Remembering Grandma Betty Day

Monday July 21st we got a call that Stephen's grandmother, Betty Day, had been found unconscious in her apartment at her retirement community. She'd had a massive stroke and there wasn't a lot of brain activity but they were sustaining life until her children could gather. She was really gone then, gone as gracefully and peacefully as she lived her life. But her strong heart and body took until Thursday afternoon to finally rest and go to be with her wonderful husband and sweetheart Joe.

Stephen took the time on Thursday afternoon to go and visit her in the hospital, she was close at that point, struggling to breathe, we had just arrived back in Allen when we got the call that she'd passed.

Funeral services were this past Monday. It was a simple service and one that I hope she would have liked. A woman who believed in Christ and shared her testimony with all who would listen, she studied the Bible as a hobby, she was a great listener and a wonderful friend. We will miss her.

Sam looked studly in his dudds! He didn't want to wear the tie or vest, we bribed him with being able to play with his monkey figurines, they were perfect!

Sweet baby Lindsey and her adorable Aunt Rachel!

Kaitlyn and Stephen's cousin Mary. They were wonderful with the kids and were such a big help caring for them all weekend! Thanks guys!

All the McKneely Grandkids! Sam, Shelly, Kaitlyn, Lindsey and Ashlyn!

A Family Outing

Uncle Joey is visiting from Zurich, Switzerland where he's working for a few years. We've been wanting to take the kids to the Dallas Children's Museum and so we decided to make a memory with Uncle Joey and have a family outing! It was great! We got there relatively early and got a couple of hours of fun in before it got too busy and overwhelming. Here are some photos to show how much fun we had:

Here we are at the entrance where there were these chairs shaped like hands.

Kaitlyn, weather woman extroidenaire! Here's a hint, it's Texas, it's July....it's just FLAMING HOT!

Sam and KP to the Rescue, don't worry, Uncle Joey will make sure they get there safetly!
Guess who staged this picture? Yup, good ol' Stephen is always staging the funny shots!

And some nice shots too, isn't this a sweet one? My future star!

Hey! Who gave that kid a hammer?

And so there was a water table, that Kaitlyn got way into but Sam didn't want to put on a smock, there was a fossil dig in the dirt that suprisingly overwhelmed Sam. I think it was the sand. A pretend backyard, a farm where you planted seeds and then picked and sorted food and could even milk a cow! So you get the picture, it was a wonderful place and we'll have to come back sometime soon! Anyone want to come?

Then following this we went to Freebirds for Lunch! Horray for Freebirds--Yummy! Then off to spend the rest of the day and evening with Stephen's aunt and uncle in Grapevine....reason noted in another blog. We swam, and ate and hung out. It was definately a memorable, wonderful family day!

Caught you! Stephen was about to go swimming with the kids and decided to dress up in their floaties and goggles, he was a good sport to let me snap this shot...and yes I got permission to post it for your comic relief!

Resting Time

Here's a shout out to Stephen's favorite pasttime---RESTING TIME. It's not an uncommon sight to find him accompanied by a blanket and pillow sprawled out on the floor somewhere with kids playing around him. I really respect his ability to take those moments to relax and make it a priority in his life. I truly wish I was more like him, I'm the busy bee that can't ever sit down and won't relax until all my "chores" are done....which is never. So thanks hunny for all the things you are that I ought to be.

So here is a precious shot of Sam having "resting time". He wanted Lindsey to join him because---he "LOVES Lindsey....So Much Mom!"

Sacrament Meeting Follow-up

Okay, so we're braving the whole sacrament meeting thing okay. It definately is more than I can handle alone and I've come to grips with that and I'm allowing others to be blessed for their service to me.

So for Family Home Evening the Monday before he first sits on the stand we actually went to the church. Showed the kiddos where Dad was going to sit (he even demonstrated like a good sport) and where we were going to sit. We explained that while he wasn't going to sit with us anymore, he could still see us and we could see him. We further explained that he would be watching to see how we behaved and to just keep an eye out in case I had to take a mad dash out and leave a couple on the pew. It worked AMAZINGLY well! The first Sunday, we're sitting on our row and Stephen comes out from a meeting into the chapel, and Sam in his regular sacrament meeting voice (LOUD) says, "Hi dad, hi-ee, Dad, sit up there!" And is pointing to the stand. They got it!

