Springtime!

One of the things I LOVE about Springtime is this GREAT creek across the street from our house.  EVERY DAY my children finish their chores and run across the street and play all afternoon in the creek, throwing rocks, splashing in the water, catching frogs, picking wild berries.....

Most of the time they are joined by neighbors on the street.  I love my neighbors.  What we have here is a rare find and I feel so blessed.

Their childhood is magical!

Then when they're wet and dirty, they come in and take a bath, get in their pajamas, have dinner and go to bed!

April 2016: Week 3

Family Night was spent separately this week.  Stephen was given tickets to a Roughriders baseball game for 2 so he took Sam.

And the rest of us here at home were anxiously engaged in doing service for Refugees.  At the last General Conference there was a call to action to assist with Refugees.  I've been in contact with one agency that resettles them that needs hygiene kits.  So we made up a few and listened to the talk about rescuing those in need. 

Stephen was "Mr. Scouter" this weekend and took the boys on a camp out and then rock climbing.  These kiddos wanted their own "camp out" in the family room.   

The next day, Sam really outdid himself.  Dad was gone ALL DAY so we talked about how Sam could do both his portion of the lawn mowing AND dad's.  I was so proud of him.  And when Stephen got home MUCH later than expected (they'd been delayed due to wet conditions, the climbing area almost didn't open, but did so, just later than they'd planned), he was THRILLED he didn't have to mow too.  He had just been complaining to those in the car that he still had to go home and mow the lawn and he was giddy when Sam told him he'd already done the lawn.  Teaching kids to work and have pride in their efforts is a life lesson.  Sam's a good kid! 

Sunday morning we had a devotional, followed by some "Sunday Fun" in the form of a dog pile.  There's a new social media campaign about #HisDay where they encourage people to post what they do on the Sabbath Day, so I took this photo.  I LOVE my family!

Kaitlyn's Cupcake Wars Birthday party!

Our children don't have birthday parties with friends each year--too much work.  But they do get them at certain birthdays and 12 is one of those birthdays.  Stephen was sweet enough to allow Kaitlyn to have her party on HIS birthday.

Katilyn has been really into this show called "Cupcake wars" and it became the perfect theme for her birthday party.  We capitalized on Grandma McKneely being in town for the weekend (MCO Concert and Stephen's birthday, etc.) and had her teach the girls some basics of cake decorating.

They had a theme of "Spring Time" and a special ingredient of "Berries".  The girls were paired up into teams and we had a table full of wonderful judges who really took things over the top.

It was a wonderful party!

MCO Concert!

Spring MCO's concert was wonderful!

We had special guest violinist, Jenny Oaks Baker. 

The girls were super excited to have her sign their programs and to meet her.

DC in June!  We're going on tour!

Sam turns 10

We're in the thick of birthday season.  This kid turns 10.  

Stephen was watch dog AND the kids came through on my plan for calling him names during morning announcements.

Stephen was a BIG HIT in AIM--and he was really helpful getting Sam back on track with his TPSP project about the Titanic:

He was excited to get his presents right after school.  A coding book (he's been attending a special computer coding/programming class after school once a week), a watch that tracks his steps (he's been so excited to get this), and an addition to his circuit set.  He was thrilled!

We sure love this kid!  My book worm who is always thinking and processing.  He's a soccer and basketball fan.  He's affectionate and brilliant.  I'm sure glad he's mine!

Conference Getaway with my Birthday girl

I took my birthday girl on a special weekend trip to attend General Conference.  What's more, we went with her favorite cousin Shelly (Grandma and Grandpa McKneely, Aunt Laura, and Aunt Sarah and Uncle Alex were with us too.)

 Kaitlyn made special scarves for her and Shelly.

 We had really good seats for Saturday morning's session.  It was amazing!

 Kaitlyn and I also had tickets for Sunday morning too, but just us.  We accidentally got up super early.  It had been the weekend of the time change AND for some reason my i-pad hadn't adjusted so we ended up getting up extra early and just decided to get to conference early.  This time our seats were in the balcony and we were in the second row.

After the session we took her on a quick tour of temple square.  She wanted a photo at the Christus Statue (which I accidentally deleted from my phone).

 We stayed at a fabulous house in Heber City. It belongs to President Prier and we stayed there a couple years ago for Christmas.  

 We went on a fun bike ride on Sunday.

We stayed in town one extra day for a very special thing.  Kaitlyn and Shelly went to the temple to do baptisms for some of our deceased ancestors.  During Spring Break Stephen and Kaitlyn spent some time finding about 12 names of female ancestors who needed baptisms done.

What a special day!  We arrived early enough and the baptistery was FULL of youth who were coming on their own with family rooms.  It was their Spring Break and from what I understand it's usually full.  The Provo Temple is one of the only temples open on Mondays because it's so busy they can't close.  Sarah teaches Jr. High School and she says she has groups of students who go weekly before school to do baptisms,  I was so grateful to show Kaitlyn that this was what normal youth do.

We were super grateful that Uncle Alex decided not to go to his morning class so that he could come do the baptisms.  Kaitlyn was pretty nervous and I was so grateful that when she got to the font it was someone she knew who could help calm her nerves.  What a special occasion.

After the temple, Sarah and Alex took us on a tour of campus and then we had lunch at their sweet apartment.  Then for some needed shopping.  We got Kaitlyn her graduation dress and a couple more things.  Then we headed to the airport where we grabbed some Cafe Rio first.

Kaitlyn was so happy to have this special time on her birthday weekend.  I told her not to expect it each year.  But for a twelve-th birthday, not much better for this special girl!

Watch dog and Marvelous Maverick

Kaitlyn turns 12!  Stephen was super dad and was "watch dog".  Matthew was excited because his buddy Ethan's dad was also Watch Dog.

Because it was a Friday, it was a morning assembly and the kids got to introduce Stephen.  I sat in the back and laughed because one by one, they each introduced Stephen as "Mr McKneely.  "Hi, my name is Kaitlyn and I'm in Mr. Boatfield's 6th grade class, and this is my dad, Mr. McKneely"....I'd had the fleeting thought that they should have all come up with funny names for him "Mr. Wonderful, Mr. Fix-it, Mr. scouter, Mr. Cool guy."  Maybe next time!

AND we were super excited because this guy was chosen as "Marvelous Maverick" for his class. Because he "always participates".  We were a little shocked, he's not always been the "best behaved" kid.  He's just a normal boy and kindergarten expects too much of energetic 5 year-old boys.  At any rate, we were not expecting him to get this award this year.  We were really happy!