o CHriSTmAS TReE . . .

We went to a tree farm to pick out our CHriSTmAS TReE this week. We decided that instead of getting our usual $60 tree this year, we'd try to spend less and get a "CHarLiE BrOWn TReE." You see, a couple years ago, my mom got this sparse, interesting-looking tree, and once it was all decorated, it really was absolutely gorgeous! So I thought for sure I could pull it off. Hmmmm . . .

I'm not so sure it worked. Mostly it is just a very sad, SAD tree. Luckily I have a sense of humor about it!

Mike and Aiva helping to pick out our tree.

Okay, so at night the tree doesn't looks so bad, when you can't see the daylight shining through it's . . . shall we say "absense of foliage" . . .

. . . but during the day it is very, very sad to look at! :(


Last, but not least, Aiva giving baby Kennley (my friend's baby that I watch sometimes) a big kiss. Aiva loves her friend!

New Photos . . .

I need to start taking more pictures. I used to be so camera-happy. I don't know what happened. Anyway, here are some new random photos of Aiva.

Going for a walk

An Elmo doll in WalMart. Aiva LOVES Elmo right now.

Notice the BOW??? I am very happy to announce that my little girl, who hasn't allowed any bows on her head for months, has finally decided that they are pretty! Mom is very happy about this because most girls this age have more hair, so a lot of people lately have been commenting on what a cute little boy she is. Yeah!

ANOTHER great quote . . .

Sorry if my blog is becoming too political/spiritual. I will try to post some photos soon, because I know that's really what people are looking for when they visit your blog!! I feel pretty preoccupied lately with everything that's been going on. Like, obsessed. And I felt this way even before Mike lost his job. Can anyone else feel something bad coming? I mean, really bad and really scary? Like what's going on now is only the beginning??? I feel like I have to keep an eye out so that I can see the signs before it gets here and thereby be better able to protect my family. I have tried to lay off a bit, because it's starting to feel like a heavy weight on my shoulders, and honestly, it's depressing. But here is another quote that I found on my friend's blog. It gives me hope and strength. I especially appreciate the last line: "Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."

Given at BYU October 10, 1978 “A More Determined Discipleship”

“Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had ‘never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.’

“This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.

“Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened…. Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, ’summer is nigh.’ Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat.” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell

A good quote . . .

“God has held the angels of destruction for many years, lest they should reap down the wheat with the tares. But I want to tell you now, that those angels have left the portals of heaven, and they stand over this people and this nation now, and are hovering over the earth waiting to pour out the judgments. And from this very day they shall be poured out. Calamities and troubles are increasing in the earth, and there is a meaning to these things. Remember this, and reflect upon these matters. If you do your duty, and I do my duty, we’ll have protection, and shall pass through the afflictions in peace and in safety. Read the scriptures and the revelations. They will tell you about all these things.”

(Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham [1946], 230).

And another one bites the dust . . .

Well, add our names on the list of casualties in this crappy economy. Mike was laid off last night. I know that there are so many people going through difficult times right now. Let's all pray for each other. It won't be easy. But God will take care of us and give us strength. We are hoping that this is something that we will one day look back on as a blessing in disguise.

We ask that you will include us in your prayers. You are all in our prayers as well.

Cozumel, Mexico!!!

We have spent the last week in beautiful Cozumel, Mexico. This is a trip that we have had planned for almost a year, so it's something we've looked foward to for a long time. Here's a few photos of our amazing gettaway . . .

This is the view from the cliffs of the Mayan

ruins of Tulum. Absolutely the most gorgeous beach

I've ever seen!

Mike and the ruins

Looks just like a postcard, doesn't it?

On the beach under Tulum

Two of the days we were there, we rented a scooter

and went around to the east side of the island to the

Caribbean Sea where there were awesome waves.

On our last day there, we rented a boogie board. FUN!

On our way around the island we stopped where these

2 guys were selling fresh coconuts on the side of the road in

the middle of nowhere. We drank the juice, and then ate

the meat. So good!

The beach we found. We named it "Tiki Beach"

(for those of you whose kids watch The Backyardigans,

you know where that comes from). We had about a mile

of beach all to ourselves and our own private lifeguards.

Riding on our scooter (which we named "Sasha." Those of

you who watch Scrubs will know why!) This is in front

of our hotel.

The view from our balcony. Nice, huh? We actually

didn't spend much time here, though. Too much fun

stuff to do elsewhere, especially if you don't

drink alchohol!

If anyone is thinking about ever going to Cozumel, I totally recommend it!!!

Happy (late) Halloween!

I know it's a bit late (we've been in Mexico for the last week. More of that to come.), but I wanted to post some pictures of Aiva on Halloween. Aiva LOVED it! And, what came as a suprise to us, was that she actually understood the concept! She would go up to the door, knock, take candy out of the bowl, put it in her bucket, and then wave goodbye, and go on to the next house. She was very possesive of her bucket, and wouldn't let us carry it for her. She also wanted to do all the walking herself. It was so FUN to go trick-or-treating, and watch her grasp the whole thing. Luckily, she doesn't know what candy is yet, so we've had fun eating it for her (hehe).