October Student of the Month

Ethan got Student of the Month last week at flag deck. He was so excited! I know Ethan tries his very best at school (he's pretty competitive...wonder who he gets that from? Not me.). I got the chance to volunteer in his class a couple weeks ago and it was so fun to see what he does and meet his class. I have deep respect for his teacher and her hard work, thank you Mrs. Krabbe!

I don't usually stay for flag deck but after I dropped Luke off at preschool (they are at the same school, thankfully) I was walking out and saw a big presentation going on so I stayed to see and Ethan's name ended up being called. I was so glad I was there!

Ethan is wearing a red shirt and khaki shorts, standing to the right of the boy wearing a white shirt and khaki pants. All I had was my phone so I couldn't zoom in, sorry. Congrats, Ethan! Keep it up!

Sadie's 1st birthday!

Last Wednesday we celebrated Sadie's first birthday. She is a spectacular addition to our family. We love her little girl personality. She is growing big like her brothers further proving my theory that I will be the shortest member of our family pretty soon. She is 28 lbs. and 32.5 inches tall. She can already reach the countertops so we have to push things back that we don't want her pulling down. Steve had to add a child lock on our spice cabinet because that was her #1 destination. She LOVES her old burp cloths. If she sees one on the floor she has to pick it up and when you put her to bed you better have one for her to snuggle with. We love our Sadie Anne!

Pumpkin Patch

A couple weeks ago we headed over to Tanaka Farms pumpkin patch with my sister and her family. The boys loved riding the tractor around the farm, picking a pumpkin and going through the corn maze. It was such a hot day! We left and headed for the nearest place for some slurpees.

Sadie was not happy to be plunked down on some pumpkins but we actually managed to get a good shot of her.

Ethan, Luke and Steve went on a tractor ride around the farm. Luke shows us the gourd that will be accompanying us home. Jack-0-lantern fun!

List

1. I love reading these advice columns. Sometimes they are devastating (like the one I read a few years ago when a woman wrote in talking about how much she hated being a mom and couldn't bear the thought of being around her infant...I bawled and wanted to know where she was so I could go get the baby for myself) and sometimes they are funny or insightful. This one is good. We never know what we're in for until we're in it. No one can truly describe what having children is like to someone who hasn't had children. I think it would be fun to write columns like these...anyone hiring?

2. Sadie is finally getting off her belly and crawling. She is also standing and holding on to whatever she can. Her favorie places to stand are at my spice cabinet and our bookshelves/entertainment center. She will gladly sort through my spices for me or pull a magazine down for me. So helpful! She is becoming more and more attached to her dad. Sometimes he is the only one that can console her properly. Last Sunday he got up to say the closing prayer in Sacrament meeting and Sadie was not having it. She reached both her arms up and screamed! Luckily it was still during the last line of the closing hymn so the sound didn't reverberate throughout the enire building.

3. I LOVED Elder Holland's talk in General Conference. This may sound cliche to you but it grabbed me and held on. I really needed that kind of spiritual strength. It was a reminder of what I believe. It was a reminder of the importance of value. It was a reminder of truth. Ever since Prop. 8 I feel as though I have been surrounded by a plethora of lies. Sometimes I can't see straight because of all the deceit around me. Honestly, at times I question the purpose and value of continuing on. It just seems like such a big mountain to climb for nothing because we'll just lose in the end. But his testimony of the Book of Mormon gave me light where there was darkness. He reminded me that I DO NOT want to be one of those who in "the last days even those of the covenant, the very elect, could be deceived by the enemy of truth." (I'm not trying to say I'm one of the very elect.) My favorite part of his talk was this:

Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them, “[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it.”

If you missed it, read it. I know these are words spoken by one of God's apostles.

4. I think I'll end on that note.