Bringing the Sunshine

Owen's class had a chance to sing Christmas carols at Sunshine Terrace, a local nursing home. It was very sweet to watch. I was instantly transported back to the days of visiting nursing homes growing up, with my family, or with the young women in my ward. I wish I could report to you that I loved performing this service. Sadly, sadly, and to be honest with you, dear reader, I didn't like it then, and I still don't. I know it is important, and I feel grateful for the chance to provide service to the sweet people stuck in these places, but I always find it so very sad and even scary. I especially felt so as a child. I have huge, enormous respect for people who work with and serve these people in the last and probably least pleasant days of their lives.

These kindergarten and 1st graders were first taken to the Alzheimer's unit to sing. It was a little frightening for them, as some of the residents are very, very, debilitated. I was worried, and really tried to comfort my Owen, but he seemed surprisingly okay with it all, so maybe it's just me who is scared of old people. Not sure.

I wish I could include more pictures, but I don't know most of the kids' parents yet, so I don't think it's a great idea. But I have to show you that Owen is a full head taller than all the kids in his grade. It was pretty funny to see them all lined up singing... a flat skyline of heads and then >POP< there's Owen's head. Here is is feeling really inspired and focused on the music:

Jr. Grizz

Cue "The Eye of the Tiger" in your head...

Another successful season of Jr. Grizz basketball has come to an end for Bennett and Owen. Guess what? Even though by the end of the season I am ready for it to end, I REALLY love going to their games and watching them as their skills improve week by week. They are so cute. They may not be the stars of the team. Okay, they are definitely not the stars of the team. But I don't care. There are so many great options for kids activities to get involved in and really devote time to. (Too many, really.)  If sports is not their thing, that is totally fine with us. I just want them to have fun, and learn the basics. And they did!

Kudos to Owen's coaches who were utterly brilliant. Owen improved so much and gained so much confidence over the course of the season. He went from never having dribbled before to totally getting after it by his last game. Did I mention that sometimes I bribe my children with money if they shoot the ball? (Double if they make the shot.) Well, let's just say it may not be my finest parenting tactic, but it sure inspired them to play a little harder and be a little braver. Although I did find out that when their Uncle Lee found out I was paying them a dollar a shot, he told them he would pay them a dollar for every technical foul they made. Um. Fortunately, my boys would never dare to even attempt to steal the ball from someone, let alone get a technical, they are far too polite on the court. Sorry.

Avoiding the Inversion

In case you didn't know, Logan has terrible air quality on and off throughout the winter months. HERE is an explanation of our infamous inversion. It is so nasty. But if you can get up high enough, in the canyon, or even up on the foothills, you can find yourself out of the haze and into the sun. That's what we did this day, and even though it was freezing, it was exhilarating!

The Short Story of Owen's Tooth.

 Owen got down to business to pull out a stubborn tooth the other day.  He is seriously one tough kid.  I love his cute, new whistley smile.

At first he thought the tooth fairy had forgotten to leave him any money, because there was none under his pillow.  (That poor, old, senile tooth-fairy!)  But fortunately, with a little help from mom, they were able to locate some cash under his bed that maybe she dropped or something.  Phew.  Crisis averted.

Thank you, Jordan Ferney.

Thank you, Jordan Ferney, professional blogger and seemingly very cool girl, for your great idea about advent calendars.

I have to say that even though professional bloggers' lives seem so disconnected with the life I find myself in, I am often inspired and think to myself,  "Hm. I could try that." And that is exactly what this post made me do.  So thank you, Oh Happy Day, for providing my family with a new holiday tradition!  Yay!

As Ms. Ferney's blog points out, this is a great way to help us actually do all the things we always want to do, but often don't leading up to Christmas.  This year I actually planned it out, looking at my calendar, and then wrote everything down, so I could be prepared.  For example, I want to have all ingredients on hand if we are supposed to make sugar cookies or orange pomanders one day.  (Yes, we are doing those.)  It has helped to set aside a time to go for a "Winter Wonderland Walk," go caroling to a neighbor's house, read about Samuel the Lamanite's prophecy in the Book of Mormon, or deliver a secret gift. Not that we won't also be spontaneous, but that we are guaranteed to spend some time on each of these.

I got this muffin tin advent calendar from my friend, Christy, last year.  It is a mini-muffin pan, so it is perfect for putting slips of paper inside telling which holiday activity we will do that day.  I started making one like the Pottery Barn one, but it will have to wait until next year.  Stay tuned.

Day one:  Make a paper chain to count down the days.

An unofficial activity not found in the advent calendar:  Make pet beds.

THIS activity was also not on the calendar.  But it was fun too:

By the way, all these activities are coinciding perfectly with our new "no screens" rule. I will dedicate an entire post to this topic soon. But we have found that tv, computer, iPhone, etc. were making our kids mean. MEAN! So all these creative outlets have been a huge help.

This winter.

There is something making me sad about cold weather right now. It is this: because Harper is always bundled up, or at least wearing long sleeves, I hardly ever get to see her delicious chubby shoulders. You know, those adorable rolly baby shoulders of which I speak? I want to see them in tank tops and swim-suits. I hope they last til warmer weather comes again. Because bath time is not enough time to see her cute little baby body.

