Pretty Girl

31 Dec. 2013 - The day after Christmas we attended the Snowflake session.  Dad, Mom & Lauren did a session while Emma & I went to the baptistry.  A relative (Eddie Flake) was there with his grandchildren & was the one who baptized Emma.  Afterward, while we were sitting outside & waiting for the session to end, he approached us & told us that while performing the baptism he got the distinct impression that he needed to be gentle with her. "This is a special angel...be very gentle."
What a great baby sister we have...and a beautiful one too!

A Very Merry Christmas

31 Dec 2013 -  Christmas in Snowflake was wonderful & sunny! 

Lauren's present from Emma! 

Chester was pretty excited about opening stockings!

An Interesting Idea...

'Three-gift Christmas' parents try to bring some reason to the season

 

Stacy and Barry Myers hold their children, 1-year-old Andy and 4-year-old Annie. The couple began their three-gift Christmas tradition when Annie was born.

If that mountain of presents in the living room is blocking your view of the Christmas tree, straining your budget and troubling your soul, there is another way.
Inspired by the notion that Jesus received three gifts from the Wise Men on December 25 -- gold, frankincense and myrrh – many parents are saying they, too, want a three-gift Christmas for their children.

Some do it for religious reasons. Others try it to save money, ease the stress of the holidays or get away from the commercialism that permeates December.
Stacy Myers, a mom of two who lives in Marion, Va., said all of those factors played a role when she and her husband adopted the rule after their first child was born.
“We decided we wanted to simplify Christmas here at our house by using the three-gift rule so that we could focus on the real reason for the season, which is the birth of Jesus, instead of ‘Gimme, gimme, gimme’ and ‘What can I put on my list?’” Myers said.
“It just comes down to trying to change your mindset how you view this time of year -- kind of switch it to family and your faith instead of stuff, because stuff just piles up in your house.”
Myers, who describes herself as a “debt-free frugal housewife” and shares budgeting tips on her blog, Stacy Makes Cents, said the three-gift rule is also a great way to save money during the holidays. She gasped at the results of a recent Gallup poll that found the average American expects to spend $786 on Christmas gifts this year.
“Oh my goodness, no,” she said, noting the family makes a lot of home-made presents. “That’s shocking.”
Glennon Doyle Melton adopted the three-gift rule when she realized she was spending so much time scrambling to buy presents and decorations that she didn’t get many moments to just enjoy the Christmas season. So the mom of three, who lives just outside Washington, D.C., sat down with her children a few years ago to let them know things needed to change.
“My kids weren’t even asking for things that they wanted. It was just whatever the commercial was that told them that they should want that thing,” said Melton, who recently advised readers of her popular blog, Momastery.com, to teach kids that Christmas is a time to be grateful for what they already have.
“All those gifts just end up in the donation pile or in the trash anyway. That gift rush in the morning is like a sugar rush. It’s awesome for five minutes and then it’s over.”

 Melton now asks her kids to come up with a list that includes something they want, something they need and something to read. There’s also a bonus in her version of the three-gift Christmas: she asks each child to come up with a present idea for someone in need.

Like Melton, many families customize their approach to the rule.
Myers models her list after the Wise Men and gives her children a “gold” present, or something a child would want and treasure, like a favorite toy; a “frankincense” present, or a gift that will be used in worship or spiritual life, like a Bible; and a “myrrh” present, which is something for the body, like clothing or shoes.
“When I see other people and then I see how we do things here, I can tell it seems as though our Christmas is not as stressful,” Myers said.
“When I think back to when I was a child, I don’t remember what I got for Christmas. But I remember the things that we used to do together, when we would go out and look at Christmas lights or when I would make cookies with my mom.”
Whether you plan to limit presents or not, have a family meeting about what your kids actually want so their wish list is thoughtful and generated by their own wants, instead of ads on the TV, Melton advised.
“You need to do what makes your Christmas happy and peaceful,” she said.

Fun Times!

It was so good to see everyone over Thanksgiving.  Thanks especially to Joe & Lori for putting us up on Wednesday night & to Emma & Lauren for re-arranging their sleeping places so we had a bed.  You guys are the best! 

