Tradition Tuesday-For the Strenth of Youth

I love this book. It has answered many a question in this family. I love that it is well worn and the pages are all dogeared. It is this way because it has become a tradition in our family. A good and wise friend of mine told me once that her family reads it every week in family home evening. I loved the idea. And so this little gem of a book now sits in the basket with our scriptures and is read and discussed each week at Family Home Evening.

We have found that it is not just for the strength of youth, but also for the strength of parents and little children as well. It is well written and the counsel is clear and straightforward. Since we started this tradition we have read it over and over many times. It seems like each time we read it we learn something new. It seems like each time we read it we find new things to be working on. We just recently read the section on family and since we have had some bickering going on we emphasized the line "Strengthen your relationships with your brothers and sisters. They can become your closest friends." I love this tradition and my hope is that if my kids hear this counsel over and over and over again, it just might stick!

Favorite things-working man

Definitely one of my most favorite things is this sight.

I feel blessed to have a husband who works from home. He is very dedicated and disciplined. I love that I can pop into his office anytime of the day for a little chat, to run something by him or just for a quick hug and kiss. I love that the kids can come home from school and show dad the things they have made or done right when it's fresh and exciting. I love that he can come to most daytime school performances or pick up from pre-school when I am in a bind. I love that we get to eat lunch together everyday. I love that he doesn't have a commute. I love that he always helps me bring in the groceries during the day. I basically just love having him home, close to me and the kids and for the opportunity I have to see his cute hard working face as I whip by his office door a million times a day.

We are thankful every day for Trevor's job and the blessings it brings into our lives. I am so thankful for a husband who works very hard and sacrifices so much for our family. This guy truly tops my list of favorite things.
I am one lucky girl!

It's a Love/Hate thing

In March we attended yet another Scout competition. This year it was Bryson's turn to participate in the 'Space Derby'. I hate these things. I don't know why. Maybe because I grew up with all sisters and never knew anything about them. Maybe it's because I don't really like competition. Maybe it's because I don't like to see boys so upset when their rocket or car or boat miserably fails. Maybe it's because I see dad's that are more into it than their boys and those are the ones that usually win (which means my boys usually don't win) And maybe it's because Trevor has been out of town for several of the derby's and was out of town again for this one.

I love that Bryson (and my other boys) have amazing scout leaders. I love that Bryson got to spend some time with his dad to make this rocket. I love that even though it is a competition my boys seem to handle it well, even the losses. I love that Bryson's rocket won first place in one, just one, of the heats.

I love Cub Scouts. I believe it has made my boys better boys. I love the excitement of these Derby's, not only for the participants but for their families who all come to cheer them on.

And I especially love this cute little Bear Scout, who was so excited for "his" derby after coming to his 2 older brothers derbys. And finally, I love the fact that after 8 derbys (be it cars, boats or rockets) we only have 5 more to go!

Tradition Tuesday-Measuring Stick

We have a lot of birthdays around here and we have a lot of traditions that go along with these birthdays. Our birthday measuring stick has been around forever, well at least it's been around for 16 years now. I had always seen places in people's homes, in their garages or their pantry's or wherever where they had measured their kids over the years. I loved seeing all the old marks with different names and ages scribbled next to them. I knew I wanted to chart my children's growth but I didn't know where. When Kara turned one we were living in a little apartment that I knew was very temporary. If I measured her and Tyler, who also lived in that apartment, on one of the walls or pillars, how would I take that with me when we moved which was inevitable. I happened to read in a magazine the idea of the measuring stick and my problem was solved.

I went to the hardware store and bought a piece of crown molding or chair rail (I don't remember exactly what it was, but it was more decorative than just a piece of wood) and our birthday measuring stick was born. The idea is that you could nail it onto a corner somewhere and then just take it off when you were done. We measured our 2 cute kids in our apartment and then when we packed up our belongings to move to our first home the stick came with us. We then measured many more kids on many more birthdays in that home and then once again packed up the stick and moved it to our current home.

We have never missed a birthday without measuring on the stick. It is a tradition-to get measured and to get your picture taken while being measured. After the official measuring is done the kids all gather around to see how tall they have grown in the last year and to see who was the tallest at the age of 2 or 3 or whatever age the birthday child is turning.

