Avonlea Pictures

We have not done very well about sharing our newest little angel with all of you.  So this post is a tribute to her, especially since we have so many about the other kids.

As we were deciding what we would name her after she was born, I asked the same question I have asked with all 3 of our kids now:  'What will their nickname be?'.   Well, as is always the case, Tasha is right in telling me it is something I don't need to worry about.  Because all of the nicknames simply happen.  Avonlea is our little "Lele" (or Eeyee for Gensie), even though we thought about Alee or Avey.  Lele just happened and it stuck.


We must have picked a name she likes, because she is such a happy baby!  She grins so big and so easily, especially after waking up from a nap.  She will be letting us know she is awake (making the cutest little sounds) when we look down at her and she just lights up.  And she sleeps so well too!  Of course, she does have her times, but for the most part she sleeps great.  She sleeps through the night, going to bed around 10 or so and waking up to eat at about 5 or 6 usually, and then goes down for a few more hours.  I don't know why we have been so blessed with happy babies that sleep well, but lets hope it continues!

She has been the focus of the family since she was born, that's for sure.  McKay and Genesis love her and talk to her all the time.  McKay even thinks she needs picked up and held without us around sometimes, but no drops yet.  Although, the other night Mckay took her out of her bouncy chair, wrapped her in one of his blankets, and proceeded to hold her as he tried to walk down the steps into the garage.  It was a close call but Mom got there in time!

Everybody who see's her comments that she looks so much like McKay, and we agree, though we see Gensie in her as well.  She does seem to have McKay's mild temperament. 

"What is a baby anyway?"

Well loved

Left to Right: McKay's baby Jesus , Mommy's baby Lele, and Gensie's baby Ruth.  They did this all on their own.  I walked past the swing and saw that we had triplets.

These pictures are for Grandma's.  Don't you wish you could be kissing these?

I asked Quinn to babysit.  This is what he did; bonding over football Saturday evening

 This is what you do if you want Lele to go to sleep.

I love her look of concern

We just took her blessing pictures because we wanted to wait until her acne cleared up.  And then we continued to forget until now.  Better late than never

I think we could afford a down payment on a home if we weren't buying so many binkies!  But with a picture like this it just may be worth it.

A few outdated pictures

Here are a few pictures that are now outdated. I wanted to post these awhile ago but they got lost on one of our camera cards. They were taken about 6 months ago.

Cowboy Sam and Sally

McKay said it was bed time so he put the animals to bed.

It's cozier than riding by yourself.

I've never thought those troll dolls that have the bright hair sticking straight up were cute, but I sure think this one is.

Yup he discovered peeing standing up. but the bad part is it's in our back yard.

Adios

Mook and Gens

Last night at dinner Lele (nickname of Avonlea) was being fussy.  She likes to do that just at dinner time. She was fussing and I just wanted to enjoy my dinner without interuption so after I couldn't get her to quit I said "Lele stop." Gensie apparently was listening closely and next time she cried Gensie says "Eeyee stop!" After she shouted out that command a number of times we said  "Gensie say it nice.  Say please stop." The next time was in a commanding voice and she said "Eeyee STOP k peas."


McKay LOVES Avonlea! He told me "Mom I'm so glad we have a baby at our house."

I asked McKay if he knows what Gensie's whole name is. He replied "Gensie Quinn McKay."

McKay says to me "Mom do you know who dis is? It's Noses Ark!"

McKay saying family prayer...
"Hena Fauder grateful opportunity Gensie be good. Grateful Hena Fauder and Jesus not in mommy's tummy, amen."
P.S. This was when I was still pregnant.

McKay says...
"Mommy I gonna go up in da sky and see Hena Fauder and Jesus when I get bigger."

McKay had just finished saying the prayer when he says "Uh-oh I didn't say opportunity. Hena Fauder dank you for opportunity amen."

This is McKay talking about Gensie Lou. "Her's a good guy. Her not a boy her a girl. Is her a good girl or a bad guy girl?"  Any time someone is bad they are a bad guy.  That's why she was a bad-guy girl.

McKay says "Gensie you can't do that it will make my parents sad."

At "brekast" I say to Mook "How's your toast?" He replies "That's not a good word to say."

McKay sings "To Nephi seer of holdin time."

McKay told me "It is just a hotting day outside."

McKay was looking out the window in the back yard like he was looking for something. I asked him what he was looking for he said "Um I was just checking maybe some of da animals came to life."

McKay says to me "Mommy when I get bigger I can answer da front door, go out in da front yard AND drive da van when I get bigger."

Tasha's Stake Conference Talk

This is a chance to brag on my wife, so I am taking it.  Tasha received a call from the 1st counselor in the Stake Presidency a few weeks ago, and was invited to speak in stake conference.  The call came during the day and once I got home from work Tasha immediately said, "You're in big trouble!"  She then tells me that she is speaking in stake conference.  Of course I asked how that is my fault and she replies, "They wouldn't even know who I am if you weren't in the Bishopric!" 

Well, stake conference was this week end and she did a great job.  She spoke Saturday evening in the adult session.  She was the first of 8 people asked to give a 5 minute talk about our Stake initiative to Experience The Book of Mormon.  Here is the text of her talk.  I know her Mom would especially like to read it.

As a mother of 3 young children, much of my experience with The Book of Momon lately has been through the eyes of my oldest child Mckay, who is 3 years old.  I love teaching him the stories of The Book of Mormon!  And he loves learning them.
 
My husband and I are trying to apply what President Marion G Romney said about the Book of Mormon:

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (Ensign, May 1980, p. 67).

In commenting on this quote, President Ezra Taft Benson made the following statement:
 
“These promises—increased love and harmony in the home, greater respect between parent and child, increased spirituality and righteousness—are not idle promises, but exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said the Book of Mormon will help us draw nearer to God”.

Our primary children learn and sing of this truth in these words:
 
I love to read the holy scriptures,
And, ev'ry time I do,
I feel the Spirit start to grow within my heart-
A testimony that they're true.

Search, ponder, and pray
Are the things that I must do.
The Spirit will guide, and, deep inside,
I'll know the scriptures are true.

So, prayerfully I'll read the scriptures
Each day my whole life through.
I'll come to understand.
I'll heed the Lord's command
And live as he would have me do.

McKay is the oldest of my 3 children and I am trying to teach him to be an example to his little sisters.  I know that the Book of Mormon is a key part of that.  I have also tried to teach him from the lives of the prophets and about Heavenly Father and Jesus, and to be like them.  As I teach him who Jesus is and that he needs to be like Him, I wonder why he has such a desire to be like someone he has never met in this life.  As I asked my husband this question his response was that the Spirit testifies to him that it is true. 


In teaching McKay from the Book of Mormon, I am experiencing it for myself.  I am experiencing the Book of Mormon by using wooden spoons from my kitchen as swords to cut off Lamanite arms.  I am experiencing the Book of Mormon when I see McKay teach anyone who walks through our door about how Nephi was courageous.  I am experiencing the Book of Mormon when we fight the bad guys who are trying to shoot 'Salmon the Yamanite'.  I am experiencing the Book of Mormon by simply being a mother.

 
I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. 
 
I know that the Prophet Joseph Smith was called by God to translate this sacred book and restore the true church to the earth. 
 
I know that as we prayerfully read the Book or Mormon personally and as a family we will feel the power of this great book change our lives. 
 
I testify that our Savior died for us, that He lives again, and that He loves us with a perfect love.