Zoo

For months Collin has been begging and pleading to go to the zoo.  I keep telling him we can go when it is warmer.  This weather has been so wacky lately.  One day it is sunny and beautiful and warm and the next it is snowing and freezing.  Enough already!  So on Saturday we took advantage of the sunshine and went to visit the zoo.  Collin was thrilled!  We took Grandma and Grandpa along and we all had a great time.  

Some highlights:

• Riding the carousel
• Seeing the elephants - Collins favorite animal at the zoo.  (We almost missed them.  Apparently, they didn't think the weather was very nice because they were all hanging out inside.)
• Riding the train
• Listening the Collin talk to the monkeys
• Following Sophie and Collin around as they excitedly went from one animal to the next
• Hearing Collin say "I had fun at the zoo!" when we got back into the car
• Enjoying being out of the house!

What are these guys talking about . . .

. . . well after recent events these Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints missionaries and this Islamic man may have more in common.

Remember the controversy over the Danish newspaper that published some cartoon images of Muhammad?  You might recall the outrage within many Islamic groups that led to a series of protests and riots.  For many the image of Muhammad is considered to be very sacred and in not to be publicly displayed.  To hear a very engaging podcast from This American Life on the image of Muhammad and the US supreme court click here.  The Big Love episode reminds me of how very much alike are all the children of God.  

Whether we like to admit it or not all of us hold on to something as sacred.  For some like us mormons it may include the ceremonies within the temple, for many the US flag, for some Islamist the image of Muhammad, and for many the right of freedom of speech is considered sacred.  

I don't expect anyone outside of my faith to consider the temple a sacred place, I only expect a little respect and courtesy for my God, the people that I love, and myself.

This post is not by 

For St. Patrick's Day

Today is the day full of all things fun and green!  

We ate green (well some of us did - Sophie wouldn't go near her green food!)

We dressed green

We drank green

and 

We made wee pots of gold to give to our friends to spread some GREEN cheer!

The idea for the pots of gold came from here

Later

we just might so on a scavenger hunt looking for little green beings - Leprechauns of course!

and make a rainbow or 2!

It has been so much fun celebrating with green today!

{Peek-A-Boo!!}

SPRING 

I see you!!!

Please don't let Old Man Winter scare you away again!

"You knew what I was when you picked me up."

Warning: the following post mentions the existence of sex.

You might remember the fable from primary.  The one where the boy meets a snake on the mountain.  The snake wants the boy to carry him down to the bottom of the mountain and the boy refuses because he doesn't want to get bitten by the venomous snake.  After being promised by the snake that he won't get bitten the boy carries the snake down the mountain.  Upon reaching their destination the snake bites the boy.  The boy shocked at the snakes cruelty asks why the snake didn't keep his promise.  The snake gives the response, "You knew what I was when you picked me up."

All this controversy surrounding HBO's Big Love series reminds me of that fable.  There seems to be quite an uproar over the makers of the program choosing to depict scenes from inside a Latter Day Saint temple.  I am not a totally informed commentator as I have not seen the episode in question.

I find it interesting that so many would be surprised by the networks choice.  HBO's business strategy has long been based on using subjects that are taboo, violent, or their favorite: sexual in nature.  Consider the following series they've ran lately.  Six Feet Under (about a family who lives and works in a mortuary), Dead Wood (graphic depictions of super violence on the American frontier), True Blood (vampire sex), Cathouse & Hookers on the Point & Taxi Cab Confessional (prostitute sex).  Big Love (or Big Sex as my grandmother calls it) is right in line with this business model.  Depicting the most sacred ordinances in this series is right in line with the moral bankruptcy of the network.  I'm actually surprised that they didn't do it sooner.

On KSL news they quoted someone who had written to HBO threatening to cancel their subscription if the aired the episode in question.  Am I to understand that this person was OK with network up until this point? 

I do of course find it distasteful that anyone would publicly display any religion's most sacred ordinances.  Just not surprised.

You knew what is was when you paid for the subscription every month.

