tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63330178493486507122024-02-22T11:08:32.878-05:00Talking to Myselfsince my boys aren't listening.yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.comBlogger411125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-45822484732582897242013-01-04T13:45:00.002-05:002013-01-04T13:45:50.438-05:00Long time no postI can't believe it is 2013 already! Where did 2012 go? I'm not sure where the whole year went, but I can tell you where we spent the last several months of 2012- at the doctor's office with Samuel. My poor boy has had <i>something</i> wrong since September. He started with stomach pains which ended up requiring an x-ray to confirm what was going on. We got him on some medicine to fix that problem then he ran into a door and split his lip open, requiring an ER visit and stitches. Once he had the stitches removed, he got hit by another GI thing which has continued off and on for 8 weeks. We just got back from a set of blood tests and a chest x-ray because the doctor heard wheezing in Sam's lungs today as well. Sigh. Anyone want to send prayers our way, we could sure use them! So for us, 2013 has picked up right where 2012 left off. Sigh. One of these days I will actually post pictures from our cruise last September. Let's just get my sweet guy better.<br />
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Happy New Year world! Hopefully 2013 goes up from here.yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-87806275121287412722012-08-04T22:24:00.000-04:002012-08-04T22:24:42.970-04:00Yellowstone-in a nutshellLast week we had a family reunion (with my family- minus my Bro and Sis-in-law and their son (they are expecting)- which was 25 people in all) in Yellowstone. We made plans about a year ago and John has been looking forward to it with great anticipation since then. Usually my sister, Keri, plans the family vacations but we begged for the opportunity to be in charge because John wanted to make sure he did not miss a thing. And I can honestly say- after a week of being home from vacation and STILL completely exhausted- that we did and saw everything you can possibly fit in one week. <br />
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The itinerary went something like this:<br />
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Monday: Old Faithful and surrounding geyser basins, ice cream in Old Faithful Inn, drive around Firelake Dr and home for dinner.<br />
Tuesday: Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth, Roosevelt Corrals for horseback or coverd wagon ride to a chuck wagon cookout. Yum!<br />
Wednesday: Fishing day for some of the family and swimming in Firehole River. John and I, Samuel, James and my Mom went ziplining and white water rafting. That is a separate story in and of itself. Amazing!<br />
Thursday: Artist Paint Pots, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Hayden Valley and the mud volcanos, drive by Yellowstone Lake and back to West Yellowstone for a rodeo. John got suckered into a dance contest at the rodeo and won! This still has us all laughing!<br />
Friday: Big Springs in ID, Bear and Wolf enclosure in West Yellowstone (we didn't see either in our travels around the park although we did miss bears by just a few minutes on two separate occasions), a little shopping and some of the kids completed their Jr. Ranger badges. We packed up for an early departure for Grand Tetons the following morning.<br />
Saturday: Goodbye Yellowstone, Hello Grand Teton National Park. The mountains were breathtaking. Literally and figuratively. We took a ferry across Jenny Lake and did the mile hike up to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. It was inspiring. No, really! Matthew hiked the entire mile back down by himself! Dinner in Jackson Hole, WY and watch a play gunfight in town square. Leave Jackson around 7 and drive back to Keri's house in SLC.<br />
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Wow! Just typing it makes me tired! We had a really great time. And although it required a lot, and I mean A LOT of driving, we had a great time! Pictures to come... we uploaded the camera cards from everyone so we have roughly 1500 pics to choose from.yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-78936394374014523282012-06-30T22:53:00.000-04:002012-06-30T22:54:51.874-04:00Adventures in Swimming LessonsEarplugs in place, a shark cap on his head<br />
a tentative toe dipped into the cool water.<br />
"I'm not sure I want to do this..."<br />
<br />
Big brother mere feet away bobbing in the pool<br />
"This is great!" Climbing out only to jump in again-<br />
Fearless and laughing.<br />
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Big breath, try again. Down one step, then another. Look Mom!<br />
A big grin, two thumbs up. One more step. I'm in!<br />
Wait, you want me to swim?<br />
<br />
Look to Sam again- kicking across the pool, loving it!<br />
Sliding down the slide, floating on his back, learning strokes. <br />
He's a fish.<br />
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Grasp the float and kick across the pool. Hey, not too bad.<br />
Face in the water? I can do that! Blow bubbles- I'm a pro-<br />
This swimming thing's ok.<br />
<br />
The diving board?<br />
<br />
The diving board???<br />
<br />
Maybe next week!<br />
<br />yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-15849762522657626762012-06-24T19:53:00.000-04:002012-06-24T19:53:13.737-04:00FB vs BloggerI love to write. I love to blog stories about my family. I also enjoy the interaction I have found on Facebook with friends both old and new from all over the country (and world). For a while I was trying to maintain both FB and Blogger, but for the last 6 months clearly FB has won. Let's see what I can do to change that this summer.<br />
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Here is a quick family update for anyone who is curious:<br />
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Matthew is almost three, as adorable as ever but so strong willed that all of the patience I didn't learn with my oldest two is now being tested in spades. He still loves his Mickey Mouse but is branching out to Doc McStuffins and Little Einsteins. His favorite shirt to wear is his Phillies shirt, Halladay, of course! He loves to read and to "ride" his bike - really it is a bigwheel and his feet don't reach the pedals yet so he shuffles his feet to move it around. He loves to swim (have me hold him up in the water while he kicks his legs and moves his arms), and he LOVES any time with his big brothers and daddy. He will play bey blades and legos with the big boys for hours just to be a part of the action. Oh and he is obsessed with Mario Karts on the wii and has gotten to the point where he can almost finish a race. He also tells everyone he talks to that he is going to be Yoshi on a bike. (Not something for me to be proud of - too much video game time in the house in general - but that will change this summer. Honestly!)<br />
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James, now seven, just finished first grade. He had the sweetest teacher and a very friendly but mellow class. I know, when was the last time you heard a first grade class described as mellow? I wouldn't believe it either if I hadn't seen it myself! His favorite food in the world is strawberries and he still loves the color red- as evidence by most of his wardrobe. James loves playing bey blades, legos, Skylanders on the XBox and Mario Kart on the wii (He is Matthew's trainer). He is taking swimming lessons for the first time ever this summer (with wax earplugs and a swim cap to protect the tubes in his ears- yes, set #3) and is starting to get a little comfortable in the water. I can't wait to see how he does at the end of the season! James is my shy, timid boy. It has been fun to see him break out of that a lot this year at school. He won an award for a story he wrote which was included in the school portfolio at the end of the year. He loves to read and is proud that he is finally learning how to do some of the things his big brother, Samuel, knows how to do. Next up on the list: piano lessons.<br />
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Samuel, my grown up nine year old, just finished third grade. He has hit that age where he definitely isn't a little kid anymore but he isn't a preteen either. It is an interesting stage of limbo. Sam likes to be given responsibility and will help with his little brothers (most of the time) when asked, but he also likes to tease them and push their buttons and basically do all of the normal big brother stuff. He is so smart and has a very logical, methodical mind- just like his dad. He did great in school this year and really enjoyed his class. He had an amazing teacher this year too. I actually begged her to move up to fourth grade next year so I know Sam will have someone wonderful again. Samuel LOVES legos. He actually told me that he didn't want to play soccer this spring because he wanted to stay home and play legos. Obviously, that didn't fly with me, but I thought it was cute. Samuel just got his Wolf badge in cub scouts and is continuing to do a very good job with piano. This weekend Samuel went with John to a friend's beach house, he was in heaven because the one thing in the world Sam loves more than legos is time with daddy!<br />
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John is continuing on as a workaholic. (I'm only partially joking!) He is still working full time at the office, as well as rounding at three different nursing homes- one of which appointed him as their new medical director, and serving as stake clerk at church. He still makes time for us- he coached the boys' soccer teams this spring, and for himself- he is playing softball on the LDS team in a local church league (yes, the same team he has been playing on since Tom Riley got him started). In his free time he takes care of the yard and fixes stuff around the house and drags us out for bike rides or to play tennis. Maybe busy is an understatement. Currently he is most looking forward to the family reunion we are having with my family this summer- in Yellowstone. Yes, he does have the entire week scheduled to the minute!<br />
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As for me, I have mostly been kept busy with the boys and running them to school, piano, soccer, scouts, swim lessons, play groups, swimming lessons, etc. -just like all of my mommy friends out there. I have also been working on ideas for redecorating the house. They are slow moving plans- as time and money allow- but I am quite thrilled with the changes that are beginning to occur. In about 10 years I should have everything just how I want it. I am still quilting a little, doing book club and I am also serving in the Relief Society presidency at church with some really great women. Enough to keep my busy for now.<br />
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It has been a great and eventful year. I am hoping to get back to regular blogging but life is unpredictable and crazy so how much of it gets blogged vs updated on Fb... well, we'll see!<br />
<br />yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-52473148157783483752011-12-18T23:47:00.001-05:002011-12-18T23:47:25.575-05:00New PianoI have wanted a piano since John and I bought our first house in 2001. To me, a house doesn't really feel like a home without that tangible representation of music, something the whole family can share and enjoy. For a while we had an old player piano that I got for free from a church. It was an enormous upright with a solid metal frame, the player had been removed so it sounded kind of hollow and the stain had cracked and was peeling off in spots. It was a monstrosity that consumed our entire living room. At John's insistence we got rid of it before we moved to our current home. My sister-in-law gave me an older digital keyboard to use in place of it until we could find another real piano.
Then last year Samuel started piano lessons and my desire for a piano became an actual family need. John and I put a lot of thought and research into our piano shopping. It took a year but finally, last month, on Black Friday - the day of wonderful sales, we bought a piano... The wrong piano. We were debating between two pianos, an upper tier Yamaha upright with a Queen Anne cabinet and a mahogany Essex upright. Essex is a newer brand, 10-15 yrs old, designed by Steinway and Sons. John and I both really liked the Essex piano but it was quite a bit more money and I could not justify the extra expense so we decided on the Yamaha. It was a nice, sturdy piano and would fit well in our home and be great for the kids to learn on. But as we drove away from the store instead of experiencing the expected elation, I felt sick. John and I talked it over and when he realized that I made the decision on what was more practical, not what I loved, he insisted we go back and get the Essex upright. I called my mom and sisters for some impartial-ish advice on the subject and they all agreed with John.
