Strawberry Jam

Yep that time already. And thanks for the tip from Maria about $.93 cartons of strawberries at Wal-Mart, we bought 8 cartons and everyone helped. We each had our own bowl and did 6 batches of jam all at once. It was wonderful. Problem is I have to go back today and get 8 more cartons for tonight. Hopefully that will be enough to last us the year.

John is going to find a way to tie in 'jam' to our family night lesson. We really need a lesson on love at our house so I told him to work that into it.

I actually had patience with the kids in making their own jam and it went great. It was adorable watching them take their job so seriously. Even Sam. At one point in the process, you have to stir the pectin into the strawberries every 5 minutes for 30 minutes. One kid would stay in the house and watch the clock and give warnings every 30 seconds to the rest of the kids who would go outside and play catch until it was time. There would be a lot of commotion for about 30 seconds while everyone stirred then they would all disappear again until the next 5 minutes was up. Big John washed all the jars and cleaned up our messes as we made it. So when we finished the jam, we finished with a clean kitchen. It was wonderful. I'm not real excited to do it again today so I hope I can have patience again. Two days in a row....that's pushin it. :) But I've got to get it done before I have this baby and need to take advantage of the great price on strawberries.

Oh but there is nothing like home made strawberry jam on hot bread or toast or waffles or even a peanut butter sandwich. Thanks Mom for raising us on it. We couldn't live without it and my kids can't either. Fine by me and hopefully my kids will make it tradition with their kids as well.

John John

This is John at his 6th grade dance today. They went all out with breakfast, snacks, lunch, incredible decorations with the New York Skyline and the Hollywood West Coast Skyline. He said it was a lot of fun. I had every intention on going and helping all year then I went out of town and can't seem to catch up with life since I got back and missed it. Now I feel bad.

Something worth sharing about little John....

The other night Thomas, John, and I were talking about their charter school, LPA, and I asked John if he missed Legacy. He said a little. I then asked if he wishes he were still going there and he said, no, he likes where he is at much better. Then Thomas said he wishes he still went there. He had a couple really good friends at Legacy and hasn't connected with anyone the way he did with a couple boys there so he misses that. So John and I went on to ask if he has friends and he said, just Carson. We asked about other kids and he got teary eyed and said that no one likes him and people are mean to him. I talked to him about how I understand how he feels because I use to feel that way in school and still do and told him maybe next year will be better because he will be in a different class with different kids and he'll make more friends. This is where little John continued the conversation. I decided to leave and let them talk. So for the next 20 minutes they talked. John told Thomas he is going to walk home from school with him and find some kids his age to walk with.

So the next morning, Thomas came out from the bathroom and little John had spiked his hair in front. He took Thomas under his wing all day. When they got home from school I asked them how the day was. Thomas said it was good and lil John told me at recess him and his friends went and played soccer with Thomas and all the other kids that were playing.

Now here is the part that amazes me......

A kid who is mean to Thomas and calls him names said something mean to Thomas. John heard and later went up to the kid and told him....."YOU ARE A GOOD SOCCER PLAYER. GOOD JOB!"....... do you see where my amazement comes in? I think I just stood there shocked looking at him for a second in awe at what came out of his mouth. He wasn't being the big bad brother who was going to put that kid in his place. He just naturally said something nice to that kid. Complimented him. And from what I hear, that kid has suddenly been being really nice to Thomas and he has been having better days since then. WOW. What a good example he is. Maybe that is what the mean kid needed, was someone to recognize something good in him. And it was that simple. I have been playing this over and over in my mind and wish John was going to be there to be that example to all 5 other kids who will be following behind him in school. I just can't stop thinking about what he could have done. I think if it was me, I wouldn't be mean but I would point out to the kid that he needs to be nice. John didn't even go there. He just went straight to making the other kid feel good. WOW again.

I am just so happy about his example and his natural ability to be kind and loving.

As I was telling big John about this and how I have always felt that way and sadly still make myself feel unliked so easily, he asked me what could have been different to not make me feel this way. And it hit me and sunk in more than ever that HOME IS A REFUGE FROM THE WORLD. I've heard it many times but it never meant as much as it did at that moment and still does. When you feel rejected by the world, home is where you should be able to go to feel complete non judgement and total love and acceptance. That sure upped my feelings as a mother in the way I mother and the spirit and feeling I cultivate in our home. And not only that, but teaching all my children to love each other and make sure they all feel being with each other is a safe place to be. I'm sure Thomas feels this way just from John's small act of kindness. I am so grateful for this kid. For his example, and his kind, loving heart.

