Hibernation Day!

Today in preschool we learned about animals that hibernate.

And to go along with it we had "Hibernation Day"

Sounds official doesn't it?

I invited all our preschool friends to wear their pajamas and bring a book. We talked about which animals hibernate and why. We practiced stuffing our bellies with food by eating a yummy before hibernating snack of cookies and milk. Our shape for this month is octagon so we played red light, green light with a hibernating twist. Green means wake up and growl like a bear and the red octagon meant lay down and hibernate/sleep. They loved it. Our color was white so talked about how the snow is white outside and we made a couple different snow caves. It was a very fun day. I had so much fun with my class.

All our friends enjoying the books inside our snow cave.

They even did pretty good sharing their books with each other.

I found a couple really cute books at the library with the hibernating theme.

The kids really got into it all.

We made our own snow cave to take home. And we colored different animals to stick inside and let hibernate.

Our favorite hibernating animal at least for the boys was the BEAR of course and they were very good at growling.

Someone else somewhere has probably come up with this idea but. I actually thought of this and I am pretty proud of my imagination. It's a paper bag rolled into a cave shape. I let them paint the snow on it. So it's kind of a dirty looking cave.

I thought they turned out so cute.

The whole day was great. I think hibernation day is going to be a tradition in our house. It was fun.

I think he likes it!!

The other day after it had snowed, Mason and Mattix wanted to go outside. After 20 min. of getting them ready to go out. Manning came along just in time for the boys to be ready to come in. (they got cold) He misses outside so bad. When it was warm he loved it out there. And just can't seem to understand why I won't let him go out now.

Well the boys came in and shut the door behind them. This started a massive Manning fit. He was so upset and heartbroken. He wanted out. Obviously he's to little to explain things to him. So after I had, had enough, I thought well if I send him out he'll realize it's cold and want to come back in. Let's just say my plan didn't go as I had imagined it. He loved the snow a little more than I thought he would. But this is Manning. Why would I underestimate him?

First time really experiencing the snow. He wanted to touch it, eat it and stomp it. He loved everything about it.

He was in aw that it was all over his favorite car. He kept trying to sit in it. But it was slippery. I was afraid he'd get way to cold so I showed him the shovel.

He would scoop the snow and eat it. He liked shaking it off his hand and the shovel. It was so fun.
After 5 min. Mommy was freezing. So I took him back inside.

He didn't like that to much.

But with all the excitement he did learn a new word that he says everytime he's by the door.

"SNOW peese, peese." We have found him a pair of the boy's old snow pants and some other snow gear. Hopefully soon we'll get to go out and really play in the snow.

Update on the Santa Chia Pet

He is officially growing hair!

Very exciting. We check this guy everyday. And I hope Papa and Grandpa are doing the same. Because one of these days. I am going to get the guts to drive out in this crummy weather (after dark) and we will be checking up on the other two.

Isn't he cute?

Ringing in the New year...

The only way us very tired parents of 3 very energetic little boys sanely know how.

Give the boys pots and spactulas and count down like it's midnight at 9:30.

They loved it and we even threw in a youtube of last year's ball drop.

They didn't even know the difference. We all went to bed. I woke up around 11:45 p.m. Realized it was 15 min. until midnight. But everyone was all asleep so I went back to sleep.

It used to be more exciting to stay up and ring in the new year. One of these days the excitement will come back. Just in time for us to ring in the New year old married couple style.

By going to bed early. Ha Ha

Happy New Year!!

My Testimony

I have been thinking for the past few days what I would like to put on my blog in honor of the New Year. I love all the cute ideas everyone has been coming up with. I love the idea of the year in pictures. I especially love my friend Jessica's song she made up to sum up 2010. I think I may in the next few days review our year in pictures. But first I would like to share my testimony. I think it would be a nice way to share what I've learned in 2010 this way. And maybe at the end of this new year 2011, I will be able to look back, read this and realize I might have grown just a little bit more.

So here it goes.

