"What a Glorious Feeling! I'm Happy Again."

 

We haven't had a really good summer rainstorm that could fill the gutters with water enough to play in...until now.  The much needed water saturated our lawn and provided about a half hour's worth of pure, delightful entertainment.  It wasn't until the lightning came close that the children were driven inside to eat their dinner of baked spaghetti and garlic toast.  I love those kind of days!

 

 

This post authored by Amber.

So, It's Come to This...

Ella's propensity for climbing has necessitated some changes around the house. For quite some time she has been able to climb out of her crib.  No problem. She then started to climb up on the side of her crib in the middle of the night to get a pacifier out of the top drawer of the seven drawer dresser.  Umm....big problem!  The crib was taken down and stored away for a fourth time and a toddler bed was put in it's place. 

It's official then, I suppose.  Ella is no longer a baby.  She is very much a toddler.  I guess I should have seen this coming.  I mean, she's all of a sudden started talking now, adding words to her vocabulary like bottle, buckle, cereal, rain, guys, what, boo, poo, toot, bless you, thank you, grandpa, and even baby.  Yes, she's used the term "baby" to describe another child, so I think it's time to face the fact that the days and months are sneaking past me and this little one is growing up. And fast.

Sometimes I feel a little desperate because the only "pause button" I have access to in this whirlwind pace of life is the shutter button of my camera.  At least there are a few moments when I can look down on Ella as she sleeps and still think of her as my sweet, little baby (even if she is in a toddler bed).

 

 

This post authored by Amber

 

Joy School

Three other mothers and I have decided to collaborate together and provide a preschool experience for our children.  We take turns teaching each week, and we meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours in the afternoon.  It works perfectly for me because it is during the time when Ella takes a nap so she is out of the way when it's my turn to teach, and on the days I send Garrett to another home, I have a moment of complete quiet in my house.

While it was unknown how Garrett would respond to a structured learning experience, I am relieved to report that he has done remarkably well.  He enjoys the company of the children and looks forward to participating in activities.  I can still observe him during my teaching times, and that has given me great insight as to what I can help reinforce on a daily basis with him.  I am so completely pleased with the whole arrangement.  It's a bonus that the children really "click" together, too!

 

This post authored by Amber.

 

Minding Our Own Beeswax

 

 According to our "bee bible" (Bee Keeping for Dummies), Labor day weekend is supposedly a good time to harvest honey.  We knew we had some honey to collect this year, and so we were looking forward to the project.

 

After an inspection of the hive, Jason determined that we would collect the honey from only one of our shallow boxes.  We'll give the bees a couple more weeks to finish filling the second and we'll harvest again near the end of the month. 

 

Last year was our first attempt at collecting honey.  With the exception of being lucky enough to get honey in the first place, it was a sticky disaster.  After Jason researched the topic online, we found a great video tutorial that guided us through a more effective method of harvesting honey for this year's event. 

 

First, we scraped the honey-filled comb off of the frame with a putty knife.

 One frame at a time, we gathered the comb into a baking pan lined with a pastry mat.

 

We crushed the comb until it was the consistency of oatmeal before we transferred it into a filter that fit into the top of a five-gallon collection bucket.

The bucket was then placed outside so that the heat of the day would assist the honey to flow through the filter and collect in the bottom of the bucket.

Once all the honey was filtered, we got to filling the jars and bottles.

We reaped a lovely amount of honey, rich and deep golden in color.  I swear it tastes better than any other honey we've had, but that just seems to be the way it is when it comes from your own garden as a product of your own labors.

And now if you'll excuse me.  I think I will go make myself a peanut butter and honey sandwich.

This post authored by Amber

 

Four and a half years ago I became familiar with the ever popular blog the NieNie Dialogues.  Since that time, I have enjoyed reading about Stephanie Nielsen and her family, and I've even taken to adopt some of her traditions for my own family.  The Back-to-School feast is one such idea I gleaned from her posts, and we have done it ever since.  It has become a special celebration to signal the end of summer and welcome in the new school year with recommitted purpose.

