Easter 2017

Our beautiful kiddos all dressed up for Easter Sunday! What a wonderful happy day!

Family day: Inner Harbor

April 13, 2017

Yay for a Family Day! It's been a LONG time since we've been to the Aquarium and we were excited to go back. This is the first trip Jackson will be able to remember and it's Levi's 1st time. Exciting!

They had some touch tanks and you guys were excited to get in and touch the stingrays. Sadly Levi's arm was not long enough to reach the stingrays on the bottom of the tank.

But, he was able to touch the jellyfish in this tank. Whew! Glad we could make that happen. You guys loved it and I love seeing Daddy enjoy it too. Maybe Mommy will be brave enough to do the same someday; until then, I'll just capture the moment.

The cherry blossoms were in full bloom! I didn't even know but what a beautiful bonus to our day! I LOVE them!!

Walking along the Harbor are these concrete loungers. Yup, they look comfy.

Now there's a beautiful girl. 

I love a jean jacket. My Grandpa wore one all the time on the farm but it was his work jacket. Nowadays its just a fashion statement I'm happy to have come back. I love that they love wearing them (they're so cute) and I feel like its a bit of family heritage too.

We topped the day off with lunch at the CHEESECAKE FACTORY. How is it I've never been here before?! I LOVE cheesecake. Actually, it's probably better that I haven't been here before, but I will be back. Lunch was pretty good but you better believe we took a couple slices home for dessert. They were AMAZING!!

I tried to snap a picture of these two guys and this is what I got. Silly "no picture please" boys.

It was great day all together. Can't wait to do it again guys.

April Gen Conference &Store

{April 3, 2017}

I love General Conference and I love our little store! The kids look forward to Conference, I'm sure because of the store and the fun it entails, but I'm hoping it'll create those good happy feelings of looking forward to Conference in general once they're older. Fingers crosses.

What is General Conference?

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide gather twice yearly for what they call “general conference.” This is in addition to their weekly worship services each Sunday.

General conferences are conducted each April and October and comprise six two-hour meetings held over three days. The April meetings are called annual conferences and those in October, semiannual.

During the conference, Church leaders speak on a variety of spiritual topics. They address Latter-day Saints as well as government, faith and community representatives and other conference guests. Speakers include the worldwide leader of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson, and his counselors in the First Presidency, the governing body of the Church. Talks are also given by the members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and other leaders.

General conference talks vary in length from about 5 to 20 minutes. Topics are not assigned; each speaker chooses his or her own subject matter. Talks usually cover basic gospel principles or address significant issues of the day, with speakers encouraging individuals and families in their efforts to follow Jesus Christ.

Photo 1: I got the materials and Alivia organized the stuff. Looks pretty great!

The kids take notes or color pages related to church topics and "cash in their pages" for prizes between sessions. They love it and I'm glad I can get them excited about doing things like this.

Photo 2: This is what General Conference looks like at our house- Conference is on the TV, the kids are working on their pages and notes and Mom and Dad are listening in. (Note: my super sore toes healing from the trauma of a much-needed matrixectomy.)

Photo 3: Alivia is getting old enough now that she likes to take notes on the speakers. I do this on my iPad too because that's how I learn- write, read, remember.

Photo 4: She even colored this coloring page with one of my favorite apps and added her note. I love President Nelson too.

Here are some of my favorite quotes or para-phrases from this year's April General Conference:

• Pres Henry B Eyring: 
• Those who do not see their weakness do not progress. It keeps you turning to the Savior.
• He is concerned not just with our comfort but with our progress.
• Your power to do good will depend on the unity and love that exist among you.
• The Spirit sees with the pure love of Christ
• Carol F. McConkie:
• Holiness is making the choices that keep the Holy Ghost as our guide.
• Do we recognize that every good gift comes in and through Christ?
• 
  
•  Pres Henry B Eyring:
• The best technology can never be a substitute for revelation from heaven.
• Elder Dale G Renlund
• We, who are sinners, must reach out to others with compassion and love.
• Elder Mark A Bragg
• Wherever there is human life,there is the light of Christ. Pres. Boyd K Packer
• Families increase in light as they increase in love and kindness.
• Seeking the light is in our spiritual DNA.
• Pres Russell M Nelson
• True disciples of Christ are willing to stand up, speak out and be different from people of the world.
• Elder Jeffrey R Holland
• The only way complex societal issues can be satisfactorily solved is by keeping God's commandments.
• Come as you are, but don't plan to stay as you are. God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be.
• Elder Valeri V Cordon
• Daily family and personal scripture study = we will be blessed with more unity and being closer to the Lord.
• He is patient with our imperfections and mistakes.
• Sister Joy D Jones
• Children are great imitators so give them something great to imitate.  !!!!
• Elder Ronald A Rasband
• Strive to live worthy of the Spirit....We must be willing to receive the Spirit....We must recognize the Spirit when it comes....Act on the 1st prompting. 
• Don't expect fireworks because you responded to the still, small voice. 
• We must always act on our 1st prompting. 
• If we call on the Lord daily and tell him we're ready, he'll call on us. If we follow these promptings, he will call upon us time and time again.
• Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good.
• Pres Dieter F Uchtdorf
• The antidote of fear is the PURE LOVE OF CHRIST. Christ's perfect love gives us the confidence to press through our fears.
• Christ's love will help us to be a little kinder, more caring, more forgiving and more dedicated to his service.
• Elder D Todd Christofferson
• Wickedness never was and never will be happiness.
• We are all accountable to God for the lives we live.
• Elder Joaquin Costa
• Nothing draws you closer to Jesus Christ than the desire to change.

