a goal not written....

is just a wish.

So here are the Stone Family Goals we made in FHE the other night.

Practice skating. This was Levi's.

Practice piano. Levi's again.

No more yelling in the morning before school, this was mine and I paired it up with

Listening to Mom in the morning before school.

Family scripture study and prayer every day.

FHE every week.

I feel like a loser that we seem to have the same goals every year. We aren't too bad at a few of them, but then we visit Calgary or go on vacation, and that seems to really throw us off.

Personally I am going off pop and chips for awhile. Why do I consume the stuff when I don't even really like it?

I am also working on potty training Monet. Yesterday we had 2 accidents. I think it was bad on my part that I decided to make and ice 100+ mini cupcakes for YWs; sort of threw off my focus for the day. Here's hoping to better luck today.

bragging rights

Enoch: Is my dad bigger than your dad?

Friend: Hmmm. My dad has spiky hair. Everyday, all day.

At this point Enoch concedes and grants biggest dad to his friend.

piano

Levi has started piano lessons. Initially he was really opposed to the idea, even after the incentive that he could learn to play drums after he learns to play the piano. After talking with him, though, I found out that he was worried that he wouldn't get the songs right. Since he has discovered that he doesn't need to play them perfect, only his best and that is what lessons are for (learning), he has had a much more positive attitude.

The pressure he puts on himself worries me sometimes. Like a few weeks ago he was asked to say the 11th Article of Faith in primary. He did NOT want to do it, not until he found out that he didn't have to have it memorized and that he could get help reading the words. Is this me doing this to him or is it something he does to himself???

I am grateful that he is always willing to talk and am relieved the solutions are simple enough. I hope it stays that way and that he always likes talking to his momma.

to post or not to post

For nearly 13 weeks I have thought I was pregnant. For about 10 weeks I have known that I was.

During those weeks I made posts about how awful I felt and kept track of what I was thinking. I thought that I would post it when the time came.

But now that the time has come, looking back through my eyes and my typing, I am a real whiner! Who wants to read that??




So lets forego the TMI posts, and just be happy with the news that we are expecting a baby to make our 5-family a 6-family early June 2011.

happy thanksgiving!

As a belated salute to this thankful time of year, I want to say how thankful I am for my family.

For kids who are so cute they can get away with almost anything.

For a husband who helps clean around the house.

For in-laws who are thoughtful and caring.

AND for a dad who is going to watch my kids for 3 days so I can go to Kalispell for black Friday with my mom and some of my sisters!!!!!!!!!!!!

sweet childs o' mine

Enoch has many spiderman/random superhero figurines. He loves these guys and plays solo quite a bit with them. For his birthday he even got a foot and a half spiderman "doll." He loves that thing and will put it to bed and loves to sleep with it. He has an old spiderman figure with webs in his armpits that Enoch is really taking to lately. He calls it "my son." It is so funny! "Mom, have you seen my son?" or "I want to play with my son, now." It cracks me up.

Levi has the idea in his head that we are going to be making a clubhouse this winter. He drew me pictures of what he wants it to look like, complete with color choices for walls and roof. What is really interesting is that his drawings include every angle of the house, front, back, left-side and right-side. I was pretty impressed.

Monet is starting to be a holy terror at church. We arrive just before 1pm and she is crazy. The boys are happy to color or read, while she just throws things out of my purse and speaks as loudly as possible saying the one word she loves most; "NO!" So then I take her to a classroom, let her cry on the floor for a few minutes, then pick her up, squeeze her tight for 10 seconds, following which she zonks out if I am lucky. Sometimes this process takes a few tantrums to get the desired outcome. Today at church, with her cute blonde hair complete with outfit matching bows, all I could think of was, "The Devil Wears Pig-Tails."

One more thing about this girl I don't want to forget is that she tells me to shhhhhh!!! anytime I try singing for her. It is so funny.

twenty-four

I love love love this new show.
Well, its not new, but it is to me.
Just finished season 2 and it was even better than season 1.
Sometimes I ride my bike while I watch so that it is a good use of time. Sometimes I pretend to fold laundry while I watch so that I can pretend it is a good use of my time.

Lately I have been wasting the evening watching 3 episodes in a row with my hands clenched and my heart racing.

photo update

First off we have a picture of the boys, together, on their first day of school. It is fun that they can share stories and exchange ideas on similar things, such as the coolness of the playground or the choice of books at the library.

Next we have Monet. This is her eating an onion. I literally had to pry it from her hands.

Pig tails!!!!! What a joyous day in my life. My mom called these things wop wollapins growing up.

These last two are the boys painting. We haven't done it again since, although I give full points for the image of gore they were going for.

you know you're in stirling when

everybody you meet already knows who you are.

your new neighbours greet you with cookies.

you start to connect the dots, and see that everyone is related somehow to everyone else.

people around you seem to own more quads than cars.

you run down the middle of the road rather than use a sidewalk.

you can smell a certain something awful in the air.

you can hear more horses and dogs than cars.

you can fly a kite in your backyard (every day of the year).

you discover the BIGGEST scoops of ice cream at the local store.

you are constantly embarrassed that you are driving everywhere.