366 Laughs- January 23rd 2016

1/23/16

Cub Scout Pinewood Derby!

With most of the family down and out sick, only the Cub Scouts and Dad attended.
Timothy got 3rd place!  And Samuel got to participate even though he's no longer a Cub Scout, having turned 11.






And for your enjoyment, here's a Doc (from Back to the Future) hanging from the ceiling fan.

366 Laughs- January 14th 2016

1/14/16

My photobombing family.

Or is that phamily?  Hmm.

But first, one of just Benjamin on his way to get donations for his Eagle project.  In Dad's hat from Germany.



Oh and Emilie just being adorable.

And again.


Now the photobombing starts...


Samuel, I think, knows...


More...

366 Laughs- January 5th 2016

1/5/16

We had a fun surprise from my sister today!
A package!  With really cool CTR necklaces for the little girls.  (Jules is scared to get hers dirty... still can't get her to wear it.  We'll keep trying.)

And a family puzzle!

Emilie was taking pictures of me opening it.  I don't always look that thrilled at my kids holding a camera, but it's the only way anyone ever sees pictures of me.

Christopher wanted a picture, too.


Samuel has out grown his Cub Scout shirt but only has 2 weeks left before he turns 11 and moves on to Boy Scouts.  So... I sewed  his Webelos badge onto a Scout shirt and we can change it very easily in 2 weeks!


Doesn't he look grown up?  This is my first Texas baby, all grown up and ready for Boy Scouts!


Oh, and Liberty wearing her necklace.  :)  Crazy hair in braids but coming out... haha.

365 Joys- December 30th 2015

12/30/15

Today was a super huge day.

Michael's papers were submitted by the Stake President to Salt Lake.

We can expect his mission call in 2-3 weeks.  Any guesses on where that call will be?

I do not have a picture, because we take a lot of pictures of Michael, and if we don't, he does.  Click on his name to the side of this post to see lots of them!  :)



Benjamin met with the Liberty Community Center to talk about an Eagle Project to benefit their center.  He will probably be building a bench for one of their pool areas.  The project will probably be underway mid-January.



Exciting times!

365 Joys- December 25th, 2015

12/25/15

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends!

We had a fun, family filled and simple day.

Looks like someone visited during the night... we love this tradition of secret giving and sharing.

The stockings were filled...


Even to setting up breakfast for the family. It makes things really easy in the morning!


Juliana found a giant fluffy giraffe under the tree with her name on it.

Ginny found it, too.

First fun present of the morning!

Lego/Duplos are always good for all ages.





A new friend.


Art projects of the future...

Hmm...


Emilie has new friends, too!

Benjamin laughing at someone...


Tolkien anything is good, right?  (this is an atlas, really cool.)

Magnets...


A Coloring book from cousins!

Zebra friend, named Stripe!

And a big dinosaur from a cousin secret Santa!


For some strange reason, Michael got a lot of ties... hmmm.  (and a cool BYU shirt!)


Drawing stuff and more yarn for Emilie!


Emilie?  (these pens are great... her cousins know her!)


An element of danger here... hide!


Always humor in Dad gifts... cookie cutters that look like they've already been eaten!


Nathanael's favorite gift...a Book of Mormon in Greek.


I loved seeing the joy in my children's eyes as their siblings opened gifts especially chosen by them, usually worked for and sacrificed for, and sometimes just thoughtfully found.

I loved the interest in each other and their likes and dislikes.  I loved that their cousin gift exchanges went well and they wanted to know how their far away cousins felt about the presents they had found.

We are blessed, no more on Christmas than any other day but I think we had time to sit back and think about it this day.  This is the last Christmas we all will be together for quite some time, and Tom and I may have been more mindful of this than the kids, but as we watched Michael enjoy this last Christmas at home, we definitely thought about it.

Next year, a few minutes skyping with a missionary may be the best present of all.  Remembered as we talked about it with the Elders over dinner tonight.

Merry, merry Christmas everyone.  We love you.

365 Joys- December 1st 2015

12/1/15

My 5th Cub Scout pinning the mother's pin on my very covered necklace... but not full!  I have room for 5 more Eagles and all the ranks leading up to it.  We have a new Cub Scout joining up in March... bring it on!

I love my Timothy!  He can be a challenge but he's ours and we will keep him!

365 Joys- August 26th 2015

8/26/15

We are in trouble with this little girl.


Serious trouble.


I guess I did the same thing as a little one.

Dad would come in the living room and I'd be standing on the back of the couch and say, "Hi, Dad!"


Oh dear.


Oh, and we got a free issue of Boys' Life and there's an article by a friend of mine from college!

365 Joys- August 17th 2015

8/17/15

Benjamin, that doesn't fit you anymore.



It fit you in THIS picture.



And Samuel caught a big grasshopper.  Now I want to go fishing... hmmm.