Down Set Hike

 

 

Ethan's birthday party this year was seriously one of the easiest ones I have ever done.  He wanted a football party.  And so, on the last day of November, the greatest month for football, we gathered a group of rough and tumble boys, and we had ourselves a party.

 

 

 

A good old fashioned football party.

I didn't have to plan much really.  After they arrived we played one game.  Racing helmets.  They each had a card with their name on it and they placed their card on the helmet they thought would win.  I then rolled the dice and moved the helmets according to the dice roll.  They cheered and clapped for their teams and we played it over and over again.  I had to make them stop, because we had other, more important things to do.

 

Like scarf down some cake and ice cream. 

I think they were done in less than 3 minutes.

 

 

These boys couldn't wait to get outside.

These boys were ready for some football.

I really don't remember how I used to do parties without my older kids.  I sent the boys outside and my older boys totally took over.  They lined everybody up, divided them into teams, passed out the flags and of coarse, explained the rules for safe play.  And I just turned around, walked into the house, and sat on the couch and visited with my sister.  It was the best party ever.

And then they played football.

 

And despite the rules and the refs, I have to admit there were some injuries, but, these were boys and this was football and they were tough so they played right through the pain and the tears. 

And wouldn't you if you had cute cheerleaders, like these, cheering you on?

They played football until the sun went down, literally.  They were having so much fun.  When their moms came to pick them up they were red faced, sweaty, dirty and smiling ear to ear.  And I hopped up from my comfortable position on the couch to hand them their goody bag and thank them for coming. 

 

 Like I said, best party ever. 

 

 I think the boys would agree.

 

 

 

eto is eight

  There is someone or something that doesn't want me to blog.  Every day I say I am going to blog and then a million other things come up and it is always the thing to get pushed aside.  But, I am determined.  And I am not going to let this someone or something stand in my way.  This is the story of my family. These are the things I will forget if I don't write them down.  This is for my posterity.  These stories need to be told, for me and for my kids.  And so I will tell them.  Even if it takes me forever and a day.  I will tell them.  And so I am going to skip right over June-November, start with Ethan's birthday and then go back and catch up. 

 

I really will.

 

Watch me.

 

 

This is the first time in history (OK, at least the short 8 years of Ethan's history) that he got to go to school on his birthday.  Every year since he has been born his birthday has fallen somewhere over the Thanksgiving break.  But, since Thanksgiving was so early this year, Ethan found himself at school for his big day.  Luckily, he is only in second grade so to him this was very exciting. 

 

Something else that was very exciting (besides those great Phineas and Ferb dolls that I found at a garage sale for $1, thank you very much) was that Ethan had his very first Wolf scout meeting on his birthday.  He could hardly contain his excitement after school, and went running out the door with that little yellow bandanna flapping wildly in the wind behind him to his Den Leaders house. 

 

He came home from Scouts to his requested homemade chicken noodle soup, "you know mom, the one with the little balls in it" (acini de pepe) and some fresh out of the oven rolls with honey butter. 

 After he gobbled that down, he went straight to his presents.  There is nothing quite like the look of excitement on a birthday boys face as he carefully opens each present.  It wasn't really much this year, but he didn't care.

I love this boy. 

 He is a good boy.  He loves his family.  He has good friends.  He is a good friend.  And he tries so hard to do what is right.  He is so excited for what the very near future holds for him.  And he is ready.  My baby boy is growing up, right before my very eyes.  And I really like what I see.

 

Happy Birthday sweet Eto!

 I sure do love you!

 

 

 

 

 

up with the lights

It's nice to have Silas around. 

Because every year around this time I get anxious about getting my Christmas lights up.  I need to get them up before the first big storm.  I need them to be all ready and secure and waiting so that all I need to do is flick the switch on December 1st.  And to get this, I need a husband who is not afraid of heights due to an unfortunate ladder incident from his childhood. And that is something I don't have.  But I do have Silas, a roofer, a man with knee straps, a man who has absolutely no fear of heights. 



Now, I have to say, my ground bound crew isn't so bad.  While Silas was leaping around on my roof, they were busy untangling, testing, screwing, unscrewing and shouting directions up to Mr. Roofer.

At one point Tyler even ventured up there to assist.  He looks like he might be taking after his dad all crouched up in the corner.  But I need him to take note and learn from the master.  The master who will not be here for me next November.

Please don't fall off my roof and die right before your mission. 

Please.

Okay, now Tyler is standing up and it even looks like he might be helping.  There is hope for next year after all.  And now, thanks to my crew, my house is ready for Christmas.  So, bring on the storms, bring on the snow and the wind and the deadly icicles that threaten every year to pull down my beautiful lights. 

Our house, the outside at least, is ready!

Thanks Mr. Roofer.  I will miss you!

Give Thanks

I don't even know where to begin to catch up. So much is happening.  I am so busy.  My kids are doing so many things that I want to record.  I think about blogging all the time.  I plan to do it.  I want to do it.  And then something always comes up.  But once again, I am determined to do my family history.  I am determined to document this crazy life of mine.  So here we go.

Thanksgiving 2012.

It is a tradition in our home to watch the dog show on Thanksgiving. 

 Weird.  I know

.

  But it is something we do.  Actually, just the girls do it.  I think Kara started it in her dog loving younger years.  (Those wonderful years where she begged for a dog every month in family counsel)  I love how this year the girls gathered all of the stuffed animal dogs that we have and set them up to watch the big competition.

After the exciting conclusion of the dog show we headed over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house.  Aunt Marla had a fun turkey craft for the kids to do.



And of coarse, we enjoyed  lots of delicious food and even more delicious company.

I am thankful for this girl. She makes me happy and it was so fun to have her home with us.

This year a new twist was added to the annual Turkey bowl competition.  There was a quarterback challenge.  There were awards and prizes and presentations. 

And some of my kids actually won some.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful holiday!

My heart is always so full on Thanksgiving.  I am so thankful for my blessings.  For my cute family and the amazing family I married into.  This has been a year filled with miracles for our family.  A year to truly reflect on all we have received.

 It has been a  year of true thanksgiving.



i hope they call me

The opportunity doesn't come around very often.  Having the missionaries over for dinner is a rare treat around these parts.  They have dinner appointments every night. There are so many members who want them.  You kind of have to fight for a chance. 

We were lucky enough to have them grace our dining room table one Saturday night in November. We so enjoyed talking to them about their homes, their families, their preparation for their missions.  They were kind and funny and happy.

I decided long ago to never let an opportunity pass to have the missionaries over.  They fill my home with the spirit.  They share their testimonies.  They set an example for all of us.

And this time they took my oldest boy, my future missionary, along for the ride.  

I don't really know them, but I love them.  I am thankful for them and for Tyler who was willing to be their chauffeur, their student, their companion.

If only for one night.
And what a great night it was!

Hurrah for Israel!