Growing gratitude

This activity was inspired by Jenn's thankful list but because nothing here is growing (lucky Jenn, grateful for her fresh cucumbers. Grumble, grumble) we had to paint a tree. 

Then we put leaves on it. On each leaf we put things we were thankful for. Some contributions included: singing class, feet, washing machines, Thanksgiving, families, our house, a job we love.....it's a work in progress and we keep adding as the gratitude grabs us.

  Mostly we're thankful for all of you guys. Can't wait to see you all!

Boys at Grandma's

While parents were tripping in Thailand, the Hart boys were having a great time in Hyde Park.  Below is the evidence.

Emma

So we are going to add some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Your baby sister earned her Young Womanhood Recognition and received her medallion this last week.  Isn't she just beautiful!

Happy Birthday

20 November 2013 - Happy birthday to Joseph & Hyrum.  Take this day to cuddle a little bit extra with your precious children & remember how grateful you are to have them with you.  Be grateful for the wonderful plan of salvation that links us together as families for eternity. 

Thankful?

18 Nov. 2013 - I am grateful for:

#1 - the new "Scott Flake - Accountant" pop up on my work contacts
#2 - fresh cucumbers from the greenhouse garden
#3 - beautiful sunrises
#4 - a piano
#5 - comfortable shoes that keep my toes warm

What are you grateful for?

Hart Halloween 2013

Jack was the best Alien in the universe and Ian was by far the real Tin Tin and Peter was a giraffe. He loved his tail.  Peter also showed us all a thing or two on how to trick or treat, (without reservation). Jack outlasted everyone. We collected lots of candy and then promptly sold it to the dentist. (After the daddy candy tax was enforced of course)

A Taste of Thailand

 One leg of our 30 hour plane ride! Peter was a superstar!

 Breakfast anyone?

 Local morgue!

 Our new favorite game!

 The boat ride out to the Islands.

 Ocean Kayaking....Awesome!!!

 Paradise!

 The bamboo walkway to our hotel room on the beach.

 Big Buddah! And they mean BIG.

 Peter's all-time favorite way to golf.  Soccer Golf.

 And the winner is....Yeah!!!!!

 Spirit houses. Elise loves these.

 Our last night there. The view from our restaurant.

The Thai version of Lagoona beach....

 The hike to the Lagoon.

 Not a bad place to be stranded for 3 hours.

 I would eat these every day. Mango shakes.

 Someone forgot to tell us October was their rainy season.

 This is us on an elephant.

 They dance for money!

 Oh boy....not fun!

 Here kitty kitty kitty.

Don't feed the animal,

 Don't leave home without one,

 Rice fields in the mountains.

The district president and his wife, also the worlds best tour guides.  Peter's favorite "Tiger"

Jumping For Joy!

Most of you probably already heard but Scott was offered a job with Navajo County's finance department.  He will be starting on November 18 and will be...accounting I guess!  We'll know more when he starts.  We are both really excited and will let everyone know what our Thanksgiving plans are as soon as we can solidify them.

Halloween Greetings

We carved pumpkins with a family in the ward last night and it was a blast! My pumpkin was supposed to be with the help of the 3 year old, Packer but he was a better supervisor than helper.  Very encouraging though, "That looks good!"  Hope you are all having a great Halloween week.  Can't wait to see pictures of the kids' costumes! 

It was great to see everyone (almost everyone) at the General Conference gathering.  Nice to see Jenn and Scott (and the furry thing hanging off his lip) via a Google hangout. Mom's food was awesome (per usual), the orchard didn't disappoint, and the company couldn't be beat.  Can I just say what a delight it is to watch the cousins play together.  I'm so impressed with how well they get along.  They're all so above average!

Now we're counting down the days until Thanksgiving.  I just can't get enough of you fine peeps!
Be on the lookout for Thailand pics!  Coming soon.....

 

I just think this is the cutest picture of Mr. Grant!  What a handsome guy!

 

A family gathering memory!

 

This is the field behind our house.  I was so glad Scott was able to capture this beautiful scene that happens quite often the morning after a rainy night or heavy dew