40 LBS of Adorable

The chief Resident invited us for an evening hike in the foothills.

We had a great time.

Thanks Michael, Lindsey, and McKinnley (the dog)

(Please note who packed the baby, who chose to walk on her own, and who took pictures!!!)

A loss for Words

We miss you!!!

Cousins and Friends

We went to the park to meet our cousins. We had a great time swinging.

Thanks Tonya for a great evening!

Tanner (6) -such a sweet little guy!

Jaden(9)

Jaden....(little Bill)

I can't believe how much this kid reminds me of my big brother!

It was all I could do not to get a little red wagon, pack it with blankets, snacks, and huge water canteen, and load the little kids up for a journey through the neighborhood.

He is cetainly Bill's little boy!

Visiting Daddy

We like to go visit daddy at the hospital when he is working overnight.

Anne and Daddy spend some quiet time together in the grass finding leaves, acorn, rocks, and twigs Grace runs wide and free like the fox, deer, and squirrels on the hospital grounds We like to visit daddy at the hospital.

We'll meet you here again next week, Daddy!

For Daddy

WE LOVE YOU!!!

See you SOON!!!

They are yummy!

Matchy Match

Grace has to match everything these days. "My corn matches my bloomers," as she eats her corn on the cob. "I have to change my panties so I can match." Yes, her panties are the same color as her shirt and pants. Earlier this summer I purchased some clothes for Grace. I tried to get her to wear them at home and she said, "No, mom, I only wear pink." We exchanged her clothes that day for pink. At least this way she'll match no matter who dresses her! Dinner conversation. Grace: spkinledel....refudleges.... (other random words we could not discern) Mom: "Grace, you are insane." Grace: Shaking her body and arms wildly yells out "I'm crazy!!!" Conversation with Daddy after his 32 hour shift. Dad: "I'm going to go take a shower." Grace: "No, dad you don't need a shower." Mom: "Yes, Grace dad is stinky he needs a shower." Grace: "Dad's not stinky mom." Dad: "I'm not?" Mom: "Yes, he is. Smell him right here (pointing to daddy's armpit)" Grace: Puts her nose right next to Edwin and sniffs a few times. "Daddy's stinky." Dad: "I am? What do I smell like?" Grace: "A skunk!" I love you Grace!

FHE 08/25/2008

Choose the Right Opening Song: Hymn #239 Choose the Right Opening Prayer:Daddy Lesson: When Moses was in the wilderness with the Israelites the people were not obeying Heavenly Father. They were not listening and following Moses. Heavenly Father wanted the people to obey. Snakes bit many people and made them sick. Moses told the people to look at the snake on his staff if they wanted to be healed. Some people disobeyed. They died. Others obeyed and they were healed. Mommy and Daddy give rules and directions in our family to keep us safe and happy. Holding hands in the parking lot is a family rule. Holding hands will keep Grace and Anne safe from danger. It is important for Grace and Anne to always hold hands in the parking lot. We can be a happy family by following the rules. Closing Song: Hymn # 239 Choose the Right Closing Prayer: Mommy Activities: We role-played a parking lot scenario in the house. Grace and Anne practiced holding hands and walking. We colored CTR shields and played Simon Says. When Grace refused to follow directions she sat on the floor while we continued to play with Anne. Grace soon joined the game again. After the games we decided to go for a walk and Grace and Anne did a great job holding hands in the dangerous parking lot. It was a great night.

Yum! Yum!

Apricots for Grace

We went to the farmer's market recently and found all sorts of delicious treats. That morning during breakfast prayers Grace prayed to find apricots at the market. When we returned home she said a spontaneous prayer to thank Heavenly Father for the wonderful apricots she found! She also expressed gratitude for Anne's strawberries because "Anne can't talk." We hope to go back soon!

After 8 Years

Happy Birthday Dad!!

It's been eight years since the whole family has been together. We've seen several marriages, many babies, and sadly a few divorces. We've seen two missions completed. We've seen two college graduations and a master's degree earned. We've been on more continents and in more countries than I can think about right now. In eight long years we experienced much, but it's nice to know some things never change. We still love each other and we love to drive each other crazy! We only spent a few hours together, but it was a GREAT couple of hours. Thanks everyone for coming home. It's nice to have family, but it's BEST when we are a family! Good luck on all our endeavors, whatever they may be and wherever they may take us!

