Gigaware Wireless Optical Mouse

This is a warning to anyone out there who might be looking at purchasing a wireless optical mouse. The Gigaware Wireless Optical Mouse Model: 26-339 (Catalog #: 26-339) is one to AVOID!

When our mouse died back awhile ago now.. but since we've had this blog...we decided to avoid the cords because of the kids. Bob went to Radio Shack and bought this mouse. We hooked it up and loved it immediately....until about two weeks later. That's when it just stopped working (back in January). We couldn't figure out what the problem was... we reset it, we restarted the computer, we changed the batteries, nothing worked. So, Bob returned it and they gave him another one.

Okay... so it is possible that one is defective. We set the new one up, and again loved the way it worked. But I was on the look out for trouble again. It's been about a month (maybe a month and a half) and suddenly, this morning, without warning it's all trouble again! Again nothing works to fix the problem. (Good thing we have the laptop!)

I went looking for information to see if I could figure out the problem... no luck! In fact, all I found were bad reviews (except one)... when we take this one back, we will not be replacing it with the same! We'll be buying a different one... with more reliability and better ratings. I hadn't realized we would need to be so picky with our mouse!

What Was That?

The other day the kids were eating their lunch. And since they were pleasantly getting along, I decided to grab a minute and to look something up. While my back was turned I hear the following conversation:

Beth: Oh, Bomber!
Jeremy: Bomber?
Beth: Yeah, see. Oh, Bomber!
Gabi: What's a Bomber?
Jeremy: Oh, Bomber! Ha, Ha!
Beth: You know. Like when my sandwich messes up. We always say that.
Gabi: You mean Bummer! Not Bomber!
Beth: No.... you taught me that. It's Bomber!
Gabi: No! Bummer!
Beth: No! Bomber!
Gabi: Na-ah! It's Bummer!
Beth: Well I say it Bomber! See, Jeremy. Oh, Bomber!

Since I hadn't heard the phrase again in about a week's time, I figured all had been resolved. Until tonight... at dinner... something happened and again I heard Beth's voice boom out "Oh, Bomber!" It seems you can teach them some things, but others they "learn" themselves and then just won't budge!

Shush

We've had an evolving method of telling the kids to quiet down....Or more accurately, I have. Typically "be quiet" was what I said. I never liked "shut up" much as it always seemed too harsh. But, with more and more kids making more and more noise, the staggering frustration that mounts when you're trying to have a necessary conversation and hear the other person and hear yourself think makes it hard to not just snap and say it.

"Hush" has not been much in my vocabulary... I always think of sleeping babies, of which I had none...most of the time... so it didn't seem appropriate. Over the last year, I've used "shush" much more often. I guess that was my natural compromise when I was frustrated and wanted to yell "shut up".

No one else in the family uses it... or at least they didn't. Over the last week, though, I've found myself being "shushed" by none other than Jeremy! :) It should be insulting to be told to quiet down by a two year old in this manner, but I can't help but smile and laugh. It even makes it hard to enforce the "don't interrupt" rule when he's right in my face saying "shush, mom, shush"!

I guess I talk too much... so "shush, mom, shush"

MUD

So... by now you've all heard how crazy I was the other night about mud. Well, what I didn't tell you was that everyone else was just as excited (once they knew that mud means spring). This is truly a unique feeling of excitement, as typically we dread the mud.

Where we are, instead of four seasons, there are five. The fifth being mud. That means, mud for months. In fact, I think spring is really only counted because it's known everywhere else in the world. Spring is usually a few weeks, and then it's summer.

Never-the-less, mud season usually means extra cleaning, yelling at the kids to stop and take off shoes as they go running into the main section of the house. It means cars getting stuck in driveways, shoes being sucked in as if in quicksand, in means digging your own trench in the hopes that the water will find its way elsewhere so the mud can go away!

Mud is typically something to dread. Really dread. (Unless you have 4 Wheel Drive and love to go "mudding"....even then, I've been on a few rides where we've gotten stuck in the middle of a very muddy, sticky field!)

