Caleb's Birthday!

The last two weeks have gone by fast.  Last Wednesday I was busy getting things ready for Caleb’s birthday, well, I made him some shamrock pajamas and wanted to have them for his birthday.  So I didn’t write.  So much happens in our little family so I can only highlight a few things.  

On Friday March 11 the boys and I went to the school for an activity.  The school had given each family a copy of the book “A Cricket in Times Square” and did activities with it at school and encouraged everyone to read it.  The big activity on Friday was all about the book.  They had some fun trivia and activities for us to do.  The boys enjoyed it.  Near the end of things I was trying to gather them all up so we could leave.  I said “where did Caleb go?” then I heard the piano.  I knew who was playing that Indian song.  I looked up on the little stage at the piano and sure enough, that was Caleb.  He loves playing the piano by the way.  He has gone through two primers this year and has started on book one of an Alfred series.  He is my fastest piano learner out of all the kids.  

Saturday March 12 we had a friend birthday party for Caleb.  He was so excited to have friends come over.  It was fun to have them.  We invited his Primary class from church and also two kids from school, who are LDS but not in his Primary class.  We had five kids come to the party.  They were so cute.  We did some little activities with them but I think the highlight was the treasure hunt.  While we were gone Friday evening Neal and Ruth put together a little treasure (a pail with plastic coins inside of a #10 can) and they had buried it in the back yard.  (The advantages of having a yard that is dirt.)  Ruth made a little map to help the kids find their treasure.  They thought it was great.  I am glad that the party went well for Caleb. Caleb was given side walk chalk and has been busy.  He has even gone down the side walk some in front of the neighbors because he said he ran out of room, our driveway is covered. 

The kids had fun playing with the trains while they were here for the party.

I thought about making a shamrock shaped cake but couldn't find a pan.  Caleb liked how I did it.

Caleb was holding the treasure map and the kids loved digging in the soft dirt. 

The unveiling of the treasure.

The cake was good and passed the test of the older brothers. 

That morning Ruth had participated with the youth doing a fund raiser by doing power raking and aeration. She was pretty tired from all the yard work she had done but still helped with the party too.

That night we had the time change.  This is a hard thing on all of us.  The kids had a hard time getting moving the next few mornings for school.  

Neal has been working on his bikes this spring.  He has started riding his bike to work a couple of times a week.  I think he is enjoying it.  It is good for him to get some exercise.  

We had fun with the cub scouts this month.  We did an elective on air.  The boys loved doing some simple activities with balloons, instruments and the funnest was making a kite last week.  Spencer has made some good friends with his scout group.  One of boys also goes to the same school with him, Matthew, and they are playing together at recess now.  Last Saturday Matthew invited Spencer over to play and they had a great afternoon together.

Caleb’s birthday is on St. Patricks Day.  He was so excited for that this year.  He wanted everything green and shamrocks this year for his birthday.  His class teacher was doing activities with the holiday and had the kids bring in Leprechaun traps.  I had never heard of such a thing before.  Caleb was so excited to go to school that morning to see if the Leprechauns had been there, and if they caught any. I told him it was a bit silly.  He got all serious and said that his teacher told him they were real and “I am going to believe my teacher on this one.”  I had to laugh.  I went with Caleb that morning because we brought donuts into the class for a treat for his birthday.  I saw the mess the class room was and the teacher talking about how the leprechauns did it again and messed up her room.  The kids were all screaming and looking in all the traps.  It was crazy.  Caleb thought it was fun. Of course no leprechauns were found but the kids did get a little candy and plastic coins.  

After school Caleb was so excited for his birthday and was dancing around.  He was singing to himself almost constantly.  He sang all the birthday songs he knew from Primary too.  For dinner we had his favorite dish, Panseat, a cabbage and noodle casserole.  He wanted green donuts for his treat.  I couldn’t find any and just bought a box of assorted donuts from a shop.  He was happy about it.  I am glad that my 6 year old had a fun day.  Oh, he loves his new pajamas and is so happy to wear them.  That night as he went to bed he said in his prayer “thank you for a lovely birthday.”  It was cute. 

