Family Book Club

I finally started our Mom & Miriam book club.

I have been waiting for my kids to be old enough to start my idea for a summertime activity. So many of the Newbery award and honor books have been made into movies I thought it would be fun to read them together as a family, and then watch the movie or do some activity that represents something in the book. I want to encourage a love of reading in my children, but that is not the only reason I thought a book club would be a good idea. I have noticed, while reading young adult fiction that I wouldn't want my "young adult" to read some of them...at least not without some discussion of it. I think some of the themes are very real and adult, sometimes too real, too intense. I can't keep the world away from my children (and wouldn't want to), but I would like the opportunity to talk about it with them before they make up their mind on certain issues, this just seemed like a good way to do it. I thought I would have to wait until Miriam was much older, but then remembered Charolette's Web. We have already had a discussion about the pros and cons of spiders.
We have read and watched the Eloise stories, any other ideas out there for 4 year old attention spans?

In other news:
Both B and M have been VERY sick. A really bad gombu sickness has ran though our 'hood' and we finally caught it. Yesterday as Miriam was moaning, running a 103 temp and crying she said to Darin and I "I just wish this sickness wouldn't come to my little 4 year old body, it's the worst sickness my 4 year old body has had! .......it just makes my heart feel so uncontented!".

She couldn't play with her new friend "Fin" on Saturday, and had to miss giving her first talk in Primary. Sad sad..extra sad because she had memorized Amos 3:7 for the occasion.

Bub's 9 month Check-up (at 10 months)

Weight: 19 lb. 2 oz. (50%)
Length: 28.25 in. (50%)
Head Circumference: 45 cm (50%)

check out at those teeth!

Fish Lessons

Yesterday was M's last fish lesson till next winter

Spring Days

Stick painting in the sun shine! Darin gently informed us that we had used water-soluble paint that will run off the moment moisture touches it. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Namaste

We had Joy School today.

Funny moment: Miriam's friends were saying things like "My flower is the prettiest" "My flower has the longest stem" etc etc after listening to this for a moment or two Miriam burst out into song (you have to understand, we have been listening to the Hairspray soundtrack) " No one is the prettiest, no one has the longest stem. We are all pretty in our own way with our own soul, with our own pretty clothes".....and on and on the song went, to a random 4 year old made up tune until both of her friends were staring at her in horror? amazement? I don't know what they thought but they were staring with their mouths hanging open. Miriam then said "I am going to make cakes on Broadway!"

SPT- "Egg"stra special weekend

Bub's first Easter!

Miriam's fourth

Time goes too quickly.

Easter Weekend

We colored eggs Thursday during Joy School. We also read the Easter story and hung up all the pictures of Christ's last week from the gospel art kit. I love this kit, it's great for all holidays, family scripture reading, and of course FHE.

Miriam and I enjoy coloring Easter eggs so much, and I love boiled eggs, deviled eggs, egg salad....I think we may have to revisit this activity and make some "Spring eggs".

Friday night Miriam became very nervous that the Easter bunny wouldn't know we were spending Easter at her grandparent's house. We said a special prayer about it, and left a note for our fairy to send the bunny up north if he arrived. Miriam insisted we leave carrots so he would have the energy he needed to make the long trip.

He received the message!

Grandma. Bub and I had fun watching Miriam squeal with delight over eggs filled with gram cracker bugs, jelly bellies (hum...I wonder where those came from), rainbow gold fish, and a few chocolate bugs. The special golden egg had a dollar in it, Grandma and Grandpa also gave her a cute card with a dollar, which is exciting because Miriam is earning money for Moon Sand. One thing we will always remember about Grandma Cheryl is that every room in her house is always decorated for holidays. It's feels so festive in their home.

We then met up with Darin to see cousin Cameron perform in his high school drum line. We all enjoyed the performances, even Bub and Miriam sat enthralled. We were surprised at how much choreography there was, and very impressed with Cameron's skill.

He seriously had to MOVE!

Easter Sunday when we were finally able to wear the Easter finery that has been hanging in the kids closet since last August:) That gave me a long time to find the perfect bow forM's hair, a tie that matched for Darin, and Friday after searching all month, I found a dress for me for $10...Darin will laugh at this but I really think of that find as a blessing. It's like a reward for all my frugal efforts (like buying Easter clothes in August on clearance...the kids already have Christmas outfits and pajamas).

This photo shoot wasn't the best, we forgot our flash, and Miriam had been awaken from a church nap.

Church was wonderful, I enjoyed all talks that focused on our Savior and his sacrifice. Miriam came from Primary talking about the resurrection and had a matching game all about Easter. I appreciate so much those who prepared lessons and talks, and really took the time to help the rest of us celebrate Easter in a spiritual way. My in-laws were of course, wonderful hosts and prepared a great Easter dinner as well as comfortable accommodations. Thank you for letting come!

