This Week at Our House # 12

1. On Friday, we went to the beach to look at two possible houses. I loved one house. I felt like was perfect and my dream come true, and not at all outside the budget. But John felt like it was not the right place for our family, so the search continues. 
2. On Tuesday, after I came in from my walk, I was greeted by loveliness. When I walked in the door, Adam sat in a stool reading the Book of Mormon to John while he was making chili for our dinner. In the living room, Anya had Sam propped between her legs and she was playing with duplo blocks with Arwen and Josh. Susan had fallen asleep nearby on a large pillow on the floor. Upstairs, Kate was reading Pride and Prejudice to Rachel. On the floor in my bedroom, Johnny was teaching Joseph how to play his favorite card game. I love having a big family. I love how my life is right now. Sometimes, I want to push pause, so I could enjoy these moments just a little more.
3. Ruth is busy with tests and papers. I think she had a good birthday, though.
4. Kate enjoyed reading Pride and Prejudice to Rachel all week. She was also one of two people brave enough to swim in the cold ocean water.
5. Johnny has the highest grade in drivers ed and he is the tech guy for the teacher, so she is not so mean to Johnny and Kate anymore. They only have one class to go and it will be over!
6. John took Adam shooting and that is one of his favorite things to do. One of things we are looking for in a house is enough land to be able to have target practice on. Adam was the second person brave enough to swim at the beach.
7. Rachel really enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and that makes me happy. 
8. Anya needs me to go in, clean out her closet and organize her. I don't think it will make her happy, but it is a good skill for me to teach.
9. Joseph is learning to play John and Johnny's favorite card game. That will be nice for John when Johnny goes on a mission. Adam does not like that game.
10. Joshua is doing better. He was very good at Church on Sunday and I didn't have to nag him excessively to get him to start his school work.
11. Arwen loves dresses and skirts. She tells Kate and I that we are ugly because we wear pants.
12. Suzy is doing wonderfully!! She only had two temper tantrums last week.
13. Sam got a little runny nose and it bothers him a lot. It is not even that bad, but he cries whenever he sniffs it into his mouth.

Pictures

Kate and Johnny Celebrating Ruth's Birthday

Happy Birthday, Ruth

I have officially been a mother for 19 years, and this is the first year, I have not been able to celebrate with my dearest daughter. Ruth has always been the perfect child, even as she has been our guinea pig. We love her and miss her. She will be home soon, but she will also be leaving us again to go and serve the Lord. I am very pleased with the wonderful woman Ruth has become. I look forward to her future as she more fully grows into her adult life.

This Week at Our House # 11

1. The weather was cold this week and I think it bothered us all. We had such a warm February. My tomato plants died because  forgot to bring them in one night that it froze. It was only a $1.50 loss, though, so I will try again. John got home from Utah late Monday night. Then he stayed up the whole night working. The rest of the week was pretty normal for John. He worked, read, wrote, and played with the kids.
2. I started putting lavender essential oil into hot baths because it is so soothing and healing. It really seems to help me when I have allergies. Now the kids are loving it. I think I need to buy a gallon of the oil. I did, however, buy a lavender seedling. When it matures, I will buy a distiller and try to make my own oils. I hope it works.
3. Ruth's mission papers were finally submitted to SLC. She had her Bishops interview 3 or 4 weeks ago. It took me a bit, but I persuaded Ruth to contact her Bishop to find out what the hold up was. Her Bishop forgot that he had to contact our Bishop. Once that got taken care of, everything went very quickly. We should know Ruth's fate within the next three weeks. Ruth's 19th birthday is on Wednesday. This is the first birthday she will have all grown and away from home.
4. Kate hates drivers ed and spent hours on Friday complaining about it again. She has completed 3 Saturdays and has 2 to go. She got her housing reserved at BYUI. She has an upcoming 3 week babysitting job that will help her earn money for college and that will start soon. Kate has spent a lot of time this week reading Pride and Prejudice to Rachel. They are enjoying that immensely.
5. Johnny hates drivers ed as much as Kate, but he makes fun of it instead of complaining about it.
6. Adam is getting so big and broad, but not tall yet. That is Johnny. Johnny can now rest his head on top of Adam's. Adam is still enjoying planting and gardening. The weather will warm up soon and make it a lot more interesting for him.
7. Rachel made this game up where you look through the furniture ads and design your home in a budget. She made the budget $20,000. I spent the most and still had $10,000 left over at the end of her game. Saturday night, Rachel sang at the ward dinner and talent show. She sang beautifully. In fact, John, who tends to be critical about singing thought she sounded really good.
8. Anya is doing well with school. She is always sweet and easy to get along with.
9. I saw this video of a baby goat continually jumping over the other baby goats in the yard and it immediately made me think of Joseph.
10. Joshua is doing better at behaving at home and at Church. Hopefully, he will continue to improve.
11. Arwen spends a lot of time playing with Susan while everyone else is doing school. She also uses my laptop to play on starfall. I like Starfall because it teaches my kids the alphabet and sounding out words with no effort on my part.
12. We had a break through with Susan this week and instead of throwing temper tantrums several times a day, it is now down to once every other day. 
13. Sam is healthy, happy, and growing well. He rolls and he is starting to hold himself sitting. Sometimes when I lay him on his back, he tries to sit right up. It looks like he is doing sit ups.

Tender Mercies

1. After I took Kate and Johnny to drivers ed, I forgot to turn off the headlights. When I went to pick them up, the battery in our only car was dead. I called a sister in our ward and she picked up Kate and Johnny and then helped us jump start our battery. I am so glad for Church members who are more than willing to help you out when you get yourself in trouble.

Pictures