Library Christmas Program

We had a great time at the Library this afternoon.  Christmas is definitely an exciting time.

Watching the puppet show about how to get rid of Santa's cold.  It entertained all
four kids very nicely.

SANTA

After storytime and the puppet show Santa came.  All the kids were able to tell him what they wanted and Zachary and Eric used their craft time to write cards that reiterated what they had told him, plus a few on Eric's list.  Eric also wrote good luck on Christmas.  They then gave them to Santa before we left. 

 

Then, I just had to add this one of a very handsome man in our festive home.  We have had fun decorating as a family and the kids have even wrapped their gifts and they are waiting under the tree.

Christmas Spirit is high in our home.

Happy Thanksgiving

 Thanksgiving was a wonderful small affair.  Kyle made a delicious turkey which the children were thrilled with.  We also had baked mac 'n' cheese, green beans, stuffing, cantaloupe  rolls and a banana cream pie for dessert.  We were all full.  We of course said things we were thankful for and finished off our Thankful Turkey seen above.  Everyone but Wendy was finished, I left her with a plate full of food, when I came back the plate was still full and she was chomping on a turkey leg.  She actually ate quite a bit of it, I thought it made for a fun picture.  Hyrum also decided to go for seconds.

There is so much that we have to be thankful for this past year, and I am looking forward to another grand year ahead.   HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Tiny Tim

We are pleased to introduce Tiny Tim.  He was found in our yard about 2 months ago, and since he is still alive and doing well, I thought I could finally do a post about him.  He likes to bury himself in the dirt, look at you with his big eyes and then hide in his shell.  He pretty much does what turtles do which is not much, but the kids like him and as far as maintenance for a pet goes, he is great.

Playing in the Leaves

Yesterday, we spent the the afternoon raking leaves.  The kids helped in the backyard, then when I went to the front they stayed out back.  I blew/raked the biggest pile of leaves and then let them come have some fun before we bagged them.  We had a great time.  We ended up with 17 bags, the past month we have spent time raking other times as well and have previously filled 25 bags.  You may think that 42 bags of leaves means that we are done, nope!!  If we look up there are still plenty of leaves left to fall.  I'm sure another day will find us playing in the leaves again.

Halloween

We didn't go too extravagant on costumes this year.  Zachary was a ghost, it was the same costume he wore two years ago.  Eric was Spiderman, it was the same costume he wore last year.  Wendy was a fairy princess, it was odds and ends from around the house.  Hyrum was a lion, his costume has been worn by every one of my children (see below).  Even though the costumes were reused, the fun was all new.  We had a great time and came back with a huge stash of candy.  

Hyrum

Wendy

Eric

Zachary

Happy Birthday Kyle!

Kyle is another year older and of course more handsome, and wise as well.  His birthday fell on a Sunday, and I had meetings from about 8:30am-4:00pm so his birthday celebration was short, but excitedly celebrated by all of us.  The cake had 32 candles, which the children put on.  He blew it out in one blow (I wonder what his wish was?).
Kyle is a wonderful husband and father.  It amazes me how good he is at helping the kids realize that they need to balance work and play.  He supports me so completely and puts up with a lot.  He also has a beautiful testimony of the gospel and willingly shares it with us.  I love him!!

All I Want for Christmas are My 2 Front Teeth.

Zachary can now sing this Christmas song and mean it.  Yesterday, he fell on the stairs at the school playground.  I got a call to come and get him, and that he had knocked out one of his front teeth and the other was turned sideways.  We went to the dentist and she pulled it because he could not bite normally.  Thank goodness there was not other damage to his mouth, lips or face.  He must have fallen directly on the teeth and they took all the fall.  So Zachary now has a new smile.  Still as handsome as ever.

Taken right after I picked him up from school.  He just wanted to go home and rest.

After the tooth was pulled.

Family Visiting Us!

