Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Apple Pie




Jeff 's grandma died this past week and he went to the funeral. The rest of us were fighting bad colds, so we stayed home. We missed him like crazy. It's never fun to be apart. We were sad to have not gone with him and wanted to show him a little love, so we made him his favorite dessert. He enjoyed it lots.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

14 Baby Bearded Dragons in all!!!


Art at the Shumway's


The last couple of weeks Sierra and Tessa had fun trying to imitate a Van Gogh painting. I thought they turned out awesome!


Monday, November 9, 2009

Kristen's Farewell Dinner

Our niece, Kristen Monson, stayed with us for the last couple of months. We so enjoyed having her with us. We will miss her bunches. Love you, Kristen!

Quote of the Day

"Often we assume that (the people around us) must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know... We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us." President Thomas S. Monson

Sunday, November 8, 2009

First Three Baby Bearded Dragons Arrive!





UPDATE ON POOL (for you BOB)


ICE SKATING FUN





Thank You 90% off Halloween at Target!

















We had some good laughs trying these costumes on the dogs!


Our budding new business


These homemade shirts were so fun to make, we might just have to start a business. Give me a call if you'd like our kids big heads on your shirt.

I think I'm going to do a giant one of my head for Jeff for our next special occasion!

Candles at Dinner

Dinner Tradition

We've found something that works really well at the dinner table. It's something we've done for years now. Each person has a candle in front of them that is lit. When it's your turn to speak everyone else listens. We tell about our day. When we're finished, we blow out our candle. We continue around the table until everyone's had a turn.

Positives ++++++++
a) Everyone gets a chance to be heard.
b) Guests talk and it helps them feel comfortable.
c) Jeff and I get a chance to talk instead of just listening to the kids (I was surprised to realize how little we all know about what Jeff's doing at work each day).

Negatives -------------

a) Tessa discovered she can snuff out a candle with her nostrils!
b) Tyler gets REALLY mad if someone else blows his candle out.
c) Paper plates burn if you hold them right under a burning flame (we know from experience).

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Cow Eyeball Dissection


This was as funny as it was educational. Tyler chopped his eyeball to bits, Sierra looked like she might hurl and Tessa was totally enthralled. Jeff's eyeball was the only one that really worked for learning.
































Halloween Loot




Tyler's 5th Birthday!


Sierra's Broken Arm

We went to the BMX track for "recess "on Monday of this week. Sierra took a bad fall and said her arm hurt. She kept saying it was bugging her, but I thought it was a bad bruise. We got her into the doctor on Wednesday and found out it was broken! I felt awful! She had been doing school work and all her other activities (even guitar lesson) with it broken. Oops!

Fun Ancient History Project



Clay Pots


Notebooks...

My sister, Cindy, told me a long time ago about a tradition she loved. I thought it was a great idea the moment I heard it and implemented it. She said it was especially helpful in her communication with her older boys. I think she writes a lot more often than I do.

What has worked for me is to write to each family member once a week. Sunday is the easiest day for me to do it. I even started a notebook for Jeff this year. He loves it! I try to make mental notes throughout the week. On Sundays I write in each notebook. I like to include things I appreciate about that person, a good memory we made together during week, a behavior that improved or anything else that shows my love.

My family loves to read their notebooks. As soon as Tyler spots his notebook he grabs it and runs to find someone who can read it to him. My good friend Heather made me a plaque that reads, "never suppress a generous thought." These notebooks help me with that goal. Sometimes I even get a sweet message back!