Merry Christmas 2010

May your Christmas season be filled with joy and laughter.

With love,

Jared, Kristi, Anwyn, Lily, and Zach

(click on the image to view full size)

Provo Tabernacle On Fire

Those of you who have been to Provo or lived in Provo know the Provo Tabernacle. It caught fire this morning and looks like it will be a complete loss. This is very sad. We've been to a number of meetings and concerts there over the years.

Provo Tabernacle on fire - ksl.com

Mindy Gledhill's Music

We really enjoy Mindy Gledhill's music. She's a Provo, UT based musician. Our daughters absolutely love some of her songs.

Here's one of her new songs:



Mindy Gledhill is doing a giveaway on her blog: http://mindygledhill.blogspot.com/2010/12/on-2nd-day-of-christmas-butterfly-wings.html

A little of what I do

White matter fibers passing through the brainstem. Most of these are motor (traveling to the spinal cord) and sensory fibers (traveling from the spinal cord). Colors indicate primary direction that the fibers are traveling: red = left/right; green = front/back; blue = up/down.

White matter fibers of the corpus callosum, which connects the two brain hemispheres together. Colors represent directionality: red = left/right; green = front/back; blue = up/down.

Photo Shoot Outtakes and Other Images

Make sure you view our good photo shoot post.

Family Photo Shoot 2010

Take 1

Lily looking a little smug

Under the shade of a palm tree

Flower in her hair

There's the smile!

Blue eyes

I'm 3!

Hugging the ants

Halo baby

Really radiant

Are we done yet?

Mmm, grass.

Little family

My pretty lady

Fence shot

We got a lot of good photos of Anwyn

Still as happy as newlyweds but 8.5 years older

Proof that we do have at least one leaf change colors for the Fall

Love Notes

 Anwyn made some secret love notes this week, all by herself.


Dear Dad
I love you
You are grate and asum
Love Anwyn

Dear Lily,
I Love you.
Love,
Anwyn

Dear Mom
I Love You.
You are Nise and
You are Grat.
Love,
Anwyn

They are so sweet, and I love her kindergarten spelling.These cards are going in the memory box to keep!

Lily was sick this week, so Anwyn also made her a special get well soon card.
Dear Lily,
I Love You Lily.
I Hope You feel Bedre soon Lily.
Love, Anwyn

(sorry for the sideways picture, but I'd rather head to bed then spend some extra time fixing the photo I thought I already fixed :).

Mourning a Loss

Yesterday as the lights were going out here on the East Coast, in the West, a different light dimmed and then disappeared. In a moment worlds changed and hearts broke. Bicycle and automobile danced a tragic ballet, extinguishing the light of one so small. As this light faded from earth, leaving a hole in the hearts and darkness in the lives of loved ones, a brighter light grew and radiated with an unfiltered luminosity in an eternal world. The sorrows and tears of earthly separations were balanced by the tears of joy from reunions with other pure lights.

Goodbye sweet Allison, your death has brought a dearth of joy to all who mourn your passing but your life brought love and joy to those around you. You came to earth for just a short while; not long enough for us who are left but long enough to fulfill our Father's plan. We are brightened by our memories of your light and long for the day when we shall meet again, face to face and embrace in embrace in eternal realms. We are strengthened by our faith in the Savior Jesus Christ who gave His life that all would live again. Jesus "appoint[s] unto them that mourn in Zion, [and] give[s] unto [us] beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, [and] the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isaiah 61:3). We are fortified by the knowledge and power of the sealing of families together forever through the power of the Holy Priesthood of God. We miss and love you Allison!

Allison Ann Bowers

January 21, 1999 - October 26, 2010

Daughter of Rob & Melinda Tanner Bowers of Mesa, Arizona, sister to Robbie, Johanna, Dallin, & Emily.

Check out music from Jared T.

Lily is the Birthday Girl

Lily turned 3 years old this week!

Jared took her outside for a mini "3 year old photoshoot". She keeps making really cheesy, silly grins when we ask her to smile, so we got a few funny photos.

She has really been growing and learning in so many ways lately.  

 Lily is talking a lot more, and is very friendly to others. She says hi to anyone we see when we're out and about, and she usually shows them whichever toy she has brought along for the ride that day. Sometimes she proudly introduces her baby brother Zach. 

She really enjoys doing school time with me, and she is learning her letters and numbers and colors and shapes. She loves to find and write the letter L. Recently I overheard her singing the ABC song to herself while she played. 

She is growing taller too, time for the next size of clothes!

She likes to spend her free time playing with mommy's iPad. She also recently gained control of the mouse, and can move and click as she pleases on the Sesame Street games on the computer. 

 She also loves to run (and often runs away when she shouldn't, but we're working on that).

Lily had a fun day on her birthday. We hosted her weekly preschool at our house that day, so that doubled as her party too. The focus of letter H for the day was perfect. We did H is for Happy and Happy Birthday and Headbands and Hopping and Holes (threading necklaces) and Ham (and cheese and crackers for snack).

Her special birthday dinner was waffles, raspberries and deviled eggs.

She was very excited about her ducky cake. I cheated a little bit and just made the cake part be the water, with the rubber duckies floating on top, but she was happy with the result.

 

She got a few fun new toys and a book as gifts. Anwyn has been just as thrilled with the new play things.

 We are thankful for her and we love our silly Lily!