First day in pre-school

Today was Sophia's first day in pre-school.  At home before school, she cried telling me that she didn't want to go.  Her tearful pleading just about broke my heart!  So we offered a prayer for comfort and then I told her that now Heavenly Father was with her.  She calmed down and off we went.  At school she initially clinged to me then once her teacher guided her to the painting station, she was in!  She braved the whole day at school and had a fun time.  She's such a trooper!!

After school, she had a special treat.  The book and swag (goodies) I won from a book contest on her birthday finally came in yesterday.  So we had a make-up session.  She was ecstatic!!  She loved her extra birthday treat.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

For these and abundantly more, I thank my Heavenly Father.

I love you family and friends.

Here's another one just for fun:

"May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump, may your potatoes and gravy have never a lump. May your yams be delicious and your pies take the prize... AND may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs!" ~Anonymous

Tom the Service Turkey

David:  "Mom, are you going to read in your room?
"Me:  "I could.  Why?
"David:  "Because... I can't tell you."
Me:  "OK, I'm almost done here then I'll go read in my room."
David:  "Will you tell me when you're going?
Me:  "All right."

David was eager for me to go to my room.  Apparently he wanted me away from the kitchen.  I knew it had something to do with a church service.  I had seen the handout that he received (picture above). 

In my room, Sophia slipped and told me what David was up to.  He was washing the dishes!  I was kinda nervous thinking I'd probably have a mess to clean up after him, but then I thought ... how precious is this?!  He is applying what he learned in church and is doing a random act of secret service for someone ...me!  What a wonderful boy.

So later I go to the kitchen to find Tom the Service Turkey on the kitchen counter. 

David:  "Surprise Mom!  I washed the dishes."

Me:  "Wow, that's great.  Thank you!  You did a great job too.  Thanks Son."

David:  "You're welcome.  It was the second hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life!"

Me:  "Oh.  What was the first?"

David:  "The time I tried not to scream on the roller coaster."

Me:  "Huh?  Not to scream?"

David:  "Yeah, a long time ago with Kuya Blake.  We were in a scary roller coaster and I was trying not to scream."

Me:  "Okay."

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, today I am thankful for the Church's Primary program that teaches principles centered in Christ.  Thank you Primary teachers for the care you take to impart those fundamentals.

Birthday party at the park

This past Saturday we had Sophia's birthday party at our local park.  It turned out to be a beautiful sunny-windy day.  An especially wonderful setting for the kids.  They had fun playing in the playground (not pictured) and at the wide open field.  We had the usual festivities ... grub, talking and laughing, games, pinata, birthday cake, and presents (opened at home).  Overall, a wonderful family fun afternoon.  ~Unable to make the party but sent their love and regrets were:  my dad, my sister, my brothers and their kids, and Auntie Tish.

Thank you family for celebrating Sophia's birthday with us.  We had a terrific time.  You are awesome!!

Couldn't find my still camera so these pictures were taken from my cell phone camera.

P.S.  Our prayers are with you Aunt Debbie!

Sophia is 4

Hip hip hooray, today is Sophia's special day!!  She is 4 years old.  Happy birthday Princess!!

Here's a glimpse of her day.

 She was happy to wake up to birthday balloons

I won nail polish & signed bookmarkers, so Sophia and I had fun painting our nails blue!

While Lil David was in school, the rest of the fam went to IHOP for breakfast.

She's sporting an Auntie Monica smile here.

 Then her daddy had to go to work so off the two lil ones & I to Toys R Us for shopping.

Ahh, Auntie Tish influence going on here.

 She ended up picking a jewelry making set ...Lola influence?

Whew, that was tiring!

Sleepy look like Grandma Bertha or Aunt Sheila.

 After picking up her Kuya from school, off to Chick-fil-A for lunch and play

(Not pictured): Then lil David wanted to go to the dollar store to get presents for his sister.

Sophia chose a Dora hairbrush & a piggy puppet.

 Birthday cake time!

A simple family celebration.  Then coming Saturday, a birthday party in her honor will take place at our local park and another trip to Sea World by the end of the year.

WE LOVE YOU DEARLY SOPHIA!

Trunk or Treat

This past Saturday, the kids and I went to our church's annual Trunk or Treat + chili and cornbread dinner.  We had fun though we miss Daddy (he was at work)

PREPARATIONS AT HOME:

WARMING UP FOR THE T or T:

 Someone (lil David) put Steven in the car without shoes (and I didn't check) so I had to sit him in a stroller

THERE THEY GO!:

COSTUME PARADE TIME:

~I know, I need a much better camera!  Oh well.