Because it just made me smile!

My kids make me smile every day.  I love the things they say and do... most of the time ;-)  I love seeing how they grow and develop.  Here is Briggs' drawing from a book he made at school called "All about me."

He told me that his teacher showed him a new way to draw people with "thickness."  Previously he just drew stick legs coming from the head and arms coming off the legs.  He was so proud of his "new" hands too (with circles and then fingers coming off them).  He also pointed out to me that he noticed some people in his class drawing flipped hair for girls and he "thought that was a good idea" so he did that for me and Brooklyn ;-) (how could I keep a straight face as he was explaining that to me... so stinkin' cute!)  I asked him if my those were my black legs and he said yes.  (Again, another smile)  He explained that the boys are wearing shorts (coming out from the head) and the shirts are "short-sleeved" on the arms.  Really, how cute!  I also loved how he spelled Sterling "Strleig"  when I first saw the drawing and then he wanted to know how to really spell it so he fixed it.  He also spelled Ethan's name with an "en" and then he fixed it.

Tonight I came into the boys room after they were in bed and Briggs had his journal out and this is what he drew and wrote about.  So cute!  He hasn't written in his journal in a while.  I think he was reminded about it today during sharing time in primary where we were talking about things you can do now to prepare for a mission and one of them was "writing daily in your journal."  I'll have to ask him if that's why tomorrow.

So it went something like this...

The setting:  Carpooling Briggs (almost 7) and his friend Dylan (age 8) to flag football practice with all my kids in the car.

The exchange:

Dylan:  Did you see the Philadelphia Eagle game the other day?  They won!
Briggs:  No they didn't.
Dylan:  Oh, yeah, that game they didn't.  Did you know their quarterback got arrested?
Briggs:  Oh, Michael Vick.
Dylan:  Yeah.
Ethan:  What does arrested mean?
Briggs:  When they take you to jail.  What did he go to jail for?
Dylan:  I don't remember... oh, yeah, I remember.  He had contracts with people and they'd bring their dogs and they'd fight each other.
Briggs:  Oh.

I sat there driving with a smile on my face.  My boys just had a successful sports talk, knew what they were talking about (it helps that Briggs loves the Eagles and wears their uniform often), and I thought it was just so cute!

I'm sure as we continue to carpool there will be many more "sports" talks along the way!

There is just something about little boys!  So cute!

Eastern Idaho State Fair

September 8th we took to whole family to the fair.  

I love this small town fair!  In fact, most other fairs don't interest me like this one does.   

There are great animal exhibits, 2 free petting zoo's, a free sports area, that my kids/husband loved (run by my old friend Cory Smith and his wife).  It was fun to see a familiar face and catch up with him.  A wonderful photography pavilion that I love walking through.  Yummy scone nuggets that I could eat over and over.. I'm not kidding either!  In fact is my fair food of choice.  Forget the burgers, the corn dogs, corn on the cob, barbaric turkey legs, ice cream, fudge or fancy sandwiches, just give me some scone nuggets with cinnamon and sugar and some yummy honey butter and I'm happy as a peach!  I only indulged in one plate and my hubby and kids helped me eat it; probably a good thing!  But boy, do I look forward to those every year.  The indian relay races are also fun, though we didn't make it there this year.

So without further ado... here are some of our photos from the day! 

Cory tried to get the boys to climb up onto that ledge above our heads and thankfully they declined.  So here is a photo of us with the big cow head!

Have I mentioned just how much I love this small-town fair!

We got there around dinner time.  We only seem to last a few hours anyway so the first order of business was getting some grub.  The kids, of course, wanted corn dogs.

I love those ketchup faces!

Riding the rides is soooooo expensive (like 3-4 dollars per 1 minute ride) so we told the kids they could only pick one ride.  We got some grumbles so I think next year the kids are going to earn their own money to take to the fair; they might look at it a bit differently... In fact I'm almost certain.  We're looking to make a change in our family that way anyway.  A little more accountability never hurt anyone ;-)  

Above:  the boys waiting for their caterpillar roller coaster; the same one as last year.  Boy how they've grown in one year!  They loved it!

Briggs had the death grip on the bar the entire time and Ethan just sat back for the ride.  It's interesting how different they are!

After the ride.  Maybe a little smile there Ethan!

For Brooklyn's ride she chose (with a little direction from us) a little boat with a really loud bell.  It was pretty cute seeing her drive!

Happy Sterling boy!

The kids got to milk this cow.  The boys thought it was pretty fun.

