December 2008 Ensign

Becoming Spiritually Whole
By Shari Phippen

~wholeness comes not from being physically perfect but from faith in a Savior who will calm, comfort, and heal my heart.

An Ability to Bear Our Burdens

“Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a ‘healing’ cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are ‘healed’ by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “He Heals the Heavy Laden,” Ensign, Nov. 2006, 7.

Riley

I went upstairs this afternoon and noticed that Riley had put on a little weight since lunch.



Riley had taken several items and stuffed them down her shirt.

She was very excited to have the camera in her face and therefore made some great faces.


After a while she let us take all of the things out of her shirt and this is what we found:



She was quite proud of what she had done.


Justin was giving Riley a bath when he came downstairs and told me that there was still a hamburger patty in her pants.

Valen Rocks!

CAKE!!

My sister emailed me a picture of the most beautiful cake I have ever seen. It's too late for a wedding obviously, so I've decided that I want it for my 30th birthday. It's absolutely amazing, and I'm not big on cakes!! Check it out!!

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxX_kC3X-FcJKntmr9e_bOZ-sCy1dgt1-SZCPOHCt3drWosh_YZ1gFthbLu8TRj3QOkIBMGw9xmPtTpOztIhhMmyky152B6FQE7VrLZ4cp1_ARYrMWIM5olTODzxnRExYcBM_d_ZsGL2r2/s1600-h/nightmare+cake12.jpg

Riley pics

We haven't done very much lately that requires pictures, that and our camera needs to be fixed, so I had to post these when our camera alowed me to use it.

This is Riley with "Orange Juice Bear." It's Valen's Care Bear, but Riley has decided that it is hers and she takes it with her everywhere. Her favorite drink is orange juice, so that might be the reason for the name.



While shopping at the mall--can you believe we were actually there?--we found some Pikachu slippers for Valen and had to buy them. We only thought it fair that if Valen got her Christmas slippers early, Riley should get hers early as well.
At first she wouldn't touch them, but once she got used to the idea of putting Elmo's head on her feet, she won't take them off. They are her "Elmo shoes."

Valen quote

We were upstairs playing in the girls’ room when Valen asked me to get one of her china dolls down—it was one that Grandma Reen gave her. Valen was undressing it and told me that she had a midnight gown on. I asked her what a midnight gown was.
She said, “You know. A midnight gown, a gown you wear to bed.”
"Oh, you mean a night gown."
"Yea, one you wear to bed."

October 2008 Ensign

Developing Christlike Attributes
By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency

• What are the basics, the fundamental principles of our membership in the kingdom of God on earth? After all is said and done, what will really carry us at times of greatest need to our desired eternal destination?
• Living according to the basic gospel principles will bring power, strength, and spiritual self-reliance into the lives of all Latter-day Saints.
• Faith is such a principle of power. We need this source of power in our lives. God works by power, but this power is usually exercised in response to our faith. “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). God works according to the faith of His children.
• As we strive to understand, internalize, and live correct gospel principles, we will become more spiritually self-reliant. The principle of spiritual self-reliance grows out of a fundamental doctrine of the Church: God has granted us agency.
• We recognize that we are living in a time of turmoil, disaster, and war. We and many others feel strongly the great need for a “defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth” (D&C 115:6). How do we find such a place of safety? President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) taught: “Our safety lies in the virtue of our lives. Our strength lies in our righteousness.”
• Individually, we need to first “follow Him,” and as we do this, the Savior will bless us beyond our own capacity to become what He wants us to be.
  To follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His character. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the potential to incorporate Christlike attributes into our life and character. The Savior invites us to learn His gospel by living His teachings. To follow Him is to apply correct principles and then witness for ourselves the blessings that follow. This process is very complex and very simple at the same time. Ancient and modern prophets described it with three words: “Keep the commandments”—nothing more, nothing less.
• The scriptures describe a number of Christlike attributes we need to develop during the course of our lives. They include knowledge and humility, charity and love, obedience and diligence, faith and hope (see D&C 4:5–6). These personal character qualities stand independent of the organizational status of our Church unit, our economic circumstances, our family situation, culture, race, or language. Christlike attributes are gifts from God. They cannot be developed without His help.
• The one help we all need is given to us freely through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Having faith in Jesus Christ and in His Atonement means relying completely on Him—trusting in His infinite power, intelligence, and love. Christlike attributes come into our lives as we exercise our agency righteously. Faith in Jesus Christ leads to action. When we have faith in Christ, we trust the Lord enough to follow His commandments—even when we do not completely understand the reasons for them. In seeking to become more like the Savior, we need to reevaluate our lives regularly and rely, through the path of true repentance, upon the merits of Jesus Christ and the blessings of His Atonement.
• Developing Christlike attributes can be a painful process. We need to be ready to accept direction and correction from the Lord and His servants.

