In review

This is our week in review:
Monday - Thursday: School, cleaning, playing, cleaning, shopping and eating.
Friday: Jonah and Jonathan came over for a sleepover and the boys had fun. Among other things they had a few squabbles, Jonah and Jonathan were introduced to Navajo Tacos and Jonah inquired, "so are you recently interested in the Navajo people?", we all went downtown and the boys had a blast at a new architecture attraction by Capitol Theatre, they stayed up WAY TOO late and got up WAY TOO early (in my opinion), and they loved playing legos together.
Saturday: We all got together at the park for a combined birthday party for Grandpa Gray, Dacia, Jonah and William. It was loads of fun to play at the park with such beautiful weather. Caleb left the party early so that he could receive a bike that was given to him from the school and other donors. Rob said it was pretty big deal with several other schools being in attendance and a large gathering of volunteers. He loves the new bike and was so excited to ride it around that day.
Sunday: The primary kids survived their third Sunday of me being the chorister. It was the second week in our baptism package and we took it simple this week. It focused on repentance and how just like an eraser can erase a pencil's mistake, repentance can erase our mistakes if we do it sincerely.
Monday: William's birthday! WAHOO! It was a pretty normal day but he still had fun. He enjoyed playing with Peter in the morning, building with blocks and then playing at the playground after school. Then this evening he and his brothers played with some of his new playdoh and read his new Curious George book. Every time I said, "Happy Birthday, William!" He would reply, "Happy Birthday, Mom!" or "Happy Birthday, Clouds." He is such a sweet boy. He has such a fun smile, and a gracious spirit. It does not matter if I give him a glass of water, a treat, dinner, a toy, or I read him a story; he is always the first one to say, "thank you, Mom." He is always willing to share his things and he loves to help when he can (especially in cooking). And he loves being 3.

It's Great to be Eight!

Well, the countdown begins to turing eight and being baptized. Caleb could not be more excited! As per a request from a friend I am posting about our baptism countdown and all the things these boys get to do and learn about for the next 8 weeks. I hope no one minds. This past Sunday we went to Jonathan's house for Family Home Evening, dinner and to open up the first package in the countdown. The first package consisted of a frame that had a picture that Caleb had drawn of baptism and a poem that I came up with about baptism. I also made a baptism shirt for each of the boys - Jackson, Caleb and Jonathan - and I think they turned out pretty good. Finally, we played Baptism Bingo and although the boys were more excited about the candy place markers they also enjoyed learning about other family member's baptism stories. It was fun and we cannot wait until the big day in July.
It will be so awesome! It really is great to be 8!

Bah-Humbug!

Next year I am doing it all differently! Instead of starting my plants in doors and watching them grow out of my laundry room before the snow stops falling, I am just planting straight in the ground. Instead of planting when the weather says it will be good and free of frosts, I am planting maybe the last week of May! Argh! I planted, we got all so excited, I check the weather every night before drifting off to sleep, and it still frosted last night! I do not know why I am bothered by this. I live in Utah, I should expect this. Maybe I am just bothered by my own impatience in planting to early because I thought I would be okay and I just should have done otherwise. But, live and learn. Man, those stupid frosts!

Snapshots on Mother's day

The day went well. We had a yummy breakfast, and overall peace through the day. My boys treated me well with sweet thoughtful presents. Rob was totally awesome and made me another garden box (you can see it in the picture below). Rob worked hard, went through a bit of frustration, but still made the box and I love it! Caleb made me some cute magnets in class and a sweet note to go along with it. Peter's class did a hand print for me and a cute saying. William used his imagination for my present. He was running through the yard and said, "here, Mom!", tossing me something imaginary in the air. I pretended to catch it and he said it was a present for me, a soft blue teddy bear for me. How sweet is that? So, on with the snapshots.

A peaceful moment when the boys were reading together before our walk.

I wanted to go on a walk with the boys and find the trees in our neighborhood that had pretty blossoms on them. As we walk to and from school I see so many of these trees, I thought it would be fun to see them together. The boys had fun collecting the fallen blossoms and showering/bombing me with them. It was fun. Caleb also took a notebook and took notes about nature along the way. Some of my favorites, "Where ever you are, nature is all around you." "Nature sounds awesome." "Potato bugs are ticklers."

Haley examined the blossoms and enjoyed the walk. She also discovered her lower lip and has been sucking on it ever since. It is so cute to watch her figure out all these things. I also love how she has started noticing her wrists more. Watching her pick things up and wave them around is darling.

The boys also took time out on the walk to gather as many potato bugs/rolly pollies/ as they could and transplant them to our house. Seriously, these are some displaced bugs, they traveled a block from their original position and I am amazed that none of them died or got smothered in those little hands on the way back home.

My garden! Finally, one last thing I received today was a new calling. I was released from my Primary teaching call and was called to lead the music in Primary. Ok, I can do this. I am somewhat excited, somewhat nervous at the preparation it will take and the responsibility I have to teach these kids the music and the gospel all in one, but I am looking forward to the new things it will bring. Plus, I get to see all my kids in Primary so that will be fun. Oh, my dad also made me a yummy cherry pie and we went to the Grays and had a very yummy dinner and the boys enjoyed being with the family. It was a very fun day.

Fun at the Scout O Rama

I don't know what the deal is with my red-eye fix. Now they are freaky eyes.

Solids...testing the waters

This girl is learning to maneuver her way into the solids world, slowly. We have actually been trying to get her to eat solids for a good couple of weeks now, but she just says no to oatmeal. That tongue of hers knows how to work it out and make a mess. But if you give her bread or noodles, she seems to do okay with that. So, today I tried her on some yams and I may be figuring out a system with feeding her. My first attempt ended promptly when Haley was more interest in practicing her new talent of raspberries. I knew then and there that feeding a raspberry blowing girl was a bad idea. So, round 2, this afternoon, and it went better. I kind of had to tilt her head back and hold the spoon in her mouth while she worked on swallowing the yams, but it worked. She actually got some this time, I think, and there was not too much mess. Success! For now. We will see how round 3 goes at another time. She may win on that one.

Adding to my garden

Horray and yea, with the help of my boys playing on their own nicely I was able to plant my beautiful fruit trees today. Oh, Rob also helped by digging one of the holes and the weather helped by being sunny this morning. Thank you! I am just giddy with the thought of watching these babies grow and picking a nice yummy fruit from them in the future. Grow little trees, grow!


Also in other news, Rob and I have decided that our two middle children are pretty easy going (when well fed and properly rested). It is our oldest and youngest that appear to be the challenging ones. Yes, all children offer their own issues but for the most part if I only have the two middles to deal with they are fine, no real problems or dramas. Enter one of the others and all bets are off. I love them all, but these little souls do their best to add spice to my life. :)