The Moon

EZ has been studying the moon in science class. We have been keeping a record of what the moon looks like (at least on the days/nights that we can see it). I always have to look up in his notes or ask the older boys which way is waxing and which is waning. I told them yesterday that I just needed a song or something that would help me to remember. So Star and Blue Tiger came up with one for me.
(It's to the tune of Jingle Bells.)
Waxing's on the right, waning's on the left,
These are phases of the moon you'd better not forget.
Oh moon phases, moon phases,
they are really great.
Oh what fun it is to learn how the sun affects us....
(or something like that.)
The funny part is...it really did help. I can remember now that waxing is on the right and waning is on the left. Too funny.

Book of Mormon Trip

My hubby and three older boys have been gone for just over two weeks. Trust me, it has felt like a lot longer! They will get home late tonight.
We told our boys that when they finish a book of scripture we will take them to the part of the world where that book was written. Within the last year Star, Spike, and Blue Tiger have all finished the Book of Mormon. So, that is where they have been. Mostly in Guatemala and Mexico. There are more areas to see, but we decided to go with a tour and this seemed like the most comprehensive. Dad told me that he has been super pleased with the tour and has been really grateful that we chose the one we did.
The boys have had a great time.
The little boys have missed their big brothers and Dad terribly. But we've had some fun while they've been gone. I understand they have a few thousand pictures. I am sure Spike took the most. We will sort them out and be posting more. And I am going to have the boys update their blogs with thoughts about their trips. So, check in for further details later.

Scout Camp

Last week Star went to scout camp. Boy did he have fun. I still haven't heard too much about it since he got home about midnight on Friday night and left Saturday morning about 4:00. But Dad was able to spend one day at camp with him and took a few photos for me. YEA Dad!
I understand archery is really hard, but Star liked it anyway.
He loved the swimming part of things. (Of course he did, he is half fish. It's in the genes.)

He got two swimming merit badges. One was the mile swim. This was taken seconds after he finished it. The thing about this one is he didn't know he was supposed to work up to it. So he did a mile on Thursday and a mile on Friday. Whew!
So glad you had fun. My sweet Star!

Star makes me happy

It's true it's true. Star makes me happy. This kid is swiftly turning into a teenager. It is something I have feared for years. But the wonderful part of it is the way he is doing it.
Example:
The other day as he left the house I told him to comb his hair. I don't like the way he has been combing his hair lately and have been very vocal about my opinion. Still he combed it the way he wanted it. So, while he was giving me a hug goodbye (yes, he still does that, oh what a great kid) as I had him in my grasp, I pushed his hair the way that I liked it. He then headed out the door only to go straight to the front window and push his hair back to the way he had it combed in the first place. All with this mischievous look on his face.
Another Example:
The other day was a court of honor and he received his Tenderfoot (YEA STAR) Since Dad was supposed to go up with him (Mom stayed home with the little boys) he went over to where Dad was seated and grabbed him by his shirt collar and dragged him up that way. Just having fun with it.
I love my Star and the fact that he is starting to show a little bit of attitude, but still with his fun personality.

Star goes to camp.

Okay, so early this morning I went and took Star to his first overnight school camp. WAIT!!!!
Is it possible for him to really be old enough to be doing that? I was comforted because he said our family prayer this morning and asked for us to get by without him for the next few days. Dad kind of chuckled afterward, but just before he said it in the prayer I was wondering what I would do with him gone. I depend on him a lot.
He told me as we drove that he was a little nervous. He was definitely excited, but also a little apprehensive. I reminded him that he has spent time away before. Like the summer he spent with my parents, camp-outs with Dad, or overnights with friends. But this is a little different because it's with peers. Always the hardest ones....
I'll miss him. But I hope he is too busy having fun to miss me.

Fun with Nana

My Mom came for Star's birthday. I love watching my children love my parents. I am so glad for this very special relationship and love to watch as it develops and grows as my son does. They got to spend his birthday evening together. They had a date where they went to dinner and to Star's favorite movie right now 'The Lightning Thief'. They had a great time and continue to have a great time while she is here.
Yesterday Spike told her how much he loves to have her here and how much he likes to go to her house. This is very unusual for Spike. He doesn't often express his feelings so when he does you know it's for real. I was so glad to hear him tell Nana in his own words how much he loves her.
My husband loves having her here, and asks her all of the time when she is going to move in.
All of my children love Nana. I have often said that she is better than Disneyland. She plays and tickles and laughs and has fun. And not only that she lets them help her with cooking and cleaning and everything else she does. (Unlike Mom who gets a little too frustrated with too much help.)
I love having her around so much. She is service embodied. Always doing for someone else. This has been the case her entire life. I told her she gets to have a break while she is here at my house. She told me this IS a break. Oh she is so funny. I have enjoyed our time together so much. My Sister and I have tugs of war with her future all of the time, both wanting her and Papa to sell their home and come live with us. (I hope I win. of course...so does my sister.)

