Cookie's Class Pictures

In case you didn't know, Grace loves dogs.  Hahahaha.  Understatement of the year.  Of the decade, even.  Since I think I have FINALLY convinced her that we are not getting a dog any time soon {or ever} she has attached herself even more to some of her doggie junks.  "Cookie -- The Playful Pup" was her Christmas present last year and for the last few days she has been pampering the heck out of this dog.  She sleeps with it at bedtime, dresses it up for special occasions, takes it for walks around the cul-de-sac, and even gave it a trim yesterday when she was supposed to be going to bed.  She cut a whole bowl's worth of fur off of her playful little pet before I finally forced her upstairs.  Hahahaha.  My two favorite situations that she has put Cookie in so far, though, are yesterday's jaunt as a service dog on the way to church {complete with a complicated looking harness/vest thing she created using her water bottle case} and this evening's venture as a school pup posing for her class picture {complete with signage and accessories}.  Grace is a regular riot.

My personal favorite thing about this photo op is the way she has carefully posed Cookie's paw on top of that bowl.

 

One cute thing we have discovered since all this has started is that Alex also loves dogs.  We met a beautiful golden retriever on one of our walks the other day and I've never seen him get so excited.  It was adorable.  Also adorable?  The way he has started to try and toddle about.  I have not managed to snap any action shots just yet, but I would say he is thisclose to being a full-fledged walker.  I am getting worried for the messes that lay ahead.  Hahaha.

And now to end on a completely unrelated note, I thought I'd start a little "Countdown to Conference" segment on the blog for the rest of the week.  The kids came home from Primary yesterday with an awesome Conference Packet to help keep them focused for the big event.  Along with their packet they brought home a poem that I think one of the Primary teachers created to help the kids learn about the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles.  I thought it was pretty clever, so I wanted to post it here for anyone else who'd like to have it for their kids.  {Hopefully, I am not infringing on any copyright issues inadvertently here.}   I was surprised when we had an impromptu Conference Quiz at dinner tonight at how much Ethan and Grace remembered from the poem. 

Thomas S. Monson is the prophet you know.
Henry B. Eyring is the next below.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf is the third you see,
and that makes up the First Presidency.

Boyd K. Packer taught seminary,
L. Tom Perry is 6 foot 3.
Russell M. Nelson operated on folks,
a Supreme Court Justice was Dallin H. Oaks.

M. Russell Ballard sold cars we know,
Richard G. Scott made submarines go.
A jet fighter pilot was Robert D. Hales,
Jeffrey R. Holland graduated from Yale.

David A. Bednar changed Ricks to the Y,
Quentin L. Cook is a Cache Valley guy,
D. Todd Christofferson's an attorney,
Neil L. Andersen worked on a dairy.
Now you know the Twelve and First Presidency!

And there you have it!  Pretty great, right?  Until next time...