Five Months Later

I've had a request to update my blog. Hmmm, it has been a while, Ashley! Thanks for the nudge to get back here. Alrighty, a few highlights of the last five months, with pictures!

We went to Sterling's family reunion at Bear Lake near Logan. Our favorite day was spend on the beach. Sand, boat, water, sun - sunburn. Good times! It was really nice to be with all the cousins and families. There were 25 cousins and 17 parents and sibling/spouses.

The kids went back to school. Morgan is in 5th grade. Gavin is in 3rd. Reagan is in 1st. Austin is in preschool through the city. 

When school had started, and we had not gone camping as a family, we brought camping to our home. We had a campfire a couple of weekends and we also set up the tent and camped. It was much warmer than heading to the mountains in September.

This is a recent picture of the family. We went hiking on Labor Day.

Then the birthdays...we had a celebration week in August. Sterling and I had our 13th anniversary, followed by my bday on the 24th, Sterling's on the 25th, and Austin's on the 26th. I wish his birthday was first in line, we are pretty partied and caked out when its his day. But everyone needs cake on their birthday. I won't give mine up! Gavin's birthday was just this week, he wanted the United States on his cake. We put the nine candles in states he has been.

This past weekend we headed up to Breckenridge for fun. We were able to see the aspen trees changing colors. It was really pretty. We hung out in the hotel pool a lot. It was fun to get away.

All caught up! Let's hope for at least a monthly post from here on out.

The First of May

Austin says we need to set up the Christmas tree. How do you explain this weather to a 3 year old? He just doesn't get it. It was warm, now it's cold and snowy, must be winter again. Bring on Christmas!

Note to Mother Nature: It is May! Put away the snow! Pretty please :)

Passion

We all need a little passion in our life, right? Not that kind of passion! I mean the passion for things we feel strongly about, the things we love, and the things that inspire us.

Well, my boy Gavin is a passionate boy. When he loves something, he loves it deeply. His life is turned upside down by his loves. As a tiny thing of barely two, his first big love was dinosaurs. Have you ever heard a sweet little two year old say, "Parasauralophus?" Precious. Oh, I never knew SOOO much about dinosaurs as I do now. This love has definately lasted the longest. For a good 4 years, that was his true love. For discipline, I would take away dinosaurs. Sometimes ALL things dinosaur - no dino clothes, no dino books, no dino toys, it was a sad day.

As he grew, his passions for other things began. One year, he absolutely LOVED belts. He would take Daddy's and mine, his, and just play with them all day. I was really thinking about getting 10 belts from Goodwill for Christmas for him that year.

Then it was Star Wars. He LOVED Star Wars. He watched the movies all the time, drew pictures, and did pretend play. For Halloween, he was Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine.

For a while, he was loving Avatar, he watched the show, collected the guys, drew more pictures, and of course played Avatar at all times.

He got very interested in the solar system. His room was painted with space scenes by his aunt. Very awesome.

This past year, he was crazy for the Magic Tree House books. While they were under his reading level, he HAD to read them all. We quickly got them all from the library and within weeks, he had read all 38 books. He even had memorized which number was which title. It was amazing to ask him what #17 was, and him answer in a matter of seconds, "Tonight on the Titanic."

Gavin recently found a new passion. He is watching movies, drawing pictures, playing pretend with his "toys", and, of course, reading the books. Here is a display of some of his passion for the subject:

This is my boy riding his "broom". Last night, he and his sister had a quidditch match. It was quite exciting!

What, you don't know who this group is? Why it is Harry, Ron, and Hermione! Harry (cat), Hermione (McDonald's toy from Chronicles of Narnia), and Ron (Imaginext toy). I MUST get him some real toys! Or at least get him a new Harry!!! Ewwww. Harry needs a bath! I love seeing him with a belt (Still loves his belt!) playing book #2, with the snake. It is very entertaining.

I love how he shares his passion with the whole family. We all love dinosaurs, all 4 older kids have lightsabers, they love watching Avatar together, and both Morgan and Gavin are reading Harry Potter together. They are now finishing book #3.

I love Gavin's passion. I hope he grows up to be passionate about his life, his education, his career, his family, and his goals. I need to catch a little bit of his passion for things.

Accepting The Hinkley Challenge

I got a forward today. To celebrate the life of President Gordon B. Hinkley, there is a challenge going around to read the Book of Mormon in 97 days. I'm going to do it. I haven't even begun to read this year, and honestly, I haven't completed the Book of Mormon since President Hinkley gave us the last challenge (I started back up as soon as I finished, but the farthest I got was in the thick of Alma, or was it 3rd Nephi?). This will be a wonderful thing for me. A little gift to celebrate a great man. As of today, there were over 8,000 people signed up to do the challenge. I'm keeping track of my progress at the right.

Here is the email message I recieved:

As most of you know, our beloved prophet, Gordon B.Hinckley passed away at the age of 97. His funeral will be on Saturday, February 2nd.