She is growing so fast.

Catching up...

I know you've missed me. And I will try to be a better blogger. I had to hurry and catch up on 2 months worth of stuff. I wasn't very thorough, but you get the idea: we've been having a great time.

Look at this yummy baby! She is 7 months old now! I cannot believe it, but it is true. I am posting pics of her wearing the absolutely adorable, precious hat with interchangeable flowers made by my dear friend Jennifer Keyes. How spoiled I felt upon receiving that package in the mail! What a treasure- all those beautiful hand-made lovelies! You see, Jenn felt sorry for my afore-mentioned dilemma about what types of bows are appropriate for a wee baby, and is helping me embrace the beauty of accessorizing my youngling with style and class. Jen, you are a kind and generous friend. Smoochie, smoochie!

The boys had the wonderful opportunity of having our dear neighbor and friend, Rex Thompson, come speak to their school classes.  Rex served as a Marine in WWII in the battle of Iwo Jima.  When he left for the war, he left his new wife behind expecting their first baby (who he didn't meet until she was almost 2!)  Rex did a phenomenal job of talking to the kids about what it was like for a boy fresh off a church mission to become a soldier, and why war is sometimes necessary.  The way he described his experiences in battle, and then the Japanese people during US occupation made me cry.  The kids were riveted the entire time, and Bennett's class wrote him the sweetest letters.  One girl's said, "I am so glad I got to meet you.  This has been the most special day! I can't wait to go home and write about it in my diary."  He received many thanks from those 3rd graders for defending our country, which I know warmed his heart.  We were all uplifted that day.  I am so grateful for heroes like Rex Thompson and my brother Andy, who have or will serve in the armed forces.  It is no small sacrifice for them and their families.

Speaking of things I am grateful for:

On what may have been the saddest day for 600 North in Logan, the Kirby family drove away, onto their next great adventure in Farmington.  We had a small going-away party for the 3 little neighbor families (who really are like family) the night before the move.  I can't even say how sad I am that these little friends will now see each other only on special occasions, after years of congregating and playing multiple times a day.  And let's not even talk about how much I already miss Julie.  My friend, my friend.  How I love you.

The Halloween festivities took over our lives for a couple of weeks.  I was a little overwhelmed, and sick of it all, but now that I am looking back at the photos, it sure was fun!

Introducing my very favorite Halloween food item ever!  These were simple to make (apple slices with slivered almonds for teeth), and the biggest hit of the party.  May I also note how awesome my family is?  Thank you.

The Lambert donut fry was another raging success this year, thanks to Jason, master donut fryer, and all the awesome friends and family who came to partake. As usual, there were some amazing costumes this year- maybe the best ever. Make sure you click to enlarge the collage so you can get a closer look!

Decorating for the party was a ton of work this year, but well worth it. Bennett had been begging for weeks to have a "Haunted Hogwarts" themed party, and it turned out really fun!

The Paradise Halloweenie Roast is seriously one of my favorite traditions.  This year was as fun as ever!  Thank you, Lawrences, for letting us tag along!

This was the most beautiful fall day imaginable.  We had such a lovely fall this year, lots of warm days to play and do autumn-y stuff.  Here we are at the American West Heritage Center.  It's always a good time jumping off high stuff.  I didn't hate the corn maze this year; we made it through in record time!  (We had a map and followed it diligently.)  Finn went on his first pony ride.  He was seriously the happiest little boy.

Saying Goodbye.

In an earlier post I told of the passing of our sweet Grrr Bessie Lambert on September 21, 2010.  We were able to fly to Bellingham with the Jules Lambert family to attend her funeral.  Here are some photos from the trip.

Everything about traveling was fun to the kids.  From shuttle to elevators to airplanes... it was all a big adventure!

Owen, Jake and Bennett riding the shuttle to meet our outbound plane.

Jason discovered the best mode of transport for the kids through huge airports.    Carry a kid on your carry-on!

The funeral luncheon was lovely thanks to the sisters in Bessie's ward.

Uncle Weston and Uncle Jonny meeting Miss Harper for the first time!

Precious Finn at the cemetery.

Jake and Auntie Heather!

Bennett, Justise and Owen at Saxon Cemetery.

Finn, Jake and cousin Nikolas at Grammy Deb's.

Every child who enters the Lambert family is welcomed with Uncle Jonny's famous balancing trick.  It freaks me out every time.

Playing at Grr Grr's one last time.  This makes me so sad.  This really is the last photo of the kids playing on that rug, by that table, surrounded by all the familiar stuff.  All those things are gone now.

Harper, Jason and Elizabeth on Bessie's front porch.  It is hard to believe we will probably never go back to 2829 Russell Street.

Spending time with Amory.

Spending time at the lake, of course.

Beautiful!

Sad boy outside the Spaghetti Factory in Seattle.

I can't remember why he was sad, but man... he is cute.

Finn's dreams came true getting to ride in a "paypane!"

Such great travelers.  I was very proud.