I Love to see the Temple

Just have to share this one. I was singing 'I love to see the Temple' to Arianna the other night and when I got to the phrase, "I'm going there someday" she interrupted to let me know, "I am." She said it so matter-of-factly, and so sweetly. I know that she will.

One of the things I said I was grateful for at the Thanksgiving table was these children of mine who are so sensitive to spiritual things and serve as such wonderful examples to me. What a joy!

Catching Up

My computer froze up last time I tried to blog, so I have been a bit hesitant to try again. If you're reading this then it was a success.

Hope that your Thanksgiving break was wonderful! We had such a busy and enjoyable time ourselves.

First, Marco turned another year older and we celebrated as best we could for the one whole hour he was home that day (work went a bit long, then YM and then scouting leader meeting which went until ten!!!). I had considered calling earlier on in the day to get him out of his duties, I probably should have, but oh well. It was fun while it lasted! Thanks for all the cards and calls. He would have loved to chat w/ everyone, he just wasn't around to do it. :)

The following weekend we spent some time getting the car ready to sell. We had planned on selling the Audi since it is a bit older, but we are more attached to that one, so we're ditching the Honda instead.

Then Marco took Arianna on a special Daddy-daughter date of her choice. She enjoyed mini-golf so much last time that she chose that again, and 'playland' for lunch. Kids are so easy to please, I have so much to learn from them!

Arianna has been begging me for a Thanksgiving party (thanks to those darn pottery barn catalogs that always show kids having parties) so we invited her cousins over the Monday before Thanksgiving to play. We made silly turkey hats, read pilgrim and Indian stories ate simple sac lunches and played some games. It was sure fun to have all the little ones together!
Enzo wasn't feeling his best, but here he is sporting his turkey hat! Cracks me up!

Arianna read her first book, too! We have taught her various sight words and she learns a couple each week at preschool, and she commits them to memory instantly, it seems. She sounds words out well too as long as she is "in the mood" to read. So we are getting level 1 reading books from the library and this is the first book she has read on her own. Way to go peanut! I thought that was normal preschool stuff until my sister set me straight. She has always enjoyed literacy and letters though.

Let's see, Thanksgiving day we spent w/ the Poggio side of the family in a very quaint day of gratitude. The food was great, but the company was the memorable part of it all. We got all mushy as we went around the table sharing our gratitude lists. Two of my sister's joined in the fun as well, I only wish more of my family lived closer! I have so very much to be grateful for though! Little Enzo, still not feeling well, cuddled close to Daddy.

Friday I did the early shopping thing for the first time. It wasn't so bad, I think I may even do it again, for the right price. I was most disappointed that the plasma TV I wanted to surprise Marco with was sold out to the 23 people in line in front of me at Costco. Hot item, I guess. Sorry babe! Better luck next time.

Well, that just about has me caught up. We trimmed the tree on Friday but I don't have those pictures up yet. Enzo un-trims it several times daily. I love it! Marco and I enjoyed a Jazz game Friday night thanks to some friends of ours that couldn't use their tickets and to my sister's family for watching the kids. Thanks a bunch!

Then, of course, there was THE GAME! You know what game I am talking about. THE game. It started out very slow! No points at the end of the quarter, then 3-0 by half. The fourth quarter made up for it though! We were ecstatic and frustrated and disappointed and thrilled again. Go Cougs! There is nothing better than beating those Utes! Well, almost nothing. Marco and I sat on the 50 yard line and cheered our voices right out! Ahhh, sweet victory.

Spring in November!

The weather today was AWESOME! It has been wonderful weather all week, but on a saturday it seems even more rewarding. We figured we'd better take advantage! First, we sent Marco up onto the roof to hang Christmas lights (I knew he wouldn't LOVE hanging the lights perched up high, so I figured having warm weather to do it in would diminish the pain of it all). He actually really enjoyed himself up on the roof once the fear of dying subsided; I wasn't sure he'd ever come down, "want me to wash the windows, honey?" He did some caulking of the gutter, knocked down the beehives that had accumulated over the summer and even took time to enjoy the view, all in addition to the Christmas lights.

