Our Families - Something to Think About

Recently Elder Russell M. Nelson gave a talk at the World Congress of Families V in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Aug. 12, 2009. Here are some key thoughts that I really thought were interesting:

"Nothing, absolutely nothing, compares with the companionship between a husband and a wife. And nothing, absolutely nothing, can provide the joy and growth that come from happy children who make a family circle."

"Many wonder if the institution is no longer needed. Our response is certain. If there is any hope for the future of nations, that hope resides in the family. Our children are our wealth; our children are our strength; our children are indeed our future!"

"Spiritually, we need children as much as they need us. They are our spiritual wealth. Children teach us the joy of building goodness that will outlive our own. They teach us the joy of loving someone more than self. That love lifts one to give from the abundance of one's own life to help a child."

"Dear friends, future happiness and even the future of nations is linked to children. Families with children need to be re-enthroned as the fundamental unit of society. We simply must value children more than we do! Without a new generation to replace the old, there is no wealth; without families, there is no future."

To read the whole talk : http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/57744/Elder-Russell-M-Nelson-The-Family-The-Hope-for-the-Future-of-Nations.html

Scripture Study Help!

I found this website that I have started to use to study my scriptures. It is http://www.readthescriptures.com/ . You sign-up as a member and you can set up a calendar for your scripture reading. You can say how long you want to take and each day they will e-mail you your readings. You can keep a journal online and export it to word to print it later. You can highlight and take notes. You can also choose to listen to it on the audio option. They have all the scriptures, Ensigns, Lesson Manuals, etc. It is really neat! So, check it out!

Been Gone Awhile

Sorry I have missed out on some cute pictures! I just posted some random pictures for you.

A little blurry of Grandpa T with Brax --- You can really get the idea of how long Brax is!

Braxton 8 months old --- in his jammies!

Lex and Trudy on the Harley

We went to 24-6 concert (Deb Brockbank's band that played at our wedding) and Braxton was daning for quite awhile...then he fell fast asleep

Blake's Softball Practice

Braxton wanted the camera

The mom get me out of here look

Braxton learns to crawl

On Monday, Braxton finally figured out how to crawl. I just put my cell phone a few feet away from him and he went for it. It is funny that one day they can't do it and the next they have figured it out. He is so cute crawling across the floor now. It took him a few days to really get good, but now he is crawling everywhere. He has started to try to pull himself up, but he still is just not strong enough. Its okay though. I can wait on that one. He also figured our how to situp in his crib. The other night he was crying and we went in there and he was just sitting there and smiled at us when we walked in, just sitting up in his crib. It was so cute. I can't believe he is getting so big!

Moms Gone Wild!

All the women in our family decided we needed a little night out. So, last Friday night we booked a hotel in Park City for the night and had a girls night out. Our cousin Laura is moving to Seattle because her husband is going to law school in the fall. She is moving in 2 weeks so we wanted to have some fun before she left. We left all the babies with their dads and had a great time. You would have thought we had been in jail or something. When I got to the condo, Laura and Jess come running out screaming like they won the lottery. We were bouncing up and down! This was Laura and I's first time without our babies. We have decided to make it a tradition! We ate yummy Mexican food. Melissa and I had non-alcoholic pina coladas...my fav! We tried to play games, but we couldn't sit still for most of them. We went swimming and went to the hot tub. It was really like vacation. Jess kept saying she made a list of everything she wanted to do on our vacation. I think she checked most of them off. We had to fit it all in a one night :)! We finally almost got through a whole game of Scattergories (how do you spell that???) when Trudy declared that rag was spelled with a "w". I believe her exact words were, "Just remember girls, rag is spelled W..R..A..G"...we were so tired we actually had to think a few minutes. It was great fun. Oh and did I mention even Grandma Williams came. Kiley and McKenna got to drive in from California too. We had 12 people I think...SOOO FUN! I highly recommend for all my new mom friends :)!

Deal on Babyfood!

I'vee been trying to find babyfood that is a little cheaper than the Gerber (usually run about $1.00 for two containers). At the Neighborhood Walmart, I found the Beechnut variety pack. They have different variety packs with veggies or fruits for stage 2. I'm not sure about the other stages because I didn't look. It was a little under $8.00 for the pack of 18. BUT THE BONUS! You get a $1.50 coupon in the box. So, the next variety pack you buy, you will pay about $6.50. That turns out to be about $0.36 for a jar. I know we wish it could be so much cheaper, but I thought this was a great buy. Braxton loves the veggies. I haven't tried the fruit yet from this brand. I don't think there is any difference. I thought about making my own babyfood, but I just don't have time! Maybe the next baby ;)!

Cool Website!

I just found this website where you can buy and sell homemade items. Some of them are really neat! Check it out: http://www.etsy.com !

We Moved!

Well, we packed everything up and moved in with Blake's parents for the next 9 months until Landon gets home from his mission. I was pretty sad to leave our cute little townhome until we finally got done and found out how rude our landlords really were (oops did I say that)...Anyway, it took awhile to get everything sorted and put into storage. We brought a some of our furniture to the basement. We have our own little living area and 2 bedrooms. We are sharing bathroom and kitchen. I don't think it will be too bad for just 9 months. We are excited to pay off some of our debt and hopefully save some money to get something of our own. Braxton has his own little room (much bigger than his last room). We have adjusted well and I think we will make it ;)! I just want to give a shout out to Grandpa Lex who helped us move those heavy boxes. He is in great shape for a 50 year old!! And my mom came out and helped too. Thanks mama! And thanks to Brian and Jason who helped us move too! I think that is it...oh and thanks to Lex and Trudy for letting us live in their basement. And thanks to Landon for letting Braxton have his room for a little while...we miss him!

