Simeon earns his Bear in Scouting

Tonight at scouts Simeon was presented with his Bear, a Gold arrow point and 2 Silver Arrow points. In the business of life, the original patch with mothers pin got lost, so he didn't actually receive the award during the ceremony, and he didn't need to kiss his mom (which he was going to do without a fuss).


After the ceremony was over and dodge ball had been played a single Bear patch was found and he was presented with it. The mothers pin will follow-or I'll go buy one to have on my neck thingy. Official word-you know!



Simeon finished his Bear 6 months before his birthday so I have a feeling he will earn LOTS more silver arrow points to go along with the ones her earned tonight. It's a good thing he has a bigger shirt, because he has ALOT to put on it.

On our way home tonight Ammon said "I only have 2 1/2 years until I get to be a cubscout!" Simeon makes scouts look so fun and exciting, that Ammon can't wait to join when he's 8.

We're so proud of Simeon and how he has been working to get his scouting awards done. He enjoys scouts and learning new things.

My new friend

The other night I was talking with my parents when I heard Rebecca laughing in my bedroom. The other kids were in bed, so I wondered who she was laughing with. I peeked in to find her looking into the long mirror laughing with her reflection. She would bring something to the mirror-look at it in her hands, then in the mirror, talk to the mirror and laugh. It was simply adorable!
This morning I brought the mirror to the front room for her to play with. She was so cute! She had her puppy friend and an animal book. She was watching herself in the mirror to see what she looked like as she played. It was the funnest thing to watch and capture with pictures.
I took so many this morning-so here is a collection of my favorite ones:











We now have the mirror in the dinning room right next to the kitchen. We find her sitting by it and looking into it all day long. It's been such a fun thing to have around.

Lost and Found

All 3 big kids have been taking spanish at school. We have been able to get free tution for all 3 kids since I am a parent helper for Ammon's class.
Last Monday the class was over and the kids were lined up ready to go out. Rebecca comes to class with me on Monday's, so I was the last in the line with her in the stroller, when one of the kids needed help with thier things. I stopped to help him and Ammon went out the door with the teacher.
I walked out about a minute later and I didn't see Ammon. I asked the teacher where he was and she said he's here. But I couldn't see him. I asked again and she looked around and saw that there were NO kids outside anymore. We went around to the front of the school because she thought she saw him go that way. He wasn't there, so we went back to the class door to check inside. He wasn't there.
I remember looking at these 2 medium sized trees by his class and thinking he's not hiding behind those-I'd see him. I felt an impression to call out to him, but I ignored it. Again I felt the impression to call out, but again I didn't do it.
I started to panick. Another mom noticed what was going on and said she'd drive to our house to see if he had started walking home by himself. We live 4 blocks away from the school and we always walk straight up Dartmouth to get to school. I knew I'd be able to see him walking on the sidewalk if he'd gone that way, but that was the only thing we could think of right then.
I called Simeon (who was at home with Corrine) and he ran out the door without shoes and headed up towards the school to see if he had run home. NO luck.
The mom came back and said she didn't see him.
At this point PANICK had really hit. It had been over 10 minutes and the school was empty. It was super cloudy and dark and cold and my little boy was missing.
The spanish teacher ran into the school to alert the secretary.
I walked back up towards the class, when I saw the other kindergarten teacher walking out to her car. I yelled out to her "Have you seen Ammon? I still can't find him." That kicked her into high gear too. It had been too long for him to be missing.
It had been another 5 minutes of looking and people searching.
I had my cell phone out about the call the police.
Where could he be? Who took him? How could this have happened so quickly!
Just after that I heard "mom" and Ammon appeared on the driveway next to his class. I dropped to my kness to hug him, while "He's been found!" was yelled around me. I was so relieved and so upset at him. I asked him where he had been. He said "hiding behind the shed."
The shed he was hiding behind was 10 feet away from the tree that I looked at and had the impression to call out to him. I know that was the Holy Ghost prompting me and helping me to find him, but I ignored the prompting. I don't know if Ammon would have made a sound or come out of his hiding place if I had yelled his name, but I know I won't ignore a prompting again.
As I write this tears are in my eyes. We've almost lost Ammon once and I know the pain and heartbreak I had then, and to think we might have lost him again was so very scary. The rest of the evening I went from happy to see him, to being scared and back and forth all night. I was grateful to put him to bed safe in his bed.
Ammon has been testing my patience the last few weeks, but I'll take him testing my patience any day to losing him.

My football blanket and pillow

By: Ammon

At sibling group I got my new football blanket which matches my football pillowcase that Grandma Smith gave to me.


I felt happy when I got my blanket. It feels warm and cozy. I'm excited to use it tonight!
At sibling group we doctored on dolls and put faces on them. For lunch we always have chicken strips and pizza. We play in the gym and we have music time. I like sibling group.

I FIT JUST FINE!

For a few months Corrine has been putting Rebecca into her doll stroller and pack-n-play to play house with her. Rebecca obviously liked being in there because she climbs into the stroller and pack-n-play all the time.
She'll stay in the pack-n-play for half hour playing with toys and dolls in it.



She'll get in the stroller and after 5 or 10 minutes realize that she's pretty cramped and wants out.



She put on this hat before she got in. She LOVES to put on hats, socks on her hands, mittens on her hands, wear jewelry and wear Ammon's shoes.

The other night Johann said she was laying in the car seat that goes with the stroller and rocking it. I'll have to get a picture of her in it. She's a giant compared to the car seat!

It's Done

After a year and a half of mostly being done-Corrine's loft bed is finally finished! We planned to make a bookshelf at the head of her bed, but it just never got done. Until now! Johann cut the wood and put it together, then Corrine helped him painted it. She is so excited to have her bookshelf done and installed on her bed. She went right to organizing it.
She has a shelf for her stuffed animals and dolls and a shelf for her books and drawing things.



When Rebecca moves out of her crib, we'll make the bottom bunk with a bookshelf for her.

Thanksgiving

This year was our 1st Thanksgiving ever with it just being our family. It was quiet, laid back and super comfortable. We really enjoyed the mellowness of the day. We went and visited Great Grandma Riddle, then came home and made dinner. We had all the fixings, just on a slightly smaller scale.


Johann really wanted a spiral sliced ham, but the grocery store was out of them the week before and they weren't sure if they'd get any more in before Thanksgiving. Luckily on Tuesday they were able to get some in and we were able to have some very delicious ham for dinner.


When Ammon found out we weren't having turkey, he got kind of sad. He asked us for weeks if we could "Please have turkey on Thanksgiving". We didn't want to make a whole turkey, but he really wanted some, so we got a turkey breast at Sam's Club. When we sat down to eat, Ammon took one bite of the turkey and said "It's slimy-I don't like it!" He took a bite of ham and liked that. So the moral of the story-sorry kid were just having ham next time!


A funny moment of the day. We sat down to eat dinner, and soon the kids were done eating and were off to play. Johann looked at the clock, then at me and said "18 minutes and it's over!" All that prep for 18 minutes sitting together for dinner.

Simeon and Ammon helped me make a completely from scratch chocolate mouse pie. Oh it was delicious. The crust was crushed oreos, and the filling was made from melted chocolate chips, fresh whip cream, sweet and condensed milk and more. Oh was it so good!!



It was a fun day to reflect on all we have to be thankful for, and we sure do have ALot to be thankful for this year. Having 4 healthy kids tops the list.