{Family Fun, Mother's Day, R's Baptism, Talks, School: May 2014}

In the month of May, with our Family, there were a lot of awesome things happening.  We went to the Family BBQ {Picnic}, at Mark and the Kid's School, we Celebrated Cinco De Mayo, by eating Yummy Mexican food.  Our son E, was Principal's Pride in his class {Student of the Month}.  We were so proud of him!  Our daughter K gave a talk in Primary, on Easter Sunday {April 20th}   K's "Easter Talk":  {K did a Wonderful Job!}

"Jesus Has Risen.  Jesus Our Brother.  Jesus Our Friend.  Joy Fills Our Hearts.  He Lives Again. "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven..." (Joseph Smith Teachings) I am thankful that Jesus was resurrected, so I can be resurrected too someday, and be with my family forever.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Our son E, also gave a talk in Primary "God Speaks Through Prophets" E's Talk:  {E did a Wonderful job!} "There are many ways that Heavenly Father can talk to you. He can speak to you through the Holy Ghost. He can speak to you through the scriptures. One very important way that Heavenly Father talks to His children is through His living prophets. When the prophet speaks, he tells us things that Heavenly Father wants us to know.
In the Book of Mormon the people of King Noah were very wicked. Heavenly Father sent His prophet Abinadi to preach to them.  Alma, one of the priests, believed Abinadi’s words and learned the way to obtain God’s promised blessings.
In the Bible we read of God’s promises to the children of Israel. Through Moses, His prophet, the Lord delivered them from Egypt. Moses taught the children of Israel the way to obtain God’s promises and blessings.
There was not a prophet on the earth when Joseph Smith prayed to find out which church to join. He became God’s prophet and restored the true Church of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith taught the people what they needed to do to obtain God’s promises and blessings.
 If you knew that Jesus Christ was coming to speak to you, would you take time out from your playing to go and listen to
Him? Each April and October, the prophet and other General Authorities speak to us in special meetings called general conference. They tell us the things the Savior would tell us if He were here. Their words are like the scriptures and will guide us in our lives.
Today PresidentThomas S. Monson tells us what God wants us to know and do. When we listen to general conference, it is as if God Himself is speaking to us. We can learn the way to obtain God’s promised blessings when we listen to our prophet.
Our prophet loves us just as the Savior loves us. If we do the things he teaches, we can be happier in this life. We can learn how to live again with Father in Heaven and the Savior, Jesus Christ. It is wonderful to know that through our prophet, the Savior is speaking to each of us!  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen"
Sources:
Elizabeth Ricks, “Sharing Time: I Will Follow the Prophet Today,” Friend, Oct 2006, 14–16
Diane S. Nichols, “Sharing Time: Listen to a Prophet’s Voice!,” Friend, Apr 2001, 13

We celebrated Mother's Day.  The Kids and Mark spoiled me, with Breakfast in Bed, a Wonderful Lunch and Dinner, Flowers, and Special handmade gifts from the Kiddos.  We also called and sent cards to our Mothers.  It was a great day!

Our Daughter R had her Baptism in the month of May.  We were so proud of her.  I did a Photo Shoot of her in her Baptism dress, {that my Mom made for her--it's so beautiful!}  To view more of her Session, click here.  

Our Daughter R, had her Baptism, up in Oregon, with her Best Friend, L.  They had a wonderful experience together.  They sang "When I am Baptized" together, and they also sang "I am a Child of God" with their siblings {they have siblings who are all the same ages as our first 4 kids, and they are all best friends}.  I also played the descant on my violin, for that one too.

It was so fun to have a combined Baptism, with our great friends, the Smith family.  The program was all done by both of our families.  Mark's Dad {R's grandpa} gave the talk on The Holy Ghost, and Nette's Mom {L's grandma} gave the talk on Baptism.  Both R and L's Dad's Baptized them.  It was a Beautiful Baptismal service.  Mark confirmed R.  It was such a wonderful day!

 We went back to Mark's parent's home, with both sides of our family, and took some lovely pictures {thanks Riana!} with our family.

