Boy Samuel Called by the Lord

Sophie was in charge of our FHE lesson last week and she always does a great job. She plans it all by herself. This time she wanted to do the story of Samuel being called by the Lord. And with enough boys to fill the parts we had a little acting going on. Benjamin was Samuel, Matt was Eli and Carsten was the Lord. It was so fun being in the "audience" while Sophie recounted the story.

Helping the "actors" get dressed.

Eli and the Lord

Our narrator

Samuel going to Eli and telling him he heard a voice.

Samuel returning to bed.

I'm getting strength

I hope that I am able to instill some basic activities that I believe are important to having a happy life. Two of these of be changed into activities that I'm not all that thrilled about but don't know how to discourage while encouraging. The first is Benjamin. My poor boy has been stuck in the house for almost 2 weeks with out any major physical activity. Due to the holidays karate, tumbling and skiing had all been on break. Then there were the extreme cold weather. (Side note: It's snowing!!!We have had a 50 degree increase from a week ago.) Anyway, Benjamin has created his own exercise program. I am very excited when I come into the room and Benjamin states, "I need exercise so my body will be strong!"

Benjamin is saying "I'm getting strength." while he jumps on his brother's mattress.

Our second habit involves a tooth brush. Josette has most enthusiastically taken to the toothbrush. She steals any one that she can reach and walks around with it "brushing". Fabulous until she uses the toilet and dog water (we're dog sitting) to help in the process. Gross! She even incorporates brushing while eating.

Ramblings

It's Saturday morning, 10:30am and I'm still in pj's. That is a bit strange for around here. I'm torn between what I really should be doing and what I want to be doing. I should be switching laundry, getting the kids to do their chores, figuring out what to feed the missionaries tonight and so on. What I want to do is finish my latest Dirk Pitt adventure, skiing but it has to get to at least 0 to take the kids or getting some more pictures organized. What to do, what to do.

Last night Matt and I went on a date to the cannery. We were supposed to be back by 9:30 or so. At 9:30 we called the sitter to make sure she was ok there for another couple of hours. At 9:30 we were getting turned around and sent back to Palmer/Wasilla because the freeway had been closed due to an accident. One of the great things of Alaska is that there is literally one road to get you from one place to another. That highway gets shutdown and there is no other way to get to Anchorage with in a week. So we ended up at McDonald's with the rest of our cannery partners enjoying hot fries and a hot fudge sundea.

Baptism

Sophie was baptized on Saturday into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What a great moment with both Grandpa's and Dad helping to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. On Sunday she asked if she could bare her testimony and she went up all by herself and gave the sweetest testimony I've heard. Sophie said that she knew that we were all children of Heavenly Father and that he loved us. Jesus Christ was her brother and that he lived. The scriptures are true. Joseph Smith is a true prophet.

How Cold is it?

Before going to bed last night I guess I forgot to start the dryer. I went to switch loads and I discovered a large clump of clothing, Frozen solid.

Flying pants, no wires attached!

Happy New Year

Happy 2009!!

So to celebrate the New Year and moving forward I am going to catch up the last month and a half. It has been a non-stop party around this household. Since November 1st we've had 1 case of pneumonia ( I kept saying I needed some more time in bed but 2 wks...), Thanksgiving, 3 birthdays, ice fishing, skiing, theatre, family, and Christmas. It has all been wonderful and on Saturday we have a little girl getting baptized. We've been so lucky to have Grandma and Grandpa here for the last couple of weeks. They have been a life saver but I'm afraid that we might have worn them out a bit. I just hope we haven't scared them off!

Christmas was wonderful. Santa was good to all of us. I got especially spoiled by a husband who started shopping for deals last January and I was completely clueless. I am now properly outfitted for all outdoor winter activities. Sophie has been playing non stop with her Barbie townhouse. Benjamin enjoyed remote controlled helicopters for the full 3 hours before getting broken. Carsten got a very cool Imaginex Safari. I am totally hooked on the new Imaginex tools. The boys also have a batcave and they play with them all the time. Josette has her own bath toys, that she has to fight for in the tub. Carsten loves them too and must show her how to properly use them, you can imagine the rest.

And in less than 5 days we have to start being ready by 8am again. Matt has been off work for the last week and we are getting into some bad habits. All I can say is that it's a good thing I don't have drive carpool on Monday because we would never make it.

Santa at Matt's Company Family Party. This Santa comes every year and he is just awesome.

Benjamin's 5 th Birthday. Chuck E. Cheese and King Burger are becoming the annual tradition.

Sophie and Grandpa Ice fishing for a school field trip.

Making Gingerbread Houses at school with Grandma. It was PJ day.

Christmas Eve with the Christmas PJ's. I got them all done, miracle.

Kidnapped!!

Matt is always trying to surprise me and I have always found a way to unintentionally ruin his surprise. I even did this to his proposal plans. This time he got me good though. I was helping out in the nursery this week and Dad Mower came in and told me that Matt needed me out in the hallway. First thoughts I had were Josette threw up everywhere, Benjamin is bleeding, or Carsten had an accident. He was standing there with out any children and other fears started entering my head. I was then informed that we had to leave. I of course won't just go along with this but start to give the third degree. (Sorry hon.) I found out that I had 2 kid free nights. One at the Hilton downtown and another at Alyeska in Girdwood. It was so great being together and getting a small feeling of what life would have been like if we had been gainfully employed before we had children. I got to workout for two mornings in a row and go skiing with no time constraints.

We went to Kincaid park and it was my first time out there to ski. The views were incredible. We could see Denali and the inlet. I even started to get a bit warm in the negative 5 degree weather. I might have even been able to drop to 2 coats instead of 3.

Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Anne kept the kids alive, fed and happy. And they still loved them too! They came up and joined us at Alyeaska where I took them swimming and Matt and Anne went skiing. The first time Matt had been able to go downhill in 4 years and he didn't break a leg. I realised that the kids will need a lot more pool time before our vacation to some sunny beaches.

After the last year and a half it was wonderful to be together with out stressing out about a little person. Boy how did I ever get so lucky!