1.15.19 Family Temple Trip

A friend posted this wisdom and I had to save it. Long ago, 20 years or so, my mother gave temple bags to me and my grandma Lasley and grandpa Lasley for Christmas. At the time none of the recipients were that focused on the temple. I was a bit mad about the gift at the time. But I stashed it in my dresser and life rolled on. My heart was broken my plans rearranged and I headed to school far far away. You could say I found myself there, then I found my sweet husband.
The following year in 2000 I attended the temple to complete all my work there. It was marvelous. I felt so at home. It was a blessing to have my grandparents with us.  In the next 19 years we have grown to this group!

These kiddos are so excited to go to the temple any chance they get. Mark as the newest attendee was anxious and excited! I got to be the babysitter of Lia this night but was thankful to know the rest of the group was together in the temple and I could be but I needed to be with Alia that night. 

There is great strength in family and spiritual worship. We are blessed to know and interact with these cousins and grandparents. God is good and even though our prayers sometimes take a while they will be answered greater than we can imagine. Now the kids are great genealogists like grandma Lasley, my mom is also a geneology tracker. With many more anxious bodies waiting for their turn.
My nephew who is 7 was mad that Mark could go and not him. In his mind they are the same age. Someday soon he will be able to go too and follow Mark's example. Family goes on and on and God loves us all and wants us to be with Him again. We can do that through temple attendance and geneology. I'm thankful for the prayers of my mother and for her example.

1.12.19 Snow Sport Weekend

The boys had an opportunity to attend the winter snow sports clinic in McCall Idaho last weekend. Uncle Bryce made that possible loaning them gloves and snow pants. I was pretty nervous praying for no broken bones.

They were able to learn how to snow shoe.

They endured sleeping out in the snow and cold. The hard part in these conditions is the frozen water. Plastic water bottles are not good. Mark deformed Anna's trying to melt the ice to get a drink. 

And they were boys. They were doing some activity and somehow my tall strong son pictured above added his foot to this much younger newer scout's eye resulting in this new look. I spent a lot of time visiting with his mom last Sunday while nursing I did not realize some damage had been done to her son by mine. Oops.

They also worked on learning to ice skate. Thank goodness for a wall! John's stories about this are hilarious. he always strives to get a laugh and is witty enough to usually get some. But these stories were precious. One of their youth leaders took a bloody spill Johns retelling of that is choice.

But his story about them trying to qualify for their merit badge and slowly pushing themselves backwards on the wall, and shuffling through a scary figure 8 pattern are truly laugh worthy. 

 

This was MArk's first solo campout. He was a little apprehensive. He was his usual kind self and loaned his second sleeping bag to John who had to sleep by the door. So Mark was cold and John was toasty.

Another great part of scouts No MOMS! Eating out and getting to choose just what you want. In John's case expensive hot chocolate.

We have been seriously blessed by these willing leaders who trek through various temperatures and climates to give these boys experiences. We are seriously thankful for their willingness and the fun learning they give to my sons.

1.10.19 Christmas Day

Christmas was a little more low key this year and a lot higher. We had sung the songs all month we had read the story. We had discussed again and again the true reason for all the hoopla. We had banished Santa to where he belongs a few visits at a party. We were ready to celebrate. The older kids are now on stocking duty. They love it. I just try to make sure everything is there and there is an everything. This year I went for treats that they never get at home but enjoy. Microwave popcorn, single serve hot chocolate packages, individual bags of chips. There might have been more I don't remember now. 

We had our usual turnovers and lots of sausage around 11. We also sent some food to the community Christmas dinner. After breakfast we got to the presents part. We know the story so we instead discussed how Christ has blessed us or how we see Christ in our lives. Then the unwrapping began. We don't go one at a time after waiting for so many days and minutes it's just time to find out whats in those boxes!

 The boys had made a musical instrument for a merit badge requirement somehow they thought it should go to Addie. They were all delighted. 

Harold and Alia waiting for breakfast.

New coats!

Harold loves to build. At 16 I thought maybe he was past this but as Reed explained HArold puts his lego sets together. Reed was busy having a lego fight with another brother.

The little girls got a doll house. After many many hours researching this possibility I hit buy. They have had a lot of fun arranging and rearranging all the pieces and parts. The musical car that goes with it has been a hit as well.

This little lady just watched and enjoyed being part of the day. 

