Helping Hands

Every year on, or around September 11th is set aside as a national day of service.  I wonder how many citizen's of our country actually know this.  I don't hear much about it except at church.  Our church, which is established throughout the world, takes this National Day of Service very seriously.  Church leadership in Salt Lake City encourages all congregations to organize a service project that will benefit the communities we live in on this day.  The Service Projects are usually designed for all members in the families of a congregation to participate.  Through the years Jason and I have helped out with many of these projects.  Each one has blessed our lives and others.  

This year our Stake, which is a group of seven congregations like a Catholic Diocese, planned to collect food for local food banks.  We were asked to invite and involve our neighbors to also help gather food.  Jason and I took the bags around to our neighbors.  They all donated food.  One of our neighbors went to the grocery store and brought us about 15 bags of food.  It was very awesome, and seriously caused me to shed a few tears.  It was a thrill to gather food from our neighborhood, and then drive a van full of food to the church.  My favorite part was that my children were able to participate in this awesome project.  I was sad that Jason had to work, and didn't get to be a part of the project on the gathering day.

All Volunteers had to wear one of these.

Glenn and Max worked so very hard.

Our Stake gathered over 15,000 pounds of food!!!  It was awesome!  When the first food bank guy came to pick up he was happy and overwhelmed with how much food we had for him to pick up. 

This is just one of three locations filled with bags of food like this.  It was so awesome!

Many hands make for light work.
Do you see Max and Glenn?  They were two of the only youth there.  Max was the youngest helper.  I was very proud of them.

Harrison was bummed that I wouldn't let him do too much.  I told him that the best way for him to help was to sit on the curb.  He did NOT like that idea at all.  

Lily was helping too.  

Did I mention that it was hot?  Well it was.  After all the hard work we had to go get some Frenzi Frozen Yogurt.  YUM!

Schools out for Summer!

I tend to dread Summer Vacation as a mother of many children.  I really do not do well in the heat.  My kids are so bored.  Summer is overwhelming for me.  I am always trying my best to keep my house from looking like a bomb exploded, and entertain the masses.

Having said all that, I can't help but feel the excitement in the air around here as school comes to a close for the year. 

Last week we had Harrison's second and final preschool graduation.  He had one last year too.  He is so excited to finally start kindergarten.  All of his good friends started last year.  That's what happens when you have a birthday in the Fall.  Sorry buddy.

I read a funny thing on one of those vintage ecards that are popping up all over facebook and Pinterest.

"Happy Preschool graduation!  A celebration of the easiest part of your life!"
So true!

At his graduation, receiving his "diploma"

Then, he turned and gave the hugest, cheesiest grin, but it was SO fast!  This was the only photo we got, because he quickly turned and ran off, so Jason didn't have time to even try and focus.

 So, then the teachers made him come back out and smile for another picture, but Jason wasn't ready.  He stood there and smiled another HUGE cheesy smile!  The whole audience was laughing because it was so darn cute!  He then quickly ran off after Jason had taken this one quick shot.... still not a good one, but it was the best he could do under that kind of pressure.

The kids did a little performance for us before getting their "diplomas."  Part of it was 5 Little Monkey's.  They had made their own monkey ears to wear for it.  Bennett enjoyed the performance so much that he makes us do it for him before every nap and bedtime now.

Little Monkey Harry..... OR Little Hairy Monkey.

This is his pose to show us "NO MORE Monkey's Jumping on the BED!"

Out in the sunshine in his graduation cap he made himself.

Congratulations Harrison!  And now the easiest part of your life is over!

 He was lucky to have a sunny day to graduate on.  That afternoon when I came home from picking up the older kids he was out running around in this cowboy skeleton costume.

 

At the end of sixth grade Glenn received on academic medal for his good grades.  This is really SUPER exciting for us!  He has struggled for a long time with school.  He is super smart, but has had a hard time in class and with tests etc.  This year he has tried super hard to focus, and do well.  I was thrilled that he was able to receive an award to honor his goals achieved.  He has already set higher goals for next year, and I have no doubt in his abilities.  
On to Seventh grade!

 On the last day of 5th grade Lily's class did a huge party instead of a graduation.  I really liked that idea.
They started at the pool, then went to a nearby park for a pizza lunch.  Jason went with her and took some pictures of her with her friends.  For some reason all of Lily's close friends year were boys.  I am a bit anxious to see how that all plays out in Middle School.

