Richy & Kari's Fam

Well here goes nothin'.  We had our family pictures taken in September and I took some pictures at the same time so here's some shots of the kids.

It's so strange to see a still picture of my kids, they always look so much older.  I can't believe our older kids are getting so grown up.

Here's Porter, my handsome young gentleman.  He didn't really want to take pictures, but he put on a good face anyway.

My beautiful Paige, all grown up.  She asked if I would do these little curls.  It took a long time, but it was well worth it.

Little Miss Eden.  She is growing up and looking so mature.  She had wanted her hair cut short(up to her chin) and I said she had to wait until after pictures.  So after pictures we came home and cut her hair.

Lincoln's such a goof.  Half of my pictures he's pulling a silly face and here's proof of that.

For how boyish Bella is she sure cleans up nicely and takes a beautiful picture.  I can't believe she's five now.

My baby!  It's so fun and so crazy to have my youngest get so big!  Richy gave the kids blessings at the first of the year and blessed her to continue to be the ball of energy that she is.  And that's the truth!

I was so pleased with our pictures.  Ivy is always amazing.  I love being a mom and having the opportunity to raise these beautiful little spirits.  

Woodbury Family Goal 2013

I have some of my best ideas while nursing that new baby of mine.  Perhaps I'm closer to the spirit because I'm so close to the one who just came from our Father in Heaven.  Or maybe its because there isn't a single other sound in the house at 4 am... whatever it is, as long as I have to be up to feed that sweet baby of mine, I'll take the good ideas!

This idea came from thinking about FHE.  We have a big family, as you know, and each person has something they are responsible for on Monday night.  Since we just added a new member to our family I was brainstorming something to add to our FHE.  And then it hit me! 

Service.

So, the goal is that we, as a family have a service project each week.  Obviously, some will be more work than others.  But the idea is that we will do it together and then in FHE, we will report on the week's service and keep a journal.  I think its going to be great!  I came up with a list of around 60 ideas, and many of them can be used more than once.  So, the person in charge of service for FHE that week will get to choose our project and be project manager.  Then we will have the week to work on it.

I have my list typed up in a word document if anyone wants it.  What about you guys?  Any goals you're working on?

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!