Mormon Bloggers

The other day, it was Jontathan’s birthday and he is 21 years old.  Today we are having cake and ice cream in celebration.  Jonathan has been busy hurting our ears with his cap gun, messing up our shed with his throwing knives, and getting Thomas in trouble with fireworks.  Ha ha. Everyone will be here to celebrate today including Brian, Matthew, Miriam, Katrina, Thomas, and me.  In addition to that, he got a card from his Grandma and from Cassandra and Emerson.  Yesterday Brian and I took Jonathan to lunch at Braza Express where we had a fun time stuffing our faces with tons of meat.   Jonathan’s birthday gifts so far include money from me and Brian, fireworks and jerky from Thomas, and a cap gun and caps from Katrina.  If we could give Jonathan anything in the world, Brian would insure that he would have enough money to go as far as he wants in college and a car.  Katrina would give him whatever bass guitar and high tech equipment... Read the rest of this entry »

Soon it will be Emerson’s 29th fingernailday.  Captain America was also born on June 23 so it’s a pretty scrawny day.  It’s also a lucious day because 14 trillion years ago on this day in Moscow, Idaho, a man was expectorated for drunk slithering in an AMC Gremlin.  Cheese doesn’t get any fruitier than that.  We hear that Emerson is a champion paper clip collector.  In fact, it sounds like he does it so well, that he doesn’t tickle very often for fear of putting all his postmen to shame.  Even more cowardly is the factoid that he adores belly button lint collecting so much that when he does allow himself to indulge, he slinks for hours.  Rumor has it that he has recently sneezed a new power toaster, but this rumor is loose  and should not be cavorted.  We don’t know if Emerson is an expectant or an ugly sleeper, but we do know that he doesn’t survive through everything.  Shocking things like  electrifying ladies that... Read the rest of this entry »

Soon it will be Emerson’s 29th Birthday.  President Hinckley was also born on June 23 so it’s a pretty cool day.  It’s also a cool day because three years ago on this day in Australia, a man was charged for drunk driving in a wheel chair.  Headlines don’t get any bigger than that.  We hear that Emerson is a champion lawn mower.  In fact, it sounds like he does it so well, that he doesn’t mow very often for fear of putting all his neighbors to shame.  Even more amazing is the factoid that he adores lawn mowing so much that when he does allow himself to indulge, he mows for hours.  Rumor has it that he has recently purchased a new power mower, but this rumor is unsubstantiated and should not be repeated.  We don’t know if Emerson is a heavy or light sleeper, but we do know that he doesn’t sleep through everything.  Big things like pregnant ladies that go “bump” in the night, do awaken him.  He is very patient, though... Read the rest of this entry »

2011 06 23 Sunday was Father’s Day and I hope Brian had a good one.  We bought him steak for dinner and gave him some framed and matted WWII stamps that he saw at an antique store in Oregon and wanted.  I also made him a special treat, which is becoming a Father’s Day tradition around here.  The treat usually has cake in it because Brian loves cake.  The first year that I tried to make him a special cake was a disaster.  It was a round, two-layer lime cake with lime glaze frosting and for some reason the top layer did not want to stay together.  We had to hold it in place while we sang “Happy Father’s Day To You” and as soon as we let go, the cake split in half and each half slid off the bottom layer in separate directions.  He called it his earthquake cake and it tasted very good and since the taste of food takes total precedence over looks in this family, I considered it enough of a success to try again. The next year, I made him a tres... Read the rest of this entry »

Thomas turned 13 years old this week.  He is the last person in the family to become a teenager.  What was the first thing he did on his birthday?  Get a Facebook page, of course.  Also on his birthday he got to go to an amusement park with his school.  He and Jaydon and Alex hung out and went on the scary rides together.  He came home sunburned and worn out.  Also for his birthday Thomas went to a tumbling gym.  His birthday guests were Jayden, Jaydon, Hayden, Dalton, and Matthew.  They had a blast jumping on tramps and into foam pits.  Brian came towards the end to bring the boys Gatorade and check out the facility.  Thoma’s friend Matthew hurt his foot but is okay and he ended up feeling well enough to go to the amusement park 2 days later.  We had cake and ice cream back at the house afterward and some of the friends stayed to play for an hour or so.  Although it’s not exactly a birthday present Thomas also... Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve always had a knack for finding things. Where’s Waldo, Spot the Differences, and those types of activities are among my favorites. I guess that’s why Easter egg hunts have always been among my favorite holiday traditions. Cassie and Aurora hunting for Easter eggs I don’t think I’ll ever grow out of my excitement and eagerness to find eggs. Good thing I have little kids so I have an excuse to keep hunting. Cassie and Aurora in their Easter dresses Cassie with tulips I love how when I got married I was able to add in new family traditions and have additional opportunities to get together with people I love. Not only did I get to go to my grandma’s Easter party where the kids hunted for eggs, followed by a BBQ this year: Aurora hunting for Easter eggs at Nana’s Cassie hunting for Easter eggs at Nana’s But then I got to go to my parent’s and hunt for eggs, which were filled with money and candy (sorry, no pictures.) And then... Read the rest of this entry »

