Choices, choices

First of all, thank you to Lois, Lydia, Dyane, and Ginger for commenting on post #1,001.  I had to choose a winner (I did it randomly) and LYDIA you've won 20 photo greeting cards!!

 

Now, you must choose which photo you'd like:

the boats 

the roosters 

the ocean

the tulips 

the phones 

the door 

the temple 

the cupcakes 

the barn

or ANY of my photos on this blog!

 

Lydia, please leave me a comment with your choice.

Ashton

is 5. Happy Birthday!!

#1,001 GIVEAWAY!

I can't believe I just published post number O N E  T H O U S A N D!!  You should check out 32 from when I first started blogging or 100 that I reached shortly after that to have a little look/laugh at me, ha!  Now this will be post #1,001.  I've been blogging for almost 5 years, but almost 6 years of our family life is on this little journal.  Time sure flies when you're having fun and we are having REIL fun, ha ha! 

So instead of waiting another month for my blog anniversary for a giveaway, I'm going to do one now. 

Here's what you have to do to enter:
Leave me a comment to this post saying what you like most about this blog.

Here's what you'll win:
20 photo greeting cards with one of my photos from any of the 1,000 posts, such as-
the little boats from WuLai
the roosters from The Reclining Buddha
the ocean view from Another Preview
the red & white tulips from Our Favorite Picture Spot
the telephone booths from Windsor's and Whimsy
the door at King's School from A Dozen Doors
the Las Vegas Temple from Fifteenth Anniversary
the cupcakes from Sundaes
the barn from The Scenic Route
or even a picture of YOU (with your family or friends, but it would be weird if you wanted greeting cards of strangers, ha ha!)
You get to choose which photo you want on your greeting cards.  Just tell me the title of the post and which picture from it you want in your comment.

I'll choose the winner on Saturday, September 22nd.  So leave me a comment and good luck! 

Tongue Prison

Gavin lost another tooth, so his tongue has now moved to the big house, ha ha!  Actually, his teeth were late in coming out as you can see his new teeth have already started to come in.  Uh oh, we made need braces in the future!  But this kid's got it in good with the Tooth Fairy.  This morning he woke up to a Lindt Excellence Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar!!

Back to High School

Leonard is teaching seminary to the high school students in our ward this year.  He's really excited as they'll be discussing the New Testament and he's got a great group of kids (15!!).  Leonard has a great knowledge and enthusiasm for the gospel and from what I've heard from parents and some students themselves is that they are just as excited to have him as their teacher!

 

On a side note, I will admit it's been a little difficult getting up at 4:45 each morning.  But that's mainly because Hiram's been wanting to stay up until 11:00 each night.  I'm actually quite pleased with this new schedule.  Len goes straight to work after seminary and arrives an hour early.  His awesome boss is letting him come home an hour early to compensate for that.  I love that we can still eat dinner as a family!

Mr. Professional

Leonard got this tie while we were in Taiwan and afterwards we've had Gavin's, Teague's, and now Hiram's 9 month baby pictures taken wearing it.  This baby is just scrumptious!  I just love him so!  He always has a ready smile to give to anyone and everyone.  Actually, it's a whole ear to ear grin.  Lately, he'll even poke the little tip of his tongue out when he smiles and it is just so cute.  He's a pretty chatty guy and loves to talk and sing.  He is also a huge cuddler.  When I hold him he hugs me back.  When I nurse him he holds my hand.  Unless he's hungry or getting buckled into his carseat, he is always happy.  My dad says he's so happy because he knows he's loved.  That he definitely is!  His mommy, daddy, and all 4 of his siblings adore him.  I have a sneaking suspicion that he adores us as well!

Senior in the house!

Gavin started school on Thursday and is a big ol' SENIOR kindergartener this year.  He was so excited to return to school and was only upset that he couldn't start on Tuesday like Kaleb and Noe.

Love this cute boy!

All loaded up with his packback, and lunchbox.

So after school I asked him what he was most excited about for this year and he said:  that he gets to eat lunch at school, that he gets to have lots of recesses, and that he gets to come home.  Not quite what I expected, but he made me laugh!

With his beloved, Mrs. N from last year.

And meeting his new teacher, Mrs. O.  He's in a sk/grade 1 split class and I think he's going to have another great year!

Teague is looking forward to starting school next year (how is that possible?).  We're going to his First Words classes once a week (that he calls his school now).  He's really enjoying it.

Hiram is looking forward to learning how to go down the stairs.  He loves to climb up, but then can't go down.  He'll crawl over to the edge and then get angry and start cursing in baby talk.  Poor guy, but it's so funny.

