Happy Thankgiving

Last week I did an amazing thing.  I started and completed a project in two days!  Well, last year I bought fabric to make Caleb new winter time pajamas.  It sat for a year, then on Thursday I cut out the pajamas and on Friday I sewed them up.  He was so pleased.  He has wanted to wear them all morning.  I have to coax him to change to go places, like church.  I am glad that he is liking them so much.  I am glad that I finally got them made!

One day last week Ruth was having a bad day.  In fact at the dinner table she broke down and cried.  I was trying to get everyone to be quiet so we could pray and she started to cry.  I was able to comfort her and then asked Andrew to say our prayer.  I thought it was so sweet he prayed that Ruth would be happy again.  Ruth was doing better the rest of the week.  Yesterday she had her friend Lexi come over, all day!  Lexi even gave Ruth a “best friend” locket.  Today Ruth is playing at her friend Ashleigh’s house.  I am glad she has friends and I hope that she can be happy too.

It has gotten cold for us.  Over the week end it hovered around 38 degrees.  We got a lot of rain, but no ice or snow.  The kids were praying for snow to come.  I am glad to see the sun come out again.  Now it is about 45 degrees, so we have warmed up a little.  I guess winter can come, after all it is the end of November.  

Friday, because it was so cold, we couldn’t go to a park for play group.  I took Caleb to a place called “Flips.”  It is a gymnastic gym that does an open play time for preschool kids twice  a month.  Caleb had so much fun running around, swinging and climbing on things.  It was hard to keep up with him.  When it was time for the gym to close and everyone was leaving I couldn’t get Caleb to come with me.  He even climbed under a trampoline and a worker helped get him out.  He was crying and saying “I want to stay here.”  I felt like the bad guy dragging him out.  One of the other moms commented that was the hardest thing about bringing the kids.  Oh, he wouldn’t put his shoes on either.  I would put one shoe on and by the time I got the other one on he had the first one off again.  It was very frustrating.  We were the last ones to leave the gym.  

Saturday we were able to go to the Waco Stake Center building dedication.  It was so neat to be there.  I enjoyed hearing the talks given and the dedication prayer.  Then we were able to mingle and eat cookies with Stake members.  It was nice to see so many there.  I feel blessed to be in the Waco Stake.

Sunday morning I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting on gratitude.  It went well.  I felt bad that Caleb started crying for me half way through and Neal had to take him out.  Caleb is a hand full.  He can be rather determined to get his own way too.  Even though it is cold he still wont wear pants most days.  I bought him some soft jersey pants today.  Maybe it was just he didn’t like jeans.  I try to work with him but he sure wears me out some days.  

One thing Caleb did that was really neat this week was type.  I let him use the computer.  I put it on a blank word processor sheet.  I showed him how to push the keys to make letter appear on the screen.  He giggled and had so much fun watching the letter appear.  He called to me a few minutes later and said he had done the alphabet.  I came over to see, expecting to see random letters, but, my smart 3 year old had typed the entire alphabet in order on the screen.  Then today he wanted to do it again and kept typing his name.  He remembered how to spell it.  He is so good with is letters.  His letter puzzles are still his favorite toys right now.  

The school kids have the week off of school.  They are excited to have the time at home to play.  Monday was  a little hard on them because it was so cold and rainy.  Today the boys are outside exploring.  Andrew even brought me a handful green beans from the garden.  I am glad they enjoy being outside so much.  Monday I remembered that I needed to go pick up my new glasses.  It overwhelmed me to think about loading up all four kids just to go on that quick errand.  I knew that the kids would double the time for doing it.  Plus it would be hard to keep them in control at the doctor office.  So I decided to leave them at home.  It was so nice to go by myself.  I was only gone about 15 minutes, it was a quick thing to go over.  The kids were happy that I trusted Ruth to be in charge and I was happy to have 15 minutes alone without hearing all their noise.  

Tuesday we went to the Mayborn museum to play.  Ruth’s friend Lexi went with us.  We had lots of fun looking at things.  Since the museum wasn’t very busy I let Ruth and Lexi do things by themselves.  They just had to stay in the same area as me but not in the same rooms.  They had fun together.  I took pictures but realized I didn’t get any of Ruth and Lexi!  We came home and the kids played in the afternoon.  After we took Lexi home I started playing a game of “Life” with the kids.  I remember that being one of my favorite games to play.  This new game we got last Christmas is different from what I remember.  They have updated all the squares.  It was still fun.  This morning we finished playing it.  The kids enjoyed doing something with me.

