Christmasy Week

Christmas has come. Over the last few weeks, we've tried to have good Christmas moments. We started reading a little scripture message each day about Christmas two weeks ago. Plenty of Christmas movies and music filled the house. Two of the food items that I associate with Christmas didn't get made, but I'll try to make them for New Year's: thumbprint cookies and covered pretzels.

Oliver helped out with the high school's choir & band concert and then participated in a teacher lip sync during the high school holiday assembly.
While Friday night and Saturday morning I was consumed by the Tooele Invitational Swim Meet, we met Natalie in Salt Lake on Saturday night to go for a walk Temple Square to see their lights and the holiday displays.
 
It was very crowded, but the weather was nice and we all had a good time together. Nat then came home with us to stay the night and go to church with us before heading to the airport Sunday afternoon.
On Tuesday we finally got our act together and headed south to be with Grandma, Grandpa, Beth, Great Grandma and Marsha for Christmas. One bonus was that Oliver and I were able to go to the Mount Timpanogos Temple that night. It's always a blessing to go to the temple and participate in the work and blessings available there.
Christmas Eve was less than exciting though because Evan got 4 hours of sleep and woke up sick. He couldn't keep anything down and was pretty miserable most of the day. Luckily, Ryan had lots of others to entertain him.

He played basketball with Grandpa,

he helped make cranberry tea with Grandma and Beth as well as "grinch faces" (Grapes, banana slices, and strawberries).
 
He worked on his very own puzzle. He played Harry Potter and got to play Settlers with Beth, Grandpa and me.
Christmas morning was a blessing. Evan started to feel better on Christmas Eve night right before bedtime. He slept until 7:30! Yay! Ryan slept until 9! It was a great morning. We eventually let Ryan go upstairs to look through his stocking and see that it had snowed in the night. 
Then we had breakfast. He was so positive all morning and didn't act greedy or over anxious to open presents. It was awesome. We started to play our Settlers game again before opening presents and he was so excited. (He eventually won thanks to Grandpa's generosity). 
When we finally did open presents, he was helping give the presents out and said thank you before opening each of his own.
 
Evan was excited and was finally content with his first present-new pacifiers.
Then Ryan got to play in the snow before the great Christmas dinner that Grandma made for all of us.
  
I'm so glad that we had a fairly low key Christmas. While Ryan may have been overly anxious about getting certain presents from Santa before Christmas happened, he never showed disappointment in what he did or did not receive. We, as his parents, didn't overemphasize Santa, in fact, we didn't even leave a specific gift out as "from Santa."

As the afternoon wore on, it eventually came time to give last hugs to Oliver who needed to drive slowly and carefully in the falling snow back home where he needed to finish packing before meeting with the band to start their long trip to San Diego. We miss him, and I hope he is having fun. We also keep telling this baby in my belly to wait until Daddy comes home before coming into this world. Hopefully, he'll listen. So that's been Christmas. And for the next few days, we're hanging out with everyone before heading home ourselves. Merry Christmas!
Photos courtesy of Natalie, Grandpa, & Grandma. Except the last one. That's ours.

Last 14th of 2014

Yesterday I walked around with the camera to try and document another day in our lives. Since it was Sunday, it was a pretty comfortable day. Although we didn't wake up as early as we'd planned.

1. Evan wanted me to let him back by the bedrooms so that he could snuggle Daddy. But Daddy was busy working on things that Evan doesn't get to play with.

2. We spent the majority of sacrament meeting in the foyer where Ryan was coloring and trying to be reverent. White socks? He kept pulling them down like this too.... 

3. I spent a while pushing Evan around the hallway. Lately, he likes to push backwards against whoever is pushing him. 

4. I spend the third hour of church with the Young Women. 

5. This guy gave a talk during sacrament meeting. He's been called as the new Elder's Quorum President for the ward.

6. This is  for my dear sister Casey. When she was pregnant with her babies, I would tease her about these jumpers. I finally pulled them out and wore this more "Christmasy" one and thought of her all day. But I guess the joke's on me because while it isn't the most flattering piece of clothing, it is by far the most comfortable thing to wear as a pregnant woman. 

