Stuff memories are made of...

1. We were reading in Moroni 7 a few days ago and got to the part where the Lord promises to answer the prayers of the righteous. The kids then asked if Heavenly Father will answer our prayers.
I said, "Yes, as long as it was what we needed."
I was trying to get them to understand the difference between need and want, so I asked them Heavenly Father would give me a pony if if I prayed for one.
They said, "No."
I said, "That's right, but why?"
"Because you don't need one."
"That's right. Heavenly Father only gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want."
Then Becky got really excited and said, "That's what Santa is for!"

2. I showed up to Alex's preschool to pick him up and he was the last one there with the teacher (despite the fact that I was there at 2:40 and preschool wasn't supposed to be over until 3pm). I watched him help the teacher put all the bikes away, gather all of his projects and put them on one clip so the rest of the clips could be put away (which he also helped to do), then gather the balls and take them inside, all the while talking with his favorite teacher, (who also happened to be Sean's preschool teacher) Mrs. King. They looked so cute talking and working together that I just had to stand and enjoy the moment. Alex treated her questions with seriousness and loved the attention he was getting from her. Sad to say he doesn't get a lot of one-on-one time at home. We'll work on that!

3. James was sitting in the front seat with me in our rental car (ours is in the shop- again!). We'd just finished getting groceries, but it was still too early to get the girls from school. He was enjoying playing with the steering wheel - trying to turn it as if he were driving. Then he found the blinker! He turned it on, then went back to the steering wheel. I turned it off, only to watch him reach to the side and flip it back on. I turned it off, he flipped it back on. This went on for a while. Oh, the joys of a 9 month old!

4. Jane's tooth had been sticking out - think Nanny McPhee and flip the tooth up so it sticks out towards the front - for over a month! It was terribly loose, but was still hanging on by that darned thread! Well, picture day is going to be coming up soon, so I got a bit determined and took her into the bathroom during bedtime and "helped" her brush her teeth. I told her the dirt was stuck and wouldn't come off. Well, I just kept brushing and brushing and finally it popped out at me and landed on the floor. We were all VERY happy and relieved that the tooth was out - and Jane was happy to have the tooth fairy visit again!

Family Home Evening

Sean and I had such a fun time walking around Shoreline Village that we decided to take the kids and Chewy back there for a walk for Family Home Evening. The kids loved the boats, birds, and random surry-bikes. It was very relaxing and refreshing and makes staying here another year a lot more fun!

Summer Recap

Well, I'm sorry to say that I haven't been up with my blogging this summer...uhh...obvious! And, instead of going back and blogging each event seperately, I decided to take the easy-man's out and put all summer activity pictures into a slideshow and recap it all in this posting.
For the most part, we had a great summer filled with family activities and many "firsts" (mostly James'). The two weeks of "Family Week" had to be our highlight because this is when most of these summer activities occurred (who knew one could fit that much stuff into two weeks?!). Sean also started preparing for his new job at the District Office, though it didn't actually start until end of August, and Hillary tried her best to keep the kids busy while dad was away with promises of stuff we'd do when he got home. There was one day when the kids entertained themselves entirely with legos, only stopping for the occassional meal. Gotta love the Legos!
Although we're sorry to see summer leave we were all glad to be back in routine once school started again on 4 September. The girls are back at The Intensive Learning Center (Becky in 3rd grade and Jane in 2nd) and Alex is back with Mrs. King at preschool. He is her very best helper, as he is at home with his mom. I am so grateful to have him here to entertain me and James and make us all laugh when we especially need it.
Sean seems to be adjusting well to his new position, although it still keeps him hopping as he learns the new math curriculum and how to best teach it to fellow teachers.
We are continually reminded of our blessings and thank our Lord for guiding us along His path.

Bellflower Ward Beach Party

On Saturday 13 September the Bellflower Ward headed out to Bolsa Chica Beach for some fun in the sun. The sun didn't actually come out until 1/2 hour before we left, but the weather was still nice enough to explore the beautiful waves, sight-see some dolphins, boogy-board, and dig in the sand. We had a wonderful time and would like to give three cheers (hip-hip, horray!) to the Bellflower Ward Activities Committee! Thanks for a great time!

At the Beach

Earthquake 5.4

We all had fun experiencing our first mid-sized earthquake since moving to southern CA this morning at 11:42. We felt the shaking, rolling, and then swaying as it moved on. The kids and I were building a fort in the living room when it started and it took a while for me to realize what was happening (sometimes when a large moving/delivery truck or a car with LOUD music drives by our windows rattle). Once I realized what it was I got the kids and ducked into our hallway, distributing them into various doorways. While huddled there with the kids I made a mental note not to choose that place again - we have a lot of picture frames throughout the hallway and in a bigger earthquake they might fall on us or crash on our wood floors, creating a large mess of glass.
Once the shaking stopped we made our way to the couch and turned on the TV to get info. Hillary got in touch with Sean at work and let him know we were safe, and vice versa. The kids were still scared, so we read the last three chapters of Helaman to help us feel better. Our goal was to help them feel better, but those chapters happen to coincide with Samuel's prophecies of the signs of Christ's death so....another mental note: pick happier chapters to read!
And James slept through it all!

