If you think this is bad...

You should see the sidewalk!

This is the result of a little tangle Jeron had with the sidewalk on Monday. His two front teeth were knocked loose, but didn't break. His gums are torn on either side of his front teeth. We saw the oral surgeon on Monday night and he said that there's nothing to do except wait, heal, follow up with the dentist and pray the teeth don't die. So, please pray for Jeron.

Love This Boy

Jeron got new motorcross boots yesterday...thank you Grandpa and Patti! Jeremiah took him up Peavine to ride (you can see Jeremiah's bike tire on the right). They rode as far up as they could, until the snow turned them back...11.25 miles...just to break those boots in! Fun times.

I learned last week that the school I wish we were zoned for is accepting variances for next year. Also, they will have all-day kindergarten, something Jadee would love. Jeremiah and I have been talking about it and I have been talking to the parents in our ward whose children go there. I just need a divine confirmation.

So, I talked to Jeron today about the possibility. He was very excited. I explained that Daddy and I need to pray about it and I thought he should, too. Tonight, when I went in to tuck him in, he said, "I prayed about it and I don't feel anything, Mom." I asked him what he'd said in his prayer and he explained that he had asked Heavenly Father to help him to know which school to go to. We had a good discussion about the D&C and "studying it out in your mind" then asking if it be right. I told him he needs to think about the reasons he would go to each school and then make a decision and present it to Heavenly Father. We talked about the good feelings that come when the decision we've made is right and the stupor that comes when we need to re-think. He said he understood and I said good night.

A little while later, Jeron came to his "peek ledge" and said excitedly, "Mom, I did everything you said and I have a warm feeling!"

I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who hears and answers little boys' prayers so quickly. I am grateful to a faithful little boy who is humble enough to pray and ask for guidance.

Did I mention that our Bishop's wife is the administrative assistant there and she'll be looking out for the kids? Also...for the first time in his school career, he'll have a Mormon friend in his class? I just hope that he and Josh can not get into too much fun trouble! I will also get to work in the PTO with my friends from the ward. Just gotta pray for confirmation...

San Francisco

For Laura...or Tim...I'm not sure.

Welcome Home, Timmy!

We were so lucky today to get to be the ones to pick Tim up from the airport in Reno as he came home from Iraq for his R&R. The kids were soooo excited! Jadee and Davis helped me make signs welcoming him home and they came to the airport. We picked Jeron up from school to go to lunch with us. He'd told his teacher all about his Uncle Timmy coming home, and was very glad to get to "skip" school for an hour. Here are a few photos of the fun...

Jadee and Davis watching for Uncle Tim's plane to land...it had already landed...it was a good thing I happened to look down the dark hall and notice my dad's, I mean Tim's, walk.

Jadee and Davis running as fast as they can to get to Tim...

Big loves for Uncle Timmy...

Posing with the signs for a picture...we were quite the spectacle...it was funny!

Welcome home, Tim! We're proud of you and grateful you're home safe for a few weeks. We can't wait to play.

HELP

I finally found some possibilities for Jeremiah's sister's wedding. Her color is Cinderella blue...anyone look for that color this season...not popular. So, many are going with silver or darker shades of blue, I am made to believe. I found two silver numbers...please tell me which you like best and why. I would appreciate the input. Keep in mind that silver is not my color. I am going to have to do some creative make-up the day of. Again, thank you for your help.
Option #1...fancy skirt...there's sequins on there and a slick knit top.

Option #2...a taffeta-like dress with shiny buttons and sash.

Ladies & Gentlemen...

We have a WINNER! Jeron is the official Gold Medalist in the Coral Academy of Science Elementary Science Fair for all of the Second Grade.

The reaction...

One excited boy...

The scientist and the presentation board...

The GOLD MEDAL...

I was so happy to receive a phone call from one of our CAS friends on Saturday letting us know that Jeron had won the Science Fair. Jeron didn't find out until we went to the open house that day. He was excited, to say the least! He did a project with his trains...Mom sometimes has really good ideas. Add to that Auntie Heather and Uncle Ron's scientific know-how, and you've got a winner! Jeron tested the effect to the speed of an engine when cargo is added to its cars. His project will now go on to compete at the regional level at UNR. We'll keep you posted on the outcome!

Get Ready...

Get set...
GO!

Busting a big trick...

Catching air...
Speeding down...

Lifting up...

Posing pretty...

Skiing solo...

Launching off...

Finishing strong...

I hiked up the mountain today to take some different shots of the kids skiing. It was so fun to have a different vantage point. I was really able to see the progress they are making as skiiers. I wish I would have had my bigger camera...next time. I am so grateful to be married to a man who loves the outdoors and is willing to do all of the work and preparation to take three squirrelly kids to the mountain and teach them to ski. He is amazing. Days like this make every penny we've spent on gear, gas, pink slips and ski school worth it. Here's to many more ski filled days like today!

Christmas TIME 5

Davis got to open a new Christmas DVD during the week of Christmas. The kids turned out to not be that interested in it (Stalking Santa). Next year, I think I'll wrap "Polar Express" or "The Grinch" because I know those will be hits! Sorry...no pictures of the squirrely kids watching the boring movie!

On Christmas Eve, Grandpa, Patti and Holly came to spend some TIME with us. We had delicious soup in bread bowls on Grandma's Christmas dishes, then the kids got to put on their new jammies..."comfy jammies," as Dylan calls them. Grandpa and Patti brought gifts and wonderful gift certificate booklets for each of the kids. The kids LOVED being able to open something on Christmas Eve and their mother (who is a self-professed savorer) LOVED that they could focus on the gift at hand and really enjoy it. We look forward to redeeming those gift certificates, too!

Patti made Chris Mouses and Grandpa told a cute story about Chris Mouse and his wife, Rhoda Rodent. It was pretty funny and had a great moral...though I can't remember what it was...so, Grandpa, if you're reading this, please fill in the moral in the comments section.

Finally, we called Santa, since we never got a chance to visit him, nor did he get to visit us, as he has in years past. Somehow I missed the picture of Jeron talking to him. Jadee was sure to tell him that Jesus isn't the only one who has a birthday on Christmas...it's her birthday, too, you know!? Everyone asked for a Wii (after much coaching from Mom & Dad), and that's what we got! Yay for us!

Thank you, Grandpa, Patti and Holly for spending TIME with us this Christmas. It's the best gift we could ask for!

Christmas TIME 4

Jeron got to open the gingerbread house present. It only took us a day or two to actually find the TIME to put it together and decorate it. Jadee and Davis started out by smelling the bags of candy...sooooo yuuuummmmy!

Mom learned that gingerbread houses don't have to be symetrically decorated and candies perfectly placed to be beautiful. It is way more fun to see what the kids come up with and how they choose to place the candies on the house. They worked so diligently for such a long time and then even helped clean up the mess!

In the end, Davis just wanted to eat the candies. I think he may have eaten more than he actually put on the house!

Can you believe that I never got a picture of the finished product?! The kids demolished it on Christmas day and that was the end of it. Dad was more than happy to take it out to the trash.

I have to thank Grandma Rita for our Gingerbread House tradition. I have many memories of making and decorating gingerbread houses and men. One of my favorites is the year we searched all of Fallon two days before Christmas for pre-made gingerbread houses because Jeron really wanted to decorate gingerbread. Of course, Grandma would do anything for her grandkids and she was more than willing to make that happen.

Jeron was mostly concerned with the frosting being green. Grandma frosted and Jeron placed. It turned out pretty cute!

Grandma always had TIME for her kids and grandkids...at Christmas and all year long. Thanks, Grandma!