Grandpa Bert's Scooter

A couple of weeks ago for Family Home Evening, we went to my grandpa's house to visit. He provided dinner, which was so nice! My girls had lots of fun over there and loved raiding his candy shelf. OK--I did, too! I loved his peanut brittle he got from Disneyland. One highlight of the night, though, was getting to take a ride on his scooter. Forget Disneyland, just hop on his scooter!

Ruby's 2nd Birthday

Ruby turned two at the end of September. The day before her birthday, we went to Build-A-Bear with my parents for the traditional building of her first bear. She wasn't too terribly into it until it was time to choose an outfit. In fact, when the lady started stuffing the bear, the sound scared her. She jumped and said, "Scare me," and she started crying a little bit. Her new bear's name is Sally. Then we went to the Disney store where she helped pick out her gifts from my parents. She had fun in there for sure.




On her actual birthday, she opened presents--her favorite being her new Magna-Doodle thing. She is getting to be such a big girl.





I had to include this picture from her 1st birthday. This year's isn't as good, but look how much she has changed!

At two year's old, Ruby is still such a fun, sweet girl. She loves:
--getting kisses before going to bed
--going outside
--reading books, especially with Brian
--being with the "big girls"
--meeting Grandma and Grandpa (although right now she calls both "Grandma") at Target for lunch
--"coloring"
--playing blocks
--running up to Brian and hugging him when he gets home from work
--milk
--going to nursery
--saying "Mommy (or Daddy) home, yay!"

We love our Ruby!!

Mormon.org

Starting this month, there is a new media campaign in Phoenix for mormon.org. It's to dispel myths that people have about us, teach them about our belief in Jesus Christ and to let them know where they can go to visit a church service or to learn more.

There will be 30 second TV commercials on the major networks (I've seen two already today on channel 3) and billboards around the valley.

To learn more, you can go to Mormon.org. We love to watch the "I am Mormon" videos that are on the website. Eliza, Libby and Ellie LOVE to watch them and practically have each person's name down along with their story. Some of our favorites are...

What Else?

Eliza LOVES taking pictures, so she'll take my camera (as I hold my breath) and snap away. I love to see what she captures. She's also documenting what else we have been up to...


Definitely happened while I wasn't in the room. :)

Eliza loves to get everyone dressed up and hair done, then take their picture.


At least once a day, Ruby will look out the window and say, "Grampa coming, yay!" She would love for him to come every day!



Playdates!



This was documented by me...I got a "parking" ticket a few weeks ago at my girls' school. Went to court because it was so silly. Court sure was interesting. I felt a little out of place. When the judge called me up, I didn't have to say anything. He just said he'd make the fine zero unless I wanted a hearing. Um, no thanks. So I felt glad it was so simple!

Hattie's First Day of Preschool

(hair courtesy of Eliza)

I didn't realize just how far behind I am on this! Hattie had her first day of preschool earlier this month. She is loving it. Today we had her first field trip. We went to the Great Arizona Puppet Theater and saw a little show--"Baby Bear Goes to School."

Libby's Baptism

Last Saturday (the 3rd) was another special day for us as it was Libby's baptism. She was very excited and quietly giddy about her special day. She looked beautiful in her white dress and in her baptism outfit. She wore the baptism outfit that my mom made and that I wore when I was baptized. It has also been worn by many of my cousins, nieces and Eliza. Libby's baptism was part of stake baptisms and there were two other kids that day being baptized. Everyone met together for the beginning part, then we separated by ward for the baptism and confirmation part. Brian baptized her and then I helped her get ready. My mom was in there, too, to take the wet clothes while I helped Libby get dressed. While in there, she gave Libby her "daughter of a king" bracelet. In there my mom said to her, "The key now that you are all clean is to make sure you don't do anything wrong!" Matter of factly, Libby replied, "That is why we have the sacrament." It was cute. While we were in there getting ready, one of our favorite babysitters--Kaitlyn--played some of Libby's favorite songs on the piano while everyone wrote a note to Libby that we put in a little album.

After she was ready, we went into the Primary room for the rest of the program. My dad gave a great talk about the Holy Ghost and at the end gave Libby a cute little blanket to remind her of the Comforter. The last part was her confirmation and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was a really special day and we were so pleased with Libby being baptized.