Yes, I gave him a math book.  Over a month ago I had asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he said a math work book, because he likes doing math.  He was happy for it.

Friday the 18^th I took Caleb to a birthday party for a class mate at a skating rink.  It was fun to let him try skating for the first time. He was happy and cheerful about it, even when he fell a few times.  He enjoyed being with his friends.  He is very social.

Last Saturday Andrew had an all day cub scout Webelos activity. They were working on their camping adventure.  Neal went with them.  They had a fun day.  Andrew loved doing soap carvings and we have a few in the bathroom now.  

Monday evening the kids were being a bit sluggish about doing chores.  They were asking why they had to do “so much!”  I started to complain in a joking manner and said that maybe I should just stop doing things because I was too tired.  I asked if I could go on vacation from being a mom and they all yelled “NO.”  Then Andrew asked “what would we eat for dinner?  I guess we could do canned soup, I could fix that.”  It was really cute actually.  I think talking about it that way they realized that what I ask them to do really isn’t that much and they all thanked me for what I do.

We have had some good FHE nights.  Andrew taught a good lesson on the scripture story of Abinidi.  Then this week it was Caleb’s turn to do lesson.  I asked him Sunday afternoon if he needed help in planning it and he said “it is already done.”  I was surprised that he did a lesson on his own.  For a long time he hasn’t wanted to do it and then the last couple of times he has let me help him find something we could do.  This week he wrote random (that is the word he used) scriptures from the Book of Mormon on papers.  Then he had each of us reach in a bag and pull one out and read it.  They were random and didn’t go together in any way.  But we talked about each one briefly.  At the end of a lesson we have taught the kids they should give a testimony or share their feelings about their lesson.  Caleb just said simple “It makes me happy to read from the Book of Mormon.”  It was a good lesson.

Yesterday we had a very windy afternoon.  I had a window open, because it was nice at first.  Then when I realized that the wind was blowing dirt in the house I shut it.  (That is a disadvantage to having a dirt yard.)  I finished sewing new pajamas for me.  I made some nice cozy flannel ones, just in time for the first of spring.  Oh well, I guess things get busy and they didn’t get done before Christmas like planned.  I have enjoyed going to the temple.  Last week while there I felt really close to my Dad.  It was special being there.  I know that he is there watching over us.

Yesterday Andrew brought home a paper about his art work.  His art teacher has chosen him to show one of his art pictures at an art fair gallery for the school district.  I don’t know if he is the only 5^th grader or just one from his class.  But either way I thought it was neat his was being chosen and his art ability recognized.  (This is different than the Reflections program.)  I look forward to going to the opening night of the art gallery to see his art on display.

Tomorrow my mom is flying down to visit us!  We are excited to have her come.  It is spring break next week so it will be fun to have her here while the kids are out of school.

Dinners

I feel like things get busy and then this week I really don’t know what to share.  The kids have had fun playing out side and also with their Lego.  The weather has been nice again and we enjoy seeing the flowers blooming.  I went to the temple Friday and like seeing all the daffodils in the flower beds there. 

Neal worked on bikes Saturday. He had Andrew helping and learning from him too.  They are getting Neal’s bikes working better and fixed Spencer’s tire.  That evening we had the missionaries come over.  There are three serving in our ward now and we enjoyed having them come share dinner with us.  They are good young men and I am glad that we could have them in our home. 

Sunday evening our neighbors invited us over for dinner.  We enjoyed visiting with Mario, Joy and their son Cody.  We have been blessed to have good neighbors here.

Last night I enjoyed going to the Relief Society dinner/birthday celebration.  They had a nice meal and time for visiting.  I am thankful for the church that brings me into contact with many wonderful people.

Our Winter Campout

Last week I was able to get Ruth’s clarinet back from the repair shop.  She is happy to have it back.  It is playing very well too.  I am glad that they were able to get it working better.  She is excited to be going to a festival tomorrow to play.  They aren’t judged at this level but will be assessed for their performance.  I remember how much I always enjoyed band festivals and just getting to be away from school for a day.

