I'd love to hear the "chapter" books that you all love and read with your kids. What are your favorites?
Monday, March 31, 2008
Books anyone?
We love to read books, and about a year or so ago, I started reading chapter books with Weston. The first book we read was "Wind in the Willows", then we followed with "James and the Giant Peach", and "Fantastic Mr. Fox" (which helped Weston with his fear of foxes...). We have been reading "Charlotte's Web" and will finish soon. The next book on our list is "Little House on the Praire". We hope to then move to the Narnia books. 
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Celebration
Right now we are sitting on the floor, looking at all the candy the kids got. I told Aidan he could choose one candy to eat. He can't decide. It has been 20 minutes! He has Twix, Peeps, jelly beans, marshmallow things, Skittles, Reeses, etc, etc, etc... Too many good things for a little boy to choose from!
I love holidays. I hate candy. Mostly because that's all the kids will eat. Not that I get many vegetables in them anyway, but now it is worthless to even try.
Well, we did it. We got up at seven and headed to a open spot to watch the sunrise.
Supposedly, sunrise was at 7:25. We waited and waited, and finally at 7:40, the boys were done, so we went home. As soon as we got in, Scott walked out, and there were the first rays of the sun. So we missed the real sunrise. But it was still realy pretty. And the kids didn't care too much. We had a nice little chat about Easter, new days, resurrection, spring, etc. We ate orange rolls and the kids thought it was fun. That is what matters! 
We had a lovely basket and egg hunt yesterday (I found a gold egg that I hid that was empty--and we talked about the tomb being empty, etc). We then went to grandma's and had another egg hunt (thus all the candy in our home—she is very generous in her candy sharing). We colored eggs. And of course 5 minutes into the activities our video tape ran out. But, we have photos!
Today we went to a neighbors for dinner, and then to Scott’s parents for dinner (we’ll are stuffed), and then to visit the gravesite of Scott’s grandfather. Weston has been asking to, and we have been talking about death and resurrection so much, we thought it would be fitting. I actually taught Weston’s primary class today (nine 5 year olds trying to sit through 45 minutes???? The lesson only lasted about 10 minutes; we had a lot of time to color…). In the lesson I showed a photo of Grandpa and Weston got to talk about him and how he will resurrect someday. He is such a sensitive sweet boy.
I love holidays. I hate candy. Mostly because that's all the kids will eat. Not that I get many vegetables in them anyway, but now it is worthless to even try.
Well, we did it. We got up at seven and headed to a open spot to watch the sunrise.
Supposedly, sunrise was at 7:25. We waited and waited, and finally at 7:40, the boys were done, so we went home. As soon as we got in, Scott walked out, and there were the first rays of the sun. So we missed the real sunrise. But it was still realy pretty. And the kids didn't care too much. We had a nice little chat about Easter, new days, resurrection, spring, etc. We ate orange rolls and the kids thought it was fun. That is what matters! 
We had a lovely basket and egg hunt yesterday (I found a gold egg that I hid that was empty--and we talked about the tomb being empty, etc). We then went to grandma's and had another egg hunt (thus all the candy in our home—she is very generous in her candy sharing). We colored eggs. And of course 5 minutes into the activities our video tape ran out. But, we have photos!
Today we went to a neighbors for dinner, and then to Scott’s parents for dinner (we’ll are stuffed), and then to visit the gravesite of Scott’s grandfather. Weston has been asking to, and we have been talking about death and resurrection so much, we thought it would be fitting. I actually taught Weston’s primary class today (nine 5 year olds trying to sit through 45 minutes???? The lesson only lasted about 10 minutes; we had a lot of time to color…). In the lesson I showed a photo of Grandpa and Weston got to talk about him and how he will resurrect someday. He is such a sensitive sweet boy.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Easter Poems
Happy Easter to you all. Here are some poems that help us to remember the reason we celebrate Easter. We are grateful for the sacrifice of our Savior. "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the World." 1 John 4:14
*****
Turning
Deep darking night! I stood outside
Soul’s sepulcher of strangled cares,
Lost love and dead desire—and cried
For all light lost and wasted years,
And for a heart of stone so strong
Soul’s sorrow wouldn’t try
To turn it, but drop’t down along
The heavy bench and closed dim eye.