These are some of the messages that we heard and that touched me. I'm so grateful for modern-day prophets to teach us how to be more like the Savior. Can't wait to listen and keep learning from these messages!

{feb & march} random Alivia moments

Well, this girl completed her 1st season of Swim Team and had a great time. We went to the Awards Banquet and she brought home these goodies. Nice! Can't wait to do it again babe. I love watching you swim and that you LOVE it so much.

This pretty girls took this selfie on my phone before church. You're so beautiful Alivia, and the wonderful thing about is that its on the inside, as well as the outside. You are a wonderful little lady.

Found another selfie on my phone from St Patrick's Day.

You're our Irish Princess for the day. I like that you still like to dress up. You looked so cute going to school that day. :)

Oh Alivia, always a fun girl. :P

Girls weekend

{March 24-26, 2017} The boys were having their weekend at the Cabin so we decided to make the most of our girl time!

Photo 1: We're all set to go see the new Beauty & the Beast movie! We really liked it! Of course they added some new parts, which Alivia didn't like and thought were a little creapy, but overall it was good. 

Photo 2: After our movie we had dinner @ Olive Garden. No girls weekend would be complete without pasta and breadsticks! #itsagirlthing

Photo 3: The next morning I took Alivia and some of her friends from church to the Stake Activity Day Girls activity.The theme was "Daughter of a King". They had a bunch of classes and workshops with crafts and a coordinating lesson. They did a really nice job and I know the girls had a good time. We even had some finger foods before we went home, complete with cucumber sandwiches (not sure what 8-11 year olds are going to eat those?) and a fruit kebab. Very nice and a special morning.

We'd been searching for "a princess dress" and we found it! Thank you Kohl's Cash! She looks so beautiful! 

We topped off our fun weekend with a playdate at our house with her friend, watched the Women's Session of Conference on the couch later and of course we had a slumber party in my bed (since the house was so quiet).

We had a really great time together. Alivia even wrote me this sweet note as we took notes for Conference.

Aw thanks Babe, I love spending time with you too. You are an amazing young lady and I love you so much! Can't wait to do this again.

Jackson's 9th bday

March 18, 2017

Our boy turned 9! Where has the time gone? I posted these pictures from snippets of Jackson's life. I love this. So many great moments and memories. We sure love this boy!!

It's time to blow out the candles and make a wish. He asked for chocolate cake with PB frosting- a boy after my own heart. Happy to oblige.

Because Jackson's birthday is so close to St Patrick's birthday I took the lazy way out and had a St Patricks Day themed birthday party this year. Our rainbow kebobs and our pot of gold (mac and cheese). All items are Jackson-approved.

WE all wore some green for the party. After inner, we played a few games at the party which were pretty funny to watch. Games were: Rainbow Relay (sort the M&Ms by color), Pots of Gold (separate the gold goodies from the other goodies while blindfolded),  and "feeling lucky" (pick the marshmallows out of the Lucky Charms with a spoon; the team with the most marshmallows wins).

I also found Leprechaun names for everyone. Jacksons' was Sly McMuffin. 😂

I found this Irish Blessing and I love it. It goes like this: May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.

Here's a little bit about Jackson @ age 9-
Favorite color- blue
Favorite food- sausage and eggs, or steak
Favorite treat- chocolate candy or gummy candy. He can't decide
Favorite free time activity- go hiking
Favorite subject @ school- Math
Favorite primary song- Nephi's Courage
Favorite scripture story- Nephi getting the plates from Laban.
When I grow up I want to be ... a business man like Dad.

We love you SO very much Jackson. You are such an amazing boy. You're kind, sympathetic, compassionate, smart and enthusiastic. You are going to go far Bud. We'll be right here along the way. Let's do this!

Boys Weekend @ the Cabin

{March 24-26, 2017)

I love the tradition you've started of going to the Cabin "just the boys". I think it's great for you guys and I love having that time with Alivia "just the girls".

You had a great time, of course! You even stopped @ OIP for some uber cheesy pizza. Once you got to the cabin you unpacked and went for a hike loving every minute outside in the fresh air.

Photo 1: Here you guys are hard at work gathering firewood so you can roast your hot dogs for lunch.

Photo 2: Some of your favorite moments were BB gun practice and using your sling shot. Now that sounds like a lot of BOY fun!

Photo 3: Levi was not missing any of the action with the BB gun and had a great time! 

You guys had to make a trip down to Renovo before dinner because you HAD to get some A1. How would you eat your steak otherwise?! :P You also picked out some treats for your trip: Jackson picked gummy bears and Levi picked airhead bites.

You cooked up your steaks and ate every morsel. You said it was the "best steak ever!" That sounds pretty delicious! What is it about grilling a steak over the campfire that makes it so wonderful?! I don't know but I'll take it!

Other notes from your weekend:
-You saw 8 turkey on your weekend trip!
-You saw more coyotes than usual. ??? wonder why?
-You went down to the stream and just enjoyed being outside and exploring around the cabin.
-More than anything you spent time together in the great outdoors and made memories you'll have forever. That's such a wonderful thing!

I'm so glad you guys were able to go and had such a great time. We're glad you're back. We missed you!