Week # 5: A Pine Wood Derby & A Baptism

This week...

...Paul got baptized. It was such a great feeling sitting together with family and friends to have the baptism. I felt such a warm feeling as I glanced over at Paul throughout to watch his reactions and see his innocent face. That feeling continued as we laughed during the talks and the bishopric welcome at Paul's sweet, innocent responses. What a great experience! We're so excited for Paul to be taking this step and making these covenants with his Heavenly Father that will bless his life forever.

...Paul participated in his first pinewood derby as an official cub scout. He was very excited! Jason helped him with cutting the car and I helped him put the vinyl on top and the sides. His raced pretty well. He almost took third.

He even got to help in the presenting of the colors.

We added three pennies on the bottom to bring it up to weight.

Since there weren't that many little scouts, they let the siblings participate. Claire was the only one of the other kids to actually get a car. Her's was extremely below weight and we tried to glue weights and quarters and dimes on the bottom to help it out. On the first run the money popped off so we scrapped that idea. 

Paul racing Eli Bagley.

Paul and Claire racing against each other.

Paul and his cub scout group - Dawson Claybrook, Zack and Josh Wellman, and Landon Claybrook

...I took Ben in for an ear infection. He also stayed home from school because he'd been throwing up during the night. I tell you, we're ready for the sick bug to leave our home so we can get on with our year. Because Ben had an antibiotic for strep at the beginning of January, they had to give him a different one for the ear infection. Needless to say, it doesn't taste very good. It's a chore to get him to take it morning and night.

...Lainey has mastered the art of occupying herself. She's knows how to get stuff out to play with. It's the putting it all away part that we need to work on.

...Lainey's beanstalk sprouted. Their theme at preschool was Jack and the beanstalk. She looked down at these sprouts when I showed her how they were growing and said, with a look of trepidation, "Where's the giant?" I laughed and assured her that we can't grow giants.

...Lainey was our entertainment after our home teacher left. She's sitting in a shoe box once again making up stories and reading them out loud.

...Emma participated in a wax museum with her fourth grade class. Each class member chose a notable U.S. citizen from History-someone they can look up to; a hero. They researched that person to be able to  write a report, prepare a project display board, and write a monologue using that person's own words. They memorized their monologues, dressed in costumes and then pretended to be statues in a museum. They each had a freeze position and magically came to life when we said their name. This was an amazing event to attend! They all did so well with their parts. Some were nervous, some were nervous and close to tears, some were sick and couldn't attend, some had voices 
loud and clear, some were in the zone, some broke character behind our backs to see if they could get away with it (we caught them), some were bold, some were humorous, some all were inspiring. During the day of the evening parent performance, they presented their wax museum all day to the other classes and grades at the school. Emma took lots of water and snacks to keep her going. She was pretty tired when she got home.

Emma chose Clara Barton as her hero. Who knows what she was noted for? Go! No, I'll tell you. She was instrumental in starting the Red Cross here in the U.S. Here's Emma's monologue. It was very moving how Ema put Clara's words together. She almost made her teacher cry.

This is Emma's good friend Hannah. She chose Louisa May Alcott - writer of fiction for girls.

Another friend, Zoey - She chose Betsy Ross - sewed the first U.S. flag. 

Another friend, Joy - She chose Sandra Day O'Conner - first female Supreme Court Judge.

Here's the group being silly. Their teacher kept calling out crazy things for them to do and I missed the first couple normal, stand-up-nice-and-straight shots.

Week #4:Benton County K9 Visits Emma's School

This week...

...Deputy Erickson visited Emma's school with the Benton County K9 handlers. They gave her class a 20 minute presentation of their duties and tool belts, the K9, and their patrol cars. The kids were excited to see the dog in action and have a chance to pet him.

Emma gets handcuffed in front of the class.

Deputy Hansen and Deputy Gonzalez with K9 dog Iago. Boy, they are well trained dogs.

Showing the kids the inside of the patrol car, the backseat where the criminals ride, and what he carries in the trunk.

...

Week #3: Diamond in the Rough

This week...

...I shared a devotional on being a diamond in the rough for our Young Women. As I've said before, the theme this year is Come Unto Christ. I thought the process of how a diamond is formed was a fitting and inspiring analogy. (picture source - google images - then I added the text and borders)

Diamonds are formed deep within the earth under immense pressure and intense heat. Enough said, right?I gave them a brief background of how they're formed in the mantle at about 2700 F and under pressure the equivalent of 4,000 grown men standing on your foot. Carbon atoms bond and form diamonds - rough diamonds. Then trenches of lava from the core shoot up through the mantle to erupt through the earth's surface bring the diamonds along the way. The kimberlite then hardens and diamonds can be mined. That's when they undergo the refining process and are judged on clarity, cut, caret, and color. We had a great discussion about the types of pressure and heat and refining that they feel as young women today. Then we handed out ring pops and the little handouts I made for their journals.

