Taking a Break

Taking a break from blogging; Need to get caught up on life, take care of sick kids, and other self improving matters. Will post when back.

Running Bear

Anthony recently learned about Indians and Pilgrims at school. As part of learning about Indians they did a dance for all the parents to see.

Anthony's Character

For a school project Anthony had to create a character that represented what he wanted to be when he grows up. It was an easy decision for Anthony, he wants to be an engineer just like his dad and design helicopter parts. He could use any medium that he wanted and so he choose fabric so he could use my sewing machine. He helped cut the fabric out, sewed on buttons, stuff his character as well as paint the hair and shoes on. He asked me to use my embroidery machine to write Bell Helicopter on his character's shirt. Grant also shrunk a drawing of his from work and we included it with his character. Anthony sure had a lot of fun.

Family Update

Life has been busy for our family. For Thanksgiving we drove up to Utah to spend Thanksgiving with Grant's family up at Bearlake on the border of Utah and Idaho. After Thanksgiving we all drove down to Roosevelt to see Seth get baptized and then hurried home so the kids could get back to school. Spencer really enjoyed being up in the mountains and when we went for our morning walks with Grandma and Grandpa, Spencer insisted on walking up the mountain himself, and he did!!

It was nice to get away and get a family vacation this year, even though it was a short one. It was nice just to take a break from the every day life and visit with family.

Oil Spil

PLUS

Equals No Good

What do you get when you combine Spencer and Vegetable oil? A major oil spill. That is right we had a major oil spill in our house on Thursday and we are still cleaning up from it. Spencer managed to wedge his hand into the pantry that was locked with a baby lock and knock the vegetable oil (used) down and then started to play in it as if it was water. He was having a good old time, while his mother was innocently trying to get ready to head out the door for a teacher conference. Spencer who was wearing fleece was oil's best friend and soaked right into him. Spencer then continued with his journey crawling all over the house spreading the oil around where ever he went. So within 10 minutes the kitchen floors were covered in oil, the living room floors were blessed with his generosity, as well as parts of the entry way and hall way floors. My kids could not come into the house so lucky for me a nice neighbor watched my children so I could proceed to clean up our major oil spill. With piano lessons looming ever near I knew I needed help so Grant the hero came home and helped with the mess. It took three hours to get the floors to a position where the kids would not slip and fall. Two days later and you can still see oil on the floors; so I am still mopping and Spencer is still Spencer. The clothes that he was wearing are still soaked in oil despite letting them soak in dish soap and being washed in the washing machine. The plus side is that whenever he wears those clothes his legs stay nice and smooth. Through all this what did I learn....that Spencer's good looks and charming smile saved him.

The cake

First came the butterfly cake, that was job in itself. Well after that production I couldn't just make Anthony an ordinary cake, I knew he would want something out of this world. Knowing that he loves Star Wars and that seeing a Star Wars cake would make his day, I set out to create my own death star. I first had to look up a picture of what a death star looks like and then I let the wheels in my head turn. I baked the cake in a glass bowl and sandwhich the layers together and with a little frosting and few lines here and there a death star was born. Anthony did not let me down, he was totally excited. You see he did not know that he was getting a death star cake nor did he know that he was getting a homemade death star pinata (filled with Halloween candy-he figured that one out). All this was a surprise. That night as I was tucking him into bed he told me that his birthday was the best day ever. I call that success.

A note to Anthony

Anthony you are a gift from our Heavenly Father, a gift that brings joy everyday. I still remember the day you were born and though I was tired and worn out from the work it took to get you here all that was swept away immediately after you were placed in my arms. Your big eyes were wide opened as you looked into my eyes. I remember thinking wow I am a mother! Here I was holding a brand new child who just left the presence of our Heavenly Father, and with that thought I felt the love of my Savior wrapping his arms around me. I remember when it was quiet and the nurses and doctors were finished with their business, I cradled you in my arms and quietly sang "I am a Child of God." The way you responded told me that you heard that song before. As I sang you slept so peacefully as if you were home. Now fast forward to seven years later and you still ask me to sing I am a Child of God every night before bed. As your mother I truly hope that you know and feel that you are a Child of God. I hope that this knowledge of who you are can carry through whatever you face in life. Please remember you are a Child of God.

