It's a tent

The boys have felt very cooped up inside. Today it is too cold to be crawling in the snow, so we built a tent in the living room. They have a lot of fun with it. They have all sorts of secret passage ways in and out of the tent. It brings back lots of good memories of building tents out of blankets chairs and card tables. Have a good day!

Snow, snow and more snow

We love playing in snow!

The boys dig, dig, and dig. They are having a great time! We bought new snow pants for Anakin, and he really puts them to good use. He climbs up the hill digging through the snow! We had to put all of his gear in the dryer so he could go to school in dry clothes. I was very thankful for a dryer!

More digging. I think that they are on a secret mission.

Gypsy Girl and I even got into the fun.

Once we get boots for her, then we will do more than just swing!

I really am living the dream

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts. " Jacob 6:5
Any other scriptures come to mind?

He loves the earth decoration.

We had a great time decorating the Christmas tree this year because the boys actually remembered doing it last year. But what do you think of my sweats and bed hair? While I was watching our children put up the decorations, I really felt I was living the dream, and am truly thankful for all the things Christmas brings: a closeness to the Savior, and remembering all the tender mercies of the Lord.

Something besides getting ready for Thanksgiving

Anakin

Luke

Luke and Gypsy Girl

I love when my kids are this happy!

After school on Tuesday in celebration of Thanksgiving vacation, we went to a huge play area. The boys love being able to fun and climb. Now this is similar to McDonald play places, only bigger and cleaner. They have two sections: a huge three story with slide, tunnels, and jumping area, and a small one for toddlers. Gypsy Girl would only go on the big one--so after an hour of crawling, climbing, lifting, and following her around, I was exhausted. We all had a great time, and we want to do it again next Tuesday. We all need a little exercise!

So for my Thanksgiving post, I am thankful for these three beautiful, healthy, happy, smart, spiritual children. I was married for almost seven years before we had our oldest son, and he was well worth the wait. Luke will sit up at night underlining the word Lord in his Bible, Anakin has a keen sense of knowing right and wrong, and usually choosing the right, and Gypsy Girl loves Jesus! It will be fun to see them grow up and mature in the gospel.

Addicted to Backyardigans and other ramblings

So my youngest is addicted to Backyardigans. She will plop herself in front of the TV and watch for hours. It is so tempting just to let her watch it again and again, but then again she wouldn't get anything done, but I might.

I finished my spelling paper, whew. I think that I might actually become a better speller. For those of you interested things that will help young spellers: word sorts, word patterns and word meanings. (Why is composition and competition spelled with different vowels even though they sound the same: composition comes from compose and competition from compete). Another interesting bit of information: we spell with how words are formed in our mouths, not by sight or hearing. There is a great text book called Words Their Way which identifies different spelling stages (there are six) and how to give instruction, activities, and support for each of those stages. Needless to say there should not be one word list for the entire class as this will only help students at one particular level. Because students in the same class will be at various levels, develop a spelling program that can fit the different abilities of your students. Still no grade, but I am getting an A in the class.

I actually took a nap today, while studying, and as I was falling asleep it was if I would look at myself at the bed, and have and actually teach myself what was in the textbook. I was super intelligent at the time--very cool. It's the closest thing that I have ever had to an out of body experience. I wonder what would have happened if I was reading my scriptures.

I love teaching PowerPoint--we are having a really fun class. On Mondays, I lecture, on Wednesday it is a lab day, then on Friday the students present their PowerPoints to each other. I hope the students are learning about PowerPoint. It certainly is interesting to see what they come up with. (They pay their adjuncts only 300 a credit hour, now it costs 600 to take the class, do you see a discrepancy, but I am getting 6 credits a year for free--yeah--no loans yet on my Masters!)

Yesterday I had a terrible day. Luke my five year old kept trying to cheer me up by asking me to play with him. Once I figured it out-- I was amazed how caring he was to his mommy.

Anakin and Luke are doing great on their work jobs. Today as we clean up the living room we played a game: I close my eyes while they put things away then I have to guess what they put away. The best is when Anakin comes up to me and says, "Mommy where does this go?" Kind of defeats the purpose, but they did pick up the entire living room.

I thought I was going to teach Sunday School on Sunday, but both of us had prepared the lesson. (Better both than neither) It was about Mormon, and I was going to talk about how he had the Gift of Discernment. Elder Bednar gave a great talk about his ability to be quick to observe. I've notice that Anakin is only bringing home good qualities from school. He will say "I'm a happy helper!" He learned that phrase from school. (Think of what he could be learning at school.) Anakin is discerning and noticing good things. I am glad that I prepared because I love that talk, and I noticed that Anakin is also quick to observe. (Part of discerning is noticing the good in yourself and others and being able to bring that good out.)

It snowed a little this week, so we got out the sleds, boots, pants and played in the inch of snow for about an hour. The boys even shoveled the entire driveway! Gypsy Girl hadn't woken up, so I was running in and out of the house checking to see if she was awake.

Working with their dad!

While I was making dinner, all the boys were outside working in the garage. I love that you can capture moments like these on a camera! I asked them what they were working on, and they said that it is a secret, but it just looks like they are just playing with tools.

Work Jobs

My boys and I do work jobs everyday together, and Thursdays is garbage day. I used to hate taking out the garbage, and not do it until Friday morning when I would hear the garbage man come by. I would run out in my slippers and coat chasing the garbage man with my recycling. But now I love it! Luke, Anakin and I go through the entire house emptying all the trash cans then taking it out the big garbage and recycling. Last night Anakin took out the kitchen garbage (it was heavy, but he is so strong!) Luke took out the house garbage, and I took the last of the recycling to the garage. Then Anakin pushed the recycling out to the curb and Luke and I took the big garbage. It was so fun to watch Anakin and Luke get so excited about taking the garbage out. In fact, as I was telling them how proud I was of their accomplishment, I started to cry. My little boys are growing up. When we first moved here, Luke was not even two, and Joshua 2 1/2 months old. Now they are taking the garbage out! My favorite part about the whole experience: it made an unhappy chore turn into a great family activity!