I LOVE Eggs!

This morning I turned the corner and saw Preston reading!  So cute!  I know he can read chapter books, but he usually wants to read to me. His teacher has him read one chapter a night out of The Magic Tree House.  I had never seen him sit with a chapter book and read by himself before.  Hope he keeps this up!

Preston

It was Preston's turn to make dinner tonight.  His menu:  pumpkin bread, banana nut muffins, raw carrots and milk.  When they choose the menu they are going to make, they need to make sure there is something from every food group.  Not the healthiest dinner tonight, but Preston spent a lot of time with me in the kitchen.  He absolutely loved cracking eggs.  He kept saying, "I love eggs!" over and over.  He needed to crack three for the bread and three for the muffins.  He was in heaven!  We had to fish out a few shells, but no big deal.  He was a pro by the end.

Preston the cook

 Chocolate chip pumpkin bread & regular pumpkin bread

His dinner was delicious.  Probably not nutritious.  Mike and I took Maysen to pottery today.  She has been working on a sugar bowl since January.  She has been really excited about it.  We went to pick it up and were very disappointed.  The glaze that she used was contaminated.  It is not supposed to look all bubbly.  That we can live with, but it got worse.  The glaze fused the lid to the dish.  We can't get the lid off.  Her teacher said there was nothing he could do.  He doesn't know if it was the glaze or if Maysen put too much of it on.  Probably a combination of both.  So disappointing.  We were only able to find one more thing of hers.  She was able to glaze that.  She is missing at least one finished product and one waiting to be glazed.  Hopefully we can find it next time we get back there.

On the way home we stopped by the apple store.  Mike got me a new battery for my laptop.  We also got Maysen a case for her ipad mini.  We have 14 days to try it out.  It is a keyboard case.  We got her one for Christmas, but it was a different brand and it doesn't work very well.  It is so hard to open.  Hopefully this one will work better.  We will have to see if she can get used to the smaller keyboard size.

Good-bye Parrydise!

We packed up and headed home today.  Early this morning Mike and I took Jorja and Preston up to the springs.  Yesterday John, Matt and Cassie went up there.  Matt came back so frozen.  He said he had never been so cold in his life.  That included being lost in the canyons.

Anyway, Jorja and Preston really wanted to go up there.  It was so fast! Too bad Maysen and Stockton didn't want to go.  Stockton would have loved it if we had been willing to take him yesterday!  Preston really wanted me to take pictures of him in his snow fort again before left.  He was really sad to leave it.

Preston enjoying his fort

 One of the disadvantages of long eyelashes.

It took quite awhile to get all packed up and ready to leave.  As we were driving out of the parking lot, Mike noticed that I had a flat.  It took about 45 minutes to get enough air in the tire so we could drive it to the nearest gas station.  We were so far behind schedule when we arrived at Grandma's house.  Grandma and Grandpa had been pretty sick.  We tried to hurry out of there so we wouldn't bother them.  We didn't see Grandma at all.  When we got home, John asked why we had hurried out of there so fast.  I thought Grandpa wanted us out.  It was a misunderstanding.  Too bad, but it worked out all right.  I was pretty nervous about driving home alone.  (Well, me and all the kids).  We got home safely around 8:00 at night.  So tired!

We had a few stops along the way.  We dropped off laundry at Jackie's house.  She said she would wash it for me.  Such a life saver!  (The original plan was for Mike to take everyone home and I would stay and wash the laundry with John.  Now that John and Cassie didn't need a ride, I didn't want to drive the jeep home by myself.  Mike had to get home because he was scheduled to go on call tomorrow.)  Anyway, I was able to see Markell, Scott and Traci while I was there.  Quick hellos, but so good to see them.  When I was talking to Scott and Traci I mentioned that we had friends who lived in Florida.  He is actually a professor at the University of Florida.  Anyway, Paul and Brooke Madsen are in Scott and Traci's ward!  They were in our ward in Georgia.  Small world!  Paul and Brooke are in Utah right now.  They are taking their littlest adoptive daughter (Rosie) to the temple.

Speaking of Paul and Brooke . . . . The last stop we had was stopping by Maysen's pottery class.  We weren't able to make it in time for her to attend, but she was able to pick up her chip and dip bowl.  It looks amazing!  Brooke Madsen was Maysen's first pottery teacher.  Maysen now takes pottery from Brooke's teacher.  Maysen had seen a bowl very similar to her chip and dip bowl at Brooke's house.  That is where she got the idea from.  I don't have a picture of it now, but I love it! 

