Such a Good Baby

I leave for a minute to get things done.  She just falls asleep.  She is such an angel!

She had her first big laugh yesterday morning.  It just absolutely melts my heart!  She's such a happy baby!

Obedient Children....

When I ask them to make lunch, they make a menu ($0, of course).

When I go to P/T conferences and tell them what I'd like for them to try to accomplish while I'm gone, they made a checklist and tape it to the wall.

And better yet, they do their best and get it done!  So grateful for them today!!

(Kaia even had a friend over today and included her in the cleaning.  When I got home and asked them what they were going to do, they said "homework".  I had to remind them that they could do fun things as well.  Just Dance was the winner!)

Parent Teacher Conferences

I've never enjoyed Parent Teacher Conferences so much.  Mostly because I got "the dish" on Jaymeson.  He is HILARIOUS!

In addition to the stories I heard before, I learned:

1.  My son has no lack of confidence - but maybe a lack of patience.  They were handing out books at the appropriate reading levels.  As he has recently really gone far with reading, they didn't have a book ready for him.  "Miss Roy, can I take one of these books?"  "Not yet Jaymeson, I don't have one for you."  "Well, I'm waiting!"

2. My son is thoughtful.  While playing outside, he asked Miss Roy to lift him up onto one of the structures.  As she was about to lift him up he said, "Wait, are you pregnant?"  Clearly, he has learned that pregnant people shouldn't lift - and that there's been a lot of them around, so, clearly, they can be anywhere.

3.  My son has superpowers.  "Miss Roy, can I be invisible today?"  "No Jaymeson, sorry.  I need to see you during the day."  "I promise I'll still get all my work done."  "Sorry.  I just really need to see you."  Later that day, he was heading down the hallway.  "Miss Roy, did you know that I can run so fast that I can turn invisible?"  "No, why don't you show me?"  "Okay!"  Then he proceeded to run down the hall as hard as he possibly could.

Benson, of late

Benson fell down, right onto his face, in the locker room after swimming lessons yesterday.  It was so sad.  As I was comforting him, Kienna said to him, "It looks like you got a fat lip".  "Yeah, and a fat tooth!"

For days Benson has been bugging me to go to Costco.  Everytime I asked him why, he said, "I want a Hot Dog!"  Yesterday,  we went to Costco. 

"Benson, we're going to Costco!"

"I don't want to go to Costco!!"

"Why not?  You've wanted to go all week."

"Because.... Because those stupid Hot Dogs make me burp!"

Once we were ready to go to Costco, we were waiting for Lanaya to wake up.  Benson snuck upstairs to see if she was still sleeping and yells down, "Mom, she's fast awake!!"

 Saryn got a new bed.  The side rails didn't appear that way to my boys.  Within seconds, this is how we found Benson.  Kienna grabbed a picture with her new iTouch.

Worry Wart

Kienna has cracked me up a couple times recently.  She brought home her forms for the Grade 5 immunizations and apparently they had talked about the diseases in the class.

"Mom, I think I have Hepatitis B"
"Why??"
"Because I have used Kaia's toothbrush."
"Yeah, but Kaia doesn't have Hepatitis B.
"That doesn't matter, Mom.  You can't share germs with anyone, or you'll get it."

Then the next day she came home with a notice that someone in her class has headlice.

"Okay, Kienna, don't share your head stuff with anyone..."
"Why?  Do I have lice?"
"No.... but someone in your class does and you don't want to get it."
"Is it me??"
"No"
"Are you sure?"
"Let me check...  Yes, I'm sure."

Good grief.  This girl worries about everything.

Except for maybe matching.

She just handed me a rainbow loom bracelet she had made.
"You should wear it... it matches your shirt."

Or something.  ;)

Irony

Saryn tried on her baptism dress for tomorrow.  She had it on for two minutes and got a nose bleed all down the front.  Awesome!

Hair Cut Mayhem

Benson really needed a hair cut.  Hair over his ears, into his eyes, the works!

This was a picture just a couple days ago.

Yes, he's wearing his sisters headband.

Anyhow... I cut it today, (evidence found below)

but he just wouldn't sit still.  I tried to trim it here and there, but I got fed up and decided to use the clippers with the largest attachment.  I had remembered someone telling me that they did it that way and their kids always looked nice.  I decided I'd try it now since I was frustrated.

I regret it.  So sad...

