Carving Pumpkins

We carved pumpkins Thursday evening. It was fun to have Grandma there with us. Grandma found some fun "Mr. Potato Head" type things for Sammy and Mary's pumpkins. It was perfect because they could really do it on their own. Thomas and Spring had a great time carving their pumpkins all by themselves. They still do not like getting the seeds out of the pumpkins and do all they can to have Mom and Dad help clean out the guts.

Surprise

Grandma Powell flew in yesterday morning to surprise the kids with a visit for a few days. Sammy, Mary, Joshua, and I went to pick her up. They asked where we were going and I told them we were going to get a surprise. Sammy wanted to go back and get Thomas and Spring so they could see the surprise too. I told him they would see it later. When Sammy realized we were at the airport I told him we came to see airplanes. So we looked for a while. Then he looked out the window and said, "That's Grandma!"

I usually help in Spring's classroom on Thursday afternoons so my mom came with me. We walked into her classroom and Spring looked over and all of a sudden had this look like she didn't know quite what to expect. She just smiled and was itching to get up and see grandma but wasn't quite sure if she should get out of her seat. Then her teacher told her she could come and give Grandma a hug but then she got a little embarrassed so Grandma went and gave her a hug. Spring loved having Grandma help in her classroom.

So, we told Spring she couldn't tell Thomas. We picked the kids up from school and Grandma hid in the backseat of the van. Thomas opened the door to get his surprise! It's so fun to have Grandma here with us.

Early Birthday

Grandma & Grandpa Biggs, Aunt Tammy, and Bryce stopped by on their way home from Southern, California this afternoon. Sammy got to open his birthday present from Grandma & Grandpa. He loves his new pajamas and sidewalk chalk. They went outside before dinner tonight and made some masterpieces on the patio. Thanks for stopping by to visit with us!

Pumpkin Patch

We headed off to Harvest Acres Pumpkin Patch tonight. It was the closest pumpkin patch we could find (just under an hour away). The drive was definitely worth it though. We were able to take a tractor hayride together. Josh was fascinated by the big tractor tires and we could hardly get him to look away the entire ride. We went on the last tractor ride of the night. As we were getting off the kids were talking to the man that drove the tractor and thanking him. We were going to take a picture of the kids by the tractor when he said, "Let's get a better picture than that." The he lifted Spring onto the seat of the tractor. He proceeded to do the same for all the kids. He then insisted that Joel and I get our turn as well. It was very kind of him and the kids LOVED it. Then there was a corn maze and a hay barrel maze for the kids. They also were able to pick their own pumpkin right off the vine in the big pumpkin patch. We had so much fun and the kids were really tired on the way home. Thomas and Spring fell asleep within 5 minutes and Joshua soon after that. Mary and Sammy successfully stayed awake the whole way home by playing the "He's touching me...Well, she touched me first" game ALL the way home. It was a fun way to get more into the holiday spirit. I am grateful we found this and were able to share the evening together.

Mary's Pastimes

Mary really likes to play with Joshua. She wants to hold him a lot but he really doesn't want to be held anymore. I think they have found a happy compromise. She pushes him all over the house in this baby stroller...REALLY fast. The other kids used to do the same thing to Mary but it had a strap on it then. The strap is now broken so there is nothing holding Joshua in the stroller. Mary will get running through the house with Josh just laughing...the deep belly laugh! We are fortunate that he has only fallen out a few times. He really doesn't cry much either, he just crawls back in the stroller and off they go again!

Mary loves to play with her baby dolls. She loves to dress them, change their diapers (using LOTS of wipes), sing to them, feed them, you name it. She really is quite sweet to her babies. Well, ever since Sammy put her in the dryer she has decided she should put her babies in the dryer too. There have been countless times that I have went to put clothes in the dryer to find the dryer full of her baby dolls. Well, a couple days ago she outdid herself. I walked into the kitchen to see her finding a new place for her babies!

A Seldom Seen Side of Sammy

I just had to record a sweet experience I had with Sammy on Monday. It seems I have lots of silly stories and accounts of mischievous things he has done; however, I wanted to be sure to record this sweet experience. By the way, this is the only somewhat serious picture I could find of Sammy!

