Busy Week

Wow it has been a busy week! We were supposed to go camping near Payson to celebrate ustin's end of the semester. But, where we wanted to go was surrounded by forest fires. So, we went to Kingman instead to visit Grandma Joan. We went through Flagstaff, which really made us want to be camping. Then, we drove to the Grand Canyon Caverns. It was a fun trip for the boys. They sure wanted to be out of the car. They had fun exploring the caverns. It was here that we discovered a career for Noah- modeling. The pictures of Noah with the giant dinosaur are all his "poses" as he told Daddy.

The kids had a great time in Kingman. we took them up to the Hualipi mountains and went on a very short hike- it would have been longer had I remembered my tennis shoes. I only had 2 sets of flip-flops the whole trip. It was a beautiful area and we hope to go camping in it this October. The kids loved playing at Grandma's house- especially outside in her bird bath and fountains. My pretty little princess was the dirtiest I have ever seen her!!!

Once in Mesa again, we took the kids bowling for the first time. Noah and Daniel had tons of fun. Noah's competitive edge came out. He would be quite upset if he knew he were losing to Daniel! They lasted all of a game and a half and then it was on to the arcade room. Dustin and I got lots of bowling practice in playing their spots as well as our own. We also got our exercise running back and forth from the lanes to the arcade. I was awesome and beat Dustin- even after his semester of bowling class!!

Noah thinks he has discovered how to get what he wants qithout actually asking for it. Noah had a homemade cookie bar earlier in the afternoon. Daniel hadn't had one yet and was having the pleasure of enjoying one after his nap. noah was playing and noticed Daniel eating a cookie. We told Noah he had already eaten his and he could have one later. The next thing we hear is Noah talking to Daniel saying, "Daniel, do you want me to have a cookie? Say yes!" Then Noah turned around and told us that Daniel told him he could have a cookie. It was too cute. I, of course, gave in- but I know the trick and am on my guard! Also, we were in the car and Dustin and I were just teasing each other/ mildly arguing when Noah pipes up from the back, "Will everybody just calm down!" I busted out laughing. Noah had to say it a few more times when he realized there was a reaction to his comment. What a ham!!!

Jodi is now drinking from sippy cups and going to sleep on her own- no more rocking chair. I miss those moments and am feeling not needed. It's silly, but I love those moments and truly so treasure and feel the loss of them. I can't believe how fast this year has flown and how much I have been blessed in that year. Jodi is such a joy and I can't imagine our family without her. It's like she always had a place and was just waiting to be physically in it. I hope that makes sense. Enough sap= We had a great week!

Big Changes!

Wow, Our little family is making some big changes! The first momentous occassion is that Daniel is now a potty-trained little boy! "They" tell you that potty training gets easier with each child. Noah took a long time of starting and stopping. Daniel took 3 days! He still wears pull-ups for the just in case. I hope to move him out of those in a couple of weeks. He picked up on it so fast. We spent one day with the potty in his room watching Disney movies all day and drinking fluids constantly. I spent the day sitting on his bed reading a book. Daniel has loved all the hugs and kisses that he gets when he goes potty. Noah hasn't like it one bit and has become super clingy and demanding. "Mom, I just want you to play with me." ALL DAY LONG!!! Daniel has grown independent over night. He is now the big protective brother of Jodi. He yells at her to stop doing something if he thinks she will get hurt. He is a big helper now around the house as well. He is getting so big!

Jodi, now 10 months old, is getting so close to walking. I have been working with her on standing by herself. She is a smart little girl. She knows when I am going to let go of her and she plops her bum right down. I know she is thinking, "I am not standing with out help- you can't make me." The little goober. She is happiest when I walk her through the apartment with her holding my fingers. She wants to go fast. Whenever I let go of her hand though, she stops and won't move on until she gets my finger back. I CAN'T make her do anything she doesn't want to. Oh, boy it's already starting. Like mother- like daughter!!

