September

It is different now, being on traditional rather than year-round school.  We were able to have a much longer summer which was nice since so much of our summer was spent living in limbo and then moving into the new house.  I am glad we had some time to get to know our neighborhood, feel more settled, and do some fun summer activities.  We got in some swimming, fun centers, the aviary, playing with cousins, Thanksgiving Point gardens, and more.  We had been moving things in and getting the house all situated, so the kids were getting a bit stir crazy.  We only had dirt in our yard, so they couldn't really play outside.  Except when they saw the neighbors outside--the minute they would see them they would all go running over and be in heaven--a trampoline, a playset, even a little jungle gym thing.  And then when the neighbors went in, the kids would be back in--It felt a little wierd to be playing on their toys when they weren't around...  And the wood floors were disasterous with all the dirt; constant dirt footprints all over.  So, we remedied that with sod!  It took about a week to get the sprinklers in, the yard leveled, etc, and then the sod laid.  But then we couldn't walk on it for two weeks!  That seemed to drag on and on.  But now the kids are out there running around and although we don't have a play set, it seems our yard is the designated soccer field. 

We live in a "horseshoe" (or so they call it around here).  Our street starts by going west, then turns south, then turns east.  It surrounds a little circle (does that all make sense?).  So it is not a lot of traffic--only those who live on the actual street.  It feels so much safer than the busy street we lived before.  It is a great place for the kids to play.  Across the street is an empty field--lots of dirt, sand, old wood, rocks, etc.  Such a fun playground for the kids (kind of reminds me of the field where the Thurstons now live).  There are great families all around us, and the house is constantly filled with kids.  I am grateful the kids have made some good friends.

Weston has a few his age, and a few the grade younger.  They are good kids and they all love soccer and bike riding.  Weston is a bit of a role model for them all--they look up to him.  One friend told his mom that he was so impressed with Weston cause Weston was so nice and sweet to his little sister--even in front of friends!  He tends to be a leader (nice way of saying a bit bossy...) so I am especially excited that the elementary school is going to be implementing the "Leader In Me" program.  I hope it helps him hone those leadership skills so he is being a good positive and helpful leader. So life is treating Weston kind--and he is being a good boy. We did have to take Weston in and get some cavities filled...  first, but hopefully only, cavities for him.  He is enjoying school, but really working on some tough things and I think it is a surprise to him that some things don't just come easily to him.  He is expected to do high quality work and take time to think things through.  He is an avid reader still and just finished the Fablehaven series (author Brandon Mull) and is now reading the Kane Chronicles (by Rick Riordian, author of the Lightning Thief--good books for those who are looking).  His soccer has started up again and he is doing fabulous!  We just don't understand where he got his athletic ability.  He has scored 10 goals already and he has only played 2 games!  He is on the same team as last year, though many of the children are new and some from last year didn't return.  His coach is new as well, and he is a great coach.  Weston plays soccer daily at school, and then after school with several friends from the neighborhood.  He is not going to enjoy the winter...

Aidan is really starting to love reading, too.  He made a chart to see if he could read 10 chapter books (his level).  It only took him 2 weeks.   He read quite a few of the Black Lagoon books and some Little Bear books.  It makes me so happy that he wants to stay up late reading!  His reward for achieving his goal was a giant kit kat!  We made it with wafer cookies and melted chocolate.  Now he wants to make charts with rewards for everything he does!  Aidan has started up music again and it is such a great program!!!  He was stubborn about starting back, but now that he is into it, he practices what he is supposed to, but then sits there and plays around for another half hour!  He is really going to be able to be creative with music, but be able to understand the theory of it!  He is really growing up--finally lost his first tooth!  Weston actually is the one who got it out for him.  We had been trying all evening (and for several days) asking him to wiggle it and try pulling it, but then late at night Weston just stuck his finger in and flipped it out.  He has also learned to ride his bike without training wheels  Again, thanks to Weston!  Weston said he would help him and we went out a few minutes later to see Aidan riding along by himself.  Scott is starting to feel gypped out of his fatherly duties...  We have divided up the yard/flowerbeds into sections and each child is in charge of keeping their own section weed free.  Aidan takes his responsibility very seriously and I often find him outside weeding.  He is excited to get flowers/etc in next year to take care of as well.  What a great kid!  I love him--every day as he leaves for school he says to me, "You are the greatest mom in the universe." 

