Frist day of school

Well I officially have a fifth grader, third grader and kindergartner. The girls had their first day of school on Tuesday and they are both just doing great. The adjustment was wonderful. They were both really looking forward to going back to school. We also started piano lessons again. Instead of me paying for lessons, I just pay them a dollar a week to practice and a dollar a month for a good attitude, so far it is working out great.

A few weeks ago Sarah said, "mom, I think I need a bra."
me: do you need a bra?
S: no
Me: do you want one because best friend has one?
S: no
Me: do you want one because you are going into fifth grade
S: (sheepishly) yes

Ack! I have a bra wearing little girl. Fortunately she still like to wear boy clothes and would rather die then think a boy was cute.

Becca absolutely adores her teacher. Becca is sweet as can be and really if I were a teacher I would love to have her in my class!

David starts next week. It will be interesting to just have Emma home, back to princesses, brushing hair and dolls.

pictures from trek

Here are a few pictures from trek, it was such a wonderful time!

Trek

This week I had the privilege of going on Trek with the youth of my ward. For those not familiar with LDS history, in the mid 1800s the early pioneers of the church were asked by the prophet to come west to the Rocky Mountains to escape religious persecutions. In 1856 late in the season two pioneer groups came through with the handcart companies. There were about 1500 people, mostly immigrants from Denmark and England. Due to the cost of travel by wagon most came by handcart and walked the 1300 miles. The Martin and Willie companies came really late in the season and about 10 percent on their company died from starvation or freezing. There were many miracles and abundance of faith with these early pioneers. It was a beautiful experience to be where the actual saints crossed the plains. The cove sheltered over 700 people for 5 days in which 56 people died from lack of food and it was 11 below 0 so many froze to death. They gave their lives and it was because of them that we enjoy our personal religious freedom.

The kids we went with were just wonderful and we shared great memories. There were lots of reenactments and pondering and reflecting. We talked about the boys that came from SLC to Sweetwater that carried the girls and men and the sick and weak across the river. The river had ice chunks floating down and those boys carried as many as they could across. When we got to the river Aaron carried me across. It was really sweet. At the height of their starvation they were rationed to a half of cup of flour per person per day. A lot of the men couldn't handle their loved ones starving so secretly they would give them their rations too. I thought about my children and thinking of them starving or freezing to death and what I would do to save them. One morning we woke up and told the kids that we were going to start and we would have breakfast on the trail. We gave them a half of cup of flour and told them this was their breakfast. They were shocked that we would do that. We shared some food miracles with them (a man bringing dried buffalo meat, a pie just showing up, some women praying to take away their appetite and blessing the snow, children eating nothing but ox hide and sucking on the hoof of an ox, babies nursing until only nothing but blood would come) It was a humbling experience to think about what they went through and the trials they faced. It is wonderful to have all the food we need and warm shelter. I read so many stories of these wonderful pioneers and have a greater appreciation of their faith and wisdom.

I will post pictures as soon as I get them. I just wanted to record my thoughts while it was fresh in my mind. I really APPRECIATE my sister Amanda for the opportunity to go. She watched my kids while Aaron and I went. Aaron was the doctor there for our group. What a wonderful thing to have family so close!

Becca's baptism

Here we are at the end of July and one of the most significant things in Becca's life happened! She was baptized. Becca is really a wonderful, sweet, loving and caring girl. She follows the rules and mostly does what I ask her to do. If there is a job to be done I ask her because I know she will do it with out a fight.

On the day of her baptism she looked radiant in white. She was happy and couldn't stop smiling. So many people came to support her, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. Her best little friend was baptized the same day. After she was baptized she was standing by the door shivering listening to her friend be baptized. Too cute!

update on the potty train

Emma is doing WONDERFUL! She has been so easy to potty train. I took back a huge box of diapers and wipes yesterday to costco and got $65 back...yeah for no more diapers!!! We also got a fabulous patio set, and huge trampoline...pictures to come.

birthday's, family and fun

We came home to Becca's birthday. She is such a wonderful, beautiful, truly compassionate child. I love her so much!

I loved this one with g'ma and Becca looking at each other.

what a handsome little boy!

Well, we had a FABULOUS time in California. We spent a lot of time with Grandma and Grandpa and with Aaron's brothers and their families. It was great.

At the beach we were staying about 1/4 mile from a state park. It was kind of rocky and craggy but it made for a different experience. We found a lot of hermit crabs, shells, sea snails, sea cucumbers and barnicles. David didn't like the beach because he said that the sea weed was going trying to grab his foot. The last morning Sarah and I took a nice long walk along the beach and had a great time. We also went to an island and took a tiny ferry. The kids were not too impressed with the island because it was mostly shops. We did like going out onto the pier and watch the huge waves crash.

Aaron's parents and grandma came for dinner one night and it was a lot of fun hanging out with them. It was Aaron's mom's 60th birthday. Looking at my mother in law and my own mother, 60 doesn't seem old AT ALL! They both look great.

PS. Today is day one of potty training. Emma is not really into the treat, she likes the cute underwear. Her percentage for today. #1- %50 #2- 0% This time around I am going with the laws of natural consequence. She needs to tell me when she needs to go not the other way around. I think there will be a lot more accidents but I think she will get it.

quick journaling

so I have have write down a few of these memories or I just won't remember them..

A few weeks ago I was leaving for an early meeting (7:30 Sunday morning) and I had Emma and David eating breakfast with me. When I said that I had to go to a meeting but Dad would be down soon I just left (Aaron knew that I was leaving so I knew he would be down any minute). I went out the front door and closed it and then Emma in her pj's came out the front door screaming and crying "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM" I just took off. How sad. I drove away watching my baby run across the yard to try and chase me down. I also saw David going after her. Aaron said that he heard David calmly say, Emma I don't want to have to drag you but you can't go with mommy. Ah, it just broke my heart. I did drive back by (i had to pick up several people) and she wasn't outside any longer.

Becca was supposed to wear a spring hat and I asked her what she wanted, a bird in a nest. yep that's what she had.

Last week I had a stake training meeting and I know they are supposed to uplift and encourage you, and I was, I just love the stake ladies, but I came away thinking that I was doing a horrible job and not putting enough time, energy and love into my calling. I stewed over it, lost sleep over it and my cute friend brought a quote and cookies that just snapped me out of my pity party. It is amazing how Satan will try to weasel his way into your life.

We are going to Ca tomorrow to see the grandparents and the beach. We are REALLY looking forward to the trip! Speaking of I need to finish packing. YW tonight.

Picutres of CA to come...