Seal Sagas

Seal Family 2011 Year in Review

2012-01-21T15:37:00.001-05:00

Jonathan started a new job as the Department Head at Vinal Technical School in Middletown, CT. His commute is over an hour which means he leaves the house at 5:45 AM every morning. He is still serving in the Bishopric of our ward and we know the sacrifices he makes to help other people show us how much he loves us and the Savior. He was the winner of the pie eating contest this summer at our ward Pioneer Day celebration. He also continues to be the Yearbook Advisor, Professional Development Coordinator, and SAT prep teacher at his school. We are so thankful for a hard working daddy!

Afton is happy to announce that her time in the car this year has been cut in half! Nate’s buddy, Ace, started Odyssey school this fall, and so his mom does the morning commute. Afton loves having two hours back to her day so she can devote more time to all the other things she does like being the RIF chairperson, a counselor in the Young Women’s presidency, and our town’s library director. She’s also had some pretty incredible re-activation experiences with visiting teaching this year and her testimony continues to grow from witnessing some amazing miracles. Mom and the kids thought it was time to get a dog. But after dog sitting for the weekend, we discovered it was a lot of work and decided that having a dog is like having another child in the family. We are now content to just dog sit for our friends once a month.

Nate (11) continues to have great experiences with his Charter school as a 6^th grader. This year they took two field trips to New York City where they went on a ferry around the Statue of Liberty and toured Ellis Island. He also went to the Boston Science Museum. He was nominated by his homeroom teacher to represent his school in the National Young Leaders State Conference to attend the Congressional Youth Leadership Council in Washington D.C. He was also chosen for the math team that will compete for the middle school state championship for MathCounts! in Hartford this February. He was on the honor role every trimester and still managed to find time to earn Cub Scout’s highest award – the Arrow of Light. He works very hard and is a wonderful big brother to his siblings.

Annalynn (7) joined Nate at Odyssey Charter School this year as a 2^nd grader. She is also an amazing student and is top of her class in reading, math and science. She loves to write poetry, make up her own songs, and write little love notes to her family and friends. She took a flower arranging class this summer with Evan at a local farm where we also went blueberry, strawberry and raspberry picking. She has followed her mother’s footsteps and can be found in bed reading or writing lists. She is a great big sister and plays endless games of School or Puppy with Evan and Jenika. She loves to give hugs to everyone and enjoys being the only girl in her primary class.

Evan (4) decided that pre-school was not for him. He is now at home where he enjoys playing math games on the computer or taking care of his tadpoles and fish. He loves to be outside exploring for treasure. He is totally patient with his little sister who follows him wherever he goes. He is starting to read already and has a wonderful sense of humor. He’s a smart boy who keeps us on our toes every day.

Jenika (3) is the most snuggly child we’ve ever had. She loves to spontaneously hug and kiss her family throughout the day. She carries her little golden retriever, Gracie, with her everywhere. She survived having a broken leg this year and didn’t let her hot pink cast slow her down at all.

Some other exciting things that happened this year:

Weather Records broken in 2011 –

Most snowfall in a 24 hour period: 22.5 inches on January 12, 2011

Hottest day on record: 113 degrees on July 22, 2011

Hurricane Irene hits CT: August 29, 2011 – we have 8 days without power and running water. We are now experts in Urban Camping. You can make a lot of yummy meals on a camp stove!

Most snowfall in October: October 29, 2011 received 6 inches from Nor'easter Alfred - only 30 hours without power and water

Jonathan and I totaled up all the days we were without power in 2011 and came up with 21 days. We lost power just after Thanksgiving in November again for two days. Black Friday now has a whole meaning to us! Needless to say, our 72 hour kit is fabulous and when FEMA came to do a presentation to our town, they asked our family to share our 72 hour kit.

On St. Patrick’s Day the leprechauns played a trick on our family and switched all our furniture around. We loved how they rearranged everything and decided to keep the changes. It’s been fun to have our TV and dining room swapped after 10 years of having it the same way!

Some notable visitors to CT in 2011 include:

A pregnant Becca, Nate and Lexi came and while they were in town, Brian’s fiancé, Jessica visited too! We all went to Newport, Rhode Island and had lunch, visited the huge mansions of the Vanderbilts and Astors, and did the famous Cliff Walk along the picture perfect ocean. We love when family comes to visit and always promise fabulous food like French toast with REAL maple syrup or Baked Potato Pizza, a chocolate on your pillow every night, a car, and free babysitting! We are currently taking reservations for 2012 and are happy that Sterling and Michelle have booked a week in June!

We had a lot of fun trips again this year to various awesome places like…

The National Dr. Seuss museum in Springfield, MA

The Eric Carle museum in Amherst, MA (we also drove past the beautiful estate of Emily Dickenson while in Amherst)

We went to see where Cake Boss is filmed in New Jersey and we all enjoyed cupcakes from Carlo’s Bakery with auntie Becca and Lexi during their visit.

Jonathan and Afton got to be the chaperones at the Stake Youth Conference on Cape Cod. Heaven on earth!

Afton went to Girl’s Camp on the beautiful Lake Onway in New Hampshire for a week. While Afton was at camp the power was out again at home due to a tornado, but Jonathan kept the kids busy with all sorts of fun like paper airplane throwing contests out our second story bedroom window!

Our whole family participated in the annual Boom Box Parade on the 4^th of July to represent the library. The Boom Box Parade is the longest running parade in the country without a band. We’ve seen lots of famous people like Ned Lamont, Joe Lieberman and the UCONN national champs march in the parade.

