Bits and Piece of Our Life

So, I didn’t do much posting in November and here it is getting close to mid-December and I still haven’t gotten around to the blog world. I have a few things I just want to document for our family journal about what life has been like in the “Wight House.”

No need to read further, unless you really want to hear about it, but it may not be all that interesting to you. And it is a long post.

I have no pictures to share, as I mentioned before our camera is broken. Our little camera broke sometime in October. The kids usually use it to take pictures around the house. Well after a picture taking adventure the camera went missing. We believed it feel between the couch cushions. We were right but unfortunately when we found it, the couch had been moved slightly and the frame landed on LCD screen and broke it. So no more camera. Then around Thanksgiving, my SLR camera stopped working. I think the lens needs to be cleaned but that will cost a little extra to get fixed and since Christmas is around the corner, we don’t have the little extra. This means no camera for Christmas photos either. That is a hard one for me to swallow.

However, with my break from photo taken, I have been catching up on scrapbooking my many past photos. Some day my dream is to be completely caught up with my scrap page. Wonder if that will ever happen? But that is my dream anyway.

Another frustrating event in our lives took place just a week before Thanksgiving. I lost the keys to the car. It was one of those crazy days. I came home from a community bible study class that I have been attending and both kids were asleep upon pulling into the drive way. I then unloaded the car full of the kid’s art projects, coats, my study material, purse, etc. I placed everything on our oversized chair in the front room and then transported Zachery and Savannah to their beds for an afternoon nap. Instead of cleaning up my “dump” pile I made myself some lunch and then spent the next few hours scrapbooking while the kids slept.

Once Savannah and Zachery woke up I made them lunch and then it was time to pick RJ up from school. School is in walking distance and the weather was still nice so, the “dump pile” with the keys lying on the arm rest was still ignored. We then proceed with our afternoon homework routine followed by letting the kids play and watch TV to their hearts desire while I made dinner. We were having the missionaries over for dinner that night so I was in survival mode trying to get dinner ready on time and clean up a little. (However, I never got around to the cleaning so the house was a mess when they arrived.)

I remember being prompted to pick up my keys and hang them up. But I don’t really remember anything after that prompting. Obliviously, I didn’t follow the prompting. I don’t remember if I ignored it completely or if I started to pick up the keys but got distracted. Either way the keys didn’t make it to the key rack. It was a whirl wind of a night. I remember being stressed out and wishing Jared would get home early to help entertain the kids while I got everything ready for company.

Well, the missionaries came, we had a pleasant evening with them and then once they left I got ready for a much needed girls night out (it was book club night). But when I went to leave, I couldn’t find the keys. The downstairs was a mess so I just figured Zachery got a hold of the keys and they were lost in the toy mess. Since I was running late I just drove Jared’s truck and thought I’d search for the keys later. Well, to make a long story short, we never did find the keys. We searched through the house for two weeks. We prayed, we fasted, no keys. Luckily, we have two vehicles and Jared had a Thanksgiving holiday break from work so we were easily able to make one car work for a while. Once school started, I was still able to get RJ to and form school easily since we live only a block away, another blessing.

While I was on my knees asking to help us find our keys my words were directed to asking for financial help to pay for a new set. These keys are the type that has to be programmed. Our car had to be towed to the dealer, where they could program a new key. The key, key fob, and service totaled $175. Expensive keys!!! Luckily Jared followed a prompting a few months back and signed up for AAA. We were able to have our car towed and the first three miles were free. Well, it was exactly 3 miles to the dealer from our house. HUGE blessing! And the night that my prayers shifted from finding the keys to financial support we received a reimbursement check that we had forgotten about. It wasn’t a lot but it was a help. So anyway, after two weeks without a car, we finally got a new set of keys. However the tow truck did break our emergency break, so we are still working that out.

Ok, enough with the car. After Thanksgiving, we had a situation with RJ’s teacher. We had to talk with the principal about it; I think it is finally worked out. Time will only tell. It is so hard to send your children out in the world and protect them from things when they aren’t right there under your wing. But the principal of his school is awesome. She was very sincere, and helpful and I have no doubt that she will help fix our little situation.

RJ has struggled with the personality clash he has with his teacher. She is very firm and RJ is so tenderhearted. When she is strict with the entire class or even one single child, he takes personally hard. After talking with RJ about learning how to cope with different people RJ tried to warm up to her a little bit and made her a book. In his words she didn’t even smile or say Thank you when he gave her the book he worked so hard on. That just made my heart break. The issue we talked with the principal about was a moral issue and I won’t discuss it here. But I pray things will work out and continue well the rest of the school year.

