Thanksgiving

This year my family celebrated Thanksgiving a week early and all met at our house. Since it is rumored that a picture is worth a thousand words, I will just post a few pictures and save the typing. It was loud, it was fun, it was yummy! We missed all of you who live so far away!





Today for our own family Thanksgiving we are all packing around Kleenex boxes, dosing up on vitamins and cold medicine and doing whatever we want. We did enjoy a wonderful lunch complete with homemade rolls and homemade pies (kids special requests).

Kimber - scrapbooking, napping

LeRoy - football, football, more football

Levi - texting and computer time

Erika - reading

Derek - sleeping, reading

Justin - playing with Nathan, reading, computer

Nathan - playing and eating fruit snacks

Hyrum - gnawing on anything that will soothe his sore gums

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I actually didn't take one picture the whole weekend. Thanks Kara, Cami and Kate for taking and sharing the pics.

"Hey mom, can my friends come over?"

I used to dread this question. I was always worried that:

* the house was a big mess (as if a group of kids would even notice before adding to the mess),

* I would probably still be in my jammies, which means no bra,

* the schedule was too packed,

* it would interfere with dinner,

* homework and music wouldn't get done

Now I say, "pish posh, come on over". Not that the house is clean or the schedule is any less busy but I do try to be dressed for teenage company, aka: wearing a bra. Most nights the extra kids end up staying for dinner and now and then my kids don't get their music practiced and are up until late doing homework. The wonderful trade off is that I know where my kids are, what they are doing, and who they are hanging out with. And though it has put a bit of a dent in the food budget around here, the freezer is stocked with frozen quickies approved by the teens which draws them here even more. LeRoy and I are in agreement that it is a small price to pay to know the who, what and where answers. I have had to get used to the sound of 3 electric guitars "practicing" in the basement but the laughs that come with it are worth it!

For a while we were having complaints from our kids that our family is boring and no one would want to come over because we don't have a trampoline or the latest video games (or any video games for that matter). A trampoline is in the future plans but we are glad that we stuck to our original feelings about not having video games because the kids are doing so many creative, imagination things instead of sitting in front of a screen.

Derek, Justin and their friends have had strategic battles in the backyard, bruised up their shins playing soccer, played string instruments for fun, built iron man costumes out of boxes, spray paint and lights and spent hours playing "real" monopoly in our basement. Levi and his homies usually have practice here but they also enjoy pool, foosball, handstand contests and teasing Nathan (which he loves). Erika and her friends are usually gawking at the boys, taking walks around the neighborhood to be visible to the boys, looking at boys in magazines and talk, talk, talking about boys.

Our home is only quiet from midnight to 6am.

Here is a typical view of my entry way. Only one pair of those shoes actually belong to feet that live here.

Erika's Birthday

I can't believe she is 15!!

This year brought 3 days of celebration for Erika. Her friends went all out to decorate her bedroom door while she was gone, decorate her locker, sing to her at school (2 boys!!) and they all gave her plenty of luvin.

The morning of her birthday I had an idea, ran with it, it grew and grew and turned out better than I had hoped. With the help of the seminary teacher, orchestra teacher and kids in her dance class (and no help from the snotty lady in the office) I was able to have 3 deliveries surprise her and also put her at the center of the attention for just a minute. If my mom had done this when I was a freshman I would have been mortified but Erika absolutely soaks in the attention. I guess it might appear to be a little manipulative but I was secretly hoping that she would get the that no matter how much your friends love you and adore you, momma loves you more and will go the extra mile to show it.

Here's what I put together, while dragging along Nathan and Hyrum at 8:45 in the morning. I had to just see what was available, put it together in the Yukon (of course take a quick picture like a blogger junkie would do) and rush it to seminary just as the bell rang. Then I made 2 more trips into town to have the other 2 delivered. I could have left it all at the office and had them deliver it at the times I requested but I put to much effort into it, not to mention the sacrafice that Hyrum and Nathan put forth in the way of patience while strapped in their carseats, to have the office not do as I requested. The lady in the office was so snotty about doing it that I took matters into my own hands and worked out the deliveries another way. The teachers were awesome!

When she got home her hands were overflowing with birthday loot, I got a big hug and a "your so awesome" and it was all worth it!
The our FHE for the night was all about Erika. Her favorite meal, stories of Erika, a triple chocolate cake, blowing the candles out which she claims is proof of no boyfriend (yeah right), and a silly evening together.

Nathan Silliness

Nathan came to me with a towel on his chin declaring, "need help, it's bleeding". I quickly checked it out, found no blood and asked him if he got hurt. He announced emphatically, "Zerg shot me, I need a band aid".

Maybe he has watched Toy Story one to many times.
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Last week he got into Erika's liquid eye liner. How's that for a Charlie Chaplin look?

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I was busy making tortilla soup and picking all the meat off of a rotisserie chicken; Nathan was standing on a chair watching me. I left for just a minute to rescue Hyrum from the loneliness of his bedroom. When I returned to the kitchen I found Nathan sitting on the island 'helping' me with the chicken.