Yesterday evening I went visiting teaching and then to the grocery store.  I thought it wouldn’t be too busy, or at least not as busy as today.  It was also nice to go by myself.  It was good to get some shopping done for the week.  Then this morning we went to Walmart to get a couple of things I didn’t find at HEB.  It wasn’t too busy yet because we went early.  The kids were a bit crazy in the store and I was thankful I was just doing a little bit with them and not all my shopping!  

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  It will be good to have Neal with us all day. Tonight we are going to the Vance’s home for their traditional Pie Night party.  They invite friends over to eat treats and visit.  We have enjoyed going each year.  Then tomorrow we will drive up to the Smith’s home in Garland for the feast time.  It will be fun to see the Smith cousins and visit with them.  I am glad that the weather has cleared up and it isn’t stormy so we can travel safely.  I hope that everyone has a nice holiday and is safe as they gather with family and friends.

Caleb loved playing with these blocks at the museum.

Spencer was having lots of fun in the pioneer room.  He was being very silly with the puppet chicken.

The boys had fun building with blocks.  Andrew created the large block design.  We took it apart after the picture so it wouldn't fall on anyone. 

Caleb in his new pajamas playing with his letters. 

Busy Happy Family

The weather has gone up and down in temperatures this week.  Last week we had a frost, Sunday I turned on the A/C because it got to 90 degrees, today it is cool and cloudy.  Crazy weather.  Maybe that is why I got a cold and had a sore throat for a couple of days.  I also have been very achy and a bit swollen in my joints.  I am sure it is all from the weather and being a little sick.  

Last Thursday I went to the eye doctor.  Caleb went with me.  He did great.  He brought books to look at and was sitting on the floor “reading” while I had my exam.  It was fun to hear him tell one of his favorite stories “Are you my Mother?”  Then when I was picking out some new frames Caleb was insisting he needed glasses.  That got a bit difficult to keep him from touching all the frames!  He is a fun little helper though.

Friday Caleb helped again when we went to the church to help feed about 75 missionaries for a zone conference lunch.  It was our wards turn to help them.  I worked with some great women and we got the job done.  It was especially nice when the missionaries had us come in and they all stood up and sang “Because I have been given much.”  It was touching.  I am glad that I can help the missionaries in their work.

Saturday morning we went over to the school.  Andrew and Spencer ran their first race.  The school did a one mile Turkey Trot.  The boys wanted to do it and were so excited about it.  They even had numbers to pin on their shirts.  They thought it was so cool.  There were many people that showed up and the boys did great with running.  They both made it around the route in good time.  

We have started getting ready for Christmas.  It is fun to think of things others might like and buy gifts.  I am sure that Christmas will come all too quickly and I want to enjoy it all, not be stressed about all the things to do.

Caleb has been wanting to help cook a lot.  He enjoyed making cookies with me Monday.  He is starting to be able to do simple things and it is fun to have his help.  He can also be a bit bossy.  He is also cute, like last night Ruth was setting the table and Caleb was the “hug pass” in the door way of the kitchen.  He made everyone give him a hug before they could go through.  He is enjoying his preschool group.  He talks about his friends all the time and gets so excited when he sees them.  

Monday evening we went to the intermediate school for an art show.  They had on display all the Reflection projects that the intermediate school kids did and the three elementary schools that feed into that school.  So Ruth, Andrew and Spencer all had their art work displayed.  It was fun to look at the other art there and see what other kids do.  I thought it was nice that they did such a professional art display for the kids.

The kids are all so happy and healthy.  I am thankful.

this is a tree at the park that I enjoy looking at, the leaves are all coming down now

This is the poinsettia plant that I put in my flower bed last January, it survived the summer and amazingly has some red on it.

Andrew and Spencer had fun coloring fish pictures all over our drive way, as their "quiet" Sunday activity. 

Our yard, the trees aren't as colorful as some around the neighborhood.

Cold Fall

It feels like winter today.  It got down to about 30 degrees last night and hasn’t gotten over 50 today.  At least it is sunny so it doesn’t feel too gloomy.  I think we are just getting a bit soft when it comes to cold.  I did go out yesterday and pick all the peppers in the garden and a lot of spinach.  But the garden doesn’t look too affected from the cold.  Tonight will be cold again, so we will see if the garden is done for the fall or not.

