My kids are smarter than me...or is it I?

This morning, during family scripture study, Caleb was reading Mosiah 29:36 and when he got to the word "repugnant" he asked, "Does this word have a silent 'g' or is there a two letter phonogram?"

huh?

Actually, I did know what he was talking about, since I attended a parent training at the school last night, but I didn't know the answer to his question. I really don't think it's either, but I don't know why.

Yes, we had a parent training meeting, so that we could learn this stuff ourselves, so we can help our kids with their homework. One mom even brought her son's homework page to the meeting, since she didn't know how to do it. I had seen the page before, but luckily my kids have never asked for my help 'cause I wouldn't have had a clue.

Back in my day, I was taught that in the word "game" the "e" on the end made the vowel say it's own name.

It turns out, that's only one job of words ending in "e", and there are four others, and my kids not only know the others, but they also know why.

And it helps them to read, AND spell better. No wonder they have been able to sound out those big words in the scriptures since 1st and 2nd grade. It's really quite amazing to me.

Did you know that the word "have" has an "e" on the end because no English word can end in the letter "v"? In this case the "e" doesn't make the "a" say it's long sound. And that's because of rule #4,326...or something like that. (actually, there are ONLY 29 rules).

My kids actually know the number of the rule that tells them that.

Their spelling lists are crazy looking. The words are divided into syllables (which my kids know how to do and why you would do it that way based on the pattern of vowels and consonants in each word), and the phonograms are underlined and marked with numbers corresponding to the rules. Not only can they read this "greek" but they can write it, too.

The teachers e-mail the assignments to the parents each week, so we can watch for it in their backpacks. I asked Brayden's teacher if she would also send the answers, so that after I do the assignment myself, I can check my answers before I help the kids...if they even need my help, which so far, they haven't.

Some words are camel words. Others are tiger words. I have no idea how in the hell you are supposed to know which they are, but luckily there will be another parent training next quarter so I can find out.

Or maybe I'll just ask my kids.

Emergency Preparedness

Our county was under a tornado warning for most of the day yesterday.

Since we live in the mountains, it's not something I EVER expected.

I wasn't too worried, but decided to do what I could to prepare for a possible power outage, which seemed more likely, and take some time to consider the "state" of our emergency preparedness.

My cousin, Erin, called and we formed a plan. Our husbands would stay at work (Todd is on-call this week) and she would come to my house since I have a basement.

Our kids were all at the school, and I realized that I have never sent the emergency kit for each of my kids that the school has asked for. I reassured myself with the fact that Jackie and Dillon's classes were connected, and Brayden was right across the hallway, but none of that would've been as comforting to them as a note from Mom.

I realized that even though I have 72 hour kits, they are outdated and I have nothing in there for a baby. Todd doesn't have any emergency supplies at his office, either.

My back-up plan for cooking without power is my grill. Not only was my propane tank empty, but I realized that during a tornado (or high winds which are common here) I wouldn't be able to use a grill anyway.

I reassured myself that we could live on marshmallows, cooked over the fire in our wood-burning stove :o) ...but our woodpile was completely soaked from three days of rain.

I remembered being in my parents ward on a 5th Sunday when they were discussing emergency preparedness. Someone said that in an emergency, there is a chance that your cell phone may not work in-state, but you may be able to call out-of-state. I don't remember exactly why, but I did call my Mom and make sure she had my mother-in-law's phone number for purposes of communicating if we couldn't make an in-state call. Although, I think this would be more applicable during a really bad earthquake.

Our van had less than 1/2 a tank of gas, the truck was running on fumes, and I had about $20 cash on hand.

Our ward/town has an emergency system in place to check on each other. We have an envelope with colored construction paper inside that we are supposed to put in our window. Green means everyone inside the house is okay. Red means we need emergency help, and Black means there's been a death. There is someone on each block assigned to go around to the houses and quickly check everyone's windows in an emergency. We are supposed to turn our walkie-talkies to a certain channel for communicating.

I didn't know where my envelope of papers was, and our walkie-talkie's were not charged.

The good news is that we DID have flashlights and batteries, AND I even knew where they were.

The even better news is that we didn't even have so much as a windstorm, let alone green skies, hailstones, or a power outage. A tornado was sighted near Bullfrog, which I believe is in our county, but it's over two hours away from us.

I guess I'd better try a little harder with our emergency preparedness, because I wouldn't have as much time to think or prepare for an earthquake or a flash flood, which are MUCH more likely.

Small town excitement

My next door neighbor's oven element "exploded" the other day, and even though the fire put itself out, it scared her enough to call the fire dept. just to have them check it out. (She is a single woman)

They sent not one...

...not two...
...but THREE firetrucks for the occasion.

Luckily, all is well, and the owner's father-in-law is going to help her put in a new element.

The good news, is that it got me over there to visit. She moved in while I was in the middle of morning sickness with my pregnancy. Todd saw her unloading the U-haul herself and went over to help her move in, and that's the last contact we've had with her.

I went over after the firetrucks left, introduced myself, and asked if she was okay. She was very nice, and mentioned that she had a minor in early childhood education and would be happy to watch my kids sometime if I were comfortable with it.

It's sad to me that it took three firetrucks in her yard to get me to go over and visit. How much of a blessing could we be to a single woman who loves children, and how much of a blessing can she be to a mother with four kids who might like to run an errand once in a while without the whole crew.

It's time I step up and be a better neighbor.