The excitement comes when you look at what we've been through this year. Where snow starts flying in late October, and sticking in Early December (or was it around Thanksgiving....I can't recall now, there's been so much). As the snow gets to sticking (and building), the temps drop to below freezing at night, slightly above during the day. Winds pick up, the temps drop to below zero at night and just below freezing during the day. And then......temps don't come above zero at all! Snow is still flying.. mostly snow, but some other wintery mess as well.

By the time January finally comes in, we're done with winter... in spirit! But, with an early start, there's an early thaw... the nice respite brought temps from zero to 60 in a day! Talk about melt off.. with rain! But, that was short lived... our snow mounds might have shrunk by half and we still had two to three feet of snow! The thaw ended with three big storms in the space of a week! Short lived! The snow was back and higher than before!

The storms have not really let up... and neither of have the temps.... although we get a teaser day every so often, so I keep hoping that means the temps will be nicer soon! As February prepares to close, the snow keeps coming... the mounds outside (not touched with the shovel) are getting close to four feet standing...and cabin fever has given way to delirium!

And so.... We Love Mud!

Short Lived Excitement

A couple of nights ago at the dinner table Bob says to us, "Guess what I saw in the driveway?" I, of course, recognize that this must be something great. I start thinking about everything that might be in the driveway which might excite the kids....new snow? no. new pet? no. unexpected friends? no. A Robin! no.....and then I get it! MUD!

Yes! MUD! My eyes light up, my excitement overflowing! Gabi is looking at me like I grew a new head! But that doesn't matter... there's MUD! Finally we tell the kids that mud means spring is coming... and will be here soon! Though I know snow is due to come throughout the week, I push that to the back of my mind. It doesn't matter... we have MUD!

As I look out my window this morning, and see the driveway ever shrinking way, mounds of unwanted snow all around, I feel the dimness of despair as it registers fully that winter is not giving up so easily!

But then I remember....MUD! And know that somewhere beneath all the wintery mess is MUD! And this makes me smile!

Kindness Begins....

Okay... like many of you, I've noticed an on going battle in our home. Friendliness gives way to bitterness, sharing to selfishness, nice and uplifting words and voices to mean and nasty name calling and screams.... This isn't all the time (and thank goodness or I might just have to resign from motherhood - just kidding ;) ), but when it does happen, the Spirit leaves! And when that happens, everything negative escalates.

Since Jeremy had the lesson last night for Family Home Evening (and Peter next week, myself the week after, and Bob after that) we started a series of lessons on kindness. Last night was the broad topic:

Kindness Begins At Home With Me

We had Jeremy remind us of the ways to be kind to one another. We're doing a chart (for a visual.. since at least one of our children absolutely needs that). It's entitled:

Kindness Begins At Home With Me
Caught-ya Chart

Whenever someone catches someone else being kind (in word, in deed, in voice, etc), then the person who did something kind gets to put either a sticker, a smiley face, or a heart on the chart. We want to fill it right up.

Next week will be The Tones of the Heart (using soft voices) and the week after that will be By Your Acts Ye Shall Be Known (acts of love and service). Bob's week is up in the air. If things are going well, then he'll move on to another topic. If we need to be specific about something else, then he'll do that.

The children typically do well... but I don't want to have to remind them all their lives! I want it to be the habit they have, not something they struggle with throughout life.

Who Will Help Me Make The Bread?

I'm sure you all remember the story of the Little Red Hen...well, this story strikes a cord with my kids because they know what it means to "make the bread". I was thinking about this again today as I was not only making bread, but grinding more wheat to fill the wheat container. Each kid takes a turn at grinding the wheat. Usually they take turns adding ingredients to the bread dough too (if I don't shu them off). Their favorite part is punching down the dough (and snitching a little at the same time). And in the end, no one can say they can't have any fresh, hot bread!

