Primary

July 21, 2013

Our ward is realigning.  They are taking two wards and creating a third ward out of them.  When I was first called as Primary President of our ward, we had only 84 or so children plus 30 in  Nursery.  Now we have 125 in Primary plus 32 in the nursery!  

After the realignment we will lose about 30 children from Primary and only a few from Nursery.

This is a picture of the children who came to church on Sunday.  There are only 80-something pictured here.  

I love LOVE our Primary.  I love the kids, the teachers, and the girls I serve beside.  The entire program is certainly an inspired work.  It brings me so much joy to teach gospel of Jesus Christ.  It's not always easy and the kids are not always reverent, but it is SO worth it to watch their testimonies strengthen as they learn line upon line.  Primary is my my favorite place to be!

Holy Tongue!

July 12, 2013

Annika is at it again!  She really wanted a Band-aid from the bathroom medicine cabinet.  When I told her that she didn't need one, she took matters into her own hands.  I heard a crash and a cry.  I found her sprawled on the bathroom floor.  She had apparently climbed on top of the counter and when reaching for the medicine cabinet she slipped, fell and hit her chin on the counter top on her way to the floor. 

She bit through both sides of her tongue.  These pictures aren't very good, but believe me... it was gross. 

Once she stopped crying, I gave her Tylenol and a popsicle for the swelling.  She liked that :)

As my dad would say, "Poor little kiddle".  

Hmm... I think her eyes are turning green.  My dad would like that.  He has green eyes and I do too.    

I love that she's half-smiling in this picture!  After the bleeding stopped, she was completely happy.  Tough girl.

Once all the drama had passed, she said, "Mom.  Can I have a Band-aid?" then points to her tongue.  Haha!!

Upside Down and Backwards

July 9, 2013

Annika got into the clean laundry pile.  She decided to dress herself in PJ's without me even asking.  How nice!  

One foot.  One hole.  Easy, right?  

Dressing yourself is more complicated than it looks.  :)

Plants Vs. Zombies

July 9, 2013

Our family's favorite computer game is Plants Vs. Zombies.  We all have our own username and play regularly.  Even Annika joined the club.  Playing Plants Vs. Zombies her most-requested activity.  She's so cute.  At 2 years old, she can click, drag, and control the game like a pro.  There are at least 2 mini games that she's actually good at, haha!  

Annika, the Beautician

July 7, 2013

This is what I found when I rounded the corner into the kitchen.  Apparently she can reach the drawer where we keep the scissors.

So much for pony tails.

You are SO in trouble.

Sneaky Sneaky

July 4th, 2013 

The house was quiet with the exception of the rustling of a plastic bag.  I didn't expect it to be my naughty 2 year old crouching behind the kitchen island sneaking the Cheez-Its. 

Caught  in the act!

Now smiling for her close-up.  She's cute even when she's in trouble.

Grandma's 78th

July 1, 2013

Happy Birthday, Grandma!! 

We love you to pieces :)

Natalya is 9!

June 1, 2013
My baby is 9.  It's hard to believe! She used to be so tiny...

This year I surprised her with a Hawaiian themed birthday.  Although she didn't have a party, we still celebrated in style!

The sign on the window says Happy Birthday Natalya in Hawaiian.  It looks like, "Hau oli La Hanau Natalya!" but with proper accents. :)

We wrapped a big box filled with foam packaging peanuts.  In it was a Kindle Fire, case, stylus, nerdy glasses, gum and chap stick.

Natalya reads.  A lot.  She loves, loves her books.  She has accumulated quite a collection over the past few years.  This year she asked for a Kindle Fire (e-reader) for her birthday.  Knowing that it was a pricy gift, we asked her to earn half of it by doing daily chores and practicing the piano.  She worked hard for 3 months before her birthday!  I'm pleased to say that she earned half of her Kindle  just days before she turned 9.  For her birthday we paid for the rest.  SO, on June 1st she finally opened her Kindle Fire HD 7" and absolutely LOVES it.  She also treats it was care because she understands how hard it was to earn it in the first place.  

Haha!  After Natalya was done opening her gift, the little girls played in the box.

Breakfast?  Egg in a basket.  Mmm...

One of Natalya's best friends is Alexandra Breen.  We had her over  to swim - the girls had a blast.  

Dinner?  Red Robin, of course. It's a birthday classic at our house. 

Natalya chose homemade Oreo truffles over birthday cake.  I made mint and regular.  But we didn't eat them on her birthday - after Red Robin we were too full!  This picture of Natalya blowing out her candle was taken on June 2nd.  She thought it was a sweet deal because it felt like a 2-day birthday!

Happy birthday, sweet girl.  Your daddy and I love you to pieces.