six and holding: August 2010

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

a whole suitcase!

A couple of weeks ago-

We got some very exciting news!

Someone we know (it's a secret so I'm not going to say who)

called to tell us they were going to

JACK'S MISSION!

YES THEY ARE GOING TO

MACEIO BRAZIL

This very lovely person offered to take Missionary Jack a package.

I was thinking - hmm?

What can I fit in a shoe box?

Maybe I could send a bigger box?

I called & asked-

just how big a box are ya talkin' bout?

A WHOLE SUITCASE!!!

HE HAD ROOM FOR A WHOLE SUITCASE

Last night for Family Night- we packed it all up.
I've been buying a little here & there- and ya- this suitcase really cut into my grocery budget- but hey- this is a once in a mission opportunity. We never had this opportunity with Brian.
4 pounds or less stuffed into a priority envelope cost $15 to send. I sent Brian one a month & I've sent Missionary Jack one a month also. (I skipped this month- duh) So a whole suitcase of stuff sent down for free- wow!

so...
he's a fairly new missionary
what do you send?
He doesn't need shoes or underwear (yet.)
I went all out & sent loads & loads of American junk food & necessities.

We had a GReat time putting notes on lots of the items.

Like the great advice on the kleenex package above.

We are sending:

cheese & crackers

twix

snickers

lots of PB & J

American Toilet paper - this is a big deal

American - tissues

chili

skittles

rootbeer flavored dum dums (i didn't think a can of root beer would be a good idea?)

ranch dressing

religious music on CD & some classical music

marshmellows

hershey's chocolate syrup

gushers

deodorant

his favorite hair gel

fry sauce

family photos

butterfinger

reeses peanut butter cups

mac & cheese

pancake mix & syrup

chocolate pudding mixes

instant flavored mashed potatoes

salsa

nacho cheese

frank's red hot sauce

tony cachera's cajun seasoning

good pens

sour patch kids

swedish fish

journals

hand sanitizer

double chocolate chip cookie mix

boxes of cereal....

that's all I can think of- but I know there is more in there---

It's going to be like Christmas! In Brazil they eat a lot of meat - but even more beans & rice. Then they wake up the next day & eat more beans & rice and more beans & rice...

oh & they eat a lot of fruit & drink loads of fruit juice- this is according to missionary jack.

NOW I JUST HOPE IT'S NOT TOO HEAVY!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Happy Birthday Chloe---

YEsterday was a VEry SpeciaL day at our house!

Chloe turned 14!

She & I planned her birthday for weeks...

(there were a lot of big decisions- people)

party or no party?

what to do at party or no party?

She decided on ballet in the morning,

shopping with the family for her big present,

then a party with friends.

We invited 14 of her closest friends... yep
just 14! No sweat right?!

We had a BBQ with hamburgers, pasta salad, watermelon- the works.

She opened gifts-

wow great gifts...

then we played games.

this year-

the weather was a bust.

We were having a super winding - blow you down- wind storm.

So- it was indoor games, not as fun, but still fun.

Another big decision- dessert.

She opted for chocolate cupcakes with coconut frosting & birthday party ice cream.

I guess the boys were bored- or neglected in the blogging world- because I found these pictures right in the middle of the party pictures? hmmm- ?

cuties!

blowing out 14 candles is a big job!

AFter the cake & ice cream, more games- the candy bar game & murder in the dark... ahh fun times. Last year I was right in the middle playing. This year- I got a headache right off the bat. Wow- fourteen 14 year old's can get pretty loud.

Still- what a great group of kids!

I love you Chloe!

Having you is one of the greatest blessings of my life.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

the return of creative thursday

The greatest thing happened today...

was

thursday!

***

The very first Thursday since school has started.
You know what that means?
The return of creative Thursday!
lauri, kristy, wende, kristal & I all met at my house.
Janae is down with a cold & karrie is back to work full time.
(Don't worry karrie we made a monthly GNO schedule!)
Not much creativity was going on....
We've gotta get our groove back.
But- we had wonderful take out for lunch, laughed ourselves silly, I actually cleaned the painted floor (thank goodness for company or some jobs would never get done) and I made these for a bishopric dinner tonight.

Cupcakes!
I am really looking forward to the next 9 months of Thursdays!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

a really big night for T-biz!

Last night was Trent's last pack meeting as a cub scout!

He had a lot of awards coming to him...

from camp & other activities this summer.

He went "fishing" to get them!

I have to admit...

I'm really sad that he won't be wearing this uniform or red vest any more.

I think it's so cute.

He also was awarded cub scouting's biggest-

The Arrow of Light!

We have a fantastic cub committee who put on a small program-

to honor this huge achievement.

As you can see-

Trent was just a little emotional.

Actually he sobbed.

He didn't want to cross the bridge over to Boy Scouting.

Cub scouts- Pack meeting- having mom for his den leader

has just been so much fun

Can you blame him?

We haven't had a scout move on for a year...

so I think he felt kind of like he was leaving his friends.

don't worry buddy- they're coming right along too!

He has been attending

Boy Scouts weekly,

has Over the Top- great leaders,

went on a FAntastic Over night Camp out...

still

no more pack meeting?

it was just too much.

We feel so blessed to have such a great troop for my little guy.

and

It was also announced- that this was my last pack meeting as a leader.

I'm being released.

I've been teaching R.S. for six months now & ya-

it's time for me to go too.

I am going to miss my boys!!!

I'm so glad I get to keep at least one.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

college bound brian - off again

Brian I am sorry the camera card was not in my camera when you left today.

please email me a picture from Cory's camera soon!

Please feel free to come home anytime....

we like you around here.

mom

Monday, August 23, 2010

they're off- well almost...

Today is it

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

Here's Hailey

Junior extraordinaire!

ready to go at 7:04 AM

You can't see from the photo- but she is wearing a darling shirt that she made herself & headed out the door with a glass of apple juice.

9th grade Chloe left next!!

Here she is ready to go at

7:40 AM

She's rulin' the school as a 9th grader.

she's so confident she hasn't even found or opened her locker yet-

that's easy, baby, sevey stuff ya know?!

Trent here-

woke up at 6:45...

even though his alarm was set for 7:45!

He was ready!

5th grader Trent is so ready-
this picture was taken a whole hour before he needed to leave!

Because we've got so much time to kill
I thought this would be the perfect time to pick up his room a bit?
He decided last week, in an effort to get ready for school, he would rearrange his room. I had no idea that rearranging his room meant he would put all furniture in the middle of the room?
It's crazy in there & not going to work for mom.
He seems to think it's perfect.
He doesn't want to put things back...
I don't want to clean the toilets...
so we are job swapping.
oh the joy
It's going to be a GREAT year!