Brave

Chloe Turns 6

So I've been really sick with a "post viral cough" which means I've feel yucky but I'm not really sick nor am I contagious sooooooo I didn't get the blog updated last week and now I'm 2 weeks behind. For those of you asking "Why is she telling me this?" I'll tell you.

I've never been good at journaling. I'm not very good at scrapbooking. In fact, the last pictures that I printed from my digital camera were printed in 2007. That means I have 2 years worth of events stored on a hard drive or USB stick somewhere floating around letting me forget what actually happened. I'm really trying to remedy this bad habit. So my goal starting in November was to update the Blog at least once a week. That way there would be at least some record of my life. So here is my Dear Diary I'm sorry I haven't written to you in _______ but here goes excuse out of the way.

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On November, 19 2009 Chloe turned 6. She has been in our family 6 whole years. I can not believe it. She started Kindergarten this year. At her parent teacher conference she was excelling at everything. The only comment that her teacher had was "We are working on Chloe not always having to be in charge." Oh why do we pass off our bad habits to our children.

Chloe is sure of herself. She is brave. She is a kind friend. She is always making sure that everyone is included. She loves when smaller kids are over at our house so that she can take care of them. Thanks to a wonderful "T" Chloe is taking and loving every second of dance. She is growing up to be a beautiful and thoughtful girl.

Happy Birthday Chloe - Even if it is 2 weeks late.

TOFW and Sweet Assurance

Are you in the know? Do you know the joy that the 4 letters TOFW bring? If not let me edjamacate you. Time Out for Women is a yearly touring event put on by Deseret Book. It is a 1-2 day event featuring uplifting speakers and music and girl time. The past few years I've been attending with my sisters (in laws count as sisters right?), my cousins, my aunt, and my mom. It has been a special time just for the women. This year in addition to all of those wonderful people another aunt and a good friend got to come too. It was so fun to see my mom with all her sisters. They sat in a row in front of the "girls" for Day 2's events and I can't describe how neat it was to watch these women who I've looked up to my whole life and who remind me more and more of my loving Grandma. My kids are so lucky to have women like this in their lives.

The theme of this years tour was Sweet Assurance. The speakers touched on the feeling of assurance that can come from knowing truths. Not only were we able to hear the music of Jenny Oaks Baker and Hillary Weeks, but we also heard from Wendy Watson Nelson, Mary Ellen Edmunds, Kris Belcher, Emily Watts, S. Michael Wilcox and my favorite Sherri Dew.

Here are some highlights

Wendy Watson Nelson - spoke of filling the measuring of your creation. "Remember the Plan of Salvation is not Plan B."

S. Micheal Wilsox - "Go to Heavenly Father with a need. He will take what you have and multiply it. And it will fill the need."

Emily Watts - "Sometimes it's the trials in our life that make us who Heavenly Father needs us to be."

Kris Belcher - Her amazing story of pain and hope and grace. How even when you feel you've lost everything, you can still feel the love of your Heavenly Father.

Sheri Dew - Taught that sometimes you have to take one for the Lord's Team. (Sound familiar moms?) But you are blessed in return. She also told the story of the Relief Society Wheat and the amazing things that can be accomplished when sisters in zion work together for a righteous cause.

The meeting was closed with the direction to go home and share what each of us knows. I want each of you to know that I know many things. Everything I know stems from this simple truth. I know that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me. He knows my name. He knows my life. He loves me unconditionally. This makes it possible for me to get up each day and face the world that isn't always filled with hugs and puppies.

Visit deseretbook.com/time-out/ for more info about the 2010 tour.

The first baptism

As you may be able to tell, I'm running about a week behind on the blog. So for those of you that this isn't old news please read on.

The first Saturday this month Zachary was able to be baptised and confirmed. Scott was a little nervous since he hadn't baptised anyone since his mission (a long time ago in a far away land). I was nervous too thinking for sure that I'd forgotten something important (like extra underwear) or that something was going to go horribly wrong.

Well all our worry was for nothing. Everything went perfectly. There was not a baptism directly after ours, which in our stake is not the norm, so we were able to have both the opening and closing portion in the chapel. We got to share the day with another family in the ward. We were in charge of the opening portion of the program. Zac picked "Teach me to Walk in the Light" for the opening song. Grandpa Stone to give the opening prayer and Grandpa Hall to give the talk about Baptism. It was beautiful. Then we went down to the font for the baptisms. Zac was up first. Scott teared up but managed to pull through. Zac's little toe came up but didn't break the surface of the water until he was all the way under. Yeah no redo's necessary. After the baptisms we headed back to the chapel and waited for everyone to change.

The other family was in charge of the closing portion. The talk about the Holy Ghost was wonderful. The lady giving the talk wrapped both of the boys in a warm quilt and explained that was how the Holy Ghost could make you feel. It was a great object lesson for both of the boys. Then both were confirmed. Zac was first again, Scott teared up again. I'm thankful that my husband is close with the spirit and has this ailment. He spoke of Zac's strength and how he would be a leader someday.