Remember to come home from time to time.

Hat?

Anne like Grace's panties.

I don't know why she insists on wearing them on her head though!

Kids will be kids.

Do you think potty-training ideas will seep through her head and she'll be self-trained in a week? Here's hoping!

What I Would Say At Your Funeral

Friends Across the Nation

Aaron, Emma, David (6), and Timothy (4) came over for a short visit. They were passing through town on their way back to Washington. We ate homemade pizza and donuts. The kids played well together and the adults enjoyed good conversation. This was our first dinner party in our new place! Thanks guys! We loved the visit and we miss you tons!

Edwin met Aaron way back in undergrad. I met Aaron and Emma when we arrived at medical school. They invited us to dinner right away and allowed us to become a part of their family. We enjoyed watching their boys grow up and we especially enjoyed hearing David yell from across the room, "EDWIN! JENNIFER!" Aaron and Emma are great examples for us and we value their opinion very much. We often ask them how they have done things and then follow a similar path...which stroller to buy, which pediatric clinic to go to, how to survive medical school and residency, and the list goes on. Emma is absolutely amazing! She's a few weeks away from delivery and traveling through the northwest with her husband and family without complaint! She bakes bread, teaches her children EVERYTHING, blogs regularly, attends church and all required meeting for various callings, and still finds time for herself. She's one busy person and is completely happy.

Aaron is stalwart and honest. We often wonder how he manages to get so much done in so little time. He studies regularly, works diligently, and serves with love and charity. As a family they are happy and delightful! We have enjoyed our friendship through the years and we are glad to know that it will continue to grow despite the distance between us.

Good luck with the new baby and making decisions about fellowships!

FHE 08/18/08

Establish A House of Prayer

Opening Song: Hymn# 300 Families Can Be Together Forever Opening Prayer: Mom Lesson: We have baptism prayers, sacrament prayers, personal prayers and dinner prayers. Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. Earlier this week Edwin commented that work has been an easier transition than he imagined. He is able to adapt to his irregular sleep schedule and he feels comfortable being the doctor. I said that it is an answer to Grace's prayers. Every day Grace prays that daddy will be a good doctor. This week Grace also prayed specifically to find apricots at the Farmer's Market. When we returned home from the market she prayed and thanked Heavenly Father for the yummy apricots she could eat! Closing Song: Hymn# 300 Closing Prayer: Grace Activities: We played with dad while he was still awake

This evening Grace prayed over her McDonald toys so Anne wouldn't want to play with them.....I laughed hysterically.

Our Little Place

The view is the reason we chose this apartment.

The ducks by our patio entertain us throughout the day.

We have discovered they like left over PBJ and Tuna sandwiches. They'll eat the left over vegetables if there isn't any other option. Chocolate cake?...they'd prefer it if I didn't throw it out the back door too!

The view I enjoy from the computer when the girls are sleeping and I can record our weekly family journal entries.

Our place is rather little and certainly cluttered, but it's home and we love it.

Solar S'mores

We assembled the solar oven and s'more fixings....

then we read books and....

watched and waited.

We read some more books on our own....

and had a little snack....

and waited until....

they were super delicious and....

we couldn't get enough!!!

Sorry. We ate them all gone!

It was a good afternoon.

What I Would Say At Your Funeral

Why is it that we wait for funerals or big award ceremonies to give tribute to those we love? Well...I'm done waiting. So this might make you a bit uncomfortable momentarily, but this is how I feel about you and I just want you to know it.

JOHN AND ANDREA This beautiful woman is Andrea (and that is her fabulous husband John). She has encouraged me to post blogs a bit more often and include more pictures because lately things are all about FHE. Thanks Andrea for your "that's the way things are" attitude.

This isn't what you meant....but this is what you get!!!

