Memorial Day

This is probably the first time since Adam and I have known each other,we stayed home. We have always tried to visit everyone during the 'long' weekend. When you go to visit so many people in such a short time, it starts to wear down on you. Now that we have a little one, we opted to stay home and enjoy the time as a family (especially now since Adam is working 2 jobs for the time being). We had the opportunity to go to the lake and spend the weekend there, but we had some responsibilities here with our church which also required us to stay close to home. (One of the things I love so much about our church is that we are taught the principle of Service, one of those ways we are allowed to serve is by cleaning the church building twice a year.) Since cleaning the church only takes an hour or so, we didn't think much of it. However, we had several other things we needed to do that were church related. Before we went to the Temple, we took some Temple Prep classes. There was a follow-up class that we needed to do after going through the Temple. It was very interesting. (Temple work is also another way to provide service.) Adam had also requested to receive his Patriarchal Blessing. (Patriarchal blessings are given to worthy members of the Church by ordained patriarchs. Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person's lineage in the house of Israel and contain personal counsel from the Lord. As a person studies his or her patriarchal blessing and follows the counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection.) It was very exciting to hear his blessing. It's exciting to know that we are promised wonderful things from the Lord as long as we do what is asked of us. Since we are not perfect, it makes the Atonement that much more meaningful. (I could go on and on about the Atonement.) After hearing Adam's blessing, I am excited to go through this life and the next with him. I know it will be bumpy as all lives are, but it will DEFINITELY be worth it.

Since we were home, we also decided to join our ward in the Memorial Day Picnic. (our church is divided up in branches and wards. Branches are the equivalent of wards, just smaller and the president of branches does not have all the authority a bishop does over a ward. A bishop is the president over a ward. The groups are decided by physical boundaries. A branch has fewer members who attend church on a regular basis. Once the branch reaches a certain number on a regular basis, it is then called a ward and the president is then ordained a bishop and given the authority of other bishops. Several branches and wards belong to a Stake. A stake also has a presidency and presides over all the wards and branches.) Anyhow, it was very fun to spend time with our Church Family and enjoy in the festivities the ward had planned. It was a great social event and I was very surprised to see how many people showed up on a day predicted to be stormy. The rain did come, but we were able to get the games in before it came.

Good people + good food + good conversations = a fun day!

Backyard Shenanigans

Adam was able to spend some time at home with us before he went into the office this afternoon. Since the weather is so beautiful, we decided to fill Haydn's wading pool. We set it up on the deck so we didn't have to move too much stuff around and wouldn't kill the grass. Anyhow, we're hanging out and Haydn's having a ton of fun. Our next door neighbors had a run of the mill teenage daughter and mother spat. Haydn stood up in his pool facing their yard and started yelling...JUST LIKE THEM! It was too funny. We both started laughing. I wonder what it was he was telling them.

A few weeks ago we gave Haydn a plastic golf club set. He's really enjoyed them. The only problem with them is that the heads of the clubs have fallen off. Haydn developed a new game with them. He takes his bag of giant legos and stabs them with the stick portion of the club and flings them down the steps. He's really enjoyed this game as all the legos are on the steps.

Sleeping

We've been having a tough time with Haydn going to bed. He would like to quit taking naps, and I'm not quite ready for that. Since he wants to stop taking naps, he needs to go to bed earlier. Well, that's the tough part, especially with the sun going down later and later. He's also waking up in the night. I'm not sure if he's uncomfortable in his room or what? So, this morning I get up around 6:30 and I see that Haydn is already up...at least out of his bed. He was/is sleeping in the hall on the floor. I felt bad for him, so I went and got a blanket and covered him up. It's about 2 hours later and he's still asleep on the floor. Maybe he's going through a growth spurt, but I do like that he wants to sleep!

Kisses

This will be short, but a very funny moment for me today. I asked Haydn if he would give me a kiss. He usually does, but his kisses consist of him opening his mouth like he is singing "ah". He then leans in and gives me a kiss, being sure he touches my lips. It's very sweet. Anyhow, today he gave me a kiss and then I kissed him again on his cheek. He looked at me as if I stole the last cookie from the cookie jar, pinched his finger and thumb together and touched my lips. I was a little confused and then he put his pinched fingers back to his lips and did a backwards kiss. He took his kiss back! Too funny. I love that boy. I'm so amazed at his personality and skills he has already developed.

