Musical Performance

Yesterday the parents of the students at Learning Zoo Preschool were invited to watch a performance of their students.  The first 15 minutes of the school day was a musical performance from the students.  They were so cute I loved it!!  Every song had motions and movements to help the students know the words and musical patterns.  I was super impressed with Marsha and her mom (Saetrum) that are the teachers, known as Mrs. S and Mrs. J.  Sam did really well too.  I stood right up there and sang and did the actions.  I really loved the interpretive song that they had cut outs of a ship and waves and storms and sun.  They interpreted Beethoven's 5th Symphony (a few seconds of it).

Earlier this week I was able to accompany the 3rd graders to the Museum of Natural Curiosity field trip.  It was lots of fun though tiring.  I had fun with the other parents and Rubie and her group.

Rubie and Eric have been doing great in karate.  Rubie has earned 2 trophies for her performances in class.  Maybe I should start awarding trophies for good performance at home?

I'm trying to endure the gray weather.  Getting outside if there is even a bit of blue ski helps, but I am having serious issues with the gray skies and inversion pollution.  Carlee and I have snowshoeing planned tomorrow.  That will help me.  I have her 3 youngest here today.

Scott was out of town just the first 3 days of this week.  But he is home for the weekend.  He was gone all last week and then had drill on the weekend.  He was vaccinated with the small pox vaccine.  His arm is off limits to anyone.  He has strict instructions to not let anyone touch the spot and to keep it covered and to wash his clothing separately from the rest of the families.  Gee that is comforting to me.

Snow Shoe Yeah!

This past week we got lots of snow here.  Then it rained and ruined it.  But then we got snow again.  I have really been feeling the pull of the mountains to get out there.  So after a long morning of chores and cleaning on Saturday we got the family to the mountains for some snow shoeing.  It was late enough in the day and snowing that we needed to just go to a close spot so we went to Tibble Fork.  Tibble Fork is under construction for building a new damn.  But they have still left space so that recreation-ers can get around the construction to enough the small part of the canyon.  Sam insisted on wearing snow shoes, so I let Eric wear mine and Sam wore the little blue ones.  I was amazed but Eric did totally great in my snow shoes.  So I decided it was time for me to get a new pair and Eric can wear those.  Next year I can get another new pair and hand off the other set to Rubie.  Then they won't need new snow shoes for years.  Great!

We have all been battling chest congestion with a nagging cough.  It zaps some energy and we felt tired yesterday.  We have early church this year and when we got home, we were super lazy and indulgent in laying around and not doing much.  Well, after a scout meeting for me and Scott and Eric moving lots of wet snow out of gutters.  It had snowed so much and then began to rain that there was water everywhere.  The streets and yards were just flowing.

December and Christmas Holidays

I'm sitting here in the quiet of a not-so-early morning.  I have finished one exercise workout but want to try out my new Altra running shoes either on the treadmill or outside.  The children are either still sleeping or on their new kindle devices, still in bed though.  Scott is in Mexico on a work assignment.  I'm feeling a slight sore throat and the lethargic effects of some sickness coming on and/or the combination of just needing some more sleep while being in the middle of the "holidays."  December has been a full month.  Some highlights were:

• school wide field trip with Grovecrest to BYU women's basketball game.  
• I accompanied Rubie's class as a chaperon.  Riding the packed and crowded school buses.
• Karate belt promotion.  Eric is now a brown/yellow stripe belt, Rubie is a green belt.  Both doing so well and we are very proud.
• Activity Days caroling
• Cub Scout pack meeting awards and caroling.  Eric earned his bear and has more belt loops than his belt can hold.
• Samuel's preschool Pancakes and Pajamas class party
• Rubie's Polar Express and pajamas class party
• Eric's class party.  I went and played some games with the kids and had fun.
• Wilson Christmas party and Russell and Linda's home.  Dinner with Alec, Becca, Angela, Dellitt, Linda and Russell
• We exchanged gifts there and listened to Alec's awesome reading (complete with accent and voices) of How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
• Jeppson Christmas party and Mom and Dad's.  We were just missing Jessica and Emmanuel.  Another awesome reading/acting of the Nativity.  Lots and lots of delicious food.  Games, visiting, playing, gift exchanges.
• Wonderful Christmas morning.  Getting caught by Rubie putting gifts in stockings.  Explaining to Eric and Rubie that we are Santa's helpers and it is up to all of us to keep the Spirit of Santa and Christmas going and one way to do that is by giving gifts.  All were so happy with the gifts from Christmas.  Wonderful Church program on Christmas day.  Visit to the Harrison's to wish John a happy birthday.
• No school this week.  Enjoying our gifts and playing games and friends.
• Planning Eric's birthday party.
• Also going to lunch with Sandy Ostler and Suzanne Tebbs for Sandy's b-day.  Suzanne and I visit teach Sandy.
• Going to see the movie Trolls with Grandma and Grandpa Wilson.
• Leaving Samuel with Bailee and going to see Rogue One with Dan and his boys.
• All 3 kids got a Kindle Fire for Christmas.  Samuel was super excited about receiving Magic Tracks and Police Gear.  Eric and Rubie both got Legos.  Rubie got some science kits and doll accessories.  Eric got more Legos and games. 

Samuel's First Talk

This past Sunday Sam gave his first talk in Primary.  For some reason he was ornery about it the week leading up to it.  He would tell me that he did not want to give the talk in Church and did not even want to go to church.  I was a little surprised by that because he was excited to participate in the primary program and speak into the microphone.  He was also excited to give a prayer.  When I wanted to go to CopyTec and print the talk and really had to talk him into coming, but he would not go in.  He did practice it sort of, until he lost interest.  When Sunday came he would say that he didn't want to do the talk.  But then when it was time to go to primary he willingly went.  He ran to the front of the room and sat in the "talk" chair.  When it was time to give the talk he jumped right up to the podium and spoke loud and clear the words I spoke to him.  He smiled and did it well.  He was very proud of himself I could tell.  But then he laid on the floor and said, "I didn't want to do that."  He is so funny.

Samuel’s talk, 11 December 2016

The scriptures teach us that the Son of God will be born in the glory of our Heavenly Father.

An angel came to Mary and told her she was special and good.  The angel told her she was going to have a baby.  The baby would be Jesus.

Mary was engaged to marry Joseph.  The angel also came to Joseph and told him that Mary was going to have a baby the Son of God.

Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem. Jesus was born there

An angel visited shepherds and told them to go see the new baby.

Some wise men in a far-off land saw a new star and followed it to Jesus and his family.  The wise men brought Jesus gifts.

I love gifts.  Jesus is the greatest gift Heavenly Father has given us.  Because of Jesus I have many gifts in my life.  Some gifts I have are my family, friends, teachers, my home, neighborhood, the gospel, the scriptures, the Holy Ghost, and prayer. 

I am glad that Jesus was born into the world and then gave His life for us.  I will always try to follow Jesus.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

2016 November Photos