Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year - the year of the monkey!

I'll be honest, Chinese New Year is a bit anticlimactic now that Gavin is not taking Chinese anymore, but it is still a fun tradition and an excuse to have orange chicken for dinner.
The family got their love fortunes on the breakfast plates this morning.  I write 'fortunes' of things that I love about each person and wrap them in felt fortune cookies.  Everyone loves it!

It's a great way to remind the kids and Greg of how great they are.  I'm so thankful for them!

For dinner, we had orange chicken, ham fried rice and egg rolls.  It was a really heavy meal - good thing we only have it once a year!

Greg-

I love your blue eyes.
I love your laugh wrinkles.
I love that you don't get stressed.
I love your dedication to your parents.
I love that you wear bow ties.
I love that you are so dang smart.
I love that you are so involved with the kids.
I love that you can build lots of different things.
I love that you take care of me when I need it most.
I love seeing you give blessings to the kids.
I love your faith.
I love how you line up all your morning toiletries.
You are the most Christ-like person I know.
I wish you all the best this year!

Gavin-

I love your willingness to help me with tech stuff.
I love your chocolate trifle.
I love that your are the AP Physics Chef.
I love that you are an Aggie.
I love your slight half smile.
I love to see you play with Guard.
I love that you are such a hard worker.
I love to see the adult you have become.
I love that you can make us all laugh.
I love that you spend time with the family.
I love your big heart, that you genuinely care about others.
I love your ability to solve problems.
I love that you will still let me hug you.
I love that you can see things that need to be done and then you do it.
I wish you all the best this year!

Enoch-

I love your awesome smile.
I love your love of reading.
I love your Lego creations.
I love your invention ideas.
I love your dedication to Kung Fu.
I love that you love to learn.
I love your prayers.
I love your desire to make good choices.
I love your hugs and kisses.
I love your desire to listen to the Spirit.
I love your love of kayaking.
I love your independence.
I love your determination to do hard things.
I love to hear you say, “I love you!”
I wish you the best this year.

Kate-

I love your two front teeth.
I love watching your back hand spring.
I love seeing you read the scriptures.
I love your long, silky, blonde hair.
I love your laugh.
I love that you love math.
I love coloring with you.
I love seeing you play and laugh with Guard.
I love it when you choose the right.
I love your long eyelashes.
I love seeing you wrapped in blankets.
I love seeing your craft projects.
I love your love of chocolate cinnamon bears.
I love your sweet, kind, caring spirit.
I wish you the best the year!

Guard-

I love your snuggles.
I love your raspberries.
I love your stories.
I love playing farm with you.
I love holding your hand while we walk.
I love your love for animals.
I love reading books with you.
I love your love for Jesus.
I love it when you take care of me.
I love it when you share.
I love all the pictures I find of you on my phone.
I love your love of orange.
I love your bouncy walk when you are happy.
I love doing knuckles with you (fa la la la la).
I love your ability to always have fun.
I wish you the best this year!

Guard's a Sunbeam

Guard loved nursery.  Really, really did love it.  He loved the toys, the snacks, the songs, the coloring.  He really was fond of his teacher, Bishop Dixon.  It was a sad, sad day when nursery was over.
He was not a happy camper going to Primary.  Every week in January he threw a fit.  He would sit on my lap in Sharing Time and yell, "I want to go to nursery!!" over and over and over.  His teachers, Sister Sintay and Sister Lambert were great and were so kind.  But, nothing was changing Guard's mind.  Greg and I were at a lost of what to do.
A few weeks ago, something switched in Guard's head.  After sitting on my lap for 10 minutes in Sharing Time, he climbed off, told me I needed to go now, and went and sat with his class.  So matter of fact.
His teacher sent me a text later that day telling me that Guard did great.  Kate was called up to help in Sharing Time, holding onto the iron rod while blindfolded.  She reached the end of the rod right in front of Guard's class.  When she took off her blindfold, Guard jumped up and yelled, "Really good job, Kate!  High five!"
Last Sunday, he walked right into Sharing Time.  He was so excited to show everyone his Kleenex, that Greg had given to him to blow his nose after Sacrament Meeting (he decided he didn't need to blow his nose, so the Kleenex was clean).  When Greg picked him up from class after church, Guard was so upset.  He waved his Kleenex in Greg's face and said, "I waited all class for someone to sneeze and nobody did!"  He was very put out.
I've decided we just need to send him to Primary with a Kleenex.  Maybe that will solve the problem.

