After school activities

Willy enters the house red cheeked from the cold air. I give him a hug and ask how his day was. He always says terrible at first but then slowly I can get out of him that it was okay. He hasn't been one to enjoy school. Today he finds a co2 small canister on the way home so he can't wait to smash it and see what happens.

Our conversation waines, and as it does I hear the ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, oh the endless ding dong of the doorbell untill I appear. I know it is Austin for that is Austins personal call for attention. He comes in trumpet and backpack in hand, red cheeks and bursting to tell me all that has happened. I have just a little time to chat with the boys and hear the happenings of Austin's awesome day. He always has interesting fact about science, the weather, or about what is going to happen tomorrow at school. Austin is fascinated with school and loves his teachers. You can see it in his eyes.

The girls won't be home until later because Emily has Women in Technology at BAE, and Jessica has Key club. I need to get Lydia from the bus stop soon, but for now the boys get a snack, Pbj or whatever will satisfy the taste buds. I'm anxious to get them started on their homework so that it will be done before dinner. Now homework is a touchy subject Willy has not been one to see the need for it, however he has been better about completing assignments lately. Austin works hard on his, however if it is spelling it is an endurance challenge for me. Today both of them have a couple of subjects and it will be a painful experience for all including me.

But for now I encourage them to get started and I head out the door with Roxie to the bus stop to pick up my favorite 5 year old. As she rounds the corner of the bus doors she is on a dead run into my arms screaming MOM. She squeezes me tight and we walk in the cold chattering about the day careful not step in the dog poop on our neighbors sidewalk. When we enter the house the boys greet Lydia with a hug.

I mention the homework again and hope that they will get the message before I have to get angry to show them that I mean it. Slowly after a few Utube videos, tussles with Austin and a few not too kind words about how stupid school is Willy gets out his homework and joins Austin at the table. Lydia has ran to the bathroom and is know showing me her backpack. She explains that her new speech sound is G and we practice a little. She is so tired. She askes if we can finish later and she lays down on the couch. Soon she is asleep.

Jessica knocks on the door her friend Virginia Rose drives her home. We talk for a few minutes about key club, and selling candy bars. She stops and talks to Lydia and says hi to the boys. She looks for a snack and we talk a few minutes about life and school. She mentions that she looked up some information about SAT scores for BYU Idaho. Her scores are good enough to get in. We are waiting for acceptance letters from a few universities. I'm encouraged that she will get to go where she wants, but I don't want her to leave home, Yet I know it will happen soon. She opens her back pack and reviews what needs to be done and then she is off to her room.

The boys argue about something and the homework turns into a yelling match. I intervene and redirect them back to their homework. Sometimes I wonder if it is really worth it. I work for awhile with Austin on math. I help work out a compromise with Willy so that Austin can do his spelling on the computer. They argue more but when they get done with school work they do become friends again.

Emily comes bursting in the door she has made a web site at WIT and is very excited to share all about it. We talk about how the teacher explained it so fast and then expected them to just do it. But then he helped. Emily then gets a snack says Hi to the boys, asks about Lydia and then it's up to her room for homework.

I have managed to figure out dinner and get it in the oven. Boy does it smell good! It's even a new recipe I found. Yum Yum Yummy

Thats how our after school activities went last night!!!

Fun or Funny scripture study

We are off to a great start with scripture study. Today we had fun looking up strange animals and clothing in the topical guide. We did find some interesting types of clothing (fig leaves) and even a turtle in the sciptures. We also talked about likeing the scriptures unto ourselves. For the next week or so we are going to take president Monson's talk from conference and see if any prophets in the scriptures have said any of the same things. Then we will see how we are applying those principles in our lives.

Making scripture study fun may be like a mental rollercoaster, going up and down, going round and round, or waking the dead, mostly we hope it will be progress.

Our year of change: The Rally Cry

"Inch by inch we will get the goal" "We will fight on the beaches, in the trees, on the streets" There are many famous rally cries. Leaders of nations, sports teams, corporations, churches have rally cries to motivate, and inspire action. Last night for family home evening we talked about a few and decided we needed a rally cry based on our mission statement. Rally cries only last a little while for some it is for a game season, or just a game, for some it lasts for a war, or for a time of crisis. Some of the big Rally cries from prophets of the church have been "Do It", "Every member a Missionary" and "Temple Work". Rally cries change as progress or circumstances change. So we developed our own family rally cry to get us back on track and move us forward to motivate us to change.


Our Rally cry:
Through making Daily scripture study fun we improve family unity and develop patience and kindness.


Length of time 10 weeks

10 min of personal study daily

10 min of family study daily


After the rally cry is over the daily scripture study does not end it continues. The rally is to help us make the action a habit. Our actions toward our rally cry will be measured using a red yellow and green stop light. Next week at family home evening we will introduce the kids to Red Light Green light. After our 10 weeks of practice we will evaluate the habit to see if it is sticking. If it is we will then choose another rally cry to motivate us to action around another area of our mission statement.

Trumpeting

The sounds of the trumpet rings through our home as bed time approaches. It sounds normal for a beginning sixth grader. Learning is happening as practice occurs and the notes become more clear with time. Finally I recognize the song "Hot Cross Buns" "Three Blind Mice", "Jingle Bells". I know at the end of this first year he will play in a concert that will sound much better then they do at their February concert. As I listen to the practicing I try to always keep in mind that growth takes time and practice. In all areas of life we can see the value of practice. Keep practicing Austin. It's awesome to hear you grow!!!!

Building fires, enjoying family

Sunday after all the meetings of the day, after church, after all of the responsibilities of callings and dinner, we love to sit by the fire and enjoy just being together. Austin and Willy build the fire just like their mom has taught them because they know if they do it that way it will work. Not to brag or anything, I am the best fire builder. Now they can do it without my help. There is something about staring at the fire that is calming and relaxing. It just feels good to feel the heat of the fire and having everyone around. Sometimes we watch a movie. Sometimes we have gospel discussions. Sometimes we are all in the same room doing different things. Sometimes it's just for a short while other times it's a long while. But for me that gathering at the fireside is about family, about love about togetherness. It's about being a family enjoying each other for just a little while before another hectic week begins.

Just enough to get wet!

This morning I woke to the happy voices of Austin and Lydia exclaiming "It's Snowing". Of course Willy was out of bed faster than usual to view the falling snow. The snow didn't fall for long and it was just enough to make the roads white, but that didn't matter it was snow. Before long everyone was bundled up and into the white. The joy and excitement radiated from Willy's face as he pulled Austin and Lydia on the sled. Even Roxie got in on the action running along with them. Emily and Lydia liked shoveling the snow. Jessica even made it out to take a couple of pictures. It was great while it lasted. It's gone now. Seize the snow day!!!!!!

Mr. Weatherman please send us some snow

Willy follows the local weather forecast with enthusiasm. He believes what they say. For the past week the forecast said that we were to get snow last night from midnight until 8:00 this morning. With unflinching faith in the weatherman he went to bed knowing that there would at the very least be a 2 hour delay of the start of school. Oh mister weatherman please stop playing with his heart. He trusted you and you have let him down. He wants so much to have a snow day. With a sad heart he faced the school day no homework complete, knowing that possibly (40%) snow on Tuesday. All I can say is I would like to have a snow day too. Please Oh Please make it so.

Willy loved all the time we had off of school last year because of snowmageden. We must have had 2 feet which caused his school roof to cave in. He got an extra week of school off while they got supplies and things together to move 5th and 6th grader to two different churches to finish out the school year.

This year we have only recieved a little. The snow didn't cover the grass. These pictures are from last year

Keep watching the weather Willy!!!!