Blake's First Father's Day

We had a great Father's Day. Blake and Lex actually cooked and we just hung out all day...nothing too special. Braxton got his daddy a new Utah golf bag and new golf shoes. Blake picked up his new golf habit while we were in Maryland.

Braxton's Favorite Toy

Braxton is 6 Month's Old!

Braxton Takes Washington!

While we were in Maryland at Amanda's wedding we got to go on a mini-vacation to Washington DC. Blake hadn't been since he was a kid. I've actually been there quite a few times just from visiting Amanda and from when I was in the Air Force. Amanda and Austin were kind enough to take us site seeing to some of the the hot spots. We also went to the Natural History Museum (with the dinosaurs) and the Holocaust Museum. We got to have a little picnic on the mall where Blake was obsessed with because of the Forrest Gump movie. We got to have dinner in Alexandria, Virginia and see where Austin proposed to Amanda. On the Sunday we were there, we went to church with Blake's cousin Jared and his family. They took us down to Georgetown which was so great. Jared and his wife, Val, have a little baby, Amy, about Braxton's age. So, they were introduced and really liked each other...it was cute! We had a great time! I love Washington DC! I was a political science major...so it is just neat to see where everything happens. There is still so much there we wish we could have seen. It was great to get away and spend some time with Blake and Brax.

Blake and Marlee - Marlee was in one of the wards Blake served in on his mission in Florida. She is now in our cousin Jared's ward...small world!

Braxton likes vacation!

Me, Brax, Amy, Jared, Val, Nicole, Blake

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Flowers!

Mr. and Mrs. Austin Flowers

Amanda and her maids of honor at the rehearsal dinner

Blake and I at the rehearsal dinner

Blake, Brax, and I flew to Maryland to attend one of my best friend's wedding. Amanda was my maid-of-honor when Blake and I got married. So, I felt privileged to be one of hers. We have been friends since 10th grade when she moved to Louisiana from Maryland because her dad was in the military. She had just met Austin that summer that she moved. They stayed together throughout high school and college. This week was actually their 10 year anniversary of being together! It is about time they got married right! Amanda and Austin were kind enough to let us stay at their new house. I hope Brax didn't wake them up too much at night ;)! It was such a beautiful wedding. The ceremony was at Fort McNair (I think that is how you spell it) in front of the Potomac River. It was very beautiful! Amanda was such a beautiful bride and I'm so happy for them. She did the cutest thing for all her bride's maids. She made us each a scrapbook of all our special times together. YAY! I love weddings!

Trip to Idaho!

Over Memorial Day weekend, we took a day trip to Malad, Idaho to help Grandma Williams her house ready to sell. We ended up doing some yard work and I got a tour of the family house. It was great to see the home where Blake and his family spend so many holidays and special times. It was cute to hear all the cute stories Trudy had about her family in that house and Blake's stories about there huge Christmas there every year with all the cousins. We got to see the Williams Irrigation building where Blake's grandpa build his buisness many years ago. We couldn't go to Malad without going to the Malad Drive-In for fish burgers and fries. We had the best strawberry and banana milk shakes too! Next, we went up to Powerhouse (I'm not sure why it is called that) to see the family property where they hope to build a cabin one day. Angie, Doug, and kids were spending weekend there camping. It was so great to see the family come together to help out Grandma Willams. I can tell they really love their time together (as if I didn't know that already!). I loved being out in the "country" as I call it...so peaceful. Before we left we went and saw Grandpa Williams' grave. This was the first time Blake had been there because he was on his mission when his grandpa died. You could really tell he is missed and loved. I wish I would have had the chance to meet him. We had such a great time!

Grandpa Williams grave

Our Little Family at Powerhouse

Enjoying the favorite chair

Aynslee is already roughing it!

Grandma mixing the homemade honey butter... we have to have homemade bread!

What a cute grandpa!

Braxton getting some shade

Braxton's First Basketball

Blake finally got Brax his first basketball...I think he likes it...

My First Mother's Day!

I had my first mother's day last weekend. It was great...it felt like another birthday. Most of all it made me really happy to finally be a mommy. I feel like it was what I was meant to do. Despite all the everyday pressures to raise a righteous, smart, and wonderful child, I love the challenge and the rewards. It feels like I have always had him around. I love Braxton with all my heart!

We had a great day. We went to church with Lex and Trudy. We all got flowers from the Young Women in the ward. Then, we went over to their house and got to talk to Landon (he got to call home for Mother's Day). He is doing so great and sounded like he was a local! It was so cute to see him excited to talk to little Elle. He kept saying she sounded so grown up. Braxton got in a little word too...more like a cry. I can't wait until his Uncle Landon gets home to play with him. After that, the boys and Melissa made us a wonderful salmon dinner with rice and veggies. It was absolutely amazing!!!! Blake (and Braxton) got me some great gifts. Blake and I got to go to a cute little Lodge the night before for dinner. We had bbq and it was pretty good. The view was the best part. We were in the mountain and could watch the sunset. Then on Sunday morning, he made me breakfist and gave me my gift. He got me an outfit and a gift card for a pedicure. We are also getting new pillows for our bed. I know pillows don't sound like a great mother's day gift, but they are to me! (I'm easy to please!)

It truly is our purpose as women bring up these precious children Heavenly Father has entrusted to us. I'm so very thankful to have a wonderful family and husband to set an example for him and for me! I can think of nothing more important or special than being a mother. I'm so very grateful for my mother and all she has done to teach and guide me. I'm grateful for my Mama #2 (Trudy) who has set such a great example for me also. I love them both so much!