Thanksgiving week

We had a fun week this week. I love thanksgiving and truly have so much to be thankful for. Here are some things we did.

Monday Family Home Evening Darin wanted to teach the children to give to others, so he signed up with an organization who matches you up with a needy family to provide thanksgiving dinner. We did the shopping, then on Monday night, we delivered the food. Jordan carried the food to the door with Darin and was happy to be greeted by a little dog. The family was very grateful, and so were Jordan and Spencer because then we went their favorite restaurant for dinner: Chevys. Not so much for the food, but they love the dough they give the kids with the crayons in it. They call it the "cookie dough restaurants." They also get icecream with the kids meal, so that is another favorite.

Landon is becoming quite a character!

Lanny, as we call him, likes to torment his big brother and sister. I was in the kitchen one after noon and Jordan called for help. Apparently Lanny felt like she was his personal arm chair, so down he sat to enjoy his snack. What would Jordan do without her brothers?

Both brothers attack!!

Jordan's American girl club

Thanks to so much planning and preparation by Lisa Bushman in our ward, we have a little club for the kindergarten first grade girls in our ward. We were going to do Daisy scouts, but to make it simple, we are learning about history through the "American Girls" serious of books. The girls have done some really cute things. We had a little awards ceremony for them to celebrate the things they have accomplished. Here they are all together.

Man's best friend....

Well, one of Landon's best friends. One morning this week our neighbor and great friend Kelly came to visit with her little dogs. Landon loves them so much. Here he is with Sebastian. These are the doggies we have taken care of a few times.

Thanksgiving feast!

We were invited over to our friends the Price's house for thanksgiving dinner, and were so excited. We heard all aobut Chris's turkey, and it sure lived up. It was probably the most moist turkey we had ever had on thanksgiving and the gravy was wonderful. We had so much yummy food....great company-just a great day.




Chris with his pride and joy:)

No, the army wasn't coming, but one may have thought so. Yummmmmmmmyyyyyy!!!

This a great couple-Christina and Jonathon. They are recent converts to our ward, and are great. They have become really good friends. Their little boy Ryan is in my primary class, and I think he may be Jordan's first crush. She is frequently seen kissing his cheek....

The kids table-Spencer, Jordan, Sarah Price, and Ryan. They all had a great time at this table, especially when the icecream was served!!

Landon's new love:Pumpkin pie!

I was curious to see if Lanny would like the pie, and boy did he. He at half of my piece, then I had to get him a piece of his own!! He loved it. Thank you Costco!

true happiness

This is a card Jordan made at school...how can you not get a tear in your eye? Man do I love that kid!!

Who needs sleep, anyway?

That is my question. Do I really need to sleep? My children do not believe I do. Lately it has been every night I am up for something one of them need. It is really hard since I am the first to admit I am not really a morning person. I manage to do the things I need to do, but sometimes am grumpy about it.

Saturday night: Around 11:00 Darin's alarm goes off randomly-the kids always play with it. As he messes with it in the dark, he accidentally changes the time, but we don't find out until morning....Landon cries from tooth pain around midnight. I let him cry, he falls back asleep, but I have a hard time falling asleep.
Jordan wakes up really crying around 2:00 am. I think something is really wrong because she doesn't usually cry like that. I went to check and she was hungry. Her tummy hurt and was growly. All is well after she downs a slice of cheese, graham crackers, yogurt and water.
Spencer wakes up crying at 4:30. He comes into our room and Darin lifts him up. He is mumbling something, then I heard him, while crying, say something to the effect of "I wanted to say the prayer and sissy started first, it isn't not fair, I want to say the prayer." He is having dreams about praying? Then we don't sleep well becasue he won't go back to his bed.

So Darin wakes up at what he thougth was 7:30 and rushes to get ready for church thinking we would be late. He then puts his watch on and realizes the alarm clock was a hour off...poor guy.

Sunday night: Landon wakes mulitple times crying from teeth pain, and I think he has a virus since he had a tempurature all weekend.
Jordan comes into our room around 4:30 telling us that Landon is crying for mommy. Well, he was crying because she had an accident and went into the boys room to get dry pajamas. She also got a dry towel and put it over the wet spot. When I went to see what she was doing, she was playing with her magna doodle!! This is why she did not want to get out of her bed this morning. Ugh!!

