Family Fun Day

It always starts with a cake.  This year I made a chocolate layer-cake.  I frosted it all in chocolate frosting, then put a second layer of mint frosting on top of that, and then sprinkled some chocolate chips on top.

Our family only does 3 things at the school's Family Fun Day.

1. We eat pizza. 

2. We ride inflatables.

3. We do the cake walk.

(Noe's friend Jessica transferred schools a few years ago, but she's still in the neighborhood so Noé always invites her to the event.)

(Kaleb and his friend Claire aka Majella have some serious musical skills!  This was actually from their Talent Show night.)

It always ends with a cake!  With our family taking 8 of the 12 numbers we won this with one round.  Every year, except one we've won a cake.  That year we bought one from the store, ha!  So it always ends with a cake!

Peace

I was very saddened for my country on Friday when the Supreme court in a vote of 5-4 ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.  I believe the family to be the basic unit of society and I believe in the statement my church issued:

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledges that following today's ruling by the Supreme Court, same-sex marriages are now legal in the United States. The Court's decision does not alter the Lord's doctrine that marriage is a union between a man and a woman ordained by God. While showing respect for those who think differently, the Church will continue to teach and promote marriage between a man and a woman as a central part of our doctrine and practice."

The Church has outlined its doctrine and position on marriage in the document The Divine Institution of Marriage.

I also read this article, 15 Reasons 'Marriage Equality' is neither about Marriage nor Equality.  I am concerned about her last paragraph, "If you think the bullying of businesses, churches, and individuals who don’t get with the LGBT program now is bad, it promises to get much worse once codified. Is this really the sort of society you wish to live in? Where expressing an opinion from your heart on faith, family, marriage, relationships, love, or the very nature of reality—is routinely attacked as hate speech? Because that is exactly what you need to expect."  I personally have been labeled a "hater" and a "bigot" because of my belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman.  This breaks my heart as I truly see all people as children of God and try my best to love them.  I don't think loving someone means you have to agree with them about everything, but apparently if I disagree about this subject I am a "hater" or at least a "dissenter".  I really want an answer to her last question, "So perhaps the biggest question hanging in the air is this: What will the authorities decide to do to dissenters?"  Will I end up in prison someday for publicly stating my personal beliefs?

I have suffered with depression and anxiety for years and this morning I was feeling much distress and seeking peace.  I was reminded again that Heavenly Father is aware of me and cares for me.  I was inspired to put down my "Follow Me" Relief Society manual that I had been reading for my daily devotional and to pick up the May Ensign and read the next talk where I had left off before. The next talk happened to be my personal favorite from our last General Conference and exactly the words I needed to read.  I believe Heavenly Father's plan is for his children to return home to him in eternal marriages as husband and wife.  We'll Ascend Together shows the beautiful relationship that husbands and wives can have with each other and it offered me the peace I was seeking.  I am grateful for my testimony that I am a child of God.  I will do my best to follow him, love my fellow man, and stay true to my convictions.

*I just wanted to add a little something here.  I can be pretty strong in my words and I will try to be gentler.  I have much compassion towards people with same-sex attraction as I feel that would be a heavy trial to bear in this life.  I don't see it as an eternal thing though (I could be totally wrong), but as a mortal test just like if someone was born blind, deaf, autistic, etc.  I am fine with civil unions for gay people, I just feel very strongly (obviously) that marriage is a union between, one man, one woman, and God.  I also feel very strongly for children and feel that every child has the right to a mother and father.  I am an idealist and this world is anything but ideal so it's hard to make it work for everyone's differing views.  I am fearful about our future, but I'm trying to replace that fear with faith.

**I really enjoyed reading this blog post A Walk in My Shoes.  Each of us has trials and hopefully we have family, friends, a church community to support us in them.  But even if we don't, we do have the Lord Jesus Christ to turn to.  He is always there for us and loves us all!

With Fam

Noé, Ali, and I were so grateful to take this girls trip to visit some of our family.  We only wish we could have brought everyone, and could do it more often, really we just wish we lived closer! 

Poppa and Mom are always so good to us.

My beautiful sister Mandy and her sweet new boy!

Mylee, Devin, and Kris will soon have their family grow too!

(Baby girl is due to arrive in November, woo hoo!)

Aunt Debbi, Lynn, and Scott.

I also got to have a quick visit with Leslie!

I can't forget Lily & George.  My kids love these dogs and wish we could take them home with us.

This trip was way too short, but I'm still glad we got to take it!

Water play

My girls getting ready to take a dip in their new swimsuits.

They are water babies like their mommy!

Ali enjoyed a bath in the sink too.

 

One morning Noé had fun playing dress-up with Ali and taking cute picture of her.

 

Baby Bennett

Noé, Ali, and I took a quick trip home to Las Vegas to meet the newest member of our family, baby Bennett!

We all fell in love with this sweet boy!

I loved watching Ali come in for a closer look.

"I like him Auntie Mandy!"