Why Did the Lord Call Me?
By Kimberlee B. Garrett

• “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” (Moroni 10:32).
• I am strengthened when I remember that Christ’s commandment is not for me to become perfect and then come to Him. Instead, He invites me—and each one of us—to come unto Him and to be perfected in Him.

The Lord Can Ease Our Burdens
By Elder Maury W. Schooff Area Seventy North America Central Area

• The Lord tests the faith and patience of His people. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said this about trials: “[The Lord] gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.”1
• We need to trust the Lord. The Lord’s view is much broader than ours, and He has promised that He will not try us beyond our ability to withstand (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). Elder Scott said, “To exercise faith is to trust that the Lord knows what He is doing with you and that He can accomplish it for your eternal good even though you cannot understand how He can possibly do it.”2
• We should not murmur. Alma’s people did not complain about their afflictions. How easy it is for us to murmur when things do not go our way! Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Murmuring can … be noisy enough that it drowns out the various spiritual signals to us, signals which tell us in some cases to quit soaking ourselves indulgently in the hot tubs of self-pity! Murmuring over the weight of our crosses not only takes energy otherwise needed to carry them but might cause another to put down his cross altogether.” Elder Maxwell offered this alternative to murmuring: “Being of good cheer is what is needed, and being of good [cheer] is equally contagious. We have clear obligations to so strengthen each other by doing things ‘with cheerful hearts and countenances’ (D&C 59:15; see also 81:5).”3
• As you face challenges remember that the Lord will sustain you. Recognize that these experiences can polish you as you place your faith and trust in the Lord, actively practice patience, and listen to the counsel of Church leaders. The Lord has said, “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God” (D&C 101:16).

Stand Ye in Holy Places
By President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) Eleventh President of the Church

• The heaviest burden that one has to bear in this life is the burden of sin.
• If the time comes when you have done all that you can to repent of your sins, whoever you are, wherever you are, and have made amends and restitution to the best of your ability; if it be something that will affect your standing in the Church and you have gone to the proper authorities, then you will want that confirming answer as to whether or not the Lord has accepted of you. In your soul-searching, if you seek for and you find that peace of conscience, by that token you may know that the Lord has accepted of your repentance. Satan would have you think otherwise and sometimes persuade you that now having made one mistake, you might go on and on with no turning back. That is one of the great falsehoods. The miracle of forgiveness is available to all of those who turn from their evil doings and return no more, because the Lord has said in a revelation to us in our day: “Go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth [meaning again] shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God” (D&C 82:7). Have that in mind, all of you who may be troubled with a burden of sin.
• And to you who are teachers, may you help to lift that great burden from those who are carrying it and who have their conscience so seared that they are kept from activity, and they don’t know where to go to find the answers. You help them to that day of repentance and restitution in order that they too may have that peace of conscience, the confirming of the Spirit of the Lord that He has accepted of their repentance.
• You cannot lift another soul until you are standing on higher ground than he is. You must be sure, if you would rescue the man, that you yourself are setting the example of what you would have him be. You cannot light a fire in another soul unless it is burning in your own soul. You teachers, the testimony that you bear, the spirit with which you teach and with which you lead, is one of the most important assets that you can have as you help to strengthen those who need so much, wherein you have so much to give. Who of us, in whatever station we may have been in, have not needed strengthening?

Protecting Our Families in the Last Days
By Elder Richard J. Maynes Of the Seventy

• In light of modern-day wickedness and social conditions so accurately predicted by Moroni, how can we rear faithful children and establish Zion in our homes? We start by realizing that it will require great effort and diligence to follow the admonition of the Lord and His prophets.
• We have been taught the importance of daily personal and family prayer.
• We have been taught the importance of daily personal and family scripture study.
• We have been taught the importance of weekly family home evening.
• Church leaders continually bring these basic gospel principles to our attention. Why? Because the Lord understands that the basic gospel principles that we strive to live each day will ultimately save our children and help establish Zion in our homes.

