Hunter, the James

Next Sunday my son will be turning 13! I can hardly stand it. But, what can a mother do? Teach, pray, encourage, pray. Repeat.

Question of the Week

Hunter: What language do deaf babies think in?

We were no longer "Good Society"

Jeff

So, there he was. Minding his own business. Enjoying a nice leather recliner. No work, no phone, no yard work, no honey-do lists. Easing back just a bit further to maybe take a pre-breakfast nap. And BAMMM! He reclined all the way to the floor. We were laughing so hard and trying to get our cameras out before he could jump up! Thanks for the laughs, Jeff. (He tries hard to be a good sport for our enjoyment!)

Bear Lake July 2010

We had a great time at Bear Lake with the Moores. We stayed in a big cabin and took turns making dinner or breakfast for everyone.


We played with the cousins:


Learned that Grandma can still do the splits! AWESOME!


Hunter learned how to shift gears...


Maddie kept hoping she could get phone service...and was ecstatic when she did get phone service...you should have seen her fingers fly!...


Grandpa had dreams of catching the Bear Lake fish that were THIS BIG!...


The sand at the beach was very soft. The water was very cold. The kids were having a blast...


Meg fell in love with the "Harry Potter" books and just had to finish #3...


The Moores are an exceptional family. We all get along very well and truly enjoy being together. I am not the best picture taker and wish I had pictures of Jen doing pedicures for HOURS; our dinners together (the food was always yummy and plentiful); Steve taking all the kids out on the four wheelers; the aunts chasing after Mase; Brandon chasing after Mase; Jeff and Grandpa enjoying their naps; Jeff G trying to recuperate after surgery on Saturday; Minetonka Cave and the wedding room; Jeff M enjoying the recliner (THAT picture WILL be posted as soon as I get a copy from Leslie)and Grandma being the best grandma to her kids and grandkids!


Thank you, everyone!

♥Linx♥

I keep saying that we need to do another "My kids say the funniest things" book but we just haven't done it yet. How about we post them so we don't forget and maybe one day we can print them all up...?

Lincoln just turned 6. He is a funny little guy. I have always called him "Little Lincoln". "Hey, Little Lincoln! Did you do something fun today?", etc. He was in kindergarten last year and and one day I said my usual greeting to him.
Linx: "I am not little anymore!"
Me: "Oh. You are right. What are you?"
Linx: "Um, I am smart!"
Me: "Okay. I will call you 'Smart Lincoln'".

I called him that every time I saw him after that and he seemed so pleased! A couple of months ago I stopped at the house to see Lori and was getting ready to leave. Lori called down the stairs to tell Hunter I was leaving. I hadn't seen Linx that time but Lori heard him yell "Tell Steph not to leave yet. I am coming to hear her say "Smart Lincoln!"

♥ I love that kid ♥

Comedy Central

We just got back from Bear Lake (and it was beautiful!) and I will post pix from that in a bit. First things first, though. I need a laugh right about now and Improv Everywhere always comes through. Check them out:

"I know that my Savior loves me"

“I Know That My Savior Loves Me,” Friend, Oct 2002, 46–47

1. A long time ago in a beautiful place,
Children were gathered ’round Jesus.
He blessed and taught as they felt of His love.
Each saw the tears on His face.
The love that He felt for His little ones
I know He feels for me.
I did not touch Him or sit on His knee,
Yet, Jesus is real to me.

Chorus
I know He lives!
I will follow faithfully.
My heart I give to Him.
I know that my Savior loves me.

2. Now I am here in a beautiful place,
Learning the teachings of Jesus.
Parents and teachers will help guide the way,
Lighting my path ev’ry day.
Wrapped in the arms of my Savior’s love,
I feel His gentle touch.
Living each day, I will follow His way,
Home to my Father above.

Chorus

Copyright © 2002 by Tami Jeppson Creamer and Derena Bell. All rights reserved. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial home or church use. This notice must be included on each copy made.

May came and went...

I can't believe it is June and a half already!

Meg got a new job at the bakery. She is finally one of the cake decorators. YAHOO! She has really enjoyed the change. Her fingers are constantly pink, which match most of her outfits, so she is still a fashionista!

We love Cakewrecks.com and we have anticipated seeing one of Meg's creations on there. This one could be a contender...She made Jeff a cake for his birthday. He wanted a Lord of the Rings cake. He was hoping for the Two Towers with Gollum on the side...





Good job, Meg! Dad was so proud!

Maddie graduated and is now enrolled in college. I can't believe we have two college students already! I remember morning sickness like it happened just yesterday.

Madds also got a new job. She is a nanny for triplet 7 year old boys!!! They live two doors down so she is still home and can use us for help if she needs it. After her first day she said she was going to wait a LONG time to have kids!