And I without withdrew a step
And waited, mourning, for the morn
To break, and break my heart! And death
To enter in and steal soul home.
Yet as I waited, wept and yearned,
Why weepest thou? I heard, and turned.
--Heidi Glyn Barker
*****************************************************
MERIDIAN
Year thousands, end to end, of stone
on stone, of pleading hopes, hearts groan-
ing under weight of sin; alone.
And then the Sacrifice arrived
from the garden, at the hill.
Caught between the dark and sun
time stood still for all but One
who lived a million billion lives
before the silence fell
and all was done.
"It is finished!"
The whispered word
echoing from earth to angel
and from world to world
until a joyous mighty shout,
it silenced each despairing doubt
and let the weary prisoner out.
Year thousands, mornings follow night.
Hope springs still, a perfect bright-
ness: out from shadow shines forth Light.
--Heidi Glyn Barker
***********************************************
He Bore Our Anguish
It was not the Jew, Lord Jesus, who crucified you,
Nor the traitors who dragged you to the law,
Nor the contemptuous who spit in your face
Nor those who bound you, and hit you full of wounds,
And it was not the soldiers who with evil hands
Lifted up the reed, or the hammer,
Or set that cursed wood on Golgotha,
Or cast lots and gambled for your robe;
It is I O Lord, it is I who have done it,
I am the heavy tree that overburdened you,
I am the rough bands that bound you,
The nail, the Spear, and the cords that whipped you,
The bloodied crown that tore your head;
All this happened, alas! for my sins.
---Jacobus Revius
******************************************
DAYBREAK
On the first day
He called the light, day.
And He with the Gods
Saw that it was good.
On the third day
He rose early
And called death, sleep.
And Mary, with certain others,
Saw that it was good.
---John M. Craig
*****
Turning
Deep darking night! I stood outside
Soul’s sepulcher of strangled cares,
Lost love and dead desire—and cried
For all light lost and wasted years,
And for a heart of stone so strong
Soul’s sorrow wouldn’t try
To turn it, but drop’t down along
The heavy bench and closed dim eye.
And I without withdrew a step
And waited, mourning, for the morn
To break, and break my heart! And death
To enter in and steal soul home.
Yet as I waited, wept and yearned,
Why weepest thou? I heard, and turned.
--Heidi Glyn Barker
*****************************************************
MERIDIAN
Year thousands, end to end, of stone
on stone, of pleading hopes, hearts groan-
ing under weight of sin; alone.
And then the Sacrifice arrived
from the garden, at the hill.
Caught between the dark and sun
time stood still for all but One
who lived a million billion lives
before the silence fell
and all was done.
"It is finished!"
The whispered word
echoing from earth to angel
and from world to world
until a joyous mighty shout,
it silenced each despairing doubt
and let the weary prisoner out.
Year thousands, mornings follow night.
Hope springs still, a perfect bright-
ness: out from shadow shines forth Light.
--Heidi Glyn Barker
***********************************************
He Bore Our Anguish
It was not the Jew, Lord Jesus, who crucified you,
Nor the traitors who dragged you to the law,
Nor the contemptuous who spit in your face
Nor those who bound you, and hit you full of wounds,
And it was not the soldiers who with evil hands
Lifted up the reed, or the hammer,
Or set that cursed wood on Golgotha,
Or cast lots and gambled for your robe;
It is I O Lord, it is I who have done it,
I am the heavy tree that overburdened you,
I am the rough bands that bound you,
The nail, the Spear, and the cords that whipped you,
The bloodied crown that tore your head;
All this happened, alas! for my sins.
---Jacobus Revius
******************************************
DAYBREAK
On the first day
He called the light, day.
And He with the Gods
Saw that it was good.
On the third day
He rose early
And called death, sleep.
And Mary, with certain others,
Saw that it was good.
---John M. Craig
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
just one more...
I forgot-- I wanted to thank you all for your birthday question ideas. I have made up a nice page, but since I don't have a scanner, I can't show you... Once I have a scanner, I'll post it.
