An Evening to Remember

Our School "Kick-Off" the night before school started was memorable for all of us. I borrowed the idea from Nienie. The kids were like little elves running around helping me get things ready. Our theme this year is "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Meaning ... which Andy spoke to us about.. that we can do things that are hard for us. We can pray for the strength to face our challenges and we will be made greater for our efforts. Also that we don't face things alone, we can pray ANY TIME, ANY WHERE. We ate dinner and then the kids wrote their goals for the year on a balloon and we had a launch.As a mother, I love this theme! The kids have had to face challenges this year and it helps to remind them they are able to do things that are hard and that they are not alone. (Especially in Jr. High...remember those days? Love you Natalie-good thing the duct tape glasses are finally history!!)

Enjoy a little James and Yo Yo Ma

Sheleys: Doesn't this make you want to go for a long drive on a country road in Virginia (especially since its fall)? Enjoy your day.

Sit back and laugh...

Sometimes Family Home Evening morphs into comedy central. Like last Monday. We gave our kids President Monson's challenge to "Do a good turn daily." After Andy's motivational exhorting ...somehow our entry way turned into a stage. It started with Sam.He was up in front of us trying to lead the music.We were taking too long deciding on the closing song,tired of waiting for everyone to start singing, he layed down. When we all finally started singing he was still lying down but his hand shot up and proceeded to lead us in song. This sent me giggling...which gave him the encouragement he needed to put on a show. So back and forth he went across our doorway while we sang. By now I couldn't help laughing out loud which then made everyone else want to get up and put on a show for Mom and Dad. Back and forth they went across the door way... Egyptian style, guitar hero style, Brian holding Landon like a Swan Lake ballerina, Rock star across the stage and slide...Oh they were all into it because we were laughing so hard. Then of course we had to do family pyramids. It's no wonder our bedtimes are so late sometimes. Our family is like the moose in the book...If You Give A Moose a Muffin.

Recent Quotes:
Brian: Sniff-Sniff..."Why does it smell like maggots in here?"

The kids were having an in depth discussion about dreams.Brian simply stated "At night when you fall asleep your eyes just roll back in your head and its like watching a movie all night."

Brian turned to Andy and I out of the blue and said "Did you know there's a new robot that runs off kids energy." That would be a sight. So does it suck theirs?

Landon- "Mom I know how to earn money! I can shoot a buffalo and take it's teeth and horns and sell them!"

Sam- "Mom can we go get a shake because I've been like Jesus."

" Uh, Mom are you foreminding (forgetting) to turn of the light. Uhg"
Sam brought a paper to me to sign for school. I handed it back to him and he got a frustrated look on his face. "Mom! You supposed to wite M-O-M..not that!"(meaning my name).

Every day we drive up to the school and Sam scoots up to the front seat to watch for one of his friends. When he sees one of them he breathes really hard, hurries to open the door and runs in with them with a big smile on his cute face. One day while we were waiting the only kids getting out of the vehicles were girls and he was getting discouraged. I said "Hey, I bet you could run in with one of them." He whipped around to face me and said " I am defwintwey NOT going in with a Yay-dee!"

I love listening to our children pray. I'm glad they are recorded in heaven. Landon says the sweetest most heartfelt prayers. Sam always prays for "Good bed bugs tonight not bad bed bugs." That all started when he heard Landon praying that he wouldnt have bed bugs which he interpreted as "bad" bugs.

Zachary-He was sitting by Ammon in the Suburban. He leaned up and said "Mom, I wish Ammon could be healed. If I could have any wish it would be that he would be O.K. I would pay 1000 dollars! I would even be a Hobo! --Love your HUGE heart Zac

Our Fishing Trip

I don't get to make too many posts here, so this is a real treat for all you lucky readers. ;)

Seriously, this was a treat for me and my three sons. Our Elders quorum had a fishing trip for Dads and sons and it was great fun. Brian caught three fish, and we all had fun trying to figure out what his secret was. It was a beautiful drive. The mountains were very green because of all this rain wonderful rain. I snapped this picture driving down the canyon (why the grass is all blurry in the foreground.)

Updated pictures of Ellie

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BABY!!!

Escape

Today we escaped.Do you ever do that? This morning Ammon's child advocate came for a visit from Kids On the Move. The conversation was a little too heavy. So like any mature adult would do...I took the kids and we escaped to the mountains. I left the dishes and laundry and we were off. We put on fun uplifting music, rolled down the windows and went to Tibble Fork. It rained today so it was a feast for the eyes up there. Green, green everywhere.We stopped and just listened to the birds sing. Now that's therapy. Nature.

Our Sunshine Boy Sam

Friday was Sam's 5th birthday! The list could go on and on and on about the things we ALL love about Sam. One of our family traditions is to go around and tell the things we love most about our birthday person. Some of the things said about Sam were "he's a peace maker, he always shares, he is our Sunshine Boy, EVERYTHING!!, his hugs, his imagination, he wakes up happy every morning." The other day I asked him "Sam, why are you so sweet? Are you made of sugar?" he simply said..."No, I am just trying to be like Joseph Smith..and Jesus (giggle giggle)." Julie's family gave him a slinky for his birthday(and a kite). He had never seen one, so when he opened it I said"OH, LOOK! a slinky!!!" and he said..Yea!!YOok!! a Fwinky!! I love the way he percieves the world and then how he states what is on his mind. He absolutely adores Elizabeth. The day she was born he perked right out of bed and said " E-yiz-abef is coming today!!!!" Even before she was born I would catch him having a conversation with himself (which he does often) saying "I yuv her. I yuv her name. E-yiz-abef" Now when he sees her he always says ..."OOOOHhhhh E-yizzzzz-a- beff" really drawn out...and then says
"I yuv she's eyes." He is sunshine.



Sam is a creative artist! He must have the artist gene running through from both sides of the family. This is some of his work being displayed at his school. He had an amazing teacher, Mrs. Norman at The Canyon School For The Arts.

These are the owners of the school (our neighbors) Rich Kramer and MaryAnn O'Brien.

Ellie's blessing day

This day goes down as one of the most memorable days of my life. It was almost in slow motion as it was happening. Does that ever happen? I think we want time to slow down so much that it may feel like it. Ellie is perfect. I couldn't seem to take it all in. Each moment was so significant and wonderful. Her big brothers ooo-ing and awing over her...Grammie making the final touches on her dress and head band...bathing her and dressing her...gathering in the chapel with friends and family ...watching Andy walk with her up to the front and listening to her beautiful name...thinking of my Grammie and ancestors who may have been there with us...listening to each word of the priesthood blessing just for her...looking at all of my other children and standing in awe of each one and loving them more than I ever have at any other moment in time...watching Ellie stare up at Andy after he sat down and blessed her and feeling an overwhelming love for him ...listening to my beautiful daughter's testimony of the Savior then my Father's. How could I not want to hold on to this moment in time. It was a gift.

Snow Fun

One of the things I love most about living in Utah is the distinct seasons. Our boys were wondering if we were going to get any snow this year.Right now we have about foot and a half outside in our backyard and they have made good use of it.They love to come inside and get me to come out and watch their tricks.