Climbing Carter

Carter turned one - and suddenly decided he is big enough to climb up the latter on the playset all by himself! We were working outside last week - and I caught him halfway up the latter. It scared me to death! But soon he was doing it like it was nothin!

First Order of Business

For the past several months I have insisted that our first order of business after Allison wakes up in the morning is to make the bed. I arrange the covers and Allison tucks in the sheets and fluffs the pillow and places it nicely on the bed. This has been going wonderfully - and she always reminds me of 'our first order of business'. (and, on a side note, if I forget to make my bed she always lets me know that my bed 'is a mess'.) But lately something curious has happened. Allison doesn't like to sleep under the covers. She refuses to pull down the bed and get in the sheets - she would rather lay on top of her beautiful bedspread with her 'flower pillow' that Grandma Jensen made. At first I just thought she was too hot or something and let it go - but she still won't get in the covers . . . so it was a few days ago that I put two and two together. I think she doesn't like having a messy bed - and would rather sleep on top then have it messy! Oh goodness -what have I done?

What a fun day! Anthony is outside sanding some wood - he's building a little rock wall on the side of our playset - and he has the kids - so I have a minute on the computer . . . anyway - I had a group piano lesson today - we call it a piano party. Last Friday was the recital - and it went pretty good. The kids all did great. And this week instead of lessons I had them all come to my house for an hour and a half of music games and group activities. It was fun. I saw this idea on a website to do 'puddles and sticks'. I made these big puddles and sticks out of cardboard and then built a staff out of these 'puddles and sticks' - the lines being the sticks and the spaces being the puddles. I then had the kids hop from puddles to sticks as I called out 'up a 2nd', 'down a 3rd' etc. At the same time I had a 'thinker' sitting in a chair across the room where they couldn't see - and they were moving a little star wars monopoly chewbaca guy up and down a little paper piano - and then would call out the ending note. They loved it! Then we had 'The Amazing Race'. I broke them into two teams and sent them on a treasure hunt. One clue sent them into the kitchen to 'cook up a melody' using magnets, a paper staff, and interval instructions. Another clue sent them outside to fine a 'hidden rhythm' and then they had to see how many times they could find that rhythm in a bunch of pieces I posted around the yard. Another clue had a memory match game, and a 'clapping duet' - where the kids had to clap different lines of music at the same time. They liked that . . . except that I had Anthony with one group and I was with the other - and I think I helped my kids a little more than Anthony did . . . I had most of the younger kids - and they won. Anyway - at the end we had our 'Munchin' with the Masters' segment. That is where where we all gather around the kitchen table and a 'surprise visitor' comes to call. Today it was Beethoven - and did I mention I have the most supportive husband! He comes down decked in a hat, jacket, scarf, glasses, - he even threw in a moustache - I'm not sure that is 100% historically accurate . . . anyway - but he did have the earpiece. He had the kids shouting their questions to him - because he was hard of hearing . . . it was fun. We enjoyed Beethoven Brownies while the kids interviewed him using questions I had prepared.

PedEgg

So a friend of mine noticed my beautiful cracking feet and told me about this wonderful product - the PedEgg. Supposedly it is one of those TV infomercial - call in and buy the product kind of things. . . but she told me I could find it at Walgreens for $10. I decided to give it a try - and I love it! It's wonderful! So I was using the PedEgg in the bathroom tonight - while Allison was in the tub taking a bath - and she asked, 'Mom, are you erasing your feet?' I told her I was giving myself a pedicure - but she was stuck on this idea that I was erasing my feet. She then proceeded to ask if she could erase her feet too. I wasn't sure how explain this too her - anyway - it was funny. What else did she say today that was confusing. Oh yes - I was doing dishes and she came up and told me that her tummy was squishy. I'm not sure what she meant by that. Anyway - so today was my 3rd week in nursery - I'm slowly learning the ropes . . . and it was wonderful! I switched and did the lesson/activity/snack/ and music time first . . . and then playtime at the end - and I think it worked really well. In previous weeks it had been hard to keep the kids 'with me' when giving the lesson at the end. I should note - that we have Sacrament meeting at the end of the block - so they leave nursery and go to sacrament meeting. And anyway - I just think it works well to have them play at the end of nursery. OK . . . so there was something else I was going to write about - oh yeah - I remember - I was playing postlude after sacrament meeting and this little boy - umm how old would he be - he must be 9-ish - anyway this cute little boy came up and gave me a big hug and told me - 'You're the best!' It was so sweet.

Tanner's Graduated!

Congratulations to Tanner who just graduated this last week! I am so proud of my little brother! He made it! And with flying colors. Dad just sent me a copy of his 2 graduation speeches. Yes 2! He had to give the welcome address as senior class pres. and he was saludictorian. OK - I have no idea how to spell that. Anyway - congrats Tan! We love you!

Carter's 1st Birthday Party

Carter was a little sleepy when we first gave him his cake. He took a lick of frosting, but didn't seem that interested. But then we tried again a little later - and he dove right in! It was so fun to have Mom and Carrie in town for the night. I told Allison earlier in the day that Mom and Carrie would be here after she wakes up from a nap (Mom's sneaky way of trying to get her to nap). She was so excited and said - Oh, no - I need to take a nap! She ran to her bed, pulled up her covers, closed her eyes - and then a few moments later I hear her call out - Mom, I'm awake! I had to explain that Mom and Carrie weren't quite there yet - but that maybe she should try again to go to sleep. She finally did take a nap and was happy and rested for the party that night! Yay!

We had such a delightful week! It all started Tuesday evening - about 8:30. I was upstairs . . . yes - in bed. I don't usually go to bed at 8:30 . . . but that night I was up in bed getting ready to dive into a book, I think Anthony was downstairs watching basketball - and suddenly we hear a knock at the door. That was a bit unusual. I let Anthony answer it - and the next thing I know - I hear Andrew, Anthony's brother's voice. Yes Andrew! I quickly went downstairs - and there he was - shorts, T-shirt and all. What a wonderful surprise! He was in town on a business trip - and surprised us! We had a delightful next few days - playing Settler's online with Anna (Andrew's wife) one night - and then Wackee 6 the next (thanks Holly for such a fabulous Christmas present). Anyway - it was such a great surprise.

On Saturday we had a 'camping theme' primary activity - and Anthony was asked to do a little orienteering course for the kids - and I sang some fun campfire songs. It was great.

Then on Saturday night Mom and Carrie came to visit! They were driving cross country and stopped here for the night. It was so fun to see them! We got to celebrate Carter's 1st birthday together and enjoy some fabulous chinese food.

We just appreciate family so much and were thrilled to be able to enjoy family this week. We don't get that treat very often - living so far away - but we sure treasure the times that we can spend together.