Joshie's 4th Birthday

Joshie is now 4!!!  He has been so excited for his birthday to come.  He has been counting down for a couple weeks now.  He would ask me, "How many more days until my birthday?"  I would reply, "10 more days!"  He would excitedly say, "That's not that many...after 9 comes 10, see..1,2,3,4....9, 10!"  So so fun!  Yesterday when he woke up and came to me I knelt down and said, "Happy Birthday, Joshie!"  He flew into my arms with the greatest grin and just gave me a huge hug.  Whenever I said his name all day he would say, "You mean Birthday Boy!"  So, we called him Birthday Boy all day.  He loved going to pick out balloons for his birthday.  He helped me make his cake in the morning and then could hardly wait to frost it and eat it!  It made for a long day for him but he was quite patient waiting.

 

We had cub scouts in the afternoon so he came with us on a tour of the Police Station then it was home for his dinner of choice.  He chose to have regular pizza for his dinner.  After some investigative questioning I discovered what he meant by this.  He wanted frozen pizza for dinner...not homemade pizza that we have all the time...the special frozen pizza that he doesn't get very often.  So, frozen pizza it was!  He wanted a chocolate cake in the bundt pan, cream cheese frosting, and sprinkles on top.  I don't think he ever stopped smiling all evening.  It was priceless.  He loved having Sue Ann come over as well for the evening.  He received camoflauge clothes for Aunt Alanna and Uncle Eric; a new bike from Grandma and Grandpa Powell and the family, and a cool spiderman helmet from Sue Ann.  When he saw the bike his mouth dropped open with total shock.  Then he got kinda shy and almost didn't know what to do until I assured him it was OK to go and try it out.  He has been riding his bike nonstop since...we had to promise he could ride it as soon as the sun came out in the morning or he was not going to go to bed last night.

 

Joshie is sure a bright spot in our family.  He is at a wonderful age and really is so easy to have around.  He is genuinely happy almost all the time and when he is sad it isn't hard to cheer him up.  He doesn't get angry very often at all.  Here are some highlights of our now 4 year old Joshie:

 

*He loves to give kisses...but he does NOT like to be kissed.  According to him big boys don't get kisses...they only give kisses when they want to.

 

*He loves to play SuperWhy with Gideon. 

 

*He knows all his letters and letter sounds and all his numbers to about 20. 

 

*A favorite pasttime is building tents and forts with as many blankets as he can find.

 

*If he can be outside he is happy...I have to be careful because sometimes he sneaks outside.

 

*He can't WAIT to start school.

 

*He loves to be cuddled and read to at naptime and bedtime.

 

*He comes to me often throughout the day and says, "I need to give you a kiss and a hug."  I love these moments!  I think he has learned that he melts my heart a little with this and tries to use it to his advantage at bedtime.

 

*He is a great big brother to Gideon and the 2 of them love to play together in the mornings.

 

*He still wishes he was getting a brother but is very slowly accepting the fact that he is going to have a baby sister soon.

Underwear Bandits

I guess this is what happens on Sunday afternoons when kids have a little extra energy!  Don't look too closely at the dirty underwear that is on one of Mary's arms!  The best thing is that in a few years this won't be quite so funny to them but it will be to me!

A New Perspective on Life

The much anticipated day came today and Sammy was able to go pick up his glasses.  His first words after he put them on were, "Wow...things look really strange and BIG."  After they were fitted to him he and I ran over to Target really quick.  It took us forever to get through the store because he was looking at EVERYTHING!  I kept saying, "Come on Sammy.  We need to hurry."  Then I realized he was seeing things clearly for the first time.  He kept picking things up to look at them, candy, books, any package he could get his hands on.  So, I relaxed and enjoyed the moment as I watched him quietly smile as he looked at everything we passed by. 

