Friday, September 25, 2009

Priesthood Commemoration (Girls Night In!)

Tonight is Priesthood Commemoration. It used to be called "Fathers and Son's"(Camp out). My husband (as Secretary in the Elder's Quorum, a group of younger men in our church), he was assigned to buy, bring, prepare, and serve the food. The Hoe-Down earlier this week had so many steaks left over that we only had to prepare the sides. Joe chose easy: Joe Moreley's Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Chips, Canned Juices, Sodas, and bottled water,and Cookies. Jonathan is very excited for his first ever sleep-over with his dad, just the two of them. So, the girls decided to have a Girls' Night In with the Hannah Montana Movie, ice cream sandwiches, fruit popsicles, licorice, chocolate, and Crows candy. Ohh, and all us girls are sleeping together in my room. I don't think we will all fit in my bed. We'll see. Hope you have a fun weekend. Update: Joe got home this morning and said it was one of the worst nights sleep he'd ever had. (They slept in the back of our mini-van on an inflatable mattress which deflated by three a.m.) They moved upfront but couldn't put there feet up in a sleeping bag because of the steering wheel. Still, in the middle of the night, Joe and Jonathan crept out of the car and watched the bright stars. In the morning, they ate danishes and lemonade and packed up to go home. At home, what started up as a reasonable night ended up going very late when Susie's diaper leaked through the sheets, mattress cover, etc. We changed sheets at midnight and poor Rebekah fell asleep before scriptures and prayers were over...so much for an early night!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Are Moms Supposed to get Ear Infections?

We drove up the old Squaw Peak Trailhead yesterday to catch a look at and gather some Fall leaves. My ears would not pop on the way back down. Now twenty-four hours into this little predicament, I think I may have a left ear infection. Hmm. Isn't that just kids stuff! Yes, I remember the infection in college. Still, soo not fair.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Praise for the Sunshine

Today I made my third trip to the elementary school with a backpack that an anxious little boy forgot when he exited ten minutes earlier. I drove out of the park and drive and the sunshine momentarily blocked out all else. The bright beams and the music to sing along to made me happy. We pulled into the driveway. Susie said, "Mom, (are) you singing?" Yes, I am singing. It is the Sunshine in my soul today.

Please Pray for Lisa

My sister, Lisa Ashton, is having a very hard time lately. Chronic pain, daily panic attacks, etc. She has spent many thousands of dollars at doctors this year and needs your prayers of faith. She will visit a chronic pain clinic for an evaluation today. Pray for her children too please: Lucy, Cami, and Andrew. Her spouse had been her greatest support and he needs help too. Bless you Stu.

Hello Blogger! I've missed you...

Dear family and friends, Hello! Sorry I've been so sluggish to post lately. I have taken pictures and all--I am just slow. I have been running through the days, trying to catch the summer I somehow missed!? I remember it being the end of the school year, I was going to get so much done at home with the children and then...? Perhaps it was aliens. Maybe I was abducted? That must be it! Joseph has been busy (and stressed) at work. Hannah, in Sixth Grade now, is busy with Egyptian Projects, learning the Cello for school Orchestra, Chess Club, (grudgingly and beautifully) still playing the piano, and is excited about Ballroom Dance classes starting soon. She is also busy being a new mother to a kitten we thought was a boy and turned out to be a girl...She is also much younger than said and a LOT of WORK. Hannah is learning. Living creatures--eat, eat, eat, play, and POOP! Rebekah is in Fourth Grade. She enjoys Concert Choir, still playing the piano, will learn the recorder in school, and is in an integrated computer classroom this year. Rebekah is taking care of guinea pigs and the other cat, Huckleberry, a boy. She is not crazy about cleaning up poop (and this makes her dad a bit crazy). She is smart and funny (except when she can't find her homework) but cannot record her true reading minutes. Shouldn't reading be for escape and fun anyway? Jonathan is loving First Grade and his art centered teacher. He cried yesterday because he couldn't play. He is our social guy. It's a hard life surrounded by all girls... He has little interest in a clean room and zips through reading and homework (the First Grade is more regimented than my older children's grades: Reading, Spelling, Math, Penmanship, every night!) Susannah is our little princess. She is spoiled and sweet. She likes to snuggle and ends up in our bed every morning somehow. She is Princess Dara some days. Other days she is Cinderella and I'm the mother. I must be a nice mother but when I am Cinderella and she is the Mother, she is not very nice! I am learning to be a JUGGLER! I am trying to be a mother, menu planner, chief, chauffeur, homework nazi, instrument mentor, laundress, maid, teacher, visiting teacher, beginning scriptorian, primary worker, LLL leader (counseling woman who want to breastfeed), friend, daughter, sister, and spouse. I like my jobs. I am afraid I will be fired soon. I do not do them all well, all of the time. It is hard to find balance. What works for you and your house?

Monday, September 7, 2009

Jonathan in the Spotlight

After enduring a teacher who "tolerated" him at best last year, Jonathan ,I *think* a teacher's pet this year. His teacher sent home requesting that he be spotlighted the first in his class this year. (His birthday is in the summer and would usually be celebrated at the end of the year). We had great SEPs(Student Education Plan Conferences) and then went out for "free" Carl's Junior meals and Sonic ice cream cones afterwards (via the library summer reading coupons). At home, Jonathan came up to me and said "I feel sick!" He was slightly feverish and went to bed early (always a sure sign of something wrong!). When he did not come to school the next day, his teacher called in a panic about the spotlight. Friday morning, even though we were quiet, he was up and dressed and insisting on going to school--so I got busy on his Spotlight poster and brought in the guinea pigs "to show." Jonathan loves Scooby-Doo, quesadillas (he could eat any and all meals of the day), drawing, Transformers (the robotic idea, he's never seen the movie), computers, sword play, swimming, reading and his family. We are so lucky to have this mellow, humor loving fellow in our family!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Happy Birthday Helen!

Today is my sweet Mother-in-Law Helen Campbell's 76th birthday! Happy Birthday to you! Thank you for meeting the missionaries on board a steam ship to Europe and valiantly throwing your cigarettes overboard (never to smoke again)! Thank you for your testimony, sacrifices, and endurance (through eight children) in a new culture and state. Joseph has fond memories of you pointing out beauty in sunsets, or sunrises, or plants. May this be your best year yet. We love you.