Brennan loves preschool!  He is so lucky he has so many friends in preschool with him--our new back door neighbor (his new best friend) Lincoln, his friends from our old neighborhood, Kinsey and Adam, and his cousin JJ.  He loves his teacher, Mrs. Jean, and all the fun things they do (this is the same teacher Weston had, and Weston got to go in one day and "help out"--what a great teacher she is to allow that!).  He looks darling in his backpack--which he uses to carry his water bottle to school.  (Elise loves his example and puts a backpack on, too, every time we take Brennan to preschool!)  He has already had a "performance"--all parents were invited to come to the class and listen to them sing songs.  He was very intent on watching all the other children as they sang.  He loves all the songs.  He was a bit scared to sleep in his own bedroom so for several weeks each night he ended up on the floor of our room.  So, we made a chart for him (charts are great, aren't they?).  His prize was a lego set. And he did it!  Two weeks without coming down to our room.  We are so proud of him for setting a goal and accomplishing it.  He made sure he said his prayers nightly asking for help to not be scared.  One night he wanted to go to bed early, so I told him that he could skip doing his "night things". He crawled into bed and then said, "Oh mom, what about my prayers? I don't want to get scared in the night." He promptly got out of bed and faithfully said his prayers!  He is such a good boy.  He STILL loves to bake and cook and recently checked out a recipe book from the Library and we have been doing a lot of cake baking!  He loves to try new treat recipes and is even doing better about eating his dinner.  He ate his entire dinner the other night (sloppy joes!).  He still keeps us laughing--like the other day when he was picking his nose and I asked him to stop.  His reply:  "I am not picking my nose, I am getting something out of it!"  He also said another funny thing the other day.  His friend Lincoln is in his Tuesday and Thursday (but not Friday) morning preschool class.  Friday Brennan goes, and some other children from the teacher's other classes (afternoon, etc), and I guess there is another boy named Lincoln who goes on Friday (though I didn't know that).  Brennan came home from school and said, "Lincoln got a new voice."  I thought that was strange, so I asked him about it and he said, "Yeah, a new voice and a haircut---it is kind of curly now."  I couldn't figure it out until I remembered that his friend Lincoln didn't go on Friday and he must have confused him with another Lincoln!  What a funny kid!

Elise is potty trained!  We are so proud of he.  She had a little sticker chart (again with the charts!) and we bought her a Minnie Mouse toy to work towards.  Once she had two days with no messes she received her toy!  She thought it was really fun to be naked all the time (eek!), but did a great job of daily making progress.  Such a difference to my first two potty training experiences!  She is is big prayer girl, too.  She has taken to being lazy though, and instead of saying the names of the people she wants to include, she just points at us and says, "you, you, you, you..."  She also prayed the other day that "Elaine come to my house" (Elaine--the lady we lived with that loves Elise and Elise loves her).  My two favorite things she says is when we explain something to her, she says, "Ohhhh".  And when she wants us to do something she says, "K?"  Of course, writing it, you can't hear the way she says it and it doesn't seem as cute...  Although she still doesn't talk in total full sentences, she is really improving.  She says random things at random times.  In the car the other day she said, "I pinchess (princess), you a guy dad."  And another time, "Daddy fall hit tree owie"...

Yes, Scott fell off his bike!  He was invited by some of the guys in our new neighborhood to go mountain biking and along the path he hit something and flew off and pounded a tree with his chest.   That caused a few weeks of slow moving and not a lot of being able to move or lift things.  Before his accident he did get a bunch of things done in the home and we have all the hooks up in the toy room, the pictures up on the wall, and basically, we have the house put together.  Sure, there is always something to be done...  But we feel moved in.  And with the yard in, Scott now has lots of work to do--mowing the lawn takes twice as long as before!  We are thinking it is time to teach Weston how to mow the lawn!  He has been called into Primary and teaches those who are turning eight.  It is different for him, but he does a great job. 

With school in full swing, there is a lot more going on and we are busy, busy, busy.  One Saturday, we had a soccer game, cub-o-ree, Relief Society Super Saturday, dig up and move and then plant three trees, get 2 box springs, one bookshelf and put them up, put up a fan in the bonus room, made bread, and played with friends (and then a bunch of other normal life stuff)!  Whew, tired!  At the Super Saturday, I made two pillowcases to match my bedroom and they turned out fun (I can sew straight lines!) and I finally finished the curtains as well. 

Before soccer began, we took a Saturday and went out rock hunting.  You know how whenever you go anywhere with little children they seem to come home with rocks in their pockets?  Well, we decided if they are going to look for rocks, we might as well take them rock hunting!  The kids loved it and are excited to go again sometime.  Aidan tells more about it in Cuz Chron.

Now, with soccer season in full swing, we never have a free Saturday, but one of Weston's games was cancelled, so we were spontaneous and went camping!  It was so fun.  We used Scott's parents camper (again) and went up to Wasatch State Park (again).  We did all the usual things: fishing (Adian caught a fish!), hiking, hot dog and marshmallow roasting, rock and leaf collecting, and more fun.  We did add a new activity--geo caching.  We have done this before, but not while camping.  We found two different treasures and the kids loved it.  We went up Friday afternoon and came back Saturday evening, so it was short, but it was so sweet.  By far, camping is my favorite family activity (my kind of camping.... not in a tent...).

General Conference is coming up, and we were talking about prophets.  I asked, "When do we hear prophets?", hoping for the answer, "General Conference."  Instead, Aidan said, "Once they speak."  I guess that is true.  I was able to go downtown for the General Relief Society session with some ladies from my new ward.  We went on TRAX, something new for most of us.  I was very impressed with Elder Eyring's talk and am motivated to serve more.  He said that one of the purposes of his talk was "to describe some of what is yet to come in your unified service".  This made me perk us and listen--it is a clue that what he is about to say is prophetic and important!  He said, " I can tell you something of what lies ahead for you.  As you keep the faith, you will find yourself invited by the Lord often to serve someone in need when it will not seem convenient.  It may appear to be unpleasant and perhpas even impossible task."  My eyes are now opened, looking for these times.  I hope I am ready!

We were also blessed this month to be able to take Weston to the Brigham City Temple dedication at our church (an extension of the temple that day).  How neat for him to be able to experience that at a young age. 

I am sure I have missed things that we did, but I have written enough!  Can't wait to see how everyone else is doing.  Shout out to mom--We love that you make this into a family letter for us.  Scott compared it to Nephi writing things for his children.  I don't know if this is all scripture... but it is family history at its finest!