The Christmas season is here. It is hard believing it without the snow. I got so used to having a white Christmas while in Idaho. We did have a brief snow fall last weekend. But the dusting lasted half a day. It was pretty when it was here and we hope to get a little more for the kids to enjoy.

I think we are close to being done with our Christmas shopping, however I still have many projects I am trying to finish up. I have had to give myself a lot of pep talks about what we need or don’t need, what we can afford and what we can’t. It is so easy to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas. I want to give, give, give, but my pocket book doesn’t allow for it and then I fell slightly depressed. I need to remember what the true spirit of Christmas is and remember Christ in all things. Sometimes I wish I can move to a remote island where the worlds “needs” aren’t smacking me in the face every time I turn around. *Sigh*

We had a stomach bug run through our family last week. It was just a 24hr bug; we each took turns passing it around and being sick for a day. It was a fun week. So this week I will be busy cleaning everything!!!

On the day Jared was sick, I took the kids to our ward Christmas party. Santa was there. Savannah was so excited to sit on his lap, however RJ had a panic attack. He went back and forth whether or not he was going to sit on Santa’s lap. He finally opted out when he learned he would get one of the little Santa gifts anyway. It is funny how different those too are.

We are excited for family to visit us this season. Jared mother is flying in for Christmas and my parents, brothers, and grandmother is coming for New Years. We can’t wait to have them.

Well I think that has caught our blog up to date. I just remembered RJ is supposed to give a talk today in Primary and we haven’t prepared anything. Oops, time to get moving on that.

Zachery

I LOVE this photo!
Both RJ and Zachery needed a haircut. Both of them HATE having their hair cut. We were finally able to talk RJ into it, but Zachery ran away screaming every time we got close. So instead of cutting his hair we spiked the whole thing. I thought he looked pretty dang cut with his spiked afro. And we did happen to go out that night to a friends home for a Thanksgiving pie party, so Zachery was able to show off his spikes for a crowd.

Zachery is our sweet little boy with a developing attitude. He will definitely let you know when he isn't happy with something. He is very good at demanding our attention by calling our name over and over until we look at him and the minute we look away he is calling us again. He also is very good at getting into things he isn't supposed to be in. He loves to climb and loves to be outside. Zachery adores his older brother and sister, especially Savannah. He loves to play with her and torture her. One of his favorite things to do is pull her hair. He uses this tactic a lot when she watches TV instead of play with him, he easily lets her know that he isn't happy by her choice of activity. But he always redeems his bad behavior by lots of sweet hugs and kisses.

Zachery definitely keeps us busy, but when nap time or bed comes around he is a gem. Right after lunch he waves his hand and says "bye-bye" and gives us kisses. This is his way of asking to go to sleep. And some afternoons he doesn't even get that far and crashes on the table. I love it! Zachery also takes really long naps. It is his way of resting for the next run of the house, and gives myself a good break in between the chasing.

The other day RJ came running into the room absolutely terrified. Saying "Mom, Mom! Zachery is in trouble. I don't know what he did, or what it is he has, but he is in big trouble!!" Ok, now that doesn't sound good so I follow RJ into the bathroom and find this:

Now why Zachery decided to just paint the lipstick on his checks, I don't know. Maybe it was his war paint. But it was too funny! And RJ's terrified concerns, made me laugh even harder. Needless to say, Zachery's checks were pink for the rest of the day.

As a tradition, we have taken the kid's 18 month pictures dressed up as a cowboy. Zachery turned 18 months October 4th. I am a little behind sharing these, but here they are:

(Zach is the king of crazy looks. This one is one of his classic expressions, with his lip turned up like Elvis. Love it!)

Our Thanksgiving

I have no pictures to share, because my camera is not working right and our little point and shoot broke. So we are camera less for awhile, which really stinks!

But we did have an enjoyable Thanksgiving. It was just going to be the 5 of us but as the holiday approached, a friend invited us to share Thanksgiving with her family at her parents home up in Charlottesville. We had a great time with them and were so thankful for the invitation.

We drove the up there Wednesday afternoon. Her parent's in an old farm house dating back to the late 1700's. It was really fun to walk through and imagine what life would have been like back then. The house has since been updated and added on and it was nice and cozy. But all the old doors and flooring was in place, it was really neat! The house sits on a large piece of land. Not sure how big the acreage was, but it was huge! They have a little youth size four wheeler and that was the big highlight of the trip for the kids. RJ got to learn to drive it all by himself and he had the time of his life. He can't stop talking about it.

