Special Spiritual Moments

In the last little while we've had several couple friends get married or "sealed" in the temple. Evie loves the whole idea of the temple.

For example: the first song she ever learned was "I love to see the Temple" even before she sang her ABC's or Twinkle, Twinkle, little Star. So we decided that with some of the people she knows getting sealed and the fact that mom and dad attend regularly, we took the kids on a "family field trip" to the Columbia, SC temple.

Later we had the fun opportunity to see Evie give a scripture and prayer in Primary. She did such a good job! She's been so shy in the past that it's fun to see her being so successful. It's also nice to know that our diligent efforts to teach her things like saying prayers and reading scriptures together are worth the effort!

Fourth of July - 2011

We had such a good time this year! Last year, the holiday fell on the Sabbath so we didn't do as much. This year we took full advantage of daddy's day off.

We began the day by playing outside! We had so much fun. We pulled out the slip n' slide, the pool, and of course, the hose! Yeah. It was great. The kids had a blast, we had a blast, and wow, we were all exhausted.

look he's flying! (he was okay)

liz loves the hose all to herself

just like supergirl!

look, mom played too!

Later that night, we went to our local park here. The base used to do the fireworks display, but the community here in Sumter decided to take it over. They did a great job as far as I'm concerned.

We played on all the blow-up activities we could find:

Joe did such a great job climbing this huge tower!

Evie climbed straight up this without ever having done anything like it before!

Eve and Joe flew around on a helicopter ride and then Liz, Joe, and Eve all went on the little train. It was so cute and the kids all had a great time.

watching as they go round and round

Daddy bought us the most gigantic snow cone I've ever seen and we all shared it.

Later as we finished the activities, we grabbed some fun light-up stuff. Liz got a necklace, Evie a butterfly wand that sings the most annoying song in Japanese (yes, Japanese), and Joe got a gun that shoots a ton of bubbles and lights up at the same time. He still loves it!

Next, we found a comfy spot in the middle of the park in front of the stage with the live band. Great music, by the way. We spread out our blanket, set up our camp chairs, and played a bit while Chris grabbed us something yummy to eat. He came back just in time for Evie to find a puppy from the next family over. The kids were enthralled. (our pet dreams were dashed this month when we were finally ready. the landlord said no to getting a dog.)

We ate fantastic hamburgers and awesome french fries. He was especially nice and I got a great steak fajita and an elephant ear. Never had an elephant ear before. It was super yummy and not nearly as messy as a funnel cake. We all split it and just before the fireworks started (behind us, of course) we all finished another snow cone!

The fireworks display was wonderful. So many fireworks and only a few of the loud cannon-like bangs. The kids loved it. They were so good. Eventually we ended up all together in two chairs. From right to left: Lizzy sat in the front seat of the stroller, Evie sat on my lap in the camp chair, then Joseph sat on one of daddy's legs while Ally sat on the other in Chris' camp chair. The chairs were just close enough that while I held hands with Lizzy so she wouldn't be scared, I could also hold hands with my husband. It was such a great family moment; one of those kodak moments you see in the movies. A great experience and a great memory.

happy 1st 4th of July, Alexandra!

You'd think things were over then right? No. We still had to get out of the park! I had brought the kids' jammies, so I changed them all into their night clothes and handed each one their blanket and special sleepy toy. Ally got a bottle. Chris turned on quiet music for the kids and then listened to a podcast with earphones. I sat outside in the warm night air and read my book while we waited. We only waited about 30min before we were able to go on home. The kids were either sleeping or resting quietly all the way home. We got home and put everyone to bed, including ourselves.

What a fun way to spend a holiday.

*we still missed the Pendergrass family terribly and thought of them the whole day long! Miss you.

Alexandra's Blessing

My very beautiful "newest" little girl. She was so beautiful this day. This is the dress that her Grama Fosburg made for my first little girl, Evelynn. Elizabeth also wore it. We waited to bless her until 01 May 2011 so that Nana and Papa could be here. Daddy was so cute blessing my little girl.