Easter Ideas
One more post for today.
I am SOOOOO excited for Easter this year. I think Weston is really old enough to grasp the meaning behind Easter, and we have talked so much about resurrection (with grandpa and President Hinckley dying), so this is a really special time. But, I really want to make the holiday more about Christ, without taking out the fun stuff, as well. Has anyone read the ideas from the Ensign??? They were Great! We are going to implement a few things.
We will have our normal search for the basket (does everyone do this, or just us? It was a big thing in my family). We hide the basket (which has some candy and a small toy or two) and the kids have to find it. Then we hid eggs and they must find them. But, this year we are going to have some eggs with pictures of Jesus in them, etc. And one "special" egg that is empty. It is the "grand prize" type thing. Once they find it, we gather around and talk about how it is empty just like the tomb was empty and Christ had been resurrected. Isn't that great?
Then, on Sunday morning, we will head out before the sunrise, and find a nice spot to watch the sun come up. We will talk about Christ and the gospel, etc (a "morning devotional") and I will have a small breakfast (juice and cinnimon rolls, etc).
These were ideas from the Ensign (I think February) that I just loved! What do you think? What do you do to make Easter more about Christ? I want to hear!
And, just a side note--has anyone read the Friend for March? I read two stories and ACTUALLY CRIED!! I am SO not a cryer (sp?). But the story about the boy sharing the eggs with the blind boys, and the story about the girl who's baby brother died really brought out the tears! I think Weston didn't know what to make of me when I started crying. I don't know if he has ever seen me cry.
I am SOOOOO excited for Easter this year. I think Weston is really old enough to grasp the meaning behind Easter, and we have talked so much about resurrection (with grandpa and President Hinckley dying), so this is a really special time. But, I really want to make the holiday more about Christ, without taking out the fun stuff, as well. Has anyone read the ideas from the Ensign??? They were Great! We are going to implement a few things.
We will have our normal search for the basket (does everyone do this, or just us? It was a big thing in my family). We hide the basket (which has some candy and a small toy or two) and the kids have to find it. Then we hid eggs and they must find them. But, this year we are going to have some eggs with pictures of Jesus in them, etc. And one "special" egg that is empty. It is the "grand prize" type thing. Once they find it, we gather around and talk about how it is empty just like the tomb was empty and Christ had been resurrected. Isn't that great?
Then, on Sunday morning, we will head out before the sunrise, and find a nice spot to watch the sun come up. We will talk about Christ and the gospel, etc (a "morning devotional") and I will have a small breakfast (juice and cinnimon rolls, etc).
These were ideas from the Ensign (I think February) that I just loved! What do you think? What do you do to make Easter more about Christ? I want to hear!
And, just a side note--has anyone read the Friend for March? I read two stories and ACTUALLY CRIED!! I am SO not a cryer (sp?). But the story about the boy sharing the eggs with the blind boys, and the story about the girl who's baby brother died really brought out the tears! I think Weston didn't know what to make of me when I started crying. I don't know if he has ever seen me cry.
Hilary Hair
My sis, Hilary, came down a few weeks ago to get her hair cut by my marvelous "hairdresser", Camille (Love you girl!). It turned out darling! She is so BRAVE. She has had long curly hair for so long now, and she decided to donate it all to Locks of Love. I love her new style, though. I really think it compliments her beautiful face and fits her personality.
Sweet smell of success?
Well, not quite. I have been potty training Aidan, and although it gets better daily, it is a long SMELLY process. I have kept my cool for the most part, though, which has made it more bearable. (I did get a fortune cookie that read, "Your hard work will soon pay off." Let's hope that comes true...)
Weston has been a good help, encouraging Aidan. He is a good older brother. He is always concerned for others and loves helping me.
They have both been coloring. For about three weeks now, daily they color for hours on end. I would estimate two hours of each day is spent coloring pictures. Aidan now tries to make people: a circle with two lines going through it. Good enough for me! And he writes the letter T. He must have learned that from Weston. I guess he draws cars, too, because he brings me papers and tells me that he drew Mater, Lightning, Doc, etc. Sometimes I think he gets the colors right.
