Baptism Pictures & BFFs

Our sweet little Sarah is turning eight in a few weeks, so we dressed her up in her white dress today and took some pictures. Can't believe she's almost eight.



We love this sweet little girl more than words can tell.



Sweet innocence.





Gorgeous smile.



Amazing spirit.





What's not to love?

















Then we went down to Holly Beach and took a few more pictures.











I took some pictures of her BFF Carolyn too. She's getting baptized in March.



She has a beautiful spirit too.



And an infectious smile.



It was fun to watch them together.

Martin Luther King Cake

A conversation with Sarah this afternoon.

Sarah: Mom, are we going to get a Martin Luther King cake today or not?
Me: Ummm..........no.
Sarah: Awww man! I want to get one so I can get the baby. I never get the baby!

:)

deja vu

I was sick with a cold and sinus infection the first week of January. We took John David to the doctor on Wednesday and found out he has strep throat and an ear infection. So these last few days I've been thinking about how most of my new year's resolutions have been put off because of me and John David being sick, and I started to think about how it seems like this same thing happened last year. So I went back and found this post from last January, and I've decided that I'm declaring a false start for 2012 too. So...........here's to new year's resolutions......two weeks into the new year!

King of the Castle

This little guy *thinks* he's in charge around here.



Well...............



...........he is sitting on the kitchen counter..................



...........eating ice cream..................



...........for breakfast.



Maybe he is in charge around here, and he just lets us *think* we are!

Music to my Ears

We are the unbelievably happy owners of a very well previously loved piano. It was a unexpected and completely wonderful surprise from some of our favorite people. And just in the nick of time too. Katie had just told me last week that she didn't want to take piano lessons anymore. I couldn't help but wonder if things would be different if she had a real piano to practice on instead of the keyboard that she has been using for the last three years. So we started looking for a piano, and then we found out that one had already been procured for us. It needs a little love, and a new bench, but we are delighted to have a piano in our home.



John David thinks it's his new toy.



When Katie found out that we were getting a piano, she jumped and screamed with excitement. She has decided to keep taking lessons. I absolutely love that she comes home from school and immediately starts practicing. I don't even have to beg, plead, or remind her. It's a beautiful thing.



So whether the kids are playing, practicing, dancing, or banging on the piano..........it's all music to my ears!

Remembering Lamar

The first time I remember talking to Lamar was when I was working in primary. He had brought his niece to church with him and wanted to know what class she should go to. I never talked to him other than that, until we started having the young single adults in our home for FHE on Sunday evenings. I quickly learned how fun he was to be around. I loved talking to him, not only because I loved to hear his awesome Jamaican accent, but because he was so funny. He loved to make people laugh. But what impressed me most about Lamar was what I learned from him when he found out that his cancer had come back. It was last August. He came over early Sunday morning to ride to Stake Conference with us. It was the first time I had seen him since he had gotten the news, so I asked how he was doing, and how his mom was doing too. He said, "We have been through this before. We are going to be fine." He said he didn't want anyone to feel sorry or sad for him, and that he didn't want anyone, especially the big men at church, "like Bishop, and Brother Zachary" to cry about him. It made me laugh when he said it. But I hope he isn't bothered as much by the women crying about him, because I will certainly miss him. As I have thought about him over the last few days, one of my favorite scriptures came to my mind.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing."

I know that these verses are so true for Lamar. He did fight a good fight, and finished his course with unwavering faith. I am so grateful for the short time that we have been able to get to know him, and learn from his positive attitude, his love for people, and his amazing example of faith.

The Monster My Husband Has Created

Have I mentioned how much my sweet baby boy LOVES camouflage? Well, just in case I haven't mentioned it yet...........he does love some camo. In fact, he wants to wear it anytime he sees it. And not only that, but he wants Aaron to wear it too. And if Aaron doesn't wear it, this is what happens..........a camo tantrum.



Yes.....he's following Aaron down the hall crying and carrying Aaron's camo shirt that he wants him to put on.











Am I a bad mother because I found this to be absolutely hilarious?

Packin' Heat

A few weeks before Christmas, Bailey woke us up barking at 2am. Aaron and I both thought we had heard "something". We both got up and looked around. Aaron even went outside, but we didn't see anything. Katie heard us and got up. She said she had gotten up to go potty, and that was probably why Bailey had started barking. We thought she was probably right, and just went back to bed. A day or so later, Aaron was talking to his friend, Tony, who is on the Sulphur Police Department. He told Aaron that they had arrested a guy one street over from our house the same night that we thought we had heard "something". Now, I am the paranoid type, and I kinda worried about our house getting broke into while we were in North Carolina. But my awesome in-laws stopped by almost everyday, and all was well while we were gone.

Last Thursday evening, a guy came and knocked on our door and told us that his sister's house (our next door neighbor) had been broken into that day while she was at work. They kicked down her back door and took a bunch of electronics. I just couldn't get over that this had happened during the day, while it was light outside. And we were home all day that day. With as much as Aaron has been gone lately, I told him that I thought I might want a gun. So by Saturday he had bought me one. And today we went out to our friend Donna's place so he could teach me how to shoot it.



Getting instructions.



Can you tell I was a little nervous? But I got more comfortable with it.



I'm still not completely comfortable with it all, but I do feel safer knowing that it is here if I need it and that I know how to use it.



Emily shot her new gun that she got from Santa.



And John David shot his gun too. :)



But not for long, because he wanted to explore the woods with the rest of the kids.



It was a gorgeous day with beautiful scenery.



Kent taught us how to tell if it's going to frost. He said if you can see the moon before sunset on a clear and cold day, there will be frost on the ground the next morning. Hmmm........didn't know that.



John David loved the little wagon that the Cliffords had brought.





Almost as much as he loved exploring the woods!

Ringing in the New Year

It has been such hectic few days since we returned from North Carolina, and honestly I would have been happy just staying home and quietly welcoming in the new year. But we wanted to keep things light and fun for the kids, so we went to church with some friends for some games. We played Just Dance 3, which we got for Christmas, and are in LOVE with.



And just for the record, Heidi and I played our oldest girls and we beat them. It was awesome!



Sarah gettin' her groove on.



She's so fun to watch.



John David was having a blast stealing Sarah's drink..........



.........and Holly's ipad..................



...........and pushing this cart around to give cookies to everyone. He's so funny!



We played with our electronics.



And we played some basketball.



It was a lot of fun. But we decided to call it a night and headed home at about 10:45. The girls realized as we were leaving that if we hurried home we could see the ball drop in Times Square.



So I tried to hurry, and we made it just a few seconds before the ball dropped.



Happy 2012! We're looking forward to a great year!