Gospel Doctrines: Anchors to Our Souls
By Elder Marlin K. Jensen Of the Seventy

• President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has stated the principle beautifully: “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior.”
• The influence of doctrine on our behavior can be great and eternally beneficial.
• Perhaps that is why early in this dispensation the Lord said to the Saints, “And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom” (D&C 88:77). Because we can’t teach what we haven’t learned, an important implication of this commandment is that we must acquire a basic knowledge of gospel doctrine in our heads and hearts.
• We can draw on this knowledge in moments of personal need and when we want to teach the doctrines of the kingdom to others. Our knowledge will help save us, but each of us must pay the price to obtain it. To do so we may need to get up a little earlier, stay up a little later, or consistently sneak a few precious moments for study during the day. Whatever price we have to pay, it will be worth it. A determined effort to study gospel doctrine will also have the benefit of immersing us in a prime source of that doctrine—the scriptures.
• Learning and teaching doctrine to our families is the greatest service we could ever render to them or anyone else because thereby faith in Christ increases and this is the surest anchor to our souls.When we begin to internalize the doctrines of the gospel—in Jeremiah’s words, to put them in our “inward parts, and write [them] in [our] hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33)—it will not be long before we and those around us begin to notice changes in our behavior.
• Perhaps the best measurement of how well we understand the doctrines of the gospel is how clearly and simply we teach them and live them. And live and teach them we must! (see Matthew 5:19; D&C 68:25). Is there a better way to tangibly express love to our families than to teach them the saving doctrines of the gospel?
• When we teach doctrine, an accompanying power and spirit will carry our teachings deep into the hearts of those we teach and will bring those teachings to their remembrance at appropriate and critical times (see Alma 31:5).
• we must learn doctrine and teach it. If we do so we will increasingly be found in our homes and elsewhere, as Nephi observed, “talk[ing] of Christ, … preach[ing] of Christ, prophesy[ing] of Christ, and … writ[ing] according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).
• Learning and teaching doctrine to our families is the greatest service we could ever render to them or anyone else because thereby faith in Christ increases and this is the surest anchor to our souls.

Girl Scout Cookies!!

It is official. Valen can now consider herself a 'true' Girl Scout. Her first shipment of cookies came tonight--for those of you that bought cookies, we will be delivering them soon. She was very excited, I think mostly because we were going to have them for dessert. But I had to document this historic moment so that someday she could look back on it with fond memories. . . however



if you did order cookies from us, you may want to check ALL of the ingredients before ingesting!!

Riley's Knees

Riley has this great new game she plays where she runs really fast and then jumps onto her knees. It's really cute, unless she's playing the game when she's upset, then it's not so fun. We had to get some video of her doing it because it's so great!!

Ti-Ti-Aya!!

Valen tested for her Yellow Belt in Karate today. Being our first belt test, and because we were in a hurry, we didn't grab either camera--such an irony in our lives, the most important moments are never documented because we forget a camera--so we took some pictures when we got home. She looks a little evil with the red eyes, but I think she's just excited to have moved up a belt. She did really good at the test and seems enthusiastic about sticking with Karate.

These are pictures of Riley that Justin took yesterday that have no real significance other than when I was uploading Valen's Karate pictures I found them and thought they were great!

Valen's Baptism

Here are the long awaited pictures of Valen's baptism. I'm sorry for all of you that couldn't make it, but thankful for all of you that did!!

Here is Valen with her beautiful hair--Thank you Talyor--contemplating the step she is about to take, or at least in the pose she was told to stand in.




Here she is in the towel that we got her. We had the towel embroidered with her name and the date on it. Some time I will get a picture of it.



Here is the lucky girl standing with a very handsome bystander who also seemed to be wearing a white jumpsuit--I hear they are very popular these days.



Here is our family photo, as you can tell. I am stressed to my max, Justin is nervous, Valen is happy to be getting so much attention, and Riley is oblivious to everything, comforted by the fact that no matter what happens she will have her bag of Trix.




This is Valen freezing and asking to dry off, but being a good sport and letting me get my mandatory wet picture.




This is my favorite picture. She looks so happy and wholesome and pure and wonderful. Here, in my eyes, she looks like a Daughter of God, full of life and love, knowing she made the right decision and knowing that He loves her and is proud of her.




This is not a very good picture of her, but as tradition dictates, we did not get a good picture of her in her white dress. An explanation may be in order. For both Valen and Riley we did not get good pictures of them in their blessing dresses. Valen was screaming and Riley was stuffed into her car seat. By the time it occurred to us to get a better picture, they had outgrown their dresses. Thankfully I am already aware of the bad picture situation this time, so we may be able to fix it in time. I do plan on being better prepared for their wedding pictures.




Again, not a very good picture, but one with Valen and all of her "loot."




Me very, VERY thankful that I made it through the whole thing without breaking down in any way--physically, emotionally or mentally.




This is our friend Lisa, who so graciously accepted our invitation to come to Valen's baptism. She is a wonderful person and we were happy to have her there.

Below is a sample of the program. It's not the actual program because I'm still learning how to use this site.






Baptism of

Garrett Jones
Zachary Webber
Valen Chouinard

Saturday, November 1, 2008
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Amherst Ward, Buffalo, New York Stake

Conducting: Bishop Lahti
Pianists: Tiffany Clegg & Erin Webber—Zachary’s Mother
Music Leader: Tara Condie

Welcome: Bishop Lahti

Opening Song: Come, Follow Me #116
Opening Prayer: Don Clifton—Garrett’s Grandfather

Talk on Baptism: Mikel Voss—Valen’s Grandfather

Baptismal Ordinance: Garrett by Neal Jones—Father
Zachary by Ben Webber—Father
Valen by Justin Chouinard—Father

Interlude: Video Presentation

Talk on Holy Ghost: Amy Jones—Garrett’s Mother

Confirmation: Garrett by Neal Jones
Zachary by Ben Webber
Valen by Justin Chouinard

Congratulations from Primary: Tara Chiapelli

Bishopric Welcome: Bishop Lahti

Closing Song: I Am a Child of God #301

Here is the video that Justin put together for the baptism.

