Honorary Student

I was the lucky mom to be invited to attend the awards ceremony for Taneal. They even sent an official letter in the mail inviting me. And at that awards ceremony, I couldn't have been more pleased to be the mother of my remarkable young daughter.

I also must say, I have the most beautiful daughter. She is just gorgeous. But it doesn't stop there for this young lady. Not only is she breath-taking, but she's also super smart. She was awarded for all A's. Yes, you read that right. Taneal's lowest grade this YEAR was a 96. And, she took all pre-AP classes. So they weren't just any normal run-of-the-mill classes. They required more. More homework. More thinking skills. Probably a considerable amount of more tests. And she excelled. Didn't hardly blink twice about them. That is one super duper smart girl. And beautiful.

But the award didn't stop there. No, she didn't get the award for perfect attendance. I let her take a day or two off.  I figured any girl who has grades like hers has the right to a day off.

Taneal was awarded the honorary History Award. Each subject picked one student to give an award to. Her all time favorite teacher picked her. So here is where Taneal starts bragging. She wouldn't ever say this to any of the other students, but she said it to me. She said that, "all the other students think they are his favorite. But I really am his favorite because he picked me!" He is one of those extraordinary teachers who make learning fun. He even wrote in her yearbook that she was the most impressive students he has ever had the privilege to teach. He once told me he was so impressed with Taneal because of her discipline and determination. He was very impressed when he found out that she gets up every morning at 6:00 to practice her piano and then her viola. He said some other wonderful things. Wish my memory was a little better.

Taneal is a pretty special girl. I really am the luckiest mom alive to be able to have her as my daughter. Not sure why I got so blessed, but I thank my Father in Heaven often that he sent this amazing girl to me.

  

It's Your Day

I'm not sure how it works in most families, but in this one, we have issues. Issues that do not need to exist. For example, who gets to say the prayer? Here, the children would begin arguing over who said it last and how they never get a chance to say it and please, I just said it.

We also have the problem with who gets to read scriptures first. Or last. And who gets to do this and who gets to do that.

Where my problem lies is all these activities that we are doing are so good. Things we are supposed to be doing, right? But throw in a little contention and it feels like regardless of how good of intentions I may have in doing these things, I loose all the positive benefits by all the contention they create.

So I came up with a brilliant idea.  Not sure if I am the one who actually came up with it, but I can't remember who did and I think it was me, so I'm going to take the credit.

Now that I think about it, actually, my grandpa gave me the idea years ago. I was in college visiting him. I remember having morning prayer, breakfast prayer, lunch prayer, supper prayer, and bedtime prayer. It was just my grandpa and grandma living together alone. Each day the same person said all the prayers for the whole day. I remember thinking it strange but great. Because how else are you going to remember whose turn it is? Brilliant.

So here is the brilliant idea incorporated into my family.

We each have a day. We started this about a year ago and it works! It really works. Most of my ideas work for a few day. If I'm lucky they even work a week. But then piddle out. This one really stuck and I love it!

Monday is my day. I say all the prayers. Or I can assign the prayer to someone willing. I get to start out with scripture reading in the morning. And in December, I get to do all the advent calendars for that day. Nice perk. We alleviated all the contention from these activities and many more by assigning days of the week to each person. Tuesday is Taneal. Wednesday is Camie. Thursday is Danielle, Friday Spencer. Nathan gets Saturday and Evan Sunday. Because we know he will be home on Sunday.

What am I going to do when Gavin wants his own day? And that is just around the corner! I may have to share my day with Evan. I refuse to share the candy from the advent calendars!

 

Smokin'

I'm too busy. Plain and simple, I have too much going on. If you look at my blog, you would think nothing is going on. So I am going to take the few small moments that I have and I am going to record even the little things. They might be big things, but I am going to just record them, even if I don't have time to elaborate. Please pardon the smallness of the posts. We are surviving here. And yes, swim team has begun yet again, adding a whole new element to my load. My choice, but so much work.

Here is for today's post:

Nathan, my cute, spunky, adorable, feisty, imaginative little boy, was running in front of me the other day as we were headed to school to pick up the kiddos. We are still walking everyday to get them and it is such a wonderful thing because my boys, and girls, use their energy outside. Not inside destroying the place, but OUTSIDE. And as hot as it is and as much work as it is to walk the 1.5 miles twice a day to get my children, it brings peace to my home because of the energy well spent.

Back to my Nathan running ahead of the stroller as I try to keep up. He starts shaking his bum with a little wiggle as he runs. Such a cute little wiggle. Then he announces to me, "I'm smokin!"

huh?

Nathan: "Mom, my bum is smokin! There is smoke in my pants!" He said it with a super hero kind of voice. Maybe a little southern twang.

Not sure what he meant, but the wiggle sure looked cute and the comment even better. Then he came and hopped in the stroller for a break and asked me if I knew what the smoke in his pants was. I didn't reply because he wasn't really looking for one. And then he told me exactly what that smoke in his pants was.

Yep. Gas.

I just closed my eyes and shook my head. Only would Nathan come up with something like that.