This week...
...we went to Selah for Hannah's (Jason's niece) mission farewell. Hannah gave a great talk about her decision to serve a mission. She was called to the Las Vegas Nevada mission and will go to Mexico for her Missionary Training experience. We're so excited for her!
Lainey enjoyed the ham. Yum!
Uncle Jason writes some riveting advice. I shudder to think what it might be. Wear deodorant and keep you underwear clean. (Grandpa Erickson and Uncle Brett at the table, Wade, and Ethan)
Addie, Hannah, Aunt Lara
Cousin group shots
...we acted out the Book of Mormon story of Nephi and his brothers returning to Jerusalem for the Brass Plates. These kids sure love acting these stories out. I'm glad they're so excited, but it makes for a long night when we have to switch parts and run through it again five times so everyone gets a chance to be each part. Nephi, Sam, Laman, and Lemuel on the left. Laban on the right sitting on his throne.
...Paul is recording the time he spends reading in order to earn a free ticket to Silverwood. He is very conscientious about the time he reads, that he records it, and then adds it up accurately so he knows how many minutes he has left. All four of kids in school will be able to earn tickets this year.
...we pulled the 5T clothes bucket out of storage. It was shopping and a fashion show in a box. Lainey had a great time trying everything on. She would exclaim over every shirt and pair of pants we pulled out.
...we had Dilly Bars before bedtime. That's when ice cream tastes the best.
...Emma and I went to New Beginnings. We're both excited for Emma to go into Young Women's. The only down side is that she has to wait clear til the end of the year. Her birthday is December 19th. It's amazing to see how Emma has grown. She is a blessing to us as our first child, so capable and responsible; a great example for our other kids to follow. And she will even be silly on occassion with her dad. We snapped a picture in front of the church and I guess it was just too bright for her to keep her eyes open, even with facing away from the sun. :)
...we went to the reading night at the school. We chose free books, had a chance to spin the wheel for prizes, and stalked the drawing (door prizes) table.
Claire was the only one brave enough to try the photo booth.
Lainey sat down to read her new book, teacher style.
...we had a book group. It has been about two years since the Zirker women gathered to discuss a book. We chose Falling To Heaven by James L. Ferrell and had a luncheon beforehand complete with my Sister-in-Law's fancy dish set.
Lainey decided to serve tea (water) with Grandma's mini tea sets.
This Week...
...I attended Great to Be 8 with Benjamin and Claire. They got a preview of Activity Days, Cub Scouts, and Faith in God. The treats were their favorite. Come September we'll have two baptisms.
...we had Family Home Evening. Our treat was fruit smoothies. Benjamin is less than thrilled when I take photos.
...the cub scouts worked on their flag ceremony. I want to make sure they understand how they are supposed to perform the flag ceremony properly. What a great bunch - Saul Jimenez, Paul, Jaxson Mackay, Bentley Jarmin, Andy Galindo, Lamoni Garza, Omar.
...I went for my yearly check up to the eye doctor-a day in the life of me. Dr. Hill does a fantastic job. (He's also my cousin.)
...Lainey did pig tails this week. Out and about and ready to go.
This Week...
...we had a Family Home Evening lesson on having a firm foundation. The kids had to build a house with the blocks. One team had a firm platform and the other had a soft platform. They caught on pretty quick and my big moment of surprising them with the application fell flat. They already knew. We talked about the parable of the Wise man, Foolish man and then sang the primary song. We then watched a video of the Three little Pigs. I asked them to look for applications to the wise man/ foolish man parable. They were quick on this one and came up with ideas right away. The first two pigs didn't use the right kind of materials and their houses were quickly blown away. The third pig used materials that would hold firm against the Big Bad Wolf. We want to be like that third little pig.
...I could not get Emma to go to bed. She has been so intent on her sewing crafts.
...we stopped off at the barber for dad to get a haircut. Lainey and I sat outside with Grandma Zirker enjoying the beautiful warm, spring weather.
...Jason played catch before he had to leave for work. Emma, Paul, and Jackson (neighbor) thought this was great.
...Lainey enjoyed a Valentine's party at preschool. Happy Day!
...Lainey accompanied my mom and I on our trip to Craft Warehouse. She loved the mini carts they had for kids to push. Lainey is very funny on our trips to craft stores. She hears my mom and I going back and forth about decorating options, and she joins in. "You can put this here" and "you can put that there" are phrases she's picked up on. Hence her, I'm a designer, pose in the picture.
...Benjamin and Claire participated in the First Grade Valentine's program at their school. Aren't they just cute?
...Emma and Paul made some extra special Valentine boxes. Emma's was more of a science project with certain requirements to follow. Paul just got to make anything he wanted. He chose a Woolly Mammoth.
...we went to the ward Valentine's dance at the church. The band, Cruise Control, played the tunes and we danced away.
Benjamin with Paxton and Emmett Riner and Daniel King
Group Photo! Everybody in! Cruz Barney hanging out on the left, Garrett King, Benjamin, Paxton, Emmett, Daniel King, Addie Claybrook, Emma, Lainey, Taya Riner, Landon Claybrook, Spencer Greenaulgh, Savannah Greenhaulgh, Emily Hale
The band recruited Elder Singley and Elder Wilcox, who just got transferred into our ward, for one song.
This Week...
...I went to Mattawa for a birthday party and the Superbowl. It was fun to be with family. The game was a great game, just heartbreaking that we couldn't pull off the win.
