About a month ago, we were looking at homes in Temecula with the kids. It would save us up to $900 a month to buy as house up there but Mike would have to commute at least 40 hours more a month which has been keeping us renting in San Diego. Anyway, we were looking at a house with a Real Estate agent and the boys were running around in the house and around the small backyard. She shut the glass backdoor and poor James went running full speed into it, thinking it was still open. He lay on the floor crying while we tried to help him feel better and then Jonathan did the exact same thing, ran straight into the door. Both Michael and I tried not to laugh while helping the two hurt boys.
Before the New Year starts I figured I better write a quick post and include the little Family Newsletter I sent out to family on Christmas Eve.
Dec 24
Dear Family,
Seeing as how Mike is busy assembling a toy kitchen for Gracie’s Christmas joy and I am giving moral support and drinking sparkling cider on Christmas Eve, I thought it only right that I do something to contribute to the Christmas festivities. So, here is a quick version of what I’m sure is a long-awaited family newsletter from our home to yours.
Michael: Michael is one busy man. After a grueling day of work, we get him for a couple of hours before we tuck the kids in bed. Their official bedtime is 7:00 but that often turns to 8:00. He then hits the computer/books for school. He has one year left of his duel degree program. The MBA is from Indiana University and Masters of Global Management is from Thunderbird. He enjoys wrestling with the boys, speaking Portuguese to Gracie and an occasional late-night snack while watching lectures or posting to discussion boards for school.
Ruth: The best words to describe these last few months would probably be naps, tired, and sleep. I insist that James and Gracie nap at the same time out of pure necessity which is that I usually need to nap too. This probably has something to do with keeping up with the kids and being due with a baby in May. In my free time I usually end up cleaning the house, doing laundry, reading, skyping with Rachel, sewing, crafting, preparing lessons for Relief Society, reading political articles and looking recording ideas on pinterest. I’ve replaced blogging with sleep but hope to get back into recording the cute things the kids do and say.
Jonathan (6 in February): I realize that there are few things worse than hearing a parent brag about how wonderful their child is, but since you are all family, you’ll just have to put up with it. Jonathan is big and strong physically and really bright academically. He is top-of-the-class with reading and math in kindergarten and gets things and jokes most kids his age don’t. For example, when I went to Parent Teacher Conference the teacher said that day they had been learning about the letter O and naming words that start with O. He raised his hand and said, “occupy” and went on to explain what it means. He at times is awkward socially but seeing as how he’s got the parents he’s got that’s to be expected. In all seriousness, he really has been improving in his interpersonal skills which have been a challenge for him. He's learned to pump on a swing and ride his bike this last year.
James (4 at the end of July): He is also really strong/tall as well and gets quite a bit of attention for his charming blue eyes/ brown hair combo. He has a spring to his step and loves jumping off and climbing on tall objects. I was a little worried when he didn’t seem to catch onto signing and speech as fast as Jonathan did but has made leaps and bounds of improvements this last year. He loves to chatter away in the car and run around with Jonathan. He always climbs into bed with Gracie when she wakes up in the morning to keep her company until I can get to her. He often fills her bed with toys and gives hugs and kisses. He loves to tell stories about nursery at church and draw pictures. He loves trains and often will tell us about how Great Grandpa D. used to work on a train and "jump from car to car to car".
Gracie (17 months): She is starting to become quite the little toddler. She follows her brothers around and they are both almost always very sweet with her. She is our first child who I would venture to describe as shy. Her favorite place is on my lap sucking her thumb. Her dark hair has become blond for now and like her brothers she is tall for her age, has the gap between her two front teeth (thanks to her mommy) and blue eyes.
We wish you a very merry Christmas and love you very much!
Ruth, Mike, Jonathan, James and Grace
11.30.2011
On my birthday I was talking about when Mike and I first met. I guess the "I lived with Grandpa and Grandma D." part threw Jonathan off because after the entire story about Mike getting my phone number, our first date and so forth, Jonathan asked, "So was that when you were you younger?" Me: "Yes" Jonathan: "Like 5?"