It actually sprayed white liquid!

Cory won a wii dance off; it was quite entertaining.  I could actually see myself liking it, just not in a public session where someone might remark, like this lady that walked by me, that Cory was dancing even better than that girl (girl on left)!  

The kids fed the goats at the petting zoo

I love this one of Brooklyn trying to keep her food from this goat!

I thought this was an interesting unshaved llama (not so cute if you ask me).  But he and Cory were looking in the same direction and this picture made me smile.

All done!

One minute he's interested and the next...

Not so much!

And that's a wrap!  Here's to another great year at the fair.

And just for future reference.  You know like how our parents paid .25 cents a gallon for milk or .10 cents for bread, or .50 cents for a gallon of gas, here are this years fair prices for admittance $6.00 adults, $2.00 kids 6-11 and then a whole bunch more for food (like $40).  In fact, aside from 3 kid rides, the rest of our spending went towards dinner and desert.  It's all about atmosphere and eating way over your caloric allowance that makes it so great!  Totally worth it once a year though! 

Until next...

7 months... almost 8!

Sterling is 7 months! 

And boy are we loving this little boy!! 

I remember feeling so swollen and pregnant and feeling like he was never going to arrive and now I can't believe he's 7 months already!  He is sitting really well now without any help.  He got his first tooth on August 8th (the bottom left one) and he has been chewing like crazy and I think his other bottom tooth will be making it's way up in the next few weeks.  I definitely know when he's teething because he is a bear at times; not his normal happy little self.  He loves his new big crib in the same room as the big boys; no more pack and play for him (at least not exclusively).  He is getting up on his knees all the time and he has mastered the plank position pretty well (it's pretty cute!) He pushes himself in circles and backwards quite well.  He still grunts for food.  It always makes me smile.  Perhaps we are raising a little chef who just loves food.  One night Cory and I were watching Chopped and when he saw the food on the screen he started grunting... I mean emphatically grunting!  He cracks us up. He likes banana's, sweet potatoes, peas, squash and anything else he can get his hands on.  He loves paper and putting any and everthing in his mouth.  And yes... that is icky newspaper in his mouth down below!  He is so funny!  He would stop at nothing to get to that paper.  Brooklyn did her best to hold him off and then eventually relented!  And I just stood by taking pictures... because, really, if it doesn't kill 'em it only makes them stronger.  Right?!?!?!

He has a smile that lights up the room.  Briggs gets him out of his crib a lot of the time by stepping up on their little padded rocking horse and lifting him out.  Both he and Ethan like to carry him around and are good helpers.  They also love to hold him in Sacrament meeting at church.  He is pretty loved.  And within the past week (I know I'm headed into 8-month territory here) but he has found his voice and likes to squeek and squak!  It's pretty cute and pretty loud ;-)
 
A few weeks ago Sterling was wearing shorts and I laid him on his back in the grass.  A few minutes later I realized he was being pretty quiet and when I looked over at him he was just looking around, content as he could be, with his legs lifted and hovering over the grass blades; I'm not exagerating much when I say that he held that position for at least 10 minutes.  It was so funny.  I love that little boy!

I took this photo a couple Sunday's ago in the early evening with Cory and Sterling; it was such a beautiful night.  It's hard to tell but Cory is partially in the shade of our lovely little tree.  She may not provide much shade right now but she will one day!
Is the Story of The Giving Tree conjuring up any images right now?!?!?

I love beautiful summer nights!  And there are too few left.

Here's to another great month!

Puppy dog love... monster cookies... and more

Today has been a nice day.  I did some cleaning.  I didn't do any projects (besides update my blog a bit).  Made a well-balanced dinner (which hasn't happened as much as I'd like).  Used fresh vegetables from my garden, played some soccer with Briggs, got spit up on by Sterling right in my hair and I just enjoyed my kids and family.  That's how every day should be if you ask me, sans the spit up (unfortunately I think that's in rose-colored-glasses-land).  But for what it was today... I'll take it.

I finally got some vacuum bags for our vacuum and cleaned my floors (it's been a long time coming).  I don't know if it is a psychological thing but if my bed is made, and my floors are cleaned I am much more productive during the day.  And I just feel better in general; I guess I'm kind of weird that way.  But the morning started off with Brooklyn singing (complete with vibrato and a microphone) and doing a performance for Cory, Sterling and me.  It was so cute!  She is at such a fun (and sometimes difficult) age!

