one down-- lots to go

Awhile back I typed up a list of projects that I have on going. While the list never really gets shorter because stuff is always added to the list. Projects do get crossed off as well. Sometimes that is because I actually finish one of the projects. Well I finished the circles in Dane's bedroom. The room has a space theme.


Before

During-- Alex wanted to help paint the moons. So I let him then used a wipe to keep it in the lines.

Done painting and ready to blast off!

Happy Birthday Jeff

Jeff turned 33 on Saturday. We had a great day, until he had to go into the hospital because he was on call. We celebrated on Sunday with a quiet family dinner, cake and treasure hunt. Last year we started having a treasure hunt on birthdays to find the presents. It begins with a clue in a balloon and goes from there. I flatter myself, but I thought I was quite clever. All the clues were words from songs. The boys had just as much fun hiding the clues and helping Jeff "find" them. Anyway we love Jeff and his enthusiasm for life and joy in helping others, and never ending energy. (We don't wonder where the boys get their energy.)

sad but true

Each of the boys has different talents. Bryant is a great writer who takes real pride in his work. He however gets embarrassed when I post his work. I really need to post his comic books, 'The Adventures of Plunger Boy'. They are based off of Captain Underpants and are very funny. But today I am posting his writing about our household. It really makes me laugh to see how the boys view their life at home. I must admit that he is accurate in his description. I tell the boys often, "I am your mom, not the maid. If you mess it up, you clean it up." I am such a mean mom.

Britain's got talent made me think

Okay I don't usually follow realty shows let alone the ones in Britain. However I watched Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent. She was amazing, but didn't get much respect at first because of how she looked and her quirky personality. The audience and judges smirked and laughed and expected her to fall on her face. She wowed them all. It has made me think about how we perceive and treat others.
There is a book called "You are Special" by Max Lucado that echos just what happened on the show. I would recommend it to everyone. I read this picture book to my junior high students when I was teaching school. Susan appeared to understand that no matter how others treated her she was a person of value with talent. How I wish I could infuse that into every young women and young man and my boys as well. We live in a world that judges and compares constantly. I think it makes us all so unsure of ourselves. With the understanding that Susan seemed to have-- I am a person of value no matter how others treat me-- comes a deeper truth. I, Erin, along with every living person am a person who matters because I am a child of God. I was created in His image, with some of His characteristics. I have a bit a divine in me. This assurance has carried me through many hard moments. Times that I would have otherwise fallen.
I am grateful that this truth has been taught to me throughout all my life. As a child we sang, 'I am a Child of God', in Young Women's we stood each week and said together and out loud (I think we needed to hear ourselves audibly say it)

"We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him... "

Now as a grown women in Relief Society we say, "We are beloved spirit daughters of God..."

I don't think we truly understand how important it is to not only remember who we are and where we came from, but also everyone else as well. How do we treat the strangers who may make us a bit uncomfortable. I realize that in today's world we need to stay safe. But do we smile, nod hello, offer help or a compliment? I know I fall short, but hope to do better.

spring break

This past week has been spring break. We didn't have anything planned, but we sure stayed busy. Jeff was home on very light days Monday and Tuesday so we got to play with dad. Jeff got the basketball hoop put together. It was from Santa and we are just getting it out. The backyard is turning into a play land. The zoo was a highlight on Tuesday with the Radels-- 13 kids in our two families. Wednesday Jeff flew out to Philly for a conference, but we had kids here from 9am to 8pm, plus a trip to Pizza Hut and the park with our friends Tess and Kaylyn. We love Tess she is so much fun. I have copied many of her ideas. Ask me about the calendars sometime. Thursday we went to play group. I go about once a year. Hiking at Clark Reservation is fabulous. We did table rock and after lunch found 'the caves'. We loved it so much we went back Friday. Unfortunately Jeff had the camera in Philly, so I don't have any pictures. There were many great photo opts. Friday night is date night and since Jeff was gone, I went out with another man-- Seth. We went to Chuck E. Cheese. Seth did not throw up in the parking lot. Hurray. I actually walked out saying that was fun. We didn't eat just used his tokens. When the tokens were gone we left and ate at Tullys. Now it is Saturday and we are going to clean up. Fun Saturday I know, but it is time to get back on schedule. School is back on on Monday and Jeff gets home tomorrow.


The new hoop!


At the zoo with the Radel Fam


Everyone's name


This is a photo from last year at Clark Reservation.


Another photo from last year. These are some of my all time favorite pictures.

Happy Easter and more

We have had a great April and Easter. Jeff and I got to go to the temple in Palmyra, NY on the Saturday before Easter. It was such a nice way to celebrate. The boys came and spent the time on the grounds with a friend. Thanks Cathy. The slide show shows some pictures from this month. We had fun coloring eggs, hunting for eggs in the yard, going to the zoo with our friends the Radels, and playing with the new basketball hoop in the backyard. There are also pictures of the MOST where Bryant did his diving somersault.

getting old

We went to the MOST, a children's museum. It has a fabulous jungle gym. It is really more than a jungle gym. I couldn't tell you how many levels it has. There 'guns' for shooting balls in the middle. When it is not crowded it is a great place to tag. I was chasing Oliver, Bryant, Seth and Alex. It was really tough to catch them. But I was doing pretty well. I was right behind Bry when he took a head first dive and somersaulted down a hole to the next level. I was started to follow thinking I can-- pause-- NOT do that. It was still very fun though. pictures to come.

Also in another area there is a guy who makes toothpick buildings. It is pretty amazing. His exhibit is entitled temples and towers. It is really cool. He had the Salt Lake Temple and many other temples of other faiths. www.toothpickcity.com is the website. Check it out.