So, side of me that is trying to be positive tells me to be grateful I have the children I do because there are women out there who long to be up in the night tending to the needs of their children. Unfortunately the side of me that needs sleep isn't to that point yet, so for now I may be a little grumpy. Oh, now Landon just walked over to me and my great sense of smell tells me that he is in need of a little bit of my amazing diapering abilities:)

odds and ends

I decided I wanted to add this picture at the last minute. Right not Landon loves Sandra Boynton books. They are awesome if you aren't aware of them:)

I just have a few odds and ends that I want to record.

~Last Sunday morning, we were laying in bed just as the kids were waking up. Darin heard Landon and picked him up. Usually he wants to lay with me for a minute, but he was not having it and wanted down. The other two kiddos came in to goof around on the bed with us. Lanny disappeard, then had a surprise in his hand when he returned. He went into the kitchen and got what he wanted. When he walked to my side of the bed he shoved an applesauce cup and spoon in my face. It was so cute....but then I realized he can now open the silverware drawer. He likes to help me put them away when the dishwasher is clean, but usually I do it. I watched him do it yesterday-he got his applesauce, then went right to the drawer and got himself a spoon. Smart little thing.

~The other day Jordan noticed some one dollar bills on our dresser. She knows you can spend money, but hasn't really grasped the concept of actually using it herself. She looked at the money and told me that it was "girl dollars" because they guy had curly hair and girls have curly hair. She wanted to know where the "boy dollars " were because boys have straight hair. She's a little thinker, as well!!

Here are Landon's 18 month pictures we had taken last week.

~We are now a pul-up free house!!! It is weird how it happens, but both Spencer and Jordan are in underwear for bed. It has been a struggle for Jordan for quite some time. We have tried a few different times to get her to be dry at night. She would be working toward a prize, be dry for week, then go back to wetting every night. It was really funny because I got a new pack of pullups-a different brand than we had been getting. She only wore them 2 nights, and on her own, she decided to wear panties to bed. I didn't say anything pro or con, just let her do what she wanted, and now she has had one accident in almost 2 weeks. And the good thing about that accident was that at 2:30 in the morning she actually woke up when she wet the bed wanted dry clothes. Previous to that, she would stay sleeping until morning.

Now Spencer on the other hand does not like to be wet at all. He was fully potty trained in August. He only wore pullups to bed at night for a few weeks because he would wake up dry each morning. This was such a different thing for me, having dealt with Jordan and saturated pullups every morning!! I have been so excited about this.....It just has amazed me. So, Spencer has been in underwear at night longer than Jordan has....I don't think she will like to hear that when she is a teenager!!

Awesome news

Darin and I were delighted yesterday when our bishop announced our new schedule for next year. He was funny and said " we are going to rotate to the 9:00 slot." Apparently the Spanish ward should have that slot, but they depend on public transport and they come from all over the stake so getting to the church that early would lower their attendance. Well, we are more than willing to sacrifice our turn at the 11:00 time slot for them!! Yeah-it just puts off another year of having the 3:00 time slot!!

Happiness

Here are a few things that have made me happy lately.

1. When I see my children enjoy one another's company.
~The other day Jordan went to Lizzie's after school. When I walked in the door with her, Landon was at the top of the steps with his arms our yelling "sissy, sissy." It was so cute!! He is always there to welcome whoever comes in the door.
~This morning as I layed in bed, I listened to the 3 of them play so nicely in Jordan's room.

2. Watching Jordan take her role as older sister very seriously.
~This morning I was really tired because Landon was up a lot. Jordan woke up first and got in bed with me. When Landon woke up, I don't know how she did it, but she got him out of her crib.
~ We were at a birthday party tonight and Jordan helped her brothers make crafts. At one point another mom attempted get Landon out of the beads and Jordan quickly said "that is my little brother." The mom said she was very protective. She really loves her little brothers.

3. Listening to my children say funny things and do sweet things..
~Last night Darin took Jordan and Spencer to see Madagascar 2. When we were getting ready for bed, we were really goofy and talked about moving to Africa and living with the animals. We went through all the family and who they would live with then Spencer blurts out "I will live with the monkeys." How fitting Spencer!!!
~Spencer is so loving-he is such a good friend. He really cares for the kids in his class and another mom told me she saw him hug her daughter and tell her he loves her. His best little friend came over to play the other day. He was soo excited he came to play and quickly told him "you are my best friend and I love you" and gave him a big hug. He is our little sweet heart.

