Boys and cars

Sam participated in his last pinewood derby as a cub scout last week. He also received his Webelos award and will be getting the Arrow of Light next month.

Yes, my first born is growing up. So fast.

Fast like those derby cars.

This scout shirt is getting too small. Next month we will go buy a real Boy Scout shirt.


Here are some highlights from the derby:

Working on cars is very much a father/son thing.


The finished product, christened "The Silver Comet."


Here it is in action. (Note the place)


Lots of suspense.


And cheering.



All the boys got a turn starting a race.


Sam's car won a couple of times. He was pretty excited about that.


He won second place overall and went home a happy young man.


Later that night Elise said, "Sam, I bet you can't wait to drive a real car. Only 5 more years!"
"Yeah, I know. That's going to be awesome," his reply.

Eep!
How is it that life is just racing by? I'm holding on tight while my family reminds me to enjoy the ride.

Sheesh....

A little bit more

Tidbits.
That's kind of representative of our society today, isn't it? Just little tid bits of information here and there. Well, I suppose it's better than nothing.

& My heart is aching, as I'm sure yours is, for Haiti. While we may feel pretty helpless, looking at all the death and destruction through a screen in the comfort our own homes, we can share our blessings with those in need. May I suggest LDS Humanitarian Services? Because they enlist many volunteers, 100% of your donation goes to the relief effort. If your heart still needs some consolation, look around your own neighborhood and even in your family for ways you can serve, uplift, and help your fellow brothers and sisters. Right here. Service is a healing balm for aching hearts.

& Best Sunday School Quote:
The creation proposed happiness, the fall allowed happiness, the atonement restored happiness, and eternal life IS happiness.

& A dear friend of mine started up a fabulous new blog with some other incredible ladies. It's got all kinds of wonderful tidbits (and some nice juicy morsels as well). This month they are hosting a TON of giveaways. I highly recommend you go check them out.



They call themselves, "A Little Great." I think they are A LOT great.

& After dealing with rashes and tummy aches for way too long, we've taken the plunge into gluten free waters. It has helped Claire a lot. Can I just say that the rash alone has been a nightmare? We noticed an improvement within about a week after taking out the wheat products for her. This week we will start the process of testing her for Celiac Disease. It's more common that I thought. While we've been super reluctant to let go of our dearly beloved ultra processed wheat products, here are some of the gluten-free products we like so far:

We'll be sure to post great finds when we come across them and would LOVE any suggestions that you might have.

& A very special friend gave Sam and Elise these wonderful hand soap dispensers for Christmas.
(They've been well used for a month, as you can see)

I think they are such a neat idea and want to remember this for gifts next year. I think it would be especially fun if you taught a primary or young woman's class.

& Yes, I had a birthday. The cake was deliciouso. (It was not gluten-free)



& Here's what Sam and Elise were doing on my birthday.


They are having a fantastic time in Kauai. (Heidi, Elise said she saw Nic! How fun!)
Tomorrow they are going on a helicopter ride. I can't wait to hear all about it!

Christmas girls

These girls LOVE to get dolled up. Which is a little different for me. Happily, however, they let me take fun pictures of them after they've played "beauty shop."









Yes, that is mascara on my three-year-old's lashes.

Sometimes the sun does shine, my friends.

We have not had a whole Saturday together in ages. I'm not exaggerating. It's been since, like, August. Which is a whole other season ago.

I've been working every Saturday since we got back from Washington in August. I can describe my feelings about this in one word:

poo.

It wasn't too bad when the kids were home all day anyway, but now that they are gone so much, it is really horrible to be gone from them on the one day that we all get to do stuff together. Fun stuff.

But you do what you gotta do, right? I've done my share of supplimental income jobs, and I can tell you this most resent one at Macey's (the grocery store) has been my favorite. That doesn't mean I didn't feel elated when I turned in my two-week notice, however.

Ahhhh.....That's the sound of me in the evening, not working. Especially after a long crazy day of running around.

Today was an especially sunny day. Our early morning rehearsal was canceled. So we made plans. Big plans! Fancy plans! These plans were so gianormous that all my kids went straight to bed after the pancake and scrambled egg dinner I made for them at 7:30pm.

Here's a little of what we did:

First, we went to this crazy awesome place. Our Macey's was celebrating it's 10 year anniversary with 10 cent hot dogs, cotton candy, ice cream, free cake, balloons and bouncy jumpy things.


It was nuts. But we were only beginning.
Next we went to Cornbelly's.

We've gone for the last few years. It's sooo much fun.

Those are corn kernels.


Here we are, getting ready to go into the "3D fun house." Um...nice glasses.


Here we are, inside the "3D fun house."

It was psychedelic.

We had fun jumping.


We got ideas for our pumpkins:


We had fun on the hay ride (it was a little scarier this time):



Anna really enjoyed the princess playland:




We had duck races:


And we went in the "kiddie" corn maze. Those of you who know Elise will not be surprised that she collected discarded, dried ears of corn and their husks for a "project."

And this was at the end of the day. Can you tell? Nobody wanted to smile for pictures anymore. I wonder why?

It really was a wonderful day. Too many pictures, you say? Well, I will have you know that I could have posted 165 more pictures, if I really wanted to. See how considerate I am?