I was thinking of how I could honor his legacy and I came up with an idea. My friend and I have created a challenge for those willing to accept it: Read the Book of Mormon in 97 days. We are trying to get everyone to start on the same day. Here are the details:

Go to http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/ and create an account (free, of course). On Feb 4, 2008 (the Monday following the funeral) have an FHE lesson on the Book of Mormon and begin your reading. Each day you read, record what page number you are on by going to http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/.

We would like this challenge to be heard all around the world! Please forward this message to everyone you know. We would love to see over 1 million pages of the Book of Mormon read by the time this challenge has ended.

Do you want to show your support? Do you want to follow the prophet? Do you want to get rid of all of your excuses for not reading and become a warrior? Then join me in this challenge!!!
We are going to spread this throughout the news media (TV and radio) and we've already contacted Fox news, KSL, CBS, and ABC. But we cannot get the word out to everyone without your help! Please forward this on to EVERYONE in your address book. Time is of the essence!! This will be the one forwarded message that everyone will be happy to get :).
http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/createUser.php
-Jake Andersen

P.S. You can always see an updated list of those who have accepted the challenge by clicking here (www.hinckleychallenge.com/warriors.php)

Off I go to read, only 5.5 pages a day to finish by May 11, 2008.

We are all going to die...

Austin's first day in Sunbeams was last week. He missed the week before with a runny nose. Well, it was a rough day for the little guy. Apparently, his sunbeam teacher mentioned to the kids about how after they die, they will go to heaven. Well, Austin didn't want to DIE! He got very upset and cried and cried. Poor little guy.

Yes, Austin, welcome to the REAL world. You are three years old now. No more nursery lessons about "having eyes" or being "thankful for fish"! It's time to hit you with the big stuff. DEATH! Welcome to Primary!

Maybe it's time to repeat that "Plan of Happiness" lesson for Family Home Evening?

Ouch, Ouch, Ouch and an Orange

Yesterday morning, I was carrying Camryn and going down the stairs. On the last couple of stairs I stepped wrong (foot turned sideways toward my ankle) and fell crashing down with Camryn onto the carpet and tile entryway. Oh, it hurt soooo bad. I was crying out in pain, flailing around. Cami was howling. I was worried I had slammed onto her and broken her arm or leg in the fall. Luckily, she checked out fine. Just scared and slightly bumped up.

Morgan and Gavin had already left for school. Reagan was asleep. So I was crying and asking Austin to come help me. Austin came over and the little stinker thought I was faking it! He started laughing at me, telling me I could walk, just get up, Mommy! I was asking him to bring me a pillow for my foot. Or bring me the phone to call Daddy. Or to bring me some frozen peas from the freezer. He just didn't get that I was really hurt. Then he laughed at Cami who was still very upset over my crying and wailing and calling for help. Her nose was a runny mess and she was doing a crazy, upset cry. So then I started crying for Reagan to wake up and come help me. Please come, Reagan! But sleeping beauty would not wake!

Austin finally decided that maybe he would have to help me. He ended up being quite the hero. He brought me a pillow, then he went to the fridge and came back saying, "You wanted something very cold to eat?" and carrying an ORANGE! What a sweet kid. He finally got both the frozen peas and the phone for me. What a little man!

I think I gave myself a very bad sprain. Definitely not the week for hobbling around the house, when I should be hitting the stores, but it will all get done. It really could have been so much worse. What if I fell at the top of the stairs, or both Camryn and I had broken bones? So I'm glad for that. And what if Austin had been asleep? Who would have helped me and brought me an orange???

Tuck, Tuck, Tuck

Yesterday was our Primary program. The three older kids did a great job in memorizing their lines and speaking clearly. Gavin's class got up to sing a song about baptism. As they gathered around the microphone, Gavin was unfortunately off to the side behind the group of kids. As they began singing, he started tucking in his shirt (which was actually already tucked in pretty nice). He got in a few words of the song, and continued to tuck. A couple more words, tuck, tuck, tuck. Sterling and I got a good laugh out of watching our boy tuck in his shirt the WHOLE song. But didn't he look nice!

"I Can't Wait Until I'm Eight..."

Gavin was baptized on Saturday, November 3. We are really proud of him for this big decision he has made. Here's a shot of the cousins at the baptism. Isn't family fun?

Mom, Dad, and Gavin

Spooktacularly Late

I know, Halloween is so three weeks ago. Here are the kids' pumpkins. Morgan and Gavin's are in the back, then Cami, Reagan, and Austin are in the front. Spooky!

Morgan - Mummy

Gavin - Emperor Palpatine (Star Wars)

Reagan - Witch

Austin - Sorcerer

Camryn - Pumpkin

Back to School - The Final Chapter

Austin started school last month. When I took these pictures, it was hard for me to get a shot of him standing still. He was THAT excited! The first one is him jumping and saying "Cheese!"

He is very excited to be going to "school" like his bigger sisters and brother. Have a good year, AustinBoy!