New Pictures of Mary and Thomas

Thomas/Mary new pics

These are Thomas' 7 year pictures and Mary's 9 month pictures.

Mary's Toothy Grin

Mary found these teeth of Thomas' and has been chewing on them quite a bit lately. We thought she looked so funny, but cute. She is so much fun now. She likes to make the kids laugh and she loves when they play with her and talk to her. We are so blessed to have children that love each other and children that entertain us all the time.

Thomas' Allasaurous Model

Here is Thomas with his completed Allasaurous model. He had a great time following all the directions to put it together. One half of the dinosaur is the exterior view and the other half is the skeletal view including organs. It really is neat. He decided he wanted to learn more about it so he looked it up in his Children's Dictionary and this weekend we are headed to the library to get more books for him to read about this type of dinosaur. He told his teacher about it and she asked him to bring it to school today so he could share it with the class. I am so grateful he has a love of learning.

Great Grandpa's Legacy

Yesterday we went to my grandparents home in Petaluma. They had wanted us to come in December but the month was so full that we waited and came after the holidays. It was great to visit with them and share dinner together. They were excited to give the kids their Christmas presents. My Grandpa is a very talented carpenter. Growing up, he always built us things for Christmas. We were so blessed when we were first married because we had some beautiful furniture that I had collected through my growing up years. When I was in the 6th grade he added 2 bedrooms on our home, one of which I was fortunate enough to have. Well, he has carried on that tradition with our children. In fact, before Thomas was born he asked if he could build us a crib and of course, we accepted the offer. He also built a high chair that all of our children have used and we still use today.

So, Christmas was full of presents he had built for his great-grandchildren. For Thomas, he built him a puzzle board. It is wonderful. It even has a cover so when he is not working on his jigsaw puzzles he can cover it and slide it under his bed out of the reach of his younger siblings. He was also given a new 500 piece Thomas Kincade puzzle to work on. Thomas loves to put puzzles together and is excited to be able to without worrying about pieces being walked off with. This is an especially special gift because Grandpa is always working on his puzzle that is on his puzzle board by his big front window. After Thomas unwrapped this gift, he was so excited and said, "Now I have a board just like your's Grandpa." Grandpa replied, "No, your's is much nicer. In fact, I'm thinking of building me a new one just like it!

Spring was given a beautiful baby cradle for her dolls. Now, you have to understand that everything my grandpa builds will stand up to any stress you can imagine to place upon it. He even told the kids they could get in the cradle. So, of course, they had to try it out. Spring loves her cradle and has been playing with it nonstop since she got home.

Sammy was given a pounding toy and hammer...all made from wood by his Great-Grandpa. The hammer is made so immaculately and detailed. As soon as Sammy unwrapped it he walked over to Grandpa, scooted backwards and waited for Grandpa to pick him up. Sammy loved sitting on his lap and hammering away. Grandpa was grinning pretty big too when Sammy was so content on his lap and didn't want to get down.

The grand finale gift was for all the kids. In fact, the tag said, "To: Thomas, Spring, Sammy, Mary, etc, etc, etc." Grandpa thought he was so funny and made sure we read the tag he had put on it. It is a beautiful rocking chair, just their size. It is something they have all enjoyed already and will continue to enjoy.

I am so grateful for the time he spent making these wonderful gifts for our children. I know our children love them now, but I know they will learn to cherish them for all they represent as they grow older. How many children are blessed to have such special gifts made by their great-grandfathers. Grandpa told me that one of his most favorite things to do is to build toys for children. He surely has a talent and he has blessed many lives by his selfless sharing of this talent.

Thomas' Birthday Party

We finally had Thomas' friend birthday party. With his birthday in December, it is difficult to find an open time for a party so we often wait until January. This year he decided he wanted to go bowling so we told him he could invite one friend to come with him. Joel took Thomas, Spring, and Dallas bowling. They had a great time. Then they came home and had lunch that Thomas had planned...hot dogs, BBQ chips, applesauce, and orange soda. Then they played for while, opened his present and had his cake...Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake. It was a fun day for him and he loved the gift Dallas brought for him...a dinosaur model. He has been working on putting it together so watch for a future post with a picture of his completed model.

Thomas' birthday party

The Wonder of Bubbles

Mary has discovered bubbles this week. She loves it when someone will blow bubbles for her. She loves to try to grab at them but has always missed them by a long shot. Some of these pics show her scrunched up nose and mouth look...she looks so funny and she pulls this face all the time.

