We as parents try hard to keep our kids happy. We buy them fancy dolls, trucks and cars with all the noise makers on them. We give them video games, ipods, anything and everything we think they would like to have to play with. In the end it's a big box that wins. It becomes their boat for the next week, their art project they can put whatever they dream up on it. It becomes their bed they sleep in on the weekend. Why as parents we try so hard it's just to simple it's the box they want!
Last night was Travis' court of honor, he is the senior patrol leader so he gets to give all the awards out. I think Travis is one of the funnest people I know, he loves to be with people. The boys in his scout troop love him too, he is a great leader. I love watching him grow and become such a great young man. One who feels good about himself and is always happy to be a friend. Travis got is Star last night, he has all but one thing left for his eagle. Now it is just the waiting time that we have to go through, but by his 14th birthday he to will be a eagle. And when Travis puts his mind to something he wants he gets it done! I'm so pleased with my boys and their willing to do their best and serve in their callings giving a 100%. I'm thankful they like scouts and work so hard to do their best. I guess this week had just made me a very proud mama and I can't seem to stop talking about them. I love them so much I just never thought this day would come with my children being teenagers and thinking of missions and what they are going to be when they grow up, (which is not that far away). I can remember when they were little and playing with their friends on our broken old swing set. Anyway enough of my memory lane, I just want to say again Congratulations Travis on getting you Star keep up the good work!!!
Travis giving me my pin...
Travis getting his Star...
Travis starting the court of honor...So Josh's eagle court of honor finally came this past Sunday night. I have lots of pictures, I guess you could call me a proud mama. It turned out wonderful, he had lots of people come and support him in getting his award. I just would like to add I am not going to be baking for a week or two. In preparing for the refreshments I baked 342 cookies, 105 brownies, thanks to mom Squire who was willing to help bake she also baked 2 kinds of cookies and rice crispy treats. If you remember from the past post I had Lynn's work birthday party in which I baked about the same amount of cookies and brownies. But if anyone knows me I love baking so I didn't mind it to much. Plus Josh's court of honor turned out so well it was worth it. I would like to thank all the family and friends that came. It was so neat to see all of you there to watch and support Josh. He is still on cloud nine, he felt your love for him, thank you. So you will all have to look at every picture to see what it is about. Yes I am making it so you have to see my son over and over. ( I think he is the cutest looking 14 1/2 year old there is)
Bishop Burns swearing in Josh as a Eagle Scout....
Josh pinning on Dad's (Lynn) Eagle pin...
Me pinning on Josh's Eagle scout pin... (trying not to cry it was hard for me)
Josh talking about his scouting experience and his eagle project. Anyone in that room could feel his spirit and love for special needs children. He talked about how much he loves his little brother Jake too, he started to cry and I lost it I cried too I could no longer hold it in. This night was one of the biggest pay offs for me as a mom. I now know my son will turn out to be a great man, missionary, husband, father, priesthood holder and leader. I'm still getting teary eyed writing about. I have to thank Josh's dad for most of it, Lynn you have been a great father and example for our children. I love you so much for that.
Josh getting some other awards from his awesome scout leader Jerry Smith. He is truly the best scout master in the world. Thanks so much Jerry for all the hard work you put into scouting and my boys.
Josh sitting in the Eagle's nest....
Josh getting everything ready to start the court of honor program. Brain Berlin conducted for us and troop 1969 did the flag for us. Thank you to everyone that helped in anyway make it such a wonderful night for Josh!!!We always have nice weekends but for some reason lately they have been very full and we are always moving. We started this long three day weekend by moving our couch from our storage unit to the family room. This was going to be a easy thing to do well you can only imagine how it worked out. So by 5:00pm we finally got it all put together. We had a Valentine party at our house with Lynn's family. I thought it was fun we had great food which I will be eating for a few days, which means I need to workout harder to make my goal before summer. I have decided I need to stop going to parties if I'm going to look good by summer. Then we played some games and my kids loved having they cousins over. Then to end the fun weekend we went to the zoo in the rain. We did get cold and wet but we had fun. The kids named the gorilla Brandon, sorry Brandon but if you think of it this way they were thinking of you why you had to work and we got to play. Now I start a very busy week I don't think I will have much time to blog so sorry to the whole 2 reads I have. Lynn was put in charge of the monthly birthday parties at work, so we all know who gets to help do most of that. Plus this Sunday we have Josh's Eagle Scout court of honor. So busy, busy not to mention all the other stuff that is just day to day stuff to keep up with. But to make things even more special I have a bad infection in my face I have a chin that looks like a golf ball is inside off it and it hurts like (well I can't say little kids might read this). I did manage to put some pictures that really don't have much to do with this post but they are my kids and I think they are the cutest. Did I mention I have to wait all day to see the doctor to get some relief. FUN, FUN!!!