The only picture I took of this sweet new family was of them having a tiny nap together on Mom & Poppa's big couch, but I didn't want to wake them so it turned out really dark.  This gorgeous pic was taken by Lesli Streets.

As was this one.

What a precious miracle for a beautiful family!

Another Partay

With only 9 days between them, Ali and Leonard have the closest birthdays in our family (besides Kaleb and Noé, ha!).  Since it was Leonard's 40th birthday, I convinced him to take the day off of work and take me on a date.  He thought that sounded like a good idea, so he did!  He took me to the National Gallery of Canada.

Posing outside with Maman (the giant spider).  Some people have very strong opinions about this spider.  I don't mind it so much.  I have to say that I'm impressed that the artist Louise Bourgeous was 88 when she created it!  The original was made in 1999 and it sits outside the Tate Modern in London (we saw it when we lived in England).  This is one of 6 subsequent castings.  Three more live in Spain, Japan, and South Korea.  The other two have toured other cities in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and even the Middle East!

You can also see our favorite church in Ottawa, the Notre-Dame Basilica.  Many of the old churches in Ottawa have silver spires and they are just beautiful!

There were special exhibits by:

Alex Colville

(Please take me to the Beach!)

and

Chagall: Daphnis & Chloe

(I liked many of the colors he used, but the works didn't really speak to me, maybe because I've never been a huge mythology fan.)

We enjoyed visiting the permanent exhibits best.  We spent 3 1/2 hours and were still rushed.  I've always liked Renoir's paintings, but I especially liked seeing Claude & Renée

(Probably because I'm a mama!)

Impressionist paintings have always been my favorites.  When we visited Monet's home in Giverny, it was a huge check mark on the bucket list.  One time while we visited the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas I bought a couple of prints- one was Monet's the other was Pissarro's.  The National Gallery has several works by Pissarro and I loved them all.  This is Hay Harvest at Eragny.   

Mary Pratt's works were also on exhibit.  This one Smears of Jam, Lights of Jelly just blew me away!  How did she capture the light so well?  Amazing talent!

This was my overall favorite though:  As the Old Sing, so the Young Pipe.  It's by a Flemish artist Jacob Jordaens and was painted in approximately 1640!  There is a huge story here with so much detail.  I just love it!

We also went to Moxie's to have a delicious steak and shrimp dinner.  We had to come home and include the kiddos in dessert though-

...more cherry cheesecake, yum!

We finished the evening up at the school watching Kaleb perform - Comptine d`un autre ete - l`apres-midi by Yann Tiersen in his school talent show.

It was a fabulous day!  Forty looks good on you honey!!

Four Decades

My husband turned 40, so here's a little tribute to him!

 

Leonard at 10. He was in Scouts, piano lessons, and enjoyed spending time with his family and bestie Jeff.

Leonard at 20. He was serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Marseille, France. He also had a cute girlfriend writing him letters each week.

Leonard at 30. He grew out his beard to be an extra in the Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration movie. He shaved it off before his move to Taiwan that fall.

Leonard at 40. A Canadian diplomat, wonderful father of 6, and my amazing best friend. Happy birthday Honey, I love you so much!!

Reward #2

We (almost) read our scriptures everyday in May!  I put the almost in there, because life is busy and there were a few days that we missed.  However, the next day we would read two portions to make up for it.  Ice cream cones, Milkshakes, and McFlurries are fun, but more importantly I hope our children will learn the scriptures and gain a testimony of them as the word of God.

Opportunity

I love the annual dance recital, but it is a busy time!  These first pictures are from group photo night.

 

Noé hams it up in front of the camera,

 

like she has big attitude,

 

but really she is just a big sweetheart!

 

This is from dress rehearsal day 1.

 

This is from dress rehearsal day 2.

My class surprised the studio owner with our rendition of this dance.  We interrupted her tap line of "Le Jazz Hot" and called our dance "Le Jazz Not".  She was so impressed she put us in the show!

  

Opening night!

There are always 3 performances each year, but this year there was a slight change so each dance was only performed in 2 of the 3 shows.  It worked out great!  Each show was only 2 1/2 hours long instead of 4 hours.  Only Noé danced in the first show, so I watched the entire show from the audience.  Neither of us danced in the matinee, so we both watched.  Closing night we both danced, so Leonard watched us both.  It couldn't have worked better for our family!

 

After it was all over Noé thought she'd be so funny giving me a kiss with her ruby red lipstick.  Well, 2 can play at that game!  I love this girl and love watching her dance.  She's just a "rec" student at a studio that has "competitive" teams, but I'm so proud of her for always trying her best and improving her dance.  I'm grateful for this opportunity I had to dance on stage again.  I made a goal to do that before I turned 40, and I'm glad it was fulfilled.  I think I'm going to register again for next year's classes.  Local friends- join me, no prior dance experience needed!

 

The song Noé's class danced to was really pretty.  If you haven't seen the new Annie movie, have a listen- Opportunity.