Jacob wants to feel the beat!

Jacob is so funny. Anytime he hears music, he gets his little bum bouncing and then gets his whole body into it. When Joseph was practicing the other day, Jacob kept crawling over to him and planting himself between his feet and bouncing to the beat. It was so funny. When Joseph quit playing, Jacob would protest loudly until Joseph played something that he could move his little bottom to. Here's a little video clip....Joseph's just fooling around, but Jacob's loving it!

From Jacob and Joseph

Christmas 2009 Memories

Christmas 2009

My top 20 Christmas memories:

1. Santa snuggling Jacob (with his Dad close by for protection!)

2. Cousins playing together and having fun! Jonathan anticipating Christmas Eve when "My friend, Camille, eats with me downstairs!"

3. David and Ben getting out of bed so many times to check for Santa that they finally went to sleep at 3:00 a.m. and let us sleep until 6:30am (well from 5:00 to 6:30, at least!) Wow, what luxury!

4. Joseph, Samuel and Benjamin sitting engrossed in Samuel's 'Science' book Christmas morning--no one hitting or jabbing or punching....amazing!

5. David being Jacob's "reindeer" and pulling him on his new sled....tirelessly through the upstairs rooms.

6. Jacob dancing to Dad's "santa mobile" present----that baby can bounce!

7. Acting out the Nativity with Jeff's family and my family and Dad holding the 'star' over Camille, the angel's head--I thought he was holding his finger's behind her head, just like my boys would do in a picture!

8. Janele's pies, Cathy's candy, Cathy's enchiladas and rolls----umm, all the yummy Christmas Eve food!

9. My little "Buzz Lightyear" (Jonathan) 'talking' to Buzz Lightyear, the space ranger! Especially when Jonathan puts him back in his "rocket" (package he came in) and Buzz says "It's time for hypersleep." Can you sleep and be hyper at the same time?

10. Joseph in awe that his mom actually picked out 'good' soccer shoes----but also watching coveting Sam and Ben's basketball shoes----trying them on----hmm, guess I'll have to hide those!

11. Joseph's comment to Ben after watching him try on his new clothes---"when I was in 5th grade, Ben, Mom took me shopping at the D.I.!" Wanting to make sure that Ben fully appreciated 'new' clothes that he didn't have to buy himself!

12. David filming everybody with his 'camcorder'-----after he calmed down, because he thought Santa FORGOT him----his Santa present was too small, he couldn't find it. Quick mood recovery for David upon finding it and figuring out what it did!

13. Joseph's excitement in giving me a beautiful necklace and earrings----very chic, and him saying, "hopefully, you won't lose it." I did lose one earring...argh---but I'll find it!

14. Christmas lights---all my trees lit up and Christmas Eve with everthing lit up outside and inside-----you can never have too many lights!

15. Samuel and Ben's and David's excitement over gifts they were giving to their parents and family---it IS funner to give! David could hardly wait for us to open his "Big Mouth Frog" game that he'd made especially for us----complete with homemade bean bags sewn at Scouts!

16. Family time-----hanging out and playing games and laughing together (well, some of the time, at least)!

17. Can't forget the special "Christmas program" at church, the sunday before Christmas. Everyone singing the Christmas carols together.....it was beautiful! Also the "Mountain Aire" Christmas program---amazing and beautiful women!, my voice students singing at the Heritage Home (assisted living)---such cute girls and listening to Joseph play "Ave Maria" and "Jesu, joy of man's desiring." And Joseph attemting to sing "Baby, it's cold outside" with Ami Higley....so cute, even though he was so shy! Singing in the Messiah, listening to my boys play christmas songs on the piano, bass, viola, violin....amazing what they will do to learn a Christmas song.

18. Making pumpkin rolls and having Jonathan help me roll them up in their 'blankies' so they could 'sleep' while they were cooling off. Then delivering the rolls to neighbors and singing (well, the first half hour was good!).

19. My boys wrapping themselves up in Grandmother's blankets---Jonathan claiming Jacob's and unwilling to negotiate a trade---oh, well, Jacob doesn't mind!

20. Listening to the Tabernacle Choir sing "O Holy Night" at the Christmas Devotional and at the Christmas concert....I don't think I've ever heard anything so beautiful in all my life! It was as if the angels came down from heaven and swept me up in a manificent force of beauty. I truly felt like one of the Shepherds listening to the amazing proclamation of Christ's birth---an unearthly experience!

It was a great Christmas.....we are so blessed!

Tribute to Grandmother and Grandfather

To my wonderful Grandparents who well understand the meaning of 'enduring to the end,'---you continue to be a wonderful example of faith and love! Thanks for setting such a beautiful example for all of us to follow! You are as beautiful and kind today as you were when I was a child. Thanks for all the wonderful memories....especially of Christmas! We love you!

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

CLICK ON THE TITLE TO VIEW THE VIDEO CLIP!

I am grateful to be reminded to be grateful! And I am truly grateful that Heavenly Father doesn't give up on me and keeps giving me chances to improve, no matter how poor the progress I am making. I am grateful for my family that gives me a reason to be here---even sometimes if it's merely to do the wash, cook the food and the never-ending cleaning. I'm grateful that I can do it and that I'm needed. And I'm especially grateful that I get a new chance every day to do better and to learn more of why I'm here and what I'm supposed to accomplish. And I'm grateful to all of those along the way that make my path brighter, lift me up and carry me through. Love you all!

A perfect day for apples...