The above art is issued without permission of my old friend and roommate Jacob Fossum.  Check out more of his work here.  He's going to be famous.

Making Bread

So I have the BEST husband in the entire world.  

He decided that he wanted to start making bread.  Not only did he make many loaves of bread, but he included Sophie in every minute of it.  (Something I am not the best at doing - cooking is so much easier, not to mention cleaner when I do it by myself.)  Anyway, Sophie loved every minute of it.  And the bread wasn't half bad either!

Sophie was so funny.  A few minutes into the process, she decided that she needed a chef hat and quickly ran up to her room and got this Krispy Kreme hat that she had got a couple of weeks ago.  She looked so cute in her hat all covered with flour.

She is a natural baker!

She loved eating the flour

EEWW Yuck!

She kept saying "I am a good helper!"

So much fun helping Daddy make bread!

Thanks babe for making some great bread and involving Sophie in the process.  I love you.

He Rides!!!

After many months of encouragement, Collin has finally caught on to pedaling!  He was thrilled with his new accomplishment.  He had the biggest smile on his face.  He can't start out by himself though, and he gets soOOo frustrated until you come over and give him a little push.  It was petty funny to watch.   But once he gets moving, he is off!!  Good work buddy!  With a little practice, you might be able to keep up with Sophie this summer.  

*On many winter days, my hardwood floor becomes a race track for trikes!  Fun times!

The PERFECT Color!

The other day Sophie kept asking me if she could paint her skin brown like Naomi's.  Naomi is her cousin, and she is adopted from Haiti.  Sophie loves her dark skin and was very  persistent that hers be brown too.  After several hours of pleading, we gave in.  She stripped down and began paining her skin to look like Naomi's.  She was so proud of the results, and exclaimed "That's the PERFECT color!"    

Collin got in on the fun too.  

Only he decided that multi-color was his thing!

We followed up the evening with a Family Home Evening lesson on our bodies and diversity.  It is so fun to see our children growing and becoming aware of their surroundings.  

We love you silly kids!

How Fun!

So I just learned how to add a signature to my blog.  Is that FUN or what?  Hopefully Logan won't mind my signature being on his posts also.  But hey, I do 99% of the posts and I LOVE it!  It is so fun spicing up my blog!  You can learn how to do it too here!

A Book

by Sophie J Phipps

The butterfly flying in the air and I saw him in the woods and then I got lost and a bear found me and I ran for my life.  And then I found a sponge. Remember Ms. Lynsie, a sponge!  A sponge...

The horses.  I ride on a horse and they keep running and running.  And a tree.  It was a stick.  bear keep running and running faster and faster - and then I saw something.  It was a heart - and then I saw an egg.  an egg.  And then walk walk walking - and the bear keep running away.  I love you mother.  I love you too dear.  Then kept running and running away unless a butterfly.  It was an airplane in the woods.  A boy was lost in the woods.  the butterfly flies and it came into my hand!  And then I walk in the woods very very quiet.  It was  a frog and then the bear is a frog as fast as he could and the butterfly flies.  It was scissors.  Scissors!  Scissors!  It was a snowman sponge.  I've got to figure it out!

Sophie came home from school the other day so excited because she had written a book.  I love it.  She was soOOo proud of it and wanted Logan and I to sit on the couch and read it to her.  It is the perfect example of Sophie rambling at the speed of light.  Her teacher said that she could barely keep up with her and missed a few things!  Imagine that?  Anyway, I think it is so cute and it made me smile.  She is a great author!

Blessing Day

On Sunday we had the opportunity to bless our little Ruby Jane.  

It was such a special day.  

Logan gave her a beautiful blessing.  The Spirit was felt so strongly by all.

  She was surrounded by family and friends that love her sooOOo much.  It was a perfect day.  We feel so blessed.

Thanks to all those who helped make her day so special.

It was soOo fun getting Ruby all ready for her big day!  

She was smiling and talking to me.  

She is such a sweet baby.

Mommy and her girl!

One happy family!

Believe it or not, this is our first picture of all of us together.