Lock Up Safe and Sound! (For how long????)

This past week has been one not to forget. Last Sunday Rebekah lost a very good friend. Her friend was one that she played with for hours and hours. Her little friend would sit on her head and let her walk around the house. Her friend became a family friend as well. Her friend was known as STAR!

Last year Rebekah wanted to have a hamster of her own. She worked out a deal with her dad. Rebekah worked off the money she needed to get her own hamster. We bought a cage that Bruce can't get into.

Star was a great friend to Rebekah! Last week, some how Star got out of his (cat proof) cage. Well, we found him. Bruce wanted to be his friend. Bruce hasn't figured out that cats and hamsters can't be friends. We called on our friends the Carlson's to help relieve Star from his pain. After church Brother Carlson assisted with this small task. Star was placed in a beautiful silver box. I gently carried Star home where Rebekah has picked a beautiful shaded spot under the trees in the back yard. A small hole was dug and Star was placed inside. As a family we stood around the hole and each said a few kinds words.

Rebekah so loved her Star. She said he was a great friend. Rebekah looked up to her dad and asked if his grave could be dedicated? How sweet was that. It was another "ah-hah" moments for us as parents. She understands something in the gospel!! Clyde very lovingly said, "I'm sorry we don't dedicated pets graves, but if you would like to say a prayer you can." So, Rebekah said a sweet prayer.

So, now starts a new life of new hamsters this week. The Carlson's had 2 that they were done with. Brett gave them to Rebekah to help easy her loss. I think we got them last Wednesday. By Saturday one had gotten out of his cage. We looked and looked. No hamster! Sunday we looked and looked, still NO hamster. Monday morning I had Hannah clean her room top to bottom. She heard a noise in her closet. The hamster had started a nest in the back of her closet. We were so happy to find that Bruce had decided not to make him his new friend. He is LOCKED UP!!

Yesterday, being Monday remind you just hours after Hannah had found the missing hamster, Rebekah was playing with her new hamster. We left to go to Jennifer's house for lunch. Rebekah remembered to put her hamster up, BUT forgot to close the cage!! So, we came home 2 1/2 hours later to find a missing hamster! Boy had I lost it!! Another hamster on the lose. We have searched and searched. Tonight after a meeting, I heard Bruce in the pantry. He was trying to get behind the door. I looked behind the door and what did I find?? The missing hamster!! Safe and sound! I quickly put Bruce in the garage and caught the hamster. The hamster in his cage locked nice and tight. I wonder how long it will take before we have missing hamsters again???

Finally!

I finally have enough pictures, paper, and stickers to start our Walt Disney World scrapbook. I have been purchasing things over the past few months. Last night I pulled out the table from the garage and set it up in the den. I dragged out all my pictures, paper, stickers, etc got to work. I have 3 pages done. I think this project it going to take me forever. I have so much I want to put in it. Hopefully, it will all fit into one album!

My time with Georgah and Rebekah!

Since everyone is gone on their camping trips, it leave just Georgah and Rebekah home. Yesterday we went to see Horton Hears a Who. What a great movie!

Today we took Hannah's flute to have it tuned up and ready for her band camp. After that we went to Chuckie Cheese. Tonight we are going to dinner with my mom, Heather and her kids. We are going to try Double Dave's Pizza. Tuesday night kids eat FREE!! Who could ask for anything better??

Summertime is here!

On Monday, Clyde left early in the morning with some of the Young Men for their High Adventure trip. They are visiting Nauvoo and doing a church history tour. I wish I could have gone. What an amazing trip for the young men.

Sarah and Hannah also left on Monday for Girls Camp. They both were so excited. This is Hannah's first year to camp. It's hard to believe that I have 2 girls at camp! They are growing up too fast!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH!!! It's so hard to believe that Hannah is 12!!

Seminary Already???

I can't believe that Sarah is finishing up 8th grade and getting ready for High School! Today was the last day of seminary and they always come and kidnap the future freshman. So bright and early, 5:15 AM, Dakin and Daltin, my sister Michelle's boys, came and picked up Sarah. They so wanted to wake her up. Clyde and I knew that Sarah wouldn't appreciate having her boys cousins in her room waking her up. SO, we caved and told her last night as she went to bed. After picking up Sarah they grabbed our next door neighbor Emily and off they went to get Malcolm, Heather's oldest. I am excited to see how close Sarah has become with her cousins over the past few years.

I hope Sarah enjoys seminary. I know I did. Hopefully, she will follow her parents and get 4 years of 100% attendance when she graduates from seminary! Wow 4 more years and she will be off to college! Man, I'm filling a little old. lol

Sarah's 1st Swim Meet

Sarah had her first swim meet. She did a great job! For the past 8 weeks, Sarah has been at swim practices 3 days a week at 6:30 in the morning. Her hard work has really paid off! She looks great and has found a new talent! Sarah swam the 50 yd freestyle and placed 6th in her heat. She also swam a freestyle relay and her team placed 5th.

Sarah swam the 50yd backstroke and place 2nd! She was only 2 1/2 seconds behind first place.

It looks like this might not be the only swim meet for Sarah. We are checking into JV Swim team for next year! WTG Sarah!!

Georgah's Band Concert!

What can I say?? Georgah loves the drums. All year Georgah has stayed after school on Thursday for band practice. She loves music! She really is good at keeping the beat. I think she might have a future in drum

Family Home Evening

This past Monday we took the advice from President Hansen to be a journal writing people. We talked a little about the importance of keeping a journal. After talking to the girls, or should I say trying to talk to the girls, we made new journals for everyone. I thought this would be a quick and easy FHE. Boy, was I wrong!! What I thought would only take about 30 minutes, it took more like 1 1/2 hours!

We had a great time being creative and wondering when some people would stop putting stuff on their journals. It's so hard to know when to stop, especially when ALL scrapbook stuff was up for grabs! After we finished our journals, we went to Dairy Queen for blizzards, dipped cones, brownie sundaes, and peanut buster parfaits! What a great evening!!

The question was asked from the girls whose journal is the best?? I couldn't answer!

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

Mother's Day has come and gone. It was a nice quiet Sunday. Clyde and I got to sleep in, our meetings had been canceled. Did I ever mention that Clyde is now the Young Men's President. So that means every Sunday we both have to be at church early. Our girls will have to ride with other members of the ward. They are very understanding. I love that they just move right along with changes. The tradition in our family for Mother's Day is that I get breakfast in bed. Since this year church is at 9 the girls asked if they could bring dinner to me in bed?? Of course, because that would mean I would have to take a nap. Oh, how sad for me! hehehe

After church we had our normal Sunday nachos and I was off to bed. It's amazing how just sitting and listening for 3 hours can make you so tired. I think I was in bed by 1:15 and slept until 5:30! Sarah made pancakes from scratch. Each pancake had a strawberry in the middle. I was also served oranges, fresh strawberries, orange juice, and diet coke! They sure love their mom! Rebekah brought me her "Pretty Pretty Princess" crown to wear and a necklace made out of paper clips. I wore them proudly the rest of the evening. They all made me cards. I have a drawer full of cards from over the past 15 years.

I truly have been blessed with 4 wonderful girls and an amazing husband! While I was napping the girls also picked up the house for me. It was a wonderful relaxing day!