Last Thursday I was able to go to the Dallas temple with some other women from the ward.  It was so nice to go and just have a day doing something different.  The temple is a peaceful place to be. We went out to lunch afterwards and I enjoyed visiting with the others. Caleb had fun playing at his friends home.  Neal left work and picked Caleb up about 2:40.  Then he picked the boys up from school.  I was home in time, but Neal came home any way.  We enjoyed having him here for a bit.  He stayed for a couple of hours, helping with home work and eating some dinner.  Then he had to go back to work.  It was a good day.

Friday I went to the park for play group.  It was a bit cool and only two other families came.  We had fun visiting though.  Then I thought I would stop by Regal, an oil change place that gives free car washes with an oil change.  I had a free car wash pass and needed a wash.  I got over there and found the car wash was closed, so I started to back away from the parking area and wasn’t very careful.  They are on a hill and I backed up off the edge of a retaining wall.  I was right at the end of the wall because only one tire went off the ground.  The suburban was sitting on the frame on the rock wall, with one tire dangling about 12 inches off the ground and the other one just barely on the ground.  I was distressed and frustrated.  An older man stopped and commented “well, you are in a predicament.”  He was very kind though, he said he would drive over to an auto repair shop across the street and ask if they might be able to send someone over to help me.  About 10 minutes passed and the owner of the shop came over in his truck.  It is a shop that we have gone to before.  I knew that Neal liked working with the mechanic so I trusted him.  He gave me advice on how to get going again.  He was worried about how the car was sitting and didn’t feel like we could jack it up.  He also examined it and said that nothing was hurt.  Amazingly I didn’t hit anything but the frame, no pipes or muffler were damaged.  I was so grateful.  He called his friend with a tow truck to come over.  He came and lifted the back end of the suburban up and pushed it forward to get it back on solid ground.  Then the tow truck driver wrote the bill out to the auto shop, so I would get a business to business price.  The mechanic that came over didn’t charge me anything for his time or help. Then, I didn’t have money with me to pay for the tow truck.  The mechanic said he trusted me and just asked that I come in a pay him sometime in the next day or so.  Then they wished me well and I went on my way.  During all this the car wash opened up, I decided to not go through it then.  I went back and did it Monday.  When Caleb saw were we where he said “no mom, don’t do it again!”  Made me laugh.  I didn’t back up on Monday. Friday I had called Neal and he had left work, but as luck has it, I was free and he met up with me at home.  He was glad I got help.  Then he went into the shop and paid the mechanic for me.  It was a crazy adventure.  I am thankful no one or nothing got hurt.  I will be more careful about backing up now.

The kids had fun doing a dance night and a music night.  I did a short video of them.  They enjoy music.  Often Ruth will put on some classical music and dance around, the boys sometimes join in.  

All this activity I got so tired Saturday I had a hard time keeping up with the kids.  Neal got home from work Saturday evening and when I said I was tired he said I should go to bed.  So I did.  I went to bed right after the kids, about 8:30 and slept until 6:30 the next morning.  Sleep is a good thing.

Monday morning I put out the flag with Andrew’s help.  He was wanting to help since they have talked about flags in scouts.  He is growing up in so many ways and is a good helper.

The kids just finished another term of school.  The time is going quickly.  I was excited for them and their hard work to see that all three of them earned straight A’s.  

Yesterday we went to the museum with our preschool group.  Caleb had so much fun with his friends.  It was a cold day and windy.  

I got out a poncho I made when I was 10 for a Relief Society show and tell activity.  We were talking about things our grandmother’s taught us. I remember my grandma working with me to crochet the poncho, so that is what I shared.  Ruth really liked it and asked if she could use it this winter.  It was fun to see her wearing it this morning.  She wore it to school.  I am glad I kept it.  It is one of the few things I have kept from my childhood.  I am thankful for my grandmothers and their wonderful examples to me.  As I listened to the other women talk last night it made me think more about my wonderful family.  I feel truly blessed.

Ruth in the poncho.

Me in the poncho with my sisters.

