A kid that cooks

Twice a month Peter has the responsibility to cook dinner. He and I work together on a menu and then, together, we make it happen.It's been fun to see his skills in the kitchen grow. For the most part, we have had a lot of success with only one minor knife cut. This particular meal was one of his favorite dishes. He made us chicken tetrazzini with a green salad on the side. I hope he continues to develop a love of cooking because it's a very beneficial thing to know how to do.

Vday Party

A local Homeschool Mom donated her time today to host a little valentines day party for a bunch of families in the community. It was so much fun. My boys especially loved the valentine exchange.

Before the exchange they had a moment where kids who had a poem to recite could go up to the stage and share it with everyone else. Surprisingly, Peter told me yesterday that he would like to do it. So, he recited his poem that's he has recently finished memorizing called, "The Loco Boys" by Jack Prelutsky.

He did a fabulous job at projecting his voice over the 50 plus kids that were in the building. I was so amazed at his courage to preform. I feel that gymnastics and preforming piano songs for Grandparents have really given him an extra boost of self confidence.

The boys and I are both hoping that we can have a repeat of this fun day next year.

Donating my crafty self

A while back my neighbor asked me if I would like to decorate one of the bulletin boards at church. I told her I would love to, but I never followed through with doing it because I was never in that room to see how strange it looked completely bare.

Well, I finally bumped this project to the top of my priority list and I made it happen. It was so much fun going to the fabric/craft store to try and figure out what work work out best. Of the $24 I spent there, this project only took about $4 of it. I always love to buy extra materials for future projects.

Before

After

The entire board

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Goodbye to Nursery

I've spent the last 2.5 years in this classroom each Sunday taking care of little children while their parents attending other church meetings. The last few weeks were spent preparing things so they could split the nursery in 2017. I made this adorable singing chart that looks like a gumball machine. Someone else had made one for the nursery, so I just copied what they had done. I think it turned out pretty adorable. While it is strange not to be in with the kids, I appreciate the journey I am now on. And who knows, perhaps someday I'll be back among the kids and toys once again.

A present for Grandma

A few months ago my parents moved far, far away. As I was contemplating what I should get them for Christmas I rediscovered this idea. They turned out super adorable and the Grandparents loved them. I think I should now make some for myself. These cuties are growing up faster then I realize and pretty soon they won't even look like this. Boo hoo.

Views of our homeschool

I love the freedom and flexibility homeschool provides our family. We really do have a lot of fun, mixed with very structured moments at home with our textbooks.

Peter's Baptism Day

Nothing about this day was taken for granted by Mom. Inwardly I had been dreading this day for months and months. Since Brandon is no longer interested in participating in church, I knew Peter would need to have someone else preform this special ordinance. As the months drew closer to his 8th birthday I knew he would need to make a decision. The decision got ever harder when my parents moved to Missouri unexpectedly. For weeks and weeks Peter debated over the list of names we had written out together. Finally, he asked me if we could email Grandpa Thomas a note. This is what it said:

Hi Grandpa,

Would you be willing to baptize me? It's Dec 3rd at 9am.  Come at 8:30am to get ready.

Love Peter 

 
Peter was so excited to get it sent off, and he was determined to write it all out himself. It took us almost an hour to get it perfect. I notified Mom T. that an email was coming to Dad at his work account so he could check it. A few hours later Peter checked his email and he had this response back from Grandpa:

Peter,

Yes, it would be my honor to baptize you. Thank you for asking me.

Love grandpa,

Peter was so thrilled. The day of his baptism was an early one. He needed to be at the church at 8:30 and we all needed to be there with him. Before we left the house I managed to get a few pictures of us. 

Shortly after arriving at the church building Grandpa and Grandma T. joined us. We took more pictures, and then the meeting started.

Luke was a little pill through the meeting part, but when it came to Peter's turn to get into the font he was memorized. No doubt he will remember this day too when his special day comes in two years. Peter was especially lucky to have his best friend Blake baptised with him on the same day. Kimball and Ella were also baptised on the same day too. November was a good month to have babies that year.

After the baptism Grandpa gave him a wonderful blessing. Grandpa was truly inspired from above.

Peter you are one of your Heavenly Father’s chosen sons. He loves you as your family loves you. We bless you that you will be an example to your family that you will fight for faith and stand up for what is right. We bless you that through your example others will be strengthened. Peter I bless you with discernment that you might know clearly right from wrong. That you will stay clear from that which is wrong with the understanding that Satan desires to have you. We bless you with, not only the desire, but with the strength to stay clear of his temptations that you may remain worthy that you are right now as clean and pure as you ever will be. I bless you with a desire to remain that way. Peter I also bless you that you may continue to foster your talent for music that you will be able to use it in the service of our Father in Heaven. I promise you that it will bring great joy to your life……

Sadly, Luke was being crazy at the end of the blessing so I wasn't able to get all of the words he said, but what we did get was a treasure. We love Grandpa and are so glad he was willing to baptize Peter. We also had other family members join us for the morning.

Great-Grandma Mary Thomas

Grandpa & Grandma Thomas

Uncle Morgan & Aunt Amy Heath

Uncle Shawn,Aunt Alicia, Cousin Morgan & Lucy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadly, our house was in the middle of a Living Room redo so we didn't invite anyone over afterwards. It was a great day anyway and we are so happy for Peter. He is growing up to be such an amazing kid.