Boots

I'm not a big Black Friday shopper, but Keila was in town and wanted to look for boots to wear for her wedding. 

How could I pass up buying boots for my kids when they were on sale and they wanted them so badly? We do live in Texas, you know...

Six Flags with Family

I was so excited that Keila could drive into town from Illinois. She came so she wouldn't be lonely for the holiday, but it was such a blessing to me to have her here. It made my heart happy to have my sister to squeeze and laugh with. 

It was really fun to go to Six Flags with her, the Goodwins, Grandma and Grandpa, and of course my little family!

Keila and I started off riding the New Texas Giant! We loved it! After that, we took our turn with the kids while the other adults went to ride a few rides. We met up and switched again later so that Tony, Jeila, and I could ride the Titan. 

It was fun to have enough adults that we could each ride some of the bigger rides while still allowing the kids to have fun doing what they loved. 

Oh and did I mention the weather?? We had been worried a week before that it was going to rain, but we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful evening! It was a little overcast, but warm with no rain! We wore our t-shirts around all night. Perfection!

Strep Throat and Allergic Reactions

We started and ended our Thanksgiving holiday with a bang! Hyrum was feeling pretty crummy the Sunday the Goodwins flew in from Utah. Sure enough, he had strep throat! So we had to have 24 hours of antibiotics before we could run and play with Cousin Jacie! Luckily the amoxicillin did its job and he was feeling just fine by the time we wanted to go to Six Flags. 

The bummer part was that the Monday following Thanksgiving (cousins still here) he decided to break out with a rash. We went to the doctor again and sure enough, 8 days into the 10 days of amoxicillin, he decided to have an allergic reaction! Poor kid was covered from head to toe in red speckles! 

So, we get to start new antibiotics in a few days after the rash decides it's done hanging around. 

So, here's to wishing your family (and mine) health and happiness the remainder of your holiday season!

Christmas Ellie

When we showed Lindi these photos this morning, she sucked in her breath real quick.  It was like my two year old said, "Oh my goodness, Mom!  Look at that beautiful sister!"  And it's true!  She is a beauty!

I love this little munchkin with all of my heart!  I love her beautiful blue eyes.  I love her smile that she is always so quick to give.  I love that she laughs when the bigs and I have a toddler radio dance party.  I love when I set her down and find her somewhere new every time I come back in the room.  I loved my chunky Hyrum and Lindi, but I love my little string bean Ellie Texas.

Lindsey, thank you for sharing your time and talents to take these shots.  I can't stop looking at them!

Basketball Star

Hyrum just finished up his season of Little Ballers basketball at the Community Center.  He had a lot of fun and we enjoyed watching him.  We were impressed by how much difference a year can make for coordination and skill.

Most of what this program focuses on is teaching simple skills, but on the last day of practice they also played a game.  The excitement of running down the court to score took over and dribbling went out the window, but it made it all the more fun to watch!

Hyrum took his job as defender quite seriously.  He defended both baskets, regardless of who was shooting.  Ha!  Here he is trying to block the shot of his own teammate.

 He also made two baskets!  Oh boy, we had such fun watching him.

Dear Santa

Hyrum is a reluctant writer.  He just doesn't enjoy writing. He was super excited to write a letter to Santa, though. I was super excited when he wrote the entire thing himself. All I had to do was prompt him with the next letter. 

To translate: 

Santa

Motor Track

Dinoco

Pretend Saw

Pretend House

Hyrum

He even addressed the envelope himself. He was wearing out, though. He insisted N. was short for north, so he refused to write the word out. He was correct, so I complied.  

Hooray for learning activities that are disguised by fun. 

Ponderize November 15, 2015

I am so grateful for my Savior.  I am grateful for His life, His mission, His example. His Atonement.  The world seems to be crumbling in so many ways.  The tragedy in Paris just a few days ago stands as a somber witness of this.  On a more personal level, many are questioning their testimonies and knowledge of the gospel due to recent policy clarifications from church leaders.  It breaks my heart.  There is no more gray area.  It is black and white.  People will have to choose which side they are on.  I am on the Lord's side.  I am on the prophet's side.  I choose happiness.