For me, though, making bread is something else all together. As long as I can remember my grandmother made homemade bread. It was called "Grammy Bread" which was then turned into "Grammy toast". The smell of fresh hot bread is a soothing comfort of loving family. It's a sense of peace and relaxation. (Comfort food)

My favorite parts of making the bread are when my hands are actually in the dough. I love the way it feels, and I love to kneed it. In fact, I have to be careful not to over kneed my bread. Every time I make bread, I am reminded of the people who made bread for me all growing up. My Grandma Boone... always. And My mother... for a nice treat and so we could "make" bread too.

To me, bread is a symbol of love and nurturing. I guess that's probably why I love to make bread so much. (And why I love that others love my bread so much.) I figure that if I put the time into making something vital for my family, then my love for them will some how trickle into the dough while I'm kneeding and fill my family up!

And for anyone who likes my bread or has lost my recipe (because you can't find it any where else), here it is... the most commonly requested of my breads, and the one my family loves the most:

Tara's Bread (All molassas in the winter, half molassas and half honey the rest of the year)

Combine in small sauce pan, 1 cup of butter (or margarine), 1/2 cup molassas (or 1/4 molassas and 1/4 honey) and 1 1/2 cups water. Heat until butter has melted. Remove from heat.

While that is cooling, combine in a mixing bowl 3 cups ground whole wheat flour, 2 cups rolled oats, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 4 1/2 teaspoons active yeast (or two packages). Add two eggs and blend well. Now add the mixture from the saucepan. Kneed for 5 minutes. Add up to 1 more cup of all-purpose flour and kneed another 3 minutes. Remove from bowl and kneed by hand until smooth.

Place in a greased bowl, roll to coat, cover lightly. Allow to rise until doubled (about 1 hour). Punch down, divide into two equal parts. Roll into loaf shape, place in greased bread pans, roll to coat, cover lightly and allow to rise until double (about 30 minutes - 1 hour). Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and place on a cookie rack on their sides to cool. Cover with a towel to allow slow cooling.

For a softer crust, when loaves are warm (but not hot), place in a plastic bag. Leave the bag open so moisture can escape. When completely cool, completely close bag to keep fresh.

Can't you just smell the fresh bread now? Enjoy!

No Day

Sundays are busy... as in, get up, stop the fighting, find clothes, feed kids, find shoes, get them dressed, forget to comb everyone's hair, check for scriptures, find socks, "Yikes, I'm not dressed yet!", "who hasn't eaten?", "books! Do you have books?", double count, out the door, "what have we forgotten?", "too late now" kind of busy!

Yesterday was not far from off track. But, we managed to arrive to church a little early, got through Sacrament just fine, headed off to classes, then went to "mix-n-mingle" (a soups and breads lunch for the ward). It was nice to be able to visit with others and not have to go through the busy morning routine in reverse.

Since we stayed late, Jeremy had a nap in the car... and stayed there sleeping with Daddy when we got home. Needless to say, it was "no longer" Sunday when he came into the house. After eating more food (seriously, I'm dreading the teenage munchies) and finally settling into being back at home, Jeremy decides he wants to watch a movie.

Movies are a big No-No in our house on Sundays. Just one of those family rules we've had established since before Gabi so that we can focus more on our family and our Savior. It works for us, and we usually don't get any complaints. Yesterdays conversation went something like this (all the while with a big grin from Jeremy):

J: I want to watch a movie. Can I watch Candy Land?
Mom: No, Silly, it's Sunday. We don't watch movies on Sunday.
J: No it's not!
Mom: Where did you go today?
J: I played piano at church with Daddy.
Mom: So what day is it?
J: I don't know.
Dad: Where did we go before we played piano?
J: To church.
Dad: What day do we go to church?
J: Sunday
Dad: So what day is it?
J (grinning even bigger) "No Day"

Don't Show Him!

Daddy's been gone on a great winter outing with some friends (I'll let him fill you in on any funny or exciting stories). Knowing that he has been camping out in this below freezing weather, I thought it might be nice to have some hot soup waiting for him. The kids were all in agreement, and kindly found other things to do while I made it.

