Reading as a Family...
So...back to that discussion about reading as a family. We wanted to give you a little challenge. Sometimes it's hard to decide what book to read, exactly. But, Grandma Teresa just read a book she thinks you'll all enjoy. It's called Summer of the Monkey's by Wilson Rawls. It's got monkey's in it - so what's not to like?!! Anyway, here's a picture of it. Go to your library and get it and start reading out loud with your family today. We can't wait to hear what you think.
Family in Nature
We know this picture is fuzzy, but we wanted to show it to you anyway. We loved these flowers because they were all facing the same way. Flowers don't always do that, but these flowers are shaded by the trees behind them so they all have to face the sun to get the light and energy they need to grow. They were actually leaning into the sunlight. They're like a family all stretching out towards the teachings of the Son of God. Pretty cool huh?
Hadley gave a great talk about Following God in Sacrament Meeting a few weeks ago. Can you believe she's old enough to speak in Sacrament Meeting? Isn't she a wonderful example for all of us? We felt the Spirit as we read her talk, so we wanted to share it with you. We sure do love our family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Family Testimony
Family Time at Gros VentreOther things you'll want to be sure to remember:
Sunscreen Insect repellent water shoes/sandals swimsuits lifejackets if you parents want you to wear them headlamp clothes for hot days and cooler nights outerwear for play no matter the weather good walking shoes happy heart ready for adventure |
Family Time Capsule - 2014
Each Family Should Bring:
- a favorite family snap shot
- a SMALL item that reminds you of our whole family when we're together (this can be anything as long as you can explain it!)
- a list of your top five favorite things that happened in 2013
- a favorite school assignment
- 1 goal you hope to have accomplished by 2019
- a SMALL craft, picture, paragraph, or story about what your life will be like five years from now.
Bring it to the Lodge on January 15th. Check in is 1:30 pm.
WE. CAN'T. WAIT.
Hey - Guess What?! Grandma and Grandpa got married in the temple too!
Can you guess what temple?
- a favorite family snap shot
- a SMALL item that reminds you of our whole family when we're together (this can be anything as long as you can explain it!)
- a list of your top five favorite things that happened in 2013
- a favorite school assignment
- 1 goal you hope to have accomplished by 2019
- a SMALL craft, picture, paragraph, or story about what your life will be like five years from now.
Bring it to the Lodge on January 15th. Check in is 1:30 pm.
WE. CAN'T. WAIT.
Hey - Guess What?! Grandma and Grandpa got married in the temple too!
Can you guess what temple?
Here's a fun fact: we got married during a power outage!!!
The lights in the temple went out just as we were about to get married. So...after we waited a while, it was decided we would get married by flash light. That never happens!
But you know what? When we think back to that moment our memories are filled with light. We don't remember flashlights, in fact some people had to remind us about that.
We remember knowing we were in the right place (the temple),
with the right person (each other),
doing the right thing (making eternal covenants).
How could our memories be filled with any thing but light?!!!
Speaking of light - check out this awesome place we want to take you all to when we're together. Bring some warm clothes - it will be fun. We'll probably do this Friday morning, or maybe Wednesday afternoon. Time will tell. Be ready!!!
The lights in the temple went out just as we were about to get married. So...after we waited a while, it was decided we would get married by flash light. That never happens!
But you know what? When we think back to that moment our memories are filled with light. We don't remember flashlights, in fact some people had to remind us about that.
We remember knowing we were in the right place (the temple),
with the right person (each other),
doing the right thing (making eternal covenants).
How could our memories be filled with any thing but light?!!!
Speaking of light - check out this awesome place we want to take you all to when we're together. Bring some warm clothes - it will be fun. We'll probably do this Friday morning, or maybe Wednesday afternoon. Time will tell. Be ready!!!
All we want for Christmas is to be with all of our family!
But, since that isn't possible... we are super thankful we get to see you ALL in January.
We're busy making plans for our special night all together the night before Taralyn and Daren get married. But, we need your help!
Since 2014 is full of exciting unknowns we want to create a time capsule to capture where we are as a family now. Then we'll hide it away for five whole years. We'll wait until 2019 to pull it out and look at the difference five years can make!
