One more week until Christmas. Why does it disappear so fast? Last week, Addy received her Young Womenhoond medalion. It has been a race to finish. She has been really dedicated to complete the program in one year and now is looking forward to the new program next year. Emerson is also working hard and will complete and receive his Weblos and Arrow of Light award this week. They have been excellent programs and we are excited for this new era of goals and learning and growing.
Speaking of goals, I have decided what my major goal is for 2020. I am going to try to adopt a minimalist lifestyle. I found an excellent blog called "Minimal Mom." This gal has four kids, lives in a 1500 sq.ft. home and she is not a type four organized person! Most organizing info I find out there is written by a type four, pre-programmed organizing guru. I need help from someone who understands my dilemmas! Anyway, my biggest take away so far has been that every single item that comes into your home instantly becomes something that has to be managed and taken care of. The more stuff you have, the more stress it brings. Pretty soon your home becomes a place that you want to escape rather than being a haven of security and peace. So, I'm going to do it because I have got to get rid of the stressful feeling we have in overabundant supply here. I highly recommend checking out this gal's blog and her videos. She's great! (and she lives in a cute farmhouse with a red barn and 11 acres...sigh)
I hope you all have a lovely week leading up to Christmas!
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Flake Fun
Has it really only been a week since we were in Utah? It was so good to see and visit with all of you. Sorry to hear that the T's spent the holiday sick on the couch!
Scott had a second interview for my job but unfortunately wasn't offered the position. Huge bummer. I am counting down the days until I'm done working, that's for sure.
The weather has been chilly and drizzly lately so we have stayed inside mostly. The kids are congested but seem to have escaped the cousin illnesses so thanks to everyone for extra hand washing and caution.
That is about all that I can think of to report. Hope that you are all having a wonderful holiday season.
Scott had a second interview for my job but unfortunately wasn't offered the position. Huge bummer. I am counting down the days until I'm done working, that's for sure.
The weather has been chilly and drizzly lately so we have stayed inside mostly. The kids are congested but seem to have escaped the cousin illnesses so thanks to everyone for extra hand washing and caution.
That is about all that I can think of to report. Hope that you are all having a wonderful holiday season.
Hart Happenings
Greetings all!
What a treat it has been to be with each of you recently. You truly are our most favorite people on earth!
Thanksgiving was a blast! The food was super yummy, the Cousin Christmas Concert was a hoot and quite the display of talent, the house was cozy, and the company above average! So great to see Jenn and Scott and their littles. Thanks so much for making the effort to come all that way and in horrible weather too. You guys are all troopers!
Our gathering was the perfect introduction to the holiday season which has descended in real time at the Hart house. It feels/smells/tastes/looks like Christmas. We have really enjoyed Lighting the World. The boys are always looking at our calendar on the fridge to see what the day's suggestion is and planning ahead to the next few days. It is a good reminder of what the season is really about.
There have been book clubs, ward parties, family Christmas parties, soccer games, parkour races, concerts, a little bit of sickness, and everything in the book this week. All of it very enjoyable.
The boys love all the above things (minus the sniffles) and it is fun to see them engage in their lives with such vim and vigor while Alex and I just try to match their enthusiasm and keep up with them!
Our fireplace surround is scheduled to be installed next week which has me over the moon excited! It will be so nice to have that project wrapped up and completed.
We are so grateful for all of you and hope your holiday season is proceeding in a lovely, cozy, heart-warming way.
What a treat it has been to be with each of you recently. You truly are our most favorite people on earth!
Thanksgiving was a blast! The food was super yummy, the Cousin Christmas Concert was a hoot and quite the display of talent, the house was cozy, and the company above average! So great to see Jenn and Scott and their littles. Thanks so much for making the effort to come all that way and in horrible weather too. You guys are all troopers!
Our gathering was the perfect introduction to the holiday season which has descended in real time at the Hart house. It feels/smells/tastes/looks like Christmas. We have really enjoyed Lighting the World. The boys are always looking at our calendar on the fridge to see what the day's suggestion is and planning ahead to the next few days. It is a good reminder of what the season is really about.
There have been book clubs, ward parties, family Christmas parties, soccer games, parkour races, concerts, a little bit of sickness, and everything in the book this week. All of it very enjoyable.
