Sunday, November 25, 2012

 

We had a great week.  Thanksgiving was spent at home with the family.  We ate chicken tenderloins because I was not going to bake a turkey for 5 people.  The kids did not mind.  After our meal, we went to Pioneer Park and handed out five dollar bills with a homemade card to the homeless.  It was a touching experience.  The recipients were very grateful.  One woman started crying because she really needed the money.  These sweet people were not begging and so they were not expecting the gift.  Most of them were sitting on park benches or lying on the grass with their few possessions next to them in plastic shopping bags.  On the ride home I wanted to cry.  I felt so bad for the homeless we just visited.  I have a hard time understanding why they are in that situation.  In all honesty any of us could be in that situation.  They are just like you and me.  I don’t know why I am so blessed.  But it makes me grateful for what I do have.  After our neat experience, we came home and did some crafts.  We made turkeys out of rocks, google eyes, and foam sticks.  Then we delivered them to the neighbors.  The kids had such a great time giving away their creations they wanted to make more.

                Wednesday was very windy so we took advantage of it by flying our kites.  We invited Emma and Austin Coburn to join in the fun.  We went to Hannah Holbrook and ran around the field.  I assembled 5 kites and that was a huge task.  By the time they were all assembled, the kids had the kite strings tangled or wrapped around the playground equipment and were bored of flying kites.  So I got to dissemble all the kites right after assembling them.

                I love it when there is a holiday because Tim gets to be with the family and it gives a chance to do things we normally don’t do…like take family pictures.  I cannot believe how many pictures have to be taken before one picture works.  I think the ratio is one good picture for every 15.  It was challenging to have the kids stand still or to look at the camera.  Nevertheless, we did get some good pictures and after reviewing them I have to say that my family is very cute.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

So this life is getting crazy.  Obama is going to be President for another 4 years and the economy will be in a huge limbo.  I am glad I have Tim and the kids.  They keep me pretty focused on what is important….the family, the gospel, and serving.

Jacinda is going to be 8 in a few weeks.  We are getting ready for her baptism.  Everybody is excited.  Xadia kept trying to take Jacinda’s baptism packet away from sister Obray (the primary president).  I had to keep Xadia distracted so sister Obray could finish what she needed to tell Jacinda.  After the meeting, Jacinda was choosing who would play the piano and what songs she wanted to sing.  I love all the enthusiasm.

                Saturday the kids tested for their tae kwon do belt advancement.  Jacinda is now a high brown belt and McCabe is a green belt.  They both work really hard at their kicks and sparring.  The other day McCabe asked me to help him with his sparring moves.  I told him I did not know them and he said, “but you are there watching me.”  Yes that is true but I am not doing the moves…most of the time I am keeping an eye on Xadia and Teagan.

                Friday we had a kids movie night.  The kids took some friends to the movies.  We saw “Wreck it Ralph.”  What a super cute movie.  It was so fun to see the old characters I grew up playing on the video game circuit.  The story line was great.  I would definitely see that movie again.

                The latest thing at our house is building a train out of laundry baskets.  The kids love to put Teagan in one of the baskets and pull him around.  Teagan is such a good boy.  He lets the kids pull him around.  Just the other day he was having such a good time in his comfy basket, he fell asleep.  He is just  so cute.

                Before I end this entry I have to write something Tim said about Xadia.  “She is not mean, just crazy.”  The reason for the comment is because Xadia is so loud at times and uses such a harsh tone in her voice.  We are coming to realize she is not intentionally being mean.  She is a fiery little pistol of a girl.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

We had a special opportunity to do a family night at the South Davis Community Hospital.  This is a care facility for people of all ages.  We got to do family night for the senior citizens.  There is always a special spirit there with understanding on both sides.  The residents are kind to our kids and we just love being in their presence.  One individual was in a wheel chair because he did not have shins or feet.  As soon McCabe saw him, McCabe points and in a very obvious voice says, “look he has no legs.”  It was a good teaching moment about physical differences but spiritually we are all children of God.  Tim organized the whole lesson.  He talked about the origin of Halloween and how we today save our kindred dead.  We then sang a few primary songs and ended with giving each resident a Halloween picture.  It was a golden moment.  I hope the kids will always remember the importance of serving and that this service will have a positive impact.