Hunter is all through with grade school. He had an amazing teacher, Mrs. L, who encouraged Hunter to practice his artistic talents. She struggled this year with cancer and was gone a lot for chemo. Hunter stayed on task and was a leader to the other kids. He is excited to go to Jr High.

Jeff wanted Hunter to go to school with him but Hunter politely declined. (I think Jeff would put a crimp in Hunter's style, but don't tell Jeff---he wears socks with his sandals and that just won't do for Hunter). Hunter is working on his Eagle project this summer and hopes to receive his Eagle award in December.



Jeff completed his first year as a Jr High teacher! He enjoyed it and the kids loved him. He has been home now for three whole weeks and has gotten lots of things done around the house. Thanks, Dude.

I am doing the usual and something new. Jeff's mom came over last night for Jeff's birthday and brought ME a present! I have always admired the new watches everyone is wearing but I am not a jewelry maker. Karen brought me a kit to make a watch band of my own...



Thanks, Karen. (I have THE BEST mother in law!)

Happy June, ya'll.
(the sun is shining today-bonus!)

Some days don't you just feel like this little guy? But then it's so nice to find you have a friend!

May Day! May Day!

I can't believe it is May already! I loved April and Conference and Easter and no plays and NO CAR PROBLEMS (wow!) and green grass and sunshine and fresh air and...

So, anyway, I am looking forward to spring. Anyone seen it yet?

Maddie opens her last High School show on Tuesday. She is the Stepmother in "Cinderella". I am frantically trying to make her a dress that they told me about last week.

Meg got her Associates Degree from Weber last week. Good job, Meg! President Monson was also there! He got an Honorary Degree from Weber State and then he was the keynote speaker. It was kinda like Conference only we got to applaud when he finished speaking.

Hunter is looking forward to 5 field trips this last month of Elementary School! He has been very busy helping his friends finish their Eagle projects and he is planning on finishing his by Christmas. I am so glad he likes Scouts. He has learned a lot of great things and he is a wonderful son!

Jeff was nominated "Teacher of the Year" for his school. He was quite embarrassed about that since it is his first year teaching...we all now he is a great teacher and his class room is always full of kids before and after school. Those kids need him and I am sure they appreciate his sense of humor and compassion, especially those kids who need a positive male role model.

I have been busy with work and Primary. I was able to help a lady in our ward who needed a LOT of help in her home. I worked with 8 other ladies in our ward who I have known for at least 5 years. These women are hard workers and I am thankful that I can learn from them. I have a wonderful ward and great neighbors.

I also had good visits with my sisters. (I love you so much.) I can't imagine my life without you.

To wrap up April:

Happy Easter week!

(...and do you know how excited I am to listen to Conference next weekend!)



(I know I have put these guys up before, but they are still my favorites. They make me giggle every time I see them!)

Did you know?

Last night Hunter and I were watching a show about World War II. Veterans of the War were interviewed and they shared some amazing stories I had never heard before. Did you know that the USA had a ghost army? Check out this website for more information and pictures. www.ghostarmy.org





"Soldiers" used inflatable jeeps and tanks to make the Germans think there were more troops, etc than we actually had! Seen from the air were also the "tracks" made by all the trucks a other vehicles. They also changed insignia on jackets, etc to "be" a completely different troop! There was a photo of a "soldier" holding a "Jeep" over his head. I can't find it yet but will keep looking.

Women pilots became training mission pilots. They would fly their planes over the training soldiers and buzz them or drop poisons or bombs. The women were not considered members of the military and their families could not display the star banner in their windows for these women. If a woman died at work, the government did not pay to have her body sent home. That was the responsibility of the family. These women were not considered veterans of war until the 1970's (I think)

One man interviewed was an American of Japanese descent. Before he went to war his mother said to him, "Die if you must, but do not bring dishonor to your country or your family"!

These men and women who sacrificed their youth, time, safety and lives for ours are our true heroes. I am so thankful for them and their examples to us of true patriotism. I hope my family knows how much I love the United States of America and what it was founded on...FAITH in GOD and LOVE of LIBERTY.

God bless our Troops and God bless America!

I ♥ chocolate...and things that are funny!

For a good time, call the Nestle hot line:

1-800-295-0051

When asked if you want to continue in English or Spanish, wait quietly for about 10 seconds and you will smile. Keep listening and press 4. Then take your pick. I have only listened to options 3 and 7 so far...cracked me up!

Have a wonderful weekend!

♥ ♥ ♥

Happy ♥ day! (So, I am in ♥ with this new little ♥! I just discovered how to make it! Cool, eh?)

