Mom's Brag Book

On Friday the school held a student of the month assembly. A few days prior to this, I received a phone call from Ella's teacher informing me that Ella would be receiving an award. She also told me that Ella did not know, so to keep it a secret. A fairly easy task, I thought. However, Friday morning Ella woke up and said, "hey mom, there is a student of the month assembly today, can you come?" What! I had to act like there was absolutely no chance of me coming. "Why on earth would I want to come to that?" Anyways, I'm not usually a super early person, but I really wanted to make sure I wasn't walking in late, so I wound up being early enough that I made it there before the kids all started filing in. Ella's class comes in first and sure enough she sees me sitting there. She comes over to ask if she or Mason are winning an award. "No, I'm just here because you asked me to come!" Despite all my stories, she truly was surprised when they called her name. She won an award for "stepping up" in math. It makes me happy to see she is working hard and trying to better herself! She also is working very hard at practicing piano. She just started lessons this month and I can hardly believe how well she plays. I had been so worried that we were starting way too late and maybe it just wouldn't be her skill, but I'm sure if she keeps practicing as faithfully as she is now she will sound as great as the person we are going to go see together tomorrow night! (I will post more about that later as it is a secret reward Ella is receiving from Chad and I for not missing any practices this month!)

Mason just had an interview with the bishop today. I can't believe he will be turning 8 this Saturday. I am so proud of him for his decision to be baptized. He is so excited and can't wait. I'm so thankful for Ella and his older cousins that have been such good examples to him!

Tyson's primary teacher also told me today that he listened really well to her. He has a couple rowdy boys in his class and she wanted to keep them separated. She asked Tyson to sit at the end of the row and although he really wanted to sit by his best friend, he listened and sat at the end!

Another person I need to brag about for a moment is Deacon. His official nursery start date was December 19. I had been staying with him the whole time (except when I packed him up to go conduct in primary or do sharing time). I really didn't want to traumatize him and just drop him off--he is my most clingiest child. Well today I walked to the nursery room door with him, led him into the room, waved goodbye and he stayed the whole time--no problems. The youth even came in for the last block and he was fine! Yahoo! Hopefully I haven't jinxed anything--watch, he won't stay next week!

In conclusion, I think I deserve an award too. Not because of all these wonderful things my children have been doing, but because I discovered yesterday that a mini ziploc bag full of almonds, m&m's, marshmallows, chocolate chips, yogurt covered raisins and dried cranberries can keep your kids from fighting for a whole afternoon!



- H