Thing 2

For Dr. Suess week Andrew dressed up as thing 2. He made the whole costume by himself. He is such a creative kid. He is also into making funny faces for pictures.

Draper Temple Open House

(it was a really windy and bright day!)
(nice truck in the background too eh?)

One of the nice things about living back in Utah is being so close to temples (yes plural). Right now the Draper Temple is having an open house and we took the oportunity to take our family and take some the mystery out of the temple for the boys. We had a great experience. The strong spirit inside the temple must help the children to behave b/c they did really good. Claire was ok too.


It's quite a set-up they have. There are tented walk-ways to and from the temple. They have shuttle going from the temple to near-by churches to alleviate parking. And at the end they had transformed a gym into a little visitors center and had cookies and water for everyone! I was very impressed.


The boys favorite part was either the sealing room, the celestial or the bus ride. Kinda of tie for them.



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Boys

Boys. I'm not sure what else to say. Andrew got in the water meter hole and told Ethan to go get the camera and take a picture. Lovely. Good thing I grew up with three brothers and understand a little bit about BOYS.

You are loved Claire

coloring

Claire was so excited to sit at the counter with Ethan and color. She seems so big up there!

Ethan is so patient with his little buddy.

BTW does anyone know how to get blue marker out of a pink shirt. Oxy clean didn't work.

:0(

Scholar of the Month

Ethan got scholar of the month this month. I have such good kids don't I? Good job Ethan. He has really grown sooo much this year in Kindergarten. He has such a great teacher that pushes him and expects so much of him. I will have to go on about her more later. I just think the world of her. (despite the unfortunate bus incident at the beginning of the year.)


I know it a poor picture but what can you do in the school cafeteria?

Patriotic Program

Andrew had a second grade "patriotic program." I think it funny this is the best shot we got of Andrew. He was in the front row which usually means you can see him better, but in this case he was on the same floor level as we were. The kids have been working really hard for this. They sang about 15 songs and they all had a speaking part. I was actually really inspired and even teared up once.

The kids wore coordinating shirts that formed an American flag.
Andrew was part of a red stripe.

these are the moments...

...that make me smile. Andrew reading to Ethan on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.

Lemonade For Sale

The boys had a lemonade/cookie stand a few Saturdays ago. I always dread these things because they are so hopeful about amking money, and they work so hard, and of course they only make a few pennies. This day they made $2.00. One of those dollars was from me.

But they did have fun.

And where was Mike?

And where was Claire?

And the house looked like this....

midget man

Our entertainer Ethan invented this new comedy routine after seeing the movie "Bedtime Stories." (There is a midget who kicks Adam Sandler.) He put his shirt over his knees and says funny things. (see video below) So one night he wanted all of us to do it and we got quite a good laugh out of it.

Early Valentines Date

(note the picture was taken by Andrew, thus the awkward point of view)

It's sad when I go on so few dates that it warrants a post. Mike and I went on our Valentines date last week. Points for not procrastinating! It was a big band night at BYU with dinner and dancing. Unfortunately dinner was disappointing (BYU's classic cafeteria chicken cordon blue). But we were looking forward to some nice swing dance performances. We were a little confused when all the guests got up and started dancing. Aparently there was no dance performance. The advertisements must have been refering to the band performance. So Mike and I danced for the first time in many, many years. It was fun while it lasted, but we got bored quickly and resorted to watching the other guests dance. We liked watching the young couples in love. And the older couples confident in their dancing skills. It was good to get out none the less and we did have a good time.

New Beginnings

We had a New Beginnings night for the YW with a Ten Virgins theme. We had a presentation about the parable where the Laurels were the wise virgins and the mothers were the foolish virgins. The principle of line upon line was evident to me as I felt the signifigance of the parable a little deeper that night. It was apparent to me the contrast of the spirit when the foolish and the wise virgins were doing their parts. It actually caught me off guard.


I was in charge of the decorations for the night. We used the murals my Mom had painted for her RS activity in December. And I gathered bowls and baskets and pottery for our centerpieces. We put rice in the bowls, beans in the baskets and wheat in the pottery. In some the baskets we put the beans in colored lines. Also we had battery powered tea lights in the rice (you have to look close). And we brought in lamps for a nice ambiant lighting.
It was a nice evening and I hope the girls remember the parable like I will.

(I took these pictures with the lights on so you could see better.)

No wonder why she wasn't sleeping...

At least she left her diaper on!

Andrew's Baptism

I don't even know what to say really. It was so special and sacred. It was one of those times where your heart is bigger than your body. I had so much joy to my oldest son and my husband dressed in white, clean and pure. Andrew is suIch and good boy and he has such a great dad for and example. It was such a milestone. And I can't imagine the joy that will continue to come as the years go on and my boys (and girl) become wonderful men (and woman).
Thank you everyone who came. Two of my brothers even traveled from out of state! And so did my parents. We felt very loved.
Mike's family is not in this picture because they left to the restaurant before we could take it. (I was gabbing to friends). Whom I forgot to take a picture of!!! What was I thinking!

After the baptism we went out to lunch at a buffet.
This is Mike's Mom and some of his nieces.

Ruth's husband Terry was there but he wouldn't co-operate for a picture.

It was very busy.

Baby Jack. So cute.

dare devil

Claire is a little risk taker, dare devil. I knew she liked to just from the ottoman to the couch when I was there to catch her but apparently she doesn't need the reassurance that I'm there at all. This week she has fallen down the stairs two times. What am I going to do with her?!? Especially when she has two older brother egging her on!

Little Miss Claire

This is the dress that Mike put on Claire this morning. (which I was very grateful that he got her dressed b/c we have 9:00 church and I need all the help I can get) I was a little surprised that it still fit her b/c it was LAST YEAR'S CHRISTMAS DRESS!!! Yes, my baby is small, tiny, petite.

Here is the dress when she wore it last year!

I will be so excited when Claire breaks the 20 lb. barrier and we can get her a forward facing car seat. Right now as far as I know, she is 18 lbs.