I attended at meeting at the middle school for incoming 6^th graders.  Andrew, I think, is a bit nervous about moving to yet another school.  He has had a lot of school changes the last couple of years.  I think he will do well.  He has decided to be in the band but hasn’t decided what instrument he wants to play.

Wednesday evening I went to a book club meeting for ladies in our ward and the neighboring ward.  (They use to be all the same ward but were divided about two years ago.) I just found out about the club and was invited to join.  I read the book for the month “Bomb” by Steve Sheinkin. We did discuss the book but we also had a party.  The book club has been going for 10 years and they were celebrating.  Many in the group there that night (20 ladies came) were at the first meeting 10 years before.  This was their 90^th book club meeting.  That is amazing.  I felt a bit out of it being the new person.  Everyone has been so kind to me here and I am excited to have something I can go to and feel like I can make friends there.  It is a good group of women. I already knew most of them by name too.

Thursday morning I went to the elementary school for teacher conferences.  The kids had the day off school.  They went to play at the Struve’s home.  The weather was so nice they walked to a near by park and that is where I met back up with them.  It was a pretty day.  The conferences went well. The boys are doing well with their classes.  Their teachers all praise them and what good boys they are.  I am glad that they are doing well.  After I picked them up from the park we went to the store and bought four pairs of shoes.  They all needed them!  Caleb couldn’t find any with velcro so he got a lace up kind and is now learning how to tie them.  I guess others in his class are struggling with this too.  So his teacher has challenged the kids to learn how to do their own shoes by Friday.  She is even offering prizes from a treasure box to those who can do it.  He is excited to learn.

Thursday evening was the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet.  The boys made cakes for everyone.  Andrew wanted to make cake balls.  So we made lots of balls from one cake mix.  Half of them Andrew decorated into a caterpillar and the other half Spencer made little creatures.  It was fun to see the the cakes from other boys and their creativity.  Andrew earned three pins and is getting closer to earning his Webelos and Arrow of Light ranks.  Spencer was able to earn his Wolf rank that night along with four belt loops.  He has worked hard with things.  It is fun to see them learning and growing.  It was a nice evening and dinner time with the cub scout families in our ward.  

Spencer loves his new red shoes.  And he also doesn't think his pants are too short, they are just right for him.  I think they are getting short!  But he loves his shoes.

Friday morning we packed up and went for a drive. (The kids were still out of school for parent conferences) We went about two hours south to a place called Elephant Butte State Park.  It was a pretty place.  It was not too busy either, being the winter time.  I am sure the lake it busy in the summer with all the water sports.  Neal wanted to go somewhere where they could practice fishing.  They didn’t catch anything but they enjoyed trying.  The kids loved playing in the sand on the beach.  We camped over night.  It didn’t get as cold as I thought it might.  The weather was really nice to be camping.  I thought it was about as cold as some summer camping we have done in mountains. I stayed warm in our new toasty sleeping bag.  But, we forgot to bring the air mattress so I didn’t sleep too soundly on the hard ground. I did like the lack of insects though.  We enjoyed playing and fishing Saturday morning.  The camp ground even had a fun play ground area for the kids.  After eating lunch we drove just a short way to the city of Truth or Consequences.  We were driving around just looking at it and found a little museum.  We stopped and were able to look around for about an hour.  It was interesting to see the things there about the local area.  We then drove home.  We decided to continue our camping experience and we did hamburgers on the grill. We also let the kids roast marshmallows, since we didn’t do that camping.  It was a fun, but tiring trip.  

Sunday was a quiet day, I think we were all tired.  Monday the kids went back to school and I tackled a pile of laundry and house cleaning that had been neglected.  We are enjoying the warmer weather again.  We are even seeing some flowering trees blossoming and buds all over trees and bushes.  It is fun to see spring coming.  Neal was reminiscing and realized he has been in this house for a year now.  That was hard last year having him move down here with out us.  I am thankful we are all together now.

Yesterday the kids were playing outside and drawing on the drive way.  This morning while waiting for the bus I was looking at what they made.  The drew mazes.  It amazes me that they can make complicated  mazes and keep track of the pathways.  They really are amazing boys and I love them!