Sliding into September

Most of you who follow this blog are aware that I have had a tremendous battle with bronchitis. It is still winning as of today. I feel good for a day, get my hopes up and then I'm tired again. It is humbling when I think about all the Great and Glorious Things I was going to do 'once school started' but instead I'm still in survival mode (do I HAVE to grocery shop today?) and spend most of my time reading books or watching TV with Macey. I'm not Super Efficient Mom and my boys love it! They have yet to come home to their usual list of chores/homework. They are feeling free even though they are shackeled down at school. :)

While Dan was out of town the boys talked me into taking them to spend ALL of their allowance money on Legos. I tried to dissuade them, but we give them an allowance to teach them many things, so I let them in the end. It was a dramatic experience... I'll just say, if you want something at Wal-Mart, use the online shopping. The items will be ready in about in hour without you having to look for it. And, it might be cheaper with online pricing.

 

One of the things I have had on my to do list is to get Macey girl's hair cut. But Dan ended up doing it. I'm sure he prefers to take his princess than to let me. I don't take enough pictures (if any) when I go! This is a before the haircut picture. Macey is standing in front of the D's house, and in the corner you can see the tree stump grinder at work. Those fellows also ground up the two stumps at our house later in the morning.

 Baby cakes at the salon.

 This is such a Macey face to strangers. Classic. I wonder if the stylist tried to talk to her...

 Finished product. They didn't take off too much, but it looks better than it did.

 

There are many things I want to do this month but I just don't have enough energy. Do you realize that Halloween is coming?! Ahh, I've got to get those costumes started. Hopefully this will be the week that I'm back to being ME!

Building Faith in Christ

I read this article this morning I wanted to share it. I realize that this would be more affective in a social media outlet, but my goodreads account is as social as I get!

Anyway, in the September Ensign there is an article by Elder D. Todd Christofferson titled, 'Building Faith in Christ.' It was a talk given to new mission presidents and gives a beautiful and thorough account of faith. I refer you to the article (it is a short one) for your pleasure, but here are some key points that stuck out to me as a teacher to children just growing their faith and trying to figure out what it is. (And as a tool to teach about the 4th Article of Faith.) I couldn't use his terminology, but these are his words.

'The word that we declare, the word that generates faith in Christ, is the gospel, or good news, of Jesus Christ. Simply put, the good news is that death is not the end of existence and our separation from God is temporary. We have a Savior, Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, who by His Atonement has overcome death and hell so that all will be resurrected and all who will repent and be baptized in His name may have place in the heavenly kingdom of God forever.'

'Repentance plays a prominent role in building faith in Christ. Receiving the word of Christ generates the faith needed for repentance, and repentance, in turn, nourishes a growing faith.'

'These phrases recognize the doctrine that the baptism of water is the final or crowning step in the process of repentance. The renunciation of sin, coupled with our covenant of obedience, completes our repentance; indeed, repentance remains unfinished without that covenant. With it we qualify for a remission of sins by the grace of Jesus Christ through the baptism of the Spirit (see 2 Nephi 31:17).'

A lesson on faith in a little nugget, love this...

'What I have said about building faith in Christ among those taught by missionaries applies to all of us. Our faith in Christ is born of the Spirit as we hear the word of God taught by those who are His commissioned servants, both living and dead. As we build upon that foundation, our faith is strengthened by prayers of faith that have become a part of our daily life—and sometimes a part of our hourly life.

Continuing to feast upon the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon and other scripture adds to and deepens the faith that had its origins in the word. Repentance rooted in faith further nourishes our faith as obedience is perfected. Repentance invigorates our own baptism of water and of the Spirit to produce a remission of sins committed not only before baptism but also after baptism. Christlike service to our neighbor is a critical part of the covenant keeping that nurtures faith in Christ. Over time we find that the blessings promised for obedience to God are in fact realized in our lives and that our faith is confirmed and strengthened.'

 

Coming down

 

In front of our house once stood two (on their way to being giant) oak trees. The landlord had it set in his mind that these oaks were the cause of $4000 worth of foundation trouble. It is possible. So while he was here to check on our broken A/C he contracted for the trees to be removed.

 

 The hispanics doing the work wasted no time. They got the whole thing done in about an hour. Farewell acorns. Farewell leaf piles. Farewell shade. Farewell birds and squirrels.