Alex's Owie

On Friday, 11 July I noticed that Alex's wrist was swollen with a bug bite/sting that had a red streak traveling all the way up his elbow! Immediately upon showing Sean he was taken to the emergency room (as it was 10pm when we first saw it) where he was administered a HUGE shot in the bum full of antibiotics, and given a prescription of more to take for the next couple of weeks. He was so good during the whole procedure and Sean let him watch "Meet the Robinsons" on his IPOD to keep him entertained at the hospital and while waiting at the pharmacy. The following Monday our regular doctor was not pleased with the results of the original prescription, so he ordered some more. This new medication cleared up the streak in just 3 days! We were very pleased with the progress, but a week later the original bite was still there, red and swollen. So on a return trip to the Dr. we were told there might still be a stinger or something lodged into his arm. The doctor numbed his arm so he could go digging for "treasure" and found a little "foreign object" that was sent to the lab. He then cauterized the area, gauzed it up and sent us home telling us all would be well. It is now, a week later, finally starting to go away completely, with most of the redness and swelling gone. We are all so very thankful that we saw Alex's arm before we sent him to bed that Friday night. We are fully aware that the Lord is looking out for our family and blessing us daily.

James

James, too cute here amidst blocks and cars, is enjoying his challenge of life each and every day. He now boasts 3 bottom teeth, 0 top, and a new found ability to eat Cheerios. He is a VERY patient baby who puts up with his older siblings' over abundant love with ease. He smiles often, even when cranky, and only becomes fussy when teething, tired, hungry, or in the need of a new diaper. He is happy to play on the floor by himself now that he can sit up alone, or in his highchair. His favorite toy is the set of IKEA stacking blocks. He is really good at chewing up paper and books and anything with a tag, and I love it when he gives me hugs and kisses!

Goodbye Crystal!

We all gathered at BJ's for dinner to say, "Goodbye" to Crystal and wish her luck on her new journey in life in Spokane, WA. I'm absolutely jealous of her achievement to arrive in the Evergreen State, but reali ze it's just not our time...yet! We had a blast sending her off, though. From L to R: Gretchen, me, Cindy, Rebecca, Rebecca, Crystal, Traesa, Shauna.

Baptism details

Becky's baptism was beautiful. We were all so excited to have to much family in attendance, including Hillary's Aunt Kathy who lives in Carlsbad, CA. Wakes flew in on a return trip from Ecuador, and Monroes who were in town came as well. We all felt very blessed to have so much familial support, and Becky felt so wonderful. She told Hillary after the baptism that she felt "so good inside!" It was all done and overwith so quickly that Hillary hardly had time to get emotional, but has since had time to reflect and realizes that it's all just the beginning. Soon dating, marriage, grandchildren....I know it really is quite a few years down the road, but so was her baptism when she was born, and now look where we are! These past 8 years has flown, so I'm sure that the next decade will, too. Jane and Alex are counting down the time for their turn! It's all going to come too quickly!

Becky's Baptism Day!

We were all very excited to support Becky in her decision to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Stanford Building, Cerritos, CA. She was baptized by her father on Sunday 6 July 2008 at 3pm with her Uncles Dustin M. and Rob W. as witnesses. Prayers were said by Grandma/Grandpa Monroe, talks given by Uncle Brad Wake/Gammie Wake, and a special musical number by Devon Mathews.

Not moving...

We had to remove our house from the sellers' market on June 30th, as we hadn't sold yet and Sean had to let BUSD know his intentions to either stay or leave. Since then Sean was offered and accepted a new job at the Bellflower Unified School district in which he would basically be teaching other teachers how to teach math. He is very excited about this new opportunity; as is Hillary, because it would mean he no longer will be staying up until 11/midnight grading papers and doing lessons, and a slew of other reasons in which stress is relieved. Since we were unable to sell our house and move up to WA this summer, we feel very blessed that the Lord saw fit to improve our situation a bit while we wait for next year and, hopefully, a better housing market.

My man Alex

On June second we had a wonderfully crazy day. It all happened, really, in a short morning, but the humor of it lasted all day for me.
We were at the grocery store and Alex was being so helpful getting the stuff we need (and don't) into the cart. As we passed a white-bearded man with a cane Alex asked him, "Are you an old man?"
Sorry to say, I haven't taught my little 4 year old very good manners, but he is very helpful!
As he was helping load all our groceries onto the conveyor belt he almost got the milk up, but it tipped the wrong way and A-bombed onto the floor. Milk was everywhere (about a cup was left in the carton when it was picked up), including in the hair of the cashier next to us, and acted like a river flowing towards the produce section of the store behind the registers. I could tell our cashier was trying not to laugh, (as was I, though I tried to act a bit more apologetic) and as I kept saying, "I'm so sorry," she told me, "You know what? It just means he is trying to help you. Who's to say we didn't do worse stuff when we were kids?"
I'll be forever grateful that our cashier didn't take on the attitude of the manager of the store (who wore an ungrateful scowl) and kept humor with her during the rest of our $200 ring-up.

Mother's Day

Hillary was awoken on Sunday morning by one kid demanding breakfast and three others offering it! She was showered with wonderful school-made creations and very yummy food. Sean did a great job of pampering me that day, allowing me to take a nap after church for as long as I wanted! I was showered with little gifts all week (each child gave me a potted plant, Sees Candy made it to my refrigerator, and Sean took me out for a Pazookie on Saturday night) and I felt so loved because all week and even after Mother's Day I was told "Happy Mother's Day" by the kids and Sean. I couldn't be more grateful for the family I have today. They really tried to make Mother's Day special for me and succeeded hands-down. I hope in the next 364 days I can show them how much I enjoy being their Mother/Wife and and how much I love them.

Art Classes

For the past 5 weeks Becky, Jane and Alex have been enrolled in an art class in Long Beach. They have learned how to make bowls our of clay, Becky even made a few on the wheel! They've also made paper, and then decorated all of their creations. We are so grateful the kids have been able to learn new talents. On May 17th they will be having an art show to display their accomplishments.