St. P-Day and Full Speed Ahead to Easter

He Came!

and the little stinker left his mark everywhere! Toppled chairs, opened all the cupboards, used the restroom (and did not flush), and then left his little clover stickers all over...including Merilee's door (Merilee is our fairy). It was all worth it for the CHOCOLATE GOLD COINS!

Here comes Bub.....

What a cutie.

Our big surprise of the day was that Grandma R joined us for our St Patty day feast! She even slept over. Miriam heaven...she read books, and had a movie marathon this morning while the rest of us slept. No pictures:( We had corned beef & cabbage soup for dinner tonight it was a good way to eat up the left overs!

SWITCH GEARS

I took down all the St. P decorations and got ready to make some Easter projects in Joy School today. These nests are made out of chocolate chips, peanut butter and shredded wheat. Not a good diet day.

I have been doing story time yoga with the girls during Joy School. They love it, you should hear them shout their daily affirmations "I AM SMART!" "I AM BRAVE!" I hope they believe it because they are amazing little girls.

Namaste

Getting ready for the Green, Daddy Daughter Dates, and other things...

Miriam went to bed SO excited about St.Patrick's Day tomorrow. She left the leprechaun cucumbers to snack on and a little green cup with water. Pictured above is one of the shamrocks we made along with a snake, because you know, St. Patrick chased the snakes away from Ireland and all.

Perhaps Miriam's enthusiasm had something to do with all the Good Mail she received this week! Books from G'ma C & G'pa B, stickers and necklace from Aunt Sarah, Smooter and Bobo, and then there was the headband last week from G'ma R. Thank you all for making this holiday so fun!

Miriam and Darin had a Daddy Daughter Date to Disney on Ice Princess Wishes last Thursday. They both enjoyed it, Darin said Disney put on a good show (fire breathing dragon, acrobatics on ice...the princess parts were a bit slow). Apparently, M sat mesmerized through much of the show and then would get excited at surprising moments...like when Sebastian came out. Funny girl. We haven't been to many large loud productions like this with her, she has only ever been to the movies once so this must have been overwhelming (in a good way).

Darin granted a few of M's wishes that night, one of them was to try cotton candy (candy floss, as she calls it just like Angelina Ballerina). Darin bought her the $10 cotton candy and SHE DIDN'T LIKE IT! Luckily it came with the crown pictured above. Darin just laughed about it and ate the cotton candy himself.

I don't think we have ever shown Aunt Lisa a picture of M in the skirt she knitted last summer. Cute huh?? Oh the blessings of being related to talented people:)

Lastly, has anyone lost a Hagrid Lego body with a Voldemort head? This guy appeared at our home like 2 months ago and I can't, for the life of me, figure out where it came from.

9 o'clock News

Miriam is the only little girl shown in the swim class, black & white polk-a-dot suit with a pink flower. If you look closely you can also see Bubs green striped pajama legs in the background. Luckily they didn't pan up, I do NOT look presentable on swimming lesson days.

We are so famous!!

This is actually the second time M has been shown on the local TV news. Last time it was during a Ryan Shupe Christmas concert, and once she had a huge picture in the local newspapaer.


We are sooooo famous!

Monday Monday....

Miriam received a fun surprise in the mail today. A make it-yourself St. Patty's day headband. So fun! Thank you mom! I LOVE St. Patrick's day because it reminds me of CRAZY Boston so we tend to go all out at our house.


But alas, the euphoria did not last long....M asked if she could go to a friends house and I said no. So the following conversation took place:

Miriam: Why are you taking pictures of me sad

Me: Because I don't have anything to blog about

Miriam: Then you will blog about how you are ruining my life?

Me: Yep

We have tons of drama around here...come on by for a show sometime! (dirty car huh? It's on my list....)

For Family Home Evening tonight we put a care package together for my little brother serving a mission in Brazil. We interviewed Miriam for the letter we sent but I wanted to keep a copy for myself so bear with me on another M conversation.

Me: Who are the missionaries?

Miriam: Uncle Mark...and I don't know any other ones
Me: What do they do:
Miriam: They teach people about Heavenly Father, and they teach the people God's Plan
Me: What is God's Plan
Miriam: We stay on earth for a long time and then go live with him in the sky
Me: Where did you learn that?
Miriam "When we were in the sky with him before, and we choose his plan. If we choose the other guys plan...it would not be good. This plan we get to do bad stuff and good stuff...sometimes in this plan parents make the kids do work.

Today is Special

1575 Jelly Beans "because you have always bean there for me" +

1190 Gummie Bears "because you are beary special" +

150 Chocolate bars "because you are sweeter than chocolate" +

36 Almond Joys "because you make life a joy" +

49 pink tea roses = 3000 days of marriage

I cried, of course. Miriam was in candy heaven.
I love surprises and I love my math geek husband!