Scriptures and I'm Sorry Notes

Today was a really rough day with James.

I was glad when bedtime came.

To my surprise,

James took his scriptures up to his room

to read them in his closet.

A little while later,

he came downstairs, and gave me the following note:

"To Mom and Dad Sere[sorry] for all the thenks[things] I did Mom."

We weren't the only ones who got apology notes from James.

He wrote one for each of his siblings;

I found Jalen Andrew's note tucked under his sleeping head.

I am always amazed at the power in the scriptures,

even for those who are young.

James' change of heart reminds me of a time when Christine

was 3 or 4 years old.

She had gotten really angry with me, and stormed off to her room.

A few minutes later, I found her sitting on her bed with her scriptures open,

her face trying hard to concentrate.

She couldn't read yet, but she thought that she could.

When I asked her what she was doing,

she answered that she was reading her scriptures so that she could feel better.

Let that be a lesson to us all - never underestimate the power of the word of God!

A Visit from Freddy the Frog

It's been 3 years since Mrs. Yates' friend, Freddy the Frog came to visit our home,

but we were lucky enough to have him hop on over for a visit this weekend. He was James' special visitor, and they were able to play with the Lego blocks, shoot lots of hoops, and have a sleepover. James was even kind enough to read him some bedtime stories. All dressed up in his Sunday best, Freddy accompanied us to church today, and

was the most reverent frog that we've ever had in attendance. Thanks for visiting, Freddy; it's been so much fun!

It Was a Good Birthday

The official frosting taster.

For the boy who LOVES vegetables. . .

he, of course, had to have a carrot cake

for his birthday,

with the Veggie Tale characters,

Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber.

When we got ready to take this picture,

Jalen Andrew stuck his finger in the cake,

so we just used his finger to plug up the hole created.

It's all good.

He and I practiced earlier today,

singing "Happy Birthday"

and then blowing,

and tonight he blew out his candles on cue

without any prompting from us at all.

Dinner was chicken nuggets

and

cherry tomatoes,

carrots,

snap peas,

cucumbers,

and cauliflower.

Jalen Andrew ate it up (the vegetables at least),

but he still had plenty of room for cake and ice cream.

He was thrilled with everything he got,

and we were thrilled for the hugs and thank-you's that we got from him.

Grandpa Jones is more than happy to help set up the new train tracks.

Birthdays are exciting,

but are exhausting once it's all done.

Jalen Andrew was anxious to get on his new pajamas,

and go to bed.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Jalen Andrew!

Happy Birthday, sweetheart.

It is an absolute joy having you in our family.

We love you so much!

There are so many things we love about you,

but here are my top 2:

1) You have such a sweet disposition -

the way you snuggle into your blankies,

the way you take such good care of your "babies"

even putting their blankets on your shoulder, just like I do for you,

and the way you rush to whoever is coming through the door to

welcome them home with a hug.

AND

2) The funny side of you that you don't show to anyone else but your family

You crack us up.

You have some of the funniest expressions and rolling of the eyes,

not to mention those fancy dance moves.

The world thinks that you're so quiet (and you are),

and yet. . .

you have this funny side that comes out at home.

You make us smile!

We're so glad to have you, you BIG 2 year-old!

We love you, Jalen Andrew.

Couch Cucumber?

Jalen Andrew got a little rebellious on Sunday.

First he stole the container of snap peas,

hid them behind his back,

and ate them over the carpet in the family room

(yes, he knows better),

Then for dinner,

after I had just cut up a huge cucumber,

while my back was turned to attend to another element of dinner,

he stole the container of cucumbers,

AND refused to give them back.

He ate the entire cucumber by himself,

and then still helped himself to more cucumber at dinner

(I had to cut up a new one - since the 1st one mysteriously disappeared).

Veggie Sneaker!

Finished Goals

Several years ago I decided to read or re-read (whatever the case may be) my Teachings of the Prophets manuals. Because I had been raising babies during the years that we studied those manuals in Relief Society, I was often tired, and consequently didn't keep up with my reading. I felt that I had missed a great opportunity to understand the gospel better, and so I made it a goal to read each lesson in each of the manuals. I would read about a particular topic in one, writing down in a journal the thoughts, questions, and quotes that hit me, and then would read about that topic in each of the other manuals.

Today I finished my goal.

It was an amazing experience studying the words of the prophets that way. I really gained a deeper understanding of the gospel, and I grew to love these prophets, that were before my lifetime, and gained a testimony of the divine appointment that rested upon each of them as a Prophet of God in these the latter days.

Off Again - On Again

Rebekah entered her last phase of braces on Wednesday the 18th.

She'll wear these for approximately two years

Jean Quilt

I've been saving and cutting jeans for a long time now, and when I got to the point where I was sewing them together, Rebekah offered to sew her own squares. We started this project a long time ago, worked on it quite a bit this summer, but then set it aside once school started. With Young Women's in Excellence coming up, that provided Rebekah with the motivation to finish her quilt.

She chose zebra stripes for her backing material because she's suddenly into zebra stripes.

(Joseph told me yesterday in a whisper at the store that he found out a little secret about Rebekah - she doesn't like the zebra animal, just it's skin. I asked him how he knew, and he answered that they had had "a little talk.")

And ta-da the finished project.

This is a BIG quilt, large enough to cover a full size bed.

Good job, Rebekah!