So the next day, John and I took the kids with us to go and purchase our new Essex. Samuel even brought along his music books to test it out. He was almost as excited as me. The piano salesman had the good grace not to laugh out loud at my indecision.
Last week, on Thursday, the piano arrived and we have not stopped playing it since. Samuel even pulled out his beginning piano books and started teaching James the basics! And every time I walk past the piano I grin and giggle a little because it makes me all sorts of goofy happy. We have a piano!
Picture coming soon!yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-3767124288137830962011-12-11T21:16:00.001-05:002011-12-11T21:33:33.750-05:00HallelujahOur church does Handel's Messiah as a sing along every year. The last two years I was in charge of coordinating the rehearsals, decorations, food, choir and orchestra and everything else in between. This year it was someone else's job. (Hooray!) And although I had every intention of participating in the choir just for the fun of it, I never really made it to the rehearsals. Last week I was talking to my friend, Liz, who is running the show this year and she asked me to come and bolster the alto section. So with one rehearsal under my belt, instead of the usual six, I jumped up there and sang tonight. I have had a cold for three weeks and left my husband home with three somewhat grumpy kids. <br />
As I was driving to the church I kept thinking, "I SO don't want to do this. Maybe I should just turn around and go home." But I didn't. I arrived at church, warmed up with the choir, said a prayer that I wouldn't mess everyone up too much and sang. <br />
The soloists did a wonderful job and the orchestra, despite a few gaffes, had some really talented players and a great sound. Partway through I found myself thinking, "Hey, this isn't so bad, maybe it is a good thing I came." And then it happened. Somewhere in the middle of the last song, The Hallelujah Chorus, it hit me- that feeling that makes the whole thing worthwhile. This is Christmas. This music, the feeling that threatens to rise up and choke me with tears- this is the reason that we sing this music. <br />
Liz gave us a little pep talk before we started and what she said is the perfect description for how I felt in the middle of that chorus. She said, "When I think about the birth of our Savior and about the choirs of angels proclaiming His birth, this is the music I hear." Exactly. Or, really, Hallelujah!yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-62495076774143823332011-10-08T19:56:00.001-04:002011-10-08T20:04:46.768-04:00Hello?Yes, I am still alive. The summer is over, we are home from our various vacations- TBB (to be blogged)- and the big kids are back in school. I have just been struggling to figure out this new version of our usual routine and have not yet found the way to keep everything in balance. For example: I somehow managed to lock my keys and my two year old in my van last week. Luckily it was a cool day, only lightly drizzling and I was about five minutes from John's office. Needless to say, I am not quite ready to blog just yet. HOWEVER, our family room (my summer project (are you catching the theme here?)) is now patched, primed and ready to be painted. Once I get that massive project done I will use some of my precious free time (aka painting time, aka Matthew's naptime) to write some genius blog posts... or at least some entertaining ones... or, well, some. Hope all else is well in the blogosphere!yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-37766111655703857882011-09-21T14:41:00.000-04:002011-09-21T14:41:58.572-04:00Groundbreaking!Finally! After years of anticipation we officially broke ground for the Philadelphia Temple on Saturday. Elder Henry B Eyring from the first presidency of the church presided over the event. President Jay E Jensen, presidency of the 70, was there too. Also in attendance the mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, and several other city officials and dignitaries as well as managers of surrounding properties. It was quite the event! <br />
A few hundred people gathered at 17th and Vine, an old parking lot that had been set up with a stage and rows of chairs. In front of the stage was a small carpeted area with two racks of shovels and in front of that was a narrow strip of dirt where the concrete had been removed and a small pile of dirt left in it's place. The groundbreaking was invitation only but was broadcast to all of the chapels in the area. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S6-LsbSvDiNNNonCQHJXTyYUKRwxNlQxWUAJ6wC4WWJ9bgbDUVqJrRrLHspTGxO2NDrJyK95RcCYotvo6mIs2YqVQZElOOHTFZ-GDbwDmwevXMXYcvDCwn1ubHCKb_71xVue5Svc9pbJ/s1600/temple+groundbreaking+%252812%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S6-LsbSvDiNNNonCQHJXTyYUKRwxNlQxWUAJ6wC4WWJ9bgbDUVqJrRrLHspTGxO2NDrJyK95RcCYotvo6mIs2YqVQZElOOHTFZ-GDbwDmwevXMXYcvDCwn1ubHCKb_71xVue5Svc9pbJ/s320/temple+groundbreaking+%252812%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Here's the rundown of the program. I hope I get it all straight. I was so excited and jittery (and freezing) that I might not have it all right.<br />
Opening song: "High on the Mountaintop"<br />
Vai Sikahema, a counselor in the Cherry Hill, NJ stake presidency, spoke about his first journey to the temple with his parents and siblings when he was 5. It took three days to get to the New Zealand Temple and they traveled by boat, bus and plane. It was a touching account as was his testimony of the impact the temple has been on his life, the lives of his siblings and of their children. <br />
Elder Smith spoke next about important dates in Philadelphia (and PA in general) history and in Mormon history and events that combined the two.<br />
Elder Walker (executive director of the temple department) spoke about the steps taken to secure the building site of the temple and of the cooperation and help from the mayor and other city officials. He also told us that Elder Eyring is from Princeton, NJ and how he had grown up loving the Philadelphia area.<br />
The choir sang "How Firm a Foundation"<br />
President Jay E Jensen spoke about the merchant who found the most beautiful pearl and wanted to display it so others could see. He commissioned a man to build a beautiful wooden box for it. But when his friends saw it they complimented the box more than the pearl. Pres. Jensen said that the temple is like the box. It will be beautiful and it is right to admire it. However, what is inside the temple is infinitely more valuable.<br />
Finally Elder Eyring gave a few remarks (I'll see if I can figure out how to put my recording of it on blogger) and then dedicated the ground for the building of the temple in a special prayer. When he finished the sun came out from behind a cloud and shone right down on the parking lot that was now something infinitely more special.<br />
The choir closed with: "I Know that my Redeemer Lived"<br />
I know our church music is not the most exciting- especially to those who are used to gospel music. But our music carries the spirit and it was interesting to see how the spirit reached those in the audience who are not members of the church. For example, Mayor Nutter looked bored at the beginning of the song but was completely engaged by the end. Behold the power of music. =)<br />
After the closing prayer, Elder Eyring, Pres Jensen and Elder Smith picked up a few of the golden (I know, silly) shovels and officially turned over the dirt, breaking ground symbolically. for the new temple. Then they invited the mayor and other city officials and neighboring property managers to come up and grab a shovel and turn over some dirt. Next they invited the six stake presidents from the new temple district to take a turn. Once that happened they opened the invitation to all in attendance to take turns breaking ground for our new temple. It was exciting and exhilarating and so, so, so wonderful! I felt lucky to be there (singing in the choir) but it would have been even better if John could have been there too along with all of our friends who have worked and prayed daily to make this a possibility.<br />
But look at a few friends who did make it:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiBLLUY6pwnC9iADZHkXkPFLRU9MH9mydzPREW0dapxbk6xaD_Wynrm-0BoLeUALNjJ7vwx-EZK7h1DB9sFzyepaLLudZIpPPuKYLe8d_oSPnVj8VgRQFSgeCs2tpFLDxN2UKzn2o_E4k/s1600/temple+groundbreaking+%252830%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiBLLUY6pwnC9iADZHkXkPFLRU9MH9mydzPREW0dapxbk6xaD_Wynrm-0BoLeUALNjJ7vwx-EZK7h1DB9sFzyepaLLudZIpPPuKYLe8d_oSPnVj8VgRQFSgeCs2tpFLDxN2UKzn2o_E4k/s320/temple+groundbreaking+%252830%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Doesn't the temple look beautiful?</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">For more information you can go to <a href="http://www.lds.org/temples">www.lds.org/temples</a></div>yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-72894513331926372982011-09-21T13:33:00.000-04:002011-09-21T13:33:27.617-04:00Fond FarewellThere once was a bookstore called Border's<br />
Which was Heaven on Earth to book horders.<br />
Sad to say they went bankrupt one day.<br />
Amazon now receives all our orders.<br />
