All the kids and I were walking to Blockbuster and we passed a furniture store that had giant beds and Lydia says, I could spend my whole life in one of thoses.
Pesto Zuppa Toscana
4 years ago
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Missionary Me
Rainbow School year 2008-2009 was an spiritual experience from the get go. It started off in Sacrament meeting last year. One of the talks was on Fiances/Budgeting. Having four kids, it at times can get hairy, but on this occiaon all the kids were extra good during that talk that Brother Butler gave. The spirit was so strong that hour. The spirit was telling me to have the twins not go to Rainbow School at 4 years old; which was in 3 weeks. Scott had a church meeting with Elders Quorum after church, so I knew that I would have time to gather info from the computer to teach the girls preschool at home. Scott arrived home and we sat down as a couple and I discussed what I had felt and what I knew in my heart was the right thing to do.
Going over finances with Scott, we had budgeted accordingly for preschool; but both thought maybe in the near future things are going to be different.
I made the call to Rainbow the next day and talked with Miss Rita Schuckman and told her that we wouldn't be returning to Rainbow School for this year because of financial reasons. She told me that all the teachers would truly miss Lydia and Sarah. That afternoon Rita called and said
she was talking it over with Pam Cook, (founder of Rainbow School) and they would like Lydia and Sarah to attend Rainbow anyway. That blew my mind! With so much generosity given to us, I asked Rita in exchange could I volunteer at school 2 days a week. She said she would be delighted.
Things were working out great. The girls loved having their mommy at school and I was learning so much from all the teachers about different ways to approach kids (teaching and disciplining). I have become a more patient and loving mom because of the wonderful example that was taught to me through the teachers there.
Around October 2008, Rita's husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and she was going to be gone until January 09. The doctors were not expecting him to live after the surgery. With heart-felt prayers, he made a speedy recovery and Rita was back to work after the holiday break in January. While she was gone, Pam was thanking me for volunteering this year, because they couldn't have survived this year without me. That comment to me brings me to tears to this day. Here Scott and I thought that, that it was because of our future financial trouble for the reason for not going to Rainbow and to discover the real reason for going to Rainbow.........Serving others!
Miss Jana has two boys, one in college and the other a junior in high school. She came up to me on the play ground and told me that her family is taking a trip to Utah to see the University of Utah for her son. I told her how great that was. Well, that led us to discuss, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She had questions from genealogy to temples to our moral standards, to Sunday meetings. Because we were at the play ground and the kids only get 10-15 minutes to play, the conversations were sweet and to the point. I couldn't get home fast enough to tell Scott about my marvelous missionary experience. Two weeks/ a month went by and I was in the classroom cutting and she came and asked more questions about the church. Later that month, playground again, she gave me such a wonderful complement about my family and being LDS. She said she has never seen an family with such wonderful values and strong family life as mine. All the girls talk about is family, church, scriptures. Miss Jana told me that her husband works with five Mormons and they are the most wonderful people you will ever meet.
Our ward missionaries stop at our house frequently and I told them the exciting missionary news of the month. They challenged me to give her a pamphlet that answers any questions that she might have. I was thrilled to go to school that week and hand her the pamphlet. She took it and said thank you so much, I cant wait to read it. A few minutes later she came to me and asked if she could keep it or would she have to give it back. I said that's yours to keep. I knew from that comment, that she was truly going to read it. That next week when I volunteered at school, Miss Jana and I talked about the pamphlet, and she was the one who started the conversation.
Our ward missionaries had dinner at our house and asked how thing were progressing with Miss Jana. Things were going great. Weeks had gone by and I felt that I needed to give her a Book of Mormon. I was nervous as to how I would give her one and how to start the conversation leading to the book. Especially at school were time needs to be set aside for that conversation. I called the missionaries and asked to have a copy to give to Miss Jana. The end of the year was a week away and I knew that I had to give her the book at the beginning of next week. Monday rolled around and I told her I would like to talk to her in private tomorrow. She quickly said, we can meet now, but I told her that I wanted to give her something and I will bring it tomorrow. Scott and I talked and we decided that I would lead in the conversation with how wonderful it was to work with her this year and how much I grew closer to her.