And he stole my avocado!

Trips

My best accessory right now is the diaper bag. I seem to be going all over the place. My little boys are doing great to keep up with the family run-a-round; meals are a little sporadic; I've had fun and not quite lost my mind yet.

Utah - I left for Utah last Friday. The trip was a perfect celebration of birthday-ness, shopping, talking and I even had 2 full nights of sleep. It was the first time that I left my little Hyrum behind. Just me out on my own. The day started with many mini adventures. I didn't even get out of town before the birthday celebrations began, by the side of the road, as I met a friend in the drizzling Rexburg weather for a dose of birthday luvin'. I then traveled on: relaxing to an hour and a half massage (ooohh, so nice!); my cell phone dying and me with no charger; a brief detour through Pocatello to pick up pictures that I had sent there by e-mail; memory lane through Pocatello as I scanned all the new shops on old familiar roads hoping for a Radio Shack; a sudden realization that I hadn't eaten in 5 hours which resulted in a brief stop to feed the stomach and starve the headache. Once I got my cell phone charged I was able to check messages, which included 3 singing birthday-grams, and enjoyed 3 phone conversations with family members. It was the best trip ever from Pocatello to Arimo! You all made the day a fantastic one - Thank You! And the weekend was equally wonderful.

Fire Station - Nathan, Hyrum and I forged through the windy, rainy, blustery Monday weather for a field trip with the Mom and Me group to the Rexburg Fire Station. Nathan was in awe with the big trucks, flashing lights and 'real' fire jacket.

The Repair Man made a quick trip to our house. I stuck towels in the dryer Monday night around 10 pm and at 5:30 am the dryer was still running. Luckily it was a quick fix. Not so grand was the $263 it cost to fix it, darn heating element and timer! Maybe I shouldn't have spent so much in Utah . . . nahh, I'm glad it happened after my trip.

Justin's Veteran's Day Program was impressive. I was a bit frazzled getting there because of the repair man/dryer delay and trying to get the boys there during nap time but it was worth it. I'm always in awe (and near tears) when these kids belt out the songs they have worked so hard on. How do they teach them so many songs in such a short time and have them sing it so perfectly for performance time? The patriotic themes always get to me and having so many family members serving in the military tugs at my emotions even more.

Cub Scout Field Trip to the Standard Journal - an interesting, learning experience. I could have stayed longer if the 5 rambunctious 9 year olds had been having as much fun as I was. Some days their attention spans seem to match that of my 2 year old. I did enjoy rummaging through the newspaper archives with the boys to read about the Teton Flood, World War II, old ads, and compare the prices of homes, food and clothing then and now. I also really love the old musty smell of preserved paper in a basement. I'm a little weird that way. The 'old' smell translates to my brain that it is worth looking into.

My errand trip into town this week was packed tight. Once again the little boys were very patient. Bribing and singing really help. Here's a copy of my list:

Optometrist for contact cleaner

Jewelry Stands to Terra

Post Office - stamps, boxes

Credit Union $$$

Ace Hardware - thermometers

Distribution Center - Conference Ensign

Library - late book

Shaw's - scout stuff

Adams' - scout stuff

Broulims

Title Company

Nature's Nook - agave nectar

And 4 other things that I decided could wait because the boys really wanted out of the Yukon/Carseat Prison.

I took a trip down memory lane

as I watched my teenagers leave essays and projects until the last possible minute to do them, then stay up all night brainstorming. I can't really be upset about it, I've been there, and I understand the insanity. Sometimes the best work is done after midnight.

Derek did a really great book report box complete with pictures, 10 questions to ask the class, 10 vocab words, 5 items to 'show and tell' for his presentation, and a summary of characters, setting, conflict, climax and resolution. After he practiced his presentation on me I actually wanted to read the book.

Levi has a major biology test coming up and the two of us have spent nearly 2 hours studying just the vocabulary. I think I'll be spending quite a bit more time with Levi through next week because the school changed the policy and now he has to take the finals in every class. Since we seem to learn, memorize and study the same way we make a good pair. It also helps me to realize that he really is studying and if the grade comes in less than what we hope for it isn't from lack of full effort.

Trips I didn't take include gymnastics, dance, mutual and older scouts. Lucky me, I have Levi as a willing chauffeur.

Chillin'

I've taken a bit of a holiday this past week just reading and relaxing with the kids. Somehow I've still managed to get all the required daily house and office tasks accomplished. Here's a peek at our past week.

Beautiful Scenery. Erika's photo abilities were proven on this very cloudy, rainy day when suddenly the sun peeped through the dark clouds to light up the land in a golden hue.

Brain Exercises. We found a couple of puzzles at DI, set the card table up in the living room to be able to leave the puzzles out and everyone has taken turns helping. It can be frustrating trying to find 1 piece in 500 that goes where it needs to but also a little addicting when you finally start fitting them together. I was surprised to see each of the kids spend time on it, especially Levi. Even LeRoy sat still for a few minutes to work on it.

