Sacrament meeting, a source of spiritual inspiration, has also become a prolific source of blog material.
We are sitting in one of the short pews on the side of the chapel. A speaker is talking, and Gavin is sitting next to Shawn. (Well...he has wedged himself between Shawn and I..... but I digress.)
Gavin turns to Shawn and says "I am almost as big as you."
"Yes" Shawn whispers back, trying to encourage Gavin to do the same.
"But I don't have chest hair" Gavin adds, causing his former primary teacher, Sister Brown, sitting in front of us to giggle a little.
"Dad!" Gavin says with some excitement. "I do have underarm hair! But it is not as long as yours!" Proceeding to lift his white shirt over his head to show him he adds "Just look here!"
As I am leaning over, to pull down his shirt, and I see several people turning to see the recently announced under arm hair. Although highly inappropriate, I cannot stop giggling. The entire bench is shaking and I simply cannot stop. The more I think "stop Jennifer" the less control I seem to have.
Marissa looks over with a "what?" and the thought of retelling it just makes me giggle more.
Sister Brown, who just dropped off her only son at the MTC, turns her head and whispers back. "Now that it has started, the comparison will never stop."
Friday, March 02, 2012
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Eating With Chopsticks
After going around the world and seeing little kids use chopsticks, I decided that anyone who consistently tries to use them, will eventually get the hang of it. Since I want my kids to feel comfortable in a lot of different situations, about once a month we cook some kind of Asian dish and use chopsticks. Until Gavin gets a little older, he has the option of using a spoon/fork or the chopsticks. The girls are pretty proficient at using chopsticks but, as you can see, Gavin hasn't quite got the hang of it yet.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Farris Gang Sign
It is a tradition that Shawn's dad (Terry), and his wife (Mary) have a family Christmas dinner with all family, extended family and neighbors. Of course, Terry's family is included in the invitation, however, usually this just includes Shawn, the kids and I since we are the only family of his that live in town. About 3 years ago the Neals (Shawn's sister Michelle, her husband Eric, and their three kids, Trevor, Tristan, and Tyler) were in town for Christmas and invited to the party as well.
After the dinner, there is a white elephant game. From the first year we attended, we have been trying to figure out what IS the appropriate gift to bring--at this party. Because it seems to me that the type of gift for a white elephant game changes depending on who is hosting the party and who is invited.
The instructions Mary gave us the first year were to (1) spend less than $20 and (2) bring a gift for each person that is attending. The term "white elephant" implies--to me-- bringing something you have but don't like/use, or think is funny or somewhat strange. This said, I don't ever want to be the person who brings the weird stuffed animal with a dollar pack of gum, when others are bringing dinner certificates with movie passes. So when I am getting the gift, I choose to bring a gift that I might like to receive.
The first year I went to the store and bought gifts for the exchange. A bag of Lindt truffles with ice cream gift certificate, Bath and Body Works lotions, gift card to Cafe Rio, some things like that. Our gifts were--if I may say so--some of the best ones that were brought. Notable gifts people went home with that year? A velvet picture of Joseph Smith, lingerie, prank items--whoopie cushion and the like--dollar store items and board games.
Our second year the instruction changed slightly--a gift less than $10. We decided to do some silly gifts--mostly found at the dollar store. Santa and Mrs. Clause salt and pepper shakers with some chocolates, etc... This year there seemed to be nicer re-gifting items, and/or practical joke items that were brought. Perhaps they were nicer because we had brought nicer stuff the year before? But obviously I can't really predict this.
The Neals joined the adventure on year three. We asked Mary for clarification on the game gifts and were given the usual "What ever you want to bring is great. Something funny, or a gift you don't want, but don't spend more than $10."
I guess I should mention at this point that, although I did not grow up in a family that played a lot of practical
After the dinner, there is a white elephant game. From the first year we attended, we have been trying to figure out what IS the appropriate gift to bring--at this party. Because it seems to me that the type of gift for a white elephant game changes depending on who is hosting the party and who is invited.
The instructions Mary gave us the first year were to (1) spend less than $20 and (2) bring a gift for each person that is attending. The term "white elephant" implies--to me-- bringing something you have but don't like/use, or think is funny or somewhat strange. This said, I don't ever want to be the person who brings the weird stuffed animal with a dollar pack of gum, when others are bringing dinner certificates with movie passes. So when I am getting the gift, I choose to bring a gift that I might like to receive.
