Full of Hot Air!!

My Grama used to say we were "full of hot air"! This weekend we went to visit both grandparents and watch the annual hot air balloons. We hadn't been there for this event in at least a few years. Gavin had never seen them and Linnea didn't remember seeing them. It was very fun and the kids really enjoyed seeing so many hot air balloons. I like the fact that it's not so crowded and we could just walk across the street from Grama and Grampa's house to see them. Ever since I can remember, I remember the sound of hot air balloons early in the morning in November and being excited to watch them from the front window, even as it was still dark outside. Someday I will ride in one. There, they actually do give free rides to people who wake up early and help them set up the balloon. Maybe I'll try that next year.

Toby, the Newfie

We live down the street from a beautiful Newfoundland dog, Toby. We love to go visit him and run into him on our walks. Toby especially loves the children. When we walk by, if he sees them through the front window, he will bark and become so excited until he can go outside to play with them. He thinks they are his playmates. It's so cute. The kids love to run around and play with him and it's funny to watch because he is triple the size of them. Albert and I love his sweet nature and his beautiful show-dog look (he is only three points away from Champion and will most likely have that by Christmas). He is such a sweetie and HUGE! The picture doesn't do him justice. His owner is refurbishing his cart, in which he will be able to pull the kids in. We love Toby!

Walk Out

Gavin has been watching a lot of Wallace and Gromit these days. Do you know those movies? They are cute. Anyway, in one of them, Gromit, the dog, runs away because he feels left out and unwanted. So when Gavin is not quite getting his way around here, he thinks he needs to run away but he calls it "walking away." So the other night it was totally pitch black outside and even raining and Gavin felt abused for some reason or other, I don't even know why (maybe he wasn't sure either) and he packed up his stuff (his pillowcase filled with some halloween candy and his bear) and walked out. We were trying not to laugh at his very SERIOUS situation. He got as far as the front sidewalk when he quickly turned around to run to the safety of his own home, after thinking about the recent mountain lion spottings in our area. My sweet little boy....

Okay, I am finally getting around to posting Halloween pictures. I have been so sick and so tired! You're lucky you're not at my house. I'll admit it's a great big mess and I've been feeding my family mac and cheese most nights or Whole Foods sandwiches (that's what I can keep down). Anyway, aren't my two little spooks cute? Gavin is a ninja and Linnea is a witch for like the third year in a row. (She buys a new witch costume every year.)
Anyway, Happy Halloween (on November 10th)!

Vote Today!!

I voted! Have you? Their are only less than three hours until polls close! Vote! Vote! Vote! Pray for Prop 8.

I will be making my calls tonight reminding Prop 8 voters.

Gavin's Prayer

I just wanted to tell you about the sweet, sincerity of my little boy. I just love to hear him pray, although when we are in a hurry someone else should probably be called on. Let me tell you what he said in our family prayer last night:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank thee for our family.
Thank thee that Jesus loves us.
Thank thee for my sweet mommy. (He takes my hand at this point)
Thank thee for my toys.
Thank thee for the spirit.
Help us to listen to the spirit.
Help us to do what is right.
Thank thee that Jesus can make our "boo-boos" better.
Help us to listen to the spirit. (He adds this again)
Help us not to punch anybody. (I wonder who that's for!)
Thank thee that Jesus loves us so much and we love Jesus.
Help us to be kind and nice.
Thank thee for my mommy and daddy and Jacen and Linnea.
Thank thee that Jesus loves us and we can learn about him.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I repeated some of those things in my example. When Gavin prays he repeats certain things a lot. He is just so sweet and sincere and really praying to Heavenly Father. Their is a lot that we learn from our sweet, little four-year-old. Families are really here to enable us to help each other return home. My children help me as much as I ever help them. I'm so grateful to them.

The kids had a week off for fall break so after dentist appointments, and after Achievement Day night and Scouts, we headed to Coalinga to visit grandparents. We hadn't been there since May so it was a trip long overdue. (It's so unbearably hot in the summer, we encourage them to come and visit us). The kids were so thrilled to go and one of the things at the top of their list to do was ride Grama Shirley's horses. One horse she actually bought just for her grandkids to ride; it's name is Promise. They all rode and fed them carrots. Even though it started to get quite dark, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Gavin feeding the horse a carrot.
Linnea leads Gavin on the horse with a rope.
Linnea with the horse.


Gavin was so funny. He told us that he was a real cowboy and loved wearing a cowboy hat and boots. He had a rope that he made into a kind of lasso and was determined to rope something with it to then ride. The goats in the nearby kennel did the trick. He did get one!


Jacen feeding the horse.

Twilight

I know I am late getting on this band wagon! I started reading Harry Potter when the 4th book came out to see what all that commotion was about so I was very late there too. I guess most of my excuse is that I had such a long list of books to read before this one and that is in between my required reading for my literature classes. (The class I am taking now; however, requires only short stories.) I just finished reading Orson Scott Card's Rachel and Leah (for like the third time--and exasperated that he hasn't written the sequel yet!!!) and still need to read Brisinger but decided to read Twilight first. I am well into it now in the few hours I have started it and wondering if my family will eat for the next little while. It's so good. At least, getting started on these things late has it's advantages, the books are already written! I don't have to wait. Anyway, if anyone has any good books to add to my list of ones to get to, please feel free to let me know. In the meantime, you know where I'll be--wrapped up in the romance of Edward and Bella.

Lovers Point PG

Sometimes as parents, we realize that to keep our sanity we must pack up and leave our house to get the kids out and moving about. This was one of those times. We had enjoyed watching conference immensely but it was about all the sitting still our kids could handle and we walked to Lovers Point to bask in the beauty Heavenly Father created in our part of the world.
We climbed up the huge rock pile at the tip of Lovers point and watched some surfers catching waves, saw a shark, and watched in awe of the beautiful ocean.
If you look out at the end of the point, you can see the rock pile that the kids love to climb on. It looks kind of small in the picture but is actually pretty large and great for stretching their legs and getting out a little energy.
Albert is pointing out the seagull to Gavin. Kinda funny....we don't like them so much when they sneak up and steal our picnic on the beach!
Linnea and Gavin relaxing in the soft grass at Lovers Point.

I'm so grateful for my family and I love them so much and love our little outings in which to enjoy their company more fully. I'm also so grateful to live in the most amazingly beautiful part of Earth. I am in constant awe of its beauty and grandeur as I look out over the ocean.

#4

Yes, you saw that right... #4! Are we crazy? I think so. We are excited, crazy parents though. I just found out and haven't even been to the doctor yet, but I am about 5 weeks along and my due date will be around June 5th. I'm apprehensive about being pregnant again. At least I know what to expect but it seems harder with three other children to take care of and my last pregnancy, I swear, I had every symptom in the book! It seems each pregnancy gets a little harder in that way. Please give me some advice if you have any!! And if you don't, you can give me some sympathy as I will be sick as a dog for the next few months.