This week I wanted to remember my testimony.  I wanted to focus my thoughts on the Savior.  I chose Doctrine & Covenants 76: 22-24.  This is one of my favorite testimonies of the Savior.  He lives!  I have not seen Him, but I do not doubt.

Pretty Gals

I have a couple of pretty gals I get to call my own. This morning we got to hang out, just the three of us, while Dad was at work and Hyrum was sleeping in until 10 o'clock (literally). 

When I think of my mother and the best of friends that we are, it makes me giddy to think that these girls and I will get to share that someday. I'm a lucky momma. 

Fire Station 1

This year Hyrum and I have been participating in a preschool co-op. Each mom takes a turn hosting preschool at her house (a month at a time). We meet once a week for two hours. So far, Hyrum has been loving it. I love it because it gets him out of the house with friends, learning from others! He has learned the days of the week, months of the year, and other tid bits of information. 

I am about to start my month of teaching. We began with a field trip to Fire Station 1 last week. It was so much fun, not only for the kids, but the moms too!

We got to see their kitchen, as well as where they exercise, relax, and sleep. We met the fire chief and then we got to head out to the bay where they showed us the fire engine. 

One of the kids asked how they get water out of the fire hydrants, so they pulled out their special tool and showed us! That was Hyrum's favorite part. 

The firefighter put on his gear and showed the kids. He told them not to be scared of him if they were ever in a fire because he would be there to help them. 

At the end, they got a call and we got to stand by and watch as they loaded up, turned on their sirens, and headed out to serve. Many thanks to all the firefighters, paramedics, and more who serve our community. 

It was an informative trip and enjoyable for all. My kids got in the car afterward and told me they wanted to be firefighters when they grew up!

Afterward, we went to our house for snacks and we made thank you's to send to the firefighters. 

Ponderize November 8, 2015

I found this winner while searching for my ponderize scripture. While it may be a little silly, I know it is a true principle. I have a most amazing husband and want to try my best every day to be the kind of wife who is virtuous, kind, and supportive.

I also looked up the definition of virtue and I loved what I found on lds.org. 

Virtue is a prerequisite to entering the Lord’s holy temples and to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. Virtue “is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards.” It encompasses chastity and moral purity. Virtue begins in the heart and in the mind. It is nurtured in the home. It is the accumulation of thousands of small decisions and actions. Virtue is a word we don’t hear often in today’s society, but the Latin root word virtus means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost. President Monson has counseled: “You be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness—and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with the confidence that you are worthy to do so.” 

I love it! I can't wait to see what inspiration and guidance I receive as I focus my efforts toward being more virtuous.  

Halloween 2015

We had a very happy Halloween and we hope you did too! 

Hyrum loved carving his pumpkin, which means he loved watching Mom almost single handedly gut and carve the pumpkin! That's ok. Mom's do things like that because it brings joy to their children. 

I convinced him to let me make him a spider costume this year. It was completely free and only took me about an hour. He loved it! He wanted to wear it all the time and he informed me that he even wants to be a spider next year too! Win!

I saw some cute spider web costumes on Pinterest and created Lindi's (also free) based on those. It was kinda fun to have them be a costume pair. 

And Ellie was a chicken because I ran out of energy and ideas for her spider themed costume. Besides, it was free to borrow from a friend and I'm all about free. She was a very cute chicken and it kept her warm on a chilly night. 

We enjoyed the ward trunk or treat and then spent some time across the street at the Baptist Church's Fall Festival. The kids got entirely too much candy. Two gallon bags worth. It's been keeping me happy. 

Here's to eating less sugar!

Ponderize November 1, 2015

I need forgiveness all the time. 

Ponderize October 18 & 25, 2015

I didn't post about my ponderize scripture for this past week.  I chose Doctrine & Covenants 10:5.  It has always been a favorite scripture of mine.  A friend of mine recently said that she felt like Satan was trying to destroy her family and I don't doubt that he is.  He attacks even the best and the strongest anyway he can because he does not want us to win.  But don't forget the promise that President Hinckley stated so well,

"We are engaged in a great eternal struggle that concerns the very souls of the sons and daughters of God. We are not losing. We are winning. We will continue to win if we will be faithful and true. We can do it. We must do it. We will do it. There is nothing the Lord has asked of us that in faith we cannot accomplish."