 I don't have a front shot on this camera. I think Dan took it on his phone instead. But here is our front yard now bare.
Which also brings us to two boys on their first day of school!

 The usual picture with Dad before school. Dan walked them to school and to their classrooms. I didn't ask if Dan was the only parent in 4th grade.

 Alex is sitting to the left with Mr Forte at the front.

 Ryan is a big first grader this year.

Looking sharp in Mrs Ziegler's class. Oh boy, I hope she isn't too hard on him for forgetting everything he learned last year. Love this kid!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

 Our Macey girl has turned 3! And she loves Thomas the Tank engine. Good morning, sunshine.

 Playing with new track with big brothers.

 Having a birthday chat with Grandma June.

 Playing with Hello Kitty building blocks (with brothers again. Are you seeing a theme here?)

 Macey's new porceline doll from Grandma K and Rick.

 I had plans for a Thomas pool party with her two best friends, but due to many circumstances I won't relate here, we eneded up meeting with friends at Chuck E Cheese instead.

 I thought an August birthday called for a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake. Turns out the kids were just as happy with the homemade cupcakes. So much for being 'cool'.

 Yummy!

 The DeLucias, Sumners and Contreras played with us.

 Macey would not get in the BFF picture. She was getting a little tired by the end.

We took home the presents (and the D's) for opening. The kids (ie the boys) had a fantastic time with Macey's new toys. A happy and wonderful day for our little girl.

August news

 This month we went to pick up Ryan's artwork. These are the 2 finished pieces. First, a plate.

 Second, glass fusion. He glued pieces of colored glass to a clear glass square. The pieces 'fuse' into art once it comes out of the kiln. Very cool.

 Ryan is very proud of his artwork. He has 3 more items going into the kiln. There were clay pieces that had to fired before they could be painted. He painted them on this trip, but next trip he'll get to take them home.

 I was bored waiting for the kids somewhere and was checking out some photos on my phone that I never downloaded. Most of you have seen my vintage phone, so you can understand the poor quality of these pictures. Above are Julianne and Alex holding the 'Go Team Goodyear' banner we used at the Triathlon many moons ago!

 This is a more recent pictue of Ryan holding a shark specimen.

 Yes, it was stinky!

Lastly this picture are the two best friends. We showed up the park with matching girls one day. Such cuties.
News for the month: I had high hopes of doing nothing the last 2 weeks before school started. Alas, we have games and practices, and a birthday party, and shopping, so it isn't relaxing. But I have let the boys drop their mom-work for the most part and Alex isn't having piano lessons (although I am encouraging him to practice for his Sept recital).
Friday Alex went to play at a friends, Dan and Macey had a date, and I took Ryan and his friend to a water park. All had a good time. I like having my kids around. I'll miss having them all the time after school starts, but I know that they will be in good hands learning a good deal more about the world than I can teach them.

What's up Doc?

We've got a rabbit. He comes in from the alley and sometimes over to the neighbor's (whom I suspect has yummier plants and maybe even water). He is a fabulous pet. Macey sometimes collects plants to feed him.

 The other day The Rabbit was in the backyard and Macey and Dan went out and stood next to him in the grass. He was unconcerned by them. He was licking his paws and cleaning his face.

 Alex wanted to put the bunny in this template on the camera.

This princess got all dressed up to go play with Megan next door. They had a wonderful afternoon together.
In other news... Ryan went to 3 days of clay art camp. Some great art work will be coming home in 2 weeks after it is fired.

Ryan brought home this painting on the last day. I love it. Mostly I love his signature on the bottom. It may seem crazy that I am happy about him writing his name completely backwards, but I love that he was so immersed in his artistic brain. He didn't even resurface when he was finished. It makes sense to him. When I asked him about it (because I didn't immediately see it for what it is) he said, 'Oh, yeah I got mixed up.' I love this boy that causes me the most grief!
Mr Alex was sick with a fever all last week. He had a cough too. But no other symptoms. He never got worse; he was a steady 100deg all week. I kept waiting it out. In my mind I kept thinking it would get better, 'Just one more day!' And it is summer and why not just ride it out. I never took him to the Dr. and eventually his body won. Hooray he is better. And he got to go to a water park with a friend and had a basketball game, which wore him out.
And now we get to watch the Olympics. Yippee!