Court of Honor

Last night was the much anticipated, in our home at least, Court of Honor following Scout Camp.  Joel had decided to wait until September for the Court of Honor because many of the boys were working over the summer on longer time sensitive merit badges and he wanted them to have the opportunity to complete those merit badges.  This was a special evening because it was planned, prepared, conducted, and executed by the Patrol Leader Council consisting of the Senior Patrol Leader, Ryan MacPherson, and the 11 year old Patrol Leader, Thomas.  They met together and planned out the evening, made assignments, made the programs, Ryan put together a slideshow from Scout Camp, and conducted the meeting turning time over to the leaders for awards and the Scoutmaster minute.  There were 10 scouts in attendance and 57 merit badges awarded and 4 rank advancements.  It was a pretty impressive evening.

 

Thomas was presented with 2nd class and 1st class which he earned at the end of July.  He also was presented with 14 merit badges, bringing his total so far that he has earned to 17.  The only required merit badges he has left to earn are Camping and Emergency Preparedness and he has 2 elective merit badges remaining to earn for Eagle.  But, he has a goal to earn a lot more than that!  I think my favorite part of the evening was Thomas' surprise for his Dad.  Thomas prepared a certificate to present to his Dad for helping him earn the Cycling Merit Badge this summer.  Joel had no idea about this so when Thomas asked his Dad to come forward the look on Joel's face was priceless.  I think he was stunned and a little nervous as to what the boys may have had up their sleeve.  Thomas became very emotional, however, as he explained that this summer he really wanted to earn the Cycling merit badge and asked Joel if he would help him.  He explained that in 5 weeks they went on 6 bike rides totaling 150 miles.  He thanked Joel for doing it with him and told him there was no way he could have earned this merit badge without his Dad's help.  He then told him that even though Joel never earned the Cycling merit badge as a Scout, he had earned it this summer and presented him with a certificate for earning an Honorary Cycling Merit Badge.  It was a tender moment for me as I reflected on all the two of them experienced this summer on those 6 bike rides!

 

Joel ended the evening showing the following clip from "Facing the Giants."  He encouraged the boys to never give up and to keep going on their trek to BECOMING an Eagle Scout...not just earning the rank of Eagle.  The boys were so energized afterwards.  This evening he had one of the older Young Men that has not shown a lot of interest in Scouting call and ask for some information because he wants to get organized and progressing again along the path toward Eagle. I think that is a success!

An Answer

A couple Sundays ago Sammy woke up and first thing he said to me was, "Mom, I have a hard time seeing things at school."  He had never mentioned this to me before so I was shocked but told him I would definitely get him an eye appointment.  He was actually quite excited for that.  So, yesterday was the big day for me to take him to his eye appointment.  I thought he may need some glasses but I was shocked at the findings.  His eyesight is very poor and he is in need of a very strong prescription...so strong, in fact, the doctor is only going to give him about 75% of the prescription for the first 6 months so he can begin to adjust to it.  His lenses are going to be really thick and will magnify his amazing eyes and eyelashes!  The doctor was amazing and she spent a lot of time sitting and talking with me while Sammy was off coloring a picture...we were waiting for his eyes to dilate so she could get a more accurate prescription reading. 

 

She told me she was so glad we brought him in.  She explained that he really struggles seeing near or far things but he is more farsighted than nearsighted.  She had to dilate his eyes so they could relax because he is constantly trying to focus on things so his eyes don't ever relax.  I described to her how we constantly are saying, "Sammy, look at me when I'm talking to you." or "Sammy, don't look away when we are talking to you...look at my eyes."  or "Sammy, move back from the TV."  She said, "Well, he can't see you to know if he is looking at your or your eyes and his eyes are constantly moving because he is struggling to focus."  I felt so bad that I was near tears as I thought of all the times I became frustrated with him for things that I now know he had no control over.  As Joel and I were talking last night it was as if all these little pieces now made sense...too bad we didn't see it sooner.  It will be about 10 days before he gets his cool glasses that he chose and he couldn't be more excited!

 

I am so grateful that Sammy mentioned to me that it was hard to see things at school.  We were warned it will take him a couple weeks to adjust to his glasses because the prescription is so strong but I am so excited for him to see things clearly instead of a blur.  I am amazed at how he has gotten by for so long.  I think school will become so much easier for him and his desire and confidence in reading will just blossom.

