Hey Everybody, Happy 2013!

I know everyone is busy... I get it.  But I think we should try to utilize this little connection of ours on the inter web.  So, I'm proposing that we have someone blog here once a week.  Each family/couple/adult takes a turn.  It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something.  We could have a schedule similar to the Sunday dinner schedule...

Week of:
Jan. 6: Kim & Ethan
Jan. 13: Richy & Kari
Jan. 20: Dave & Adrienne
Jan. 27: Sean & Heather
Feb. 3: Dennis
Feb. 10: Mom & Dad

Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

What say you?  You only have to do something once every 6 weeks, surely that's not too much to ask of your busy lives.  It can just be something funny someone in your family said.  It could be a recipe you tried and loved.  It could be about your goals and how you're doing working on them.  Maybe you need us to pray for you for something (a job, a move, health, patience).  It could be something fun your family did.  Or a birthday greeting. Or a joke.  Or a movie review.  Do you get my point, it can be anything, just something to keep us more connected.

I'm going to assume that you all think this is a fabulous idea and I will start us off with a new post for this week.  And I can post a schedule when I hear from y'all that you are, indeed, in!

Family History: William Adams

I recently learned a bit about how to use the new Family Search website.  And it was very exciting to me to get on and use some of my new-found knowledge!  If you don't have an account on Family Search, you just need your membership number and confirmation number to get started.  If you have an lds.org account its the same for both.

Since I think the best thing about family history is learning the stories about our ancestors I have discovered a couple of histories online that I found very cool and thought I'd share them with you.

The first one I found is about William Adams, he is my Great-Great-Great Grandpa on Grandpa Dalton's side.  It is an autobiography covering the time between his birth in 1822 and 1849.  He talks about his conversion to the gospel, his emigration to the United States from Ireland (I didn't know we had history in Ireland beyond Mom and Dad's mission, so that was pretty awesome!), as well as some other neat things... my favorite story he tells is of his experience after the martyrdom.  He was there when Brigham Young spoke with the voice of Joseph Smith and confirmed that the Priesthood authority was with the Quorum of the Twelve.

His testimony is sure and finding it has strengthened my testimony in doing family history work.  I also thought I'd note that I found someone on Mom's side who needs to be sealed to their parents... I was so excited to see that there is something I can actually DO!  Or maybe y'all in Utah want to reserve it and do sealings together.  How neat would that be?

In case anyone wants to go in and take care of it before I get a chance, follow Grandpa Dalton's line to James Jamison Adams and Caroline Elizabeth Redd, then Caroline's parents Lemuel and Keziah, then Keziah's parents John Lowe Butler and Caroline Farozine Skeen.  In the top right corner over their names there is a temple and a green arrow, click it and you'll find one of their kids may need to be sealed to their parents.

Summer Adventures Part 3: Star Valley, Wyo.

The fam at ____ Lake. (I forgot the name, which
is really pathetic since I've been going there since I was born)
It's in Afton though, so I got that much. Nice to know
I haven't completely lost it.

Awww! You know how much I'm fond
of the "engagement shot".

I've got a little poser on my hands.

Well, two really.

All right, make that four.

Intermittent Springs- a yearly ritual.

I wonder where they get all their posing from?

I'm pretty sure it's from their Dad. Not his
most extravagant pose, but there it is.

This is my artistic "lovely butterfly in nature" picture. I
call it, "Lovely Butterfly on a Splat of Horse Poo...In Nature".

Summer Adventures Part 2: Two birthdays

Skye's birthday at Grandma & Grandpa Holliday's house.

Ethan's actual birthday at home. We usually do the "official"
cake at the Holliday house on Sunday, but we weren't able to do that
one until two weeks after the fact. So we opted for the cupcake
route on the actual day. I tried to make it up to him with
a MEGA cupcake.

For his birthday cake this year, Ethan wanted my grandma's
chocolate marshmellow brownies. I now have an official
teenager now. Oi vey!

Summer Adventures Part 1: Skye's Birthday Party

Skye got her first official birthday party this year. I tried
to "do it up guud". As a result, I put on quite a buffet
spread, which in hindsight wasn't necessary for a bunch of
6-7 year olds. They would've been happy with just cupcakes.
Oh well, c'est la vie.

Cupcakes: color coordinated to party decorations- Check.

It was a "splash party" theme, but we had to get them as
messy as possible first. This was the "summer snowman" game.
Sean, Ethan, and I decorated them with several cans of shaving cream.

Gavin, Eden, Kya and Skye in the pool.

Extra slippery slip 'n slide.

Singing Happy Birthday.

Eden striking a pose.

Happy Birthday Skye!

Week 0.5 down

So week 0.5 is done and I'm still not sure that I am ready to start running for real yet.  I've been pretty good about walking though and on Friday Richy and I kept up a good pace the whole while.  I'll probably do a week 0.75 this next week and I'm going to mow the lawn on Monday(which I may count as my walk).  Also when I weighed myself this morning I got 3 different weights so who knows what it really is but I'll put the low so I feel good about myself. :)

Weight: 376.4 punds
Feeling: Good

Week 0 day 3

So I made it through day 3 and again just walked it but this time there was a bit of an incline at the beginning and end of the walk.  I felt much better during the walk, it may be because I had water with me and stayed better hydrated or maybe because I was wearing different shoes.  My shins didn't hurt nearly as much but they were quite heavy.  They were some clod-hoppers and going down the hill they hurt my toes a little bit.  All in it was a good day.  I'm thinking next week will be another walking week maybe week 0.5 we will have to see how it looks on Monday.

Weight: 385
Feeling: Not too bad but really hot.  (Need AC)