Update

Riley

November 5, 2008
We had playgroup this morning at Gantrie Boren’s house. Riley spent most of her time upstairs playing with the dishes.
After playgroup we went on several errands. Riley was very good at each store, and there were a lot of them. She was very anxious to help each time we got to a conveyor belt or credit card machine.
It was such a nice day outside that we had to spend some outside time. We didn’t even wear our jackets as we played at the playground. Riley had a lot of fun on the slide, although the first couple of times down, she wasn’t too sure about it. Once Valen got home from school the girls had a great time swinging and going up and down the slide together.
For dinner we went to the Flickinger Court Potluck. Not very many people showed up, but there was enough food to feed us. Riley didn’t seem to be very hungry—it could have been the two bowls of cereal I let her eat at 4:00. She spent most of her time running around the room and playing with the Fusball and Pool tables. When she played with the Fusball table she would turn the guys around and yell, “Ti, Ti Ayah!” At some point during the evening she lost her shoe, which didn’t seem to bother her one bit, she was still running at full speed. I went to check on her when she went into the next room, and found her with her face pressed up against the half door of the office. She was looking through the mail slot on the door.
Riley’s new favorite song is ‘Once There was a Snowman,’ so we had to sing it for scriptures and prayers tonight. She gets so excited that she wants to sing it over and over and over. I think all of the snowmen we saw when shopping today must have put her in the mood.

November 6, 2008
Riley slept in quite late this morning. By the time we got her up, dressed and fed it was almost 11:00. We hung out until Ron and Anoth came over. They followed us to the library, where we played for a few minutes before coming back home. I needed to get birthday cards made, so after eating lunch, the girls and I did lots of drawings with markers, water colors and paint. Then we moved on to the Play Dough. We also went outside for a time because it was so nice again. Riley had a great time on the slide. Every time she came down I would catch her and she would give me a kiss. When we got back inside, Riley and Anoth found the punchy balloons and went crazy. They were running all over the house, throwing the balloons up and laying on them and trying to throw and catch them. Silly, silly girls.
Riley’s creativity blows me away. As we were going up the stairs this morning she was asking me about grapes. I thought she was talking about her breakfast—eggs and toast, her favorite—and I kept trying to tell her that we didn’t have any grapes. But she was pretending that the mounts on the banister were grapes and she was picking and eating them as she went up the stairs. So now every time we go up the stairs we eat grapes along the way.

Valen

November 5, 2008
When Valen got home from school today, Riley and I were playing outside because it was so nice; we didn’t even need to wear jackets. So the girls played outside for a while on the slides and swings. Eventually we had to go inside so that Valen could do her homework and chores.
For dinner tonight we went to the Flickinger Court Potluck. Not very many people came and there wasn’t much food, but someone did happen to bring twisty pasta with Parmesan cheese, Valen’s favorite. She had three helpings. Partway through dinner, Valen had to go to the bathroom; while in there she put on a great show for those of us eating—she was singing at the top of her lungs. After dinner Valen had to go to the bathroom at the community building, again. I left with Riley, but when Justin got home he said that we need to talk to Valen about public nudity. Apparently she was hot from running around the building so she went into the bathroom and stripped down.

November 6, 2008
Today was Valen’s first day of her new reading club. She gets to stay after school with several of her friends and read books together in the library. Today they read The Magic Tree House with the camels—I’m not sure what they title of the book is. She said that they each got to take turns reading one page and then they discussed what they read. They even got snacks.
It was so nice again today that we had to go outside and play for a while.
Valen also had Girl Scouts. They finished up the “Let’s Pretend” unit by remaking their ‘Bambie’ animal masks—Valen chose to make a ‘Chimchar’ mask instead—and then acting out scenes from the movie. They also started the music unit by taking turns trying out different musical instruments and making a home made tambourine, which Valen decorated with Pokemon pictures.

The Past Two Days

October 30, 2008
VALEN

We let Valen skip school today so that she could go with us to Palmyra. Our first stop was The Hill Cumorah. Valen enjoyed being the leader and showing everyone which way to go and how to do things. When we got to the top she spent most of her time looking for the cat that was there last time we went. Next, we went to the Smith Family Farm and the Sacred Grove. This time we took the tour of the log cabin and frame house. Every time we go there, Valen begs to go on the tour and it has never worked out for us, but this time it did. I think she still liked the barn the best, even though it is not a part of the tour. We didn’t spend very much time in the Sacred Grove because Riley was getting a little crazy, so the girls and I went back to the car so that Grandpa Mike and Leah could have a few moments of silence in the Grove. After stopping to get some pictures of the Temple we headed into Palmyra. We went to Grandin’s Printing Press. Valen’s favorite part was folding the replica sheet of Book of Mormon pages. Then we went to the LDS Harvest bookstore where Valen gave me all the reasons why she needed everything she saw.

