Busy

At the beginning of the school year the sign-ups for extra curricular activities started making their way home. I love our kid's elementary school, they provide so many wonderful opportunities (especially an amazing music teacher, Mr. Lum, who not only offers the choir and hand chimes programs, but is currently teaching Sam how to play the recorder and C&T how to play the Ukulele as part of their regular music curriculum; Mrs King who volunteers after school to teach the kids how to play the drums, the bagpipe, and Drum Majors which encourage all of our kids to get in touch with their Scottish roots; and Mrs. Neilson who does a fabulous job with Active Kids Club, a free after school athletic program that includes soccer, ice skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, basketball, badminton, and obstacle courses. We are so blessed!!) The Bacon Boys were eager to be involved this year and the family calendar filled up fast. This is our weekly activity agenda (AM/PM indicate whether activities are held before or after school).

Monday: Choir Practice PM (C, T, & S), FHE

Tuesday: Hand Chimes AM (C & T), Sam Pipes and Drums PM (he plays the snare drum), Active Kids Club PM (C, T, & Hy), Basketball Practice (C, T, & S)

Wednesday: Choir Practice AM (C,T,& S), Cub Scouts

Thursday: Drum Majors PM (C & T), Active Kids Club PM(Sam)

Friday: Hand Chimes AM (C & T)

Saturday: Basketball Games (C, T, & S)

Wee Little Warner

(Warner and cousin Jacob celebrating their birthdays together!)

Warner turned three last Saturday . . .
and on Monday the potty training began.

It took all of 24 hours for him to have it down pat, and he's been dry day and night ever since.

Granted, it wasn't as easy as it sounds, but almost. I did do something that I swore I would never do. I hydrated the kid and let him sit on the potty at watch PBSkids. That along with the persuassion of Starbursts were the magical factors of our potty training success.

Friends.

Sam's best friend in Flagstaff was Jason. They were two peas in a pod. Both tall, stubborn, funny, and playful. The night before we moved the Hansen's tracked us down at the Rockow's and stumbled out of the car. Jason presented Sam with his cape. . . the same cape that we had seen Jason wearing everyday, the same cape that Jeanna had made for him a couple years before, the same cape that was part of so many of their adventures fighting bad guys together and exploring the neighborhood. It was such a thoughtful gift from him.

I have loved seeing Sam, then Hyrum, and now Warner all wearing that memory of Friendship.

So? Sough? Sew?

Do you know those piles in your house that multiply? Mine is under my laundry room sink. Piled from bottom to top and attempting to burst out the cabinet doors are jeans, jeans, jeans, and more jeans. Jeans with little holes, jean with big holes, jean with tears and jeans with rips. We almost get excited for winter around here because that means the end of recess football. . . boy do those grass stained jeans make their way into the pile fast.
Last summer my mom tackled that crazy pile of jeans. She sewed and sewed and patched and patched some more. And standing beside her the entire time was Sam, flipping the reverse lever on command. He loved it, and at that moment he acquired a great appreciation for the art of sewing. The second he hears the motor humming he is by my side. Last week he sewed a little carry case for his drum sticks. The other day he begged to sew some more and I showed him that you can write your name. I'm thinking I need to cut it with the frilly things like carry cases and name writing and march right on over to that laundry room sink. . . there is plenty for him to work on in there!