In an effort to look like I'm actually right on top of posting about all major events, I am back-dating some new posts. Three new ones can be found here, here, and here. Happy reading!

Gobble, Gobble

Thanksgiving day was spent at my grandmother's house in Idaho, affectionately known as "The Farm". It was much more of a farm during my childhood, when my grandfather was alive and kicking and loving the land. We spent a lot of time exploring the haystack, running the fields, and riding the horse, Prince. Even the smell of manure is strangely nostalgic to me because of our time spent on these wonderful acres.

Although it isn't the same as it used to be, I'm grateful that I can still give my kids a taste of their history when we travel up to Idaho. This farm has been in the family for over 100 years. The house my grandma lives in is the same home that my grandpa was born in. 

A local farmer/rancher rents out grandma's property to store his hay and corral his horses. More on the horses in another post.

Other than the inevitable outside activities we also spent some time inside with the kiddos. Apple turkeys were on the agenda. 

Some board games. Oh the time we have spent gathered around board games at grandma's house!

And sugar cone teepees. 

We did eat as some point, too. Well, actually, we ate a lot and were way to busy doing said eating to actually document the event. For the record, it was delicious.

Neigh!

So that guy that keeps his horses on my grandma's property, well he loves it when we all come to town for Thanksgiving because he can saddle the horses up and we give them plenty of exercise. I, sadly, had to opt out of the horse back riding. Pregnant bellies and bouncing horses are not a good combination. We were sure to give the kids a chance though.

Marie was thrilled to ride.

Anne wasn't so sure what was going on, but it didn't take her long to get the hang of it.

Only moments after the ride began she was out and enjoyed a nice nap in Becca's arms.

And William got to give the horse riding a try on his own, well, kind of. Brandon led the horse while William rode. He was proud to be up there all by himself.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
(inspired by SouleMama)

Tukka, Tukka, Stop, Stop

I am excited to announce that after nearly three months of lessons William finally got to touch the bow to the violin this past week and not a moment too soon! Just a few days after his first lovely rendition of "Tukka, tukka, stop, stop" on open E, William made his debut at the Winter Recital. Grandma and Grandpa P and Aunt Becca were able to come and it was such a treat to have them there!

 That is most certainly an "I'm concentrating," face, not an "I'm terrified," face... don't be fooled. He didn't have an ounce of fear in him. He introduced his "song" with a strong clear voice and wouldn't even let his teacher help him with his bowing (which is how we had practiced all week.). The smile on his face when everybody started clapping was perfectly priceless.

 After all the students had played their solos, the last event of the night was "Up Like a Rocket," a poem that aids in strengthening the bow hold. You can't tell very well, but all the students have lifesavers on the tips of their bows. Marie has watched us practice every day for the past three months so she is very familiar with the rhyme, as well. Miss Hailey invited her to join the group performance and with just a little hesitation she obliged. You can tell she was quite comfortable in her surroundings. She did arrive at the event with boots and a sweater on, I promise!

Please forgive the quality of the pictures. The lighting was terrible.

It was with much debate and discussion and some hesitation that we decided to put William in violin lessons this fall. Thank goodness we did. It has been such a fulfilling experience for all of us. I couldn't be more proud of William; not only for his performance, but also for his positive attitude and willingness as we practice each day and attend lessons each week.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
(inspired by SouleMama)

ABCs

My kids love to read. The worst punishment we can ever dish out to them is to take away a story before naptime or bedtime. Take away toys? No problem. Early bedtime? Whatever. Lose a story? Noooooo!!!!!!

 In addition to bedtime stories, we have been doing a lot more reading with William for his homework. He comes home with 3 books at a time that we are instructed to have him read to us. Once he can comfortably read each one we send them back to school and await the next three. It has been awesome to see his progress. The first few books were painfully simple using only three words. Now that he has nearly completed the first set, which has around 25 books in it, he knows more than 16 words and is always sounding out words he sees each day on signs, boxes, posters, etc.

When William and I are reading, Marie loves to "read" her own books. She has even talked Anne into sitting and listening a time or two. I love to hear her version of the stories as she tells them. Some pages are word for word memorized while others she has to create the story herself. Imaginative is an understatement with this little one.

 And Anne, well, if you have been in our home much you have probably had the absolute delight of having Anne hand you a book and then proceed to crawl into your lap so you can read to her.

 This particular night, she saw her brother and sister reading a book and had to join in the fun. She let Marie read her book for a minute or two and then she went up to her room to get a book of her own.

My heart is happy and full to know that the love for books and reading that my mom and dad passed onto me is now being passed on to my own children. I am grateful for the joy that comes from reading and look forward to the years of enjoyment that books will bring our family.

The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,

And all the sweet serenity of books.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It's Back! {this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
(inspired by SouleMama)

Sister P

My sister reported to the MTC. My sweet little baby sister is all grown up and serving a mission now. Crazy. We had the pleasure of being able to "host" her and my mom at our house for a few days before she reported to the MTC.

 It's hard to imagine how these little ones will grow and change in the next 18 months. They are so excited that Sara is serving. I'm grateful to her for the example that she is setting and the blessing that her sacrifice and service will bring into our family's life.

As much as I would like to write something extremely sentimental about this picture, all I can think of is that I really should have remembered to put on make-up.  I guess it was OK that I didn't. As soon as Sara walked out the door the flood gates opened. I sure am going to miss that girl.

A Moment

My intent was to capture William talking to Grandma P. on the phone. Just look at what a boy he is! There isn't an ounce of toddler or preschooler left in him. *sniff, sniff*

Anne made the picture even better when she decided to plop down next to her big brother. She is all toddler, every last little ounce of her. Well, except that part that still loves her bottles of milk. That part is still baby.

First Snow Fall

We woke up Friday morning to a winter wonderland. Although the lazy and tired side of me would have preferred to keep the curtains closed and pretend all that white stuff didn't exist ... I knew better. We dug out the coats and boots and snow pants and sent the kids outside to frolic.

 Anne was not included in the original bundling, but when she insisted we gave in. All she is wearing is her PJs and a coat because we didn't think she'd last more than a few seconds. Boy were we wrong! Don't be deceived by the picture. This is at the end of her romping. She lasted a good 20 minutes before she needed to come in and be snuggled in a warm blanket.

 Marie is almost out of her coat and doesn't have any snow pants. She didn't let that stop the smiles, though.

I love that William loves this hat so much. I bought it for him when he was about 3 years old. You can probably tell based on the size. Silly boy.

Halloween Morning

Jill and I have both been doing Joy School solo with our daughters. When it came time for the Halloween "unit" Ari, who attended Joy School last year, insisted that there be a party. Jill invited us to join and who am I to say no to a party with some of our favorite people? I mean really, I may be crazy, but I'm not dumb. We invited Luke and family, another Joy School alum, to join in the fun, too. It was a perfect morning for me, who at the time was feeling completely exhausted from the overhaul we had just given our house in order to put it on the market. I very much appreciated a chance to get out of my house and forget about life for a couple of hours.

 After a bit of play time for the kids and party prep for the moms, the party started with a little Halloween parade and couple of Halloween songs.

 Marie came dressed as a ladybug and proceeded to change into 4 different costumes out of Ari's dress up box. She finally settled on the fairy costume. William, on the other hand, was and always will be content to stick with what he knows. He was Optimus Prime. End of discussion.

 For lunch the kids made mummy pizzas and monster mouths and gobbled up some carrot eyeballs.

And, thanks to the beautiful weather we were graced with on Halloween, the kids spent the rest of the time playing outside while the moms got some time to sit and chat.

Perfection.