NJHS

On Tuesday the 17th Rebekah was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, Brainstorm Chapter.

It is quite an honor to be selected for NJHS. There were 22 chosen out of the entire 7th and 8th grade classes

The 5 NJHS Qualities are

Scholarship

Service

Leadership

Citizenship

and Character

We're proud of you Rebekah! Always have been, always will be!

And from your NJHS alumni mother - "Welcome to the club."

Patching Things Up

We started James on a new medication on October 20th. It's a patch called Daytrana that he wears on his hip. It's helping, I think, but he still has some of the same side effects that he had with the other medication. For instance, it suppresses his appetite and makes it hard for him to go to sleep at night.

That being the case, I usually choose one day of the weekend to keep the patch off, so that he feels the need to fill up that skinny body of his. I chose Sunday.

Well, off the patch, he is a bit out of control. Just during Sacrament Meeting he punched me, scratched me, drove his nails into my arm, and ran the bottom of his shoe down the shins of my legs. Somehow I had managed to sit in the middle of the pew, and I had no way of picking up James and taking him out, without him kicking everyone's heads as I passed. I just sat there restraining him the best I could, tears streaming down my face, and trying to love him through the moment. I tried not to look at Erik, who was sitting on the stand, because I was fighting to hold back the tears, but I caught his eye a couple of times, and I could tell that it was killing him to watch me endure. Somehow we made it to the end of the meeting.

I was glad to go on to Sunday School and Relief Society. I needed a break. But then just as Relief Society was about to close, a nursery worker brought Jalen Andrew in (and although I was heading to the hall to talk to her) announced to the entire Relief Society that Jalen Andrew had scratched another boy. I guess that wasn't all. He had been taking toys from other kids, stealing other kids snacks, and then drew blood when he scratched another boy on the face. Sigh. I tried to hold it in, but I started crying again. I hung my head, clung to Jalen Andrew, and pushed my way through the crowded hall, tears dripping as I walked. I waited for the kids outside, out by the bishop's office, and Jalen Andrew fell asleep almost immediately. He was tired - he was aggressive because he was overly tired - and because James steals HIS food and HIS toys all the time. My sweet boy had been kicked out of nursery, and his brother was struggling for any time of self-control he could manage.

Tomorrow will be better. For now, I'm just glad that Sunday is over.

Some Serious Singing

What started out as a quiet night of reading before bedtime . . .

turned into a bit of a songfest!

Luf Notes

James has suddenly been bitten by the writer's bug,

and on little Halloween notebooks

that he got from the Ward's Trunk of Treat/carnival,

has begun writing notes to people in the family.

He wrote me, one such note, Sunday morning, as I was getting ready for church.

He brought it to me, with the instructions,

"Just read it, but don't say anything! If you have something to say, write it down."

The note said:

"I luf you Mom. You are The best one in are famle."

I wrote back, "James, I love you too. I am so glad that you are in our family! Love, Mom."

As I got ready for bed that night, on my pillow, I found another little note.

"I Am So glad that yo r in are flame --- Mom"

(for those of you who don't read 6 year old . . . I am so glad that you are in our family, Mom.)

Keeper of the Flame

On Monday it was my turn to pick an activity for Family Home Evening. I chose to play a couple of Native American games that I found at http://www.wnit.org/OutdoorElements/pdf/408NativeAmerican_Ga.pdf

(in case, you're interested).

The first game was called Pebble Patterns. In an effort to teach their children skills for hunting, gathering, and staying safe in the wilderness, many tribes would play this game to teach their children to be observant. To play, take 30 pebbles (marbles or buttons) of different size and color. One person makes a design, and allows the other players to study it before it is covered up; they then try to re-create it. We chose to do fairly simple patterns, but as their skill increases, more complex patterns can be created.

Our 2nd game was called Keeper of the Fire. This game was used by many tribes to teach stealth and keen listening skills, for hunting, fighting, and survival. Placing a pile of wood in front of the blindfolded Fire Keeper, the rest of the players sit quietly until the Chief calls out "Wood Gatherers, we need wood!" and points to someone to steal the Fire Keeper's Wood. The Fire Keeper must keep his hands on his lap unless attempting to tag a Wood Gatherer.

We had some really talented stealthy Wood Gatherers, but our Fire Keepers need to work on their listening skills, as they didn't catch many people.

Jalen Andrew, was at first startled by the Fire Keepers who were lunging at the Wood Gatherers, but finally warmed up to the game, and began quietly stealing the wood as well. After everyone else had a turn as the Fire Keeper, he told me, "Turn, turn." He took his turn, with the blindfold above his eyes, and sat quietly, unmoving, until a Wood Gatherer would come close, and then would deliberately lunge for them. He was so cute! Oh, and he did have a basketball on his lap, and would throw it at the Wood Gatherer's if they got away.

The kids really loved this game, and James has asked every day since if we can play it again.

Haunting Halloween Highlights

The sulky scarecrow stands silently as the scary skeleton shrugs off the spiderwebs spun by Spiderman.

Positively perfect pop-star pose.

Nice, nifty gnomes neatly nestle into the Netherlands.

This really was a fitting costume for Erik and I,

since we both loved gnomes before we ever met each other,

and we did have a gnome holding a heart as our wedding cake topper.

Long live the little people!

P.S. No, I don't know why I wrote all the above descriptions in alliteration -

it just hit me all of a sudden.