The Week

Reading and playing:

Monday night for FHE we went caroling to some of our friends and neighbors.  We brought them plates of cookies.  We had fun.  My children learned a lesson, but I’m not sure who I feel about it.  One of our neighbors was so overcome with us caroling – “Nobody does this anymore” and then our gift of a whole plate of cookies, that they bought us by a gift card for $25 to a local ice cream store.  The kids were delighted!  “Caroling does pay off!” (Although I think it was Jason that said that!)   I was saddened that we as a people have forgotten each other.  We live such busy lives we don’t take time for our fellow man.  Hmm….something else to ponder.

Jason finished his project – the new entertainment center is complete.  He asked a brother from the ward to help him with the angle cuts (he had the proper saw) and then Jason finished the assembly.  He stained it and put everything back together.  Viola!  One non-functioning fireplace to protect one little girl’s delicate lungs becomes an entertainment center.  It looks really nice Jason!

Oh Sammi – how much you have changed in one year!  We had her eye exam on Monday.  A little shocking – her new ophthalmologist used to cut my Mom’s grass.  Time flies!  He’s now married with five kids and is our new Ophthalmologist.   Anyway, Sammi’s prescription has doubled (for the worse).  On top of that, she was diagnosed with mild scoliosis at her last check-up with her pediatrician.  Puberty is taking it’s toll.

 

 

The girls have discovered a new game site that they like.  We have to keep reminding them their real family must take priority over their virtual families!  The girls have enjoyed playing with friends – and with Daddy while he is off for two weeks.

Croup has hit our Joy – hoping it’s short lived!

Santa Claus wrote back to Lizzy!!  Truly – it came in the mailbox.  So cool!  She was thrilled!  We were all so excited!  Even the nurse believes now!

Hanging around!

On Wednesday night the Howards were able to come and visit us.  We watched Scrooge and talked.  Poor Shasta should be having their newest any day now.  Very exciting!

Becca went to see a special eye doctor to see if there is a physical reason she hates to read.  We learned that her eyes are focusing about 2 inches in front of the reading material.  Her depth perception is wrong.  This creates a hard and tiring reading situation.  Consequently, she is reading at about 110 words per minute and she needs to be at about 215 for her grade level.  So we have come up with a plan to help her eyes re-train.  I sense some headaches coming on for our girl.  But the finish line will be very rewarding.

Thursday Jason’s sisters, Danielle and Marissa, came over with their kids to visit.  I forgot to grab my camera until after Danielle left.  It was nice to see the Turpin cousins (almost all of them) together.

Playing and getting ready for the Christmas Eve party with my family:

The Last Week Before the Break

Reading and baking.

Playing and getting treats from friends

Looking at the lights for Family Home Evening

Being silly and practicing music:

Sammi played the opening hymn in Young Women and Becca had TWO Orchestra Concerts this week.  The second night she brought a pillow and lots of homework to keep her busy while she wasn’t performing.

 

Bec and Sam had a White Elephant Exchange in Joint YW/YM – it’s really weird for me to see Sammi on Wednesday nights.  I’ll get used to it, I think. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the medical world, five of the girls had dental check-ups.  Only three cavities to fix in January.  Bella had two procedures done downtown – a swallow study on Monday and a small surgery on Friday.

 

 

Writing to Santa and PJ Day at school:

Playing and enjoying each other:

Lizzy’s gift for us from school – a 2011 calendar complete with drawings for each month.

I, for one, was grateful when Friday was over.  All the teacher gifts had been delivered.  Bella’s procedures were all done.  It was a very busy and very stressful week for me.

 

 

 

Saturday Jason and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary.  18 years!  That’s a long time.  It means two things : we are old and we have been married a really long time.  We ate lobster and dreamed of our dream vacation in two years to Maine.  We talked about our years together and wondered what the future holds for us.

I am grateful that Jason has been the man by my side for these past eighteen years.  Whatever life has brought us, the good and the bad, I’ve had him to depend on and lean on.  I feel like we are two different people with our own individual capacities, but together we can handle so much more.  I am grateful for the confidence, trust, and faith in I have in Jason.  He is a good man.  I am grateful that he is my companion through this journey.

Cars – the Toyota got hit on the street, so a little body work was needed, plus the annual inspection and oil change plus the 30,000 mile tune-up.  Then the van needed a little work and an oil change and a safety inspection.  Then we came home from our anniversary date to find the back tire flat.  An expensive car weekend! 

 

Discovering Christmas and eating candy canes:

Jessi is working on her Faith in God.  She read D&C 89 and then had to teach us about it.  So she made us a game.  What Jason and I loved was that all six of our girls were in the room together!