James and Jonathan are pretty good at postponing bedtime for all sorts of reasons. Mike is a little more firm, so it is always nice when he can be the one by the door because they know they can't get away with as much. Anyway, the other night, James said from the top bunk, "I really need a cuddle." Mike said, "OK, I'll cuddle with you", and wanting me instead he said, "I want one from a girl."
We were able to meet up with Great Grandpa D. over Thanksgiving weekend. It is always great to see him. Rather than referring to him as Great Grandpa, Jonathan called him, "Super Grandpa" and "Grandpa the Great". We had dinner with him at a resturant and James was on his best manners. It probably helped that I started talking about what well-mannered boys I have. He offered a french fry to everyone sitting close and even offered to share all of his food with Aunt Rebecca. It's always great when the kids are well-behaved for extended relatives. He also bragged about how he opens the door for me. What a little gentleman.
Also, James is still really into trains. He often talks about how Great Grandpa drives a train. He had worked as a breakman in his youth and James has taken that to heart.
My Uncle Craig took us out on a sailboat and the boys had a great time. This was the first time they've been on a boat. We were able to stay at Uncle Craig and Aunt Alice's fancy time share for a day and two nights in Newport Beach. It was nice but it reminded me of how hard vacations can be with little ones and just the packing and unpacking. Overall, it was certainly a fun weekend.
I asked Jonathan who the nice kids in his class were and he included a kid named Jonathan with a sly grin. Good one.
My Visiting Teacher called to ask how I was doing today. James asked if he could talk, so I gave him a turn after our conversation. He told her about going on a boat and told Mike to "shh, be quiet, because I'm on the phone". Poor kid, must get that a lot.
James and Jonathan are pretty good at postponing bedtime for all sorts of reasons. Mike is a little more firm, so it is always nice when he can be the one by the door because they know they can't get away with as much. Anyway, the other night, James said from the top bunk, "I really need a cuddle." Mike said, "OK, I'll cuddle with you", and wanting me instead he said, "I want one from a girl."
We were able to meet up with Great Grandpa D. over Thanksgiving weekend. It is always great to see him. Rather than referring to him as Great Grandpa, Jonathan called him, "Super Grandpa" and "Grandpa the Great". We had dinner with him at a resturant and James was on his best manners. It probably helped that I started talking about what well-mannered boys I have. He offered a french fry to everyone sitting close and even offered to share all of his food with Aunt Rebecca. It's always great when the kids are well-behaved for extended relatives. He also bragged about how he opens the door for me. What a little gentleman.
Also, James is still really into trains. He often talks about how Great Grandpa drives a train. He had worked as a breakman in his youth and James has taken that to heart.
My Uncle Craig took us out on a sailboat and the boys had a great time. This was the first time they've been on a boat. We were able to stay at Uncle Craig and Aunt Alice's fancy time share for a day and two nights in Newport Beach. It was nice but it reminded me of how hard vacations can be with little ones and just the packing and unpacking. Overall, it was certainly a fun weekend.
I asked Jonathan who the nice kids in his class were and he included a kid named Jonathan with a sly grin. Good one.
My Visiting Teacher called to ask how I was doing today. James asked if he could talk, so I gave him a turn after our conversation. He told her about going on a boat and told Mike to "shh, be quiet, because I'm on the phone". Poor kid, must get that a lot.
11.13.2011
I write this as James jumps on the bed next to me.
He likes to give me flowers from our yard and other nice things. The other day I told him he was being very nice and he said, "I'm nice and cute". Today I told him thanks for some drawings and he said, "I gone potty too!" He likes to point out everything good he does.
The other day, he and Jonathan were pretending to be different scary animals. He said, "I'm a mean shark in the wadder".
