Firewood is on all the boys minds

Zachary worked on his bear this week, he wrote two letters, and did a to do list. At scouts they went to the library, and learned about where different types of books were kept in the library. Zach also became an expert at splitting logs, learning safety from Christian. At school his friend who had been out for two weeks because he was sick returned. Zach was excited to see him. He stayed side by side with the fastest kid in his class. Today at church they played jeopardy and the girls won by eight points. the boys are hoping to do better next time.

Christian has been reading a bunch of books this week. He went trunker-treating at church, chopped some wood. At scouts they are building a tribusha, to go against another pack in pumpkin throwing. Christian also finally got through a piece of wood that he has been working on the last two weeks he is so proud of himself. At church his lesson was a out temple marriage.

It's been a busy week, part of it was quiet relaxing as I refilled the bird feeder. I have been enjoying watching all the birds around it. Today we had a woodpecker out side also, so I may need to get some of the stuff they like. Yesterday the sunrise over the mountain was quiet incredible.

Thursday evening a friend of mine came to visit, Miss Kinsey. she stayed for a while eating popcorn and enjoying a cup of apple juice, watching some TV until her mom came over to pick her up. Friday Kinsey came to my rescue. I had put some gas in my car and accidentally locked my keys in the car. Justin was a sleep with his cell phone off, and couldn't hear the house phone. I called Kinsey's mom to see if she could go and wake Justin up so he could come and rescue me. Kinsey answered the phone and her Mom wasn't there so I told her I need to go. I continued to try and find someone to help. I was having no luck and was quiet frustrated when the ear piece for my cell phone went off. It was Lianne, Kinsey's mom, when she got home she said that Kinsey was quiet insistent that I called. When Lianne checked the caller ID it said Safeway, so she said that I hadn't called, but Kinsey was quiet insistent that I had so she was calling to make Kinsey happy. I was able to ask Lianne to go get Justin up and tell him what my problem was. Justin tried to call me several times but my phone never did pick it up. I called him back and got him as he was awake and he came to the rescue. I'll forever be grateful Kinsey insisting that I had called or it would have been an even longer morning.

An old friend from high school found me on Face book. Which is fun as I haven't kept track of anyone from HS. It has been fun to exchange messages with her and talk about old times.

Nathan found a great deal on firewood for us, if you go and split the wood you get to keep half. So Nate has been going on the last two days he was off. I am greatly appreciative of it. As Nate enjoys this kind of work it makes it great for both of us. He said that the guy is a real character, he has a collection of I think he said 20 or so pipe organs. Sounds really fun to see.

I was in charge of sharing time in primary today and I had the children start a Service in Secret Club. It started as a fun way to teach the children about doing service to others. I made Service in Secret cards for all of the kids. the more I thought about it the more I decided that I would take on the challenge I gave the children to do Service in Secret this week. I'm going to be looking hard to do some secret service myself. I know that it will feel good to do some service in secret. And am passing on the challenge to everyone who reads our blog, do some kind of service in secret and see if it makes you feel better.

Alice is coming to live at our house!!!

Christian has had a busy weekend, he went and started working on his citizenship in the community merit badge on Saturday. When he got back he did a lot of wood splitting and bringing it up to the porch, which I sooo appreciate. He went to a joint activity with one of the other wards in the stake where they did a service project and then had RBF's (root beer floats).

Zach had a more laid back weekend, but he did help with the wood, and set some goals on what he was going to work on to get his bear in cub scouts. He did a wonderful job in the primary program. He liked telling stories with the missionaries when they were over for dinner on Saturday.

We woke up on Thursday to find out that the farmers had left all these marshmallows in the field behind our house. So if you need some for your hot coca come over. Call first, we might even think about smores:)

Justin was in charge of getting Christian to the merit badge class on Saturday. I so appreciated it. S I could stay home and clean. Which was also nice to get done.He also helped the boys with the wood, and my favorite, did the dishes for me. He is such a great guy. Today during the primary program he played with one of my counselors baby as her hubby was out of town. I think he had a lot of fun :)

Today was our primary program and I think the children did a wonderful job. Then Amy, the primary sec. made the best treats, pretzels with a Hersey's hug and m&m's where the hug and m's were on top of the pretzel and the hug melted around the m's into the pretzel...they looked yummy. She always has the neatest little treats idea's

Our exciting news for this week is that Alice is going to come and live with us. We are sooo very excited. She is coming sometime between now and Thanksgiving. I've been finding out what we need to do to get her in to seminary and transfer to our high school. I can't wait for her to get her, part of the reason is I miss her tons and I will no longer be the only girl in the house. Justin said he needs to stock up on chocolate, and is glad that Edaleen is near by (yummy ice cream place). Our house that emptied out not to long ago seems to be filling back up. And we are glad.