My wonderful priesthood holders! From left to right: Bishop Latham Harris, daddy: W. Jesse Morris, my honey: Christopher Fosburg, our friends: Corey Richardson and Treffle Beaupre.

I recently read the church's statement on the purpose of blessing our children in our meetings. It said that to bless our children in front of our congregation is a demonstration of the faith of the parents and an invitation for the congregation to exercise their faith on behalf of the little one presented to them.

It is so cute to see the daddy after he's done blessing his child, the tradition is to hold the child up higher in the air after the blessing to "show" the ward the new baby. Every time the daddy's grin is huge and all the women in the congregation giggle or sigh or just smile hugely. It's a wonderful moment for a ward and the family.

I sure enjoy getting to share the joy of my new additions with my friends and family at church.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVIE - 5!

Eve LOVES cake

I know it was over two months ago, but holy cow, I forgot to tell you about it! So this is a bit late, but still really fun.

We were blessed this year to have Nana and Papa in town. They were just going to miss little Eve's bday, so we celebrated a bit early by going to Chuck E. Cheese. We had never been to ours in town here, but it was so much fun. The kids loved it, I loved it, grandparents loved it. It was a good time.

Liz and Eve having fun together!

Evie made this face for each gift - she was very excited!

We all had yummy pizza and even Liz got a special CEC cup

Thx Nana and Papa! We love you! (Joe - don't fall off!)

Later we were going to do a lot of fun things with her friends closer to her big day, but it also happened to be around the time that the tornadoes hit the south. Well, our local leaders asked for volunteers to go to other states to help out with the relief efforts so Eve's bday party got moved several times as the date and time of the helping was switched several times. By the time I had set date for Evie's bday, I didn't want to do anything huge or complicated. So we had her birthday on the 11th instead of the exact day, the 9th. It was sooooooo much fun and actually well attended!

We took the whole party to our McDonald's play place. I remember having birthdays at McD's with the cake and balloons and special birthday area, even Ronald himself. That don't do any of that anymore, but we definitely didn't miss it.

The kids ate and played and then it was birthday time. The staff there were so good to us with helping us clean up and letting us light candles indoors. I was grateful and it was fun and simple. My little girl is getting so big!

opening her gifts with her friends

they were all so excited for her - what great friends she has

Her best friends were all there. This little gift is from her really good friend, Aiden Crandall. His mom told me that he was VERY particular about the picture of himself he put in the little frame for her. Evie LOVES it. She looks at it often and talks about her friend Aiden. It was so cute.

Other friends that came were the Taylor boys, Graden and Max. We had just met the Taylors a little before this so it was awfully nice that they came. Parker Catron is also a good friend. Both the Crandall and Catron boys end up at our house regularly because their moms are my visiting teachers and they are very diligent in their calling. They both babysit from time to time for me and I for them. Then we had the sweet little girls from Evie's preschool group: Kiera Madix, Emily Howard, and Rachel Chorey. They are great friends and all very nice children. Evie was really happy to see so many of her friends. (I was so happy to see them too! Last year's birthday was not well attended. I think this year she would have noticed if some had not come.)

They were all very friendly, generous, and fun to watch as Evie dove into her birthday party. What a great time we all had! Thx to all of you who helped make my little girl's birthday such a good one.

Fun with the Fosburg Four

My kids are so silly! I love laughing with them.

isn't Ally funny? This is her mid-laugh.

holding her own bottle! mommy is so excited. it's not all the time, but often enough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. she's getting so big.

kids in Iris Gardens. we had so much fun that day running around in our 'swamp'. it was a great time.

Evie wants to pet a swan. the thing is as big as she is and it's still sitting down.

holding on for dear life. don't know why they sunbathe on the side of the pool, but it's a regular occurrence.

lizzy playing in her pool.