Sometimes the boys like to sneak around the room after they are suppose to be in bed. When Mike came back from Brazil James told him all about how he and Joanthan went to sleep then Jonathan said (he whispers), "Hey James, do you want to get out of bed with me?" and we asked as if shocked, "What did you say James?" and he responds, "and I said, (whisper) 'yes'".
The boys just brought me pictures and birthday coupons. I'm in for some treats (hugs, back scratchs, and dishwashing).
Gracie is finally walking, thank goodness. She thinks that my lap is her own special spot and makes sure the boys know it, if they are sitting in my lap. They are pretty sweet with her.
He likes to give me flowers from our yard and other nice things. The other day I told him he was being very nice and he said, "I'm nice and cute". Today I told him thanks for some drawings and he said, "I gone potty too!" He likes to point out everything good he does.
The other day, he and Jonathan were pretending to be different scary animals. He said, "I'm a mean shark in the wadder".
Sometimes the boys like to sneak around the room after they are suppose to be in bed. When Mike came back from Brazil James told him all about how he and Joanthan went to sleep then Jonathan said (he whispers), "Hey James, do you want to get out of bed with me?" and we asked as if shocked, "What did you say James?" and he responds, "and I said, (whisper) 'yes'".
The boys just brought me pictures and birthday coupons. I'm in for some treats (hugs, back scratchs, and dishwashing).
Gracie is finally walking, thank goodness. She thinks that my lap is her own special spot and makes sure the boys know it, if they are sitting in my lap. They are pretty sweet with her.
10.19.2011
I knew something was going on with Gracie and took her in to the doctors to get her ears checked. As long as I’m dragging two tired, sick kids in with a $15 co-pay I really think it I could have used a little something more from his bedside manner classes in medical school. They do have bedside manner classes, right? If not, I’d be glad to teach the basics:
1) Act like they are your only patient that day, even though they aren’t.
2) Commiserate with all complaints for at least a good 10 seconds
3) Smile and say, “You’re pretty good at what you do.” or “Way to be in tune to your child’s needs Mom!”
Waiting forever for the prescription at Costco with James deciding to wonder off was miserable as well. There’s got to be a faster, easier way. Maybe I could get an otoscope and check kids ears for $5. I’d just have to figure out how parents can get their antibiotics on the black market. Hopefully she will feel better soon.
Someone (I think it was my VT) left Oreos and a paper with a picture of a ghost outside our front door. They were Halloween Oreos so the middle part is orange rather than white. Anyway I left them on the counter and somehow Gracie kept coming into see me all messy covered in cookie. It turns out James kept sneaking Oreos to Gracie this morning and finally admitted to it. I guess that’s the hard part about being the only bigger kid in the house when Jonathan is gone, no one else could have done it.
James will occasionally decide Gracie needs to be in the same room as him so he’ll just come in and grab her under her arms (thanks Mike for teaching him to stop carrying her around her neck) and take her into the other room saying, “Gracie, I want you in here”. She usually just smiles and goes along for the ride.
To get James to nap I will often go through a list of kids and people who are also taking naps. I’ll say, “Grandma and Grandpa take naps, list of kids from nursery, Gracie, and Mommy take naps and so forth. Last week while getting James to nap he asked why Daddy doesn’t take naps and I told him I’d have a talk with Mike about it. He’s usually up late with school and would love a nap. At what age do naps become something you want?
Mike emailed that he found a library Thomas the Tank Engine DVD in his laptop. Ha, ha, so nice that Thomas can join him for his trip in Brazil.
When we dropped Jonathan off I school, I put Gracie in a fluffy pink coat. It was quite adorable. Jonathan fed her fruit snacks since she could move her arms- ha, ha. Jonathan’s teacher opened the classroom door with a cowboy hat on he couldn’t stop smiling looking at her wearing that hat. Funny boy. I guess yesterday he told his class a story about visiting Grandpa and Grandma in Utah, sledding, building a snowman with Dad, and James and drinking hot chocolate. I wonder what other stories he tells. ;)
He and the primary were singing, “Do as I’m Doing” in primary while I was watching in from the hall the other week. Jonathan raised his hands and had them do, “paying tithing”. It was actually quite a good teaching moment for me on being a good example for our kids- so tough to be sometimes!
