Family Visits

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Family Visits

On the day of Ammon's field trip, Peter went to play with his Shadel cousins.

When the field trip was over, I checked Ammon out of school and we joined them.

It was the weekend that Andrew was volunteering for the St. George Ironman, so we were happy to visit.

Afterwards, we ran into my brother at my mom's house.
He was helping her build a small shed on the side of her house.
Ammon and Peter were eager to help out.

My sister and her kids were also there.

My brother-in-law was also gone for the night, so my sister and I had a slumber party at her house.

The kids enjoyed a movie together and had lots of fun playing.

(pictures of the slumber party are in the first collage.)

The next weekend was my nephew's birthday.

The boys and I went to Barnes and Noble to get this book for my nephew.

The boys enjoyed playing with the trains while we were there.

Afterwards, we enjoyed several several cousins for some birthday activities at Andrew's parents home.

May is a big birthday month in our family.

On my side my mom, sister and niece all have May birthdays, as well as my grandpa.

His birthday is the same day as a nephew on Andrew's side.

(A different nephew than the one who got the book.)

On the day of their birthday, we celebrated with my grandpa.

This is the first year that my grandpa has been local to celebrate.

And it worked well that my nephew wanted to wait an extra week for his party.

He wanted to go see Kung Fu Panda 2.

For my grandpa's birthday, my sister-in-law showed my sister and I how to make cake bites.

In Grandpa's honor, we fashioned them after baseballs.

Grandma also bought a cake.

She hosted his party and gave all the children little goody bags - which they LOVE.

After the party, my sister and I kept our families there.

We watched the kids while our husbands played Hand and Foot with my grandparents.

After four busy weekends of Andrew either being gone for work or triathlons, he was home.

I celebrated in STYLE.

My baby sister had given me a gift card for a massage for Christmas.

I saved it for Spring Break, but didn't get around to it.

Then I saved it for finals, but still didn't use it.

I decided I would wait until school was out, but I still wasn't following through.

My sister Katy called and asked if I still had it.

She had hers to, and was going to go.

She scheduled our appointments AND made arrangements for Peter.

It was a LOVELY afternoon.

Later that day I learned that my husband arranged for his parents to watch our boys that night.

So we were able to go on a date.

It was a rare treat and we had a wonderful time.

The boys had a Harry Potter party with the Shadel grandparents.

They watched the first movie and then Grandpa continued reading from where Ammon was in the 2nd book.

May has been a busy, fun month full of family.

Someone recently asked me if being further away from family was a benefit of our move last year.

I was a bit shocked at that notion.

I LOVE spending time with our families.

I love having my children surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

We are only about 35 minutes away from most of our family, but to me, that is further than I prefer.

We are lucky to be related to so many awesome people.

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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.