look alikes

For quite a while we have been trying to figure out who Alexander looks like. While he looks like he's related to his brothers he's got his own look about him.  We kind of gave up on figuring it out.  Then one day while at my in-laws I passed a picture that I must have walked past a hundred times.

And I saw it!  If we exchanged Alexander's blond hair and blue eyes for brown he would look just like his Aunt Catie!  What do you think?

I know...

I feel impressed to write this... so feel free to skip it as it is mostly for myself.

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a fireside by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.  He was in Oklahoma City for some reason and decided to do a fireside.  There was limited room in the South Stake Center so it was broadcast to our church building.  Even though I wasn't in the same building as he was I could still feel the spirit so strongly as he spoke.  The really unique thing about this fireside is that he didn't have a prepared message.  Instead, he opened it up for a little Q&A.  Most of the questions came from youth 18 and younger (for whom he started out by saying he would give preference to--because they ask the best questions).  It was wonderful to hear Elder Bednar share personal experiences and use the scriptures to answer these questions.  

One funny moment occured when a 10 year old girl, Emily, got up to ask a question.  Before she got the chance to ask, Elder Bednar stopped her and shared that he has several granddaughters and that one was also named Emily.  Then he asked if she liked princesses.  She replied, "I used to."  He followed up with, "When did you stop liking princesses so much?"  When she told him about 3 years ago, Elder Bednar explained that he only had sons, so in recent years he's invested a lot of time into learning about princesses and now he learned that at some point they will outgrow it.  It got a good chuckle from the audience.

I loved what he taught us about testimony and what it meant to him to be a "special witness of the name of Jesus Christ".  I love that the spirit was really the teacher.

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity so many times in my life to have been in the presence of servants of the Lord.  I realize that not everyone has had or will have that opportunity.  I loved Elder Uchtodorf --before he was called to be an apostle--as I sat in a perspective missionary fireside in the Wilk.  I was in awe as I listened to several Apostles speak in the MTC about the new Preach My Gospel program.  I felt power as I shook the hand of President Monson on my 19th birthday.  And yet, even if I hadn't had those opportunities (and many others), I would still know that the First Presidency, 12 Apostles, and all the other leaders of our church were called of God.  I can feel it in their words as I listen to General Conference.  Or read their messages later in the Ensign.  I would still know that Christ is the head of the Church.  I would still know that Joseph Smith restored Christ's church on the earth today.  I would still know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God--I feel the spirit more strongly when I read its pages than any other book of scripture.  I strive everyday to let my children know this: I Know.

double dose of daily sunshine

 

Alex has discovered a love of crawling under the crib and bunkbeds.

William loves his baby brother... and cheetos (note the orange ring around his mouth)... and being in pictures.

Wishing you all the happiest of Valentine's Days!  We have been enjoying our "month of love." Nearly everyday we've been doing something valentine-y. Here are just a few of the things we've been up to this month...

We wrote love notes to Dad and put them on his bed to discover upon his arrival home.

We watched a "love" movie (Sleeping Beauty).

I'm not really sure of the shocked expression here... either Prince Philip was fighting the dragon or he was about to kiss Princess Aurora.

One day we made valentines to send to family.

The boys loved going on our Big Kiss Treasure Hunt and a heart scavenger hunt.  Total success... and a must-do for next year!

Rich thought this was a little too girly for his boys... but they had a fun time in their "heart bath."

James loved the frosting and William loved the cupcake... so I guess these treats were a success.

We also had a blast at William's class party.  James thinks he's as big as those kids and tries to wrestle them.  

And we attended the annual Valentine's party put on by a few friends in the ward.  We always have a great time decorating bags and going on a candy hunt.  And there is always plenty of cute heart-shaped food. 

I hope you all have been enjoying this season of love as well... and for some great thoughts on love click here and check out all the posts on love and marriage!

the world according to James

James is certainly our silliest boy.  He's inherited a love of teasing from his Grandpa Fisher that drives William a little crazy.  He rarely gets mad... if he's upset it's most likely because someone hurt his feelings.  He loves his brothers.  He's always ready with a hug.  He loves anything Star Wars.  He'll sit through any of the movies.  He pulls out his light saber 20 times a day knows the right stance... he also knows every character and whether they are good or bad.  But when he's not Obi Wan Kenobi or Luke Skywalker, James pretends he's a super hero.  Sometimes he's Superman or Spiderman or Batman.
Last week I convinced him to check out Sleeping Beauty from the library.  "There's a dragon," I told him.  "And a guy with a sword."  (It's my favorite Disney movie so I had ulterior motives for him getting it!)  James watched the movie three times last week.  The first time he saw Prince Phillip with his sword and shield he ran to get his own so that he could slay the dragon as well.  

All week he has been Prince Phillip more than any other character.  I love it.  Sometimes he'll even tell me that I'm Sleeping Beauty.  I then must pretend to be asleep so that he can awake me with a kiss.

The other night we were visiting Rich's parents.  Rich and I stepped out for a few minutes for a quick date to the frozen yogurt shop down the street.  When I came home my mother-in-law handed me my debit card.  It seems that James had gone into my purse, pulled out my wallet, found my debit card (it is a pretty bright green color), and placed it in his pocket!  Crazy kid!

And, according to James, these two men have something in common:

The first is my dad.  The second is our bishop.  But James thinks that they are:

President Eyring.

It must be the glasses and the haircut.  This past Sunday in church James informed me, as he began to stand on the pew, "I want to see President Eyring."  After standing up tall, and able to see above the heads in front of him, he said, "Oh. There he is," and sat back down.  A little later on, we were looking through a quiet book.  There was a picture of my family from a few years back.  He was naming everyone.  When he got to my dad he told me, "President Eyring."  Several minutes later he asked, "Where's President Eyring?" and grabbed the book again.

And then on Wednesday afternoon, as I was setting up the cultural hall for that night's New Beginnings, I watched James pull a chair up to the podium, pull out the scriptures that were stowed beneath, and start jabbering away.  I wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying but occasionally I'd hear him say "Jesus."  William sat reverently on the front row and listened to James' talk.  When James was done, William pulled out some sheet music, walked to the podium, and sang "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam."  Of course, after that, they ran around the gym like banshees.  

Oh that James!  Life would certainly be less entertaining without him in it.

daily sunshine

 

 Alex wedged in between the dryer and the wall with a fistful of lint... but oh so happy!

This baby is getting into all sorts of mischief since he learned how to get around!  He loves to find cords, get into the fireplace, and several times I've found him in the laundry room in between the wall and the dryer!  I'm pretty sure he knows what he's doing is wrong though... because when I scold him he just gives me a big ol' grin.  Silly boy.