Just two days ago for family home evening we talked about trying to be like Jesus and read several examples from that section of the friend. After, we each said something we did that day to be like Jesus. I'm not sure there could be a better example of being like Jesus than what John did for not only Thomas, but the kid who was being mean, and for us as his parents. Good job John. Thank you for your big example to a lot of people.

Cleaning Out.....the bug is coming back.

This Blog is very motivating. Skim through her blog and look at her clean closets and cupboards and empty drawers and shelves. It is heavenly. I am motivated to start her 40 bags in 40 days project that can be found here.

Jolie has inspired me with setting the timer and working for 20 minutes and usually when that starts, I keep going. Then one night as Lisa and I were skimming through this blog around 11 pm, we decided right then and there to go find 50 things to get rid of. We did it and we both kept going. It was fun to check in with each other for a few days to see how we were both doing. Then life got in the way and there has been a setback but now that I'm home from vacation and am reminded once again of those dreamy drawers and cupboards, I'm ready to get started again. But this time, I think I'll do the 40 bags. Whew. It will be wonderful.

So, thanks Lisa for finding the inspiration. And thanks Jen for the reminder.

Anyone else on board with me? It's always easier with somebody!

Have nothing in your home you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

Going green!

For St. Patrick's Day, that is.

I was so excited to hear that my mom took care of the St. Patrick's Day tradition of Corned beef and cabbage. I make it every year on St. Patrick's Day (thanks to her, of course) and felt bad I wasn't there this year to create green milk and green pancakes and all that fun stuff. But of course, I learned it all from someone and that someone took care of making sure the fun of the day was remembered with wearing green and traditional food. Yeah. Thanks Mom!!

In Sydney, the Opera House lit up all green. Pretty cool. There was a lot of beer and celebrating going on around here. Who knew!!

Australia

Yes....Australia. And we can not believe we are actually here. We knew John's travels would take him all over China and Asia but Australia???? Yep. Australia too. And John refused to go without me. So here I am.

It is 11:38 AM in Australia on Tuesday and 6:38 PM on Monday at home. Right now I am on the 32nd floor of our hotel room catching up on blogging. Why on earth would I be blogging while in Australia? Well, because we have spent the last few days, walking, walking, and walking. My legs hurt and John is in meetings so I'm taking advantage of my time and catching up. I read an entire book yesterday....cover to cover. I'd stop every once in a while and think that maybe I should be doing something else, then I'd realize no I shouldn't. I'm a little spoiled right now and can do whatever I want. So I'll finish the book. I also did a little touring on my own yesterday.

We are in Sydney and today we fly to Melbourne for a couple days then we will come back to Sydney for two more days to finish out the trip. We have amazing family at home with the kids and are very grateful....very, very grateful.... for all they are doing to help us so I can be here with John.

And I'm a little burnt out with blogging right now so stay tuned for pictures coming.

Thomas and "Luis"

Thomas said to us the other day, "I know Satan's real name. It's Luis."

May not sound funny to anyone else but at the moment, to John and me, and when we read back on this, we'll remember the moment and how funny it was to us.

Thomas's Smile

These are those ridiculous pictures at school that are not worth buying and I hate that they take them and send them home just for one more thing to worry about.

Jack just looks so much older to me lately. Every time I look at a picture of him, I can't believe how quick he is losing is cute baby fat and growing up.
John said to me in front of his friend Grant. "We got those pictures today. I look pretty cute." So John. and yes...so cute.
And this one....well just a couple days before this came home, we were looking at pictures at John's parents house. There was one of John when he was 6 I think and we started talking about how none of the kids look just like him....(don't worry, they don't look just like me either)....and we specifically commented on how none of them have that smile. Until we saw this. It is the exact smile that is in the picture we were commenting on. I will take a picture of the picture of John and will put it with this one of Thomas. Very cute. I love how much Thomas looks like him. Out of all our kids, Thomas is the one that acts like John and looks like him the most. They even have the same flintstone feet. I love it!!

Playing with the camera

The kids love to take the camera and snap all kinds of pictures....especially Sam. I am continually deleting hundreds of blurry, ridiculous pictures off the camera. Very rarely are there any worth keeping. These three actually have people so I thought I'd post the kids work.