Chip Dip

Maysen glazed her chip and salsa bowl today.  She calls it her 'chip dip' bowl.  I love it!  I think it is pretty amazing she was able to make something this awesome.  I can't wait to see the final product!

Maysen

In other news, Mike's snickerdoodle house looks funny.  I don't know if you can tell by the picture, but his house is now just one wall and the roof.  I think it is hilarious that it is still standing!

Salsa Bowl

This is what Maysen has been working on in pottery.  She remembers her first pottery teacher, Brooke, making something like this.  She asked her new teacher, Mark, if he could help her with it.  I love it!

Maysen

 Maysen and Mark

 Maysen

She doesn't know if it will break in the firing.  I hope it doesn't - it's awesome!

Last Time

Scoop and Cori had a get together at the house.  They had cookies and fruit baskets.  Mike, Steve, Preston and I all went.  A few of Mike's aunts and uncles were there.  It was odd because there was nothing in the house, so we just stood around the kitchen counter.  Preston loved going to his favorite deck spot.  He wanted his picture taken again. This time there was snow on the ground.  What a difference a day makes.

Preston

Preston was also upset that he didn't get to hang from the stairs like Stockton did yesterday.  So, today he got his wish.

Jorja had her first achievement days in her new group today.  I think she liked it.  I know she is going to miss Sister Tanner though, she really liked her.  I took Maysen to pottery today.  She made an awesome bowl.  She is going to try to turn it into a chip and salsa bowl.  I'm so excited about it!  She told me she had a lot of fun and maybe she is going to try and challenge herself more.  I think that is a great idea!

Taco Haystacks

I was so excited about our taco haystacks today.  Look how many cool bowls we had to put the toppings in.  I love it!  Thanks for making them Maysen!

Empty Bowls

I just had to take pictures of the boys doing their chores.  They were so cute!  The girls were cute too, but I didn't take pictures of them.

Preston leaf blowing

 Stockton learning how to use the lawnmower.

 Mike had him take a few passes by himself.

Mike & Stockton

Maysen and I went up to her pottery class this afternoon.  She knew they were emptying the kiln today and she was anxious to get her work back.  We were able to get three pieces.  (The white cup is perfect for hot chocolate!)

Maysen's biggest bowl, the one she was really excited about, we found on the rejected shelf.  We are not sure why, we will have to wait until Thursday to find out the reason.  Our best guess is her glaze went all the way to the bottom.  Her teacher doesn't like that because it messes up his kiln.

Maysen and I then went to a fundraiser called Empty Bowls in Salt Lake.  There were a whole bunch of handmade bowls that you could buy for $15 a piece.  You then got soup and bread.  I actually thought they would put the soup in the bowls that you bought, but they didn't.  It was nicer taking a clean bowl home.  I let Maysen pick out the bowl.  This is the one she chose.

Today was a productive Saturday.  I love it when that happens!

Heater

Maysen got to take home her first two bowls from her pottery class. I love them!

Mike fixed our pool heater today! He was a little nervous about it. He thinks it will hold out the rest of the year. Yay! We have the heater started and are planning on running it constantly this week. Hopefully the water will be warm enough to open our pool soon!

Broken to Pieces

I broke the lid to Maysen's pot today. I had washed it in the dishwasher, and as Maysen and I were unloading the dishes - I dropped it. I was so sad. Maysen was so proud of this pot, and I love all of the pieces she was able to make. I couldn't believe I dropped it. Everything happened in slow motion. I was crying telling Maysen how sorry I was. That bothered Preston. He kept looking at me and saying, "It's easy to fix, you can tape it . . . you can glue it." I don't think he liked to see me cry. Mike meanwhile was dancing around singing, "Blog, blog, bloggedy blog" and "I'm glad it wasn't me! I'm glad it wasn't me!"

I took Maysen to the doctors today for a check-up. I needed to get a hearing and vision form signed. Long story short, we are going to the eye doctor tomorrow. Besides telling her that she will most likely be 4'11" (which we pretty much knew), she will most likely need glasses. She was pretty upset about that. It came as such a shock to her that she couldn't see. She doesn't want to have braces and glasses. The good news at the check-up was the doctor said Maysen's back was looking great. I told Maysen to look on the bright side. I'm sure she would rather need glasses than have to wear a brace for scoliosis.

Last Pots

Maysen got her final pots from her pottery class today. The bottom broke on her pot, so she was a little disappointed. I like them. I am glad she was able to have this opportunity.

