the primary program

Today was a special sunday. The children in our ward put on a program during sacrament meeting.  I had three of my children participating this year. Kyler got to enjoy the program from the pews with us for the first time.

As one of the oldest members of primary, Kacin had a special role. He read the opening introduction to the program and then he helped all of the children who needed help with their parts for the first half of the program. He did a great job with this responsibility.

Layla had about half of her part memorized. She was so happy that it was her brother who helped her say the rest of her part. She spoke nice and clear. We smiled from the audience when we could hear her voice singing above the rest during some of the primary songs.

I was so grateful for Perry's line in the program. I believe he got to say one of the most powerful truths in the program. 

"Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer."

I couldn't help it. Tears sprung to my eyes when that sweet boy said "Jesus Christ. Savior. Redeemer." into the microphone.

He nailed it.

After all the times we have tried to practice with him over the last few weeks (and most of those times being me trying everything to get him to say his part and him ignoring me), my heart swelled with joy that he got up there and he did it.

Not only that, but I know that his little testimony of Jesus has been growing lately. And more than anything I want him to know this truth for himself all throughout his life. Jesus Christ is his Savior and Redeemer. He is our Savior and Redeemer. What peace, comfort, and joy this truth brings!

Before the children walked up to sit on the stands for the program, they sat with their families as the sacrament was passed. During that time, Layla and Perry were looking at scripture cards we have. Perry was playing with some. He held up a picture of Eve. On this picture, sitting in a tree next to Eve is a snake. Perry then took a picture of Jesus and said "Jesus will save you from the snake!" In his play, the hero, Jesus, saved Eve from the bad snake.

He nailed it again.

It is Christ who saves us when we make mistakes, sin, or experience hard trials in life. Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can repent and change and, one day, return to our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.

Thank you, primary children, for a wonderful program!

Top Golf when Jenny was here

My sister was in town! Not only did we get to pass off Mary to her (Mary was waiting for her in her room when she arrived), but we got to spend some fun time with her and meet her boyfriend.

We said hello and then put them to work moving our stuff into our new house. Really, the second night they were in town they were helping us load and unload. So very kind of them!

We also went out to Top Golf with them. I have a few blurry pictures to remember the evening by.  

We got to see them a few more times for dinners and game night. So glad we got to spend time with them!

our new house

It was just over 7 months for the making. Our house.  

 

We were all thrilled when the day finally came to close on it and move in.

It was a crazy day. We had to do the final walk through the same day we closed because we had to be out of our rental. Which meant that there was still a long list (a little too long in my opinion) of things that had to be done on the house while we were moving our stuff in and getting settled. It has been a steady stream of people in and out the last few weeks. And we are still waiting on a few more things to be completed. But maybe I'm digressing here and I should just get back to the point that we were ecstatic to close and get the keys to our new home.

               

So we did our walk through in the morning and then dropped Layla off at school on our way to sign our lives away. 

They told me I had to sign my full name on all of he documents, including my middle name. My middle name starts with an "F". For the life of me, I could not remember what I was taught in 3rd grade about making a cursive "F". The escrow officer stepped out to get something and I quickly googled how to make a cursive "F." I was saved! 

After signing my name a hundred times in that stack of papers, I got pretty good at my cursive f. And then just like that the house was ours to transform into our home.

When the kids got home from school, we brought them with us to go pick up the keys.

 

We spent the rest of the weekend moving in, unpacking, installing fans, putting ikea furniture together. It was exhausting. And so Eric has sworn off moving ever again.

I promise pictures of the inside pretty soon!

grandpa Allen

My grandpa Allen is in town. This man may be 96 years old, but he is as sharp as a whip. He is one of the smartest men I've ever known. And the best storyteller around. I could listen to his stories about growing up in Texas, life with four boys, and more recent adventures for hours and hours.  

I am so glad my kids will get to have a few memories with their great grandpa. I know he has a few memories of my kids! With a great big chuckle, he reminded us about the time young Kyler sat on his lap and said, "Grandpa? Why are your teeth so yellow?"

We are so blessed by his great sense of humor and his love and kindness.

a little more about Perry

We got Perry's school picture proofs back. Eric asked Perry which one he like best. He told him, "The mad face."

Perry was pretty thrilled when he got on the motorcycle with Papa.

I haven't had a chance to take Perry to the museum yet, but I did take him on a quick date to Bahama Bucks. Spending one on one time with this boy is too great.

Perry is also rocking it in swim lessons right now. He loves the water!

our Perry boy is 6

We celebrated this little man's birthday a few weeks ago.

 

6 years old!

I can't even express how much I love this little boy of mine. He brings smiles to my face each and every day. My life is better, I am better, because of him.

Was it really just four years ago that this little cutie joined our family?

Now here he is a tall, sweet, fun 6 year old.

And this 6 year old was adamant that he did not want to invite his school friends to his party. He didn't want "grills" (girls) either. He just wanted Rescue Bots. That's all.

I looked all over and never found rescue bot party decorations. I thought about making some, but we didn't even have a printer in our rental house and I am no artist. So I took Perry to Target to pick something else out. Which I described a little bit back here. In the end, he bought a set of batman party favors and he sorted them into bags. He also picked out the punching balloons. So, at his party, we ate pizza and then he passed out party favor bags to all the kids. The kids played with the little toys until it was time for cake and presents.

(get ready for a slew of bad phone pictures)

We sang happy birthday and let him blow out the candles. I can't believe I didn't get a close up picture of the cake my mom made him--she made a rescue bot transformer face on top. He thought it was pretty cool!

 

 

He opened presents and was quite pleased with his loot--rescue bots, Legos, rescue bots books, a game, and a batman robot transformer.

Before his family birthday party at home, I met him at school and ate lunch with them. Then we celebrated his birthday in the classroom with cookies. It was so sweet to watch him carefully pass out birthday treats to each of his friends.

 

I have a feeling 6 will be his best year yet.