This summer we got to fly out for the wedding of Brian and Jessica, Jonathan’s youngest brother. It was a beautiful wedding in the Salt Lake Temple and we are so glad we got to be there and celebrate such a great couple. While we were there we went down and visited Grandma Bette in St. George and got to attend the baby blessing of Lincoln. Little Lincoln is the second baby of Becca, Afton’s sister. We got family pictures on both sides since everyone was able to come to Utah this summer. We loved making so many wonderful memories this summer. We even got to drive around in a big suburban van that Jonathan’s aunt Carol let us borrow while we were there. Everyone was so generous with letting us stay in their homes, eat their food, and drive their cars! We are incredibly blessed to have such supportive families.

It was another super year full of blessings for our family. We are so thankful to have fantastic friends and family who help make our lives full of love.

Happy New Year to everyone! May the New Year bring you peace, hope and joy!

Love,

The Seal Family

2011-10-13T05:55:00.001-04:00

Riding Freedom by Pam Muñoz Ryan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I totally loved this book! I didn't discover it was a true story until the final chapter. I thought a lot about how I admire those who can train horses without fear. They are smart animals, but they are huge! The final few chapters were set in Watsonville, CA - Jonathan and I lived there at the beginning of our marriage. It is so pretty there (and home to the world's largest grower of strawberries!) The author did a great job describing the land's beauty. It's the story of the first woman who voted. She was an orphan back east and ran away. She disguised herself as a boy so she could continue working as a stagecoach driver. She eventually lost the sight of one eye due to an accident, but continued to take people all over California during the gold rush. Nobody discovered her true identity as a woman until she passed away. She was only able to vote because people thought she was man. She had a lot of courage, but had to do what she needed in order to survive in a man's world.

View all my reviews

Testimonies of the Seal children

2011-09-17T23:11:00.000-04:00

Parents, please ask your children some of these questions during Family Home Evening or other times in the next 2 weeks. We plan to use the answers we receive to help us with our upcoming primary program. You can email answers from your children to Sister Huff, Sister Adams, or Sister Anderson. Thank you for your help and support!

2011 Primary Sharing Time Sunday October 23rd

I Know the Scriptures Are True

Nate in RED. Annalynn in PURPLE. Evan in BLUE. Jenika in GREEN.

? I know the scriptures are true because or testimony of the scriptures....
They are about gospel stuff. They help you because I’ve had blessings when I’ve read them and I hear lots of good things at church about them and you’ve taught me!
? Reading the scriptures makes me feel...
Happy. Happy and loving. Good!
? Reading the scriptures has helped me learn...
Scripture stories. The gospel. If you be mean you need to say sorry so they’ll forgive you. To be happy.
? When have the scriptures helped tell you what to do?
To follow Jesus’ plan.
? What can we do to invite the Spirit to testify that the scriptures are true?
Focus on listening to the still, small voice. Get baptized. Pray to have good feelings.
? How does reading the scriptures make you feel?
Curious. Happy.
? How do you read the scriptures at home?
Quietly. I read in my head. We read as a family and take turns.
? What is your testimony of the scriptures?
Talking about the gospel brings the spirit.
? Who am I?
Evan I’m a temple.
? Where did I come from?
My mom. Jesus. Connecticut.
? Why am I here?
Because God called me down at this time. To be alive. Because Jesus made my body. Because Jesus loves me.
? What will happen to me after I die?
I won’t breathe. I’ll live with Jesus. I’ll go to heaven and be resurrected.
? Testimony of family
They help me through thick and thin. I’m happy when our family prays together. I love them and I don’t ever want to be away from them.
?How do you follow God’s plan?
I read the scriptures so I can learn His plan. You listen! You do what’s right and choose what’s right every day.
? How will keeping the commandments lead to happiness?
The commandments tell us to be kind. It’s important to do the commandments. They can help you be happy.
? Who are the servants who speak for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
The prophets.
? I will follow the living prophet by...
Listening and doing what he says. Following Jesus and Heavenly Father. You do what he says and keep the Sabbath day holy.
? Who presented a plan to everyone in heaven before we came to earth?
Two people – Lucifer and Heavenly Father Jesus and Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father.
? Who said ‘Father send me and the glory be thine?

? What did Jesus conquer by following the Father’s plan?
Mortal Life Death.
? Why is Jesus the best example for me?
He is perfect. Because he talks about true things in his stories. Because he helps me be nice to my brothers and sister.
? How can I follow His example?
Try to be perfect like Him. Listen to Him. Playing nice with friends and sharing the gospel with others.
? How has the restoration affected your life?
I got baptized and it washed away all my sins.
? How does reading the Book of Mormon make you feel?
It makes me have a lot of questions. Happy Good.
? How has the Priesthood blessed you?
I’ve got a lot of blessings from my dad. When I’ve been sick or have a big test or a new school year.
?What happened to the seeds we gave you to plant? Ethan here?
They growed.
?How do you help make someone’s burden lighter? Examples
I help rake leaves, do my chores and comfort others. Help my family and friends to be happy.
?When or how has the Holy Ghost helped you?
It helps me know the right way to go with my choices. It’s like a blanket that doesn’t come off. When I’m afraid at school he helps me.
?Why does God command us to build temples?
So we can do baptisms for the dead and it helps us feel the spirit because they are beautiful. Because He likes them and they are part of the gospel. He wants everyone to learn the gospel and be nice to people.
?What can you do to prepare to go to the temple someday?
Get a temple recommend. Pray and listen to God’s plan. Dress nice, brush my teeth, and comb my hair.
?How do you feel when you visit the temple grounds?
It is so pretty there. Happy. Excited.
?How have you been blessed because of the temple and sealing ordinances?
My parents are sealed so I am part of a family forever.
?What can you do now to prepare to go to the temple?
Pray.
?How can you treat your body like a temple?
Be nice to your heart. Dress modestly like a missionary.
?What do you do to live the Word of Wisdom? How has it blessed you?
Obeying the word of wisdom lets me have more choices in life.
?How does listening to good music make you feel? Why?
Good when I sing sacred music. Happy. Good.
?How has missionary work blessed your family?
It has given my parents fun stories to tell me. We bring friends to church and that makes me feel good.
?How can you prepare now to go on a mission?
Dress modestly. Be clean and modest. Listen at church and read the scriptures every night.
?What can you do now to be a missionary?
Invite people to church. Dress modestly. Make sure your clothes cover you, but not your face. Help my neighbors.
?Have you had a missionary experience you would like to share? If so, please write it down.

