I forgot to blog this last month and she's so darn cute, I have to blog now. This was during Red Ribbon Week in October. The kids have a week long drug awareness week. This day was crazy hair day because "it's crazy to use drugs"! As she was walking out the door (after I had already taken these) she grabbed her little tiara and wore that too. I called her "Princess Drug Free". She has the best smile!

Primary was great today. We learned and did so much. I can't believe you can pack so much in just 2 hours. (oh b.t.w. I know it's Monday night but I can pretend that I wrote this last night, I meant to!) Did you know that being Grateful is a commandment. Ethan Mower taught us that and what he's thankful for. He's thankful for his boat, his bike and his scriptures. Love that kid.

We read "You Are Special" by Max Lucado in Jr. Primary. Did you know that although we are all different in so many ways, Heavenly Father loves each of us and knows us by name. We are special to him. He wants each of us to be happy. The kids really enjoyed the book. It's one of my favorites.

We invited the past primary presidency (who was just released in Sept.) to join us so we could sing a song to them. The whole primary sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me". It was goose bumpy. There is nothing better than kids singing primary songs. LOVE IT! Many of the kids told them why they were thankful for them. We presented them with aprons that had kids hand prints all over them and then the kids all signed them. They served the children of our ward so wonderfully.

In Sr. Primary, Christopher Higham taught us about how important bridges are. He used the analogy of bridges getting us to important places just like using bridges of scriptures, or obedience or prayer will get us to important places. We learned again about how the Lord loves ALL his children. The children here in America and the children all the way down in Antarctica and everywhere else. We played a fun little game. "Thank You" was written in 10 different languages and using a world map, they had to find where that language was spoken. They did a great job. Can you guess what language this thank you might be from: Shnorhagallem or how about Kansha shimasu?

I'm thankful for my new calling. I'm even more thankful for my board. They are a wonderful group of people who love the Lord and show Him each week by serving our children. Primary is a great place to be.

On Friday, the 14th, I got to go on Maryn's Field Trip with her to Kidspace in Pasadena. It's across the street from the Rose Bowl. I even got to ride on the bus. It was so much fun. We climbed all the way up here on a climbing thing. You can see behind Maryn how far up we are.



These are a little out of order but I got this today from Maryn's teacher. She is so sweet. She is such a wonderful teacher and so very thoughtful always.



Here is Maryn with her class; Mrs. West's class, room 7. They are a great group of kids. I get to visit them every Wednesday to help out for a couple of hours.



I just thought this was such a cute picture of her. She is such a little flower in our garden. Always with a smile on her face. That is her hand.



Here she is popping out of somewhere else, like a ground hog. There was so much for them to play on and do inside and outside. They didn't stop moving the whole time we were there. She was pooped on the way home and even fell asleep on the bus ride home.

Natey made "ice cream"... that's what he called it. He just couldn't understand why no one wanted to eat it (it's gold fish and Diet Rite). Ugh! I hope if he grows up to be a chef (which I would love) he takes a few classes on things that mix and things that don't mix!

The other picture is Natey in a time out. (not for making "ice cream" although he looks like he has the same thing on possibly). Natey doesn't enjoy clothing most of the time or not too much at least. He doesn't really get the "time out" thing but usually he at least stays there until the timer beeps! Baby steps we're taking. Love him to pieces!

It's not that I've completely forgotten about the Primary Corner. Well I did the second week but we also had a stake conference and then I was out of town for my grandmothers funeral. But yesterday was FUN! I know I should've posted this last night.

Anyhow, we had to shuffle around a few classes because we had some teachers who needed to tend to sick babies at home and we did it. We had our little jr. nursery kids take a field trip to the big nursery because we were down nursery leaders but they had fun with the big kids and there were only 4 little ones!

Our little Moonbeams are joining us in Jr. Primary for singing time which is really cute. I think they'll be just fine in 2009! I wonder when they'll start missing their snack time.