Lily with her 5th grade teacher, Max has her for next year.  We really LOVE this teacher.  And yes, that is a Limo behind them.  One of the dad's from Lily's class got a Limo for his daughter and all her friends on the last day of 5th grade.  Pretty much every girl in Lily's class was invited, except her.  She said she didn't care, and she really seemed not to.  Like I said, all her friends were boys.

Max's class also had a party at the same park as Lily's class that day. Jason was there, but didn't take any pictures of him.  Bummer.  He is really excited to move on to 4th grade.  I really can't believe that my little Maxwell is that old.  He spent this last year in a 3rd/4th blended class.  Next year he is in a 3rd/4th blend again.  Hmmmm.... I don't understand how they choose which kids to go in the blends.  Maybe they just draw names.  It was hard for him at the beginning of last year because he is the youngest 3rd grader, and he had a very hard time keeping up academically.  By the end of the year he was excelling, especially in math.  He won Math Student of the month in January, and again in May!

The end of the school year also means our last Portland Ensign Choir concert.  We do 3 shows every season.  Our last one is in June.  I took these last two off to have a baby.  I was really excited to sit in the audience and bring the kids.  It was all movie themed music, most of it Disney.

The kids with dad after his concert.

 Over concert weekend there was a catered lunch for the choir and orchestra at our choir president's gorgeous home.  We got to eat with Jenny Oaks Baker, who was the visiting artist. She is amazingly talented.  It was great to perform with her two years ago, and I loved being in the audience this time as well.

 Not only do Jason and I have a concert in June, but the kids always have a piano recital in June as well.  Max took off the last few months to do Soccer.  He was so bummed to not be in the recital.  I am glad because now he wants to do piano again!  Maybe this time he'll practice!

The first official day of Summer Vacation was mid 60's and rainy.  That's just Oregon for ya.  Poor Maxwell looked out the window that morning, and said in the saddest voice ever, "I guess it's not going to be sunny today."  I think that Karl completely agreed.  He laid in front of the door just watching the rain all day.  Whenever I tried to let him out he would just continue to lay and stair out at the rain.

Now onto our Summer FUN!  It will be filled with camping, road trips, swimming, scouting, library, zoo and so much more!

Service Project

Last week I got a call from Lily's Activity Days leader (her youth group at church for 8-11 year old girls).  She told me not to make dinner the next night because the girls were making our family dinner and bringing it over for a service project activity.  I was THRILLED!  

Lily came upstairs soon after that to eat dinner.  I asked her, "So, what are you doing for Activity Day tomorrow?"  I had no idea if she knew or not.  She got a sly look on her face, and tried to stifle a giggle, and then said, "I don't know."  I said, "Oh, well, you need to bring a pound of shredded mozzarella to add to a dinner that you are making and taking to a couple of families."  Then, she really started to giggle.  I said, "So, you know that you are bringing dinner to us?"  By this point she was all out laughing!  I was laughing too, because that sort of thing is contagious.

She then told me a hilarious story.  She said that at the last activity they had a discussion about this service project.  The leaders asked the girls who they thought would appreciate or could use a meal prepared for them.  Lily said, "I was TOTALLY joking, but I said, 'What about MY mom.'  And my leaders were like, 'Hey, yeah, she's having a baby this month.'  Then, all the girls voted and they voted for YOU!"  She was laughing SO hard.  The funny thing was that she was seriously joking and being silly by suggesting our family, and when her leaders took it seriously and said it would be good because we're having a baby, Lily thought, 'Oh, yeah, that is a good idea.'  

This is why we often call her "Silly Lily."  She is a very silly girl, and we LOVE her!

There are way more girls than this in her group.  This is mostly the older girls who are all 11 with Lily.  One of the eight year old girls did help, but had to leave to piano lessons, and wasn't able to deliver the goods.

Dinner consisted of a yummy casserole that was spaghetti on bottom, with sauce and meat etc, and pizza on top.  Of course, we all loved it!  It is pizza and spaghetti, two of our favorite dinners put together in one!  They also brought a delicious salad and garlic bread.

 

 Bennett chowing down.  He really loved it!

Lily, Max and Harry.  Lily had tons of fun telling us what each girl did for their part in making us dinner.  We were seriously grateful!

Thank You Activity Day Girls!!!!!

Benland

One morning I woke up with Harrison in my face.  He was wide eyed and excited to tell me all about a new place he had visited while asleep.

