
it's a quiet house as usual per this time of night.

One of my Favorite Things...
having kids who are comfortable socializing and being taken care of by others but also love being home.  They can't get enough of me when home but it's also easy to have other people watch them when I'm volunteering or getting painting projects done (a rare thing but that happened today).  I'm glad they are happy kids.

A Few Plans for the Next Week...
Finishing a few more paint projects, normal activities, teacher conferences, a temple date night.

While Daddy's Away

Tony flew to Las Vegas to see a doctor who specializes in nerve mapping--hoping there will be a way to alleviate his constant pain.  While he was gone, we kept busy.  

I helped with the box top rewards party at school---Root Beer Floats for 135 students.  It was fun.

Then I had a girl's night--I didn't get enough sleep that night but had a good time. :)

Saturday, the kids were silly and I took a few pics.  Evelyn wanted to dress herself and she put her pajama top on as pants.  Stylin'

I then did something I normally don't do and that's take my kids to JoAnn's with me.  And then I did something I've never done and took them all to Toys R Us.  It was an undertaking for sure so I snapped few pics to memorialize how brave I was feeling. ; )

It was a pretty rainy day so we were glad to find some indoor adventures.  We were at Toys R Us in time for an x-wing lego build--what luck!

We had to stretch our patience for the boys to be able to finish the lego build but they did it!  These toddlers are great!

The wonderful Danielle came over to hang out with us.  We made waffle cones and watched a movie.  Danielle then spent the night and got the kids ready for church so I could attend a training.  She's pretty awesome and we're lucky to have her as a baby-sitter!

Sunday night, Tony's flight was delayed so friends watched over the house of sleeping kids so I could go get him.  The kids didn't get to see him until Monday afternoon and they were very excited. :)

Haircuts

I took the cute toddlers to get their hair cut.  They are so fun.  :)

Veteran's Day--No School

We spent Veteran's Day with our friends who are separated from their husband/dad, a veteran.  Sadly, we played and visited and I only took this one picture while we were with them and they're not even in it. :(

The babies played hard and slept well on the drive home.  The rest of us listened to "The Emerald City of Oz".  

I love this Japanese Maple tree whose leaves have turned a beautiful red.  I finally remembered to take a picture as we were coming home.

And Ryan made me laugh with this very difficult and sweet puzzle. ; )

Veteran's Day Assembly 2015

Max and Ryan's school does a great job of honoring veterans very year.  Every grade sings a song and then they ask all veterans to come up and tell what branch of the military they are in and who are their relatives at the school.

Ryan and the first graders sang, You're a Grand Old Flag.

Max and the 3rd graders sang, Yankee Doodle Dandy

After school we played until we felt too cold and then drove home.  Here is Max and his buddy. :)

What We Do

This little girl didn't feel too well, so the day of the primary program, I got her dressed, she watched the program and then went home with daddy.  After a long nap she woke up with a little more energy and played with her beloved "Titty Tat".

The primary program took up most of my brain space so I didn't have any dinner planned.  Mac and Cheese it was.  I had cute little helpers.

These guys thought it was hilarious to open and shut the freezer.

Of course when it's time for bed, the kids get super silly.  I asked the kids to put on their jammies.  Max came back with this (jam and a paper with Es all over it).  What a goof!

Sundays are the best!

"I Know My Savior Lives"

Today was our primary program.  My heart is so happy to see all of the primary kids singing and sharing their testimonies.

Max's part was, "I love learning about Jesus Christ this year and how He helped people.  He healed the sick.  He went to the 10 lepers when no one else wanted to be near them and he healed them.  He also brought back the dead and performed many other miracles.  He taught about eternal life and eternal happiness.  I am grateful for my Savior.  When I think of Jesus Christ's life and learn more about Him, I see how I should live my life.  He teaches us to be kind and love everyone.  He shows me how to love my brothers and sister.  I can know how to live my whole life by learning what Jesus Christ did and following His example."

Ryan's parts were:  "The prophet leads Christ's church so when we follow the prophet, we are following Christ.  The prophet told us to obey the commandments.  Obeying the commandments keeps me safe."

"I show love for Jesus Christ by going to church and taking the sacrament."


Max sang a duet, "Baptism" which was high for 8 year old boys and so there were a few cringe-worthy notes, but overall, he practiced daily and got up there and sang in front of a lot of people.  I'm very, very proud of him.  Max is someone who has a confidence that I really respect (since I don't love performing in front of people.  I was surprised at how wiggly he was during practices (I was wondering if he was more wiggly than he had been as a sunbeam ; )

Ryan sang his heart out when the primary sang.  He loves to sing and he's not afraid to sing loud and strong.  

All of the primary children are so dear to me.  Afterwards, we celebrate with our m&m party.  Sister Barton brought items from her m&m collection.  We had m&m cookies and lots of m&ms.  We watched part of "Finding Faith in Christ."  We played an m&m game and did teacher appreciation.  Then we played, "Do you love your neighbor?"  It was such a good day!

All You Need is Love

This is what I believe and what I will teach my children:

We need to show love to everyone regardless of beliefs or actions.  People are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, we are all on a level playing field.  While the choices we make may not be the same as the choices other people make, we are all people.  Before we came to earth, we lived together as spirit children of our Heavenly Father, and we all have the same opportunity to return to Him.

People may not respect our beliefs and that's okay.  We will respect others' beliefs.

When Christ was on the earth, He did not meet the expectations of many people.  He did not rise up above others and wipe out the social and political problems of His day.  He lived a life of love and proclaiming His word, His gospel.  He suffered for all of us and gave His life for us.  He asks very little in return when we think of the magnitude of His sacrifice. When I remember that even the Savior Himself did not meet everyone's expectations, it makes it understandable that current church leaders will not meet everyone's expectations. The gospel will still be true.  If there is a policy that we don't understand, we will search the scriptures and church books and pray to better understand. 

I believe Christ established a church while He was on the earth.  I believe that His church is on the earth today with a living prophet.  I believe that His church is led by imperfect people (as we are all imperfect) but that the gospel is real and true and by studying the scriptures and praying, I can have a personal witness by the Holy Ghost of what is truth.  I also believe that these are the ways to find truth and if I look to the opinions of other people, I will just hear opinions and not necessarily the truth.  

I also believe that I go to church to worship my Father, renew my promise to Him by taking the sacrament, and to meet with others who are trying to do their best as we learn together. I believe that everyone is welcome at church and that no one is better than another. I believe that as we look at each other as children of God, regardless of socio-economic status, personality, mental stability, physical conditions, physical appearance,etc., we will understand how we can overcome our own weaknesses and help others in their daily lives. Everyone is in need of help, everyone needs to help.  We are not so different.

People may believe we are wrong to believe the way that we do and we still love and respect them.  People may feel that our beliefs are not tolerant, but we will still love and respect them.  

John 15:12, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you."

I DO NOT LIKE THEM Sam I am!

Cute boy Jase was "in bed" when I heard him from the living room.  I heard he was reading and so I snuck back to get a video.  I wish I could have gotten the whole story. :)

Running Races

Family Home Evening was fun this week.  I gave a lesson on the Savior and then the kids did gymnastics.  Jase and Ev started gymnastics today and that was all everyone could talk about.  After gymnastics they had races.  Love family time!

Silly Toddlers and Ghosts

Trick or Treating 2015

It was raining outside so I didn't bother with face paint but they still looked so cute!

Our trick or treating friends!

Then we watched, "It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" that Danielle brought over.

Everyone had a warm bath and the kids checked out their loot and got to eat one piece.  We're saving most of it for gingerbread houses. :)