Heat Wave!

Our great friends, the Sims came to visit over the three-day weekend, and thankfully we were having some what of a heat wave!  We had so much fun enjoying good weather, food, conversation and company.  The kids were SO GLAD to see their friends again.  We had so much fun I hardly took any pictures.  Oh well!

Children

The events of last Friday in Newtown, Connecticut have affected me, just as I'm sure they have most of you:

shock, disbelief, anger, fear, anguish.  It is unfathomable that something like this could happen, let alone did.  I have a 5 and an 8 year old.  They go go a school with a layout very, very similar to the online photos of Sandy Hook.  My kindergartner is in that room right across the hall from the office. 

It is, as I said, beyond my comprehension that such an evil could happen in such a "safe" place in such a "safe" community.  But, I guess that's just it.  Our schools, our busses, our airports, our malls, our movie theaters, and on and on AREN'T as safe as we'd like them to be.  I'm not here to discuss gun control or legislation.  I'm not here to voice my opinion on "gun free zones," although I am slowly formulating what my idea of a solution might include.  I'm just here to say this:

Mental illness is real.  And it's hard.  It doesn't happen only to "bad" people.  It just happens to people.  Children, adults, religious and non.  In this human experience, you don't get to pick your own trials, or the trials of your own children.  I read an article shortly after the shooting, for which I will post the link below.  It is brave, insightful, and right on target.  If anything is sure to make a difference, to stop, or stem the flow of these horrific tragedies, surely it is accessible, affordable mental health that doesn't come with a scarlet letter.  

http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/12/thinking-unthinkable.html

I apologize to any of you who read my other blog, as I am posting this in both places.

It Has Begun!

Finally!!!

Snow Canyon

Enjoying our pass to snow canyon!

A New Corner of the Blogsphere

Hello all!  Just popping in to let you know that we have a new blog.  It is honestly not something that most of you will need (or even maybe want) to read.  BUT, you may know someone who does.  We are going to be blogging about our culinary and family experiences with food allergies and all the related baggage that goes along with them.  We are finally in a good place to deal with Hadden's allergies-we hope!- and are starting some life changes.  Just a side note, it will be a public blog and I WON'T be using my kids names, so those of you who know us, please try not to drop their names in any of the comments if you happen to comment.  Thanks!

I'll be hilighting what we are doing and why as well as posting recipes, ideas, cookbook reviews and more.  I had so much spare time, I thought I needed another project.  Ha, ha, ha, ha.....

www.weeatbeansandrice.blogspot.com

The ONLY fish tank I want to own...

Remember that fish?  The one we got as a party favor?  The kids were so distressed that we had to get ANOTHER fish and aquarium and food and chlorine drops etc. etc.  Now I have a nasty fish tank--seriously  it's like in Finding Nemo, when the filter doesn't work.  But, THIS:



might just change all that!  I'm seriously rooting for these to hit the market in hopes that if I have to have a fish in my house, at least it can grow me something to eat!

Hadden's Baptism

 Hadden was SOOOO excited to be baptized.  He only ate about 2 bites of breakfast, which is VERY unusual for this kid.

Not sure what Calla was doing with that smile...

 

Grandma and Pabo

It was our first REALLY cold day in St. George with actual cloud cover! 

Hadden thought it was so cool that he was a member of the church now.  He got to go up front in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday and be recognized by the bishop, which he was also very excited about.

Ready to go!

Some of Hadden's friends from Logan drove all the way down to see him be baptized.  They sang, "Baptism" as the special musical number.  Here they are practicing beforehand.

Standing outside the font.

Sister Dianne Nielson.  She is THE BEST primary teacher EVER!  She drove all the way from Logan to see Hadden be baptized.  His new primary teacher wasn't even there!!!  She is so thoughtful and always goes above and beyond the call of duty.

 Grandma, Grandpa, Tyler and Nick

Here is everyone who came to support Hadden.  We have such awesome friends and family.  Thanks to all!