Prayers were said every chance I got to let me know what to say and for the right moment to say them.
After school I had the girls play a little longer as Miss Jana and I talked. We went into the Goldfish Room and we sat down. For what seemed like forever, but was really 1 minute; all I could do was cry. Miss Jana was terrified, she thought she had done something wrong to upset me. I knotted my head and expressed to her my feelings about working with her, about the playground talks and finding out we are so much alike. I reached down and presented her the Book of Mormon. I told her that I would like her to have it. What values I have and the person that I am today is because of this book and being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She told me that she will cherish this book and always think of me when she reads it.
The next day one the the girls came to me and told me to check my file. And there was a card from Miss Jana. It reads: I just had to tell you how much our "little chat" meant to me. I am in awe of you and your family, and your faith. I will cherish the gift as well as the moments shared our on the playground. Love , Miss Jana
I have never felt so close to my Heavenly Father than I did at that moment. I am grateful that I was in tune to the spirit a year ago. This missionary experience was glorious!
I made the call to Rainbow the next day and talked with Miss Rita Schuckman and told her that we wouldn't be returning to Rainbow School for this year because of financial reasons. She told me that all the teachers would truly miss Lydia and Sarah. That afternoon Rita called and said
she was talking it over with Pam Cook, (founder of Rainbow School) and they would like Lydia and Sarah to attend Rainbow anyway. That blew my mind! With so much generosity given to us, I asked Rita in exchange could I volunteer at school 2 days a week. She said she would be delighted.
Things were working out great. The girls loved having their mommy at school and I was learning so much from all the teachers about different ways to approach kids (teaching and disciplining). I have become a more patient and loving mom because of the wonderful example that was taught to me through the teachers there.
Around October 2008, Rita's husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and she was going to be gone until January 09. The doctors were not expecting him to live after the surgery. With heart-felt prayers, he made a speedy recovery and Rita was back to work after the holiday break in January. While she was gone, Pam was thanking me for volunteering this year, because they couldn't have survived this year without me. That comment to me brings me to tears to this day. Here Scott and I thought that, that it was because of our future financial trouble for the reason for not going to Rainbow and to discover the real reason for going to Rainbow.........Serving others!
Miss Jana has two boys, one in college and the other a junior in high school. She came up to me on the play ground and told me that her family is taking a trip to Utah to see the University of Utah for her son. I told her how great that was. Well, that led us to discuss, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She had questions from genealogy to temples to our moral standards, to Sunday meetings. Because we were at the play ground and the kids only get 10-15 minutes to play, the conversations were sweet and to the point. I couldn't get home fast enough to tell Scott about my marvelous missionary experience. Two weeks/ a month went by and I was in the classroom cutting and she came and asked more questions about the church. Later that month, playground again, she gave me such a wonderful complement about my family and being LDS. She said she has never seen an family with such wonderful values and strong family life as mine. All the girls talk about is family, church, scriptures. Miss Jana told me that her husband works with five Mormons and they are the most wonderful people you will ever meet.
Our ward missionaries stop at our house frequently and I told them the exciting missionary news of the month. They challenged me to give her a pamphlet that answers any questions that she might have. I was thrilled to go to school that week and hand her the pamphlet. She took it and said thank you so much, I cant wait to read it. A few minutes later she came to me and asked if she could keep it or would she have to give it back. I said that's yours to keep. I knew from that comment, that she was truly going to read it. That next week when I volunteered at school, Miss Jana and I talked about the pamphlet, and she was the one who started the conversation.
