THE JUNGLE!!!

I am loving how this project turned out. It was my first time to tackle something so big-an entire room!! My friend, Jen, who I had only just met, convinced me of the need to celebrate a fourth boy-she is qualified to do this having four boys of her own. Plus she loves to decorate and the wall tatoos were 90% off! She painted in a few areas that needed more than a tatoo and spent hours helping me make decisions and rub on tatoos!
My friend Emberlee gave the cute stuffed animals. Lisa and Emily did some tatoo rubbing. So did Josh, and he put in a dimmer over the changing area so we don't blind the baby. He also spoiled me in letting me get a great chair. My friend Terri did the vinyl letters and we added butterfly tatoos and crickets into them making it all come together. I'm just thrilled with it. Without friends and sales, and second hands, there is no way I could have pulled this off. Thanks everyone!
Oh ya, the words around the room are the lyrics to a hymn and say, "All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all."
That was 100% my idea (about the only thing that I can claim credit for).
Again, thanks everyone for helping our family get excited for this lil' guy.
If your in the area, please stop by and take a look! I can't find my camera (need to before baby comes) so the pictures from my phone really aren't the best.

Sweet Moments

I want to take a minute and record some sweet moments I've had with the kids before I forget them. I don't have pictures, these are just that--moments.
Orlando and Ivan have both given talks in primary. In each case, they had their own ideas and thoughts and expressed love for Jesus.

Ammon continues to talk to my growing belly each day. He often gives him a voice and speaks for him. He has shared his food with him, brought a blanket for him, told him he is funny, and also once insisted it was his turn for family prayer and so, Ammon said the prayer in "baby" voice. Adorable.

Orlando decided to fast for the first time. He just skipped breakfast. I thought this was really impressive and didn't really encourage this (after he is baptized in Nov. I'll encourage breakfast, but this seemed early). I wasn't real sure why he was doing this (I knew Josh had talked to him). Anyway, he went to pray before lunch and included "thank thee that I can fast and get to know Jesus better."

Finally, I made the mistake? of showing the Velveteen Rabbit to my kids for movie night Friday (Josh was working late). I remembered loving the book as a child and even trying to be good enough to my animals that they might come alive. Well, this movie started a fountain of tears. Orlando because of how much he loves his stuffed animals especially Lion. Ammon because the fire was so sad, and Ivan started crying "because my brothers are so upset."

In trying to deal with this, I came to the conclusion it was okay for them to cry. They were just feeling emotion and love. I think the world has us push our feelings away too often. I want my boys to be emotional and loving. Not wimpy or winey, but I want them to feel love and pain and sadness and happiness. To recognize good and to recognize when someone hurts-to mourn with those that mourn as Ivan was doing.
I'm so thankful for these children. I do hope that they will each have a personal testimony at a young age-just a simple one. One that Jesus lives. One that life is eternal. One that life has a purpose.

My lil' King

Sometime back in the busy month of December Ammon was the cutest lil' wiseman. His line was "We bring gifts to honor his birth." He said his line and sang his songs with such gusto.
He was so cute and sweet! Great performance!

Ivan turned SIX!!

Ivan turned SIX!!! We had a small family party with a Scooby cake made at the last minute!
More than anything this year-and I mean ANYTHING-Ivan wanted a party at The Jump Zone. He wanted friends and cousins to come and he wanted to sit in the "king chair". In the past we've done family parties or had friends to our home. It was new to go somewhere and invite more people. I tried dropping all kinds of hints. But, Ivan said I didn't need to get him a present, just have a Jump Zone Party. So, we did. I'm posting just a few of the pictures of him posing in the king chair. I actually forgot my camera, so these are with my phone and I don't have any of the kids jumping. But, there were friends, there was family, there were cupcakes, and presents, and a King Chair!! He had a blast! He also lost his first tooth the week he turned six!

Student Log Cabins!

Inspired by our quilt block of the month, I decided to challenge my high school students to make one! Enjoy the photos!

Oh, I should add made completley from scraps in my room-I was impressed!

Showered with Love

So sometime during the hectic week after Christmas my sweet Sisters in law threw me a baby shower. They helped me get excited about having a boy. It was simple and elegant. I felt very loved. We had a delicious meal with a homemade salad dressing I'm still craving. Great food and dessert. Then we spent time crafting! We decorated some onsies and made some bibs for our new one as well as Tasha's new one. I love having such a nice extended family. Even though we are all spread out FL, MI, AR etc, it was nice to let the ladies have an evening together. I think it demands a repeat! And if Josh had to have so many brothers, I'm glad they married well!! Plus Katie and Liz and Kathryn are great. Thanks everyone, and I love you!!

Meet Ave

Ave is my little California niece. I spent some time with her over Christmas. She is a very typical two year old with some strong opinions of her own! I was glad she warmed up to me after a while. I'm sure it was hard traveling so far.

I was so bummed when I found out I was having a boy, that I let some of my girly girly stuff come out on her. I enjoyed making her this cute skirt, and Katie decorated a shirt to match. She loved it. I also had her name in the gift exchange and picked out a floral, girly raincoat that she seemed to like.

Hopefully they can visit again soon.