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Goodbye Border's! We will miss you!!yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-69669105877144175702011-09-11T21:20:00.000-04:002011-09-11T21:20:40.092-04:009/11 Remembered<span></span>Where were you on 9/11? How many times have you been asked this question? I was on my way to class at Temple University. As I got off the subway I saw people gathered around food trucks with TVs showing pictures of the Pentagon burning. The volume was turned down and I didn't stop to ask so I had no idea that there was anything going on other than an accident in DC. When I arrived at class everyone was chatty and the professor had a hard time getting our attention. When we finally quieted down, he told those of us who didn't know about what had happened in New York and then excused us to go home and be with friends and family. This class had over 100 people in it and I didn't know very many of them. But one girl started crying and someone said she was from NYC. <br />
I began my subway ride home a little nervously. If they had attacked New York and DC, was Philadelphia next? We are right in the middle of the other two. When I was just about to get off the train my cell phone rang. It was my sister, Keri, calling to make sure that we were OK and that we knew what was going on. I got home in time to hug my husband extra tight before he had to go to work and in time to watch the first tower fall. Instead of a day of classes, I sat glued to the news watching the images over and over and over again.<br />
I didn't lose anyone on that day but I have been deeply affected by it nonetheless. I think we all have. I remember in college I did a report on JFK's assassination. I had to interview two people who had been alive at that time and ask how it had affected them. I didn't get why it was such a big deal. I thought the conspiracy aspect was far more interesting and relevant than how people felt. What I didn't understand at that time was how completely a single, shared, tragic experience like the Kennedy Assassination or 9/11 can impact all of us. In many ways we now measure our lives by pre 9/11 and post 9/11. Our national imaginary bubble of protection is gone. My personal imaginary bubble of safety and security went with it. But I love how the country, and the world, drew together in support of each other. I just wish it would have lasted longer than it did. I wish that brotherly love and support wasn't just something we dusted off for one day each September. <br />
My heart goes out to the families and friends who are still mourning the loss of a loved one on that tragic day. I am eternally grateful for the first responders who sacrificed themselves willingly to save others so they could return to their families and have a second chance to really live. And I am grateful every day for the soldiers across the world who watch over us and fight daily to protect us from the recurrence of such an indescribably horrible event.<br />
Our church put out <a href="http://mormon.org/me/1GW3-eng/VGuzman/">this very moving account of a 9/11 survivor</a> and how it inspired him to really look at what was important in his life. I suggest you take the time to watch it.<br />
Some great literature I have read that covers 9/11:<br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=luv2sing&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0618711651&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><br />
<span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=luv2sing&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0618711651" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
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<span>A fictional story about a boy who lost his Father on 9/11.</span><br />
<span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=luv2sing&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002BWQ5C2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span><br />
<span><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=luv2sing&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002BWQ5C2" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span><br />
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<span><span>From the Story Corps project. It is transcriptions from all sorts of people and includes a story from a survivor and a story of someone who lost his fiancee that day. </span></span>yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-26191991799037286182011-08-28T16:40:00.000-04:002011-08-28T16:40:36.750-04:00Terrible Twos?So a few weeks ago my baby turned two. The last few months leading up to his birthday I was afraid that Matthew was going to be one of those toddlers who coined the phrase "terrible twos" but since his actual b-day he has mellowed quite a bit- or else we have been too busy for him to pitch fits. I'm not sure which.<br />
Matthew at two is quite the charmer. He still has that killer smile and belly laugh and is just so stinking cute if I do say so myself. He talks non stop and is actually understandable much of the time. (Although I did leave a translation guide for the babysitter when I left the kids for a couple of days to go to Utah.) He acts like he is two going on eight. He thinks he can do anything and everything his biggest brother, Samuel, does. He has oficially hit tht Thomas the Train stage and is obsessed with his engines and tracks and plays with them all time. He also still loves all things Mickey Mouse. My parents sent him a couple of Mickey books for his birthday and now he makes me read one of them to him 10-15 times a day and he sleeps with it for naptime and bedtime. However, that means he will pleasantly go to sleep without screaming so I am all over that!<br />
For his birthday this year we had a Mickey Mouse party, of course, with family and close friends. I even attempted a Mickey cake which turned out pretty darn well. (I am a little cocky this post!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNj5ZjMIx7B7JnILtrrTYuQ61LT1AIB-nyU_uzIbk7mesHQN9Z16GvtXI657i8xS8JQaqEL4htXXTH-vk8fEm4Z-zHHRotDaVO2AkIi7l_CW16HNeAEFEoYCSsQNCzTDNjY8s89GdDf1D/s1600/Matthew+is+2+%252812%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNj5ZjMIx7B7JnILtrrTYuQ61LT1AIB-nyU_uzIbk7mesHQN9Z16GvtXI657i8xS8JQaqEL4htXXTH-vk8fEm4Z-zHHRotDaVO2AkIi7l_CW16HNeAEFEoYCSsQNCzTDNjY8s89GdDf1D/s320/Matthew+is+2+%252812%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjbocHZGSaChrxXybNrtoMzspMAiKNCgWblYK7ER_xRqNDraMst6P_1K3RVIWGfs0TC5wXxjXcFKTNjqhP7-GdBgPU9Jg887NGRotcNxMARvGNMGNO8P3llyVqs_98qZMDo4RjZqT5kWm/s1600/Matthew+is+2+%252829%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjbocHZGSaChrxXybNrtoMzspMAiKNCgWblYK7ER_xRqNDraMst6P_1K3RVIWGfs0TC5wXxjXcFKTNjqhP7-GdBgPU9Jg887NGRotcNxMARvGNMGNO8P3llyVqs_98qZMDo4RjZqT5kWm/s320/Matthew+is+2+%252829%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>As for two year old pictures, I usually go to Target because they do a decent job and don't cost an arm and a leg. Unfortunately, since the last time we went, they started charging a $9.99 sitting fee per person. Forget that! I took my awesome camera (a Christmas gift from my amazing husband) and decided to take his two year old pictures myself. What do you think?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjA3tYE3L3FDu5MRtWmLpa3LW-jljoYri70RlGGwiM9x7THcEvtRhNaYWuZXGc6b85m0uO5jeoBEhoxUkrjZ-gWuwl5VFHSxnI7H0ewlYDNwj0ysjEfQpj9suVFOsGmLtLFx9KJkHZhFjC/s1600/2+years+old%2521+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjA3tYE3L3FDu5MRtWmLpa3LW-jljoYri70RlGGwiM9x7THcEvtRhNaYWuZXGc6b85m0uO5jeoBEhoxUkrjZ-gWuwl5VFHSxnI7H0ewlYDNwj0ysjEfQpj9suVFOsGmLtLFx9KJkHZhFjC/s320/2+years+old%2521+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfYUdtfA2mHE9V18eJ32pwu4wLEEhjX9h8ygUgMgazBZs0zEAAT14DTHTxuc5HecVLn8aJR6FV4Nqb5_Zw9W4uQ7byz8nLEt-9l79OU69WpQxw8KYLM-jc74mYHV472j12sOsJdvtVZHw/s1600/2+years+old%2521+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfYUdtfA2mHE9V18eJ32pwu4wLEEhjX9h8ygUgMgazBZs0zEAAT14DTHTxuc5HecVLn8aJR6FV4Nqb5_Zw9W4uQ7byz8nLEt-9l79OU69WpQxw8KYLM-jc74mYHV472j12sOsJdvtVZHw/s320/2+years+old%2521+%25285%2529.JPG" width="307" /></a></div>yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-56076808100574431952011-07-18T14:22:00.001-04:002011-07-18T14:23:35.428-04:00Eight is Great<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Last month Samuel turned eight. He has been looking forward to this birthday since January and not just for the party and the presents. Eight years old is a big deal! In our church eight is the age of accountability when we believe a child is old enough to decide if he wants to be baptized and officially become a member of our church. After baptism they are then confirmed a member of the church and receive the Holy Ghost to be a constant companion and advisor. Samuel is a sweet, sweet boy. He has the biggest heart I know and just wants to love everyone around him. He has a wide-eyed innocence and imagination that has somehow, miraculously survived two years of grade school. (Longer than I expected!) He is very smart and loves to play and learn and do all those things that boys do at that age. He has a huge spirit and more faith than I ever had when I was a kid. He was SO excited to get baptized! He has been anxiously awaiting his turn since his cousin, Nathan, was baptized last February. We have talked about the baptism non stop since then. Unfortunately, we had to make him wait a couple of weeks after his birthday to get baptized so that we could give family members a chance to finish school and get to Philly. But it was totally worth it! We had a great time and Samuel felt loved with so much of his family around him.</span><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Some things about about Sam at age 8: He loves to read ( especially the Magic Tree House books- which are too easy but he loves the stories). He loves to play with Legos and would do that to the exclusion of all else if I would let him. He loves playing kickball and dodge ball. He can ride his bicycle without training wheels but it makes him a little nervous. He LOVES the water- ocean or swimming pool, it makes no difference to him. He loves the Narnia movies, Star Wars anything and Harry Potter 1-3 (he is still too young for the rest). He loves the fads: bey blades and silly bands and webkinz. He still wants to be a zebra doctor when he grows up. He is really excited to be a cub scout and enjoys passing off the various tasks in his manual. He is a great big brother who maybe teases a little too much but clearly loves his brothers more than anything. His best friend is still Keith- has been since Kindergarten and he is still friends with as many girls as boys and sees nothing wrong with that. As far as he is concerned, there is no such thing as cooties.</span><span style="color: black;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">I love my Sam and his big heart!</span><span style="color: black;"><br />