The Longest Fry

 

We have spend so much time in the car driving around looking at houses.  We must choose our exterior stone and paint soon.  We are having a difficult time coming up with something we like.  I have seen so many houses!  About 75% of the time, I can name the stone and also know if it is blended and what stone it is blended with!  It's not good.  My head hurts just thinking about it.
We have hit all the new neighborhoods in northern Utah County.  We decided to take a trip down south to check out some fresh houses.  We found a few in Provo we like, which was good to find something you like.  I'm beginning to think I'm too picky.
After dragging the kids around for a few hours looking at houses (they watched Star Wars in the back seat), we thought a trip to the Creamery would make it up to them.  The Creamery was hopping, but we still found a seat and got our food without too long of a wait.
We have a tradition when we eat at the Creamery.  We have a contest who has the longest fry.  They seem to be extra long at BYU.  Kate holds the most wins, but Enoch is close behind.  It's not a big deal, but the kids won't let this die.  Every time we go, we all pick out our longest fry and line them up on a napkin.  And we don't eat those fries.  The kids love it!

Scattered Thoughts

 

 1.  Guard loves lemons.  He is such a Fowler.  He will pick one out of the fruit bowl and asked me to cut it up.  He get so excited to take a big bite.  Even though he puckers, he always goes back for more.

 2.  Kate had another successful gymnastic meet this Friday.  We were up at Academy West (which is Guard's favorite meet of the year because they have a kid gym upstairs where he gets to hang out and play).  Kate placed in every event and took fifth overall.  Awesome job, Kate!

3.  While playing Legos, I built a red car with plants in the back.  Guard looked at it and said, "Mom, you are a genius!"  Umm...Wow!  What a sweet thing to say.  And, that will probably be the only time I will be called a genius while playing Legos!

I'm An Aggie!

Gavin decided about a year ago that Utah State University was the place for him.  He really liked the campus, they had his major (which very few schools do) and he was pretty sure he could get a scholarship.  A great fit!
Over the last year, Gavin has worked hard to keep his grades up and retook the ACT.  In November, he attended a college fair and he was awarded a half tuition scholarship!  We were so proud of him!  Now, he had to get accepted (funny how he got his scholarship before his acceptance letter!).
Gavin applied in November and then he waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Finally, a letter came in the mail today.  He slowly opened it and then got a big grin on his face.  He was in!  Gavin's an USU Aggie!

 Such a happy day for him and our family.  We are so proud of him and his hard work.  To celebrate, I took him Lehi Bakery donuts the next day at school.  Just a little acknowledgement for his accomplishment.  Awesome job, Gavin!

Enoch's Knack of Showing Up

Not all  those who wander are lost.

---JRR Tolkien

 



This quote pretty much sums up life with Enoch.  Honest to goodness, I have never known a child to wander as much as he does.  But, don't tell Enoch he is wandering.  He always has a reason, a purpose to his meanderings.  His curiosity knows no bounds and he sees little problem with taking whatever route he must to figure things out. 

Much to the panic and displeasure of his parents.

I have started telling Enoch that when we are ready to leave, we will leave.  We, the family, will not spend time looking for him.  If he doesn't leave with us, then he can live at the zoo, museum, store, etc.  Really, that doesn't bother him much.  Why?  Because, Enoch has a knack of showing up just at the right time.  As we are walking out the door, he will be there, magically.  I think that is his super power.

I'm not sure how he does it.  But he does.  He shows up.  Every time.  And it is good - I'd hate for him to have to live at Costco.

Provo City Center Temple Open House

We had the most wonderful opportunity of attending the open house for the new temple in Provo.  We have been so excited  for this temple because of the unique architecture and history it has.  Tickets were hard to come by, but we got lucky (more like blessed) and were able to snag a few for a Saturday morning.

 The temple was absolutely beautiful!  It is like stepping back in time.  The craftsmanship was exquisite, of course.  The colors and fabrics were so rich.  But, I loved the paintings most of all.  So unique and colorful for a temple.  They were gorgeous!

 We are so blessed to be able to take our kids to the temple.  I love that our family has had this opportunity so much in recent months.

 The kids loved seeing all the different rooms.  Kate liked the sealing rooms and Guard's favorite was the 'buffalo holding up the pool'.  Enoch was very sweet to explain to him about the baptismal font.

 A perfect Saturday morning.  So happy we could all be there together!