Birthdays

Kate is becoming quite the talker lately. It is so fun and always puts a smile on my face. About a month ago, we attempted to put her in a toddler bed and then decided not to rush it. She was kind of a stinker about going down. I remember one night the kids were all in bed and I was in the loft. Kate starts calling from the bedroom, " MOM, Becca needs you." Pretty soon it turned to , "MOM, Emma needs you." It's funny what kids will think of to get you in the room.
Evan is loving Kindergarten. He is constantly asking what everything around him spells. One day while we were doing homework, Kate told me how to spell her name - K-O-A-O-5. Maybe we'll have to start calling her Koao. We have a neighbor named Kate who is 4 years old. So, my Kate has always been "Baby Kate." Lately she's been reminding people that she's NOT Baby Kate, she's KATIE.
Emma is doing well. She loves pretty much everyting except playing the piano. Today she told me the ONLY thing she wants for Christmas is a guitar and that she doesn't want to play the piano anymore. She loves school. She is a little OCD about doing her homework, but I guess that's better than NOT doing it. She's really enjoying gymnastics and is super close to doing the splits all the way - ouch!
Becca loves soccer this year. She wasn't sure she wanted to play again this year, but decided to play one more season. I'm so glad she had fun. She hated to sit out a quarter when it was her turn to. I love it when the kids find things that they really enjoy doing. Becca and Emma both got roller blades for their birthdays and they are roller blading maniacs now. Every spare minute they are wearing them. Even if we are going somewhere really quick, they'll put them on. They skate around the kitchen all the time. We do have a No Roller Blades on at Dinnertime rule. But, they'll usually slip them on afterwards for cleanup.
Carter is doing well. He was asked to give his first talk in Sacrament meeting this sunday. He was so excited, he almost seemed giddy. Then he found out that a high-councilman was speaking and they don't need a youth speaker, so he'll have to wait a few weeks longer. Carter still swims. He enjoys it. He loves band. He has a GREAT band director and is really enjoying middle school.
Well, that's it for now. Tomorrow is Saturday, but we had today and yesterday off of school for Veterans day and a furlough day. I decided that I really like having 3 Saturdays. It's fun to have the kids home - and then it's also fun when they go back to school. :)


Here are some pictures from recent birthdays.


Becca turned 10.

Emma turned 8.

Carter turned 12. He wanted a temple cake for his birthday. It was quite the ordeal. Jon experimented with fondant, not really knowing what he was doing. It turned out! However we decided that it kind of looks like how the temple may look after a major earthquake - still strong and standing, but weathering a few cracks here and there and maybe standing a tich crooked. :)

My favorite part was the Angel Moroni that he carved out of yellow chocolate during the drive to Utah. Don't worry - I was driving. It took him a long time to get it just right and then while I was helping him put the fondant on the cake, I accidentaly broke Angel Moroni's arm off. It was kind of funny. Maybe because it was so late at night. Luckily it was pretty easy to stick back on by melting it a little.

Here is Carter on his birthday with some of his cousins. I thought it was neat that he wanted to go to Utah for his 12th birthday and attend Priesthood Session with his dad, grandpa, and uncles. I'm grateful he has such good examples all around him!