Family Photos

Last night we headed to Bowness park for Family Photos. We brought along Tyler's parent's camera so we could get some of the candid shots. We had an awesome time. Here they come:
























And that's just a sampling of the candids we got...I can't wait to see the Photographers photos. We were out really late, so this morning is a slow start. But an evening out in the cool air until 9:30pm seems to have done wonders for a good night's sleep.

Black and White

Circles make me crazy

This is what I did ALL DAY yesterday. For most of the day, Logan rode on my lap, earphones on, dandelion in hand...but Max joined just in time for the picture.

Round and round and round in circles for 3 1/2 hours. I was dizzy when I went to bed and I have a bit of a sunburn today. But the lawn looks great and I was outside ALL day. Not too shabby!

Random Photos

Here are some random photos. I have lots to say about Tyler's graduation yesterday, and pictures to share. But I don't have the energy right now, and the pictures need to be downloaded, so here's just a few from the last couple of days.

Kids got haircuts. Super cute


Logan decided to wear Janeen's sunglasses and looked like a picture out of Risky Business.

He also decided to hold his gun and keep his grumpy face on while we drove to the Graduation...while watching Strawberry Shortcake.

Mission Accomplished

Last night, we finished reading the Book of Mormon as a family. Something we have been working on for...I don't know...two years now. It was touch and go two years ago. I have to admit that reading scriptures with a 2-year-old and 4-year-old was a lesson in patience...for me. But reading with a 4-year-old and 6-year-old is much better. For the last year we have been really consistent, nary missing a night. Even when Tyler was in Kingston for 2 weeks, we would FaceTime him and read scriptures as a family and say family prayers.

All things that the prophet says stick with us and are important - but family prayers and scriptures are a big deal in our house. Sometimes when we're getting home late from somewhere, we read in the van (praise you iPhone for your scriptures app) on the way, so we don't miss.

While Tyler was in Kingston, we were reading in Ether. We decided that we wanted to finish by Tyler's graduation - which is tomorrow. So we did it. We made our goal and it felt awesome. And it was so great to see how excited the kids were to accomplish our goal as well.

We read Moroni's promise in chapter 10, verses 3, 4, and 5 and decided to include that in our family prayer that night. Praying to know whether it wasn't true. Then Tyler and I prayed together that night that our children would feel a witness from the Holy Spirit. Lucy also suggested that we pray to know what we should read next. We've decided that we'll read Joseph Smith History next, but past that we're not sure. We'll probably head to the beginning of the Book of Mormon again.

A friend of mine decided that she would read the entire Book of Mormon in 30 days (June), and I decided to join her. When I read that she was doing it my mind immediately thought, "Great idea! I can do that too!" and I committed. And then my mind thought, "Wait a minute, we're moving in July - June is going to be a busy month!" But I've stuck to it. It's 18 pages a day. I have been reading, what feels like non-stop. I read every time I put Logan down for a nap (again, thank you iPhone for your scriptures app) and when I'm feeding him his bottles. And then whenever I can find some spare time. So far, i've stayed caught up, and I plan to keep it that way. (fingers crossed).

So far, I am finding that I am wasting my day a lot less. Now that I know I have to squeeze 18 pages into each and every day, I'm using my time wisely. Because other stuff still needs to get done. You know what doesn't need to get done? As much facebook or as much Oprah. (It might be convenient that she is no longer on the air, but 'Oprah' is just my code for lame-o unnecessary afternoon TV).

What I have noticed for our family as we have read the Book of Mormon over the last two years:

1. Lucy's reading has improved DRAMATICALLY. I know she is at that age now where reading is important and something she can finally grasp, but she is far beyond what we expected of her at this age. (That's a hard statement, because she's brilliant and we know it...but I guess it's still good that her brilliance still amazes us and we haven't become too complacent).

2. Max's reading is improving too. He really wants to be like his sister so he really tries hard to read a verse whenever we read.

3. The kid's aren't always paying PERFECT attention, but every once in a while they ask a question and it makes me glad to know that some stuff is sinking in. The other day as we read Ether 2:4. It talks about the Lord coming down and talking with the brother of Jared in a cloud. Lucy said, "Mom, how come Heavenly Father never talks to me?" I told her that Heavenly Father talks to us through the Holy Ghost. She responded by saying, "I've only felt the Holy Ghost one time I think." Now, I know this is not true, but it opened a big discussion of what the Holy Ghost feels like and how he talks to us. We decided that whenever we (Dad or I) are feeling the Holy Ghost that we would tell the kids and describe to them what it feels like to see if they're feeling it too. It has opened up so many opportunities for us to teach our children. It has also allowed us to recognize a pay attention to the Spirit. One time during sacrament meeting, we sang "Praise to the Man" for the intermediate hymn. The whole congregation was standing and I bent down to Lucy's ear and whispered, "I'm feeling it now." Her eyes got really big and then she smiled.

4. Priorities seem to be in the right place. I used to be so paranoid about getting the kids to bed 'on time'. Let's be honest I still am, but the scriptures are ALWAYS part of that routine, which means that no matter what, there has to be time for it. If Dad or Mom has to be out in the evening, then we read scriptures before so we can do it as a family. It just gets done. And the kids are so aware of it too, that when I say, "Ok kids, time to brush your teeth and get jammies on." they often respond with, "And scriptures and prayers."

