Format

I give up! I have been having so much trouble formatting my posts with pictures, that I decided to add a disclaimer. I am not intentionally making ugly posts, but after an hour of messing with this I give up. You will just have to guess which words go with which pictures and why everything looks like a jigsaw puzzle.I don't know if its me or blogger, but hopefully it is a short term problem.

Denial

Lucas had a birthday this Saturday. Despite the multiple celebrations, candles, cakes, gifts, singing, phone calls, etc. Lucas still hasn't accepted the fact that he is now three. Ask him and he will hold up two fingers and correct you if you suggest anything other than he is two. =)

Even though Lucas missed the significance of his birthday, I think he enjoyed it all the same.

I asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday party and the only request he made was to play at "Jack's House." I tried to offer other ideas, but he just wanted to go over to his friend's house and play. So I called our friend to see if we could come over and play and I would bring lunch. Who wouldn't want to play at "Jack's?"

After his first party, we went over to another friends house where we had a cook-out and celebrated again complete with another cake.

To finish off the night, we lit fireworks in the driveway!! The kids really enjoyed that and it was a fun way to celebrate our little firecracker of a son!

We've come a long way, kiddo!!

Christmas on the frozen tundra

When we got back to West Virginia after our Christmas trip, I ran into a mom from Elena's school. I told her we had been on vacation and just got back. She told me she hoped we'd been someplace warm. Not Exactly.

When it looks like this outside:














What do you do?


1) Put the kids to work

2) Send the men out to "Hunt and Gather" Supper

3)Make and snitch Christmas cookies

4) Build an Indoor Sandbox in Grandpa's shop

5) Pretend it's somewhere warmer

White Christmas

I do believe that 17" of snow would qualify as a white Christmas. It is a great opportunity to snuggle with the kids, play with the new toys (and the 50 million little pieces of said toys), visit with family and nibble on Christmas goodies.
This has been a great Christmas and I am very grateful to be celebrating the Savior's birth, life and example.

Light it up

There's nothing like an Econoline van with the plushest seats ever (courtesy of my brother's boss), two kids snuggled in footie jammies, and THIS to make Trenton's local tour de lights a complete success.

I've seen video of these synchronized light shows and wanted to see one so bad. Trenton put together a tour for his girlfriend and our family. Elena's favorite part was the music from Charlie Brown's Christmas movie. My favorite part - you have to watch the video to appreciate (watch video by clicking on giant "THIS") - but the neighboring house had written in lights a big sign reading "DITTO" with an arrow pointing next door.

"Praise to the Man"

It has been a true blessing and privilege to study the Prophet Joseph Smith and his teachings over the past two years. In our Relief Society and Priesthood classes we have learned and been edified through the exemplary life and teachings of the man foreordained to restore the living gospel to this earth. A fourteen year-old boy had the faith and integrity necessary to go to his Heavenly Father asking for guidance as to which church to join. The heavens were opened, the Father and Son appeared and declared themselves to him. I was not there. I did not see it. Yet, I have no reason not to beleive it. The spirit has witnessed to me, as it can to all who want to know, that this man was a prophet called during the great coucil in heaven to bring the light of the gospel to a dark world.
He was asked to bare burdens beyond my comprehension. He was worthy of revelation necessary for the building and restoring of Christ's church, the same that was established during Christ's mission on earth. He lived and died in the service of God. He sealed his testimony with his life when mobs hunted him down while imprisoned in Carthage. He sacrificed all, so that we could have the fullness of the gospel here - today. This curch means more to me than anything. The knowledge of my Savior that I have attained through it's techings sustains me daily. Knowing that through the atonement, I can be forgiven of my transgressions and be reunited with my Savior and loved ones in the life to come is an invaluable blessing. Knowing that we have the privilage of recieving personal revelation and revelation through modern prophets and leaders is beyond comforting. Knowing we can go to the temple and seal our families and those who have gone before into a heavenly family brings me joy. These blessings would not be possible save it through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I worship my Savior and Heavenly Father. I do not worship the prophet; instead, I honor him. I love him. I am grateful to him.

(Please visit lds.org or mormon.org if you would like to learn more about Joseph Smith or other LDS related topics.)

Hey, hey, hey - Goodbye!

Say good bye to this adorable sight. Not Lucas- just the binkie.

Monday, Dec. 7 marks the end of an era. No more binkie for the little addict. When he started talking like he had a wad of cotton in his mouth, we figured it was time to rip the proverbial band-aid off and send the pacifier to live with the "Binkie Fairy" (thanks J. for the idea).

Nightime and naptime have been a little rough, but since it was Drew's idea he has to get up with him at night.

Does not having any kids with binkies mean it's time for another one? Ha. You wish, Dad!