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.