Meg, Jake, Nater, Matthew, and Kenna with Brandon the Gorilla at the zoo....
Ben saying hi because he thinks Jake is getting all the pictures lately...
Josh went as a U fan to school for spirit week. Anyone who knows our family would know we are very faithful BYU fans. But you have to do, what you have to do for school spirit...The hardest decision I have had to make in a very long time had come this week. I had to put my son on meds. I love Jake with all my heart and would do anything for him. For the past two years Jake and I have spent so much time at doctor offices that we know Primary Children's by heart. I have fought for those two years to keep him off meds. We have tried all kinds of ways to keep him healthy and happy. But this past month I know the time has come to give him more help. More help to feel better in control of his little life, I know he will benefit from some help. It's just small to start with but something I feel he will need the rest of his precious life here on earth. I hope school will feel better to him now, that he can learn easier and grow and be happier with life. I know this is the best but today I feel like crying to see that his syndrome has won one more fight. Thank you to my support team, my husband who loves Jake and is such a great dad to him, and for his love and support to me. To my and Lynn's family they have always been there to help when we had doctor appt. and for your prayers, keep sending them our way. And to my friends that always seem to know when to call. We love you all!!!
When Meg turned eight I told her she was old enough to get her ears pierced. So off we went and home again without pierced ears. The next year off we went again on her ninth birthday and home again without pierced ears. So this year off we went and home again with pierced ears. She was very brave and for Meg to do something that might hurt is big. If she thinks anything she is doing is going to hurt she will not do it. Even if that means not doing something fun. So today I want to say great job Meg I knew this year you would do it and what a brave girl you are. I love you!!!
Meg, Heather, and Shelby working on their beach bags...
Meg blowing her birthday candles out....
The girls in their fun flip flops they made....When I was a young girl there were some words I hated to here when I got home from school. Some of those words were, " girls you need to help clean the china hutch." Why did my mom make us do the cleaning and washing of all the dishes I would say. It's her stuff it's her things and she should do it right? Well my mom is on a mission in Nauvoo and today it was my turn to clean the china hutch. But something was different about doing it. I have been looking at it for a few weeks now thinking it needs to be done but not wanting to do it. As I started to clean it and wash each dish one by one so many memories came to my mind. The glasses that were my grandpa and grandma Light's, the little dessert dishes that my mom would put jello in for a special treat. The china from my mom's wedding, the anniversary plates we kids gave them for their 25th and 30th wedding anniversary. It was so neat to clean the china hutch, who know it could be fun. It was great to think of the past and all the fun and special memories that those dishes I hated to clean had made. Just by sitting in the china hutch.
So Meg has been asking me to braid her hair and let her sleep in it. This way she could have wavy hair for school. So last night we did just that. She got up today and was so excited to do her hair. I started to undo her braids and her eyes got bigger and bigger then she got teary eyed. Well you see her hair was VERY wavy in fact it looked like a really bad perm. I started to laugh I wanted to take a picture but she would not let me. I just want to end by saying it's 6:00 pm and I'm still laughing. It's one of those moment you don't ever what to forget.
For the past few mornings Ben has been asking for pepper jack cereal. I kept thinking you don't like pepper jack cheese, what's with the cereal. Sunday I found out what pepper jack cereal is, it is Apple Jacks. I don't think any of us will ever call them Apple Jacks again. Kids are so funny!!!
