MJ talk

MJ wanted to play with some toys that Blondie has so she quickly grabbed them and ran into my room with them and said, "Mom, I think Blondie needs to take a nap."

Father/Son Campout

Friday, May 10

DH was able to take Luke to the Father's/Son's Campout this year.  While they were there I let the girls watch movies and sleep on the sleeper sofa.  Just Kitty and Kay spent the whole night there.  Kay has been begging and begging me to let them sleep here so she was super excited to finally get the chance!

Mother's Day 2013

Sunday, May 12

DH was asked to give a talk in church on Mother's Day.  This is the second time since we've been in this ward that he has been asked to talk on Mother's Day.  DH gave a really good talk and spoke some about my/our experience with my cancer.

I was also given a new calling today - the new Beehive advisor - working with the 12 & 13 year old girls.  I served in this calling once before in this ward and was released about 5 1/2 years ago from it - and I have been in primary ever since then.  Things have changed a little since I was last in the calling - the curriculum has changed which will be a bit of an adjustment.  We have about 13 active girls right now in that class so it will definitely keep me busy.  Plus I can go to YW camp with M&M at the end of July if I can work it out!  I had about 2 weeks off from a calling and was only able to go to Relief Society one of those weeks.  The second week I filled in on the piano for the primary - and played for them during Sacrament Meeting today.

A change in the works

Sunday, April 28

Our whole primary presidency was released today.  We kind of knew that it was coming, but it was still  a little depressing when the time came...  The bishopric said that I will be given a little bit of a break before I am given a new calling.  We will see what is next to come.  I have really enjoyed working in this calling and have learned a lot!  I have also really enjoyed the other ladies that I had the opportunity to serve with.  It will be strange not sending emails and texts back and forth between all of us all week long and not having our super long presidency meetings anymore!

It feels a little weird not having a calling - usually I have been moved right from one thing to the next.  It's also a little weird because I was put into the presidency just the Sunday before Blondie's baptism and now I have been released the Sunday before Kitty's baptism.  Time to pass over the baton and train the new presidency!  Good luck to them!  I will miss being in the primary room with the kids each week and having Kay come in and give me a hug when she comes in with her class!

Kitty's Baptism Day

Saturday, May 4

It was a beautiful spring day for Kitty's baptism.  She shared the event with one other friend from our ward - they are 10 days apart in age.  Kitty asked Luke to give the talk on baptism and he did a really good job - he even wrote the whole thing himself with a little of help from me and DH.  I played an arrangement of Love At Home on the flute with my mom accompanying me.  Afterwards we took some pictures at the house and then had a little luncheon.  It was a nice day - although we missed having DH's parents there.  Here are some more pictures from the day:

Kitty and the friend that she shared the baptism with.

Family shot

Kitty with my parents

Most of the family that came to the baptism (we are missing a couple of people that weren't there for the picture).

Kitty opening her new scriptures and scripture case - she ended up having to trade-in the scripture case for another one.  This one was too tight for the scriptures and causing some difficulties with Kitty...

And a couple of goofy family shots...

Spring Orchestra Concert

Thursday, May 2

They have an excellent orchestra program at our kids' elementary school.  The teacher has been teaching there for many years and has built up a great program.  Blondie has learned a lot playing the viola this year and has really enjoyed herself.  I am glad that she was able to participate!  They had their spring concert at the beginning of May, combined with the band program (which really struggles).  At first I had all of the kids with me but then MJ fell down outside while we were waiting for the program to start and I ended up taking everyone except for Kay home to stay with M&M.

Art Day

Thursday, April 18

Kay and Kitty both got some painting projects for their birthday.  So the day after Kitty's birthday I got out all of the paints and let the three youngest paint for a little while.  Kay did an amazing job with her "stained glass" window art and Kitty had a fun time painting her wooden nesting dolls.  One of Kitty's paints was dried up when she opened it so I got out my craft paints and let her pick whatever colors she wanted.  MJ had a blast with the watercolor paints that I got out and thought it was really fun to keep dipping her paintbrush in the water and then mixing it in the colors.  They all had a really fun time painting!

Big milestones!

Our family is celebrating quite a few big milestones this year!  We started out with Luke turning 12 and receiving the priesthood.  Then Kay turned 5 and will start kindergarten.  Next Kitty turned 8 and will be baptized.  DH turns 40 later this month and then M&M will turn 15 and get her driver's permit!  Luke will be starting junior high next school year and M&M will go on to high school!  Definitely an eventful/crazy year for us!

Kitty is 8!

Wednesday, April 17

These kids are getting too old too fast here!!  Kitty turned the ripe old age of 8 this year.  Unfortunately her birthday was on a very busy Wednesday with the family so we had her open her presents on her birthday but we had her cake a few days later on Saturday.  She chose the same type of ice cream cake that I made M&M last year.  And then there will be more celebration a few weeks later when she is baptized.

Kay turns 5!!

Saturday, April 6

I can't believe that Kay is going to be starting kindergarten soon!  That means I will only have one child at home still (at least for a few hours a day)!  Kay's birthday started off with soccer games for Kitty and Luke.  On the way home from Luke's game I stopped at the store to buy some helium balloons for Kay.  She loved them!  But then unfortunately we had the little seizure episode with MJ and then General Conference to watch.  And two of the four balloons that I bought Kay popped for no reason...  I don't think I will be buying helium balloons at that store again...  Kay was quite upset about the balloons but thankfully she is a pretty easy-going child and didn't let it ruin her day.  My parents came over later for dinner and then my dad went to the priesthood session of conference with Luke and DH (this was Luke's first time going!).  After the priesthood session, Kay opened up her presents and then we had cupcakes and ice cream.  The girls and I had some fun with some new icing decorating tips that I got for my birthday and put some fun designs on the cupcakes and then I had little My Little Pony figures that I got for Kay (and some from Christmas) that we put on the cupcakes.  I thought they turned out pretty cute!

This was a cute little electronic puppy that Kay got.  In the picture below she saw it move or bark and was really surprised!  I love this picture of her!  (Kay loves all kinds of animals and keeps asking if we can get a cat or a dog - or a bird or a fish...  I told her that this is the closest she will get to a real one for a little while.)