The Boys

Stockton had his class party today. Class parties are always hard on Stockton. To him it seems more like torture. Stockton thrives on routines. He also has a hard time when there are too many people around. I'll always remember Stockton's first grade party. They had a Mexican Fiesta. Stockton couldn't stand it. He asked Mrs. Latham if he could do his work, and she let him. So he sat down on the floor, where his desk would be, and read a book - right in the middle of the Mexican Hat Dance.

Anyway, back to 4th grade. The highlight of the party for Stockton was having Preston in his class. He loved playing with him. He always loves playing with him. He adores that little boy.

Stockton & Preston

I love this next picture. Preston & his fans. Stockton loved showing Preston off to all of his friends.

Mason, Katy & Preston

Stockton during most of the party

Come on Stockton, let us know how you really feel.

I asked Mrs. Catlin if I could stay with Stockton while the class went out to recess. Nothing can rejuvenate that boy like time on the computer. Preston is so funny on the computer. He knows how to do just about everything now. It is funny to hear him say things like, "Internet down" or "loading...loading...loading" or "just click with the mouse" or "minimize". What a different world it is now.

Preston & Stockton

Mike took Stockton out to Pizza Hut tonight. Just the two of them. He loved it. Jorja had a free pizza coupon that she gave to Stockton. She doesn't like pizza for some reason. Anyway, it was a great way for him to end the day. He is excited about tomorrow - pajama day!

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

Jorja's Class

Every Tuesday I get to volunteer in Jorja's class. I'm in charge of giving the students a timed math test. I have loved doing this, and Jorja loves it when I am there. Most days I am substituting, but I have been able to sneak in during my free time (specials or lunch) to give the test. Jorja is doing so well. She has passed every test. Only Jorja and one other boy have been able to do that. Jorja's teacher came and showed me that Jorja has improved her reading by one grade level since the beginning of the year. Mrs. Latham said, "I just need to brag on Jorja for a bit." Well, I just need to brag on Jorja today. She is such a smart little thing. Sometimes it is easy to overlook her because I have Maysen and Stockton who are brilliant. It is nice to see Jorja shining just as brightly.

Just Another Monday

Scriptures, breakfast, make lunch, make beds, comb hair, drive little ones to school, laundry, laundry, play with Preston, laundry, work on Cassie's present, Preston, car pool lines, homework, Preston, dinner, laundry, play Super Mario Bros., scriptures, prayers, tucked four little ones in bed, worked on Preston's road, snuck into the little ones rooms to kiss them while they're sleeping. What a great life!

End of an Era

Today was Preston's last day in Nursery. I can't believe it. It was also Maysen's last day in Primary. Where does the time go?

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)

Christmas Eve

Tonight we are celebrating Christmas Eve! Everyone is SO excited! We baked cookies, had a nice (according to the parents) dinner, got new jammies, took a lot of pictures, watched Night at the Museum 2, laid out our stockings, tried to get all four kids to sleep in one room, the kids are being rambunctious, mom had to go explain that Santa was coming all this way for our family and we really needed to be asleep when he got here . . .

Ready for Christmas!

Our boys
Our girls

Jorja, Maysen & Stockton

With Preston, notice the moose on his feet

Gym Clothes

Maysen came home with her gym clothes today. She said, "They want us to wear our gym clothes all day tomorrow". What? First of all, it is FREEZING outside. (Well, technically not freezing, but very cold). Second, they gym clothes are not attractive - despite the fact that they are huge on Maysen. Third, I don't even want her in gym!!!! Oh well. I have black leggings and a long sleeve black shades shirt laid out for her to wear under her gym clothes. Now I am staying up late washing her clothes because I refuse to send her to school in sweaty clothes she has worn all week in gym. She better not get PE next term!

Scone Ketchup

Maysen found out today she made her middle school reading bowl team! I'm so excited. I have been frustrated because I had no idea how the team would be chosen. Stockton's team is very cut and dry about how you can make it. Maysen has been going to practices early every Wednesday for a couple of months, but she had no idea if she would make the team. She was told only six people would be on the team. Today her school finally decided on a team. Turns out they just picked the top six people who had read the most books. Maysen was one of them, along with Jakob & Wade who were on her team last year. Yea! That should be fun!

Maysen

Today we had scones for dinner. Jorja talked Mike into using cookie cutters to make them. The kids loved them . . . who wouldn't love this greasy goodness? I ate way too many of them, that's for sure.
When I put the scones on Preston's plate, I put a spoonful of honey butter as well. I told him it was scone ketchup. That was all he needed. He dipped to his hearts delight. He is the only one of my kids who likes ketchup. Mike has 'trained' them all to be scared if ketchup even comes near them. Poor kids.

Preston

What Makes a Hero?

On Veteran's Day, Stockton's class had to write a paper on what makes a hero. Stockton's paper came back to day. He is so funny. I love the way his brain works. I only wish I could figure out what he is thinking . . . especially when he won't tell me why he's upset!!!! Anyway, on to the paper:

A hero should be courageous, jubilant, and helpful. Being a hero is an immense responsibility. Everybody counts on you to be a hero. You can't be a hero if you're in it just for the X-Ray vision, light speed, kung-fu grip, flying, and super strength. That's not what it's all about. You have to help people and be kind. It's better to be a famous hero than an infamous hero. Hero's have to do good deeds, and think about others. Everybody should strive to be a good hero.

Is That My Password?

