Happy Halloween

We had trunk or treat last night and had quite a blast. I told the kids they had to pick something to be out of the dress up chest and here is what we came up with:

Professor X, Hulk, and Spiderman
(I even found a wheelchair for Gary to sit in!)

Gabe was Wolverine

Me as Rogue

The cutest Spiderman you've ever seen!

My fearless superheros with their loot!

The Avenger family!

Commitments

I will love people for who they are and for the good that is in them.

I will live every day with joy in my heart and on my face.

I will be careful of what I say.

I will be positive with others and myself.

I will only give advice when it is wanted or asked for.

I will say thank you more often, even if it is long overdue.

I will admit fault even if I don't want to.

I will judge less.

I will apologize to others even if they don't.

I will teach my children to serve others by serving others.

I will hug and kiss my husband and children.

I will spend time one on one with each of my children doing something they enjoy.

I will date my sweetheart.

I will not apologize for who I am and what I believe.

I will forgive myself for my weaknesses and the mistakes I've made and move on.

I will try my best every day.

I will go to bed each night with gratitude in my heart and wake up each morning with great hope for the day before me.

I will smile and I will mean it.

I will be better because I can, I should, and God can make me that way.

(Thanks Sarah Bradley for letting me rip this idea off of you!)

Under Construction

I hate movie maker
I hate converting files
I need Gary
I am under construction

I posted the above yesterday. Today I want to edit that post. I was thinking about my statement, "I am under construction". I meant my blog-of course But it made me ponder:
I truly am under construction as a person, wife, mother, friend, sister, etc.
Aren't we all "under construction"? I truly enjoyed conference this weekend. We heard A LOT about love and service. Those 2 simple things make the world go round. They heal hearts, relationships, and even war torn countries. I too am under construction as I strive to live the principles of the gospel. As I learn faith, as my testimony grows, as I make it more of a priority to love and serve others; I grow and become better. I am thankful for the many resources that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has in place for us to be successful in this life. There is so much to be involved in. There are free valuable resources given to us via internet, church meetings, and our leaders that there is no excuse for us not to have the tools we need to be and do better. I am currently learning the importance of, as well as loving the institution of Family Home Evening. A wonderful sister in Zion has created a blog that has the most amazing FHE lessons on it (for FREE!!!) check it out here
Yesterday I chose striving to serve as our FHE topic since it was so frequently talked about during conference. There are several people that I have been meaning to bake cookies for, write letters to, call on the phone, make a package for, etc, etc. and have just not done it. Yesterday I started on my list. I baked 8 dozen cookies, wrote 2 letters, compiled 2 packages, and talked with people I had been wanting to befriend.
I feel great!
No wonder our Prophet and apostles talked so much about service and love. Not only does it benefit the person you serve, but my children were benefited, and my spirit benefited too. I love Pres Monson's warm fuzzies that a Primary sent him in a jar. What a great idea! Gary's family would do B.I.LY's (Because I Love You) for one another . I have adopted this in our family and with our children. I want to instill in my children the importance of doing good things for each other and other people.
Like I said, I am under construction but I am so excited for the journey and to see the outcome!

Happy Birthday Ammon

Ammon is 2!

Now, last year I threw a rockin' awesome Pirate party for his 1st birthday (see here for details)but with the move and the new baby and us being sick this past week-I had a very low key cake and presents with the family. Who cares? He was thrilled! I just love this little boy!

What I love about Ammon:

• Ammon has a love of life! Everything is new and exciting to him. He's up and ready for anything.
  
• Ammon loves his brothers. He worships them. I love the way he says "Deck? Deeeeck? Babiel? Baaaabiel? Nom here!" translation: Zech, Zech? Gabriel, Gabriel? Come here!
• He smiles and waves at everyone he sees.
  
• Ammon makes friends easily.
• Ammon gives great hugs and kisses.
• Ammon loves to sing. When he wakes up in the morning-I hear him in his crib singing "A numbeam, a numbeam, a numbeam, a NUuuuuumbeam!" translation: A sunbeam! A sunbeam, A sunbeam, A suuuunbeam!
• Ammon LOVES his dad. He is the 1st one who has had Gary around his whole 0-2 years and it shows. He can be soothed by him and even prefers him over me sometimes. He adores Gary and is his little shadow.
• He loves to go with me anywhere I want to go. Grocery shopping, walk to the school, the mall etc. And he's sooo quiet in the car! (unlike my oldest)
  
• Ammon can entertain himself or play with others.
• Ammon loves to learn. His vocabulary is growing and he is talking so much better. He can count to 20, say his ABC's, and sings TONS of primary songs start to finish!
• Ammon loves me and I love him!
  

