Arthur L. Adams 1922-2008

Family

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During such a time as this, there was no better way to spend my time. It was truly wonderful to be surrounded by my loving family. We served as a source of strength as we honored my grandfather's life. He would have been one among those sitting on the bench enjoying our time together. We would have delighted in listening to the children squeal as they ran around and climbed and jumped. It is a day I will always cherish because it is a day that I grew closer to my loved ones.

My Papa

This morning my papa passed away. I don't think it will really sink in until I go back to Ohio to visit my family and not have him there. He has always been a source of stability for me. I was really hoping that he would live forever. He was kind and gentle and honest. He had the same one line jokes that I always knew would come at certain moments. (Share your favorite one line joke with me and I'll put it in my list on the sidebar.) I'll miss the handshakes as he wobbled my arm to and fro and up and down. He was a wonderful grandpa and I'm so glad that I was his granddaughter and that my children were able to be around him.

The Best Playdate EVER!

We were so lucky to have the Lykins kids over to play last night! We love hanging out with them. I thought I would use the time to clean the kitchen since the kids had so many friends to keep them busy but I decided to get in on the fun as well. At one point, I was in the wagon and they were pulling me! We even had our neighbors over and enjoying the cooler weather. (It felt like NY summer : )






Our friend Jeffrey also came over to play. When he, Adam and Peyton weren't playing Star Wars, video games or guitar, they were out playing tag football. Or at least their version of it : )

Clarissa plays photographer

Just in case you were wondering, this is a view of Clarissa's feet. I thought this angle was very creative. (Who am I trying to kid! I laughed at out loud when I saw what she was going around snapping pictures of. But wait, it gets better!)







We were watching the "Dog Whisperer" on TV. Apparently she wanted to catch a moment of introducing a new dog into the Dog Psychology Center : )







This is one of our many fireant hills. I'm still giggling while I'm writing this. I think it's because I remember the goofy pictures I took when I was a kid too.






I think she is experimenting with lines in this one : )









I like how she framed the angle on this one. She is well on her way to becoming a true artist!

More of Clarissa's photos

I believe these are of a little better quality : ) I can almost hear her as a college student using the decaying flowers to symbolize some strange abstract concept. Everyone can relate here because you either know that type of artist or you are that type of artist : )

Our Ballerina

I finally took a picture of Clarissa getting ready for ballet class. She really enjoys it a lot. Her teacher still says she's a perfect student. (That still floors me to hear that.) She loves prancing around on her tip toes and floating about like a butterfly. I am so glad that we are able to do this for her. She is very creative and this gives her one more way for her to express her artistic side. I wish they allowed parents to sit in and watch. Or at least had a window for us to watch from. But Molly and I just sit in the van and watch a movie while she's in class. (There's no way I'm waiting in the small foyer with that girl for 30 minutes!)

Stuck at home, back to school

Last week was a bit frustrating for me. Monday morning the van wouldn't start, leaving me home when I'm used to going out and accomplishing my errands for the day. But I thought, no big deal I'll try again tomorrow. Todd said it sounded like the battery and he would come home with a jump starter and we'll see if that works. So I go about my day cleaning when I realize that I haven't heard from Molly for awhile. So I call for her "Molly!" She answers "What?" And I ask "Whacha doin'?" And she mumbles something that I don't comprehend. I go upstairs to see what she's up to and found that she had pulled up a chair, turn on the TV and was watching a little Noggin to pass the time away. They become so independent so quickly, don't they? So that was the highlight of that day. Needless to say the jump starter didn't start the van. I had to tow it to the shop on Tuesday and learned that Adam and Clarissa had turned on the back lights and completely drained the battery. Once I explained how many toys we could have bought them for the amount of money spent on the new battery, they decided not to play with the lights anymore. What a relief that is!

And so on Thursday Molly was able to get back to school. She was a little ambivalent about the whole thing at first. I think she prefers veging in front of the TV. But then her friend Cole invited her to mold the play doh with him and she was just fine. (This is the same friend from childwatch last year but I don't think he pushes her anymore : )

Molly gets a haircul

I really didn't want to cut Molly's hair. I wanted to see it grow and be long and flowy and beautiful. And I really thought I was going to be able to do that because she allowed me to pull her hair back with a rubberband while in its growing out stage. But for two days she kept pulling the band out and allowing her hair to flop in her face. So I folded and trim out some bangs for her. I hated it at first. It made her face look all round and chunky. But now she's just as adorable as she was when it was on its way to be long and flowy. Here she's telling me "Cheese!"

www.mormon.org

Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice

Every six months our church holds a General Conference where we are able to hear from the Lord's prophet and apostles. We learn how the Lord wants to direct His church. Most of the time the kids and I head to the chapel and sit for the entire conference. (12pm-2pm and then 4pm-6pm) As you can imagine, it makes for a very long and exhausting day. Well this year we were able to enjoy the conference from the comfort of home. Not our home, but the home of our dear friends, the Lykins. Thank you for having the BYU channel. I really enjoyed your company and giving the kids a chance to be surrounded by the voices of these great leaders in a positive setting.