Nathan learned to make mash potatoes:)

Our weekly funny is on Nathan this week. As we were leaving for church today I stuck my head in his room and asked him to: do the dishes, take the rolls out of the fridge, and cut up some potatoes put them in the pot on the stove and cover with water, so we could have mash potatoes. As church was over I had Zach call and check ans see how he was doing. Nate reported that he needed to talk with me. Apparently all he heard was to wash the dishes and mashed potatoes. Being a good boy he washed the dishes and having no idea how to make mash potatoes made an attempt. He microwaved the potatoes, cut them up, put them in the kitchen aid, added some milk and turned it on. He said said he had a lumpy mess. I told him I'd fix it when I got home and to make sure the rolls were out of the fridge. I stifled the giggles until I hung up the phone. When I got home there was a bowl of cold have mashed potatoes. That I soon realized were half cooked. Back in the microwave they went until cooked then I finished mashing them added some butter, milk etc. Nathan said he couldn't figure out why I had asked him to make mash potatoes when he never had and didn't leave any directions. I gave him a lesson on the right way to make them and then told him what I had asked him to do. He said all her remembered was do the dishes and mashed potatoes. And all he knew about mash potatoes was you cooked potatoes put them in the kitchen aid and added milk. I promised to make sure he was awake from now on and out of bed before giving instructions. But the pork roast was yummy falling apart and tender, and rolls perfect as is expected. Christian even commented on how much he liked dinner. He is my picky eater and is pretty sure half the time I'm trying to kill him. He has gotten better and trying new things though.

Justin and Christan went camping with the Scouts on Friday night. It was a long hike in, but from all reports it was great. They stayed at a look out point up at the Twin Lakes. Christian loved the fact that there were already things up there for people in case they forgot something, and left his hot chocolate up there in case someone needed some. They cooked dinner on white gas stoves, and lit candles. Justin said they were glad to be sleeping inside and not in there tents and it was quiet windy and there was snow on the ground. I smiled as there were 4 adults and 2 scouts on the hike. I understand the view was incredible, Justin kept saying that he had never seen so many mountain peeks. And they both agreed that it was beautiful. We are hoping to take a day hike up there in the late spring or summer when it is a bit warmer.

Zach went to Sister McCoy's on Saturday to practice for the primary program and have pizza. The rest of his weekend was pretty laid back, we did start a jigsaw puzzle though.

The practice for the primary program was today, it went well and I think the children will do an excellent job next week. It will be nice to have it done so we can focus on the next thing. I was talking to the branch pres. and expressing that I am finally feeling that I might be starting to get this calling figured out, but that didn't mean I was wanting to be released. I love our branch as I am getting to know new people. I'm sure I have some of the best teachers there are in our primary.

I went to Express Personnel and interviewed, they will hopefully have work for me to do at the end of the week. It will make it a lot easier as we need to be getting the tickets for the girls to come for Thanksgiving.

I talked to Shirley today!!! She sounded good and is going to send pictures of Parker. He is in kindergarten this year. We can't wait to get them. We had sent him some Parker root beer and he loved it, so we are thinking we shall send some more, it will just have to be opened carefully as not to explode.

Also talked with Amy, she sounded good. She actually called during sacrament meeting, and I didn't have the ringer of on my cell phone. I called her back after church. She is doing well, her and Jake were taking it easy and waiting for Ariel to get back from work.

I also got Michael, Young Mi and Max on the phone. It was a great day to catch up with everyone. Michel starts his last semester to get his RN WAY TO GO!! They have great plans and I am sure they will all happen. I know they are all glad that he is almost done. Young will cut back on work this summer it sounds like and her parents will come in from Korea for a visit. Max just got contacts! Is playing the bass, and working on his black belt. GO MAX.

I didn't catch up with Jonathan this week just left a message, but Mom and Dad are there to see them before they leave on their great adventure so I am sure they were off doing something fun.