Playtime with Daddy

Here's a video of Eli being tickled by Gary. I took one of me doing it too but this one is just cuter cause it has all the kids in it. I love my little crew! Eli is growing so much. He just smiles and coos all the time now. It is so fun!

My parenting philosophy

Russell M. Nelson, “Salvation and Exaltation,” Ensign, May 2008, 7–10

In God’s eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter.

How can we best teach our children? The Lord has given us specific instruction:

“No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

“By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

“Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy.”20

When a child needs correction, you might ask yourself, “What can I say or do that would persuade him or her to choose a better way?” When giving necessary correction, do it quietly, privately, lovingly, and not publicly. If a rebuke is required, show an increase of love promptly so that seeds of resentment may not remain. To be persuasive, your love must be sincere and your teachings based on divine doctrine and correct principles.

Do not try to control your children. Instead, listen to them, help them to learn the gospel, inspire them, and lead them toward eternal life. You are God’s agents in the care of children He has entrusted to you. Let His divine influence remain in your hearts as you teach and persuade.

I love this article. I have this part printed up and posted on my bulletin board in my kitchen. I especially like the part about correcting privately-not publicly. This has helped Zechariah when I have taken him aside and quietly talked his behavior over with him. He is much more willing to listen and accept discipline and change his actions. I have also needed to hear "do not try to control your children". I like control. I like it A LOT! But my children are not my own. I do not want to be like Satan and force them to choose. I want them to learn that making good choices brings happiness and that is why we should obey God's laws. I've got a long way to go but I am happy to be on the journey. I just love being a mom and everything that the title entails. Sure, I have my bad days but mostly I have good days with beautiful and loving little boys that shower me with love and affection. I love them with all my heart and soul. I thank God for them everyday.

I just thought I'd share. :)

Summer fun

OK, I totally need to play catch up! Lots of stuff happened this summer.

Let's see: We moved, I had a baby, we had home repairs and renovations, we had loads of family in town for Eli's blessing, My BF, Kelsie and her son visited, visited the farm, we had swim lessons, and play days, and a vacation to Syracuse for a wedding, we got to stay at Scott and Cort's new house, the list goes on and on. So here's some fun pics and videos to recap it all.
Enjoy!

• We went to Ocean City, MD! (Mom has tons more pics but she still hasn't emailed them to me yet.)
  

• Brotherly Love

Ammon had been kissing Zech to get his attention. Once he saw the camera, it was over!

• We went to a ball game!

We went to a military night at the Blue Crab's Stadium to watch the military minor league team play. It was loads of fun. I hadn't been to a baseball game in years!
The 'uniforms' were ummm not impressive.

Aunt Nancy went with us!

Ammon was enthralled!

• We went to the farm!
• 

The boys each got to have a ride on Grumpa's new tractor

We went canoeing with Grumpa!


The boys are ready!


Sarah and Don went for a trip after the boys and I. What? Sarah is doing all the work!

• The boys took swim lessons!

Zech's teacher was so nice!


He had sooo much fun!


Gabriel is saving her life!

This is a game they would play everyday called 'What time is it Mr. Fox?'. Gabe is the fox today.


Ammon and Gabe would play at the park while Zech was swimming!

• Ammon got stung by a dirt-dobber! :(

Ammon happened to be the 3rd child to be stung in my backyard by a dirt dobber (those nasty huge black wasps that live in holes under the ground so you can never find their nests!) My 5 yr old nephew William was 1st, my friend Elizabeth's 3 yr old daughter was 2nd, and then Ammon. I gotta say, Ammie was the biggest champ of them all. He was so over it 5 mins later! What a big boy!

• Zech's Lego audition for a Lego designer
  

He's such a stud! It is cut short b/c my battery died :(

• Eli is growing into a chunk!

And that pretty much brings us up to the start of school. I love my family. I love our house, neighborhood, new friends, ward, etc. Life is good and I am blessed! Zech started school on Monday and Gabe starts PreK on the 31st. He can't stand that Zech is going without him! So, I'll post when I have both 1st day pics.