Playing catchup! 1 of 2

Well!  It's been nearly five months since my last post!  But I am finally getting caught up on some things this Christmas break and it makes me so happy to have my blog all caught up on!  I really want to get back to my monthly (at least) posts.  

I tried really hard to get these pictures in order, but it didn't happen.  These two posts are picture overload as we get caught up on the last five months!

Olivia was in "Shrek the musical, Jr" this past August.

Her friend, Cambrie in the play.

She played little Shrek, baby bear, and a Duloc

with Kasey & Vanessa

It's always fun to see her having fun on stage.  She's far right in this scene.

Carter was the overall winner award at his horse camp this August.

Carter's birthday present this year was cowboy boots, a riding helmet and a horse camp.  He LOVED it.

At the end of the week of horse camp, they had a show for the parents.

Carter loved his horse, Apple Cider.

They learned some fun things at horse camp.

For his 9th birthday, he requested homemade mint oreos.  Yum!

A sort of cookie cake.

Carter and Apple Cider.

The garden fence ate my dress.  

Aaron occasionally sets up his hammock on our swing set. Haylee apparently loved it.

In August, we got to go to the Indianapolis Temple Open House.

A near experience for our family!

Always a happy day when the garden tomatoes are ready to make BLT's with.

Some of our first eggs!

Olivia and Caily - found a 4 leaf clover while waiting for the movie to start at the Drive-in.

At the drive-in theater.

Lots of kiddos ready to watch a movie.

Haylee was using her shins to stop the wooden swing in our basement.  So we had to take the swing down for awhile.

Annual lemonade stand.  They did the best they've ever done this year.  We hit great weather on a Saturday and that seemed to be key!  They also got out early and then took a break in the heat of the afternoon and then went out again in the evening.  The evening time is when they did the most sales.  We learned something new!

At a new park with Cambrie.

Watching the fireflies fly away.

Catching fireflies.

I love my munchkin.

Hayley's first day of kindergarten.  She started school in July at ABS in West Chester.

Aaron got to go canoeing as part of a work activity with his office.  Looks pretty fun!

Ryan really enjoys the chickens.

Carter and a big ol' toad!

My parents came for a visit in October and my dad redid the threshold on the back door.  It's sooooo much better.

My mom did a whole lot of cleaning and helping around the house.

The reason for their visit was this!  We attempted to potty train Haylee.

Carla and Alicia came from ABS to help get me started.  We weren't successful this time, but learned lots.

Ryan and Oliver playing in the sand table.  Ryan's pants were apparently too big around the waist.

Playdate for Ryan and Oliver.  They made a little video and then had so much fun watching it over and over!

Carter got covered in stickers during singing time and Haylee could not stop looking at his face.

Olivia and her friends from Shrek.

This kiddo is the reason I got put into nursery at the end of 2014.  He's been one of my most difficult kids in nursery, but I'm still going to miss him sorely when he goes to Sunbeams next Sunday.

Rushton is such a sweet kiddo and I'm going to miss him going to Sunbeams too!

Mae is so sweet and will be staying in nursery with us another year!

Brizzelle does not enjoy coming to nursery yet, but we are hoping she'll become more acquainted with it this year.

Grayson was a fun and FULL of energy, but moved a few weeks ago.

Miles will be moving to Sunbeams too this year. 

Ciel is younger than Ryan, but ready to move to Sunbeams too!

Georgia gets to stay in nursery with me!  Love her!

Game night with the Stratton's.  We love Wits and Wagers.

Carter started horseback riding lessons with Heather Williams this fall.  

He loves being able to care for the horse too.

Olivia started playing cello this school year and has picked it up incredibly fast.

Carter participating in the rain gutter regatta with the cub scouts.  

Olivia and Carter got to help with the Joe Nuxall Miracle league this fall again and got to be Peyton's buddy.  They love being able to do that.

Carter and Olivia having fun in the Cosby's pool.

Out for shakes at Chick-fil-A with the Fairfield gang.  Prince's, Chapin's and Richard's.

Ryan had a playdate with Oliver one day at the park and ended up falling asleep in the swing.

Carter's first day of 4th grade!

9 years old!

So handsome!

First day of 6th grade for this girl.

Last year at Fairfield Intermediate School!

We got to play with friends at Hueston Woods Lake this summer.  It's our Ohio version of the beach and my kids love it.

Haylee seems to find it therapeutic.

The weather ended our fun too soon, but we got to have a few hours of fun.