I don't know how Justin's family is doing as he had to run before he talked with them. On the weeks Christian has BYC we just have enough time to eat before he has to leave for work.

Happy Birthday Justin

Hey peoples my life (Christian) is kinda bore'in right now but...just so y'all know you need t0 read this in a...western accsent ya varmits!!! soo00oo . . . I got this mini skateboard that you use for your fingers!!! and its kinda co0ol scho0ol is. . . the same so ummm . . . ya thats it In scouts we built a kitchen box for when we go camping. Watched conference and got to go to priesthood session and share a quart of ice cream with Dad afterwards.

Zach's week, when we were going to get Dad's present with Melanie we saw a rainbow, at first I could only see red, yellow and green, and then I could see all the colors. We got Dad an old fashion 9:10 to Yuma, a pocket watch that says "DAD" on it and a jacket for his birthday. On Tuesday his teacher says if they were quiet during writing time they would get a treat, it was rice crispys and was yummy. At cubs we studied the American flag and worked on the citizenship belt loop. On Saturday and Sunday I watched General conference, on Sat. I also watched "The Other side of Heaven" I really liked the movie and think you should watch it. It's about a missionary and his mission.

ok this is nathan here to tell you about my week so that mom doesn't make stuff up about me, the week kicked off with WORK of course now that I'm back from Reno and went back to the regular routine, and of course i am still car less since i cant buy a decent car to save my life, working on that though, as far as other projects go I'm fixing moms lawnmower as soon she buys a new pull cord for it, other than that its just playing with the fluffy dog and taking trips to sedro to visit Friends, that's pretty much the standard that I'm carrying on

So we have had a busy week, I'll start with the funny on the Gizmo. All week she has been chasing mice through the house at night. I haven't seen any signs of mice in the house though. Thursday night Justin said she brought a mouse into the living room, let it go, went and caught it again and brought it back. Saturday during the day she had it cornered again, and caught it again, then let it go...girr. She then cornered it by the door. Got board and left it. Thanks heavens for Nate, he came and shooed it out the door. We have slept soundly every night since thing. No more mice in the house.

Wednesdays are busy days for me, lots of driving. This week was even more so as the boys weren't in the same place for scouts, it looks like ti will be the same this week I figured I drive almost 2.5 hours on Wednesdays, doing my part to keep the oil companies in business.

Friday during the day Justin and I went down to the temple and did a session. It was nice to get a way for a bit. Traffic was intense on the way home. there was an accident and we had to figure out how to get back on the freeway, but we did, and got home and picked up the boys.

Come the first of January I will be working full time at the dr. office, Kelly will be doing other things. She will be greatly missed. I"m excited to go full time there, but know I rely on her when I have questions. she did say she would cover for me when I need a day off though and I am grateful for that. I will not be able to over see cub scout day camp next summer so I'll be letting them know this week.



I have been emailing Alice this weekend and found out the following. Liz took the SAT's on Saturday. I remember when I took them, we ended up needing to wait for an hour until the person passing out the test got there. I'm sure that Liz did an excellent job. Alice has been watching the boys a lot and doing school work she said. Alice also sent some great pictures of her birthday hope you enjoy them, We did.




I'm also posting some pictures that Jonathan sent of the girls and him and Celeste. We are so glad to get them also. The one of the girls with the turtle was when they are in Argentina. I'm hoping that he will continue to send pictures when they are out of the country. I thought about them when Pres. Monsen announced the new temples in Rome and Argentina. I hope they get to enjoy both of them.


Today is Justin's birthday. I made him lasagna, rolls and cake. After conference we had dinner, had cake, and opened presents. I think that he liked his presents, Zach was very excited about them as he was the one that went shopping and picked them out.

I've been working on the primary program, next Sunday is our run through and then we will do it. I think it is going to be good. I'm also working on next years primary things, I was inspired when Jonathan said the Christina was learning her articles of faith that we should learn them in our primary. My secretary said that she was in a ward where the children went to the bishop after the block and passed of an article of faith, we are going to give it a try at the beginning of the year. I am going to make a chart to keep track of how we are doing. We are even going to challenge the teachers, and presidency to learn them. Along with studying the monthly themes.

I started weight watchers this week, so you won't get an update here until I hit my first goal of 10% of my body weight. I am working hard at following the program, and learning the points system to help me eat wisely.