We got in!!!

I just got off the phone with the elementary school we have been trying to get Logan admitted to and we are in! Currently we are set for PM kindergarten, but they have me on the waiting list in case an AM spot opens. (Which I think would be best for me personally...)

Since we realized Logan would be starting Kindergarten shortly (about a year and a half ago), Steven and I have been trying to decide what to do. You see, Logan isn't your typical kindergartner. He reads at about a 1st grade reading level. He already knows lots of addition and subtraction facts (in fact, dad has started in on multiplication because Logan just soaks it up.) He would be so bored in a "typical" class.

Plus the elementary schools in our area suck. Don't get me wrong...Kim had great teachers, but the administration just sucked. The principal (from what I'm told) is just "serving her time" until she can get a cushy job. When we had to contact them about a boy in Kim's class that should have been allowed in the classroom, we didn't get much help. And when I inquired about testing for admittance to the challenge program at the middle school I was given totally wrong information and I'm still peeved about that. So as you can see, I just couldn't go through that all over again.

We thought about homeschooling. Which would have been ideal because we could go at his pace and cover things that really interested him in depth. But I just feel there is such an important social aspect to school that I couldn't imagine doing without. He would miss out on so much. I think of middle school and high school sports. I think of prom and school clubs. Not to mention, working in a group environment you learn problem solving skills that could be transferred to the workplace.

But my main fear...Logan is such an easy going kid and not hard to get along with, but he is happy in his own little world and doesn't go searching for friends...I feared that if he was homeschooled, he would socially awkward. That weird kid that doesn't understand what is going on in the world. Not quite understanding how to get along with other people on different levels. Not knowing about the new "in" thing...even if he doesn't get to buy one, at least he would know about it.

So after much discussion and some prayer, we looked into our options and discovered this magnet school. With a math and science based approach. Perfect for our little engineer. We submitted our application and crossed our fingers (while formulating a back-up plan.) So imagine my dismay when we got a letter saying we didn't make it in from the lottery and we on the waiting list. I mourned a little and looked harder at my back-up plan.

So imagine my excitement when I got the call saying we were in. I'm so juiced! I can now plan. I know we will start school August 22nd. Now I just need to find out if we are AM or PM for sure and talk to my boss about arranging my work schedule. Worse case scenario, we aren't able to work out a schedule at work and I just fill in for people...or work Saturdays...or just quit.

But at least we got in!!! All the rest will fall into place according to the plan that is meant for my family...guess we'll see what that happens to be in a few months at the latest.

Happy 1st Birthday Evan!

Here I was a year ago today....the proud mother of my 4th child. My precious 3rd little boy. My last baby. (Luckily, I'm not that fat anymore...but because I'm still "nursing" I am still fat.)


Not too happy to be away from mom. (I guess things haven't changed too much.)


A close up of that adorable, fat little, smooshie face.


Fast forward to the present day...My little man turned 1 yesterday! It has been a bittersweet occasion for me. While I'm excited that he is growing and developing, I'm sad that my last little baby isn't a baby anymore. Tell me that isn't the cutest 1 year old...I dare you!


Steven took the day off work to celebrate. The day started off with cinnamon rolls for breakfast, along with a big cup of whole milk...which he slowing liking more and more. Then off for pictures and some shopping. Then his free Iceberg birthday milkshake...sure, Steven and I are eating most of it, but he will get a little. Nikki and the kids came over for dinner, dessert and presents...

Here is Evan with the traditional 1st birthday pizza dinner.

Here is Steven's "artist interpretation" (which means setting the camera on the table and taking pictures "lazy man" style) of Evan eating dinner. Look at that intensity...


Here is Evan mad that the pizza is gone and dad is taking way too long decorating his cake...So he decided to play with the table cloth.


Ah, finally the cake is here. He didn't waste any time before diggin' in...


Remember the other boys and their 1st birthday candle? (Logan touched the flame, burnt himself and cried. Owen touched the flame, didn't care and moved onto the cake.) Evan dug into the cake covering his fingers in frosting and then used them to extinguish the candle. Such a smart little boy!


Double fistin' the cake...first the right....