Our friends, the Iversons, came over today with their apple press to help us press our apples. Since they had already pressed 138 quarts of their own, we were especially grateful that they gave us one of their saturdays to press our apples. They had invited one of the athletic trainers from the High School to come with his family and press some of their apples, too. So we had quite the crew! It was a beautiful day!

Firsts for Samuel/Joseph

I've been in mourning that my camera isn't working----wow, I feel like part of me is missing! But I didn't want to let by some firsts that our family is experiencing!

Samuel has become a great Cross Country runner and came in 10th at the Malad meet. He also ran great today and was the 3rd Preston runner to come in. Yey, Samuel, you are amazing! I really need to post a picture of Samuel---noone would believe that the tall, lanky, hollow cheeked young man was the same Samuel that went to 5th grade last year. He's wry sense of humor really is funny. For example, I asked him if he had any friends at Junior High and he said, "Well, the girls think I'm hot!" Such confidence!

Joseph has turned 16 and was asked to his first dance (girl's choice) within the week. Wow, they don't waste time around here even if the dance isn't until the end of November! I guess the girl that asked him heard that there were other plans being laid for him. All he has to say is that he doesn't know why she wants to go with him, he never knows what to say around her. She just moved here from Germany about 3 months ago. He said his conversation opener with her yesterday was, "So do you know any Nazi's? Wow, I think he needs a little help with this....Shelby, we need you! Anyway, very strange to see my first one enter the world of dating, girls, uncomfortable conversations, etc. How could it have happened so fast?

Another testament video

Ya know, Lord, I'm really having a hard time down here......

I loved this video! Don't you just feel like saying sometimes....'ya know, Lord, I'm really having a hard time!...." Silly me, as if He didn't even know!

Farewell to Summer

My memories of summer......

Nightly swims at Riverdale with the family, helping boys pass off swimming requirements for scouts and pushing cute little Jacob around the pool....love it!

Relaxing at Bear Lake with family and friends.....gorgeous and fun

Watering and caring for our garden and flowers.....everything is better after you've spent a little time with the flowers...who can't help but smile at a bed of brightly colored zinnia's and sunflowers---so cheerful!

Watching Joseph try to develop soccer skills in his brothers....some more willing then others!

Hanging out with four of my boys at Suzuki camp.....watching them enjoying (sometimes tolerating) concerts, new teachers, new groups....and of course, checking the lunch menu (the most important item of the day!)

Waking up tired boys to move pipe....watching Joseph and Samuel become better working partners

Walks up in the forest....it's amazing that a beautiful forest is 10 minutes from my doorstep

Watching Jonathan and David catch grasshoppers to feed to the fish in our creek...it's actually quite entertaining to watch them gobble up those annoying insects!

Floating the Bear River with family on the 4th of July...so fun, even if I only got to take pictures---next year, I'm in!

The fourth of July celebration at our community park----yummy food, family, water slides and 'live' fish ponds----loved watching cousins enjoy each other

Entering our 'crops', rooster and bunny in the County Fair...if only David would have been satisfied with his second place ribbons and not known about Jonathan's first place ribbons (although they both entered exactly the same things)

Get togethers at Papa Joe's Farm.....dinners, egg hunts, watering Dad's garden, lawn, and flowers, and discovering very unusual varieties of acorn/zucchini squash

Jumbo cherries from our tree (no lie---the size of very large marbles), sun-warmed strawberries eaten on site, picking raspberries, yummy food out of the garden----corn on the cob, green beans, fresh lettuce, zucchini smothered in butter and cheese, fresh tomatoes...sooo yummy!

Rodeo days----chasing candy at the parades, watching delighted smiles at the Carnival (and a few sick ones as well!), eating snocones, cotton candy, hamburgers and soda, walking to the car through the dark streets together

Mowing days....getting those boys to get all this grass cut with one small lawnmower---not sure if I'll miss that or not---but I love the look of freshly cut grass

Movie night at the Worm Creek Opera house---a free movie, popcorn and drink for a little volunteer work---we look forward to these nights all week long

Laying on the trampoline and watching all the beautiful stars in the sky....it's quite overwhelming, I feel like I'm being swallowed up in an amazing aura of light...hearing Samuel say, "Holy Cow....I just saw a shooting star!"

Feeling the cool breeze of the canyon sweep through our windows at night---chasing away the hot stuffy air of the summer day...love to sleep with the windows open

Late 'brunches'---if I made them wait long enough for breakfast, I could get away with one large meal for breakfast and lunch!

Motorcycle rides, Sunday afternoon walks to Grandma's, Jacob and Jonathan's delighted smiles on the 4 wheeler with their Dad

Visiting with family---weanie roasts in our orchard, birthday treasure hunts, family reunions----families are the best!

Goodbye summer....we'll miss those lazy days and ways.......

Back to school!

Benjamin, Joseph, Samuel and David doing their "Bee Gees" interpretation! (They look a little strange!)

Four boys back to school! Yey!

We had quite an unforgettable morning. Everyone was dressed and eating breakfast and David got up and said his stomach felt kind of funny----he made it to the hallway and then unloaded everything all over walls, carpet, doors, kids and himself! What a mess and only 5 minutes before the bus was due! He was so worried that he wasn't going to get the "Attendance" prize this year that he hurried and washed his mouth out, cleaned his clothes up, brushed his teeth and headed out the door. He looked very pale and subdued, but he wasn't going to miss the first day!

Hmmm....I wonder if this shows dedication to education on David's part, or if the lesser of two evils was going to school, rather then staying home with mom and missing the excitement of the first day. I hope we're not all that sick of each other from summer! It's good to get back to a routine, but I'll miss the summer days....they flew by way too fast this year!