Scout Sunday

Living at the Rec Center

Tim and I have been exercising faithfully for more than a year now, and I decided it was time to get the kids in on the action. I figure if they make it a habit now, it'll be easier to continue as they get older. That's the idea, anyway. I decided that I would take the kids to the rec center after school three times a week, and have them walk and run. The idea is to do one lap for every year you are old (6 1/2 laps= 1 mile). So Annie does less than a mile, and Rebekah does 2 miles. That seems to be about the right distance. They did great the first time, and then started complaining... so I had to come up with some motivation.

I let the kids choose a reward. The first time, they chose ice cream cones at Macey's. I told them we needed 100 laps (all together, not individually). When we got to 100, they got ice cream. Next, they chose a scoop of bulk candy each (again from Macey's- they had the idea walking past the bulk bins on the way out with ice cream cones). That one cost 300 laps.
Now we're working on a trip to the swimming pool- 400 laps.

They're doing great, and don't like to miss, because it prolongs the time before the next reward. My favorite part is seeing their abilities increase- they can run way more now than when they started.

Annie is a blast to run with- she giggles the whole way.

Ethan, worn out on his last lap!

Rebekah on the stair climber... that thing is brutal!

Josh and Price on the treadmills.

Emma- all worn out.

The other thing I have learned in this adventure is that I have to go and walk/run WITH them- I can't go and try to do my own workout. I just get frustrated, and end up with kids calling into the weight room needing me. Now, I go in the morning, and take the kids in the afternoon. That does mean that I go to the rec center 9 times a week. Kind of insane, but it's working for me for now. When the weather gets nicer, it won't be so often.

Glimpse into the future?

Our ward is doing missionary month with the youth. To that end, all of the kids received "mission calls" this last week. I'm not sure why I got so excited about it, except that I have looked forward to kids serving missions ever since they were born. We still have a few years to go, but it was fun to catch this little glimpse of what it will be like. Having all three of them opening calls was pretty fun, too, because that could actually happen- at least almost. Price and Josh will turn 19, and 3 months later Rebekah will be 21. So yes, we are accepting donations. :)
So without further delay, here are the kids' "mission calls":

Rebekah: Finland Helsinki Mission

Price: Brazil Salvador Mission

Josh: Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission

Long Weekend/Valentine's Day

This one is actually from last weekend, but I loved it- Tim and Price reading their scriptures.

Watching "The Lightning Thief". Yes, I paid full price (well, matinee price) for a movie. The kids don't know what's going on when I don't automatically head for the dollar movie!

Valentine's Day breakfast- heart shaped cinnamon rolls. So good!

Low-key Sunday afternoon. Lots of love notes, hugs, kisses (the Hershey kind), and hearts made of Jenga pieces.

Rebekah's contribution to the day- heart shaped brownies WITH frosting!

Fort building in the basement. The fort evolved throughout the afternoon... "Can we get the card table out? How about the mats? Can we use the big blankets?" It pretty much devastated the basement, but they got good use of it overnight with a slumber party, and it is now (mostly) cleaned up.

Me and my Annie girl. Good thing I looked at this picture- clued me in to the fact that there was a big fingerprint in the middle of my lens. We're a little blurry....

Price and Josh- 12 years old... and deacons!

I'm having a hard time believing that these guys are 12 already.

But they still like rocket launchers,

swords,

and silly games.

Pants, they're not so excited about. But boy did they need them!

Not sure what's up with the pirate pose, but there you go.

The boys' birthday also included a trip to the Pizza Pie Buffet for all-you-can-eat pizza, salad, pasta, and dessert. Pretty much heaven for 12 year old boys. I, of course, forgot the camera.

Today (Sunday) was wonderful. The boys were presented in sacrament meeting for graduation from Primary and ordination to the Aaronic Priesthood. We had quite a crowd in the Bishop's office for the ordination- our family, both sets of grandparents, Great-Grandma Shipley, Brother Daniels (our home teacher), Peter and Mary, and Bryan and Juli Olson and their 5 kids (the bishop asked if they were family, and we said, "practically". They might as well be!

My overriding thought throughout the day was just that THIS is what it's all about. Every day in raising a family is important, but when we hit those landmarks (baby blessings, baptisms, ordinations, sealings), it is a reminder of the importance of our little family. We have a family so that we can help each other learn and grow, and gain testimonies of the gospel- so that we can be together forever. I am so looking forward to future landmark events- the rest of our baptisms and ordinations, missions, sealings, grandchildren.

I never did get good pictures of the boys all dressed up and looking like deacons, but I did manage a few pictures at lunch after:

(Don't count the candles- I only had 13 total!)

Sorry for the mid-bite photo, Juli. You're still cute. I'm so glad you guys came- you make every event better!

Peter, Mary and Mom.

Grandma Shipley and Mom again!

The crowd, including Grandma and Grandpa Walker- so glad you're close enough to be with us often!

It was a wonderful day. I have great kids- and wonderful family and friends. It is so comforting to know, as my kids grow and try to navigate a scary world, that they have so many good examples. I am especially grateful for wonderful grandparents, who have so much influence on their lives.

Fancy Nancy Party

Our local library hosted a "Fancy Nancy Party" last Saturday. I originally signed both Annie and Emma up, but Emma backed out at the last minute. Something about not having anything fancy enough to wear... isn't she in first grade?

The girls learned French (fancy) words, talked about manners, read "Fancy Nancy," and then had a tea party- complete with outstretched pinkies and calling each other "dahling." It was all very cute.

By the way, when I showed Emma the pictures, she decided she wants to go next year.

What have we been doing this winter?

Hanging on to Christmas with Mary and Joseph (and the giraffe-donkey) reenactments.

Building a snowman (oops- snow-woman!).

6th grade Invention Convention- we had the "Exterior Airbag"

and the "Orange Peelinator."

Any other Phineas and Ferb fans out there?

Okay, so really this was just a ploy to post a bunch of random photos. Sorry.
But I'm getting closer to caught up!

Heart Attack?

Someone's excited for Valentine's Day...

Little Girls

We enjoyed everyone who came to visit this month, but we especially enjoyed the little ones!

Annie and Lucy.

I love Lucy! Amy, anytime you need a break, just bring her over!

Here's Abby at the piano with Ethan. Look at those curls!

Annie was in heaven while Abby was around. She practically had a younger sibling! She was the person in the whole family who Abby warmed up to the fastest, and pretty soon Annie had a little shadow. At one point, we had the gas fireplace on, and Abby got too close, touching it with the tips of her fingers. She was so sad, and had blisters on the pads of each finger. We turned the fireplace off to avoid any further mishaps, but Annie went the extra mile, and posted warning signs so that Abby wouldn't get hurt again.

Pretty cute, huh?