February 2011

February 2011

David has a Nyman belly.

He is awesome!!

February 1

Jacob was watching hulu on the computer in his room.

He got so tired that he fell asleep on the chair.

February 16

I love how animated David is.

That is one big strawberry!

February 26

Matt went on a Daddy Daughter Date with Emma.

They went hiking.

February 26

It is hard to believe she is 8.

Proud Papa with Bryan.

February 27

David

February 27

In January we tried to homeschool our kids with Connections Academy. Wow! That was hard! It only lasted two days before I decided that it was impossible to do with a brand new baby!

So, on February 14th the kids started a new school. Montessori. Emma isn't too sure that she likes it. David however loves it! His first few days he would go into his class and sit at the table with his hands together. Just waiting for instruction. When he found out that he can just go and play the learning games he was beside himself with excitement! This is the school for him!

Two Little Mommy's

Tonight I gave Bryan two ounces of prune juice. It is fun to watch his face, when he first tastes prune juice he pulls his head away and looks at me like, 'what are you giving me?' Then he comes back for more. It is also fun to watch him try and figure out how to drink from a bottle.

Well, he drank the juice at 7:00 pm and before 8:00 pm he had a bowel movement. Emma picked him up not knowing that he pooped. She got it on her arm and then all over the back of his shirt. She comes to me saying that he pooped and it got all the way up to his neck. I informed her that really it was she who was spreading the mess.

I quickly changed him then gave him a bath. After the bath Emma wanted to take him in a towel to the bedroom. When she took him Bryan spit up something brown. Emma ran to me panicked saying, "Mom! Look, Bryan spit up this." We decided it must just be the prune juice. Emma is done, she is off to do other things.

Abby comes in after Bryan is dressed. She sees that there is a diaper to take care of. She picks it up and I told her specifically where she needs to throw it away. Abby discovers that it is a poopy diaper, so she asks, "Mom, was it seedy?" I said, "yes it was a little bit." Abby said, "oh, thats good."

These girls are learning so much. It is fun to watch them be so motherly and loving with Bryan.

Emma's Half Birthday

At school Emma's teacher is giving Emma a half birthday. The teacher has asked me to write a little something about Emma that she will be able to read in front of the class. Talk about nerve wracking, I don't want to write anything that might be embarrassing. I wrote this up and had Emma read over it, I got her approval so I am happy and so is she.

Emma was born June 11, 2002. She was born 12 days early and weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces.

Emma has always been a very nice and outgoing person. When she was only 3 months old she leaned over to a lady and said, “Hi”.

She loves her independence. If she doesn’t like something or doesn’t agree with something she is not afraid to say so. Her great Aunt said that one day Emma will be a leader one day.

Emma is always quick to help she doesn’t even have to be asked.

Emma favorite animal is a cheetah, her favorite color is all (rainbow), she loves music and dance.

She is excited to move to a colder climate, hopefully soon.

Two Very Special Girls

Abby was asked to give a talk in Primary on Sunday. The theme was My Love for Jesus Grows When Studying the Scriptures. So I thought I would ask Abby what her thoughts are about reading scriptures, and how she feels about Jesus and the scriptures. I was amazed with her answers. So, after listening to her I put her words into the talk.

When I read the scriptures I am doing what Jesus asks me to do.

When I read the scriptures I learn how I should be.

I feel like being respectful,

I feel like I should love others,

and say sorry.

I feel like doing nice things for others.

Scriptures help you learn about the Holy Ghost, Jesus and Heavenly Father.

(I thought up this part.)

We read in Doctrine and Covenants Section 4 verse 6, "Remember faith,

Virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness,

godliness, charity, humility, diligence."

As we read the scriptures, we feel close to Jesus and he tells us how

we need to be.

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Later on that day, Emma came up to me and said, "Mom, I just don't think I can handle listening to another talk, or practicing the primary program again." I asked, "why do you say that?" Emma says with a very frustrated tone, "because, when Abby said her talk I felt like I was going to cry! I just wanted to run out of there! Then when everyone gave their part for the program, I felt like crying still. The teachers in the front called me up and they asked if something was wrong, I told them I was fine. But they kept asking me. I just don't think I can do it again!" I asked her why she thought she felt like crying, she said, "I don't know I wasn't sad." I said, "Do you think it could have been the spirit (Holy Ghost) telling you that the things you were hearing were true?" She said, "Yes Mom, that is what it was. I just don't think I could do it again. It is so embarrassing!"

Later that night we sat down to read scriptures, we read in 2 Nephi 3:21. They are speaking of Joseph Smith and how Heavenly Father can make weak things strong. It says, "and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith." I felt like I needed to broaden on that. So I told them how I felt as a missionary. I was sooooo shy, someone would look at me and I felt like crying, my face would get bright red. I wondered how I would be able to go up to strangers and tell them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Oh it was so scary! I told them that I was able to feel the power of our Heavenly Father work in me. I would open my mouth and I would speak words that would pierce peoples hearts, for the good. I told them that even when we feel weak we can be made strong through Heavenly Father. Emma was so cute, she said, "Mom, why does it keep happening today?"

