The Wrong Book

Our primary presidency has challenged the kids in junior primary to bring their scriptures each week. If they bring their scriptures, they get to put a pebble in a jar.  When the jar is full, they get some kind of prize.  Knowing my Molly, I didn't want her to be disappointed, so I made sure that taking scriptures was a priority.

We found an extra Book of Mormon at our house.  She picked out the purse she wanted to put it in.  She added some pens and candy to the purse.  She was very proud to take HER scriptures to church.

During Sharing Time today, there was exactly 1 scripture announced for the kids to try and look up.  It was in . . . .  . Malachi!  This was junior primary and most of the kids who remembered to bring their scriptures had nice blue Books of Mormon just like Molly. I was sitting in my chair up front (I have a new calling as co-music leader in primary) and here comes Molly.  Her face looked like she just found out that she didn't get invited to her best friend's best birthday part ever.  Pure disappointment.

"Mom, you gave me the wrong book.  My teacher says I don't have that one in here."

She was just about in tears.  Her head looked at the floor.  I tried to tell her that there was more than one book and I just thought she would need that one.  It didn't help.  I was in trouble.  The world had ended.

This girl . . .  I don't know what to do with her some days.  There is never a dull moment and I can NEVER predict how things will turn out with her.

Oh well.

She then stood by me for most of the time I led the singing.  When it was time to go to class, she started sobbing and I have no idea why.  After a stern talking to and telling her that she was going to miss the treasure hunt and the treat her teacher had told her about, she ran from me and down the hall to her class by herself.

Toilette New Year

Happy New Year!

What's the first news of the new year????

Jack . . . does his business in the toilet!  Yes!

I decided he could do it and it was worth another attempt.  We began the Monday after Christmas.  I read a book from a friend in my ward about the 3-day method.  It was pretty much what I had tried with him before, but instead of a timer every 15 minutes or so, you just try to give them extra things to drink and watch them like a hawk.  Every time he started to squirm, we ran to the bathroom.  We had a few accidents over the course of the 3 days, but he seemed to be getting it!  On  day 3 he got to go play outside finally.  On day 4 we actually left the house and went to my mom's for a couple of hours and he did great there.  On day 5, we tested the waters with public toilets by first going to meet Miss Bethany for lunch at Chick-fil-A and then going to a Utes game.  He did have one accident that day, but I blame myself for letting my guard down.  At the ballgame, I felt like we went about 800 times and tried out every ladies bathroom in the Huntsman Center, but it worked and he kept doing great.

Saturday?  Check.
Sunday and church?  Check

Monday?  I was a little worried.  We were heading back to school.  This kid is a pooper and goes at least twice a day or more and has his entire life.  He was off his game during the first week of toilet training and got a little backed up.  To get him to go in the toilet took much patience, much time, a Kindle, and some Netflix.  What was he going to at school, though?  I was a little worried.  I had nothing to worry about, though.  He was accident free and on Tuesday, Miss Sarah gave him an ultimatum that he couldn't go out and play until he went #2 and he did it!

He only had one "accident" all week at school and it wasn't an accident, but rather a "missed and peed all over my pants" thing.  I think that is pretty great for his first week at school!

I'm so proud of him!  He is such a good boy!

Binggeli Christmas

I swear 100% that I wrote this post entirely, but somehow it is no longer here.  Hmmmm . . .  it is a mystery.

Anyway, the short story is that James had to work on Christmas.  And the stars aligned for 5 of the 6 Binggeli children to be in town at some point during the week of Christmas so we hosted an early festivus at our house on Monday, the 22nd.

It was great!  We had ham and potatoes and hot chocolate.  We did a short nativity program and a white elephant exchange.  The siblings exchanged gifts and the kids got to open some gifts.  Glen, Jason's roommate, turned himself into a blanket burrito and the kids attacked him.

It was a great night!

It's A Small World in Lithuania

When I got home from church today I saw that there was a text from Jame's sister Alicia and here is the picture from the text!  It totally made my day.  I, of course, forwarded it to my mom and sister and they loved it too!

The crazy thing about this photo is that the woman and her daughter who are in it were totally with my brother on Christmas and came in to talk to us briefly while Skyping.  How crazy is that!!!

So here's the story.  Basically, Alicia is visiting with Stacy and her family in Idaho.  Stacy has a brother named Jess who served a mission in Lithuania.  He was talking to some members who he has remained in contact with and they knew my brother.

Here is a completely made up version of the conversation as I imagined it:

Jess: Hey, I'm talking to people from Lithuania

Alicia: Hey, my sister-in-law's brother is there. 

Jess: Oh, that's cool!

Alicia:  I wonder if they know him.

Jess: I don't know.  Let me ask.  . . . . Hey look!  They do!  They just sent me this picture of him!

Alicia: Wow, that is the coolest thing I've heard all day.  Text me that picture so I can send it to Haley.

Their names are Svitrigaile and Rimute!

In other brother news, not only did we get to talk to him this week, but we also got to open the package he sent to us all!

The kids got some weird bobbly-rock toys, a candy bar, and a squishy thing.

James, Ross, and my dad got a Lithuanian tie.

My mom, Annie, and I got Lithuanian scarves.

Each family - Petersens, Howdens, and Binggelis - got an official Lithuanian family banner, a cd, and a chocolate bar.

The significance of the banner is that people use them for weddings, funerals, and other special occasions.  Willie had them made at a banner shop for us!  They are pretty neat!

Travis and Carla Wedding

My cousin Travis got married yesterday.  He married Carla and she is from Peru.  We actually met her at our Petersen Family Christmas party last year, so they've dated for a while.

This is my blog so I can write what I want, right?  It was a little disappointing that Travis is now my second returned missionary cousin in the last few months who has chosen to not get married in the temple.  I don't understand the choice and I wish it was different, but I do sincerely wish them the best of luck in their marriage.  Marriage is not an easy thing by any means.  In fact, some days it actually can be pretty sucky and I can't imagine getting through it successfully without the blessings of the temple gluing a family together.  That is my statement and I'm sticking to it.

Anyway, my Aunt Karen tried to make the wedding experience as nice as she possibly could and she did an excellent job.  Everything from the table decorations to the name cards and party favors were very nice and I'm sure she put a lot of effort into it all.  The ceremony was on the first floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and then there was a nice luncheon afterwards on the 9th floor.

Here are some lovely photos of the day!

Travis waiting for the bride

Petersen family members present for the day

My dad, cousin Russ, LeeAnn, Karen, Paul, and Gregg

My dad's Aunt Deloris and Uncle Bob were in attendance at the wedding.  They are the last of the older generation in the Petersen Family.  Deloris is my Grandpa Petersen's sister.  She had two sons with her husband before Bob.  One of them died just out of high school and the other one is Russ (Peterson with an "on").  He is an artist who lives in NYC and I met him one other time that I can recall.  It was at my Great Grandma Petersen's funeral when I was in 9th grade.  He was visiting Bob and Deloris for Christmas this year and decided to attend the wedding as well.