Bonfire Night

 Phineas and I had a lovely restful day, pottering around the Pink Pig Farm.  It is so nice to spend some time alone with him, especially after the manic few days we've had over half term!

 Of course Phineas loves to relax with his Daddy to.

And sometimes he just likes to watch fire!

Dandelions and Dummies

First off, Phineas doesn't call his dummy a dummy, he calls it his "Dooo"  That aside, let me tell you about the dandelion first.  Phineas and I were out pottering in the garden as we do.  I was busy cleaning out the chickens, when Phineas came marching up to me with two dandelions, and gave one to me.  He had the broadest, cheekiest, warmest smile on his face.  He was just plain delighted with his find, as was I! I set the flower aside to press in a book, but it got left in the utility room all day.  I am still going to press it, but I thought I better photograph it as well, to ensure I remember this precious moment.  Even though the flower is wilted, it is still dear to me!

The many faces of Phineas

Sometimes, I take a little time to remind myself why I gave up a job I loved to stay home with this little man.  I am glad I did.

Sunday

Today at Church I learnt about fasting and also about how the gospel is a shelter for us.  A phrase in the fasting lesson really changed my perspective of fasting (which I dislike, with a passion, but need to learn to love!) went something like this, "Would you give up two meals a month, so that someone else could eat?" and the answer is of course YES!  I would, without a doubt, so why do I find it so hard to fast?  With this new perspective I am going to try and fast next fast and testimony Sunday, with a purpose!  But I think that this purpose needs to be decided by us as a family, even if we all have our own individual purposes, I just know that it will go better if all of us are together in this.
What to know what I mean by fasting?  Go here  https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-25-fasting?lang=eng

For my personal progress, I am working on my Faith 10 hour project, which means I am aiming to teach the children all 13 articles of faith in time for Nathan's baptism (27/12/2014).  I am also learning about what it means to be a peacemaker...yeah, I need that!

Missionaries and such

 Nathan, well, he's Nathan and so he goes through these mini obsessions.  At the moment he is absorbed by all things Pokemon.  How does that relate to two missionaries?? Well, these aren't just any old missionaries, they are "Starzy" missionaries.  I believe Starzy (hopefully I spelt that right!) is the Polish word for "Elder", which is what all missionaries in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are called.  Still with me? So because they are "Starzy - s" Nathan thinks that sounds like a Pokemon name, so they have transformed into very rare Pokemon!  Now if you have ever met Elder/ Starzy Owens, you will know that this label is right up his street, and he is so good about it!  If he is still in Scunthorpe ward in December, we will be asking him to speak at Nathan's baptism, but we have a couple of transfers to get through before that.   It is so nice to have the missionaries in our home again, and these two are great!

 Speaking of missionaries, Lewis has been home from his mission over 10 years now, but he still lusts after mission life!  So, in his new calling as "Elders Quorum President" (too funny) he is taking every chance he can to go out and do visits with the missionaries, reliving the glory days!  I think I may be lucky and that this is how his mid life crisis will manifest!  In the moments before he dashed out of the door, I managed to get this picture of him reading Phineas his bed time story.  I love this book, it's called "Where's my Teddy?"   It was one of Nathan's and was one of the books that helped him learn to speak.  It took a long time for Nathan to speak so it was a great moment when he buzzed like the bee in this book!  Present day, and Phineas loves it to!  Of course he is a right chatter box and is Caitlin's partner in crime!

Which brings me to this photo.  I don't know who took this.  Maybe I did and forgot, but it popped up on my computer the other day, when I was feeling a bit sad and sorry for myself and made me chuckle. 

I guess Esaias is missing from this post, but he is plodding along just fine, taking everything in his stride, being that wonderful loving boy he is.  I am so blessed with my children, they are some of my favourite people in the world!

Thoughts...

For a while Sundays when Lewis has to work have been miserable!  I miss him terribly on a Sunday.  In addition to this I have a general dislike of weekends.  I remember Saturday and Sunday afternoons being dull, long, cold and hungry!  I don't think there was a lack of food, I was just less resourceful then!  I realised that I still have that feeling now.  I spend Sundays restless, trying not to "work", tired of having to do a roast dinner after a long morning of Church, and wishing I could nip to the shop to buy sweeties!

Eventually I realised I was making myself miserable and a little preparation has made today a far more enjoyable day!  I still miss Lewis something rotten, but I have done things differently.  

I have stopped doing a roast dinner on a Sunday.  Instead we have meat free wraps which take minutes to prepare, but we can stuff ourselves silly with!

I have bought sweeties and pop and set them aside for Sunday.

I have decided to fill my Sunday with uplifting, wholesome activities; TV viewing (today I watched Elder Bednar's Social Media talk  https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/to-sweep-the-earth-as-with-a-flood?lang=eng

Wow...just wow), Personal Progress, Pinterest and crafting.  It is going much better!

First days

Today is Caitlin's very first day at Secondary school and we are all so proud!  She is a confident, bright and lovely girl, so I have no doubt she will do well at secondary.  I hope that school life is gentle with her, and she comes out the other end as confident and lovely as she is now, with enough knowledge to take on the world!

Esaias and Nathan have also started at their new school, but due to a lack of jumpers, a poor show by their school I feel, I haven't been able to take pictures of them in their new uniforms.  As soon as they have jumpers, you will have pictures!  However, I will say they are both really enjoying their new school and are excited to be there, long may that continue!