Some very sweet little people love me!

And I love them.

(The flowers and the little people!)

I Love to See the Temple...

...I'm going there today!

Ever since Brandt was little I looked forward to the day that I would be able to take him to the temple with me.  I love to go to the temple and feel the peace it has to offer and, probably like most parents, want my children to feel that wonderful spirit there and enjoy going to the temple as well.  It took us a few months to get here after Brandt had his 12th birthday, but we finally made it!  Now Brandt wants to go every week.  I am so happy that he has such a strong spirit and testimony to know what is right. 

Tubes

Most people know that Odette is little.

Just a little over 20 pounds.

She is the cutest, smartest, most lovable 20 pounds anyone could ever have.

I think she would be more if she didn't keep getting sick.

Ear infections are the worst.

She will quit eating for the full two weeks of antibiotics.

I am sure she loses weight then.

So, the solution the GI doctor and I came up with...

Put tubes in her ears.

Maybe she will have less infections.

Maybe she will continue to eat.

Maybe then she will gain weight.

So we are going to try and see if it works.

February 2nd is the big day.

I'd say wish her luck, but I know she doesn't need luck.

She is an amazing child!

Calories

Nutella is Odette's new favorite food.  

If you can call it that.

At 100 calories per tablespoon I am glad she loves it! Yummy!!

Ice Skating

I remember as a kid I loved to go ice skating. 

I was so very excited when Hopekids was given the opportunity by Noah's to ice skate. 

It was on the third floor of the building.

It was the perfect night.

The kids actually were very good at it considering it was there first time.

There wasn't skates small enough for Odette.

However her sparkly shoes were just slippery enough and she "skated" all over the ice.

Kathleen thought it was so awesome and decided this is what she wants to do for her birthday.  (Where do you ice skate in April?)

Josselyn made many friends as she stood still with her arms out and slowly slid around.

Brandt was quite sore by the end, but didn't complain the next day of sore ankles so it mustn't have been too bad.

DI find

The kids have been saying that they want a "cool" and fancy sled.  One day while wandering around the DI while waiting for kids who were at an activity, the little girls and I found this boat.  It was the perfect cool sled--at least for the littlest children.  The older kids think it is pretty cool as well.  The best part was the day we got it, it had just snowed a ton, so I pulled them out of the store in it and all through the parking lot.  They were giggling and had the hugest smiles ever!  We had to make a few trips around the parking lot before putting it in the car.  Now, to try to sled down our hill with it!

Piggies!

Odette actually wanted me to put her hair up in piggies today, with her pretty purple flowers she got from Grandma for Christmas.  They didn't last very long.  I need to find some elastics that are a little more tricky to remove.  However, she was very cute in her piggies!

Genetics

One of these kids is just like her mother.  

The other three are more like their father.

Bright Future

YOUR FUTURE IS AS BRIGHT AS YOUR FAITH

May you all have a very Bright New Year!