The Flu, Preschool, and a Bad Case of Stripes?

It's been a while since I've updated the happenings around our house. It seems like the second half of February was busy and crazy. The day after the President Day holiday, Megan came down with the flu. It was a long week at home taking care of her, and making sure the rest of us didn't catch it! She is getting excited to start Young Womens in a couple of months, and was able to attend New Beginnings and a Girls Camp preparation meeting.

We have also had 2 more snow days over the past 3 weeks. That now makes 4 days for the kids to make up at the end of the year. It was fun the first couple of times, but now it's getting really old. We're ready for Spring!

Sammy had a great accomplishment this week. She passed off her 300 sight words at school. They are testing an accelerated kindergarten program at our elementary school this year, and learning 300 words by the end of the year is part of that. She is becoming an excellent reader, and is starting to read some chapter books, as well as reading us verses in the Book of Mormon.

Noah and I went and got him signed up for preschool next year. He will be going to the same preschool that Sammy went. He is so excited that he would start tomorrow if I would let him. I don't know how I will feel about my baby going to school, even if it is only twice a week.
If you have ever read the book, "A Bad Case of Stripes", we were wondering if Sammy has a secret love for lima beans!

Why is it that they only want to do chores when they don't have any, and then when you actually give them chores, they kick and scream about it?

Valentine's Day

Around our house you would have thought that Valentine's Day is right up there with Christmas. I didn't have to wake anyone up in the morning, Megan and Sammy were up and dressed by 6:45. Sammy came in and woke us up! They both had to wear outfits that looked Valentiney (is that even a word?). And they were even excited to go to school, although for 2 different reasons. Sammy was looking forward to her class party. Megan however was secretly hoping that there might be a boy harboring a secret crush on her that would choose to pronounce his undying love to her through some sort of Valentine surprise. Mike and I had to quickly brief her on how boys are a little slower than girls are to have interest in the opposite sex (I am so not ready for all of this!). Noah was also excited to have a little party at his play group. Anyway, Sammy and Noah both had fun at their parties, and Megan was disappointed to realize that her parents actually know what they are talking about. They were however excited to have their Secret Admirers leave them a little treat on our doorstep after school. Valentine's is a fun day to show a little extra love to those around us. I'm glad that the kids get caught up in it!

The things they learn in Primary!

Noah took the big step at Church at the start of the year from Nursery to Primary. So far he has been loving it, and always comes home and tells us what he has learned. One of the lessons he had a few weeks back was about how we have a body, and that our body has a spirit. Apparently that lesson really hit home to him...

Tonight before bed we kept asking him to clean up his room. After about 15 minutes he didn't seem to be making much progress, so I went in to see what was taking him so long. He was just standing in the middle of his room doing nothing, with the mess all around him. I asked him why he wasn't cleaning. To this he said, "My legs aren't working - my spirit is asleep." How's that for trying to get out of room cleaning? What else could I do but crack up, and then of course help him clean!

Snow Days

Okay, so all of you from Utah try not to laugh. Last week we got a "Big" winter storm here. We are talking 3 or 4 inches! Because we knew this "Big" storm was on its way, school was cancelled before the snow even started falling. And then after the storm was over they cancelled school again for the next day because it might be slick on the roads the next morning. We realized we had lived in Arkansas too long when Sammy asked Mike how he was going to get to work that morning! Oh well, the kids enjoyed the little break, and loved being able to play in the snow again. I'll never be able to get over some of these funny little Arkansas things!

2 Years in Arkansas

As of January 26th we have officially been in Arkansas for 2 years. I can't believe it - the time has actually gone by so fast. And although we still miss our family and friends so much, we really have come to like it here (with the exception of all the crazy tornados!). We have made some new great lifelong friends, which has made it so much more tolerable. I can't believe how much we have all grown - especially the kids!

2 years ago

Now!

Stefani the Blogger?

Well, after some encouragement and persuasion from my friends, Amy and Alissa, I have decided to try and keep a blog of our adventures in Arkansas. Amy made it her project to create this awesome blog page for me, so I guess I owe it to her to use it. Thanks Amy!!

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