Emily and her stuff

"bunny". Emily has had this bunny since her first Christmas. It was a gift from my grandma Jamison and she has slept with it ever since. Recently, she has made a shoebox bed for bunny and she sleeps in the shoebox next to her bed. The fabric is really thin and there are holes, but we wash her every once in a while and keep her close. One time bunny got left at a hotel. We went back to get her and they swore it wasn't there. I finally told them they needed to let me go up to the room so they escorted me up there. The sheets were on the floor outside the room so I picked them up and shook them and thank heavens, bunny fell out. There were even prayers said that bunny wouldn't be lost. whew.

John made benches for all the kids with help from Uncle Aaron. Emily's was just repainted pink recently. Her closet is full. I know. But we have a cute, tall, and skinny girl (old neighbor), Lida, who hands her stuff down to Emily. She gets bags and bags at a time so we keep what we think she'll wear then weed out over time and pass it on to other cousins.

This is Emily's baptism announcement in a frame from Grandma and Grandpa. And here is Emily and the toothbrushes in the horrible lighting in the kids bathroom.

John painted her room the perfect pink and put in new carpet. She's got two closets which will be great for her and her little sister on the way. DeAnne Cottle, a lady in our old ward whom we love and John served in the bishopric with her husband when he was bishop, made the heart pillow for all the Young Women when I was in Young Women's. The pillow is now Emily's.

The rocking chair and the talk back chair were made and painted by my grandma and grandpa Kimball when I was little and have been fixtures in Emily's room for many years. Under the rocking chair is a poem called "little Tawnie Two year Old". I need to find out what it says and write it down.

Emily and I spent a couple hours working in her room the other day. We got rid of all kinds of stuff and it felt so good. As I was going through my camera, I found these pictures of her and her stuff and thought if they are important to her, they are important to me and so here is the pictures she has taken of her clean room.

Happy Birthday Jack!!!

John and I were leaving out of town this evening so we had pizza for dinner then had the cake Jack picked out. Can you believe how huge?
He has been so excited for his birthday. Counting down the days for a long time. On Monday, I took in a poster with pictures he had picked out and talked all about him to his kindergarten class. On Thursday, the day of his birthday, I was helping with homework in his class and got to see how special he was treated. He got to wear a crown and stand up front and help the teacher with everything. It was so cute. I then left with him a bag of ring pops and 'floam' some type of playdough stuff that he passed out to all the kids at the end of the day. Nothing like having a day to feel so loved and special.
And Jack is!! He is the sweetest boy. He has fire in him and you have to be careful about setting him off but sometimes you can somehow find the right thing to do or say, and sometimes that means leaving him alone all together. These times we can usually get a cute smile and little laugh out of him.
I look at him so many times and think "you are mine?" What in the world?!! He talks so sweet to Sam and treats him just like a big brother should treat a little brother, even with the wrestling and attacking. He adores his older brothers and makes comments often about John. We know he feels loved and special becuase of his 'big, bad, brother' John. Him and Thomas are unseperable and when they are together they are pretending and fighting and talking. non. stop. It is hillarious and amazing how long they can go on and on and on. Sometimes I havet to ask them, or tell them, to JUST BE QUIET FOR A MINUTE. But I really wouldn't want it any other way.
He always wants to go places with me and I love that. He loves Sundays and going to his primary class. He is extremely smart. He can read anything. And I mean anything. He is reading and comprehending third grade stuff right now and is starting second grade math.
He loves to play soccer and baseball and golf.
His favorite food is meatballs.
Favorite movie is Wall-E.
Favorite book is Wacky Wednesday.
Favorite Tradition is going to the cabin for a week or more every summer and playing in the river.
Favorite color is Yellow. With orange then blue coming close behind.
He almost drowned when he was 4 and thank heavens he was meant to stay here with us. Even the thought of what could have been is unbearable at times.
He has gorgeous ice blue eyes and one time when I picked him up from school he got in the car very upset and said "why do I have to be different?" He then pointed out John's friend and his little brother and how they look the same. I told him he looks like John and he said "no I don't. I have blue eyes." I told him how special he is and he said "I don't want to be special." We had a talk about Heavenly Father giving him those blue eyes and I wouldn't want it any other way. We talked about how Thomas is the only left hander in our family, Emily is the only girl, etc. etc. After a while, he seemed to be okay with it and hasn't said anything since.
Man I love this kid. We all know (including aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.) to walk on our toes at times with him but he sure is a happy and fun kid to be around and have in our family.
We love you Jack. We love everything about you. Your blue eyes, your temper, your cute little laugh and smile. And we wouldn't want you any other way. You are perfect just how you are.