The first year I went to the store and bought gifts for the exchange. A bag of Lindt truffles with ice cream gift certificate, Bath and Body Works lotions, gift card to Cafe Rio, some things like that. Our gifts were--if I may say so--some of the best ones that were brought. Notable gifts people went home with that year? A velvet picture of Joseph Smith, lingerie, prank items--whoopie cushion and the like--dollar store items and board games.
Our second year the instruction changed slightly--a gift less than $10. We decided to do some silly gifts--mostly found at the dollar store. Santa and Mrs. Clause salt and pepper shakers with some chocolates, etc... This year there seemed to be nicer re-gifting items, and/or practical joke items that were brought. Perhaps they were nicer because we had brought nicer stuff the year before? But obviously I can't really predict this.
The Neals joined the adventure on year three. We asked Mary for clarification on the game gifts and were given the usual "What ever you want to bring is great. Something funny, or a gift you don't want, but don't spend more than $10."
I guess I should mention at this point that, although I did not grow up in a family that played a lot of practical
Labels:
Family,
Gang Symbol
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Dr Seuss Hat
It is Dr. Seuss week at our school. I spent about 10 minutes looking for the hat that it feels like we have purchased every year for the last 15 years. When I couldn't find it I went to my purse to find a $5 bill to send with Gavin to the office to buy one. The only bill I had was a ten. Knowing that I might never see the change, I sent Gavin to school with instructions to go in the office first thing, buy his hat, put the five dollars change in his backpack and bring it back to me. He smiled, and gave me a thumbs up sign.
When I put him into the car for the carpool, I asked his friends dad if they could drop him off at the front door so he could buy his hat. Gavin's friend had forgotten his hat and was upset. I offered for Gavin to buy two hats, but his dad said they would pick up his hat from home.
After school Gavin came home proudly wearing his new hat. I smiled knowing that he had completed the task and he felt good about being able to do it himself. Later that night I asked him for the five dollars. He said he didn't have any change. Then, with some prodding he told me the story.
"I went and paid for my hat in the office before school. The lady in the office helped me write my name on my hat and gave me back five dollars. I put it right in the pocket you told me to Mom." He smiles and nods at me. I am impressed because--hey! He was listening.
"Later, " he continues, "I saw a little girl who didn't have a hat. She looked really sad. She said she didn't have the money to buy a hat. I told her I had money and I gave it to her. She went into the office and bought one." Gavin smiles brightly at me. "Then she looked really happy"
"Wow! Gavin!" I say looking at the smile that cannot be contained on his small face. "You found someone who needed help and you helped them. Good job bud!" He stands up, as though the cheering will not be contained until he acknowledges his fans, and gets a fist bump from every present member of the family.
When I put him into the car for the carpool, I asked his friends dad if they could drop him off at the front door so he could buy his hat. Gavin's friend had forgotten his hat and was upset. I offered for Gavin to buy two hats, but his dad said they would pick up his hat from home.
After school Gavin came home proudly wearing his new hat. I smiled knowing that he had completed the task and he felt good about being able to do it himself. Later that night I asked him for the five dollars. He said he didn't have any change. Then, with some prodding he told me the story.
"I went and paid for my hat in the office before school. The lady in the office helped me write my name on my hat and gave me back five dollars. I put it right in the pocket you told me to Mom." He smiles and nods at me. I am impressed because--hey! He was listening.
"Later, " he continues, "I saw a little girl who didn't have a hat. She looked really sad. She said she didn't have the money to buy a hat. I told her I had money and I gave it to her. She went into the office and bought one." Gavin smiles brightly at me. "Then she looked really happy"
"Wow! Gavin!" I say looking at the smile that cannot be contained on his small face. "You found someone who needed help and you helped them. Good job bud!" He stands up, as though the cheering will not be contained until he acknowledges his fans, and gets a fist bump from every present member of the family.
Labels:
Talking with Gdog
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Prayer & Scriptures
In ward conference today our stake president talked to the youth about receiving answers to prayers. President Magleby said that "opening our scriptures was like increasing the bandwidth to our Heavenly Father." "Often" he remarked, "the answers will come more quickly and clearly when we take the time to open, read and ponder the scriptures." Since our internet speeds in our home increased this week, it was an idea that resonated with me.
Labels:
church
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