Noah is having fun just being a rambunctious 4 year old. He loves doing school work with Mommy and is getting better at writing and coloring and cutting. We have fun together. He still loves his trains and cars and Little People. We went to the zoo a week ago. They have a fun water play area and he had fun playing in the water. He didn't want to leave. He loves playing zoo and sets up a zoo with all his animals and Little People and Weeble Wobbles. He loves books and "reads" the books to Daniel and Jodi. He is loving Primary. I found him playing Primary the other day. He was teaching his pretend class the songs and giving them a lesson on the Holy Ghost. It melted my heart!!!

I am enjoying every minute I get of practicing my rocking flute!! I love it and get such great enjoyment out of it.

Dustin finished his last semester of pre-reqs with an "A" in bio 202!!! We are thrilled. Now it is a waiting game to see how soon he gets into a nursing program. We are hoping he will be in one by January. Keep your fingers crossed.

Pictures

Has Anyone Seen Sweet Daniel?

Where did my sweet teddy-of-a-Daniel go? He is exercising his will against mine and I fear I am losing the battle!! His terrible twos have struck with a vengance. He is extremelly defiant. Daniel has no fear of telling his Mommy "NO", even though he quickly feels the wrath of Mom. I finally rinsed his mouth out with soap after he bit Noah at the store. He seemed to understand that form of discipline better than any other so far. Time outs don't phase him. Takig toys away doesn't bother him enough to stop the acts long term. We just found out that he does hit in nursery. I don't know why we weren't informed of that before. (FYI to all nursery leaders- let the mom's know what their child is doing when Mommy isn't around!!) every time I go grocery shopping with all 3 kids, the older generation always says, "Boy, you have your arms full." There are days when I repeat that phrase to myslef as well!!


Jodi has discovered her little tongue. She loves to stick it out whenever she can. It is the cutest little tongue!! She is now only 17 pounds- only the 30% range for her age, but she is 28 inches tall- in the 70% range. She is a dainty little girl that is getting quick as lightning and getting into all sorts of trouble. Nothing is safe from her reach. Everything goes into her little mouth. But, oh, what a cutie!

Noah is learning so fast. He is piscking up on "pre-school" stuff quickly and is keeping me on my toes. I am having fun teaching him the things about the alphabet and he is learning and wanting to learn so much. I have to remind myself to keep teaching him and to not let "life" get in the way. How people can home school their children is amazing to me. Noah loves Animaniacs and the Rugrats. He is bored becasue we took away all of his buckets of toys, combined the toys, made 4 seperate buckets, and allow only one bucket out in one day. I may go back to the other way in a few days. I was tired of the mess and it would take so long for him to clean it up- Daniel is no help in that category yet. But, he really did "play" with those toys through out the day.

My life has gotten crazier. I have been asked to be the Primary music chorister for our ward. Until they fnd a replacement I am still the ward organist and am still the ward music chairperson. If things get to hectic I am totally delegating responsibilities!!! Until then, life is crazy! Dustin has 2 more weeks of school and 2 major tests BEFORE finals!! He has a very mean Biology prof. So that't the news from the Frier clan for awhile!!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all- a little late. The Frier's had a good time celebrating. The kids spent time with their favorite friends playing with squirt guns, jumping on a trampoline, egg hunting in an orange grove, eating BBQd hot dogs. They had so much fun and were well tired out when we got home. So tired, we didn't have time to decorate eggs. it's a good thing I bought plastic ones. i filled them with their favorite snacks and they thought it was great. Noah and Daniel each got 2 hot wheels and a giant dinosaur coloring book. It was nice and simple and worked great.

Noah and Daniel have their share of times when they play so great together, but when they fight- boy do they fight! Noah is learning more about the alphabet. he is learning all about the sounds the letters make and is still learning how to write them. I am trying to do as many fun activities through out the week as I can. We just finished with the letter "B". We went to the bank, bought jelly beans, played some balloon games, got free after- Easter helium balloons, made bubble paintings, learned a ballon song, etc. Now we are going to start the letter "C". The fun things is Daniel is learning right by Noah and is picking up on the alphabet quickly.


