Is it Spring yet?

Last week we enjoyed warm weather.  It was so nice to be outside and enjoy the sun shine.  The kids even pulled out their shorts.  Then yesterday it snowed.  I guess it is still winter but last week sure got me in the mood for spring!

Last Wednesday for Cub Scouts we did the coin collection elective.  The boys loved it.  One of the leaders gave each boy some loose change to look at the coins and practice counting them.  My boys played with money all evening.  It is fun to see them get interested in something.

I am enjoying going into the library to help every week.  It is nice to get out and have other adults to talk to.  I am enjoying getting to know Stephanie who works with me.

Friday I went to the school to judge the science fair.  They had a lot of volunteers show up.  Stephanie was there too and I enjoyed talking to her again.  We spent time with the kids talking to them about their projects and then filling out an evaluation on them.  The kids I talked to did a great job.  I was able to review 6 kids.  I saw Andrew and Spencer there but let other adults talk to them, of course.  They didn’t really judge the fair but just gave the kids an opportunity to present their project and have it reviewed by someone other than their teachers.  I think it went well.  I am enjoying this school and I feel grateful that my kids have been able to be there this year. They enjoy it too.

Ruth had fun with the youth last week.  Thursday they had a combined activity to go swimming at the community pool.  She had a lot of fun.  Then Friday evening we hosted a youth night activity.  Ruth wanted to do crafts and had planned some fun crafts with felt.  She had three friends come and it was a nice evening as the girls worked together making things.  That evening Neal set up some small tents in the back yard and he and the boys slept outside.  Like I said, the weather was great last week and they thought it was fun.  Neal also was trying out a new sleeping bag.  He has wanted to get a winter bag and we also needed another bag so we each have one.  He bought one that is rated to -30.  It is big and full looking.  

Saturday Neal and I went out to look at houses and also went to the temple together.  The kids did so awesome being home all morning together.  They did more felt crafts and watched TV.  I am glad that they get along well enough we can leave Ruth in charge like that.  I enjoyed being in the temple and felt at peace with life.

I finally finished my Christmas puzzle. It was a difficult one because the pieces were so odd shaped.  I enjoyed doing it.  I did most of it with some help from Neal and Andrew.

Last night was Ruth’s band concert.  They did a great job.  Before we went we were talking at dinner that Andrew needs to decide what his elective for sixth grade will be and if he wants to do band.  He was listening and between bands the boys were asking the names of the instruments.  Caleb was cute during one song he was bouncing to the beat and trying not to clap (he did so good at being quiet).  At the end of the song he smiled real big and said “I want to be in band!”  Andrew is still trying to decide.  We turn in his registration papers tomorrow at the parent teacher conference.  He will be going to the middle school where Ruth is next year.  They haven’t been at the same school for a long time, I think they will both like that.  

We were all excited this week when my Mom decided to come visit us in March.  She bought her air line tickets and we look forward to seeing her.  It will be nice to have her visit and see the kids in all their activity.  She plans on being here for our spring break so the kids will have lots of time with her.

Valentine's Day

It has been another busy week.  Last week Spencer came home from school with a paper crown and some beads.  I guess they did a fun activity with Mardi Gras.  Caleb got attached to the things. He wore the crown constantly for about two days.  He wore it to school.  Thursday when I was in the library I was asked if it was his birthday, since he had a crown on.  I said no.  Caleb says he is a king and needs his crown.  Our neighbor said she saw Caleb and when she asked why he had a crown on he stood tall and said “I am a king.”  It was just funny.  I think he has a great teacher because she let him wear it.  She said that if it doesn’t distract him or another student she lets them wear what they want.  

Ruth and Andrew are starting to get information about registration for school next year.  Ruth’s math teacher said she should skip pre-Algebra and go right to Algebra.  Ruth is a bit nervous about that but will do fine.  She also has gotten teachers approval to be in advanced Language arts and is taking a test today to see if she can be in advanced science next year.  She will have a harder class load I think, but it will be good for her.  She was also accepted to move onto Symphonic band, the highest group in the middle school.  Her clarinet is still at the repair shop and she misses being able to practice.

Andrew and Spencer enjoy doing cub scouts.  They are both working hard to finish many things.  We have Pack meeting next week and they should earn some things.  

Friday Neal and I were able to go to the temple together in the morning.  It was nice.  I am glad that I can go often.  Saturday evening Neal took Ruth to the temple to do baptisms.  It is a special thing we can do for our ancestors.  