Usually in order to see family we have to get on a plane and head west, last week my parents, sister and her kids came to visit us.  I loved having them!  We spent time at the zoo, in Natchez looking at some of the antebellum homes, at the children's museum, in Vicksburg at the Military Park, and just playing at home.  My parents were able to go to lunch with the boys at school, which was exciting for them.  Wendy loved having a playmate, and in her pretend stories she is still the mom, but now I have a name, "girl Abbie."  Hyrum seemed to like having someone to push around, sorry Lincoln.  Here are some pictures from our adventures. Thanks for coming Mom, Dad, and Tammie.  Enjoy all the pictures.

The Children's Museum

  Here is everyone working on play-dough creations.  Everyone's turned out lovely.

Vicksburg

A couple of videos to enjoy

This video reminded me of my parents dog, Charlie.  When he could see the little dust particles in the air he would try to get them with his mouth.  Wendy saw some on Wednesday and called them bugs and tried to get them.  I thought she was a cutie.

Here are Hyrum and I playing the piano.  All my kids have liked to pound on the keys, but Hyrum really likes it.  He will climb up there and play, turning pages and entertaining himself quite nicely.

Sprinklers

What do you do at the end of September, well in Mississippi we play in the sprinklers.  The kids had a great time last week.  Eric and Zachary pretended the water was poison for a little while and they could not be touched by it or they lost one of their lives.  Wendy and Hyrum ran through the big sprinkler, but preferred to stay away from the rowdiness of their older brothers and play in the spray where the hoses were joined.  I rested in the hammock while I watched my kids play.  It was a wonderful afternoon.

Soccer Begins

Eric and Zachary had their first games of the fall soccer season today.  Both of them did a great job.  Zachary was much more aggressive than last year and actually kicked the ball a lot.  Of course half the time he was trying to take it away from his own teammate :}.  Eric's game was his first of his entire soccer career.  He did great!!  He even scored the first goal of the game and pumped his arms up and down shouting "yes, yes, yes!"  Soccer is such a fun sport.

Zachary's Birthday

Zachary had a good birthday.  At school he was the Student of the Week, so we made a poster and he got to share with the class all about himself.  He also was able to share a healthy snack, cheese sticks, with his classmates.  He had a Chase, his 'best friend,' over for the afternoon.  Chase brought him some Ninjago Legos, and he was able to open a couple Ninjago presents from the family as well.  Zachary, Eric, and Chase had a great time playing with all of them.  We then had cake and ice cream and watched a Ninjago episode.  (Can you tell that Zachary is into Ninjago lately?)  We saved some presents to open when Dad got home, but Zachary had a headache and fell asleep before they were opened.  It made the next morning that more exciting as his birthday celebration continued before he went to school.

Here is a little bit about the past year for Zachary.  He has really grown up physically and emotionally.  He loved Kindergarten, but often was a little too mischievous. This year he has always received a good behavior grade!!!  Zachary loves to be active and has a great mind for pretending.  He also is very curious and likes to ask the question why, and often digs a little deeper than many children his age.  We love Zachary and are amazed that he is already 7 years old!!!

Helping Hands

 Kyle had the opportunity to be part of the clean-up team sent from our stake down to Louisiana to help gut some of the housed flooded during Hurricane Isaac.  They left at 4:00am Saturday morning and returned Sunday evening around 7:00pm.  In between those hours the worked, slept, attended an early morning sacrament meeting, and worked some more.  Kyle says it was hard work, but a good experience.  Above he is modeling his "Helping Hands" t-shirt in front of one of the houses he worked in.
On the home front, we only had sacrament meeting, all the other meetings were canceled.  Wendy was quite distraught last week when she did not get to see her friends in nursery.  The boys were a bit confused, but got over it quickly.  I realized how much I miss Kyle when I was trying to help 4 children remain reverent without him.  This week the stake received another clean-up assignment, so again it is only sacrament meeting.  At least this time I will have Kyle to help :)

Elton John

Kyle and I went to an Elton John concert with some of his coworkers.  I did not know what I would think of it, but I have to say that we had a great time.  We were as high up as you could get, but we could see just fine and the music wasn't too loud.  The band had two cello players who also preform by themselves as the "Two Cellos".  They began the concert and it was amazing to hear what two men playing cellos can do with rock and roll.  I loved it!  It was then fun to hear some tunes that I recognized and to spend time alone with Kyle.