KEATON'S 1ST BAND CONCERT

Keaton had his very first band concert of the year last night and I can't even begin to explain what a thrill it was for us as parents to watch him play and be a part of something like this. It was the first concert and he has only been playing a few weeks so to some it may not have been all that impressive but, to parents of a band member it was absolutely amazing and wonderful! Keaton has been practicing so hard and just LOVES playing the trumpet! I wasn't sure how Keaton would like band and wasn't real sure he fully understood what he was getting into as far as dedication and commitment but, he proved me SO wrong! He is very dedicated and as far as commitment goes well let's just say I wish he had as much commitment in making his bed and doing his chores everyday as he does practicing and playing the trumpet! We are so proud of you Keaton!!!


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IT'S POPTROPICA!!!

My kids are so CREATIVE!!! My kids love to play the online computer game POPTROPICA. In this game you create your character and then you must conquer different kinds of islands. The creativity of these games really make you have to think and try your patience while you maneuver through the different islands. You have to decipher codes and you meet historic people along your journey to try and help you. Keaton is REALLY REALLY good at it and Bailey Rose enjoys the challenge as well. Well, tonight after dinner and homework Keaton and Bailey rose made up their own version of Poptropica. Keaton spent a good amount of time drawing the characters and then coloring them and cutting them out. Then he recruited his sister to play the game. She even incorporated her Polly Pocket car into the game to help the characters move around faster. They are having a BLAST with it. I just LOVE it when my kids use their own creativity to entertain themselves and I LOVE it even more when a computer, TV or gaming systems are not used to entertain them!

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

Last night when I went to do the final kiss goodnight and tuck in Bailey Rose gave me this picture. She drew it before going to sleep. I commented on what a BEAUTIFUL drawing it was and hung it on the fridge. This morning when I went to the fridge to get the milk for breakfast I noticed the drawing again and I realized what
a detailed picture it was and that looking at this picture made me think how beautiful the world is. Bailey drew what she sees every time she looks up into the world and I'm so glad she realizes that when she looks up she sees beauty that our Heavenly Father gave us. Her little picture reminded me that sometimes we all need to stop and look up and remember that even though the world is filled with wickedness there is still so much beauty in it's creations. I am going to try and look up more often and thank my Heavenly Father for this beautiful world he created for us. I hope my children can continue to look up and see the beauty and remember that when things are getting ugly in the world Heavenly father is there to guide them through it and all they need to do it look up!

A DOLLY & SOME FAMILY FUN!!!

Well,this past weekend was an enjoyable one. With the rain on Saturday and Kev working the kids and I just stayed indoors and pretended it was a cold winter day. In fact it was much cooler then usual and that was nice. The kids played very quiet most of the day with activities that seemed to keep the noise level to a minimum and I was grateful for that. We baked cookies together and then enjoyed eating them together.

Bailey decided she wanted to make a doll out of scrap fabric. I gave her some fabric and she started to cut away and as I watched her knowing that the end product she had in mind was never going to get accomplished I stepped in when the frustration set in for her. I quickly made a doll cut out and pulled out my sewing machine and then began sewing. She started to go through all my fabric and decided what type a dress her doll would have. I had not planned on making clothes for the doll but, thought since I already had the machine out I would quickly and I mean quickly make a dress for her doll which she had already named Samantha. Then Bailey asked me what type of hair she should have. I realized at this point that this doll was not going to be just a doll to her but a friend so I got the only yarn I had left which was rainbow colored and so we put rainbow hair on her. I told Bailey she was a "funky punky" prairie doll. She was just delighted with the end result and off she went to play with her new friend Samantha. Well, I have really been amazed at how much she loves this slapped together doll. She has played with her ever single day since we made her. She sleeps with her and she eats with her and she just goes everywhere with her. It is the cutest thing to watch. I sometimes I feel bad that I didn't put a little extra time into it to make it a better looking doll but, Bailey doesn't care in the least she loves her just the way she is. :)


Labor Day we all got together at my parents home except Kev and my little brother Chad because, the poor guys had to work. We BBQ-ed steaks and had had a great feast. The kids all played with their cousins and went swimming and then Uncle Brian put together a little treasure hunt for all of them, with the treasure being chocolate bars for the girls and cool sounding swords with lights and all for the boys. We had such an enjoyable fun day with family. The next day the kids went back to school and the busy week ahead of us has begun.