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Here are some of my favorite (recent) pics of Samuel:</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6WYhahmbPgXgRXWPnFm0pBOQDMJVCeWzNPZt6hYcsreN12hezsLZyq91eAhw1IC2qCfkSyEASFYr-KWyj28Jzgfh2DQyffd0v26fzHU7fqRkqMiMbd6E8rW-8QDU2ZzsiAvSsMAkfeEE/s320/Boys+in+suits+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys in their suits.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtWKbFeFLd3Kb5dmM4kbnhQlLe0p-wItKgf8DsjsRHX_ZbCwzn72X0lrL6Swc6vdJmOLncJo3esriW9XQH41SY2cqGl5JiKOi_RT5o9QMlmQ-pw60qWN0YH-LlRXDZOZZqDpnz42Czk08/s1600/cub+scout.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtWKbFeFLd3Kb5dmM4kbnhQlLe0p-wItKgf8DsjsRHX_ZbCwzn72X0lrL6Swc6vdJmOLncJo3esriW9XQH41SY2cqGl5JiKOi_RT5o9QMlmQ-pw60qWN0YH-LlRXDZOZZqDpnz42Czk08/s320/cub+scout.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new cub scout</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-M2uYzxDL2lTRnknWblOwaoSW8CNl3fvZ9WGAdmY6kjpHYnVZWly8spaID4y8eluSe8Wgc42xoVTIpE09Lbet9br5TphZ0OEiARjfJ4yD85q6QWH0ZGBdy99kjhkxrTWhArYhBqMdweMm/s1600/July+4th+%252828%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-M2uYzxDL2lTRnknWblOwaoSW8CNl3fvZ9WGAdmY6kjpHYnVZWly8spaID4y8eluSe8Wgc42xoVTIpE09Lbet9br5TphZ0OEiARjfJ4yD85q6QWH0ZGBdy99kjhkxrTWhArYhBqMdweMm/s320/July+4th+%252828%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red, white and blue- Happy 4th!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbPe94I2wQ9miT__5rgx2miC5LzcGyCqrPdwKV3-lu380esuNJh87buyg2iGqyb4uo4b-KXLDV0YDnNVRXub-2_hWDkO6Excv9JxmPIAbEENCF_gyKAr0NpopA3srfLSnZaNLBNhpaZ7x/s1600/Longwood+Gardens+%2528134%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbPe94I2wQ9miT__5rgx2miC5LzcGyCqrPdwKV3-lu380esuNJh87buyg2iGqyb4uo4b-KXLDV0YDnNVRXub-2_hWDkO6Excv9JxmPIAbEENCF_gyKAr0NpopA3srfLSnZaNLBNhpaZ7x/s320/Longwood+Gardens+%2528134%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EZIrd9F0852_r316AyHq9-dqRtKCsCygArZdEjIBrkh_lnJ0LH_qMRIkCP2RVRuSQZ0AJlVM6KE4C9fxSjogpe7sX7t-qR9pzl2z7XeXDkKBWiMqyN3c9-NH2dmoOXbq1Pi1uQrDT8RR/s1600/Longwood+Gardens+%2528144%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EZIrd9F0852_r316AyHq9-dqRtKCsCygArZdEjIBrkh_lnJ0LH_qMRIkCP2RVRuSQZ0AJlVM6KE4C9fxSjogpe7sX7t-qR9pzl2z7XeXDkKBWiMqyN3c9-NH2dmoOXbq1Pi1uQrDT8RR/s320/Longwood+Gardens+%2528144%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHGXQgRyxK3D3WdLL2ORRG3Psul2nicTue0yanu1UDBM8kDEcOnwXAPQATiLHqtvX2KkI4FA20MNvagZbpXKtxSb8y7Dtb3EHgKr2IQ5BOKMKUGzUt5HDAvZmNNTQXGBdItED2EkZkKAO/s1600/Please+Touch+Museum+%252876%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHGXQgRyxK3D3WdLL2ORRG3Psul2nicTue0yanu1UDBM8kDEcOnwXAPQATiLHqtvX2KkI4FA20MNvagZbpXKtxSb8y7Dtb3EHgKr2IQ5BOKMKUGzUt5HDAvZmNNTQXGBdItED2EkZkKAO/s320/Please+Touch+Museum+%252876%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLeJqsPiJKnQVDtJORcj-V0go5itUUOIUR38VItf-IV0P2QKTWnd5b4z-y7WR9Vz7dCrtdJdnCxOVuX8ojEVlT_Yla1bVa8XR3A8X3pXUZdHrdyiJ7LPVv6DN0ATmkhzHiW4KD2uYnApy/s1600/Please+Touch+Museum+%252865%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLeJqsPiJKnQVDtJORcj-V0go5itUUOIUR38VItf-IV0P2QKTWnd5b4z-y7WR9Vz7dCrtdJdnCxOVuX8ojEVlT_Yla1bVa8XR3A8X3pXUZdHrdyiJ7LPVv6DN0ATmkhzHiW4KD2uYnApy/s320/Please+Touch+Museum+%252865%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't you just see Sam as a zoologist?</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH2CL5iZdLQn310WrnV629uLvXh0K1F6gw-nzGnItZN1wLh8Mewzn1cBymRO9iaQxK31qcWRXUxXzdS9i5pYiaJ7GCOBHNREtObCQ2gCiOPl9AQqFoJPpFOBFVsf0Zgj9hPovx6VwKQLP/s1600/Please+Touch+Museum+%252887%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH2CL5iZdLQn310WrnV629uLvXh0K1F6gw-nzGnItZN1wLh8Mewzn1cBymRO9iaQxK31qcWRXUxXzdS9i5pYiaJ7GCOBHNREtObCQ2gCiOPl9AQqFoJPpFOBFVsf0Zgj9hPovx6VwKQLP/s320/Please+Touch+Museum+%252887%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6lMc5AmPBH6Ihdr0fbbsrrOtLsX7LdeqXpLHMOwt72eeMsOr1e8QXBJBPnJ8L6X957_yHABkgD730AvzEKFEjvN6WF1z8358UiTqUHZZk6SJQ5bt3qyzxseIbsFI7VdpVFMcZlITGqUI/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+%252847%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6lMc5AmPBH6Ihdr0fbbsrrOtLsX7LdeqXpLHMOwt72eeMsOr1e8QXBJBPnJ8L6X957_yHABkgD730AvzEKFEjvN6WF1z8358UiTqUHZZk6SJQ5bt3qyzxseIbsFI7VdpVFMcZlITGqUI/s320/Myrtle+Beach+%252847%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNoqiA29mU6EB54sNoW-UDe-kRSnEGwXwQZQmfaKQcWkChsGAerNJONJN2-HB5iYabjiSzQv8GL4cNgLRY0HgywaP5EhfB-_X4fplnZI0lOmIB3ABF943vDun5nEk_rfeDrhuzSnfqlXq/s1600/riding+bikes+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNoqiA29mU6EB54sNoW-UDe-kRSnEGwXwQZQmfaKQcWkChsGAerNJONJN2-HB5iYabjiSzQv8GL4cNgLRY0HgywaP5EhfB-_X4fplnZI0lOmIB3ABF943vDun5nEk_rfeDrhuzSnfqlXq/s320/riding+bikes+%25287%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day he learned to ride minus the extra wheels.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjK15ZWNRtQa4cRJcjt6imnb1Jd52ohNQuslHnDKkWYyk-NlrvOytuS90HgGVScRixWJ2MGdL2kV2suvru2CEKP4exEpMbHJBrMXA-iB7dwGmGhLJWEsMviTuPeUlX3uebaPBYQ8MFVs-/s1600/Sam%2527s+Baptism+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjK15ZWNRtQa4cRJcjt6imnb1Jd52ohNQuslHnDKkWYyk-NlrvOytuS90HgGVScRixWJ2MGdL2kV2suvru2CEKP4exEpMbHJBrMXA-iB7dwGmGhLJWEsMviTuPeUlX3uebaPBYQ8MFVs-/s320/Sam%2527s+Baptism+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baptism Day!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDRhsngjxxwFc9nM1WqhhFbSstu6FIBxS7OyBU_aKAFtcq1ss8n6PaYPejdhrFvmK6ngKImzdpOc1SI3SYan507HOZpGCUGp5pwEvGUo5slChXdAO1lX-ZHi6cJw3NbmERPkIk8rVnk2u/s1600/Sam%2527s+Baptism+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDRhsngjxxwFc9nM1WqhhFbSstu6FIBxS7OyBU_aKAFtcq1ss8n6PaYPejdhrFvmK6ngKImzdpOc1SI3SYan507HOZpGCUGp5pwEvGUo5slChXdAO1lX-ZHi6cJw3NbmERPkIk8rVnk2u/s320/Sam%2527s+Baptism+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3L9w2Lqwv-g4ICoEJ0II3GAG-Q2LwdIFT7g2qW1LPLor-OmWeD3G0Kw7tlE0Km765Qhj3aJks9XmEwoVL-rFjjXFp_t2w6KKCL15aYA37hOywfqMl74r4DjROWY448X_0cyiOx8PZIP6/s1600/Sam%2527s+Baptism+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3L9w2Lqwv-g4ICoEJ0II3GAG-Q2LwdIFT7g2qW1LPLor-OmWeD3G0Kw7tlE0Km765Qhj3aJks9XmEwoVL-rFjjXFp_t2w6KKCL15aYA37hOywfqMl74r4DjROWY448X_0cyiOx8PZIP6/s320/Sam%2527s+Baptism+%25286%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All ready!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebdElUnwR3Za4R0OsiDHpK43wVGCAZ3Z_oedeC1ynF3_XQw3Ca_6FCMDoPXhpk1l6eH0y4s2DJc3chF7XeoO28Q1G4xHbfDT3nKkoOrFtkzctwDRCIwA5oK3A4XdPZNZh9etNYzg3BT2s/s1600/Sam%2527s+Baptism+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebdElUnwR3Za4R0OsiDHpK43wVGCAZ3Z_oedeC1ynF3_XQw3Ca_6FCMDoPXhpk1l6eH0y4s2DJc3chF7XeoO28Q1G4xHbfDT3nKkoOrFtkzctwDRCIwA5oK3A4XdPZNZh9etNYzg3BT2s/s320/Sam%2527s+Baptism+%25288%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing with cousins?</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAY2qHVP1d3aUctwzWXbUkhBD7WIrNlSLFVXw3Tocotwh1_8K5PRGVj5TetWftyUF4LSYjgSxlNmbnJf9fgbx0-pTgrDOW3aX-pvqkvFtaq1qyayUmnmpyXIlYl0bjRIq-VWOtfbUmgV_c/s1600/Sam%2527s+Baptism.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAY2qHVP1d3aUctwzWXbUkhBD7WIrNlSLFVXw3Tocotwh1_8K5PRGVj5TetWftyUF4LSYjgSxlNmbnJf9fgbx0-pTgrDOW3aX-pvqkvFtaq1qyayUmnmpyXIlYl0bjRIq-VWOtfbUmgV_c/s320/Sam%2527s+Baptism.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div>yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-38084889234652461782011-07-06T12:48:00.000-04:002011-07-06T12:48:33.230-04:00Myrtle BeachWe took our annual family trip (AKA John's medical conference- you can ask him all about that aspect in person) to Myrtle Beach in the middle of June. We did the math and realized that it was our sixth year and we have no desire at all to find someplace new. It is the perfect vacation for young kids. Although I have to say we did miss our partners in crime, Gavin and Jamie and the girls, Aunt B, Laura and kids and the Andrus family representative, who couldn't make it this year. Instead, Tip brought a couple of friends, one of whom was the self-proclaimed Exercise Nazi, Pat. She even got Jacko out exercising which is something of a miracle!<br />
While in MB we rediscovered that Matthew has a disconcerting character trait. He is a wanderer. This is totally new to us because Sam and James always stuck right next to us in public. They did not like crowds or strangers or being separated from us even a little bit. Matthew has no such qualms. Case and point: The first evening we were in MB, we got back from the beach and got the boys bathed and dressed and set them in front of the TV so John and I could get ready for dinner. We had two bathrooms so John and I each hopped in a shower. When John finished he noticed that the front door to our condo was wide open. He heard screaming and looked out. There was a woman standing in the parking lot holding Matthew who was screaming his head off. Our little guy had figured out how to open the door, climbed down the long flight of wooden steps, and wandered into the parking lot. This lady saw him and had just picked him up, wondering what to do with him when John got to the door. John yelled down, "I think that is mine. I would come down and get him but I am in a towel." The lady was nice enough to bring Matthew up to John and we learned our first lesson- blockade the door to avoid unwanted exiting- there wasn't a deadbolt. A couple days later Matthew pulled his disappearing trick again, this time in an amusement park with hundreds of people around. John found him about 100 feet away from us just happily bobbing along. <br />
