A New Addition....

Nope, I'm not pregnant. Just in case there was any doubt. But we did get a new member in the family. A puppy!

The kids named him Bandit. How did it happen? Well, even I am still asking myself that question. A couple of weeks ago my friend called and asked if I wanted a dog. Someone had abandoned him at their house and they didn't need another dog. I told her no that we really weren't planning on getting a dog now or anytime soon...

So...the other day I stopped by her house. I had zero intentions of even thinking about taking it home. I saw how cute it was though and thought I'd show Aaron. So I sent him a picture via my cell phone with a caption jokingly asking him if he was sure he didn't want it. He called back and the first thing out of his mouth wasn't "no" or anything like that. He asked "What will we do with it?" I answered honestly, still thinking hypothetically, that we'd keep it in the back yard and love it. I can't really remember what he said next, but it sounded like he was half-way interested. I asked him if he was suggesting it was ok to keep it and his response was "well, if you asked I wouldn't say no."

At this point I was still thinking no way we'd take a dog home, but we went in and visited with my friend and as we visited I couldn't help but think about how well-behaved the dog was, how cute he was, and how much the boys were begging me to take him home. So I called Aaron back and said, "You pretend I begged, I'll pretend you said yes, and the dog will be there when you get home." So that's how we wound up with the dog.

He really is well-behaved. So behaved in fact that I worry he may have been slightly mistreated. He is very submissive and gets scared easily. And he doesn't know how to play it seems. But he doesn't really jump or bark. Not at the kids, other people, or other animals. He stays nearby and is obedient. Now I just have to decide if I really want him to be an outdoor only dog.

Labor Day

I know that this is a little late, but better late than never, right?

Anyway, for Labor Day we took a nice little trip. Saturday morning (early) we left and headed down to Baton Rouge to spend some time with Aaron's sister and her family. It was nice to see the them and their new place. The twins have grown so much in the past year! We did get some pictures, but they were all with the cell phones and so I am not going to post any of those at the moment.

After church and lunch on Sunday we headed East to Conroe to spend some time with my Aunt and Uncle. It was a fun trip! We got up early on Saturday morning and Carissa, David, Aaron, my Uncle, and I went out on the little boat to try some water skiing. Aaron got up, had a good run on the boom and even got up on the skis. David had a good run on the boom. I tried. But I never really got up good. Maybe next time. The water wasn't the greatest because of so many people out for Labor Day.

After our morning ski we went back for my aunt and the other boys and we went out in the big boat to the island. We had fun swimming around out there and then went back to the house for lunch and some rest. My uncle and Aaron made a rope swing that the kids enjoyed. When it got hot we went back to the boat slip and swam around some more. The kids really got brave and had fun jumping off the dock. Even Joseph tried.

You can't tell real well in this picture, but Joseph
LOVED riding the knee bored back and forth.
He even enjoyed it when the wave would catch it.

All too soon it was time to head home. We loved seeing everyone and can't wait to make it back for longer visits! Thanks for having us everyone!

Back to Normal

This is just the first of many updates. Please read all of them to see what has been going on in our life.

Well, after the birthday celebrations, everyone went home and things are back to normal. It was a great visit and we're all glad you could come. We hope you can all come again real soon.



August wore out even Jacob. He fell asleep
on the couch and ended up in the laundry...

Joseph just chillin' with Kreacher

Joseph being naughty....also why I can never get
mad at him

So what is normal for us you might ask....Well, we've been busy going to the park, going to school, spending time with friends, and just living life. I am sure there will be many more posts to come. We are going to Louisiana on Saturday and Conroe after that. We'll be back Monday night so Aaron can catch his flight to Vegas on Tuesday. He'll be gone all week. Hopefully after that things will settle down.

Birthday Madness

David Aaron--8/23/2001

Carissa Jean--8/20/2002

Jacob Palmer--8/22/2005

The last night everyone was here we celebrated birthdays. David is now 8, Carissa is 7, and Jacob is 4.

David is quiet, loving, thoughtful, sharing, and smart. And so many other things I can't think of. He loves video games, Pokemon, approval, being "grown up", and games in general. Learning comes easy and he enjoys doing new things, even though he may get scared at times.

Carissa is sweet, quiet, shy, and eager to please. She can be rough and tough with the boys one minute and girly-girl the next. Although more and more she is acting all girl. This year we asked her what she wanted for her birthday and she said "a makeup set". So that's what we got her. She also loves princess and dance.

Jacob is all boy. He loves to be active, cars, and playing in the dirt. It is so fun to watch him play with his brothers! He is very smart and has a smile that can melt hearts. He is mischievious and loveable all rolled into one.

Happy birthday you three!

This year we were extra lucky and got to celebrate
a fourth birthday. Aaron's sister, Aunt Christy, also
had a birthday in there. Here are the four of them with
their cakes.

Singing "Happy Birthday"

With all this happiness, I still feel a need to mention one more birthday that should have been. The baby I miscarried earlier would have been born the 18th. No, this wasn't it's due date. That's the day I would have been induced. Happy birthday baby! We still love and think about you. You'll be forever in our hearts.

The First Day of School

The day after David's baptism was the 1st day of school. Carissa and Isaiah will be going to Faith Family Academy while I homeschool David and Jacob.

Isaiah on his first day of Kindergarten...
I can't believe my baby is 5!!! He was so
excited. I just hope his teacher is...