Star

For your Birthday, I wanted you to know 12 things that I love about you.#1- Your name. I know that Dad gave it to you but it means "God's Messenger" and you have always lived up to that. You share the gospel with everything you do. You are very conscious of what is right and wrong and you continually try to do what is right.#2- Your smile. I love your smile, your endless desire to make others happy, and your good attitude. I will never tire of seeing you happy.#3- Your attitude toward responsibility. I know you don't love being the oldest, but you have always stepped up to the role of big brother. You are, and have always been, a great example to your little brothers.#4- The way you love little children. You have so much love for and patience with little ones. You talk to them so sweetly and are so gentle with them. You will be a great Father.#5- Your brain. You are one of the smartest people I know. You retain information so unbelievably well. You have done this from very early childhood, and because of it you have knowledge and soon will have great wisdom.#6- The way you dance. If you live your life the way you dance I think you will always be happy. You dance with your whole heart, not caring what anybody thinks. You just dance the way you want. I love it. (And it also looks very cool.)#7- HUGS! I love that every morning as you leave and every afternoon when you get home you give me a hug. I'll try not to embarrass you ever and make you give me hugs in public. But I love that you are willing to hug me, even as grown up as you are. #8- Your obedience. Even as a little tiny boy as soon as we told you something you would remember it and obey. If you were sent to timeout you would stay there until we said you could come out, even if you were in desperate need of a potty break or something. Absolute obedience is one of your gifts. It is one I pray you will always keep, especially with regards to the commandments.#9- You allow me into your world. You tell me stories from your imagination, and share hopes and dreams, allow me to discuss your favorite books, and movies. I so love being a part of your world and hope you will continue to let me be there.#10- The friends you choose. You are so selective about who you choose to spend time around. I love that you choose friends with similar morals and values. This trait will do much for you in your life. I am so grateful that you choose good friends.#11- Your ability to go with the flow. Your life has seen many changes, some little but a lot of big. You take life one day at a time and if changes come you just go with it. Spontaneous and fun, or planned and hard you go with the flow and just deal with life as it comes. #12- The way you love me. From before your birth you loved me. You loved me so much that the doctor had to cut me open and pull you out because you just didn't want to leave me. You show me love all of the time with hugs, smiles, obedience, and communication. Thank you for loving me.I know it is your birthday and you are supposed to be the one to get a gift, but you my son, are a gift to me. Given to me by your Father and by our Heavenly Father. I thank him daily for sending you to me. Happy Birthday, 12 years.

Break a Leg

Today is the day. OPENING....well not night, it's only a matinee today so....OPENING DAY! Star is so excited and nervous. He is in the chorus for his school's production of "No Strings Attached" and has been working toward this for months. It has been fun for him and he has made a really good friend too. Spike gets to go see it with his classmates today and I get to go and help and see it with him. (HE is just excited because he gets to go on a field trip.) I don't think he has put it together that we are going to see Star's play, but he will like it once he is there I am sure. Break a leg Star!

A bonus of being snowed in...

A day before the storm we got a package in the mail. PERFECT timing! Star wants to go and see the movie 'The Lightning Thief" so I bought him the whole series and told him I would take him after he had read the first book. So, one of the things that he and I have been doing during this last few days is sharing the book. We make sure not to lose each others book marks and we have enjoyed reading it together and discussing the story as we go.
I just finished it. (A few chapters before him, I just can't help it that I can't tear myself away while I am reading. He's lucky I gave it up to him as often as I did.)
I love it. 2008 my favorite series was Twilight. 2009 was Harry Potter, I can tell you already that 2010 is going to be Percy Jackson. I can hardly wait to start the next book.
My problem with series books is that I have to read them once the whole series is out. I don't do well with the patience part of book reading. It's like turning off a movie after 10 minutes and then watching 10 more minutes a week later...etc, etc, etc. I just can't do it. So, I am so glad when I find a series that is all written and that I love. My favorites are usually written for kids. I have read a few adult series and they just don't appeal to me as much. Maybe it's proof that I am really a kid at heart.
I have my favorite books, they are different by far than the series, most of them are written for a more mature audience. Only 'The Host' which was written by Stephanie Meyer is similar to any of the series that I like. And the only similarity is the fact that she wrote both it and the Twilight series. They are nothing alike.
So, for the extra reading time, I have been happy to be snowed in a for a while.
I must say I am EXTREMELY grateful for the fact that we have had electricity. I know many people close to us don't have any. We are warm, have food, and books. Life is good.

Snow!

A couple of days ago we got some snow. It was good packing snow so when we finished shoveling ourselves out I made a snowman. It was melted by that afternoon, and so was the rest of the snow. But then we had more today. MUCH MORE!When I went out this afternoon to just dig a hole from my house to the car, I noticed a snow plow stuck in the snow up the street. It's that green truck.Several hours later when I finished the tunnel from our van to the street the snow plow hadn't made it too far. There he is the light on the left of the pic is him. They had several guys trying to dig around it and he only made it maybe seven feet. OUCH! I think we are going to be here for a while.This is the view from my driveway. I kind of felt like Moses parting the Red Sea. We only shoveled until we hit the street.My Star in his "heroic pose".Oh no, I think he is going to jump.At least the landing was soft.And he looks way happy!YEA! Success is MINE! (Snow is just fun!)The tunnel we made from our door to the van.This one was tonight after the snow finally stopped and our last time shoveling the tunnel.
As I write this I can't help but mention, my biggest helper out there today was EZ, and currently he is totally asleep on the couch. How anyone can sleep through the noise of my boys is beyond me. But there he is....fast asleep!

Another room down! Whahoo!

Being that today was a break from school I took advantage of the fact that I had my boys home and started off first thing this morning with Star and Blue Tiger. ORGANIZING! We cleaned their room thoroughly and vacuumed and everything. And just when they thought they were done I told them that was just the PRE-cleaning.
We took everything out of drawers and closets. Cleaned out under beds and dressers, and on top of shelves and dressers. Totally organized games, books, nick knacks and then vacuumed again. Star told me that his room totally feels empty. Well it should! We took a whole bag of junk to the garbage and two bags of clothes, shoes, and stuff to give away out of there. We were finished in the early afternoon so they could go and spend some time outside in the (desperately needed) beautiful day we had today. YEA!