June 15, 2016
10 years ago
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Six Months of Catching Up!
July 17 ~ We celebrated Jared's 1st Birthday. The birthday party was a jungle theme and we rented a great water slide with a pool at the bottom.
July 22 ~ Road Trip to Northern California. The problem with Road Trips is the kids fall asleep in the car and not in the hotel...On this trip we visited the Ray's and also went to Sequoia National Park.
Amazing, beautiful and well worth the time to go there.
August 1 ~ One of those crazy turn around trips to Utah but for a great event! Gordon was blessed by his dad and we were so happy to be there! We did work in a couple of fun days in addition to the blessing day. The boys got to float down the Provo river and had a lot of fun! I want to give it a try next time we go to Provo.
August 30~ Jeremy wanted me to take his picture. The "necklace" is a baseball award. There are no words for my feelings about this picture and the fear of Vanilla Ice it puts in my heart...hope it makes you smile!
This picture was taken the same day as the above. Jared has a habit of bouncing himself to sleep in this contraption. Ironically it takes less than 10 minutes. He'll be bouncing like crazy and then all goes quiet and he is asleep.
September 3rd ~ In early September we went to Utah again for Jerry's mother's funeral. She passed away after a long trial of Alzheimer's. The day before the funeral we took the grand kids and our kiddos to Rock Candy Mountain; a family tradition. The kids had fun hunting for their rock candy. Jordyn was the best rock candy hunter ever!!
October 4 ~ Our beautiful and sweet niece Emilie came to live with us for a while. The plan was to find a job in California and live with us. Jobs in California are hard to come by. Apparently even harder to come by if you aren't bilingual. Emilie's visit confirmed my thought that we need to ensure Jeremy is bilingual. Not sure what the plan is for that yet...I'll have to start researching that idea some more.We went to Disneyland while she was here and during that trip to D-land, I realized m baby boy was tall enough for roller coasters. He loved roller coasters until we took him on Tower of Terror. He wasn't too keen on that one.
When did my little boy get tall enough to ride roller coasters? The time goes so fast it scares me, gives me anxiety attacks and makes me want to cry. I do love every stage and watching him learn about the world - except the parts he picks up from kids at school whose parents don't have the good sense to edit their surroundings - Yikes!
October 10 ~ A weekend trip to our timeshare in Las Vegas. Wherever we go, the boys love to ride on the luggage cart and dad always obliges.
October 24 ~ Painting Halloween Cookies!
October 30 ~ Jeremy wanted both boys to be firemen. We bought a new costume for Jeremy and recycled an old costume of Jeremy's for Jared.What cute boys!!
Oh, how I love them and wish I would have done better this year in capturing memories and journaling more consistently on the blog.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
My Dad
My father passed away on the morning of July 3rd. It is still hard to believe he is gone. I feel that no matter your age, you are never prepared for the loss of a parent. I feel blessed to have had him as my father.
I gave my father's eulogy. I don't think there exists any "speech" that carries more weight or responsibility than when you are asked to speak about any person's life. I felt the honor and responsibility of being asked to eulogize my father.
My father had a military funeral. As funerals go, it is an amazing experience to see a military funeral and I am grateful my father was honored this way.
I gave my father's eulogy. I don't think there exists any "speech" that carries more weight or responsibility than when you are asked to speak about any person's life. I felt the honor and responsibility of being asked to eulogize my father.
My father had a military funeral. As funerals go, it is an amazing experience to see a military funeral and I am grateful my father was honored this way.
The oldest grandson, from each of my father's children, was a pallbearer. Each grandson picked one of my dad's ties and wore it that day. Jeremy was assisted by Jerry.
My brother-in-law presented the flag to my mother.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My father was born in the basement apartment of his paternal grandparents' home in Springville, Utah, on the 24th of July. When he was two years old, his parents moved to Southern California. My father attended high school and would have lettered in gymnastics were it not for a little side trip to Tijuana one day during his senior year when he should have been at school. When he was 16, he met my mother Alta Lee Griffin at a church dance. They were married in Long Beach, California on November 11, 1953. We knew our mother was the love of his life. Not only by the words that he spoke but by his actions up until the day before he died when he took her car, filled it up with gas, and had it washed for her.
