Mr. Smarty Pants

Jacob has decided that he HATES school and he is not going. It's as simple as that, his decision has been made and there was nothing you could do to persuade him otherwise. I have been sick and in bed and he never reacts well to that, he also has been waking up at 5:00, yes, a.m. So we assumed it was that and forced him to go to school. He has had a few small anxiety things like Jenna but not enough for us to show concern and we certainly aren't going to hop on that train too quick again. Anyway, his teacher asked what she could do to make school more fun for him so that he would come without crying. He put his hands on his hips, looked her straight in the eye, and said word for word, "give me harder work". He's been telling me that school was too easy and I knew that he was bored but I didn't think it was that bad. What kid actually wants more work? Jacob. That's who. Jacob is such a smarty pants that he is too smart for Kindergarten, not that it's that hard to do. Luckily, Miss Abraham also likes extra work and doesn't mind working a little more with Jacob so he isn't so bored and is a bit more challenged. Thank goodness for great teachers!

Beautiful, yes. Innocent, who knows...

I have one of the most beautiful girls alive, I also have to claim that she is one of the most dramatic little twits also. She is a good girl, mostly, and I think she tries hard to do good but, wow, she can drive me bonkers! This picture was taken last year at her 11 year old birthday party. Now, I'm lucky she hasn't started to "develop" so the older boys don't take TOO much notice of her. We have a pretty good relationship and she's always thought it was fun that she was my only daughter but I do wonder what will happen as she becomes more of a teenager and less of a tween. She is now so much of an attitude striving eye-roller that I'm not even sure how to react to her half of the time. Part of me wants to slap her silly, part of me wants to laugh at her, and part of me wants to say something so sarcastic it would probably get me into trouble. Who knows how to raise a girl? If there is any advice out there, I'm all game for hearing it!

Cameron's new badge

Cameron has been a cub scout for all of 5 weeks and has already earned his bobcat badge. What does that mean you ask? I truly have no clue because I've been involved in cub scouts as long as Cam has. I know he's worked really hard and had tons of fun. He's made some really cool art things, gone to Austin Recycle to learn more about recycling, he went to Brown Santa, and he talked to his family about the importance of keeping the earth clean. Today, he talked about bike safety and went on a one mile bike ride. He's had a pretty great time and looks forward to scouts every week. It is great that Kendall is Cub Master and that Cameron's Den Leader is pretty amazing also. We are looking forward to his next badge!

Jenna's New Year's Eve Party

A 12 year old's new years eve party isn't the greatest way I've spent ringing in the new year but I have to be honest and say that I had a pretty good time. Jenna and her cute little friends were pretty funny. Here they are toasting midnight with sparkling grape juice feeling very silly and grown up. Of course, they ran right outside and started throwing those popping things at each other making a bunch of squeaky noises. Kendall had no clue what I was thinking asking all those girls over but I figured they were going to want to do something, I'd much rather they all be here having fun. Kendall, Spencer, and I played games with them while they sang, danced, and squeaked the night away. Happy 2010 everyone.

Cameron's Baptism

On January 2, 2010, Cameron Michael Holt was baptized. It was a pretty proud moment for Kendall and I. Of course, he is still doing things because we tell him to and that's the way things are done, he is also realizing that he has a choice and he can choose to do bad things. He did make the choice to be baptized and for that we are proud of him. His Uncle Spencer, Kendall's brother, told him to always remember that day because people would always ask him questions about it. But most importantly he needed to remember that day because he was making a choice that Heavenly Father wanted him to make, a choice that was taking him closer to his Heavenly Father, one that took him closer on the road to returning to his Heavenly Father. He is an amazing little boy who makes Kendall and I so proud in so many ways, this day was just one in many.

We are going to try again

For a while I was doing a shutterfly account that I could add pictures to and I could update everyone on how we were doing easily that way. Recently, I've had a really hard time uploading pictures to my shutterfly account so I guess I'm going to have to learn how to become a blogger. It has taken me a really long time tonight to figure this out but I am trying. I think the hardest part is going to be finding the time to keep up with it. I have no idea how these Mom's do it. I suppose it's just a matter of desire, maybe I prefer to sit on my behind after my kids go to bed, maybe other people's kids actually take naps. Who knows? I am going to try. I do know that the Grandparents at least want to see the pictures. Wish me luck.....