My Head hurts

Here is another cute Jonathan story. This morning I heard him say that his head hurt. I didn't think much of it and it didn't really seem to bother him much. On the way to watch conference at Church he fell asleep (only a 10 min drive). When we got there he woke up and immediately started to say that his head hurt. When we got inside the chapel, he sat with me. He WATCHED conference for the first 10 min or so (no talking, just sitting quietly on my lap), then I knew that he really wasn't feeling well. After a while, he asked if he could lie down and fall asleep. He laid his head on my lap and not long after fell asleep. He woke up half way through conference and you could tell that he was in pain. He sat with me for the rest of the time. I had to leave to get something, and when I got back you could see the tears in his eyes. He was upset that I had left him. I asked him if he wanted me to get him some medicine when we got home and he said no. Then I asked him if he wanted daddy to give him a blessing and he said yes. I told him to ask daddy, which he did. It was so cute. You could hear the tears welling up inside when he asked Joel. Once conference was over, Joel and Mike (grandad) gave him a blessing. The result was almost immediate. Joel blessed him that he would return to his usual energetic self (a testimony that blessings really come from Heavenly Father, as I am sure Joel didn't want him to be quite his usual energetic self :)) and that his head wouldn't hurt anymore. Within a few minutes of the blessing I asked him how he felt. He said his head didn't hurt anymore. I asked him if he knew why not, and he said "because my daddy and grandad gave me a blessing". I then heard him telling another sister "my head hurt, but know it doesn't because my daddy and grandad gave me a blessing". I am so thankful for the priesthood. I am thankful that my kids have a strong testimony of priesthood blessings. They have faith in their daddy and know that through the priesthood they will feel better.

First day of school

For Hannah's first day of school we decided to put her hair in rags. She has asked me to do this on a few occasions lately, but we forget until it is bedtime. She was a little nervous about going to french immersion, so I suggested this as way to distract her. It worked, she was all excited about it as soon as I suggested it.

Joel left for work late that morning so he could come with me and the kids to take her to school for the first day. She was really happy to see one her her friends from her class last year (Naomi). She is such a cutie. She met her teacher and then it was time to say goodbye. When she got home from school, there was a note from her teacher Mdm. Robert that said "Hannah had a great start today. She loves the dollies in our room. She loves to ineract with her teacher and her new classmates. She is very comfortable around here! What a nice girl!" Isn't that a nice note :)

Jonathan had his first day of school the same day as well (really he had a interview with his teacher in the morning and then went for part of the afternoon). He was excited to go to school. I wasn't sure if he would act shy, but he had no problem. It helped that there were toys to play with in the yard b/4 he went in, and he knew a couple of kids in his class (Mitchell Kucie from church and Logan from Hannah's dance). When the bell rang, he found his bag and stood in line. There were a number of kids upset to be leaving their mums, but not him. He waved goodbye and that was it.

Even when I forgot to pick Jonathan up for school, he wasn't upset. I thought that he was taking the bus home, but as it wasn't technically his first day of school, I was supposed to pick him up. I felt so bad, but he didn't seem to notice. He was waiting in the office with his teacher Mrs. Harris. He said he had a good day, but was looking forward to next week when they would get to do painting :)

Music to my ears

Jonathan continues to amaze me. After church on Sunday, Kerri-Ellen came up to me to share a cute Jonathan story. She said that he was giving his teacher a hard time in Sharing Time, and then the pianist started to play "I love to see the Temple". She said Jonathan sat up and said "I love this song. I went to the Temple with my mommy and daddy". She said he then sat reverently and sang the entire song :) So cute. We listen to the primary songs a lot in the car and I have really noticed lately how much he is enjoying singing. While we are on the subject of Jonathan singing, here is another cute story. Benjamin was upset when I was putting him to bed the other night. Jonathan suggested I sing him a song. I sang him "I am a child of God" and then Jonathan asked me to sing it to him. After I finished I said good night and left their room. Benjamin was getting upset again and I heard Jonathan say "don't be upset Benjamin", and now for the best part, then I heard him singing "I am a child of God" to Benjamin. Doesn't that just make your heart melt!!! I have heard him sing to him a couple of times since then. It is nice to know that he loves his brother despite all the trouble he gives him.

Swim test

The new Newcastle pool opened up this week. I took the kids swimming on the first day. One of the lifegaurds came up to me and said that next time I brought the kids, I would have to bring another adult (the child to adult ratio is 3:1), unless one of the kids can pass the swim test. I was pretty sure that Hannah could pass the test, so she went and tried. In order to pass the swim test, kids have to be able to swim from one side of the pool to the other without stoping. They also have to swim with their face in the water for a few strokes. As she was swimming the lifegaurd kept trying to give her instructions, so Hannah stopped. The lifeguard said she didn't pass the test b/c she stopped a couple of times, but didn't realize that she had only stopped b/c the lifeguard was talking to her. We went for public swimming on Wednesday and I had Hannah try the swim test again. This time she passed with no problem. It is so cute to watch her. She is an amazing little swimmer. At the end of last summer, she could swim by herself a little bit, but at the beginning of this summer she wanted to use a lifejacket or water wings again. I think she just lacked the confidence to go for it. We swam alot over the summer (once a week at the Bailey's, plus sometimes at the outdoor pool or at Gramma Burnfields pool in Wilmot Creek) and she got her confidence back. When we went to Palymra, she swam with Joel in the deep end, and fell in love with doing cannon balls into the pool. Now she can swim all over the pool by herself. She can even float on her back! Jonathan has been doing great with his swimming lately. He uses the water wings and can swim all over the place with them. It is so cute to watch his legs go :) Lately he has been swimming under the water a lot and sometimes he doesn't even plug his nose.