When Daddy came through the door, hugs were handed out and Gabi helped me dish up a bowl of soup. Jeremy was so excited....until he looked at the soup on the table!

He crumpled into a heap on the floor sobbing "Don't show him the ugly soup!"

I'm Chilly When...

Kids are truly amazing. The things they say....the way they say them....and the real life experiences which give great insight and knowledge (but which are also promptly forgotten or ignored).

As it's a little windy outside, the kitchen has a little chill to it. During dinner, Beth complained that she was cold.

B: "I think I need two back warmers."
Me: "Why two?"
B: "Because my arms are cold."

I try not to laugh at her.

B (with a look of deep concern and slight puzzlement): "My arms are always chilly when I wear short sleeves on a cold day."

And A Word From Peter

He's at that stage, new words every time you turn around.

And the new word is:

"Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop. Popcorn."

Summer Complaints

Well, it has been a long winter, and we still have a ways to go yet before we hit mud season, but today I saw the first sign that summer is approaching. As it is, our dooryard is getting smaller and smaller as I clear after each storm. Our poor garage, which is little more than 3 recycled walls from previous structures (most likely not even the same previous structure,) attached to a 100 year old barn, and has a roof that has less slope than Kansas, has really groaned under the weight of the snow. Wednesday we had a snow day, so I got up there and relocated most of the snow. The section where the barn dumps it's snow was pure ice, however, and my will was weaker than the 30' X 4' X 4' iceblock.

Yesterday, it rained all day, which brought more snow off the barn onto the garage, and nearly doubled the width and height of my snow sculpture. The Garage really seemed to be unhappy with the additional weight. Since today brought temps in the 40's, I decided to get up there again and get some exercise.
I was down to the last 15 minutes worth of work when a minivan with out of state plates drove by, slowed, and stopped. They backed up to my driveway, and a woman leaned out the window. "We're from the south" she hollered up to me, "and we've never seen anyone shovel their roof. May we take your picture?"

Had I thought fast enough, I would have invited them into the barn and sold them some "antiques" (that I had picked up at the transfer station, AKA town dump), or a small bundle of firewood, or a made in China Statue of a moose eating lobster at the base of a lighthouse, or whatever it is that the summer complaints must have before they make their way back home. I suppose they got a great "pre-summer" deal on accommodations from a local B&B.

Correction Please...

I'm working at the computer when Jeremy comes over. He asks if he can play on the big computer (meaning the desktop, not the laptop). I tell him I'm having a turn and that he can have one after. He climbs up on the chair next me, which puts him closer to the mouse.

J: "Whoever's over here gets the mouse." (A common way to share with the kids)
Me: "Don't touch that. It might mess something up."

He reaches for the mouse. I get there first.

Me: "That's Mommy's mouse."
J: "No it's not! That's Daddy's new mouse!"

Carrots

Carrots. A favorite vegetable of Gabi's. In fact, it might well be her favorite.

So... she goes to a friend's house for a birthday party which includes staying for dinner. She's a very picky eater, but can actually have some manners and eat a no thank you portion of just about anything. So I remind her that she needs to be polite at dinner time.

When she arrives after school to the said house, she tells the mother that she didn't finish all her cold lunch. She asks if she can eat the rest for dinner. The mother says that is fine and then told her that she planned to have macaroni and cheese and chicken. And that she gets to choose her own vegetable.

G: "I don't like chicken."
The mom: "You don't like chicken nuggets?"
G: "Oh. Yeah. I like chicken nuggets."

She then tells the mother she wants carrots.

The mom: "Do you like raw carrots or cooked carrots?"
G: "I don't like raw carrots... and I don't like cooked carrots....I just like carrots."

And Behold... She's Really Listening

I have such a hard time with Beth. Okay, not all the time, but certainly some of the time and almost always at scripture time. It's not that she's a bad kid, so don't misunderstand what I'm saying. She's just a little....well...preoccupied.....

