Temple Talks

Our talks went well today.  We did not have a lot of time, but it all went well in the end.

A favorite quote from my talk...President Boyd K. Packer said, When members of the Church are troubled or when crucial decisions weigh heavily upon their minds, it is a common thing for them to go to the temple. It is a good place to take our cares. In the temple we can receive spiritual perspective. There, during the time of the temple service, we are “out of the world.”

Sometimes our minds are so beset with problems and there are so many things clamoring for attention at once that we just cannot think clearly and see clearly. At the temple the dust of distraction seems to settle out, the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can “see” things that we were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known.

The Lord will bless us as we attend to the sacred ordinance work of the temples. Blessings there will not be limited to our temple service. We will be blessed in all of our affairs.

A favorite quote from Grant's talk...When one puts business or pleasure above his home, in that moment he starts on the down grade to soul ruin. The loss of fortune is nothing compared with the loss of home. When the club becomes more attractive to any man than his home, it is time for him to confess in bitter shame that he has failed to measure up to the supreme opportunity of his life and has flunked in the final test of true manhood. No other success can compensate for failure in the home. This is the one thing of limitless potentialities on earth. The poorest shack of a home in which love prevails over a united family is of greater value to God and future humanity than the richest bank on earth. In such a home God can work miracles and will work miracles. The greatest miracle that King Herod ever saw was John the Baptist. The religious home, though poor, produced John the Baptist. The most dazzling miracle of all history is Jesus of Nazareth. His education was that of a united religious home.  Pure hearts in a pure home are always in whispering distance of heaven. In such a home there is always a key which one may use in opening the reservoirs of the infinite and start a Pentecost. The great, good God who made this world ordained man and woman for the home and He is seeing to it that they may search the whole world over, but will never find the sweetest joys of life anywhere but in the home. In obedience to God's law for human life, one should make it his highest ambition to build an ideal home. Make home your hobby, for, if anyone makes a loving home with all his heart, he can never miss heaven.

Go Cougars!

BYU won!  It was a good game, a fun one to watch.  I'm excited to see how we can do next weekend against Utah State who is playing really well.  We went to BYU to pick up some tickets.  While we were there we took a few pictures.

Miscellaneous

This is Daniela's Steve Young puppet that she had to make for school...

A really pretty picture taken by a guy in our ward...

I don't know why Ethan wants me to post these pictures because I think they are so gross, but he thinks they are so funny.  This is for you Ethan...

BEFORE                                                                       AFTER

Busy Kids

Brandon decided that he wanted to take art classes again.  I always thought that he did really well, so we signed him up.  We signed Ethan up too because he has always liked to draw.  I called to find out about it today and they started today.

About a month ago, we signed Daniela and Krista up for a play.  They will perform the play in April or May.  They go once a week until then (besides for holidays) to practice.  They will each have an acting part, they will sing and dance.  They seem to be enjoying it.  It's fun to hear them practice lines and sing songs they have learned.

Ethan

Tonight, we had Pack Meeting, Ethan got the Leave No Trace Award and 2 silver Arrow Points.  He loves Scouts!

Yesterday, Ethan and I stopped at the grocery store on the way home from school, we saw this bulletin board.  Ethan, of course, is pointing to his paper.

End of Season Treat

Today was the end of soccer season.  To celebrate the end of the season and congratulate the kids for playing so well we took them out for lunch and ice cream.

White Elephant

Daniela went to a birthday party tonight for a friend at school.  They had a really neat idea for the party that I wanted to share.  Instead of bringing a gift for the girl, they asked everyone to bring a white elephant gift.  I think this is an awesome idea.  It shows that she just wants to get together with her friends and the party is not all about the gifts.  Also, everyone comes home with something, so you don't have to worry about sending everyone home with some type of party favor.  Daniela loved it.  They had a good time stealing gifts from each other and she came home with something fun.  Just thought I'd share...

WHY?

WHY GO FOR 2????!!!!

Jimmer Time

Grant took Brandon to Deseret Book tonight to meet Jimmer!  They bought his new book and had it signed.

Brandon took his picture that he drew of Jimmer, so that he could have it signed as well.  They said that they were only signing his books.  They told Brandon if he would wait until Jimmer was done, then they would have Jimmer sign it.  Grant and Brandon waited.  They loved his picture and it is so awesome to have it signed!  Brandon is so excited.  

I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus

This is my favorite Primary song right now.  I find myself humming it or singing it a lot since we sang it in the Primary Program.  I once saw a video on You Tube of David Archuleta singing it.  I really like it, so I thought I would share it...