Preston is such a computer loving boy. Today he came up to me and said, "Mom, P-R-E-S-T-O-N, is that my password?" My jaw about hit the floor. I said, "No, that is your name!" Then he repeated that question at least ten more times. I couldn't believe he could spell his name! He just turned three! We finally convinced him that P-R-E-S-T-O-N is his name, and he has spelled it the rest of the day. Although some times he thinks he is funny if he changes it up a little. What a little smarty pants!

Actually all of my kids have spelled their names really early. I remember Maysen had just turned three and she was taking a bath. She started singing M-A-Y-S-E-N spells Maysen. Stockton first spelled his name when he was just barely two. He wasn't even talking yet, but he was fascinated with letters. I was holding him in our apartment. As we were walking down the hall he started spelling his name. At first I thought he was spelling random letters, but no, he spelled his entire name. Jorja also could spell her name when she was two. Actually when Jorja was that age, all the kids were obsessed with their backward names. Maysen's reflection was named Nesyam. Stockton's was Notkcots and Jorja's was Ajroj. When we were on our cruise, I remember Jorja jumping around singing "A-J-R-O-J". What crazy kids.

Grandma Honey

Grandma Honey died four years ago today. We miss her so much, and my kids still talk about her and wish she was still with us. One of my favorite things she would do for us when she was alive is she would let me pick out Christmas outfits for the kids. She would give us $85 a child. AWESOME!!! I loved it! When Sharen knew she was dying, she made Scoop promise to continue the Christmas outfit tradition. Mike went with Stockton and me to buy his suit this year. (We have used the Christmas money to get him a suit every-other year). As we were discussing what pants to buy, Mike said, "We can't choose those because that would drive my mom crazy." True, and so fun to remember her likes and dislikes. I thought today would be a perfect day for our children to wear their new Christmas outfits. Don't they look fantastic?

Preston, Maysen, Stockton, Jorja

This little cutie would never cause any trouble . . . right?

So handsome!

100% Club

I have been feeling sick the last two days. I guess it's my turn. I did go to a leadership meeting for about three hours today. We were able to listen to members of the Relief Society, Young Women & Primary General Presidency. It was really good, but pretty long.

I think my favorite quote was: Childhood is a once in a lifetime opportunity. And I liked: The Holy Ghost will not be with a grumpy person.

When the Young Women General President was talking, she mentioned how they have made new personal progress books. There are a few changes. One is the mothers can receive their medallions along with their girls. I wonder if it is the same medallion or a special 'mother' medallion. I have already received mine, but I would love to earn one along with Maysen. She also talked about how she had been encouraging many of the priesthood leaders to complete the program. When they finished virtue, she would give them a virtue tie. I thought this was great. I wondered if they had ties at Deseret Book that had all the different values on them. Mike thought that wasn't a good idea and said he didn't need a virtue tie. Party pooper.

Anyway, she also wants the youth to be in the 100% club, and since "a great leader will not ask anyone to do something they are unwilling to do themselves", she challenged us to be in the 100% club as well. To be in the club, you need to do three things:

• pray every morning and every night
• read in the Book of Mormon for 5 minutes every day
• smile every day

Well, that's about it. I think I'll start the 100% club tomorrow.

Christmas Stockings

I received my Christmas stocking in the mail today. It took me forever to finish this one . . . I just don't have the time like I use to have. Debie sewed the back on for me, which I am so thankful for! I love it! Now all the stockings for our downstairs fireplace are complete . . . just in time to move.

Debie also sewed together the stocking Maysen had made for Preston. She is very happy with it. I am so glad Debie does this for me, I'm sure I would mess it up! (If I messed up mine, that would be sad, but if I messed up Maysen's - well, that would be tragic!)

Preston is doing much better. He is back to his normal crazy self - thank heavens!

Gross! Gross! Gross!

I spent this morning with Preston. We played a lot of Webkinz as he sat on my lap. I kept smothering him with kisses. After I had kissed him for about the 100th time, Mike tells me, "Oh, by the way. Yesterday I was teaching Preston how to go potty standing up. We were doing it together. He was very interested and bent down really low, and I peed on his head." GROSS!!! I asked him if he gave him a bath, he said, "It was really late." DOUBLE GROSS!!! Preston is now bathed and all is right with the world.

Fablehaven

I finished book 4 of Fablehaven today. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED LOVED it! I looked forward to waiting in the car pool lane so I could read this book. The crazy thing about this series is that each book is better then the one before it. It took me awhile to get through the first book, but the others I devoured. I love a good book. I can't wait until the next one comes out in May. Too bad it will be the last in the series. Until then, I'll just have to talk with Maysen about how I can't believe that ***** was ******* and was ******* with *** ***** and that ** ****** ******* ****!!!!!!

Thanks dad for giving us these books and introducing us to this series. We have loved it!

December

Our calendar's have all been changed. I love seeing December on my wall. I pretty much love everything about December. I can't wait until we can live with snow again! It is strange for me to think that my children don't know what that's like. At least they have played in the snow . . . that's more than most of their friends can say! (***I mean real snow . . . Utah and Idaho snow . . . the snow down here in Georgia doesn't count - it barely sticks to the ground and doesn't stay around at all . . . and it is usually wet and mushy. Although when it snows here in Georgia the entire state comes to a stop!***)

Maysen came home with a new vase and a small dish from pottery. I have fallen in love with her bowls. We used them as dishes for Thanksgiving. They were perfect! I'm sure this vase will soon become my favorite as well . . . wait, it already is!