From Our Window

When we first arrived our place was buzzing with Canada Geese and Mallod Ducks. We thought we were having fun, but now that the weather is changing and birds are migrating these are the water fowl we have seen from our front window. Occasionally we see king fishers, common flickers and downy woodpeckers, heron, and commerants. We love our window!

Canada Goose (They hiss at us if we are too close to the window during feeding time!) Mallard Ducks

Cinnamon Teal

American Wigeon

Common Mergansers

Green-Winged Teal

Hooded Merganser

Wood Duck

The hooded merganser and the wood ducks are my favorite. I love how strikingly bold yet very quiet and reserved they are. Happy bird watching everyone!

Making All Her Dreams Come True!

What did she want for her birthday?

A pink cake with pink frosting and floating balloons.

Sweet success!

Anne loves to party, but she stopped everything for a picture! She can't resist the camera.

Edwin showed us a new skill he has kept under wraps all these years!

Balloon animals and balloon swords! It totally made the party a blast!

Once Anne was in bed Grace, Edwin and I played with the glow sticks in the dark.

Ah the simple joys of childhood!

Pink cake. Pink frosting. Balloons that float.

FHE 11/17/08- Temper

Opening Song: #62 All Creatures of Our God and King Opening Prayer: Grace Lesson: The Turkey with the Terrible Temper This story was given to me from Linda M (a member in our ward). She is a retired storyteller who has kindly copied several of her collected stories to share with me. This story was written by Avon Compton and illustrated by Tammy Jane Compton Tom was a little turkey with a terrible temper. One day he had a fit and turned red. The other turkeys laughed at him because he was red all over. Tom ran away and sulked under his favorite tree. The wise owl in the tree told Tom he needed to control his temper if he didn't want to turn colors all over. The next morning when Tom woke up he was brown again, but he had a red feather in his tail. That day Tom lost his temper again and this time he turned blue all over. The other turkeys mocked him and Tom ran away again to hide. The next morning he woke up and found he was brown again but he had a blue feather in his tail. So the story goes on and every day Tom loses his Temper and changes colors. He turns purple one day, green another day, and yellow the following day. Each morning he wakes up to see that his brown coloring has returned, but his tail has a colorful reminder of the temper tantrum he had the previous day. Finally Tom faces a situation that normally leads to a flying rage, but he controls his temper. Because he controls his temper he turns white all over. Tom doesn't mind being white and the next morning he is proud of his new white tail feather. Tom returns to visit the wise owl and thank him for his help. The owl tells Tom to display his tail proudly because he learned to control his temper.

I made felt turkeys and feathers in each color and did a flannel board presentation for the kids. Edwin enjoyed the story and visuals too.

Closing Song: #301 I am a Child of God Closing Prayer: Grace Activity: We turned all the lights off and played with glow sticks. Then we ate cupcakes and visited. It was a good night.

Tagged by Susan - 8 Things...

8 Shows I Love To Watch--- We opted to give away our television this summer so I can honestly say I don't watch it...except for the Presidential Debates we rented our community club house so we could use the TV. However 8 things I enjoy watching 1. Wizard of Oz- A library find 2. Sound of Music- Another library find 3. General Conference- I enjoy the soothing voices while I fold laundry and the kids are sleeping. 4. Wild Life- We have a large picture window in the main room that overlooks a pond. This winter I have been thrilled to see the migrating birds flock to our neighborhood. I love to hear the geese announce their arrival and departure. There is nothing like two hundred wings beating the air in their own rhythms ready for flight! Ah...this is a topic worthy of it's own post. 5. Grace and Anne playing together 6. Edwin sitting on the sofa hand quilting 7. Our family photos cycle through a slide show 8. My children's faces when daddy comes home after a long day 8 Favorite Restaurants 1. Chinese Food- Ben and Shanna order some delicious food while we were in CO last winter. 2. Thai Ruby- UT 3. Bombay House- UT 4. Half priced Happy Meal picnics at the hospital 5. Houston's Famous Deli 6. The Little Cafe-ID 7. Jason's Deli- 8. Susan's or Shanna's Kitchen! 8 Things I Did Yesterday 1. Enjoyed the sacrament 2. Taught Relief Society 3. Baked Grace's Birthday Cake 4. Sat on the sofa for an hour with Grace and snuggled in a blanket and talked about all the things I could remember about her in the past three years. Anne slept in late and Grace and I enjoyed some quiet conversation time together on her birthday. 5. Talked to my mother and my mother-in-law on the phone 6. Baked dinner rolls successfully (it was the first time I used instant yeast...I was nervous they would be hard and dense) 7. Made all of Grace's dreams come true for her birthday (pink birthday cake, pink frosting, pink candles with fire, and floating balloons) 8. Kissed my wonderful husband and two beautiful girls 8 Things I Look Forward To 1. Teaching next month's Relief Society Lesson on Unity (chapter 23 in the Joseph Smith manual for those who want a sneak preview!) 2. A visit from Uncle Richard and Jess this weekend 3. CRANBERRY SAUCE for Thanksgiving 4. Thanksgiving dinner....especially the whole batch of cranberry sauce to myself! YUM!! 5. Uncle Bill's wedding on the 6th and Uncle Richard's wedding on the 30th 6. My family coming for a visit... 7. Christmas decorations...mostly the ceramic nativity set my grandmother made for my mom. Edwin and I enjoy putting it up every year. 8. Kissing my girls when they wake up from their nap! 8 Things On My Wish List 1. Knowing how to handle situations that cause tension and anger 2. Hot chocolate on a cold night. 3. Complete memory books for my girls. 4. Sewing instructions...I am in desperate need of some sewing help. 5. Warm toes- I can't sleep with feet this cold! 6. Less stuff- organized stuff would help! 7. A happy family 8. Knowledge....raising children is quite the struggle and I'm going to need all the help I can get!

FHE 11/10/08- Enjoy The Show

Opening Song: I am a Child of God

Opening Prayer: Grace

Lesson: Enjoy the Show

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/2008/03/reflections-sli.html

Closing Song: I am a Child of God

Closing Prayer: Mom

Grateful Tree- This week our neighbor and her baby Emily joined us for Family Home Evening. We called Dad at the hospital (since he was working overnight) and he contributed to our Gratitude Tree.

Grace- Miss Lisa (the librarian) and the Library

Anne- Neighbors and their pets

Mom- Ability to read the scriptures

Dad- The Wife

Deeann- Love and Family

Emily- Food, Baths, Friends