Sunday Shenanigans 10/21/12

 With all the traveling Mommy has been doing, our Sunday Shenanigans have been forgotten.  Here's a catch up from the past couple of weeks.

 We are definitely experiencing Fall weather now.  Before the cold snap hit we picked our last harvest of berries and used them to make raspberry lemon cupcakes for some friends at church.

 Lily likes the job of garnishing cupcakes.

 We attempted a family outing to the campus orchards to pick apples but our timing was off and this year all the apples were gone.  So instead we wandered through the student gardens and enjoyed one of the last beautiful warm evenings.

 After returning from our trip to Utah with the Wanners, we went to our first-annual neighborhood Halloween party.  The women who put it together did an AMAZING job.  There were 18 different games for the kids to play.  Plus they had a costume parade around the neighborhood.  We stayed as late as we could before our little princesses turned into pumpkins.  We can't wait for next year.  And we will volunteer to help for sure next time around!

 While we were in Utah, Daddy hired a contractor to start finishing our basement.  We have the bathroom partially installed.  So exciting!  Daddy also built in shelves and extra clothes hanging space in the girls' room and the baby's room.  The closets look awesome.  Mommy really appreciates Daddy getting that job done so well and so quickly.  Lily was able to help just a little.  She really liked the drill.

Lily started preschool this week.  We are doing a co-op preschool with three of Mommy's friends and their children.  Lily was so excited to go.  Annie was so sad to see Lily go.  This week will be Mommy's turn to teach so look for fun pictures next week of our preschool adventures.

Today was our ward Primary Program in church.  Once a year, all the children under 12 sing and have a chance to say a little part during our  one hour main worship meeting.  Lily loved singing the songs and she stole the show with her speaking part.  She was supposed to talk about the things she thanks her Father in Heaven for when she prays.  She got up to the microphone and said, "I am thankful for my Mommy, my Daddy, Lily, Annie, and the baby growing in Mommy's tummy!"  The whole congregation giggled and we received a lot of congratulations today.  Thanks for sharing our happy news Lily Bug.

Salt Lake City Highlights

Our adventure with Brady, Puna, and Papa continues.  After three days in St. George we made our way back up to Salt Lake.  We were steps from Temple Square and the new City Creek Plaza shopping center.  It felt so good to be out of the car Monday that we took some time to stroll Temple Square and explore City Creek.  Brady needed some supplies from Deseret Book.  We had a great dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  The little ones adored the macaroni and cheese and shared a dessert of fresh strawberries and whipped cream.  The girls also loved this bubble fountain. 

 I am so glad we captured this photo showing the girls size in relation to Brady.  When he comes home in two years, Annie might be as tall as Lily is in this shot and Lily will be even taller.

 Once again, Annie was amazed at the size of the temple.  She just loves how tall and beautiful they are.  She didn't want to leave Temple Square, but holding Papa's hand helped get her moving again.

 On Tuesday morning Puna, Papa, and Brady went to the temple for a few hours so the girls and I entertained ourselves on Temple Square.  We visited the Church Museum of History and Art.  There is a beautiful exhibition there of works centered on Christ and His creations.  And the childrens' annex is so much fun.  We spent an easy two and a half hours there just playing.

 They loved this interactive art center.  So did Mommy.  All of the fun with none of the mess.

 We came back to this ship to "fish" four times.  These girls love to fish.

 The girls were serious about their Latin dancing.  A beautiful old Mexican woman came later and demonstrated the dances for us.  She was a wonder to watch.

 Annie loved this Macaw puppet.  She talked to it and about it nonstop for 10 minutes.

 Lily was proud of the tower she built and wanted a picture to show Daddy.

 I  took the girls to one of my favorite spots on Temple Square.  I love this Replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus statue.  It is so beautiful.  Lily asked me in a whisper if she could "touch Jesus' feet".  I said it would be okay if she did it reverently. 

So we had a really wonderful morning but then lunch time rolled around and Puna, Papa, and Brady took about 45 minutes longer than expected to finish their temple session.  Then Brady needed to wrap up some paperwork he needed before entering the MTC the next day.  By 1:00 the little ones (and their Mommy) were very tired, and very hungry.  We tried to enjoy lunch without Puna, Papa, and Brady but it was tough.  Mostly because the girls spilled or dropped almost 1/2 our lunch before we even started eating!  We started back to the hotel and Lily took a tumble on the sidewalk.  We sat down in the middle of the sidewalk and both the girls cried - one from pain, one from exhaustion.  I managed to get them back to the hotel and within minutes they were asleep in bed.  I learned that five days of traveling with two children under four, while pregnant, is difficult.  I happily joined the girls in an afternoon nap!

St. George Highlights

 When we weren't with Rachel's family or watching conference, we spent a little time enjoying the city of St. George.  On Saturday night we tried Menchie's frozen yogurt!  This place is so yummy.  Our family favorite was the pineapple flavor.

 We liked the St. George Temple so much we went to see it twice.  Once just the girls and again with Papa and Brady on Sunday night.  Annie didn't want to leave it.  She just stood in awe at the size and beauty of it.

 Annie telling us that the temple is "so high!"

 Somehow these got out of order.  A highlight for the girls was sneaking into Papa and Brady's room every morning to play.  The first thing they asked for every morning was to play monkeys on the bed with Papa.

All the extra love and snuggles from Uncle Brady was a real treat.  The girls are excited to write to him on his mission.  Lily has started trying to remember to pray for Brady every day.

St. George is such a beautiful area.  I wish I had taken more pictures of the actual city and scenery. I loved the red rock mountains and greenery.  I can't wait to go back with Jeremy someday.

Elder Wanner's Mission: Part Two

After Brady was set apart we traveled as a family to St. George, Utah to meet Brady's birth mother and her family.  We spent the whole weekend with them and we are so thankful they are now part of our lives.  I won't use names for the children since I didn't get permission from parents.  One of the funnest parts of this visit was being in a room with lots of other people who have the same eye color as Brady.   It was neat to learn more about his birth and share more about his life.  I don't really have words for the feelings we all experienced.  I think this visit was especially tender for Jeanette and Rachel.  We are just so thankful for the sacrifices Rachel was willing to make so that Brady could be raised in our family and bring us so much joy.

 Brady and Rachel

 Rachel, Brady, and Brady's two half-siblings.

 Brady with one of his aunts and some cousins.

 Our birth family loves music as much as the Wanners do!  We even sang a little together.

 Brady with Rachel, Bob, and Patti - his birth grandparents.

The Wanners - minus Jeremy who had to stay home and work.

Elder Wanner's Mission: Part One

Brady was set apart for his mission on Thursday October 4th. What does set apart mean?

Setting apart is an ordinance in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whereby a person is formally chosen and blessed to carry out a specific calling or responsibility in the church.
Once a person has accepted the responsibility of holding a calling in the church and has been accepted by the members of the church for that position, one or more Melchizedek priesthood holders "set apart" the person to serve in that calling. The priesthood holders accomplish this by giving the person a priesthood blessing by the laying on of hands.  Generally, only general authorities and local leaders of stakes, wards, missions, district, and branches may set apart a member to serve in a position.

Brady was set apart by his stake president.  Brady will be serving as a full time missionary for the next two years in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He will commit to keep a strict code of conduct and spend all his waking hours studying, preaching, and learning to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.