Rain

Can't resist it - a bit of rain brings the creeks up and since we heard on the radio that Dayboro Road was closed due to flooding, we went out right after school. It was a full car - me, Jesse, Peet, Louisa, Simone, Robert Max and Samuel.

After a little of bit of disappointment at finding all the roads to Dayboro open we bought a couple of pineapples and found joy on Kobble Creek Road.

At first it was all very civilised - I watched the kids carefully while they paddled near the edge of the road. But when I picked them all up on the other side of the crossing we discovered that one of the pineapples had fallen out of the car - back across the creek. So Louisa and Simone went back - then I drove through and splashed them - then everyone had to have at turn.

So being the responsible (you could even say over protective - though Louisa claims that nobody would) mother/aunt that I am I found another crossing on a less busy road and unloaded everyone - then waited while the traffic passed - then gunned the car through the crossing to splash them all - and again - this time a 4WD followed and got the idea and splashed them too - then again - and again - then I said that was enough but Jesse wanted a turn. So she took off her shirt and put on Peet's and we did it again - and again.

By this time the little boys were getting cold so we put all the wet muddy bodies in the car and went for a look at Cedar Creek. Also fun. Lots of giggling was involved.

Robert made the whole trip when he got out of the car telling us 'that was awesome.'

Grasshoppers

See this is why I can't do a yearly letter. I could write about Peet being vice captain or Jesse's formal, but then in the interests of a full and frank disclosure I would have to include that on Sunday the kids ate live grasshoppers.

Louisa and Max caught a jar full out of the mint garden and then cheekily dared Alec to eat one. He said he would if they did too. So they did - all five of the kids ate one - except Max who developed a taste for the crunchy little critters and ate 3 - we told him no more - we're good parents like that.

We don't have any photos of Peet because Jesse who was taking the photos was laughing so hard she forgot to take a photo - and Peet wouldn't go again just for posterity.

If you look closely - that's a grasshopper leg on Alec's lips.

Apparently they are ok going down but have a dreadful after taste - still if there's a biblical plague of locusts we won't even have to dip into the food storage!

Sunday and a couple of other days

When I heard Max say 'You can be a super hero now Samuel, you have gone upside down' I thought I'd better check on the boys. They were in the hammock with Peet pushing - apparently upside down. Now Peet tells me Max did four total flips in a row and then more!

Friday night was a stake dance with a 70's theme. Of course a certain amount of stress was involved - but in the end we came up with a great costume for Jess (blessings on St Vincent de Paul) and none for Alec - which was perfect since he was never going to wear a costume regardless of how good it was. This is a truly dreeadful photo - she actually looked gorgeous.

We have moved family scripture study to the dinner table - now we have scriptures right before dinner and it seems to help Max with his concentration levels. Well - it seemed that way for the first few days. On about day 4 he built this fork creation during scriptures - at least he was quiet.

To preserve this time in Max's life - a photo of Max in the laundry tub that he uses for a bath until the real bath finally goes in.

Sunday:

Max woke up with a stiff neck and a slightly more pronounced cough and a significantly more pronounced bad attitude. He thought that he really should stay home - I almost agreed, but since Sally (our Relief Society President) was in hospital I had to go. So I slowly dressed Max and then got myself ready, left the house a disaster zone and went to Sacrament. The bad attitude went away and in its place was a subdued and quiet attitude - perfect for sacrament. Peet passed the sacrament and was Bishops messenger - as he is every week since he is our only deacon.

The Marriage and Family Relations class was super small today with just me, Donna and Mark, and Linda & Roy. A shame because up till now the lessons have been very generic but this was more everyday useful. Lots of discussion on having a home free of contention even though we know that there will be conflict - how do we keep the conflict from becoming contention and how do we teach that concept to children. My favourite scripture on this is Alma 45:21 which says:

"For behold, because of their wars with the lamanites and the many little dissensions and disturbances which had been among the people, it became expedient that the word of God should be declared among them, yea, and that a regulation should be made throughout the church."

We have lots of wars with spiritual lamanites and certainly there are little dissensions and disturbances in families, so it is expedient that we teach the word of God. Translating to increased study of the scriptures, prayer, gospel discussions, charitable acts etc will decrease contention. Even though it seems counter-intuitive to add more into an already busy life -when the going gets harder than usual, somehow these things reduce stress and contention.

Donna said that she had just listened to a CD by John Lund in which he said 'take your love to your family and your frustrations to the Lord.'

Have also just finished reading Spiritual Intimacy by Wendy Watson Nelson - my favourite line is to the effect that we may be the keeper of some words that will change the way a person feels.

Caboolture Historical Village with Pine

Max, Louisa and I went with Pine to the Caboolture Historical Village on Friday. Louisa spent the day with Alexander, her best school friend. I went with Louisa's group - which consisted of Louisa, Alexander, Sean, Connor and Hayden.

They had a great time and spent most of the day running. I told them that Petie once lost my Christmas bug catcher down the hole in the ground toilet and that Becky dropped a puppy down one too. They were very amused, but thought they would probably be willing to go down a toilet for a puppy.

Max went in a group with Anastassia, his best school friend, and Mathilda, his teacher.

The kids learnt about spinning wool, gem stone sifting and black smithing.

Lousia climbed an enormous tree stump.

Max and Sophia ran away from the bush chapel so that no one could pretend to marry them.

Later that night we almost finished our phone book deliveries for Pine.

Saturday was roadshows - we took the camera then found we were out of batteries - so hopefully we'll get some copies of photos from someone else. Jesse and Peet were in the roadshow. Jesse was Sally, a spoilt little rich girl, and Peet was one of her friends at her birthday party. Jesse looked stunningly beautiful and acted like a professional. Peet did really well too - he only had a couple of lines but delivered them well and looked great on stage. After the roadshows, while we were waiting for Roger (!), Margaret Batten (the stake YW President) came up to Jesse and said she must be a wonderful actress because her character was nothing like her. Margaret said it was really weird to see someone you know acting completely the opposite of who they are - a double and deserved compliment for Jesse. Max said he thought roadshows would be really boring but was surprised that they were actually good.

I taught Relief Society today - a lesson on reverence and what it really means to be reverent. Beautiful and inspired lesson material from Spencer W Kimball.