RILEY
We went to Palmyra first thing in the morning. We stopped at The Hill Cumorah first. The weather was warm with a little wind, but there was snow on the ground and that had Riley’s attention very first thing. She had one glove wet before we even got into the visitor’s center. She really wanted to go into the Christus room, so, while everyone else was talking to the Sister Missionaries, her and I went in. She enjoyed looking at the statue, and I showed her the nail prints in his hands and feet and told her that Jesus got those because he died for us because he loves us. She sat for just a brief moment and looked into his face. When everyone else came in and they started the presentation I told Riley to be quiet so she could hear what Jesus wanted to say to her. When the voice started talking she seemed very surprised and looked over at the statue. When she realized that he wasn’t actually talking she went back to climbing all over the chairs.
When we got outside, again Riley was drawn to the snow. The only way I could get her up the hill was to run along side her and tell her we had to catch up to Valen. She also liked walking on top of the retaining walls. Every once in a while she would stop, look at me and say, “Bye, bye Mom,” and turn around and start back down the hill.
Next, we went to the Smith Farm and Sacred Grove. First, we went to the log home. Riley loved walking outside to each structure, but wasn’t so excited that she couldn’t run around the log cabin and play in the fireplace and swing on the ropes that blocked the off limit rooms, or get on the beds upstairs or play with the place settings on the table. In the frame house she liked the two bowls of pinecones underneath the kitchen table. She had to make sure each bowl had exactly the same amount of pinecones. It took her several tries before she got it right. She didn’t like the barn or the machine shed, but liked crunching in the leaves to the Sacred Grove. We made it as far as the outdoor chapel when we stopped and let Riley run around and get some energy out. Then we headed to the car to get some snacks.
We stopped by the Temple on our way into town so Grandpa Mike and Leah could get some pictures. Then off to the grocery store to get some food. Riley ran up and down the isles and became obsessed with the package on one of the frozen turkeys.
Then we went to the Grandin Printing Press. Once again, like the first time we went there, Riley was super excited about the elevator. She ran through all of the rooms and had to go behind every rope they had there. This time she also really enjoyed looking down at the floors below us.The final stop was the LDS Harvest bookstore. Riley ran straight into the toy room. At one point she went around the store and collected as many of the CTR teddy bears as she could and put them in the toy box. We had to get them out and put them back, she wasn’t so happy about that.

October 31, 2008

VALEN

Valen did go to school today. Grandpa Mike, Riley and I went to her school to watch her in the school Halloween parade. Her and William Eaton walked with each other. Then, during the Arthur video, she got to hand out her Halloween treats—ghost suckers and pumpkin cookies.
A quick trip home to get Justin and then we were off again to the Albright-Knox art gallery. Riley and I left 15 minutes into it, so I didn’t get to spend much time with Valen, but I think that she liked the gift store the best, “When kids go to museums, they never know what to expect, but they always know there is going to be a gift shop.”
After the art museum we went Trick-or-Treating with Ron Douglas and his daughter, Anoth. Valen decided to dress up in her Karate uniform instead of being Ash. I think she had fun—all of the kids were four and under. There were several cats to help out though, and most of them followed her. After that we went to The Royal for dinner with Grandpa Mike and Leah.

RILEY

We started the day off at Wegman’s, where Grandpa Mike and Leah bought Riley a ghosty sugar cookie. Then we drove around down town looking at a lot of the old churches and buildings. After a quick stop at the Lexington Co-Op, we headed to Valen’s school for her Halloween party. We watched the kids parade around the school—Riley spent most of her time digging in the mossy dirt; and then we went inside for some Halloween treats and to watch Arthur videos.
After that we came home to pick up Justin and then head to the Albright-Knox art gallery. Riley made it for about 15 minutes before I decided that instead of chasing her around a museum with millions of dollars worth of art, we should run around outside at a playground. Deleware Park is right behind the art museum, so we went there instead. There is a pond/lake there that you can walk right up to. Riley was very excited and told me to take her shoes off so she could get in the water. She was very disappointed when I wouldn’t. So we headed up to the playground, passing some ladies with their very little dogs; Riley insisted they were cats, but I assured her they were dogs. She looked at me and said, “Cats.” End of discussion. We had a lot of fun at the playground. I pushed Riley in the swing for a few minutes, and then attempted the big kid playground, but decided that was too scary—she stood at the top of the big slide and cried. We went to the little playground and she climbed up the pole, went through the tunnel and came down the slide, over and over and over and over. The only variation was that eventually she wanted me to lift her onto the playground equipment and bypass the pole. At one point we did lay down on the slides and pretend to sleep.
After Justin and Valen were done in the art museum, we met up with Ron Douglas and his little girl, Anoth, for some Trick-or-Treating. At first, Riley was very unhappy and did not want to walk, wear her coat or even her costume. But by the end, she was running from house to house, even dragging us and yelling for more treats and candy. We found several cats along the way, and that did lend some entertainment.
After that, we went to eat at The Royal with Grandpa Mike and Leah. Riley ate everyone’s bread and had two cups of chocolate milk. She was also put out that I didn’t let her play in the fountain on the wall behind the tables.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Valen's Birthday Party