Our ward missionaries had dinner at our house and asked how thing were progressing with Miss Jana. Things were going great. Weeks had gone by and I felt that I needed to give her a Book of Mormon. I was nervous as to how I would give her one and how to start the conversation leading to the book. Especially at school were time needs to be set aside for that conversation. I called the missionaries and asked to have a copy to give to Miss Jana. The end of the year was a week away and I knew that I had to give her the book at the beginning of next week. Monday rolled around and I told her I would like to talk to her in private tomorrow. She quickly said, we can meet now, but I told her that I wanted to give her something and I will bring it tomorrow. Scott and I talked and we decided that I would lead in the conversation with how wonderful it was to work with her this year and how much I grew closer to her.
Prayers were said every chance I got to let me know what to say and for the right moment to say them.
After school I had the girls play a little longer as Miss Jana and I talked. We went into the Goldfish Room and we sat down. For what seemed like forever, but was really 1 minute; all I could do was cry. Miss Jana was terrified, she thought she had done something wrong to upset me. I knotted my head and expressed to her my feelings about working with her, about the playground talks and finding out we are so much alike. I reached down and presented her the Book of Mormon. I told her that I would like her to have it. What values I have and the person that I am today is because of this book and being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She told me that she will cherish this book and always think of me when she reads it.
The next day one the the girls came to me and told me to check my file. And there was a card from Miss Jana. It reads: I just had to tell you how much our "little chat" meant to me. I am in awe of you and your family, and your faith. I will cherish the gift as well as the moments shared our on the playground. Love , Miss Jana
I have never felt so close to my Heavenly Father than I did at that moment. I am grateful that I was in tune to the spirit a year ago. This missionary experience was glorious!
Get growing with Farmer Fred
Farmer Fred and Harvesting Harriet
Farmer Fred harvesting all two rows of carrots.
What's Up Dock?
The Brussels sprouts are starting to knot up.
Each week the ball of the cabbage is getting bigger and bigger. The kids just love to run out and see all the growth on all the vegetables.
Our luscious garden has been harvested and we are almost bare again. We are getting our summer crop in.
Here I am weeding and keeping things looking picture perfect!
Scott is working his magic and minutes away from planting eggplant and soy beans.
Our little zucchini
I am loving the flowers on the pomegranate tree...soon to be loaded with them
While the fenced garden is bare, the back has shot up which seems like over night. Our fenced garden started off as the winter garden and the back was formed more in the summer months. We are now harvesting winter and replanting summer. Its a great feeling to see all the hard work pay off.
Our first flowered stock of corn. Scott and I walk out to the garden first thing when we arrive in Tracy. All these plants are like our babies and to see them grow....well... its exciting! 
Scott picked our first zucchini. We will be having sauteed zucchini tonight!
I just had to capture the size of those cabbage leafs. It felt like a 10 lb head of cabbage!
Our Brussels sprouts are enormous. But I know that is nothing yet. Brussels sprout grow on the stock of the plant, so we have many inches to go. Well see if we can see Lydia and Sarah when its all said and done.
Our Yukon Gold and Red Potatoes are flowering. Scott looked up and read that we can harvest them anytime after 3 weeks from the time they flower.
6 days went by and now we are seeing zucchinis popping up everywhere.
Corn has popped up 
The heat was starting to burn the leaves of the cabbage, so harvesting was the answer. On one of the cabbages it split open, it grew so big. My little Vana White is proud to demonstrate how well the cabbages grew.
Gardening takes work. As Farmer Fred and Harvesting Harriet work, its McKenzie's job to babysit Porter. I couldn't have asked for a better first daughter than McKenzie. She loves her brother.
Farmer Fred went to Home Depot and purchased potting containers to start 48 eggplant plants, 15 bell peppers plants and 42 tomato plants.
I had to put this picture on the blog....I told Scott and Porter that I was going to take a picture. So Porter quickly turns his head and says.....CHEESE......
Gardening takes work. As Farmer Fred and Harvesting Harriet work, its McKenzie's job to babysit Porter. I couldn't have asked for a better first daughter than McKenzie. She loves her brother.
Farmer Fred went to Home Depot and purchased potting containers to start 48 eggplant plants, 15 bell peppers plants and 42 tomato plants. 
I had to put this picture on the blog....I told Scott and Porter that I was going to take a picture. So Porter quickly turns his head and says.....CHEESE......
