Heat Wave

Yesterday it broke 40 degrees.  I bundled up the boys and sent them out the door soon to follow.  In the few minutes it took me to get outside they had taken off their coats, boots, and socks and were jumping on the trampoline in bare feet!  Oh, and Hyrum had his swim goggles on!  Ever since, these guys have been running around like this:

 

 Yes, Rex was "coloring" behind my back.

 

Goggles come in handy when trying to keep orange juice spray out of your eyes.

A good laugh.

 

Getting ready to publish blog for Christmas 2014 and didn't have any Christmas pictures.  Adding these in last minute:

 

Talmage's role as a Wiseman in the ward Christmas program.

(Bryant was dying in his choir boy costume.)

A prouder moment of Bryant's

 2013 Christmas Eve Jammies.

Visiting St. Nick

The Primary put on a Polar Express Breakfast and since I was within 18 hours of being under Versed, James took our gang to the festivities.

 

He didn't know how the little guys would take to sitting on Santa's lap, so while he was strolling around the breakfast, James took these first few snapshots.  Lyle's expression in classic.

The others knew exactly what to do... 

 

 Hyrum actually came home completely distraught.  In tears he crumbled to the floor and exclaimed, "It took me 5 minutes to try and tell Santa what I wanted and he still didn't understand!"

He wants Lash's Bite Cycle (a lego)---have no idea why Santa couldn't get that one.

 

 Turned out, Rex threw the fit and Lyle warmed right up to Santa.

 

Every time we talk about Santa now, Rex holds up all the fingers on both hands and exclaims,

"Santa give me lots and lots of candy!"

The Beginning and the End

This afternoon, we saw Bryant play his first game of the season, and Talmage play his last.  Both of their teams won, Talmage's had an exciting comeback.  Both Talmage and Bryant scored.  I sure enjoy watching them.

After Talmage's game, all my kids headed to the vending machine.  I ended up carrying out a 30 lb. kicking and screaming kid in each arm, one yelling, "I want money."  Oh, and Hyrum was crying behind us because for some reason the machine wouldn't dish out the starburst.

James just got home.  He showed me pictures of our shattered pipes---that have never even been used. 

Welcomed Surprises

A few things this week occurred that were definitely welcomed surprises as a mother.

 

During family night, Sariah read these pages she had written.

 

 

School assignment or not, I didn't think these thought ever crossed Sariah's mind as much as she complains about not having a sister.

 

A couple times this week, while I was doing dishes, Bryant came and spontaneously volunteered to wash a sink full of dishes.  I kind of think it might have something to do with the approaching big day, but I'd like to think it has something to do with him growing up, recognizing the needs of others, and desiring to be of service.  Could it be?

 

Talmage spoke in Spanish Branch today.  This afternoon, Sariah and I went with the missionaries to the home of a sister with whom they are meeting.  She has a daughter in Sariah's school class.  When the sister missionaries asked what she liked about church, she told them about the talk given by the young man.  It was Talmage!  That was kind of fun.  I think it was a long hour for Sariah in Spanish but I was pleased with her for going and having her first missionary experience.

 

Talmage also had his violin recital tonight.  He actually hasn't been to violin for the last two months because of basketball.  We got his piece on Wednesday as well as the accompaniment I said I would do.  Talmage did great.  After working so hard to learn the piece I totally bombed. 

But, Talmage was flawless.

 

 

Rex and Lyle had to move on from the pin-striped tan Sunday suits.  Those baby gifts seemed to hang in the closet forever before they fit them and now they've grown out of them.  As Rex cuddled on my lap during the Christmas devotional tonight, he tapped his little foot to the rhythm of the carols.  Sweetness.  (I won't mention he flooded Grandma and Grandpa's bathroom on Thursday in a BIG way---like drawers full of water!)

 

James read the last chapter of Cracked Wheat for Christmas to us tonight.  I think we enjoyed it this time as much as we did for the first time last year.

Thanksgiving

Besides cooking and cleaning for a crowd for four days, Thanksgiving was nice to have a change of pace.  On Thanksgiving Day, we only stopped by the house on the way back from the Taylor/Eppich/Naef reunion dinner to see the paint job, so we had James for the whole day.  It was so nice!  Other than that though, he has been at the house from sun-up until way past sun-down.  Getting much closer to being finished with the electrical though. Hallelujah!

 

 The kids gathering wood for a fire.

 

 One night James came down to make sure all the kids were tucked in.  He saw this doll on the floor and couldn't resist setting Bryant up for this picture.  We all had a good laugh over it the next morning at scriptures.  It's a lot of fun when your kids are mature enough to laugh at themselves.

My "turkey trotters" the morning of Thanksgiving.  I was proud of Talmage for choosing to run the 5K but he was pretty upset by the finish because he'd made a wrong turn.  I was pleased with everybody for finishing on a cold morning.

 

So we've enjoyed a few days of lazy mornings, good food, playing farkle together, and reading Sounder and Cracked Wheat for Christmas past bedtime.

A Little Behind

I didn't get a post done on Sunday for some reason, so I'm a few days behind on this family journal.  I'll try and recap.