Simple Primary Truths

Spring was so excited to be in CTR 5 this year in Primary. She loves her new teacher and loves that she gets to sit on the big chairs in sharing time. She colored this picture in her class on Sunday and couldn't wait to come home and put it in her scrapbook; however, she told me I had to take a picture of her with it first and put it on the computer for everyone to see!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be with our children in Primary. I love to hear their comments in sharing time and I love to hear their enthusiasm as they sing the wonderful songs. They love to listen to their new CD with primary songs for the year. They listen to it in the car, at home, and at bedtime. A favorite of all of ours is "If the Savior Stood Beside Me." The simple truths in this song are so powerful and good reminders to all of us. Thomas' other favorite is, "Called to Serve." Spring's two favorites are "We Thank Thee O, God for a Prophet" and "Give Said the Little Stream." I have such a burning testimony of the power of primary songs. I am so blessed to feel the Spirit testify of the truthfulness of the words in these songs. I am so grateful for the calm and peace these songs bring into our home. I am grateful our children are able to learn and know the truths they sing about in these sweet and inspired songs.

Fetch, anyone?

We bought 2 extra turkeys at Thanksgiving time because we were able to get them for only 17 cents/pound. We decided to cook one on Saturday for dinner. It was wonderful, as have been all the leftovers since then. I think leftovers are by far the best part of a turkey dinner. Anyway, after dinner we were pulling all the meat off the carcass and started to have fun with one of the leg bones. Sammy was so funny with the bone. Oh, the things we will try to get our kids to do!

"Daddy, will you dance with me?"

While we were listening to music today Spring decided she wanted Dad to dance with her. She ran into our bedroom to ask Joel if he would dance with her. He, of course, obliged. As soon as they started dancing Sammy wanted to join in as well...then came Mary. Isn't it wonderful that a simple thing like taking the time to dance with our children can bring such smiles and joy. This is one of many reasons I love Joel...he loves our children and delights in making them happy.

Tid Bits from our Vacation

We had so much fun in Washington for Christmas. The best part was just being together as a family. It was so refreshing to be together. We sure missed Kim and Matt and look forward to when we will see them again too.

random christmas vacation pics

Swallowed Tooth

Friday night, the 4th of January, we were eating pizza at Grandma's house for dinner. All of a sudden Thomas started to kinda cry and tell us his mouth was bleeding. Grandma looked at his mouth and said, "Thomas you just lost another tooth and you must have swallowed it." The look on Thomas' face was priceless. He wasn't sure if he should be concerned about it or excited. Grandma then told him what her dad told her when she swallowed a tooth. She told him he better be careful because it would bite his bum on the way out. He was concerned what he was going to do because he didn't have the tooth to put under his pillow. We told him he could write the tooth fairy a letter. Spring then asked Grandma if the tooth fairy was a boy or a girl. She was really interested. As soon as he was done eating he left and quickly came back with a piece of paper and a pencil. I had forgotten about telling him to write a letter. He sat down though and started his letter to the tooth fairy. Here is what he wrote to the tooth fairy:

Dear Tooth Fairy,
Can you please give me some money becuse I swaloded my tooth.
From,
Thomas

Joel was already back home by now so Thomas was sleeping in the bed with me that night. In the middle of the night he pulled his pillow away really fast. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was checking to see if the tooth fairy had come yet. He felt around on the bed in the dark until he found his money and exclaimed, "I knew it. I thought I heard something and just knew that it was the tooth fairy!" So, his letter worked...the tooth fairy came even though he swallowed his tooth!

New Year's Eve

We have had a great New Year's Eve. Mary went to bed on time and Sammy made it up until about 10:30. Thomas and Spring made it until midnight playing games and having fun. Spring was excited to tell everyone all day long that she was going to "stay up until midnight for new year's eve!" We did fireworks outside. Sammy LOVED it. He is going to be our pyro. Nothing scared him. He was so fearless with the sparklers that it was kinda scary! Spring loves the fireworks as well. Thomas likes to look at them as long as they are not too loud. He really doesn't enjoy the noise. We were surprised that he enjoyed doing the sparklers this year because last year he didn't even want to do that. Then we came inside and had a chocolate fountain for dessert, which again, was a highlight for the kids...especially Spring and Sammy.

Bowling

Bowling

We all went bowling this afternoon on base. Thomas really loves to bowl and he has really made great improvement with it. It was so fun to watch him get so excited as he played today. Joel played really well today as well. Spring was quite funny to watch and we were amazed at how she could manage to get the ball into the gutter even though there were bumpers up. What a fun evening it was.

Sammy and Willow

Brandon bought himself a puppy and the kids have loved playing with her this week, especially Spring and Sammy. It is so cute to listen to Sammy call the dog by her name, Willow. Today Sammy was wanting the dog to come out of his kennel so he got Brandon to help him. Then he wanted to go back in the kennel with the dog but was a bit apprehensive at first so Brandon climbed in with him and the dog. After that, we couldn't keep Sammy out of the kennel. He loved it in there.

sammy and willow