Random Happenings

Mike has started working on his trailer again. He finished two benches! Preston loves working with his dad and TOOLS!

Preston, Mike, Jorja

I took Stockton to the store today to look for birthday invitations and get free ice cream. He received a coupon for a free 1/2 gallon because his grades were so good. I didn't even look at his face before I asked if I could take his picture. I knew he would have chocolate all over. I don't know how he does this when he eats ice cream, but he looks like this every time!

Stockton

Maysen brought home three new dishes from her pottery class. She does not like the one in the back. Her other two are really pretty. Maysen called me a little half way through class and asked if she could come home. She said her stomach hurt. Poor girl. I know it really is bothering her if she was willing to leave pottery early. Hope she's better for tomorrow.

The Girls

Today Jorja had her class Christmas party. She has been so excited about this. She kept telling Preston, "You can come to my class on December 16th". Jorja has an amazing teacher. She is so calm, and the children will do anything for her. She talks in such a quiet voice as she is giving directions. I love watching her teach.

The students were divided into three groups. Jorja first got to make a Christmas ornament. The second station was musical chairs. While Jorja was playing musical chairs, Preston would walk around the one chair that was by me. When the music would stop, he would jump on it. It was so funny. It kept him entertained - and I think he felt so big. Jorja's last station was decorating cookies. Who wouldn't love that? Pretty fun day for my Porge.

Mrs. Latham & Jorja

Preston FINALLY is in her class!
Stephanie & Preston
Jorja listening to her Mommy
Preston & Jorja ~ she is beautiful!

Maysen had her Young Women in Excellence program tonight. Everyone was suppose to put together belief boxes. Maysen's value was faith. She had everything white (faith's color). She had to choose a scripture and write a few sentences about it. This is what she wrote:

"And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name . . . For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance ad faith on the Lord Jesus Christ." - Mosiah 3: 9 & 12

I have faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

I know Jesus suffered for us so we could live again.

I have faith that I will see my grandmothers and other loved ones again.

Maysen did a really good job on her presentation. She also was able to share her knowledge value project - Preston's road. Preston was cute and started playing with the road as she finished talking. So cute.

Maysen was also excited to give Jorja her Christmas present. I bet I know what cup Jorja's going to want to drink out of tomorrow. (Look closely and you can see a frog climbing on Jorja's cup) I love Maysen's pottery!

Jorja, Maysen & Frog cup

Early Christmas

I LOVE CHRISTMAS! It is so fun to spend Christmas with our children. They have so much joy and are excited about everything. I love hearing them wake up on Christmas morning - although Jorja woke up at 3:30. At least she didn't wake up her brothers and sister.

Step 1: Open stockings.

Jorja with a necklace

Maysen with toe socks!
Stockton and his pez bar graph
Step 2: Christmas breakfast

We skipped the healthy breakfast this year and had homemade donuts. Santa always brings chocolate milk and egg nog, so we were set.

Maysen
Step 3: PRESENTS!!!
Preston loved his road

Jorja got a chair from Santa. She loves it. She dragged it through the entire house with her. It was so cute seeing her lug the chair up the stairs. Don't worry, after we noted the cuteness we stepped in to help.

Stockton & Preston enjoying Jorja's chair

Stockton loved the Calvin & Hobbes book. He also finished his My Weird School Daze book he received already. And he thinks he doesn't like to read....

My favorite, favorite present was from Maysen. She gave Mike and me a giving tree that she made in pottery. She carved M+S in it. I love it! I couldn't decide if we should use it as a mug or a pencil holder. I used it today for egg nog. Let me tell you, it holds a lot of egg nog! Thanks Maysen! I love it!

Our giving tree

Maysen & Stephanie

Mike & Stephanie

I had promised the kids a webkinz for their birthday and Christmas. Preston has loved webkinz lately. It is so cute to see him playing on the computer - and knowing what he is doing! The webkinz site was down this morning, and our poor kids were about going crazy waiting to put their codes in! I messed up on Preston's webkinz. I bought him a walrus thinking it would be an underwater pet. (He has been wanting one for awhile now) I guess walruses don't live underwater. I should have thought that one through. At least I got it off the buy one get one free rack.

Preston & Wally

Jorja & Meadow

Stockton & Oakz

Stockton was excited that Oakz's birthday is the same day as his.

Maysen & Periwinkle

Once again Christmas was a great day. We love celebrating it early. I can't wait to celebrate it again in Utah and Idaho! We will see everyone soon! (And MAYBE Mike and his girls next week. Hint, hint)