What does VOTE mean?

I had to post this story from Camille! 

 

The funniest story was told to me today by Ms. Olson- Sadie's kindergarten teacher.  Sadie's class went to the school library, and the librarian was explaining this program called California Young Reader Medal.  Here's a blurb:

"The California Young Reader Medal program encourages recreational reading of popular literature among the young people of our state. Since its inception in 1974, millions of California children have nominated, read, and voted for the winners of the California Young Reader Medal.

Mrs. Wolf, the librarian, was explaining that the children could decide on their favorite book, and vote.  She asked Sadie's class, "What does vote mean?"  Sadie's hand shot up, and she was called on.  Sadie explained what vote means. She said, "It's when you decided if marriage should be between a man and a woman, or between two men or two women."

 

I can't help but laugh everytime I think of it!  On the day of elections, I casually asked Ms. Olson how she felt about Prop 8.  Surprisingly, she was against it. She said she thought that if two people really love each other, they should be able to be married. .. . We had a good discussion, and I shared our view point on the issue.  And I'm glad I did, looking back.  So perhaps Ms. Olson wasn't entirely suprised by Sadie's words, since she already knew how our family felt about the issue.  Ms. Olson and I laughed and laughed today over that.  I asked how the librarian responded.  She just called on the next child. 

Inspiration from Greg Olsen

This Olsen painting called “Side by Side” reminds me of Kysa and Shay!  Someday I’ll buy a print of it and frame it, but for now I made my own version with the help of my camera and Photoshop. 

A couple funny phrases Kysa has said in the past 24 hours:  “I’m gonna SAVE THE DAY! (pretending to be Supergirl)”  “Run for your LIVES! (running from pretend spiders with Shay)” 

She also asked Ty, “Is your name Daddy?” 

Shay has really started to rule the roost.  Before bed, Kysa came downstairs crying because Shay pulled her hair and took her puzzle away from her.  But ironically they are also playing nicely together more than ever.  They played together for over an hour this afternoon without fighting, which to me was a real milestone.

Kysa is doing great when she’s awake with potty training, but still struggled with #2 on the toilet and naptime.  She’ll just hold it until she has a diaper for bedtime or her afternoon nap.  Shay loves to sit on the toilet and tells us frequently that she needs to “pee”, but she just sits happily on the toilet and doesn’t do anything.  She really enjoys flushing and washing her hands though.

Puzzled

"Know Your Liberty" Seminar in Idaho Falls

The Title of Liberty organization is hosting a free “Know Your Liberty” Seminar on January 30^th and 31^st in Idaho Falls  in the ISU Campus Auditorium located at 1776 Science Center Drive.  The seminar will feature Stephen Pratt, a former educator for the National Center for Constitutional Studies.  The seminar will run from 7 – 10 p.m. Friday night, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.  Please visit http://www.thetitleofliberty.org/events.html for more details, or click here to register for the event.
About The Title of Liberty Cause
The Title of Liberty organization, established in 2004, organizes and promotes The Title of Liberty Flag Display and Liberty Walk each summer around Independence Day. The Title of Liberty Flag Display is a four-acre display of 1,776 flags in Idaho Falls, and Liberty Walk is a two-mile walk in which hundreds of citizens come together and carry the flags that form the flag display. These events have now become a tradition in the Idaho Falls community. Since 2006, to further the cause of The Title of Liberty, educational seminars have been offered where citizens can come together and learn more about principles of liberty, including why and how the Founders of this country, under God, established a constitution for the protection of "we, the people."
Blog Editor’s Note: “Since I live within walking distance of the beautiful flag display in Idaho Falls, I feel especially grateful for the efforts put forth by The Title of Liberty organization.  Last summer my children enjoyed visiting the flags regularly, and my 5 year old was especially intrigued by the biographies that were posted of our Idaho soldiers who have fought and are still fighting for our freedoms.  The upcoming seminar promises to be a great event for all who participate!  --Kaly Shippen”

January 23rd Snow

We woke up to LOTS of new snow on Kysa's b-day!

Happy Birthday Kysa!

We went to Idaho Falls Gymnastics open gym on Friday to celebrate Kysa's birthday. Jean Shippen and Garrett and Bryson came too.

Safety First--Shay

After gymnastics, eating pizza with Ty and opening a few presents at the house, we hit the road again. My friend Buffy Madsen watched the girls while I went to a meeting about WYDAHO! with Julie and Bill at the office. After Raleigh got home from kindergarten we headed to Paul, stopping at Minico for the big Burley game. We made it through the jv game before I couldn't take it anymore and took the kids home. I'm sure my parents were relieved to be able to enjoy the varsity game, which Minico won! Ty's team beat Twin in dramatic fashion, on a buzzer beater 3-pointer that gave them the 73-72 victory.