She can't sit still, sings to herself and dances all around. This, of course, drives me crazy (I know, short drive) because I'm a literal, need quiet for reverence kind of a person. I'm always interrupting scriptures to remind her to find a seat and be quiet so we can hear. Sometimes she sits with Daddy and is quiet and attentive. But this is not the norm. I'm certain she's not getting anything out of the scriptures. She can't possibly be listening and actually hearing anything.

So, Thursday night, she's off in her own world, singing and dancing. I remind her to come and have a seat. That there is a chair right next to me. So she skips over, hoping and turning at the same time to sit down in her chair... all the while Daddy is reading Alma 2:19....

D: "...that there were slain of the Amlicites twelve thousand five hundred thirty and two souls..."
B: "WHOA!.....That's a lot!" (crazy energy vibe and legs swinging wildly)
D: "...of the Nephites six thousand five hundred sixty and two souls."
B: "That's alot too!"

So... I guess I don't know much. She's apparently listening and hearing!

Happy Valentine's Day

What a wonderful morning! Due to the storm yesterday, school was delayed (1 hr for Bob, 2 hrs for Gabi). The kids were able to enjoy their valentine gifts from grandparents and parents this morning instead of this afternoon!

Yesterday afternoon was spent making valentines. Jeremy and Beth made all that were needed for church on Sunday, while Gabi spent her time making her valentines for school today. You'll notice the picture.. these were a sample of what hers ended up looking like. Yes, complete with cookie pops!

The kids have decided they want a pancake dinner. Once they are done and into bed, Bob and I will have a real adult meal... maybe by candle light. This is, after all, the first valentine's we've spent together since we got married! He's always been working at the restaurant, and this time he told them he wouldn't be available! Isn't he sweet? I didn't ask, I just assumed he'd be working again. So, Happy Valentine's Day to me! :)

We hope everyone else has a wonderful Valentine's Day!

It's All The Way You Look At It...

Well, yesterday was rather eventful... at least the morning. Let me back up, the night before I received a phone call from Melissa wanting to know if I had heard about the sewing group for Tuesday morning. I hadn't, so she told me that it was really to see what kind of interest there was. And, she had some more stuff to make more aprons (like the ones she and I made back when Savannah first started school a couple years ago). I was excited to go and help, although skeptical about my kids.

Tuesday morning started out okay...cold, but okay. The kids seemed to be helpful and responsive.. until it was time to get ready to go. Since my cell phone has been lost of many, many months now, and since I had been out on Monday in the mess, I finally bought a new one and was trying to transfer over the units from the old phone before leaving. I just felt like I needed to do that... so I did. Which put us behind by about half an hour. That was increased by kids who were off in their own worlds while trying to actually get out the door.

Well, the ride ended just over half way to our destination. Suddenly, the driver's side front wheel locked up. Over the course of the winter I'd heard some grinding like sounds off and on, but always when the roads were snowy. Sunday Bob thought it had locked up on our way to church. But with the roads being messy and all, he got out, kicked off the snow build up and we didn't have any more trouble. I drove it in the mess on Monday and no problems.

Five times in the space of about 3 or 4 miles I had to stop because it was locking up on Tuesday. I would get out and try to kick off the snow. Of course, the roads had little snow at all on them and so there wasn't much to "kick off". The fifth time there wasn't anything to kick off. There was no way it was snow!

So, here I am with my cell phone, but no phone numbers, and three of my kids with me away from any house or anything else. I did happen to remember Melissa's cell phone number and called her, since I obviously wasn't going to make it into town. She got me my mechanic's number, but I couldn't get through. I called AAA, made the arrangements, and then called Melissa again and she came and got me and the kids and took us home.

Thanks, Melissa, for doing that! And thanks, Marie, for taking her kids so she could!

The car wasn't picked up until 2 hours and 45 minutes after the initial call... glad I didn't wait around. But it's at the shop, and hopefully we'll have it back in time for Dance and Church this weekend. If not, there are plenty of things to get done around the house.