 

If you click on this link and drag the cursor at the bottom to +7 you will be able to experience what Sammy sees through his eyes...it is pretty amazing and heartbreaking.  Thank goodness it will soon be corrected.

Amazing Surprise

I worry about Sammy and his academic ability quite a bit because school just doesn't come as easily to him as it has to our other children.  He wants to do well and he works really hard in school.  In Kindergarten he did great and had high scores in everything.  I just find myself worrying about him because he is not at the point that he will pick up a book and read to himself.  He loves to be read to and he loves to listen to books on CD but just hasn't found the confidence to read on his own...until tonight!

 

We sat down for family scripture study and had just finished praying when Sammy all on his own began reading the first verse.  Joel and I looked at him stunned and he just kept going.  He only need help on a couple big words.  He was attacking new words and getting them!  He was sounding out words and reading so well.  We were stunned.  When he would attempt a new word he would read it and then look up at us and say, "Was that right?" and when we told him it was he just beamed!  It was absolutely amazing...definitely a night we will remember!

Big Boy

Last week Thomas was preparing for his Wednesday night Troop Meeting about packing a backpack for a backpacking trip.  He was taking his backpack out to the van and Gideon just had to have a turn trying on the backpack...because if Thomas is doing it then he needs to do it too!

 

Another day last week a Sister from the ward was over practicing a musical number with Thomas.  She brought her baby with her and Gideon was fascinated by the baby.  He was so excited to be able to hold her and even feed her a bottle.  In fact, when it was time for her to leave Gideon was not about to let go of the baby!

 

Charity

Spring loves Activity Days and, like many girls, wishes it was each week.  For the last couple months, however, she was often the only girl to show up for the activity.  Living in this area where there are not a lot of members contributes to that but there are girls that age and she missed having them come.  Last month she told me she wanted to call the girls and remind them about Activity Days.  So, she called her leader and got all the phone numbers of the girls (there are 6 others) and set to work calling them the day of the activity.  It is so sweet to hear her talk to the girls or leave a message reminding them of Activity Days and telling them she had missed them coming and hoped they would be able to come that night.  She was very anxious the first night getting ready to leave for Activity Days. She kept saying that she hoped some of the girls would come and that they remembered. She even made homemade cream cheese brownies to take for the night.  I wanted so badly for the girls to come so Spring could see the fruits of her labors and be able to have those associations with the other girls.  I anxiously awaited her arrival home and was thrilled when she came running in the house telling me that all 6 girls came and they had SO much fun.  She had a hard time remembering what they had done at the activity because I think she was more excited that the other girls came and had fun.  That was about 6 weeks ago...

 

Fast forward to this week and she has continued to call each afternoon before Activity Days to remind the girls and they have all been coming each week.  It is so fun to see how happy it makes her.  This past Wednesday when she was calling she was talking to one of the girl's mom and I heard Spring quietly reply, "Oh, I'm so sorry about that.  Tell her we will miss her."  She got off the phone and was very somber so I asked what was wrong. She told me her friend had been sick and in and out of the hospital for a couple weeks so she wouldn't be able to come.  Then her eyes brightened up a bit and she said, "Maybe we can make her get well cards tonight!"  So she took off gathering card making supplies and stickers and odds and ends to take.  That evening she told her leaders about this girl and asked if they could make cards for her.  All the girls had fun doing this and Spring came home with a big pile of cards.  She put them in  a big envelope so we could mail them to her.  She thought her friend would enjoy getting a big package in the mail just for her!

 

How humbled and grateful I am for Spring's example of tenderness and true charity.  This is what compassionate service is all about...it's hearing of a need and acting on that need without being compelled in any way.  It makes me think of the scripture that teaches us to be "anxiously engaged in a good cause."  I continue to learn so much from our children.