Our Daughter R, with her Grandparents, Parents, and Siblings.

R and L had such an Amazing Baptism day!  R with her Cousins, at her Baptism Luncheon.

Our Kids had such a Blast playing with Cousins from both sides of our Family.  It was a wonderful Baptism day!  We all had a great time spending time together.  We are so glad that so many of our Family and Friends could be there for R's special day!{Thanks to my awesome sister, Angela for taking care of our sick Baby H {without being asked!}, during the Baptism!}

{Easter & Family Visits : April 2014}

We celebrated Easter, this year with attending church {like every Sunday}, watching videos about Jesus Christ's Atonement and the Story of Easter...

 ...having the Easter Bunny come with Baskets and an Outdoor Easter Hunt, Painting Eggs, Eating a Delicious Easter Dinner...

We loved spending Easter as a Family, and watching the Kids' Excitement with each Fun Activity we did together! 

 We enjoyed having some of our Family Visit us in April, as well.  Grant and Angela's Family and Glen and Summer's Family came to visit us on the same day {Grant and Angela's Family stayed the night} and we had a lot of time spending time with them.  The Kids loved playing and eating Pizza with their Cousins at the Local Park and the Adults enjoyed Visiting together.     

We also had fun going to visit Mark's School {where he teaches; and the Kids' attend} and showing them around there.  Then later, we had a great time going on a Double Date with Angela and Grant to Cafe Rio.  Yummy.

{Sweet Family Love Adventures! Feb. 2014}

My Kids have a Wonderful Daddy!  He is Amazing with them!  Here Little Man C, is Reading a Story with his Daddy.  Little Miss K is Playing with Sweet Baby H.

Little Miss R and K with Little Man E, playing on the Computer together.  Sweet Baby H Smiling Lovingly at her Treasured Baby Doll.

Our Adorable Messy Baby H.  Little Man C Lookin' Handsome in his Church Clothes.

Little Misses R, K and I, went and had a Girls Day together, and all of us got our HairCut at a Salon.  It was So much Fun!  We were so Happy, with how they turned out!  Little Miss K and our Darling Baby H playing together. 

Little Miss R, feeding her Baby Sister H.  Little Miss K, playing with her Baby Sister H.

Little Man C Adores his Sleepy Baby Sister H!

I LOVE when my Darling Babies' Fall asleep on Me!  Little Miss K, Little Man C, and Sweet Baby H having Fun, Playing together.  

 I LOVE how Sweet my Kids are when they are Sleeping!  Big Brother E and Little Brother C, snuggling together, while Sleeping.  So Adorable!

Little Miss R and Little Man E, getting ready to go with Mama to have a Fun Day redeeming their "Being Good" School Coupons!  We had a Blast!

Big Sister R, Reading a Story to Little Brother C, and Little Sister K.  Big Sister K, with Little Baby Sister H, Snuggling together.

I Adore Our Darling Sleeping Babies!  It's moments like these, that I am in Awe, at what Amazing Kids we have; and that they are Ours.  We are So Blessed!

 In the tradition of Our Kids, Little Miss K, started losing her teeth at Age 4 {now 5}.  She was Excited to Lose another one, and for the Tooth Fairy to make a Visit to Our House!   
Little Miss R was asked to give a Talk in Primary at Church.  She did an Amazing job!  She Loves the Spotlight! 

{Heavenly Father's Plan is a Plan of Happiness}. 

Little Miss R's Talk: Feb. 9th 2014

Before we came to earth, our spirits lived with Heavenly Father who created us. We knew Him, and He knew and loved us. It was a happy time during which we were taught God's plan of happiness and the path to true joy. But just as most of us leave our home and parents when we grow up, God knew we needed to do the same. He knew we couldn't progress unless we left for a while. So he allowed us to come to earth to experience the joy -- as well as pain -- of a physical body.

Each time we make a poor choice with painful consequences, that decision leads to unhappiness -- sometimes immediately, sometimes much later. Likewise, choosing good eventually leads to happiness and helps us become more like Heavenly Father.

