I came up stairs to this beautiful sight. What good breakfast helpers we have. Can I just freeze time? Oh what a beautiful morning.
We prepared lunch to share with the branch members who were coming to the church to listen in Spanish and got everyone dressed to watch conference at the church. Tio and Kurt went into town to pick up an investigator and we met them there. Its always a little dicey watching conference at church but we prevailed. I enjoyed hearing the testimonies of our 3 new apostles, Elder Rasband, Stevenson, & Renlund. The spirit confirmed their witness & that they were indeed called of God. Personally I was touched and inspired by Elder Eyring's talk on the Holy Ghost. I need to be making daily choices to feel the spirit daily.
Afterwards we ate lunch together {sloppy joes, chips, apples, watermelon & brownies.} It was simple but it brings unity. I was impressed with Elder Whitaker as he continues to work hard in a trio with a visa waiter & an Elder that clearly wants to go home.
We watched the rest of conference at home. Is it me or does it always end too soon! I don't know that the kids would agree but I love the spiritual feast. I always feel an outpouring of love hearing the words from our prophet and apostles. We are so blessed with modern revelation.
Showing Tio the Calico Critters
Tucking in dad while he listens to conference ;)
The kids were wild & restless by this point. We sent them outside on a creation walk. Spence and Emma Lynn created a club house instead. It kept them quite busy and I love when they are creative and use their imaginations. They were so excited to show us:
{The first letters of their names - minus Jane's}
Sheet over the entry for privacy
The mural they painted on the wall.
A lamp they found for additional light. How lucky are they to have electricity in their clubhouse?!
Austin still had lots of energy and was showing them stick pull from trek. I'm sure you're surprised that he beat everyone time and time again. No wonder he wanted to teach them this game! ;)
Right after Kurt left to take Tio home the power went out. I was so thankful to have all the candles handy from Emma's birthday, including the the LED lights that we still hanging from the ceiling. We put a few in each bedroom as nightlights. The kids loved it and they used them all week.
Happy Monday! This is our Week 1 Ponderizing Scripture:
It was school picture day Monday. I decided for the first time ever to not buy the $12 package of each kid. I took pictures of them for their project life book before they left the house. Spence was on the floor moaning that his stomach hurt most of the morning. I finally decided that he wasn't faking it and sent him back in bed with a puke bowl.
SECOND GRADE
SEVENTH GRADE
FIFTH GRADE
And the poor sick one in 4th:
As soon as I got home from taking the kids to school Spencer threw up a couple of time and then he gradually perked up. Enough that after I got the house cleaned up I felt comfortable taking him to Boise with me. Kurt needed me to get garments for Tio and of course parts for the store while I was out & about. The question is, how many "Big Nate" books do you need for maximum enjoyment on the journey to Boise??
We made it home JUST in time to pick up the girls from school and take them to piano & then art.
After we got Austin from xc we got ready to go to the annual Pumpkin Patch FHE that Nancy always hosts. We met Kurt, Emma and Tio there. Let me talk to you about Jane's excitement to be at the pumpkin patch. She walked in and immediately found THE perfect pumpkin. She was bursting with excitement about it. Somehow I caught that exact moment as she turned around to show me her pumpkin. This may be a top favorite fall picture ever. Oh, the cuteness.
Then we headed over for the roasting - hot dogs, smores and starburst.
It was a great evening and not to long on a school night. We are grateful that Nancy organizes it every year. When I was tucking Lucy into bed that night she prayed, "Thank you that I could pick out my very own pumpkin." It truly is the simple things.
After the little girls were in bed Emma and I ran down to the church to meet up with the sister missionaries. It was Sister Webbs birthday. I made her a cake and gave her Project Life pens {I completely converted her to Project Life the last time she had dinner with us. She asked her mom for the Missionary PL kit for her birthday present, love it!!}
Jane had wanted to sleep with her pumpkin but we convinced her that on her night stand was just as good. It did come to breakfast with her though.
Lucy is always so excited its Tuesday - gymnastics and dance - best day ever! But then again I'd be a millionaire if I had a dollar for each time Lucy has declared it the best day ever! Jane and I helped with math in Ruth's class before eating lunch with the girls {apparently my boys are too cool to eat with their mom.}
I set Jane up at a desk while I worked on a map project for 4th/5th. I never would have been able to volunteer like this with Lucy plus Jane was a baby. Just grateful when I can volunteer.