After getting through the emotional shock that comes from realizing you're stranded, I realized just how fortunate we really were:

1. It could have happened Sunday. That was a day no one who didn't need to be on the roads should have been. And we were going the opposite direction of our mechanic. Plus, can you imagine having to walk four kids in that mess?

2. It could have happened on Monday, when I has alone with the kids and the roads were a mess.

3. Had it happened either of those days, we probably would have had some serious damage to the van... when the wheel locked up, the van started pulling. In messy conditions, that means loosing control. Tuesday the roads were fine and I was able to manage the van safely to the side of the road.

4. Melissa was able to come get us. Had no one known we were out and about, I'm not sure if anyone else would have been around to come and get us! (Being the first nice-ish day in a while)

5. I might not have had the cell phone (good thing I followed that prompting), and then I would have been on a major state road, with below freezing temps and winds, with three little ones trying to get some place to make a phone call.

When looked at it from these five points, crying didn't make sense. I was actually rejoicing! Once again, the Lord kept us safe and provided for us. I have much to be grateful for!

Yearly Check Up

We braved the terrible roads yesterday to take Peter to his doctor's appointment. I knew our road wouldn't be great, but it appeared passable with caution... but I figured the main road would be clear. No such luck... the main road wasn't much better than my road! Still, we doubled the normal travel time and managed to get there just in time (without complication).

The news: Peter is still tall, and big, but has (like his siblings before him) slowed down tremendously. As in, dips way down and starts climbing steady again. Instead of being projected to be 6 feet 1 inch, he's now looking more like 5 feet 10 inches (that would be just like Dad). He was 31 inches long and 23 pound 12 ounces. Long and getting skinny. He had three shots yesterday (one more than I usually let them do at a time), but has been calm and happy anyway! :)

And To Sum It Up...

Family scriptures are not always the most calm and quiet. Okay, most of the time they aren't calm and quiet. Often there are several loud voices arguing over who gets to read the scripture stories and who gets to choose the first song and who gets to read the actual scriptural verses. It's great to let everyone have a turn!

We added the scripture stories (using the Book of Mormon Scripture Stories book) so that the children would be able to complete the challenge of our Stake President to "read the Book of Mormon entirely through by this next stake conference." We knew they wouldn't be able to sit through lengthy readings.. or read it all by themselves in time. However, with this approach, they will have completely the "Book of Mormon" in an age-appropriate way twice before conference! We did not want this to take the place of the actual Book of Mormon even for them, so we also continue with a few verses each night.

As I mentioned earlier, there is often loud pronouncements of who gets to do what. Well, the other night, Jeremy would not let me read the scriptures. Oh no. It was his turn and he didn't need any help! Thus the the following:

"Now behold, they wanted to kill Nephi. And God said 'No'. And God said to love God."

Well, I guess that sums it up! :)

Thanks To All You Blogger Friends!

I just have to say that I love Sunday nights... Monday mornings. My highlight is all the blog notes that go up over the weekend... yes I check them through the week and many are updated more often than the weekend, but some how, after being filled at church, the joy is ten-fold!

I just love that little bit of everyone and their families which makes me smile. We all have such wonderful stories to share with each other.. laughs enough to go around... things to make you say "ahhhhhhh". It's great! And when you're at home without an adult to converse with, well, who can beat that!

Blessings of Travel

So here I am again.. mother's night alone.. by alone I mean mom, two boys and two girls. Dad is gone. It's for a good cause, though... it's Stake Priesthood Meeting tonight. I guess I'm grateful that everything went smoothly on this High Council trip.... sometimes it's really hard for the kids to do the actual traveling.

Our assigned unit was as far away as our normal ward. This made gathering for the ride a little easier, although they started sooner and the roads were snowy... so, we left early, took some extra time and arrived without any trouble.

When preparing my talk for today, I tried numerous times to settle on the right topic. It just wasn't working and I finally told Bob so. He makes it a habit to not give me an assignment, and rather to let me choose my own. I honestly think that 's much harder. This time, he consented to give me a topic to try out and see what happened. The talk came together in one evening. No trouble, just together.