My parents considered each one of their children miracles. I consider it one of the great blessings of my life to have been one of their youngest children and to have had the opportunity to experience their joy and heartache as each of their children went through each success and trial as they moved away from home, married and had children. I witnessed my parents rejoice and grieve over each child and especially for those who at times could not feel the depth of their love for them. From my parents each of us had the opportunity to experience unconditional love and gain a greater understanding of our Heavenly Father’s love for us.
My father had an incredible work ethic both in his employment and in his home. He taught each of us the value of work through his example. During a period of years early in my parents’ marriage, my father worked two jobs and went to school full time. While we were growing up, my father raised rabbits, cows, pigs and chickens to supplement our groceries. Although my father had success providing for his family, I believe the greatest work my parents did was within our home including assisting with raising nieces and nephews, grandnephews, and grandchildren when called upon.
As his children grew older and experienced the deeper trials that come with adulthood, marriage, divorce and family some of us and I don’t know who, began to refer to my father as The Rock because he was steadfast and immovable in a crisis. We knew we could lean on him and he would be available for us. My father loved to run errands but never more so than when someone’s heart was breaking. Sometimes hurt was too big for him to heal but he felt he could help by doing the mundane tasks that would overwhelm us in the midst of heartbreak, grief and trials. We would jokingly tell my dad to get his superhero cape that we had errands for him and one day he bought himself one that he wore proudly but mostly to make us laugh through our tears. I do not know how many shirts my mother washed that we stained with mascara and tears as most of his children at one time or another could be found wrapped in the safety of his arms weeping out the sorrows of our hearts.
As we have been gathered this week, there were remembrances and universal themes about my father that continued to come up. My father was tenderhearted. Some said how generous he was. How kind. He wanted to make everyone happy. He was devoted to his family. He always wanted to help us and this was said by both children and grandchildren. He would always tell us he didn’t have money when we were growing up but he always had money in his wallet. Always…He could not stand to have an empty wallet. When we were younger, the money in his wallet often may have been the only money my parents did have until the next paycheck but he always had money in his wallet. He hated contention. He was a peacemaker. He always had to run errands. He wanted to be going somewhere. He would be in a hurry to get somewhere and would start jingling his keys when he was ready to go to the next place or go home. He quietly led and did not need the spotlight. He could do handstands on the diving board. He could roller-skate and could even roller-skate backwards. He loved hiking and camping. He went to girl’s camp every year for many years as the Priesthood representative. He used to sunbathe by the pool. Some of would have rather been hit than to have him tell us, “I am so disappointed in you.” He didn’t have a lot to say but when he did we wanted to listen. We knew he loved us even though he didn’t have a lot to say. As soon as money was less of an issue for my parents, he would always pay for everything. He wanted to take care of us still even after we were grown. Only he knew how to load the dishwasher right but we wish he would have discovered this before we all left home. He loved the newspaper and read it every day until his eyesight began to deteriorate. Oreo cookies were usually available and he would stock the jar but if it was empty he would always make a special trip to get Oreo cookies for his grandson Alex. He let the grandkids put bows in his hair and comb his hair. He couldn’t stand to talk on the phone but would listen to us visit in person for hours. He loved his tough guy image and would often say, “I am smiling you just can’t see it.” He was faithful in church attendance and rarely missed. He had the worst taste in eye wear. Why the ugly eyeglasses dad?? Why? He hated chipped nail polish on any of his girls. He loved the baptistery! He loved his service there and we loved that this was one of the ways he chose to stay busy when they moved here (St George, Utah). My sister Kathryn said that she and her family knew that serving in the temple blessed him and was an incredible example to her children.
As generous, as my father was and he was so generous, he could be unbelievably cheap. Sometimes we would slide extra money to waiters after he had just taken us out to eat and insisted on paying the bill. He hated tipping in restaurants. We grew up with a father who worried about money but who would always tells us, “If it’s only money, you have no problems.” However, he would be the first to try to solve our problems with any money he had.
My father valued education, regardless of what stage of life he was in or we were in. He wanted us to pursue as much education as possible. He couldn’t put all of us through school but he did all he could at whatever stage each of us were in our lives and he in his, to support our educational pursuits.
My father had an unshakeable testimony of tithing and supporting missionaries. He had and would continue to tell each of us to always pay the Lord before we paid anybody else.