Friday the boys had Valentine’s Day parties at school.  They enjoyed making little cards for their class mates and getting them in return.  That evening was a ward talent show.  Ruth did a little skit with the Beehive class and then she sang a solo of “Press Forward” a song from the youth theme this year.  She has enjoyed the youth music we found on the church web site and did a nice job singing.

Saturday Neal took Andrew and Spencer bike riding in the morning up onto the dirt trails at the base of the mountain.  They had fun.  Then I took the boys to the dentist.  I was thankful no one had cavities this visit.  Neal took Ruth shopping for a new bike helmet and then they did a picnic and bike ride, while we were at the dentist.  That evening Neal and I went out to eat for a date night.  I enjoyed getting out.  Neal bought me flowers too.  It was a nice evening.

Sunday was Valentine’s Day.  It was a bit hard for me actually.  My dad’s birthday is February 14.  I have always associated the day with him. I decided to make his favorite kind of cake, in a heart shape.  I called my mom and talked with her for a bit.  She was having a nice visit with Rachel and others were coming over soon.  I am thankful for family.  The kids also helped make some sugar heart shaped cookies that they took to the neighbors.

Monday and Tuesday the kids had off school for Presidents Day.  We worked hard to get the boys science fair projects finished and their posters done.  They were due today.  I hope that their presentations to their classes go well today.  Spencer and I worked together on his.  He had three small plants that he wanted to see if it mattered what liquid you fed plants with.  He did water as a control.  Then he did vinegar and apple juice.  The apple juice molded and had an awful smell.  The vinegar wasn’t too smelly but killed the plant.  It was interesting to see how he could learn a few simple things with his experiment.  Andrew worked with Neal doing citrus fruit batteries.  They worked on seeing what kind of fruit and metal combinations make the best battery.  He did a good job with his poster too.  And in case you wondered it was a lemon with copper and aluminum that worked best.

I saw this shirt and thought it fit perfect for Caleb.  He loves it!

Monday we had friends come over.  Ruth had her friend Emme come over.  Then the boys had fun with Jack and Miles coming over to play all afternoon.  They played a lot outside.  The weather has been so nice and warm this week.  The only issue with that is we have a dirt back yard.  It is all dry and dusty.  The kids are bringing a lot of dirt inside the house on their shoes and clothing.  It is hard.  We are trying to teach them how to brush off and take their shoes off, outside.  They have lots of fun in the dirt, but it is dirty.  

Tuesday afternoon we went to the science museum.  There is a special exhibit on Spy’s this spring.  The kids enjoyed going through it, looking for clues to solve a mystery.  We spent most our time there and it was fun.  

This morning is being a bit quiet after having the kids home for four days.  I am thankful they are all happy, healthy, growing and imaginative.  I love my family.

Science!

We have had a busy week.  Ruth enjoyed going to a youth night on Friday to play games.  I am glad that she can enjoy being with other kids from the ward.  Saturday morning we went to the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History.  Neal had gone to the museum a few weeks ago with a group from work.  He wanted to show it to us.  We got there and found out it was a special event for the kids that day.  They were doing a STEM activity day (science, technology, engineering and math).  They had many tables set up with activities and things to do.  They kids had so much fun trying different things out.  We also got to go to special presentations.  Ruth, Caleb and I went to a demonstration on liquid nitrogen.  They made ice cream with it and all got a taste of it.  Neal, Andrew and Spencer went to a demonstration of tesla coils where they played music with them.  It was all cool and interesting.  We went outside and looked at all the old missiles and air planes.  I enjoyed reading things about the history of nuclear science starting just before WWII.  Out front the last thing we looked at as we were leaving was information on the sun and solar power.  They had some things set up to look at the different gases on the sun.  I am glad that we happened on this special activity.  It made the museum much more interesting for the children.  We stayed for five hours!

 I just took pictures outside.  Inside was a bit crowded and my arms were full of coats!

Just a few things that we have enjoyed this week.  Andrew has been trying hard to figure out how to solve a Rubics cube.  He has been watching videos from their website and playing around with the cubes we have.  Spencer earned a free Pizza Hut pizza for reading and we went and got it for him yesterday.  He had a big smile the whole time. He has also finished the requirements for the Wolf rank in cub scouts. Caleb has begged to do a birthday party and we told him he can.  He is counting the days down until his birthday and is very excited about a party.  Ruth has had problems with the clarinet playing well for her.  Her teacher looked at it and said that the keys were out of alignment and we should have it serviced.  I took it into a repair shop today.  Ruth will borrow an instrument from the school in the mean time.  She enjoys playing.  I have had a cold but am feeling better today.  Neal worked hard on taxes and got them mailed off.  

