Unplanned break

I have taken a very long and unplanned break from the blogging world on behalf of motherhood.  As you know from one of my posts I had a baby boy in April.  I'll try to give you a brief summery of life since then.  The kiddos and I lived with my parents after the baby came.  My honey lived in Virginia while working in D.C.  In May he decided that he disliked being away from us so much that he quit his job and drove a 26' moving van across country.  We moved out of my parents place into an apartment in Logan.  We spent the summer doing T-ball, swimming lessons, and trying to get funding for Les to go back to school to get his Master's degree.  Emma started Kindergarten in August ( I am so proud of her).  Around that time Les started a job in Orem, UT.  He spent the first 5 weeks training.  He would go down for the week and come home on the weekends.  Then he moved onto a night schedule to see what he would be dealing with when he started his schedule.  Khloe started preschool in September.  Around then Emma and Khloe started soccer with Les as their coach.  Samantha requested that since she doesn't get to be in school that I be her teacher.  She has started to write her letters and to learn their sounds.  She can count to 20 and recognize some of her numbers.  Jacob has reached many milestones.  The most recent is that he is now 6 months old.  He can sit and when he wants to he can roll over.  He much prefers to stand (could be because I do most of the work) and loves to laugh.
Currently, we are looking for a place to live closer to Les' work.  Until then I drive kids to and from school, help with homework, volunteering in the classroom, being mom full time, and so much more.

Our Divine Constitution

So I mentioned in my previous post about some mixed feeling while listening to God Bless America during the fireworks show in Logan.  I felt a deep abiding love for my country.  I also felt a deep sadness for the road we are finding our country headed down.  I have heard several reports where people within our goverment have made comments about the Constitution being outdated and in need of reform.  If these people truely loved this country they would see the importance of this document.  It hurts to see their hatred for something so wonderful and sacred.  I get it that they don't believe in God.  Fine.  That is their God given right to believe so.  Yet, they are trying to get everyone else to see things their way.  Last week, the new RS president in our ward gave the lesson on President Benson's talk, "Our Divine Constitution."  I highly recommend that you read it here. 
Furthermore, on September 17, 2010 Elder Oaks gave a talk titled "Fundamentals of Our Constitutions."  In it is this quote,  "President J. Reuben Clark, an honored authority on the Constitution, declared that 'our allegiance run[s] to the Constitution and to the principles which it embodies, and not to individuals. All that we say about the Constitution and our reliance upon it depends upon the rule of law and not of the men or women who hold the offices under it.' "  This is something that I fully agree with.  Therefore, if you are against our Constitution then you are against my country, my God, and you are against me.  I pray everyday that the people of this country will wake up and fight to save our Constitution and our country. 
Here are some other talks to read from church leaders on the Constitution:
The Divinely Inspired Constitution - Elder Oaks
Fundamentals of Our Constitutions - Elder Oaks
Seeing the Constitiution as Covenant - Lynn D. Wardle
Just and Holy Principles: An Examination of the U.S. Constitution - Avro Van Alstyne
God's Hand in the Founding of America - Elder Perry
Wise Men Raised Up - Frank W. Fox and LeGrand L. Baker
The Constitution - A Glorious Standard - President Benson
The Miraculous Constitution - President Benson

There are so many more to be found on the church's website.  It is our duty as citizens of this great nation and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to study the Constitution and the Founding Fathers.  There is much we can learn.  There is much that others are trying to change.  We must preserve the truth and defend our Constitution.  I pray that God will watch over and guide us as we do this.  May our Father in Heaven preserve our nation.

Independence Day

Before I get into what we did for the 4th I must tell you about what happened on the 3rd.  Logan city did their fireworks that night.  We could see them from the balcony of our apartment.  After getting the girls ready for bed they sat on the balcony to watch.  A local radio station played patriotic songs during the fireworks so I turned it on to set the mood and then sat back to enjoy the show.  I tuned into the words of the songs during, "God Bless America."  The words brought tears to my eyes.  There are times that I fear for my country and the road we are headed down.  I must remember that we are in God's hands.  His will be done.

I must say that I was a little worried about what we would do this year for the 4th of July.  Every year since I was quiet little I have gone to my Uncle's property where he and another uncle would roast chickens, lamb, pork, and sometimes beef on large spits.  Over the years it turned into a minor community event.  Anyone who wanted to could come as long as they brought a side dish or dessert to share.  Last year, just before the BBQ, we were told that unless someone else would step up and take over the reins that the BBQ would no longer continue.  I deep sadness settled into my heart at the thought.  Les and I were comtemplating a move to Maryland, so that was what I tried to cling to.  That being so far away I wouldn't feel the sting as I miss out on a beloved event year after year.  Just shy of 6 months after moving there we have come back to our home state.  As the 4th approached I was unsure of what we would do.  Do we go visit family?  If so whos? Mine? Les'?  Or do we stay home and begin a tradition all our own?

 I dressed Jacob in this cute patriotic way.  Les then added the shorts (they are going to be his shorts for swimming later this month).  What a cute boy! 

 Jacob, Sydnie, Khloe, and Samantha waiting for the parade to begin.

Emma waiting for the parade.

Our Veteran in the parade!

Whitney marching in the parade (second from the end playing a clarinet).

My girls' favorite float!

 Uncle Larry and Uncle Bob working over the BBQ.

 A wide variety of meat choices.

 I made this dish!  It is called, "Loaded Baked Potato Salad" or as I like to call it, "Heaven on a plate."

 The girls with sparklers.

 Tons of fireworks!

 Literally, they were going off all around us.

Father's Day

I know, I'm way behind, again.  It doesn't help that my computer was gone to be fixed and the one I was using wouldn't stay charged.  It also doesn't help that first the girls got sick.  Then Jacob, Les, and I caught it as well.  We all still have a cough.   Not fun let me tell you.

