Updates...and Goals...

Wow, the last week has gone by so quickly.  I am trying to keep up better on this blog so that all our family can see what we have been up to.  Now that I have set up a new home in a new city, and state, and have gotten us "mostly" unpacked...I say mostly because I still have all my holiday stuff packed up and stacked up in a closet, I figured it is time for me to set up my home and family and "my time".  I figure if I write it down, then I have to do it.

Anyway, I was put in as the Primary Chorister last week, and yesterday was the first Sunday I did my calling.  It was a lot of fun getting all prepared to sing, and I was paid a great compliment too...I was told that this was the first time "all" the kids were singing.  I felt good to know that my hard work and preparation paid off.  However I was a little concerned that most of the kids don't know the old classics like Book of Mormon Stories, or Give Said the Little Stream, or Teach me to Walk in the Light.  I was told however by the Bishop that I am totally in charge of all music the primary kids learn...along with only "suggestions" from the primary presidency, but that if I want to teach them the classics, I may do so, and he even said it would be a good idea to do so.  So on top of me having to learn all these new songs that I have never heard before, I will be teaching them the oldies and goodies.  Now I have to make all the flip charts a little easier for the kids to read and learn. 

So that is what I have been up to.  I have also been trying to think of things to do with the kids I came across this awesome website.  She has some really great activities to do with kids.  So I will try to start doing some fun things like that with the kids.  They love the pool, and want to spend every waking hour in it, but there has to be more to their summer than staying in the pool.  It is a little too hot this month to do much else though, unless you are in an air conditioned place.  As everyone here tells us..."just make it through till the end of August, and this place turns into the garden of Eden"  I hope they are right.  Its so stinking hot here.  Last week the high of three days were 117, this week than goodness we get a break and it will only be a high of 107.  Hopefully it will go down even more, and then settle into the high to mid 80's for the rest of the year and winter.  Then we will really be having some fun.

I know for sure we will be getting the kids something fun at the end of this week.  I'm thinking of throwing them a fun little party on Saturday, and giving them their gifts then.  We haven't been able to get the kids hardly anything since we have been trying to get caught up on the Van issues, and Rent and utilities, and all that goes along with moving into a new home.  So now that we will have a little bit of extra money, we will be getting them a little gift.  We bough them the little snorkel, and masks at the dollar store for them when we first got here.  Those things have been used to death.  They have helped these kids not be so afraid of swimming in the deep end without floaties.  So as part of their party and my duty as a mother to teach them the value of saving and looking forward to something, I have set forth this plan. 

We will have a fun beach party.  We will have a pic nick outside next to the pool, and have lots of fun.  I will then present them with their "gifts" a nice "semi=pro" set of scuba mask and snorkel. (Ones you can use when going snorkeling somewhere) and then I will introduce the "pickle" jar.  I will have a cute label on it and we will be saving up for our first vacation as a family.  We are hoping to be able to do this one "before" grandma and grandpa go on a mission so that they can come with us...but if not we will save this vacation for when they come back.  We will be saving up all our change in the pickle jar for a vacation to somewhere nice where the kids can go snorkeling.  My parents have gone to some cool places, and I would love their input on the best snorkeling places to go...or any ones input.  If you have gone somewhere that you think would be good for the kids to go snorkeling at then please let me know.  But we will be having a fun party to give them their gifts, and help introduce our "savings" jar for our family vacation.  I will be putting some things on the bottom of the pool for them to "snorkel" and dive for.  It should be really fun.  I will post some pics after this weekend.

Some other things I want to do this summer is have some of the primary kids over to the house for a swim party, and sort of a "get to know you" party for the kids to play with, and for me to get to know more mommies. This should be fun.  I know some of them, but would really like to get to know more of them.  Also we are going to be feeding the missionaries on Sunday so that we can get to know them better as well.  This will be a monthly thing for our family so that we can show the kids how to be loving and generous to the missionaries, and hopefully instill in them the importance of missionary work.  Also to help encourage them to want to go on a mission when they get older.

I also want to spend a lot less time here on the computer.  I have notices that I spend a lot of time that I could be doing other things, here on this computer.  I will be updating the blog, so that you all know what I am up to, but as far as getting onto face book and all that, I find that I am spending way too much valuable time on here reading stuff, and not attending to my children.  I'm not saying that the Internet is bad, but for me I find that it is addicting, and that I should cut down on my usage time.  SO I am allotting myself two hours a day on the Internet only AFTER the kids have gone to bed.  Hopefully this will help me become more organized with my time, and help me spend more quality time with my kids.

Well, I better get going, I will update you in a little while on how the party went with the kids, and how we are doing.  Hope all of you are well.  Please know that we love you all and think of you often.