7. Helping Evan try to push the button himself on his new toy from the Angelman Christmas party on Saturday.

8. Sometime in the evening, before dinner. Pantsless, legs crossed, toy in hand, watching a Christmas movie.

9. Again, sometime before dinner, snuggled on the couch "starving".

10. Post nap, pre-dinner. 

11. Our Christmas tree. Its interesting how turning the lights on makes the house feel more ready for Christmas.

12. Multi-tasking. Talking on the phone while making pizza dough...the first time. Had to make it again since he forgot the yeast. 

13. We replayed the taping of the high school's band & choir concert from Friday. I was surprised to see how much Evan loved it. He stood right in front of the TV for the majority of it. Even danced to a few songs. Oliver even performed a song with three other teachers during it. It was a good show the first time and the second time. :)

14. Oliver's pizzas. Cheese for Ryan & a barbecue one for us(since there wasn't enough regular pizza sauce to go around).

Other photos I could've added...meeting with the Young Women leaders, the awesome candies that Stephanie made and shared with us and I brought home to share with the boys, the cinnamon bread made for us and for another family, Evan's giant smile all day long, Ryan sitting by Daddy and unable to stop talking and asking questions while Daddy was trying to listen to an old Three Tenors Concert. It was a good day and its amazing how quickly the time is going by. 2014 is almost over.

Primary Program

Once a year, the primary(the children of the church) get to present the music and the talks during the sacrament meeting. The kids did a great job and it was even nice since there were so many people present, the overflow was opened and Oliver and I could push Evan inside the room instead of in the hallway.
Ryan's portion was actually a talk he had given in Primary in August so it was from him and wasn't a phrase assigned to him to memorize.
Here it is:
    Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to have loving families. The prophets tell us if we have fun together, our families will get stronger. I like when my family plays together, goes camping, goes on road trips, goes on walks and has family home evening. I love my family. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
He read it clearly and smoothly (not too fast like some of the other kids & not nervously). He wasn't overly content sitting there for the entire program or to sing all the songs out to the back, but for our energetic 6 year old, he did fantastic.

14 on the 14th

Fourteen pictures to document the fourteenth day of November.

Happy morning face. Extra happy since he got to see Daddy before he went to work.

Sad boy because I told him he didn't need to wear the snow boots.

I felt cute and pregnant today.

I made this and finally delivered it to the intended recipient who had her baby girl a few weeks ago.

In the process of delivering the baby hat, Jamie & Nathan gave me their car seat since they'd purchased a new one for their newborn. I was shocked but am so thankful!

Oliver hasn't been feeling well. While at the school earlier in the morning to work on swim team stuff, I asked Oliver if he wanted anything and all he wanted was a large hot chocolate. So I got that for him and a small smoothie for me.

Doing the swim practice day car switch.

Rainy day! Can't see the mountains.

Swim practice. Had the whole pool and not as many swimmers as normal, so we played a little more than normal.

On the way home from swim practice. Saw a little bit of color on those clouds. 

Dark in the house when I came home. Its sometimes hard to remember to turn the lights on so early in the day.

Rocking out to the dancing game.

Another view of boys during the dancing game.

And ending with an embarrassing dancing photo of me. Baby moved awkwardly at times while I attempted to dance.

Baptism

Eight years.
Baptism by immersion in water by one having authority is the first saving ordinance of the gospel and is necessary for an individual to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to receive eternal salvation. All who seek eternal life must follow the example of the Savior by being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. (via lds.org)

Eight years.
 46 But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten;

 47 Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me; (D&C 29:46-47)

Eight years.

25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.

 26 For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.

 27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands. (D&C 86:25-27)

Eight years.

With all of this information above being a part of my belief system and having my first born turn 8 years old, this was a milestone that I knew would pass without being commemorated. With Evan's spiritual & mental capabilities being at a level that I don't completely understand, I completely feel that he is not yet accountable. He is unable to show his desire to be baptized, nor agree to make a commitment such is required by this ordinance.