1) Act like they are your only patient that day, even though they aren’t.
2) Commiserate with all complaints for at least a good 10 seconds
3) Smile and say, “You’re pretty good at what you do.” or “Way to be in tune to your child’s needs Mom!”
Waiting forever for the prescription at Costco with James deciding to wonder off was miserable as well. There’s got to be a faster, easier way. Maybe I could get an otoscope and check kids ears for $5. I’d just have to figure out how parents can get their antibiotics on the black market. Hopefully she will feel better soon.
Someone (I think it was my VT) left Oreos and a paper with a picture of a ghost outside our front door. They were Halloween Oreos so the middle part is orange rather than white. Anyway I left them on the counter and somehow Gracie kept coming into see me all messy covered in cookie. It turns out James kept sneaking Oreos to Gracie this morning and finally admitted to it. I guess that’s the hard part about being the only bigger kid in the house when Jonathan is gone, no one else could have done it.
James will occasionally decide Gracie needs to be in the same room as him so he’ll just come in and grab her under her arms (thanks Mike for teaching him to stop carrying her around her neck) and take her into the other room saying, “Gracie, I want you in here”. She usually just smiles and goes along for the ride.
To get James to nap I will often go through a list of kids and people who are also taking naps. I’ll say, “Grandma and Grandpa take naps, list of kids from nursery, Gracie, and Mommy take naps and so forth. Last week while getting James to nap he asked why Daddy doesn’t take naps and I told him I’d have a talk with Mike about it. He’s usually up late with school and would love a nap. At what age do naps become something you want?
Mike emailed that he found a library Thomas the Tank Engine DVD in his laptop. Ha, ha, so nice that Thomas can join him for his trip in Brazil.
When we dropped Jonathan off I school, I put Gracie in a fluffy pink coat. It was quite adorable. Jonathan fed her fruit snacks since she could move her arms- ha, ha. Jonathan’s teacher opened the classroom door with a cowboy hat on he couldn’t stop smiling looking at her wearing that hat. Funny boy. I guess yesterday he told his class a story about visiting Grandpa and Grandma in Utah, sledding, building a snowman with Dad, and James and drinking hot chocolate. I wonder what other stories he tells. ;)
He and the primary were singing, “Do as I’m Doing” in primary while I was watching in from the hall the other week. Jonathan raised his hands and had them do, “paying tithing”. It was actually quite a good teaching moment for me on being a good example for our kids- so tough to be sometimes!
10.17.2011
Yesterday we took Mike to the airport after Sacrament Meeting and he left to Sao Paulo. I went home with the kids and figured although we usually don't go to the park on Sunday, it would probably be good for us to go so the kids could get energy out without messes to clean up, an overwhelmed mom, and so forth.
I took the kids to the playground with the fire truck. A cute little girl followed Jonathan around the playground for a half hour or more. She only came up to his shoulder but said she is 6- ha, ha. Anyway, he pretended he was trying to get away from her and didn't like her but I think he kind of liked it. He kept asking me, "how do I get rid of her?" He said he doesn't like girls except me and Gracie but he won't like her when she is bigger.
When we got home, I fed the kids and James totally threw up over a 4 foot radius of Gracie's room.
I took the kids to the playground with the fire truck. A cute little girl followed Jonathan around the playground for a half hour or more. She only came up to his shoulder but said she is 6- ha, ha. Anyway, he pretended he was trying to get away from her and didn't like her but I think he kind of liked it. He kept asking me, "how do I get rid of her?" He said he doesn't like girls except me and Gracie but he won't like her when she is bigger.
When we got home, I fed the kids and James totally threw up over a 4 foot radius of Gracie's room.