I hope we can all make good choices, so that we can be happy in this life and live with Heavenly Father again someday.  In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

 We LOVE our Sweet, Darling Kiddos!

Baby H is Such a Happy, Sweet Baby!

{Friends, Baptism, Visits: Dec 2013}

We visited with my Amazing Friend Adrienne, and her Family while we were in Washington.  We have been Friends for Over 25 years.  We had a lot of fun with them.

We attended our niece K's Baptism.

 {My Sister Angela and Grant's Daughter}

It was a Beautiful Baptism.  We were proud of K for making the choice to be Baptized into Jesus Christ's true Church.

 On our way back to Idaho from Washington, we stopped in Oregon to visit Family and Friends.  We enjoyed visiting some of our Favorite Friends: The Smiths.  Nette & I.  Our Daughter R with Friend L.

We enjoy spending time with them and each of the kids (except Baby H) have a Bff their age in their Family.  Our daughter K with friend N.

We had fun going to McD's with them.  Baby H {who LOVES Baby Dolls!} with Daddy.  Our sons E & C with their friends M & T.  We had a lot of fun with them.

It's so crazy to see our Home on the Market.  It's even more surreal for the Kids.  Our 3 year old {C}, keeps saying, "We used to live there in the Yellow House Mommy.  I miss our Yellow House."  Sad.  But I guess change is not always easy, especially on children.

{Christmas Festivities and Traditions: Dec. 2013}

We loved decorating our Christmas tree together.  We took our tree out of storage, but we left all of our ornaments, stockings, and other decorations in storage.  So we bought some decor, ornaments and stockings at the Dollar Store.

Our family sang {"Silent Night"} together in church yesterday. It went very well. We were so proud of our kiddos! Merry Christmas!!!
Read more at http://web.stagram.com/n/lily_photography_ec/#HupDGJebCRopCDJ7.99

  Our family sang "Silent Night" together in Sacrament Meeting at church during the Christmas season.  It went very well.  We were so proud of our kiddos, who sang out with all their hearts.  That same day, I sang in Relief Society (Women's meeting) at Church a duet, "As Sisters In Zion", with a friend, Whitney.  It was fun.

The kids have enjoyed playing in the snow this Winter Season.  They like building things and having fun with the snow, together.

We enjoyed building and decorating a Ginger Bread House together (tradition). 

  The kids loved finding creative places to put the candy on the Ginger Bread House.

 We went to our Kid's Elementary School Winter Music Concert.  They did an Amazing job on their songs {with their classes}.

We Loved watching them perform with their 3rd and 2nd grades!

 

   Our Baby Loved Being Cozy in Her Stroller, while the other kiddos played in the snow together.

When Mark was on a Scout Campout, the Kids had a Movie Party Night with Mama.  We had a Blast together.  I helped the Kids make an Advent Calendar at Library Story Hour, and we had fun counting down the days with that.  We acted out the Nativity Play together (tradition) and we loved doing that together.

The kids enjoyed playing all of the parts, and we enjoyed singing together, reading out of the Bible, and Remembering the True Meaning of Christmas together.

{Baptisms and spending time with Family: August 2013}

In August, we had fun visiting with family in Washington and Oregon.  We always enjoy spending time with them.

 While we were up in Washington visiting family, we attended a combined baptism for our niece L and our nephew S (baptized by their fathers).  It was wonderful to be able to be there for that (my parents picked up Mark from our home in Oregon on their way back from their historical trip back east, so he could attend it, and drive back with us).  Most of the nieces and nephews (there are 21 so far) on my side of the family, sang with L and S, "When I am Baptized" together for a musical number.  It was amazing to see all of them up there singing together.  We went on a double date with my sister Celestia and her husband Fatih and had a lot of fun with them too.

We went down and visited my cousin Ryan, his wife Leah and their 6 beautiful children, when Mark was down interviewing for a job in their area.  We had a complete blast with their family, and loved spending time with them.  It was so much fun to visit with them.