Valen had Karate first thing this morning. While her and Justin were gone to that I put the finishing touches on the birthday party. When they got home there was just enough time for Valen to change into her Ash costume. Garrett Jones—from her primary class, Ilona Lukina and Kailynn—both from her school—came to the party. There weren’t many, but I think they had fun. They colored pictures and did Pokemon word searches. Then we played ‘Whose That Pokemon?’ We had Justin draw pictures of different Pokemon and the kids guessed who they were. Valen ended up guessing most of them. Then, we played pin the tail on Pikachu.




After that, we opened presents. She got a Pokemon action figure, a stuffed animal monkey and blanket, Sponge Bob Life and glitter glue pens. After that, the kids watched a Pokemon movie while we got the Pokemon monkey cheese ready. The kids ate lunch while they continued to watch the movie.

Then we had Pokeball cupcakes and handed out the Pokemon party favors—a bookmark, a marshmallow sucker, a bookmark and a Pokemon card.

They ended the party with a game of Pokemon Sorry.

After the party we went to the mall. We tried to find snow pants for Valen, but there were none in her size. So we got Aunt Annie’s cinnamon sugar pretzel sticks instead. Then we went to Target to get Valen a Pokeball to finish her Pokemon Trainer outfit for Halloween.
Justin took Valen over the Zach and Zaden Webber’s house. They couldn’t come to the birthday party, so they invited Valen over to their house to play. They also gave her an ant farm for her birthday present.
We also went to Barnes and Nobles this evening.

Riley

Riley spent most of that time being chased by the kids that were invited. She did also enjoy the Pokemon macaroni and cheese, a Pokeball cupcake and watching the Pokemon movie. She did color a word search as well.
After the birthday party we went to the mall to look for shoes for Justin. We didn’t have much luck finding shoes, but we did get to ride the elevator several times and we went to Aunt Annie’s and got cinnamon sugar pretzel sticks.
After dinner and a quick bath, we picked Valen up at the Webber’s house. On the way there Riley and I were singing all of the Halloween songs that we learned at library story time. Riley enjoyed the stirring song, helping me say words like stir, whoo and boo. While at the Webber’s house, Annie came running downstairs to tell us that the little girl was playing in the toilet upstairs.
After picking Valen up we went to Barnes and Noble and got to play with the Thomas the Train set. As we were leaving I had Riley on my shoulders. She was pointing out the Curious George poster in the corner when she sneezed on my head. I could feel the spray of it on my arms. Two ladies that were watching us were commenting on how cute Riley was up on my shoulders; as soon as she sneezed they both let out an, “EEEWW.”

Lions say "ROAR"

Valen
After getting dressed and not eating breakfast, we went to Riley’s play group/preschool. Valen enjoyed making the pumpkin craft—gluing on ripped pieces of construction paper onto a paper plate to make a pumpkin. Valen went beyond making a pumpkin and made a pumpkin creature with legs and arms. She also really enjoyed snack time. When we went to the play room afterward, she told me that she felt too old to be there, but then spent quite a bit of time on the zip line and in the sand box and ball pit. I think she had fun.



After a quick lunch, Valen and I headed off to a consignment sale at a local church. Valen found all of the toys immediately. She gathered up all of the Rescue Hero toys and wanted to get all of them. She settled for a packet of write your own books. Just as we were about to leave, we found a bike that was perfect for her, just bigger than her other bike, but not so big she can’t ride it now, so we got it. She rode it around the church several times to make sure that she fit on it. She was so excited to have it that she didn’t complain when we had to cram it into the back seat with her.

After a quick dinner, we went to Grant Richards baptism.

After that we had Valen change into her Halloween costume—Ash, the Pokemon trainer, so we could go to her Girl Scout activity. We went out to the Amherst Museum for some Halloween fun. Basically you go Trick-or-Treating to all of the different buildings on the Museum lot. All of the buildings were decorated and had lights and scary music and noises playing. At first, Valen wasn’t so sure about it, but nothing was too scary, so she was ok with it. After the Trick-or-Treating, we headed to a building for doughnuts and cider.

Riley

First thing this morning we went to Monkey Around play group/preschool. Valen got to come with us today. The theme was the seasons and the color was orange—Riley brought in her pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. All of the kids came dressed up in their Halloween costumes—Riley came as a lion—we had to bribe her with a sucker just to put it on. She made a pumpkin picture. After class was over we went Trick-or-Treating to three of the doors in the building. I don’t think Riley really cared she just wanted to go to the playroom. We spent quite a bit of time playing in the playroom. Riley focused on the ball pit and the playhouse today.