I am so thankful that we are reading the scriptures again and I am so thankful that Emma is able to talk to me openly and I am so grateful that Emma can experience this at such a young age. And that she is such a good example to her brothers and sisters.

Isn't it Great Emma is 8!

Emma Turned 8 last month.

She was also baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I really feel that this should be a choice that she can make on her own. So, I called up the full time missionaries for our area and had them come over and teach her the missionary lessons.

I think the missionaries and Emma had a lot of fun with these lessons.

Before Emma was baptized I asked her to write down what she was feeling. She was very cranky about this because, well she was very worried about some thing. This is what she wrote,

Today I'm getting bathptized.

I'm feeling scared and kind of nervous because

I don't want to go all the way under the water,

because I don't like going in the water.

After she was baptized, I asked her how she felt.

She said, "I'm cold mom."

The water was warm, but coming out of the water with all of those

wet cloths on made her cold. We couldn't get them off fast enough.

She was the first one baptized out of a group of 5.

She was the only girl.

Emma was baptized by her Dad, Grandpa Nyman and Grandpa Hardy were the witnesses.

Then she was given the gift of the Holy Ghost by her Father also. Those that stood in the circle were, the full time missionaries Elder Rice and Elder (I will fill this in later, I hope), Uncle Paul, Uncle Jon, Grandpa Nyman, Grandpa Hardy, and Bishop Parker.

We then went home for cake and ice cream. Grandma Norgard made this fun rainbow cake. It goes along with a primary song,

I like to look for Rainbows when ever there is rain,

And ponder on the beauty of an earth make clean again.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,

And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

Grandma Norgard made a beautiful dress for Emma and these are 3 of the 200 plus photos that her Pa took.

I love the poem that was written by Linda Gay Perry Nelson, 1993

My Three White Dresses

My Mom (Grandma) made me a white dress,

Not red or pink or blue,

She said it was a special dress

Like very other few,

There has been just one before,

A dress now put away,

That I wore some time ago

Upon my blessing day.

As a little baby clothed in my first white dress,

My dad held me in his arms,

There to name and bless.

So pure and clean was I just then,

With time to grow and learn

About the Father's plan for me.

My glory I must earn.

Now I've reached the age to judge

The wrong road from the right,

And I am here to be baptized

In this dress of white.

So once again I'm free from sin.

The path is clear to me.

I'll grasp the rod and hold on tight,

I vow with certainty.

Just as mud would stain my dress,

Sin would stain my soul.

The key is to repent or bleach,

For whiteness is my goal.

And if I try my very best,

Then richly blessed I'll be,

Wearing inside God's holy house

White dress number three,

So today I make this pledge:

I'll strive to choose the right,

Through this sacred baptism ordinance

In my second dress of white.

I am so proud of Emma. I can see what a wonderful person she is becoming. She is a great helper around the house and with her siblings. She knows what she wants to do and she is not afraid to do it. She is strong willed and I think that could help her in many ways. When she was a baby, maybe 6 months old. My Auntie Molly was watching her for me. Aunt Molly was getting her dressed and she was trying to put on Emma's shoes. Emma was okay with one shoe going on but darn it all she didn't want that other shoe on because that shoe was for her and for those gums that needed to teeth on something. No no matter what Aunt Molly tried to do she couldn't get that shoe. Auntie Molly said to me after that something to the effect of, "ya know if you are able to do things just right, you can help her become a very strong lady that can do many great and wonderful things." I know that she is right.

It's Happening

I remember those times in school when all of a sudden something was so popular everyone wanted to do it.

Lately Emma has been talking about curly hair. She has always had a fascination with her hair being curly, but lately she has been talking about whose hair at school is the curliest. She has also been asking if I can curl her hair... usually at 9:30 or 10:00 at night. Why isn't she sleeping??

So, this morning when I dropped her off at school I noticed one of her classmates getting out of the van in front of us. What do you know?? Her hair was curled. I laughed out loud. I am glad it is just hair and not clothing, YET. Maybe tomorrow I will try out the flat iron curls.

Glasses

Last night we went to Target and got a pair of glasses for FREE for Emma. They are doing a special...

A FREE pair of GLASSES for children ages 12 and younger. All you need is a current prescription.

So check out your local Target and see if they are doing it also.

This offer ends Saturday Nov. 21st.

The glasses Emma picked out are worth over $200.00!

Thankful

Emma brought her "Monday Folder" home yesterday and I was looking through the past week's school work.