4. Going on family outings.
~During the last month, we have been to the Natural History Museum, Clemijontri Park, Shenandoah, yummy restaurants, birthday parties together, and I took the kids to the Zoo. It is so fun to hang out with my great family.

5. Watching my children's creative juices flow.
~Jordan is constantly writing, coloring, cutting, gluing, and Spencer really loves play dough. Thanks to the idea from Jill, the other night I covered the table and let them go to town with paint, crayons, etc. They discovered how fun pipe cleaners and had a great time.

6. Lazy nights of doing nothing but sit by Darin on the couch and watch TV.
~When the kids go to bed, I am always thinking that I should do so many things, but honestly I love sitting there with Darin watching TV-so relaxing.

7. Prayers being answered.
~Too much to expand on!!

8. The fresh smell of the earth when it rains.
~I am watching my neighbors dogs and lately when I walk them, I have loved the fresh smell when I go outside. I used to play in the rain with my mom when I was a little girl...great memory.

9. Healthy children.
~When I help out at Spencer's preschool, I am always reminded how lucky Darin and I are to have healthy, well developed and functioning children. Despite a couple infections, they are healthy!!

10. Watching Daddy spend time with the children.
~Darin had Veterans Day off, and Jordan's school had their Thanksgiving lunch that parents were invited to. He went to eat with her and she absolutely loved it. He also took them to see Madagascar, which they loved as well.

Life is grand.....

So You Think You Can Dance

I am sorry this post is crazy-I tried to do a different picture layout and it didn't work so well....if I push anymore buttons, I may lose another picture....sorry

I am a huge, huge, huge, So You Think You Can Dance fan!! Since the show started , I have not missed an episode. I am would you would commonly refer to as addicted. I have had secret dreams of being an amazing dancer my whole life, so I guess I live through the show. By then end, I talk about the dancers like I know them and have all the numbers memorized....well, I am not alone in my obsession...there are more of us out there!!!

A few years ago, Darin got me tickets for the first concert tour, so Trish Martin and I went and had the best time!! It started small-DAR Constitution Hall, which was fabulous. But, It got really popular and moved to the First Mariners arena the next year. A small group of us went-Trish and I of course. So this year, we had a huge group, which was ever changing-right up to the last minute. We had 3 sets of seats, about 4 different car fulls, and about 16 daddies at home watching babies!! Thank you Daddies, the show was fabulous, of course!

So here are a few (illegally taken) shots of the show. Above is Jessica and Will.

Here are Twitch and Joshua and

Here is Will in his solo....oh, he is wonderful!!

The opening group number.

Chelsie was one of my favorites. Here she is weith Gev doing a ballroom number...awesome!!



Twitch and Kherington below.

Another favorite number-the group Ballywood dance.

Thank you Trish for doing all the organizing along with Katie and Tiffany for getting the tickets. Until next year.....

It IS worth it

I have had days lately where I ask myself "Is this really worth it." I feel awful that I have even have to admit that, but it's the truth. The time that I really feel this way the most is Sunday morning when we walk into the chapel. Leaving our house is such a struggle, that I am already ready to go back to bed when we are all buckled in the car. So, my children run into the chapel and I gear myself up for an hour or more of struggle.

Well, there is light at the end of the tunnel!! This last Sunday, I had some inspiration on this matter. We had a great talk in our ward, and I felt like it was for me. It was a sister who has older childre-5 of em. She didnt' have notes or anything, just shared her life experience. This talk came when I was on the verge of tears struggling with Landon and Spencer....Her topic was sacrament attendance and she shared her experience of going to church with 4 small children when her husband was in the bishopric, plus he was military and would be gone for months at a time. At one point, she said she had had enough and wasn't going back until they were little-the struggle each Sunday wasn't worth it. She prayed and then felt like she had to go. She was told it would be worth it and she would know why at one point. She was later in a ward and taught CTR 8's. Her daughter was about to be baptised and there was another girl in the class who didn't come often. The mother wanted her baptised, but didn't know enough, so asked this sister to teach the daugher the gospel. She said she know at the time that it was her prayer being answered.