Here in Utah, they have these children's baptisms set up on a regular basis. Once a month, those who have turned 8, decided to  be baptized and been prepared for the commitment are brought together for these baptisms. I've never attended a baptism in Utah before and so I wanted to attend to honor this mark of life even though Evan wouldn't be participating. Oliver, Evan, Ryan & I went the Saturday after Evan's birthday to the stake baptisms. Beth came as well. There were 6 children receiving the ordinance that day, one girl from our own ward. There was a member of the stake presidency conducting the meeting at the beginning. Then everyone sang I am a Child of God before the opening prayer was given. Then one of the fathers of a set of twins getting baptized gave a talk about baptism. After that, each of the children getting baptized were introduced by the bishop of his or her ward. Then each child & the family & friends present for that child were sent to the baptistry for the actual ordinance to be performed and then assigned a room to complete the services.

I always feel a calming and strong reassurance during the performance of the baptism. The Holy Ghost testifies to me how right this ordinance is. Speaking of the Holy Ghost, after Alie (the young girl from our ward) was baptized, her grandmother gave a talk directly for her about the Holy Ghost. Then she was confirmed to receive the Holy Ghost as her constant companion. 

This year, I've seen four different views of the baptismal covenant. 1st, I saw all of these 8 year olds choosing to get baptized because they'd been raised with the knowledge up to this part of their life. 2nd, in March, I saw two teenagers and an adult (my beautiful family members) make the decision to be baptized after not being raised with the gospel in their lives, but after having it introduced to them later in life and taught to them by missionaries. 3rd, I witnessed family members who have passed away, be given the chance to accept the covenants when the ordinances were performed by proxy in the temple-the house of God. 4th, I saw my beautiful 8 year old not be baptized because he is unable to choose for himself. I don't know what the future will bring, but right now, his communication level isn't high enough nor do I believe is his accountability level high enough to choose this for himself.

Eight years. 

Halloween's a Great Day!

Our day was a good one with lots of fun, especially for Ryan who declared that Halloween is a great day even before we left to go trick or treating. We slept in (a little bit), ate orange and yellow eggs(yay for food coloring and cheese), relaxed, played, and ran an errand or two. Then Ryan helped me make mummy hot dogs for lunch and we watched Casper while I cleaned the kitchen. 

Dinner was a multi colored extravaganza (thanks again to food coloring) and then it was off to trick or treating. 

"And that must be BLOOD! AAHH!"

Red Super Mega Force Power Ranger

My attempt at a cheap mummy costume: eyes meant to be my little baby boy.

Superman!

Knocking at one of the cooler doors of the night-spiderwebs & smoke machine.

The first few houses, Evan decided it was awesome to just walk right into. He then got tired and I ended up pushing him for the rest of the streets. After we had knocked on enough doors(Ryan declared we were done, because his bag was getting too heavy to carry), we came back home, started watching Hotel Transylvania, and I let the boys dig into their treasures. I loved that in the giant bag of candy to choose from, the first treat they decided on was a bag of Cheetos. 

Ryan also decided to pop the "magic" popcorn given us by Grammy for Evan's birthday. 

Then we snuggled and colored until Daddy came home from the state band trip. It was a happy day for everyone. Easy, low-key, and fun.   

He's 8!

Evan had a good birthday! He turned 8 years old and had a handful of happy moments. The night before his birthday, he didn't want to fall asleep on his own. Oliver thought he was asleep, and got up to leave, and Evan woke up. He then came out of the bedroom and found the pile of balloons I'd been blowing up. He kind of decided he didn't want to go back to bed. But I took him back to his room, where I stayed until 4:45am. Then Oliver left our bed around 6:00am to go back and keep him in his bed for an hour or two more. He finally woke up and was able to play with the balloons.

I attempted to make the world know that it was Evan's birthday. I made a sign that said "Evan is 8" and put it on our front door. Unfortunately, it was a ridiculously windy day and I have no idea where that sign is now. It blew off sometime between 1pm & 3pm. Oh well. To make up for it, I painted a few notes onto our car since we drove around a little on his birthday.

Oliver had to go to a band competition for a lot of the day (but good job band for getting 1st place!), and while gone, the boys and I just played and then went for a drive up Middle Canyon.

After Oliver left the band early, we went to Village Inn where we met Evan's local family members to celebrate him. Grandma, Grampa, Beth & Natalie were all able to come and give him hugs and smiles from these wonderful happy faces.

We are so blessed to have our oldest son in our lives. He brings love and happiness to our everyday.

Evan January 2007