Here Scott is explaining to the girls that we need to start those plants in containers so that they can grow bug free. We have been having trouble growing eggplants and bell peppers because of the bugs and the lack of heat. Wow... I cant believe I said lack of heat in June.
The Graduates
Rainbow School
2009
Lydia this morning had a very hard time coming to terms with this being the last day at Rainbow School. She didn't want to go and have it be her last.
Lydia is becoming a big girl and growing up fast.
Sarah's big hugs. Sarah was excited to graduate from Rainbow School. It didn't sink in that she wouldn't be returning until Lydia cried and then she was aware. I am glad that they will be in the same class for Kinder garden, they need each other and will be good for one another too.
Sarah is happy that Daddy is here.
Miss Monica has been at Rainbow School teaching the 3 yr olds and 4's.
Miss Jana. the favorite; she teaches the 4 yr olds.
Miss Alexa is the art teacher.
Lydia is becoming a big girl and growing up fast.
Sarah's big hugs. Sarah was excited to graduate from Rainbow School. It didn't sink in that she wouldn't be returning until Lydia cried and then she was aware. I am glad that they will be in the same class for Kinder garden, they need each other and will be good for one another too.
Sarah is happy that Daddy is here.
Miss Monica has been at Rainbow School teaching the 3 yr olds and 4's.
Miss Jana. the favorite; she teaches the 4 yr olds.
Miss Alexa is the art teacher.
Its so cute to see Porter give Miss Monica hugs each day at Rainbow School.
Miss Monica has often offered to take Porter home for the weekend. Well, one day Lydia was not having that and she started to cry and carry on. Lydia loves Porter. He is the Prince of our home.
I volunteer at Rainbow School 2 days a week.
I volunteer at Rainbow School 2 days a week.
This is the Rat Pack.....Catherine, Sarah, Lydia and myself. We are close buds!
Here is Miss Schukman. She was a teacher when I was there; 30 years ago. This year has definity made a huge impact on my life. The love that Miss Schukman and Miss Cook have shown me and my girls is unbelievable.
My Graduates!
Here is Miss Schukman. She was a teacher when I was there; 30 years ago. This year has definity made a huge impact on my life. The love that Miss Schukman and Miss Cook have shown me and my girls is unbelievable. 
My Graduates! Farm Concert
Farm Concert at Rainbow School
Sarah is playing a little duckling.
Lydia is playing a horse.
Here are the 5 little ducklings with Mother Duck. They were so cute sing that song.Five little ducklings went out one day Over the hill and far away Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack."But only four little ducklings came back.
Four little ducklings went out one day Over the hill and far awayMother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack."But only three little ducklings came back.
Three little ducklings went out one day Over the hill and far away Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack."But only two little ducklings came back
Two little ducklings went out one day Over the hill and far away Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack."But only one little duckling came back.
One little duckling went out one day Over the hill and far away Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack."But none of the five little ducklings came back.
Sad mother duck went out one day Over the hill and far away The sad mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack."And all of the five little ducklings came back.
Down on Grandpa's FarmOh, were on the way, were on the way, on the way to Grandpa's farm,
Down on Grandpa's farm we have a Big Brown Horse,
Down on Grandpas farm we have a Big Brown Horse, the horse it makes the sound like this, Neigh, Neigh
Oh, were on the way, were on the way, on the way to Grandpa's farm.
Down on Grandpa's farm we have a Big White Sheep.
Down on Grandpa's farm we have a Big White Sheep, a sheep that makes a sound like this Baa Baa,
And on the song went as the animals were called out, a cow, dog, and a rooster.
Sarah was the wife in Farmer and the Dell.
As I turned to the audience; look who is grinning ear to ear, PORTER! Soccer
This is Lydia's sport!!! GOAL!
I wish I had Scott yelling recorded; "Lydia, push them, don't let them get that ball!"
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarah is getting much more aggressive. She is following the ball and kicking when the opportunity arises.
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