We're making these assignments early so you can keep them in mind throughout the Christmas season and make them happen, or work on something when you need something to do. Work on them during family nights or when you're taking a long drive. You've got five weeks to get it all ready. Easy-Peasy!
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Here’s what we’re asking everyone to bring:
- a favorite family snap shot
- a SMALL item that reminds you of our whole family when we're together (this can be anything as long as you can explain it!)
- a list of your top five favorite things that happened in 2013
- a favorite school assignment
- 1 goal you hope to have accomplished by 2019
- a craft, a picture, a paragraph, or story about what your life will be like five years from now.
Let your imaginations go crazy! Then bring it all to our lodge on January 15, 2014. WE. CAN'T. WAIT.
But, since that isn't possible... we are super thankful we get to see you ALL in January.
We're busy making plans for our special night all together the night before Taralyn and Daren get married. But, we need your help!
Since 2014 is full of exciting unknowns we want to create a time capsule to capture where we are as a family now. Then we'll hide it away for five whole years. We'll wait until 2019 to pull it out and look at the difference five years can make!
We're making these assignments early so you can keep them in mind throughout the Christmas season and make them happen, or work on something when you need something to do. Work on them during family nights or when you're taking a long drive. You've got five weeks to get it all ready. Easy-Peasy!
main.php
Here’s what we’re asking everyone to bring:
- a favorite family snap shot
- a SMALL item that reminds you of our whole family when we're together (this can be anything as long as you can explain it!)
- a list of your top five favorite things that happened in 2013
- a favorite school assignment
- 1 goal you hope to have accomplished by 2019
- a craft, a picture, a paragraph, or story about what your life will be like five years from now.
Let your imaginations go crazy! Then bring it all to our lodge on January 15, 2014. WE. CAN'T. WAIT.
Don't Forget - Our Family Time Capsule!!!
Don't forget your assignments kiddos -
Clark girls - you're helping Grandma tell a story.
Tidlund kids - you're leading the family in a game or two.
Clark girls - you're helping Grandma tell a story.
Tidlund kids - you're leading the family in a game or two.
How about a fun family project?
We miss you all and it will be hard for us to not see you for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
But, we've found a way to feel you near us.
We want to make a paper chain for our Christmas tree and we need help from all of you.
That means your parents (and aunts and uncles Arrington/Parker) too.
Here's how it works. Get help downloading the template that's linked to the I Am Thankful button above and get your parents to print out a bunch on tan or light brown construction paper. Cut them all in strips. Then on Thanksgiving talk together about all of us and what you are thankful for about our family. Write down each idea on one of the Thankful strips then put them all together and mail them to us before the end of November. We will put them all together into one big chain and put it on our Christmas tree. That way we can think about you all and how thankful we are for each and every member of our growing family each and every day in December.
Then we'll see you all in January - WOO HOO!!!
Have your parents told you about the lodge sleepover????
These are your great Uncles Mike (clown) and Dave (devil) Boyer.
See the creepy masks? The costumes were just like a pair of pajamas we pulled on over our clothes. Halloween has become much more exciting since we were kids.
It was normal for us to get home made cookies and apples and hot cider though. That was pretty fun. No one ever had trunk-or-treats so our trick-or-treating took all night!
Be sure to send us pictures. We wish you could all come trick or treat at our house!
See the creepy masks? The costumes were just like a pair of pajamas we pulled on over our clothes. Halloween has become much more exciting since we were kids.
It was normal for us to get home made cookies and apples and hot cider though. That was pretty fun. No one ever had trunk-or-treats so our trick-or-treating took all night!
Be sure to send us pictures. We wish you could all come trick or treat at our house!
We want our family to be together forever so we need to listen and feel the Spirit in our hearts as the prophets speak. Watching Conference is one way we follow the Prophet as a family. That's how we show our testimony and devotion.
Picture This
This is one of the few pictures of the inside of an actual covered wagon ready to cross the plains. It looks pretty cramped doesn't it? Can you imagine trying to fit your whole family in here?!!! It would be really crowded. Most families actually slept under their wagons because there was no room inside.
Traveling was certainly much different for the pioneers than it is for us! Julia Ann Crandall was 6 years old when her family crossed the plains. She was your third great grandma. She couldn't walk when she was little so her daddy made her a hammock that hung inside their covered wagon above all of their stuff inside. She said it was quite the bumpy swingy ride!