Reading. I've finished 4 books in the last week. All youth reads, so nothing stretching the limits of my knowledge or imagination, but it was relaxing and enjoyable to be reading what the kids are reading and discussing the books with them.

Book Thief by Markus Zusak

City of Ember and People of Sparks by Jeanne Duprau

Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Shadow Children Series)

Stake Conference

A Few Nuggets:

(from Elder Hammond)

* Our youth are "drenched in destiny, they just don't know how wet they are!" and "their greatest weakness is that they don't know how great they are". Somewhat of a different take on the "chosen generation" that we have heard since I was a youth. A reminder that we need to live up to it, both as their parents and as the youth of the chosen generation.

* We don't want to be "fringe" members. He shared with us a personal story of watching an antelope herd being stalked by wolves and which of the antelope would be picked off. It wasn't those in the heart of the herd but those on the fringe of the herd. He then elaborated on where we stand and how Satan picks off those who are on the fringe and undecided or not quite committed to living fully the commandments. Where do we stand in the gospel?

* Choose ye this day: this I will do/this I will not do, this I am/this I am not

* He also shared a story of going to a lake on a hot summer day and dipping our toes in the water to see how cold/warm it is before we jump in. The challenge put to us is to take the plunge into the gospel, not to be toe dippers.

A Few Details:

Today we attended a combined stake conference with the Sugar City Stake at the Hart building on campus. During the meeting they released most of the stake leaders in the 2 stakes, created a new stake taking several wards from both our stake and the Sugar stake, and called/reorganized 3 stake presidencies.

It was a very long session of conference being in our seats for 3 hours and taking 45 minutes to get home because of all the traffic but it was an uplifting session as well. The music spoke directly to my soul as the choir sang an arrangement of "I Stand All Amazed". It carried through the Hart building in such an inspiring way that the entire room (packed tight!!) was silent - even the babies. Both Nathan and Hyrum were so good today that we didn't even have to leave the meeting, a record that he have not yet met during sacrament meeting.

Our new stake president is someone that I have never met and yet I was drawn to him immediately. He reminded us that we each have a temple story, even our kids do, and to share our temple stories with one another. Whether it be the chandelier in the Celestial Room, the murals on the walls of the ordinance rooms, directing traffic in the freezing cold weather, helping with booties, attending the open house tour or our first time attending a session there.

Our current bishop was called to be one of the counselors in our new stake presidency. I was a little sad about this, not realizing until that moment how attached I have become to him as our Bishop. Since I met Bishop Hayes in January I have grown to really appreciate his leadership and wonderful support and concern for our youth. I was also struggling with the fact that they left our ward in Hibbard as the only ward in our area, all of the other wards being on the far east side of town. It really didn't make sense to me.

Then our Bishop, now a member of the stake presidency, shared his testimony. He was extremely emotional as he shared with us his sustaining support of these boundary changes. My silent grumbling was brought to a calm halt as I listened to him share his testimony and I felt that no matter how odd the changes may seem, that Heavenly Father is leading in this change and that there is a purpose for doing it this way. Bishop Hayes told us that the original Hibbard ward was called the Island Ward because it was surrounded by the forks of the Snake River. Now we are somewhat back to that - the Island Ward - because we are completely separate from all the other wards in our stake.

So now our ward members have a week of guessing, wondering, speculating and maybe even a bit of nervousness as we prepare to sustain a new bishopric. Changes, changes everywhere!

A Happy Halloween

Blogger doesn't want to upload my pictures today (maybe having a day of rest??) so if you want to see pictures from our Halloween fun go here . . . Halloween.

If you ask Nathan what he was for Halloween he replies, "Tigger buddies with Dad, bounce, bounce, bounce". He made it all the way around our 1/2 mile neighborhood, said trick-or-treat and thank-you at each house and fell into bed (without me even knowing it) promptly at 8:00.

Erika was great to answer the door for most of the evening, being the perfect hostest commenting on the creativity of each costume and loading everyone up with sweets. Justin, Derek and Erika ended up at the neighbors house for a late night party of games, spooky movies and mounds of junk food, as if the buckets of candy they had weren't enough. Derek made fingers for the party, Justin made Oreo spiders.

Levi and 5 of his buddies entertained our family from 3:45 until 8:00 with handstand contests, made up games testing their manhood, electric guitar serenades, foosball and pool tournaments, spunky banter at the dinner table and other unmentionables. For dinner we had 6 boys near the 6' height range seated around the table with Nathan and the rest of us ate at the island. It was quite a sight. I picture these boys all gathering around as one by one they leave for and return from missions.

I ate all the junk I wanted, got sick from it, and remembered why I don't do that, or at least why I shouldn't. Darn those Peanut MnM's and Tootsie Rolls! Even with the late night tummy ache this Halloween is rated my favorite. A beautiful sunrise, a nature walk with my little boys, plenty of laughter and neighborhood fun, a visit from our favorite Halloween dressers, LeRoy and I enjoying our own alone time movie night waiting for teenage curfew, and the next morning to sleep in - that's the way to do a holiday.