After having so many people come up to me after the meeting to express how much they enjoyed my talk, I realized more than ever the powerful influence of the Lord. I know that he guides us. And I've seen it happen when preparing talks before. But while I've been speaking with Bob on these assignments, I have learned so much more about how much the Lord really knows each of us. Each ward or branch has needed something specific. I've been inspired, and often wondered how to work with certain topics or how they would be received. Yet when following this inspiration, I have found that the things I say and the things which the Spirit teaches are indeed what was needed. It's been a wonderful opportunity for my testimony of this to grow more.

I am grateful also for the time our family gets to spend together doing this. There is a special sense of calm and peace as we sit together in these units that we visit. I was noticing today just how much I enjoy partaking of these spiritual lessons while seated beside my husband. This is a wonderful treat for me since in our home ward we don't get this opportunity outside of sacrament meeting. (Due to callings)

We have been so blessed. I am indeed grateful for these spiritual blessings which strengthen us.

Neat Sites

Just found these websites for anyone interested! One is the web page for our current Prophet Thomas S. Monson and the other is for out late Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. They have the official church information about each.

Thomas S. Monson

Gordon B. Hinckley

"...When I Go To Other Countries..."

It's High Councilmen Thursday (the first Thursday of the month, and thereby meeting night) so the kids and I have the house to ourselves. As soon as Gabi arrived home from school we put in the new Cd's from the Johnson clan and danced ourselves silly. The kids thought this was great fun, especially since Mommy looked so silly! Jeremy learned how to do a jumping jack and Beth quit early with a tummy ache (probably because she'd only just finished her lunch).

We had left overs for dinner, which meant no arguing and fight! :) And the kids managed to play nicely, although didn't finish putting away toys. The only real commotion was keeping the cats off the counters!

Somehow, in all of this, Gabi was thinking about languages.....I know this because in her prayer she asked that she be blessed to "learn languages so that when I go to other countries I can speak with them" Who knew she had such big plans? :)

Actually, some day, we really do want to visit another country, so I guess it's time to invest in a real Spanish program (to be enhanced with Dad's expertise) and after that (and increasing the ASL) we might have to move on to another language! If nothing else, it prepares her for a mission, which she so quickly said she was planning to do one Sharing Time recently!

Peek-A-Boo

Peter figured out how to play peek-a-boo last night. He'd had a rough day (still getting over the cold) and so he'd had a late nap. Thus, when everyone else was asleep, he got up on Daddy's lap to play! And so... Peek-A-Boo!

And That's What We Call Team-Work

So you all know how much our family loves snow days.....well, yesterday was spent getting paperwork and toys taken care of. Paperwork... mom and dad...toys... kids. The reward... go out and play in the snow... or if you're Dad, go out and shovel. In any event, we all got some fresh air and even Peter played happily! I had forgotten what it was like to have a Baby actually like to be in the snow and not get so mad they needed to be returned to the house when a mitten fell off! (Gabi was like that... but the other two just didn't handle the cold so well).

With Dad shoveling, we spent our time out front instead of trudging to the back hill to go sledding. This meant snowball fights, king of the mountain little kid style (get to the top and laugh at Dad), sliding head first down the shoveled up mountain, and finding the deck (buried under the mounds and mounds of snow) without getting stuck! It also meant Jeremy shoveling the mountain back into the driveway. It's a good thing he can't push much at a time and that Daddy's faster!

For Peter, sitting below was not an option... well, he at least tried to get to the top! :) He discovered he loves snow... fist by fist or just stick your face in and come up with a mouthful!

We had quite a nice time and came in to hot cocoa and a movie (unless you were Dad and then you came in to make dinner :)

Pattern Blocks

Beth has had a continual stream of presents since her birthday party. One of the most recent arrived today. Grandma n Grandpa Nielsen sent a bucket of pattern blocks, just like the ones we used to use in school. For our Family Home Evening activity tonight, Beth decided that we needed to all play with her new blocks.