When he woke up from his nap on Monday afternoon he came out to me as I was sitting on the couch reading the ensign. He asked me, "Why are you just sitting here reading, Mom?" I told him that I like to read the Ensign because it has things that the Prophet wants us to know. He thought for a minute and then asked me, "Mom, does the Prophet have the Holy Ghost in his chest?" I told him yes, the Prophet feels the Holy Ghost. Then he said, "Mom, I feel the Holy Ghost in my chest too. He makes me feel happy in my chest and all warm." We talked a little about that and then he said, "And, Mom, when I am scared in my room at night, the Holy Ghost comes into my chest and makes me feel safe again. In my chest, Mom, in my chest." All the while pointing at his chest. Then, after a few minutes, he asked me, "Does the Holy Ghost walk or fly into my chest?" I am so grateful for Sammy and for this experience with him. I don't remember having him be this serious about something ever. I am grateful he is learning and that he is feeling the Holy Ghost in his life.

Behind Closed Doors

Saturday afternoon I walked past the bathroom and heard Sammy and Mary inside with the door closed...never a good sign. I opened the door to see them washing all the toothbrushes and toothpaste they could find along with some random crayons. They were very proud of themselves. I am just glad I walked by in time to turn the faucet off because the water was just about to spill over the edge of the sink.

Cub Scout Field Trip

Yesterday the kids had the day off school so we went on a Cub Scout Field Trip to a farm of one of the boys' in the den. Spring was able to come with us as well. It was so much fun and the kids loved it all. They got to help move sheep, hold a baby sheep, pet rabbits, pet a calf, pet a baby pig, see turkeys, pigs, ducks, and lots of other animals.

Grandma's Visit

Grandma Biggs came to visit for a few days. The kids had fun playing games, reading stories, and cooking treats with her. She was even able to go to one of Spring's soccer games and also work in Spring's classroom at school. We are grateful she was able to come and spend time with us.

Joshua's 1 Year Old Pictures

Thomas Playing the Piano

Our Wonderful Saturday

What a wonderful Saturday we had today. We greatly enjoyed watching both sessions of conference today. Thomas and Spring have been anxiously awaiting conference all week. They woke me up this morning reminding me that General Conference would be starting in about 3 1/2 hours! We were so impressed with the kids today as we watched Conference on the computer. I had found some fun packets for them to work on while listening to conference. Thomas informed us that he was going to take notes in his journal, "just like you guys do" and he held true. He told me that he didn't need the packets anymore because he wanted to just take notes. Joel and I were amazed by his notes. Not only did he write down things that were said during the talks, he also wrote down his thoughts and feelings of what was said. Some of his impressions included:

"The Opening Hymn was 'Glory to God on High.' It's making me feel happy."
"There are so many new temples. The church just keeps expanding. I can't wait to go to the temple when I am 12 to do baptisms."
"The next hymn is 'Choose the Right'. It's one hymn that almost makes me cry."
"I want to be like Nephi and always feel the Holy Ghost tell me what to do."
"They are singing one of my favorite hymns. "We Thank Thee O God for a Profet."
"Should tell our testimony. The last time I did was last fast Sunday."
"Now they are singing, 'O may my soul comun with me" It is butiful"
"The choir is singing, 'Come, Come, Ye Saints.' I love this song."
""If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.' This is my favorite scripture."

I love this son of ours. He is such a blessing to our family and a reminder of what is truly important in life. His example of faith and obedience helps me strive to be the mother I need to be for him and our other children.

By the second session of Conference today, Spring decided she, too, didn't need the packet anymore and just wanted to take notes in her journal. She wrote down all the hymns that were song, the names of the speakers, and what she thought they were talking most about. She also drew pictures of what they were teaching in their talks. She has such a desire to be obedient and to listen to the words of our prophet and apostles. What an inspiration she is and how wonderful it was to see her push herself to really listen and learn from the wonderful words of counsel we heard today.

Sammy and Mary enjoyed sitting with us. They colored and sang the hymns during the 1st session. They napped during the second session. Sammy didn't want to miss "the movie on the computer" though. He slept all through the second session and was so sad when he woke up and realized it was over. We had to pull it back up on the computer so he could "listen to the prophet tell us what Jesus says."

Spring's soccer game was at a great time today because it was right in between the sessions of conference. We enjoyed going to her game. While Joel was at the Priesthood Session the kids and I pulled out the Halloween decorations so they could put them up. They all had great fun with that. Then we played outside for a while before heading in for baths and bedtime routine. We are so grateful for the cooler weather we have been blessed with this week. As the kids were heading to bed tonight I heard Thomas, Spring, and Sammy talking to each other. They were saying they couldn't wait for morning when they got to watch conference again. How blessed we are to have the opportunity to be taught and edified by God's chosen and annointed. How blessed we have been today to have the abundance of the Spirit in our home. I pray that our children will always look forward to hearing and following the Prophet of God.