Sunday, October 16, 2011

good week had by all

Well, since we haven't heard from Andrew, maybe he didn't have a good week, but I think the rest of us did (well, except for when I left Eric stranded because I had forgotten to call the CART bus for him...thanks Dad P for rescuing him and getting him to class on time!).

[Since posting the above, we have heard from Andrew. He, too, had  a good week.]

Starting from today and moving backwards:

Today was our Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation. I think the children were amazing. Of course, I had one of the best seats in the house (next to the podium to prompt them when needed), but they sounded great. I kept tearing up during the songs. I was worried we hadn't practiced enough, but it went smoothly. Even the little ones who were too shy to participate added a sweet feeling to the program, in my opinion. Our music people, Jackie and Annalee, did a fabulous job preparing the children. And my counselors, Nicole and Rayanne, pulled it all together. I'm just really pleased (and not just pleased that it's over).

Yesterday was our Stake Temple Day. Glen was there all day, most of it in the baptistry as part of his calling in the Stake Young Men's. Hannah, Ryan, and Eric were able to be baptized for some names I had researched and were doing that while I was in an endowment session. I remembered to bring my camera, but am said to say, didn't actually get it out to take a photo of my children in front of the temple. We will go with one from my files:

Alex, Glen, Ryan, Eric, Jake, Zach, and Hannah April 2009

Friday was my Dad's birthday (happy birthday Dad!)...

I wasn't there for his birthday, so I'll post when we visited him this summer
 ...as well as Stamping Night at Michelle's. Our normally wonderful assortment of snacks turned out to be heavy on the treat/chocolate side this time around, but we didn't mind. (I made the chocolate dipped s'mores that's my new latest go-to recipe). We had a full group for the first time in a long time. It was great.

chocolate covered s'more on a stick

Tina's card




Becky's card



Toni's card



my card



Tami's card


Michelle's card



Then there were the normal activities: play practice, piano lessons, the Psych season premier (which I still haven't seen, but the kids did), sporting events (to watch, not to play), projects worked on, etc.

 And of course, Monday was Alex's 11th birthday (now I can't say I wasn't there for Alex's birthday like I said for my Dad's...I took pictures at his party, but not on his actual birthday, so I'm going to post a picture from our trip to Grandma and Grandpa's this summer).
Alex insisted I take a photo of him with this dead crab...oh, joy...

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Alex's birthday party and other happenings

Fun week at school for Ryan and Hannah as it was homecoming week with lots of extra activities. Didn't think to get photos of the kids dressed up for the different days. On Thursday, Ryan and Michael (and a few others) won The Clue competition. They guessed who done it, in which room, with which weapon. As it turns out, they didn't follow the clues, but totally guessed and were close enough to win. Silly boys.

Hannah was just "upgraded" to the role of Zebulon's wife in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as two other girls had to back out. She has a lot to learn in these next few weeks. The musical goes on November 10-12th and 17-19th.

It's time for weather extremes in Nevada. We went from being 15º over the average (and record-breaking) to being 15º below average in a few days. I was at the Temple on Wednesday and it snowed on me while I was leaving. This next week is supposed to be really nice. Good. I still have tomatoes to deal with (and peppers and eggplant) from my garden.

I hosted "Intervention" Friday night. How wonderful it is to be able to gather with other woman and sit and talk (and eat). It's only been in the last few years that I've realized how much being around other women inspires and strengthens me. I used to think I didn't need social interactions. I've changed my mind on that. I'm really blessed to know some terrific women.

Funny thing this week. At church, we've been having to do a little bit of rearranging in the callings in Primary. Several of the changes we were looking at haven't worked out. The Bishopric member counseling with me said something like, "We don't want you to think that you haven't been receiving inspiration about these callings, because you have. It just hasn't worked out." Ha! I hadn't "doubted" my inspiration until he said that.But, I do know it'll all work out. It always does.

I picked up my repaired camera this week...just in time for Alex's birthday. He had his party on Saturday, but turns 11 on Monday.

Christian, Alex, Thomas, and Joseph
Ryan, Hannah, Thomas, and Ben surround Alex

Alex loves to have water balloon fights for his birthday...here he's chasing Christian
And bobbing for apples is another "must" on Alex's party list
Alex, Glen, and I played his new game--Sequence States and Capitols (Alex won)
 Happy Birthday Alex!