Lily had babysat for us the night before, and put the little boys to bed for us.  Instead of reading books to Harrison she TOLD him a story about a magical place called Benland. (Pronounced Ben-Lund)

Harrison has woken up every morning since excited to tell me about his adventures in Benland from the previous night.  This has been happening for over a week now!  He is always excited about it, and Lily is always creatively adding more dimensions to Benland for him to imagine and dream about.  

There is no way I can remember every detail that I have learned about Benland, and I have never been there myself.  If I had known from the beginning how epic this was going to be I would've started taking notes.

Benland

~When you go to sleep and start dreaming, open your eyes, and that is how to get to Benland!

~There are beautiful dancing girls.

~There is a marshmallow river.

~There are animal friends.

~There are vines in the trees to swing from, and friends swing down to greet you.  The friends are twin brothers named Hangy and Swingy.

~There is a lava princess.

~There is an amusement park inside a volcano!

~There is a silver princess in the silver castle made out of ice with diamonds on top.

~There is a chocolate princess that lives in a beautiful candy castle.  She does not know anyone else, but she does know Harrison!

~The land is made out of cookies, and there are banana sundae floats in the marshmallow river.

~There is a jungle and a sleep island made out of pillows and books.

Lily turns 11!

In case you didn't know, Time Flies!  I have some very important posts from the last year (2011) that I never completed and posted.  I know that it is now March 2012, but I'm going to post these three posts anyways.

Glenn's 12th birthday, Maxwell's 8th birthday and Lily's 11th birthday.

 On November 2, 2011 my beautiful baby girl turned eleven years old!   

Lily - age five

If you are a regular reader, you know that Lily is one girl with 4 brothers.  She says she doesn't really like that, but I wonder if she would really like having a ton of sisters.  If I am to have only one daughter, I could not be more grateful that Lily is her.  We are super close friends.  We love doing everything together.  Our girl time is very valuable to us.  

This Summer, a couple of months before her birthday.  Her and I went to the rodeo together. 
She helped me and some friends in our booth.  We were recycling these old denim jackets into Western Wear and selling them.  She was a great little model!
 

 Things were crazy on her actual birthday.  She had play practice, and Jason was working. We had 45 minutes in which the whole family was present and available for a quick celebration.
Present time!

 Lily is a major book worm.  I cannot keep her in books.  She always LOVES getting some new books.

 A lap desk.  She has a desk in her room, but is often in her bed working instead.  She really LOVES using this!

 A new dress coat.

 A craft/art set.  She has used this a lot too. This has been fun for her to do with friends when they come over.



















After presents we had a treat of pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting.  YUM!

 On Sunday, when we had more time together as a family, we had a nice birthday dinner.
She had to have some Creme Brulee.  It is one of our favorites.  It is very easy to make, but it feels SO fancy!

  I only did the fired, carmelized sugar in the center, so we could put candles around the edges.

 There is always silence when creme brulee is served at our house.  I just wish they didn't eat it so fast.

Saying Good Bye is So Hard to Do!

After having Brooke and Mick here for a month (split time between here and Denver with the rest of us Alldredge's), we had to say good bye!  I hate good bye's.  I had to follow behind in my van, because there was NO way they could fit all their luggage in that small rental car.  Lily came along.  I was slightly nervous, because this is what she looked like the last time we said good bye to them.

 At the airport right before they moved to Australia 15 months ago.

I am glad to say that Lily did great this time!  No crying at all.  

We ended up being there for much longer than we thought, because the guy at the ticket counter said that Brooke and the girls couldn't leave the country without physical proof of their visa's.  It was SO stressful and crazy!  In Australia, you don't need the physical proof, I guess they look them up at the counter.  Mick didn't know that, and the luggage had already been sent off to the plane, which is where the Visa's were.  

We had to go down to a special office and wait for the 8 huge pieces of luggage to come back.  We then had to search through the 8 pieces till we found it.  Of course, it was the last suitcase we opened.  After that whole debacle they rushed off to their gate to catch the plane.  So, we had a quick good bye, after a lot of stress.  

I was SO happy when I got word that they were safely home...about 26 hours later.

Esther saying good-bye to Karl.  She said she was going to miss him the most.  Gee - thanks Es:)

 LOTS of luggage!!! 

 These girls are just SO cute together!!!

 Lily stole Mick's hat.  This is right after we found the Visa's.  You can tell, because we are all smiles now....Well Lily is smiling.  The rest of us were still recovering.

 Complete opposite of Lily's face at their last good-bye!