A Not-So-Broken Heart

Last night during our family scripture study, Jon and I were teaching the boys about what it means to have a "broken heart and a contrite spirit." We were explaining to them our need to willingly submit our lives to God, like how a horse obeys its master after is has been "broken," or how we mind ourselves after we have "broken" a bad habit. I thought the older kids were just starting to get it, and it seemed the younger two weren't paying any attention. But then I noticed Samuel frowning up at a picture of Jesus on our wall, and he said something I didn't understand. I asked him to repeat himself and he looked at me with the same frown and said, "Mom, Jesus not gonna broke me!"
I wanted to laugh rolling on the floor, and at the same time I wanted to cry! Of course he is too young to understand the concept we'd been discussing, but he didn't want the Lord to "break" him, the way he understands breaking! Oh, it was just too funny! I love you, Sam, and the darling things you say!

Enoch's Current Quirks

This morning as I was getting the kids dressed, I had changed Enoch's diaper but I hadn't put his clothes on him yet. He loves to run away from me when he's only half dressed so that I will chase him. Well, he ran away, but I was also dressing the other boys and didn't chase after him. Caleb was getting dressed to go outside, and I finished dressing Sam before looking for Enoch. It took me a while, but this is where and how I found him:
Yes, he had followed Caleb (who was fully dressed and wearing a coat) right outside in nothing but a diaper, despite the 45 degree temperature. He didn't even seem bugged by the cold! He LOVES to be outside right now.

A new skill Encoh has lately acquired is climbing. He especially loves that he can get up onto the kitchen table unassisted, so long as someone has left a chair "untucked." That's where I found him after lunch one day last week; the kids had eaten Ramen noodles and Oreo cookies:
He was pretty pleased with himself, and who can blame him? One step closer to a self-sufficient, independent little guy! And yes, he smiles all the time. He is such a happy kid. Love you, E!

Thor Lives at Our House

In case anyone wondered where he has gone to, the Almighty Thor is alive and well and living at our house!
I don't think Samuel has taken the helmet off for anything more than bedtime, bath time, and church for about five or six weeks now. And he carries around the beat-up foam hammer every where he goes. It is absolutely precious.
(After Halloween, he wore around a Baby Jaguar costume for about a month, then it was Winnie-the-Pooh for a couple of weeks, and then Super Man, until he discovered Thor. This one is definitely the most long-lived. Wonder who he'll be next?)

Pinewood Derby

We have entered a new phase of life now that Hyrum is eight years old: we have a Cub Scout! He loves it; so far he has had several den meetings, a Blue and Gold Banquet, a Winter Day Camp, and most recently, last week's Pinewood Derby. Hyrum got to pick the design for his car and help his dad cut and paint it:

Hryum and Andrew watching the cars race:
His was by no means the fastest car out there, but it didn't do too badly! Each of the boys received an award afterward; Hyrum's won the "Most Aerodynamic Car" award. I think he had a great time and was proud of his little car. Thanks to the wonderful Scout leaders that do so much to help these boys have a great time in Scouts!