The boys love all the above things (minus the sniffles) and it is fun to see them engage in their lives with such vim and vigor while Alex and I just try to match their enthusiasm and keep up with them!
Our fireplace surround is scheduled to be installed next week which has me over the moon excited! It will be so nice to have that project wrapped up and completed.
We are so grateful for all of you and hope your holiday season is proceeding in a lovely, cozy, heart-warming way.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Flake Fun
No one told me about 4 month sleep regression! I have definitely been spoiled with how well they used to sleep! But I'm sure that they will be sleeping better soon.
It was so fun to get a video called from Hermana Belliston on Friday. We are all excited to see her in person!
The tomato plant in the greenhouse has tomatoes on it which is fun. We'll see if they ripen!
We are excited to see all who will be there for Thanksgiving.
It was so fun to get a video called from Hermana Belliston on Friday. We are all excited to see her in person!
The tomato plant in the greenhouse has tomatoes on it which is fun. We'll see if they ripen!
We are excited to see all who will be there for Thanksgiving.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Flake Fun
This week was a good one. We were able to see the incredible process that babies go through to learn something new. A few days ago Rand started doing some different motions with this tongue. It was like he was trying to lick his upper lip. He did it a lot. On Saturday he started spitting! And he's pretty good at it! It was fascinating.
Robin has started working on rolling over. They both are getting more patient with tummy time. They hit the 4 month mark on Saturday which is crazy!
The interviews for my replacement are scheduled for Wednesday so I learned last week that my boss is expecting me to work through December...4 weeks longer than I was planning on. We'll see how that goes.
Wish that we could be there for the play but we know that Ian will be the star! Can't wait to see you all in a week or so!
Robin has started working on rolling over. They both are getting more patient with tummy time. They hit the 4 month mark on Saturday which is crazy!
The interviews for my replacement are scheduled for Wednesday so I learned last week that my boss is expecting me to work through December...4 weeks longer than I was planning on. We'll see how that goes.
Wish that we could be there for the play but we know that Ian will be the star! Can't wait to see you all in a week or so!
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Hart Happenings
Ian's life right now is Matilda, Matilda, Matilda. We got to go to a preview on Friday morning which was really great and highlighted the main songs. It got us really excited to see the complete show tomorrow night. Thanks to Ruth and Garrett for going to support Ian, even though it isn't Ruth's favorite show. It meant a lot to him that you guys came.
Jack has decided he wants to be a helicopter, so we'll see how that goes. Best of luck to that crazy kid!
Peter has been appointed the family chaplain and checks with all of us to make sure that we are staying on top of our scripture studies. He takes his responsibility very seriously and actually drives his brothers crazy, but we are doing better on our studies, that is for sure! Peter himself is 76 pages into his Old Testament picture storybook. He is eating it up although some of the stories give him pause.
Everyone in the fam signed up for Joe and Alex's new Goalit challenges and it has been fun to get back into a challenge/goal mindset! Good things happening there.
Jack and Ian graced us with a spontaneous dance performed to the William Tell Overture. Hilarious!
We enjoyed our homeschool cooperative's end of semester showcase. The boys and I have really enjoyed participating there. Alex has even gotten involved! There are so many great people that are part of it and we are finding some really great friends.
A big job that we tackled this week was winterizing the yard. We got all the leaves raked off the grass and transferred to the garden and our friends' garden and a huge compost leaf pile. SO. MANY. LEAVES! Sheesh!
Ruth and I went out for a girls night last night and we lasted until abou
Smithfield Scoop
CONGRATULATIONS to... Addy for winning the sonatina competition (even though you felt quite miserable!), and to the Flake babies for growing so well and being so cute, and to T & T for finding and purchasing a new home, and to Ian for loving the all time best musical ever (Sound of Music!) and for performing so well in Matilda (which we can't wait to see tomorrow!), and to Grace for turning 10 so gracefully, and to all of the amazing Spartans in our family who learned they can do hard, very hard, things, and to Elise for figuring out how to get the fireplace redone, and to Lauren for surviving Nick going back and forth to Logan for weeks on end (or what felt like that long)...
I was surprised to see that we haven't posted a contribution to this lovely blog for a month. How does time go by so quickly??!! We thoroughly enjoyed our time in California at the Spartan event. I think I am going to write a book, or maybe just some thoughts, that I will call "Lessons From our Grandchildren." I was so inspired by our young ones as I watched them work so hard and overcome obstacles and learn some lessons. It was great! Thanks for inviting us! Please let us know when you plan to race again.