Luckily we all made it home safe and sound and had a good time in the process. Here are some pics to prove it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHJdhVcmw5iEOhPfNXJwd6xaIoqikFtdRG11Y6yOa6_v5GbB6lL2ok9nMhVjt-9BsJR1fYksjyWwaFFmq8BvOft1RKpQn_61EABeGqOA6_Yb5zo7vhAUqfghSS20028iyTo9N1Vlv0_ox/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+2+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHJdhVcmw5iEOhPfNXJwd6xaIoqikFtdRG11Y6yOa6_v5GbB6lL2ok9nMhVjt-9BsJR1fYksjyWwaFFmq8BvOft1RKpQn_61EABeGqOA6_Yb5zo7vhAUqfghSS20028iyTo9N1Vlv0_ox/s320/Myrtle+Beach+2+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthew "helping" stuff his bear at the kids' activity tent.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S & J at their favorite place- the water park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the train with my boys at Family Kingdom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFsgYePwQnmzLj7txZeNPXpcPBDd2Ttq-L3bO-qytd1Jy8RlZyvxOrImupVk_5bsCmIQ4OP8KcBaBeDXEFT66mUJFYZXbAR-CbJ4v4hYw37-H75W-hM-SkM37UFPAqE9QIjZ7nRzuSMrw/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+2+%252843%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFsgYePwQnmzLj7txZeNPXpcPBDd2Ttq-L3bO-qytd1Jy8RlZyvxOrImupVk_5bsCmIQ4OP8KcBaBeDXEFT66mUJFYZXbAR-CbJ4v4hYw37-H75W-hM-SkM37UFPAqE9QIjZ7nRzuSMrw/s320/Myrtle+Beach+2+%252843%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthew tolerated the water slides- and maybe even liked them a little.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a nap in Nonno's arms</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BEKj_8nUXLXvMJqfjadn4DXeXVZfq3vRm65_fPpNBvjPo1J7VRQEePsgujPqGH7sOMqxSi2u2v8zb6_mB0POnkLvLtvF5o4rV_hi678BIsZOgSnXJg6Y4o2Q4qxO7r5_r-xVFR5x3NBa/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+2+%252853%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BEKj_8nUXLXvMJqfjadn4DXeXVZfq3vRm65_fPpNBvjPo1J7VRQEePsgujPqGH7sOMqxSi2u2v8zb6_mB0POnkLvLtvF5o4rV_hi678BIsZOgSnXJg6Y4o2Q4qxO7r5_r-xVFR5x3NBa/s320/Myrtle+Beach+2+%252853%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8dRfQ5lM4VddoteQc7YStWnPVprRtTZ0bABV_BGJkszrLE0LRtuHirLMu_a-_pQUbb2NNTSwNsOzCq6mUwXsBoxzLvSJkJAQpXpUQfG23kyoUN8ywNrYPxTRUozloNp4p8vr0lFfZ0C5/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8dRfQ5lM4VddoteQc7YStWnPVprRtTZ0bABV_BGJkszrLE0LRtuHirLMu_a-_pQUbb2NNTSwNsOzCq6mUwXsBoxzLvSJkJAQpXpUQfG23kyoUN8ywNrYPxTRUozloNp4p8vr0lFfZ0C5/s320/Myrtle+Beach+%252810%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at the Home Plate pizza buffet.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIIfwtwaOO-Zyz612iqOIscc8dWB31vWdoMrbyk2FNLjqOhULQUWVYcU68EGNQfY4WWv_nTraUn8xYe94C4lw3rZw8tRlmkxz65wJbmB0zcjJQTIvMEeSMBZjOT_b4T3RekIoQhxNT-LJ/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+%252814%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIIfwtwaOO-Zyz612iqOIscc8dWB31vWdoMrbyk2FNLjqOhULQUWVYcU68EGNQfY4WWv_nTraUn8xYe94C4lw3rZw8tRlmkxz65wJbmB0zcjJQTIvMEeSMBZjOT_b4T3RekIoQhxNT-LJ/s320/Myrtle+Beach+%252814%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40Ulw9BdzOWInPNiQIpt-RsCYkkoZf-FcXDF3UURQDz3GSQjfsTpItzSyPZlT-NsqSefl2JJLUx5PhGC3rj3UozAt0sccEkxK9ZaVMybp0U9Bt4XPCaeCz6gArcJVZcSvEzVrJcXS65xQ/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+%252820%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40Ulw9BdzOWInPNiQIpt-RsCYkkoZf-FcXDF3UURQDz3GSQjfsTpItzSyPZlT-NsqSefl2JJLUx5PhGC3rj3UozAt0sccEkxK9ZaVMybp0U9Bt4XPCaeCz6gArcJVZcSvEzVrJcXS65xQ/s320/Myrtle+Beach+%252820%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Issac, our favorite busboy, remembered us and signed some balloons for the boys.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmG7JmzJYG-KfmmyRZToK8QW2T_dYPGwnLlnH4euYmPyE6OnEztVUTOUGszsMdSwe7SRM_KOgdoY-gw40kW8uzRB36lm21faRrCXRoF633zDE58inpWVEMR6x_USZgrdXnnumkz73q-XW/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+%252823%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmG7JmzJYG-KfmmyRZToK8QW2T_dYPGwnLlnH4euYmPyE6OnEztVUTOUGszsMdSwe7SRM_KOgdoY-gw40kW8uzRB36lm21faRrCXRoF633zDE58inpWVEMR6x_USZgrdXnnumkz73q-XW/s320/Myrtle+Beach+%252823%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthew wasn't too sure about Issac.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5UKUwVFWbp2IAohfkx8crtAfIch01f8P5j641XSKem-v6gJapCYPO5gUc0XTVXJd7om_AZS73C6jp78hqbq-xfAOjZ8sshSk0z5inb9C08A0DukZTQgS_cd6seN7vo5D0-2udB5sNkAx/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+%252827%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5UKUwVFWbp2IAohfkx8crtAfIch01f8P5j641XSKem-v6gJapCYPO5gUc0XTVXJd7om_AZS73C6jp78hqbq-xfAOjZ8sshSk0z5inb9C08A0DukZTQgS_cd6seN7vo5D0-2udB5sNkAx/s320/Myrtle+Beach+%252827%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have wanted to take family pictures on the beach since our first visit to MB. This year I finally got around to it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsIiwACafLh3wQp-YJzyPuMXszdbwditbAALL6lwU6AUGfMWsqxg_eEdEVANYPlGm0xUXJlEnYrDMhCaQD3LmPiTUCGa7RlEFPB38zgCVdT81dT6VjIlK6H7UL2iEwxgHcIom0-kzUyuE/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+%252833%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsIiwACafLh3wQp-YJzyPuMXszdbwditbAALL6lwU6AUGfMWsqxg_eEdEVANYPlGm0xUXJlEnYrDMhCaQD3LmPiTUCGa7RlEFPB38zgCVdT81dT6VjIlK6H7UL2iEwxgHcIom0-kzUyuE/s320/Myrtle+Beach+%252833%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But it was really windy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRDUgf0GJjXpLYU0r_ineFIABVSV6D0eFNgmpLDrOIi4lxvricCSpkT3RH5OaUIMvBumV65rN4M-7Sn3n6GHe3hEM4IweW6DEuhohuSIUB3ZAtU-2B7-vHVwvUFBxqD9JHyEnEiAiliwo/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+%252836%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRDUgf0GJjXpLYU0r_ineFIABVSV6D0eFNgmpLDrOIi4lxvricCSpkT3RH5OaUIMvBumV65rN4M-7Sn3n6GHe3hEM4IweW6DEuhohuSIUB3ZAtU-2B7-vHVwvUFBxqD9JHyEnEiAiliwo/s320/Myrtle+Beach+%252836%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the boys were being goofy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ9aLD-wbNfaoGLW33NQiXzZgBao41IMlp64EHK0sJ4IaiX-7w14IcJTk_3iVjoEvsMv1_57PhzZQpI60NraVcTgN3qWJX7A-2SMTKYvTTPebIEiGIzvGtNc_6hs6oLBjCB7ArOOipqRr/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+%252842%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ9aLD-wbNfaoGLW33NQiXzZgBao41IMlp64EHK0sJ4IaiX-7w14IcJTk_3iVjoEvsMv1_57PhzZQpI60NraVcTgN3qWJX7A-2SMTKYvTTPebIEiGIzvGtNc_6hs6oLBjCB7ArOOipqRr/s320/Myrtle+Beach+%252842%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There we go!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuFo5MvYL_FwyP9m52uALyZF3aPC0gtUTFRUg2GT8PcrJVqYNeIgFQN_3248jO-uA-dNBxkvyz9vc89OB0rzNWUj1FWWO4rOIl70yTJlpSPU5_O7eQUtmG4t7FQO1Uoi2v7YZtMPE0SAz/s1600/Myrtle+Beach+%252847%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuFo5MvYL_FwyP9m52uALyZF3aPC0gtUTFRUg2GT8PcrJVqYNeIgFQN_3248jO-uA-dNBxkvyz9vc89OB0rzNWUj1FWWO4rOIl70yTJlpSPU5_O7eQUtmG4t7FQO1Uoi2v7YZtMPE0SAz/s320/Myrtle+Beach+%252847%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They clean up well!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I tried to add a couple more pictures- including the traditional pic of James sleeping through dinner- but my computer is malfunctioning at the moment- or maybe it is just blogger. Will try later.yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-42543416771867921012011-06-06T22:52:00.001-04:002011-06-13T13:53:41.653-04:00The Mormon WaySo with all of the famous Mormons and Mormon related stuff in the media these days, I get more and more questions from my non Mormon friends about the church. This is a good thing and something I actually really enjoy, but there are days when I wish that I could broadcast my answers so that people who don't know a Mormon personally could be enlightened or disallusioned- whichever is necessary.<br />
Today on FB a friend of mine posted this <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2011/06/05/mormons-rock.html">link to a Newsweek article on Mormons</a> . It was actually a decent overview of the religion- or at least as decent as one can get in so few words. There are just a few things I would like to clarify: <br />
<br />
1) The HBO show <em>Big Love</em> is not about Mormons. It is about members of the <strong><em>Fundamental </em></strong>Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Thanks for the correction, Zack). The actual LDS Church, or people that you commonly refer to as Mormons, outlawed polygamy over 100 years ago. It was a practice done only by a few members of the church in the 1800s. <br />
2) The Broadway musical "The Book of Mormon" is not put on by or sanctioned by the LDS church. It is used to poke fun at the church not to proselytize. This is not to say that it is all bad. I personally haven't seen it but I have LDS friends who have seen it and who really enjoyed it.<br />
<br />
If you want to know what we believe, that Newsweek article did a good job of explaining a few things about us. Here is one more. Our 13th Article of Faith states:<br />
<br />
