My Chimneysweep

Breakfast - they spontaneously put their arms around each other while eating. 

Pictured with their favorite breakfast cereal:  HoneyNut Cheerios

Our girls LOVE puzzles. 

Silver and Summer washing dishes

Growing up I loved the movies 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Popins.

I especially enjoyed the part of Mary Popins with the Chimneysweeps doing their dance.

Here is my little chimneysweep sweeping the floor :)

Scripture Power FHE

Our Family Night on the Song "Scripture Power"

Lyrics:

Because I want to be like the Savior and I can
I'm reading his instructions I'm following his plan
Because I want the power his word will give to me
I'm changing how I live, I'm changing what I'll be

Chorus:
Scripture Power keeps me safe from sin
Scripture power is the power to win
Scripture Power! Every day I need
The power that I get each time I read

I'll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn
I'll take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn
I'll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord
And fight my daily battles and win a great reward.

Put on the whole Armour of God

We had them put on Armour and talked about what it meant.

Then we had paper darts that we threw at them that they were able to deflect with their shields.

Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be astrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

vs 22-24  That he might comfort your hearts.  Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Quote Board

River had a very good first experience sharing the gospel. In Primary last year the kids were challenged to give away a Book of Mormon. River thought and prayed about who to give it to. She really took it seriously. It took a couple of months of thinking and pondering, but on her own she told me who she'd like to give it to.

There was a girl that she got to know at school that was a couple of years older than her. Mom, River tells me, she doesn't go to church - I would like to give my Book of Mormon to her. We wrapped it up in Christmas paper and River wrote her sweet testimony in it in her own words. We put it in a pretty bag along with another present for Christmas and took it to her house. She gave River a big hug and put it under the tree for Christmas.

She came up to River after Christmas break to tell her she loved the gifts that that she had gone to church with her Book of Mormon. I talked to the Primary President in the other ward and she told me that she is not a member and that was the first time she had come to church. She just brought it up to me again tonight how happy she was to share that...Mom, I had a lot of peace in my heart and I felt So happy. We are never too young to share a simple testimony and set a good example.

River is such a good example to me. She is always looking out for her sisters and loves the gospel. She is always making cards for me and for Daddy, for her sisters...She wrote in her journal "Believe in Christ and My Famley is Special to Me"
I kiss Summer's toes whenever I change her diaper. In the car the other day she took off her socks and shoes and started kissing her toes. :)

Colt: When everyone yings I yang.

River enjoys learning sign language and Spanish. She thinks it is the neatest thing to have more than 1 way to say things. She recently discovered her name is "Rio" in Spanish. She has started calling herself Rio and writing Rio on her school papers. Sometimes she'll write on a homework paper: River and Rio.

When I am holding Summer and she wants my attention, she puts her hand up to my cheek and pulls my face down to hers. Then she chatters on about what she wants to tell me. She does this frequently when reading a story. If there is something she needs to show me she'll reach up and rest a hand on my cheek and then tell me all about it.

Silver has started to put things sequentially. If we need to go run errands, she tries slipping in her requested stops too: "Mom, how 'bout this: We go to: (holding up her fingers and ticking off each item) Daddy's office, the bank, the library, the store, and then to Rain's house (Or Ginger's house!) Deal?

Why are there never any toothbrushes in the bathroom??? At the end of the evening, we round up the toothbrushes to brush teeth. All brushes fall asleep safe and sound in their toothbrush holder. The next night brings on the search for the missing toothbrushes. Maybe they hang out with those socks that never have a match...

Silver: "My face dirty...Mom, me wipe my face on your shirt?"

River: "Mom - We're best friends! Yup, Best Friends Forever...Forever and Ever!!"

Silver says "yessirree!" for everything that gets a yes answer. Only she pronounces it Essss uuuu weee! With enthusiasm!

As Mommy and Daddy were attempting to fix River's flat bike tires River says "Boys are stronger than girls, but girls are smarter than boys!"

I Love to See the Temple

The girls love singing I Love to See the Temple:

1. I love to see the temple.

I’m going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit,
To listen and to pray.
For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I’ll prepare myself while I am young;
This is my sacred duty.

2. I love to see the temple.
I’ll go inside someday.
I’ll cov’nant with my Father;
I’ll promise to obey.
For the temple is a holy place
Where we are sealed together.
As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:
A fam’ly is forever.

VIDEO:  Such a precious movie.  I love that River is sitting eating breakfast and Silver is trying to remember the song.  Just a very ordinary everyday thing...but truly a treasure.

VIDEO:  River and Silver Signing I Love to See the Temple 

I found a neat website:  http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/temples/ 
It has all the temples with galleries of free photos for wallpaper.  Gorgeous work!

I love to see the temple.

I’m going there someday

 To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty.

I’ll prepare myself while I am young;

This is my sacred duty.

 

I love to see the temple.

I’ll go inside someday.

I’ll cov’nant with my Father;

I’ll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place

Where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:

A fam’ly is forever.

Sunday Cookies

Making Sunday Cookies!

River discovered she could touch the ceiling!

Sweet Summer

Summer has grown up so much lately!

She is trying so hard to keep up with her Sisters.

She loves to come and chatter at me.  I say "show me" and she takes my hand and toddles off to wherever we are going and tells me all about it!

Summer has very tender feelings and when she gets told no, she takes it pretty hard.

Tears escaping.

Summer used to NOT like SamBo! 

Whenever he was around she would ball up her hands, shake, and scream at the top of her lungs.

I wish I could have captured this on camera - when Sam comes around now she squeals with delight, laughing and running over to him to give him BIG hugs.

I finally caught this one!

She bites her fingernails! 

She has started to LOVE books.

Especially ones with flaps to uncover pictures underneath.

Peanut Butter!

Summer can get almost anywhere with a chair.  She pushes the chairs around and climbs up on the table.  Here she got into the breakfast cereal, milk and chocolate powder.  She is a master of messes.  She'll get the cereal boxes off the table and go to the carpet and dump the whole thing. 

Earlier this week I came into the front room to find her tearing out pages from my scriptures.  She had a whole pile of pages sitting next to her.  It wasn't just the whole pages teared out though - she had taken each page and torn it into a couple of pieces.  I put stickers in my scriptures - smiley faces, hearts, etc. and she had torn those off the pages.  Teeny tiny shreds of pages.  I haven't had the necessary energy yet to tape it all back together.  Sigh!

Summer is very inquisitive and loves life and her Daddy!

"My Daddy is my Favorite Pal" is her themesong.

Sweet Summer - We love your energy and entheusiasm!

It is cute to see how her sisters watch out for her.  Silver will bend down to her level and talk to her "baby talk" to make sure she is okay :)

Sweet Summer - We love you!