Priesthood blessings were mentioned most consistently. My father truly had a gift for giving beautiful and inspired priesthood blessings. One granddaughter said, “His priesthood blessings were some of my favorites.” Several of us gained testimonies of the gospel specifically because of the way dad honored his priesthood. I will miss the warmth of his hands being placed on my head and the feeling of peace that would wash over me as soon as my father would being to pronounce my name as he started a blessing. His Father’s Blessings brought each of us through some of our darkest moments thus far.
His grandchildren remember him for making the best “bug juice” which was a special fruit drink he loved to tease the kids about. They remembered that he wanted to make them happy. Tiffiny would sit in his recliner just so he would kick her out. Alex, as a little boy, loved his rides in the white truck. He LOVED his grandpa’s truck. His oldest grandson Noa said he remembered big bear hugs where grandpa would act like, “I was squeezing the paste out of him.” Noa who is also an adult and a father of three told the things he learned that I am so sure my father was pleased to hear him say. He said, I always had such a feeling of peace and love and acceptance from him and that from grandpa he learned that you do what you need to do to provide for your family. He said, I learned the value of women…how much he respected grandma and his mom and his girls. Noa remembered him staying steady and staying on the path. My father would have been honored my those remembrances.
My dad was not perfect. He mellowed with age but as we were growing up he was a disciplinarian. We knew without questions where the boundaries were and we knew not to cross them. Russ told of the time that dad sold their motor bikes after they had told not to ride them on the streets and they were caught breaking that rule. We all had a healthy respect for my father.
My father loved to provide service for his family but no service was greater to him than the service he could provide my mother.
The only thing that eases the burden of our loss of our father is knowing the tremendous burden he was facing in losing his eyesight and his ability to drive. He would have hated being dependent and more then being dependent he would have hated not to being able to run errands. Although this day is hard, we know my parents were facing hard days ahead and we feel blessed that my father was spared losing eyesight, his license and his freedom.
He was our hero, he was a husband, a brother, an uncle, he was our daddy, our father, a grandfather, he was our patriarch and most especially he was our knight in shining armor. We love you and your influence in our lives more than any eulogy written for you could ever express but I hope in some small way I have captured your spirit dad. We will go on and be happy however, you lived your life well and we will feel your loss deeply.
My parents considered each one of their children miracles. I consider it one of the great blessings of my life to have been one of their youngest children and to have had the opportunity to experience their joy and heartache as each of their children went through each success and trial as they moved away from home, married and had children. I witnessed my parents rejoice and grieve over each child and especially for those who at times could not feel the depth of their love for them. From my parents each of us had the opportunity to experience unconditional love and gain a greater understanding of our Heavenly Father’s love for us.
My father had an incredible work ethic both in his employment and in his home. He taught each of us the value of work through his example. During a period of years early in my parents’ marriage, my father worked two jobs and went to school full time. While we were growing up, my father raised rabbits, cows, pigs and chickens to supplement our groceries. Although my father had success providing for his family, I believe the greatest work my parents did was within our home including assisting with raising nieces and nephews, grandnephews, and grandchildren when called upon.
As his children grew older and experienced the deeper trials that come with adulthood, marriage, divorce and family some of us and I don’t know who, began to refer to my father as The Rock because he was steadfast and immovable in a crisis. We knew we could lean on him and he would be available for us. My father loved to run errands but never more so than when someone’s heart was breaking. Sometimes hurt was too big for him to heal but he felt he could help by doing the mundane tasks that would overwhelm us in the midst of heartbreak, grief and trials. We would jokingly tell my dad to get his superhero cape that we had errands for him and one day he bought himself one that he wore proudly but mostly to make us laugh through our tears. I do not know how many shirts my mother washed that we stained with mascara and tears as most of his children at one time or another could be found wrapped in the safety of his arms weeping out the sorrows of our hearts.
