A Thoughtful Girl

This morning as I was getting ready, Sarah knocked on my door. I said "Who is it?" She said, "it's me, Sarah". I said "Come in." She walked in carrying my favorite breakfast.
It's not my birthday, it's not Valentine's day yet, it's not my Anniversary, it wasn't a special day until she walked in with my favorite breakfast.
Back up to Saturday when she wanted me to make her an "Egg Sandwhich" as we call them. I told her to watch me so she could learn how to make one for herself. She watched carefully and I gave instructions as I showed every step. Yesterday, she came up and told me that she had made her own egg sandwich while daddy supervised in the kitchen.
Now to fully contemplate how touching this is to me, you must also know what we have been going through with this little girl. She has had some major problems with sleep anxiety. We have tried the understanding route. We have tried the no TV before bed route. We have tried going to be earlier. We have tried many more techniques to try and help her not have anxiety about going to sleep. Finally on Sunday night, we tried the "Not going to put up with this any more" route. We had an all out battle that night about going to sleep. I had to become the tough guy, not what I usually like to do. She is always remorseful in the morning for the way she acts. It's actually quite tough on her. So, last night, after the previous night of deciding to be tough, we had not problems with her going to bed.
Fast forward to this morning when I woke her up and she was very happy and did not have to say she was sorry for the way she acted the night before.
So, she asked if she could go downstairs by herself (which she also never does) and make her own "Egg Sandwich", I said "sure". I go off to get dressed and ready for work and she knocks on the door. Back to the beginning of the story now, where she presents me with her gift of "Charity".
I love that girl, words cannot express how much my heart is touched today by her act of "The pure love of Christ".

Cloudy Day Creations: It's about time for a giveaway!#c2669349570405663078#c2669349570405663078

Cloudy Day Creations: It's about time for a giveaway!#c2669349570405663078#c2669349570405663078

Justin's 2nd half marathon Feb 15, 2010

I got a little behind on my blogging last year but as I catch up you will understand why.
I can't let this young man's accomplishments for 2010 slip past. He made a new year's resolution and he stuck to it. Here he is finishing his 2nd half marathon! Can't believe he can do this at 14 yrs old! Must get his craziness from his dad:)

Mother/Daughter Relief Society Activity

The girls and I had so much fun at the mother/daughter Relief Society Activity last month. We made some cute hair bows, they performed some talents, we had a really nice slide show, there was also a service project that they didn't really get to help with since I was in charge of the hair bows. Lastly we had some ice cream Sundays and watched a fun slide show with all the women and girls in the ward and their friends and female family members.

We had a wonderful sister in our ward Daina Crowell who offered her professional photography services to take pictures of all the girls. The girls helped her daughter make her bows since her mom was taking pictures. Her daughter Sarah just loved hanging out with the older girls so they got their picture taken with her.

This is Sydney, the girls very best friend. They moved in two houses down a few months ago and have been inseparable since. Of course, they had to take a picture with their "sister from another mother".

Kate turns 12, I can't believe it!

Our Crazy Kate

She is getting so tall. I always thought she would be short but she is taller than lots of her friends now. They all call her crazy Kate because, well, she's crazy! Many of her friends who come over to our house say "I didn't think Kate could be any crazier than she is at school but then I saw her at home and well, she's crazier!!" These are stories I heard yesterday as I was chaperoning the field trip to Vasa Park. It was so nice to see how she has picked such good friends and they all love her. She loves to make people laugh and she loves to act and sing and dance. She belongs on the stage. I am loving watching her grow into a sweet young woman.

Justin and BJ went snow caving up near Mt. Rainier with the Young Men in February. I know, I am way far behind but I'm trying to play catch up. Anyway, the Young Men were going and BJ is always ready to volunteer if they need an extra leader. This was before he was called as the Young Men's president. The boys each had a roommate that they shared their cave with. They had to dig their own cave before it got dark. It was hard work but they all did it and they were all such hard workers. The leaders dug a huge cave, nicknamed "The Castle" where everyone had their own little nitch but you could actually stand all the way up in it. I think the boys were actually warmer that night because the smaller ones stay warmer. They had a blast and Justin is looking forward to their annual trip to go snow caving again.
This boy is in his element when he is doing something that the ordinary person would not or could not do.



Here is the entrance to Justin's cave.
He could barely sit up inside but he says he was warm all night.

Here's a little insite into our little Eric. He has just a tad bit of OCD. When he sets the table he takes such care to always do it with flare. He really takes pride in his chore. I always think it is so cute. I just had to take a picture of it.