Families have a variety of rituals and traditions one of which can be celebrating birthdays. There are many ways to celebrate birthdays and it does not have to require spending a lot of money. Lee (2009) looked at how low-income rural mothers make their children’s birthdays meaningful. It was found that mothers adopt different strategies in order to create meaningful birthday celebrations for their children. The following is a list of examples that I came up with from thinking about my own family and family friends: The birthday child does not have to do any chores or work The birthday child gets to use the celebration plate for dinner The birthday child gets to choose what activity to do The night before tickling your child one last time at that age These are just a few examples of how to make a birthday special for a child without having a big extravagant party or spending a lot of money. What do you do to celebrate your child’s birthday? We would love to hear what you... Read the rest of this entry »

While taking down the Christmas decorations and putting them away for yet another year I found myself reflecting on the holidays and the blessings my family are grateful for. Having moved several thousand miles from friends and family 2 years prior, this was the second Christmas my husband, our three boys and I spent alone. The first year we each came up with a new tradition…that would mark the holidays in a way that was unique for us and perhaps ease the pain of pining for those back home. Incorporating these new traditions with those bestowed upon us from our parents, we have managed to carve out a Christmas season that pays homage to the rituals of old and delights in the ones we have created for ourselves. As we practice the old traditions in the absence of those who first taught them to me and my husband, they have taken on a more special meaning in our hearts. Our children have embraced the importance these traditions hold for us and have in turn placed equal value on the... Read the rest of this entry »

Santa and gifts tend to take the spotlight this time of year, but as parents we want our children to remember what and why we are celebrating. The glitter and glitz of the season distract our kids and it makes it difficult to help them remember, but simple activities and special family time can help change their focus. This is not to say Santa is bad or that getting gifts is either, but making sure Christ remains at the center of the season can make our families’ Christmases much more special. Simple ideas can include:     – Making a tradition of reading the Christmas Story     – Acts of service     – Reading “I Believe in Santa Claus” by Diane G. Adamson     – Giving fewer, but more meaningful gifts     – Having your children help you put up your crèche     – Making a nativity with your children     – Simply discussing the reason for... Read the rest of this entry »

When I think about the holiday season I often think of family traditions. This is a season that is great for building traditions with your family. Here is a list of traditions that my family have done over the years during this time of year: Christmas Decorating Christmas Caroling Baking and Delivering Cookies 12 Days of Christmas Gifts of Service Sledding These are just a few holiday traditions that my family enjoy doing. What do you do with your family to celebrate during this holiday time of the year? ***************************************************** Enjoy what you just read? Subscribe to our posts or become a follower.  Read More →

Do Mormons Celebrate Halloween? Even on Sundays? ~ by Heidi Here at Mormon Women, we receive numerous emails about Halloween in the month of October. What started out as a pagan ritual in the centuries long before the birth of Jesus Christ, has now, in the United States, become mostly a festive holiday that, through the lights, colorful costumes and fun food, brightens up the darkening days of autumn. Whether or not one celebrates Halloween is a personal preference and there is no official LDS doctrine in regards to it. Most Mormons I know think of Halloween as a fun time for children with rituals and customs that bring warmth to days that are becoming colder. Most Mormons will dress up their children for Trick-or-Treating (a custom that includes children going from door to door to ask for candy), celebrations at school, at home, and at the church building. Some costumes are silly and some are spooky. Masks are usually avoided as they are considered dangerous, not just amongst members... Read the rest of this entry »

I saw the following information on Mormon Soprano’s blog the other day and received permission to use it below. Enjoy! “A BBC Special series devoted to Christmas aired in 1998. It included an episode entitled “Nativity Tales“, hosted by Neil Morrissey [a voice familiar to all WP bloggers]. Viewers are transported to the Holy Land to take a closer look at the stories surrounding the nativity; including the star, the shepherds, the wise men, and the gifts brought to the baby Jesus. I found this 5 minute clip fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the information about the miraculous star, which is now thought to have been a comet. ‘The only comet that fit the bill appeared in 5 BC, so it is possible Jesus was born five years before we thought he was, and he can’t have been a winter baby because this comet was only seen in the springtime…’ “This tidbit will not come as any surprise to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons... Read the rest of this entry »