Fawson Family

Wow, a lot has happened in the past several months.I would say the most exciting thing that happened was on Halloween day. That morning we had a new arrival join our family. Alisa Joy Fawson was born in our home at 7:58 am. It was a wonderful experience. Sheri was awesome. Grandma and Grandpa Shaw had come a couple of weeks prior to the delivery anticipating every day that Alisa would be joining us. It was wonderful having them here.

We had a lot of support from them along with several people in our ward. We appreciate all who helped us get along in the first couple weeks after the delivery. Though we were excited to have Alisa come as soon as possible, we were glad that we could have Grandma and Grandpa here to help pass the time. In fact, Sheri made a huge list of things they were able to help us accomplish while they were here. That is an entry in and of itself. Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa Shaw.

Alisa has been such a joy to have around. She loves to smile at anyone who will smile back at her. She can go on for a long time entertaining crowds with her interactive spirit and adorable baby sounds. It is fun to interact with her and see some of her expressions. She can go from a sad expression to a happy one in a blink of an eye.

Seth loves having a baby sister. He particularly loves to put his face right in front of her with a big smile on his face and say, “I love you Alisa”. Seth is such a high energy boy that Alisa usually has a confused look on her face, which very likely says, somebody save me from this blurry mass of energy that loves me a bit too much right now.

Izabelle has become the most helpful little girl that loves everything to do with her baby sister. She will hold Alisa for hours while she does everything from her homework to cleaning her room. She likes to do it with her baby sister in her midst. She has even learned to change her diaper. She is her moms greatest helper. Izabelle loves school and is a great friend to all of her classmates. Her best friends are her brothers, her sister and her mom and dad.

Joseph has been a wonderful boy that is getting pretty good at the violin. His two fabulous teachers (his grandpa and his dad) meet with him 4 days a week before school in a class of about 15 students. He is doing great in school and his favorite homework is to read, sometimes so much it is at the expense of being able to get the rest of his homework done. He has also been saving up for a new bike for about six months. He recently cashed in on a blue and silver bmx bike. That was fun to go with him when he picked it out and bought his first big ticket item in life that even came with an owners manual.

It is a pleasure being parents to such wonderful children. Life is busy and crazy at times, but it couldn’t be any more fun than it is with four wonderful children.

Today I made 11 quarts of Peach-Strwaberry Jam. Timandra gave me the recipe on Sunday, so I tried it out. I have used almost all my peaches now. I also dried apples today and filled one gallon size freezer bag. I am 33 weeks along with just 7 more to go and then our baby will arrive!

Saturday was all about peaches. I pealed and sliced peaches and layed them on a cookie sheet with plastic wrap under them and put them in the freezer so they would not all be stuck together. After freezing them I put them in 3 gallon size freezer bags. I filled two dryers full of peaches. Then I bottled 7 quarts, and also made some peach freezer jam. Izabelle helped me peal peaches. She was a great help and good company. While I was working on peaches Brad fixed bikes for the kids. they each have a working bike now. then Brad and I went to the adult session of stake conference. It was spiritually uplifting, but difficult to sit so long.

After the first month of school. The kids had an assembly. Joseph and Izabelle were both given an award in there classes. They were both awarded the “Super Scholar” award. It is an award where the teacher of each class chooses an individual in there class that has put forth extra effort to excel. We were told at they would be getting the award and were invited to the assembly. The kids did not know that they were going to get the award themselves. It was fun to see there excitement as they were called up to the front and given their awards by their teachers.

Izabelle had a permagrin showing off her beautiful smile while Mrs. Spainhower explained why she chose Izabelle for this award. Joseph had a look of surprise that he got the award too as Mr. Reep expounded on how diligent and great a reader Joseph is. Sheri and I both think our kids are exceptional, but it is fun to here how others think so too.

It is good to have them both back in school now. They love to go each day. I have been going early with Joseph each morning teaching violin lessons with my dad to a group of about 15 beginners and 6 in our intermediate class. It is fun to see the kids progress at it.

We started school on Aug.11th.  Izabelle and Joseph are loving it.  Josephs new teacher doesn’t give much homework so that has been a nice change from last year.  He has to read each day and so he just spends extra time reading.  He is required to read 20 min., and so far he reads for about an hour a day. Izabelle is enjoying her new friends and I hear about Isabelle and Victoria all the time.  Isn’t it odd that there is another Izabelle in her class.  Her teacher calls her Belle to keep them straight.  I call her Belle most of the time too.

We just finished reading James and the Giant Peach!  One of our favorite parts was when the centipede got covered with purple rainbow paint.

Yesterday Joseph and Izabelle lost a tooth.  I pulled Joseph’s out during primary because it was hanging out of his mouth and I was tired of watching him play with it.  It was so ready that it didn’t bleed.  I probably shouldn’t have done it at church, but in this case it worked out fine.  Both of Izabelle’s front two teeth have been loose for a while so when Joseph’s came out she was determined to have one out too and she pulled it out herself.  I even caught it on video.

Later that evening we met Grandpa at his clinic and he froze off some warts on Joseph’s hand.  Joseph was brave.  When he woke up he had a huge blister and he thought it was a huge wart that had grown back over night.  He came to tell us this morning to tell us that the good news was the toothfairy came and the bad news was that his wart was back.  (No bad news after all.)

Brad and his Dad will be teaching violin lessons at the elementary school starting in September.  Joseph is going to start too.  It will be 7:30 to 8:30. I will miss having them around in the mornings.

We made sugar cookies for our family night treat.  I have a big apple cookie cutter, so we each decorated our own big cookie.  Yum!

Here is a picture of the Kids going to the farm with Grandpa and Dad.  They also just got a toy from the treasure box that they bought with their “Fawson Dollars”.   They earn “Fawson Dollars” for good behavior.

Seth and Brad both have Some Vans Shoes and they are worn out and use up and perfect for wearing to the farm.  They slept on the trampoline together at the farm and then Brad and Grandpa got up early and cut all the hay it the field.

I like the extra time I have with Seth since the others are in school. One of our favorite things to do is go to the library for story time.  I think I like it more than him because he only will go willingly once a week.  This was when we went on the first day of school and they read a story about  Kermit the Crab. They usually have a little craft they do that goes along with the story they just read.

We had a fabulous visit from Grandpa and Grandma Shaw! They had to come home for some training meetings for their mission. It was a great surprise that they made the trip here to see us. They only have two more months left of their mission. It was fun to see pictures of the things they have been working on.

Joseph just finished reading Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher By Bruce Coville. I read it too and I would recommend it. He also read The Dragon Slayers by the same author. He has done very well with his reading this summer. Izabelle has done great too and she even read a few chapter books this summer. She is nice to read to her little brother too. Summer Break is almost over. Back to School next week.

Last night we got to go to Bill Wonacot’s 88th birthday party. It was fun for us to go sing to him and they had invited several families and friends to come have cake and ice cream. They just told everyone come anytime you can between six and nine o’clock. That is a great way to celebrate don’t you think. (“Share you cake and share your friendship thats what birthdays are about.” That is a quote from a Primary birthday song.)

Another week gone, that means 13 weeks left until baby Fawson comes.

Our new carpet arrived on Monday morning. hooray!!! It looks so nice and that room is so inviting now. It is like Christmas in July.

Katherine and I went and picked apples together with our children. It was fun to spend the afternoon with all of them. These are the first apples of the year. I have a box and a half and now I get to decide what to make with them.

Joseph had a pack meeting so we all went to see him get his Marbles belt loop.

14 more weeks until our baby will arrive!