Flat Stanley has arrived

Today we got Flat Stanley in the mail, all the way from California. Mckell, our niece, sent it to us. We hope he has a great time here in Florida.

BBQ

This past Saturday we had the Wilsons over for a BBQ. They have 3 boys, Ammon (10), Daniel (11) and Joseph (13). Our boys like having them over to play. With the rain we have had the pool is getting cold and the kids complained a little but once they got in it was fine. Brinley had fun watching the kids in the pool.

First Grade Open House

Today we had Open house at Conner's school. His teacher Ms. Shaw said Conner is doing great and that he is a great reader. He loves school!

Baseball

Conner just started to play baseball. Brent got roped into being the coach. I signed him up for assistant coach but because there wasn't enough coaches he was assigned. Conner loves having daddy as his coach.

Happy Birthday to me!!!!

This past Wednesday was my birthday and I celebrated all week long, hey you don't turn 45 everyday. First my visiting teachers who happened to be my great friends, took me out to dinner Tuesday night. On Wednesday Katja and Heather also two of my dearest friends (I have a lot of wonderful friends and I served with them in the primary presidency) took me out to lunch. On Friday Brent (my best friend) took me out to dinner.


Happy Birthday to me!!!

I thought I would post a good picture of me, here it is after church. And speaking of church today we had Stake Conference and a new Stake Presidency was sustained. One of the counselors is our Bishop, it is going to be interesting to see who will be our next Bishop. We had Elder Christoffel Golden of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He is from South Africa. His wife Diane Golden spoke and said something that I really liked. She spoke about how one day she was with the Accra, Ghana temple Matron and the Matron had been having a struggle understanding how the glory of God could be increased. The temple Matron looked up at the Celestial room's chandelier and she had a thought that as Heavenly Father's children we each are like the shiny crystals of the chandelier. As we live our lives and are obedient and stay clean we shine brighter much like the crystals of the chandelier thus the glory of God increases. She noticed that the chandelier wasn't too clean and had it lowered so that she could clean each one by hand and when she was done it was clean and bright. Elder Golden said that we don't need to be eloquent or endowed with super natural power to be effective or engaged in the Lord's service we just need to have a simple testimony.

Brent and I made flan for my visiting teachers as a gift for being so wonderful!! They do a good job at taking good care of me always asking how I am doing and just being there for me.

Conner and Brinley

Conner just loves piano. I had to take a picture of him practicing because he just does it on his own. I hardly ever have to remind him that he needs to practice. He even practices songs his teacher hasn't taught him because he wants to get ahead!!!











The other day after school Parker found Conner eating peanut butter out of the jar, with his hands!! Since it was the last of the peanut butter I just gave him a spoon to finish it. I have had such a struggle with ALL my kids when it comes to eating, they were all so picky when they were little. So to me when I see them eating I get thrilled.

Brinley wants to crawl. I took some really cute pictures of her getting in the crawling position. I love it that she recognizes Brent and I, when she sees us she just smiles. Conner just can't get enough of Brinley, he gets so excited when she comes.

Snake!!

It happened again!!! I went visiting teaching today and my companion and I met at my house. When I opened the door for her, a snake fell and hit me again!!! This is the second time in a year. I really don't want to open the front door again.

Goodbye Ali!!!!

The summer came and went really fast for me this year. Alison left today for BYU-I, eventhough she has been here since April, to me it seems the time just flew by too quick. Pretty soon it will be December and she will be done with another semester. She hasn't been gone a day and we already miss her.


The kids this morning just before she left for the airport.

At the airport.

Dad and Ali checking in at the counter.