Tonight after dinner we went to Grant Richards baptism. Riley saw Ellie Gruwell there and was determined to sit next to her. We sat behind Ellie, which gave Riley the excuse to play peek-a-boo with her.

After the baptism we grabbed some treats and headed out to the Amherst Museum for Valen’s Girl Scout activity. Basically you go Trick-or-Treating to all of the different buildings on the Museum lot. All of the buildings were decorated and had lights and scary music and noises playing. Riley had a lot of fun. I don’t know if she really understood what was going on, but she enjoyed it. She actually enjoyed wearing her costume this time—which was good because it helped give her en extra layer of warmth. She even roared when we asked her what a lion said. She had great concern over a blow-up ghost that we saw in front of one of the buildings. Not only did he have a sad look on his face, but he was outside in the cold. After getting all the treats we headed to a building for cider and doughnuts.

Happy Birthday Grandpa Mike!!

Valen's Baptism Annoucement

~
I love to see the temple.
I’m going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit,
To listen and to pray.
For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I’ll prepare myself while I am young;
This is my sacred duty.
~
I would like to announce that for my first step to the temple,

I have chosen to be baptized into the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

on
November 1, 2008.

September 27, 2008

Valen
Valen came with me to a baby shower at Eliza Damstedt’s house. She got to play with Zack and Zaden Webber and had a good time. There is a bubble gum machine that was loaded up with Skittles; the kids were going crazy, getting as many as the could carry and then running off. I had to ask Valen to stop after I saw her at the machine three or four times. On the way home from the baby shower we stopped at a garage sale and found TWO Pokemon movies—Pokemon 2000 The Movie and Pokemon the First Movie.
After a lunch of Pokemon monkey cheese—macaroni and cheese—Valen went with Justin to see about a piano. We ended up not getting either of the ones they looked at.
We went outside for a while tonight so that Justin and Valen could play Frisbee and baseball.
We watched Daniel and Laurel Peterson tonight. Valen loves it when we watch them because Laurel is so little that she can carry her around like a little baby doll.


Riley
Riley has been very attached to waffles lately. Every meal she asks for waffles, and is then quite upset when she doesn’t get them. This morning I made waffles, she was thrilled!!
Riley was sick again today. She didn’t go anywhere. This afternoon we finally let her go outside and play. She spent a few minutes playing with the soccer ball and baseball, but then went to her backup—digging in the dirt. Then we went to the playground—Riley’s newest trick is climbing up the slide. She’s pretty good at it. She likes to get halfway up and pretend that she is slipping and falling; she screams and kicks her legs and then laughs.

What a Day

Valen
We went to Palmyra today so that I could baby-sit for those going to the Temple. Valen played outside for awhile, watched the new Barbie movie and went to the Family History Library to learn how to do family history. After about 5 minutes she came back and told me that wasn’t what she really wanted to do.
After we got home I decided that I was too tired to make dinner so we went to Olive Garden to pick dinner up. We came home and watched Nanny McFee while we ate. Then Valen and Riley turned into puppies and were barking and running around and panting. I even caught Valen licking Riley’s face—GROSS!!!

Riley
We went to Palmyra today so that I could baby-sit for those going to the Temple. There were a lot of kids crammed in one small room, but Riley enjoyed playing with all of the trucks, trains, cars and the chalkboard. She would go up to several of the kids and talk to them, or sit by them like they were old friends. She would talk and laugh just enjoying herself. On the chalkboard she drew circles and letters. The circles were real circles, and she knew what they were. I wrote her name and she just started drawing lines and saying random letter names and then yell “Riley!” She did point out several letters and it seemed that she really knew what they were.
When we got home I decided I was too tired to fix dinner so we went to Olive Garden to pick up dinner. Then, we came home and ate dinner while we watched Nanny McFee. After eating our dinner we had the mints that come with the food. Riley got so excited that she ran around the room yelling, “treats! Treats!”

LAZY ME

So, I haven't gotten any pictures up from our trip yet, but I have been journaling Valen and Riley's day each day so far this month. I'm not going to put them all up, but from now on I will post them each day, hopefully. And eventually I will get to our trip pictures. **Warning** Valen's post for today does contain talk about sex from the view point of a seven year old--yes she has had "The Talk."

VALEN
September 18, 2008

The past few days, Riley and I have been playing outside just before Valen gets home from school. We catch Valen as she gets off the bus and she comes over to the playground to play with us. Today, as Valen was getting off the bus I yelled for her to come over to us, but she didn’t hear me. I told Riley that we needed to go home to get Sissy; by the time we got there Valen was hysterical and crying. She said she was worried and scared that we weren’t home. Riley ran up to her, and with a concerned look on her face gave Valen a hug and asked if she was “owie.”
Tonight at dinner, somehow we got talking about babies and I told Valen that I would have the next baby if she would be pregnant for me. She told me no way, and besides she couldn’t be pregnant anyway, “Eight year-olds can’t have babies Mom, that’s gross, I don’t want a penis stuck in my vagina. GROSS!” I laughed so hard.
Valen had Karate again tonight. She is still doing very well. She listens and does everything that she is asked. Her jumps kicks keep getting better and better.