John and Andrea (along with their boys Chester and Charlie) lived right down the walk from our place in Texas. They were great for a laugh and long late-night talks. Sometimes things were serious, but with these two serious doesn't last too long! Life is for laughter and fun. They were there to watch Star Wars as I bounced on the exercise ball trying to speed along labor. They were there for camp outs, pinewood derby cars, dessert group, whalers talk, pool parties, and Pinochle. They were there for the not so pleasant days too. Edwin and I would walk the girls over unannounced, just to get out of the house. I haven't had nearly as much alone time since we moved (Edwin doesn't have a good hang out place with the kids any more). Andrea had a toy bucket at her place for our spur of the moment arrival...to help direct our little explorers and keep them away from the breakables (I'm still sorry about the pelican that lost his head!) John took some of our family pictures....I hope he still makes time for pictures even though life is busy travelling the country and stressing about their future.

Andrea is the kind of lady who meets challenges head-on and is willing to devote her life to a good cause. When she started her new job and the stress was overwhelming she took up baking. I mean serious baking from scratch (no box mixes) any dessert she was tempted to try...one cake took nearly 8 hours and 5 minutes from start to finish. Eight hours to bake and 5 minutes for the entire party to eat! She just wanted a meaningful and fun challenge to tackle so she could take her mind off work.

She's going to be embarrassed when she reads this blog entry because she doesn't like to be in the spot light. However, as time passes and I find myself talking on the phone with her for hours at a time I realize how much she was a part of my day-to-day life. She was usually there to talk to when things were hard. She encouraged me to be a better person. She's a goal setter and more than that she achieves many of the things she sets out to do. What an example!!! All in all Andrea is a great friend and I'm glad we've had the time to get to know one another.

John you are one incredible guy to have captured such a fantastic wife!!! But you my friend will be another post..... (I need to enlist your whaling buddy, Edwin, to do your tribute any justice).

WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!!

WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN WHEN.....

"THE WHALES BE ON THE MOVE!!!"

Passing Time

Grace has discovered pedicures and quality time with mom. Thanks Aunt Karen for the foot spa (it was a Christmas gift 2 years ago and I am finally using it!). We enjoy soaking our feet with the fizzy ball, using the scrubbing soap (thanks Aunt Rachel for more spa specialties!), lathering the minty, "tingly" lotion, and of course pink "poll nailish" (that's nail polish in Grace language). Thanks Grace for some quality girl bonding time!

It's our weekly date! Edwin is trying to decide how to best hand quilt the quilt he pieced together for our bed. I think he's going to opt for the comfy sofa seat and a giant hoop! It's better for his oh, so sensitive bum! When daddy is working all night long we try to stop by and see him for a minute or two (or thirty....he is the doctor and can do that occasionally). We enjoyed eating cookie on the bench then walking around the flowers. We love you Edwin!

FHE 08/11/08

Establishing a House of God

Doctrine and Covenants 88:119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

Opening Song: Hymn #30 Come, Come Ye Saints

Opening Prayer: Dad

Lesson: Establishing a House of God

We read and discussed Doctrine and Covenants 88:119

Closing Song: Hymn# 301 I am a Child of God

Closing Prayer: Mom

FHE 8/04/08

Family

Edwin was working late this week and I had an entire lesson prepared with visuals and things for the girls to do. However, things changed when I opened the door!!!

At 6pm there was a knock at the door and I saw my neighbor Jack standing outside. I immediately invited him inside when he said he couldn't stay long. He apologized for such a short notice, but felt impressed to invite me and the family to his wedding at 6:45. I of course agreed and told him we would be dressed and on time. He left and I panicked when I realized that I had 45 minutes to dress myself and both girls. We had hair that needed to be combed and dinner to eat.

I quickly dressed while dinner finished baking in the oven. Grace refused to eat until she was in her wedding dress with her wedding shoes! Once dressed Grace danced around the house telling me she was beautiful and she was excited to go to Jack's wedding to see Pam in a beautiful white dress. Anne was pretty content with whatever happened, but she made sure that she had a bow in her hair too.

So there we were at the church for a wedding for family home evening. Edwin was working and unable to attend, but we had a great time any way. Grace sat through the ceremony with her arms folded the entire time and Anne walked around smiling at the bride and groom.

It was a wonderful way to spend family home evening!!! On the car ride home we discussed marriage as a fundamental part of families and that one day Grace and Anne can be married in the temple like mom and dad.

There were only a few people there (most every