Family Date

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Family Date

Pictures taken July 16, 2009

I have found that although I love going on dates with my husband, I equally enjoy dates with the entire family. Ammon, Peter and I headed out to swimming lessons, not expecting to see Andrew until around 8:00 that evening. He surprised us by pulling up right behind us. Ammon was so proud to have Daddy watching him at his swimming lessons. It seemed like he was giddy for days that Andrew had come.

Peter had gotten on a strange schedule that day, so I decided it would be fine to keep them up late. We had dinner, and then ran some errands as a family. One of the things we did was buy the boys each some new underwear. We have had potty training items available for Peter for some time, but he has had a great aversion to having anything to do with the toilet or with underwear. Finally, one day, he started crying, "underwear Ammon, diaper Peter". He gets really stuck on what belongs to who, so I thought that if we bought them both stuff at the same time Peter could see what belonged to Ammon and what belonged to him. He was thrilled beyond belief with his very own Thomas the Tank Engine set of underwear!

By this time it was late enough to take the boys out for a special night of half-price appetizers at Applebees! What a fun family night!

The boys had a blast being there with Mommy and Daddy. We colored and ordered and colored some more.

And of course Mommy insisted on getting out the camera! Don't ask my why I have that weird pointing finger directed at Ammon - I have no idea! But I do know that we had a great time and to top the whole evening off, the boys fell asleep in the car on the way home! What a perfect night!

4 comments:

MichelleAugust 3, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Awesome that Andy was able to meet up with you! Sounds like a great night. :-)
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TiffanyAugust 5, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Sounds perfect. We miss you guys, wish we could have joined you.
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ErickaAugust 13, 2009 at 9:49 PM
I love reading your blog...I am always so impressed with how much together time you all spend with each other!
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JennyAugust 13, 2009 at 9:55 PM
Thanks Ericka! We are making up for lost time. It has taken us seven years of marriage to get to a point of having weekends and even just some evenings each week as a family. We really value the time we have and try to take advantage of it.
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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.