10.12.2011
I ran a couple of errands yesterday evening. I don’t know what it is about me going out in the evenings but for some strange reason I can count on coming home to:
1) At least one child injured in some significant way
2) Mike and the kids watching a baseball or soccer game
3) The house being a little more messy than usual. Granted I am a little OCD but Mike is a firm believer in not cleaning up the kid’s messes, dishes, laundry and so forth, starting as babies. As he often says, “just leave it, somehow it always gets cleaned.”
Last night I came home to everyone watching a baseball game and thought we had escaped the regular injury when I hear Mike say. “James, tell Mom what you did.” It ends up he had a talk with Mike about being sick and how big kids can pour their own medicine and Mike told him no, only to question where he went a few minutes later. He found him having locked the door to our bedroom drinking kid’s Ibuprofen. Mike asked him how much he had drunk and he said, “Um, like three or four”, of the little cups he was pouring it into. I talked Mike into calling poison control and they said he’s fine. Whenever I talk about being tired or needing a break Mike says watching the kids is a piece of cake and he’d love to do it all day like I get to. I can just imagine our little kids with lots of band aids and cold packs, cleaning up their own messes (this includes the babies) and they’d all be expert at the ins and outs of sporting events.
1) At least one child injured in some significant way
2) Mike and the kids watching a baseball or soccer game
3) The house being a little more messy than usual. Granted I am a little OCD but Mike is a firm believer in not cleaning up the kid’s messes, dishes, laundry and so forth, starting as babies. As he often says, “just leave it, somehow it always gets cleaned.”
Last night I came home to everyone watching a baseball game and thought we had escaped the regular injury when I hear Mike say. “James, tell Mom what you did.” It ends up he had a talk with Mike about being sick and how big kids can pour their own medicine and Mike told him no, only to question where he went a few minutes later. He found him having locked the door to our bedroom drinking kid’s Ibuprofen. Mike asked him how much he had drunk and he said, “Um, like three or four”, of the little cups he was pouring it into. I talked Mike into calling poison control and they said he’s fine. Whenever I talk about being tired or needing a break Mike says watching the kids is a piece of cake and he’d love to do it all day like I get to. I can just imagine our little kids with lots of band aids and cold packs, cleaning up their own messes (this includes the babies) and they’d all be expert at the ins and outs of sporting events.
10.05.2011
9.30.2011
James is always saying and doing funny things. This morning Mike found a bouncy ball in his shoe and James smiled and said, “I did that!”
He talks and talks about all sorts of things while we drive in the car. Today, for example it was, “I ran fast like a bunny rabbit running away from big boys.”
I enjoy every chance I get to either drop Jonathan off or pick him up without James and Gracie tagging along. Usually James insists on pushing her stroller and we end up zig zagging our way down the sidewalk. He also has an uncanny ability to need to go potty as soon as we get in the gates of the school. Anyway, when it’s just Jonathan and me, he holds my hand which is always fun. I wonder how long that will last. ;)
I took two naps yesterday when Gracie napped and still easily slept all night –hmm, something’s going on here.
He talks and talks about all sorts of things while we drive in the car. Today, for example it was, “I ran fast like a bunny rabbit running away from big boys.”
I enjoy every chance I get to either drop Jonathan off or pick him up without James and Gracie tagging along. Usually James insists on pushing her stroller and we end up zig zagging our way down the sidewalk. He also has an uncanny ability to need to go potty as soon as we get in the gates of the school. Anyway, when it’s just Jonathan and me, he holds my hand which is always fun. I wonder how long that will last. ;)
I took two naps yesterday when Gracie napped and still easily slept all night –hmm, something’s going on here.
9.25.2011
The Boys
Mike has been gone and another father of some girls in our ward was going to watch the boys while I went to a Relief Society Broadcast. James said, "but Mom, uuuuhhhhh, I like our dad." A minute later he was OK with the idea since "Dad is on an airplane." He often prays that Mike will be safe on airplanes even when he's here. James has more of a clingy personality. He likes to know where Mike is and make sure he's coming back. Hmm, wonder where that clingy personality comes from?
