Good little helpers

Last night while I was partying with the young women, Mark was home with the boys. He noticed that James and Andrew had made a mess (a very common occurrence). He asked them to clean up before mom got home. He was busy with Caleb, but he could hear some little grunts and could see them walking from the upstairs to the downstairs numerous times, but didn't think too much of it. A little while later, James and Andrew were so proud, they had to show Mark that they had "done the laundry." It turns out they had taken all the clothes from the clothes hamper (which was quite a lot) and had taken arm fulls of clothes downstairs and stuffed ALL the clothes in the washing machine. Laundry is DONE, right? Oh, if only it was that easy.

How do you spell......

James is learning to read. He is really making a lot of progress and is starting to sound out words. However, the English language is really messed up. First of all, James is now just getting the "r" sound down. Any word that has an "r" in it he really enunciates. For example, grrrreen....rrrrrrred....etc...(Andrew has also started to do this. It's helped him learn his "r" sound, plus it's pretty cute!). Before James learned the "r" sound, he pronounced it with the the typical "w" sound. For example, gween, wed. So, he has dropped the "w" sound to some words that are supposed to have a "w" in them. Yesterday he was telling Andrew he was going the wrong way. He pronounced it, wrong ray. So I had to remind him of the "w" sound, and that "way" is spelled with a "w." Then he asked me how to spell "wrong way." I thought about this for a minute and thought, oh no, they both start with a "w". I then proceeded to tell him (very badly I might add) about silent letters. Sheesh, who ever thought that up was messed up! James is always asking me how to spell words, and more and more I am realizing how much of it is memorization, because just when you think you have a letter sound down, it changes. He asked me how to spell "one." I asked him, "do you mean the number 1, or like, I won a race." He meant the number. So I told him, O-N-E. He replied, "shouldn't it start with a "w"? I said, "well, if you are talking about if you won a race, then yes, it starts with a "w," but the number 1 starts with a "o." Why????? Who knows????? I think I am doing more harm in trying to "teach" him to read. I think I am doing it wrong. And yes, that is WRRRRong, with a "w!"

UEA weekend in St. George and James' Birthday

Another St. George trip! We had a great time. The weather was beautiful, the company was wonderful, a lizard was caught, and the kids were good (mostly!!).

James also turned 6 years old! I'm so proud of him. He is a great kid. He loves school and is getting better at reading every day. He is an amazing big brother and his brothers and Mark and I just love him to pieces! Happy Birthday, James!

Steve and Wendy's Wedding

I love America

It is a brutal election year, our country is facing an economic crisis, and it seems as though many of us are forgetting what an amazing country we live in. Times are tough, but there is still so much that is right with our country. Much of the bad has been thrown at all of us, and I don't know about anyone else, but I'm sick of it. (Mostly sick of the presidential candidates bickering and telling each other how the other one is a liar. Oh, who to believe?!?!) I came across this great quote by Pres. Harold B. Lee and I knew I wanted it on my blog. Thank you Robert, from BabyCenter!!!!

“We are living in a time of great crisis. The country is torn with scandal and with criticism, with faultfinding and condemnation. It is an easy thing to climb on the bandwagon and join the hotheads in condemnation, little realizing that when they do, they are not just tearing down a man, they are tearing down a nation, and they are striking at the underpinnings of one of the greatest of all nations of the world – a nation that was founded upon an inspired declaration we call the Constitution of the United States. The lord said it was written by men whom he raised up for that very purpose, and that Constitution stands today as a model to all nations to pattern their lives.”
“While it is true there are dangers and difficulties that lie ahead of us, we must not assume that we are going to lie down and watch the country go to ruin. We should not be heard to predict ills and calamities for the nation. You must remember, brethren, that this Church is one of the most powerful agencies for the progress of the world, and we should all bear our testimonies [so] that we … all sound with one voice. We must tell the world how we feel about this land and this nation and bear our testimonies about the great mission and destiny that it has.
“It is the negative, pessimistic comments about the nation that do as much harm as anything to the country today. Brethren, we must tell them in a positive way what they should be doing. We should not be so concerned about finding out what is wrong with America, but we should be finding what is right about America and should be speaking optimistically and enthusiastically about America.” –Harold B Lee, Ricks College 1973

I have the right to vote!
I can go to the grocery store where there is plenty of food and then some!
I can walk or drive down my street and I don't have to worry about being shot at or harmed in any way.
America is beautiful!
I have the right to practice my religion.
I have the opportunity to get an education.
There are many men and women who are fighting for us so we can maintain these freedoms.
The "American Dream" is still alive!!!
What do you love about America?

Red Ribbon Run

This morning I ran the Red Ribbon 5k! Run to be drug free!! It was a really cold morning, but fortunatly the snow didn't start until after I finished the race. I have to say that this race was much easier than the first 5k I ran in August. I cut off 3 minutes from my time coming in at 26:50!! I am also running the First Dam 10k in a few weeks. I don't know how I'm going to get my training in with such crappy weather, but I'll make it work some how. I never ever thought I would say this, but, I really like to run!


This is me at home after the race. See the snow?

One last camping trip of the year...

...in the back yard!!!

Conference Weekend

My sister in-law and my brother invited us, along with my parents, my older sister and her family, and my youngest sister up to her father's newly renovated cabin over conference weekend. It was a little difficult listening to conference with so many noisy kids around (ours were probably the noisiest), but that's what the Ensign and the internet are for, right? The weather was bad, but we all had a fun time inside. We brought our Wii up, and it was a big hit. My oldest nephew couldn't get enough of the golf game. Andrew and James' favorite part was the loft. Of course I didn't pull out my camera until we were about ready to leave. I didn't even get a picture of Anji or Mark Todd, but I did get some cute ones of their kids. Thanks Anji and Mark Todd (and Anji's dad), we had a great time!!!

Do you have on your bullet proof dress?

Standards Night
Oct. 2008

Listen to the song here. It's a fun song and has a good message for young girls, well, actually girls of all ages!

I found this idea on this awesome site. I am excited. Kind of goes along with the "put on your armor of God" idea. I'm showing an old seminary video of mine, we are hanging up dresses around the room with toy guns, and having a lesson and a yummy dessert! Oh, and we are listening to this awesome song!

Man, I wish I had young women leaders that were as cool as I am! ;)