The Primary Program

So today is always my favorite Sunday of the year.  The Primary Program is just amazing even from the alter.  The kids work so hard and they do such an amazing job.  Our Primary is busting at the seams these days with over 90 children so we barely fit on the alter.  The Spirit was amazingly strong as the children got up one by one and spoke and especially when they sang.  I have adored the song I know my Savior Loves Me from the first time I heard it and they sing it so well.   Ally is a primary program professional but this was Ansley's debut year.  She did great!  She got right up and spoke her part with no hesitation.  Ally did great too!  She had a long part and had to learn all the words so she could read it.  She amazed me and did it with very little practice.

Allyson's part was 2 Nephi 27:27 "For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles;....and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith." 

Ansley's part was I can follow Jesus' example by loving others.

We spent the rest of the afternoon outside.  The weather has been all over the place this week.  Almost 90 degrees on Friday and Sat and rather cool today but the sun was out and that's all that matters in my book.  We have great neighbors in the building next door and the girls love to play with their boys.  On a sadder note my surrogate grandparents have moved out.  I didn't realize it but Ally did.  She said, "mommy I think Charlotte and Walter are gone.  The shades are closed and the bird feeders are gone."  Such attention to detail.  She was right.  They are officially out of the complex.  I am extremely sad but will definitely be visiting them in their new place.  They can't get rid of me totally. 

We had some friends over for dinner tonight and were discussing the funny things kids say when Ally blurts out, "My middle name is sin!"  I think she meant son as in Ally-son but it was hilarious and proved out point that if they really want good wholesome entertainment they just need children!

Ground breaking

Today Jerry, Brenna and the girls walked over to the office at our condo complex for the ground breaking party for the pool, clubhouse and gym.  They had a great cookout and raffle.  The girls love the cornbread and ate their weight in it.  They enjoyed being out with all of the neighbors.  They were one of the last there so they left with an arm full.  A huge pumpkin, a mum and 8 balloons each.  Ansley's took flight half way home but Ally was a great big sister and shared hers.

Good Listening Ansley!

Today while Jerry was in the shower there was a knock at the door.  Ally was at school and Ansley was watching TV.  She quickly ran upstairs to ask Jerry if she could answer the door.  She failed to mention that it was Brenna on the other end, so of course his answer was no.  So Ansley sat on the floor while Brenna sat on the stoop talking to each other about life through the front door.  It was a priceless Ansley moment.  Great listening Ansley!!  Sorry Brenna!

The Temple

Today Jerry and I were blessed with the ability to spend the day at the Boston Temple.  It was the first time we have actually taken our own names to the temple and it made an already very spiritual experience just so much better.  The Spirit was so strong especially in the baptistry.  I am so grateful for a husband who is worthy to hold the Priesthood and who loves the temple and the blessings it brings as much as I do!  Thank you for an amazing day Jerry!  I love you!!

Labor Day Weekend

So Hurricane Earl was all hype.  I don't even think we got a drop of rain.  Jerry had planned on working all day Saturday but last minute we decided we would have a small cookout so we spent the day getting ready for it.  Jerry has been wanting a fire pit for forever so we bought one.  We had Brenna and TJ and his wife Chrissy and Cony and his wife Megan over.  We hadn't met Cony and his wife yet.  They too moved to CT for grad school.  Jerry had spoken to Cony over the phone several times (as the dept mascot) and found out that they were moving from Georgia.  We later found out that they are LDS and that we have mutual friends from the Commerce Ward.  They were literally here minutes when I knew that I absolutely love them!  They are a great couple and very laid back.  We all had a great time hanging out by the fire pit and laughing and talking.  It was after 1 am before we packed it up.  They don't have any kids yet but they didn't seem bothered by ours so I am hoping they will want to hang out again.