As we have been gathered this week, there were remembrances and universal themes about my father that continued to come up. My father was tenderhearted. Some said how generous he was. How kind. He wanted to make everyone happy. He was devoted to his family. He always wanted to help us and this was said by both children and grandchildren. He would always tell us he didn’t have money when we were growing up but he always had money in his wallet. Always…He could not stand to have an empty wallet. When we were younger, the money in his wallet often may have been the only money my parents did have until the next paycheck but he always had money in his wallet. He hated contention. He was a peacemaker. He always had to run errands. He wanted to be going somewhere. He would be in a hurry to get somewhere and would start jingling his keys when he was ready to go to the next place or go home. He quietly led and did not need the spotlight. He could do handstands on the diving board. He could roller-skate and could even roller-skate backwards. He loved hiking and camping. He went to girl’s camp every year for many years as the Priesthood representative. He used to sunbathe by the pool. Some of would have rather been hit than to have him tell us, “I am so disappointed in you.” He didn’t have a lot to say but when he did we wanted to listen. We knew he loved us even though he didn’t have a lot to say. As soon as money was less of an issue for my parents, he would always pay for everything. He wanted to take care of us still even after we were grown. Only he knew how to load the dishwasher right but we wish he would have discovered this before we all left home. He loved the newspaper and read it every day until his eyesight began to deteriorate. Oreo cookies were usually available and he would stock the jar but if it was empty he would always make a special trip to get Oreo cookies for his grandson Alex. He let the grandkids put bows in his hair and comb his hair. He couldn’t stand to talk on the phone but would listen to us visit in person for hours. He loved his tough guy image and would often say, “I am smiling you just can’t see it.” He was faithful in church attendance and rarely missed. He had the worst taste in eye wear. Why the ugly eyeglasses dad?? Why? He hated chipped nail polish on any of his girls. He loved the baptistery! He loved his service there and we loved that this was one of the ways he chose to stay busy when they moved here (St George, Utah). My sister Kathryn said that she and her family knew that serving in the temple blessed him and was an incredible example to her children.
As generous, as my father was and he was so generous, he could be unbelievably cheap. Sometimes we would slide extra money to waiters after he had just taken us out to eat and insisted on paying the bill. He hated tipping in restaurants. We grew up with a father who worried about money but who would always tells us, “If it’s only money, you have no problems.” However, he would be the first to try to solve our problems with any money he had.
My father valued education, regardless of what stage of life he was in or we were in. He wanted us to pursue as much education as possible. He couldn’t put all of us through school but he did all he could at whatever stage each of us were in our lives and he in his, to support our educational pursuits.
My father had an unshakeable testimony of tithing and supporting missionaries. He had and would continue to tell each of us to always pay the Lord before we paid anybody else.
Priesthood blessings were mentioned most consistently. My father truly had a gift for giving beautiful and inspired priesthood blessings. One granddaughter said, “His priesthood blessings were some of my favorites.” Several of us gained testimonies of the gospel specifically because of the way dad honored his priesthood. I will miss the warmth of his hands being placed on my head and the feeling of peace that would wash over me as soon as my father would being to pronounce my name as he started a blessing. His Father’s Blessings brought each of us through some of our darkest moments thus far.
His grandchildren remember him for making the best “bug juice” which was a special fruit drink he loved to tease the kids about. They remembered that he wanted to make them happy. Tiffiny would sit in his recliner just so he would kick her out. Alex, as a little boy, loved his rides in the white truck. He LOVED his grandpa’s truck. His oldest grandson Noa said he remembered big bear hugs where grandpa would act like, “I was squeezing the paste out of him.” Noa who is also an adult and a father of three told the things he learned that I am so sure my father was pleased to hear him say. He said, I always had such a feeling of peace and love and acceptance from him and that from grandpa he learned that you do what you need to do to provide for your family. He said, I learned the value of women…how much he respected grandma and his mom and his girls. Noa remembered him staying steady and staying on the path. My father would have been honored my those remembrances.
My dad was not perfect. He mellowed with age but as we were growing up he was a disciplinarian. We knew without questions where the boundaries were and we knew not to cross them. Russ told of the time that dad sold their motor bikes after they had told not to ride them on the streets and they were caught breaking that rule. We all had a healthy respect for my father.
My father loved to provide service for his family but no service was greater to him than the service he could provide my mother.
The only thing that eases the burden of our loss of our father is knowing the tremendous burden he was facing in losing his eyesight and his ability to drive. He would have hated being dependent and more then being dependent he would have hated not to being able to run errands. Although this day is hard, we know my parents were facing hard days ahead and we feel blessed that my father was spared losing eyesight, his license and his freedom.
