The Lamoreaux Family

Sunday, February 6, 2011

The Beehive Spa

Courtney and I planned a Beehive activity at our home. We had a spa night with a cooking class, yoga/stretching routine, foot scrub, foot baths, pedicures, and healthy snacks. We gave them a handout with quotes about being healthy. It was a fun evening!

Sadie and Ryan

Riley and McKenna

Riley, McKenna, and Cammy

Taycie Grace

I love this little girl dearly. It is amazing how such a little person can add so much to your life. Taycie is the sweetest and best baby anyone could ask for. I love her big blue eyes, I love how she smiles at me when she wakes up, I love how she pops her thumb in her mouth and cuddles up to me. I love how she just studies everyone and everything.

We are realizing that she has a very determined little personality. She wants to see everything that is going on. Sometimes when she is nursing, you can tell that she wants to know what is going on behind her, and when she can't stand it any longer, she'll stop nursing just to turn around and watch her siblings.

She scootches all over the place now, not a real crawl, but kind of a fast army crawl with lots of flops. Aliysa kindly vacuums the family room at least 3 times a day so that Taycie won't choke on anything. In December, Abby fed Taycie an almond. She actually swallowed it when we weren't watching. Abby told us matter-of-factly: "she was choking on it, and then she swallowed it!" I'm glad she must have guardian angels watching over her. It scares me to think of all the dangers for a baby. Just last week she crawled over to the fireplace, and burned her head. I felt so bad! We're trying to figure out some sort of a barricade to put around the fireplace now.

This week Taycie got her first tooth. She has been quite good about it, not fussy at all.

Little Taycie, thank you so much for coming to our family. I wish I could explain how much I love you and how much you have added to our family already, but it is impossible to put into words. I adore you, little girl.

Merry Christmas, 2010

Christmas eve was kind of a hectic day for us this year. I was feeling kind of down about it as I realized how busy we had been, how little time we had spent on making family memories and traditions, and how I had wanted to focus more on the real meaning of Christmas. I had only read a few of the many Christmas stories that I wanted to read aloud.

The whole month the kids had kept saying that we didn't decorate enough for Christmas, but I just had been busy, busy.

We had a wonderful trip to Utah before Christmas, but we had gotten home the day before Christmas eve, and I realized that I hadn't taken the turkey out of the freezer in time to defrost it for Christmas dinner.

Anyway, Bob had some last minute things to do on Christmas eve, and he decided to take ALL the kids. The house was so quiet when he left! I was suddenly struck with lots of ideas, and I rushed around, cleaning, cooking, and putting up lots of decorations. We hadn't found our nativity scene earlier, but I hunted in the attic and found it. I put up more Christmas lights, scented candles, and put on Christmas music. Not long after Bob left, our sweet neighbor stopped by with a Glenwood smoked turkey, our very favorite thing for Christmas dinner! So, I popped the turkey in the oven, and made lots of yummy snacks too. Bob was gone for just long enough for everything to be perfect. When the kids walked into the decorated family room, they were all so excited. So, they changed into pjs, and we read the Christmas story, put nativity ornaments on our tree, and each of the children got to open a Christmas gift from one of their siblings. It turned out to be a wonderful Christmas eve! I felt very blessed.

This is Christmas morning. Abby was supposed to lead all the kids downstairs to open presents, but she was not in any mood to cooperate.

Everyone else was excited!

Taycie's first Christmas. Sorry for the bad lighting. It was a new camera, and I forgot about the flash.

Now that she has candy, she's decided that Christmas morning is okay

Abby gave Jace a ninja hamster for Christmas. She was SO excited to give it to him.

Bob gives the presents out one by one. Each year he wears his Christmas shirt. He used to wear it other times, but I complained so loudly, that he's decided to save it for Christmas morning. He loves it. It is really soft, and so very, very red.

Bob keeps Christmas morning quite organized. Every piece of wrapping paper is disposed of before another present can be opened.

The kids gave me lots of fuzzy socks and slippers. I love having warm feet!