Traveling was certainly much different for the pioneers than it is for us! Julia Ann Crandall was 6 years old when her family crossed the plains. She was your third great grandma. She couldn't walk when she was little so her daddy made her a hammock that hung inside their covered wagon above all of their stuff inside. She said it was quite the bumpy swingy ride!
Look! Mickey likes water too! He could easily be a part of our family. =)
You can color this picture online or print it out if it's okay with your parents.
You can color this picture online or print it out if it's okay with your parents.
Did you know Mickey Mouse has a family? Obviously, they like to be together outside too!
Let's go play in the woods in four weeks!!!
Let's go play in the woods in four weeks!!!
Click the pictures full size to find what we learned from our Daddies!
Click the pictures full size to find what we learned from our Mommies!
We Are Family
Grandma and Grandpa love being able to look into a room in our house and see you all together!
We are family, and that makes us very happy.
Family laughs together.
Family plays together.
Family prays together.
Family eats together.
Family sacrifices for each other.
Family serves each other.
Family worships together.
Family even cries together.
Each of you make our family very special. We are so thankful we are family!
We are family, and that makes us very happy.
Family laughs together.
Family plays together.
Family prays together.
Family eats together.
Family sacrifices for each other.
Family serves each other.
Family worships together.
Family even cries together.
Each of you make our family very special. We are so thankful we are family!
Families Are Forever
Taunalee and Peter promised God they would create a forever family by being married in the Temple. So did your Mommy and Daddy. Families are forever when they keep the commandments and make covenants with God in His Temple.
When we see the temple it reminds us that Heavenly Father wants us to live as a family with him eternally. That can only happen when we get married in the Temple.
There is no place else on earth that can keep this promise!
When we see the temple it reminds us that Heavenly Father wants us to live as a family with him eternally. That can only happen when we get married in the Temple.
There is no place else on earth that can keep this promise!
Play This Game With Your Family
Jelly Bean Toss
You need two players per team. One has a cup attached to their head with elastic. (This is REALLY easy to do if you use Styrofoam or paper cups - make a slit at the bottom of the cup on both sides. Only make the slit wide enough to accommodate the elastic. Stitch the ends of the elastic together to make a headband with a cup on top!) The cup person stands on a line, or sits in a chair a certain distance from their partner. The cup-less partner tosses jellybeans at the cup, and the cup partner is in charge of catching them without using their hands. The team with the most beans in their cup at the end of 30 seconds wins! If you are using chairs, a fun rule is that the person sitting on the chair can move around, but can't lose physical contact with the chair.
You need two players per team. One has a cup attached to their head with elastic. (This is REALLY easy to do if you use Styrofoam or paper cups - make a slit at the bottom of the cup on both sides. Only make the slit wide enough to accommodate the elastic. Stitch the ends of the elastic together to make a headband with a cup on top!) The cup person stands on a line, or sits in a chair a certain distance from their partner. The cup-less partner tosses jellybeans at the cup, and the cup partner is in charge of catching them without using their hands. The team with the most beans in their cup at the end of 30 seconds wins! If you are using chairs, a fun rule is that the person sitting on the chair can move around, but can't lose physical contact with the chair.
Family Camping - Why We Love It
One of our favorite things in life is waking up to the sound of all of our family around us. When the sun comes up and camp starts to stir, we know that just outside the door of our tent family adventure is waiting! Who wouldn't want to wake up to that?!
We love having you all to ourselves. ;o) We love playing and relaxing with you. We love the absence of TV, Radio, Internet, Phones etc, because we can be completely focused on spending time with you. We love nature and being surrounded by God's amazing artwork. We love fresh air, and campfires, and the smell (and taste) of camp food. We love sunrises and sunsets and golden afternoons. We love wading and splashing and exploring with our kids and grandkids. We love the smell of the forest. We love seeing wildlife and having you to share the excitement with. We love playing games, like Yatzee, and Uno, and whatever else you want to play. And of course, we love you!!!!
Color the hiking & camping color pages and send them to us!
