Ouchie.

BAD wasp! Worried Mommy! BIG eye! Frankenstein child! (o;

Ouchie!!

Photo Booth Fun

Every now and then we rediscover Photo Booth and have some fun with it. This is just one of the many.... and very silly indeed!!

See Finn's eye. He got stung on the eye and head... all swollen and crazy! Makes for an even better pic!!

the small things

P.S. Thanks Julie. Love the pics!!

Wise words

The month of Gabe

We went to a friends' wedding over the weekend (fun pics and post later....) and all I could think about is Gabe... things to do for Gabe's baptism this upcoming weekend, dreaming about obstacle set ups for Gabe's birthday party, Gabe's cake, party favors, baptism clothes... etc etc etc... Gabe Gabe Gabe. It seems like this is truly the month of Gabe. With that, it is nice that he has several reasons for positive attention and I hope we can live up to his expectations. Lol!!

I am slowly getting ready for his baptism. We are having it with another family so some the preparation has been divided up. The month has been a birthday focus, baptism f0cus and then will go back to the birthday focus. Whew....

I am not sure I have ever written it down (just shown picture after picture), but one of our birthday traditions is decorating the birthday boy's chair with balloons and buying them a load of their favorite sugar cereal with a couple of morning presents or cards. That night they get a dinner of their choice and a family birthday cake. I think my mom did it much easier, which would translate to ONE cake, one special day, but we started it differently and now we have to stick with it. Sometimes it is a lot of work, but I am sure it will be worth it as my boys' look back and remember each birthday and the traditions that go along with it.

Here is our darling (and did I mention very well behaving at school?!!!) Gabe. Happy and a bit tired from the start of school. His baptism is Saturday and his party is the end of the month. I love the events and hope I can keep up with EVERYTHING!!! I dearly and deeply love Gabe and am glad that I have the opportunity to showcase him over and over!!

What a cutie!!

no shirt.... never!

(why can't they eat dinner with such gusto? I have way too many of these kinds of pics.... Three of the four are just a bunch of sweet tooths!!?

I'm Trying to be like Jesus

I have a lot of worthwhile catching up to do, but daily experiences are just getting in the way. I was busy today. I was at the computer trying to figure out Gabe's baptism program and Finn asked me to go outside and push him on the swing. I said, "No, not right now...." Pause pause. He then asked me "Please?" (in a very sweet voice...) I looked at my darling Finn and thought how could I not do this. I stopped what I was doing and went outside with my last toddler. We played on the swing (oh how we love that swing!!) for a while and then jumped on the tramp. After a lot of jumping we laid down and looked at the trees, tried to catch a raindrop (being that we are below many trees, we are fairly sheltered) and I asked him if he would like to hear a story. Finn said yes and I asked him what he would like a story about. He said, Tell me a story about Jesus. This is a tender and proud moment for a mom. He is only three, yet feels and knows the important of his Savior, Jesus Christ. I love that.

I told him the story about Jesus getting "lost" and his parents finding him in the temple teaching the Jewish religious leaders. He had lots of "whys" and then was content with the story. We lay on the tramp for about an hour, looking up in the sky, getting wet and relishing the quiet moments of togetherness. My heart was full and yet I wonder why I don't do this more often. Life is too short to linger on the computer and choose dishes over time outside with your kids. I love being reminded of life's true importance.

Why the book? I was buying some baptismal books etc for Gabe's upcoming baptism and saw this book. I love the title and it reminded me of Finn and his innocent and unconditional love of Jesus. I really love the description. It made me happy and so I bought it. Here is the description, I like it and think you will too.

President Gordon B. Hinckley was fond of saying, "Be believing. Be happy. Don't get discouraged. Things will work out." How could he, and all the other prophets and leaders of the Church, be so positive? Because they have the big picture. They know what is coming. Despite all the struggles, hardships, difficulties, ordeals, and even painful afflictions of this life, they know that the glorious cause of the kingdom of God will triumph. Triumph is just a little umph added to try.

The books chapters are this:

1. Be Happy
2. Be Holy
3. Be Spiritually Minded
4. Be Humble
5. Be Knowledgeable
6. Be Serviceable
7. Be Prayerful
8. Be Peaceful
9. Be Fruitful
10. Be Obedient
11. Be Loving
12. Be Forgiving
13. Be Long-Suffering
14. Be Persevering
15. Be United
16. Be Dedicated
17. Be Disciplined
18. Be Christlike

I want all of those qualities and more importantly, I want to teach my boys those as well. Life is full of wonderful, memorable moments. They can be missed if we don't take the time to recognize them or invite them into our busy lives. Today was a blessing. Here is to many, many more and to some good reading to boot!

Life is grand!!

Thoughts on Seventh Grade by Coleman

I have just recently entered the Seventh Grade. I have some pretty nice teachers like Ms. In and Mr. Bowers. I will probably have 2 hours of homework on the minus side, but I am going to learn Spanish. I have two high school credit classes ( Spanish 1a/b and Algebra 1a/b) which will help me for when I get to high school.

I also get to do chemical experiments and forensics in science. I even get to go to Medieval Times and some science trip. It is nice to see the teachers and students again after Summer. I also have Advanced World Studies, Advanced English, P.E., and Computers. Most of my classes are on the top floor so I have to climb up and down all day which is not fun. I hope that I have a great 7th grade, but I will just have to see.