Happy Monday

Saturday we just hung out, rested, went to the park, and went shopping. Lily looked a bit wild with her princess dress, leggings, and crazy hair, but that's how we roll sometimes.

 Enjoying watching all the ducks at the lake and carefully dodging all their poop. 

Yesterday we had ward conference. Jeff was asked on Thursday to get the choir and youth together to sing a song for sacrament (problem is, there is no choir and it was obviously very last minute). He asked if he could have the sister missionaries sing but was told that once the stake president has his mind made up it's hard to change it. But, it turned out the stake president approved the song so Friday night the sisters came over and they put together the musical number. It was the EFY version of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and they did a great job and many people were touched. I definitely felt like that performance brought the spirit in much more readily than a thrown together choir performance, so we were grateful it all worked out.

I made a visit to a family with a counselor in the stake primary presidency and then I got to teach Valiant 9. It was so fun to teach again and since I am fairly new in the ward I don't many of the kids. It was great to get to know them a bit better rather than just standing up and doing sharing time. If I am not doing sharing time or conducting I want to sub some more just so I can get to know the kids better. I really do love the kids and it is fun serving in Primary. Ryan was having a hard time and the nursery brought him in to me but since I was teaching they didn't want to disturb me. Nancy, the Primary secretary, just took him and held him for about 20 minutes, and he did fall asleep on her a bit. Then Jeff took him third hour and he slept on his chest the whole time. Jeff said he got really, really hot. He has been kind of sick lately and not been sleeping well at night so poor little boy was exhausted.

I went on a walk with the kids since they were itching to go out. Lily rode her little tricycle and when we passed a girl on her porch (about Lily's same age), Lily said, "Hi girl. We're going on a walk. What's your name? My name's Lily." The girl just looked at us and didn't say anything, but I did hear her ask her dad if she could go on a walk. Lily loves being social and was very sad when the girl was in her house on the way back. Lily also wanted to walk up to homes and knock on the doors to see if anyone was home. She used to like to do that in Virginia, I guess she feels better knowing her neighbors. Ryan enjoyed walking for a bit and then wanted to walk off the sidewalk and into the street. So I ended up carrying him since he was dangerous.

We were home taught last night and I think that is only the second since living in Colorado. It was nice to be visited and Brother Preece brought his son Collin (6) over as well and Lily and he had a fun time playing, so it was a good night.

During the night Ryan struggled sleeping again. Jeff was up with him (which was so nice!) but then around 1am he started crying some crazy cries so I went in with Jeff. We eventually brought him out in the front room and he just wanted to be held or play a little bit. We were getting ready to put him back in bed when I went to get a drink. That reminded Ryan what he wanted so he went to his room, got an empty bottle and put it on the counter next to the microwave. For not talking much he sure communicates what he wants. So after his bottle he slept the rest of the night.

After dropping Lily off at school I held Ryan's hand and we walked back to the car. A man was walking his son to school and said, "now that is really cute." He just loved seeing Ryan walking, and it was pretty cute. We were almost to the car when Ryan had to stop. He had discovered this tiny little toy jewel on the ground and had to pick it up. I know it's sparkly, but I was still surprised he could see it. He does that at home too. He finds all the little pieces of trash or food on our floor and happily brings it to us or throws it away. You think your floor is clean until you have a toddler.

Ryan doesn't like sitting in his booster chair anymore so we took it off. Apparently once it's on the floor it's fun to sit in though. 

Can you tell who I invited shopping with me on Saturday? The answer is Jeff. 

 I got a Minnie Mouse puzzle from the dollar store and while I was trying to help Ryan Lily started the puzzle. She kept asking for help but Ryan was having such a hard time I had to focus on him. All of sudden I look over and she only has two pieces left. She did the whole thing by herself, right out of the bag! I was so impressed with her and she was very pleased too. Problem was, since it's a dollar store puzzle, it's a little cut off so Lily was really concerned when the puzzle didn't match the picture on the box.

As I said, Ryan has been having a hard time. Tonight one of the few things that made him happy was sitting in the car with daddy listening to music. Lily loved doing this too when she was his age. 

 Jeff reading Lily the part when Laman and Lemuel hit Nephi with some sticks. She was very concerned. She wanted Jeff to read this chapter to her three times.

 My new favorite thing! I discovered on Pinterest a way to store all my art supplies....with a shoe holder! I love it and now my counters and drawers have less clutter and it's all so much more accessible.