We love having you all to ourselves. ;o) We love playing and relaxing with you. We love the absence of TV, Radio, Internet, Phones etc, because we can be completely focused on spending time with you. We love nature and being surrounded by God's amazing artwork. We love fresh air, and campfires, and the smell (and taste) of camp food. We love sunrises and sunsets and golden afternoons. We love wading and splashing and exploring with our kids and grandkids. We love the smell of the forest. We love seeing wildlife and having you to share the excitement with. We love playing games, like Yatzee, and Uno, and whatever else you want to play. And of course, we love you!!!!
Color the hiking & camping color pages and send them to us!
More about Grandma Barbara Clark
Grandma Clark’s house was easy to walk to. Poppa Stu went there a lot after school. She always had Fresca (a kind of soda pop) and ice milk. She always had the old-fashioned hand-ground peanut butter that separated. Poppa stu liked to go to her house because she was always very kind and gave him ice cream cones.
Poppa Stu loved it when he was invited to spend the night at Grandma’s house because he’d get her all to himself. She always made him feel like he was more important than her things. Poppa Stu got his tonsils out when he was four years old and his grandma brought him a bottle of Orange Crush. He loved it. She always made him feel very special.
One of Poppa Stu’s favorite memories about his Grandma Clark is all of the times they went fishing and camping.
They liked to play the game Yatzee. (we should play it next time we go camping!) She loved drives in the mountains. She took him on a lot of picnics. He remembers going to Alpine Loop (that’s the canyon where Taralynie works) and Hobble Creek. He used to go camping and fishing with her and grandpa often. So the next time you go for a drive in the mountains, or we all go camping together remember – we’re celebrating a family tradition started by your great, great, grandma Barbara Clark.
Ask your parents to teach you how to play the game Yatzee so we can all play it this summer!
Poppa Stu loved it when he was invited to spend the night at Grandma’s house because he’d get her all to himself. She always made him feel like he was more important than her things. Poppa Stu got his tonsils out when he was four years old and his grandma brought him a bottle of Orange Crush. He loved it. She always made him feel very special.
One of Poppa Stu’s favorite memories about his Grandma Clark is all of the times they went fishing and camping.
They liked to play the game Yatzee. (we should play it next time we go camping!) She loved drives in the mountains. She took him on a lot of picnics. He remembers going to Alpine Loop (that’s the canyon where Taralynie works) and Hobble Creek. He used to go camping and fishing with her and grandpa often. So the next time you go for a drive in the mountains, or we all go camping together remember – we’re celebrating a family tradition started by your great, great, grandma Barbara Clark.
Ask your parents to teach you how to play the game Yatzee so we can all play it this summer!
Meet Grandma Susie Craven
Susanna Ester Schultz Craven was born 111 years ago on January 16, 1902. She is Grandma Boyer's mommy and Grandma Teresa's Grandma. Although she went to heaven long before any of you were born, she loves you. We know this, because our family is forever, and that means our love is too. Susie's parents were immigrants from Norway. (Syvert and Thea) When Grandma Teresa was a little girl she loved to visit her Grandma. Grandma Craven always had boxes of Cracker Jack's for her grandkids and she made a really yummy dessert called Triffle. She also crotched beautiful snowflake Christmas ornaments. (Like Taralyn makes now!) She loved to laugh. She had a quick sense of humor. And she loved family. She also loved to serve others and make them happy too. Grandma Craven died in January too, in 1993 when she was ninety-one years old!
Ask your parents if they remember anything about their Great Grandma Craven.
Ask your parents if they remember anything about their Great Grandma Craven.
Pooh talks family...
“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you.”
Winnie the Pooh also once said, “I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart for so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can be together all the time.”
We think Pooh has it right. You know what we like to dream about? Camping, and playing, and eating, and laughing with you!!!
Winnie the Pooh also once said, “I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart for so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can be together all the time.”
We think Pooh has it right. You know what we like to dream about? Camping, and playing, and eating, and laughing with you!!!
We Love Family!
Do you know we got to see ALL of our family members in December? First Great Grandma and Grandpa Boyer came to visit, then Taunalee and Peter came for dinner. Right after that Steve, Rachel, Hallie, and Natalie, came and stayed a few days with us. Then Taralyn arrived just in time to spend half a day with them too. Not long after that, Tiffany, Bryan, Hadley, Madison, Katelyn, and Colter arrived. Whew! If you'd told us last year that we'd have such a great visit-filled December we never would have believed it! We are so thankful you all came to visit us. We feel so loved and so blessed. Thank you for the best Christmas ever!!! We love and miss you all.
