Busted!

Dear Jaida, those two stray dogs that won't leave our house because you keep feeding, loving and playing with them?  You tied them to Bobbie's 4-wheeler right before you left for school so I wouldn't see them and wouldn't take them to the shelter...  Bobbie called me...Busted!

Life Is Really About...

"The purpose of your life is far greater than your own fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this (earth), you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose. ....We ask self-centered questions like, what do i want to be? What should I do with my life? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose. We can speculate what our life is about or we can pray, ask our Heavenly Father and receive revelation from our creator for our purpose in life. Life is really about living for God not for ourselves. "

I don't know who to quote on this but I love it.  Thank you Cyndi for sharing.

Kayla's The Spotlight

Dear Kayla, last night we made a poster for you to bring to school because you were being spotlighted! When you came home I asked, "Did your teacher like your poster?"  And you told me, "I think she LOOOVED my poster!"  I hope today was great for you!

Sea of Stuffed Animals

Dear Jaida, I'm really liking the "No tv before 5pm" Sunday rule.  It's when you kids become most creative.  I don't even mind the gigantic mess you guys make because you are actually playing and having fun with each other.  Today it was "Swimming in a Sea of Stuffed Animals", barbies, cars, chickens and a bath with cars and horses.  I will post pics as soon as I find my camera. :)  Right now I've got to stealthily move everyone back to their own beds so I can get some sleep.

Dear Monty, you should be glad I made the kids clean up all their messes last night.  You would not have been able to get in the house!

Parts of the Plant Salad

Dear Kayla, Thursday you went to Rhetta's and picked veggies from her garden to take to school the next morning - you were so excited to show us what you picked!  Friday you got to have your "Parts of the Plant Salad". It was the first day you didn't come home and say, "I Hate school...it's SOOOO BORING!" (however the next morning you were back at it)

Kylan - 18 Months

Dear Kylan, you got to go to Grandma's for two days and you came back bigger.  You were jabbering like crazy, not saying "no" so much and trying to copy everything we would say. I did love the fact that you didn't want me to put you down when you first saw me. ;) By the way, for the last three days you have pooped so much that your bum is raw and sore, it is very sad.  Jaida bought Joey a cool car toy from a yard sale this morning and he wouldn't let you play with the cars that go with it so you went and found your own - I thought this was pretty smart.

Firearms Instructor Skills

Dear Monty, you only made one girl cry during our family home evening shoot. I'm just kidding, I can't even remember why she was crying, it was probably because I brought her TWO right foot shoes or maybe it was because we both yelled at her for throwing all the kleenex out and trying to use the kleenex box as her other shoe?? You should now be able to write a manual on how to teach girls to shoot without making them cry.  It could be popular. :) You instructed the girls so well they both got bulls eyes! I'll be sure to add this to your "skills" list. I just luuv guys with firearms instructing skills.

Sharp Shooter

Dear Jaida, after all the drama and even tears you kicked all our butts shooting the .22 and the pistol.  I think you got three bulls eyes. You didn't want to shoot the rabbit target (because it was a rabbit) but you hit it more times than any of us. Keep practicing and you'll be better than Dad! (but only if you listen when he's teaching you)

Bulls Eye

Dear Kayla, I can't believe that on your first time ever shooting you hit the bulls eye - twice!  Nice job, you must take after Dad because you sure did kick my butt. I think the only shooting I did better than you was with the pistol, shooting the rabbit (but just barely).

Elliot

Dear Monty, last night you were telling me what was going on in Moab when I called you.  I was laughing so hard. I will just give two memory joggers so we can remember the funny stories: Elliot, James Rose

Maybe I just wanted you to get back as fast as you could? Love ya!

Bad Chicken!

Dear Kayla, I'm so sorry you got attacked by Caroline (the chicken). She pecked you at least 4 times and even drew blood!!  You and Jaida are now scared of ALL the chickens and I will probably end up feeding them every day again.  Jaida said, "Maybe they thought you were chicken food." To which you promptly replied, "Do I LOOK like a chicken pellet?!" hahaha
Dad went out with you tonight to help you feed the chickens, he had you hold Caroline and you were fine until you had to put her down. "Dad, I want to put her down now but she'll attack me again." Dad, "No she won't, just put her down." So you put her down and ran away screaming!

p.s. This is what your teacher emailed me: "Kayla is doing a great job. We are working on controlling our voice but she is very bright and seems to be adjusting well."  I don't think you have a voice controller but we'll see...

Officially Responsible

Dear Jaida, you are officially responsible!  When I had to leave I told you that you were in charge and to take care of the kids until I could get a hold of Bobbie. You gathered all the kids into the house, put on a cartoon and told all the neighbors that stopped by that you were fine and didn't need any help.  You can't even imagine how relieved I was to hear all this. I love ya tons!  (when I got home you said you were glad because I was okay but sad because you had so much fun, hahaha)

My Favorite Word is No

Dear Kylan, usually when kids learn to say No and that's all they say it's really frustrating. However they way you say no just makes me laugh!

1st Day of School Recap

Hannah, Sidney and Jenna were SO excited to see you!

 Dear Jaida, your response when you got home from school today was not very enthusiastic. We made you come home, sit down and tell us everything that happened.  Right off the bus you said, "It was kind of boring." Not what we want to hear. :(  We went to get ice cream for family home evening and at DQ I asked you if you thought you were going to like it there and you said, "Yes.  I'm gonna love it!  I can't wait for tomorrow." ???  I guess we just needed to let things settle down and sink in. Oh, you said your favorite part of the day was math.