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul (yes, as in Paul from the New Testament)—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."<br />
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To read the other 12, click <a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are confused about all of the misinformation about the church in the media go to <a href="http://www.lds.org/">http://www.lds.org/</a> or <a href="http://mormon.org/">http://mormon.org/</a>.- (Thanks for the suggestion, Sam.) You can read everything you want to about the church and actually get a comprehensive understanding for yourself.<br />
<br />
Questions? Comment below.yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-12422373525448102012011-06-01T10:53:00.000-04:002011-06-01T10:53:43.546-04:00Happy Birthday, James!We have hit the busy season so most of my blog posts have not made it from my head to the computer. However, I could not miss this one.<br />
<br />
My sweet Mr James just celebrated his 6th birthday! Hooray!<br />
<br />
I took brownies into school on his actual birthday then he had a party a Chuck E Cheese with his friends from school the next day and a family party at home on Sunday. Lots of fun!<br />
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Here are some fun facts about James at age 6:<br />
James still loves Lambies (he has 5 stuffed animal lambs: Lamby the White, Lamby the Lamb, Lamby the Sheep, Lamby the Small and Lamby the Big), strawberries (he will eat an entire carton in one sitting if you let him) and playing Xbox or Wii with his daddy and big brother. He also plays really well with his little brother Matthew- most of the time, anyway. He is in his last two weeks of Kindergarten and is reading up a storm and loves to demonstrate his counting and math skills. His favorite class is Music (so my kid!). He also likes to swim and play soccer and he finally thinks that riding bicycles is a fun thing to do. He loved his after school art classes. His favorite tv show is the cartoon "Avengers" and he loves Spiderman and Iron Man (in that order) the best. His most favorite movie ever is "How to Train Your Dragon." His best friends are Jacob S. and Michael R and of course, Gracie K.<br />
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Here are some fun photos of James over the last year:<br />
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Happy Birthday to my sweet neglected middle child. One of these days I promise you will get all of the attention you deserve! =)yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-58469541630103295712011-05-01T22:09:00.000-04:002011-05-01T22:09:05.694-04:00glowing recommendationSo we finally started doing some work on the inside of our house. First step: The Family Room. <br />
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I have hated the color in the family room since we bought the house almost three years ago. And since we spend most of our time in this room I thought it was time to address the problem. But in order to paint we have to agree on a color. Since that isn't going to happen anytime in the near future I decided to start with something else- like lighting. <br />
You see, most of the rooms in our house do not have overhead lighting which is annoying to say the least and dangerous at times due to my childrens' propensity to throw toys and play soccer in the house. (We have had more than one flammable item land inside the lamp.) John and I agreed that some recess lighting in the family room would be perfect for our needs.<br />
I started calling random contractors and electricians to get my recommended three estimates. The first guy to come by was John Marbach from John Marbach Electric. He talked me through several different possibilities for the layout of lighting as well as some accent lighting. Since I had no concept of what I actually wanted he looked around the room and offered several ideas. We settled on six high hats (two rows of three) and an accent light (eyeball style) over the fireplace complete with dimmer switches. John's price: $800. <br />
I received two more quotes for the exact same work, one for $975 and another for $1000+. Not only were the other two quotes higher but I did not feel like the other guys were nearly as helpful and knowledgable as John was. Needless to say, we hired him for the job. I called him on a Thursday to set up a time to have the work done. He called me back on Saturday and scheduled to come Monday morning (as in two days later) to put the lights in. <br />
John showed up promptly at 9:30 as he said he would. He installed the lighting on his own with as little damage to the ceiling as possible, moved furniture, cleaned up after himself and all in all did a very solid, professional job. And he was a nice guy!<br />
After hearing horror stories from friends and neighbors about electricians who never showed up when they said they would or who took weeks or months to complete their work, I am wowed by the fact that this guy did just what he said he would promptly and efficiently. A professional with ethics- a rare breed! Seriously, if you live in the Philadelphia area and you need some electrical work done, this is the guy to call!yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-380365300155037092011-04-19T22:02:00.000-04:002011-04-19T22:02:35.614-04:00Oh no!James and Samuel <em><strong><u>LOVE</u></strong></em> their stuffed animals. They take their animals everywhere with them. The animals function as toys, playmates and security blankets. Since James is more than a little shy and was incredibly nervous riding the bus this year, we made a deal (the same deal I made with Samuel when he started kindergarten): he is allowed to take a stuffed animal with him to school every day as long as the animal stays in his backpack at all times while he is at school. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This deal has worked really well for James. Having a favorite animal with him gives James a little extra confidence and if he is sitting by himself on the bus he has something to keep him occupied. We have not had a single problem with this arrangement until last week. On Friday, the day before our week long spring break, James was distracted (one of his friends threw up on the bus) and he accidently left Cowie (the animal of choice for the day- a cow webkinz) on the bus. His regular bus driver, Mr Tony, (who normally says goodbye both to James and his animal) was not driving. I realized James was missing Cowie just as the bus drove off. I ran inside, grabbed my car keys, and we hopped into Homer, my trusty Honda Odyssey, to take up the pursuit. The problem is, at the end of our street there are three possible ways the bus could have turned. I guessed one way and we zoomed around the corner. No bus. I flipped a U-y and went down another street. No bus. At this point James had tears streaking down his cheeks. I tried another way. No bus. I pulled over to the side of the road, fished out my cell phone and called the school district transportation office. I quickly filled in the woman who answered. She was very sympathetic and promised that she would get Cowie off the bus herself as soon as it arrived back at the depot. About ten painful minutes later she called to let us know Cowie was safe and we could come to pick her up (yes, Cowie is a girl stuffed animal (I have no idea why)) anytime.<br />
We picked Samuel up at his bus stop and headed off to rescue Cowie. James spent the brief car ride filling Samuel in on the drama. <br />
The reunion between James and Cowie brought smiles all around. The people at the transportation office were so kind and the extra effort they made to save a beloved (inanimate) family member will never be forgotten- at least not by my sweet five year old.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IbNCmfEDn0exc3Eqw2tFQ3nUXngglvpkrbPtQcWY57tcob0TZQnMB960oI1t5a-aMmEm56CbmmBvC_TWvelWTJKRU-KAsPH53Kobe6hUuyYpzKeunIllMVnoKRttvseRQoGZdrA6YFtB/s1600/cute+brothers+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IbNCmfEDn0exc3Eqw2tFQ3nUXngglvpkrbPtQcWY57tcob0TZQnMB960oI1t5a-aMmEm56CbmmBvC_TWvelWTJKRU-KAsPH53Kobe6hUuyYpzKeunIllMVnoKRttvseRQoGZdrA6YFtB/s320/cute+brothers+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-57189979016346994592011-04-18T10:51:00.000-04:002011-04-18T10:51:25.252-04:00at least he's learningSo yesterday Matthew wanted some noodles. I put some on a plate and gave him a fork and sat him on a chair at the table. (He is refusing to sit in his booster seat because he does not like being strapped in.) He promptly dumped all of the noodles on the table, climbed off the chair, took his plate and fork over to the sink and tossed them in. Then he returned to the table and ate all of his noodles. I just stood there and cracked up. We have been working with Samuel and James on clearing their dishes after every meal without being asked. I guess Matthew has officially entered the "monkey see, monkey do" phase!yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-65969818627514857962011-04-07T21:47:00.000-04:002011-04-07T21:47:07.547-04:00Matthew and spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviycNsqm7OFhiJ8c_OhzuBY2d-ujBoEQNn7pqX8_lac741XE0u0QT_yle-3WB390XCai6paR_21eZQ5hyphenhyphenpNgHNjXESLgq4VWLKIA5ixZa8PeziEKUMzBSMr9bnbfUgFrEEEn-xgx_NrDw/s1600/20+months+old+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviycNsqm7OFhiJ8c_OhzuBY2d-ujBoEQNn7pqX8_lac741XE0u0QT_yle-3WB390XCai6paR_21eZQ5hyphenhyphenpNgHNjXESLgq4VWLKIA5ixZa8PeziEKUMzBSMr9bnbfUgFrEEEn-xgx_NrDw/s320/20+months+old+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pk8_w1My6H6o213-Q0GjbK3s3DBuA8QaEznWD1rARUixhXyrpbSDaVOINe2ycKh18CPFj_61l14fDlRJ2X-AgCCeRHZ_VJ2-xhbCXQaYRZwLDByTtues_GTbOGCfuJ8SftnrexwZyfry/s1600/20+months+old+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pk8_w1My6H6o213-Q0GjbK3s3DBuA8QaEznWD1rARUixhXyrpbSDaVOINe2ycKh18CPFj_61l14fDlRJ2X-AgCCeRHZ_VJ2-xhbCXQaYRZwLDByTtues_GTbOGCfuJ8SftnrexwZyfry/s320/20+months+old+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sheer happiness!