This is a clip from the email I sent to Emma after returning from California - for history's sake...
"It has been fun to be with Elise, Joe and Ruth and their families this weekend. We arrived in California at various times on Thursday evening, between 6:00 and midnight, but we all made it safe and sound. There was really only one major hiccup - when Joe and Lori’s van decided it didn’t want to make the trip and refused to go any further than St. George. They left it at a dealership in St. George after purchasing a newer one, and continued their journey. Typical of that amazing family, they could see all the tender mercies, miracles, and the hand of the Lord in the timing – that it didn’t break down in the middle of nowhere; that they had not bought new tires before leaving, as they had planned; that Joe was able to talk the salesman into giving them more for a trade-in value on their old van than they first offered; that they still got to California on Thursday and the delay did not cause them to miss the race, etc., etc. They are an inspiration to me about looking for the good in each situation. Everyone else made it just fine and we all had a wonderful time together in a very accommodating Airbnb cabin in the mountains. The race was yesterday, with Ian, Jack, Peter, Grace, Grant, Joy, Jake, Emerson and Eliza running the kid’s one-mile and two-mile races and Alex, Joseph, Lori, Ruth and Garrett running the 12.8 mile “Beast” Spartan. I was amazed at how well they all did. Each had some scars, but all survived! The children had obstacles on their course, just like the adults, and had to carry heavy sand bags for quite a distance, climb up walls, run through a deep mud pit, climb ropes, throw spears, etc., in addition to running! Ian came in first of the whole group in his division on the 2-mile run, thanks to his long legs and perseverance. He came home with a bloody hand from a rope laceration, but we bandaged it and he carried on. There were probably 30 or 40 or more kids in each division. In the younger division, the one mile race, Grant came in 2nd, Peter 3rd, and Grace 5th! They all finished, learning they can do hard things and pushing through the parts they didn’t like at all. At one point, little Jake was carrying a heavy sand bag on his shoulders and got out of balance from being top heavy, sank to his knees without putting his hands out in front of him because he was holding the bag, and just stayed there – face in the dirt! The guy manning that event picked him up and asked him if he was okay. “I think I scratched my knee.” After looking at it for a minute, Jake decided it wasn’t too bad and that he could keep running, which he did! So inspiring. However, another of the most inspiring part of the day was watching Jack wait for Emerson. Jack hung out at each obstacle until Emerson caught up, then he would encourage Emer to get through the obstacle and try to get him to run. It was so noble and kind and patient of Jack. What a guy. I had those boys in the car on the drive back and at Jack said to Emerson, “Emer, we need to work on your endurance.” “What’s that?” “You know, your stamina.” “What’s that?” “It’s like when you keep going even when you don’t want to or it gets hard.” “Oh.” “Next time, I might not wait up for you if you don’t work on your endurance.” “Okay.” That was all. No belittling, no complaining, just honest encouragement. It was a good time. What a great family to belong to. I sure love them all."
We loved having the Manning crew here for a few days recently. Nick was playing guitar in a theater production in Logan and had to travel back and forth to work, but was able to spend Friday night through Sunday here with all of us. Chet learned to navigate the stairs after taking a sad tumble down. He's quite proficient now. We have been to Idaho a couple of times recently, catching a piano recital for Addy and taking some beef to the Harts. We hope soon to catch a basketball game, choir performances, and are looking forward to seeing Matilda tomorrow night. We dropped in on Joe and Lori's family for a visit on Grace's birthday. What a darling 10-year-old! We are always absolutely grateful for any time we are blessed to spend with our family.
Our recent efforts involve getting ready for Emma to return from her mission. We are almost finished with our master bathroom remodel and I'm pretty excited to have the carpet out of the bathroom! Hopefully, it will be done before you all come home to see Emma and/or for Thanksgiving :)
As we watch the Face to Face right now, we are quite excited for the new Youth and Children program. Some really wonderful changes in the church programs that will make a difference in the lives of our grandchildren, which we are so grateful for.
Sure love you all! Have a wonderful week - and pray for Emma's last 4 days in the mission field!