?How do we talk to Heavenly Father?
Prayers and songs. We pray. Fold our arms, bow our head, and close our eyes.
?What are some different ways we can pray?
Out loud and in our hearts and minds. Pray in our heart and out loud. Pray in your heart.
?How do you feel when you pray?
Relaxed. Happy. Happy but sometimes I cry too because dad does such a good job on the prayer.
Share an experience of how Heavenly Father has answered your prayer.

We found the keys after we prayed! When I was doing a practice CMT test and He helped me with the answers.

?How can you show reverence?

Pay attention in class. Sitting quietly. Sit down and try to be quiet and fold my arms and don’t fight.

Providence Zoo, Fire Engines and Father's Day Too!

2011-09-08T21:50:00.002-04:00

Annalynn with her first grade girlfriends.

It was a super hot day!

Strike a pose. There's nothing to it. Vogue.

Best teacher on the planet - Miss Baratz. Annalynn was lucky enough to have her for Kindergarten and 1st grade. Nate had her as a teacher too. She is creative, kind, and has lots of energy for all these little people in her life!

Don't be sad Miss Jenika!

The Elliotts came for a visit and we celebrated with ice cream!

A couple of days before Father's Day it was discovered that we didn't have anything to give the men in our ward. So the Metcalfs came over and we did hugs and kisses in a bag to all the great guys!

Daddy was happy with his knife sharpener for Father's Day. Now we just need some decent knives to sharpen...

Miss Baratz on the last day of school wearing her dragonfly earrings that we gave her.

The Wu family on their last day in CT on the couch they gave us! This is a great family. They are both returned missionaries. Their oldest daughter, Eva, is a total sweetheart. She really watches out for her little brother. He was born without a nose and ears but is a total trooper. He's had many, many surgeries. He's a good boy. He and Evan are the same age and were in nursery and Sunbeams together. She was the Sunbeam teacher for a while too and was sweet with all the kids.

She asked me to help organize Eva's baptism and it was wonderful to get to know them. They came to our house for Christmas Eve dinner last year and New Year's. Annie, the mom, is amazing. Her husband has been in school and when he finally got a job in brain research, he had to be away from his family for awhile. She packed everything up all the while continuing taking Ken to doctor appointments. He has to wear special contacts for his eyes too. We were able to help them find an ophthalmologist when they first moved here. That helped us bond right away because Evan has to see a specialist for his eyes too. Evan has worn glasses since he was 14 months old. I'll miss them and wish them well.

I'm happy!

Daddy had some boo-boos and he humored Jenika by wearing Dora band aids. Apparently Dora band aids are the best.

On our way home one night in a rain storm we were headed up the hill to our house and this tree fell right in front of our van. It was terrifying to hear the crash and see the sparks flying from the downed electrical lines. If we had even been going just a little faster, that tree would have landed right on top of our car. We turned around and called 911 and then went to the bottom of the hill to warn drivers. CT doesn't have any street lights, so any car headed up the hill would have run right into the tree. Our poor neighbors were without power for two days too.

Future Firefighters of South Windham! Our local fire department had an open house and of course we had to go check it out!

Big girl

2011-06-06T14:43:00.002-04:00

Miss jenika is growing up!

Beautiful Women

2011-05-08T21:25:00.006-04:00

My grandma Bette. She has a wonderful sense of humor. She is beautiful inside and out. She loves to teach with stories. She is a strong woman. Her husband died just before I was born. I am the oldest great-grandchild on my father's side. She had long beautiful hair when I was growing up that she liked to brush and then she would make this little "hair balls" and gave them to her grandchildren. We would take them outside and wait to see if any birds would pick them up to help make their nests. She makes the best egg sandwiches. When we would visit her in California, she had a penny jar and each child got to reach in and take as many pennies as they could fit in one handful. We loved counting our pennies and got excited when our hands grew a little so we could grab more pennies. She had a beautiful salt water fish tank when she lived in Lehi and then when she moved down to St. George she gave it to the Huntsman Cancer Institute for their waiting room. I don't ever remember my grandma wearing pants. She had beautiful dresses and lovely jewelry. Now she has about 30 different muumuu's and looks just as incredible today as she did 40 years ago.

