4.11.17 A happy Family/ Feeling the spirit.

Some days are very full! We did this (pulling trees) and a merit badge fair, and missionary work this weekend.
That led to this! Love these moments.

To this! Addie asked last week what the spirit felt like. I can honestly say it feels happy! It feels peaceful, it feels so good to be. Not Christmas excited good but just good! Like perfect day sunshine good. or holding a content sleeping baby on your chest!

We were laughing so hard we didn't get more than 5 verses of scriptures in but sometimes that's just okay.

John is a riot. He studies humor writers for new material. He has an innocent wit and a bravery of truding into battle zones of family feuds to diffuse the tension with jokes, observations, or anecdotes He has read or dreamed up. I love him! Peacemakers come in all forms.
 While I wonder if our lack of serious scripture study will be detrimental I am comforted that the strength of family unity will outweigh our lack. That was a long day complete with too much too do, not enough hands, unexpected cancelled plans, and the final decision to just stay put. The end result of true laughter and love was worth the cost.
 I love the gospel I love the unexpected joys that come from being obedient to the living prophet. This Easter week as I ponder and teach more about our Savior Jesus Christ I am filled with joy and love for the hope of living with Him again, for forgiveness and help with my many weaknesses and shortcomings, and the great peace that comes from knowing Him. Happy Easter!

4.10.17 Bookworms

I visited the school last week and when I passed Liza's classroom I laughed and gasped. It was easy to tell her desk among all the others. The pile of books almost as tall as her gave it away! That girl loves!!! books. She carries one with her at all times everywhere even while doing chores she has a small backpack on her back with a book or three. Her larger school backpack (lifetime guarantee) is falling apart because of the 50+ lbs she hauls daily to and from school. 

To put this into perspective. This is her plack. Over 4000+ Accelerated Reader points. She is up to 8000. The next closest reader in the same grade hit 3000+. She is talented and speed reading is an added perk.

So with that talent, a motivated teacher, and some like minded friends they won regionals and headed to state. All because of reading. They got a one night paid for hotel room, a fun contest and lots of memories to build on for next year! Pictured are 9 lovely ladies from our town who all competed at the state level. Ironic they both went out on the same question in the same round.

She took this very seriously(reading all 16 books 4-6x. In addition to her other reading, school, and chores) and had a great time. Away from home on her own with another family. We missed her dearly and prayed a lot for her and anxiously awaited every text that came. Again so thankful for the various opportunities that are found in our small rural town and the host of teachers that make it happen.

And the most recent awards assembly. Reading, academics, and Reed got a citizenship. Makes a difference for these kiddos to get those pieces of paper. Probably a bit jaded with so many assemblies behind me, but I appreciate the willingness of their teachers to keep learning fresh and exciting, and to lead them through the battle of new skills and thoughts. We are blessed to work with a great group of responsive, respectful, and righteous teachers. I cannot raise these kiddos alone. I appreciate the help we get enormously.

4.7.17 Spring Break too

We ate a lot. To help this endeavor my mom gave me a tortilla press. Love that we can have fresh tortillas fast and the kids can do it! Reed instructed Harold on proper pressing technique, while I hurried to write a talk for sacrament meeting in 1 hour time. All went well and breakfast was delish!

Alivia has woken up into her personality! Reed is rubbing feet and she is joining in.

A kind friend brought us two cupcake snakes as a thanks for thanking her and her husband for being such diligent public servants. Fun appetizers

General conference canNOT happen without donuts! Working feverishly to get them done before the opening prayer.

We went to the temple and came home to these lovely spring flowers courtesy of the flower lady in our ward. We made it to the last session before closing time. In engineering there is a phrase "Just in time."  That means the product is ready just in time not early and not late. Being married to an engineer we go for just in time. Not early and hopefully not too late to completely miss the event.

And last half hour of sunlight on saturday night of spring break was spent shooting!

Which resulted in VERY happy kids and fixing the cold fence in the dark,. Love these kids and their dad and the time we live together!

4.7.17 Spring Break

Working with clay to cement words in his mind through tactile, auditory, and visual. Have- I have chickens!

So much of spring break was spent working with this young man. He is still not reading confidently or much at all. I am finally at a place where I have time and concentration to work with him. So we broke into the many curriculums I have and we did phonics and reading and spelling and memorizing and loving. 2-4 hours a day on average. We played games, we wrote and we read, we did rewards and we did "yes you can! now do it!!" I was hesitant to send him back to school on Monday as I think we still need some time to hammer this out. But we made progress and most importantly we connected.