Anyway, I ♥ you all. Have a ♥WONDERFUL♥ weekend!

THE best Super Bowl Commercial EVER!

My son...

Today we were a bit late for school. We pulled up and all of Hunter's class was still lined up at the door. Oh, good. You aren't late! I said. But there is a note on the door. Maybe it is from your teacher...

No, mom. That's my note. I drew it. It has claw marks on it and it says PORTAL TO INSANITY. My teacher says if I do another one and color it, she will give me 15 extra points on my spelling packet.

I don't think that has anything to do with spelling, I foolishly said.

Yes, it does! I had to spell PORTAL-TO-INSANITY.

Jeff and his Amazing Adventure with Knock-Out Drugs!

Jeff's family has been doing the rounds for colonoscopies. Jeff got insurance and lined up a "check it out" date for December 28.

Anyway, I sat next to him as he was coming out of the anesthesia...if you know Jeff at all, you know he talks about EVERYTHING!

I grabbed my notepad and started scribbling away...

He reminded me about Maddie just having an upper scope and she was put out. When she came to, she was telling him LOTS of things...rule number one: NEVER tell Dad anything...

So, Jeff was telling me about Maddie and how she told him who she liked. I asked him who he liked and he said, "My list is in my wallet."

REALLY

He told me he had a secret Swiss Bank Account with $700,000 in it. I asked him what is the account #. "5-niner-pi-infinity."

NINER

He asked me if the doctor found anything. I said nope. You are as clean as a whistle. "They didn't find the legos I lost as a boy?"

Later, he asked me the same thing. I said they didn't find anything. "What did they do? Go to my brain cavity?"

BRAIN CAVITY

I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe.

The girls thought I made this whole thing up...Seriously, have you ever heard me say "brain cavity" OR "niner"? Have you? I rest my case.

Jeff's tests came back great. Nothing to worry about there.

He told me later (having NO recollection of any of our conversation) to check in his wallet for his list...

1. subway card
2. autozone card
3. quizno's card
4. blood donor card
5. Famous Dave's gift card
6. family emergency evacuation card
7. temple recommend
8. movie punch pass

I think he may have wanted pictures of his family for his wallet...Maybe that's what I will get him for Valentine's Day!

A December Do-Over...

Seriously, I can't believe it is January. I didn't get to enjoy my December and Christmas and school break the way I had in the past. Let me 'splain...

1. Maddie was still sick and we spent at least one day a week in the doctor's office and I DO MEAN a whole day...

2. I tried to do catch up on the other days of the week for work, Primary, the house, Meg and Hunter, Jeff...

3. Meg finally got tired of waiting and put up Christmas sometime around the middle of the month (with a miniscule amount of help from Mad & Bud)...



4. Spent one day on the phone calling surgeons to see if they could help us over Christmas Break...they only wanted to see her and charge another office visit and then do surgery in January...

5. Spent one morning on the phone with the insurance company filing complaints against the 2 doctors that were "helping" Mad by putting her surgery out until January...

6. Happy note: the insurance lady called her own surgeon and got us an appointment for the next morning...the 23rd of December...and had us penciled in for surgery on Christmas Eve...



7. The insurance lady even came to the hospital to visit us on surgery day... :0

8. I hurried to finish shopping and wrapping on the 22nd...

9. Jeff had a wonderful little procedure done on December 28 which leads me to another story I will post next...

10. Meg started her next show "The Fantasticks" on New Year's Eve...(rehearsals almost every night in December...)

11. Mad is recovering very nicely. She went back to school this week and did NOT miss one single day!



12. I tried to get all of Primary ready for the new year with new classes, teachers, rooms, schedules...there are more than 100 kids and more than 35 teachers...the first activity of the year was on Jan 2 and we thought it went well...most of the kids came and most of the teachers came...we kept it just about an hour...I couldn't have done it without my awesome counselors...

13. I called to cancel Mad's surgery that was supposed to be on the 7th of January and the person asked if I wanted to reschedule...I laughed and hung up...

I did have a wonderful day on Christmas. We had a little Christmas that morning and then made our annual family breakfast...breakfast quiche, juice and fruit...the Moores came up and then we spent the afternoon with Moores and Godwins and the Andersons were even able to come down. I love to be with our families and I guess I don't really need a Christmas day do-over...I look forward to next year and no one being sick!

I Caught Him!

We always leave cookies and milk for Santa. His cup is always dry in the morning like maybe he licked it clean. "He must be extra thirsty" I thought. Maybe the kids weren't leaving enough milk for poor old Santa.

I decided to try an experiment...I set the camera on the cupboard next to the stove. I put a motion detector on it so it would turn on when a light came on.

Christmas morning this is what I found on my camera...!