After lunch, while Brooklyn napped, Ethan and I made monster cookies together.  He cracked the eggs all by himself and did a great job.  He kept saying, while licking the beater, "thanks mom for making monster cookies."  I loved my time with him!  Then of course we enjoyed some cookies and milk.  There is nothing like the crunch of a hard-shelled m&m in my mouth and some peanut butter and of course seeing how happy my kids are.

I took Sterling outside, the day was beautiful, and captured some fun photos of Ethan loving our dog Kola!  She is such a good fit for our family and we absolutely love her!  I couldn't just pick a few so here is how it all went down.

Puppy love

What's not to love about that?!?!  

Sterling likes Kola as long as she doesn't lick his face or brush by him.  

Happy boy

What do you have growing in your lawn???

Well, aside from some mushrooms we apparently have beans sprouting in abundance.  About a month ago Brooklyn was out playing with her little friend Savannah with a bean and rice mixture I have in a large container with cups and shovels etc.  They spilled quite a bit on the grass and I didn't think much about it.  A few weeks later we saw these little sprouts coming up all over the place.  Unbelievable.  They are like the beans that never end.  We have a ton sprouting up!  We pull them out, or mow them over and a few days later we have a new crop.  It is kind of funny... and annoying all at the same time.

You're never too young...

...to learn how to change a battery in a car.  This past week our car battery has been iffy at best.  Today Cory picked up a battery and wanted to show the boys how to change it.  They were attentive learners.  Brooklyn also got in there to "help."

A beautiful summer night

Brooklyn giving Cory kisses; she is a sweet girl

We ended the evening going on a nice family walk.  Our dog may or may not have pooped in the road along the way ;-)  We finished the evening catching up with our brother-in-law Jed (who just got back from Iraq on Tuesday) and Cory's sister.

Today was a good day.  

Makes me think...

I saw this article on my friend April’s blog and I really liked it and in light of September 11th I think it is an appropriate reminder.  It was written by our prophet Thomas S. Monson, who i have the upmost respect for, and was published in the Washington Post.  It really makes me think about the relationship I have with my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ and their influence in my life.  I am so grateful for the knowledge that I am His daughter, and we are his children.  I know that he loves me and knows me better than anybody and that knowledge brings me great comfort and peace in my life.

9/11 destruction allowed us to spiritually rebuild

By Thomas S. Monson

Badge from fire helmet discovered in the debris post 9/11/01. (Ira Block)The calamity of September 11th, 2001 has cast a long shadow. Ten years later, many of us are still haunted by its terrible tragedy of lost lives and broken hearts. It is an episode of anguish that has become a defining moment in the history of the American nation and the world. This week, theMormon Tabernacle Choir, along with Tom Brokaw, will pay its own homage to the unforgettable events of September 11, 2001.

There was, as many have noted, a remarkable surge of faith following the tragedy. People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace and understanding. Comfortable times were shattered. We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it. Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way.

Sadly, it seems that much of that renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed. Healing has come with time, but so has indifference. We forget how vulnerable and sorrowful we felt. Our sorrow moved us to remember the deep purposes of our lives. The darkness of our despair brought us a moment of enlightenment. But we are forgetful. When the depth of grief has passed, its lessons often pass from our minds and hearts as well.

Our Father’s commitment to us, His children, is unwavering. Indeed He softens the winters of our lives, but He also brightens our summers. Whether it is the best of times or the worst, He is with us. He has promised us that this will never change.

But we are less faithful than He is. By nature we are vain, frail, and foolish. We sometimes neglect God. Sometimes we fail to keep the commandments that He gives us to make us happy. Sometimes we fail to commune with Him in prayer. Sometimes we forget to succor the poor and the downtrodden who are also His children. And our forgetfulness is very much to our detriment.

If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us. We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. We too should be with Him in every season.

The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day. We truly “need Him every hour,” not just in hours of devastation. We must speak to Him, listen to Him, and serve Him. If we wish to serve Him, we should serve our fellow men. We will mourn the lives we lose, but we should also fix the lives that can be mended and heal the hearts that may yet be healed.

It is constancy that God would have from us. Tragedies are not merely opportunities to give Him a fleeting thought, or for momentary insight to His plan for our happiness. Destruction allows us to rebuild our lives in the way He teaches us, and to become something different than we were. We can make Him the center of our thoughts and His Son, Jesus Christ, the pattern for our behavior. We may not only find faith in God in our sorrow. We may also become faithful to Him in times of calm.

Thomas S. Monson is president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.