We camped in the backyard with our friends in their LARGE tent. It was equipped with a wood burning stove, and was extremely toasty in the middle of the night.

The Wall family has a turkey tradition they do every year, that we thought was pretty cool. The single daughters (there was only one there this year), shape a turkey out of Rice Krispies and everyone is given a paper feather. Then just before dinner the turkey gets passed around the room and everyone names something they are thankful for and places there feather on turkey. RJ told everyone that he was thankful for the world, Savannah was thankfully that we could spend spend thanksgiving with friends, Zachery was thankful for food, Jared expressed his thankfulness for his family, and I mimicked Savannah's thanksgivings and expressed how thankful I was for the invite to join their family or the holiday.

We had an enjoyable time and I am very Thankful for wonderful friendship I have made while living here in Virgina this past year. It makes being far from family a little bit easier.

Our Primary Program

Two weeks ago we had our primary program in our church. This was Savannah's first Primary Program, she was very excited to be a part of the program. Now, every primary program has a kid or two that takes center stage. Well, this year that kid was Savannah. She sang her little heart out, even when she didn't know the correct words. She even sang an unexpected solo. I teach the 4/5 year old primary class, so I was on the stand with the children. I was having a hard time not laughing through the whole program at my daughters spirit. I was both proud of her and a little red in the face from the attention knowing people weren't only looking at her but at my reaction as well. We have had so many people comment on how much they enjoyed her singing and that she made the program that much more enjoyable. I so wish I could have had a video camera. Even the Bishop made a comment, during his closing marks in the program, about how much he enjoyed Savannah's enthusiasm and spirit. Unfortunately, Savannah missed his compliment. After the final song, just before the Bishop got up to make his remarks, Savannah fell asleep, right there on the stand. It was hilarious! She seriously put that much energy into singing, it wore her out. Yes, I am bragging about my daughter, but that is what a blog is for. I am so proud of her sweet enthusiastic spirit. Bravo, Savannah!
And I can't forget RJ, he did a great job in the program as well. He memorized and presented his part well and he knew all the songs as well. He worked so hard learning all the songs for the program, and it paid off. Good job, Bud!
We love you both and are so proud of you.

Our Halloween Fun

RJ entered the Pumpkin Carving Contest at his school this year with this bloody spider that has been stabbed with a plastic knife. Why are boys so morbid? I gave with the idea of turning his pumpkin into a spider but he insisted of painting blood and stabbing the thing.
Boy will be boys I guess.

Now on to our costume fun. This year a friend gave this awesome Ninja costume to RJ. He was in Ninja heaven and had a blast becoming a Ninja each time he wore it.

Savannah was a darling little witch this year. I found this gorgeous costume 50% off with one left in her size. I couldn't pass it up especially since it wasn't a cheaply made costume. Like last year she wanted to keep changing her outfits but we talked her in to staying a witch for each Halloween event we went to. And I think she is the prettiest witch around.

And our little munchkin sported the Giraffe costume this year. Each kid has worn this for their second Halloween. It has gotten some good use.

Our church held a Trunk-or-Treat Wednesday evening that we attended. Unfortunately is was raining a little so be brought the trick-or-treating indoors.

I think Zach was a little tired after all the trick-or-treating.

Friday morning I took Savannah and Zachery to the city Library for some Trick-or-Treating fun. Zachery did not want to wear the giraffe costume again. I think it was a little too hot for him. I manged to dress him up as a cowboy though.

Zachery has become our biggest sweet tooth. He is always asking for candy.

Friday afternoon RJ school had a Book Character Fashion Show and Fall Classroom Parties. I was able to attend both but don't have any pictures. You were only allowed to attend school in a costume if you had a book that went with it. And then the school had a fashion show and then walked the runway and showing off their costume and highlight their book. It was really fun. We have been reading the Magic Tree House series and RJ LOVES them. One of them is called Night of the Ninjas, so that is what RJ based is costume off of. It turned out that there were about 10 ninjas in the fashion show and they all chose the same book. There must not be a lot of ninja book out there.

Saturday we went to a Halloween Festival at the YMCA. It was a lot of fun but extremely crowded. The kids rode ponies, Zachery even rode one. They watched a magician show and walked trough a not-so-haunted maze. Because Halloween fell on a Sunday we didn't go out and trick-or-treat in the neighborhood. But we did have some friends over after church and enjoyed our traditional dinner in a pumpkin and grave yard pudding with them.

And that was our Halloween.