Dad and Abby reading Abby's new Christmas book

Andrew and Zach got BYU baseball caps.

Jace got a remote control helicopter. It was really neat, unfortunately it only worked for one day. Then I had to work for a month and a half to get a refund. But I finally got it!

Abby got a tutu, and a purse with jewelry and chapstick in it. When she opened the purse she yelled "makeup!" I think she used it up within a week or so.

Jace got a monopoly game which everyone had fun playing. They were all beaten soundly by Bob. He was the Monopoly King until I decided to play and beat everyone (this is the first time I've ever beaten Bob). I'll never play again. I don't want to chance being de-throned.

Jace reading Christmas books. He's going to be such a good Dad someday.

I love Christmas day with all my children. Christmas was fun as a kid, but it so much more fun as a Mom. I love thinking of what Christmas presents will make their eyes light up. It's true that giving is a lot more fun than receiving. And, I love having a day where we just can be together as a family.

Playdough

Everyone enjoyed Grandma's playdough & accessories. Aunt Christie, one of our very favorite people, came and joined in the fun. Oh, how my kids love Christie. She has been such a sweet and positive influence in the lives of my siblings and myself, and now she is doing the same for all of our children. She is an amazing lady.

Temple Square

We were able to go to temple square before Christmas. Oh how I love that place. Bob and I spent a lot of time there when we were dating, because I lived right up the road from there. We were married in the Salt Lake temple. When I am there, I love to look at the temple and just soak in the feeling there.

We went with Nan & Hector's family, Christian & Tara's family, and Grandma & Grandpa H.

Tyler, Zach, & Andrew.

Grandma took it upon herself to follow Andrew and not let him out of her sight. It was a big job. Andrew loved this tree with orange lights. Orange is his favorite color!

Lissy lou

Brandon & Jace

Lamoreaux cousins standing by the bell from the pioneer era. It was stolen by mobs and hung in another church. Our ancestors, the Lamoreaux brothers, went and got the stolen bell back. They had to hide it in a swamp, and then tote it across the plains. It used to have a plaque telling the story of it, but now it has been re-named the Relief Society commemorative bell.

We listened to the end of a choir concert

Spud & Matt

There was a bagpiper there. He had a Scottish accent, but we've heard that he's really from Idaho.

Us and our littlest girls

Taycie was as happy as can be when she could look at all the lights

Katelyn

Zach. He was getting a bit tired.

Courtney, Katelyn, and Mallory

Gingerbread houses


While we were at Grandma's house, Tara brought all the supplies for gingerbread houses. All the kids had lots of fun working on them. And more fun eating them! This is a picture of Jace's gingerbread football stadium

Andrew's house


Mallory's house

Aliysa's

Spencer & Zach working hard on theirs

Abby sampling the construction materials

Fill the spiritual needs

“some parents become so expert at filling every physical desire for their children that they begin to suppose that all is well in this life and that their eternal stewardship is progressing right on schedule. … I believe that we must pause and take a careful inventory to determine how well our families are doing spiritually. We could ask how well are we feeding, nurturing, training, and exercising the spirits of our children; or how well have we taught, trained, loved, and inspired our children to build their spiritual muscles and strength? … Remember, eternity is now, not a vague, distant future. We prepare each day, right now, for eternal life. If we are not preparing for eternal life, we are preparing for something else, perhaps something far less.”

–M. Russell Ballard

Pray with your little ones

"Behold your little ones. Pray with them. Pray for them and bless them. The world into which they are moving is a complex and difficult world. They will run into heavy seas of adversity. They will need all the strength and all the faith you can give them while they are yet near you. And they also will need a greater strength which comes of a higher power. They must do more than go along with what they find.

