Not Our Bunnies

 Jake is up in Idaho, doing some work.  Just before he left, his friend bought two bunnies, and Jake built them a cage, and they are living in my back yard.  I didn't give permission for the bunnies, but since they are not our bunnies, then I suppose that doesn't matter.  They have been here for about two weeks now, and Ethan and Miriam, Caleb and Seth LOVE them with very big hearts.  I have a bit of a soft spot for bunnies too, which is why the bit o'fluffs are still with us.  I keep reminding people that these are NOT OUR BUNNIES! But I'm not sure that message is sinking in.

Miriam and the bunny known as Polly (but we are not quite sure if it shouldn't be Paul).

Seth and Luke.

Ethan and Luke (this poor bunny had the unfortunate experience of being named by a friend of Jake's, his full name is Lucifer...but I try to encourage the kids to call him Luke, or maybe, as with Polly, he should really be Lucy...It is hard to tell on baby bunnies.)

The continuing saga of the bunnies:  We had a storm 4 days ago and Luke escaped from his cage in the night.  Under cover of darkness, he fled, and we have yet to find him or his remains.  Remember this guy?

Rex IS our dog.  He is fascinated by the new friends which share his yard.  He thinks they have very tasty poop and he likes to sit under the cage, but if he were to find a fluffy friend on the loose, I think he wouldn't hesitate to play with it...he probably wouldn't mean any harm.  (He never does.)  Who knows where that bunny went?! Rex isn't telling if he knows.  Jake just hoped they (bunnies) had time to make baby bunnies before Luke R-U-N-N-O-F-T.  I pray that if they did, Polly is Paul.

All Kinds of News

I have been terrible at keeping up with our family happenings.  This post will be covering a lot of ground! First: Christmas.  We had the best Christmas present days before when Nathan was miraculously given a new job.  We feel so grateful and blessed!  Here are some of our Christmas morning photos.

Nice to have Christmas on a Sunday so we all look nice for photos! :)  But these were taken before we cleaned up:

This is everyone killing time waiting for Jake and Leslie to wake up for the festivities.  You know you are getting old when someone has to wake you up on Christmas morning. :)

Yay! All assembled.

We had a good Christmas.

In January there was a scouting court of honor.  Jacob received his last two merit badges required for his eagle, and Caleb received his first ever merit badge!

Miriam has joined a club where she is learning to cook and sew with friends.  This is her first machine project.  It is a backpack.

Camille turned 14 at the end of January.  She is pretty excited about going to the regional dances now. 

These are photos of a gift Seth made for me.  He calls it my nature bracelet, because he found all the things for it out in nature. :) Thanks, sweet boy.

Million Dollar Bathrobe

I do about 40 things every morning before I get dressed.  Probably that is a bad habit that will bite me back one day.  At least that is what I think every time I drive my kids to school in my fuzzy purple bathrobe.  My bathrobe does double duty as a coat, house dress, and blanket.  Considering the utility of such a garment, I really should spend the money to get a good one.  The one I have needs another 10 inches of fabric in the front panel.  Then my chicken legs, stuffed into my snow boots wouldn't flash you when I get into my huge suburban each morning.  I watch for my neighbor to start his truck to warm up and go back into his house, then I race out in my fuzzy robe and start scraping the windows frantically on that big vehicle and pray he doesn't come back out until I have climbed into the seat of my charger.  May I never break down. May I never be stopped by a policeman.  I tell myself it wouldn't matter--I really no longer have any personal pride.

I guess I could get out of bed and actually get dressed, but my bathrobe seems such a comforting friend on chilly mornings.  I huddle wrapped in it for scriptures.  I pad down the halls to wake kids in it.  I cook and eat breakfast in it.  It really is almost as warm as a coat for my morning outings.  Sigh.  I do get a bit nervous if I have to answer the door in it.  It isn't attractive.  Another reason to consider replacing it with a million dollar version.

