And yet another Kendall prayer moment

During Kendall's prayers, he will be thankful for and/or bless a variety of people.

Last night Kendall's prayers included "HUNK-le Mike." Yep ... I think Kelly would agree.

Addicted to Cars

That's Kendall. He LOVES the cars from the Cars movie ...


He is really good at telling you their names as well.

I love it when he picks up a certain car and quotes the movie Kendall style.

"Oh, pretty music" is what Kendall will say while gently bobbing his head. He does this with "DJ" the blue car that plays music to make Mac tired and run him off the road.

He also imitates the tractor. He moos and then tilts his head back and makes a slight blowing sound (the action and sound the tractors make when Lightening McQueen and Mater go tractor tipping). I have to get a video of that!

Prayers by Kendall

Kendall insists on saying his own prayers at bedtime.

Here is what happened last night.

Kendall starts, "Dear Heavenly Father. Thank this day."

He then peeks up and grins at me ... his hint that he needs help.

So I start. He repeats.

Thank you for Daddy. Thank you for Daddy

Thank you for Mommy. Thank you for Mommy

Thank you for Daeia (Julia). Thank you for Daeia.

Thank you for Jenna. Thank you for Denna.

Thank you for Jaley. Thank you for Daey.

Thank you for Kerst. Thank you for Kerst.

Please help us to be happy.

Kendall adds, "Thank you for Blakelee. "

Slacker ... ?

I think not!

Julia is not happy with her schedule. Due to budget cutbacks with the school district, they are giving many students (excluding Freshmen) one class period of "Administrative Dismissal". She is anxious to talk to her counselor and have her give her a list of classes she can take during her "off" class period.

She has a packed schedule which includes AP Language, AP Psychology, Chemistry, American History, Trig/Pre Calc ...

She even volunteered to go to school during "zero hour" where classes start even earlier so she could take yet another class. That would mean Seminary would start at 5:30 a.m. for her! We still have to figure a couple of things out.

Hot Chocolate

My kids LOVE Hot Chocolate. Especially the recipe my Mom would make when I was a little girl.

The BEST Hot Chocolate ever
1 can evaporated milk
4 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
2 TBSP baking cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla

(My Mom got this recipe from Sis. O in KS).

Since it has been unseasonably "chilly" in CO this week, they have been wanting hot chocolate.

I didn't want an entire recipe made, so I told the kids how to make the hot chocolate individually.

2/3 cup milk
1 tsp baking cocoa powder
2 TBSP sugar
1 tsp (or 1 individual liquid packet) of Coffee Creamer - French Vanilla flavor is our favorite.

They have been enjoying their hot chocolate this week. Not for too much longer. This is the last of the weather in the 60's. Next week it jumps up into the 80's ...

Some must push and some must pull

Here are a couple of more pictures of Jenna from the trek. They bring tears to my eyes thinking of what this was to represent and that Jenna was able to experience the spirit of the activity - You can see the young men (their brothers) and their "Pa's" standing reverently and solemnly on the side of the road.

They survived!

They survived AND loved it! Wyoming. 3 days 2 nights. 95 degree weather. One evening of rain sprinkles. Their first pioneer trek.

The trek was a wonderful experience. They met a lot of wonderful people in their cousin Peter's stake.

Julia said that the most amazing experience was pulling their handcart up rocky ridge without the help of her "Pa" (the adult male - the father of their family group) and her brothers. This was to represent the fathers/husbands/brothers that died along the route or were taken off in the Mormon Batallion and left the women and children to proceed on their own.

(Rocky Ridge photo from mountainsofstone.com)

And yes, they were the most beautiful pioneer girls EVER!!! Their dresses came back torn. I am grateful I zigzagged all of the hems and seams to prevent fraying. That stitch was what kept Jenna's bodice attached to her skirt! Yikes!

Jenna with a handcart - you can see Devil's Gate rock formation behind her.

Jenna and Allison C. swapped hats with their "brothers"

Julia and her family.