Our measuring stick is very full now of our own scribbles and ages and names and we still have a lot of marks to make. It is so fun to see all 7 of the kids at the age of 1, 2 and now, just recently, 3 and the differences or similarities in their heights. It is a record. It is a history. It is a part of our birthday routine. And when Trevor and I are too old to climb the stairs anymore and have to move into a nursing home, you can bet our measuring stick will be packed up yet again and move right in with us.

My favorite things-lunch in less than a minute!

I wanted to record some of the things that make me happy, or that make my life easier or that just make me smile, basically my favorite things. Here's just one of them;

Mornings are pretty hectic around our house as we all try to get ready and out the door at different times. One of the things I hated most was packing lunches for my kids. It messed up my kitchen as I made the sandwiches, cracker and cookie boxes were left out and often times I just ran out of time so they had to buy a school lunch when it was something I knew they wouldn't eat (Like hairy hot dogs that my kids say are served, at my school we had green hot dogs!) So I came up with a plan and it has worked and has therefore become one of my favorite things.

This is my lunch packing drawer. Every morning the kids will read the lunch menu from the school and if it is something they don't want then they simply open up the lunch drawer. In it there are lunch sacs and a pen to write their name with. They then proceed to pick one drink, one thing from the chip basket, one dessert and one fruit cup and spoon.

They then open the freezer and grab a sandwich or bagel with cream cheese and their lunch is complete. It takes less than a minute for them to pack their own lunches and they get to choose what they want. Now, before I started this I did a test. I made several different types of sandwiches and then froze them. I kept them frozen for three weeks and then thawed them and ate them myself. They tasted fine to me and so they passed the test. I restock the baskets every week, usually right when I get home from the grocery store and have everything out. I put different chips and cookies in snack bags and then throw them in the baskets. And then I lay out a whole loaf of bread and make my sandwiches all at once. Not too much time on my part and a much smoother morning for all! Definitely a favorite!

My week- Saturday to Saturday

11 soccer games

4 soccer practices

2 baseball games

3 baseball practices

3 orthodontist appointments ( same office, 3 different kids, 3 different days)

1 6:15 AM doctors appointment

1 sharing time to prepare

1 mandatory parents meeting at the High School for Student Government

1 3rd grade Reader's Theater to attend

1 pre-school field trip to chaperone

1 birthday lunch for friends

1 trip to the temple (my only peace and sanity the whole week)

2 scout den meetings

1 merit badge class

3 piano lessons

1 piano recital

1 pack check at our house for...

1 scout camp out to the Sand Dunes (for Trevor and 19 deacons!)

1 trip to the Dr's office for shots

1 Stake Primary Leadership Meeting

1 Dance class

1 night of teaching camp prep first aid to the Young Women

1 Presidency Meeting

1 family fireside

1 Family Home Evening

1 date with dad (Tyler's turn)

These were all the scheduled things. It does not include homework, breakfast lunch and dinner, laundry, tidying, cleaning the garage, history reports, tests, phone calls, grocery shopping, teacher appreciation prep and my never ending and ever growing "to do" list.

Trevor tells me I chose this. And maybe I did, but does he have to keep saying it?

Anyways, I am still alive. My kids are still alive. They have actually received some nourishment here and there and we are half way through the week. There is an end in sight! I truly could not make it this week without wonderful friends and neighbors, who have stepped in to help me because I just couldn't be three places at once.

I am exhausted. I am frazzled. I am completely overwhelmed.

Oh, and I decided to potty train this week!

Tradition Tuesday-Good Grade Reward

After every term in the school year we have a good grade reward. If the kids who are in school have worked hard, have tried their best, and have recieved good grades then they are invited to come. This term all 5 kids who are in school did very well, all A's in fact. This has become a fun tradition, our good grade reward, and the kids work hard and look forward to it every term.

This term we took them to a fun ice cream/frozen yogurt shop.
There was about 12 different flavors of ice cream and
a million toppings to choose from.

The best part about it was it was serve yourself! The kids thought this was great. We told them that their reward for good grades was that they could get as much as they want with as many toppings as they wanted. They came up with some pretty interesting concoctions!

(I don't know how many times I have told them that bubble gum

and ice cream don't go together!)

Even though Ethan and Ashlyn don't really get grades yet, the older ones wanted them to come along and they were thrilled. It was a fun family outing.

