My Little Cook

Monday I had some enchiladas cooking in the oven and was upstairs on the computer with Jay.  Tayson was downstairs playing with toys.  We heard the timer go off on the oven and were just finishing up what we were looking at when Tayson yells upstairs, "Mom, I got the enchiladas out of the oven."  Of course Jay and I quickly ran downstairs and there is Tayson with oven mitts on putting the pan on the table.  It was really cute (and scary) and I was quite impressed that he didn't hurt himself and was able to actually reach the pan in the oven.  He was pretty proud of himself, but we had to let him know that next time it would be nice if one of us could be there too just to be safe.

Shuri Castle

On Monday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) we went to visit Shuri Castle.  It was really interesting.  This castle was supposedly built in 1392, but no one really knows for sure.  Most of it has been re-built because of the damage that was caused during WWII.  

Tayson and I are standing by one of the Shi-Shi Dogs.  They are all around Okinawa.  One of them is there to scare the evil spirits and the other is there to welcome in good spirits.  That is why many of the locals have them at the entrances of their homes (smaller of course).

This wall surrounds a garden that we couldn't go in because it is sacred.  The myth was that it had been built by the Gods.

This is the King's throne.  

Family Home Evenings and Sunday Activities

Hi,

for those of you who don't already do this, you might want to get started.  I am part of a FHE group and we exchange FHE lessons once a month.  There is around 10 of us and we each pick a topic and make 10 of the same lesson, so each month we all receive 10 new lessons.  We have an outline of what the lesson needs to contain like, song, scripture (stuff like that) and they need to be well made so they will last a long time.  I have really enjoyed this because the lessons are so well prepared and very enjoyable.  Tayson has been having so much fun and would love to have family home evening every night.  He seems to retain the main points that we learn because it's made FHE something he looks forward to.  It's nice to be able to just pull a folder and have everything ready.  One of the ladies in our group also suggested a "Sabbath Day Activities" box.  I just started mine and can't wait to use it next Sunday.  I just put together a box with all different things that would be appropriate for Sundays.  So far I put in a journal for each of us, scripture coloring pages, paper and envelopes to write letters or draw pictures to send, an apostle memory game,  a prophet matching game, DVDs appropriate for Sunday, a scripture card game we got from Jay's parents, Ensigns and Friend magazines, blank pedigree charts to fill out, and a list of things we can do like take a walk, visit someone sick, stuff like that.  I think our Sundays will turn out much more sacred and special and something we all look forward to.  

If you decide to do either of these or you come up with new ideas I would love to have you share.

Our Little Missionary

Today, Tayson and I were going to visit some friends who just got back from visiting their dad in the States.   Tayson had another friend, Lance,  show up at our door and ask if he could play.  Tayson said he couldn't play because he was on his way to visit his friend CJ from church.  Lance asked, "What's Church?".  Tayson said, "It's where we go to learn about Jesus and Jesus is a really great guy.  You should go to church."  

I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear to hear that.  It's one of those moments that you think maybe I'm doing something right as a parent.  I think Tayson taught me a great lesson in showing that we shouldn't be afraid to tell people about Christ, especially our friends.    

Christmas 2007

                                          I love the look on Tayson's face.  It is priceless!  

We had kind of a crazy Christmas this year.  About a week before Christmas, Jay found out he had to leave in 2 days and would be missing Christmas.  We did an impromptu Christmas with Tayson.  We all opened the gifts to each other and tried to make the best of the situation.  It didn't feel quite right though because we hadn't had our Christmas Eve like we usually do.  Christmas day came and Santa was able to make it, but it was too bad Dad couldn't be there with us.  Sharing the time together is the best part of Christmas.  We were blessed though to have great friends from church include us in their families for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day which helped a lot.  On Christmas, Jay went to dinner with some of the guys he was working with. Times like these make being in the military very difficult but I guess we all have to make some sort of sacrifices.