Well, I was bawling of course, and felt the spirit really strong. Later that morning, we did the primary program for the singles ward. I was sitting there on the stand surrounded by these sweet little children and felt completlely overcome by the spirit-a more accurate term would be envloped by the spirtit. I could hardly talk, let alone sing with the children. I felt the spirit tell me that Heavenly Father know me and my struggles. It made me feel so much better. Prayers are answered. I know that I will still have hard times as my children grow, but they need to be in church and learn about the gospel so they have roots firmly planted. They are Heavenly Father's special little spirits and I have been entrusted with them...Heavenly Father trusts me with them and I need to be in partnership with him as I teach them and raise them.

I also have felt like I need to have more fun with my children and not be so worried about the house, etc. Here is and example of what we did when we got home from school on the warm day last week.

Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive

Jordan having fun in the woods

On Sunday we decided to take an afternoon drive to Shenandoh National Park. In Virginia it is Skyline Drive. It was such a great decision!! We had a wonderful day. We came home from church, ate a quick lunch, changed clothes-except Jordan who loves her new tights, grabbed some snacks and the DVD player and off we went. The drive isn't too bad, only 90 min or so, and Landon slept most of the way.

I wasn't too sure if there would be very many leaves left, but there were lots, and it was so pretty. We stopped at most of the lookouts to take pictures and take in the beauty. I loved the sun coming through the clouds, and lighting up the earth. It was breathtaking in some spots.

There were lots of colors left...mostly yellow in some areas, but still beautiful.

We saw this guy on the side of the road.

We had such a fun day as a family. On the drive, there are lots of overlooks, so Darin would stop and let me look and take a pictures. Sometimes the kids got out, but it was a lot colder than we expecte. We found a really nice place along the drive where lots of cars were stopping to get out and walkd in the woods. We really enjoyed this...if it weren't so cold, the children could have played there all day. They found leaves and sticks and had so much fun.

Darin and Landon in a cool grove of trees The princess of the woods-she had new tights on so didn't want to change her clothes-I accidentally erased the picture-it is above.

Spencer looking espceially cute...love that face so much:)

Landon hanging out on a log....love his cute face as well....love em all so much!!

Darin took this pic on one of the scenic overlooks. It was so beautiful.

I took this picture looking up into the trees. The sky was amazing.

Jordan and Spencer playing in the woods.

I thought this branch was really cool-it fell just right to land on the one below.

Pretty colors

A cool view from an overlook

Fun with sticks.

Darin loved this view

If you haven't been to Shenandoah, I hightly recommend it. I can't wait to go back and do some hiking and explore some more. It will now be on our list of traditional things to do in the fall!!

"For the beauty of the earth...."

Today was a gorgeous day!! It was warm and sunny, and the colors are wonderful. I met up with my friend Jill, and we walked at Huntley Meadows. It is such a beautiful place-a refuge in the middle of the suburbs. I was so amazed when I moved here to find so many of these parks in the middle of the city, just hidden away. I am so thankful that they have been kept safe from developers!!

The last couple times I have been to Huntley Meadows, it was really dry, but not currently. It was nice to see the water with geese, ducks and an egret. (Should have put that picture up.) Anyhow, we had a really nice walk. The boys loved it-we even took our coats off. They really loved walking on the boardwalk, which was a little scarry because of all the water.

~Beautiful Colors~

I love taking nature pictures, but only wish my camera could convey the beauty of what we saw.
Little Alaina who was smiling in her sleep!! Sooo cute!

more vibrant colors...just love them. I had a hard time driving home because of all the wonderful colors. I just wanted to stop and take pictures everywhere.

I let the boys get out and play in the woods for a little while. It was scerene....peaceful... the kind of place you could sit for hours and read a book, take a nap, meditate, daydream. Then the breeze would blow and we would be showered with leaves, which was such a magical sight-stuff you see in movies.

At one point I stopped the stroller, and as I was about to move it again I saw this little guy.

Spencer had such a fun time. He really loves to play outside, well all my children do. I remember as a child I played in the woods near our house all the time. I love trees, grass, rocks, twigs, dirt, and am so excited to see my children gain a love of the outdoors. I think being outside is good for the soul. Miracles can happen in a grove of trees....