Deep Thoughts By Chase

I don't know about anyone else, but bed time tends to be the time my kids like to talk (and generally thats the time I'm DONE talking, and just need some peace and quiet!)  The other night, I went in to tuck Chase in and the questions just poured out...

"Who made the rule that you have to wear garments?"

"Where do you buy them?"

"So, you just need to go buy some right before you go to the temple?"

"When I decide to ask someone to marry me, are we supposed to kiss when she says yes?"

"What if she doesn't want to get married in the temple, but I do?"

"So, I just break up with her if she won't?"

"What if we decide to get married in the temple, and I'm there waiting for her but when she's in the car her mom and dad call her and say that all of her friends are at the house, and they want her to get married there?"

"What if we get married and have kids, but then she wants to break up, but I don't.  Then while I'm sleeping she just leaves and takes the kids?  What would I do when I woke up?"  (I didn't have any answer for this one except, "you'd get right on your knees and ask Heavenly Father to help you")"

"Mom, that would really break my heart"

ME:  "Chase, all you need to worry about is who you're going to play with tomorrow"

Seriously.  I know its important to communicate with your kids, but these questions are just way to heavy for me.  I'm sure he felt much better, but I went to bed with all sorts on anxiety!

Oh, and one last thing...a couple of weeks ago I was driving him to basketball, and he said,

"Mom, there's just one thing that I really really really want to know.  If I knew who made Heavenly Father, then I wouldn't have to worry about that anymore.  I wish I just knew.  Then I could tell other people.  Like, if he was made from dust, where did the dust come from?"

I really could write a book of all the things Chase talks and thinks about, I wish I remembered all of it.  He brings so much joy and excitement into our home.  LOVE HIM!!

ALBERT

Logan's big school project this year was the sixth grade wax musem.  He's been working on it since the beginning of the school year.  Last week was the big night!  He wrote and memorized a two minute speech as Albert Einstein.  He also had to dress up like him, set up a space with props having to do with Albert.  One of the favorites wat Einsteins brain in a jar made from cauliflower. 

Each kid had to think of a way for people to walk through and "bring them to life".  Logans was to have people turn on the tv to start his speech.  He had a lot of fun and has an amazing teacher...loving sixth grade!

 

Happy New Year!

OUCH

On Christmas break, Carly and Chase were winding up in a blanket standing up (with their arms tucked in), when they both went down with Chase on top sending Carly's head right into the metal legs of our lamp table.  I was sitting right on the couch when it happened so I knew immediately by the sound that it would be bad.  I rushed her upstairs, and sure enough, uncontrollable bleeding with a huge gash.  To the instacare we went!  She was doing okay until they said the word STAPLES.  She lost it...insert sobbing.   Turns out the thought of staples hurts a lot more than the actual staples :)  She got three and was good as new...even better than new with the attention it got her!

Christmas

Christmas was a hit!  The highlight was definately having Franks mom and his brother Randy bring Toby over for a visit.  We had a nice Christmas dinner, and Anita even took a shot at the XBOX 360!  The kids were so excited to give Toby his new presents.  I was most excited about the new little "ugly boy sweater" we bought him!

 

 

So, they had a nice Christmas.  They got roller blades, golf clubs, karaokoe machine, among other things.  The XBOX 360 was a little controversial.  While I was at my moms making chocolates, I receive this text from Frank...

 

Frank:  Your stinking kids opened the box with the Xbox in it.

Suzanne:  Oh no!  What'd you say?  Did you tell them that Cade and Stacy had them delivered to us so their kids wouldn't see?

Frank:  Right.  I told them what any responsible parent would.  I told them I was takin it back.  I'm so mad about it I am really tempted to do it

 

So, when I talked to the kids that night, they were in tears.  They said the wish there was a time machine.  Apparently, the package came and Logan thought it was a free ipad he won off of instagram, so he and Chase opened it.  They tried to tape it up again when they saw what it was, but Frank noticed the different tape, and called them out on it!

 

Well, he gave it to them anyway (I knew he would)!...but that was our drama :)

 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was at my house this year.  We had my mom, dad, Kevin, and Stacy's family.  Here's how it went down:

Take-out Chinese dinner

Girls colored placemats that Stacy brought

 

Elves brought PJ's

Stacy helped the kids make cookies

for Santa and his Reindeer

We watched a few Christmas videos

I read the book "Tale of Three Trees", and we all sang songs that went with it.

 

We played the "Water Game"

 

We each took turns telling about our most memorable Christmas

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After the company left, our kids started up again on their annual tradition of building a fort in Carly's room to bunk in and be excited together about the day to come!

Family Photos

Frank can't justify spending money for professional family pictures every year (or any year for that matter), so this year we invited Stacy and her family over for Sunday dinner, and just happened to be dressed for pictures for her to take in the empty lot acrosst the street from our house!  Here are some of the favorites...

 

Thanks Stacy!

 

 

Jenson Christmas Party

The annual Jenson Christmas Party is the Sunday before Christmas at my parents house.  We have dinner with everyone, then head downstairs for the much anticipated talent show. 

 

Me and Logan sang "Christmas Bells are Ringing".  This picture is of me taking his hand for a grand bow.  He's a little embarrassed.

 

 

Chase doesn't get embarrassed.  It was his idea to mouth Christmas songs, and then let the audience guess what it was.  He typed up his whole script!

 

Carly and Hannah played violin while Rachel sand to the song "Jingle Bells".  Carly also danced to "Gundam Style"

My mom played a piano solo, my dad played the clarinet to "I Heard the Bells", Kevin sang a jazzy verision of "We Three Kings", Sienna did gymnastics, Hannah played the violin, Emma played "Away in a Manger" on the piano, Jason showed us all the ways he's double jointed, Sage sang "Up on the Housetop", Stacy and her kids sang, "No L", Tyler played "Jingle Bells" on the piano, Adam and Jason told a joke, and my personal favorite...Sadie sang "Santa's Going on a Diet", I sang "Tonight You are Mine", and Brad sang Kevin's version of "Send in the Clowns".

Then we watched a video of the nativity, and had the white elephant exchange.  It's a night my kids look forward to all year long!

Crepes

2nd Annual "Crepes with Friends"

 

Love these ladies...love this tradition!