Neal has helped Andrew with a science project on batteries.  They have tested different kinds of citrus fruit and different kinds of metal to see what make the best electricity.  Spencer is doing a science project with me with plants.  He has been watering them with vinegar and apple juice, and one with water.  The one with vinegar has died and the apple juice stinks!  We will be finishing up the projects this week so they can turn them in next week to the science fair.

We are enjoying some nice weather this week, sunny and warmer.  

Races

It has been a crazy week.  Last Thursday the boys had fun with their Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.  They had worked hard on their cars and had lots of fun racing them.  I thought it was neat that the ward has a electronic track connected to a computer that recorded their times and also kept track of who was getting the best times and what lane they raced on.  Because of how fast the computer did the work it was continuous racing for about 45 minutes.  The boys had so much fun watching their cars go.  They both won different heats and best of all, just had fun.  They didn’t win any overall awards but they enjoyed watching their friends cars go fast.  Afterwards Neal talked to the dad of the winning racers and got some tips on how to get the car to go fast.  Maybe next year they will have a winner.  

Friday morning I didn’t make it to the temple.  A sister that I visit teach was needing help.  I had told her I could help any time with her kids as it got closer to having her baby.  Well, Friday morning she called and said she needed help because she felt she needed to get to the hospital.  I went over and spent a couple of hours with the four kids and then another sister in the ward came to be with them for the afternoon.  That way it wasn’t one person for too long.  They home school so all four of the kids were home and I enjoyed visiting with them and reading a book to them.  It was a nice change to my normal days.  They now have a little baby boy in their home.  We were able to take a dinner to the family on Sunday evening too.

Friday late afternoon Ruth and I had dentist visits.  The office we go to has extended hours which make it nice so we don’t have to do it during school hours.  We both checked out great with no cavities.  After the dentist we went out to eat dinner together.  It was a nice outing together.  We got home to find the boys eating dinner by candle light.  They think that is a fun treat to do.  

Reading time 

Saturday morning I attended a Stake Relief Society conference.  It was really nice.  Ruth was at the church helping with the child care.  It was a good meeting and I am thankful I could attend.  In the afternoon Neal and I went and looked at a couple of houses.  I think it is going to be hard to find one we like but I am thankful we aren’t rushed to find one.

Monday was an interesting day.  Caleb loved it because it was his 100^th day of school.  They did some fun activities in the classroom.  He still loves going to school and has made some good friends there.  Monday was my mom’s birthday.  We called and sang for her.  I hope she had a great day.  Rachel had her birthday on Friday and I hope her day was good too.

Monday morning I was using the computer and fell for a scam.  As I have been reading about it and trying to correct things one thing I read said to educate your friends so they don’t fall into the same trap.  So I will share my experience.  I was on the internet and windows started popping up and saying I had problems.  Then I had a window claiming to be from Apple and to call the number for help before my computer was ruined by the detected viruses.  It all sounded so legitimate.  I feel pretty stupid now for falling for it.  I called the number and trusted the person I was talking to was a Apple Tech help.  This is called a “Tech Help Scam” and often they try to get at you by phone calls.  I have had those before and just hang up on them.  But this was different.  I panicked and thought it was real and gave out information and let them “help me fix” my computer.  When Neal got home I told him about it and he was skeptical and we started looking at things together and he help me take care of things.  I felt so bad.  So far I haven’t noticed any problems.  I just don’t know for sure what information they stole.  I have spent a lot of time going through all my accounts and changing passwords and such.  I have had to alert my credit card about fraud activity and have that account on hold now.  It has made me feel very insecure.  I can’t believe I did what I did and I am still not sure what I was thinking.  So remember to never give out information to someone who reaches out to you.  If you need help call a real company you deal with.  They already have your information.  I hope others can learn from my mistake.  I checked my free credit report today and so far nothing has been tried with my information but now I will worry about my identity and hope they didn’t get much besides my name and credit card information.  So be careful!

Monday evening I was really emotional about everything.  I also had an email from Doug that had a our quarterly family newsletter for December.  After talking to Mom they had decided to send out a letter Dad had written at the end of November for the family.  It was very touching to me.  Dad wrote out his testimony and things he was thankful for.  I wanted to share it with the family.  I started reading it but started to cry to hard.  Neal took over reading.  Caleb came over to me and asked if he could sit on my lap and cuddle to help me feel better.  It was so sweet.  It did help to hold onto him.  I am thankful my Dad could share his testimony with his family before he passed away.  I am thankful for my family.  I feel blessed.