Friday, October 16, 2009

Really Big Trees



 
We have never visited the Redwood National Forest as a family and it's something we've always wanted to do.
 

 

 

 
Thank goodness for comfy hotel beds!  We rolled in at around midnight and literally crashed!
 

 
What's not to love about a continental breakfast eaten in your jammies?
 

 
And what about a warm fire to snuggle up to?
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
They had a heated pool and since we're fish we couldn't resist!
 
Yes, that's what you think it is.
I used my glasses so you could see the diapers to scale.
 
Packing up from McKinley-ville and heading north to Eureka! 
 





 

 
We stopped in beautiful Trinidad and checked out the gorgeous lighthouse!
 

 
The stairs down to the ocean are many and steep but totally worth it!
 

 

 

 
Lot's of climbing on rocks made us hungry...
 
and we explored the town until we came upon some clam chowder and garlic bread and fries!
 
We made it!
 
These trees ARE huge and so beautiful!
 
What a sight!
 

 

 
Inside a hollow tree. 
Who hasn't dreamed of living inside one of these as a kid?
 
Love.
 
My love!
 

 
The ultimate rock-climbing experience!
 
Background:
My grandparents were avid travelers and would take my younger sister and I up and down California.  A favorite stopping point was those horrible tourist traps in Northern California featuring the myriad of things you can carve from a piece of wood.  As you can plainly see, I HATE those carvings!
  
Yes, traditionally you bring home a souvenir, and in other cases, you leave something behind for everyone else to enjoy...

Way to go honey!


Literally Feasting on the Word of the Lord



 

 
Scripture pages are awesome!  They crinkle really easily, make the best noise when you squish them, and taste fantastic!

So noticed our 4 1/2 month old son whose love of the scriptures has developed at a remarkably early age!

I'm one proud momma!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

International Night


The girls elementary school held an amazing fund-raising activity featuring booths from around the world.  Ava's class was Tanzania and Isabella's was Ireland.
 
We enjoyed a smorgasbord of international delights, and I came away with an absolute love of something I'd never had before:
Greek Spanakopita!
It's literally heaven in a filo bundle!
 
They had a fantastic dessert buffet-guess who loved the frosting?
 
And by night's end we were all ready for bed!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Weenie Roast!



 

 
 There is no better way than to spend an Indian Summer Night than roasting weenies over the fire pit!
 
 Yum!
 
 This is my idea of a simple supper!
 

 
 Digging in!
 
Dogs, chips, chili...that's living it up!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Bishop's Pumpkin Farm, 2009


Every year we visit Bishop's Pumpkin Farm as a family.
 
The train ride is an absolute must!
 
Gabriel's trying to figure everything out.
 
My sweethearts!
 
Our extended family getting ready to board the tractor for a hay ride!
 

 
What a surprise!

I ran into some of my beautiful young women from the Marysville Ward!  They are stunning and it was so great to see them again!
 

 
All lined up!
 
My Samuel
 
Togetherness.
 

 
A favorite is the hay mattresses.
 
My beautiful Ava Grace taking a break.

We had such a great time with everyone.  We always follow things up with a pizza at Round Table's which is the best way to cap things off!

See you next year!



Monday, October 5, 2009

Elmer Title of Liberty



As a family, we studied the example of Moroni in the Book of Mormon, who was angered when he learned that the hearts of the people were led away by the vain things of the world, forsaking that which is most dear:

God
Religion
Freedom
Peace
Wives and, 
Children


We followed Moroni's example, and created our own "Elmer Title of Liberty". 


 And solidified in our memory that which we covenant to maintain.


Like Moroni, we staked our Title in the front yard, so "all might see", and now it hangs in Samuel's office at work.



  12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

  13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land— 


19 And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:

  20 Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.

  21 And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running...

I've got my eye on you!



 

 

Gabriel is soooo interesting!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

October General Conference


Our family was so excited for General Conference, and as you can see the troops were ready!

 We were (and continue to be) in need of the spiritual nourishment that comes when you listen to the counsel of modern day prophets and apostles.

It truly is a spiritual feast...
 
...which was not to be outdone by our breakfast feast!

Some of my favorite talks packed a punch, and are listed below.

To Aquire Spiritual Guidance, Elder Richard G. Scott

Repent...That I May Heal You, Elder Neal L. Anderson

I Love Loud Boys, Elder Yoon Hwan Choi

Be Ready, President Henry B. Eyring

Let Virtue Garnish Your Thoughts, Bishop H. David Burton

Safety for the Soul, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Preserving the Heart's Mighty Change, Elder Dale G. Renlund

Moral Discipline, Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Closing Remarks, President Thomas S. Monson

Mind the Gap, Barbara Thompson

For a complete list, visit the church's archives  and prepare to be spiritually fed...