He was our hero, he was a husband, a brother, an uncle, he was our daddy, our father, a grandfather, he was our patriarch and most especially he was our knight in shining armor. We love you and your influence in our lives more than any eulogy written for you could ever express but I hope in some small way I have captured your spirit dad. We will go on and be happy however, you lived your life well and we will feel your loss deeply.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
I loved this post!
I can't sleep - just a little insomnia - and while checking my blog list read this post.
I love it! I will print it and reread it and check my own behavior again and again to try to be better and try to improve. Although the emasculation of men is one of my pet peeves, I am not innocent of some of the behavior this post describes.
Before you read it, I have to say, I have seen really great women participate in this behavior. I have seen women teaching Relief Society, on several occasions, do this to their husbands; telling a story about their spouse with a heavy sign and roll of the eyes.
One experience, on this subject, that stands out to me was reading the post of a woman who seems happily married and who used her blog to publicly shame her husband (in detail) for not doing her job as mom - anywhere near as well as she could do it - while she was out of town for a week. When I told my mom about this woman's post and my frustration with it and the man bashing that followed in supportive comments, my mother's response was classic...
"So...He couldn't do her full-time job as well as she does it? While at the same time maintaining his full-time day job as sole provider and picking up her full-time job, in her absence? I wonder how she would fair if she had to step into his full-time day job for a week during his absence and do her full-time job as well?"
I love my mothers wisdom - it has come with age and experience and she would be the first to tell you that.
And...having just read a story about Kate Gosselin....and having watched quite a few of the Jon and Kate plus 8 shows pre-divorce... I have to say that while his behavior at the end of the marriage was atrocious. Her behavior during the 10 year marriage - the unending belittling, emasculating and condescending - was equally atrocious. The fact that so many people look past how she treated her husband during their marriage is just symptomatic of how tolerant our society has become of demoralizing the place of men in our world.
Back to the posted link to another post...I really love it and really want to be much better (behaved) in this area myself! I am married to a really great man who is a really wonderful father and doesn't deserve the slightest public eye roll, sigh or especially shaming. I would be so devastated if he did it to me.
I love it! I will print it and reread it and check my own behavior again and again to try to be better and try to improve. Although the emasculation of men is one of my pet peeves, I am not innocent of some of the behavior this post describes.
Before you read it, I have to say, I have seen really great women participate in this behavior. I have seen women teaching Relief Society, on several occasions, do this to their husbands; telling a story about their spouse with a heavy sign and roll of the eyes.
One experience, on this subject, that stands out to me was reading the post of a woman who seems happily married and who used her blog to publicly shame her husband (in detail) for not doing her job as mom - anywhere near as well as she could do it - while she was out of town for a week. When I told my mom about this woman's post and my frustration with it and the man bashing that followed in supportive comments, my mother's response was classic...
"So...He couldn't do her full-time job as well as she does it? While at the same time maintaining his full-time day job as sole provider and picking up her full-time job, in her absence? I wonder how she would fair if she had to step into his full-time day job for a week during his absence and do her full-time job as well?"
I love my mothers wisdom - it has come with age and experience and she would be the first to tell you that.
And...having just read a story about Kate Gosselin....and having watched quite a few of the Jon and Kate plus 8 shows pre-divorce... I have to say that while his behavior at the end of the marriage was atrocious. Her behavior during the 10 year marriage - the unending belittling, emasculating and condescending - was equally atrocious. The fact that so many people look past how she treated her husband during their marriage is just symptomatic of how tolerant our society has become of demoralizing the place of men in our world.
Back to the posted link to another post...I really love it and really want to be much better (behaved) in this area myself! I am married to a really great man who is a really wonderful father and doesn't deserve the slightest public eye roll, sigh or especially shaming. I would be so devastated if he did it to me.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Grandbabies A-Z
The first grand baby in our family was born when I was about six. He is a faint memory in my little girl mind. He was born still but his memory is present.
Many nieces and nephews came after him. The next grandchild born is now married and has three children of his own; and so the stories continue.
My mom can tell you about each of her grandchildren whether biological, adopted or inherited with marriage. She knows the trials they have faced and still prays for them by name.
This picture is of the last three grand babies. I think these three boys will be the final chapter in the story of the grand babies in our family.
My dad passed away about a month after this picture was taken and just two months short of his last grandchild's 1st birthday.