</div>yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-9055679313817307232011-03-21T12:50:00.000-04:002011-03-21T12:50:18.715-04:00How to Train Your Dragon<span></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=luv2sing&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002ZG97YM&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 243px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 191px;"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you seen "How to Train Your Dragon" yet? If not, stop reading this and go watch it now! This is my boys' current movie of choice- and no wonder, it is awesome! Seriously, go and buy it. Trust me it is worth it. This movie is genius. The characters are uniquely loveable in a very tough, Vikingish way despite their odd names: Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs and Ruffnut. The main character, Hiccup, is your typical, awkward kid who wants deperately to please his father, but he just can't. Astrid is a strong, axe wielding heroine who is faster and fiercer than most of her peers and who will not back down from a fight. But she has brains as well as brawn. (Hooray for a cartoon with a great female lead!) The script is full of hillarious one liners and wry charm. And the soundtrack, oh, the soundtrack is lovely! It was nominated for an oscar. I purchased it on iTunes because I just LOVE it! We must have watched the movie 10 times in the last week (Sam has been home sick from school) and I still can't get enough of the music-- or the movie or the dragons for that matter. Oh. My. Goodness. The dragons are amazing! They are all unique in size, shape and abilities and have their own personalities that clearly shine through. Toothless, the main dragon is fearsome and dangerous and just one of the sweetest creatures I have ever seen. I would seriously keep him for a pet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzkgqGZfGhFjPXwtqATapPWtXC9ISgX6M1BA16Wv2OEbTRoUJx-oBNoLtXAY39xjm32_UVVL27cWAFVpjc3VHYif0ZVHhptzFoa_1Y_J7Ya26-QRIOzZ3PYyGxad62os6P7756GkQPm7M/s1600/toothless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzkgqGZfGhFjPXwtqATapPWtXC9ISgX6M1BA16Wv2OEbTRoUJx-oBNoLtXAY39xjm32_UVVL27cWAFVpjc3VHYif0ZVHhptzFoa_1Y_J7Ya26-QRIOzZ3PYyGxad62os6P7756GkQPm7M/s1600/toothless.jpg" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">So let's review: great movie, buy it now and go watch it (two or three times even). It will be well worth it. Oh and if anyone knows where I can find a pet Night Fury, let me know.</div>yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-76937036072885701242011-03-18T22:14:00.000-04:002011-03-18T22:14:22.796-04:00Aubrey's BaptismLast weekend we traveled up to middle-of-nowhere (sorry Gav and Jamie, but it's true!) Massachusetts for our niece, Aubrey's, baptism. In our church we don't baptize children when they are born, we wait until they are old enough to decide if it is what they want for themselves- an age of accountability of sorts. <br />
Anyway, Aubrey turned 8 on Friday and was baptised the following day. She was so excited and Samuel, who turns 8 in June, was just dying that it wasn't his turn. Jamie gave a sweet talk about the steps Aubrey has taken to prepare for her baptism. Aubrey enthusiastically 'helped' her. Gavin performed the actual baptism- twice- since it is baptism by immersion and Aubrey's toes peeked above the water the first time. John gave a great talk about the Holy Ghost using the boys and I to help illustrate a point.<br />
For refreshments, Jamie decided on a Philly theme based on a craving for soft pretzels. It was a huge hit with everyone. The Tasty Cakes went so fast I'm not even sure they were really there.<br />
The kids all had a great time together and we took the opportunity to take some family pictures.<br />
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<div align="center">pre baptism</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9EmBb5hIg_8Q-O1lEkD2v09dR_obHh5bRcPvV14HuLrA3__tum4cPqR53C34Q6OUDv_H8N5KLFZFU8u9DY4LYZDU6G2Y-_WUBB1Gggz_LTWK3svkMFAem6vF36CSrgkKVLTaFBoqySU9/s1600/Aubrey%2527s+Baptism+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9EmBb5hIg_8Q-O1lEkD2v09dR_obHh5bRcPvV14HuLrA3__tum4cPqR53C34Q6OUDv_H8N5KLFZFU8u9DY4LYZDU6G2Y-_WUBB1Gggz_LTWK3svkMFAem6vF36CSrgkKVLTaFBoqySU9/s320/Aubrey%2527s+Baptism+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRlfVPc6ormoP2Fap2-zdxgY9FSbdcjVv28_ZRYXPQfzUO3ttzs10npMk7b_DZNoKvL-eV6R0IRB5adxrRfdiHvtaEFLsfGD-2kAuyvKJmJb6YS3KJcE7EYxxG8CdVGe0fLSmFxliYeix/s1600/Aubrey%2527s+Baptism+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRlfVPc6ormoP2Fap2-zdxgY9FSbdcjVv28_ZRYXPQfzUO3ttzs10npMk7b_DZNoKvL-eV6R0IRB5adxrRfdiHvtaEFLsfGD-2kAuyvKJmJb6YS3KJcE7EYxxG8CdVGe0fLSmFxliYeix/s320/Aubrey%2527s+Baptism+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">three generations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqT-z-Drn-77mFAzVeYR_Pj0pHlqSOrf6qaUqvFGbUwqmoCxE0WZdIqoeW3I3AS3r-fpeG2Ox4PICv_2t-aYCX3EiyxyN3IKP2BZWX_IDqrKKVsC_pFF9lk1WRs2opoQX4McgUkOTt_Ft/s1600/Aubrey%2527s+Baptism+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqT-z-Drn-77mFAzVeYR_Pj0pHlqSOrf6qaUqvFGbUwqmoCxE0WZdIqoeW3I3AS3r-fpeG2Ox4PICv_2t-aYCX3EiyxyN3IKP2BZWX_IDqrKKVsC_pFF9lk1WRs2opoQX4McgUkOTt_Ft/s320/Aubrey%2527s+Baptism+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">the kids</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFjCigKMZHVGwTUVWBK4jegCkk-C-Y2GvwJkB5lGyggHgqJGAn4sAtJyW1uwEbTyoz5sSU4LZJ7uYTfj8qhIWu2hXNCRED2M8QHE2fI6NRZmq5p8kRubzml4NFZkQ9a8v19hwwJtKywmp/s1600/Aubrey%2527s+Baptism+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFjCigKMZHVGwTUVWBK4jegCkk-C-Y2GvwJkB5lGyggHgqJGAn4sAtJyW1uwEbTyoz5sSU4LZJ7uYTfj8qhIWu2hXNCRED2M8QHE2fI6NRZmq5p8kRubzml4NFZkQ9a8v19hwwJtKywmp/s320/Aubrey%2527s+Baptism+%252811%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">after the party</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcGqechnJL1B7eaQjX2WTy5vg9cK_X8R2wj8KoXYwCxwZ1Z5y2OWbWojRrXqWjrDfkPSh3f7IGvhCy0fCA6CtN8y7DmvA3LU38Jg2x7eC7JkBEwhC7KxcLbiEF8YjrOMUCzyERaFBj324/s1600/Aubrey%2527s+Baptism+%252814%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcGqechnJL1B7eaQjX2WTy5vg9cK_X8R2wj8KoXYwCxwZ1Z5y2OWbWojRrXqWjrDfkPSh3f7IGvhCy0fCA6CtN8y7DmvA3LU38Jg2x7eC7JkBEwhC7KxcLbiEF8YjrOMUCzyERaFBj324/s320/Aubrey%2527s+Baptism+%252814%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-31833859256167043492011-03-10T22:30:00.000-05:002011-03-10T22:30:50.007-05:00artist in trainingJames is becoming quite the little artist. Last fall I signed him up for an art class, offered by the Swarthmore Recreation Association, just as something to do after school and a way to see his friend, Gracie. Eve Walters, the woman crazy enough to run this class of twelve 3-5 year olds, is an amazing teacher! She takes time to really teach the kids about art history and well known artists as well as how to create their own art. <br />
<div align="center">making Tiffany windows</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnAaBdCbJ6Wx-StOR3T8zJLjMZr9jGi7fgOHnAtbOD35iQMkLVDukY0vj5EMBthuNZUXAD7dS1sXMgWaWjOSGcELrRnfRrtGp4BV6tRrpBI4za3mkFJLr_IGVRCFRfZVH5KyfHLq1mfdN/s1600/James%2527+spring+art+show+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnAaBdCbJ6Wx-StOR3T8zJLjMZr9jGi7fgOHnAtbOD35iQMkLVDukY0vj5EMBthuNZUXAD7dS1sXMgWaWjOSGcELrRnfRrtGp4BV6tRrpBI4za3mkFJLr_IGVRCFRfZVH5KyfHLq1mfdN/s320/James%2527+spring+art+show+%25289%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>James can not get enough. He now draws all the time. In fact, this week he has decided that he needs to teach me how to draw. So Tuesday we sat at the kitchen table and he said, "OK, Mom. We are going to draw a camel. Now first let's start with the head. Don't forget you need two humps and a tail. See what I'm doing? OK. Don't forget the eye. Are you making a girl camel or a boy camel? Now we are going to draw a unicorn..." It is adorable!<br />
The SRA art class is one hour a week and six weeks long. The last part of the 6th class is the art show. Eve mats all of their artwork and displays it charmingly for the parents to admire. <br />
The greatest thing about this whole experience is watching his growth. He is really getting better at art and enjoys it more than he ever has before. Today as we sat at the table to do some drawing he drew a picture of a lamb and of his stuffed animal giraffe. Not only were they both clearly recognizable but they were actually pretty good. I was totally blown away.<br />
Here are some pictures from his latest art show. We are now starting our third series of art classes. Eve makes sure that their are new projects each session so none of the kids ever make the same project twice. So fun!<br />