Clarissa, Corrie, and McKenna mostly colored. Corrie was responsible for keeping the primary activity up to date. Thank you very much! (They had to color in blank ties matching the speaker on their worksheet with what they wore during their message.)

I'm not sure what sort of game this was but it kept Adam and Peyton occupied most of the time. (Don't you just love Adam's dress pants and sandals look? Something he most definitely could only wear to a friend's house and not the chapel.)

Sawyer and Eli played with the cars and fought over lego figures. The little dears fell asleep for naps during the second session.

Molly tried her best to keep herself occupied but it wasn't always easy. I did capture this moment though when she pulled the chair out and sat down quietly. She didn't have much of a choice during the second session. I put her in the pack and play to let her sleep.

I was very grateful for my friend Jenny but also for the chance to sit and take in what was being taught to us. There were many great messages that I really needed to hear. I know as I take their messages to heart and try to make positive changes in my life I will become a better person.

Adam Does a Flip!

I Want a Video Too!

I know, I've gone a little video crazy here. But I think it is the best way to show the fun they have been getting from this trampoline. We were very fortunate to receive this. We were visiting our very favorite family here, the Lykins. Kaman had just helped some friends of ours pack up a truck to move. They left their trampoline behind because they couldn't fit it on the truck. They offered it to the Lykins but they already have a trampoline. They offered it to the other family helping but their baby was but mere months old at the time and don't have a need for one. So as I was dragging Molly off the trampoline at the Lykins house, she was kicking and screaming of course, I mentioned needing to buy one. That's when Kaman said, don't buy one. See if you can have the one that got left behind. The very next day Kaman brought the trampoline over to our house and the kids haven't stopped jumping on it since. We are also fortunate to be living someplace where we can jump on it all year round! Now, how are we going to pack it when it's our turn to move.....

Molly loves the trampoline

Lego Thriller video

You will need to pause the playlist to hear this video.

Hurricane Molly

I swear the next hurricane to have a girl M name should be Molly. This little one has more energy that I can describe. I absolutely cannot take her anywhere without her being completely destructive. I am so glad that I decided to put her into a preschool program. It allows me to volunteer at the school or run errands without worrying about where she's run off to this time. People will look at my with great anxiety as she runs off in her own direction. I just look at them and say not to worry, she always comes back. I think most people around here are amazed at how comfortable she is when she can't see me. I guess she just knows that I'll always be there when she gets back. She is having a great time at school. She runs for the door as soon as we get there. They are doing some fun things. She came home learning the difference between happy and sad. It is so cute to watch her act them out. We are having fun hanging out together. But she is so excited when Adam and Clarissa return home from school. Then the real play begins. Despite the exhaustion she brings to my day, I love being around her.

Clarissa Challenges Charles

I know Clarissa looks all sweet and innocent here. Look at her all smiling to be riding the bus to school! Isn't she just adorable? Well, once she's with her teacher Mrs. Charles it's a whole new game. They have a behavior chart where you start your day on green. With unacceptable behavior you change your color to yellow, then blue. (There's also red; the one that sends you to the principle's office.) For the entire month of September, Clarissa has had seven green days. All the others have been mostly blue, with several yellows in there. We smile at this because it's the Clarissa we know and love. Now, whether or not her teacher will feel the same way, I don't know. But we've always known that her strong will is going to be a challenge for all of her teachers. On a more happy note though, she is making some new friends and she is learning a lot. Everyday she comes home with something new she has learned. She is showing an interest in learning how to read. (Which is a good thing because if she's not interested in it, she won't do it.) And she loves to write her letters. We are anxious to see how the school year develops for her.

CUB SCOUT PROMISE

I, Adam Bell,

promise to do my best

To do my duty to God and

my country,

To help other people, and

To obey the Law of the Pack.

Adam has joined the Cub Scouts this year and is really enjoying it a lot. For about two weeks he would put his shirt on every chance he could and pretend to go to den meetings. Clarissa would play with him by being the girl that had to be kicked out and told to join the girl scouts; a role she took on proudly. Now he puts on his uniform every Wednesday evening and takes off to the church to meet with his den. He really enjoys planning which badge he wants to earn next. Adam has also joined the school chorus group. He meets after school on Tuesdays for practices. They will have their first performance at the Open House on Oct. 16. He is also very excited about the Winter Concert in December. He likes to stay busy. I just hope it doesn't wear me out too much.