Self Esteem Booster?

Last night for Family Home Evening we had a lesson about talents.
We each took turns sitting in the "hot seat".
Everyone said one talent that the person in the "hot seat" had.

Here's what the kids said were my "talents":

Jordan: Cooking ("...because she learned from Grandma who is the BEST cook"--more of a compliment to Grandma than me) & keeping her teeth nice and white--what?!

Kya: Picking a husband!! (you can tell who's daddy's girl)

Tyson: "Fluteing" (I'm guessing that means playing my flute)

Thanks goodness these are just sweet little kids, or I might be deeply offended:)

"Here Tyson, wear this"

It's tough not to spread germs when you've got a sick kid in the house. This past week Tyson was sick and I was constantly telling the kids to wash their hands and stay away from Tyson. Well, the girls got a hold of my calculator and were playing with it. Tyson wanted to play with it so badly, but I said he couldn't touch it because he'd get his germs on it. A few minutes later Kya came and told me she found a way for Tyson to play with the calculator. What a nice sister:)

(Tyson was wearing this plastic finger and playing with the calculator!)

My dad would be SO proud

Every time I go home, I am reminded about how UN-wasteful my parents are. My dad has blueberry bushes, apple trees, grape vines, pear trees, plum trees and apple/pear trees. He is VERY diligent in harvesting every last bit of fruit from each tree. Then my mom works day after day after day making grape juice, applesauce, jams, jellies, pies and desserts.

Well, when we moved to LA, our house came with four fruit trees in the backyard (one orange tree, one tangerine tree, one lemon tree, and a nectarine tree). We've made lemonade a few times last spring and summer, we loved the tangerines during winter time (the kids could easily peel them themselves), but we have yet to really take advantage of our other orange tree (they are kind of sour oranges) and I'm sure you don't want to hear about how all the nectarines ripened while we were in Canada last summer and when we got back there were dozens of them all rotten on the ground:(

Anyways, finally on Saturday the kids and I went out and had a ton of fun picking the oranges to make juice. The kids were very excited to climb the ladder! Too bad I couldn't find the juicer, so they are still sitting on my kitchen counter. Maybe one day I'll get it together enough to make my dad proud:) If I do, I'm sure I'll blog about it!!

Kya's Debut

Saturday was Kya's first tee ball game! The opening ceremonies were rained out, but the game was still ON. Kya was so cute and had a great time! Daddy was out of town and missed his daughter's debut as an athlete. I think he'd be proud:) Now lets see if we can convince her to play soccer this fall...

(Kya's team is called "The Nationals". When we got the uniform, I could NOT figure out how that was an "N" on her hat...I later found out they were the "Washington Nationals")

Our Baby Girl

I often say we got Miley instead of having another baby! She really does bring a lot of joy to our house...even if she is a cat:)

She actually fell asleep hugging Tyson's sword!

She jumped into the box all by herself! We were very surprised when she poked her head out the door:)

Miley brings us birds WAY too often. I think we have about five buried in our backyard. Sometimes they are still alive and we get to watch them fly around our house while Miley zips after them. Luckily we have been able to save a few.

My Artist

I have a 4-year-old who hates to draw.

He also hates to color.

He scribbles on his homework...for fun.

I told him his teacher wants him to do his best work.

I've told him this before...many times.

This time he decided to do it.

Who knew the kid could stay in the lines...well, mostly?

He was SO proud:)

Not Worth It

The Lovely Bones

by Alice Sebold

I struggled through some of the most awful things I have ever read, only to be disappointed with the ending:( Nothing worse than finishing a book only to feel no closure and left completely unsatisfied!

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

are next...they better not disappoint!