For the Strength

Cooper and Phoebe had a fantastic experience at FSY last week! Sophie and I handled Monday drop-off (I drove, she socialized) for our kids and their friends and the other family made the drive to bring them home on Saturday. I took some pictures when we checked them in. As for the week itself, I didn't get many pictures, but the ones I got looked happy.

The hard part about FSY last week? Cooper and Phoebe said goodbye to Peter on Monday morning instead of Wednesday evening. There were big feelings.

Just Keep Swimming

Topher loved taking swim lessons this week. I didn't know what he remembered from a lessons few years ago, so I enrolled him in the beginning level. On day two he was moved up to level 1. At the end of the lesson today he was moved to level 2. He's skipping next week, then jumping back in the week after. I was pleased to see how quickly he picked it back up.

Artfully Done

Sophie and Topher attended their last art class of the summer at the library today. They learned about Oliver Jeffers (one of my favorite children's book writers and artists) and drew crayons modeled after the ones he drew in The Day the Crayons Quit. They've enjoyed this series and have created some cool pieces.

Bubbly

I unlocked a new girl mom achievement: I can now do "bubble braids." Sophie asked me to watch some videos and learn how so she could have them for her ropes course field trip this week. She was pleased with the results, so it was a success.

Easy as 1, 2, 3

Topher: Mom, do you know what makes me so happy?

Me: What, buddy?

Topher: Math! I just love it so much! Can I get math stickers for my walls?

Me: What kind of stickers?

Topher: The kind that say 10x10=100 and 12x12=144.

Me: I'll see what I can find.

Living the (Colonial) Life

Sophie gave her colonial presentation today. I got to go support her and her fellow fifth-graders. She did a great job! I really struggled to hear some of the kids when they recited the information they'd prepared about their assigned job. Sophie was articulate and loud and well-researched.

Well done, Sophie!

The Limner

The fifth graders in our school district learn about colonial life and then pick a colonial career to do a project about. Here's a post about Peter's project, and one about Cooper's project. Phoebe escaped this particular assignment since she attended virtual school for fifth grade.

Sophie spent many hours recreating a limner's workshop and preparing her presentation. I love that she drew several waiting canvases. She used playdoh in those tiny jars to make it look like they're full of paint. And she made a wagon as a traveling workshop, in addition to the diorama.

A few days before it was due she reminded me that she needed a colonial costume. This wasn't too hard for the boys. I just had them roll up their church pants to the knee, wear a pair of Bryan's church socks, wear a white church shirt, and throw on an apron. Sophie's costume was more involved.

I thought we might be able to reuse the Mary costume I made for her for the Nativity movie, and maybe add an apron. The night before the project was due I pulled the costume out from its box in the basement. That's when I remembered that I'd made it quite billowy. That wouldn't work at all. 

And that is how I came to spend the next six hours cutting up and pinning and resewing the dress. I found some pictures online and did my best to approximate what they looked like. I didn't want to add a zipper (because I haven't mastered that skill) and wanted her to be able to pull it on and off herself without help since she'd need to do that at school. That's why it's a little loose. It's definitely a costume and isn't nice enough to wear to church. But it is solidly made and won't fall apart. Considering I really didn't know what I was doing, I think it turned out well.

Sophie loves it, and that's good enough for me.

In Review

2024 is ending with a thunderstorm. In fact, the year itself had several figurative thunderstorms in addition to the real ones. But it also had some major miracles happen and long-held prayers answered. It was a year of changes for our family with Peter going to college and a realignment of our ward boundaries. The kids have all grown and learned new things. I learned a lot from building the bookcases and Bryan fueled that (and future) learning by gifting me a miter saw for my birthday and a palm router for Christmas. I also began to learn about being a Primary president. I think after one year in this role I'm still just learning. Switching wards halfway through the year definitely changed my learning curve.

In 2025 I hope to keep learning, reading, and strengthening the relationships that matter the most. And while it's probably useless to continue counting it on my resolutions list, I'd like to sleep a little more next year too.

We'll Fix It In Post

Our primary was asked to provide the nativity for our ward Christmas party this weekend. I said yes and had a flash of inspiration to have the kids act in a movie instead of doing a tradition nativity the night of the event. This seemed like a great idea. I cast the roles, made costumes, hauled all my supplies to church for a few weeks, used a half-day of school to get some extra footage, and wrangled many very excited children. All of that was fine.

And now I'm editing.

This is not a quick process.

She Thought She Could, So She Did

These pictures cover the last three months of work on these bookshelves. The corner was the hardest piece to build and definitely the heaviest section to move.

Bryan and Cooper get the credit for moving this beast into the house.

I measured and cut out the cold air return holes while the corner piece was still in the garage. I cut the outlet holes inside the house.

Once all the individual units were completed and in place, we had to attach them to each other. That's what I'm doing here. Also, it's kind of interesting to see the scale of these things. They're pretty big.

In order to install the final bookcase, we needed to move a light switch from one side of the wall to the other. Thankfully, Bryan took on that task. It helped that there was an old phone jack right where we wanted to put the new switch.

When my brother's family visited in October I put the shelves in so we could get all the books off the floors (the rest of the books were on shelves in the basement). That's when I learned that my carefully cut shelves weren't all the correct size. Lots of sanding and just a little cutting later, they fit.

Bryan and Cooper helped install the top and bottom trim.

I took on the task of doing all the front trim. This also required soooooooo much sanding to get the fit just right.

They're technically not done yet. The carpet is rolled back down but not tacked yet. I want to find just the right crown molding. And I need to empty them and add two coats of water-based matte polyurethane to protect the wood. Since we were hosting some small, active people for Thanksgiving, I figured it would be better to fill up the shelves rather than have what could be mistaken for several ladders ready for climbing.

 I'm really happy with them.

Learning From a Master

For many years we've been trying to teach Peter how to cook. In the last few weeks he's been a more engaged student. His lessons with Bryan have been particularly effective. He's learned how to make stroganoff (how to chop an onion, how to brown ground beef, how to cook noodles), homemade pizza (how to use the cup and stretch method for the crust, how to do a J cut for the peppers, how to thinly cut peppers, how to use cornstarch so it doesn't stick), cranberry sausages and rice (how to use the Instant Pot, how to cut meat on the bias), and baked chicken with roasted potatoes (how to wash and chop potatoes, how to safely handle raw chicken, how to use the meat thermometer). He already knew how to make ramen, scrambled eggs, and turkey sandwiches, so hopefully he won't starve at college.

Driving Force

Cooper got his permit way back in March. He drove once, then lost the permit. He finally replaced it and has been able to drive a few times since.

The Value of a Dollar

We've already started back-to-school shopping. I took Cooper and Phoebe last week. Yesterday Topher and Sophie had a turn. For the last two years we've set a budget, then let them decide how to spend it. I insist that they go through their clothes at home first and get rid of anything that doesn't fit anymore. They also have to make a list of the items they think they'll need, like a new backpack or additional shirts. Last year I took them out one-on-one to shop. This summer has been so packed with activities that we had to double up. I think it's interesting that both girls bought something, then decided they'd rather use that money elsewhere and asked to return the item. They're learning the power of making and sticking to a budget.

This is Sophie's favorite thing that she's picked out with this year's budget. It's really cute on her!

And don't worry. As soon as I finished taking this picture I went and stopped Topher from climbing up the side of the cart.