Anthony there are many qualities about you that I treasure. I love your eyes. Your smile truly lies within your eyes. I love to see them light up. I love to see your excitement. I love to see your smile. I love to feel your hugs. I love to hear you say "I just love you Mommy." I love to hear you pray and I enjoy hearing your testimony as you express your understanding of the gospel and the scriptures.

Anthony, you were my first in every way. You were my first child to hold, the first child I was blessed with to share in all the milestones, and in every way I was able to learn from you. As you grew so did I. I love having you as my son, your love and dedication is amazing. You strive every day to do what is right. You work hard and you play hard too. I am glad for the gift Heavenly Father has given me and the best part I get to enjoy my gift forever!

Anthony remember that wherever life takes you, whatever the journey may be; I love you and most of all remember who you are-A Child of God. That is my greatest wish for you. With that knowledge you will be able to handle anything and conquer your life's dreams. I love you, my son. These past seven years have been a joy and I know that it is only the beginning. Keep doing what you are doing and you will have much success in life. I love you!!

Halloween Time

This year Madeline went as a butterfly, no surprise since she loves butterflies. Anthony wanted to be Obi Won Knobi so off the the fabric store his mother went with a mini character in hand to find the perfect fabric to transform my son into a Jedi. Was it worth it? Yes, every minute of it when Anthony smiled as he saw it all together and the excitement on his face as he headed out the door to gather his treasure. Spencer hung out with mom, he hasn't really caught on to the whole fact of walking in a line stopping to gather candy. He would much rather wander off exploring and putting himself in danger so his mother can have a heart attack. So in order to prevent him from getting into danger and from me getting a heart attack we stayed home where it would be safe. Maybe next year he will grasp the concept of walking in an orderly fashion and just not wandering off to wherever his heart desires.

Madeline's Award at school

Madeline received the citizenship award at school for the first six weeks. Madeline was able to enjoy a breakfast with the other students being honored. Each of the teachers wrote something about their student using the letters in their name. This is what Madeline's teacher wrote about Madeline. Makes us smile, Always follows the rules, Demonstrates determination, Engaged participant, Love learning, Irrepressible spirit, Never gives up, Excellent scholar. Way to go Madeline!

A Camping We A Go

Spencer's new trick

Halloween Fun

We are all about traditions in our family, and one tradition we like to do is celebrate the holidays. This year we celebrated April fools, Easter, Saint Patricks Day, and now Halloween. I threw a little party for the kids. We made our own pizzas and decorated them like pumpkin faces, then we bobbed for apples, I made a ghostly drink that the kids enjoyed, watched some Halloween cartoons, decorated our apples that we bobbed for, and then decorated our pumpkins. To avoid the mess of the insides of pumpkins, I found some decorations that you stick into the pumpkins similar to Mr. Potato Head, the kids really enjoyed decorating their pumpkins and trying to make theirs the scariest. Our Halloween party was a sucess and the kids really enjoyed it.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Scarecrow Day at School

A new FHE game

I am always trying to think of games to help the children understand gospel principles. Madeline seems to respond really well to games and Anthony loves games as well. It has been a way for me to be able to teach to both children. I made up a game using the idea from candy land, except it goes along with Lehi's dream. Instead of grandma nut, plum fairy, and such I have pictures relevant to Lehi's dream. Instead of trying to get to the candy castle, the object of the game is to get back to Tree of Life. Normally I would send a file for you to print, but this time it would be better for me to assemble it for you and then mail. If you would want one leave me a comment or e-mail and I will be glad to send one your way. When you get to one of the symbols of Lehi's dream you stop and discuss what it means and how it can apply it to their lives. To start off the evening, I wrote Lehi's Dream on some paper and had the kids be the illustrators and then they each took turns reading a page and then we played the game and ended the night with pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, delicious.

