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. 

Baptism Girl

Hoping to get some more professional pictures soon,

but took these snapshots of my baptism girl today.

Sunday is the big day!

 

Happy Halloween

 Dynamic Duo?  Nope, they wouldn't have it. Batman X2

(Rex and Lyle)

Plus, Buzz Light Year --- To Infinity and Beyond!

 The only day of the year I don't dress up.

(When I told the kids that, no one laughed.)

Bryant during his Ichabod Crane skit during his class party. 

The kid was born to act.

 My trunk or treators.  Bryant as Zorro and Sariah is a cheetah, not a cat. Sariah was so good to help Rex and Lyle make it along.  They weren't interested at first until they realized what was going on, then they were happy to stick out their buckets.  Cutest thing ever to see these two little black capes walking around.

 Lovin' the trick or treatin'.

 

And "Mummies" and tots for dinner. 

 (There really was fruit salad too.)

This was at Kami's annual Halloween party, Talmage dressed up as Uncle Dave.