Carissa in the first grade.
She was nervous and scared,
but playing with the play-doh
was a good way to ease into
things. She has David's old
teacher and we're all excited.

This wasn't the first day of school, but I
thought it was a fun picture none-the-less.
Don't they look like twins?

While Carissa and Isaiah were at school we took the time to do some shopping and relax at the park.

Joseph loves the playground! He's not a baby
anymore...

Jacob doing what he does best...making some noise

David playing it cool and "surfing"
on the slide

Joseph showing how he goes up and down

David's Baptism

How appropriate that my 250th post should be something as special as my oldest child's baptism!

By Saturday everyone had arrived back. Sunday morning we had stake conference and then that afternoon...David's baptism.

I am so proud of my boy for taking the first step back to our Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for the love and support that has been shown to him throughout his life, especially that day. I'm glad that both sets of grandparents were there for this moment. His best friend in church, his primary teacher, our home teachers, and the others who were there all helped to make the day special.

Before the service. Look at the smiles!



Like father, like son.



I think by this time David was just ready to go play.
We are so proud of you David!!!

Aaron with his family. Only his oldest sister is
not pictured. We missed you Amber!

All the family members who were there.
Thank you for coming!

Water skiing in Conroe

The same day Aaron's family went down to Louisiana my parents arrived and we went down to Conroe to pay a quick visit to my Aunt and Uncle and try out the water. Early the morning after we got there my parents, Aunt, Uncle, and David went out water skiing while the rest of us caught a little more rest.



My mom on the boom

My dad on the boom. I think he's just glad to get up alive.

David on the knee board. He LOVED this! I love
his look of concentration and slight smile.

After they got back, we had a quick break and then went out on the bigger boat. That was lots of fun too! We hooked up the water tube for awhile and shrieks were hears. Sometimes they were shrieks of delight with laughter thrown in. Other times they were out of fear. I don't know if any of my kids will like roller-coasters. Maybe Carissa. I was enjoying myself until my knees got rubbed raw. That hurt for a few days. All-in-all we loved being out on the water. Thank you Tom and Marcie for having us, we're looking forward to our next visit!

I took advantage of my aunt's photography skills
got some mother-daughter shots with Carissa. I
hope she'll enjoy looking at these some day.

The Box

So, finally the visitors started coming. Aaron's parents and brother were the first to arrive on the 18th. They visited that night before going down to Louisiana to spend a few days with his oldest sister and her family and also pick up his other sister to bring her back.

We all enjoyed this visit, especially the kids since it meant they got to open their box.



Here are the kids tearing into the box. This was
as fun to see as what was inside.

The big surprise! Aaron's mom had made the kids
pillows to match their baby quilts. Everyone loved this
and the kids were excited to get their quilts out of my
cedar chest to sleep with both for the night.

Regular Life Prior to the Excitement

So the end of August was a VERY busy time for us. It actually started a few weeks earlier with us getting some things done around the house in preparation for our visitors who would be coming. We led our normal routines, but had things like shopping trips for school supplies, cleaning the house, and watching the mailbox thrown in there.

This is the display of school supplies we had to buy.
I don't remember having this much stuff...

We had started reading to the kids each night before bed.
They especially loved Aaron reading them nursery rhymes.

After I had cleaned out our "food closet" Joseph
thought it was the perfect place to hide.

The kids were all fascinated by Aaron doing some
work in the sink. I just loved the chance for a picture.

We had gotten a package from Grandma Van Slyke
with orders not to open until they got there. The kids
were thrilled with this treat and it became a toy even
unopened.

Levels of Charity

by Aaron Van Slyke

Today, as I drove home from work, a truck cut me off on the freeway. I got angry, and swerved around the truck because I wanted to get home as quickly as possible. Afterward, I was amazed at how quickly I had become angry, and reacted to that anger. It took only a fraction of a second, and I only thought about it after I had calmed down. It was only then that I wondered why he might have cut me off.

Similarly, when we are on a crowded street or in a crowded hallway at school, we tend to get angry when someone slows down the crowd. Sometimes we react by pushing or maybe even yelling. We give little or no thought to their personal circumstances.

At home, inevitably someone's feelings get hurt, and although they get angry, they don't react. Love and understanding of each other's circumstances keep us from doing those things that we would later regret. In the end apologies are made, and feeling of love are reassured.

At church, we typically show even more love to those who share our faith. Feelings do get hurt, and anger might spark, but it is quickly dismissed and replaced with love and caring for God's fellow children.

In the temple, our souls swell with the love our Heavenly Father has for us. Anger cannot take hold here. Only charity, the pure love of Christ, fills our hearts when we are in the temple. Our only desires are to help everyone that we see in any way possible.

As I finished my drive home, I remembered how at times I had been inspired by the Spirit or by a talk in church, to try and treat everyone around me as I would treat them if I were in the temple. Usually it lasted a day or a week, but was quickly forgotten. I realized how difficult a task it is to treat those on the busy freeway the same way as I would if I was in the temple. I then set a new goal for myself: I would strive to treat those at church the same as those in the temple. I would strive to treat those at home the same as those at church. I would strive to treat those in public the same as those at home.

I would like to encourage everyone to find the levels of Charity in their own lives, and strive to improve them one step at a time. Eventually through hard work and diligence, we can bring this world closer to Zion, and closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This is my sincerest hope, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.