Talmage's Teddy Bears

Usually after reading a story at night, Rex and Lyle want James or Talmage to lay by them while they fall asleep.  James usually isn't home, so Talmage has been laying with them several nights this last week.  Last night, Rex told me, "I Talmage's teddy bear."  Then Lyle told me the same thing.  Sounds like they have a good thing going on there. 

 

Last night, Talmage went with James to the adult session of Stake Conference.  Tonight they went to a fireside for incoming seminary students.  Last Sunday night he went with Dave to a youth choir practice.  I think Talmage is pretty meetinged-out.

 

Wednesday afternoon when the kids got home from school, I told them we needed to go down to Dave and Taneil's and do a little secret service to help them get ready for their new carpet.  I think they really enjoyed it (Bryant even thanked me afterwards for taking them!) and Talmage left a little note from "the brownies".  I told them that secret service was one of my very favorite things to do.  I think they may be catching on.

James was called to the Stake Sunday school presidency today.  To me that translates as sacrament meetings by myself when he's away to ward conferences.  But, I told him I'd rather do that than send him off on a 2-7 year mission like the pioneer women did.

Hyrum is Wisdom

Conversation on the way home from meeting with The Granite Guy for measurements and a bid.

Sariah: What is five rows of five?

Mom: What do you think?

Pause

Hyrum: 25

Another short pause

Sariah: 25

Hyrum: Hey that's what I said.

Mom: Wow Hyrum, that's awesome.

Sariah: Hyrum is wisdom.

("wisdom" is one of Sariah's vocabulary words this week)

Mom: BIG smile and laugh

 

Parade with flags they made themselves.

(hats made of baffle packaging from can lights---Rex's idea---perfect)

Family Circus

As I looked out from the porch to all the trails in the snow, I couldn't help but think of the little dotted lines I used to follow in the Family Circus comics.  I had no idea really what "family circus" referred to.  Now I do!  I'm so glad.

First real Snow of the Winter.

 For Family Home Evening we needed to get some things cleaned up before the cabinets were going in the next morning.  So, it was pizza and construction dust for dinner. (Hyrum prepared and gave the lesson, Sariah recited the 13th article of faith.  Rex and Lyle are permanently on prayers for awhile.)

 

Taneil and Dave are trying to get their trailer livable so we are seeing the beautiful Libby and Jhett for a few hours here and there while they do their own construction.

 Lyle learned to roll his tongue this week.

 

The week's crowning event:

Our Annual Valentine's Dinner with the Caziers, Taylors, and Brittons.  (Woodwards had their baby this week so they didn't make it.)

Zach and Lizza made it a beautiful evening.

 Fancy, Fancy!

 Not just gorgeous, but delicious.

Mixed greens, supreme grapefruit and avocado, candied walnuts with poppyseed dressing.

Tomato and basil cream soup garnished with a parmesan chip.

Tri-tip sirloin braised in red wine reduction with parsnip puree.

German chocolate cake a la mode with chocolate covered strawberries.

Wow!

And those aren't just fancy names, it's the real deal with Lizza!

James and Talmage spent the day yesterday working on lights, outlets, and switches.  James went to wash his hands out at the spicket and NO water.  Our "no freeze" system froze.  We just hope no pipes are broke.  Thaw is coming mid-week---we'll see. Wood flooring should be coming soon.  James picked up the rest of the tile.  Light at the end of the tunnel?  Yes, but it's still a very long tunnel.

 

Snow and wind last night made for cancelled church today.  We spent the morning watching Mormon Messages and the big kids played in the snow this afternoon while we napped.  (Really miss that with our new church schedule.)

True Joy

Thought I would include my journal entry from yesterday for the kids to look back on someday.

Sunday, February 02, 2014

I just spent the last hour and a half or so interviewing the kids.  (James delegated that to me for the first time.)  What a great experience!  It made me think of some of the great things that I have noticed in our family recently and I had to turn on the computer before they were just forgotten history.

Yesterday, Talmage spent the entire day with James at the house.  He put on his insulated coveralls and my mission boots (actually Danner steel-toed work boots) and off he went with James.  It makes me so happy to see my working boy.  When I picked him up last night at about 8 o’clock when I took them their fasting meal, Talmage was in the best of spirits.  He and James and truly enjoyed each other’s company working together.  True joy.

Yesterday morning I told Bryant and Sariah what their Saturday’s chores were and left it at that.  I was most pleasantly surprised when come late afternoon, Bryant pulled out the cleaning supplies and went to work on the bathroom.  I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen, and I was so pleased to see some personal responsibility come out in Bryant.  He stayed home from church today with a yucky cough and when we got home he had done the dishes and the entire lunch was on table!  Seeing him be positively proactive is so encouraging as a mom.  True joy.

Sariah was more than distressed to go back to school at the beginning of the week after being home sick.  Her teacher went out of her way and invited Sariah to a special lunch date.  Sariah’s fears dissipated and demeanor completely changed.  How grateful I am for a caring teacher.  Sariah takes it upon herself to do her piano and chores almost all the time.  I’m so grateful for that.  True joy.

This week, great-grandma Gibbons was on the couch and said she was thirsty.  Hyrum, all on his own, went and got her a glass of water.  How sweet it is to observe your children being tender.  True joy.

Lyle is a happy kid.  He gets really exuberant over the simple things of life and shows it.  I love it.

Rex has a sparkle in his eye most of the time and can be a real tease.  He went around growling at people today.

There was a time I couldn’t imagine it, but those little guys are true joy.

So grateful to know and feel joy.

Let there be light...

...and paint.

 

After four months of slow progress, the last two weeks has been a lot of fun.

 

For family night we're headed out to clean up so the cabinets can go up tomorrow.

Space Derby

Bryant's last derby wasn't a pinewood derby, but a space derby.

 

 This was before they both jumped off the stage behind my back. 

 Lyle hurt himself pretty good, but no broken legs thankfully.

 

 Pack 176

 

Bryant ended up with three 1st places and a second place in his four heats.

 

  I was so proud of him.  He did the entire project almost completely by himself. 

(A good thing since Dad has been so busy on the house.)

"Two" much fun.

 Found these two like this one morning, cuddled up all on their own.

 Lyle, happy as a clam in two hats.

 

Helping with the laundry. 

Wish I got one of them with both their heads stuck in the dryer when we were changing batches.

 

Home from nursery with their ears on. 

They love playing basketball with Brother "Whiner." (Riner.)

Masterpieces

 Hyrum made this for me all by himself (with a little Bryant help).  

 

 He also painted this masterpiece without any coaching. 

He has really been putting some meticulous time into his artwork lately.

 

"Mommy, I made dat all by myself!" 

Lyle was so proud, and I was so proud of him. 

I'm sure it's the first of many, many lego creations!

Rex kept himself busy one morning with these towers. 

It's so fun to see them start to be creative.