Our Journey to Forever - Private: August 2008

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Coming Home

We had a great time in SLC - especially the first week where we kept a busy schedule with a fun field trip scheduled every day. It is devestating to me that I don't have pictures. We did get my camera to "sort of" work just in time for the trip home, and as I am looking at all the pictures I took in just those two days, I am just dying when I realize how many pictures I don't have from those three weeks. I know that I have sisters and sisters-in-law who took pictures, though, so hopefully some will magically show up in my e-mail...

Anyway, here we are on our trip home.

Andy drove up to SLC and drove home with us. We decided to spend the night in St. George so we could stop by some of the sites that Andy has never been to. We went to the St. George Tabernacle first. Every prophet in the church since Brigham Young has spoken from the pulpit there (although President Monson has not yet spoken there since becoming the prophet). Ammon got to sing into the microphone for us. He sang I Am a Child of God and Called to Serve.

After that, we went to the Brigham Young Winter house. Ammon has been there before, but it was another first for Andy. We enjoyed it, but Peter wanted more freedom than it allowed him.

The boys were happy to get to the condo. We had a blast swimming. Both boys love the water so much!

In the morning, Andy took the boys swimming again. We took our time getting out the door and headed to Vegas. Our first stop was at M&M World. Our directions were confusing, so it took us a few extra minutes to find it, but when we saw it, Ammon was elated! It was a fun way to kill an hour or so.

Our next stop was an amazing aquarium display in the lobby of a hotel. It was just one HUGE tank that was absolutely gorgeous with an array of sea creatures. I was surprised with how breathtaking it was.

Our last stop in Vegas was the M. Ethel Chocolate Factory. It was a self-guided tour with a free chocolate at the end. There was also a botanical garden to walk through. Ammon loved having me read all the signs naming the various plant life. The time in Vegas was a fun way to break up our drive.

We got home around 9:00 last night and the kids went straight to bed. We have never seen so many bugs and bug-GUTS as were on our car when we got home. It was completely gross!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Back in Yuma

Well, I am back from SLC and although my camera is still broken, I am able to take some pictures with it again, so between those two things, maybe I will actually get some updates on this blog...

I'll start with some pictures from the day we left on our vacation.

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Our Day in Phoenix

Peter, Ammon and I are in Utah. We are enjoying our trip so far. Sadly, my camera broke the first day here, so I am not getting the zillions of pictures I was planning on. I am only hoping that between the various people we are hanging out with, pictures will come forth eventually.

Getting here was quite the adventure. Since moving to Yuma, we have not been able to drive out of town without having car problems. We sent it to the shop to make a replace the fuel filter, but that didn't solve the problem. So, the drive to Phoenix consisted of wrong directions, car problems, and, sadly, a chip in the windshield.

Once in Phoenix (or Tempe, rather) we made a spontaneous trip to Ikea. The trip wasn't with shopping in mind - it was simply a place to let the boys run and play. Ammon is old enough to go in the little day care place they have there and he loves it. Sadly, about 20 minutes into his 90 minutes of time there, we were paged. He had hit another child and was kicked out. So we ate and then headed to the mall, which was our original plan.

My sandals broke just a day or two before the trip, so Andy and I decided that we would shop for a new pair for me. Also, we just wanted to be in the air conditioned climate while we hung out as a family before our three week separation.

The mall was awesome! Everything was an outlet store and we found killer deals. The first store I went in was Bath and Body works where I was able to pick up one (that's all I needed) thing of shower gel for $3. Normally you have to buy in bulk to get that price! Andy took the boys to the bathroom while I made that stop so we met up in the Disney Store where we found a pair of pajamas for each of the boys for only $5. Seemed like a great deal to us. As I paid for the merchandise, Andy started to round up the boys and get them back into the stroller. That was when we noticed that Ammon was no longer in the store.

Did I mention that this mall is HUGE!? And that we had never been there before? And suddenly our four year old was GONE! Andy ran the mall like a mad man trying frantically to find Ammon. He wanted me to go in the opposite direction, but we both quickly decided that I should stay where Ammon last saw us, so I got the store employees to contact the mall security. 30+ minutes later I was told where to find the security guy who had Ammon with him. What a nightmare!

Once we recovered from the scare, we continued through the mall. We found the Oakley store. Andy was in heaven. Apparently August is the month that they clear out EVERYTHING to make room for the new years inventory. Works out well since August is the month that Andy's wallet is fat and happy with birthday money! Andy ended up with a couple new shirts and a pair of shorts. And I ended up with a nice new pair of sandals. It was fun.

We contined through the mall, ate smoothies and rode the merry-go-round and then it was time to head to the airport. But all of that will have to wait for another post...

Monday, August 04, 2008

Transformers

Ammon is SO into Tranformers right now. It's crazy. He is completly obsessed. So, Andy was nice enough to have a birthday and it turned into a Transformer Party!

Tim was going to come, but couldn't make it in the end, so we had cake and icecream with Crystal and her kids. It was fun and Ammon was thrilled to collect all the rings from the cake!

2 Favorite Things

Like most kids his age, Peter has recently discovered his love for the dishwasher. He knows how to open it, he can start it, and, of course, he loves to climb INTO it. He has another great love - staying naked after bathtime. Combine the two and this is what you get!

Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.