A Little Pair of Pals

Since the beginning of the year Nate has been sitting down with the kids every Fast Sunday to set a monthly goal.  One month the kids both made goals to run for exercise five times/week.  One month Lily set a goal to read a book every night before bed.  They've made goals about things ranging from fitness to kindness to more consistency with daily scripture study and prayer.  A few months ago Lily set a goal to be more kind to Caroline.  To help her be mindful about it we decided it would be a good idea to take a minute at the end of the day to write down some specific things she did to show kindness.
Those little entries in her kindness journal were so dear; I took pictures of them almost every night because I am a ridiculous sap and because I wanted to preserve them.  Here are a few samples :)

1-5-15
I got her in the bath
I gave her a candy cane
I was kind to her the hol (whole) day

 1-4-15
I gave her chereose (cheerios)
I got her out of her car seat
I made her laugh

1-10-15
I helped her
I prayed for her
I got her in the bath
I treded (treated) her like a friend


As a little post script I want to mention that I think that month of Lily's focused effort on kindness to her sister really changed their relationship.  They still squabble plenty, but they are pretty sweet little friends.  Lily is so, so helpful with Caroline and really does treat her like a friend most of the time :)  I never imagined how heartwarming it would be to watch these little sisters grow up together.  Lily gets Caroline dressed almost every morning, they take a bath together nearly every day, they love to help me bake, they play outside on the tramp or with the bubble machine together, I often glance back in the rear view mirror to see them holding hands in the van (I always try to sneak a stealth photo; they always turn out blurry), they collect the eggs together every day.  It's a pretty cute little pair of pals.

Improvising

She is so fascinated with fancy things.  She wants her ears pierced so badly (but never asks because she knows it's not a discussable option 'til she's at least ten years old.)  Sometimes she tapes my earrings to her ears while she's playing pretend.  It's one of my favorite things about her play.

Halloween 2014

The candy drives me bonkers (all the wrappers - in the laundry, crammed in their bed crevasses, on the floor, in the car!!!) but I love Halloween.  It is such a happy day for our family.  This year we had a ninja and a 50's girl in a twirling poodle skirt.  And Caroline, cute as everrrrr, in her little halloween frock.  We trick or treat around my grandma's neighborhood, which is just a perfect place to trick or treat -- houses close together and it doesn't sprawl on for miles.  Plus, a warm place to wait (grandma's house) while the kids squeeze all the magic out of the night.  And my favorite part is when they're done going door to door and they come in and dump their candy bags out and the sorting and trading begin.  I think that was my favorite part when I was little, lining up all the candies, grouping like candies together, making a candy rainbow.  I geek out about stuff like that.  Love watching my kids do it now.

We had a fun afternoon with our babysitter, Molly, a few days before Halloween, too.  We made a parade of spooks out of toilet paper rolls, played some halloween games, drank poison punch and ate halloween cupcakes.

Pretty fun! 

General Conference

General conference is always my favorite.  Every session.  The kids love church in our jammies (I love that, too.)  But mostly, I have come to love the feast -- the chance to sit with my dear ones and be nourished by the good word of God.  I love the traditions that have evolved around conference.  I love the mess of blankets and pillows that ends up in the living room.  I love the journals and pens.  I love being with my family.  We will miss Halley so much next year when she goes away to college -- she's one of the best snugglers at the conference celebration.  And this year she braided my hair during the Sunday afternoon session - that was fun :)

We usually watch the Sunday morning session at my grandma's house with a big spread of breakfast.  My grandma always makes oatmeal waffles, my mom brings breakfast quiche, I brought orange rolls, and this year we got to enjoy the bacon from the pigs we (uncle Rob) raised.  The kids really listened almost the whole time.  They took notes (pretty much the most precious thing ever) and drew pictures.  And we all just loved it.  I felt like I wanted to weep when it was over.    

I love the prophets and apostles.  I am so thankful for their counsel.  Our family has been especially blessed by Elder Scott's talk -- I love his simple, but firm suggestions for making faith our priority.  

We usually watch the Sunday morning session at my grandma's house with a big spread of breakfast.  My grandma always makes oatmeal waffles, my mom brings breakfast quiche, I brought orange rolls, and this year we got to enjoy the bacon from the pigs we (uncle Rob) raised.  The kids really listened almost the whole time.  They took notes (pretty much the most precious thing ever) and drew pictures.  And we all just loved it.  I felt like I wanted to weep when it was over.    

I love the prophets and apostles.  I am so thankful for their counsel.  Our family has been especially blessed by Elder Scott's talk -- I love his simple, but firm suggestions for making faith our priority.