James often asks to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house or says, "I thought we were going to Grandma and Grandpas". This one always breaks my heart.
James wants three dogs since he is three. He wants one that is red, one that is green and one that is blue.
James is really into putting puzzles together. The rule is he has to do it in a room where the door is closed so Gracie can't get it.
Jonathan and I went out to dinner at Islands for a school fundraiser thing. He was really excited. While we were waiting for the food he was dancing in his seat with his eyes closed getting me to laugh. He can be quite the entertainer when he wants to be. He was watching the surfers on the TV screen and asked, "Mom, who has surfed more, Dad or Grandpa D.?" I told him probably Dad since Grandpa D. lives in Utah where there isn't an ocean. He replied, "No ocean! Where do they get the water they drink?" I explained that we don't drink salt water and the water they drink is water that comes from the river, from the snow on the mountains by their house. I explained that we drink the river water at the end of the river.
A month or so ago he came in and asked me, "Mom, what's a basement?" Who would have known?
I've been telling him I can't ever help him get dressed since you have to be able to get dressed by yourself to go to kindergarten. The other day he talked me into helping him take his shirt off. I said, "OK, hands up." and he said, "You're arresting me?”
James often asks to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house or says, "I thought we were going to Grandma and Grandpas". This one always breaks my heart.
James wants three dogs since he is three. He wants one that is red, one that is green and one that is blue.
James is really into putting puzzles together. The rule is he has to do it in a room where the door is closed so Gracie can't get it.
Jonathan and I went out to dinner at Islands for a school fundraiser thing. He was really excited. While we were waiting for the food he was dancing in his seat with his eyes closed getting me to laugh. He can be quite the entertainer when he wants to be. He was watching the surfers on the TV screen and asked, "Mom, who has surfed more, Dad or Grandpa D.?" I told him probably Dad since Grandpa D. lives in Utah where there isn't an ocean. He replied, "No ocean! Where do they get the water they drink?" I explained that we don't drink salt water and the water they drink is water that comes from the river, from the snow on the mountains by their house. I explained that we drink the river water at the end of the river.
A month or so ago he came in and asked me, "Mom, what's a basement?" Who would have known?
I've been telling him I can't ever help him get dressed since you have to be able to get dressed by yourself to go to kindergarten. The other day he talked me into helping him take his shirt off. I said, "OK, hands up." and he said, "You're arresting me?”
9.07.2011
9.06.2011
A few weeks ago my parents called and asked if it was fine if they come and visit for a few days. Had they heard me singing the hallelujah chorus in my head, and seen the light in our kids eyes when they saw them at the airport they wouldn’t have needed an answer. I'm pretty sure Mike enjoyed the “outlaws” visit as well.
After they arrived we realized they had come down last year at the exact same time to help us move, meaning we've lived in this house for a year. Who would have thought?
Did I mention they babysat so we could go out? Twice in fact. It was great.
After they arrived we realized they had come down last year at the exact same time to help us move, meaning we've lived in this house for a year. Who would have thought?
Did I mention they babysat so we could go out? Twice in fact. It was great.
8.27.2011
Jonathan was walking around with some little dance moves at Costco and an older lady with an Asian accent said to him, “You’re too sexy.” He didn’t know what to think so we told him sexy means handsome.
This morning we were at a ward primary pancake breakfast. James eyed the height and jumped off the stage from his feet (a good four feet off the ground) landing with two feet on the gymnasium floor. I hope it’s a good 12 years before that kid wants to start cliff jumping. He likes to tell us what a strong, brave boy he is and how he shares the trains in nursery.
Jonathan is an avid reader. My mom says maybe I’ll regret teaching him to read so young but it really has been nice to be able to leave him with a pile of books and have him entertained for long periods of time. When the library summer reading program had a drawing both the boys happened to be the lucky winners of two green Dr. Seuss stuffed animal birds and $10 Target gift cards. They were thrilled.
