FHE

So sometimes we struggle with Family Home Evening. It's hard to get everything accomplished before bedtime on a normal night but Monday's are especially difficult. We have a pretty rigid bedtime routine: dinner, straight to tub, pj's, teeth-brushed, scriptures/prayers, Will to bed for stories, Alex to Mom and Dad's room for therapy, then quiet reading time, and bed. I'm not flexible with the order of things. I guess I just feel like I know what works and I don't feel like experimenting with other options. Also, my kids are exhausted at the end of the day and so am I. They (and I!) do best if they are in bed, lights out, before 7:30pm. This is impossible on Monday nights. My kids LOVE family home evening. Will makes suggestions at the dinner table EVERY night of what we should do for fhe. I am constantly explaining to him that it's only on Monday night. Anyway, Alex has been suggesting for months (since Christmas) that we make graham cracker cookies for fhe. Every week he suggests it, every week I have an excuse of why we can't do it. And let's be honest, there was no good reason. So I felt like mother of the year last week when we FINALLY made all of his dreams came true and made those cookies for our fhe treat. Why did it take me 2 months to listen? I don't know. I think I need to loosen up a bit.
ps-Will's face in the frosting? Not staged AT ALL.

Student of the Week

Alex was student of the week. He was SO PROUD of his poster, which was entirely his production- concept, design, execution. He had very specific ideas about this project. He created a book (in powerpoint) that gave details about his life. He wants to be an author when he grows up. He created a table of contents and the first section of his book was "I am a person." He chose to bring blueberry muffins to share with the class for a treat. He is such a serious little man and oh so smart. He is currently reading "Falling Up" by Shell Silverstien and thinks it is about the funniest thing he has ever heard in his life. You should hear the belly laughs. They are enough to make you lose it. I'm so proud of this boy.

The face I wake up to each day

At the mercy of his brother

This is what happens to the 3-year-old when the 5-year-old is left in charge while dad is at meetings and mom is sleeping the Sunday afternoon away. TIC-TAC-TOE, three in a row!

Things I'm Doing Right Now

...and all at the same time:
-overseeing homework duty
-preparing snack after snack after snack
-playing hide-n-go-seek with my 3-year-old
-planning a birthday lunch for a friend
-texting my young women
-scrubbing stains out of wet laundry
-folding dry laundry
-making dinner
-blogging (I had to record this so Alan can know how I spend my afternoons....and why I sometimes seem frazzled by the time he walks in at 7pm).

Woodworking

Alex's class has been doing a unit on woodworking. He built himself quite a masterpiece when all was said and done. A friend snapped this photo for me of him mid-project. It hurts my eyes to see how much it hurts his eyes to be outside without his sunglasses and hat....yet he is still the cutest thing on this earth. I adore this boy.

SO VERY UNHAPPY

It was 86 degrees here today. Will and I ate ice cream in a parking lot to try to cool off. It didn't work. AZ's version of winter is over. Which means I will be suffering for the next 8 MONTHS. No words can describe how very UNHAPPY this makes me. No words.

Dear sister....

This was the best I could do!

January Stuff

Waiting for the players to come out!

Coyotes vs. Sabres
Don't mind the gang sign Will-Monkey-Batman is flashing.

While Alan and I were cheering our heads off during the various fights that broke out during this game (it was awesome-3 huge fights!), Alex was pondering the meaning of infinity. He said to Alan: Dad, is infinity an even or odd number? Hmmm.

This pic is through the glass but I love Will's expression. The boys have been taking "learn to skate" classes at the new ice rink by our house in preparation for Hockey Tots. Alex has completely surprised me- he is doing so well on the ice. Normally he is very resistant to trying new things- especially any kind of after-school activity. The kid actually has a breakdown if we go anywhere but straight home from the bus stop in the afternoons. His days are long and he works really hard at school and he loves to come home and crash. But we have had a break through with this activity! I pick him up from school, pack a really great snack for the drive to the rink, and he happily puts on his skates and is off to his lesson. This is a HUGE milestone for us. Will loves it too....though he has lost is "drawers" on more than one occasion while on the ice with his instructor. I have yet to capture that on camera. The visual imprinted in my mind, however, will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was a proud moment.

