Visit to San Diego Temple

While in San Diego right after Christmas we were able to visit the San Diego Temple. I wish that I had time to go and do a session, but I felt bad for already leaving my kids so often for work during the trip. Here are some pictures that we took on New Year's Eve when we stopped by to see the lights.

Love,
Tamber

Christmas Morning

I am finally getting around to documenting our Christmas.

This was the first year that Emma was too excited about Christmas morning that she couldn't fall asleep on Christmas Eve, which made for a late night for Santa.

Here are some pictures of the kids on Christmas day opening up presents and enjoying family.

Emma's favorite gift...a caboodle filled with girly things. She wanted to paint her toenails right away.

Emma also loved separating all of the gifts into piles for everyone.

The one thing that Marcus wanted from Santa was a car track. He has been playing with it non stop. He loves building and he loves cars.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Love, Tamber

Fumble.

Whenever Eric and Marcus play football in the house there are going to be fumbles. They decided that whoever fumbles has to do push-ups.

Originally the idea came just so that we could see the kids' funny push-ups.

Now Marcus always does them when he fumbles.

I can't help but laugh at his form.

Our little football player

Marcus loves playing football.

When we are all at home on the weekend, Marcus and Eric (and sometimes Emma) play football for hours on end.

Here is a video of Marcus and Eric playing.

Eric has been trying to get him to catch an over the shoulder pass, and he finally did it.

I think tonight he probably ran between the front door and the fridge about 100 times.

This kid lives for football.

Projects

Working on some projects for with these profile silhouettes.

Love, Tamber

Who laughs this way.."Ho,Ho,Ho"

We finally bit the bullet, stood in the line (outside...really, who has their Santa outside in Utah) and went to see the man from up north.

While in line Emma said..."Santa isn't real".

I was shocked...I didn't think I would hear that until 3-4th grade at least!

I think I BELIEVED until I was in 5th or 6th grade.

Luckily she said, "some of them dress up."

So for now, he is the magic of the season and the kids told him what they wanted this year for Christmas.

Emma: " I want a pretend pony". (ie..a small horse toy)
Santa: "Oh yes...pretend pony's are better than real ones. You should see what the real one's do to my grass."

Marcus: "I want a blue car track."

Love, Tamber

Comfort.

When Mary learned of her divine calling to bear the Son of God, undoubtedly a flood of issues and concerns raced through her mind. But the Angel said to her...

“Fear not. … For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:30, 37).

There are times when I worry about the world the my children are growing up in. I worry what they will turn out to be like, if I am doing enough to raise strong and righteous children, if they will be good friends to everyone around them, etc.

I know that I am not doing everything that I could be doing, but hope that what I am doing or teaching them is enough.

There are times when my heart is settled by the sweet actions of my children and I am comforted that everything will be okay. Yesterday was one of them. Last month Eric came up with the great idea of having a family testimony meeting on the FHE after Fast Sunday. Emma enjoyed bearing her testimony to her family. I did not think that she would be brave enough to do it in front of an entire congregation.

She proved me wrong.

All of a sudden I see her leaving our isle and walking up to the front in a reverent manner folding her arms. My eyes immediately filled with tears in happiness, joy, and satisfaction. She didn't have any coercing or even encouragement really. Eric told me later that she had said 'Maybe I should go up there' and all Eric said was 'If you want to, it is your choice.' So she did.

She said 'Hi, my name is Emma, and I came up here to bear my testimony. I know the Church is true and I know the Temple is true. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.'

I am so thankful for the experiences that comfort my parenting efforts. Sometimes certain experiences like this one help lessen my fears and remind me that with God nothing is impossible.


Love,
Tamber

Temple Square Tradition

Each year we visit Temple Square to see the Christmas lights.

I look forward to it each year. It is truly a magnificent site.

Emma and Marcus each enjoyed it for different reasons.

Emma loved the life sized nativity scene and wanted to watch the entire Christmas Story. Unfortunately the 13 degree weather encouraged us to force Emma to move on and get warm in the tabernacle.

Marcus liked the Luke 2 movie that we watched at the Visitors Center (ie...being warm).

Love, Tamber

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I LOVE Thanksgiving. I love cooking, and hanging out with family. We celebrated with my little family at our little condo. I really wish that we had a larger family...one of my favorite things/memories of Thanksgiving is having tons of cousins, aunts, uncles, etc around to celebrate and remember our many blessings. For me it isn't as much about the food, but I love what Thanksgiving is about...I love remembering my blessings because it makes me feel so happy inside.

Here is a picture run down of things that we did on Thanksgiving.

We tried a new Apple Pie (YUUUUMM!)

did I mention it had a pecan brown sugar crumble on top?!?...

Emma and Marcus played lots of dress up while the football game was on.

And Emma and Marcus helped me roll the rolls for dinner. They were great helpers.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Love,
Tamber

Happy Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year!

I have to start my post with an apology.

When I made my Christmas Cards, I ordered 20. Come to find out, I probably should have ordered 30-40. I did not have enough to send to all of the people that I wanted.

Trying to keep on budget I am not going to order anymore, so hopefully those of you who didn't receive one will accept my apology and enjoy what you can of it here on the blog.

This is what it looks like:

(Front)

(inside)

Now, since you probably can't read that small print inside the card, here is the text that was included:

Top 10 Things we are thankful for after 2010:

10.) Being an American. It may not be a perfect country with perfect leaders, but we sure are grateful for the freedom that we have to worship the way that we choose.

9.) Jobs. Not only are Eric and I both blessed to have jobs in this economy, but we both have jobs that we enjoy. Eric put it best when he said…’It is nice to have a job where it doesn’t matter if it is Monday or Friday.’

8.) Amazing Teachers. As our children get older, we are so thankful for all for all of the amazing teachers that our children know and learn from. Especially those who teach our children at church, they are heroes in our home.

7.) Good Health. Knock on Wood. After a scare with Marcus this year and a long visit to Primary Children’s Hospital, we are grateful for healthy bodies and amazing doctors.

6.) The Little Things. The success of a child’s prayer, comforting a child by making their ‘blanky flat’ at bed time, the blowing of kisses from Emma on her first day of school. Each of us have little things to appreciate this year.

5.) Family History. We have learned about so many of our ancestors stories this year and the examples that they have set. Eric and I are excited to take our first family names to the temple.

4.) The hard times. Because they've made us stronger and wiser, and the good times even better.

3.) Memories. From a trip to Sea World with the kids to the first alone trip for Tamber and Eric. There are so many wonderful memories that our family will cherish from 2010.

2.) Being able to laugh. Eric and I find ourselves laughing over the little things that our children do, whether it be Marcus trying out new phrases, scaling the fridge or Emma learning to pronounce new words or talking about her first ‘crush’. Our family loves to laugh and make each other laugh.

1.) All of You! This year would not have been so cherished without your influence in our family member’s lives. We have so many amazing family and friends that we could not have lived without in 2010. Thank You for everything you have done for us.

Love,
Tamber