Happy Birthday to Grace!

Grace turned 5 yesterday!






Pretty much everything that could go wrong for a birthday did, but she didn't seem to mind too much. First her present didn't get here in time. Then I destroyed the cake trying to get it out of the pan. Dad was late getting home from work, dinner was even later. She wanted to go swimming for her birthday so we did, for a few minutes. Just as we were getting ready to leave the pool some boy tried to drown her twice! He said he was trying to "help" her when I asked him about it. It sure didn't look like he was helping her to me, nor did it feel like much help to her. I still don't know the whole story.

The good news is she lived through it and made it home to eat the destroyed cake that Randy managed to salvage and do a pretty good job of hiding the wreckage with frosting. Her present arrived this morning - it was scriptures, a blue quad with a button. We took them to get her name on them today - she picked rainbow and cursive, it's very beautiful. She likes them and is happy to finally have her own set.

Happy Birthday, Gracie!

Go Boy!

Caden really got into his promotion. This morning he came into my room and told me he let the ducks out - something I hadn't gotten around to yet. Then, while I combed my hair, he cleaned the bottom half of the full length mirror. Later he told me he climbed up high and put scissors away. It's great when kids see a need and fill that need! (But perhaps we need a new location for the scissors.)

We Did It!

For the first time in history I actually completed ALL my Monday jobs on Monday!
(Usually it takes until Thursday.)
This morning I posted a new schedule and let the kids know that they are valued members of this family and they were all being promoted in rank. Now everyone works until everyone is done.
Grace and Caden washed dishes. Robyn did laundry, cleaned bathrooms, and mopped the kitchen. Colin did duck water, cleaned the patio, emptied garbage cans, and vacuumed ALL the carpet. I supervised, filled spray bottles, helped where needed, fed Betsy, and changed the sheets on the beds. Fantastic!

Happy Birthday to Robyn!

Robyn turned SEVEN years old today. Wow that went fast!

Her dad surprised her with a new bike in the living room when she came down for breakfast. It is beautiful with streamers and everything. He also got her some new socks because all of her old socks are very holey.


She decorated her butterfly birthday cake herself. Caden was very willing to help her eat it. He wants it to be his birthday again tomorrow. Birthdays are fun stuff!


Grace provided the music to "Happy Birthday." I'm afraid it didn't help our singing. The song still sounded like it usually does - pretty bad. I'm reminded every birthday of when we sent Darron a tape on his mission of the whole gang at Thanksgiving singing Happy Birthday for him. When he listened to it, his companion asked, "What IS that?"


A few things about Robyn:

She really likes blue socks.

She is a great babysitter.

She loves to do laundry because she has to climb the walls to hang up Randy's shirts.

She is always the first one with her jobs done.

She has amazing endurance when she runs and she's fast too - she takes after her Daddy.

Her mother loves her very, very much!

Bathtime for Betsy

Betsy's baths are always a family activity. Everyone loves to watch Betsy. She was having a great old time splashing in the tub. It frustrates me that I can't capture how cute she really is on camera. She is so beautiful and perfect and adorable and wonderful.....

Bouncing babies

Here are some random pictures of my "babies" in their bouncer seats. Aren't they cute?!!

Chased by a Duck

This is our duck Gold. He is chasing me.

Go Gracie!

Randy took Gracie's training wheels off yesterday. She's a big kid now!

Happy Birthday to Caden!

Caden turned two this month. How fast time flies!

A few things about Caden:

He has beautiful big brown eyes that make me melt.


He got an RC car for his birthday - he likes to "shoot" it to make it go.


He loves his baby sister and he now calls all the dolls in the house "Bets."


He really likes to play outside.


The ducks are not afraid of him, but they should be.


He started calling me "Mommy Reeder" this week - it cracks me up!

Verse 15

Ahh, I see what I did now. Thanks Jill for your comment.
Here is what the Doctrine and Covenants says:
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—

See the "these" in verse 15. Most people read that as the animals. That is what I have done my whole life. This last time I read "these" as referring to the grains. That changes everything.


I am going to ponder on it further. Right now I think it means both meat and grains.

Some good books I have been studying that support that thought are:
Disease-proof Your Child by Joel Furman
Intuitive Eating by Humbart Santillo
Original Fast Foods by James and Colleen Simmons

I have been studying because Gracie recently got a blood test that shows allergies to dairy, wheat and eggs. These foods give her a tummy ache. She is doing fine now that we have eliminated them.