He, however, saw himself in the mirror and laughed, "Mommy, thats funny hair!".  Hopefully he likes funny for at least a few weeks... :(

Honey

The expression "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" might have influenced Benson.  For the last few months, he's been wanting us to feed him.  For the most part we refuse, and he'd cry or trudge along and finish eventually - or not at all.

This week, he's tried a new approach (a couple times now). 

"Mom" (as he pushes his plate towards me), "you're the best feeder in the whole world!"

This while batting his big long eyelashes is about all a mom can handle.  This boy is too cute for his own good!

Ms. Roy

We are very excited this year that Jaymesin has Ms. Roy as his teacher.  We've always known her as Mary up to this point and she is friends with two of Jay's Aunts.

What we have enjoyed the most is her updates that she sends to Brittany of the things he says and does.  Among them, was this one from today.  It came with a picture

And the following message:

"Jaymeson asked Ms. Roy to write these words in his snowman's word bubble for him."

I've learned so much more about how his days go with this sweet set up.  Things like he was the first to answer a math question (19-2) and he did it quickly.

I learned that they were drawing pictures of their families and the girl next to him felt like her family was big, "I have a sister!"  Jaymeson hardly noticed as he was drawing all eight of us and labelling them with names.  Ms. Roy guided him to just write "me" instead of "Jaymeson" and was going to let him skip the "I Love My Family" sentence, but he insisted because that was the assignment.  (He might have some perfectionist genes in him).

Can't wait to hear many more stories over this year!!

Saryn

So, apparently I've been much better at posting the "little things", because I can type it in on my phone when I'm thinking about it.  It makes it harder, however, to get to the "big things" because I haven't moved the pictures onto the computer and I don't often have time to sit down and type.  I'm taking the opportunity to do so now because something HUGE has happened!  My little Saryn has turned 8 years old!

To celebrate, I wanted to write my 8 favorite things about Saryn!

1. Saryn cares a lot about those around her!  She shows great love to her friends and family by worrying about them, fussing over them, playing with them and trying her best to make them know she will help if she can.

2. Saryn always does her best work!  When assigned a job, Saryn frequently gets frustrated.  This is NOT because she doesn't want to help, it's because she is worried she won't do it right or well enough.  She is a little perfectionist that is determined to do her best - and if her best isn't as good as she'd hope, she gets frustrated.  I love that she cares so much that something is done right.  When she does her work, you can count on it always being her best!

3.  Saryn loves to sing and dance!  She was born for the stage.  Can't imagine where she gets that from... *ahem, Jarett*.  I will never forget her dancing through the food court, no older than 3, at Costco saying, "Mom, you know what would be the best?  If Costco had a stage!"  Just the other day, she gave us all "tickets" to a 16 piece dance show that she coordinated, planned and danced for us.  This is not an uncommon occurance.  Saryn always loves to put on the piano tunes and dance to her hearts content.  If you're willing to watch - or better yet, join in, she is there with bells on!

4. Saryn is very smart!  She loves to read, learn and apply what she's learned.  She is always looking for answers, discovering new techniques or doing things to understand.  She's fascinated by animals, random facts, and how things work together.  She loves to snuggle up with a Guinness Book of World Records, Reader's Digest for kids, National Geographic for Kids or even a good Math book from time to time (Life of Fred was plowed through).  She has a very quick mind and catches onto things as soon as she chooses to.

5.  Saryn loves reading her scriptures!  She just got them for her birthday and they're already getting marked up and she's trying to memorize her Scripture Masteries.  She loves to read the Friend magazine and plans out many Family Home Evenings because of what she has read.  She does get a little disappointed though, when I already have a lesson planned for that week.

6. Saryn is very organized!  Out of all my kids, Saryn will be the one with a clean room, organized drawers and a system going for keeping her stuff straight.  She is this way with her time too.  She likes to know exactly when things will happen, who will be involved and what is required of her.  Because of this trait, she's not a huge fan of surprises, but she is a big fan of planning them for others!

7.  Saryn is very affectionate!  If there is ever a note shoved under my door, put on my bed or rolled up in a scroll somewhere for me to find, I can bet that it's Saryn.  She loves to draw me pictures, give me hugs, write me special notes and do secret service for me.  I know it's the same for many around her too.  She loves to make a difference in people's day by lifting up their spirits.  She also loves getting these things in return.  She has such a giving heart.

 
8.  Saryn is my little girl!  Truth be told, Saryn's never been my "littlest", but she was my youngest girl for almost 8 years and she'll never really grow out of that role for me.  She is my precious baby girl and she is all mine.  I love her to pieces just because she's who she is!  She is a special daughter of God whom I get to raise here on earth.  What a joy she has brought to this family.  We love her so much and are so proud of her.  I can't wait to see her plan out and live the rest of her life!