After we put the kids to bed, Jeremy and I watched the newest episodes of 30Rock and FlashForward on Hulu. Yes, the sun does shine, my friends. It's always up there in the sky. Sometimes clouds or excessive in-the-house-ness, hide it from our view. Especially this time of year.

So when the sun does come out, when time does permit, go outside and get all pink and rosy cheeked.

You'll be glad you did.

Um...I'd like to thank my

This isn't the post I intended to write tonight. I've been writing (in my head) about some pretty heavy, meaningful, deep subjects.

But tonight, we shall just have fluff and stuff. (again)

Here are the reasons why:

Today Sam made me and the nurse laugh. We went to go get flu "sniffs". Claire and Anna already had their flu vaccines misted painlessly into their noses last week. Because there was no school today, it was everyone else's turn. Unfortunately, they were all out of the "mist" kind, so guess what? We got the old fashioned kind.

I didn't tell the kids until after I had mine done. They were like, "Oooh, mom. Sorry that you had to have the shot."

"Well, you see..." I began.

Then Sam caught on and started to freak out a bit.

"No, no, NO...I would rather sniff dad's stinky watch!"

Wha? Yeah, the nurse and I were laughing so hard at the randomness. Maybe you had to be there. Nevertheless, we all are now ready for flu season. We hope. And I'm still laughing.


Also,

and this is just plain bragging, sorry. I was beyond astonished to find out the my photo over here won the best photo at I Heart Faces this week. GET OUT! I've been doing the happy dance for hours.

Lastly,

but most definitely NOT leastly,
Samuel, Elise and I auditioned last month for a musical production called, Savior of the World: His Birth and Resurrection. We found out a few weeks ago that all three of us get to participate in this amazing Christmas production.

The performances start November 20 and run until Jan 2 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, UT.

About 3 years ago, I was driving with my kids at night to the airport to pick up my mom. I had just purchased the CD to this musical and we were listening to it in the van. After some beautiful solo (can't remember exactly which one), Sam told me with tears in his eyes, "Mom, I just feel so happy. I feel so good when I hear about Jesus." Elise chimed in with her happy thoughts too. (Claire and Anna were asleep) I'm pretty sure this is the first time we really talked about what it means to feel the spirit and how He testifies of truth. I know they felt the spirit that night, and they know it too.

Ever since then, I knew I had to let my kids experience this show.

It opens with angels singing and anticipating Jesus' birth. The first act is all about Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth and Zacharias. It is the most beautiful retelling of the nativity story. It ends with joy and rejoicing at the Lord's birth.

(Elise is playing Anna, Mary's sister. I am one of Mary's aunts and Sam is a temple boy in a scene with Zacharias.)

The second act is all about the Savior's resurrection. It's a very real and poignant depiction of the days following Christ's death up until his Ascension. It moves through the disciples' anguish and confusion to their joy and understanding ending with all of the disciples stirring testimony of Christ and anticipation of His second coming.

We've been to three rehearsals so far. I've cried at each one. My plan is to callous over the next few weeks, but right now, it has felt so good to cry just because I feel the spirit. You know what I mean? Kind of let it wash all over you. In my patriarchal blessing I'm told that I will sometimes see more clearly through my tears. It's been a while.

It has been a blessing for me and my two oldest. Even a tender mercy. Just as I was so worried about not being able so spend as much time with them (because of school and work), we have been given these evenings to mingle together with beautiful music, script and spirit. I look forward so much to the rehearsals!

If you are around, please come join us for this special event. You can find more information here:
http://www.lds.org/events/info/0,8197,726-1-735,00.html

And Happy Conference Weekend! I found lots of great conference ideas over at MormonMamma. We're going to eat pancakes, orange julius and scrambled eggs all weekend.

What are your family's Gerenal Conference traditions?

May the Force be with you.....

We like this tradition. We liked this one and this one, too. Happy Birthday Pappa!

Slip sliding away

That's how we feel about time around here.













Rub-a-dub-dub 7 kids in a tub. Mika filled up this little pool with warm water for the babies, but the big kids got to it first.

A gaggle of goings on.

January has been busy and at times lazy. Lots going on. And then nothing going on.

Here are some of the goings on:

I'm another year older.
Woo hoo!
Consequently I've been
reflecting on my mortality which lead to some
repenting of chocolate chip binging....

...and this fabulous looking drink.
It's not bad folks. And it's super healthy.
Spinach, banana, blueberries, coconut milk, and orange juice.
Look like something from outer space?....

...ooh watch me try to connect this here.
Space the final frontier...
for cub scouts anyways.
Sam had fun at the cub scout space derby.
While we didn't get any galactic visitors....

We did get one from Hawaii!

My mom stopped by on her way to and from Hawaii.
My kids were thrilled.
If it weren't for all the snow and cold and airidness..
we could almost believe we were there.

We also got a special visit from some blogging friends!
We were very excited to meet Amber from The McIllece Spot
and her Sam and Anna
at the Museum of Ancient Life.
They are the nicest people. It was fun to watch the kids
hook up like they'd been friends for a while.
Thanks Amber!

Today was the opening day of the 2009
Legislative session.
So we headed up to capitol hill and talked a lot
about the way the government works.

Yep, a lot of sitting around.

It's a good thing they have such a beautiful building to sit around in.