Summer Time

I'm afraid I will be getting nothing accomplished this summer. Yesterday, I took Haydn outside to play and get some fresh air. He didn't really want to play much so I took him back inside after only about 20 minutes. Mind you, he can play with something for over an hour and not get bored. When Adam came home from work, he decided to mow the lawn...it definitely needed it. Anyhow, Haydn was fascinated with what he was doing and wanted to be out there with him. So, I stood on the deck holding Haydn and watching Adam mow. Anytime I needed to go back inside Haydn would scream. Not just scream, but "bloody murder" scream. (FYI - Lasley family...that's a horrible description, but I digress) We also grilled some burgers last night for dinner, and again Haydn was angry when we would make him come inside. He really is a funny kid! But...I think I'll be spending my days outdoors this summer to enjoy the summer in the eyes of a toddler! Maybe I'll get a tan too!

And Then They were Gone

It's been awhile since I posted anything, but for a very good reason...or few. A week ago I had the privilege of having all my siblings and their spouses and children (minus one sibling and her family), my brother's girlfriend, and my parents at my home. It was so nice for us all to get together. Today the last ones left. It was bittersweet. It's nice to be able to get everything and everyone back into a routine, but it's so sad to see my family gone. I'll miss you guys until next time!

While everyone was here, we were able to enjoy a few things together as a family. The most important was that we had the privilege of going to the Temple together. It was most exciting, because it was the first time for Adam and myself to go. We believe the power of Sealing has been restored on earth, and so Adam and I were sealed together and then Haydn was sealed to the both of us (Matthew 16: 18 - 19 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Marriage is usually stated as "until Death do us Part", thus being "loose on earth" and "loosed in heaven". Being Sealed to each other allows us to be married after death or "[bound] in heaven".) It was a very exciting and spiritual time for all involved.

We also had the opportunity to go and visit one of the houses we lived in when we were young. The owner of the house allowed us to walk through and let us reminisce about our past in the home. The house was very different from what we remember (besides the fact that they are remodeling it and attempting to make it look more like it did originally). However, it was very neat to walk though and have an adult perspective of the house.

Another event we were able to do was to go to Nauvoo, IL. For those who don't know, Nauvoo was a very large city in late 1830s to early 1840s. There is quite a bit of LDS church history there and sites to see. We learned a few new things about the city and were able to take the horse and wagon ride through the city. It's about a 50 minute ride in a Constenoga wagon, pulled by two horses. Riding in the wagon gives you an idea of what it was like to travel by wagon. Of course we rode on paved streets and not dirt roads. The ride allowed us to go through Old Nauvoo and hear some information about the houses and shops/businesses that have been restored or reconstructed and about the people who lived in the houses or ran the businesses. This was very inspirational to me as we rode down Parley Street. Parley Street is the road that the early Saints had to take to get to the ferry dock to leave Nauvoo in 1846 and later to leave their beloved city. There is a walking trail parallel to Parley street (Trail of Hope) with plackards that have excerpts from a few citizens of Nauvoo about leaving. I was touched when thinking about how the early Saints must have felt sitting in or standing by their wagons waiting for the ferry to take them across the river. There had to be feelings of excitement and sadness. I was literally sitting in a wagon in the same place they had been sitting 163 years ago. I do think it's a great place to visit and think all should take the opportunity to visit whether you are a member of the LDS church or not. Nauvoo is special to me because of the history of my "church family" but it is also everyone's' American History.

Sorry for the lengthy post, but I thought I'd try to catch everyone up on where I've been and what I've been up to.

Rise and Shine

I am SO excited that my sister will be getting here really late tonight/really early tomorrow. I'm so excited, I had a hard time sleeping. I woke up before Adam did! Let me explain a little as to why I am so excited. It's not just because she's coming...She has a new baby! I have not had the opportunity to meet this niece yet, and can hardly wait to meet her. Another reason is that the last time I saw her and her family was when Haydn was just a few weeks old and Haydn cried all the time. (I promise Liz and Eric, he doesn't cry like that anymore!) Another is that Adam and I have done a few things to our house and I get to share them with her. The weather is warming up, so this time we can take our children outdoors and play. The most important reason for my excitement is...We all get to go to the Temple together! To say I'm excited about going to the Temple is a major understatement. I am thrilled to be able to go with my sister and two of my older brothers along with their spouses and my parents! We will greatly miss my oldest sister and her family, but we will definitely be thinking of them. What a perfect time of year to be going to the Temple...Easter Season!