Family Home Evening

On Monday nights we have "Family Home Evening," where we spend a little time together as a family, have a lesson, scripture, activity, songs, prayer, treats, etc.  Often its crazy, occasionally there are tantrums, but for the most part we have fun together.  And every once in blue moon we have a lesson that really sticks.  Here are two examples.

Last Monday I took the kids outside and had them draw chalk circles around themselves on the driveway.  Then read this quote by Karl G. Maeser (first president of BYU):

"I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor.' I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls--walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground--there is a possibility that in some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No. Never! I'd die first!"





At first it took some explaining.  I got questions like, "Why was he in prison?"  But after talking about what it means to be men and women of honor, they started to get the idea.  


So a few times this week when I've asked Colby a question, such as "Did you brush your teeth?" or "Did you use the potty," I've heard, "Yes.  And I'm a man of honor!" A couple times I heard him start to reply falsely, then stop and think, and change his answer. 

So the lesson has stuck, at least for a little while.


Here's another one that stuck longer.  Over a year ago we had a FHE about bad words.  Sienna was in Kindergarten and we were starting to hear things in our home that we weren't use to.  Not terrible, just words like "stupid" or "dumb", but used in reference to people, which I didn't like.  So we had a FHE about it.  I looked up a story in the "Friend," then we wrote down as many negative words we could think of, wadded them into balls, and threw our "garbage words" across the room into the garbage can, trying to make baskets.


And we've rarely heard those words since.  I heard one this week from Sienna and called her on it.  Colby added the comment, "Yah, because once for Family Home Evening we threw those words in the garbage."  


Colby was three, almost four when we had that lesson.  It stuck!

Great Achievements

Over Christmas break, Bryan stopped shaving.  He decided to shave off his beard after he
a) got tenure, and
b) broke the 5 minute mile.

Last week we got the good news that he got tenure at Vanderbilt.  Hooray!  For those not familiar with the academic profession, achieving tenure is a promotion.  He is now an associate professor.  It's also good for your status, your salary, job security, etc.  I don't actually know all the implications, but it's a good thing.

Then today...

Hooray again!  After YEARS of working, training, and trying... finally!  Success!  I think this is the goal he is actually more proud of.

Bryan is such a good example of determination.  What a guy.

And he is now clean shaven again.

With a pause for a photo-op during the process.  :)

March News

What happened with the Shepherds in March?

Sienna turned 7.  She also lost her top two front teeth and one on the bottom, which makes for a really cute, goofy smile.

Colby turned 5.  He celebrated with a Transformer birthday party with some friends.  For those not into Transformers, his cake is supposed to be the Autobot (good guy) symbol.  Homemade red frosting is impossible.

Sienna was a ladybug for her first grade play/dance.  She was practicing once in the bathroom and taking forever.  She came out quite frustrated because "she couldn't shake her hips right".

Bryan went to Prague for a work related trip.  Saw a lot of cool old stuff.

Ashley continues to be cute. She's learning to write her own name.

Dallin started the month by balancing on his own.  Now he has taken up to 4 steps before falling with a grin into the closest arms.

February Stuff

So here are a few things we've been up to:

Dressing up as "transformers":

Hosting a valentine playgroup:

Visiting the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga:

Celebrating Valentines Day:

Celebrating Ashley's 3rd birthday:

And visiting the Grand Ole Opry.  After 5 1/2 years of living in Music City, we finally went.  We watched and listened to 90-year-old Little Jimmy Dickens, the Doobie Brothers, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Sarah Darling, and others.  We're not big country music people, but it was a very fun evening.

It's kinda hard...

It's kinda hard to take a shower when this little guy likes playing peek-a-boo with the shower curtain.

(The picture does not capture how truly wet he is)

It's kinda hard to do stuff on the computer when these little fingers are trying to get my keyboard and mouse.

Die hard

This is what happens when you run 16 miles in below-freezing weather with a beard.

The Good of Winter

Winter has typically ranked last among seasons for me.  Cold, sick, dark, sick, gray, sick, etc.  But this year I've focused on a few things that I actually really enjoy about this season.  I don't know if I'm ready to change it's rank status or anything, but I'm just glad I live in an area where we have a good chunk of time in each of the four season.  Enough time to appreciate the good and the bad and to be ready to move on to the next season. 

So...  The Good of Winter:

Being inside together in the evenings.  When summer rolls around and it's light until late, the kids are often outside until the very last minute.  I've been enjoying the time we're all together, usually in the Family Room.  We've been enjoying our fireplace more than usual.  Lately we've been doing a lot of reading.  Right now we’re reading “The Wizard of Oz” to the kids and we’re all enjoying it (except perhaps Ashley and Dallin).  (If you have any other suggestions of "family books" let me know.  We've also recently enjoyed "Frindle" and "How to Eat Fried Worms")

I also love that when I sweep there aren't tiny baby spiders that crawl out from under the cupboards.  And I love that I don't have to put on bug spray before walking outside for fear of mosquitos or chiggers.

I love crawling in bed after an exhausting day.  Actually I love this year round, but in winter I love being slightly chilly but feeling the weight of heavy blankets on top and expecting the heat from the blankets and Bryan to soon warm me.  So comforting.  It’s just not the same when you’re hot, with just the sheet on, the fan going overhead, and not wanting to touch or be touched.

Lazy Saturdays.  Between soccer, frisbee, and summer excursions, Saturdays always seem to be so busy.  Fun, but busy.  We don't have kids into basketball, so our winter Saturdays tend to be lazy and kind of boring.  I've always gone stir-crazy before.  But I've come to appreciate them this year.  It's OK to be a little bored.  It's OK for my kids to find things to do.  We read, play games, take naps… it’s great!  Maybe that just means I'm getting older and lazier...

And I LOVE soups.  Mmmmmmmm.