MEMORIES PAST... TAKE I

Jason and I have discussed that it would be fun to pass on some of our past memories...  So we will be adding memories on here as we find old pictures.

Memories Past Take I

Ahhhh... Are they not the cutest little critters? Elijah was just 5 weeks old when we decided it was time for an adventure. So we went to the Fort Worth Zoo. It was a perfect day we only saw 5 other family/visitors that day. It was as if we had rented out the zoo for just our family. (secret: Go on a Fall weekday before lunch!). We can still fit all three in this wagon, and we ALWAYS take it with us to the zoo. They've grown so much, I look at this picture and I think the old cliche, "They really do grow up fast." Elijah 1 month, Isaiah 13 months, Cora 2. So little and pudgy - they were all still babies. :(  I miss that!

Remembering Poppy

MEMORIAL DAY 

Jason knelt down with the kids at the cemetery today and talked to them about death. He talked about Poppy (My Dad). The children were very interested in learning that Poppy's body was underground, but that his spirit was with the Lord in the Heavens. Cora wanted to know if the dirt was Poppy's home? Isaiah said no silly he lives with Jesus. He is not under the dirt because I see him. Then Isaiah jumped on the headstone, raising one hand in the air and the other on his hip and said with a loud voice said, "Poppy is SUPER READER" !

Jason smiled because Dad was literally a super reader. Super Reader also known as Super Why? is Isaiah's favorite super hero. While other kids like spiderman, superman, or what ever is popular at the moment, Isaiah likes Super Reader because he has the power to READ!  

We gave Isaiah the name Isaiah to honor my father - he was Dad's favorite biblical prophet. Isaiah was a great prophet who many had/have difficulty understanding due to his extensive use of symbolism, prophetic foresight, literary style, and vocabulary.  

So what is in a name? Well anyone who has met our son Isaiah will see that he takes his name to heart. Is it any wonder that Super Reader with the Power to READ is his favorite worldly hero? 

We read in the Bible Dictionary in reference to Isaiah, "The reader today has no greater written commentary and guide to understanding Isaiah than the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. As one reads and understands these works better he will understand Isaiah better, and as one understands Isaiah better, he more fully comprehends the mission of the Savior, and the meaning of the covenant that was placed upon Abraham and his seed by which all the families of the earth would be blessed." 

So a thank you today Dad, on this day of remembrance... You have passed on a love of words and wisdom to our son and an ability to understand and to always question the Why and How. We love and miss you!

A visit from the Greats...

Family Tree 

Great Uncle Lewis with his Great Niece Cora, Great Aunt Marion with her Great Nephew Isaiah, and Great Uncle Jay with his Great Nephew Elijah.

What a remarkable heritage and legacy our family has. My mothers 2 brothers and 1 sister came to visit Mom for a very short weekend to visit her in her long recovery. They showed so much love by making sure we had some special one-on-one time. Aunt Marion flew in from Los Alamos, Uncle Lewis drove down from OKC, and Uncle Jay drove up from San Antonio. They made a special endeavor to spend some time with their great niece and great nephews - of course Jason and I enjoyed their companionship as well. 

Family is undoubtedly a magnificent gift. Through heartache and joy we grow in the midst of the familial adventure. It is through love and quiet forgiveness we achieve enormous wisdom and see the value of these souls. A legacy of so many generations tying us forever as a line of Royal Worth... Being enlightened of the tie we share is an awakening that I want to bestow to the generations to come; to love your heritage, to honor it with a respect unspoken. For me, I want my own children to know and admire these great men and women that came before us and learn to also honor such a wonderful legacy.

WE LOVE YOU!

Last day of school...

PARTY TIME !

Well Kimberly helped organize this great party for some of the kids at school. GREAT CHOICE! For $6 a kid (younger siblings were invited too) we went to JUMP EXTREME with 2 other classes from School. Pre-School, Pre-K, and Kindergartner classes. A super fun indoor play center for kids of all ages right here in town. It has about a dozen or so enormous jump houses/gyms. They are all different, and kids and adults love it. Most take a little skill to climb, but there are a couple of easier ones for 1, 2, and 3 year olds. Cora, Isaiah, and Elijah had a blast as well as Hyrum, Mathias, Tyrus, and Lucy too. It is fun that Hyrum and Mathias and Lucy all go to the same school as Cora. Hyrum is in Kindergarten while the other 3 are in Pre-School. What a super fun day. 

Thanks so much to Hyrum who made Cora's time a blast at Jump Extreme. She loved having her BIG Kindergartner Cousin make sure SHE was able to climb all the ''Big Kid jump houses. She has talked and talked about it, "Hyrum this, and Hyrum that...." She even thanked Heavenly Father that night in her personal prayers for cousins like Hyrum. She said he was COOL! and that he was her best friend today. WAY TO GO Hyrum thanks so much for helping her and making her feel so special. You are loved and appreciated! 

A stop off the highway...

Our babies asked us to stop and feed the horses. It was fun, but as soon as we pulled over and started to feed the horses, two other cars with kids in them randomly pulled over and wanted to feed the horses too. Three different families - none of us familiar with the other but we were doing something fun and they wanted to participate too. It was a fun Saturday activity. Only in The South!

Does anyone else smell that?

ZOOOOOO Much FUN!

We always enjoy a day out adventuring and learning together. We had so much fun at the zoo. 

For some reason today Isaiah was totally into birds! It started with the Ostriches. Although you can’t see them in this picture, he was telling anyone that would listen all about the ostriches. The zebra’s and giraffes are a usual favorite, but today he looked right past them and was absolutely fascinated with the big birds. They too were fascinated with the kids and kept running all over the place truly putting on a show for us. 

 Here Birdie Birdie!
 

The bird pavilion is our favorite because it is so interactive. We all get the chance to feed the parakeets and the cockatoos. There are hundreds of these little birds. The children enjoy the birds little feet landing on their hands. It is amazing how soft and ticklish if feels to have their little claws wrap around your fingers.  What a fun adventure…

Elijah was even enjoying these fluttering creatures. This changed once  he decided he was going to grab the little birdies face. The bird opened its beak and pinch! After that Elijah just wanted to watch and not touch.  Poor guy.