Prayer is one of the many tools we are given to help us win.

This week I wanted to choose a scripture about temple work.  I chose Doctrine & Covenants 127:4. Tony and I are taking the kids to visit the Oklahoma City temple this week.  It will be the 22nd temple we have performed ordinances in together (if swapping turns doing initiatory counts ;).  

We have been given the responsibility to seek out our family members who need temple work performed and to go and do it.  So go and do!

Tyler State Park

We didn't let Mom's broken toe mess up our camping trip. We had been looking forward to it for quite some time. 

Mom had to sit and watch most of the fun (I did get into the kayak once) but there was plenty of fun to watch. The kids loved the dirt, riding bikes, hiking, kayaking, and swimming in the lake! (The water was so clear! It was beautiful. The kids liked watching the fish swim nearby.)

There was a fire ban, so we didn't get to make s'mores, but we were glad for Grandma and Grandpa's camp trailer that let us make our meals. It's more fun to cook over the fire, though!

It was a successful trip!

Ellie Bean

Remember how babies get bigger and it's just not fair?? This little Ellie Bean is a couple days short of six months!! 

She's still bald as can be, but she rolls all over the place. She's started thinking about sitting on her own. She loves her some baby cereal and we're going to introduce vegetables very soon. 

She's a pretty happy baby so long as mom doesn't cheat and eat dairy. She's started sleeping longer at night! Woohoo! She almost always has a smile to share. 

We're so glad Miss Ellie Texas is ours forever!

Bryton, don't look at this blog post. It'll make you queasy.

Moms do crazy things. They wake up at 4am to feed babies. After they put the baby back down they really want to go to sleep, but they get up when the two year old calls for them. They take the two year old potty. The lay down by the two year old. The two year old needs water, so the mom grumbles a bit and goes to get water. 

This is when bad things happen. The mom is just trying to be a good mom, but she's also trying to go back to sleep. So, she doesn't turn on any lights. To turn on lights risks the waking of the entire house. To leave the lights off risks the chance of kicking the kitchen chair that didn't get tucked in just right. 

This is when the mom again proves she is crazy. Because even though she almost passes out from the pain, the pain is soon triumphed by her anger. Anger because this mom has a million things to do this morning and urgent care wasn't supposed to be on the list. 

Ponderize: 1 Nephi 15:24

My Ponderize scripture for this week is 1 Nephi 15:24.  I recently started rereading The Book of Mormon and came across this scripture.  What wonderful promises we have been given if we will hearken and hold fast to the word of God.  I believe the word of God to be both the scriptures and the living prophets.  What are you doing to hold fast to the word of God?

Also, if you are a mother or father, go listen to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's April 1983 General Conference address, "Within the Clasp of Your Arms."  It is powerful, uplifting, and will make you want to be a better parent.

Little Reads: The Cotton Candy Catastrophe at the Texas State Fair + Fair Recommendations

The Cotton Candy Catastrophe at the Texas State Fair by Dotti Enderle
5 out of 5 stars

This book has been a repeat read at our house, as well as at the library story time.  No matter how many times it is read, it never gets old.  Plus, we love reading books that we can then experience for ourselves!  If you live in Texas, you need to read this book.  Whether you love the fair, or you never have been, this is the perfect way to introduce little people to the State Fair of Texas.  

What are you most excited to see at the fair?

Big Tex and cotton candy! (Hyrum)

Candy! (Lindi)

Interactive questions:

Does Jake know what's happening behind him? 

What would you do with all that cotton candy?

What color is Jake's cotton candy? 

**Bonus**

Hyrum and Lindi's State Fair of Texas Recommendations

Favorite Activities

Hyrum: The Pee Wee Stampede

Imagine a bunch of little kids riding stick horses in a mock rodeo and you'll know what the Pee Wee Stampede is.  This kid loved dressing up, busting his bronc, and getting to keep his event number (he even wore it today), and a blue ribbon!

Lindi: Mother Goose Story Time

My little girl is becoming a serious book lover.  Add to that some fun songs and you've got her.  (Ellie also appreciated the cool, shady tent for taking a nap in.) 

Favorite Treats

Both kids will say that cotton candy was the treat that won, but I can't forget to mention the delicious funnel cake!!