Jane, this image may seem x-rated to you, avert your eyes. You can blame our Elder's Quorum president for getting him on the VERY top of the roof, our lights were only on the lower half of the roof.

After hanging lights we headed to Boondocks for some mini golf with the kids. That was a much different experience from the last time when I ended up in the car nursing Enzo most of the time.

Arianna worked really hard on her form and focused on her target and Dad was a great coach.

Enzo loved dropping his ball into the 18 holes, examining those green speakers on the ground that miraculously put out music and carrying his club around. Then it was off for dinner and then...to bed early, ahhh!

Good night!

Precious Prayers

Just the other night as Arianna was saying her prayer she came out with, "I am thankful that Jesus was crucified and resurrected." Then she sincerely gave thanks for her Mommy and Daddy and safe house.. among other things. She often says many wonderful things in prayers, but this one struck me as a bit more insightful than they sometimes are (Must be the Moffits!). I don't know how often we give thanks that the Savior of the World was crucified for our sakes, perhaps only because it was such a horrible occurence we almost feel guilty being thankful for it, but very thankful we certainly are for that fateful day...and the third day following, indeed.

Then tonight as we studied the scriptures she asked me if Satan was real or pretend. She is getting a firmer grasp now on reality versus make-believe and she often asks me similar-minded questions (last was whether or not Shrek was real and where he lived). She was a bit disturbed to find that Satan is not pretend, but rather a terrible force that we must avoid in life. She then asked where he lived and that took us to hell, not a fun place to be! She was wondering where that was, exactly. "Behind the mountains?" "Wherever there is evil people or people making evil choices." She was hoping he was pretend, don't we all. That would make him powerless over us, but ahhh, powerless he can be if we chose it to be.
I love the gospel of Jesus Christ! I love being a mother!

Trick-or-Treat

We carved our pumpkins for family night since the weekend had kept us too busy doing other spooky things. Arianna made a classic Marco face here and we both must have scared Enzo faceless. Enzo helped mommy carve but he wasn't too sure about getting his hands into the guts...so he dove in once it was all cleaned out! He was thrilled about using 'tools' and was so good at sawing w/ me (promise, the knife was a kid-safe pumpkin-carving knife!) and he is still enjoying the seeds we cooked up.

Arianna and Daddy worked on a pumpkin together as well. She carved it almost entirely on her own...way to go Dad! He wanted to jump in lots but resisted the urge. We think she did great! She even chose all the features. She didn't want to touch the guts much either, so she stuck w/ scooping out the insides with a spoon. She was tickled with the results...especially once we made it glow!

For Halloween we enjoyed time at Daddy's office for a bit of trick-or-treating. We had to 'follow the yellow brick road' to all the different candy stations. Enzo didn't quite understand that everyone just wanted to give him candy. He'd hold on tight to one until the next stop where he'd do a little trade. Return his candy and grab another. After some practice he started to trust that his candy really would still be his even if he put it into his bag and then the candy started to pile up!

That done,we headed home for dinner and then we hit the streets. Arianna kept telling people that she didn't like chocolate... even if that was all they had. We really had to work w/ her through the night to break that habit. Finally, she stopped getting choosy and just said thanks for whatever she was given. We were so grateful for the many people that were conscientious of her peanut allergy and steered clear of anything nutty. She may be the only girl that doesn't like chocolate, but she definitely doesn't. That'll serve her well in life if it sticks with her! Wish I had that problem, mine is the opposite.

After we got back from trick-or-treating in our neighborhood the kids really lit up (see Arianna trying to wind down w/ a book whilst on a sugar high). Maybe the candy high, maybe just being out of those costumes, they were sooooooo excited about answering the door and giving candy to others! Enzo couldn't resist stealing away some for himself, as well. Tricky little guy!

Happy Halloween! Here comes the Turkey!