 

 

Yes, Bryant had to wear these to school like this.  Bought them mid-August, so they lasted 3 months.  Bryant's average shoe life.  I didn't realize they were so bad.  He's had black low-top converse look alikes for his last 4 pairs of shoes.  Thought he might need something a little sturdier for winter and his first basketball season.  He got his first pair of new NIKEs.  We'll see how long they last.

 

James was gone last week to fall inservice.  Hyrum and I had to stop by his parked pick-up, drop off some peanut clusters and leave love notes.

I think sometimes his "awesome attitude" at school wears him out for when he gets home.

Rex is clinging to my legs crying while I took this picture the day we went to pick up walnuts at Lloyds. 

 

Time to get letters to Santa in the mail.  Rex took care of it for us.

 

Kids wanted to make sure Santa didn't make any mistakes this year, so they included pictures.

 Bryant helped Hyrum with his list.

(That bottom item asks for two so "he can share with his big brother.")

 

 Bryant's list

 

 Sariah's list (with help from Talmage)

 

And Talmage's list.

 

I hope Santa's lego shop is running smooth.

 

Went to watch Talmage play basketball for the first time this year.  Afterwards he came home and was wrestling and playing with Rex and Lyle.  He is an awesome big brother!

 

It's almost 11pm and James isn't home yet.  It's about 12 degrees outside and they have been working on the wiring at the house without any heat source.  Once it gets past 10:30 I start getting worried because he drives so tired.  I think I better go look for him.  I've had to do it before and my heart just pounds faster and faster as I drive wondering what condition I'm going to find him in.

Wearin' 'em out

 Talmage has started basketball and he gets home now about 5:45.  Squeezing dinner, chores, homework and music in before bedtime is tricky---especially on mutual night.  He's a pretty tired guy by the time he gets to bed.  I'm glad he at least tries to say his prayers.

 

 He's not the only one who is tired.  Yes, she must have been cold falling asleep in her coat.

In September we got some dressers off craigslist that had previously been Walla Walla dormitory dressers.  They were a little beat up but not hopeless.  This week I've been finishing up the "little" project I started a few months ago.

 

There are three of them and I'm pretty excited about the boys having enough room for their clothes.  Now that I've spent hours and hours (and hours) working on them, I'm a little worried about putting them in a boys' room though!

 

Friday, Bryant and Sariah had their Veteran's Day program.  I love Veteran's Day programs!

Sporting our Red, White, and Blue!

Poor Lyle

So it started the day after Halloween, got progressively worse, then progressively better, and was almost gone by Thursday afternoon/evening.  The whole time, Lyle didn't seem to be very bothered by it.  What a blessing!

 

Just Starting

 

Progressing

 

Getting Worse as it spreads over his entire body

 

We were pretty sure it was what Hyrum had the week Rex and Lyle were born.

 

This was Thursday night when it was almost gone.

 

Then it flared again Friday, this time with much more discomfort to our poor little Lyle.  Huge welts that drive him crazy---especially when he's trying to sleep.  His whole body is swollen.

 

 

It's horrid!

When he isn't in an itching fit, he's just his normal, happy, little, Lyle self.

Special Day

Tonight our only daughter was baptized. 

I told Sariah this was the only time I'd ever get to help one of my kids in the dressing room after the baptism.  I don't think that meant to her what it does to me.

 

She had a lot of family and friends come to support her.
(But not Rex and Lyle.  Lyle was home with a weird rash and so Rex stayed too. 
Thanks to Grandma for staying with them.)

Baptism of Sariah Hales
November 3, 2013

Conducting………………………………………………………..Kevin Jenks

Pianist………………………………………………………………..Jande McGary
Chorister……………………………………………………………Grandma Wells

Opening Song……………………………………My Heavenly Father Loves Me
                                                                (lyrics on back of program)

Opening Prayer………………………………………………….Aunt Haley Bergeson

Talk on Baptism……………………………………………………….Grandpa Wells

Baptism
Performed by Sariah’s Dad
            Witnesses……………….........Uncle Severin Bergeson
                        ………..………….Uncle Dave Specht

Special Musical Number……………………”When I am Baptized” by Sariah

Talk on the Holy Ghost……………………………………Aunt Blaire Delos Reyes

Confirmation

Bishop’s Remarks……………………………………..Bishop Lane McGary

Closing Hymn………………………………………I Love to See the Temple
                                                       (lyrics on back of program)

Closing Prayer……………………………………………………Uncle Dax Wells

Refreshments and Visiting at the Home of Stan and Brenda Peterson.

She wanted to play the piano for her musical number and so she's been practicing for several months.

We took a picture right where my family and I stood the day I was baptized.
 

 

 She was baptized in the font I was baptized in---and it was COLD for her too.

I can't help but think of the day I was pushing her in the swing in a backyard when she was just a year or so old.  I was struck by a very real and full feeling of contentment and joy.  It surprised me because we fully intended to keep growing our family.  Little did I know that feeling was because Sariah was my fullness of joy as far as daughters go.  She continues to bring me that joy.

Sariah is a special girl.