After everything was over, we went to our house and had some family over for some food and desserts. What a great day!

Conversation

I really enjoyed listening to the Conversation with Virginia Hinckley Pearce. I didn't know she had 5 girls and one boy. I loved the part where she talked about that--it sounded VERY familiar!

Weaknesses

I have a few lately:

Candles
LOVING my two newest ones from Bath and Body: Cinnamon Sugared Donut and Apple Crumble. YUM!!! The cinnamon sugared one smells quite similar to my favorite one that Gold Canyon discontinued a while ago (Strudel and Spice). If I want to get a lot done around the house, I just light one of these and get to work!

Hot Cocoa--I know, so weird with it still being so hot.

Puppy Chow/Muddy Buddies.

:)

Actual Birthday

Sunday was Libby's actual birthday, but this one is spreading out from last Friday to this Saturday with her baptism! But on her actual birthday, she had pop tarts for breakfast, then opened her gifts. She got a dress she had been eyeing at Target, some peace sign note cards (which she used that day to write all of her thank you notes without be nagged at all!), three books (has already finished one), a picture for her room, and she also got a nice set of scriptures.


A while back my parents bought Libby a scripture case for one of her gifts. So that morning, Libby called my mom and asked when they were going to bring it over. She convinced my mom to drive out while my dad was at a meeting so she could have it in time for church. Libby was certainly pleased!



At church, I got to substitute her class, which she thought was kind of fun on her birthday. Her teacher had made brownies for me to take and share, so she was able to celebrate there a little, too. For dinner she choose garlic chicken pasta and ice cream for dessert.

(I think we have a little bit of an ice cream problem.)

Her birthday celebration continued on into Monday when I took treats into her classroom.

On her birthday, I gave her a list of eight things we love about her. Here is what we said:
1. Your sense of humor
2. Your desire to be obedient
3. That you keep your room clean and love to clean other places in the house
4. Your laugh
5. Your smile
6. Your unselfishness
7. That you love to learn and love school
8. That you are getting baptized.

This has been a really great year for Libby and she has grown a lot. She is fun to be around and has a tender heart and genuinely cares for others.

Libby's 8!!

Yesterday was Libby's 8th birthday. The celebrations started Friday though with her much anticipated friend party. She had lots of friends and a couple of her cousins come. It was a fun, loud time!


Libby wanted a peace sign cake, so we borrowed an idea for a favorite blog. It turned out really cute.


When the guests arrived, they colored a peace sign.



Then we had pizza and soda. From there it was game time and that is when the decibel level reached concert loudness and didn't lower until everyone was gone.

We played some "minute-to-win-it" games.





We played pin the peace sign on Libby.


And we played a very loud round of the candy bar game.



Then if that weren't enough fun, we did a scavenger hunt where they collected items at each place to fill their goodie bag. At the last spot, they were led to the kitchen to start craft time!

We decorated composition books.


And we made button rings.



Then it was present time followed by eating of the peace cake.


I think Libby had a fun, memorable party!!

Leave No Trace

This week I am really being hard on my girls to get them into the right school routine. I figure hopefully after a rigid, regimented week, they'll be more in the habit. In the past I have printed up daily charts for each of them that they needed to do. It worked, but I wanted something a little different. So I am trying a weekly chart that is divided into three parts per day: morning, afternoon & night. So in the morning, they have certain things they have to do in order to get a sticker or star on their chart. Same for the afternoon and night time. They have the chance to earn three "stickers" per day. After so many stickers, they earn something small. This week if they earn 10 stickers (we started late), they get a candy bar of their choice. In the future I might up the anti and if they get it all filled in, they can buy hot lunch or get a Lunchable or something in their lunch.

Another big thing we are stressing is something Brian instituted one time. He told the girls about the "Leave No Trace" policy when he goes camping. He applied it to our home. When we go into the bathroom, we shouldn't know that Eliza, for example, just got a shower because the towel is on the floor or her dirty clothes are strewn about. Or we shouldn't be able to tell that Ellie did her hair in my bathroom because the drawers are left open with hair stuff hanging out of it. I think they are catching on, but it is taking a lot of reminding. But our house is cleaner and I have less to pick up after they are gone, especially in the morning after they leave for school.