Favorite Phone Photos from November

Life lately, according to my phone:

Lulu, you got this note in the mailbox from your BF

First time in the new Cabellas

I love it when you wake up happy Baby, especially since it doesn't happen every day

Lulu finished swimming lessons

Mr T's date with Dad to Arctic Circle. Thanks for bringing home a taste for everyone!

You love Sundays and nursery!

Finding gratitude for God's creations on a walk one Sunday

Thank you dinner for Gramma and Grandpa included ribs and this yummy peanut butter ice cream pie

Checking out the trail for pictures spots

You two cuties loved posing

We decided the place was great for pictures and came back that evening.

Then we went back again a few days later with our friends and walked down to the graffiti tunnel

Lulu, you wrote your blessings all over this pumpkin for Activity Day

Hammer, you finally lost your first tooth!

Hammer and I had a cookie dough blizzard for a date!

Baby, you thought it was funny when you were washing your hands and the soap got your head instead of your hands

Jack comes over to play almost every day. We decided to paint this day

Dad's deep fried turkey!

Meeting your baby cousin!

He is so tiny and cute

After Thanksgiving dinner, the kids always set up Grammie's kid-tree downstairs

We opened Christmas jammies from Gramma on Thanksgiving night and read the new Christmas book

We set up our Christmas tree too!

Lulu, at school you made Indian drawings on cloth-like paper and wrote out the meanings.

We had fallen behind on dates so we caught up this month.  Lulu and Dad got a blizzard too!

The end.
Love you all,
Mom

Aquarium Day 2016

Dear Baby,

Once a year the aquarium down by Gramma's house has a discounted day. We met up with Gramma and also with Great Grandma and Grandpa. Gramma got there a few minutes early and got our tickets so we didn't have to stand in the mega long line. That was awesome.
It wasn't too crowded when we went in. We had such a great time:

 

After the fun we went to Chick Fil A with Gramma.  She drove over first and got in line to order our food. She called me on the phone to ask what to order and when I hung up you said "Who was that?" I said "Gramma. She's getting us food at Chick Fil A." "Did she get me nuggets?" "Yes." "And fries?" "Yep." "Ketchup?" "Yes." I was half expecting you to say "Bring it on," like one of my favorite lines from the Disney movie Emperor's New Groove. You loved the lunch and playing on the toys. You didn't get to play too long since we had to get home and take TJ home from his play date with his friend.
That night when you said your prayers I had you say thank you that you got to go to the aquarium. TJ and Hammer overheard and said out loud, mid-prayer, "What?? He went there?!" You turned and answered matter-of-factly "Yes, I did," and then continued on with your prayer. You are a lucky kid Baby.  And you know it.
Love you lots,
Mom

A trip to the zoo

Hi kids,

A few weeks ago we met Gramma and Grandpa at the zoo. It was a Saturday morning and I was worried it would be cold, so I dressed you in coats. It was chilly at first but by lunch time it was beautiful warm weather.
Here are some pictures from our fun at the zoo:

Always a classic:

 We spent a while at the gorillas. This guy was just sitting there eating his food and paying us no heed:

 The merry-go-round!:

 This lizard was crazy! I have never seen an animal so active at the zoo. He kept standing up on his hind legs, clawing at the glass right in front of your faces:

 See the rhino behind you cute guys?:

 You guys always want pictures on all of the statues:

After the zoo Gramma and Grandpa took us to Cafe Rio, and then back to their house to play while Dad and Grandpa hung up Christmas lights.
It was a lovely Saturday.

Love,
Mom

A Hero

Dear TJ,

A few weeks ago your Show and Tell was actually just a Tell.  You had to tell your class who your hero is, and you chose me. I tried to explain to you that a hero is someone who has overcome something great or been an example to you in some way. I didn't feel that what I do for you every day makes me a hero, but you kept saying that I was your hero because I check on you every night. I keep you safe.
When you said that for the third time, suddenly I understood! The world can be a big, scary, uncertain place, but you always feel safe and comfortable and loved when you are with me. You have total faith that our home is a safe place. You can fully enjoy your childhood.
You know what Buddy? I do make it one of my top priorities to keep you safe. I never let you cross a busy road alone, or play out front without supervision, or eat more candy than I know that you should. I make sure you are buckled whenever we drive somewhere, and that you get your immunizations, and that you stay by me at the store. I do check on you every night to be sure that you are covered and that your head is on your pillow, not under it.
All of these things are not unusual. I believe all moms should do them for their children, but being a hero doesn't mean you are different from anyone else. It means that you make a difference to someone, and what I do to keep you safe is everything to you.
After my quick epiphany I concurred that you had chosen a good hero and we wrote out what you would say at Show and Tell. You added as another reason I'm your hero is that I keep plan fun things that make you happy. I do love to plan outings big and small for you guys. I love seeing you explore and learn and love this beautiful world. There is so much out there to see and experience and sharing it with you makes both of us happy! As I finished writing up the little assignment I thought to myself, "I would choose someone who made me feel safe and happy as my hero too."
We placed the paper on the mantle so that we wouldn't forget it in 3 days. When Friday came guess what happened? We forgot to put the paper in your bag and you were not allowed to share who your hero is! You were disappointed and I'm sorry for that. I'm very glad that we still took the time to fill out your paper though because what I learned that night made me appreciate being a mother even more.
Sadly not every mom out there is a hero and it breaks my heart each time I read one of those stories in the news.  That is not the way Heavenly Father intended it to be. He wants each Mom to be a hero to her kids.  He trusted his beloved spirits to come to earth as vulnerable babies and children because he knew a mother's love would keep them safe as they grew. Each mother's individual love means everything to her child. What an amazing privilege it is for me to be a hero to 4 little people. I believe it's the most important thing I will do in this life. Thanks for helping me see this TJ.
I sure love you,
Mom

Phone Favorites - October 2016

Last soccer game, the storm held off just long enough

Date hike with Dad

Children's Museum with friends!

Balloon from Smith's attached to the bat ear

Enjoying Lagoon

Date with Mom for Mango Italian Ice

My favorite picture from Fall Break. Baby at the FHDC

I love when TJ draws pics. It says "Boo. I am scere (scary) Mostr (monster) Ror Boo!!"

I couldn't believe it when Baby willingly ate broccoli!

Watching the garbage man

I had a date with Gramma to see Thriller, a dance show. Loved it!

We found a rainbow collection of leaves from our front yard

Baby's first date!! McD icecream.

Sorting and bartering after Dad's work's trick or treating

Last day at Lagoon and the boys met the witches

You guys had Halloween off from school! We went to the park for a little bit to enjoy the weather.

And that's all folks!