10-4-13

So, the happenings at the Elgan household…

School has started back up as of almost 2 weeks ago and the kids are really getting into a groove.  Sarah has the same teacher as Katie last year and she’s excited to be learning.  Sarah always has a positive attitude, though.  Katie likes her new teacher and seems to be doing very well.  It’s hard to get too much information out of that kid!  And Ellie loves her teacher again.  She was lamenting all the homework she had today, but 4th grade was inevitably going to be harder.  She’ll excel and do just fine.  

Katie and Ellie started up gymnastics 2 weeks ago and are loving it.  Katie is a natural, and since she’s done gymnastics in the past she’s picking right up where she left off.  Ellie is still figuring things out and last week was a bit discouraged that she’s a little behind Katie, but I think she’ll do awesome once she gets into the groove.  

Ryan is having fun being the big man on campus again with the girls gone.  I’ll give you a few Ryan stories to brighten your day:

• We were at BJ’s getting groceries and he saw an older gentleman walking out.  Ryan walked right up to the man and asked, “are you old?”  To which the man replied- “I don’t feel old”.  Ryan, “well, you have gray hair, so you must be old”
• Steve had made a lemon meringue pie and accidentally burnt some of the meringue.  He tasted it and mentioned it tasted kind of like burnt marshmallows.  To which, Ryan replied, “I LOVE burnt marshmallows!”  A bit later we were getting ready for dinner and Ryan asked what we were having.  I let him know we were just doing leftovers- pasta, chicken, beans,… to which Ryan interjected (in the same tone of voice I was using to list the food) - “and burnt marshmallows….”
• Ryan was looking at pictures of him as a baby.  He looked over at me and asked, “Mom, what are we naming the next baby?”  To which I responded that first of all, there was not another baby!  But if we were to come up with a good name, how about George?  Ryan looked at me with a very thoughtful expression for a few moments, then stated, “George is a monkey name.  But I guess it could be a human name, too.”  

Tommy is finally potty-training and we’re making strides there.  He’s also a master at his little balance bike now.  He rides up to the top of the hill, turns around gains as much speed as possible and just flies back down.  Steve put him on a pedal bike today and while he pretty well, he just likes his balance bike.

Anna started walking 2 weeks before her birthday.  And as is par for the course, she doesn’t do anything halfway.  She was pretty much running a couple days later.  She loves to climb on everything and has been caught climbing stairs, chairs, tables, and even up the ladder in the girls’ room.  Her curiosity got the better of her 2 weeks ago, though.  Katie had put her up in the top bunk with her to play.  Katie turned around for a second and Anna decided to take a look down the ladder and rolled right down.  I was at the Musick’s house for a YW meeting when Steve called and told me Anna couldn’t move her left arm.  I rushed her to the ER and 3 hours later discovered she had broken her arm right at the inside, top of the humerus.  It was on just one side of the bone, and was not causing her any pain at all.  The diagnosis was to just let it go and heal on its own.  For a week she basically didn’t use the left arm, and after 2 weeks you’d never know anything had happened.  With her adventurous spirit I think that will not be our only visit to the ER!  She is still a screamer, but the episodes are becoming less frequent, thankfully.  We have decided it is that little bit of red in her hair that is manifesting itself in her personality   She has become a very fun little girl and we are enjoying her more and more each day.  

Work is going great for Steve.  He’s course directing two classes, so his work load is a bit heavier, but he still loved what he does.  Ultimate Frisbee is going on right now as well, so I take the kids a couple days a week to watch some Frisbee.  The kids like it because they know they’ll get a juice box and ring pop for being good and not running away.  

We have had a lot of great families move into the branch, which is nice.  Tons of new little kids to keep the Primary on their toes!  Sacrament meeting feels almost full with everyone now.  Young Women’s is going well and I’m starting to get a hang of the calling.  It’s interesting being on the leader side of it, that’s for sure!  Our lesson on Sunday was on virtue and the importance of guarding that virtue.  I know that I appreciated the example the cadets shared with my kids about living a virtuous life and how happy you can be by living clean and pure.   I want my girls to marry an “Eric” someday! We all adore him!!!