Making Curtis Lou's Booze with Papa. We've had more rootbeer around here than neccesary...but it's finally all gone. And so is January. I can't believe it!!

Being behind is the story of life right now.

So much going on. Just can't get on top of things. I do feel like the fog is starting to lift...though I am still adjusting to my new life. I was made YW President....38 YW in our ward. New Beginnings is this week. We have a huge youth service auction next month. Camp is coming up. And my family still needs clean clothes, meals prepared.....let alone homework and therapy every single day. Also trying to make some major life decisions at the same time. In the midst of the chaos we've done some fun things I want to document. I'm in love with my children and husband. They are my greatest joy. None of it would be worth anything without them.

Alex's Prayer

We really struggle with Alex and prayer time. For about the last year or so, he fights praying on a regular basis. He is a stubborn kid, and once he gets an idea in his mind, it often sticks. So we have been working on this issue a long time. Tonight, after some gentle prodding, I encouraged Alex to say a prayer and to really think about the things that he is grateful for. Here's what made the list:
"Heavenly Father, I'm thankful for this day. Help me to have a good sleep. I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for my home. I'm thankful for my stuffed animals. I'm thankful for my brother the most. Amen." A parents dream come true. Thankful for his brother most? I LOVE IT.

my child

Mom to Will: Will, you smell so good! (as I'm hugging him- it's hard to believe but he has held on to some of that baby smell)
Will to mom: Mom, I am not a FOOD! You CAN NOT eat me! I'm not for breakfast!

Christmas Eve/Morning

Christmas Eve was spent with the Curtis Family at the Brenchley's. The traditional Nativity program. Don't mind Mary(cousin Kate) and a King (Will-guy) who are fighting over a toy in front of baby Jesus.

Happy boys on Christmas morning.

Guatemala 12/08

Oh, the fun that was had on our trip to Guatemala. We left Christmas Day at around noon- which is a tradition my family had for years as I was growing up. We always had a quick Christmas morning with gifts, etc. and then we packed up and headed to the airport. The boys were so excited to see Grandma, Grandpa and cousins. It was more exciting than Christmas! They had no problem leaving behind all of their toys. They knew that they would have more fun than they could imagine....and they did.

First day at IRTRA (sort of Guatemala's answer to Disneyland).

Alex having the time of his life on the "Caterpillar" with Grandma.

IRTRA'S Disneyland Castle- they use a a pyramid

At the resort with Grandma

We went to small branch on Sunday....the kids made fast friends with all of the Guatemalan children.

Zach and Will were great buddies on this trip.

Cousin line-up

One of many meals with all 21 of us at one table.

Life-sized chess was a highlight!

Ready to head to the water-park.

We helped over 500 Guatemalans be fitted for eye-glasses at the eye-clinic we put on one afternoon.

Cousin-races while waiting for the clinic to end.

We headed to a church camp about an hour a way from Guatemala City where we played with the orphans and had a picnic with them.

The Orphans
The look on his face sums up how we all felt about this trip- SO MUCH FUN, SO MUCH FAMILY, SO MUCH HAPPINESS. We loved it.

Alan and I were laughing about Will falling asleep on the old man next time him on the plane ride home. We were all exhausted.

Thanks Mom and Dad!! We love you!

SuperHeros

Check out these tough-guys. Who says boys don't like dress-ups?

oh the joy

...and complete excitement.

Before I forget

Will's prayer tonight:
"Heavenly Father, Thankful for this day. Thankful for my new primary teachers. Thankful for my Buzz Lightyear gun so I can shoot everyone and kill the lamanites. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

New Years Update

SO- Since I don't have time to catch up on what's been going on in our lives, I want to make 2 very important announcements instead:
1. The Cleanse begins again tomorrow. Anyone want to join in the fun? So far 11 people are joining me in the madness. I went to 4 grocery stores today in search of healthy food. Let the fun begin.
2. Registration for the The Camp Pendleton MudRun is open! If you want in, you must register ASAP. It always fills up within 2 weeks. Just FYI, this is one of our favorite traditions, we LOVE the mudrun. It is a great way to stay motivated to hit the gym. If you think you can't do it, you are wrong. If I can do it, anyone can. Join us!