This final chapter is one of miracles and prayers fulfilled. Each of these boys comes with a story of faith, patience, endurance and memories of phone calls to mom and dad where mom would always say, "I pray for you every day." Dad would say, "I put your name on the temple rolls today." I am grateful for the legacy of faith that each of these boys has been born into.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
June so far...
We started the month with a trip to Disneyland leaving Jerry at home with the flu which turned out to be appendicitis. We left Disneyland at 3pm and then Jerry and I spent the night at the hospital waiting for him to have surgery. He's been off for four weeks and enjoying the time off. It's actually a quick recovery but the doctor wanted him to take the extra time off due to his job and potential risk of injury...lucky guy...a month off with pay.
Jeremy wrapped up his second T-ball season. He had fun...sometimes...and sometimes we had to give him pep talks about being a team player and his commitment to his team. This is Jeremy in the dug out with his team members.
We were VERY lucky that Jeremy played with a team that consists almost exclusively of boys from our ward. This made practice and games so much easier with carpooling and not having to sit at every practice. Sarah was especially helpful and would pick Jeremy up from school when she picked up her boys on game days. Thanks so much Sarah!
We all loved Jeremy's coach, also a member of the ward. Not enough great things can be said about how fantastic Joel is as a person and a coach! His wife is pretty fantastic too!
This is Jeremy with his last day of school/first day of summer bucket of stuff. He was excited! The dollar section at Target and Michael's are great! Jeremy had a good year and missed honor roll because of penmanship. He doesn't love writing so we are working on that this summer.
JUNE 14th, 2010
Kristi had a beautiful baby boy!! We are excited to meet him at the end of July. Gordon is grandson #5 for a count so far of 5 to 1.
We are grateful for a great month!
Jeremy with my niece, Amber, at Disneyland.
Jeremy wrapped up his second T-ball season. He had fun...sometimes...and sometimes we had to give him pep talks about being a team player and his commitment to his team. This is Jeremy in the dug out with his team members.We were VERY lucky that Jeremy played with a team that consists almost exclusively of boys from our ward. This made practice and games so much easier with carpooling and not having to sit at every practice. Sarah was especially helpful and would pick Jeremy up from school when she picked up her boys on game days. Thanks so much Sarah!
We all loved Jeremy's coach, also a member of the ward. Not enough great things can be said about how fantastic Joel is as a person and a coach! His wife is pretty fantastic too!
This is Jeremy with his last day of school/first day of summer bucket of stuff. He was excited! The dollar section at Target and Michael's are great! Jeremy had a good year and missed honor roll because of penmanship. He doesn't love writing so we are working on that this summer.JUNE 14th, 2010
Kristi had a beautiful baby boy!! We are excited to meet him at the end of July. Gordon is grandson #5 for a count so far of 5 to 1.
This was last Monday with FHE at the park.
We picked up Subway and then let the boys play. We love our boys!
We picked up Subway and then let the boys play. We love our boys!
We are grateful for a great month!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Some pictures and adventures from May
Memorial Day Picnic - Jeremy was told to get a "handful" of Cheetos. He is sure he did!
Last weekend we took Amber, my niece, to the Santa Monica pier and then we went to one of the restaurants from the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives show on Food Network. It was a quiet but fun family day of some new experiences.
We were headed out the door to go somewhere but Jared just couldn't make it. He feel asleep on the office floor. This is his normal sleeping position, head on his hands and face down.
Jared helping mom with some office work!Monday, April 19, 2010
Motes vs. Beams
After being competely irritated by the self rightous posting of another blogger yesterday, I have decided this morning to go to work on the beam in my eye and let that blogger go to work on mote/beam in theirs.
If you hear the sounds of a power saw - that's just me working on the beam.
I'll see more clearly soon!
1 aJudge not, that ye be not bjudged.
If you hear the sounds of a power saw - that's just me working on the beam.
I'll see more clearly soon!
1 aJudge not, that ye be not bjudged.
5 Thou ahypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Easter Weekend Adventures
General Conference and Easter Weekend was a fun but busy one. Rachael and Kristi and their families came to town and we had a fun weekend doing fun things between conference sessions. On Thursday we went to the mall and let the kids climb around on the rocks in the play area. Friday we visited Calico Ghost Town and on Saturday we went to the Hesperia Zoo and after Priesthood session had an Easter Egg Hunt.
