The girls had author week at school this week!! DAVID SHANNON came to their school. Pretty cool. Today they dressed up like pirates to welcome in an author. What a bunch of cuties. I want to squish them all.

 Carolyn and Ponka writing letters to each other :)

 

The other night Tommy couldn't sleep so we went downstairs and snuggled on a comfy couch and turned on a Christmas show. He just sat with me and snuggled. Being a mom is the best.

The girls have always have wanted to be the first to get Tommy out of his crib after bedtime or naptime. One year later, we still can't get enough of our adorable Tom Tom. 

 The girls started getting Tommy up and reading to him. Especially his favorite book right now "Good night Moon" He is really great at growling at the three little bears and "moo"ing at the cow jumping over the moon. It was awesome the first day I walked into Tommy's room after Emily said she wanted to get Tommy up and found this adorable scene:

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Tommy has the best sisters ever. Lucky boy.

 We loved General Conference!!! On Sunday we had some friends over to enjoy a Conference Breakfast and then we watched Conference. Hearing the word of God through His servants was amazing. A few inspirations acted on from conference the day after:

- Emily said she wanted to study the Book of Mormon with me every day. It was amazing today to pray with her and read the word of God together. And with Tommy, too :) I love that we were invited to read the scriptures to/with those that can't quite read yet (in addition to family scripture study is what I took away from it). The spirit was so incredible while reading with Tommy and Emily today. I am so excited to begin reading personally with those two cuties. Angela and I also started reading together. She was reading on her own but thought she wanted to start reading with me after conference. A sweet story: I asked her when she wanted to read the Book of Mormon with me. She said she wanted to read it with me right before bed time because it would help her with her bad thoughts she has at night time. What a great example that girl is to me.

- One of Angela's questions she had before conference is how she can be a missionary to her good friend, Emily (not her sister- best friend at school :) While watching General Conference, Angela told me that she felt like she should give her friend Emily Hood a Book of Mormon. She wrote the most tender hearted message in a Book of Mormon for her. Angela asked a missionary question before conference. Listened to conference and got an answer. Then rolled up her sleeves and got to work doing what she felt she should do. What an amazing experience this has been.

On Friday, our good friends, the Sullivans moved to California. They were so nice to give us their bike trailer to have before they left. It is Sunday and we have been on FOUR bike rides already. And we got it on Friday. Needless to say, we are obsessed. This is going to be loved and used SOO much!!!!

Good thing we have raw green smoothie :) Tommy gets his greens this way!

 Yes, he IS that cute!!! I want to smoosh him.

Today was picture day for the girls. Look at this gorgeous girl!!!! Awe!!

Preparing for Conference!

Preparing for the General Conference Feast!!!  For FHE, Daddy challenged us to get to know the apostles that will be speaking for Him this weekend! So, today Emily and I printed out pictures of the apostles and prophet. Emily then pasted some fun and interesting facts about each apostle on the back of their picture. This week we are going to try to stump each other and play "Name the Prophet" with the different apostles. Emily is going to talk about Elder Oaks tonight during our family devotional! I love General Conference Feast!! And the spirit was so strong as I watched Emily put these together to help our family prepare ourselves for His words!! "...Whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants it is the same." How blessed we are to hear His words this weekend!!! What a blessing it is for us to try to prepare our hearts for His words.