Jacob Received the Aaronic Priesthood

On August 9, 2009 Jacob received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained to the office of Deacon.  What a special day for Jacob and all of our family.  

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Jacob is 12 - how is this possible?  Jacob had a super birthday complete with a family party and a swimming party with his friends.  He got camping stuff for Boy Scouts and Star Wars stuff to add to his extensive collection.  James made him a super cool adventure cake with a tent, motorcycles and campfire.  Jacob is the finest brother and son anyone could ask for.  He is my right arm when ever I need help and his sisters all look to him for help and for someone to play with.  Now that he is 12 we are out of the 'hiring a babysitter' stage of life - until he has a social life that interfers with my date nights...hopefully Kathryn will be old enough to keep a lid on things at home by then.  We are grateful and blessed to have Jacob in our home.  Happy birthday Jacob! 

Samantha's Wagon

For months leading up to her birthday, Samantha had been asking for a wagon.  We had planned to get one for her and I went shopping the week of her birthday.  Have you priced wagons lately?  Let's just say inflation has hit the wagon market pretty hard.  We looked on E-bay and found a brand new one that was resonably priced.  We ordered it, but it wasn't here in time for her big day - you would think after being a parent for 12 years I would have shopped earlier and ordered it in advance and it would have been here in time, I guess I am still learning...  Samantha had a super day on her birthday, she never mentioned the wagon and I thought she had forgotten all about it.  However, at the end the day she said, "it's still my birthday until I get a wagon".  We agreed with her readily and were amazed at her complete assurance that since she had asked for a wagon she would surely get one for her birthday.  The wagon finally arrived several days later.  Each day she would go around the house singing, "it's still my birthday until I get a wagon".  After opening her wagon and helping Jacob assemble it, she said, "now my birthday is over".  What a joy she is in our home!