We had Austin's Parent Teacher Conference at 2:15 right before school got out with Senora Mason. She only had wonderfully positive things to say about my straight A boy. I am so proud of Austin. He has been doing so well in 7th grade. He is more responsible & organized about his school work. YAY
Then we rushed over to Robotics. Barb was out of town so I ran the meeting. First up we elected officers for our club. Each person that was running had to give a 1 minute speech why we should vote for them and what they would do for our club. I didn't tally the votes until the very end of the meeting. Then we worked on another activity, measuring our reaction time. It was comical and I had fun with Austin.
Here is how the votes turned out. I'm excited for Austin but at the same time was a little worried that it would look bad for him to be the President with his parents club leaders/coaches. But this is how his peers voted. Poor loud Kyle wanted an office so badly but didn't get a single one. That was awkward. What are the chances it was a lesson for him?
After Robotics we had Spencer's Parent Teacher Conference. He was so embarrassed. I still cannot figure out why. He wanted to hide his face in his hands the entire time. They had nothing but praise for Spencer. He is bright, a leader, a friend and excelling in both languages. Wonderful job Spence!!!
After a quick snack at home it was off to Star for dance day. Look what Lucy found at the penny pig library. She was hooked. Looks like a good Christmas present idea to me!
Meanwhile Ruth LOVES doing gran jetes and is constantly practicing. She loves to show me after class & I love to watch. A simultaneously beautiful setting sun is a nice bonus.
Brittney and I made fall banner for our porches Wednesday morning. I'm still in project decorate your porch mode. It was good to do something crafty since we've been in meal planning mode. We were able to get it done {and up} in a little over an hour and that's what I like - finished projects. We also made a master plan for exercising & eating together. We both have the goal to get in shape for Hawaii in 3 months. I'm excited and ready to do this.
I got out the trains for the kids while we were working.
The finished corner
After school activities were a little hairy as I needed to be an xc practice since Senora Mason was doing parent teacher conferences. It was the VERY LAST xc practice of the season. It had been a great season and such a fun experience but it felt time to be done. Mainly because it simplifies the schedule even more. Anyways to Ruth's delight I let her come to practice with me, she loves it. And she's fast and the kids all tell her. It really boosts her confidence, she loves it. Its fun to have her there.
Spence had a great time at scouts. They were working on whittling.
As soon as we got back from xc practice Kurt took the boys & their guns and headed up to West Fall for a hunting trip. There was no school Thursday and Friday because of Parent Teacher Conferences. It worked out perfectly for a hunting trip. That meant it was a Girl's Weekend at home! Wahoo
We started out with Baylea coming to play after school. I brought Claire home with us after xc practice so she could sleep over. They made chocolate dipped truffles {thank you Pinterest!}
Lots of giggles, snuggles, nails & movies.
Thursday morning at 5:30 am Brittney and I started our workout plan in her garage. We are meeting 3x a week {her place, my place, meet in the middle.} We did a HIIT routine.
sweaty day 1
I was home in time to tackle the day & enjoy this sunrise with my girls. We started putting up Halloween decorations and then realized we had run out of time and rushed to get Lucy to preschool. Kelli was teaching this week.
We went to Home Depot to pick out paint for the front door - another project I decided to tackle. And then the library before heading to Ruth and Emma's Parent Teacher Conferences.
Ruth had a wonderful Parent Teacher Conference. I didn't expect anything less. She is polite, helpful, and hard working. Since transitioning to 2nd grade she has become more shy about speaking Spanish. So we will continue to work on that. Thanks for being a stellar student Ruth!
And no surprise that Emma had an equally wonderful conference. She is a super student. Mrs. Bodily, her English teacher told her to get into trouble and stop being so good. It was funny but not really, mainly just awkward. As we walked away I told her not to listen to that advice and just keep being her AWESOME self. She agreed wholeheartedly.
We met the preschoolers at the Ontario Corn Maze & pumpkin patch after that. We spent the next few hours playing, exploring and picking. All the kids, big and small had a super time. We only left because it was well past lunch time and we were hungry!
Getting ready for our hayride
She was not as excited about this pumpkin patch, "its too heavy!" and she wouldn't carry it.
At the same time Austin was having great success in West Fall. Kurt called to tell us that Austin had killed his first buck that morning. I was so excited for him! He shot it in the leg and then track it down another mile and shot it again. He was very pleased. What was even more amusing to me is how excited he was to tell me about the skinning process. He was so intrigued by all the muscles and anatomy. Best of all they came home that afternoon since he had gotten his buck. He made it home in time for his last xc meet in Ontario. He kept the entire head because he wants the skull and antlers together. Spence decided to stay in West Fall another night with Grandma and Grandpa.