Our New Church Building

It is November already.  We had a great week.  Last week I was able to do a lot over at our new church building.  I went to a meeting Wednesday evening for ward leadership to review where classes were going to be and to see the building and what needed to be done to be ready for Sunday.  Then Thursday I helped move our Relief Society things from the old building into the new.  Saturday morning we all went over and helped do things in the building.  Ruth had fun unpacking new kitchen things with some other ladies in the kitchen, Andrew helped with moving chairs and setting out hymnals, and I worked in the Relief Society room vacuuming and setting up chairs.  Neal was in the clerks office getting things unpacked and organized.  Spencer and Caleb just moved around and did a few little things.  It was great to be a part of it all.  Sunday morning we were all excited to go to church in our new building.  It was so beautiful.  The interior is in red cherry wood with blue carpet and seating.   It is neat to see everything so new and perfect.  I taught the Relief Society lesson.  It went well.  I thought it was neat to see so many people come to church and even stay for all the meetings.  There was a wonderful spirit in the building.  It was interesting in our testimony meeting many in the ward got up and shared their thoughts about when the “old” building was “new” back in the early 1980’s.   It is neat to see the growth of the church here. 

Halloween was an exciting day here.  The kids came home from school so full of energy.  We carved pumpkins together, ate dinner and then took the kids out around our neighborhood for trick-or-treating.  Andrew was excited and kept forgetting to carry his tail, it ended up being a little too long for him.  At one point it got stepped on and ripped.  Yesterday I fixed it up, making it shorter.  He really loved his costume.  I think they all did.  They all had so much fun dressing up and walking around.  It was a nice evening but wet since we had had a heavy rain last Wednesday.  

Andrew and Ruth helped carve their pumpkins.  They drew the faces and I helped with the big cuts, then they finished it off.  I thought they did some cute faces.  Spencer and Caleb drew faces on oranges.

We have had a lot of rain this week.  It just seems to keep coming.  The ground doesn’t even have a chance to dry out before more comes.  Friday was a nice day and I was able to go to the park with Caleb to play.  Then in the afternoon I went out into the yard.  I picked lots of radishes and peppers in the garden.  The spinach is growing well too and I picked some.  It was good I got out there because it has been so wet I haven’t wanted to go into the muddy garden again.  I also picked some roses and brought them inside the house to enjoy the beautiful smell.

Saturday I was able to cook up our pumpkins.  I was very pleased with my new food processor that I bought for my birthday.  In about 10 minutes I was able to puree about 18 cups of pumpkin.  It was wonderful that it went so quickly.  

Saturday evening the kids watched “Mary Poppins.”  I was working on other things around the house and just had fun listening to the music and the laughter of the kids.  They liked it so much.  Caleb liked it so much that he has watched it two more times this week.  (I let him watch a movie every day.)  

Caleb likes looking at the snails outside.  Saturday he gathered up a pile of snails and put them in a special place in the yard.  Monday we were at the park and went for our walk.  He picked up a snail at the park and wanted to bring it home.  He went out to put it with his other snails and came back inside all distressed telling me his snails were gone.  I laughed with him as I explained that his snails had crawled away.  I realized this week that Caleb can “read” the names of everyone in our family.  When he sees a name written down he knows who it belongs to.  I don’t know if it is just that he remembers the beginning letter or if he really knows the entire name.  This year instead of dumping all our Halloween candy into one bag to share, the kids really wanted to keep their own stash.  So we got out ziploc bags and wrote their names on them with their candy.  It has worked okay so far.  I still keep the candy in the kitchen but let them get some every day.  Caleb knows whose bag is whose.  

Tuesday I taught Caleb’s preschool group.  It was an entertaining morning.  Things went well and the kids seemed to enjoy the things I had planned.  It went better this time for me.  Maybe because they are getting use to doing the preschool group thing.  They are learning and that is good.

Yesterday I got an email from one of Ruth’s teachers.  I thought her comments were nice.  She said, “She works hard and is smart as a whip! She deserves time to run around outside and play. She is a breath of fresh air and a pleasure to have in class. Tell her to keep up the hard work and enjoy her well-deserved free time.”  I am thankful for my sweet kids.  They are all wonderful and I feel blessed to be with them.

The kids did drawings for the school Reflections Program. 

The flowers from my yard.

Andrew, Spencer and Caleb playing with the blocks.

On Sunday afternoon the kids came and got me to see the rain bow.  It was a circle straight up above us.  The picture didn't capture it very well, but it was cool.