Then the left...


Then a good smooshin' handful...


The cake is now gone...what do you have for me now?


Oh, yeah...the red velvet cake ice cream (yes, Neelie...you heard me right.) OH...so delicious! Highly recommend it. Blue Bunny brand.


On to the fun part...opening presents. Here he is unwrapping the race car from mom and dad.


Then the "wheelie" cars from Logan and Owen. Notice the ramp box in the back...surely the best toy of the day since all the kids were climbing over each other to play with it. (Don't say anything, it might embarrass her, but I even caught Kim playing with it earlier today.)


Here are all the kids crowding around the birthday boy wanting to hand him presents or help open them. (John, Logan, Owen and Evan are checking out the cars...Katelyn looking at her present a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD...which BTW, we watched last night and AGAIN today.)


Here is Evan enjoying his present from Kimmy. A Squeaker, I mean Rattle...don't ask.

Thanks for all the presents. Thanks to the Richardsons for coming over and celebrating with with us. (Plus watching my little bedlam-ities, so Steven and I could step out for a little while during nap time.) It was a wonderful day for all!

Happy Birthday my Sweet Baby Boy!

Meridian Idaho Temple

For those you who listened to conference Saturday morning you heard the awesome announcement about the temple that is going to be built in Meridian Idaho. I am so excited! You don't even know. This is like an answer to my unofficial prayers...let me tell you the story.

The end of December, I was driving with my family over to Idaho Falls for my cousin's wedding. My dad wanted to stop by the Twin Falls temple since he hasn't been there yet. As we were driving by and I looked at that magnificent building I was a little sad we didn't make it to the open house...keep in mind here that I was 9 months pregnant, it was the middle of August and it was a 2 hour drive EACH way...so you can probably understand why we didn't go, but I was still a little sad.

You see, I understand the importance of the temple in our lives here and our future in the worlds to come. I appreciate and honor the covenants that I made in the temple many years ago. I would like for my children to have a greater understanding and appreciation for the temple then I did when I was younger. (Not that my parents didn't do their best job trying to teach me, but when you live an hour and a half drive from the temple, you don't take your kids to visit as often as you might like.) I think this bond with the temple is most important in these latter days, especially in this world where the family and the church don't seem as important...where black and white are taking on all shades of gray.

I want my children to love the temple, to want to enter the temple, to live worthy to step foot inside when the time comes.

I yearn to take my children inside the House of the Lord so they can see the beauty and sacredness of the temple. I want them to feel the spirit as we walk into the celestial room or the sealing room. And I want them to want to feel that feeling again and again as they return.

So, I thought to myself, it would be nice if they would build a temple close enough that we could take the children to the open house. Then I thought to myself, I live 10 miles from a temple...they aren't going to build one anywhere near where I live. But I silently wished that I could take my children to see the inside of a temple.

So imagine my surprise and utter delight while listening to conference when the announcement of a temple in Meridian was made. I about jumped out of my chair! Steven guesses they might construct it around the Ten Mile Overpass which is a mere mile-ish south of my house. Imagine walking to the temple! Or they could build it out in north Meridian, which still isn't very far...maybe a ten minute drive at most. You don't even know how excited I am...okay...maybe from reading this post you might get an idea of how excited I am.

I can't wait for them to announce where it will be. I also can't wait to see what it will look like....

This is my current temple, the Boise Idaho temple:


Now don't get me wrong, but I'm not a huge fan of the look of this temple. It is beautful as a House of the Lord, but it just doesn't touch my heart like some of the other temples...


The Oakland temple...where Steven and I were sealed almost 6 years ago. Look at those palm trees and the absolutely awesome fountain and "stream-thing". Beautiful....


Or the Sacramento temple. Where Kimberley was sealed to our family October 13, 2006 and our lives became whole and complete. It is my current favorite temple....


But the Logan temple (which yes, is where we got the name for our 1st son) is what I secretly hope the Meridian temple will look like. Guess we will just have to wait a little longer and see....

PS...These gorgeous antiqued temples pics are from Lil Luna. Just another of the million craft projects that one day I will get to.