A Spectacular Failure

So tonight we had a Family Home Evening on prayer. I thought it went pretty well, the kids were actually answering questions and paying attention for the most part. We talked about being reverent, coming when called, keeping your eyes closed, paying attention, etc. Then the moment of truth came later at bedtime when we actually had family prayer. It went something like this:

Andrew (it was his turn): "Heavenly Father, please bless this day" (my kids always say this instead of thank thee for this day, I don't know why)....

Jorgen pushes Bethany into the bookshelf hard, she hurts her elbow, and she starts crying, so I hug her as Andrew continues...

Andrew tries to keep going, but Jorgen is blowing raspberries in Bethany's face now, and Andrew can't help it, he starts giggling. Which makes Jorgen do it even more! Now Bethany is laughing too. Both Dan and I try to restrain Jorgen, but it's kind of like trying to hold Jello in your hands.

Andrew tries to finish the prayer with a silly voice, so we told him to start over and try again. This makes him dissolve into tears. So we give him a choice, try again or go straight to bed. He cries "I can't stop crying!" So I said ask Heavenly Father to help you stop. He tries, but is still practically hyperventilating. So we end it and send them all to bed.

Whew, I guess we need to do that lesson all over again!

Syracuse Heritage Days

Saturday was our Syracuse Heritage Days. We have lived here for 10 years and have never gone (I know, party poopers) but we've always had family reunions or vacations, or whatever, and have always missed it. Except I do remember watching the fireworks from our back deck the first couple of years we lived here, before there were any houses behind us to block the view.

So this year we didn't have any conflicts and we decided to go. We got up early and went to the pancake breakfast at the park. As she was eating, Bethany lost another tooth! Crazy!







Then we headed over to the parade. The kids occupied themselves by coloring pictures of fireworks while they waited.




Except Jorgen who just wanted to run around.






Then we went over to the car show:



Then we got snow cones to cool off. Then we did a few carnival games. They sure like to milk you for all your money.












After a few naps and a grocery store run, we had dinner, then headed over to the fireworks. Luckily Jorgen had a late nap, so he wasn't tired at all. But he didn't want to sit still either, he just wanted to run around.

Bethany wanted to play UNO while we waited, but I couldn't find it, so I brought Blink instead. She loved it! A new favorite game.

I love the lighting in these pictures. It looks like the sky is on fire!











Wrestling with Daddy:



Finally, the fireworks started! Our camera sucks in the dark, so this is all you get.


It was a fun day, we'll have to do it again next year!

Father's Day and Croquet

We went to Dan's parents' home to wish Grandpa Nay a Happy Father's Day. After dinner we played a game of croquet. The kids had fun and I got some good pictures. I think Andrew and Sam won the game, and I lost. No big surprise there! I suck at all sports, even croquet.

Grandma and Grandpa have these cool cars that the boys like to ride in. Bethany is too big!

Happy Father's day to my wonderful husband, my dad, my father-in-law, and all dads everywhere!

Trip to the Zoo

Last Saturday we went to the zoo for a birthday party for our cousin Abby (and my sister Debbie). Friday's weather was beautiful, but Saturday started out cloudy and drizzly.

We waited by the water ball inside the entrance for everyone to show up. The train was going at the time, but we wanted to get to the elephant show so we didn't go on the train. By the time we got done with the elephant show, it was raining, and they shut down the train. Andrew was very sad, but we still had a good time. Here are a bunch of pictures.

Here's the birthday girls! Debbie's is the 2oth, Abby's is the 21st.

They had a mask-making table, so of course we had to stop and make some masks:

Bethany making her mask.

Joshua making his mask.

Andrew, Ellie, Abby, and Bekah (and another kid) making masks.

So scary!

You have to stop at the lion drinking fountain! This has been at the zoo as long as I can remember, but they did move it to a new location.

Penguins

Watching the zookeepers feed the penguins.

It was raining pretty hard by this point, so we hid out in the giraffe house for awhile.

Giraffes are Bethany's favorite.


The carousel is new, and it was still going in the rain! Yay!

Bethany found the giraffe.

Andrew rode on a tiger.

Abby rode on a panda and Jorgen rode on a tiger, but I didn't get a picture of the animals, oops!


Then we headed to a covered pavilion for lunch. It was yummy and we even got panda cupcakes for Abby's birthday cake.

"I'll just have the bag, thanks"

Bethany, Abby, Lance, Josh

Ellie, Andrew, Ben

Jorgen was making really cute kissy faces at Debbie with his black lips, but when I tried to get a picture he just gave me this morose look. Just showin' off, I guess!

Bethany and Abby

Abby the birthday girl. She is now 3!

Annie and Nicole. Ellie and Josh in the background.

We headed home shortly after lunch, since it was still raining pretty hard and the kids were cold. We'll have to go back again when it is sunny, so Andrew can ride the train!