School Days

In September of 2011 we had a momentous occasion. All of my kids were in school!!!! Easton finally got to start preschool! He goes to Miss Stephanie's preschool, the same one Lauren went to. He was so excited and it has not disappointed. He loves to go and be with his friends and do letters and play toys. Miss Stephanie had a baby in October, so he got his mom for a substitute for a couple months. I was worried he would act up for me, but he was great. He loves to be there and I love for him to be there. His best friend Matthew goes too, and they are the oldest in the class. I thought they might mess around and cause problems, but from what I saw, they are good kids and just like to have fun together. Stay tuned for this fall when we start . . . . KINDERGARTEN!! (and high school, yikes!)

Easton on his first day of preschool ~ 6 September 2011

For pics of the other two on their first day, see August.

Ballerina

Logan had the opportunity to play flag football again last Fall. He had so much fun the year before, and wanted to do it again, so we did. Unfortunately, his coach wasn't quite the caliber of his previous coach. So, while he still liked the kids and liked playing, they lost a lot. Out of 8 games, they lost 7. At the last game, they decided to try Logan as the quarterback. That is the game they won, so at least we ended on a good note.

So, since I signed up Logan for football, Lauren was bugging me to sign her up for something. I went through the community education paper and found all the classes I would be willing to pay for and take her to. She chose ballet, again. She took ballet a few years ago and loved it. This time, once again, I wasn't as pleased with the teacher. All they did was learn a certain dance and prepare for a recital. Last time, they learned more ballet. Oh well, you get what you get and you don't get upset. Lauren still says she liked it, but I don't think it lived up to her expectations.

Lucky for me, Easton didn't seem to clue in on the class taking, so I didn't have to drive to 3 different classes/games every week. He did say he wanted to play flag football when he was older. I'm good with that. Also, he was so excited about going to preschool, that fulfilled any need he had for extracurricular activities.

Church History Museum

A couple years ago we went to the Church History Museum for the first time. The kids had fun, and David and I thought it was pretty interesting. So, when my sister and her family came to town, we decided to take them there, and see the lights at Temple Square the night they turned them on. Lauren was SO excited to go and take care of the babies again. Alas, they have changed the displays and there are no more babies. I tried to comfort her with quilt making, but that was not her favorite and she still missed the babies. Then, we found the Latin dancing. We had a hard time getting her out the door. We also got to talk to a museum lady who showed us some different dolls. Lauren's favorite were the 'pocket dolls'. Their names were Tommy and Frances. For Christmas Lauren got a pair of jeans with 'pocket dolls' in the pocket! She named them Tommy and Frances. Thanks to Suzanne & Jessica for making them with me late into the night one night. It would have been an unfinished project without your help.

Jessica & Lauren

The Girls

The Boys

Idaho

In September we went to Idaho! My brother has been living there for a while now, and we hadn't visited them yet, so we did. My kids are always asking when we're going to see Sarah and Luke (sorry Richard and Kim) and play with them. We had a great weekend playing with the whole family. We went swimming, took a fun walk by a river

(unless you're Easton and Sarah, then it was a fun run),

ate yummy food, and played games. That is the perfect vacation to me. On the way we spent the night in Twin Falls.

We figured since we were in Twin Falls, we ought to see some waterfalls. When we paid our money and drove on to see Shoshone Falls, I was a little disappointed when this is what I saw:

Luckily, a few turns later we saw this:

Here is the cool bridge you go across to get to Twin:

Since Lauren took this picture of all of us, we took a picture of her so she wouldn't feel left out.

Thanks Richard and Kim, we had a blast and look forward to seeing you SOON!!

Easton's birthday

Okay, I know it was over 2 months ago, but Easton did have a birthday and he turned FIVE! For his birthday he requested a vampire cake like a happy face. Logan asked for the honors, and decorated the cake.

He did a great job and I'm ready to turn that job over to him every year.