Conference Favorites

Todd and I were talking last night about our

"Conference favorites". I think we'll make it a tradition to do this. Here are mine:

Favorite talk: It's a toss-up between Pres. Uchtdorf, and Pres. Eyring's talks during the Saturday and Sunday morning sessions. I was also moved by Pres. Monson's talk during the General Relief Society meeting.

Best quote: "At this point some of you may be thinking, that's all very fine and good, but what does this have to do with flying an airplane?"

Best tie: Pres. Uchtdorf wins again with his salmon tie/charcoal suit combo on Sat. morning.

Best hymn: I got chills when I started watching the priesthood session last night, and listened to the MTC choir sing "Hark All Ye Nations". (Use your best speakers and turn 'em up loud)

Theme I noticed: The things that stuck out to me were Obedience, and lots of warning about the evil's of our day.

Great Idea: The new conference website. It is so user-friendly. I can't say enough good about it. Now while I'm feeding the baby it will be so much easier to pick a talk and re-watch it on my laptop. Todd is excited that he can now download the talks as an audio book, so that they can be separate from the music list on his Ipod. My kids love the children's section, and I love that everything was posted so quickly. If you fall asleep during one of the talks (heaven forbid) you can watch it before you forget which one(s) you missed...

Best artwork: What? You missed this part? Todd was able to get tickets and took Brayden and Caleb to the Saturday afternoon session, where Brayden got distracted and drew pictures of the speakers.

What were your favorites? What theme did you notice?

Thank you for being a friend

My friend and next-door-neighbor, Andrea, moved away on Friday.

It still hasn't really hit me.

It occurred to me after she left that even though we've talked nearly every day for the last four years, we never took a single picture together.

She's one of those friends I could be myself with, and never worry 'cause she didn't judge. For the first year that I lived here we talked on the phone every single day for at least an hour.

I don't know what I would've done without her.

She listened to me cry when my father-in-law got cancer, and was there for me through two miscarriages.

We exchanged dinners, watched each others kids, and listened to each others "crazy". We talked about anything and everything from parenting, to money, to conference talks, to small town ways, to cleaning tips, recipes, gardening secrets, and ways to be better mothers. We watered each others lawns and fed each others dogs while the other was out of town. Our kids got along fabulously and spent hours together playing in our two yards. We celebrated birthdays, and holidays together. We helped each other paint. We broke into each others houses (and closets) for forgotten temple recommends. We printed documents when the other was out of ink. When my fridge died this summer, she let me store all my food in her fridge while she was out of town. Whenever I had a question about our insurance, or the kids school schedules, or anything related to math, I knew I could count on her. She is talented in the area's I lack.

And I will miss her.

I know we'll keep in touch, but it's not the same as being neighbors. Our new neighbors moved in yesterday, and it was weird to see the lights on last night, knowing that everything is different inside.

Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again
Your heart is true

You're a pal and a confidant

And if you threw a party
Invited everyone you knew
You would see, the biggest gift would be from me
And the card attached would say,

Thank you for being a friend.

Brayden in the bulrushes

Brayden just finished his science project on bulrushes. I have fond memories of doing school projects like this, because my Dad always helped me and he had great idea's.

When I was in fourth grade I had to make a diorama of a Native American scene. I don't know if Dad will remember this, but he taught me how to shade the red rock background with crayons. He also helped me make a mini loom out of popsicle sticks and thread, and I used yarn to make a small woven rug. I hand sewed an Indian woman using an old nylon sock and some burlap (I even braided black yarn for her hair), and I used clay to make some pots with berries in them.

While we were in Cache Valley last weekend, Grandpa drove out to the Bear River and cut these bulrushes for Brayden to use in his project. We tied them onto his poster with embroidery floss.

Brayden also had to make a diorama. He used bakeable clay to make the animals. I sacrificed a few bunches of fake grass from my easter decor for the bulrushes (sniff...I love my fake grass). We got online and Brayden chose this picture to use as a background and then we printed it out (I love technology...)

A better view of the animals (left to right: egret, fish, ducks, muskrat, heron)

The nests have eggs hot glued inside

My injury from those damn eggs...

After we had researched bulrushes online, Brayden said,

"I never knew that bulrushes were so interesting." :o)

Justin's Blessing Day

Justin was blessed last Sunday, September 19th, in my Mom and Dad's ward.

I am amazed at how many family members were there to support us. Todd's Mom was there from Washington, and two of his siblings who live in Cache Valley. Grandma and Papa were there, even though Grandma had surgery the week that Justin was born. All of my Dad's siblings were there, and both of my Mom's sisters and their husbands. Several of my cousins (on both sides) came as well. I don't think I had seen my cousin Cade since Thanksgiving 2005!

Thank you to all of our family who were able to be there.

It means so much to us.

Brayden, Caleb, and Dillon were all blessed in a white tux with tails. I wanted to do something different this time, so Justin got this simple little knit romper. Todd thought it was a bit "girly" but I loved keeping him "little". No big boy clothes for this baby...

Oh how we love this little boy!

Todd and I argue every Sunday over who gets to

keep him during Priesthood/RS meeting.

Four generations.

I wish we'd have taken one of these with my mom and Grandma/Papa,

but I didn't think of it until they'd already gone.

Todd's family

Our boys couldn't be bothered with another picture, but Lydia was happy to join us!

I don't get to see Grandma and Papa enough.

I'm so glad they were able to make it.

Our family of SIX!