Riley
Riley and I spent the whole morning running errands. For one we had to go on campus. Riley got so excited when we pulled up to the CFA building. She started yelling out, “Daddy, Daddy!!” She didn’t quite understand why he wasn’t there. But I think the ride in the elevator took her mind off of it. We also passed by Valen’s school; again she got really excited and started screaming, “Sissy, Sissy!! Hi Sissy!” We waved as we drove by.
Riley made her first fort today. While I was getting dinner ready she brought her blankie and several dishes into the kitchen and hung out under the table. The only way that I could get her to come out was to set up Valen’s little table in the living room.
Valen had Karate tonight, so we went to watch. Riley had to bring her bag full of dishes and set them up all over a chair. A little boy behind us kept looking at Riley and what she was doing. Riley gave him the evil eye and threw herself over the dishes, and then eventually covered them so he wouldn’t touch them.
Usually when I put Riley to bed she gets up several times and tries to come out of the room. I stand at the door and hold the doorknob so that she can’t turn it and get out. This usually deters her enough to go and get into bed. Tonight, however, after she tried the doorknob, she screamed out, was quiet for a moment and then yelled out, “Help you! Help you!” I opened the door to find her trying to climb the ladder to the top bunk; she was on the third rung, and got stuck.

I hope you enjoy my world through the lives of my children. Someday I may get my own life, but that's not very likely.

Finally, after two months

I know that I haven't been very good at posting anything lately, but I finally feel like my life is getting back on some type of schedule. We went on a month long trip to Utah/Wyoming--posts on that to follow. After getting back, we got Justin ready for school, which her started the 25th of August. Then, for our anniversary, the 27th of August, we went out for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory--I highly recomend the 30th anniversary special cheesecake. Valen started school on the 3rd of September. I can't believe that she is in second grade already. It's so crazy. She is growing up way too fast. I am trying to get things back in order and get us back on a schedule. I've been doing good for the past few days, but I've still got a ways to go.

Last night Valen had a Girl Scouts meeting. We made pins to trade up at camp. When all the pins were done, we let the girls run around outside. Me, and some of the moms were sitting and talking about different things. The conversation turned to child support and the fathers of the girls, and how they don't see their daughters and are dead beat dads. I didn't say very much, but just thought to myself. I am so greatful for the situation that I'm in. I have a wonderful husband who loves me and the daughters that he has had with me. He loves and supports us and does everything that he can to make us happy and make a better life for us. He enjoys being around his kids and with his wife--I think. I am greatful that I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm greatful to have a testamony that I have an eternal marriage and that I can be with Justin FOREVER!

Happy Fourth of July

For the Fourth of July we decided to go letterboxing. We found a great place that had lots of stamps--the Great Baehre Conservation Area. The stamps were a series of Winnie-the-Pooh characters. We didn't have very much luck finding very many of the stamps--three out of seven--but we found some beautiful scenery and some great wildlife.


Valen and Justin looking at the marsh critters.


An example of marsh critters--bullfrogs-they make a great sound, almost like a dying bike horn.


Again, looking at the marsh critters.


Riley getting some energy out after sitting in the stroller for so long.


Valen--what more needs to be said?


That evening for fireworks we joined with some friends--the Webber family-Ben, Erin, Zack, Zaden and Annie--at the UB North Campus near the lake.

Justin at his most patriotic moment.


Valen and Zack.


I think this is Zaden and his glow stick and Justin's artistic vision.


FIREWORKS!!!!


Riley absolutely loved the fireworks. From the moment that they started, until they ended she was clapping and cheering and happy. At one point, halfway through the show, she shook Justin and said, "Dad!!" and pointed up to the fireworks as if he was missing them.


Every time there was a lull in the display she would look at me, sign and say "more!" I would tell her to tell the people shooting off the fireworks and she would shout "more!" and the fireworks would start up again. At the end she clapped very loud and screamed and shouted. She loved every minute.

Family Pictures

A few weeks ago, we had a friend, Alexis Davies, take some family pictures for us. They turned out relatively well considering it was early afternoon and our kids were worn out and tired. It was our ward temple trip and we got the pictures taken AFTER we went to the temple.


This is one of the only ones where Riley is "smiling."
An historical note--these pictures were taken on the Palmyra Temple grounds on the rock wall that was the original fence for the Smith family farm.


This is our beautiful Valen, who loves posing for pictures.


These are our beautiful girls--I think the grass is tickling Riley's nose.


Aren't we so cute?



This picture was taken at the Smith Family Farm. Riley was almost happy during this one.


This was the last picture we took. Riley was beyond done, but the rest of us look good.