She had one paper that had two feathers on it, on each feather was something she was thankful for. It also had things written all over the paper like, she is thankful for Her sister Abby, her friend Marin, for big David and for little David (uncle and brother).

Then on one feather she said, "Emma is thankful for our house."

On the other feather she wrote, "Emma is thankful for China for making everything."

She hears us grumble about China and how they make everything and blah blah blah... but she found the good in it. We got a good laugh out of it!

Emma, Do you like school?

I asked Emma if she likes her old school better or her new school.  She said, "I like my new school better."

I asked why?  Emma said, "because I have lots of friends!!"

- Ma

Dear Parents,

"I want a cellphone.  I will give you some mony.  Cane you teach me.  I cane tack care of it.  Juste give me a cellphone.  PLese... If your"

Let her be little, as long a possible.

This was a writing project in Emma's 2nd grade class.  I have heard stories from other mothers and their 2nd grade kids.  Teachers talking about style, watching American Idol to see the styles.

So naturally I asked Emma, "Do you want a cell phone?"  She replied, "No, it was my teachers idea.  I didn't get to finish writing."

Pa and I don't even have a real cell phone why would she want one??

Strange I say, very strange... -Ma

Daddy Daughter Date

August 15, 2009

Our church had a daddy daughter date night luau theme.  Strange though they said it was for ages 5 and older.  Abby wouldn't stand for it.  She is 4 and she was going to go.  So we went to Savers to find some hawaiian clothing.  Pa found his shirt for about $4, Emma's dress was $1.50 and Abby's was $5.  Abby's dress is a size 6/7, it's a little big but very cute!!

Emma said she was bored, too much talking. Abby had a wonderful time. Pa said that Abby was a little chatter box the entire time.

They had a class on etiquette and they were asking the group to give an 

example of good etiquette. Abby raised her hand and ran up to the front of 

the room and whispered into the ladies ear, "You should never chew gum in the car." 

Don't know where that came from but Pa said it was cute!!

-Ma

Top Teeth Missing

June 21, 2009

Fathers Day

On Fathers day Emma finally lost her second top tooth.  The reason I say finally is because since she was a week shy of being 5 years old she was playing on one of those huge blow up water slides.  We were at a cousins birthday party.  Emma slid down the slide then a cousin slid down the slide hitting Emma in the mouth.  It blacked out one tooth.

This was very traumatic for me more than her I think.  I cried for a couple of hours after this happened.  Accidents just don't happen to my kids when I am around just because I am watching them so closely.  Unfortunately I was not watching how the instructions instructed us to watch.  I was in the shade and the end of the slide was on the other side.

There was lots of blood and lots of tears, a couple visits to the dentist.  And a decision to be made.  We decided to leave the dark tooth and hope that it doesn't scar her for life.  I did notice that she wouldn't smile with her teeth when around people.  Now she smiles better, not as self conscious.  Thank goodness.

So, her adult tooth was coming in before her baby tooth fell out.  

Now she is growing in the big teeth with out the baby in the way.  Sorry for the bad photo.

It was cute because Pa asked if he could pull it out.  She said, "Okay."  He twisted it and it came right out.  What a fun father thing to do on Fathers' Day!!  Emma kept saying, "It didn't even hurt."  Thank goodness.  -Ma

First Day of School

The kids were so excited to go to school they woke up before me, 5:30am.

The sun was in their eyes.

When I picked them up, David was beaming!!  He had a great day, and week for that matter. Emma was very disappointed that this new school teaches math.  She didn't want to get out of bed the following day.  But, she loves it now.  -Ma

Meet the Teacher 2009

We chose a new school for the kids to go to this year.  And we couldn't be more happy with our choice.

This is David's class of 17 students, and his cute teacher in the blue dress.

And this is Emma's class of 14 students and her teacher.

Emma was still in her class coloring.  But here are some cute pictures of the rest of them.

There is Emma.  David was so funny, there were three girls at the top of this climbing dome. The girls were saying how they were afraid to be on the top of it.  David walked under them and said, "I'm not afraid of nothin'!" as he walked away from them... typical boy.

They were both very excited to go to school, however David didn't want to sit down and color the picture the teacher had for him.  So we took it home so he could color it and take back to his class.  After he was done coloring it he said with a twinkle in his eye, "I can't wait to see my teachers eyes."  I asked him why and he said, "Because she will be so excited to see what I did." 

-Ma

June 13, 2009

I know these photos are not perfectly taken, but hey... it's okay, I am just looking at her cuteness!!

I love her smile in this one.  We were just having fun, while Pa was cutting down the cacti.  

Emma is such a tenderhearted girl.  Quick to help, and quick to smile.

By this time she was tired of me saying chin up, lip out (she likes to suck on her bottom lip), where is that smile??

However she is very patient with me and finds a way to pass the time when I am trying to figure out the camera.  

