Christmas Lights at the Oakland Temple

Saturday morning we headed to Oakland to visit the temple with the family. Leo came along with us. We spend the day walking around the temple grounds and terrace and spending time in the Visitor's Center. We were able to watch the Joseph Smith movie also while we were there. It was fun to see the kids so excited about being at the temple. It was also neat to watch Leo's excitement and awe of the temple grounds. The night before Joel and I had gone with him to the Fresno temple for baptisms and he was so excited to see the Oakland temple. While in the visitor's center we ran into a family from our ward in Manteca. Junior, one of the YM when Joel was YM President, was so excited to see Joel. His grandma told Joel he has had a really hard time since Joel left and really misses him. He and Joel talked for quite a while. What a small world. Then we headed to the Stake Center to watch the "Magic of Christmas" performance. Joel and I were talking as we were waiting for the performance to begin and all of a sudden he said, "Hey, that's Bill!" He stood up and started calling his name. Bill looked over and then ran over to us. Bill was one of the counselors in the YM Presidency with Joel in Manteca. His family was there as well as his sister, Cara, and her daughter. Cara's husband was also in the YM Presidency with Joel but didn't come that night. They came and sat by us for the performance and then we had a great time visiting with them afterward outside. It was so wonderful to see them again and visit. We miss them and our ward in Manteca so much. For a moment it felt like we were home again. It really can be a small world! The kids were in awe when they saw all the lights turn on at once. What a beautiful night to end a wonderful day at the temple.

Decorating for Christmas

We had a great time decorating for Christmas this year. Joshie loved taking the ornaments to the older kids so they could put the decorations on the tree. He also liked taking the ornaments off the tree. Sammy was so excited to see all the Christmas books and soon snuggled up next to Thomas so Thomas would read the stories to him. After decorating, as tradition holds, we watched "The Polar Express" together. The kids ended up watching it 2 more times that evening as Mom and Dad went to the temple. I am so excited for this time of year. It is so fun as the kids are getting older and remembering and asking when we will be doing each of the things we do traditionally at this time of year.

Day of Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful day yesterday as a family. We had the traditional "pie for breakfast" in the morning. We invited friends that were going to be in town to enjoy this tradition with us. We had over 50 people join us and lots of delicious pies. We enjoyed the time to visit and share in each other's company. The kids all enjoyed playing with their friends for about an hour in the morning. Then we set to work getting dinner ready. Thomas helped make the green bean casserole and the mashed potatoes. Spring, Sammy, and Mary helped with the homemade rolls...easily the favorite part of the meal for the kids. We were fortunate to have a couple from our ward, the Jones, enjoy dinner with us.

I am so grateful for a day set aside to remember our many blessings and to express gratitude for all we have. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family...my parents and siblings, Joel's family, and our little family that we have been so blessed to start. How grateful I am to know that these bonds and love can be eternal if we we choose to live worthily of that in this life. I am grateful for our Savior and His love for us and for temples of God which makes eternal families a reality. I am grateful for Joel's job and the freedom it provides for me to stay home and be a mom to our children. I am grateful for the peace and comfort we enjoy each day as we are together with our family.

Thomas playing Nutcracker Suite

Playing in the Dark

After dinner the kids love to go outside and play together. They think they are getting to stay out really late because it is dark! They like to play in the front yard in all the leaves. They even have asked our neighbor if they could "have all the leaves on their grass" to help make piles to play in. As you can imagine the neighbors had no problem letting them rake up all their leaves and bring them into our yard! They were disappointed last night when they discovered that I had mowed the lawn and all their leaves were gone! So, they decided to go into the backyard. They were pretending that the trampoline was the ocean. They took off the slide part and put that on the trampoline as their boat. They were pretending their boat was sinking and they had to get into the safety raft before they drowned. They were tying jump ropes around their waists and lowering each other through the basketball hoop and net to safety. It was quite comical to listen to them. They were all having so much fun. They played for over an hour. One thing I thought was really funny was how they had to wear their hats and mittens yet they soon took off their coats and Spring wasn't even wearing shoes! I love that they enjoyed playing together and using their imaginations.

Spring the Pianist

Sammy's 4 Year Pictures

I sure love this boy. He can be trying at times with his constant energy and movement; however, his smile and eyes will lighten any day and help me to remember what is truly important in life. Everyone loves to be around Sammy and Sammy loves to be around everyone. He makes friends wherever he goes and he is always telling me about his "new friend, so and so." Thank you, Sammy, for being the silly and happy part of our family.

