New Accessory

Kelsey got a new accessory to add to her collection. This one will also have the function of helping her be able to see, but to her it is only an accessory. She was so excited to pick them up and then everyday she loves to pick out what she is going to where based on whether they match her glasses.
Being able to see is just a minor convenience.

Rice Family Scripture Study

Scripture time at our home can sometimes be a struggle. Try as we might some nights just don't go the way I envision they go in everyone elses homes with all their kids sitting quietly on the floor with books open either reading or following along intently. Plenty of time for questions when parents are not tired and ready to be done for the day. Everyone smiling at one another even if it might take that person a little longer to read because they are younger and lets face it the scriptures are Dr. Seuss material.

This is not how most nights at the Rice Family Scripture Study goes. We usually are tired and cranky from a long day, kids are wanting a snack before bed and think the best time to find one would be right at the time dad says everyone grab their scriptures. Someone is usually bugged about something-mind you it is never the same person just one of the five-and they sit over in a corner sulking. Someone else is bugged because the entire process is taking too long and so-and-so is ready only one verse but taking FOREVER!!

That sums up most nights at our household but we struggle through hoping that something sinks in if only the fact that Mom and Dad felt it was important enough to commit the time and energy everyday to have Scripture Study.

We are reading in the Doctrine and Covenants and are almost finished, the other night we were reading in Section 135 where it talks about the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. Now mind you we have taken the kids to see the movie depicting his life and we have even traveled to Nauvoo and showed them exactly where the martyrdom took place.

Well as Kelsey was reading the first verse about the angry mob coming to Carthage she stopped reading and asked us what a mob was so Marc explained and she still had a quizzical look on her face before she proceeded telling us she thought Joseph was killed by an angry MOM. For the entire 8 years of her little life she has thought Joseph Smith was killed by just some angry mom who was out to get him.

We couldn't stop laughing and for that night we only made it through one verse.

First Piano Recital

Conner and Kelsey participated in their first ever piano recital. They did such a great job and I love watching them count as they play.

Little December and January

December came and went in a flash. We attended all school Christmas pageants and concerts but I am not attaching those pictures but rather highlight a few of our activities.

In early January Marc's grandmother passed away. On a sad occasion it was nice to see family that we usually don't see do to our geography.
After the funeral we went to get ice cream and the kids had so much fun ordering their HuGe sundaes and shakes. Surprisingly the finished them. All kids after their mother's heart!!

Our weather has been unseasonably warm which has led to some outside fun.I could spend hours at Costco as long as my kids can look at the books. How convenient that costco left a little "couch" for them.

November-Girls Weekend

One weekend, 2000 miles, 1 HUGE city, 4 husbands left, 16 kids left to fend for themselves, and four busy moms enjoy a much needed weekend away.
Central Park
Manhattan Temple
Windy day at the beach

Lots of eating
A couple Broadway shows including, spider-man, Mama Mia, and the Rockettes
Times Square-in front of Good Morning America
Beautiful Lighthouse in the distance
Taking the subway-thanks to Kimberly we didn't get lost but left to my own devices I would still be on the subway going no where. I watched for her to get up and I followed.
Ground Zero
Radio City
Rockettes
Broadway
What a fun trip-can't wait till Part 2!!

October

October brought us Halloween and yummy treats

Kylie dressed up as a bee and thought of adding the crown so she could be "The Queen Bee".
Kelsey had her eye on this costume since last Halloween. She was a pineapple princess.
Conner had just finished reading the Percy Jackson series so we made this costume of Poseidon. Marc walked the kids around the neighborhood while McKenna, Coco, and I sat with some neighbors and visited while we handed out candy. Marc made us this warm fire before he left and we had a great evening.
McKenna planted a garden and although nothing grew-mostly due to the fact she didn't like to weed. After a few months we noticed 2 pumpkins. Well when she went out to pick them there were 11. They multiplied pretty quickly. All the kids got one and she carved a few and donated some to the school.

We made these yummy treats for Halloween-spider web cookies and really delicious caramel apples. The kind you can only make once a year because they taste so good.

And finally Kamryn was a witch for Halloween. Notice the costume pictures (besides Conner's) were all taken at the school Halloween parade because everyone was too excited to get out and go trick or treating that we didn't have time to take a picture. Luckily I grabbed Conner to come back but unfortunately gave up with the others. McKenna did dress up as a fortune teller and went to a few parties but I didn't get any pictures of her.

Haunted Train Ride

In October (yes, way back 3 months ago) I took the kids on a haunted halloween train ride. We waited in line for a loooooong time but felt like we were at disneyland with all the attractions going on while we waited. We survived the cold-since we weren't ready for the long wait-and had a fun evening.