I started off the year with all these "goals" I really wanted to achieve. I can't say that I stuck to any of them. But I think I have grown spritually. I have learned that sometimes you just have to let Heavenly father be in control. Have faith and don't be scared. Fear is the opposite of faith. Praying to him is the best way for him to help steer things in the right direction. Satan will try so hard to make you believe that you have to make all these decisions on your own. Thus leading you to feel overwelmed and sometimes in situations you put yourself in. We have taken many leaps of faith this year. Testing our faith and strengthening us everystep. Most of time not noticing our own progress. I am so proud of my husband. He has been working so hard to do what he feels is best for his family. He is my best friend. I am so thankful for his ability to accomplish so much. He is our priesthood holder in our home and I am so thankful for his example to our boys. I know the power of the priesthood is real. I have seen it so many times especially this year as he's blessed each one of us when we've been sick or just needed that extra spritual boast.

I have learned that when you are having those dark and dreary moments/days the best thing to do is to pray for heavenly father to help you find someone that could use a pick me up. I am thankful for the Holy Ghost and it's guidence. I have been lead to do some very great things. That I know I couldn't of done on my own.

I know that temple work is very important. I have seen those very special to me sealed to those that they love and hold very close to their hearts. And I am thankful for the plan of salvation that our families can be together forever. I love my family each one of them. I feel their love for me and I know they want to see me succeed.

I know that the Book of Mormon is true. The boys and I finished reading the children's version this year and took the challenge at the end to pray to see for ourselves. And it's so amazing the feeling of certainty that those words are real. I know Joseph Smith is a real prophet of god. I am so thankful for his courage to go looking for the truth and than to seek it out. Dispite the all the heartache and pain he went through to make sure that we have the fullness of the gospel on this earth today.

I am so thankful for a loving Savior. Jesus Christ died for all of us. He has felt my pain and has prepared the path so that I can return to my Heavenly Father. This is the true church. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and that is a very good thing. I am a child of God. That makes me so happy to know who I am. I am so happy to be able to be a mom and I am thankful for the responsibilty to teach my children all these things that I know. I know that Heavenly father loves each one of us and knows us individually. Regardless of religion race or sex. I am thankful to be who I am.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sledding

After our last snow storm and Matt's time off, we decided to take the boys sledding. We went to a park over by Nana and Papa's house with Jimmy, Nadia and her little sister Kristine. It was an awfully cold day but it was so fun. I haven't been sledding since I so much younger.

Mattix and Daddy getting ready to go down.

For some reason they would rather go with Dad than me.

Maybe because Daddy gave them a free ride back up the hill.

Mason shocked us all. He is usually very afraid of heights and not very willing to do adventurous things. But after I'm not sure who it was daddy or Jimmy but someone pushed the sled he was sitting on down the hill. I thought he would cry. But he came back up to the top with a wet face and laughing. He went like 4 more times by himself.

Mattix's boots ripped and I didn't notice. But he got very cold after 10 min. He was crying his feet were so cold. Matt took him back to the van to get warmed up. Manning fell asleep on the way there and missed the out on all the fun.

It was a very fun day. I hope we get to go again before the snows melts.

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam....

At our church the children go to their own classes while the parents go to their classes. (Sunday school, Priesthood and Relief Society.) The children's organization is called Primary. They have thier own indiviual classes that help the to learn and be included in the gospel.

Today was Mattix's first day of Primary. He turned 3 on his birthday and now with the new year, he's officially a Sunbeam.

(That is what they call their age group.)

He was very nervous. He didn't want me to leave him. As we sat there one of his good friends, Colby came in and sat next to him. They started playing and I could see the relief on Mattix's face. After a few minutes I asked him if he felt brave enough for me to leave. And he said "Yes." I left and went to my class. I kind of thought he might get brought to me crying. He never did. I went to pick him up and he was happy. His class made this cute Sunbeam bag. He's very proud to be in the big kid class now. Can you tell?
Manning isn't quite old enough for the nursery. But 2011 it's our year. Sometime around May he'll be 18 months. Than mommy won't have to chase him around the Relief Society room.

Mason has moved up to the CTR 5 class. Here he is sporting his new CTR ring and his new scripture bag along with his new Book of Mormon. All the Primary kids got a new bag and book for Christmas. My boys are very excited to have their own.

This year we have the 11-2 schedule at church. I love this schedule. The only thing that is a bummer about it is, it's the middle of lunch. So we make sure to bring plenty of snacks.