Jon turns 7! (and loses a tooth)

We started the day (the 15th) with Dad's famous pancakes- there were only three candles because they were in a stack of 4 pancakes and 3+4=7.

 Jon like most children was not overly excited by the clothes but has worn them and likes the feel of the new socks.

 We gave him a set of scriptures with our testimony and a note to him in the front. He was so happy to show them off at church today.

 The picture below shows his excitement over the legos-super happy!  He also got a really fun science set and some books that he was really excited about.

 For lunch we had a 3 types of shrimp and then pazookies for his birthday treat/cake. 

 Before Jon was born we ate at Macaroni Grill and so we headed there for an early dinner.

While we were eating Jon lost a tooth! He was shocked at first but thrilled.

 Peter's parents were in town due to Great Grandmother's funeral and we were happy to have them stay with us for a few days. 

 We ate some really good food and had a great time writing on the paper tablecloth.

We love our Jonny! He is a great big brother. He is becoming a really good little reader. He loves to play games-board, card, wii, computer, and on the ipod touch. He also loves to collect bugs, spiders, lizards, snakes, frogs, etc. most of which he finds while digging and playing in the backyard. We are thankful for the many things Jon teaches us and for his love for life. We look forward to the next year and preparing you for baptism. Happy 7th birthday Jon!

Hand Bells

Our friends (and home teacher) the Bjarnason's came over on Monday night with a special family home evening activity. It was so much fun! I am considering getting my own set.

We started with Joey accompanying Stars were Gleaming and then Arabella shared the story Jesus Died for Me that we made last week in preschool for the letter J.

 Then we played the bells!

We played several songs and improved with each one. 

The kids had a hard time remembering not to touch the bell part of the bells but otherwise did a great job!

 We finally got the little gold bell Jon is holding up for Lily to play with and she went crazy with it.

 They also brought a plateful of yummy treats which Lily grabbed by the handful. She looks like she is in a chocolate coma.

Then she realized there was still a piece stuck to her fingers - must eat all chocolate!

Enjoy our little song! I was trying to watch the music and help Arabella so it is not visually appealing.

Trimming the Tree 2012

We bought our tree on Monday and did not have a chance to decorate until Saturday night. 

A little ornament silliness and kissing which Jon will say every time he sees us kiss: "Oh man, that is so romantic."

 Peter said it was my turn to put on the star and so here we are adding the finishing touch!

Beautiful! I love Christmas lights in a tree- colored, white, twinkling, flashing- there is something peaceful and almost spiritual. It makes me think of the Savior and family and love all at the same time. 

I hope you all enjoy your trees this year and the Christmas spirit even more!

Gaylord Field Trip

We had a field trip with Arabella's preschool friends and a few other friends.

We took the kids to the Gaylord Hotel to see the Christmas lights and decorations.

Our timing was not great as we arrived at checkout time and so there were a lot of people with luggage but it was still really festive.

 Lily will not look at the camera.

 Santa's giant Texas sized boots.

 She loved the golden nutcracker.

 She saw this giant present and said, "Look it is Santa's present." Yes, I do believe Santa deserves the biggest gift if he is going to spend 24 hours delivering presents to all of the children around the world. 

 These are two of the trees we saw there. I love the one on the left. It was made of these giant metallic ornaments. And the one on the right is so patriotic and Texan. It really was lovely.

 These two pictures show what I called the train wreck tree. First, I must say that there were 4 different train tracks running around this little scene. I get why they put the various train cars and engines in the tree but in my mind it just looked like one of the trains jumped the track and landed in the tree. 

 Giant gingerbread house. It is lifesize and made with unreal amounts of sugar, flour, and frosting. I can not remember the exact numbers but I am sure your imagination can give you a good idea.

 I loved the canoe filled with Christmas balls.

 Real Texas garland- bullet lights and boots.

  Photo op with the longhorn- the girls were thrilled as you can see. 

A photo of the whole gang before we left. It was a great way to do something new and feel a bit of Christmas spirit.

My Little Missionary

Last night Joey had a black belt induction ceremony. 

It was a really neat ceremony with a lot of bowing, candles, recognition, gifts and tea.

That is where my proudest moment came.

 Before it started, since it was to be completely quiet during the ceremony, they gave insructions.

One was that at a certain point they would each be given a small cup of tea and then they would all drink together. I had seen a teapot and wondered if it was part of it and then when I heard the instructions I thought I will need to go and ask if Joey can have something else.

But, I did not need to worry because Joey was raising his had before the instructor was finishing his instructions.  They called on him and he said something like this (I could not hear it perfectly): I don't drink tea. (A look or puzzlement from the teachers.)  See, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Jesus has told us not to drink coffee or tea. (A more puzzled look from the instructors at Joey and then at me and at each other.) When I was looked at I affirmed what Joey had told them. 

