Kanyon is a Bear!

Kanyon was able to finish his scouting requirements for Bear over the summer so the first pack meeting of the school year he was given the award.  I am proud of his accomplishments in scouting and I am glad that he LOVES scouts.  He has some great leaders and they always have a great time.  Plus, he gets to participate with his best friend, Trevor.  I am glad they have each other.  It so great to have a really good friend to go through life with.  Trevor earned his bear too!  They are two of a kind.

Trevor with his mom, Alethea

Kanyon and a very pregnant Brooke

What a great kid!

Alaska

Leonard made it on another fishing trip this year to Alaska.  He and some friends and his dad were able to go.  There were five of them fishing and they caught over 300 pounds of fish!  They seemed to have a good time and I thought I would post a few pictures to show their good fortune.

They stayed in a forest service cabin – cheap but not luxurious!

And caught some fish along with some beautiful scenery.

They had a great time and we have quite a bit of fish in our freezer now.  All stocked up for winter!

Chores and Homework

We are trying something new this year.  When the kids get home from school they have to do their homework and one chore that mom decides before they are allowed to do 30 minutes of electronics (kindle, TV, DS, etc.)  It was working pretty well the first few days of school until I said the chore for the day was to clean the bathrooms. 

My kids have been cleaning the bathrooms all summer.  They take turns cleaning the toilets, sinks and tubs, and mirror.  They know how to do it and it doesn’t usually take them very long – but they hate it.  Anyway, on this day they decided it was time to negotiate. 

“What if we decide we don’t want to have 30 minutes of kindle/TV time?  Can we chose not to do the chore?”

I had to think about it for a little bit.  Their “electronic” time was their reward, could they chose to forfeit it?  I could see a long list of many chores never getting done. 

So I said, “You can chose not to do the chore that day, but you will also lose your allowance for the month.”  I know it doesn’t seem fair but their allowance isn’t much and I don’t have time to divide it up by days they do or don’t do chores.  So it had to be take it or leave it. 

“Allowance isn’t something I just give you.  You earn it by helping around the house, and doing your chores.  If you choose not to do chores, then you shouldn’t get your allowance.”

Kanyon’s response was priceless. “WHAT!  You totally just made that up!”

Yes, dear.  It’s called parenting – we make everything up!

First Day of School -- 2013

I have been blogging like crazy.  This baby is coming and I want to be caught up so that I can blog about her!!  I know that seems like a weird reason to blog – but any reason to blog and update my entries is a good reason in my book.  I might as well keep going while I am motivated, right?  Anyway, I know that there are quite a few new posts but I think after this one that I am pretty well caught up for now.  I love having the blog books when they are all put together and I know I would be sad to put together a book that only had half a year’s worth of entries. 

MUST KEEP BLOGGING!!!

So, moving on!  The kids started school!!! YAY!!  I was actually really excited for them to start school.  I feel like I have a lot to get done before this baby comes and I needed a little time to get it done.  Unfortunately, it seems that school time means I am busier then usual and they have more activities then they did in the summer.  Somehow, we still manage to take it a day at a time! 

Kaydra is is 7th grade this year.  I met all her teachers at back to school night before school started.  They are all awesome.  They all have many years experience and they all love teaching at Lakes Magnet Middle School.  Each one of them said there was no where else they would rather teach.  That’s saying something.  I am also excited for her to take orchestra everyday this year.  I think her violin playing is going to jump this year.  She really loves music and I am excited for her to really learn how to play.  She is in a woodworking class for her magnet class this semester and gets to use some power tools to create things.  She is excited about that.  Hard to believe she is in 7th grade.  She is a beautiful girl….

Entertaining her mother by holding up 7 fingers for 7th grade!

She headed out the door to catch the bus at 6:44a.m.  Crazy time to be heading to school, but she does it everyday!!

Kanyon headed out next.  His bus comes at 8:10a.m.  Much more reasonable.  He is in Mrs. Brixon’s class this year.  All his good friends are in the other 4th grade class.  He seems to take it all in stride.  He seemed a bit disappointed, but he tells me that he likes his teacher and his class.  He seems to grow another inch every time I turn around.  I just bought him size 6 shoes.  Hopefully they will last him more then three months!

Miranda was the last one out the door today.  She was also the most excited.  She could hardly wait for school to start and has been asking everyday when she could go to school.  Then all morning she kept asking and asking when we could go to school.  She did not think it was fair that the other kids got to leave before her.  Makes for a very long morning!   I met her teacher at her open house as well.  This was the day I was a little teary.  Miranda was so excited and ready to go to school.  When I said, “Look, there is your teacher over there.”  She had no hesitation as she marched right over and said, “Are you my teacher?”  It made me cry a little because I know how much this year will change her.  Kindergarten is when mom is no longer the center of their world and their teacher becomes just a little bit more important.  If I say something and Mrs. Piedamont doesn’t agree, she just may win over me…makes me a little sad.  Although I know that Miranda is ready for kindergarten and she is going to do great!!!

What a pretty girl!!  Timberlyn couldn’t be left out, even though she is not going anywhere and will be staying home with mom and the new baby.  She wanted her picture too!!

She obviously had just eaten lunch and made a mess of her clothes.  Luckily, the smile makes up for the mess!!

Good luck to all my kids this year.  I hope you learn a lot and enjoy your days at school!  Love, Mom

Baptisms

Since Kaydra turned 12, she can now do some temple work.  We were able to take her to the temple to do her first Baptisms for the Dead ordinances.  The temple had an open baptism day on Labor day for anyone with a recommend from their bishop.  It was first come first serve and they expected about 100 kids that day.  We were there early and got in pretty quick.  We were able to take Kaydra’s cousin, Cora and we met her best friend Makenna at the temple.  Makenna turned twelve 3 days before Kaydra so it was her first time too.  When we got there, they said they could provide everything/everyone we needed but did we have someone that wanted to baptize them?  We were surprised but Leonard was prepared and was able to baptize all three of them for those that had passed on without the opportunity to accept the gospel.  It was awesome.  I was able to watch with Alethea, Makenna’s mom.  It was a great experience and I am glad I got to be there with her in the temple.  I hope and pray there will be many more opportunities for us to be in the temple together in this lifetime.   Thank you, Kaydra, for making good choices that bless both our lives!

After the baptisms….beautiful girls and a beautiful place.