Mini-Man

Gideon thinks he is a big kid...I love to watch him imitate his older siblings and mimic all they do.  Well, sometimes he mimics things I wish he wouldn't, but then again those are the times I am grateful that we have been blessed with good kids and the things they do really aren't that bad to have imitated! 

 

This morning Sammy was reading his new Lego magazine while eating breakfast.  He finished and I looked over a few minutes later to see that Gideon had decided he needed to do the same thing.  When it was time for Sammy to head off to school he wanted to take his magazine with him which didn't make Gideon too happy (he was still eating his breakfast and "reading" the magazine).  Fortunately, we were able to solve the crisis by getting him a different magazine to read.

 

Kirtland

We decided to head to Kirtland today.  We have been so many times but the kids never tire of being there.  They all have their favorite parts of the area and today we even went out to the Isaac Morley farm.  The other times we have gone it has either not been opened for tours or we just never fit it in our schedule.  This is where the Prophet stayed for some time and it is also where the 1st Conference of the church was held as where the first High Priests were ordained.  We were able to take a short hike up to near where the log schoolhouse used to stand that these events took place.  It was on these grounds that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith as well.  We loved our time together.  I think my favorite thing about living here is the ease at which we can go to these hallowed lands where Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared and that the early Saints walked on as they sacrificed so much for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ that now blesses our lives. 

Sunday Afternoon Excitement



Sammy, Mary, and Joshie were having a great time playing in the basement this afternoon.  They were laughing and playing really well together.  At one point we heard their little feet coming up the steps and Mary telling us, "You gotta see Joshie."  Well, Joel and I didn't hurry to them as we didn't hear any sense of urgency in their voices nor was there any crying.  They came all the way into the front room before we looked over to see this....

 

 Nobody could really tell us what had happened or how this head wound came to be.  Joel set to work cleaning it up so we could see what was causing all this blood.  Once we got it all cleaned up we realized it wasn't too bad and we wouldn't need to take him in for stitches or anything.  The whole time Joel was cleaning it we kept asking him how it happened and he kept saying, "I don't know."  Thomas went to get some gauze and a bandana so he could make a head dressing for it (I think Thomas was secretly excited to use his newly learned 1st Aid skills on someone).  While they were bandaging it Joshie said, "I was just jumping on the couch and I went like this (clapped his hands together) and bam hit my head."  We said, "Oh, so you were jumping on the couch?" and he quickly closed his mouth with this look like, "Oh no, I just admitted to jumping on the counch."  His expression was really funny.  Anyway, he liked the bandana look because he looked like a pirate and they then decided to run down and play pirates!

Brandywine Falls

Yesterday afternoon we decided to take the kids into the National Park for a hike to Brandywine Falls.  We have not been to this waterfall yet so we seized the moment.  Although it was hot and extrememely humid we are so glad we went.  The hike to the falls is really short and fun.  Then we decided to continue on another trail for about 2 more miles.  Unfortunatley, our batteries on the camera died so we didn't get pictures from that part of the hike.  It was so pretty though and we were about the only ones on the trail. 

 

Toward the end of the trail there were steps we needed to go up that raised in elevation about 180 feet.  I was concerned it would be hard for the kids since they were hot, tired, and hungry so I told them real quick, "Hey, everyone count in your head how many steps there are and we will see how close we all are at the top."  You would have thought that was the coolest thing ever so they all took off up the steps.  Joshie was in the back with Joel and I and he started counting, "1, 2, 3" and then his shoe fell off so he had to stop to put his shoe back on and then said, "Let's start over."  So he went down the three steps and started again from the first step.  Joel and I laughed as he started climbing the steps. The first 15 steps or so were gung ho and his counting was very energetic and his pace fast.  Then he started to slow a little and counting wasn't quite so energetic.  He got to about step 24 and he was really starting to struggle as his poor little legs were getting really tired but he kept going.  Joel and I started counting out loud as he went up each step and he would repeat the number.  At step 36 his shoe fell off again and we laughed as he was about to say he needed to start over.  We assured him we knew where he was in his counting.  They all made it to the top with smiles and great attitudes...all 44 steps!