Provo

John was asked by a professor he once had to come speak to a couple of classes at BYU. So we made an event of it. He had a free night stay at a Marriott so on Monday after school, we packed up the kids and headed to Provo. We love it there. We went to dinner at the Pizza Factory....which we will not be doing again. The prices have been raised and John's favorite meal came out in a bowl half the size it use to be. Wasn't what we remembered and loved.
We swam Monday night and again Tuesday morning before John's appointment. It was funny to watch Emily. We put the ice bucket bag over her arm and she swam around with her arm sticking out of the water. We started teasing her saying "raise your hand if......" feel in the blank with anything. Then we all tried getting around with our arm in the air. It was not easy. cute girl. She didn't even complain.

When we dropped John off at the Tanner building, we went in and did homework. These three worked hard and got it done. And I think they had fun doing it. They all talked about wanting to go to college and how fun it looked. Yeah!!!

We then went to the beauty school and John, Sam, and Emily got cute haircuts.

Then we went to the Bean Museum. No it is not a museum full of beans. That is what I thought the first time I heard about it. Then I was told it was full of "stuffed animals". So I pictured little stuffed animals. Nope. Real ones. It is free so we spent a lot of time here when we lived in Provo. It was fun while John taught his class.

Jack just saw this picture above and started laughing at Emily. He made us all come look because he said she looks like the devil with big horns coming out of her head. It ended up being funny to all of us!

Sam wouldn't get in the last picture because it was too scary but I did talk him into getting in this picture.

Someone brought out a snake. Everything thought it was pretty cool except Sam. He wanted nothing to do with it. I love Jack's amazed face.

Tuesday evening we picked up some delicious Roasted Almond Fudge ice cream for Mom and Dad H. Then when we got near home, we dropped it off to them, went to my mom's for dinner, then went straight to Caroline's spelling bee. She got out in the second round but did a great job getting as far as she did.

It was a long day but nice to be together.

Emily Constitution Program

One Saturday night, February 20th to be exact, Emily was suppose to be getting ready for bed. It was late and I think she remembered seeing Jack stand on the basketball and fly off, thankfully not getting hurt. This memory enticed her to do the same. So she did.

She landed on her arm, writhing in pain. 5 days later....yes 5 days....we finally took her to urgent care and it was broken. She had been wearing a brace we had at home since the day it happened and ran around, played soccer, and jumped on the trampoline as normal but when we asked her to take it off, it was swollen and she couldn't move it. So urgent care put a nice, big splint on it and told her to come back or go to the orthopedic next week. We went to the orthopedic on Monday and they said they couldn't do anything without seeing the x-ray. Urgent care couldn't find the x-ray so two days later, it was finally found, I picked it up, we went back to to ortho. and they casted her. Pink, of course.

It's a tiny little cast and she only has to wear it for 2 1/2 weeks. That's nice!!

self portrait
While she had the splint on, she performed in the 5th grade Constitution Program. It was no more than 30 minutes and was a great program.
She was lucky to get a solo and it was beautiful. She did a great job and looked beautiful too.

Kitchen Spruce

See these beautiful white kitchens? I want them. It would be so beautiful and bright and cheery in my kitchen. Sadly, I want a clean house and a few other things that need to come first. But oh these white cabinets make me happy!!!! Especially when they are in my kitchen!

And see those fresh flowers? I want those on my counter....always.

These are kitchens of 'real' people. Not that they are perfect, but close enough. They inspire me. (now about doing something with that inspiration....uh um....that's another story). Jolie?

"Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes...Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes."

- Joseph B. Wirthlin "The Virtue of Kindness"

My friend Heidi sent me a card years ago that had this quote. I still have it and it goes up on my fridge every so often:

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it."

I thought of this because someone put this quote on their facebook status:

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."

I get so frustrated when someone elses life affects me by affecting my thoughts and mood. It affects how I am as a mom and makes me depressed. I can't change choices of other people but I can change how it is going to make me feel. So I'll pray for them and get to work on changing how it negatively affects me.

Now tonight I went up to my inlaws and on their counter was a framed quote that said:

"Those that anger you, control you."

I asked her about it and she said she found it at the DI. I laughed a little and told her I really neeeded to read that today. Don't we all!