Ry's B-day weekend

Last week, I picked up my mom from the airport. She had been up at Audrey's, helping with baby Lucas and decided that since she was on this side of the country, she would drop down here and visit us for a week. Good choice Mom!
It was really fun to have her here.

Back in August, I looked at Georgia's Football Schedule and decided that the week that they had a bye was the week that we were going to go to Columbia, SC, for a temple trip.
The bye fell on Oct. 24th, which also happened to be the day before Ry's b-day.
We decided to get a hotel and make a weekend out of it.
We asked Ry if she wanted to go to the Zoo in Columbia and choose a restaurant for dinner or have a friend party. She chose the zoo (phew!)

As soon as Matt got off work on friday, we loaded up the car and headed out. Having my mom with us was an added bonus. We had a built in babysitter for the weekend. We got to our hotel, checked in and then Matt and I went to go see Griffin House play downtown and my mom put the kids to bed.
The next morning, Matt and I went to the temple while my mom swam in the hotel pool with the kids for 3 hours. Thanks Mom!

It was cloudy and raining when we left the hotel. Ry decided on Cracker Barrel for lunch-Yum!

When we left Cracker Barrel, the rain had completely cleared up, the sun was shining and we had perfect weather for an afternoon at the zoo.
We all really liked the Riverbanks Zoo. It had lots of animals and the layout was better than some other zoos I have been too.








Ryanne is obsessed with any carousel. Usually we try not to spend too much extra money once we are in the zoo, but we couldn't refuse the b-day girls wish.


Is this the creepiest thing ever? I think so. Jonah loved it.

We came home on Saturday night and had birthday cake on Sunday.
Ry was too excited about this b-day present to look at me.
Ry told me she wanted a princess cake, but quickly changed her mind and said she wanted green frosting with dinosaurs on top. I said ok and let her decorate.
We used candy-coated chocolate covered sunflower seeds for the dinosaur eggs.

And as usual, Savannah got up on the table to help. She has a serious sweet tooth!

It was a great weekend!

Jonah

Jonah just finished his first quarter of 2nd grade here in Georgia. He goes to a really great school and has loved it so far. He has made lots of friends and I am really glad that he has adapted so well since we moved.

Last week he brought home a little invitation that said he had been chosen to get an award and that we could go to the little presentation together.
I had no idea what the award was for, but he was pretty excited because only 2-3 kids from each class were receiving awards.

I thought maybe it was for perfect attendance since he hasn't missed a day, but really had no idea what to expect.
Matt was able to meet us at the school and we found out there were 4 different awards.
First they awarded the Citizenship Award to 1 child per class- Jonah's name was called- Yay!
We got to clap and he was really excited.
Then they went to Art/Music/PE award which is given to 1 student per grade.
We were all shocked when Jonah got the award for Art for the entire 2nd grade. He couldn't believe that he got 2 awards.
Great Job Jonah! Keep up the Good Work!

I feel so inspired and uplifted.
I love General Conference.
I have a new determination to try harder to do my best, love everyone more, serve those around me, and to continue striving to be the best person that I can.
I absolutely loved everything I heard.
There was definitely a theme of Love, which I couldn't agree with more. Love emcompasses everything else. So simple, but so powerful.

Here are some of my favorite things, not word for word exactly, but from my notes.


Elder Osguthorpe-
AIM HIGH- do a little better than you think you can
think, feel and do something about living gospel principles
learning and teaching are not optional

Elder Bednar-
Express love and show it.
we will never regret the kind word spoken.
Feeling the constancy of love is the desire of every soul, it casts out fear.
Bear testimony and mean it. consistently live it. Testimony is reflected in words and deeds.
Many ordinary brushstrokes combine to make a beautiful painting.
Consistency can lead to spirituality.
We simply should sincerely and frequently express love.
We should remember that saying 'I love you' is only a beginning. We need to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to show it. We need to both express and demonstrate love.

Elder Uchtdorf-
Love is the greatest commandment and should be at the heart of all we do in families, church, communities
Obedience becomes a joy, not a burden
What we love, we seek
what we seek, we think
what we think, we do
what we do is who we are and who we will become
Love is the defining characteristic of disciples of Christ
Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, God loves us perfectly.
Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.
God does not need people to love him but that people need to love God
God loves all - including the imperfect, the proud, the selfish, the arrogant and the wicked.

President Eyring-
We can and must expect to become better
Selfishness is the absence of love
I'm trying to be like Jesus


David H. Burton-
Virtues show our true character
Concerned parents help instill values
integrity goes hand in hand with values

Anne Dibb-
We learn and grow by overcoming our hard times with faith and personal righteousness
Repent, Hold On, and Don't Let Go

President Monson-
Each of us can do something to help someone
Often we live side by side, but do not communicate heart to heart

Stuff

The one thing I thought was strange about our house was the fact that in the main bathroom there was no medicine cabinet, shelf, or anything of the sort to put bathroom toiletries on/in.
This is the main bathroom that we all share and I couldn't stand all the junk that was collecting around the sink.
When we were at someone's house I noticed that they had a built in shelf in the bathroom. I loved it. Perfect.
Matt built me one last weekend.
I think it is perfect and now the sink is clean!
Thank you, honey!
The other night the kids were all in Jonah's room and after awhile I was getting a little suspicious as to what they were doing because it was so quiet in there.
I went to peek and saw Jonah reading to Ryanne and Savannah. It was so sweet.
I watched for a couple of minutes. The girls would take turns choosing books and Jonah just sat there and read to them.
I had to snap a picture. It made my heart happy to see Jonah being so kind to his sisters.

And I just have to say that I love having a big yard. The kids can go outside and play all afternoon. It is fun to watch them being creative and having a good time.