Over the years we have done lots of different and fun things for our good grade rewards, some very simple and inexpensive and some a little bit more elaborate. We have done candy grams, movie night at home with all the fixings, some great plays, fun restaurants, money and a lot more that I can't remember right now. Our goal is to teach our kids that getting good grades and doing well in school is important and will pay off for them in the future. We talk about how our prophets have counseled us to get all of the education we can and to always be learning. So far it has worked out well for us and everybody has always been able to participate in the rewards. Who knows if it is the rewards that motivate them or that we just have brilliant children. I'm thinking it's a little bit of both :)

One More Year!

Kara wore this shirt for 2 days during campaign week at her high school

(along with some knee length socks that had a similar message)

This is Kara's wonderful Sophomore Student Council at the swearing

in ceremony last summer.
She has had a great year with these kids and has really

loved being involved with Student Council.

So she decided to run again and we found out a couple of weeks ago that she was elected for Junior Council for next year.

We think that is pretty cool!

Tradition Tuesday-General Conference

I absolutely love General Conference weekend, everything about it. I love being at home with my family. I love snuggling in a blanket on the couch. I love having a little break from church responsibilities. And I especially love the messages I hear, the spiritual boost I receive, and the new list of things I can start to work on to strengthen my family and testimony.

Every year around conference time in the paper, they interview people about what they do on Conference Weekend. There are lots of traditions. I wish we had some of them. I wish I made a yummy breakfast that my kids looked forward to every year. But I don't. I wish we had a girls night every Saturday night during Priesthood. But we don't.

One tradition that we do have is we always hang all the pictures of the 12 Apostles and First Presidency up around the TV. Then it really feels like Conference at our house. As they speak, my kids will find their picture and put a sticker or post it note on it. Sometimes we read a little on the back of the picture after the talk, sometimes we number what order they speak in. It is fun just to have them hanging around with us in our home. We feel their strength and power.


But,basically, our General Conference tradition is that we watch it. All four sessions, Saturday and Sunday, together all in the same room. We sing the songs, we sustain the leaders and we listen. It is cozy. It is comfortable. It is our Conference tradition.

And then there are the traditions that go along with Priesthood. My Priesthood holders never miss it, no matter what! And Tyler's favorite tradition is the dinner before. I overheard him telling the younger boys, "We go to a real restaurant and you can order anything you want! I order steak and shrimp!" Their mouths hung open and I could see it in their eyes that they couldn't wait to be a part of that tradition too!

Ready for Spring

Every year it happens.

Holes in the jeans.

We are ready for Spring weather around here, so we can throw away the "holy" jeans and pull out the shorts. But welcome to Spring in Utah. It will be nice one day and then snow the next. So we continue to get dressed each day in these ragged clothes, some of which are not only holy but way too short as well (something I swore I would never let my kids wear) The only positive thing is that Kara assures me that holes in jeans are in style.

Well, if that's the case, then we are one fashionable family!

(I haven't asked her if floods are also in style, if so we are in business!)

My favorite princess

If you ask Ashlyn who her favorite princess is this is what you will hear....

"It's SLOOPING BLOOTY!"

I laugh everytime she says it and I will ask her multiple times a day so that I can hear her say it again and again! I love 3 year olds!

Dr. Suess....I'm so sorry!

Several weeks ago the kids celebrated the great Dr. Suess's birthday in school. They read his books, made Cat in the Hat hats and did lots of other fun activities. One activity that Alyssa's class did was write poems in honor of Dr. Suess.

Aren't these sweet? A pretty cat in a pretty hat. A friendly fox. Precious.

Oh, and look at this- two cute mice and a moon and a spoon in the beginning stages of love. I was touched by Alyssa's tribute until I came to this entry.....

WHAT!?! Where in the world did this come from? A constipated chicken! I almost died when I saw this. It doesn't even rhyme! What did her teacher think when she read this from my sweet little Alyssa? Does Alyssa even know what constipated means (apparently she knows how to spell it correctly)? I felt a need to call the teacher and explain. Explain that we really are a decent family. Explain that Alyssa follows three brothers who, much to their mothers dismay, find humor in potty talk. Explain that Alyssa didn't mean any disrespect to Theodore. But, of course, I didn't. We had a little discussion about potty talk, about constipation and about the need to keep some things to ourselves. I have no idea if any of it sunk in. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I am just hoping that this little project will be forgotten before the next parent teacher conference. But who am I kidding? How can a teacher forget the plight of a poor constipated chicken, who despite his condition, miraculously "lade" 10 eggs! Nothing about that is forgettable!