Learning to read is a highly intimate experience (defined by google closely acquainted; private and personal; a very close friend.) Meaning it takes lots of reassurance, close hugs when reading. Hand to hand as we write with finger spaces between words. Breathing letter sounds into ears and again and again saying the names of letters. Yet it is a good experience to watch my children gain independence and mastery of the most necessary basic skill on earth. The ability to learn and to access knowledge.

This combined with potty training and feeding and doing dishes for the rest of the family was the entirety of the spring break week.

4.6.17 Bruce Update

He's getting mobile! He's still super cute and mostly happy, now that the ear infection is cleared up. Thank goodness for tylenol and antibiotics, we had a long 6 weeks of illness. But we came out with Bruce doing this new trick rocking on his hands and knees and now moving reliably backwards until he runs into a corner he can't escape.

He also diddles with my hair. When he has to wait for food he pacifies himself with my hair. This is hard to take selfies off as it  hurts and my hair isn't log enough if I move to far out of reach.

Yes I think it's time for the short do again. I hate that pulling. But I love this sweet guy and hate hearing him cry more so we put up with soggy hair and the pain. I'm blessed to experience this baby and the rest. I took for granted having them in my home. I read the stories of people who struggle with one issue or another that prevents them getting children to their home and my heart breaks for them. So I try to be more patient and grateful even when it's hard to share my hair.

No seriously as I worried these past 3 months about my thyroid stuff I thought a lot about my blessings and especially how much of a miracle Bruce is. I was able to carry him full term, easily birth him, and even nurse him for 7 months now. That's amazing in light of all the health challenges, stress, and various life requirements going on in that same time period. Yet I know I have been strengthened because of my service and I know that he was so needed in our family. I'm thankful to be a mom and am so grateful he is healthy.
He's so snuggly and just the right size for hugging.

And sometimes he moonlights as Peter Pan! I got a potted house plant from a friend. I knew it wouldn't last long I didn't imagine it would be a costume. He's such a good sport.

4.5.17 General Conference Surprise

Harold is blessed with many good leaders in his life. His current leader offered to take the young men in our ward to general conference. I was hesitant as it is a long ways away, and there were a lot of people who would be attending. Harold and his dad out voted my fearful caution and Harold went. It was a great experience.  

Sitting 6 rows from podium! That's pretty close. They got tickets from the Carol McConkie the mission mom of Harold's leader. Sweet!
He saw and heard protestors, they ate a Lion House, they walked with thousands of Latter-day Saints, and they experienced the big city.
The day was capped off with a need to eat and low and behold out of the 1000's of restaurants in the Salt Lake Valley. Guess who was also eating at Chick Fillet?

This boy has a very mindful Father in Heaven. Before he left he asked if he would see anyone he knew? I said I don't know there are about 100,000 people around temple square for this even the probability is high you will, but who knows.
Well after both Brenda & John, and Harold attended the afternoon session of conference they left Salt Lake and headed north. They decided to eat in Centerville and while walking up to the door Harold spotted John Brenda's husband. He waved and they visited inside.
This was yet another confirmation that God does hear our prayers and does make things work together for our good!
 It's so awesome to see God work in the lives of my children. Gently in big and little surprises and tender moments totally out of my control. Life is good and humbling. Another reminder to me I am not in control and to trust God has this in His hands and to stop worrying so much and start praying a whole lot more and then be patient waiting and watching God do His work.

4.4.17 OBOB

OBOB! oh man the competition made for my super readers. The Oregon Battle of the Books! A competition where 16 books are selected by librarians across the state, for students grades 3-5, 6-8 and high school. A different 16 for each group. The kids read the books and are then quizzed on events, authors, and even dialogue from the books in a speed response battle! LOVE!

Aliza has loved this challenge. She quickly read the books time and again these past 6 months. She has read all the books 5-6 times. She is the chairperson of the team. She loves to compete and this is her field. Her teammates are fellow bookworms but not at her level. However, she is thankful they are wanting to participate as this is only a team competition.

Added bonus the competition is held away from home. Too far away to travel in 1 day. Too far to take the whole family so she gets to go with her best friend! Awesome! I'm thankful for kind families, for variety of experiences and for ways each child has grown and found their talent and niche at Willowcreek. Life is good, although busy. I'm so thankful for each of these diverse kiddo's I get to shepherd along their growing up.