Then the Bishop and a member of the Primary Presidency spoke. They both spoke of Zac enthusiasm and what a great addition to the ward he would make. The closing song was "Baptism." The song is extremely difficult to play on the piano. Zac had wanted it as the opening song, but I talked him out of it. But the other little boy wanted it too. I talked to my friend who was playing the piano and asked her to just play the melody, because I knew the song was very difficult. She was so sweet and wanted the boys to have the songs they wanted. She tried to learn the song, she tried to find someone to help her play, and in the end her mother came to the entire baptism just to play this song for the kids. Thanks to a great music leader all 4 of my kids know two verses of the song and love it. They all sang every word so loud. The spirit was really strong.

We then returned to our house for a light lunch. I had been ill, so we had lots of help. We had little pizzas, salad, oranges, donuts, and Grandma Hall made some red jello Z's for a great meal. It was really fun to visit with family and friends. (Natalie you and Allysa were missed). It was a perfect day and I hope one that Zac remembers for a long time.

Zac starts Cub Scouts

I never realized how exciting it was to turn 8. Well being a girl, I guess you can't blame me for not knowing how fun cub scouts was. I was 10 when my brother turned 8, and going to Pack Meeting was not exactly a major party. I'm not sure what I expected from scouts as a mom. Ok for anyone reading this - Don't tell Zac - but I totally forgot about scouts. It wasn't even on my radar.

Zac turned 8 on Tues and his Wolf group meets on Wednesday, so he got to go to scouts for the 1st time the day after he turned 8. The first activity was bike-riding. Zac hasn't quite mastered riding on 2 wheels yet (I'm sure that a way too small bike doesn't help). I called his leader to see if he could ride his scooter instead. She said it would be fine, but it might be hard to keep up. The boys road to our stake center which is down the road quite a ways, and the leaders said that Zac kept up with all the other boys on bikes. He took one big spill but got right back on for another try. He is WAY TOUGH.

The next week they had a Halloween party and this past week was his 1st Pack Meeting. In a trial by fire welcome to scouts blaze of glory, the first pack meeting was Pine Wood Derby. We learned the lesson of not making the car for FHE the day before the race. I was impressed at how many of the cars looked like the boys had worked hard to make them, not just painted the car that dad made. Each racer got to race 4 times. The slowest time was dropped and winners crowned based on top 3 scores. Zac didn't win, but ended up a close 2nd in the last heat. He won the award for "A Lightening Fast Car." Scott's being reading Harry Potter to the kids and Zac put a Harry Potter lightening bolt on the top of the car.

It is so amazing to watch my kids grow up. I'm so thankful that my Heavenly Father lets me have a piece of these kids that belong to him. I'm so proud of all the accomplishments Zac has made in just 8 years. Can't wait for the next.

Zac turns 8

On Oct 20, Zac turned 8. Every year on his birthday I think back to what life was like, before he was born. Mostly I was clueless. I'm not sure that I've really learned all that much useful information in the last 8 years. But I know how to change a poopy diaper like a pro. I can dispell most minor arguements. I can tell you what time The Dinosaur Train starts, and why parents don't like Spongebob Squarepants.

The day he was born was scary. It's even scarier now that I'm less clueless. I think that's the problem with the oldest kid. I don't know what I'm doing. I don't even know enough to know that I should be really scared. I worry that I'm screwing up a lot, and know that I probably am screwing up a lot.

Zac is wonderful. He is very energetic and full of life. He is a great big brother and a kind friend. He always wants everyone to be included. He has no fear. Let me say again, HE HAS NO FEAR. He has no problem asking for directions, explanations, or help from store employees. He doesn't worry that he is singing louder than everyone else. He doesn't care what any one else thinks about him. He is just happy being Zac. I hope that he never changes. I look forward to many more happy birthdays as he grows into a young man.

Why does everything have to be scheduled for the same day?

Last year, Chloe started taking dance. She really enjoyed both tap and ballet and wanted to continue learning both. I didn't feel like she or I was ready to deal with the competition dance world, so there was once choice of class. I looked around for another studio, but no one taught a ballet/tap combo for anyone older than 4. So I signed her up for the Wednesday at 5pm class.

Move forward 3 months, Zac is ready to start soccer. And soccer practice is going to be . . . . . yep you guessed it, Wednesday at 5pm. Luckily I have a very nice neighbor with a son on the team, who was willing to shuttle Zac to and from practice. I'm thinking, "This isn't so bad. It's only 2 months." Soccer ends and now I only have Chloe's dance and laundry. Life is moving pretty good, UNTIL Zac turns 8 (More on that later). Well now Zac is in Cub Scouts - Way cool he's getting older. So now Zac goes to Scouts at 4:30 and right after I get him off, we head out to take Chloe to dance.

I'm glad and happy to let my kids participate in some extra curricular activies. I hope that the twins forgive me for spending the afternoon shuttling them around. And I wonder how I'll ever make it work next year with 4 kids each in their own activity. At least I've got a few months to figure it out.