Daniel started to say meal prayers and always wants to say the prayer. It's fun to see the boys fight over who will say the prayer. I have thought about reading the Children's Scripure stories with Noah earlier in the day. He keeps complaining of nightmares. We just got done reading about Alma and Amulek and how the Lamanites threw the people into the fire. Noah ahad a dream that night that Daniel was thrown into a fire. He was really upset about it. he loves to hear the scripture stories, though.

I swore we would never go to the Easter Pageant again. We had to go this year. We used it as a teaching tool for Noah. He wouldn't believe us that Jesus Christ lives. The Pageant helped him see that He does. It was fun seeing it through the eyes of our children.



Jodi is growing like a weed. She has her 9 month check up this week. The doctor will see a little girl who crawls fast, who stands and walks along furniture, who loves to bounce, who has 3 new teeth coming in. Jodi is so sweet and loveable. Everyone at church just thinks she is the cutest. Her little Easter dress was a big hit- thank you Grandma!!!

I am finding time to practice my flute, practice the piano for the organ, and prepare to teach Primary music on Sunday, and set up musical numbers for Sacrament meeting and other meetings, and have time to keep my house looking somewhat clean. No wonder I am so tired at night!

More Pictures

Here are more pictures of the kids. Noah and Daniel were dancing with each other wearing headbands from when I hemmed Dustin's pants. The others, are well, just plain cute!!!

My New "Baby"

The long wait is over. I have a new addition to our family- a mighty, beautiful, brand- new professional flute!!! I got the Miyazawa that I have wanted for 10 years now! It is the most amazing instrument I have played on. The tone and projection is incredible. It plays so nice. The keys have no resistance. The sound has little resistance in creating the tone. My fingers fly like they never could on my old flute. I, of course, spent way more than I wanted but am SO glad that I did!!!

Dustin has been so amazing in the support he has shown me in urging me and accepting my desire to get a new flute. I will never have an opportunity like this again. I am ever grateful for Dustin's love and encouragement of my dreams. He is amazing. I never would have bought this flute if he hadn't supported me 100%.

Dustin is finally getting the hang of college! He got A's on both of his tests on Tuesday and he PASSED the Nurse Entrance Exam on the first try. He was really worried about the reading comprehension, but did wonderfully. He has now turned in his application for the nursing program. Now it is a waiting game. "They" say it is about 1-2 semester wait to begin the ptrogram. We are really hoping for the one semester wait!

On to the kids...
Anyone who hears Noah talk must think he is from Alabama. He has such a Southern accent. Words like, yeah, and yell, and dinner, etc. sound like he has a southern drawl. It is really funny to hear. I have no idea where he picked it up. Maybe Gago or Aunt Dadey are speaking from beyond the veil to Noah!

Daniel finally said "Yes" in asnwer to a question! We have been working on him with that and he is finally picking it up. Daniel is saying dinner and lunch prayers now and is so cute as he copies what we say. He was even trying to say the prayer as Noah was saying it. We went to the church to practice the organ and Noah and Daniel both were pretending to be at church. Daniel said the prayer at the pulpit and Noah pretended to give a talk. They are so funny!
Daniel is having a hard time learning to say his name. He will answer to his name when we call him, but when we ask him what his name is, he says, "Noah." I think because Noah is easier to say than Daniel.
Big, bad beast Daniel is terrified of Jodi. She scares him when she crawls towards him and he freaks out when she crawls on him! We, of course, torture him and allow Jodi to stay on top of him longer than he would like. The joys of being a parent!

Jodi is getting quick at crawling and is walking as she holds our fingers! She is pulling herself up to standing using objects around the room and is much happier when she is standing. She so much wants to be with the boys and is very content playing with their cars and trucks.