Excited to see Kayla!

 Dear Kayla, your response was even more disappointing than Jaida's.  The first thing you said off the bus was, "It was great, but kind of boring." Then you said to me, "Mom, I'm hungry!"  I'm a little worried about you. This is your first year of all day school and you seemed really tired and just kept complaining that it was so boring and all you did was WORK!  Your favorite part of the day was recess. You'll get used to the schedule and things will get better.

Giving Kylan a huge hug

Walking home together and telling the girls all about your day

Watch Out Gateway

Dear Jaida and Kayla, today is your first day of school! Your alarm clock was beeping for 15 minutes before I finally went down and woke you up. Jaida, you couldn't eat breakfast you were so nervous, but you got ready so fast and were SO excited!!  Kayla, you had no problems eating and were so excited about packing a lunch (you helped), and eating at school.

Your bus stop is now two blocks away in front of the church. Dad, Joey, Kylan and me rode our bikes with you and there were lots of kids and parents this morning.

The bus came about 10 minutes late but you couldn't wait to get on and the driver had all of you wave to us as you drove off.  My camera died after taking this picture so I never got one of you waving. :(  Me, dad and the boys got to go for a bike ride after your bus left, I hope we get to do that more often. I hope you have a great time today and are able to remember everything you did so you can tell me.  I hope you love your new school and find lots of nice friends and teachers. I hope you will remember everything you have been taught and that you will be good examples.  I hope I can survive being at home with three boys!

Tub and Toilet Plunger

Dear Joey, last night when I came to check on you in the tub, Kylan was in there with his shirt still on and the toilet plunger was sitting next to the tub. GROSS!  Even though you said you didn't put it in, after I told you what the plunger was for you practically jumped out of the tub! Ha!

Big Brother Joey

Dear Joey, most of the time you are so nice to Kylan.  I loved watching you help him go around on the bus.  You pushed him up and down the side walk and then would get on your rocket and push yourself alongside him. You watch out for him when we go places and make sure he stays with us. If you accidentally hurt him you will pick him up and say sorry.  I hope you will always be kind.

Dear Jaida, in the last two months you have changed.  The other day you fed AND gathered the eggs for Kayla. Today you helped Kayla pick up all the napkins all over the floor plus folded all the blankets and then made forts for everyone to sleep in.

Dear Kayla, you must be going through a growth spurt. You are eating us out of house, crying at the drop of a hat, being meaner than usual to Joey and refusing to do every little thing asked.
Dear Kylan, I think you might be the meanest of all the kids at your age, you love to hit...but then maybe that's because you have three older siblings teaching you how it's done. By the way, I love that right before you fall asleep you babble on and on.
Dear Monty, the past couple days you've been really productive and you know how I love productive. 

FHE at Three Peaks

Looking for the perfect spot

Dear Family, I loved having FHE outside with you. You each found a hole to sit in but it sure didn't stop you from running, dancing and prancing around the rocks during the lesson.

Hiking around for our activity and Oreos for dessert!

Would You Rather Be The Dumbest or the Ugliest?

Dear Kayla, yesterday I made you tell me what you did to Joey and this is what you said, "He was singing an annoying song so I pushed him and he kept singing so I kicked him in the forehead - and I DIDN'T do it on ACCIDENT!" I was stunned but how can I punish you after you tell me the whole truth. Even Joey didn't tell me all that.
Dear Joey, at breakfast I said that last Sunday was the best day ever, you said, "You know what the best day ever was? THE PARADE!" Hahaha, I'm so glad we did the parade. :) Then we went to church and you ran off, shut yourself into a room and pooped AND peed your pants. (I had TWO others helping me look for you!!)
Dear Kylan, sitting out on the deck with you, Kayla, Joey and Misty was awesome. We watched all the stars come out, found Kayla and Joey in the blanket over and over, listened and laughed while you screamed and screamed and screamed for no reason (maybe there was an echo you were hearing), and then you fell asleep while cuddled up in the blanket by me, best part of my day. :)
Dear Jaida, today when we were playing "Would You Rather" I asked, "Would you rather be the dumbest kid in high school or the ugliest?"  I thought the question was hilarious and laughed. You threw all the game pieces and wouldn't play anymore.
Dear Monty, I hate your graveyard shifts, you miss WAY to much stuff, I'm just glad you can read about it later. Love ya like...finding a good split end. (and no one will understand this)

Imagine That! 3rd Place Float

Thursday I learned about a Little Red Wagon Parade. Friday we created this:

Credits: Monty fixed the handle and sides, Jaida helped add the tissue paper, Grandpa Sitthichai made the dragon fly, Grandma Sitthichai helped with the tire covers, taping the tissue underneath and tending the kids, Misty created our signs and Kayla helped add the stuffed animals.

About 16 or so entries paraded down main street in front of 50 or so people (maybe there were more).

Kayla LOVED throwing candy and would yell, "Candy, candy, get your candy!" Jaida stood on the other side of the float saying, "Kayla stop talking, it's embarrassing." Joey was a head of us the entire time riding his big wheel. He's still talking about going to the parade again tomorrow. :)

All our hard work paid off with 3rd place and $50!

Beads Up The Nose

Dear Joey, watching you put a bead up your nose and blow it out over and over is pretty funny!  Knowing that you are using our yard for a bathroom is not funny.