Despite the lack of sleep (I think we got into bed around 3 am) we had a fantastic Sunday!  It was an amazing fasting testimony meeting.  I know it was because even Jerry left feeling uplifted and it isn't usually one of his favorite meetings.  To top it off we found out that they are going to offer baptisms early in the am at the temple tomorrow so we should be able to do the work for 8 people tomorrow.  We were just on cloud nine.  Lately we have felt so disconnected from most people.  Joining the church has changed us and our priorities and changed a lot of our relationships.  We are in such a better place though and are so excited for the connections we will make and have with those whose work we will do tomorrow.  After church we headed down to Hamden for Stephanie and Jason's housewarming party.  The weather was beautiful and the food and company was fantastic!  It was nice to hang out with other adults while the girls played.  They love hanging out with Kelly's boys and we hardly knew they were there.  Ansley absolutely adores Joshua and followed him around all day.  It was a great weekend!

Day 2

So this morning I had to wake Ally for school.  She wasn't miserable but she definitely wasn't as excited either.  I think the quote was, "I don't want to go.  It's too long.  I just want to come home."  I have to say I agree it is too long to be gone.  It's bitter sweet not having my baby home all day but I know she needs to go so I coaxed her out of bed and we got ready for the day. I got a much overdue haircut and then Ansley, Brenna and I went to Easy Picken's in Enfield and picked a ton of blueberries, apples and fresh veggies.  The okra was amazing and took us right back to Georgia.  After dinner we ate the beautiful birthday cake Brenna decorated in her cake decorating class.  Ansley decided since her birthday was the last one we'd celebrated it was her birthday cake and demanded a hat and candles to boot!

 I love the flower the okra plant produces

My beautiful gerber daisy

First Day of First Grade!

We have been putting the girls to bed early all week in preparation for Ally's first day and it worked.  I got up at 6:30 am to be up before her and had planned on waking her up around 7 am.  Just as I was getting dressed she work up and came running into my room, "Mommy, Mommy today is the day I go to school!"  She was super excited and to my surprise got ready with very little prompting.  Jerry made us all a great breakfast and we were out the door by 7:55 am.  At the bus stop we realized we hadn't reminded Ally which teacher she had or what  room number.  I also sent her to school with a fruit cup for snack time and no spoon.  Day one and already I have messed up severely.  She survived though mostly thanks to Miss Tanjua who saw her asking the librarian to help her find her room and then brought her to class.  Thanks Tanjua!  You are the BEST!  When I asked Ansley if she was going to miss Ally today she said, "No way, not at all!  I am going to play with all of her toys.  I think she did miss her though.  There wasn't a whole lot of playing today and there was a whole lot of whining.   When she got home I could tell that she was totally exhausted so we had a snack and took a rest before Karate.  At Karate Ansley stole the show when Master Fuller asked the class to do their best 8 point blocking with the strikes with their most mean face on.  While they are doing it he stops the class and asks Ansley to please do hers in the mirror.  It's a one way mirror so she was really doing it for all of the parents but all she could see was herself.  She had a great mean face on and gave everyone a great laugh!

Ansley's first day of school

Today was Ansley's first day of school.  She was somewhat shy in the beginning but Mrs. Oliphant said that she did speak and played with the other kids so already we are off to a pretty good start.  Ansley really enjoyed going to school.  They spent some of the day getting to know each other.   They played peanut butter jam which Ansley loved.   Her favorite addition was the alligator.  She picked a frog.  Mrs. Oliphant added her shoe.  They also went outside for some play time and finished the day with an open ended project.  Ansley was happy when we picked her up and took offense to the fact that we mentioned she didn't talk much.  "I talked today!"  It was cute.  Jerry and I spent the morning out.  We went out for breakfast and then ran some errands.  It was weird to be out without the girls.  I am starting to get used to Ally being gone all day but to be without Ansley too seemed strange.  After we picked her up Jerry went to school and I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to clean up.  I am in a purging mode which always means a bigger mess before it gets better.  Just as I was making some headway in the kitchen the UPS man showed up with Jerry's new punching bag.  Ansley was ecstatic and couldn't wait to punch it.  Me, I just wanted it out of the kitchen. We finished the day up with a great workout at karate.  We learned a bonus move tonight.  Jamie showed us how to fight off an attacker with a knife.  I also got a great compliment too.  Apparently he drove by Ansley and I while we were waiting for the bus but he didn't beep because he thought I was a babysitter and didn't want to scare me.  Ha!  I love it!