...Claire broke out in a terrible rash ALL over her body. She was taking amoxicillin for an ear infection that she got last week. This is what we found this week. Note in file: Claire is allergic to amoxicillin.

...we attended the Great to be Eight event with Paul. It was so cute to see his class sitting across the front row as they listened to our Primary President talk to them about their upcoming baptisms. We felt the pride and excitement of all the parents gathered to support these great soon-to-be eight year olds.

Saul Jimenez, Paul, Mckayla Slaugh, Kaylee Stout, Jade Meyer, Jessica Gonzalez, Isabella Sandoval, Taya Riner, Daniella Hale

Week #2: A craft day at home and Paul turns 8

This week...

...we stayed home from church because Ben got strep. Oh man! It's the break of sickness! My sisters gave each kid their very own ream of white printer paper. They were the most excited about that. They each got their pack of paper out and it kept them busy all day. Claire was making up her own animal creations. Ben and Paul were making paper chains. Lainey was just coloring pictures and not interested in having her picture taken.

Claire was working on this tree house for two whole days. She did most of the work herself. I only helped her with extra supports to keep it up.

...we celebrated Paul's 8th birthday in the midst of sickness and doctor's appointments. We had a small party here at the house. Ben was still recovering from strep and I didn't want to take any chances with a big group of kids.

Paul wanted a Pegasus Beyblade cake. I did my best. Paul thought it was cool and that's all I care about.

Paul with Emma - Getting ready for the birthday song and the eighth epic wish of his life.

She looked all innocent and loving in that last picture, but what Emma was really trying to do is get the first go at the candles. Don't worry. Paul deftly blocked her.

So Jason tried a little blocking of his own. Paul didn't even see it coming. Pfffffttttt! Try again!

What a good kid! He was excited about the big gift behind him that Aunt Lara brought in. He couldn't wait to open it. It was an air hockey table.

...I made candy bar covers for our young women birthday gifts this year. We got the king size candy bars from cash-n-carry. Going simple and easy this year.

Here's a picture of the girls with their new journals for the year. I wasn't able to be there since Ben was sick so they took a picture and e-mailed it to me. It made my day tos ee them holding them up and all excited.

Week #1:Start the year out with Strep - no fun!

This week...

...I got strep on New Year's Eve. It. was. not. fun. We went out Monday to Mattawa for New Year's, but through the night and into the morning I knew that I had something because it was a beast to swallow. So we rounded everything and everyone up to come back home. My mom followed to help with the kids since Jason had to work that night. I went down to the Urgent Care Clinic and sat for several hours just to be seen. I hadn't had anything to eat or drink all day so I was pretty queasy when they gave me the shot. I knew that it might be a problem because I don't do well with shots, and sure enough I just about fainted as I went to pay. So I had to call for a ride and went to bed the minute I got home. Ugh!

This is my sick station - water to stay hydrated, crackers for the queasy stomach, ibuprofen/Tylenol for pain/inflammation.

It was a good thing that we played lots of games on Monday because it felt like the trip wasn't a total waste. We played Tenzie, Spot it! (such a fun game), and Ticket to Ride (Paul was in heaven). I talked books with my sister Shelly, watched Victor Borge (hilarious comedian pianist) with my parents and stayed up late talking to my sister Cherice.

Benjamin played with Lainey setting up the Little People Nativity set.  He's so good to play with Lainey sometimes. At other times he just likes to bug her and make her cry.

 

Hilarious! Look him up on You Tube.

...put this 600 piece puzzle together on one of my sick days. I was feeling better, but not 100%. My mom loves to do puzzles and we were teasing her that staying with us was keeping her from her favorite past time. We have two puzzles - the one shown because it's so cool and one from our honeymoon that we bought since ALL of the cool shops were closed. I tried to do puzzles when Emma and Paul we little, like four and two, but it didn't work. I didn't have a place to keep them out so I could work on them that the little ones wouldn't get into. So I scrapped that idea. We started this puzzle around 11:00 am and ended just before 8:00 pm. There are patterns that help as you put it together, but I tell you I was ready to give up more than once. Well worth it though when you can actually get it together.

...Lainey was cooking up some Mad Gab. She loves these pots and pans that are now my old ones.

...I want to include Ben's writing of a song they learned at school. They learned this song for the Veteran's Day assembly. It was so catchy that Ben, Claire, and Paul would sing it ALL the time after school. Before long, I was singing it; Lainey was singing it; and even Jason sings it on occasion. One night Ben asked for my help to write the song out. It was so cute and definitely good letter practice.

