"Me This Many"

Vanna Banana is now THREE years old! It's hard to believe that much time has gone by since we had her. For weeks before her birthday she told most anyone who spoke to her that she was going to be "free". She'd first hold up two fingers and announce to them, "me two - an - me be this many". It was her way of saying, "right now I'm two and soon I'll be three". So her birthday finally came (Sunday) and I think she had such a good day:

Vanna's loot. She got many well wishes and cards from family, and grandparents even put money in their cards to her. She was so surprised to find that in them - thank you!

She got a new doll that came with it's own little diaper bag and accessories, change of clothes, etc. She plays such a good mother to that little baby - it's darling! She rocks it while singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" (just like we do to her), she tosses it in the air and catches it (just like we do to her), she gives it it's binkie when it's "cying", etc. She's so funny with it. Even Cash asked the other day, "Why does Vanna love her baby so much?!"

AND she got a trampoline! Actually this is the kids' combined birthday present and we opened it about a week early - we just couldn't resist when the days were so nice and the fact that Ty didn't have any other days off prior to Vanna's birthday (other than Sunday), in which to set it all up, played into it as well.

Can you see the gaping mouth and surprised look on Vanna's face when she first set eyes on it?! Cash was especially excited about the trampoline and was instantly doing tricks on it (he already lands on his knees and flips over, as well as doing a regular flip now - too crazy!). Vanna was a little more hesitant. At first, I had to be on the trampoline with her and she wouldn't bounce if Cash was at the same time. Then she was willing to hold on to the net and jump along with Cash. Now she has conquered her fear and is jumping all over with Cash, at the same time. They love it - and we knew they would!

It was funny though on Vanna's actual birthday, after opening her doll and chair, Cash said, "Where's the rest of Vanna's presents Mom, I'll go get them." I told him that this was all of Vanna's presents - to which he responded, "Just two?!" This immediately registered as a good indication that my kids are completely spoiled. :) I quickly reminded him of the huge trampoline they have outside and that it was part of Vanna's birthday as well as part of his own. He just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Oh."

The cake:

It's supposed to look like a present and whether or not it really looks like one is nearly irrelevant because I was so pleased with it simply for the reason that it ws so easy! And she blew out all three candles on the first try! Good job Vanna! May all your wishes come true!

Now whomever Vanna comes upon (friend or stranger), the person quickly learns she is three because she says, "me burpday an me this many" (while holding up her three dainty little fingers). And if ever I say something similar to, "because you're a little girl" Vanna is quick to remind me that, "No, me big girl, me free!" Yes, sweetheart you are a big girl now!

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

The other day we had a little friend of Cash's over to play. Nearly as soon as the play-date began, Cash asked his friend why he wasn't coming to Church anymore (his friend is in his Primary class) - it must have been something on Cash's mind apparently.

We haven't seen the little boy for a while for numerous reasons (struggles with health and testimonies within the family to name a couple). I had to tell Cash that sometimes people have a hard time making it to Church for one reason or another but we have to just make sure that they know we always want them there with us because we care for them - hoping to smooth it out and move on perhaps to another topic of conversation.

But Cash didn't let it drop. He went on to tell his friend that he needed to come to his Primary class because that's what makes Jesus happy and so on and so on (he really did keep going on and on about it). I finally did get the conversation turned - after all I didn't want the little guy put on a guilt trip (and further it's more his parents' decisions as to whether or not he gets to come to Primary or not).

Our Little Future Missionary

But afterwards I talked with Cash about how proud I was of his willingness to show his concern for the well-being of another who he hadn't seen at Church. We talked about perhaps a little smoother way of going about the whole "Why aren't you going to Church?" approach - perhaps by turning the conversation into an invitation instead, but I really was happy to see Cash share his beliefs and concerns - even at such a young age. It reminded me of the Primary Children's song "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission" and further reminded me of the counsel given to become as a child, "submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19). Not only should we be these things we're taught, but perhaps we should be a little more brave in our willingness to share our testimonies and beliefs of the things we know to be right and true - just as little children seem so fearless to do so -at least just as Cash is so fearless to do so :)!

Trip to Rigby-March 2011

A couple weeks ago we were able to make a trip to Rigby to visit Ty's family (it had been since Thanksgiving that we had seen them and a trip down was due)! It's so nice to get away and even nicer to do it while visiting with family.

We mixed it up with:

...fun in the SNOW (we can't believe they had enough still to pull us in a sled behind the four-wheeler; we don't have any snow and haven't had any for a long time where we live)...

...a trip to the Idaho Falls Museum where they had a BODIES exhibit that was so interesting. While it was difficult to keep our little ones entertained, we had a good time learning all about the body (by actually seeing each and every part of the body preserved; and before some of you get grossed out, I have to say this type of thing isn't usually down my ally but it was very neat). There was so much education available there. The experience futher confirmed to me that the intricate and beautiful bodies we own did not come about by mere happen-stance or evolution. They are truly too brilliant and amazing for me to believe anything but that they are a godly creation...

...and good hard labor (okay so maby not so hard:)). The kids particularly enjoyed helping Grandpa down at the barn. The weather turned out great one day while we were there and the kids nearly spent all day down at the barn helping grandpa feed the cows and scrape (put your imagination to work as to what that means :)). While they were down there at the barn we saw wild turkeys that like to come in close to steal grain from the calves' troughs AND they saw their dad's cousin skin a dead calf that had been smothered by it's mother. The cow had had twins but would only take one calf so Ty's cousin was bottle feeding the other. Well, when the cow smothered her calf, Ty's cousin decided to skin it and graft it's hide to the other twin calf. This gets the mother to accept the new calf (one that she identifies as the other/old calf). It seems so cruel, I know, but that is farm life. Talk about a learning experience for my kids - one I wasn't too sure about, it just sort of happened.

On our way down to the barn with Ty's grandma (who lives right just down the road from Ty's parents, and right next to the barn).

The kids both just love the out-of-doors, being around the animals, and being Grandpa's helpers. Of course, they don't see this as work but rather as an adventure - I mean feeding the cows their hay and grain, it apparently doesn't get any better than that!

While we were in Rigby we were also able to attend a banquet in which Jefferson County honored several different people and/or entities and we are proud to announce that Ty's parents were both honored there as the Jefferson County Farmer of the Year and Jefferson County Farm Woman of the Year. These awards for Ty's parents I'm sure seemed particularly special as they had a difficult year last year (Ty's dad had surgery on his shoulder and was laid up right at the busiest/hardest time of year when there was much cutting, feeding, milking, irrigating, etc. to do). So congrats again James and Orillia for all your hard work!

We even got to say a quick hello to my mom and step-dad and my younger brother and his wife in Pocatello on our way home. It was a great trip and we hope to make more soon!