A few funny stories:

• I think it was the second week, but a family a few rows behind us with 2 boys about the ages of Kaitlyn and Sam had their younger one start acting up. (Hey we're not always the most entertaining row to watch, but we're always in the top 3!)He was making some noise and so the Dad got up to take him out. Sam looked at me and says, "Mom, there's Jacob....Jacob crying Mom!....Jacob needs to be quiet in church!" I explained to him that his Daddy was trying to help him learn to be reverent just like I am trying to teach my kids. Hey while we don't always follow through, at least he get's the concept of what he SHOULD be doing.
• A couple weeks ago I tried putting a couple cars into the church bag to see how well it kept Sam's attention. Well I didn't choose the right ones because I chose Doc and Lightning McQueen but I thought 2 was plenty and left Mater at home. BIG Mistake! He kept asking, in a not so quiet voice, "Mom, where's Mater?", repeatedly! I guess he was hoping the answer would change.....so now I let my kids decide their own figurines as I pack the church bag.
• That same Sunday (was an exciting one) Sam was really anxious to go to Nursery class. He was asking, "Almost time to go Mom?" from the time they played the sacrament hymn. The kind family in front of us saves us often during church. (Their Dad admits that us moving to sit behind them since Stephen's calling has made him actually look forward to church again because of all the free entertainment!) So Sam was sitting with them (and they're on thef front row). During the practice hymn following the closing prayer, I finally answered his question the way he wanted me to and he got so excited that he escaped the hands of the Jacobson's and ran to the base of the stand and yelled up to where Stephen was sitting, "Daaaad, Almost time ta Gooooo! You couldn't help but smile!
• Then just today I swear Sam talked the enire meeting in his normal voice. I kept demonstrating a quiet hushed voice and asking him to use it, nothin doin. He's not behaving badly, it's just he's not quiet at all and can't seem to be. I can't hear a THING being said and it's likely that neither can those around us. In Relief Society a good friend of mine comes up and says, "I've been meaning to ask you how it is you keep your children so reverent during church." I was SHOCKED to say the least, I asked her if we were talking about the same children. But it just goes to show you what I am so sure everyone is watching and taking note of they really arent.

All in all, I think we're taking it in stride. Some weeks are better than others, I realize that my church attendance isn't really for me right now because I get next to nothing out of the meetings. Right now I am helping my children develop habits of reverent sabbath behavior. Someday it will be my turn again!

A day in the Life...

Just a normal day, a whirlwind of activity. I LOVE my life!

We ran some errands this morning. I was racing home and racing to make lunch before the naps began. Lindsey didn't want to wait. She was playing on the floor, cried out to me a couple times....when I turned around to go and take her to lay down. I found this. She has done this before. I PROMISE I'm an attentive mom, she is just that easy to just take care of it if I don't get to it. She probably would have just slept there if it hadn't have been in the middle of the main room. Bless her heart!

Then after naps, Kaitlyn attended her first swimming lesson! HORRAY! She's really gaining a lot of confidence in the water this summer. She does more and more each time we go to the pool, this is just a natural progression. She did great and really enjoyed it!

Pray for us!

A big change is about to happen to the McKneely's. Stephen was called into the bishopric of our ward. For you who are not members of our faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is divided into congregations (called "wards") based on geographic boundaries. Each congregation is lead by a Bishop. He has 2 counselors to help him oversee all the activities and business of the congregation. It's not a paid position nor is it permanant, it just means Stephen will be that much busier!

We're excited for the blessings his service will bring to our family and for the learning and growing he will experience. But what I'm trying to get my head around is how to handle Sacrament Meeting. It's the main meeting with everyone and his assignment requires him to sit on the stand and leave me with our three wiggly, wonderful, loud and amazing children.

It is going to take the ward to get the McKneelys through sacrament meeting....stay tuned for how our first Sunday goes.

Do you have any ideas how to keep them reverent?

What a week!

Whew! Life is so busy! I'm so grateful for all that I've been given and the opportunity to stay home to raise my children, but let me tell you it is HARD WORK!! Here is some of what we've been up to this week.

Poor Baby Beefy

Dad’s nickname, sad but true although it’s not such an accurate description now…anyway. She’s had such the rough week! On Sunday she was a little irritable, so not like her and during church I poked my fingers in her mouth and yes, she’s getting teeth #3 & 4 on her bottom—can you believe it! HOLY TEETH for a 7 ½ month old. She’s been having an extremely hard time (and therefore so has Mom) for the past couple days and nights. Here’s a cute shot when she wasn’t teething, she’s getting so big!

Pretty Girly

My BIG girl is SO GIRLY! We’ve recently started allowing her to paint nails and it’s a regular request. Since she's officially not taking naps or resting time, it's been nice to spend time with just her and do special things. I thought it would be a hard adjustment for me but it's really not. So this afternoon I pulled out all the stops and let her use my foot spa and everything. So much fun!!

And here is the finished product! A perriwinkle blue with sparkles! My kind of girl!