Kids say the silliest things!

The other morning Ali is saying the morning prayer. During her prayer she asked that her name be changed to ...and Emi's name be ... we couldn't understand what she said. So after the prayer we asked. Ali what do you want your name to be? "I want my name to be Right" said Ali. And what do you want Emi's name to be? "I want Emi's name to be wrong. So I can always be right and she will always be wrong."

How cute is that!

Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?

Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?

Growing up

So this last week I wanted to take pictures of some of the things the kids are doing. Bridger is scaring me! He is the most mobile child I have had. He has already fallen off my bed twice! He rolls and moves all over. The scary thing is he is getting up on his hands and knees like he wants to crawl! I predict that by the end of Feb. he will be crawling!


He also is my one kid that likes the baby oatmeal. He is not too fond of rice cereal but likes the oatmeal. Right now he eats oatmeal and peaches.

Ali is our artist. She is always drawing family pictures. She keeps telling us that there is one more baby brother so one day we will see. Hopefully later than sooner.

Emi loves to pretend. One of her favorites are tea parties. Are struggle there is trying to get her to pretend without using water! But at least it is only water.

Amazing Lesson

Today we had an awesome lesson in Relief Society. We discussed Elder D. Todd Christofferson's Nov. conference talk about Moral Decision. It made me think a lot about laws of society vs. God's law and the way I teach my children. A couple of things that stood out to me are the following:
1st: Choose the right because it is the right, even when it is hard
2nd: "As the Lord describes it, 'Every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god'" So I asked myself if I were to draw my God based on my decisions what would he look like? Crazy thing to sit and ponder!
3rd: Because of what has happened in our current society we have seen the following: "Reactions have focused on enacting more and stronger regulation. Perhaps that may dissuade some from unprincipled conduct, but others will simply get more creative in their circumvention. -This made me think of how stricter laws often just hurt those of us who are currently trying to live by them. Those that break them continue to break laws. This also made me think about how When God gives us a commandment he doesn't outline every aspect of that law. Like with our garments he doesn't say exactly when to wear them or not, but we are to follow the spirit in these things.
4th "'We would not accept the yoke of Chisit; so now we must tremble at the yoke of Caesar.'"
5th "Moral discipline is learned at home...Our teaching should draw upon our own faith and focus first and foremost on instilling faith in God in the rising generation. " "Each must be persuaded that service and sacrifice for the well-being and happiness of others are far superior to making one's own comfort and possessions the highest priority." -Imagine what would happen if the CEO's of these large banks were to have really thought about all of us little people before they made and make their bonus checks out. They are making 5 million in bonus' or whatever it is when I know 3 men in my ward, my own husband included in this that is under employed and many others that own their own business' are just keep praying things get better.
6th We need to be constantly teaching, mostly by example - So how can I serve and show faith to my kids. Angela Hunter in my ward shared how she recently took the time to write in her journal of a time her prayer was answered about something small. She later found out that her oldest daughter, 14 likes to read her journals from time to time. Ang thought how great it will be for her to read of these small faith building experiences as she continues to write them.
7th: parents sometimes say they "don't want to impose the gospel on their children but wan them to make up their own minds about what they will believe and follow. They think that in this way they are allowing children to exercise their agency. What they forget is the the intelligent use of agency requires knowledge of the ruth, of things as they really are." Think about how Satan recruits the young or old he is not passive. He doesn't sit back and say I will let them choose he is actively seeking them especially through media. A point was made in church of how we are constantly surrounded by noise, text, ipods, mp3s, cell phones etc. We never have quiet time and as we know the spirit comes in a still small voice so if we are always in noise how can we hear him? I wonder if this is why their was such a great desire for religious freedom before radios, phones etc. People were out working the land and thinking. They had time to listen to God and to talk to him.
Finally: To help teach our children we need to show them that God is a part of all things. We need to acknowledge God in all things.

Most of these are just my thoughts that I wanted to capture before this day was over. I hope all of you are having a wonderful Sunday.

Apples for dinner

Tonight when we hadn't had dinner by 6pm Ali and Emi decided it was up to them to get it ready. They came up to get me and when I came down they had 3 plates set on the table each with an already washed apple on it! They are so cute. They were so proud of themselves.

Mom and Dad's new place

Mom and Dad closed on their new home in Saratoga Springs this last week. Most of us went out to see it Sunday night. It will be a great new place for our family gatherings. During the week who knows what they will do with all that space. But when we all get together it will be awesome!

This will be the room the kids love the most. This is the great room above the garage. Bailee, Parker, Ali, Emi, Andrew and Elle had fun playing all over the house.


Their new garage hear was a racing spot for the kids. I am pretty sure my whole town home would fit in the garage with room to spare our town home is 1250 square feet).


In the living room their are these alcoves that Emi thought were the perfect hiding spaces!

Congratulations Mom and Dad! We can't wait to help with moving and painting and such!

The Pictures

So here are the aftershots of the haircut massacre.


Ali just wanted her hair out of her face. So she mostly cut the side hair.



This picture doesn't do it justice just how many choppy layers Ali cut for Emi!