Soccer Awards

Soccer season has come to an end. We enjoyed the season and Joel enjoyed coaching Spring. At the same time we are so excited for the end of the season so we can enjoy more time at home with the family and less time rushing off to practices and games. Saturday we had a little pizza party at the park for the team. After they ate lunch and played together at the park for a while Joel presented each of them with their trophy for the season. Spring was so excited to get her trophy.

Freedom

Yesterday Sammy and Mary were outside playing and I was getting some things done inside. After a while I realized I hadn't seen Joshua for a while. I found him outside with the other two. I think they felt sorry for him as he was standing at the door banging on it so they let him out. He was having a great time with the hose. I am just glad Sammy didn't turn it on while Joshie had it in his mouth. I am actually really surprised that he didn't do it. Joshie loves to be outside with the older kids.

Babysitter's Surprise

Yesterday Joel and I went to the temple and the kids enjoyed having a babysitter during the day because they got to play outside and they even went to the park. Well, their babysitter's friend came over to play with the kids too and decided to bring a surprise for the kids. He brought his pet rat, Buddy, for the kids to play with. The kids all loved it and loved holding him. I wasn't too fond of it, though! Mary kept calling it a "rabbit" and would talk to him with a big smile on her face. She would say, "Hi, hi, hi...me love you." I am glad they had their fun while I was gone! They kept trying to convince me that he was so cute and we needed to get one too...it didn't work!

"Daddy, Hold my babies!"

Mary is really into her babies and plays with them all day long. She lieks to dress them in her own clothes and wonders why the clothes keep falling off. One afternoon when Joel came home from work she decided that Daddy needed to hold her babies for her.

Our Fun with Grandma

We all had a great time while my mom was here visiting. The time always goes so fast and before I know it we are taking her back to the airport. That is always the hardest part for me. I wish we lived closer but I know we all value and appreciate the time we are blessed to be together.

I was not so good at getting pictures during this visit. We were so busy. Grandma helped us carve pumpkins and make fun Halloween treats. She came to Spring's soccer game and also to trunk or treat. She took just Thomas and Spring to lunch on Saturday and they all relished the time talking and spending special time together. Thomas and Spring were talking to me this morning and told me that was their favorite part of Grandma's visit. She was a huge help to me in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. I always look forward to having people visit us on Sunday so I can have some extra help with the little ones. We all celebrated Sammy's birthday on Sunday. Monday evening Grandma took us all to see "Where the Wild Things Are" and then out to dinner together.

Of all the fun things I greatly enjoyed being able to visit with my mom, go shopping together, and watch the love our children have for their grandma. I am so blessed to have a wonderful mom and our kids are blessed to have a wonderful grandma. I can't wait to be together again.

(I love this video of Grandma and Joshie talking to each other.)

Sammy is 4!

Our little Sammy is now 4 years old. It is so hard to believe. He really seems like he has grown up a lot in the last few months. We enjoyed celebrating his special day. He requested spaghetti with red sauce and white sauce for his dinner. Then we had brownies topped with marshmallows and chocolate frosting. He loved opening his gifts from everyone. We were so happy that Grandma Powell could be here with us and celebrate his special day.

He continues to be silly and full of energy. He keeps us on our toes! He is very good to Mary as the two of them play together so well usually. He loves to be outside, jump on the trampoline, play with cars and Legos, wrestle, and make people laugh. We love our Sammy and are grateful for his sincere love of life and all things fun!

Happy Halloween

We went to the ward Trunk or Treat for Halloween this year. The kids had fun dressing up in their costumes made by Grandma Biggs. Spring was Mary Poppins; Thomas was Burt, the Chimney Sweeper; Sammy & Mary were the penguins, and Joshie was a Dalmation. It was fun to have Grandma Powell with us for Halloween. She rescued Joshie from the Trunk-or-treat and brought him home when he was too tired to stay but the older kids weren't ready to come home. At the trunk-or-treat Mary just wanted to be with her nursery teacher. So she sat in the trunk of her car and handed the candy out to everyone that came around. When there weren't kids coming to get candy she went through the bowl and found the candy she wanted and put it into her bag. So, even though Mary didn't even go to any other car she came home with a bag full of candy.

Leo's Baptism

Friday evening we were blessed to witness the baptism of Leo. We met Leo less than a month ago and have been fortunate to have him in our home as the missionaries taught him. He is amazing and is so prepared to accept the gospel in his life. We have learned so much from him and are so grateful for the friendship we have made with him. He is going to be a great instrument for our Father in Heaven.