Week #52:It's the most wonderful time of the year!

This week...

...Jason's squad took Christmas to the Gutierrez family. This is the family that Jason helped at shop with a cop. They were in such need that Jason presented the idea to his squad to each take a member of the family and buy them gifts and a dinner for Christmas. The squad was very willing to contribute. Jason's dad came dressed as Santa and surprised the family. I went so that I could translate. It was such a fun experience! The girls were so cute and respectful. The mom was sweet and very appreciative.

Deputy Erickson, Santa, Emily, Yisel, Lluvia, Mirka, Brisa, Mom-Elida, Deputy McDermott, Deputy Clark, Deputy Hughes, Deputy Surplus, Deputy Thompson

Lluvia gave Jason a letter before he left. She made him a friendship bracelet and wrote the following:

Other people were excited to see Santa out and about. At a stop light, the people in the car next to us kept looking over at us. Then we both put our windows down and they said, "Hi Santa!" and yelled something about being good. When we came out of the apartment after delivering the gifts, the kids in the bottom apartment somehow saw us and all crowded at their door to yell at Santa. "We love you Santa," the kept shouting as we got in the car. It was really cute. Since we had Santa with us, we decided to stop by the Riner's house on the way home. The kids loved it!

The Buchannans were also at the Riners for a game night - Spencer Buchannan, Carson and Sophie Buchannan, Cade (amber's nephew), Santa, Paxton Riner, Taya Riner

...we went to Mattawa for Christmas Eve. We at a great lunch and then gathered to do the gifts. We did the kids first so that they didn't have to wait very long. Then they go play while the adults exchange their gifts. We do a favorites exchange between the adults. They guys exchange the the girls exchange. I have to say that that is the highlight for me. Its' so fun to think of what I will give and to see what everyone else includes in theirs. We draw names as couples and then exchange for those that won't be back on Christmas.

My sister bought this new dice game called Tenzie. Several different groups formed to play throughout the day. Very fun and fast moving game. Each person gets a different colored set of 10 die. Then, on go, you roll over and over until all of them are the same number. The first one to get them all yells "Tenzie!" So fun because the kids can play, and do it on their own. There are different variations for the adults to keep it interesting.

Checking out their loot from their goody bags from their Aunt Cherice (pictured in the back with my mom) and their Aunt Shelly.

...Christmas day was a blast! Paul was up at 6:30 and we told him to go back to bed. I think we made it to 7:00 before we had to roll out and get going. Santa finally brought the gift that the kids have been waiting a long time for. They got a wii u.

Our traditional setting out of the shoes for Santa.

Our tree all decorated and ready for the kids. Santa has come and gone.

Emma couldn't believe it - finally! The long awaited wii.

Ready to unwrap the big one. What could it be? Notice Emma's face in the background. She opened her package and saw that it was a Wii U before the others did and we told her to hold off until the others were done with this one. She could barely contain her excitement. 

It's a TV! How exciting!

This is what Christmas is all about.

Yay! More fusion beads! We'll have plenty for 2014.

Oh, this is a good one!

Jackpot! - only...Emma has a hand in her face.

Ticket to Ride! Yes! After playing this game with the Lowe's in Arizona, Paul was strongly urging us to buy the game because it was so fun. It wasn't until we got closer to Christmas that Jason was saying the same thing. So we got it. And it was on sale.

What could it be? Ooooo, I think I see...

A set of Paula Dean RED pots and pans. I was in need of new ones. I don't care that they're necessarily Paula Dean, I just like the red color. Fantastic!

I got him. He thought he was getting a brown box. Oh no. Psych!

He really got a new blanket for our bed...that actually didn't work out and we had to send back. Now he has the money to do with as he pleases. Best thing about this year and buying gifts for Jason, I totally surprised him. I listened to the inadvertant hints he left me as he talked about the things he wanted to buy and I acted on it for Christmas. Score one for Cindy! I haven't always been the best with gifts for Jason. Everything that he has wanted is a specific tool that requires him to pick it out himself. There's not much surprise in that.

Lainey is ready for her hot chocolate. Grandma Erickson made these Christmas place mats and gave each of the kids a mug with hot chocolate. Lainey was so excited she climbed up and sat down to wait, even though it would be a while until she would get hot chocolate. Haha!

*We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Erickson's for Christmas dinner. Jason was supposed to be able to hang out with us on Christmas day even though he was on shift, but he got a call and had to leave. The call involved two adults - male and female - fighting over the fact that they didn't get each other more gifts. Crazies! After dinner we visited and played a game of Apples to Apples.

Lainey showing off the cute tutu she got from Grandma Erickson.