I was surprised to see that we haven't posted a contribution to this lovely blog for a month. How does time go by so quickly??!! We thoroughly enjoyed our time in California at the Spartan event. I think I am going to write a book, or maybe just some thoughts, that I will call "Lessons From our Grandchildren." I was so inspired by our young ones as I watched them work so hard and overcome obstacles and learn some lessons. It was great! Thanks for inviting us! Please let us know when you plan to race again.
This is a clip from the email I sent to Emma after returning from California - for history's sake...
"It has been fun to be with Elise, Joe and Ruth and their families this weekend. We arrived in California at various times on Thursday evening, between 6:00 and midnight, but we all made it safe and sound. There was really only one major hiccup - when Joe and Lori’s van decided it didn’t want to make the trip and refused to go any further than St. George. They left it at a dealership in St. George after purchasing a newer one, and continued their journey. Typical of that amazing family, they could see all the tender mercies, miracles, and the hand of the Lord in the timing – that it didn’t break down in the middle of nowhere; that they had not bought new tires before leaving, as they had planned; that Joe was able to talk the salesman into giving them more for a trade-in value on their old van than they first offered; that they still got to California on Thursday and the delay did not cause them to miss the race, etc., etc. They are an inspiration to me about looking for the good in each situation. Everyone else made it just fine and we all had a wonderful time together in a very accommodating Airbnb cabin in the mountains. The race was yesterday, with Ian, Jack, Peter, Grace, Grant, Joy, Jake, Emerson and Eliza running the kid’s one-mile and two-mile races and Alex, Joseph, Lori, Ruth and Garrett running the 12.8 mile “Beast” Spartan. I was amazed at how well they all did. Each had some scars, but all survived! The children had obstacles on their course, just like the adults, and had to carry heavy sand bags for quite a distance, climb up walls, run through a deep mud pit, climb ropes, throw spears, etc., in addition to running! Ian came in first of the whole group in his division on the 2-mile run, thanks to his long legs and perseverance. He came home with a bloody hand from a rope laceration, but we bandaged it and he carried on. There were probably 30 or 40 or more kids in each division. In the younger division, the one mile race, Grant came in 2nd, Peter 3rd, and Grace 5th! They all finished, learning they can do hard things and pushing through the parts they didn’t like at all. At one point, little Jake was carrying a heavy sand bag on his shoulders and got out of balance from being top heavy, sank to his knees without putting his hands out in front of him because he was holding the bag, and just stayed there – face in the dirt! The guy manning that event picked him up and asked him if he was okay. “I think I scratched my knee.” After looking at it for a minute, Jake decided it wasn’t too bad and that he could keep running, which he did! So inspiring. However, another of the most inspiring part of the day was watching Jack wait for Emerson. Jack hung out at each obstacle until Emerson caught up, then he would encourage Emer to get through the obstacle and try to get him to run. It was so noble and kind and patient of Jack. What a guy. I had those boys in the car on the drive back and at Jack said to Emerson, “Emer, we need to work on your endurance.” “What’s that?” “You know, your stamina.” “What’s that?” “It’s like when you keep going even when you don’t want to or it gets hard.” “Oh.” “Next time, I might not wait up for you if you don’t work on your endurance.” “Okay.” That was all. No belittling, no complaining, just honest encouragement. It was a good time. What a great family to belong to. I sure love them all."
We loved having the Manning crew here for a few days recently. Nick was playing guitar in a theater production in Logan and had to travel back and forth to work, but was able to spend Friday night through Sunday here with all of us. Chet learned to navigate the stairs after taking a sad tumble down. He's quite proficient now. We have been to Idaho a couple of times recently, catching a piano recital for Addy and taking some beef to the Harts. We hope soon to catch a basketball game, choir performances, and are looking forward to seeing Matilda tomorrow night. We dropped in on Joe and Lori's family for a visit on Grace's birthday. What a darling 10-year-old! We are always absolutely grateful for any time we are blessed to spend with our family.
Our recent efforts involve getting ready for Emma to return from her mission. We are almost finished with our master bathroom remodel and I'm pretty excited to have the carpet out of the bathroom! Hopefully, it will be done before you all come home to see Emma and/or for Thanksgiving :)
As we watch the Face to Face right now, we are quite excited for the new Youth and Children program. Some really wonderful changes in the church programs that will make a difference in the lives of our grandchildren, which we are so grateful for.
Sure love you all! Have a wonderful week - and pray for Emma's last 4 days in the mission field!
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