Palmyra

Palymra was great. The kids were the best they have ever been while we toured the sites. They sat through the whole Restoration movie at the Hill Cumorah visitor centre (only 15 minutes, but still great). Afer the movie was over, we went into the interactive part of the visitor center. Jonathan really enjoyed himself watching all the Book of Mormon movies. He made sure he went to all the different stations to watch them all. It is moments like those that you realize all the other crazy stuff that happens while we were there is worth it:) They were also really good in the grove and at the Joseph Smith homes. When we were in the log home another child kept picking up all the artifacts. One of the sister missionaries kept asking him not to and taking them away from him, but he kept grabing different things. I thought Jonathan and Benjamin were going to join him, but they just stood quietly and listened!!!!! AMAZING :)

The kids also had a lot of fun swimming on Saturday and Monday. Hannah was doing huge cannon balls into the shallow end by herself and then ventured into the deep end with Joel close by. She jumps in and then swap to the surface and over to the side of the pool by herself. Jonathan also decided to be brave and jump into the pool by himself (no lifejacket or water wings). I was amazed. Jonathan hasn't been much of a water baby, so this was incredible. A few times he jumped in without telling me. He did a good job of swimming to the surface, but I helped him to the side of the pool. I was so proud of him. Even Benjamin was getting brave in the water. He had his life jacket on, but he jumped to me a couple of times (with me holding one of his hands) and even started to kick his feet while I swam him through the water. It was so cute to see.
The weather was really nice. Saturday was nice and hot for swimming and then not too cold while we were watching the Pageant. Hannah and Jonathan fell asleep through the Pageant, but Benjamin stayed awake. It rained a lot on Sunday, but by the time we finished with the site seeing and went back to the campsite, it had stopped raining. A few sleeping bags in the tent got wet, but we were able to dry them out in the sun before bed. Eden slept great while we were there, so I can't complain :)

Eden is eating

Today is the day. Eden started solids...okay,okay, she actually had a Baby Mum Mum cracker on sat. and sun and really liked them so I decided I should try giving her cereal. She has been trying to grab my plate lately. I wasn't sure if that was b/c she wanted the food, or b/c she just likes to grab things. She did great with the crackers (they pretty much dissolve in the mouth) on the weekend and then had more today. She would get upset if I didn't give her the pieces fast enough. I also gave her some rice cereal today and she loved it. She didn't make any funny faces or gag or anything. She ate all that I had prepared (a couple of tablespoons for sure) and probably would have eaten more if I offered it to her. I should also mention that she is doing amazingly with her sleeping. I decided to put her in last saturday night (after she was wide awake half the night before just for the fun of it). I didn't want to do it, but thought I would see if it made a difference. If it didn't then I was going to bring her back into our room. She slept incredibly the first night. She went to bed around 8pm and didn't get up until 7:45am...I wasn't sure if that was just beginners luck???? the next couple of nights she got up earlier (1am and then around 4am), but after that she has been great. She has been sleeping until around 6:30 (although this morning it was 5:30) so I am extremely happy. I put her to bed and down to nap awake sometimes and most of the time she doesn't make a peep. She just puts her two middle fingers in her mouth and goes to sleep. She is such a dollie :) I just love her. She has such an amazing temperement. Even when she does wake up in the night, she is really happy. Most mornings she will lie in bed with me for an hour or more and just be content with a little toy or something. She gives the huggest smiles (although never when I have the camera....I think she is too busy looking at the camera to smile) and is truly just a happy little girl.

My sweet husband

Joel is away in Montanna on a Mine training course. He sent me the nicest email this morning that I want to remember :)
Hello my most wonderful wife!!

Was a long day travelling, and this more than any other trip I feel home sick. Probably because I haven’t been gone this long in a while, and I feel as though I’ll be missing so much, nothing in particular but just not being there. I’ve thought about you a lot throughout the day, wondered what you were doing, what the kids were up to, wishing I could be there rather than cramped in some plane or sitting on an uncomfortable airport chair. It started to weigh on my last night, I started thinking how harsh I was yesterday and that those were the last things I said and did before going away for a week. I’m really sorry! I wish I was a better parent and husband. Then I started wishing I didn’t have to go so I was in no rush to get packed. I’ve got a pretty nice view of the mountains from my window, but I’d rather be able to see my wife and kids.

Friday wasn’t much better, it was my own fault and I was mad at myself and took it out on you, I’m sorry! I hope you know how much I love you, I wouldn’t be able to get by without you. So much of who I am is because of you and the kids are very fortunate to have such a strong mom.

You’ve done a great job doing your cakes. I’m very proud of you! It’s refreshing to see you take such an interest and initiative in something. I think I’ve always had something, like sports or investing, for me to get into and I’ve always felt kind of selfish and guilty. You’re such a giving person, whether it’s to us, our family’s or friends, or people at church, it’s important to take time for yourself, to do something you enjoy.

You’re my best friend, my greatest love, my Eternal Beloved. Friday can’t come fast enough.

All my love from miles away,

Joel
XO