Christmas is coming

If you look too closely at the tree you will notice that I let the kids decorate it this year. There are clumps, overlaps, loners, and gaps. I just want them to have good memories of decorating the tree, not of mom being analytical about it. Grandma Sandy sent us a wooden advent tree, you put lights on it to count down. We got to paint and glitter it ourselves! Weston believes adamantly in Santa Claus this year, he keeps asking me if I do too. But I just say "I believe in Jesus." We went to Walmart last week and saw a "Santa" there taking pictures with kids. Weston turned to me and said, "NOW do you believe in Santa?" I said no. "But we SAW him Mom!" I'm such a scrooge.



It's snowy and cold this week. Jared gets nervous when it gets below freezing because of all the properties he manages, he was complaining about the snow and Weston argued, "Snow isn't awful, snow is fun!" We spent some time outside having fun in the snow today.

Bye bye Westovers

You know that feeling when someone you can count on to talk to, exercise with, watch your kids, and serve each other decides to move away? That's how I feel this week. Our friends the Westovers are moving today. Shelene Westover is amazing, she has two kids my kids age and she and I swapped babysitting while she was working on Nursing school and I was doing prerequisites. She went to school, watched my kids, and all while being pregnant with twins! She is an inspiration. I just adore those twin girls. She has been my running partner for this semester so I feel like she has really helped me stay sane through school. They found a great house in Lehi and even let Jared be their realtor. I wish we could keep them around, good bye Westovers!

Holly's Baby Shower

I made a money tree for my sister holly for her 4th baby coming any day because she isn't knowing the gender until she/he is born. Food Games Family. It was fun!

Thanksgiving

I've had more time this week than I know what to do with. It has been nice to relax and take it easy, but I have felt a twinge of restlessness. I'm sure my next two and a half weeks of school will cure my of that. The kids help me set up the tree this week, it takes me a great deal of patience to let them ravage the ornaments and put them on the tree every which way, but I know they love doing it. I did a lot of deep cleaning, mostly vacumming, for my week off, and organizing.
Thanksgiving was nice and calm, the kids and I spent the morning together while Jared played football, then Jared took the kids to his brothers house while I cooked some rolls and green bean casserole, then we had a nice dinner with the Schauers. I didn't eat any sugar, but I overate a lot on everything else. It was all very good. We watched Jared's uncle Steve (his mom's brother) play the guitar and sing for us afterwards. It was a nice show!
The next day Jared took Weston four wheeling with his brothers and cousins, and I learned later he did NOT feed him lunch! Weston about passed out when he came home at 5 o'clock. But he had a fun time with the guys.
My fun event is my sister's baby shower today. I'll post pictures of that later. Heidi, me and Holly went to the temple on Wednesday, Holly is so pregnant that the temple workers asked her not to do a session in case she goes into labor!
Anyway, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I just wanted to write how thankful I am to the Lord for the multitude of blessings I enjoy and how much I love my family. We are so blessed!

What we do for fun

This time we made a video of Savanna Weston and Fiora doing an Irish jig while Jared was out for the evening.


And if you want some real laughs, here is a therapy skit that is hilarious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLMTvxOaeE

Has it been 2 weeks?

I rarely let my blog go a full two weeks without a post, I really don't know what has happened to November. Things have run like a well oiled routine machine around here, here are Novembers highlights so far.
--The primary program! Savanna was asked to sing a solo for the closing number and she did so well! I received more compliments on her performance than any I or the choir has ever ever done. She is a great singer and the song she sang "I Know that my Savior loves me" was particularly touching. The spirit was very strong. Fiora and Weston said their parts very well too. I loved the primary program.
--Parent teacher conferences. The kids got raving reviews this year. Savanna's teacher went on and on about savanna's comprehension of material, especially social studies. She tested off the charts in that area. Some exposure at home has pushed her in the right direction. Savanna sits next to a girl in school who has social and learning problems, and Mrs. Coyle said she puts Savanna next to her because she is the only one in class who can help and reach that girl. I was so impressed that Savanna is already a little social worker.
Fiora is a reading maniac! She is way ahead of her peers in reading and comprehnsion. Every night fiora reads for twenty minuts without being asked, she just loves to read. Mrs. Jeffrys says Fiora always follows directions and completes tasks and is respectful. I was so glad to hear that.
Weston has the top score for handwriting. His letters are picture perfect. His pictures are picture perfect too! He loves drawing or art time. He is very well behaved and helpful in class. He is putting sounds of letters together and is so close to reading already. I'm so glad all my kids are doing well in school.
--One evening we were sitting around the table and I asked the kids what they have done for someone else today. Savanna had helped a classmate with an assignment. Fiora had helped a friend get something out of the vending machine. Weston had helped a classmate pick up toys. Even Jared had helped a client with something outside his job description. I realized I was the only one who didn't have a service to share! I had just been at school all day. Usually the mom has at least dishes or something. I was so happy with my kids for serving others.
--Now for my highlights...I finished a 20 page paper, a 10 page research proposal, wrote two other 5 page papers, took 2 midterms, went to three BYU Arts events with Grandma, and attended a intern field fair. Social work agencies from all over Utah and Salt Lake County come to BYU and interview us as potential interns for spring/summer and fall/winter. I interviewed with 15 agencies and turned in my top choices--LDS Family Services, the Prison, Utah County Department of Substance Abuse, Wasatch Mental Health, and AF Hospital. The agencies turn in their top choices and I should find out in Janurary where my two placements will be. That was a long and nerve racking day. This week I toured the State Prison in Draper and was shown where I would work if I was placed there. It was a really neat experience. I am very happy with what I am doing.
--Jared has had a great year. Last month he went to Tennessee and rubbed shoulders with Dave Ramse. He and his brother Justin attended conferences, live radio shows, and had dinner in Dave's home. Jared even used his binoculars. It was a neat experience for Jared to talk with one of his mentors. That inspired Jared to set some goals and create an enviable business. He has been exercising more and praying with me every night. I'm impressed with Jared!
Well that's all for now. Hope everyone has a very happy thanksgiving!

Halloween

This year Weston was Bumblebee the transformer, Fiora was Hanna Montana, and Savanna was a vampire. We had a fabulous Halloween party at Jesse and Kelsy's house with my side of the famiy. They provided food games and party favors, and they had the coolest pumpkin sculpture I've ever seen in their front yard. (Savanna nearly won MAFIA). We had so much fun we didn't want to leave, but trick-or-treating was a priority. The kids went out with Jared for about an hour and then came back home, deposited Weston and their candy on the floor and went out again for another hour. It was the first year my kids have gone farther than the ward boundaries for their candy hunt. There sure is a lot of sugar floating around this house. Savanna and Fiora felt so bad for me not having any candy because I'm off sugar, they wrapped up their biggest and best candy in Christmas wrapping paper and put it in my closet for when I can eat sugar again (Dec 15th). I thought that was really sweet of them. So I survived Halloween and even though its not my favorite holiday, I managed to have some fun. The kids had a GREAT time of it.

By the way, Karli did an awesome fashion show with the kids one day and you can see those pictures on her blog http://karliplussue.blogspot.com/ they're totally awesome