I used to drive my kids to an elementary school that was on a hill.  At the time I drove a tall van.  One morning, after dropping my kids off and turning around for home, I arrived at the crest of the hill when a dad in a sedan was driving up.  From my perch I could clearly see down into his car, where wrapped over an undershirt he was sporting his wife's silky turquoise, lace-trimmed bathrobe as he was driving kids to school.  I am not alone.  Not in this brave outerwear, or in the need to replace it!

Christmas Choir

Part of our homeschool curriculum this year has Caleb, Miriam and Ethan learning to sing with the Heralders Children's Choir.  Tis the season for their Christmas performances.  Today was a bit of a marathon as they performed multiple times.  This photo is singing for the Santa breakfast. They sang so well!  The music consisted of old carols from around the world.  Some of the songs they sang are:

The Friendly Beasts

The Wren

Fum Fum Fum

Jinglin Bells

Deck the Halls

The Lord of the Dance

The whole program takes about 30 minutes and includes some dancing and solo performances.

This photo was taken between performances.  There was a lot of waiting to do, and the kids were good sports about it. This is Ethan, Miram and some of their friends.  They both sing with the younger Carillion Choir.  It is obvious they enjoy participating, they both wear smiles while they sing.

Caleb sings with the Classical Choir.  They are 10 years old and above.  I am loving seeing my boys in bow ties! (Caleb was pretty much born to wear a bow tie...)

This was Caleb's third performance for the day. (in total, he probably sang for over 3 hours today).  This is a special performance where the older choir was able to perform at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square they sang Vivaldi's "Gloria", which is in Latin.  I was so pleased with Caleb for memorizing all of this!  They sounded remarkable. Caleb is on the right in the back row, third boy in.

No photo is available of the choir's self-proclaimed head groupies: Leslie and Camille.  They cheered for the kids and got to know many of the choir members.  We are all exhausted and happy! 

Halloween (Quick, because Thanksgiving is upon us!)

Halloween was fun, as always.  This year it seemed to go on all weekend long!

 This is Seth and Ethan all dressed up for the annual children's party that the youth put on for them in our ward.  They are vampires of the most spooky sort.

Leslie and her friend Katie, all dressed up for the same party. Leslie was a fairy with a crown of flowers.

Also this year, we had a family party to celebrate. Cousins waiting for the signal to take care of those donuts!

The gruesome pumpkin line up.

Jake and Diana showing off their work.

They have a Jekyll and Hyde sort of pumpkin with two faces.  Diana was a good sport on Halloween.  She got more than she bargained for on this date!  Little brothers hovering around and a trip to the neighbor's to pick a whole apple tree!  All accomplished in costume. :)

This is the crew, ready to spoil the neighborhood for candy/parties.  Jake is a pac man ghost, Camille is a lovely princess, Leslie is a cat,  Ethan is a missionary, Seth is a lion, Miriam a cheerleader and Caleb a mad scientist. Dad is the ever faithful chaperon.  Just before he walked out the door, Seth abandoned his furry bits and told me he would just roar at people.  (hee, hee.)



Bear Lake

Proof that we had a vacation.  Proof that we had fun! 

Jacob returning from an invigorating plunge.

Cousins + Lake = Happiness

Home Base in the Shade

There is also a nice pool at the place we stayed, and the kids always have to go there after the lake to "wash off the sand".  This is an excuse to KEEP PARTYIN'!  I love this picture of Ethan.  Note the missing teeth in the smile.

And this is Caleb riding the inflatable whale.  The whale is a staple tradition and comforting part of the trip.  It has a droopy tail this year, but hopefully will be floating for some years to come.

Thanks to Dave and Tiffany for always being so nice to us to invite us to stay in their nice digs at the lake.

In Which Miriam Hosts a Tea Party

 A week ago, Miriam brought a handful of hand-written invitations to me and asked permission to send them out for a princess tea party.  How could I resist?  She assured me I wouldn't have to do anything.  She was right.  Camille did it! The sisters had a great time helping with the tea party.  Camille waited on the guests and Leslie took the photos (but Leslie had to dress up to enter the room!).  Here are some fun pictures:

The Guests.

The Hosting Princess

The Help.

The General Atmosphere.