Seth's Birthday

Seth turned 7 on Sunday! For his party, he invited two friends (Julian Romano and Alex Neil) over for cake and to see Ice Age 3 (in 3D) in the theater. They boys chanted "Ice age 3 in 3D, Ice Age 3 in 3D" as we were going into the theater. They ate popcorn, wore their big 3D glasses and loved the movie. It was full of dinosaurs, lava, and plenty of good boy material.


We got the Wii for Seth's birthday!


We have been playing it way too much ever since!

Swimming

We have been swimming so much this summer! I love being outside with the kids, the easy entertainment, and wearing them out day after day. I'm not going to edit much here - I want ALL these pictures in my blog record!


Jonah, Seth, and Violet


Kyle and violet


Violet is sweet on the chair.


Digging a hole to bury Jonah.


Jonah gets in.


Jonah is buried.


Violet loves the sandy bottom.



Jonah can swim!


Jonah plays in the sand.


Me and Violet.


Violet and Jonah




Violet gets lots of Daddy time.


Violet on Dad's back again.


Mr. Seth is a good swimmer!

Pizza and Repentance

We went to small pizza parlor one night for dinner and somehow started talking about baptism while we ate. I asked Seth and Jonah why we are baptized. They focused on having our sins washed away. I think it is fascinating, even for a young child, to think about sins being washed away. Children know they make mistakes and make wrong choices sometimes. Then the boys asked if we can be baptized again. Meaning later when they've chalked up a few more sins. I told them they don't need to because they can repent. I reassured them that everyone makes mistakes. We just try our best and repent.

Jonah asked, "How?" I started to talk about praying to Heavenly Father and saying sorry, etc. He stopped me and said again, "How?" So then I talked about the Atonement and how Jesus Christ suffered for our sins and He can take our sins away so we are clean again. Jonah said, "But Mom, HOW does it WORK? How does it Wooooork?" I had to stop and think. What is this kid asking? Kyle just looked at me and said, "you're doing great." I think what Jonah wanted to know was, how does the atonement literally transfer over into my body and soul and clean my sin away? I don't have an answer to his question other than to agree that, yes, repentance and the atonement are REAL. There is literally something that happens just like at baptism. I think baptism is such a visual thing and so Jonah could understand how that could wash away sin. He figures there must be something similar - real and physical every time we repent. And I think there is!

Seth in 1st Grade

Seth is almost a second grader. He has year round school this year so we're still pushing forward until August. His teacher, Mrs. Asay, is retiring this year. I am putting together a special book for her with messages from other teachers, principals, parents, students, and family. It has been amazing to read the messages. She has had an impact on many lives.



Today was cowboy day in Seth's class. He shared a picture of his Great Grandpa Lewis who is a real cowboy in Cowley Wyoming. When we arrived to school before the gates opened (a first, I'm sure) Seth wanted to practice showing his picture. He talked about how Grandpa Lewis rides horses, has sheep, and how Seth found a sheep bone on the farm. Also, yesterday when I gave Seth the picture and explained to him what a great grandpa is (Grandpa Lewis' Dad) Seth asked, "Is he my Step-Dad?" Kyle and I are both fortunate enough to have parents who are still married, so I guess Seth heard about the step-dad thing at school.