They must lift the world, and the only levers they will have are the example of their own lives and the powers of persuasion that will come of their testimonies and their knowledge of the things of God. They will need the help of the Lord. While they are young, pray with them that they may come to know that source of strength which shall then always be available in every hour of need."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Be Wise In Our Diet

“…let us consider our relationship with ourselves. We must each take proper care to see that the little things regarding our personal life are in order. We must learn to care for our health and our mental well-being. Do we maintain proper exercise to give us the energy and alertness of mind necessary to keep our spirit strong & our attitude positive? Are we wise in our diet? Do we avoid the unnourishing snack that might keep our stomach full but our health quite empty?

–Joseph B. Wirthlin, Finding Peace in Our Lives, p. 59

Turn it off, walk out...

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

“Tragically, the same computer and Internet service that allows me to do my family history and prepare those names for temple work could, without filters and controls, allow my children or grandchildren access to a global cesspool of perceptions that could blast a crater in their brains forever. . .

“Along with filters on computers and a lock on affections, remember that the only real control in life is self-control. Exercise more control over even the marginal moments that confront you. If a TV show is indecent, turn it off. If a movie is crude, walk out. If an improper relationship is developing, sever it. Many of these influences, at least initially, may not technically be evil, but they can blunt our judgment, dull our spirituality, and lead to something that could be evil. An old proverb says that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, so watch your step.” (Place No More For the Enemy of My Soul, April 2010)

Only a teacher

"If any parent needs added inspiration to commence his God-given teaching task, let him remember that the most powerful combination of emotions in the world is not called out by any grand cosmic events nor found in novels or history books—but merely by a parent gazing down upon a sleeping child. That glorious biblical passage, 'created in the image of God,' will acquire new and vibrant meaning as a parent repeats this experience. Home will become a haven called heaven, and loving parents will teach their children 'to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.' (D&C 68:28.)"
--Thomas S. Monson

Quote

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. …”
--C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Raise up patriots

The importance of teaching & training

"In 1904, President Joseph F. Smith said to parents: “Do not let your children out to specialists … , but teach them by your own precept and example, by your own fireside. Be a specialist yourself in the truth.

… Not one child in a hundred would go astray, if the home environment, example and training, were in harmony with the truth in the gospel of Christ, as revealed and taught to the Latter-day Saints.”

The ideal way to transform your home into a house of learning is to hold family home evening faithfully. The Church has reserved Monday evening for that purpose. In 1915, the First Presidency instructed local leaders and parents to inaugurate a home evening, a time when parents should teach their families the principles of the gospel.

The Presidency wrote: “If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influence and temptations which beset them.”

President David O. McKay gave the same promise in 1965 and added that the youth will gain power “to choose righteousness and peace, and be assured an eternal place in the family circle of our Father.”

In 1976, the Presidency reaffirmed that “regular participation in family home evening will develop increased personal worth, family unity, love for our fellowmen, and trust in our Father in heaven.

Considering these glorious promises, we would expect every faithful member to be exceedingly diligent in following this prophetic counsel. But, of course, we are all human, and our best plans don’t always materialize. Why not? Let it not be for lack of commitment."

--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, Spiritually Strong Homes and Families

Our Health Duty

“I am grateful to understand that my physical body is an eternal component of my eternal soul, and that I have a duty to honor and respect and care for it, and to refrain from knowingly imposing upon it any treatment or substances deleterious to it. While I could not choose nor govern the condition of the body into which I came, I have the responsibility to give it the best care I can, and if I do not I am acting in derogation of a great gift of God.”
--Marion D. Hanks, “For Man is Spirit”

Come to the Temple

"The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Just as this is the dispensation of the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. There is no safety in the world: wealth cannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership in this church alone cannot bring it. We must come to the temple for light and safety. There are hosts of unseen sentinels watching over and guarding our temples. There will come a period of time when even the elect will lose hope if they do not come to the temples. They will long to bring their children here for safety's sake. The covenants and ordinances will fill us with faith as a living fire. In a day of desolating sickness, scorched earth, barren wastes, sickening plagues, disease, destruction, and death: we as a people will rest in the shade of trees, we will drink from the cooling fountain. We will abide in places of refuge from the storm, we will mount up as on eagle's wings."
--Vaughn J. Featherstone