Joshua Gets His First Solids

I went on a lovely hike with Johnny, Adam, and my Sister Amy on Saturday. It was 7 miles round up and down one of the Bountiful mountains.  I had left the rest of the kids with John. I thought we would only be gone about 3 hours, but the 3 hours turned into more like 4 1/2, so I had John give Joshua some baby cereal to tie him over. Anya thought feeding the baby a great activity and quickly and cutely took over for John. Joshua actually didn't eat very much, but he and Anya seemed to enjoy the whole thing rather well.

Great Place For Pictures

We have this part of our neighborhood where the overflow waters are directed. To make it more than a dump, the city has put in walking trails and such. Our kids calls this "snake and spider soup." This name came into being because when we moved in, Adam saw the place with all of the tall grass, and exclaimed, "That is a lot of tall grass! Snakes and spiders live in tall grass. That is 'snake and spider soup'."  After that the name just stuck. Most of the year, snake and spider soup just looks like a pile of tall dead grass, but in the spring it is beautiful, and fragrant! And a lovely place for pictures!

Devil or Angel

Sometimes I think my child is a little devil

Even though he looks like a little Angel.

So any suggestions? How do you get pen marks off of couches?????

Rachel and Anya's Dance Recital

Rachel and Anya had their big dance recital Friday night. They preformed second, so the dance studio let us sit them on our laps so they could watch most of the other dancers. I had to bring them backstage for the final bow. They were absolutely adorable!

Rachel knew her dance very well and did a really good job. She started dance class in September rather uncoordinated and awkward, and she ended much more limber, elegant, and coordinated. I am so glad this helped Rachel's coordination. I'm sure better coordination will help her overall future happiness. I will be putting her in a ballet class next September.

Anya, was just absolutely cute. She knew most of her dance, but at one point the girls change position from the front to the back of the dance group. When all  the girls changed, Anya got confused and started looking for her little tape spot on the floor. She spent most of the rest of the dance trying to find her spot (which wasn't there) until another girl pushed her forward. Then Anya remembered what she was suppose to do and finished the dance. The whole thing was just adorable!!!!

Their dance was a "Dance Myself to Sleep " dance-- thus the cute pajama costumes. All of the performers were given a trophy and all of the families will be given a dvd of the whole program.  Rachel and Anya love their trophies, and their new dance pajamas!!

Kate's School Play

Kate's 6th grade class put on a little play today and I was able to attend. I attended with 4 little kids in tow, but I attended. The little ones were decently behaved too. (At least I thought so.) Kate played the Dwarf . I think you can see why she was chosen for this part. (click on the picture below)

It always amazes me just how small Kate really is when I see her around her classmates. She is a whole head and shoulders shorter!! But, of course, Kate was the cutest in the play. The play was real funny too. The 6 graders did a good job.

Family Home Evening Activity

Last night we had one of those family home evenings that everyone is going to remember for a long time. I got the idea from Alida at her blog. It really helped illustrate how important each member of our family is, even though we all are good at and like different things.

First we gave each child a little bowl of bake batter.

Then we put a different color or colors of food coloring in each bowl and had the kids stir in their color. We talked about how each of us have things that are a little different like the different colors of the cake batter.

Then each child put a spoonful of their colored batter in each cupcake paper. As each child took their turn spooning in their cake batter, we all said nice things that we like about that child.

After we cooked the cupcakes, we frosted them with chocolate frosting. We all love chocolate frosting the best. We talked about how we have things that are the same that helps to unite us.

When we opened the cupcakes, this is what we saw. We talked about how beautiful of a family we can be when we take all of us and all of our different colors and become one. Kate said she expected the cupcakes to come out all brown and gross. She said these were so beautiful. I think this lesson really helped to illustrate how wonderful it is to have a family with a bunch of different people who have some things the same and some things different, but how when we all work hard to choose the right and to be nice and loving to one another we are so beautiful. We talked about how when Zion comes again, and we are "of one heart and one mind" how there will be people who are funny and people who are serious. There will be people who like fiction and people who only like nonfiction. There will be people who are good at sports and people who are not. But that everyone will work hard doing their part, and all of those different parts will be necessary. For Scriptures we read Moses chapter 7 about Enoch building the city of Zion and how very powerful Zion was. Then we talked about how powerful we can be as a family when we take all of our wonderful differences and become one.

Blog Award: Stylish Blogger

 

Yeah, I have been awarded the Stylish Blogger award by: Julie . She deserves this award more than I do. She is definitely a stylish blogger full of wisdom and humor. I get stuck in her blog way too much. So thank you, Julie from Hesses Madhouse, and Mother of the year in Oregon.

So here are the rules

1. Link back to the person who awarded you. (see above)
2. Tell us 7 things about yourself (see below)
3. Award 15 more deserving blogers
4. And the time consuming part: tell the people you have awarded.

So here I go: 7 things about me

1. This came on the very day I decided that I have been spending too much time reading blogs, and not enough time reading scriptures.  I put up blogs and I want to read and get in snatches sometimes long through out the day. I decided I better  start doing that with scriptures more. So, I am going to spend less time on blogs. But, I learn so much from all the good people out there in the blog world that I am still going to be popping in and out of your blogs. 
2. Everyday, I am grateful for my big family. I truly love being a mother of many.
3. I am addicted to chocolate, especially dark very expensive chocolate. 
4. I have always had the problem of wanting to be like everyone else. This may not be noticeable anymore because with 8 children I am definitely different.
5. Even though I have always wanted to be like everyone else and really cool and fun. I am really just a boring, nerdy girl. Now I am too busy to worry about that anymore.
6. I am ever the pessimist except when it comes to having children and marriage and all. I think families are the absolute best thing and it makes me sad for people who chose things over family. I am trying not to be so pessimistic.
7. Seven things is a lot. I am pretty boring.

THE AWARD GOES TO:

1. Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom: This is my Awesome Sister in law. I love her blog and read it as soon as she writes. You should all read her blog too. She is fun to read, open, and refreshing. We are all so glad Grandma and Grandpa Robertson chose to have 9 kids, because what would we do with out Becca. She is the Best!!!!
2. Two Scoops This is my neighbor. She is so funny. If you need a laugh, read 2 Scoops!!
3. 5 nuts in a nutshell Cute blogger.
4. Larger Family Life - She lives in England and has a nice huge family. I like to connect with other moms of big families.
5. Living Somewhere over the Rainbow I think we would be good friends if we lived close. Great person and a great blog!
6. Diapers and Divinty I can't remember how I came upon her blog, but she does a good job of linking up good people.
7. GrumpyGrateful Mom - So fun to read about her mothering adventures. She is a great writer.
8. Our Busy Homeschool Here is some one who can help you get organized. 
9. Natalie... I don't know her at all, but I love how she writes. She is just a wealth of knowledge.
10. Provident Mommy She mother of 3. Fun to read.
11. My 5 Small Boys -  Here is one of the most amazing Moms ever!! She is young and wise and fun. I hope I can meet her some day.
12. Mamaswhoknow A nice inspirational blog for mothers.
13. Me and My Peeps This is another sister in law. She is wonderful. She keeps a sweet blog about her cute little children. I love Rosanne. I think you will too.
14. Living Waters This is an inspirational blog by Lee Ann. She is older and so sweet and good. I hope I can be as good as her someday.
15. Free Range Kids This is a blog that all moms should read. While I don't agree with everything, it really helps me as a parent.

Oh and except for #1, none of these blogs are in any particular order. All of you help me to be a better person. Have a good day everyone and Thanks Julie for thinking of me.