Nana Evans is a generous person. She gave me some of her pearls and every time I wear them I can't help but think of her. She is so talented. Her hands are always moving. She loves to bake cookies or crochet baby clothes. All of my children have been blessed in an outfit or blanket made lovingly by her. She has a beautiful home filled with pictures and art. She surrounds herself with lovely flowers and people. We always welcomed in her home with open arms. Her family has a cabin that we have made many wonderful memories every summer. We are so glad that she was able to visit us and see our house and where we live. Her grandchildren are her pride and joy. She loves to shop and buy little gifts. All of her children are kind and hard working. I can tell she is a good mama because I love her daughter so much.

I miss grandma Seal so much. I loved talking about books with her. I loved playing games, singing with her and figuring out genealogy together. She is one of the most humble people I know. She loved helping children learn to read. She was always so supportive of us, and even though we lived far away she always cared about what we were up to. She raised four successful children who are all talented and giving their best every day too. She had a positive attitude until the very end and will always be my favorite red-headed grandma.

Auntie Elaine is grandma Bette's little sister. She was like a mother to me when I went to Dixie college. Just tonight she sent me an email. She is one of the busiest people I know. She just goes and goes. She is always asking what she can do for others. She is so easy to talk with and such a good listener. She loves making other people happy. Her faith inspires me. Her home has hosted the great men and women of Utah down to the most down-trodden. She truly lifts the hands that hang down and just wraps everyone up in a hug.

My brother's wife, Laura, is one of the most creative mom's I know. Her home always has some art or science project that she's working on with her kids. She has a cute little library of books for her children outside their bedrooms. She plays the piano. She has loved my family and always been there for us. Her children are smart and she is always teaching them. She quietly serves those around her without fanfare. She is very patient with our crazy family! She dresses cute as a button too.

My brother's wife, Michelle, has a heart of gold. She is always giving to others. One of my favorite memories is when I was in Utah visiting and she gave me a facial and pedicure when I was about six months pregnant. She just pampered me until I felt like I could face the day again. She has a beautiful home that makes you feel calm the moment you walk in. She takes beautiful photographs of her super cute kids. She is an awesome cook, scrap-booker, and seamstress. She has made lots of cute little skirts for my girls over the years. I always have so much fun talking to her on the phone.

My sister-in-law, Courtney, is one of those people who is so nice that it's impossible not to like her. She dresses her family so cute and just showers them with love and praise. They are all sweet, happy, smart children who knows their mama loves them. She always looks fabulous. She is talented and thoughtful. She remembers special occasions with a note and a hug. Her home is also lovely. She knows how to do all those kitchen knickknacks all cute. There are things in life that seem to elude me, but Courtney does them with ease. Need a bow, a darling picture frame, or good meal? This is your girl. She lives by Laura now and once when Laura was sick, she sent over cookies and a note.

Auntie Jenny has been spoiling my children from day one. They still think Gushers fruit snacks are called "Jenny snacks". She's one of those aunts that always has a toy, stick of gum, or piece of chocolate to make a child happy. She has gorgeous jewelry and hair every time I see her. She is pretty magical with kids. Her kids are very lucky to have such a doting mom. She became another sister when I married Jonathan. I loved pretending to do cooking shows with her, staying up late talking, and shopping. She is a deal finder and excellent gift giver. It's been fun to see her grow up from a teenager into a beautiful mother and wife.

Leslie is amazing. I love reading her blog because of her excellent sense of humor and positive attitude. Her daughter, Emmy, is one smart cookie. Leslie runs marathons for fun. She is persistent and creative. She follows her dreams. She has been working on writing a book and I really think she'll succeed someday. She is a very hard worker. I think if Leslie and I lived closer we would be very good friends. She is feisty and sassy. I love being with her and she is so easy to talk with about anything. I like a girl with lots of opinions and I think that's why we get along so well!

Sister Reilly is Nate's primary teacher. She has never said a mean word about anybody. After she raised her children, she took in four more. She is a great-grandma and still has a 12 year old at home she is raising with love and patience. She is wise, caring and a kind soul. She is an excellent artist. Nate loves the way she teaches and encourages the kids to do their best every week. She gives them little goals to work on and I'm so incredibly grateful for the influence she has had on all my children's lives.

Sister Albert is Annalynn's primary teacher and my visiting teaching companion. I'm glad she's teaching Annalynn how to listen to the Holy Ghost. She is an excellent listener and story teller. She loves to surprise people with little gifts or homemade goodies. She a great cook and party hostess. She would do anything for you. She loves to celebrate all of life's little accomplishments right along with you. One time I called her at the last minute and asked if she could take me and all my kids to the church when my car wouldn't start. She didn't miss a beat and said she would be over in ten minutes. She lived off the grid for several years and I watched her start a campfire in the pouring rain at Girl's camp when we were counselors together. She has the heart of a pioneer woman. She could have lived a hundred years ago and done just fine. But I sure am glad she's here now.

Sister Bacon is Jenika's nursery teacher. She moved here from California and so it's been fun to watch her adjust to life in New England. She has a beautiful home and is very generous. She's given us Christmas decorations and a swing set. She is so sweet with the little kids and just loves them patiently. I love going in there and watching her play with play dough like it's her favorite thing to do in the world. She does a lot of service for others that goes unnoticed. She loves her family and has a beautiful testimony. She throws great ward parties too.

Sister Mahoney is Evan's sunbeam teacher. She was Nate's teacher too. Nate loved how she always sparked with her make up and jewelry. She has a wonderful sense of humor and I'm sure she hears more about my family than I ever wanted her to know. Evan loves her lessons and she has a great way with little kids. She is Sister Reilly's daughter too!

