The Latest Stuff

We've been busy lately. Here's an update on some of our stuff:

Travis--He's been busy traveling all over the country! Utah, Virginia, Georgia. Taking care of business for Mantis & Huntsman Wildlife. This was his last week of traveling, so things should be less crazy...well until April. Yikes! We all miss him when he's gone and there is a huge difference when he's not here. He gets in this afternoon, can you say Pizza & Movie night tonight!! Yay! He's also been playing racquetball with a good friend of ours at the Y, and enjoying that. He wishes he had more time to play sports, but he always gives his free time to the family.

Nichole--I've been busy with the kids and all their activities. Trying to learn my new calling and loving the people I get to work with. Slacking on my scripture study, but promising to do better. Gaining an even stronger testimony of the power of scripture & prayer. Thinking up some fun questions for our blog, I'm going to videotape and interview everyone in the family about our favorite things. I want to do this each year as a record of how we all change.

Cole--Loving his writing class at Author Squad. He's currently working on a story called "Nut". It's about a world traveling peanut who visits different countries. His first trip is to Paris, where he mets "Brad the French Bread" at a "Nose Shoppe". Apparently Nut has no nose and he's at the shop to "pick his nose". Brad says "Gross, don't pick your nose." Nut says, "What I need a nose?" Brad replies,"Oh, I thought you were piiiiicking your nose." Nut says, "I don't have a nose!!" His stories crack me up. We love reading the things he writes, and know he has a special gift for writing. Cole's also schleping through his piano practice/lessons. Not really loving it, but doing it anyway. He says, "I don't like doing this, and I'm quitting as soon as I can play all the hymns." Good, we're on the same page. :)

Paige--She's had a bunch of fun activities in Kindergarten lately. There was the teddy bear parade, we had to make a snowman from things at home, and on the 101 day of school Cruella Daville came to her class (we made a dalamation t-shirt with a collar, and felt ears she wore over her ponytails...cutiepie!!). One of my favorite days was when she got to wear her favorite dress to school for the letters Q & U's wedding. Today she's on a field trip visiting the fire station. Lot's of details for Mom to remember. Thank goodness for calendars! Paige is an excellent student and very helpful to her friends. She loves to play on the piano, and has made up a song that's very pretty. Her little fingers play that song up and down the piano. She really has a gift for music. That's one of those talents where I can see it's a fundamental part of her, a gift from God.

Lily--What can I say about Lu. She's my cute little chica. Always with me, helping out. In the kitchen, if I'm making chicken noodle soup, Lily's making chicken noodle soup. I can hear the sound of the chair sliding over to the counter right now. Yesterday, I was making rolls and she was helping me butter them. She's going to be a great cook one day. One thing that scares me about her is how dang smart she is. She's got smarts and tenacity. Which is a great combination for life, but requires me to step-up my parenting game. Another sweet thing I've noticed about Lu, is her ability to comfort people when they're sad. Grace has had the flu the past couple days, and Lily is constantly bringing her juice, or teddy bears, or a blanket. Then patting her on the head and saying "This is what Mommy's do" That makes me feel so happy :) I'm sure she'll be an awesome mommy one day.

Grace--She's our social butterfly. The other day at the YMCA childwatch, she was playing with a little boy. They've both been going there since they were 6 weeks. They were lifting up their shirts showing their bellies and then laughing. That was sweet. She's had the flu the past couple days, so we've been home. But, even when she's sick, she has a sweet temperment. Just needing a little extra TLC. As far as some of her favorite activites, there are three things she loves to do everyday. First, dump out the catfood, and maybe eat some, if she's hungry (ewwwww). Second, pull out all the tupperware (which is in a cabinet with a rubberband around the handles, that lil' helper Lily always removes for her) Third, go up to my bathroom, toddle over to my drawers, remove things and then toddle over to the garbage can. Lift the lid, dump the stuff, repeat. Then I have to fish them out, gross!

So that's what we've been up to lately. If you read this whole post you must be a grandparent! If not, wow, you really are a good friend. Hope everybody is doing well!