Primary Program

Today was your very first primary program.  It feels a little weird to not take pictures at these sort of things -not that I'm used to taking pictures at all in church, it just seems we take pictures of every thing else.

You Grandma Hardcastle, Jodi, Grandma and Grandpa Lafeen, April, and Mimi and Papa all came to see you.  And, you did great!

Your two speaking parts (that we had been practicing for weeks now) were:  "We began making choices before we even came to earth" and "Listening to my parents is choosing the right".  I think Jill tried to give you too much help on the last one, because you said (quite loudly and into the microphone, of course) "Oh, I know, I know, I can do it myself".

I can't remember if I'm mentioned here what an AMAZING Sunbeam teacher our ward has, Sister Debbie.  She has been doing it for years (and years) and words cannot even express how awesome she is.  She loves and cares for those kids like no one else, and the time and preparation she puts into each Sunday (even the ones when she isn't there and has a sub) is impressive.  It was also impressive that she kept so many 3 year olds entertained and nearly quiet up on the stand by herself.

I was impressed with how well you sat and had your arms folded for most of sacrament meeting and how well you did with your speaking parts.  We've also been listening and trying to sing the songs for the program for the last few months as well.  Turns out, it might have been a good thing that you didn't know all of the words to all of the songs, because when you did (The Wise Man and Nephi's courage) you sang (yelled) your little heart out.

Not to be outdone, Kate also knows the actions to The Wise Man and the Foolish Man and she was helping along in the congregation.

You loved that 'all of your family' came to see you.  Mimi gave you your own little bag of cookies and Grandpa Lafeen came back to the house to play with you for a few minutes.  It was a great day.

Temple Open House

The Brigham City Temple Open house has been going on all month.  I guess since dad and I were able to tour both the Oquirrh Mountain and Draper Temple in the last 2 years or so I wasn't sure we'd make the trip to see this one.  At the beginning of the week I started thinking that it might be a good experience for you (even though I know you won't have any real memory of it, I still thought you knew enough about temples that it would be meaningful for a little while).  I heard a few people say that they weren't really checking for reservations, so I made a quick decision and decided that we should go on Wednesday.  I called Grandma Hardcastle, who happened to have been called off work that day, and we went right after lunch.

I'm still not sure what I thought you'd get out of going, I think you were mostly impressed with the white booties we had to wear, the cookies and water bottles we got afterwards, and possibly the porta-potties outside the temple.  You and Kate both seemed to like the baptismal font.  Kate, because it was water, and she loves water, but you've been to enough baptisms that you understood a little bit more.  You made comments about the 'lights with jewels' in the Celestial Room and sealing rooms and wanted to sit on each and every chair and bench we saw.

When we were getting ready to go Grandma told you that we were going to the Temple, which was Heavenly Father's house.  You got pretty angry and said that the church was Heavenly Father's house.  We explained that He also lived the temple, and you asked if He would be there.  I explained that we would see pictures of Him and Jesus while we were there.  Later that afternoon when we were talking to Jodi on the phone you told her it was Jesus' house -but you only saw His picture.

You made a few remarks about how it was beautiful and you liked the 'map' (pamphlet) that they gave us at the beginning.   I remember a lot from the first open house I attended -but I was also 13 years old.  I know that you won't remember the visit, but I hope that you (and your sister and brother) will get to attend more and more as you get older.

I only got one quick picture of you and Kate outside following the tour.  It was pretty sunny and there was no way I was getting both of you to look at me at the same time.

A(nother) letter to my first born

I wrote one of these a few days a weeks before you sister arrived to turn your life upside down, and thought it might be fitting to do it again.

I'm not sure how adding additional siblings (when you already have one) will affect you early on.  I'm sure, or at least I hope, someday you will be grateful that you have a brother.  You're only 4 years apart so I'm looking forward to years of you being friends (and foes).  Perhaps sharing a room and time in scouts and Young Mens together.  A few outings with just the boys and dad and ganging up together to pick on your sister.

Once again, you'll always be the oldest child.  You will hopefully grow up to be responsible and accountable, even if there are a few bumps along the way.  You might be bossy and stubborn, but I hope you are also kind and sympathetic.  I'm glad that you were able to start school this year, which will give you some time away from your little sister and brother and allow you to become more independent.

I know that you try to be helpful and I also worry that you will have to give in a lot more and not have as much time with mom as you've had in the past.  I think that a lot is expected from the oldest child, and I'm sure that will be true with you too.

You are the one that made me a mother, which has been the greatest joy and accomplishment in my life.  Thank you for being strong enough to be the first, I will always love you for that.  It's not the easiest place to be in a family, but it's very rewarding.

Love, Mom

A Cowboy and his School

I probably should have made this two different posts... but I didn't.  So, we have a quick over-night camping trip (just you and dad) with the first day of Preschool.

First... over Labor Day weekend, you and dad went camping.  It's outside of Kamas, called  .  Grandma Carol and Grandma Purple have a couple of trailers set up there and go up often during the summer.  This weekend Mimi and Papa went too, so you guys went up after Dad got home from his work trip.  Literally.  He was supposed to get in Friday night but was delayed leaving Canada, spent the night in Detroit and arrived about 90 minutes before you guys took off.

I don't think I got a full report, but I know you had a lot of fun and went horse back riding.  Your 'horse' (I think it was a mule) was the fastest -according to you- and you came home with a cowboy hat.  It was outside, there were plenty of people to play with, and you got to sleep in a tent.  There was no way you didn't enjoy yourself.

And... today was your first day of preschool!  It dawned on me last night (during one of my many hours of being awake -it's just what I do now apparently) that this was our life now.  We would have having 'the night before school starts' nights from now for at least the next 20 years.  Man... that's a long time!

We went to orientation last week, and for all you knew, that was your first day.  Even though I stayed the whole time and it was only about an hour long.  I tried to make it a bigger deal today.  Colored pancakes, pictures with a big 'pre-school' sign, a special lunch afterwards.  To be honest, it was just another place with kids and toys for you, which is fine by me.  At least you liked it, and there were no tears (except from Kate, being little is hard).  I could see just a touch of anxiety when you first got out of the car, and it might have been brought on because there were a couple of kids crying during drop-off.  I doubt I'll see even a moments hesitation on Thursday.

You seemed pretty happy afterwards too.  I've tried all day (along with dad, Jodi and Grandma Hardcastle) to get a detailed report on how things went.  You said you played, outside and inside.  And you had crackers for a snack.  You learned about the letter "S" and drew circles.  You came home with a book (she lends books out one at a time whenever the kids want them) and I'm supposed to send you with a baby picture on Thursday.

I think you'll handle this school thing just fine!