<div align="center">The wall of paintings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyyQ-iFvJ86OO-PgW7AJtVVYGGtRs1pIaFkzH_LZoXvQNYSPzU_zRgxzDLFkQVirQbQAL8ltyrw5LDgzkEWmh-_NAUAQ0dBEMVJ8zd5w-gJQk9tgbogueZF7dbZWChAdYnQq8WuPHI37k/s1600/James%2527+spring+art+show+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyyQ-iFvJ86OO-PgW7AJtVVYGGtRs1pIaFkzH_LZoXvQNYSPzU_zRgxzDLFkQVirQbQAL8ltyrw5LDgzkEWmh-_NAUAQ0dBEMVJ8zd5w-gJQk9tgbogueZF7dbZWChAdYnQq8WuPHI37k/s320/James%2527+spring+art+show+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">penguins sitting on ice bergs (James' is the one on the left)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eMxfUQ-9jsKYetlbIO2zB9c7sQq2ZqROVlZcY79hfOrI5aX5_kcggV1X20k3DpCccUM4rE44v71kkJRJEjTRHCszKky7FfOEEwss7ZFgJo53MbnMNwx337GjtEnrfOokFr2RIulI_iep/s1600/James%2527+spring+art+show+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eMxfUQ-9jsKYetlbIO2zB9c7sQq2ZqROVlZcY79hfOrI5aX5_kcggV1X20k3DpCccUM4rE44v71kkJRJEjTRHCszKky7FfOEEwss7ZFgJo53MbnMNwx337GjtEnrfOokFr2RIulI_iep/s320/James%2527+spring+art+show+%252811%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">James and Daddy next to James' self portrait</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Tc3XUf1gobgQ-AOcgkFHeGjM0YfaNibKbvZFcF0RL0O9iFPWnSxtXsH1FqNvl3ljUfY3vPBaGTRT5vkifd-IjoBhE8oK-tZngajWJb4uQVuivv7DOkWmKxOig3rWg8-f9D56RJqwC5Bc/s1600/James%2527+spring+art+show+%252820%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Tc3XUf1gobgQ-AOcgkFHeGjM0YfaNibKbvZFcF0RL0O9iFPWnSxtXsH1FqNvl3ljUfY3vPBaGTRT5vkifd-IjoBhE8oK-tZngajWJb4uQVuivv7DOkWmKxOig3rWg8-f9D56RJqwC5Bc/s320/James%2527+spring+art+show+%252820%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A picture made by putting masking tape over paper, painting the page and then peeling the tape off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVCvTCHidcX1pmNz75fQ_f3FByp13ef0B4jOnej7_Fr87R7wL4R00cRRo5P7bgadQTCEiTl3Q3YiJ8-zUEP4sW6RR6Ht0cwPp2PxUYY0kAAOJLREfSrrHwhEZ-HpxGSutcR1KOEYvFjQ7/s1600/James%2527+spring+art+show+%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVCvTCHidcX1pmNz75fQ_f3FByp13ef0B4jOnej7_Fr87R7wL4R00cRRo5P7bgadQTCEiTl3Q3YiJ8-zUEP4sW6RR6Ht0cwPp2PxUYY0kAAOJLREfSrrHwhEZ-HpxGSutcR1KOEYvFjQ7/s320/James%2527+spring+art+show+%252813%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ms. Walters welcoming the parents</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iS6xGNviijwWOSh_CaGr75KT3aBzUy6kub7al5AsVOPxiVFx22HXheMsZ6Wf3uz3HrdZ1CFIbwmoR0dS2x_waL3ndspVnjamKxp3fjGK1477STN25DPxvTHJTUEjNbcV0RDMA1n0ArKx/s1600/James%2527+spring+art+show+%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iS6xGNviijwWOSh_CaGr75KT3aBzUy6kub7al5AsVOPxiVFx22HXheMsZ6Wf3uz3HrdZ1CFIbwmoR0dS2x_waL3ndspVnjamKxp3fjGK1477STN25DPxvTHJTUEjNbcV0RDMA1n0ArKx/s320/James%2527+spring+art+show+%252817%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">James' sun made from all sorts of household items</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEwtSnqnuX2EbzgX5LdvVeGwPPhBRYRwhcB_qWH0Tjxlia_6WSiOrVAkwW6dt9iMLs5KV_dkwdSkpbcoGA9dhEDW73R28auYik3MtelWGHMBpE6h3D5MLWWR9MdQJyIZDkAWNhO3QzzHY/s1600/James%2527+spring+art+show+%252815%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEwtSnqnuX2EbzgX5LdvVeGwPPhBRYRwhcB_qWH0Tjxlia_6WSiOrVAkwW6dt9iMLs5KV_dkwdSkpbcoGA9dhEDW73R28auYik3MtelWGHMBpE6h3D5MLWWR9MdQJyIZDkAWNhO3QzzHY/s320/James%2527+spring+art+show+%252815%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And, of course, cookies and juice for refreshments after the big show.yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-40365670219770894722011-03-07T22:49:00.000-05:002011-03-07T22:49:28.619-05:00quiltingI have a bunch of friends who are having babies this month and have been trying to make baby quilts for them. Unfortunately, I am still lacking in the energy department so the process is going slower than I would like. However, I have been using some creative energy so that is always a good thing.<br />
Here are pictures of the step by step process of the rag circle quilt I made for my friend Jennie. It takes a lot of time but turns out really cool.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Step 1: Cut fabric into circles </div><div style="text-align: center;">Step 2: Put two circles together (wrongsides touching) and sew around the edge. Repeat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtT-i5e4tiha9NjWbH0ib_QDWvd_kxv2PFa0t3xqyBT0gZQZuk8sjTZcDsrvlr1VAhP8mDvOCl54J7CzjCMjnRV9Sx38BW4J8RVxjCKZKnK2RiOLsmi_6rvSWXbkET8uLLgPnAhjyPoUL/s1600/Jennie%2527s+quilt+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtT-i5e4tiha9NjWbH0ib_QDWvd_kxv2PFa0t3xqyBT0gZQZuk8sjTZcDsrvlr1VAhP8mDvOCl54J7CzjCMjnRV9Sx38BW4J8RVxjCKZKnK2RiOLsmi_6rvSWXbkET8uLLgPnAhjyPoUL/s320/Jennie%2527s+quilt+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Step 3: Trace a square inside each circle</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Step 4: Sew two circles together along the side of the traced square. Repeat.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDGkAbV24zSxExRNphr4bIV4jkfoKRYr1vjPPiWnmeYvWbNKoNcdoQKet4coQO6ndIjtxe-WR5Q-ioFOQqvoAT1pPGadXW8gjOqmojzYty4L5x5LEvYL4rSR9PanKIeurljpkPhGu40Et/s1600/Jennie%2527s+quilt+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDGkAbV24zSxExRNphr4bIV4jkfoKRYr1vjPPiWnmeYvWbNKoNcdoQKet4coQO6ndIjtxe-WR5Q-ioFOQqvoAT1pPGadXW8gjOqmojzYty4L5x5LEvYL4rSR9PanKIeurljpkPhGu40Et/s320/Jennie%2527s+quilt+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Step 5: Sew rows together using the square edges.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Step 6: Fold over the flaps from the cirles and sew them down</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Step 7: Cut around all of the seams 1/4 inch apart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexILcIEEB0FCa32GWEpnYese3T9yJl9YmiMdvmKjNmEDWyy4oS-Qtg1FEP_gqFZS_Kq_mnoyM0sd9z6cWAi1b4yC3oPxSECQRMtbEulvjMliIaFjY-Ac2y6zR2W1Q9DM6yV0Cr0y3uqgG/s1600/Jennie%2527s+quilt+2+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexILcIEEB0FCa32GWEpnYese3T9yJl9YmiMdvmKjNmEDWyy4oS-Qtg1FEP_gqFZS_Kq_mnoyM0sd9z6cWAi1b4yC3oPxSECQRMtbEulvjMliIaFjY-Ac2y6zR2W1Q9DM6yV0Cr0y3uqgG/s320/Jennie%2527s+quilt+2+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Step 8: Wash the quilt and admire the results.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5LyaFtzM0zVWLCSQJb19J7hJrwFcJe0s9n58e7YYkfv3_XSwYijZmH0OKMTFkLVDi34LQ6kvLZEdsVTIsaQjV1QKk50C7fL5bMOLE_Bem-ZjXb6VNoO6uQExZ0X46IHEL4TCseK5yq-a/s1600/Jennie%2527s+quilt+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5LyaFtzM0zVWLCSQJb19J7hJrwFcJe0s9n58e7YYkfv3_XSwYijZmH0OKMTFkLVDi34LQ6kvLZEdsVTIsaQjV1QKk50C7fL5bMOLE_Bem-ZjXb6VNoO6uQExZ0X46IHEL4TCseK5yq-a/s320/Jennie%2527s+quilt+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Granted, the above steps are over simplified but you get the general idea. I absolutely love this quilt but the amount of effort can be daunting. Most of the baby quilts I am making right now are not this elaborate for obvious reasons- but it was a fun exercise. I will pst more pictures soon.yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-84960708952871857162011-02-17T22:03:00.001-05:002011-02-17T22:11:39.961-05:00breath of springToday was the first day of spring weather of the year. I did not realize how much I have hated the cold until I felt the warmth again. <br />
This first taste of spring brought to mind spring break and for some reason I started to reminisce about the spring breaks of my childhood. I grew up in southern Utah. All of the high school and college students in northern Utah used to come to my hometown for spring break for a taste of sunshine. For the entire weekend they would hangout on the Boulevard- one of the two main streets of my little town. There were literally hoards of teenagers just standing around. It had to be the police department's least favorite time of the year!<br />
Anyway, traffic on the Boulevard was a slow crawl for the entire weekend. Most locals would avoid it but every once in a while our family would take a drive down it just to gawk at the crowds. One year my mom and my two teenage sisters were stopped in traffic on the spring-breakified-Boulevard when two guys opened the doors to the car and hopped in the back seat with my sister. They were just pulling a stunt and didn't look to closely at who was in the car. They had thought my mom was a teenager too. Boy, were they embarrassed! It ended up that the guys actually were good friends with some of our cousins who lived up north. Small world! If I remember correctly, my mom even invited them over for dinner. This quickly became a favorite family story to tell and is one that makes me giggle even after all these years.yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333017849348650712.post-69203302712318176162011-02-09T21:55:00.000-05:002011-02-09T21:55:59.667-05:00eighteen monthsOur little guy hit 18 months on Monday. He had his first official day in nursery at church on Sunday. He played for the first twenty minutes and when he realized that I was not in the room anymore he climbed up on one of the teachers' laps and fell asleep. Just like James.<br />
At the doctor's on Tuesday he weighed in at 24 lbs 12 oz and 32 inches long. I can not believe that he is getting so big!<br />
The latest Matthew words: uh-oh, Mama, Dada, ball, chicken, hey, cookie, away, ho ho ho, choo choo, uh-huh. He loves to read books, lightsaber fight, tackle his brothers, ride on his buzz lightyear car and his brother's firetruck, build and destroy block towers and play with his daddy. He has the best laugh- something between a chuckle and a belly laugh. Take a look at this picture and you can almost hear him.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyT-oTGVC6TgaNkFdpDdN_eGuhwEG85WwzP7FaV8vYRKOVi6tphDJpYoz7jPgQ80Kf0_JV_C4HoQ9la2ShhSByBmn3vvL3SmCQeKnvE6atGyi-OVo-CfQ-BHG6ap6JCLVyniuMEVz-YLh/s1600/18+months.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyT-oTGVC6TgaNkFdpDdN_eGuhwEG85WwzP7FaV8vYRKOVi6tphDJpYoz7jPgQ80Kf0_JV_C4HoQ9la2ShhSByBmn3vvL3SmCQeKnvE6atGyi-OVo-CfQ-BHG6ap6JCLVyniuMEVz-YLh/s400/18+months.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>yamseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000983516759119710noreply@blogger.com0