This morning we were at a ward primary pancake breakfast. James eyed the height and jumped off the stage from his feet (a good four feet off the ground) landing with two feet on the gymnasium floor. I hope it’s a good 12 years before that kid wants to start cliff jumping. He likes to tell us what a strong, brave boy he is and how he shares the trains in nursery.
Jonathan is an avid reader. My mom says maybe I’ll regret teaching him to read so young but it really has been nice to be able to leave him with a pile of books and have him entertained for long periods of time. When the library summer reading program had a drawing both the boys happened to be the lucky winners of two green Dr. Seuss stuffed animal birds and $10 Target gift cards. They were thrilled.
8.25.2011
8.16.2011
Mike is traveling more than usual with work these days but the summers ending well. Mike’s sister Patty, her husband Cameron and their five girls recently moved to Vegas and came down this way for a visit. We enjoyed a nice dinner, movie in the backyard and a couple hours at the beach with them in Oceanside. Their girls are sweet and it’s fun to get to know them better. Grandpa and Grandma gave us some delicious tomatoes from their bountiful tomato crop this year.
I taught a lesson on Eternal Marriage at church. It was difficult to make sure I covered the important points teaching ladies that come from such totally different situations. I’m enjoying the calling and learning a lot.
Mike has a small break in school so it’s been fun to have him available in the evenings, hooray. We’ve watched a couple of movies and have had time to hang out while the kids sleep, which is always a treat for me. Mike’s taking the boys bowling right now while I get dinner ready and we all went swimming yesterday evening. Gracie loves swimming, especially with her doting brothers.
My sister Sarah suggested listening to books on CD and I can’t thank her enough. I get book ideas from Goodreads and get all sorts of house cleaning and projects done while I listen to them. Also, we’ve enjoyed listening to The Story of the World as a family before the boys go to bed. My friend, Jenica recommended them. Jonathan can’t get enough since he’s our little Curious George. It is a little advanced for James but I think he’ll enjoy it as time goes on.
Tonight it my monthly Book Club. We’re reading Pygmalion (My Fair Lady). I have always loved my mom’s orange rolls so thought I’d give her recipe a try tonight. Hmm, what else? We’re enjoying the beautiful August weather of sunny San Diego. So there are our random happenings for now. ;)
I taught a lesson on Eternal Marriage at church. It was difficult to make sure I covered the important points teaching ladies that come from such totally different situations. I’m enjoying the calling and learning a lot.
Mike has a small break in school so it’s been fun to have him available in the evenings, hooray. We’ve watched a couple of movies and have had time to hang out while the kids sleep, which is always a treat for me. Mike’s taking the boys bowling right now while I get dinner ready and we all went swimming yesterday evening. Gracie loves swimming, especially with her doting brothers.
My sister Sarah suggested listening to books on CD and I can’t thank her enough. I get book ideas from Goodreads and get all sorts of house cleaning and projects done while I listen to them. Also, we’ve enjoyed listening to The Story of the World as a family before the boys go to bed. My friend, Jenica recommended them. Jonathan can’t get enough since he’s our little Curious George. It is a little advanced for James but I think he’ll enjoy it as time goes on.
Tonight it my monthly Book Club. We’re reading Pygmalion (My Fair Lady). I have always loved my mom’s orange rolls so thought I’d give her recipe a try tonight. Hmm, what else? We’re enjoying the beautiful August weather of sunny San Diego. So there are our random happenings for now. ;)
8.15.2011
I was helping James put together a train track and suggested he go get more pieces from the closet since I always find them there. He said, “They are few Mom.” Jonathan interpreted telling me that we can’t use those because they are what they use as fuel for their rocket ship (the closet). Of course a rocket ship needs fuel. Why didn't I think of that?
8.06.2011
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