In between the pumpkin patch and meet after I had fed the kids I had one hour so I painted my door. I couldn't wait. I'm worried the paint will scratch off on the metal part and I need to do a few more coats but this is a great start! I like it much better than the weirdness it was before.
We met Kurt at the meet. Unfortunately I had to leave before the middle school boys raced. Because Chelle was busy with parent teacher conferences I took the girls to ballet that night. Ruth came with us too and Kurt took the little girls and Austin home after the meet. But Austin did great - he didn't stop!! When he told me I about cried, I was so proud! That was his goal this season and he hadn't accomplished yet. I'm so glad he could push himself and make it happen on his last meet. He had a great season - way to work hard Austin!!
After ballet we went to the dollar theater in Nampa and watched, "Once I was a Beehive." It was a great movie and we all really enjoyed it. It wasn't ultra corny like other Mormon movies. While they were clearly making fun of certain things in "Mormon culture" it was done tastefully. But the best part is that it gave us a chance to talk about girls camp and church in general with Claire on the way home. Always grateful for those experiences.
Friday morning we worked on the house in preparation for the Farnsworth coming and hosting Sisters Day. I was shocked to hear the kids announce at 9:45 that Elaine was here. Oh my, what time did she leave??! Well she was the only one who was on time for our 10 am sisters day {including myself because I jumped in the shower at 10!}
Cindy brought Spence home with her and after he gave me a hug he said, "I'm spoiled." New lego set and endless movies. Clearly he had a good time. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the one-on-one time with my boy, he loved it!
I had borrowed a small bounce house from the Forsbergs and we put that and bowling in the carport for the cousins to play with. Emma set up a face painting booth too.
While the kids were busy playing we got busy putting together breakfast burritos. Ruth was a good helper as always. We made 70 burritos in total. Hopefully they will find it helpful to have something ready in the freezer for a quick breakfast or after school snack or anytime.
Cindy's birthday was the next day so we celebrated with cake and ice cream.
Elaine and I pretty much crashed after that. The kids don't need us for entertainment. There was lots of this & other silly movies made on the ipad.
Always make time for reading. The shark is evidence that Daniel is nearby.
We invited Tio for dinner that evening. The kids were mainly excited about ice cream for dessert.
Saturday morning was relaxed as the kids built more train tracks and then fought about it.
Marie -Grace was lucky enough to spend the morning at the salon.
Kurt and Tio came home to start building fence in the corral. Kurt is planning to get our fair calves as soon as they are weaned in a few weeks. Both Spence and Emma are planning to take steers this year so Kurt wants us to have them when they are little so they can raise them up and work with them while they are little {and hopefully less intimating full grown. Hopefully its a good plan.} Austin, Spence and Ruth went out to help with the fence building process.
In the meantime Elaine and I went to Vale to clean the 7th Ave house. Someone is looking at it on Monday so I was out of time to procrastinate cleaning it any longer. What a wonderful sister to spend her free Saturday with me cleaning. I'm so blessed. We got milkshakes after wards - she deserved it!
We had planned to attend the Willow Creek dinner that night but it was 4 pm by the time we finished cleaning and all the adults were tired {especially those building fence.} So we went home via Ontario for pizza. We found a great mommy/daughter date craft too {at Joanns.} Elaine said I was stalling to go home.
look at their good work
~~~Romans Reflections~~~
- This little one adore all things Calico Critter. Studying the flyer before naptime would be the ideal bedtime material for her.
- I took a drink of Spencer's glass of milk and was immediately shocked at how sweet it was. I asked him what was in it. 1/4 of sugar. Apparently he does that with E.V.E.R.Y glass he drinks. yikes
- Claire was talking about her friend and made the comment that she was pretty. Jane quickly replied, "I'm pretty too."
- Monday when we were at Deseret book buying garment Lucy specifically asked me to buy her the picture of Jesus calling to Mary.
1 comment:
Oh Jane. She is too cute with her pumpkin. I laughed at loud and had to show Roger the picture of her eating breakfast with it. So adorable!
I like your fall decorations on the porch and your new door color. Blue doors are the best! Plus it goes with your blue ribbons and is a nice contrast to the pumpkins. It's nice your house is white so it'll match.
Tell Austin congrats on not stopping! You have some runners in your family! :)
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