Megan is an answer to a prayer. She moved here last year and came into my life right when I needed a friend. She now is the closest member of ward to us. She has a wonderful sense of humor. She is an incredibly talented photographer, cook, and designer. Her home is filled with beautiful art and mementos. Her wardrobe is super cute. I'm always smiling around her. She just radiates goodness. She doesn't judge others, works hard, and just loves people for who they are. She and her husband were recently called as temple workers. Their doggy, Gracie, is the best dog babysitter our kids have ever known. Just today she brought me flowers and a hug. She is also the best note writer I know. She uplifts me and I'm so thankful she is in my life right now. She is the new YW president in our ward and I'm thrilled to be serving with her. The girls are going to grow to love her just as much as I do.

Megan is the Primary president and our favorite piano teacher. She loves the children so much. I miss serving with her. She is pretty amazing at figuring out people and what they need. She is dedicated and knows that everything can be figured out with prayers and faith. Her son, Topher, is the smartest two year old I know. She gave me a HUGE chocolate bar today. I love anybody who gives me lots of chocolate.

Kristi is one of those friends that I will have for life. Weeks will pass by before we talk again, but we always pick up where we left off. She is wise, no nonsense, and makes me laugh until I cry. She is an amazing dancer, mom and wife. She makes beautiful homemade cards and crafts. She loves books and art. I always know where I stand and she knows my weaknesses and loves me anyway. I stand in awe of her energy and love of life. In many ways we are quite the opposite, but that's what is so fun about being friends with her.

My brother's wife, Janay is so fun to be with. She can turn anything into a song. She also has really smart, happy kids. Her faith and testimony is beautiful. She is a wonderful teacher and gives and gives. I was so impressed with all the time and energy that she and Michelle gave for Becca's wedding. We spend hours on the phone and never run out of things to say. She is generous to my whole family.

Becca has always been there for me. I admire her strength so much. She is funny, kind, wise, giving, and creative. It has been so great to see her grow and become a wonderful mother and wife. She is an incredible cook and does tons of service for others. My kids love her so much. I'm so thankful that her hubby lets her come to see us as often as possible. She has been through a lot, but it has just made her even more amazing. She teaches me and I truly want to be more like her when I grow up.

It's funny how much I see my mother in me now. I look in the mirror all the time and say, "I'm turning into my mother!" She has taught all of her children to work hard, have faith, and pray. She is one of those grandmas that sends cards for no reason, calls just to say hello, and buys a gift just because she was thinking about you. She doesn't have a lot of money, but takes joy out of the very simple things. She remembers your favorite kind of dessert, what you wished for at Christmas, and the funny little story you told her three years ago. Her children are her world. She loves Jonathan like her own sons. She is practical and a good listener and knows exactly what to say to heal a heart.

Sarah is an absolute sweetheart. She adores her nieces and nephews. She always remembers to send a card, make a phone call. I can count on Sarah to call every Sunday night to ask how my week was. She always asks about my health, the weather, my job, and the kids. And she really wants to know. She is content with listening to music, taking a walk, or reading a book every day. She is the best little sister a girl could want.

Our neighbor, Jacqueline, is our Connecticut grandma. Just yesterday after a long Book Sale day at the library, she had the kids over for a few hours for playing and a pizza party. She is an excellent listener. She is one of those people that seems to look right to your soul and only has good things to say about everyone. She's held my babies with love and made me more dinners than I can count. Her home is surrounded by flowers and love.

Suzie has taken care of my dad and loved him no matter what. She is a master gardener, cook, and pianist. When she laughs, you can't help but laugh with her. She loves to tell stories, travel, and loves all the same music that I do. When we go to California she loves to play with the kids and sing with them. I really wish we could see each other more.

Last, but not least, is my mom-in law. She has taught me so much. She is a wonderful mother who raised a son who is so easy to love. She is incredibly talented at making quilts, cooking, decorating, and scrapbooking. She is incredibly supportive of all our hopes and dreams. She loves her grandkids even though we don't get to see her every month. The kids are blessed that she has been able to visit us lots while we are here. Everything she does turns out beautiful. Every meal at her table is a wonderful celebration. She makes the holidays so special. She has great faith. Every single one of her kids is successful and happy. She has helped me be a better mom and wife. I'm thankful to have another mom to love me, help me, and encourage me. She is so generous and would do anything for me. I have a lot of great memories starting from the day I met her in her kitchen. She is always serving people. She is a nurse and has the perfect personality to help people when they need help. She is easy to talk with and knows everybody just wants to feel loved.

I'm so blessed to have these women in my life. There are other women I am grateful to as well. My ward family of Alexis, Linda, Elina, Gwen, Crystal, Sara, Wendy, Kim, Becky, Betty, Angela, and many more women who lift me up, inspire me, comfort me, babysit, cook a meal, listen, teach, love, encourage, and smile.

You have all changed me and made me a better person. I thank Heavenly Father every day for sending you into my life. I love you all!

Evan-isms

2011-04-19T09:32:00.007-04:00

"Dad, it hurts when I swallow my spit."
"Then don't swallow your spit, Evan."
"Then my mouth would flood!"

"Evan, go put your shirt back on."
"Mom, I get so hot though. It's just that I'm a different kind of human."

"I'm on a secret mission mom!"

"Oh wow, what's your mission?"

"I can't tell you! That's why they call it 'secret'. Silly mom!"

