Taking Sunshine to School

Landon started school today! He is my oldest to begin Pre-K. The school we chose when we moved does it by semester. He had to wait a little extra, but he is definitely ready. He'll be at the same school as my big boys and will be there all day. He's going to be wiped out by the end of the day.

Landon went to school like he does with most things: with a smile on his face!

Found his cubby and unloaded his backpack. He looked so big today.

Landon jumped right in. He barely had time to say goodbye to Miriam, Weston, and me.

I held my emotions in check, but Miriam was so sad. All the way to the car, "I want my brother back!" She also informed me that if I had just gotten her a backpack, she could have gone to school with Landon. It's nice to know she actually likes him. She probably is the meanest to him.

Reading is Fun

I'm doing my best to instill a love of reading in my children. I love reading, sometimes too much. I saw this quote recently. It is spot on!

Ethan is a phenomenal reader. He can sight read new and complicated words like a pro. Grayson is learning to read and Landon isn't far behind as he begins school next week.
Get out there and read, people! Magazines, books, audio books! Pick your favorite and get going.

I'll end with an anecdote from our real life.
Landon: "Uncle Tony, will you read me a book?"
Tony: "No, buddy. I don't know how to read." (This was a joke, of course, Landon didn't pick up on that.)
Landon looks at Tony in disbelief, but doesn't press him.
Later that same night, Tony is reading with Landon. About halfway through the story, Landon looks up at him and exclaims, "You're READING! You're READING!"

He was so very proud of his Uncle Tony.  And we all had a great laugh.

9 Months

Weston has been on the Earth for 9 whole months! In that time he has been growing so much.
Recently, he cut his two bottom teeth and he is much happier now that it is over with. I hate to tell him, he'll be cutting teeth for a little longer because it makes him so sad.

Weston remains my "Velcro" baby. He really loves me and occasionally lets me share him with others. I spend a lot of time holding him and wearing him because I just can't let him cry, which is what he does if I'm not holding or wearing him. I do have to let him cry from time to time, but I avoid it as much as possible. He is not all that mobile on his own. He can do the boot scoot boogie pretty well, but has no interest in crawling or rolling around. He hasn't pulled up on furniture, but he has pulled up on me and a few others in the house.

Weston loves music! If he is grumpy in the car, all I have to do is turn on the radio. If he hears music he begins to do this little baby dance that I find adorable. He has also discovered his love of food. He eats purees and yogurt like a pro. Recently he enjoyed gnawing on a pizza crust and chocolate chip cookie. He also made up his mind to finally get from laying down to sitting. Jared moved the crib down today so he can stay safe.

Weston is by far our biggest baby! He began wearing 18 month clothing two weeks ago. He's such an overachiever. At the doctor's office, he weighed in at 23 pounds and is 29 inches long. I'm 60 inches long, so I'd say he'll be taller than me by the time he is four.

We all love this brown-eyed boy so much! Landon is especially mindful of Weston. They sit next to one another in the car and share a room. Landon has made Weston's happiness his top priority. He sings to him, talks to him, plays with him. He is a great big brother and it melts my heart to watch the two of them together. Weston will miss Landon so much when he begins school next week.

Stacey, My Favorite Sister

Stacey is by far the best sister in the world for me! I am so grateful for her. Experiencing marriage and motherhood with her is one of my favorite things. I found some vintage photos and wanted to post them in honor of her birthday.

Stacey's BFF's: Becky and David

I love when I got to hang out with these three. They are hilarious and so fun!

Ain't no party like a Cheese Wheel party!

I think I was on break from BYU in this photo. 

BYU graduation August 2002

Stacey at about age 5

Sisters for life!

50 Books in 2015

I made a goal to read 50 books in 2015. It was a tough goal to achieve. I had done it once before (the year Miriam was born because nursing a baby gives you a lot of free time in the middle of the night). Last year, I didn't come close. This year, I had 10 days to read 5 books and I did it (and little else) over our break. Here's my list. Lots of series. I love series! I also impressed myself with the amount of non-fiction I read this year. Even if it included a book about a former Bachelor contestant (it was a gift and I liked it way more than I care to admit).

The New Testament King James Version

• Pivot Point by Kasie West
• Split Second  by Kasie West
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• Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout
• Pure by Jennifer Armentrout
• Deity by Jennifer Armentrout
• Apollyon by Jennifer Armentrout
• Sentinel by Jennifer Armentrout
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• The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
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• The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley
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• Inferno by Dan Brown

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

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• The Locket by Richard Paul Evans
• The Carousel by Richard Paul Evans
• The Looking Glass by Richard Paul Evans
• The Sunflower by Richard Paul Evans
• The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
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• Food: A Love Affair by Jim Gaffigan
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Taking the Lead: Lessons from a Life in Motion by Derek Hough

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• Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly
• Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly
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• The Power of Everyday Missionaries: The What and How of Sharing the Gospel by Clayton Christensen
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• For the Right Reasons: America's Favorite Bachelor on Faith, Love, Marriage, and Why Nice Guys Finish First by Sean Lowe

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

• Driving Lessons For Life: Thoughts on Navigating Your Road to Personal Growth by Jim Jacobs

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• The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

• The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chimas

• The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

• The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle

• Holes by Louis Sachar
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• Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
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• Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
• A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
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• Shingaling: A Wonder Story by RJ Palacio
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• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
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• Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
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• Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
• Ruins by Orson Scott Card
• Visitors by Orson Scott Card
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• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
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• The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
• The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
• The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson
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• An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
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