They then looked at each other and one said Well, you can just pretend to drink it.  Then the head instructor said they would just prefill one a cup with water for him.

Joey is regularly a good boy and I have plenty of reasons to be proud of him but I don't know that I have ever felt more proud of him and his choices! 

 My next proud mom moment came when it was time for Joey to present his gift to his instructor (that is him walking up to do it).They were supposed to explain what their gift was and why they were giving it to their instructor, what it symbolized about their journey to becoming a black belt. 

Joey had written a note to his instructor telling him why he had chosen his gift.  That is what I expected to hear from Joey but that is not what he did.

He stood in front of everyone and explained about that he was giving cookie cutters to Mr. Coleman.  He then started to talk about the things you can do with cookie cutters and that they are fun.  I have to admit I was a bit panicked because he seemed to be rambling a bit but then he brought it all together.

He said they were ninja shaped cookie cutters (which they were in 3 different poses) and that they represented how Mr. Coleman had helped him to make his stances better so he could get his black belt.

It was amazing- and even more so when I think that just last summer he was in speech therapy learning about social skills and social speaking behaviors. 

They finished the ceremony by signing a scroll and drinking their tea and sounding a gong.

I finished the night with a heart so full. 

As we learned that Joey had Asperger's, I remembering thinking about what my greatest dreams and desires for his life were. I wanted him to: be happy, be a missionary, have a family of his own, and be able to function in this world successfully.

My heart is filled with hope and assurance after watching him and hearing him last night. He is happy, he has a testimony and desire to follow the teachings of Jesus, and he will be successful!

Joey I am so proud of you and all that you do and desire to do!

Weekend

Thursday night actually, we had Peter's company Christmas party.

It was at Babe's- delicious!

It is a family affair and the kids love going!

 Joey polished off an adult plate without a problem.

 They were actually all very happy-Peter just likes to make faces when I take pictures of him. 

 See, there is a smile. The kids all get gifts at this party and they were so happy to see what they got this year. Joey and Jon each got Legos and had fun this weekend putting them together. Arabella received a 4 pack of Disney princess shoes. Lily was so happy and has played a TON with her new stroller and doll car seat. She has filled it with all sorts of thins and has pushed it everywhere.

Saturday became a day of service: I volunteered for Bountiful Baskets; Peter helped with a move for 2 hours and was rewarded with an upright freezer that would not fit in the moving truck; we tried to surprise our home teacher and clean the church before he was supposed to meet us to help-we rant out of time by about 30 minutes-the kids had a great time.
That night we went to the Community Nativity in Carrollton. I wish I had taken the camera- it was so amazing! There are probably close to 300 different nativities on display from all over the world and made from all sorts of things and with many different themes. We went with our friends the Smith's who are newer to the area. They loved it too. We then went to Braum's for ice cream.  The peppermint chocolate chip was slightly better than the gingerbread ice cream- yes I enjoyed every bite of my 2 scoops.

 

Sunday morning the girls got a bath and Arabella was granted her wish of a bubble bath. The water was only about 1/3 of the way up and the bubbles as you can see filled the rest of the tub. Peter will put his hands in the water and swish them back and forth to make more bubbles.  The girls were in heaven!

And finally, it was almost like a Christmas miracle- I was able to get Lily's hair in a small pony tail and add a bow! It started with the little clip on the side of her head which after I swapped it for the bow she cried until I clipped it back in.  She looked like Cindy Lou Who a little bit and more than one person at church commented on it. 

We enjoyed a Sunday evening dinner with our friends the Websters who moved to a new house in the ward this weekend.

It was a full weekend and we are thankful for it!

P.S. Some of you may wonder why a family would want 2 deep freezers. Well, if you live in Texas it may happen that your freezer does not want to stay cold enough to freeze ice for the shaved ice machine you own and keep the other food frozen.  Now we will be able to have all of the ice we want and frozen food!

Hole Progress

The kids have spent a lot of time outside playing.

The weather has been beautiful.

So nice, I almost felt bad pulling out the last of our garden but I had the time and frost is on its way sooner than later.

 Lily loves the trampoline!!

 The hole that the kids have been digging in the garden has grown. You can see Jon's head sticking out of it.

He is sitting in it.

 Joey is the most serious digger. He usually uses Peter's big shovels. Today the different trucks were different Pokemon's of his own creation. I love imaginations!

 A better picture of Jon in the hole. 

And a final picture of Lily with dirt and boogers on her face- a happy child. She also loved talking to the gecko we found in the little blue bucket.  She packed the bucket around to each of us over and over tapping us and then pointing to the gecko, jabbering on and on!