Dispite all that Father's Day went rather well.  Les didn't want us to make a big fuss so we just tried to enjoy our time together as a family.  However, I could not resist doing one little thing with the girls for him.  I found this idea on pinterest.

                                   

Each of my girls made a special card for their Daddy.  They enjoyed the project but loved giving it to him even more.

On the front of the card (a hand) it says, "I love you"

In the middle (between the two hands) it says, "THIS MUCH!"

Getting and giving hugs!

Family Reunion and My Birthday

The weekend of the 7th-10th of June we travelled out to Myton for the Richens Reunion.  I went out early enough to go to a Relief Society Activity with my mom (Hey I lived in that ward for just short of 2 months).  It was called "how to be an 8 cow wife."  Mom requested that I bring my 8 cow necklace that Les gave me a few months ago.

On to the Family Reunion.  For the past few years we have been having the reunion at the old family farm.  Not the happiest place on earth but I must say it has gotten a whole lot better.  There is actually grass there now.  Also now that we have the reunion in June rather than the end of July or first of August it is a lot cooler there.  My grandfather's family was in charge this year.  Here are pictures of some of the things we did while we were there.

Mom set up and ran the "Space Derby."  Everyone had a great time racing the planes.  She was kept really busy.

 You can't tell but that is Emma going down the water slide.  She waited along time to be able to go down.  She went down twice and then was done.  She was COLD!

 This is Khloe going down the water slide.  She had wanted to go down as much as Emma but then almost didn't go.  She kept giving me this look of torture as she approached it.  I finally told her that she didn't have to go down at all.  That apparently made up her mind.  So she went down once and only once.

 Les in line waiting for lunch.

 Jacob chillin out at his first reunion with his dad.

 The kids loved this little bounce house.  By the time I got this picture . . . .

 Sammi was out cold in Grandma's arms.

The three girls on a swing.

Then for my birthday it was a day devoted to me.  Les made me breakfast in bed.  We ran a few errands.  Then we got ready for what I really wanted to do . . .

SWIMMING!!!

 Les worked with the girls on their back floats,

Getting them comfortable on their bellies,

                                                

 and on kicking their legs to move through the water.

 Part of our group playing together in the water.

Les wanted to get something nice for me.  He started out looking at getting me another telephoto lens.  I talked him into getting me this instead . . . .

 A camera bag that will hold my camera and all my lenses. Look at all that space!  I love it!

 The inner part comes out so I can just take the part holding my camera and lenses.

I had originally wanted a much smaller bag.  This one is the size of a regular backpack.  I decided on this one because I can carry my laptop in the back.  How sweet is that!

Later that night we played singstar on the PS3.  I love that game.  Mostly when I get to watch others battle it out.  I had a great birthday and I got to spend it with people I love.  Who could ask for anything more than that.

My next post will be about today - - - Father's Day! 

From Princesses to Baseball?

I have one of the most beautiful girls on the planet.  I'm not just talking about her outside appearances.  She is beautiful on the inside too.  Yes, I am talking about my Emma.  She was quite young when I realized she had a tender heart.  She worries for her family and tries her hardest to take care of us.  I tried my hardest to make her a tomboy.  All efforts toward that were an utter waste of effort.  My dear child had plans of her own.  She likes anything pink and girly.  Yes that does include Princesses.  Specifically, Cinderella.  In fact, Emma has cried over knowledge that her "yellow" (you know Cinderella colored hair) would one day turn brown like her parents.  She seems so trumatized over it that I dare not mention that her eyes are starting to get some green into those bright blue pools.  That might be more than she can handle.

Despite all of the above Les and I want her to experience as many things as she can.  So one day when Les was out running errands he stopped to sign the girls up for swimming lessons he found out she was old enough to be signed up for TeeBall as well.  When she found out about it she got so excited!  I did have to explain a little bit for her to understand what I was talking about.  Fortunately, she has been to several games for a few of her male cousins so that helped her understand.  I think she is mostly excited about doing something they have been doing.  Whichever the case I will take it.  Les too is excited.  He immediately went to a sporting goods store with her to buy a Tee, a ball, a mitt (pink), and a bat.  Later, he took her to get some clothing just for her games.  Here are pictures of her all ready to play.

 Her first game was on the 7th.  I wasn't able to go to it.  It killed me.  It killed her too.  Before I missed her game I promised that I would be to all the other games she would have.  She plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week in June.  Here are pictures Les took while I was gone.

 Ready for the game!

 Sitting with her teammates.

 Up to bat (yes this is as close as my camera could zoom in on her)

 Running to home plate.

For her second game I made sure I had my telephoto lens so I could get some better pictures.

 Here she is learning to step then throw.

 Connecting with the ball.

 Running the bases.

Ready to catch a ball.

Many things Jacob

So I really need to get back to doing posts more often.  I have so much to post about and I will need more than one to cover it all.
So on to Jacob.  He is so adorable!  We love having him in our family.  My sisters threw a baby shower for me just after Jacob turned 2 weeks old.  It was great!  Carolyn had a bunch of plain onesies and a bunch of iron on stuff.  Those who attended got to design a onesie for Jacob to wear.  They all turned out so cute. 

 My sister made these shirts for each of my girls. The shirts say "Team Jacob" with a picture of him in the o of his name.
Then I took pictures of the little man when he turned 1 month old.

 Here he is with Emma.

 Here he is with Khloe.

 Here he is with Samantha.

 All the girls with their brother celebrating having him in our family for 1 month.

We blessed Jacob on the 10th of June.  We had quite a bit of family come out to support us.  It was a fantastic day.

 The hundsome boy in his blessing outfit.

 The excited parents with the blessing boy.

 Our little family.

Here is a picture of my pirate Jake!