Annalynn and Evan were on the back seat arguing over who is smarter, mom or dad. Annalynn voted for dad but Evan insisted it was mom because "When dad talks it sounds like he is just making up answers to everything."

After looking at a colored map of the U.S. Evan asked, "When astronauts are up in space and they look down at Connecticut, what color is it?"

"I like Lady Gaga songs, but why does she have that name when she is a grown-up?"

The babysitter came over with her cup of coffee and Evan promptly told her, "You smell like Dunkin Donuts!"

Before heading out the door to a birthday party for a 6 year-old little girl, Evan insisted on wearing some cologne. I asked why he needed it. He replied, "So all the girls think I'm so cute and handsome!"

"Mom, I hit my funny bone. But I think my arm ran out of funny, because actually it just hurts!"

How I discovered my secret mom stash of chocolate in my sock drawer needs a new location: Evan came up to me and said, "Mom, Annalynn says you have chocolate in your socks. So can you please check your socks for me right now?"

Jenika's New Fear.

2011-04-11T17:14:00.003-04:00

Jenika now has a healthy fear of jumping, especially on anything bouncy. Last Wednesday she was out jumping with Nate and came in crying a "I'm done" cry and dramatically crawled in and rested on the floor. She promptly fell asleep, and since she was just recovering from a terrible cold, we let her sleep, right through dinner. At bed time she didn't want to eat, or wake up so I carried her up to bed. The next morning, due to Nate being sick, everyone got to sleep in, and Jenika slept until 10 or so (mind you she normally has to get up to get Nate to school at 6:15, and is one of the easiest children to wake up). When Afton went to get her up, she demanded to be carried down to the couch to watch Dora (still refusing to eat). She didn't move from the couch all day, and that's when we started feeling guilty. I got an email at work claiming Jenika's refusing to walk, and is complaining of a hurt leg. When changing her diaper, she would whimper in pain. When I got home she refused to run up and give me a hug, something she ALWAYS does. We decided to call the doctor. Because of the lateness of the hour (about 4pm by the time I got home from work) and the overbooked doctors office we took her to the ER. The found she had a compression break of the tibia.

Jenika's been a real trooper and not complained much. In fact both doctors that examined her (at the ER, and today at the orthopedic) wished all broken legged children were as well behaved and happy as Jenika. She was singing "If we can build it, yes we can" at the ER, and chatting up the doctor today.

Here's the temporary cast from the ER. She had to keep this from Thursday to today (Monday).

Here's the final pick cast, just like her Dad's of a few years ago. She'll be in this for 4 weeks and the we'll re-evaluate the break. How come my leg couldn't heal in 4 weeks?

The Cat Walk

2011-04-08T16:41:00.003-04:00

Jonathan's school was having a fundraiser fashion show and they asked the teachers if any of them would be willing to have their kids be in the show. Would we ever? A chance for Annalynn to be a model?!? Of course! They had a rehearsal and fitting the night before. Evan and Annalynn got their hair done by the hairdressers and they both did an awesome job!

This is Evan's "Cool Man Joe" pose. I'll post pics of Annalynn later.

Posing in Polkas

2011-04-08T16:40:00.003-04:00

This is what Annalynn wore for picture day. She picked the dress out at JCPenny all by herself. I had a coupon and so the dress only cost me $10 instead of $40! We can't wait to get the pictures back from school!

Jenika wanted her own picture day too.

So we humored her.

Bath fun

2011-04-08T16:38:00.003-04:00

It's been a little tricky to get these two turkeys into the bath lately. I'm kinda an OCD mom and I make our kids take a bath every night. Even if we get home at 1AM. But they stay healthy!

Anyway, we've been doing fun things lately like bubble baths, crazy hair night, and their favorite- flashlight bath. Basically we just fill the tub up, turn off the lights, and turn on a flashlight. So the bathroom looks really spooky and they can barely see each other. They giggle and laugh and forget why they didn't want to get in the tub.

Fabulous Four

2011-04-08T16:36:00.006-04:00

Wow, do I love this kid! He is a happy, sweet little person who makes us all laugh every single day. It takes a very special little boy to be right in the middle of two girls like Annalynn and Jenika. He adores his siblings. He still loves to snuggle with his mom. He asks a zillion questions everyday and will not rest until his mind understands The Why of it all. He is the first one up each Saturday. His feet hit the ground and he goes non-stop all day. He is smart and kind and is a light and blessing.

He is one of our miracles.

You're my life's one miracle
Everything I've done that's good
And you break my heart with tenderness
And I confess it's true
I never knew a love like this 'til you

You're the reason I was born
Now I finally know for sure
And I'm overwhelmed with happiness
So blessed to hold you close
The one that I love most
Though the future has so much for you in store
Who could ever love you more

The nearest thing to heaven
You're my angel from above
Only God creates such perfect love

When you smile at me I cry
And to save your life I'd die
With a romance that is pure in heart
You are my dearest part
Whatever it requires
I live for your desires
Forget my own, your needs will come before
Who could ever love you more

There is nothing you could ever do
To make me stop loving you
And every breath I take
Is always for your sake
You sleep inside my dreams
And know for sure
Who could ever love you more

~ Linda Thompson

His birthday was on a Sunday and he had major ants in his pants to come home and open his presents. Then we had to wait another of couple of hours until dad got home. Evan is very easy to please. When we asked him what he wanted for his birthday he told us, "A collection like Nate's."

"What do you want in your collection?"

"A flashlight!"

So that's just what he got: A flashlight, color wonder paper and pens, blue bubbles, and trains. He was happy as a clam.