Sept 8

Sept 8th is my Mom's Birthday!  This post, however, doesn't include her much as she went on vacation.  Our day, however, had a few funny moments that I thought I'd share.

Our day started with a Optometry appointment for the whole family.  This started a little later than school, so I let the kids sleep in while I treated myself to a morning shower.  I may have taken a little longer than anticipated, so we were running a little bit behind.  I was anxious to still leave on time, so I was encouraging the kids to get ready as quickly as possible.  It was at this time that I stumbled across Jaymeson carefully counting his pennies from his piggy bank.  (He may have just lost his tooth and received a toonie from the tooth fairy

"Jaymeson, we're in a hurry, we don't have time to count your money!"
"No Mom, I'm getting my tithing ready!"  (He may have also just had a lesson on tithing in primary)
"Jaymeson, that's a good thing to do, but you can't pay it until Sunday, so you really don't need to get it ready today.  Especially when we're in such a hurry!"
Jay then went into his room and put his piggy bank back on the shelf.  He turned around to me with and told me determination  - and a slight crack in his voice, "Mom, God commands us to do this!"

We went to the optometrist and, because Mother Nature was feeling very cruel, we fought our way through the snow crazed traffic and got there just a couple minutes late.  The optometrist himself only just beat us there.  They worked with the kids and ushered them through one by one.  Benson, however, was first.  This was his second ever eye exam, but he clearly didn't remember his first because he was a little nervous.  He wouldn't go into the room without holding my hand, and reluctantly climbed on the chair.  Dr Rick Nielson was "outstanding" though (as he always is).  He used "magic" to raise and lower the chair depending on where the spoon touched Benson.  The nose made the chair go up, the ear made the chair go down etc.  After the eye exam was over, Benson didn't want to get out.  He looked at me approvingly, pointed at Dr Nielson and said, "Mom, I like this guy!"  He may have got an extra ride or two on the magic chair after that comment.

As I mentioned, it snowed.  September 8th and it snowed.  Why do we live in this place??  As my Aunty Sherri said, "Repeat after me.....universal health care, strong economy, no cockroaches...... Repeat as needed until you feel better!"  These pictures don't even capture the full extent of it.  Supposedly, it'll clear up and be 20 degrees by the weekend.

After the kids were all dropped off at school, I went home, cleaned up a little and tried to get dinner started.  They came home, Kienna got ready for cello, I picked up Kaia (who got out 10 minutes later than I had anticipated), came home grabbed, Kienna, headed to the bank to get the payment, realized I had forgotten my purse about half way there, turned around, had Kaia run my purse to the end of the street so I could grab it from her easier, went back to the bank, got the money, fought traffic up to Mount Royal, got there and had a stellar planning lesson.  This year is going to be great!  We love Morag!

After Kienna's lesson, we came home to crazy heavy snow and a dinner partially made.  We threw it together, had Kim and Nathan join us for scriptures post-dinner and then put the boys to bed - but not until after Jaymeson had practiced the piano.  The girls stayed up just to practice their instruments (violin, cello and piano respectively) and went to bed.

Just another day in Paradise!

A scripture a day…

I wasn't feeling well this morning, so I was lying in bed. Jaymeson came up to me with his Book of Mormon in hand and asked me if he could read me a scripture to make me feel better. It worked almost immediately! What a sweet boy.  

He is so excited about reading, he's been carrying his scriptures with him around the house asking every one if he can read with then.

Thought

When you have four kids in school and two sleeping - it's truly amazing what you can get done!

Baby Video Games

Although he has missed his older brother and sisters, Benson has found a great replacement!  Lanaya plays along and does whatever he wants - even imaginary video games.  No TV necessary, he just uses the remote, takes turns with Lanaya and has amazing adventures!  Today they only died three times before winning.  Lanaya even delivered the final blow.  As Benson reports it, "She just pressed the 'X' button and blowed all the bad guys away.  And WE WINNED!!"

It's going to be fun to see these two grow close this year!

The Night Before School Starts

'Twas the night before school starts
and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring,
except for a mouse.

The backpacks were put on the table with care
in hopes that no droppings soon would be there.

The traps were put out,

The rooms were all cleared,

The kids moved upstairs

For the mouse was quite feared.

The first day of school we're hoping will be,
a little less scary than school starting's eve!