Weekly Recap...

This weekend was our Stake Conference. It was actually really nice. I was a little (maybe a little more) pessimistic about having to sit for the long periods of time, but the Lord strengthened me and my ever-growing pregnant body. A funny side note: after church today I was snacking on a potato chip before the traditional mac & cheese Sunday lunch was finished cooking. One dropped and I couldn't seem to locate it. I thought maybe I had just imagined it, but a couple minutes later Paul found it on top of my chest. Oh, the joys! Our stake theme this year is preparedness. Last night's adult session was focused on the temple. It was a wonderful time of reflection and reevaluation. The saying that Mom and Dad Jones put on Paul's college graduation clock kept coming back "Make time for the Lord." They talked of the sacrifices the early Saints had to go through in order just to build the temple. Our sacrifice today is in making time to attend the temple. They also told the story of the architect of the Nauvoo Temple, William Weeks. After arriving in the Salt Lake valley one of the foremost tasks Brigham Young declared was the the location and building of the temple. Many Saints had received the glorious saving ordinances for themselves in Nauvoo and wanted to continue the work. Due to the desolate conditions in the Salt Lake area, William Weeks scoffed at building another temple. Within just a few years he actually returned back east. As he left he stated that they will never build the temple without him. Oh, what a precarious and prideful position to be in thinking that the Lord's work will not go forward without you. Hence the call to prepare ourselves and listen to the prophet. We can see, especially now during these times and always, how much we need to listen to our prophet, prepare ourselves temporally and spiritually, and follow his counsel!

Some funny things have happened this week. One was when I took the children to the grocery store. We decided to rent a Scooby-Do movie from the Redbox. As we were there Annmarie blurts out "High School Musical 3!" Another lady was passing by and just had to do a double look. Did a 3 year old really just yell that out? We had watched it last weekend and it seemed like the movie was brought into our living room. At one particular point in the movie where they were putting on "the play" Annmarie was standing on her little IKEA table dancing her heart out. Cannon and Christian were also dancing all around. I couldn't stop laughing and wish I would have grabbed the video camera.

The next thing was that we discovered some fun video/audio podcasts. One was Dora the Explorer. Before we watched the short snippet Christian announced that he loved Dora and was going to marry her when he was older. Where did that come from?

Here are some pictures...


Annmarie dutifully rinsing the dishes...


Cannon is growing. His shirts are not...


Bianca's Sunday activity. She spent at least an hour getting different pitches and tapping them to make music...


Paul is ever the Super Dad and keeps things going smooth. He has been controlling the urge to go out and play soccer with his co-workers. I told him I need him to take care of me these next few weeks! I am finding it increasingly difficult to find comfortable positions, but I just keep reminding myself how blessed we are and that "this to shall pass." There are times that this little one moves all over and I feel like that famous scene in that alien movie where my stomach distorts into weird movements with the alien trying to pop out. Okay, so I don't think of her as an alien in there, but my belly does quite the crazy movements visible to any that might be looking at it.

Here are the three names that are the top of the list. I think we will just keep all three until she arrives and then see which one is more fitting:

Genevieve Deanna
Madeline Esther
Eliza Kate

Annmarie wanted to call her Apple. That was my doing.

According to DadLabs.com you are supposed to put the name to 3 tests. The first is to yell the name; make sure it flows when you are calling for them, or in Dan's case, when the kid is in trouble (the kids still mimic Deanna saying "Daniel Jones!"). The second is go to the park and yell the name. If you have dogs come up to you, that might not be the best name. The third is to get a 5th grade boy and ask him how he could make fun of the name. There are some things you might have never thought of before!

That is about all.

Love to each of you,
Candace