These Are The Days!

What a fun summer we are having with all the kids at home!

They are getting up early, playing tennis, reading scriptures, working hard, 

playing hard, reading, developing talents, 

going to bed early, and waking up and doing it all again.

The other day when I went to bed 

I thought of the words to a song: 

"These are the days... to remember!"

Here's some fun things to remember so far in June:

This is Donny and I in the finals for the Millville Tennis Tournament.

(We were the organizers of the tournament)

We've been practicing at 5:30am all summer and took 2nd place!

(Even with Mollie's injured back and sprained ankle)

Sadie was in a neighborhood acting camp.

She did a great job and was so blessed to be taught by 

great neighborhood women who shared their talents.

To see it on youtube here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I4Hw4J5ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I4Hw4J5Mb8&feature=player_embedded
Mb8&feature=player_embedded

Myriam is taking off with Gymnastics and Piano.

She has a list of things to pass off and she pushes herself.

 Holland Lives In Her Swimming Suit.

She loves the water and she is one tan girl already!

She is also successfully potty trained!!!

Packer is our builder.  

He loves studying how things work and experimenting.

Here's a marble set he created this afternoon 

while everyone else was reading or napping.

Hunter is our water boy.

He has been begging to put up the pool  in the backyard

and we finally did it this week.

He loves controlling the hose!

Benson is sitting and rolling and eating a ton!

He has the best smiles- his eyes are so bright.

PLAY YOUR POSITION

After watching Sadie play soccer this year,
 I found myself continually reminding her to play her position.

She was getting worn out running the whole field,
trying to play everyone's position.

I realized I needed that lesson in my life as well.

I was getting run down playing too many positions- 

Care giver of our 94-year-old grandma and a new born and everyone in-between.

After studying the Proclamation on the Family, my patriarchal blessing, 

and Julie Beck's talk- "Mother's Who Know"

I came up with a mission statement with my positions in mind:

MOLLIE’S PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

Individual:  Temperate & Diligent in all things; Clean & Positive in my thoughts & actions.

Wife: True as we bear all things together; Faithful as we rely on the Lord; Generous as I put his needs first.

Mother (Caregiver): Nurture by creating & maintaining healthy bodies, clean clothes, an orderly house, regular worship, & wholesome fun.

Mother (teacher): Rear in righteousness by being Calm as I teach them to Love; Patient as I train them to be self-reliant so they can serve.

Daughter/grand-daughter: Humble as I seek & follow their counsel; Grateful for their generosity by being generous back.

Sister/aunt: Generous by sharing abundance; Humble by refraining from judgment; Wise by living and sharing light & truth.

Neighbor: Respectful & Kind by being aware of their needs & providing service.

Charity Never Faileth

Teach them TO LOVE.  This has to be TRAINED!
Most of the problems in family life are heart problems- a lack of love for each other.

I have studied the definition of charity and posted it
in my kitchen with a "Be" value attached to each part.

Below each value is a picture from the scriptures that demonstrates that value.

I also put them to a song- to the tune of "In our Lovely Deseret"
to help them memorize it.

This has really helped us have more love in our home.

CHARITY SONG

(tune= “In our lovely Deseret)

Be ye patient, be ye kind

Be ye temperate all the time

Be respectful, grateful, generous and clean.

Be ye humble, wise and true-

Diligent in all you do,

So that Faith and Hope and Charity are seen.

Chorus:

Do ye the right thing in the right way.

Be ye perfect- just like God.

Fill your heart and fill your mind-

Full of love and truth combined,

So that if you look it’s charity you’ll find.

By the Sweat of Thy Brow

Teach them TO SERVE.  In order to Serve, they have to know how to work.
Training Self-Reliance and Service is an INVESTMENT.

"BY THE SWEAT OF THY BROW THOU SHALT EAT THY BREAD, 

ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE."

Instead of earning money for their work, 

I've divided up their chores throughout the day to earn each meal.

Food is a great motivator.

For example, to earn breakfast= get ready, housework, help cook

lunch= clean up toys, make lunch

dinner= homework/yardwork, laundry/bath, help cook

dessert= help clean up kitchen after dinner

(They still have a chance to earn money by passing off talents or doing extra chores)

Here is Hunter after he ground 25 pounds of wheat into flour to earn his watch 

(which was very well used)

Benson's Baby Blessing

 BENSON STEVEN ANDERSON was blessed by his father in Feb 2011.

He was named after his maternal grandfather, Steven Rolfe Johnson.

He is a smilie and sweet spirit.  We all love and adore him.

Here he is with some of his grandmas.
Grandma Anderson came from Portland for the blessing.

She then stayed the week and cooked dinners for us
and helped the girls with piano lessons.

Family Nights

 "Minute to Win-it" was our game and treat one night at family night.  

The challenge was getting the girl scout cookie from for-head to mouth.

Sadie, Myriam, and Packer are awesome teachers as they give lessons at family nights.