 

On the Monday before the first day of school, we enjoy a formal meal, complete with china and real silverware.  Jason and I talk to our children and express our expectations for the upcoming school year.  We introduce a scripture that we hope will become a guide to inspire the choices our children make when they are away from our direct influence at school.  This year the scripture of choice teaches, "Arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things..."  This is a message that really resonated with me because I am recognizing that as my children grow older, they are capable of living up to the expectation of being men, or, as I like to encourage them, gentlemen.  More than anything, I hope for them to develop a strong sense of unity and commitment to each other and their family.  (Only time will tell if any of that message got through all of the goofing-off and disobedient behavior that was displayed at times during our discussion.)

 

After dinner and our lesson, each of the boys were given a father's blessing as Brevin and Spencer prepare for another school year, and Garrett prepares for the start of preschool.  Not to be left out, Ella climbed in the chair and insisted that she, too, have a blessing.  

 

Before I knew it, it was time to send my children off for school and place them in the primary care of their new teachers. I am excited for them as the begin a new chapter in their lives.

Here is Brevin on the first day of 4th grade. His teacher is Mrs. Wride.

Here is Spencer on the first day of 2nd grade. His teacher is Miss Winkel.

They attend Art City Elementary School and the school mascot is the eagle.

On the first morning, the halls were buzzing with children's excited

chattering.  Even the teachers looked happy to start a new year.

While I'm not sure how many more years these boys will tolerate a photo

at their classroom desk, I am glad they still seem happy to let me do it.

 

 

This post authored by Amber

Initiated

Spencer had his first Cub Scout Pack Meeting on August 15th.  He was welcomed into Pack #1476 with the boys chanting, "Baby powder.  Baby powder," as Jason marked his back with an animal paw print.  He also received his Bobcat Rank and was ceremoniously presented with his patch followed with a Native American face painting ritual.  Jason and I are excited for him to now be a part of the Scout experience, and we look forward to all of the activities that he will participate in along the way.  We are proud of our little Bobcat.

 

This post authored by Amber

 

House Guests

My sister-in-law, Jenny, and I have started a bit of a yearly tradition.  I get to have her two youngest girls come stay at our place for a couple of days while she attends classes at BYU's Education Week.  It is a great opportunity for my children to make fun memories with their cousins, and it is wonderful motivation for me to clean off the bed in the guest bedroom (which oftentimes serves as a "dumping ground").

I have to say, it is so much fun having these two darling, spunky, energetic girls in my home. They are fearless in their sense of adventure, they are entertaining in their conversations, and they are cheerful and bubbly.  They also remind me of their dad, and every time they visit, it's as if he gets to come along, too.  I love having that reconnection with him through them.

On the night of the girl's arrival, Jason's family had all been invited to a pool party at his sister's home.  Sophie and Addie got to tag along.  They loved it!

It has become a tradition to bake Rolo cookies at the beginning of Sophie and Addie's visit.  We make an obscene amount of cookies, and we try to see if there are any left to send a few home with the girls when their stay is over.  That is no small feat, I'm telling you!

I think the children thought the cookies would turn out better if they

all placed their hands on the Kitchen Aid during the mixing process.

 

 

Sophie was really interested in helping Ella get ready for each day during her visit.  She asked to pick out her clothes and insisted on doing her hair.  I was surprised to see how well Ella did during these grooming sessions.  I was also very impressed with how she looked when Sophie was done with her.  I was, however, not quite as impressed with how well I did when it came to Sophie and Addie's hair.  (In my defense, please know that I offered, but they weren't interested in having me style their hair.)

 

 

 

Since the girls seemed to like playing in the water so much, I figured I'd take them to the Spanish Fork splash pad and adjacent park.  It is the perfect place to entertain children and keep them cool at the same time.

 

Jenny should consider installing a bidet in her home. 

I think the girls would love it! (Sorry.  I couldn't resist.)

 

 

 

For the last day of Sophie and Addie's stay, I thought I'd take them to the Grotto Trail up Payson Canyon.  After all, places with water seemed to be a hit with all the children.  I found the drive time to and from was just as much fun.  We listened to a CD of recently downloaded pop hits, and the children sang We Are Young and Call Me Maybe at the top of their lungs. I'm relieved to know that there are other children in the world whose voices carry like my own children's do. Yep, my van was full of the cutest little loud-mouths around.

 

 

 

By the time Jenny came to pick up the girls, the cookies were nearly gone and there were very few clean towels in the house, but my camera's memory card was full.  My heart was full, too.

 

I've loved having Sophie and Addie over and I look forward to next year's visit.

 

This post authored by Amber