For the second year in a row we have spent Christmas Eve at the Forsythe's. Unexpectedly two years in a row Santa shows up at their house. The first year, they had no idea who it was since they had just moved in. This year they may have an idea. But what a fun thing to happen!!
You know that you are getting old when you husband plays Santa Claus. Chuck was a good sport this year and dressed up as Santa for the entire 2nd graade. I have a friends daughter in my class, and when "Santa" Came in she said to her Mom..."I know that's Chuck, I am not an IDIOT!" Then he went down to John Paul's class and when he walked in John Paul whispered to his friend "I think that's my Dad". So, rule #1. When you play Santa, go where kids don't know you!! Luckily the other 120 kids had no idea!!! Thanks Santa!!
(The most handsome one in the picture)
You can always tell it's fall around our house. With more than 25 HUGE trees in our yard, we can't get away from them.
We got news late last night that Chuck's Mom died. The only Grandma our kids had. The kids were asleep so my good friend Melanie came over and stayed while Chuck and I went over to her house. Boy, It was tough. My Mom died 14 years ago and it brings tender feelings. We got home about 3 in the morning and found Annelise on the couch with Melanie. Her cousin had texted her and told her while we were gone. I am so glad that we didn't leave the kids home alone. She would have woken up to us gone.
The kids are having a tough time. They loved her so much. In Grandma's eyes they were always right.It was their parents who were wrong.
Grandma was our kids biggest fan. They were the best football player and soccer player and swimmers on the field and in the pool. (Even when they lost).
We know about the cycle of life and we believe in the Plan of Salvation. We will hang on to our faith and keep in our hearts that we will see her again.
I don't have much to post. But I was tired of seeing the mouse at the top of the page. I am happy to admit that we are free from mice (I think). I was feeling a litte bad about killing the poor little things. In my 2nd grade class for read-a-loud after lunch I am reading the kids "The Tale of Desperaux". It's about a little mouse with oversized ears that falls in love with a princess. It is such a cute story that makes you fall in love with this little mouse. Anyway, the other day we read a darling chapter and I came home to find a dead mouse. Talk about feeling bad. The movie is coming out in December and I always recommend reading the book before you see the movie. So, if you are looking for a good book to read to your kids or if you older kids are looking for a good book. Have them read it before they see the movie.
I really don't want to admit this but we have MICE!!! I have a clean house...I don't let the kids eat anywhere but in the kitchen. (Not that they listen to me). We have set traps, bought DCon and those smart little suckers are still here!!!!! I know they are here because I see little mouse droppings underneath everywhere I look. I know we don't like to talk about it because having mice is a reflection of a clean house. Right?? I hope not! Who else has had mice and what did you do??
Many of you are asking about block colors. Here they are. Black with cream. Cream with black or brown. Cranberry with cream and brown with cream.
As we were working on the blocks the other day, John Paul asked me if we were going to do anything fun while we were off track, besides sanding and cutting. I was feeling a little bad...so, I actually was a good Mom for a day. My Nephew Spencer came up from California for Conference Weekend with PaPa and I didn't want him to go home without doing anything. Today we went up to the Capitol and the downtown library. That library is amazing. Can't really compare with the South Jordan Library. We went to lunch at Hires and the best part was going to Backers Bakery and bying the boys a $4.00 eclair!! Backers Bakery was my Mom's (Grandma Shirley) favorite bakery in Salt Lake. So we honored her today and enjoyed a yummy treat!!
WOW!! Thanks to everyone for your orders!! I am overwhelmed. We have been to Home Depot more than I can count this week. I broke one miter saw and burned out 2 sanders!! Luckily Home Depot is great on their return policy like Costco and Nordstrom. Even though I went through 2 sanders, I still believe that when I pay more than $100.00 for a sander it should last longer than 48 hours!! The blocks are coming along!! I am coming up with a few tricks to make it go a little faster. With 20 sets down and 35 more to go...I have to come up with some quick tricks!!
Our son Charlie is attending the Scout Jamboree in Virginia in 2010. We have been brainstorming ideas of ways to earn money and came up with this one...
Growing up my wonderful Mom had a set of these blocks. I think she originally found them at a yard sale because we always had a hard time spelling things because of the missing letters. (Why else would they be at a yard sale?) But, we have such sweet memories of sitting in the family room spelling what we could. Last year a good friend (whom I had told this story to) found an old pattern for these blocks that I now call Chatterblocks. I made a set for all my brothers and sisters and sent them to them not telling them what they were getting. All of them told me that when they opened the box they all thought of our Mom. (For those of you who don't know, she died of breast cancer in 1995). So we all have these Chatterblocks in our homes that remind us of Grandma Shirley. So, now we are making these to earn money for Charlie to attend the Jamboree. If you would like to order a set, let me know! We would love to make one for you. If you have friends that may be interested, you can forward on the information. They are $60.00 a set. $75.00 if they need to be shipped. They are quite big and look great on the mantle place or a table. There are endless things to spell!! If you make the check to GSLC (Great Salt Lake Council) it is tax deductable!!
The annual Fun Run was at the school today! John Paul came in 1st place against the whole 2nd grade. When he was in Kindergarten he got second place and for the whole next year he kept telling us that in 1st grade he would get 1st place. Well, he did. Then this whole past year he has been telling us that he was going to get 1st place again in 2nd grade. Well, he did. I find this quite funny because none of us are really fast runners. OK I guess I should re phrase that and tell the truth. We are NOT runners. Except for Chuck and his marathons. Let me rephrase that one more time...we are NOT FAST RUNNERS. Well he couldn't have been more proud of himself. After the Fun Run was over a boy came up to me that I had last year and said..."Can you believe that John Paul won again???" He ran the 1/2 mile in 3:05. I can't forget Charlie. He ran also and ran the mile in 7:47, which I thought was a GREAT time for him, being a lineman and all!! After school John Paul tells me...I am going to win again in 3rd grade. Guess I have to listen to that for one more year!!!
So, I'm sitting in my family room watching TV...I look on the wall and this is what I see. A fork stick in the wall!! I ask the boys why in the world there is a fork in the wall. In a calm voice like nothing is out of the ordinary, Charlie tells me that he and Courtney were in a fight and he tried to throw a fork at her. But, it landed in the wall. He didn't seem to concerned when I asked what would have happened if it landed In Courntey!! I think it's better that I don't know what goes on when I am not home!!