His birthday was on a Sunday, so we partied a little on Saturday, and continued on Sunday.

He asked for monkey bread for breakfast and meatloaf for dinner. David's parents came for dinner. Then he had a spanking machine on the table which he thought was hilarious.

We also played a game (my favorite game, Whoonu????) at his request.

Here are 5 fun things about Easton:

~He likes to compose music on the piano and name his pieces (Sadness in Jail Forever, Basket I Never Put in the Basketball, Steps of Doom, Let Me Pray, Thunder & Lightning Storm, etc.).

~He is tall for his age and has a big head. I often hurt his ears taking his shirt off.

~He goes to bed so easily and quickly, I love him for it.

~He loves the word 'chicken'. He uses it in happiness and anger, sometimes accompanied by 'nugget'.

~His favorite food is watermelon and his favorite color is green.

Lizard

So, turns out Shel Silverstein and I have something in common. If you've read any of my poetry (mostly in the form of Christmas greetings) you'll see why I like this poem:

LIZARD by Shel Silverstein

A lizard in a blizzard

Got a snowflake in his gizzard

And nothing else much happened, I'm afraid,

But lizard rhymed with blizzard

And blizzard rhymed with gizzard

And that, my dear, is why most poems are made.

Christmas Tradition

When I was growing up, I received a book from my dad for Christmas every year. From Richard Scarry, to E. B. White, to the scriptures, I always got a book from my dad, and he always wrote a little in the front. In 1976 it was short, just "Merry Christmas Rozanne, Love Dad". In 1994 it was the same but without the 'Love'. Maybe I wasn't such a great kid that year. In 1997 he wrote, "I wanted to find something that would take more than a day to read. This is volume 3 for our 3rd Daughter. Your mission, should you accept is to find volumes 1&2. Love, Dad" In 1979 I got 3 classics: Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan. In the front of each was written the month that book was to be my bedtime story. In the front of Charlotte's Web it says, "Merry Christmas Rozanne -- March -- Keep smiling & being happy -- Love, Dad." I remember laying in my bed while my mom sat in a chair by my bed reading from these 3 books. I also remember re-reading them numerous times in my bed, sometimes with a flashlight under the covers when I was supposed to be asleep. In 1980 I got some Judy Blume books, including Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. In the front it reads, "Rozanne -- Merry Christmas -- Sometimes it's rough having a younger sibling -- ask your siblings. Love, Dad."

Obviously these are gifts I still have, and I still enjoy. I've read some of these same books to my kids, and read them over and over on my own. I remember laying on my bed one Saturday re-reading the entire Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing while I was supposed to be changing the sheets on my bed and cleaning my room. If the worst things my children do is read when they are supposed to be cleaning their rooms or sleeping, I guess I'm okay with that.

So, it's been quite a few years since I've received a book from my dad for Christmas. This year when he and his wife came for a Christmas visit, a mysterious present appeared under my tree. I didn't notice any labeling (although I was told later that it did have some writing on it, I just missed it). So, on Christmas morning while we were going around opening presents, it was my turn to open, and the ones with tags for me on them were all gone. I got to open the mystery gift. I was so pleased and delighted to open a book -- a book from my dad: Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein. In the front cover I read "Rozanne - Merry Christmas - 2011 It's been awhile since I bought you a book at Christmas. But when I ran across this one I was afraid you would not see this one and you would miss it. Hope you enjoy it. It is all 'new' material. He wrote it but it was never published. Hence 'new'. Love, Dad." This book brought back a memory from elementary school. Where the Sidewalk Ends was at the school book fair and I wanted it. I was told it was too expensive and it was not purchased for me at that time. It's the first book I remember REALLY wanting. (Don't worry, I got it later.)

My dad was right, I hadn't heard about Every Thing On It, and I would have missed it. I'm glad I didn't. My kids are reading it now. I finished it in one day, of course. Thanks Dad.