some FIRST'S at our house.

Livy has loved saying the prayer all by herself, and she wants to say every prayer. We convinced her the other night at dinner that we needed to give Elijah a turn to say the prayer. Elijah started saying the prayer and Livy decided she needed to help him. She guided him to say thanks for everyone in the family and then demanded over and over, "thank you for ME", thank you for ME". We all couldn't keep the laughter in. It was so dang cute.

Livy always demands that she say her prayer all by herself. Half way through it she will say,"I can't say it", "I can't say it", then one of us will jump in and help her and then she will remind us she's saying it all by herself and she will finish up with what we helped her with. Last week was her first time saying the whole prayer by herself. It started out with Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for my MOMMY, thank you for my DADDY, thank for my family, thank you for this day, please bless the food, thank you for the food, I LOVE YOU in the name of Jesus Christ amen. Everyone in our family was grinning from ear to ear, so proud of her.

Zyan gave his first prayer last night. I helped him and he said what he could. It went like this Dear Heavenly, THANK YOU day. Bless DADDY, LOVE YOU, JESUS AMEN.

What a great reward it is to being a parent!

ZYAN told me "THANK YOU" after I changed his poopy diaper :P

Well this week Daddy is gone. He decided to have a little talk with our kids about helping me out this week while he is gone. Well whatever he said worked. I told him he better do that more often :) All 3 older kids AT THE SAME TIME have went out of their way to help me. I have woken up to Camry all ready for school(which is a HUGE first) and doing her chores(which we do after school) and feeding the dogs, all without being asked. Camry made all her sisters beds for them. Halli had gotten both babies dress and ready for the day(even hair). Halli did her sisters hair for the one of the mornings before school. Elijah has been on his best behavior, getting on his chores done right away without having to be asked and he has done a great job doing them all RIGHT! Elijah has been very helpful with Livy and Zyan, playing with them and helping them with anything they need for me. The first night dad was gone was an emotional one at our house. It started with Camry and then Livy and then Zyan, everyone crying for daddy. About 30 mins after I had put everyone into bed Halli came downstairs and told me that she was doing everything she could to comfort Livy, she was snuggling her in her bed but she just heard Zyan and she wanted me to know that she could get him too! It has been so AMAZING to watch me kids this week, they have all strived to be so thoughtful and helpful to me. I was saying my prayers last night and I was so grateful for my wonderful kids and their desire to help me.