This Week at Our House #41

1. John had his 43rd birthday on Tuesday. Anya and Rachel told me that "Dad is turning into a grandpa. His hair is turning white." 
2. I am going to turn 39 in 2 more days. I think that earns its own post. I did a lot of volunteering at the school this week. I am tired. I wrote a post for Mormon Women Stand, just on my impressions form L Tom Perry's conference talk. In the start of my article I wrote about sending my kids out into the world with the tares each day, because Elder Perry talked about that. A lot of people came onto the facebook page to say how awful my attitude was and how I should allow my children to play with nonmembers, that I should not raise my kids in a bubble, that I am the reason people don't join the church, that I have a "them verses us" mentality, and how I should never refer to anyone as tares (though I had listed things and people were not on that list.) It was a weird experience to be so bashed by saying the same thing that an apostle said. It was also weird to have people make up in their own minds what my family is like from one paragraph. So just in case you are wondering, my children play with nonmembers and have nonmember friends. My children probably know too much about politics and morality because we talk openly about it in our home. Sometimes I feel guilty for being so open with my kids, but since they hear it on the radio and get it at school, I just figure they ought to learn about it from my husband and I first.
3. Ruth had several big exams and papers, as well as a lot of reading to do. So she spent most of the week in her bedroom studying. Despite all of that, Ruth has had a lot of fun at school this year.
4. Kate had her second big debate team tournament. She has some pretty interesting stories from both of them. This week a girl told her and the other kids that instead of solving disputes with fighting and war, people who disagree need to solve their problems by having sex together. Kate at first stood up to her with words, but when she continued telling the other students that the only reason they disagreed with her was because they were brain washed, Kate became the first to stand up and walk away. Three other kids followed her after that. I am proud of my good Kate.
5. Johnny was invited to a movie party on Saturday. He went and out of 15 kids invited, he was the only one who came. I am so glad that I had him go.
6. Adam read his first 200+ page book for his book report in about 2 days. He still needs to write his report, though. I think it was a painful, but necessary experience for him. Maybe next time, he will listen to me and read a lot more ahead of time.
7. On John's birthday, Rachel went to the fridge to find some food to give to John for a birthday breakfast in bed. I saw her heading upstairs with a container of broccoli that was cooked, left over and hid in the back of the fridge for at least a week. I saw her and told her that she was not to serve her father rotten broccoli for breakfast. She went and got him some ice cream instead.
8. We had trunk or treat at the church on Saturday. I had not done anything for costumes since it came up so early in the month. Anya did not have a costume she wanted, so she got an apron and Ruth used a youtube video to make Anya a pretty awesome chef's hat. Then we put Susan in our old infant hot dog costume. Anya was happy about it and I was very pleased with her creativity. I was also very pleased that none of the kids complained that we were not buying costumes this year.
9. Joseph's teacher started him on the 14th book in the series of early reader books. I am annoyed about it because I was looking forward to starting him off with "See Sam" and hardly any other words. Now I have to start him off having to sound out lots of words. The first read through was painful. The next two he did much better. I think he memorizes well.
10. When my sister Amber left, Josh said, "Amber is still coming back." I told him no, Amber is gone back to Grandma and she will not come back for a very long time. Then Josh cried.
11.  Little Arwen is a cutie. I love having her talk to me, and it still surprises me. 
12. Susan is such a strong baby! She is not even 4 months old and she is rolling around and playing on the floor. When she is on her stomach she holds her head and chest up high. She is reaching and grabbing for things and even trying to scoot.

This Week's Pictures