Weston is really into Star Wars right now, and so he draws a great Darth Vader, an AMAZING R2D2 and C3PO. He writes books about Star Wars. His latest reads, Title: "The Star Wars Book" (Then his name--"Weston"). First page: "The Darth Vader". The next few pages: pictures of Darth Vader and Luke. Another page: He made up a character named "Stop", so a page has a picture and the words: "The Stop". Then: "Luke saves the day". And finally: The End. Of course I think he is so creative and his drawings are amazing. I love that they color because it is such a good activity and they do it together happily. Brennan sometimes lies beside them and watches them. He has not yet produced a picture for me.
If I had a scanner I would scan some pictures they have drawn, but I am not quite up to speed with the rest of the world. We need a scanner...
Weston has been a good help, encouraging Aidan. He is a good older brother. He is always concerned for others and loves helping me.
They have both been coloring. For about three weeks now, daily they color for hours on end. I would estimate two hours of each day is spent coloring pictures. Aidan now tries to make people: a circle with two lines going through it. Good enough for me! And he writes the letter T. He must have learned that from Weston. I guess he draws cars, too, because he brings me papers and tells me that he drew Mater, Lightning, Doc, etc. Sometimes I think he gets the colors right.
Weston is really into Star Wars right now, and so he draws a great Darth Vader, an AMAZING R2D2 and C3PO. He writes books about Star Wars. His latest reads, Title: "The Star Wars Book" (Then his name--"Weston"). First page: "The Darth Vader". The next few pages: pictures of Darth Vader and Luke. Another page: He made up a character named "Stop", so a page has a picture and the words: "The Stop". Then: "Luke saves the day". And finally: The End. Of course I think he is so creative and his drawings are amazing. I love that they color because it is such a good activity and they do it together happily. Brennan sometimes lies beside them and watches them. He has not yet produced a picture for me.
If I had a scanner I would scan some pictures they have drawn, but I am not quite up to speed with the rest of the world. We need a scanner...
Monday, March 10, 2008
Birthday Questions
So, you all probably already do this, but I don't and I'd love to get ideas from ya'll. My boys' birthdays are coming up (in June, but I like to have everything done WAY in advance...) and I really want to start a tradition of journaling info about them yearly. Things such as:
Height
Weight
Favorite Food (For breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Least favorite food
Favorite toy
Favorite color
Funnest thing he did last year
Cool thing that happened last year
Favorite thing to do
Least favorite thing to do
Favorite family activity
Favorite Book
Friends (kids they play with most at this time)
What they want to do this coming year
What they want for their birthday
And so on... What are some other good things to ask my boys to journal? I think I'll make it a fun page they fill out (with help...) and I will keep it with their "remembrances" (as we call them...) Since I don't scrapbook, I just have a box that I keep their things in. Maybe I could put it in a binder, and also have them draw a picture or two, and put in a photo of them. What do you think? Ideas anyone? Don't get too creative, though... I am way too lazy to scrapbook... I know. Silly. But, I think something like this would be fun for them to look at. Every year they fill out the "form" answering the questions. Kind of fun to look back on your life and see what you liked, etc.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
For Sale
A few years ago, Scott and I went looking for a piano. We found one we liked at a piano store and decided to buy it. The salesperson then told us the piano used to belong to Hilary Weeks (an LDS singer). When she sold it to the piano store, she signed the back of the piano and included with it, five of her CD's--all signed. We are not listeners of her music, and we have never used the CD's. We finally have decided to sell them. We are offering all five of them for 80$ or 20$ each (or best offer, really...). 
They include: Lead Me Home, Day of Praise, Christmastime, He Hears Me, I will not Forget.
So, if any of you are interested, or if you know anyone who would be interested, please let me know!
They include: Lead Me Home, Day of Praise, Christmastime, He Hears Me, I will not Forget.So, if any of you are interested, or if you know anyone who would be interested, please let me know!
Family Photos
We got our family photos last week. It is nice to have an updated photo.
Weston is so GOOD LOOKING!
Aidan is a funny and CUTE boy!
Brennan is as sweet as can be!
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