If you thought you had it bad... check this out

So after my last poor me blog I thought I'd post another Lane picture that made me laugh. Seriously have you ever seen anyone so sad before! I'm pretty sure his world was ending. He just wanted me to pick him up. How could I resist with those crocadile tears? I sure do love my cute kids!

Jaden's teacher asked her kindergartners to write a letter to a brother of one of his classmates who is serving in Baghdad right now. I thought he did a great job and wanted to share a six year old's perspective of freedom.

stake conference, floods, snow & appendicitis?

The title of this blog pretty much sums up the last 36 hours! So much fun... Stake Conference was this weekend which tests my patience. Lane is not at a fun age for 1 hour of sacrament meeting so 2 hours of stake conference was exhausting. But I obediently went only to come home and find that our basement was flooding. Our new sheet rock, texture and almost-ready-to-paint walls wet! The window wells were like bathtubs and Cory was trying so hard to empty them but the water came up above the window and crept in that way too. It has rained so hard the last few days and we had so much snow before that it was just too much and it looked like someone had turned on a faucet in our rain gutters. So then this morning we wake up to a fresh foot of snow and its still snowing. I'm not exaggerating. I got stuck trying to get back into my garage because my mini van isn't a snow plow! Now I get to go shovel the whole stinking drive way! And the icing on the cake was Jaden with major abdominal pain followed quickly by vomitting and fever. Luckily after a trip to the doctor we are just watching him and trying some different things. I need a vacation!
Sorry about the complaining-tell me you all are having similar days! The picture of Lane is my happiness!

Super Star

Ok, so if when you here "super star" you think of someone going down on one knee saying that phrase- you are as wrong as I was. Jaden recieved the Salem Elementary Super Star Award (their mascot is the super star)! Each class has a list of social, academic, and personal goals that the teachers have come up with. Each child is challenged to complete at least 15 of those goals and then they are honored at an assembly with a medal, certificate and a gift. It was really cool to see him work hard to achieve his goals. It was also funny because as he was standing with all the other kindergartners-he is about a full head taller than all of them. I forgot my camera at the school but here are some pictures of him when he got home. There are also some pics of our everday race to get to school, preschool, dance, etc.

I love to see the temple

Cory and I decided that it would be a good family night to take the kids to the Draper Temple Open house. Grace was super excited and could hardly wait to go to the "castle where princesses are married". Jaden was less than thrilled(he is that way a lot lately). After we talked about the temple for a while they were both excited and so we headed out. When we got to the church to listen to the little video before loading the bus to the temple, Grace was so excited she couldn't stop talking and Jaden was more than happy to share all of his knowledge with his little sister. Then we loaded the bus and went to the temple. It was a silent tour so every once in a while I would try to talk and explain to them but didn't get too far. They liked the baptisimal font and the brides room. Lane loved the celestial room. It was so cute to see him looking up at the high ceilings and the beautiful chandaleir. I agree with my mom that maybe he felt close to home in the temple. Then they took us in the sealing room. It is the largest of any temple on the earth and holds 70 people. We got to sit down and they closed the doors and a cute couple talked for a minute then we lifted the kids up to see in the mirrors. I was very touched at the fact that I had my 3 kids in the temple with Cory and I. I hope it happens again someday. Then we went to the chapel next door where we had a cookie and boarded the bus. I wanted a picture of us in front of the temple but we didn't get a chance after so I should of done it before. When we got back to the car the kids told me how great it was. I was thrilled. Maybe it made a lasting impression. "What was your favorite part?" I asked with great anticipation. Without hesitation, both kids replied "the bus ride to the temple, we've never been on a bus before!" Both of them have been on a bus before... so what about the temple! I give up!

Red, White and Blue

Grace and Jaden have both learned so much this year. It amazes me how quickly they grow up. Jaden's teacher has 7 sons and the youngest is in Afghanistan so she feels very strongly about her kindergartners being patriotic. Don't mind that a complete phrase is missing (he wasn't too happy when I asked him to do it for the camera). Anyway, between the Preamble and Grace learning the pledge, the election and inauguration this year has been very patriotic for our family.

Christmas this year was "the best Christmas ever" according to my son. It was actually pretty nice. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home. My parents and brother came down to stay with us and it was so much fun. After 6+ years I finally have my own nativity scene. Jaden was Joseph, Grace was Mary and Lane was baby Jesus. Too cute! Cory was super good to me this year(he always goes overboard for gifts-another thing I love about him). The kids were excited about their gifts. It snowed Christmas day which let the kids use their new sleds on our private sleigh riding hill-our backyard and driveway! We got to see all our cousins and grandparents. We also got to go for our annual New Year's horse ride. Lane thought the whole thing was funny and spent Christmas morning sitting in the middle of wrapping paper laughing. He didn't try to eat it but he thought it was fun to play with. Grace decided that she would try her hand at cosmotology and cut her own hair-so I had to go get it fixed (thanks Hillary!) The picture isn't very good because it has been two days since I actually did her hair. I will try to get a good one later.

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