Since the Lesson was on Valentine's Day, we challenged everyone to make a heart. Doing this with the shapes provided (two diamonds, a square, a Triangle, a Trapezoid, and a hexagon) without a pattern proved to be quite challenging, although the attempts brought out many different flowers, butterflies and other cute shapes. Beth made two people on either side of a flower, and Jeremy built a chimney off of mom's butterfly. Gabi worked hard on her heart, and finally came up with several variations.

Being more ADD than I would like to admit, I Started off in several different directions, and would not follow the patterns given to me on the sheets. I started to do the sheets using only colors that did not match. Finding a Kindred Spirit, I challenged Beth to do the same on her sheet. With a quick example in the beginning, she was off and running, and in no time, had joined her anarchist old man in full blown pattern block rebellion. This activity ran beyond the typical 15 minute FHE activity time, and led to the kids finally finding their bed nearly 2 hours past bedtime. One of the best parts of being a parent is playing with your kids' toys!

Thoughts From My Heart

Being at home with a cold and 4 little ones under foot, I must admit that I was truly grateful that we could watch President Hinckley's funeral online. I found it moving as I listened to the people speak of his accomplishments, his good-naturedness, his love for all, his example beyond measure. I was reminded of many of my own memories of him. Almost all of them are from a distance, but his influence has been felt in my life. His shiny eyes and loving smile. His sincere desire for all to be better people. His gentleness when he spoke, yet with such power and wisdom that a heart was forever turned toward the better.

President Hinckley was my Prophet. Others had come and gone before him. All have had a great impact for good as they've followed the will of the Lord. But I was too young to remember well anyone before him. President Hinckley is the one I remember. The one whose words reached my soul. He's the one whose teachings are most vivid to me. The one whose council I have tried, and continue to try, to put into practice. The one who inspired me.

I will miss hearing his voice at conference time. I will miss seeing his cane wave. I will miss the way he taught with humor and love. I will miss his living example. But I will cherish the messages he gave. What he stood for. What he taught. I will hold dear his love, that I have felt, even from a distance. And I hope that I can, everyday, "stand a little taller" steadily "raising the bar" until I meet him and my Savior in a more perfect state.

I am so grateful for the gospel! For the LOVE of our savior. For His wisdom in giving us prophets to lead and guide us. I am forever grateful to have lived during the time that Gordon B. Hinckley was chosen of the Lord to guide us! I am grateful to know of eternal families and of life after death.

I know that this church is indeed true, and the peace that comes in times like this is from our Lord. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, inspired and prepared to bring the church and all its saving ordinances back to the earth. And I know that Gordon B. Hinckley was also a prophet of our Lord. That he, too, was prepared to do the Lord's work. That he fulfilled his earthly mission, and that the work continues on the other side.

May our hearts be filled with love and compassion toward one another. That is something he would have wanted. Stand a little taller, be a little better, and live more harmoniously with one another.

Tributes to Gordon B. Hinckley

If you'd like to download (or just listen to) a musical tribute to our late prophet just click here.

If you'd like to read more notes and tributes about our late prophet then click here.

Two separate links. Enjoy them both.

A Poem To Honor Our Late Prophet

I found this on a friend's site (Chez Nous in Maine) and where she found it, I'm not sure. It's a wonderful poem about the Passing of our Prophet. I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to share it with others too! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


Prophetic Passing

I imagine he's running to Marjorie now,
Yes, running, not waving his cane.
I see him embracing his father and mother
While they keep repeating his name.

I see him now meeting his forebears,
Brother Brigham and Joseph are there.
Sweet reunion of prophets, united by service
That only such noble men share.

I see him embraced by the Savior
While Father says, "Good and well done.
So faithful in stalwart endurance,
I welcome My noble, most excellent son."

I then hear the ripples of laughter
As he says the reception's just fine,
But he hopes that he'll get an assignment or two
Since there's no need to waste any time.

I can hear his clear voice in the stillness
At the close of this sweet Sabbath day,
Have faith and move forward — there's work to be done.
President Hinckley would want it that way.

Anna M. Molgard January 27, 2008