Our Journey to Forever - Private: March 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Current Day

My blogging habit has gone downhill. It seems like I never take my camera with me anywhere these days, and even when I do, I forget to use it! I am missing out on recording a lot of great memories.

Today Tangled came out and I bought it. I organized a movie party at my parents house. Grandma Laurel, Grandpa Fred, my parents, Katy and her three children, Joey and Krista with their girls, and Andrew and me with the boys were all there. We got pizza from Papa Murphy's. Carolyn brought popcorn, Krista brought cookies, and Grandma Laurel provided a salad.

My family was there a good hour before anyone else. Ammon helped Mom mow the lawn. I think it was the first time he has ever done it. I really wish I had pictures. He was adorable and I think he liked the responsibility.

After the lawn was mowed, Mom entertained Peter with some bubbles. He was cute and they had a great time together. My mom had me take some video of them with her camera, but I didn't record when I thought I was, and by the time I got it right, they were winding down their activity.

Andrew is exhausted and freezing cold which is super strange. It seems that he must be sick, although we don't really know what's wrong with him yet other than the fact that he can't keep himself warm. He was freezing cold in the middle of the night last night too, and it seems like he could have been running a fever. But he doesn't seem to be feverish right now - just can't get warm.

Ammon and Peter are growing up so fast. I hate that I am missing writing and recording and taking pictures of everything they do. They melt my heart every day. I adore them completely.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Valentine Activity

Pictures taken February 11, 2011

We had a neighborhood activity to decorate valentine sugar cookies. The boys had lots of fun. Andrew was at work, but Ammon was sure to decorate a few extras for him. It was fun to hang out with all the neighbors. The decorating was inside, but afterwards everyone gathered outside and let their children play while we pretended it was warm enough to be comfortable. After several winter months, it was nice to be outdoors again and no one seemed to be in much of a hurry to go back inside.

SkipBo

Picture taken February 07, 2011

Andrew and I enjoy playing games together. We get in game ruts and will play the same thing night after night. Lately we have been enjoying SkipBo. We usually play after the boys are in bed, but if we ever leave the game out on the table, Peter is sure to find it and wants to play too. So in the morning, Peter and I will occasionally pull out the game and play our own version. I remove all of the SkipBo cards from the deck and pick about 6 sets of 1-12. We practice his number recognition and ordering skills as we build the piles. He knows he is supposed to start each turn with five cards in hand and he will always tell me how many more cards he needs to draw. He is quite accomplished with these small addition/subtraction problems (4+__=5, 3+__=5, 2+__=5 etc). We don't actually have a pile of cards that we are trying to get through, like the traditional game. We simply draw cards and build up to four piles at a time with the typical draw and discard. It's worked out pretty well for us and I enjoy spending the time with him.

Family Outing

Pictures taken January 28, 2011

The last Friday in January, we decided to go on a family outing to the Gateway Mall and have a nice lunch together. We went to Tucanos because I had a birthday coupon. Usually the coupon is for your birthday month (which would have been December), but I signed up to get it late in the month and so the one I received was to be used in January instead. I have to say, birthday celebrations in January are much more convenient than December. Especially for while I am in school and face finals on top of the typical holiday business, I am kind of sold on the January birthday party concept.

The boys had a great time and decided to get silly for the camera. Ammon was the brave one who ate chicken heart. Not only did he eat it - he liked it! Sounds disgusting to me! Overall it was a pleasant afternoon and I was glad to spend the time with my family.

Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.