Naughty or Nice?
We don't know if you've ever been told this, but when we were little we used to be told that if we didn't behave ourselves we'd get coal in our Christmas stocking! (Poppa Stu was quite the busy little boy, so he got told that a lot.) Then one Christmas little Stu pulled out a great big huge Christmas stocking and declared he was putting that out for Santa because Santa would have to fill it all the way up. He couldn't wait for Christmas morning to see his big haul. But what he found was a teeny-tiny-little Christmas stocking filled with one big lump of coal! He couldn't believe Santa would actually decide he had been naughty enough that he deserved a lump of coal. So sad. But it turns out Santa was teaching him a lesson. The little stocking filled with coal was where little Stu had laid out his stocking, but Santa had filled up another stocking and hid it for little Stu to find after he got his coal. He was very happy when he found that stocking. Was little Stu less naughty after that Christmas? Probably not!
Christmas is Family
When we look back on our favorite Christmases they always involve family. Because of the examples Jesus gives us of love, compassion, sharing, caring, and giving, it makes sense to start with family. Family gives us the best opportunity for practicing all those things. We are so excited that we will get to see all of you this month. We look forward to sharing all the fun, food, and celebration with all of you. Maximum family time - we love it! Family is our greatest gift and a family Christmas is the best kind of Christmas.
The Spirit of Christmas
When Granma Teresa was a little girl her family took a big trip from Canada to Idaho for Christmas. Because they traveled by plane, Santa couldn't bring their presents to them in Idaho, so he delivered them to Canada. But before Teresa's family could get home to Canada, someone broke into their house and robbed them. They took money and other valuables. But they didn't take Christmas! Teresa could tell they'd touched all the presents because some of them were smashed in like the robbers were trying to see what was inside, but in the end they didn't take any of the Christmas presents. Everyone in the family decided that even though the robbers had done a bad thing, the spirit of Christmas had kept them from stealing their Christmas presents. The spirit of Christmas often reminds us to be a little kinder and a little better. Let the spirit of Christmas inspire you!
Four Generations of Family
Did you know most people have never experienced having four generations in one room? That's you, your parents, your grandparents, and your great grand parents! We were so lucky to have had that experience. Not only that, we got to share with each other the things we are grateful for. That's a very special day, and we hope you remember it forever! But we know some people were missing, your other grandparents and great grandparents. So - we're going to help you make Christmas Ornaments at our house that have pictures of all of your four generation ancestors. But, we need you to get your parents to help us. We need you to email us pictures of your other grandparents and great grandparents. They need to include their names too. We need all that this week, please. That way, when you come to our house, we'll be all ready to make your ancestor Christmas ornaments!
Did You Know?
You had ancestors on the Mayflower? The Mayflower is the ship the first Pilgrims sailed on. Two of those people were John and Priscilla Alden. Before they came to Plymoth they didn't know each other, but they fell in love and become the 3rd Pilgrim couple to be married. They weren't the only ancestors you had that were Pilgrims. At least 10% of the people who sailed on the Mayflower were your relatives. So when you think about the Pilgrims on Thanksgiving, you're thinking about your bjillion great grandparents! Now that's something to be thankful for.
We Love Family
We love our family! We love each of you and we love all sorts of people who have lived before us too. Like grandparents and great grandparents and more.
On this page we'll share stories about our ancestors. Ancestors are people who lived before us and made choices that have helped to bless our lives today.
Someday, when we all live with Heavenly Father again we'll be blessed to live with all these family members too, if we all make good choices. So, doesn't it make sense to know who they are know?
Check back often to see if there's a new ancestor story waiting for you!
On this page we'll share stories about our ancestors. Ancestors are people who lived before us and made choices that have helped to bless our lives today.
Someday, when we all live with Heavenly Father again we'll be blessed to live with all these family members too, if we all make good choices. So, doesn't it make sense to know who they are know?
Check back often to see if there's a new ancestor story waiting for you!