It was great to have everyone together!
It was great to have everyone together!
Jeremy and Davey at the mall.
Getting ready to pan for gold!
At the Calico Ghost Town Schoolhouse!
Kristi and Davey at the Hesperia Zoo!
After the egg hunt!
Jackson with his loot after the egg hunt!
Jordyn and Davey got a head start!Lucky Leprechaun
We had a funny little Leprechaun stop by our house and leave his hat full of treats for Jeremy. I think this is Jeremy's version of a leprechaun smile as well.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Guilt, guilt and more guilt...
Just in case you have never met me or don't know me well...I have serious issues with guilt. Not just guilt for sin...nope, I can feel guilty about almost anything because no matter how hard I try, I feel I could have and should have done better.
At some point my older sister and I began a running joke that if I weren't Mormom, I would have to be Catholic because only Catholics can do guilt as well as or better than Mormons do. I mean no disrespect at all, it's just that Mormons and Catholics are known for large families and feelings of guilt.
I wish I had a better grasp on grace and less of a grasp on guilt. Sometimes I envy the denominations that believe grace alone will save while I am too often bogged down in "faith without works is dead."
I laughed when I opened a package from my sister, who knows me so well she would find the following in a gift store and send it to me to make me laugh at myself.
Really what I should use this rosary to remind me of is not Catholic or Mormon guilt or that my guilt issue is so big we have to make fun of it. I should really use this rosary and the cross on it as a reminder that faith without works is dead but faith, without faith in the grace that my Savior offers, is not only a rejection of Grace but a rejection of the peace that He so freely offers if we will seek after His redeeming love. He knew we would not be perfect that is why His grace is part of the plan as well.
At some point my older sister and I began a running joke that if I weren't Mormom, I would have to be Catholic because only Catholics can do guilt as well as or better than Mormons do. I mean no disrespect at all, it's just that Mormons and Catholics are known for large families and feelings of guilt.
I wish I had a better grasp on grace and less of a grasp on guilt. Sometimes I envy the denominations that believe grace alone will save while I am too often bogged down in "faith without works is dead."
I laughed when I opened a package from my sister, who knows me so well she would find the following in a gift store and send it to me to make me laugh at myself.
Really what I should use this rosary to remind me of is not Catholic or Mormon guilt or that my guilt issue is so big we have to make fun of it. I should really use this rosary and the cross on it as a reminder that faith without works is dead but faith, without faith in the grace that my Savior offers, is not only a rejection of Grace but a rejection of the peace that He so freely offers if we will seek after His redeeming love. He knew we would not be perfect that is why His grace is part of the plan as well.
Oh, how I love a good dishwasher...
...when they are empty and the door is open. They are so much fun to play in. They are even more fun with dirty dishes...
Friday, February 26, 2010
Better late than never??
I just updated with pictures from the last 4 months...keep scrolling for lots of pictures, if you choose to! Trying to start March off fresh and do better with keeping the blog current!
A New Year and several firsts!!
We started the month with a trip to Disneyland for Jeremy's 6th Birthday. Jerry met Rachael to pick up Jarom so he could go with us. This was also Jared's 1st trip to Disneyland. Our good friends met us later in the day to celebrate their daughter's birthday. We had a fun day!
One of my favorite pictures from the day! Jarom and Jeremy were going to help us out with directions!
Jerry with the boys...
On the Buzz Lightyear ride...
Jarom, Jeremy and cute Abby!
Jeremy and Jarom getting ready to eat cake! Jeremy went with me to Stator Bros. and picked out his own cake...
Jared eating rice cereal...I love those big blue eyes!
After hearing about the crib recalls, I decided to check out Jared's crib, formerly Jeremy's crib, just in case it had been recalled. It had... so we took apart the crib and set up a new one. Jared had to get in on the action and continuously tried to crawl under the crib to help out.
Feb 5th - One six year old with his first lost tooth!
Feb 13th - Jared gets his first haircut!
One of my favorite pictures from the day! Jarom and Jeremy were going to help us out with directions!
Jerry with the boys...
On the Buzz Lightyear ride...
Jarom, Jeremy and cute Abby!
Jeremy and Jarom getting ready to eat cake! Jeremy went with me to Stator Bros. and picked out his own cake...
Jared eating rice cereal...I love those big blue eyes!