My latest Projects

Here are some pics of my latest projects. I have a million projects listed on a list the I keep and slowly ever slowly I am chipping away at them. One day I aspire to having my project list completed but since I am constantly adding to it, I don't think that will happen.


Madeline's headboard that I made to match her quilt. Madeline loves butterflies and so we have decorated her room in a butterfly theme.

The boys' room is decorated with a space theme. I made these rockets out of wood and then painted them and then made a stencil using scrapbook font and transperacies. He makes a statement in the room.














Here is a pic of Madeline's quilt. All that is left is a few details on the sides and binding together.

What we have been up to!

It has been a busy month. My calling as Primary Counselor has kept me really busy. There have been weeks where I have had meetings of some kind everynight. I am sure Grant has felt like a single parent as I am off fulfilling my calling. I am enjoying some quiet time in regards to my calling. It has been nice to eat dinner with the family instead of making dinner and patting everyone on the head as I leave out the door. I have been doing lots of sewing as I have set a goal to make all three kids quilts for their beds by Christmas time. I didn't want to do just an ordinary tie quilt, but I wanted to adventure out into unknown territory and make one of those fancy quilts with all the fancy quilting stiches included. It has been a learning process as well as relaxing as I sit at the sewing machine pondering about life and such. A nice way to slow down.

Anthony and Madeline love school. Anthony loves all the science experiements that he gets to do on a weekly basis. He is making the grades and we are so proud of him. Madeline has come along way in her speach and getting more confident in herself. The other day at school Madeline got up by herself in front of the class and did a show n tell with a nice loud big girl voice. That is just amazing. Last Sunday she said the prayer in Primary and marched up their by herself with no prompting and gave the prayer with no help in a nice loud voice. Last year we couldn't get her to speak up and it was hard to hear her at all. You can tell she is getting confident by the day. She walks with more confidence in herself and in her ability to do things. This is all rewarding to me as a mother to see my children go out in the world with confidence and the knowledge of knowing who they are.

Conference weekend was great and it was neat to sit as a family listening to conference and to be able to as a family sustain the prophet and other General Authorities. Anthony and Madeline absolutely love when conference comes around. I try to make it a celebration all weekend long starting with homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast, to special conference baskets with goodies to enjoy, to enjoying the food from our 72 hour kits as we trade out the old for the new, to even eating pizza while daddy is at Priesthood session. The kids love to ask Grant what he learned about during Priesthood Session. This year Anthony was able to pick out what they were talking about, he was so excited to learn that he could really understand them. Now for me it is off planning FHE lessons based on the conference talks to teach to the children for the next six months.

Spencer is on the verge of walking, he has taken a couple of steps but still prefers to walk on his knees. He is absouletely every where and into everything. Completely different than the other two. He definitely keeps me hopping and he makes sure that you know that he exists and he is really good at leaving his mark all over the house. He loves to talk to you and carry on a conversation, but you need to use your imagination as to what he is saying. He can only say two words, bye bye and stinky. He can say sounds, but not really any words yet.

I haven't been able to do my pioneer party. I had things planned and then one by one we all got sick, Madeline had surgery, and then we got swamped with life. I have things still planed and put together and hopefully when we go camping this weekend we can enjoy a little pioneer celebration. I figure we might not celebrate when the first pioneers came into the valley but there were probably pioneers arriving still at this time.

Enough with talking time for pictures.

On Satudays Anthony has been working with his daddy on building a tree house. Anthony will be out there working for hours on it. Good thing the weather has been decient. Anthony is enjoying working side by side with his daddy, and I know Grant is having memories of building his own tree house when he was Anthony's age.