Me and my girls. Lainey was out.
Grandpa Z and Trenton
Kirk and Sharee with their daughter Sydney; Claire is still helping Grandma on that puzzle.
Keaton, Benjamin, and Claire worked on Grandma's puzzle. The game wasn't their first priority.
This truck is parked out in the corral at my parents' home. The back, with the panel barely hanging on and terribly askew, makes the perfect beak for a bird face.
...Paul raced in the Pinewood Derby. He was so excited. And I have to admit that I was excited for him. He won first place.
The Derby Runners color their garage space
Claire and Lainey both raced cars. Our Pack allows the siblings to race so that the scouts get more races in.
The cars in the pit- sibling cars in front, cub scout cars in back.
Brother Empey takes care of the track. We did our best to rope it off this year. We still had some littles (and their parents) who couldn't seem to realize that the cones were there for a reason.
Paul racing Dawson Claybrook- a big time contender
Happy Derby Face
Later that night, Paul dropped his trophy on the carpet and the base broke in half. We were so surprised because it landed on something so soft. What can you do? We super-glued it back together, we'll see how long it holds.
...we acted out the parable of the Ten Virgins for Family Home Evening. The kids really enjoy acting out scripture stories. Benjamin and Claire remembered this lesson from church and they offered bits that I had forgotten. We also watched the Disney movie for The Little Red Hen. It was fun to make comparisons between the two stories. The Little Red Hen story really helped them to understand the concept of the Parable of the Ten Virgins better.
This was our activity after the lesson-building structures with marshmallows and toothpicks.
...Lainey zonked out on the couch. She played herself into exhaustion at her preschool teacher's house. Thank you Miss Amy.
...my niece Jenna got baptized. She is such a sweet little girl. We were all so excited for her to take this step.
She asked me to give the talk on the Holy Ghost. I was honored that she would think to ask me. I love the Holy Ghost and how he helps us in our lives. I wanted it to be simple and illustrative as to what the Holy Ghost could do for her. I chose four objects to help me teach. A blanket, a compass, a whistle, and a light bulb.
First, the blanket. It was one of those really soft ones from Costco, the kind that you want to pull up around your face and snuggle in all day. This was to illustrate how the Holy Ghost comforts us. We go through a lot here on earth. We have times of sadness, sorrow, shame, regret, loss, and frustration to name a few. We can feel the warmth and reassurance of the Holy Ghost in times such as these like a blanket surrounding us, comforting and safe.
Next, Jenna chose the whistle. The whistle is used to give a warning. Aunt Cherice uses her whistle on the playground at school to help the kids be safe as they play. In similar fashion, the Holy Ghost warns us of potential dangers and threats. We may not always understand why the message is stay away, but if we listen we will be kept safe. I asked Jenna if she wanted to blow the whistle and of course she did. She blew it softly which was perfect for our talk on the Holy Ghost. Sometimes the voice and warning of the Holy Ghost is quiet, barely a whisper. We must learn to listen and hear his promptings.
We moved next to the compass. The compass helps guide us on our way. If we're camping or hiking, the compass can keep us in the right path. If we get lost, the compass can guide us back. I related that to the Holy Ghost and how it can "show [us] all things what [we] should do" (2 Ne 32:5). We don't have to wander or be lost. We have the Holy Ghost to guide us and keep us in the correct way back to Heavenly Father.
The light bulb was last by default. I asked them if they had seen cartoons where the light bulb pops up above the character's head. Lots of the kids had, parents too. ;) "What does that mean?" I asked them. "It means they have an idea!" they responded. Cha-ching! Right on the money. That's right! That is like the Holy Ghost. "He will teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance" (John 14:26). He can give us ideas as we learn and work out problems. He will help us remember things that we learn to help us at a later time.
The discussion was so great and the spirit was so strong that I closed, expressing that it felt like I had already born my testimony. I expressed my great love for Jenna and admonished her to stay close to the Holy Ghost. It will lead you true.
...Lainey learned what it's like to wait in line at the fabric store. Luckily our number was called right away, but normally "Take a number" isn't something that you want to hear.
...Lainey caught a moment in the day of the life of me. I like to make sure I have a book handy so that I can read whenever we're waiting. Jason ran into his office for a minute, and I pulled out my book.
...we had pizza hut for dinner courtesy of the book it program. We have a Pizza Hut carry out place just down from our house. I called in the pizzas for the coupons and picked them up. Bam! Dinner.
...we had corn bread for dinner with the missionaries. Oh, we had more than just cornbread, but the stuff tastes so darn good it was the highlight of the meal. One day I was visiting with my friend Charith at her house. Whereupon she shared a piece of cornbread with me. The taste was such to exceed anything I'd ever tasted before. And as a result she texted me one cornbread recipe that I have used at least once, if not twice, a month since. Don't worry. I'll include it here for you to enjoy as well.
Elders Wilmas and Benson were not complaining. I do not know why Jason's eyes are closed, but it's the only picture I have of these two Elders together.
*Cornbread Recipe* via Suzi Hernandez (turns out I know the person she got the recipe from. She grew up in Mattawa and dated my brother. Small world.)
1/2 cup cornmeal
2/3 cup sugar
1 TBS baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup oil
3 TBS melted butter
1 TBS honey
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cup milk
Mix together and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
...Aunt Shelly brought Lainey a surprise gift of blueberries. Lainey loves blueberries and always thinks the whole container is for herself alone.