Singing Files

Here are 2 songs that the primary kids sang last week.  Krista sings a duet for part of 1 song.  Brandon sang with the other boys in his class during a song, and Daniela and the other girls in her class also sang a part in the same song.

http://stealth.circlepix.com/TryingToBeLikeJesus.mp3

http://stealth.circlepix.com/AllThingsBright.mp3

Tie the Knot

Alex has been wanting to learn to tie his shoes.  Grant told him that he would teach him on Sunday.  Alex has been so excited to learn.  After church today he remembered that today was the day, so Grant taught him.  He learned fast, he had to show everyone that he could do it.  He was so happy!

Diggin' Cherry Hill

These are the Cherry Hill shirts this year.  They say, I Dig Cherry Hill Elementary.  They are doing a lot of construction over at the school, so they made these shirts.  They are fun.  We got them for the kids and they want the kids to wear them on Fridays.  I just found out that I am going to be helping in Alex's class every Friday, so today I bought one for me as well.

Kindergarten Boy

Tonight Alex had his Kindergarten Literacy night.  Ali went with him and she said he did a great job.

He is doing great in school and really loves his class.  I can't believe our baby is growing up like that already.  He is a lot of fun.

An Hour and a Half

After I drop off Ethan at school I have about an hour and a half before I need to leave to pick up Alex at school.  Today, I walked to the library, visited with a neighbor and went to the play group in our ward (I went with no kids, just to visit).  It was fun and relaxing.  Tomorrow, I think I will have to use that hour and a half to catch up on some cleaning at home.  Friday, I will go help in Alex's class.  It's not a lot of time, but it's nice to do what I want or need to do with no distractions!

Peanut Snatch

For Family Home Evening tonight, we played Peanut Snatch.

The kids really like this game.  We'll have to play it more often.  If you've never played, let me know and we can teach you sometime.

Primary Program

We had our Primary Program today.  It went really well.  I love the Primary Program and I love being a part of it.  The kids all did so well.  Mom and Dad, I wish you guys could have been here.  Brandon was part of a small group of boys singing a verse of All Things Bright and Beautiful.  Daniela sang a verse of the same song with a few other girls.  Later in the program, Krista was part of a duet singing a verse of I'm Trying to be Like Jesus.  They all did so well!  I did record them, I know you are not supposed to, but it is just singing.

I guess we will post the recordings tomorrow night.  I guess it is a process to post audio recordings.  We'll do it tomorrow when it's not so late.

Extreme Massagers

A while ago I got the following email...

Brandon, Daniela, Ethan, Alex and Krista are starting a massaging
business. We will Karate Chop, Scratch and walk on your back. We will
also massage your feet. All for the low price of  $2. Ethan will
karate chop your back. Daniela will massage your feet. Alex will walk
on your back. Krista will scratch your back and Brandon will manage it
all. Please come!!! Call or text 801-921-1084 to schedule an
appointment or you can email an appointment to readingcolt@gmail.com
or laffy2002@gmail.com. You can also schedule an appointment when you
come. This is a family buisness so do NOT tell your friends about it or
ELSE.

Tonight Grant and I scheduled appointments and let me tell you, they did a great job!  It was a great way to end the day.  Brandon and Krista massaged my hands, Daniela massaged my feet, Alex walked on my back and Ethan's karate chop was awesome!  They used scented lotions to massage my hands and feet and they even had soft piano music playing in the background.

If you're ever in the neighborhood, it's a great deal for only $2!

Best Feature

Brandon's friend was talking to some girls in their class.  He was asking them if any girls liked him and then if any girls in their class liked Brandon.  They told Brandon's friend that seven girls liked Brandon.  He asked what Brandon's best feature was and they said his glasses.  Everyday since then...Brandon has worn his contacts.

Excitement

Ethan had to write a poem for school.  He had to write a poem about an emotion.  He chose excitement.  I think that he did a great job.  I love to see what kids can come up with all on their own!

Excitement

Things that make me excited...

Getting ready for school.

Going to a pool.

Going to my cousin's house.

Going to scouts.

When on Utah Lake.

When eating steak.

When I get math.

When I laugh.

Playing my Wii.

When I'm me!

Construction Area

The principal took Alex's class on a tour of the construction area today.  They had fun and looked cute in their hard hats!

Back to Normal

We had a fun, long weekend, but today we got back to school, homework and soccer.  It sure makes the days pass quickly.

I forgot to mention the sad part of our day yesterday.  No more snow cones!  Yesterday was the last day that they were open.  They have 32 flavors, we were trying to try them all this summer, but I think that we ended up trying 13-15.  Most of the time we just got the 4 oz size, they are only 50 cents.  Yesterday, we got a bigger size with ice cream at the bottom, I had never tried them this way.  They were good.  I guess we'll get back in line on Memorial Day 2013.

Boating

Thank you Becca and Greg for taking us boating today. We all had a great time, the kids really enjoyed it!