5. Their knowledge of scripture stories is awesome. They love playing "Book of Mormon" battles with anyone that comes over and they usually school them in their knowledge of scripture characters. Lucy also taught our Family Home Evening lesson the other day on Nephi and his family getting the plates, journeying in the wilderness and crossing the ocean to the Promised Land on a boat...mostly on her own.
Lucy will tell anyone that her favorite story in the scriptures is Alma the Younger seeing the angel. Max loves Captain Moroni, Teancum, and Helaman. They also love that Nephi has a little brother named Jacob.

Loving it. I have to go, because it's tubbie time and we need to start JS-H. I like looking forward to scripture time.

Slow Sunday

Today is Fast Sunday. Sometimes Fast Sunday seems to go REALLY slow...you know what I mean?

We talked about fasting yesterday with the kids. They both decided to fast from drinks today. They've done this once before. I can't say it doesn't make me extremely pleased. Lucy said she wanted to fast that she would happy moving to Kingston and that she would make friends. I was also pleased with her awareness of what would appropriate for her to fast for...and the apparent faith she has that Heavenly Father can help with this. Max was going to fast that our house would sell (this is what they fasted for last time he fasted). I reminded him that it did and our fasting had already worked on that one...so he joined Lucy.

As we sat in Sacrament Meeting Max got nervous and said, "I can't take the water because I'm fasting from drinks!" I explained to him, again, that sacrament is different. After church he was quite upset and said he really needed a drink. So we taught him about closing his fast and he said a little prayer and then had his drink.

Seriously these are great kids.

On Friday I was at the church setting up chairs and tables for our RS Retreat the next day. The kids were with me and the nursery toys were all locked away, so they went into the primary room and practiced giving talks from the pulpit. When I came in, Max was saying, "I saw two personages and I knew they were true...In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

I like that I get moments like this to sneak in on them and hear them practicing their testimonies and playing pretend. I like that church things have become part of their play too.

Max gets to give the prayer in primary next Sunday (his first time) and Lucy is giving a talk. Little blossoming kiddos.

Well, my brain is fried because of lack of food. I'm not making much sense and am looking forward to eating spaghetti for dinner...but I am grateful for fasting and the chance to fast WITH my children that they will be happy moving and make new friends. Something about doing it together makes it easier. Makes me think somebody knew that would be the case. I guess families are on purpose or something.

So Long, Farewell...

Yesterday was Lucy's last day of Kindergarten. The night before, as the kids were taking a shower we listened to Disney music, as we often do. They were playing a game of 'Who Can Guess The Song First'. Winnie the Pooh came on, they guessed it, and then Lucy quickly asked me to change the song because, "Winnie the Pooh is for babies." And my heart was broken. She is graduating from Kindergarten and she isn't interested in Pooh Bear anymore.

In the morning she got a bit upset and said she was really going to miss Kindergarten. (I can't blame her). I think she's finding it especially difficult because kids have been saying, 'see you in September!', which she won't. She doesn't know any of her classmates that will be with her in September. She also said that Grade One is the end of fun. All you do is sit in a desk all day. I really hope that's not the case. I would find that boring too.

I remember that Grade One introduced me to my favorite teacher, Mrs. Dyck. She was awesome. She smelt like coffee, but she was so sweet. The classroom was decorated with the seasons of the year, and we always got lots of 'phys-ed' time, which to a 6-year-old is awesome. I was less excited about gym when I hit High School. Dodgeball seems a lot more fun for grade one than grade 10.

When I was in grade 3 I got to go with a bunch of students from the class BACK to Mrs. Dyck's class where she would read to us everyday. We were in a 3/4 split and that was usually when the teacher was trying to focus on the grade 4 material. She read "Where the Red Fern Grows." It's still one of my favorite books.

I hope Lucy still loves school. And I hope her teacher is just as awesome. At least her and Max get to ride the bus together Tuesdays and Thursdays and every second Friday. Maybe they'll get to have lunch together too...I'm not sure how that works.

The class celebrated the end of the year with a party. It was scheduled for outside at a farm, but the weather has been so rainy here these past couple of weeks that I suggested we move it to the gym at our church so we could be inside. It worked out great. I went early to meet the 'bounce-house' guy, so he could set up. This meant that Max got first crack at the giant pirate bounce-house. Heavenly.

They kid's a very loud, very wild time. A few bumps and bruises and bleeding noses, but all in all it was great. Lucy fell out of the bounce-house near the beginning and spent most of her time sitting or playing in our 'smaller', 'tamer' bounce-house.

They also set up nail-art, coloring, and tattoos. The kids also got a chance to sing some of their favorite songs and have a snack.

She brought home a backpack and gift-bag full of stuff. Scrapbooks and journals and artwork that she has made throughout the year. Now I have to stare at this stack and decide what to keep and for how long. I want to keep it all forever...and yet I want to pitch it, because it'll just sit in a box. But one day she might want to look at her kindergarten handwriting and she loved drawing pictures of ducks and her family. I know I'll keep it - it's just the moving-mind that has me pairing down on non-essentials. It's a matter of perspective.


I'm especially excited that she is done school and it is only June 2nd. 3-months of summer...I think so.

Oh, and here's my gangsta Logan. With his shorts that are ALMOST at his ankles (thanks to a skinny older brother, these shorts are size 2 and fit Logan in the waist, but he has a bit to go in the legs), and his teething beads.
When was the last time I had a post that didn't include a bounce-house?