Happy 36th birthday Aaron!  (Peanut Butter Bars)

We got to meet Aaron for lunch on his birthday at Smokey Bones.

My mom sent me this picture of my dad finally giving up the Old Digger Dodge.

Playing in the leaves!  Ryan loved it.

The Miami River bike trail opened up to Rentschler Forest Park.  In October, my dad took everyone down there.

My dad and the kids.

Carving pumpkins

For Thanksgiving, we got to visit Georgia!  The cousins reenacted an old photo.  So funny! 

Olivia, Savannah and Madison

Kirk and Aaron

little Edith

Vicki and Olivia

Haylee and Hannah
All the cousins were so good with Haylee.

Natalie, Kirk and Olivia.
Playing White Elephant.  Kirk got to go first and he picked my Victoria Secret bag.  Ha!  He got some little toy that makes a really annoying noise.

Lunt Family Fun!  

The Lunt cousins!!!

Playing outside in the great Georgia weather.  

Justin had stitches in his elbow from a fall in Cedar City.  We teased him about his wenis looking funny.

Bella and I

Edith and Bella

Natalie, Carter and Braden

Haylee and Braden

Braden and Olivia

Kirk and Haylee

Ryan using the van as a mirror

Carter shotting BB guns with Braden

Halloween 2015!  Olivia as Cruella and Haylee and Ryan as dalmatians.

Carter as a headless man.

Carter pinning his wolf award on me.  Carter loves Cub Scouts.

Me as Cruella

Mom as Cruella

Having fun with Olivia's wig.

Aaron even tried it!

Vanessa as Cruella.

Gary makes a gorgeous Cruella.

judged from the written books

I rarely use this blog to share some serious religious opinions, but since I've started the Pathway Program through BYU-I, I've decided to use this blog (as opposed to starting a new one) to record some of my assignments and feelings on topics being studied.  I have an assignment this week to make a blog entry on a topic I've studied from my lesson plan this week.  I've reflected on the things I've learned from the scriptures, my classmates and personal inspiration and have decided to post my opinions on 2 Nephi 28.
Last night in our Gathering class that meets weekly, we met in smaller groups to discuss certain topics that are our choosing from several options.  My group discussed False, Vain, and Foolish doctrines to avoid.
Satan's program is simple.  He wants to break apart the family.  I marked six (though, I'm sure there are more) ways Satan tries to lull us away in Chapter 28.
1 - (vs 19) Anger - This is one that affects so many of us without even realizing it.  This is one struggle that I have often and seems I am constantly trying to overcome.  I learned this week that when we are seeking after truth with a humble heart, we are actually blessed with a tolerance of others.  I had never put that covenant together, but I love it.
2 - (vs 20) Rage in the hearts - I automatically think of some social media posts from this morning when I think of this strategy of Satan's.  Yesterday, there were lots of news posts about the Church changing their policy on children of LGBTQ couples.  So many were immediately outraged before learning the reasoning behind it.  The reasoning behind this policy change is ultimately family harmony within the home.  But the majority of the world won't see it as such.
3 - (vs 21) Pacify - This always makes me think of a babies pacifier.  They use it for comfort and to help them feel better.  It's not really giving them any substance though.  They just need it to get them by.  Satan often pacifies us with words we want to hear at the time that have nothing to back it up.
4 - (vs 21) Lull them away - We should recognize that Satan didn't have to pass through the veil and so he still knows us very personally.  He knows our weaknesses and uses those against us in every circumstance he can.
5 - (vs 21) All is well - I once had a co-worker that seemed interested in hearing more about the church and meeting with the missionaries.  I made that meeting happen, but she just kept letting us know that she had already "declared that Jesus was her Christ."  She could not understand any importance in following Christ's example of baptism because, in her mind, she had already made that commitment.  Satan definitely wants us to believe that it's that easy - Make a statement that Jesus is your Christ and go on with your life!
6 - (vs 22) Flattereth - I believe that many are flattered by the "Eat, drink, and be merry" attitude.  It's a happy, easy going attitude that justifies committing a little sin (2 Ne 28:8).  I'm grateful for good friends that I can get together with and then leave feeling good about myself.  To me, it's so easy to have fun without any harmful substances.

I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows us personally and can help us to have the knowledge and power we need to overcome the adversary so that we can live eternally.  It is my hope that my family will feel the same way so that I can be with them forever.

Thanks for letting me complete my school assignments on my personal blog!