Evan has always been fascinated by worms, so when we saw this idea for cupcakes we knew that they were the perfect cupcakes for Evan to bring to his preschool class. "EWWWW! Cool!" was the cheer when we walked in. Some of the kids even thought the green worms and Oreo "dirt" was real!

Our Irish Green

2011-04-08T16:34:00.003-04:00

Annalynn's holding up a huge Watsonville strawberry that I miss getting fresh from those California fields.

Jenika has her chef apron on so she can help mommy with our holiday feast!

Green tablecloth?

Check.

Green shirts?

Check.

Fruit rainbow with marshmallow clouds?

Check.

Delicious pirogies, peas and sauerkraut for dinner?

Check. (Who needs corned beef and cabbage?)

Chocolate from leprechauns?

Check.

Mint ice cream for dessert?

Check.

Another successful St. Patrick's Day?

Check.

Perhaps some of you noticed that our dining room table is now located in the former TV room. Some great leprechauns (AKA the Metcalf family) came the night before to help us move a bunch of our furniture around. The kids couldn't believe how crazy the leprechauns were this year! Leprechaun mischief is very big out east. Every year the leprechauns come to school and put silly string, glitter, turn over desks, and hide the garbage cans all over the room.

I decided to move the furniture because I was hosting a girlfriend movie night and I wanted there to be more room to watch the TV. Now the TV room is in the red room. After 8 years of having our house the same way, it's very nice to have a change. I think we all like it better too. I'm hosting a baby shower next month and I want to get some more comfy chairs from IKEA during spring break. It will be wonderful to have some more seats for parties!

I made a rainbow for Evan's school snack. It was gobbled up!

Snuggle Bunnies

2011-04-08T16:33:00.003-04:00

Most nights these two insist on going to sleep in our bed together. And this is usually how we find them.

Nose to nose.

They don't remember life ever without each other. I hope they stay best friends.

We got a dog!

2011-04-08T16:30:00.004-04:00

Well, just for the weekend.

Meet Evan's new girlfriend, Gracie Lou.

They had lots of fun playing in the rain puddles.

Evan was the most excited for the dog to come live with us. Wherever Evan went, Gracie was sure to follow. Evan's four legged shadow had a pretty good time too from all the attention I think.

Jenika had fun outside too. Got a little muddy but still all girl.

No girl is complete without the signature pink hair bow.

Who couldn't love that face? It almost made me want to get our own dog. But it was like having five kids. That would require a lot more energy on my part.

We were all pretty worn out at the end of the day, but we had lots of fun!

Fit to be Tied

2011-04-08T15:24:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago Jenika insisted on wearing a tie like her brothers and dad. I tried to take it off before we walked into church, but she had a royal tizzy. So we left in on all during church. Her nursery teacher and lots of people told her she looked really cute. It's days like this that I'm glad we don't live in Utah. I would have been totally embarrassed for my daughter to wear a blue tie with her pink outfit. But here, we all just giggled and loved our little Jenika who marches through life to the beat of her own drum.

100 Days of School 2011

2011-04-08T15:23:00.001-04:00

I asked Annalynn's teacher, Miss Baratz, if we could do a Starburst poster for the 100th day of school. All the kids loved getting some candy during class! Annalynn has such a fun teacher and I'm glad she indulges me with all the traditions I want to do with my kids.

Another double sided tape project! And yes, there are really 100 pieces of candy.

We counted...twice.

True Love

2011-04-08T15:20:00.005-04:00

Jonathan and I went to the church's Valentine Dance. The kids came to the church with us and watched a movie and ate pizza and pasta while we had dinner and talked. At the very end we did the YMCA dance. A lot of the girls did some line dancing too, but I never learned any of those. I know how to swing dance though! It was a nice evening and fun to get dressed up in a little black dress. Besides, any evening that ends in chocolate is always great in my book.

For the Valentine exchange at Annalynn's and Evan's schools, we spent a whole Saturday (like 10AM to 4PM) making iPods. We made 100 of them for all our friends, neighbors, and all the kids in Primary. They were a huge hit. Annalynn and Evan both won "Best Valentine" in their classes because they were the only ones that were homemade. We got lots of compliments and they were easy enough that both Evan and Annalynn could help cut and tape without getting frustrated. I bought double sided tape for the first time and it's perfect for little kids to use for projects!

We did pink and purple iPods for the girls, and blue for the boys. Hershey kisses on red and pink yarn were the ear buds. We obviously had to eat a little chocolate throughout the day. The decorated milk jug is what Evan's school uses to hold all their valentines. Homemade valentines are always so much better, and way more fun to make together!

This year Annalynn got a bracelet from Alex. Last year she got a rose from him. We'll have to post a picture of her new jewelry soon. I've never met a little boy who has stayed in love with a girl for over a year. But this girl has a face that is hard to forget.

Just chillin'

2011-04-08T15:19:00.002-04:00

Evan was so excited to play on the "new" computer in our little Harry Potter closet that he forgot to get dressed after breakfast! His three favorite websites are www.pbskids.org

Webkinz and www.lds.org/friend

I haven't introduced him to Starfall yet, but I'm sure he'd love it too!

Snow and Ice

2011-04-08T15:16:00.004-04:00

These pictures don't do justice to a beautiful world covered in ice with the sun shining.

I have never seen such big icicles my whole life. We had many that were over 6 feet long hanging off of our house.

