The Skywalker Twins and their Droid

First we have Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight, conqueror of the Dark Side

Next, it’s Princess Leah – leader of the Rebel Alliance – and she leads with ATTITUDE

And last, but not least, their adorable droid – R2D2

Needless to say – we had a very FORCEFUL Halloween!!

Pretty Boy

I am not ashamed to admit it – I have a very pretty little boy.

Shocking…

simply shocking…

 

Fall just isn’t complete

without a visit to the pumpkin patch!

Sometimes

you just need a little cool whip.

Simple Pleasures

Now that’s a little boy having one good time!  It is funny how entertaining
doing something so simple as pushing your sister can be!

A Birthday Party

I am ashamed to say that these pictures are from over 3 weeks ago!  But well, it is better late than never to post them :)

Luke invited us to his birthday party and it was one of the cutest parties I have ever been to.  It was entirely themed Star Wars from start to finish.

To start the party, they had to learn to become Jedi knights.  Their first task was an obstacle course to build their skills.

Upon completing the course they earned their light sabers.

And then of course, they needed to learn how to use their light sabers!  Bubbles make fantastic targets to practice with.

Upon successfully learning to use their light sabers, they graduated and became Jedi Knights!

    

After refreshing themselves on Yoda Soda and Galactic Pizza, they were put to the test with their very first mission.  Find and destroy Darth Vadar and the Death Star!

After their utter and complete victory they celebrated with this awesome cake.

It was good times!

Cute

Layton can be so ridiculously cute sometimes.  Last night we went for short walk outside after dinner.  The kids all kept wanting to run up ahead of us, so in order to keep them from running too far, we decided to try a game of red light, green light.  On green light they ran and on red light they stopped and waited for us to catch up and on yellow light they walked really slow.  After a little bit, every time we yelled out “Green Light” Layton would yell back “Blue Light”.  Then when we said “Red Light” he would yell back “Purple Light”.  Then he would switch up with “Orange Light”, “Pink Light”, and I think he even called out “Black Light” once.  I know he is mine, I know I am prejudiced, but honestly he is just so cute!

Goodbye Mama Doris

I was looking through some pictures yesterday and found this one.   Mama Doris had sent it to me while I was on my mission.  On the back she had written:  “Somebody gave me this and I thought you might want it – its not too good – but it can remind you of me.  I love you, Mama Doris”

The funny thing is that I would never even need pictures to remind me of Mama Doris.  Crazy right – me admitting that I don’t NEED pictures.  But it is true.

I am reminded of her each time I eat grape jelly.  She knew it was my favorite and she made it for me almost every year.

I am reminded of her each time I see an electric blanket.  During high school and college, I lived with Mama Doris.  Her house was heated only by a small gas heater in the living room.  So during the coldest winter nights, she and I would sleep in same bed together under an electric blanket.  It was good times!

I am reminded of her whenever I receive a letter.  She wrote me everyday for 18 months while I was on a mission.  Each week when we got our mail, I could count on getting 7 letters from her!


I am reminded of her each time someone mentions an alligator.  Which, considering where we live, happens a lot.  She had a pet alligator that followed her around like a puppy dog and ate right from her hand.

I am reminded of her whenever I see the Reader’s Digest.  I think she may have been their most faithful subscriber.  Remember when they used to offer “condensed books”?  I am pretty sure she bought every single one.

I am reminded of her each time I change my sheets.  When I lived with her, she knew how much I loved the smell and feel of freshly laundered sheets – so she would surprise me sometimes when I came home from school with clean sheets!

I am reminded of her whenever I eat a blackberry.  Her blackberry dumplings were a favorite of both mine and my dad’s!

I am reminded of her whenever I journal about our lives.  She wrote in her journal notebook every single day.  Over her lifetime, there are literally stacks of them!

I am reminded of her whenever I eat all kinds of different foods – fried turkey breast, congo bars, chocolate ice boxed cake, roast, mashed potatoes, fried sweet potatoes, field peas, creamed corn – those are some of her signature foods that she was a master at cooking.

I am reminded of her each time I sit down in a rocking chair.  Each and everyone of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even her one great-great-grandchild, have all been rocked to sleep with her patting our backs and singing “In the Sweet, By and By”.

I am reminded of her each time Layton watches Bambi.  He loves that movie and she was the one who made sure our children had that and many other movies that they love.

I am reminded of her each time I read a book to my children.  She read so many to me as a child and she kept that tradition going with her great-grandchildren.

I am reminded of her when I read the Book of Mormon.  She read it daily up until the very end, when her eyes didn't really let her anymore.  I am pretty sure she has read it more than a 100 times.

I am reminded of her each time I play the piano.  She faithfully took me to weekly lessons for YEARS.  While I never became a master at it, because of her dedication I can at least plunk out a few church songs.

I am reminded of her  - ALWAYS.  Her life is so completely woven into my life that they would be impossible to separate.  Forgetting her would be forgetting myself.

Mama Doris passed away last night.  She has lived one amazing life.  We love her so much and will miss her terribly.  But, we know that she is with those she loves right now.  She has been waiting for over 30 years to be reunited with the love of her life.  How happy they must be right now!

For those interested, her funeral will be a simple graveside ceremony held at Gregory N. Gentry Cemetery, tomorrow October 21st, at 4:00 p.m.  All are invited to attend.

Mama Doris

This is one elect lady!  She is not doing very well right now.  We think it may be getting close to time for her to go home.   I’m pretty sure she’ll have her congo bar recipe ready should there be any question of her status in heaven :)  But honestly, if there is anyone that I know that deserves the highest degree of glory, it is her.

She is the epitome of this passage of scripture:

Her price is far above rubies,… the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her…, she…worketh willingly with her hands,… she stretcheth out her her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy, …strength and honour are her clothing; she openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; give her the fruit of her hands; and her own works praise her at the gates.

Oh how we love her and how blessed we feel to know her.  We are grateful for her example and will never be able to praise her enough.  We are ever so proud to be part of her family.