We learned about all the fun things we can do to take care of our bodies. Sister Bayles taught us that our bodies are like temples to be treated with respect. They are a special gift from Heavenly Father. The kids liked to pet their pets (which would be using your bodies hands), play games, exercise and keep their bodies clean. Sister Turner helped us sing lots of fun songs too.

We had 3 children who were baptized the day before also: Kate, Joshua and Madison. They looked so cute all dressed in white. We're happy for them and proud of the wonderful decision they've made to share their testimonies by choosing to be baptized.

We even had a special visit by our former Primary President, Sister Dobbs with her brand new little baby, Lailani! We told her we would always have a seat for her whenever she wants to visit us. She loves Primary too. We are enjoying primary and getting to know what we are suppose to be doing and getting to know the cute personalities of the children in our ward.

Chayse turned 13 on November 4th before all the election business even started! It was her birthday first! I brought pizza and sunny D's to school at lunch. Her and her friends had fun with that. I think there were even a few kids who wished that they were Chayse's friend that day too. That following Friday, she had a few girlie friends over to paint nails, have taco salad & yummy ice cream cake and watch Get Smart! She was even serenaded by her dad and his hunting comrades the morning of her birthday. (Nate was in OR on his annual hunting trip... he didn't catch anything!)

Chayse is the sweetest girl I know. She loves life, she loves to make people happy, she sings all the time, she loves to play soccer and loves her soccer team. She loves the gospel and has a very strong testimony and she always wants to do what is right! Love you to pieces sweetheart!

For Chayse's birthday, I asked my friend Heather to come over and help me polka dot Chayse's room. We did do part of it standing up also. It turned out so cute. Thank you very much Heather, she loved it! She even changed her room all around later that night. Now I just have to fix those window treatments and she's all set!

Here's Maryns class on Halloween after the parade. The cute little pumpkin in the front is my little baby that I watch during the day with his mama, Maryn's teacher; Mrs. West. He had fun hangin out in his mama's class during the Halloween party at school. We made spiders, popcorn hands, spider pops, played Bingo, played Twister, did a math page, played a reading game and had yummy treats. Yes, we did run out of time but we sure had fun running out of it!

I think that's what the girls called themselves for Halloween, yoga instructors! This was just too cute not to post. Brooke, Emalee and Aralie all ready for the big stake Halloween dance. They had a great time. They sure looked cute enough! Love the crimps (and straight for Aralie) girls!

Forgot to blog these! We didn't really have time to carve pumpkins. We went to a Yes on Prop 8 rally Thursday night but Maryn really wanted to carve pumpkins so we stayed up and made them. Were they really going to do a lot of work on Friday with all the party's and candy? Chayse helped them and even added a bow and a tie. Unfortunately, they never made it outside on Halloween. I left for Salt Lake and they got left on the counter. Too bad. Someone besides just us had to see how cute they were!

Here is my sweet Grandma, Lena Hodgson Andersen and me in May of this year. This was the last time I saw her when she knew who I was. This summer she was very confused with who everyone was and she kept getting very sick. She just turned on 90 on the 13th of October. Last Tuesday, October 28, she passed away. Although I will miss her very much, I'm so happy that she is with my Grandpa now, forever! That's his picture behind me. She has missed him for nearly 20 years and I'm sure it was a joyous reunion. I was able to go to the funeral (thanks to my brother in law, Steve!) in Salt Lake this past Saturday, November 1st. It was a beautiful funeral. She would've loved the music and talked about it for weeks. I got to speak for a few mintues along with 3 of my other cousins and my sister who wrote her a beautiful poem. I talked about three of the things I learned from my grandma. Of course I learned more than 3. She taught me to Support your spouse, Love your siblings and Don't miss out on the little things. I have so many wonderful memories of her. I think the one that is most special to me is that she was in the delivery room with me when I had Emalee. That was the only time she saw a baby born. She always got choked up when she talked about it. I'm thankful she was there. She loved me and I loved her. Although I will miss her, I can't help but be happy for her that she is with Grandpa again. He was an absolutely wonderful man too. I'm thankful that families are forever. I know I will see her again. I'll miss you Grandma. Sleep well. I love you forever!