The snow drifts next to our driveway were waaaaaay over Evan and Jenika's heads. You can kind of see the sled runs down the hill too. I'm so super glad I don't have to drive my kids to a hill so they can go sledding. On a nice day they spend many, many hours outside sledding, making snow angels, building forts and snowmen, and writing their names in the snow with squirt bottles filled with colored water.

Another picture of the snow tunnel the kids built.

The other entrance of the snow tunnel. I should of had one of the kids stand next to it so you can grasp how big it is in our yard!

Oldest Store

2011-03-30T13:39:00.003-04:00

I'm a girl with a long bucket list. I keep finding things to add to it all the time! I'm lucky to be married to a guy who doesn't mind driving us all around. And yes, my mom does remind me often that my husband spoils me. I found out that one of the country's oldest Country Stores is just a short trip away in Chepachet, Rhode Island. They had a cute penny candy counter, so we gave all the kids .10 cents and said they could go crazy. They each got little tootsie rolls, gumballs, an M & M, Skittles, etc. They had a lot of lovely things and it was fun and the drive was actually quite scenic and beautiful. It was a great New Year's Eve day adventure. That night we went to dinner at a friend's house and then the First Night Celebration in Killingly. We were there only an hour or so and then went home and lit off fireworks at 10PM, put the kids to bed, and watched a movie! Good times in New England!

Afton's Birthday

2011-03-30T13:34:00.006-04:00

The Norwalk aquarium is almost two hours from our house but I had some free tickets for the whole family so we decided to go for my birthday. The aquarium mailed out 4 tickets to all the library directors in CT in hopes that the library would buy a season pass. This aquarium is very expensive. It would have cost our family $100 to get in normally! We have ruined our children though. After going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in CA, every aquarium pales in comparison. We still had loads of fun though and it was great to see lots of real penguins, cool blue frogs, and huge turtles. It was a perfect birthday outing! Nothing beats a free fun day with family!

Playing on the pretend boat. She did a lot of fishing that day!

Look at the whoppers she caught!

Flannel board games are so easy and all kids seem to love it!

If I could have a jelly fish tank in my house I would be a very happy girl. They are such beautiful creatures to me.

Yes, even turtles have armpits.

Thanks for the awesome birthday cute family!

First Haircut

2011-03-29T13:50:00.003-04:00

Jenika's first haircut. Evan has already had a few, so no pictures of him.

She was actually very excited and not scared at all! I think she was eager to see what life looked like without her hair hanging in her face!

Why does she hold still for the hairdresser and not her mother?

A two-year-old getting a blow dry and style? Someone is spoiled!

So super cute and worth it though, huh? When did she get so big? She and I are both trying to figure out how she can stay "Mommy's baby" but dad wants her out of diapers.

Youth Book Club

2011-03-29T13:49:00.002-04:00

The three great readers at our library! Victor, Nate and Anita. Anita is home schooled and is an excellent reader. They get together once a month to discuss the latest books they've read. I think Nate likes the club just for the good pizza and soda. We now call the club Tween Time and have added three more members! See the bunny on the pizza box? That is CT's version of Flat Stanley. Have I mentioned lately how glad I am that my kids LOVE to read? There are two boys who come in every week for tutoring in reading and they struggle so much. The little 2nd grader is reading at a Kindergarten level and my heart just breaks for him. Reading is such a big part of a child's self esteem at this age. If buying yummy food helps kids want to read with friends, then it is very worth it to me!

January 2011 = SNOW SNOW and more SNOW

2011-03-29T13:46:00.003-04:00

January 2011 proved to be the snowiest month on record here in CT. In fact, we have more snow coming on April Fool's Day too. Not just a little snow but a good old Nor'easter that will supposedly dump another 6-12 inches. As Evan proclaimed last Tuesday when he woke up to snow again, "This is the best winter EVER!!!" It truly was the best winter ever for all four-year-old little boys. But the rest of us are ready to head to the beach.

This is just one of the many storms that dumped at least a foot of the white stuff. We are so thankful our awesome neighbors decided to buy a very nice snow blower last November. They kindly let Jonathan borrow it pretty much every Wednesday afternoon for the last three months. We would still be digging out if it wasn't for them. We have a VERY long driveway that takes HOURS and HOURS to shovel by hand. We know, because we've been doing it the last 7 years.

There was even enough snow that the kids built a pretty cool snow fort that ended up being so tall that Jenika could stand up in it.

The snow went past the van tires! These pictures actually don't really convey the amount of snow that we got this winter. If I can survive this, I can survive anything!

I will say one thing about snow, it makes everything absolutely beautiful!

I love when it stays on the trees for a couple of days and makes the windows look so pretty and frosty. This winter also broke another record - Hot Chocolate consumption by the Seal family. We are talking gallons and gallons of the good stuff. I think if we ate one more marshmallow then we would all turn into one. Heavens knows we are looking a little more marshmallow like (AKA- pasty white and fluffy) after this winter!

After looking at the library roof and deciding to get it shoveled, I came home and told Jonathan that he needed to shovel our roof. And then after our neighbor saw Jonathan shoveling our roof, she made her husband get out and shovel his roof. I'm glad we did. Everybody knows somebody out here who had a collapsed roof under all the weight of the snow. Can you tell the snow goes past Jonathan's knees? We had at LEAST two feet on our roof. A family at Evan's preschool had their roof collapse. It was sadly not covered by their insurance. We have seen dozens of farms that have collapsed and even our local gas station, Burger King, and Toyota dealership had a collapsed roof. Crazy times!