She plays with the green beans.

-Ma

Emma is 7

So it has been about a month, but I am leery of putting exact days of the day on the computer. 

Here is the starting of  a castle cake.  Thanks to,

Betty Crocker

She wanted this cake and nothing else would do.

Lots and lots of fun pink!

The finished product.  With homemade princess hats for the girls.

The boys got store bought foam swards. 

After a while the castle started to lean to one side a bit.

Our kitchen for some reason is the HOTEST room in the whole house.

The poor cake got warm.

Emma was SO excited.

I think that the cake and ice cream are such a big part of a party.

I don't think I need all the "birthday gifts".  Just make the day a happy day and celebrate with friends, family and cake with ice cream.

Our beautiful 7 year old!

-Ma

Our Pets Take on Our Personalities

I have noticed that when ever I have a pet it will take on my or a family members' personality.

Even chickens!!

(By the way we only lost 2 chickens)

I have noticed Emma's chicken has been the one that tries to be in charge, it tries to be the leader. It is the meanest one we have.

Although Emma is a very sweet girl and I think the world of her.  She is the oldest and she has a role as big sister to uphold.

This morning Emma was out with the chickens feeding them her crust from her toast, when she heard a baby chicken cry (oh, we put them together about a week in a half ago.).  Emma spotted her big chicken being the one that pecked at the baby.

When Emma came in she said, "Mom, my chicken is like me.  It likes it's space.  It made a baby chicken cry.  She (the chicken) said to the baby, ""Back off, I need my space, I need to be alone!!"" -Ma

Hit in the Nose

When I was little I would tease my big brother.  The story is told like this, I would hit my brother and then cry that he hit me.  Probably for attention??  As we got a little older,  my big brother and I were in a fight.  I think I was 5 or 6 that would make him 6 or 7.  He hit me in the nose (probably not on purpose, and I probably deserved it).  My nose started to bleed and it wouldn't stop.  It bled continuously for 2 hours.  It bled so much that I drenched a towel.  I was taken to the doctor, because well that is just scary!  When we get to the doctors office we have to wait and wait and wait.  Well we waited so long that when we finally got in and sat down in his office my nose stopped bleeding.

Doctor said, "you probably broke a blood vessel, and the only way to fix that is to come in when it is bleeding and we can cauterize it."

Because of this I would get a bloody nose for the simplest reasons.

• Change in weather. 
  
• I'd get bumped.
• Holding my nose under water.
• Traveling from Prescott to Phoenix.

I finally "grew" out of it or something.  I think the last time I had a bloody nose was when I was pregnant. 

I always blamed my brother for this problem.  And I know that he has felt horrible for what happened.  Because after all, he can't stand the sight of blood.

But now there is new light shed upon this situation.  Emma started getting bloody noses at the age of 6.  She tends to get them when we change seasons.  Hm, go figure!

So, big brother of mine, I am sorry that I blamed you all of these years.  It looks like it was going to happen wether you hit me or not.  -Ma

Chickens for Dinner?

When we first got our chickens they were just the cutest little things.  I never thought that we would kill them so we could eat them.  I thought, "How could ANYONE do such a thing?"

Now they are big.  And, well they just aren't cute anymore.  I am grateful for the eggs they give us. Grateful that I am able to work outside more.  (Really I like to work outside, lots more than in the house.)

A problem we have with these older chickens is that they are mean.  I think it is because David needs a dog to play rough with.  He played rough with the chickens, they are mean.  He is learning and I am so glad that he can be taught.  This will prepare us for the day that we do get a dog.  So we can have a nice dog.

So thankfully they are chickens and they can and will nourish us.  I still have a hard time thinking of killing our own meat.  Pa will do that and then we will can it.  We will let it sit for a while so we can forget a little bit.  Then we won't be so grossed out when we cook up the pets.

This will take place when our baby chickens start laying eggs.  That should be in another 2 or 3 months.

The kids are excited to "kill" the chickens because we told them we could get more babies when the older ones are gone.

Then Emma goes out today to get an egg.  One of the chickens was in the nest laying an egg. Emma goes in the coop and the chicken stood up and gently pushed the egg over to Emma with her beak.  Emma was so excited that the chicken would be so nice.  I am very impressed with the chicken.  However we don't want to make relationships with the birds right when we decided to have them for dinner. -Ma

A Sisters Love

I once heard that if your kids are not getting along that one way to help them be better friends is to have them sleep in the same bed together.

I think it was November 2008 that I started having the girls sleep in the same bed.  Partly because of space, I am sure I mentioned it before but our home is only 945 square foot.  Another reason was because little Abby couldn't sleep by herself, and Emma did not want to be around Abby.  She was alway irritated with her.

They have been getting along lots better.  It has been fun to seem them become closer friends.

This morning we woke up to find them all snuggled up.

- Ma