Thursday, December 8, 2011

November at a glance

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I feel free to deck the hall and am so excited about it.  I can’t wait for Christmas!
But first I need to start the newsletter with Halloween.  I was was excited for it because Valin was getting old enough to really enjoy it, which is also a reason why I’m way excited for Christmas.  If you remember for the last newsletter, we went to the hospital the Saturday before Halloween and found out that Bosto had ear infections in both ears.  Valin was also getting a cough, but we carried on and went to our ward’s trunk and treat anyway.  Valin was “Woody” and Boston was the cutest bumble bee ever seen.  Since Halloween was on a Monday, our ward was torn between sticking to the Church handbook where it tells us not to plan church activities that would interfere with family home evening, and keeping the trunk and treat tradition.  So what we ended up doing was joining the chili feed and trunk and treat of the other ward we share the building with.  We all had fun and Valin just loved running around with all the other kids.  Then we were a little late getting our car into the right parking lot, so the trick or treators didn’t even make a dent into our candy bowl.  Valin did great asking for candy and he was such a sweetie and made sure that Boston would get some too.  He is such a wonderful older brother because he really does take care of her.  Once I was sharing my food with Boston and he asked me if I was being a good big brother.  He loves her so much.  
Next this month we had my friend Jessica Baum take some family pictures.  I’ve wanted some for a while since we didn’t take any last because Patxi was in Iraq.  I had planned it earlier, but it rained and Boston woke up with a fever.  And then we were to get snow later that week, so it was then or never.  It was such cold day and to top it off, both Valin and Boston had runny noses.  But we did it anyway, and dressed the kids in four different layers of clothing, and had kleenex to wipe their noses between poses.  Besides the cold wind, it was a beautiful day.  Boston was done about halfway through and Valin wouldn’t sit through much of anything (which is way we only got two good pictures of him).  So by the end, I was doubtful that we got good pictures.  But then Jessica put them online and on facebook and I think they turned out really well. 
Then, the next day Patxi was tickled pink to finally be able to buy some cows.  The was more unexpected paper work then from county program supplying the grant to up which was slowing up the process.  But this month he bought them, put them on Uncle Reed’s property, and came home smelling like them.  The smile on his face and the twinkle in his eye more than made up for the smell and tracked dirt into my house.  This whole week of Thanksgiving, Patxi has been feeding them since Uncle Reed was out of town and a few times he has brought the kids.  They loved the experience and Boston even almost said, “cows.” 
Next was stinking Daylight savings time.  When I was in high school, I thought it was great because I got to sleep in.  But with kids, it’s a totally different story.  On facebook, one of my friends put a picture of a man passed out on a cough with a captions of: “Day light Saving, a week of not getting enough sleep because kids and pets can’t read clocks.”  So for a week, Patxi and I were close to zombies.  Plus, who really like the fact that it gets dark at four o’clock? We were going to my parents for dinner one day and Valin commented that it was dark outside.  And then, with a yawn, he said, “I need to go to bed.”  And it was 4:30 in the afternoon!  
During the following week we had a Relief Society dinner which I helped plan since I was on the Relief Society board.  I’m over the lesson portion of our meetings and I had an idea to hand out a “Gratitude Journal” to everyone.  I told the sisters that gratitude can greatly increase our happiness and is a commandment from the Lord.  I share with them some personal experience and insight about gratitude I learn since Patxi was home.  When he came home, we were both totally blissed-out, absolutely beyond happy,  and I think one of the main reason was because we both felt appreciated by the other.  I wanted to keep that feeling so I determined to keep that gratitude for him.  So when he would track dirt into the house I would say to myself, “Well, at least he’s here.  At least he’s not in Iraq.”  And it would put things into perspective and my frustration would melt away as gratitude filled my heart.  After I shared this experience with the sister, I instructed them to write every night in the gratitude journals something that happen that day which they are grateful for.  I’ve been doing okay keeping the journal because i get pretty busy.  But when I have written, an amazing peace fills my soul and I am filled with appreciation for the wonderful things I have.  
That weekend, we watched William Shakespeare's “Richard III” that my father directed at the college.  He placed it in contemporary big business.  So instead of being about the throne and kingdoms, it was about being Richard trying to be CEO of a large company.  It was very interesting.  And then we went to Jacob Mitchell reception in Pilot Rock.  It was so beautifully decorated and they looked so happy. 
Then the next week we started potty training Valin.  It went so different then last time.  It’s amazing what eight months and a Lighting McQueen training toilet will make.  It took him wetting he’s pants twice and then he got it.  He even remembers to do it at his grandparents house.  He only now has trouble now get to the toilet for a BM.  I don’t know what to do to help him but to keep trying.  Any trick or advise to help, I am all ears!
Then next weekend we went to pilot rock for a visit, Patxi’s National Guard yellow ribbon, and so Peni and Dennis could babysit while we went to the temple.  I was little nervous because Valin had just a few days of potty training, but he was doing so well.  Anyway, everything went really well.  I decided not to go the yellow ribbon, which turned out to be a good thing because there was nothing for me to do.
Next was thanksgiving week.  My mother’s father came up from California which was a great achievement for my mother because he hates snow and well, we live in north eastern Oregon.  But he came anyway and he got to see both of my sisters and meet Boston for the first time.  She won him over in just a few minutes.  It was a great visit.  He took the kids to the store and bought their future Christmas and birthday presents.  He was very impressed at how quite and well behaved the kids were at the store.  I mostly think that’s because they are awesome kids and I’ve giving them lots of practice, because this last year, I had to take them to the store.  They got pretty excited about their gifts, and I was too.  He wanted to get us something for Christmas too, and I really didn’t know what to ask at first.  Then my vacuum decided to suck, or really stop sucking, so I asked him if he get us a vacuum and he did.  The rest of the week was filled with laughter and way too much food.  Patxi was stress for most of it because he had a 10 paged paper due the following Monday.  Which turned pretty stressful on Saturday because Patxi needed a full, undisturbed day to write his paper and my sisters and mother had planned a girl’s day in Boise so I needed to be with the kids.  So we scrambled around for an alternative option.  I stayed home and we went out to dinner as our girl’s night.  It worked out pretty good because I got to have dinner with Seren and her best friend Hannah.  It was so fun to see them.   

Thanksgiving 2011

This year, Thanksgiving was at the Wheelers and we all had a wonderful time!!!!

Food,


Food,


And more FOOD!




My Grandpa Lemmond (mother's father) visited us from California.  It was so great to see him.  He had never seen Boston, so I was so happy for his visit.  With Grandpa here, Patxi had someone to watch football with. :) 


It was so fun to be with family!  
We all had a great time!!!!