Primary Program

This Sunday was our primary program.  I was excited since we had worked on parts for about a month and both boys knew them well.  On our way to church we had them recite them for us and Joren, in a usual defiant mood said, "Heavenly Father does NOT have a plan for me!"  At that point I knew we were in for quite a show.  Joren sat in the front row next to his teacher (apparently he needs one on one supervision since there were no other kids in his row.)  He recently gave himself a custom hair cut right up to the scalp right at the front so there was our silly little bright eyed red head in the front row by himself with this goofy haircut trying really hard to do just what he is supposed to do.  The first song was "scripture power".  Joren borrowed his teachers quad to hold up over his head when all the children were supposed to hold up their scriptures.  It was as big as his head and in the first verse he lifted with all his might and held this giant book in a zippered case over his head.  The weight of it threw him completely off balance and he toppled forward and suddenly disappeared out of sight behind the ledge of the stage.  I had to bite my lip to not laugh hysterically when his surprised  little head popped back up.  Joren did not know many of the words to the songs but he opened and closed his mouth to make it look like he did.  He swayed back with a straight legged right/ left waddle motion while mouthing the words in a way that made it impossible not to giggle watching him.  When he said his part, "Heavenwy Faver has a pwan fo me." the congregation made the noise you make when something is so totally endearing you can't help but gasp and it brought tears to my eyes.  In the third song, Joren knew only one word which was said throughout the chorus.  The word was truth and he screamed it out with all his little heart each time the word truth came up.  I just knew those primary teachers felt the same as I did and they just couldn't bear to squash that precious 3 year old ambition during the practices by telling him not to yell.   Oh it was precious. 
I don't mean to ignore Eirik.  He was a star too.  He gave his part like a practiced and professional politician.  He wore a grey vest and red tie with his white shirt and short haircut.  He said, "I can pray to my Heavenly Father.  He hears and answers my prayers.  I know He will help me if I need it."  He knew every word to every song and was a shining example to all around him.  I was so proud of him.
I love teaching my boys about the gospel.  This weekend we are going to put up a tent like King Benjamen's people as we watch conference.  I am going to let the kids get a piece of candy if they hear a speaker say a chosen word for each session and I am printing off coloring pages and things from sugardoodle.  I hope it will help us enjoy hearing the speakers.  I am looking forward to it.

Water Obsession

 

The whole water obsession is out of control. Joren is now fillng all of my ziplocks and sandwich bags with water and twist tying them closed. He has 2 shelves full of ice in bags now. I was hoping this ice thing would last maybe a week or so, but we are going on a month. We have a strick rule that water can't leave the kitchen or bathroom, but I found a bag in his room and one spilled in the car today. He is a total menace. And, did I mention he won't listen, won't obey, won't help and does his own thing no matter what I say? ARgh...
I have been really worried about sending him to preschool. On his first day he only climbed on top of the 5' dollhouse, and pushed a kid. He did not bite, pinch, throw sand, color with marker on things he's not supposed to or get naked and run around showing off his *&^%$. I am not over my anxiety about the certain possibility of those things happening. I have his teacher on warning and I told her that if needed I would be happy to pull him out of preschool. Oh, my Joren.

 

Our River Spot

I'll be honest, there aren't a lot of places where we are allowed to sit by the bank of our river on our island, but we did find this special place and we have been frequenting it.  On this last trip, Eirik was excited to bring his spear that he made from a piece of bamboo, masking tape and a sharp thorn.  He was sure it would be easy to spear a fish.  It was not, but wouldn't you know, Paul was able to fashion a fishing pole out of things he found at our river spot and catch a fish in about 1 minute.  Paul.. always the hero! 

Doing whatever it is that boys do.

Just when we thought we were too busy...

Guess what Paul started this morning?  Ok, give up, you'll never guess.  It's too outrageous!

Seminary!  He started teaching early morning seminary!  Yeah, we thought he was too busy for anything else too.  He was asked right before sacrament meeting Sunday.  During sacrament he prayed about it and he told me that the Lord told him that if he did not accept the calling He would take away all that he has even his life!  In other words, Paul said he really had no choice.  To be honest, the bishop told me that the previous seminary teacher said she couldn't do it 2 weeks before it was supposed to start.  He was very concerned, and I think he brought it up with me on the sly during our meeting to see what my response would be.  I told him I would tell Paul they really needed a teacher and get his reaction, but that I felt he was too busy to be able to handle a calling like that.  He did not wait to hear any reaction from me, although I don't think it mattered, however I think the spirit told me that day that he would get this call and it would be a blessing to us.  As he prepared for his first lesson last night, he said to me, "you want to go get your scriptures?"  He told me later that I sort of giggled as I went up the stairs.  I think I actually did.  I don't think I have heard him say that in about... oh, 8 years.

Extreme Squirrel Zombie Motorcross

We have this great book called Sharks vs. Trains.  One one page the shark and train are playing Extreme Squirrel Zombie Motorcross videogame.  Joren asked me in all sincerity if we could get a cord and plug in Extreme Squirrel Zombie Motorcross to our Wii so we could play it.  When I told him that that would not work, he was extremely disappointed.

Toad's everywhere

He is so observant.  He can spot them anywhere and he loves to catch them.  He found a toad the other day and we played with it for hours. I asked him to set him loose in the pond.  Of course he did not want to and wanted to keep him in the terrarium.  I let him keep him but after a few days I told him the toad needed to be set loose so he could get some food and live.  A little while later Joren said, "mom, don't look in that drawer."   Guess what I found in that drawer!  He had put his toad in a ziplock bag and back in the ziplock bag box back in the drawer for safe keeping!  Ahh...  Well, he assured me after that that the toad had been let loose in the pond.  Today the boys found a different toad in the backyard.  Joren ran in the house in great excitement and told Eirik to wait outside.  Then he dove under our ottoman in the living room and extracted his, somehow still living toad from under a cup he had placed upside down there.  That means that for at least a day and a half that toad lived in my living room under a cup and I did not notice!  Imagine my surprise if I had found him!  They were thrilled to have two toads to play with and compare.  Joren even let his toad loose in the pond and somehow recaptured it a bit later.  I was most impressed that Eirik actually held the toad today.  He usually instructs Joren when and where and what to do with all the living creatures they find together; to which Joren always willingly obliges.  What a cute team.

Family Fun in the backyard

Thanks Jennie Whiting for most of these pictures!

Labor Day Rockets

Eirk covering his ears because he was terrified of the blast off.

Family Fun Labor Day Mini Reunion

Utah in August

Pure perfect joy.