 

*This year the two little boys and I are also participating in Institute, Splash swimming, the Resource Center, and Craft Day.  We're also going to have a great year!

Shiney Chandelier

I've been reading NieNie for a while and I love that each new school year they have a family theme.  This year their's is:  Remove any of your fear with faith.  Trust the power of God to guide you.

 

Recently, I was reading Now is the Time to Arise and Shine and I really liked an analogy she gave about chandeliers.  She said, The light streaming into that room was brilliant and was made even more so by the crystal chandelier, which reflected the light on its many carved facets into rainbows of illumination everywhere. It took my breath away as I realized that the Savior is “the light and the life of the world,” that it is His light we must hold up and reflect. We are the tiny crystals that reflect His light, and in order to do that, we must be clean and free from the dust of the world.

 

So our theme this year is: Arise and Shine.  We will reflect the Savior's light in all we do, and when we shine together we are even more powerful!

 

I'd love to hear about your family themes!

The first day of the last year

Today was the first day of school for Kaleb and Noe.  Even though their school goes up to 8th grade, it is still the end of elementary school this year as they are in 5th grade now, what?  How has time gone so fast!

My lovely, little Noe said her goal for the year was to get an A+ in recess.  Seriously, she said she wants to be more quiet in class.  I asked how that worked out for her today and she said not very well.  I guess there's always tomorrow.  She is looking forward to art, music, science, gym, and French too.

My kind, questioning Kaleb said his goal for the year is to prepare to enter Hogwarts next year, ha ha!  Actually, he's looking forward to science, social studies, and writing in his journal more.  He's also working on controlling his temper and being honest at all times.  I'm impressed that he wants to improve his character along with his academics.  He's made big strides this summer and I am so proud of him!

 

Their backpacks weigh way more than they do.

We walked to school today and they were clever and used our umbrella strollers to carry their heavy load.

They were excited to see Mrs. M back at school.

And they are super excited to have Mr. C as their teacher this year.  They've heard he's a funny guy and they love that they can earn all kinds of fun things in class, like doughnut parties!  I am really excited for them this year too, and I think incentive programs are great.

The 3 little boys waving them off- Teague sucking his thumb, Hiram laughing, and Gavin blinking (he'll start on Thursday).  It's going to be another great year!

Gavin's Tongue Jail

The last sweet picture of Gavin with all his baby teeth.

 

Gavin lost his first tooth on Labor Day.  Noe told him he could push his tongue through the new hole in his smile and it would be in jail.  Gavin thought this was hilarious and put his tongue in jail all night long.

Luckily for him, the tooth fairy didn't have the day off.  He awoke today to M&M's and a toonie.  He's too sweet to be spoiled!

Peter Whitmer Farm

 We headed to Fayette, New York for the last historic stop on our trip.  We went to Peter Whitmer's farm, where the church was first organized on April 6, 1830.

 I love to imagine the family working, eating, and visiting around the hearth.

 The beds are always so tiny.  I could never fit on one and it just makes  me think how short people were back then.

 This is one of the rooms upstairs where it is believed that the translation of the Book of Mormon was completed.

Looking out on some of the farmland.  This city girl is a little bit country at heart.

Martin Harris Farm

Before we left Palmyra, we drove up and down Main Street and Church Street.  I'm so glad we did because we stumbled upon the farm that once belonged to Martin Harris.  Mr. Harris mortgaged his farm to pay the $3,000 fee for having the Book of Mormon first printed.  I hope I can be as generous in my life.

Hill Cumorah

We visited the Hill Cumorah where the angel Moroni showed Joseph Smith where the gold plates were buried.  With the aid of the Holy Ghost, Joseph translated that testament of Christ into the Book of Mormon.

 At the top is a flag pole, and...

...a statue of Moroni.

 The view from the top.

 Another sculpture of the Book of Mormon which states Moroni's promise found in Moroni 10:4.

At the Visitor's Center below I ran into a familiar face- Jen, my sister, Amanda's best friend.  It really is a small world in Palmyra! 

I hope to return again someday and watch the Hill Cumorah pageant.

Grandin Building

 Next we visited the Grandin Building where the Book of Mormon was first published.  When we visited here 8 years ago, we ran into Len's uncle, and cousin & his wife and kids.  Small world!

 This is the 3rd floor where the type was set.

 Here on the 2nd floor is where the pages were inked.

This is the main floor and book store.  The original order was for 5,000 copies and cost $3,000 to print them.  The job took 7 months to complete and then the books were sold for $1.25 (after the price was reduced from $1.75- an average two days' wage.)  Now it is translated into 107 languages and available world-wide!