One gift that was exciting was a box of new towels for the family. This is a tradition from my Papa Dick Corn. He would often give each person a new towel. I took that for granted until my mother-in-law pointed out how rarely she ever got new towels. I thought everyone got them. After she shared that I re-gifted some of my new towels to her. Yet as the years have gone on with no Papa my towels are starting to show a lot of wear. The kids oohed and aahed over those towels for a few moments and moved on. It was a sweet nod to a thoughtful tradition. Thanks MOM!
The gift giving is helpful in so many ways and exciting. It's satisfying to see them enjoy the new things they were given. From the hats to the head gear used for warmth when riding the fourwheeler to the toys and movies it makes the bleakness of January a lot better.

1.11.19 Bow Shooting

Bruce loves his brothers. He is not as vocal and not as strong but he is just as curious and determined. For some reason he found one of their bows. Harold was willing to help him draw the bow. 

Sometimes I am in tears that HArold is so big and almost out of my home. I am sad that Bruce will not really know him while growing up. However I know Harold is quite the leader to this string of brothers that are following him. I'm thankful for his kindness, obedience, and abilities. He's a good big brother for all I can see. So I take pictures of times like these when he's patiently playing with the younger kids because they might not remember but I hope to. And I hope Bruce finds as Greg and I have that no matter the age span there is still a lot to be shared with siblings, they are great resources of encouragement, knowledge and support.

1.11.19 Stockings

As I mentioned earlier the big kids stuff our stockings. I realized this year with my switch from toy cars and nail polish and jewelry that we would need some different stockings. For years they have just used regular socks. I checked prices and found a jumbo pack of 12 for a good deal. I laughed because this was just right for my crew size. We are a jumbo lot of fun you know! 

They arrived and waited until school was out and there was some breathing time. Anna our resident artist took paint in hand one afternoon and made those stockings unique. Everyone was delighted with her vision of them. 

We don't Alia a lot yet so her's will be added to as the years pass. John has a sword and a book.

Bruce tractor and cow, Addie a Horse. Mark tractor and corn, Anna flowers and doodles.

Amelia got butterflies, Afton a flower and Alivia a unicorn and rainbow. She was more specific and demanding I'm guessing. She loves pretty things and to copy Anna's work.

Another much needed chore is cutting hair. He loves to be big like his brothers and insists on taking his turn. Just cutting the 5 heads of hair on the males at my house saves 100 a month as I'm told hair cuts are now $20.00. With that knowledge I splurged and bought a new clipper set. Yay no more snags on those thick hairy boys that live here. Sharp blades were worth the upgrade.

And a shot of our totally kid decorated Christmas tree after the presents were distributed. They have a great time and real sense of ownership and accomplishment decorating and redecorating the tree. I keep threatening every year to get a fake one, it's so much less mess but the kids loudly proclaim no it must be real. Whatever it is from year to year it is a tradition they fully buy into. I admit it is a cozy addition to our home while it lasts. Life is good!

1.10.19 Merit Badges

Our boys had an added bonus of merit badge work this holiday season. A kind friend generously offered to involve them in her son's pursuit of an eagle so they went on some excursions to pass off requirements.

A tour of the local post office one of the few federal offices open during the government shut down. 

A merit badge clinic in Kuna where they earned 4 in one day.

A trip to a historical landmark.

Commnity service delivering meals on wheels.

Visiting a court session where they saw and heard consequences of poor choices.

Building bird feeders complete with good tools and all the scrap lumber they could want! Heaven for John.

Scouts is a fun process for boys this age. it fosters friendship, develops talents and skills, and is just plain enjoyable. Christmas break was definitely much more enjoyable with these added trips and learning. Thanks Tiffany and Hoss for bringing us along!

1.9.19 Cousins at Christmas

One major benefit of living next to grandparents is we get to enjoy when cousins come. As we are not prone to travel this is a blessing because we would only see them once a year at the family renion if left to our own devices. This makes holidays much anticipated events. Aside from the food and traditions the addition of mulitple cousins is so exciting! Here we are singing the Sunday after Christmas. I accompanied and loved to hear the many voices in the room. My oldest two daughters flanked my shoulders and gave me confidence as they joyfully sang songs of their youth. The sweet spirit that came to the room made me want it to last forever. I'm thankful for a family who sings together, though too rarely, we have got to do this more often. 

We also got to visit. We got to spend some time catching up on what each family is pursuing at this time.

Uncle Bryce is always so good to interact with the kids. Here he is reading scripture trivia questions to the kids. I was happy to hear Alivia correctly answer many of the questions.

Of course Mark, John and Addie knew all the answers...

And John found a use for the supply of paper products we purchased to make one less chore while company is here. He wa also taking a short break from working on merit badges which added some substance to his break from school. Holidays are great but sleep depriving and sugar rich. I'm glad to hopefully even back out into our normal responsible routine this week.