It was our ward's year to do the bulletin boards, etc. in the primary room. We decided to redecorate. :) And it turned out fabulous! One of the ladies did curtains out of light blue flannel with "I am a child of God" children all over it. And we added color and fun reminders of the yearly theme all around the room.
My assignment was trying to carry out this idea I had to try to make the gospel a more active part of our primary children's lives. I saw a paper woven quilt on the wall during our Stake Primary training with a similar caption to the one we chose, but I didn't know how the whole thing worked. I decided that a real fabric wall quilt would be more cosy in the room, and also that the quilt needed to be "weaved" in order to fit our purpose. Why, with
my amateur sewing skills, did
I volunteer for such an undertaking-- to be completed over the holidays between Christmas and New Year's ? I think part of it has to do with how passionate and dedicated I am when I get excited about a project. But most of it comes from 3 years working with these kids and seeing their faces light up when we hit on an idea that brings the gospel home to them and makes it fun.
So after lots of brainstorming I came up with a design (and thanks Mom for your suggestions when I was trying to figure out how to sew it altogether and still keep the open pocketed woven top). And then we came up with the plan to write a gospel challenge to go along with each weekly theme for the year. I'm glad I work with such great ladies who came up with all of the inspired challenges, when all I had to do was the sewing. The challenges are written on the back of each picture attached to the quilt with sticky back velcro--one of my favorite inventions, by the way. The children who complete the weekly challenge get to tell about their experience at the pulpit during opening excercises and then put a colored glass bead into a tall jar we are trying to fill before our program in the fall. We're also gathering ideas for the program as we listen to the kids' experiences they share.
The whole project entailed a lot of stress and a lot of late late evenings, but I am quite pleased with how it turned out. The sweetest reward has come over the past two months though, as my own two little junior "primarians" have come home each week so excited to do the challenge, and to tell about it in sharing time the following week. I'm grateful to have children who are learning to love and live the gospel of Jesus Christ. It makes every effort as a mother and as primary chorister worth it.
Grandma Henke made a hooded bear towel for him. He absolutely lights up when he wears it. One of our birthday traditions is to wake the person with the "Happy Birthday" song and gifts first thing in the morning. It was fun for us to have grandparents here to share that with Tane this year.
Yeah for "boy toys". We haven't had a whole lot of those around. Thankfully, Miriam and Tane love to play together-- whether it's dolls, or house, or ferocious jungle animals. On a side note...this morning Tane started crying when he found out Miriam was going to a friend's house after school. He said he would miss her too much. That touched sweet little's Mimi's heart and she started crying, and made sure to give him a kissing hand before she left, promising they would play as soon as she got home.
Tane chose to party with his family at Jumpin Jacks. Lots of giggles and lots of excercise!
Tane and Tait cruisin' in a plastic car. Cheese!
It was our ward's year to do the bulletin boards, etc. in the primary room. We decided to redecorate. :) And it turned out fabulous! One of the ladies did curtains out of light blue flannel with "I am a child of God" children all over it. And we added color and fun reminders of the yearly theme all around the room.
Checking out what Santa brought. (The kids are already asking us when Christmas will be here again).
Watching Daddy's train was a nightly bedtime ritual at our house for the whole month of December.
Did I say watching? What would a train be without tunnels?
Playing "helicopter . So far we've had no catastrophic landings...just a lot of laughter.
Tane is our second year #6 player for BYU. Miriam was Queen Isabella (for history themed dress up at school) and Sleeping Beauty (for trick-or-treating) --same costume. And Tait is our "Big Green Monster" from a favorite storybook.
Our annual excursion to CornBelly's at Thanksgiving Point.
Dancing at the Ball.
One of their favorite games is "naptime"--how lucky am I to have such mello children?
This is Tane's "firetruck". I haven't quite figured out how that works yet.
Professor Tait.
Doctor Tane.
Did I mention I love having mello kiddos?
Tane and I are in our second year of preschool together at home. He is a very detail-oriented & meticulous 3 year old. Preschool is our special one on one time 3 times a week.
Miriam started Kindergarten this year. We opted for the morning schedule at a wonderful Charter school. She loves it enough that it makes the half hour chauffeur job worth it to me.
Blair and Tane coloring "Cars" posters.
Mimi and I on a girl's night out at the salon.
Our first real attempt at camping on our own as a family. We had fun...except for the rain, the heat, the cold, and the bugs (including 3 ticks we brought home with us).
FHE picnic up the canyon. I love this picture!
Henke reunion at Lake Powell. Wish we had a picture of the waterfall that poured right on top of the houseboat all night long.
Miriam as our little ballerina.
What's up, Tane? "Just Chillin'".
Taking Uncle Matt to the MTC.
Working in the Yard is fast becoming a favorite pastime for me...and Tane. He will often leave his play with Miriam to come and ask if he can pull weeds or transplant with me.