A little fun!

We recently purchased this portable firepit with money from Grandma Higley. We broke it our for the first time tonight and enjoyed a "roast" as Tali has always called it. I have always wanted a place to have a fire. I feel like it is an opportunity to bring the family together and because you center around a pretty small area, to simply talk and enjoy one another in a somewhat relaxed manner. I say somewhat because there is always someone holding the hot dog roaster near someones eye, and someone else about to trip into the fire, and someone else who is smearing marshmallow into someones hair. Seriously, though, we had a great time and are hoping to make it a habit. Brecklyn did some dancing and shadow making in the firelight, Landen lit a stick on fire and began writing on the concrete, Capriel sat on laps and just kept looking for more chocolate, and Tali sat quietly looking for stars, enjoying her crazy siblings, and eating many sticky smores.

Another tradition that we have adopted this past month is what we call sharing time. Each Sunday evening we meet together and share music with each other. It doesn't have to be Sunday music, or played technically well, just something you want to share with the family. I figured that we all spend a significant amount of time working on our music each week, we should have more opportunities to share it. And hopefully it will allow us to perform with greater ease. It has been a fun experience and I think all the kids have enjoyed it. Tonight, we got to hear Craig playand sing on the guitar an old southern song, "Jambalaya, Landen rocked out to "Come Home Chicago," Breck played her Ukulele, Talia and I played a piano violin duet of Minuet 1, and Capriel treated us with "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes." After it was all over we turned on Lani's guitar CD and everyone danced.

It seemed like a relatively uneventful week, just busy. We've had colds which has taken the toll a little on attitudes and effectiveness, but we're surviving. Let's see, maybe I'll just give a small list.

Capriel spread an entire tub of green Body Butter (Brecklyn's of course) all over herself and the carpet.

Breck is feverishly creating crafty Christmas treasures for everyone.

Landen lost is second front tooth on the top. Apparently he put it under his pillow one night and the tooth fairy forgot, or got in some sort of accident that night. Then a couple of nights later, the tooth fairy arrives to redeem him/herself and takes the tooth along wtih another tooth he'd just lost that was set on his nightstand leaving an appropriate recommpense. Then Landen wakes up the next morning bawling about how the mean tooth fairy had taken his tooth when he'd decided he didn't want to give the teeth at all but rather was going to start a collection. He said that he didn't like the tooth fairy anymore. You can't win around here!

Landen is playing very well and is sitting out more than his share of the time we believe because he completely dominates when he is in. I believe that it is the highlight of Craig's week to see him play. He is so quick and determined. He hits shot after shot from both sides.

A funny thing happened this week which made me realize how different children are. Breck came home and reported that she did great on her spelling test because she got a B-. Then Landen when asked about his spelling test told me that he easily got the challenge spelling words correct because he'd written the words down on a peice of paper that he conveniently looked at during the test and then threw away! Both children had to be spoken to and told that first a B- isn't something to be proud of and that we shoot for A's. (This is the first time she has been graded with the traditional grading system and I think she figured that the scale went from A-Z, so a B- wasn't that bad) and secondly that sneaking a peak at a paper during the test is cheating and innapropriate. Brecklyn, always morally conscious would have immediately known that this was wrong, but Landen just figured that he determined a pretty smart way to do well!

I made an incredible homemade tomato soup this week.

Craig volunteered us for a dinner group in our ward with out asking permission and we get to host it this week! Wish I could keep my house clean.

Craig is stripping a section of the floor joist under the west part of our deck so that he can repaint it. It takes much to long.