"You Bonk Your Face on the Wall?"

Going to bed tonight, Kysa was touching my face while I brushed her hair.

She said, “Mom, what are those?”, referring to the zits she could feel on my face. 

I said, “I’ve got some owies on my face.” 

She thought about it for a second, then asked, “You bonk your face on the wall?” 

I laughed.  “No, Kysa.  I just have some owies….some zits.”

“Zits?” Kysa wasn’t satisfied, “You bonk your face on SOMETHING?”

Then she went on to tell me about the time Shay bonked her in the nose, and how she got a bloody nose, and that happened when Grandma Ro was here, and of course her famous, “That not nice!”

I guess sometimes it pays to have a bad complexion, cuz that was some funny stuff.

I Will Kill You!

Raleigh had six cavities fixed yesterday and had to have anesthesia at Dr. Smith's Pediatric Dentistry Office. He had a rough time coming out of anesthesia.

He was definitely an angry drunk, as you can see in this clip:

Ty finally got him calmed down by starting a game of Halo2.

Grandma Ro Teaches Kysa to Say "Duh"

my attempt at graphic design

 

Shay's New Sleeping Position

I went to a cycling class at Apple this morning and when I got home Ty told
me to go check out Shay's sleeping position.

I took these a couple of minutes ago, and she is indeed fast asleep. :)

Quick Molly Moment from Jessica

“Sunday I was sitting in SS and we were talking about how when we humble ourselves before the Lord He will show unto us our weaknesses. Before when I've thought about the Lord showing me my weakness it seemed like it might be a repremand, showing me what I'm doing wrong. But this time I had the thought that He shows our weakness to help us realize that we can make it a strength. If we have weaknesses that we can't see we can't fix it. I guess I have known that Heavenly Father shows us our weaknesses to make them a strength, but it really hit me and I had a greater appreciation for this principle, I think it's because I've noticed lately a few of my weaknesses. Not my favorite thing.”

 

(From my insightful Ricks teammate J-Walk)

 

Dining Room Dribbling Expo

Kysa figured out how to dribble yesterday (1/8) at Coach Ehardt's clinic at Apple Athletic Club. It was like a light came on. She still only gets about 15-20 dribbles in a row, but that's a big improvement from not being able to dribble at all a couple days ago. Maybe it’s the pink basketball she got for Christmas. She will be 2 for two more weeks…maybe we can get her dribbling with her left hand by her birthday. Ha!

Here are the links to some clips on YouTube of the kids dribbling before bed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDylWrJvwuk “Shay’s Turn”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI32-GIY1PE “Raleigh Attempts Behind the Back”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD4vtnFYzto “Keep Your Hand Up”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp-tc72Kyec “Keep Your Mouth Closed”

The best clips are the ones where Raleigh gives Kysa instructions while she is dribbling and she does her best to do what he says.

On an exciting note, Ty’s Skyline boys beat Madison tonight—YAY! It was a close game, 55-54. WHEW. They needed it. Ty went to Applebees with the other coaches after the game to celebrate, after stopping at the house to make sure it was alright and say hi to the kids. Kysa hugged Ty and said, “Dad, you can’t go!” Then she looked at him with those big brown eyes and said, “But daddy, I MISS YOU!”

We have our first day of the 1^st-3^rd grade basketball league at Apple Athletic Club tomorrow so I better get to bed. I’m gonna hit a couple of cycling classes before it starts.

Chillin' with Snowshack

Snowshack is our outside cat who lives in the garage during the winter, and
occasionally gets some pampering (or harassing) in the house by the girls.

2009 Family Photo

We've had several unsuccessful family photo attempts, so I ended up taking
individual pictures of everyone and Skyline and putting this picture
together in Photoshop so Grandma Sue has something for her wall.

Ha!

9th Grade Premier Tourney Champs

These kids beat Madison TWICE in one day to win the tournament. They had
never beat Madison before. YAY!

Shay's Bedtime Trick

Shay likes to sneak out of her room and lay down in the hallway at bedtime.  I don’t think she realizes that the trick is on her--because it can’t be that comfy to fall asleep on the floor!

 

YouTube Videos for the Night

Faces

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RwpdTpr6yc

 

 

Peeling Oranges (goodnight Grandma Ro)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43aaBkSSAY8

 

Don’t forget to click on the option to watch in high quality…they are much better that way!

 

Courage

“Courage is not found in what you have overcome, but in the challenges you are now willing to face.”