After hearing about the crib recalls, I decided to check out Jared's crib, formerly Jeremy's crib, just in case it had been recalled. It had... so we took apart the crib and set up a new one. Jared had to get in on the action and continuously tried to crawl under the crib to help out.
Feb 5th - One six year old with his first lost tooth!
Feb 13th - Jared gets his first haircut!
December 2009
Jeremy's 1st Official School Program. All the Kindergarten children had to wear Reindeer Ears. In one of those great moments of grace in a mother's life, we happened across the last pair WalMart had and they had lights in them too. Jeremy reached up during the program the make sure he turned the lights on his reindeer ears!
Christmas Eve Cookies - My mom used to make sugar cookies that we would paint icing onto. I called her this year and asked her how to make the sugar cookie paint. It is super easy and so much easier for the kids to work with. This picture is of Rachael and Jeremy working on their cookies. Jeremy loves his older sisters!
Christmas Eve pajamas. Does every family have this tradition? It is one that I love because your kids can open a gift but it can be pj's and not one of their big gifts. WalMart had great deals on pj's Thanksgiving Weekend. Thanks to a heads up from my sister I made a run to get the pj's that came in a bag with a toothbrush, slippers and flashlight. All for $9! What a great deal. Rachael did even better than me with her WalMart pj finds! I love this tradition!
Next year, I'll have to remember to grab some for Jared...
Jared "opening" his Christmas gifts. I lost track in the madness of 5 kids opening their gifts and can't remember who got who what. Some of the most generic thank you notes I have ever written...
We tried something new this year and opted to have Christmas dinner the day after Christmas. This allowed us to enjoy Christmas Day opening gifts and going to the movies. We relaxed the next day and started cooking mid-morning. A cute picture of Jeremy with two nephews and his niece.
My two new favorite Christmas ideas that may become traditions...Thai food on Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner the day after Christmas!!
November 2009
November was a fun month. The pictures loaded backwards but you'll still get the point...
We ended the month with a fun trip to see the Ray family for Thanksgiving Weekend. We took the munchkins to see A Christmas Carol in 3-D. We had three families together and had a fun time!
The glasses were a little hard for JP jr. to wear. They made him just a little cross eyed and it was only for a picture...I think the 3-D glasses are a little challenging too!
On November 14th we were looking for something fun to do and happened to hear about Thomas the Train visiting the Perris, California railway museum. We had a fun day with Thomas and we even were able to catch a ride on Thomas the Train!!
We started the month by heading to St. George for Time Out For Women. My parents generously hosted all the sisters for the weekend. Deb couldn't make it due to work and we missed having her there. We were one sister short but my sweet niece, Amy, joined us and added to the group.
Mom had a goodie bag for each of us with candy, mints, hand sanitizer, a journal - with a personal note to each of us in our journal, and cash to buy something for ourselves at the conference. We had a great time with many laughs and many tears. There is something powerful, overwhelming and comforting about sitting in a group of women and knowing the reason behind each person's emotion as they listened to each speaker. It's also great to be around people who don't care how ugly your "ugly cry" is.
This cute picture is of Jeremy with two sweet cousins!!
We ended the month with a fun trip to see the Ray family for Thanksgiving Weekend. We took the munchkins to see A Christmas Carol in 3-D. We had three families together and had a fun time!
The glasses were a little hard for JP jr. to wear. They made him just a little cross eyed and it was only for a picture...I think the 3-D glasses are a little challenging too!
On November 14th we were looking for something fun to do and happened to hear about Thomas the Train visiting the Perris, California railway museum. We had a fun day with Thomas and we even were able to catch a ride on Thomas the Train!!
We started the month by heading to St. George for Time Out For Women. My parents generously hosted all the sisters for the weekend. Deb couldn't make it due to work and we missed having her there. We were one sister short but my sweet niece, Amy, joined us and added to the group.Mom had a goodie bag for each of us with candy, mints, hand sanitizer, a journal - with a personal note to each of us in our journal, and cash to buy something for ourselves at the conference. We had a great time with many laughs and many tears. There is something powerful, overwhelming and comforting about sitting in a group of women and knowing the reason behind each person's emotion as they listened to each speaker. It's also great to be around people who don't care how ugly your "ugly cry" is.
This cute picture is of Jeremy with two sweet cousins!!
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