Snow, friends, church, math, and National Child Day - all things I am thankful for =)

I am so happy right now. I feel like singing and dancing in the snow.

It was a busy weekend. Thursday night it snowed and snowed and kept on snowing and it is suppose to snow some more in the next couple of days. The kids have had lots of fun playing in it. Our good friend, Gordon Holmes, rescued me for the second time in two weeks. He came and got my van out of the driveway so that I could go take Jamin to tennis and meet Matthew for a cycling class, dinner and Institute.

Gordon and Neil playing

Jamin on his way to school

Neil kept eating it, and thought it was so fun

Saturday I watched four of my friend, Kim's, kids for her. Her triplet 4 year olds and her 2 year old. We had a good time. I pulled out the bouncer. We had snack and lunch together and they did a Christmas craft. Everyone was pretty good and there were no mishaps. Hurray! Neil found it necessary to dump out everything whenever I was distracted, so I had a bit of a mess to clean up, but Jamin and Gordon helped, so it was all good.

I know this is a horrible picture, but the camera and I weren't getting along. It's the only one I have of them in motion.

Tegan wanted to get in on the action too.

Our craft. I did this one just for an example. It was quick and easy and they enjoyed putting the stickers on. Noah put an elephant on his. =) ... or was it Connor? hmmm...

As I was cleaning up, my SIL, Breanne, came over so I could assist her with a business math class she is taking. She worked on some problems while I made food for potluck at church the next day and dinner and she called me as needed. Our house was a little crazy, well Tegan was jealous of me paying attention to someone else, so Breanne left for a break and came back when the kids were in bed. We worked until about 12:30 or 1 in the morning. Then I did some last minute things for my class the next day, went to bed at 2, Neil got me up at 5 to take him to the bathroom, and then I got up at 7 to get myself and the kids ready for church.

It was the primary presentation this week, so I had the kids practice their lines in the morning and actually got there a little early. It was such a cute presentation. I loved it. The primary presentation has to be my favorite Sunday of the year. Jamin was definitely the most powerful singing voice in the group. It made me smile. After church we had our monthly potluck and then came home and rested for a little bit. Then we had our FHE. We talked about being thankful since American Thanksgiving is coming up. Then they drew thankful trees and drew all the things they are thanful for on their trees. Then Breanne came over again and we hashed out some more math problems together and stayed up late again. I enjoyed it, it feels good to exercise my brain, but I am not sure how much Breanne liked it. However, she had her final today and got 85% on it! Hurray for Breanne!! Anyway, that is why I am really happy right now. She just called me and told me.

Dress of the week

This week Neil's letter obsession has moved to making letters with train tracks.

Today we went to National Child Day. The kids had soooo much fun. There were crafts, GymKids stuff, zumbatonics, a magic show, ... and it was all free. It was definitely a worthwhile outing. =)

Neil playing with goo

Gordon playing with goo

Tegan playing with goo, although not for very long because she wanted to eat it.

Gordon poking the lightning bug guy in the tummy.

Neil running on the treadmill. That GymKids stuff is really cool.

Tegan jumping

Tegan didn't quite know what to think about all these funny looking clowns and mascots around.

Neil gave them all hugs.

The kids doing zumbatonics. This was really fun for them.

Gordon dancing with Rita Book.

Tegan dancing with Rita Book.

And Neil dancing with Rita Book. She is the library mascot, in case you couldn't tell.

Dresses, Jamin thoughts and Stake conference

Tegan has become much more stable on her feet this week. For a long time she would only take two or three steps, but now she will walk across a room. It is exciting and scary at the same time. The faster she can go places, the faster she can get into trouble.

Dresses this week

What are your thoughts about life, Jamin?

I love my mom.

THis is her blog.

I am really silly sometimes.

Gordon is my awesomest brother ever.

What about Neil?

Neil and Tegan are really good too.

Tegan is super super cute.

And that is all.

We had stake conference today and yesterday. Today my mother-in-law directed a women's choir. Breanne sang a little solo and I played my flute in one of the two songs. I love music. It enriches my soul. Our Stake President gave a really good talk. He told about all the different things he has learned about as he has gotten older with all of the different technology that has changed over time. He talked about how much of his knowledge has become obsolete over time. He talked about how his knowledge that he gained on his mission serving the Lord has proven to be the most useful knowledge that he has gained because he has used that knowledge on a regular basis throughout his life and none of it has become obsolete and it never will be.

Singing with Jamin - Love One Another

I asked Jamin to sing at the end of my class today. I'm the teacher improvement leader/teacher in our branch among other things. We had a class on teaching with Christlike love. They said it made their day. =) He practiced this morning on photo booth.

The dress of the week is in the video.

It was a very interesting sacrament meeting. I was by myself with the kids today. At one point Gordon jumped over the row of seats to the row behind us. It was quite an impressive jump, but probably not appropriate for that time. At another point he was standing on his head on the seat and Neil was crawling under the seats. Tegan and Jamin were being good. About halfway through the meeting, a kind person came and sat with me, which I was very grateful for. Then I was able to keep Gordon calm on my lap. It is a learning process.

Matthew has been gone for the weekend. He went to San Diego for a vision therapy course. This is the fifth and last time that he has gone this year. Thank goodness it is over. He was suppose to come home today, but his plane had mechanical problems, so the flight was cancelled and he won't be coming home till tomorrow. I guess it is good they don't take chances.

Learning Fun With Neil

Neil loves his letters and numbers and loves to sing... and wearing his dinosaur costume. He is such a sweetie pie.

Gordon's Birthday Party and The Dress of the Week

We celebrated Gordon's birthday on Saturday. We invited a couple friends over and some family and had food, games, presents and cake. Gordon loved it. It was a happy day. Our theme was Toy story.

We played Woody Woody Buzz. It is surprisingly similar to Duck Duck Goose. =) It is a good thing I had mats down. They got kind of crazy.

This is Jamin's best friend, Jordon. His little brother, Christopher, is Gordon's age.

They played pin the badge on Woody. They wore Woody hats and a blindfold and spun around till they got dizzy. They all did really well. Everyone got in on the poster. =)

They all had a lot of fun bouncing on the bouncer.

Gordon's Cake - he asked for a castle cake

This picture is kind of scary. Sit down Tegan!

Thank you for listening, Tegan.

Gordon got plenty of presents, but this was pretty funny. Gordon often only wants to eat buns at dinner, so Aunt Breanne got him buns for his birthday. It was hilarious. Gordon thought it was the greatest and when he at some the next day he said they were the best buns he has ever had. Jamin kept saying how lucky Gordon was that he got buns for his birthday. LOL =)

Gordon playing with his gift from Grandma and Grandpa. This is another thing Jamin was very jealous of. Gordon was very kind, though, and let Jamin use some of the things in the kit too.

Dress of the Week