Powerful Lesson

I was preparing my talk this week and found myself trying to understand some of the covenant we make being members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Here is a very powerful piece of information in regards to covenant making with the Lord. It can be found in the bible dictionary. If you really want to gain the full meaning of the statement read the reference.

The gospel is so arranged that principles and ordinances are received by covenant placing the recipient under strong obligation and responsibility to honor the commitment. Thus the severe consequences to Ananias and Sapphira, who deliberately broke their covenant and lied unto God (Acts 5: 1-11).

Fun Teeth Attempt One

Here is Porter trying in my "new teeth." I'm making some cool teeth. Final product...stay tuned. It was kind of funny. I came home and saw Porter. I told him to pretend box with me. When he hit my head I said, "Ouch!" and spit out my new fake teeth. I continued to lightly proclaim my pain and concern that he "knocked out my teeth." His eye initially became real big with surprise. He immediately stated with question, "Those aren't real?!?" Of course, trying to continue the effect, replied with, "yes, they are and you knocked them out." I had enough fun and began to laugh with him as I showed my my real teeth. He, of course, laughed right along with me. He then wanted to try them in. Thus, the picture. Don't worry they're clean.

Building Lego Blocks for the Lego Master building Yoda

My wonderful, amazing, beautiful wife and friend!

I was just thinking about what a wonderfully blessed family I have. Especially in regards to the woman I'm married to. I'm writing this to let her know publicly how tremendously wonderful she is. Let me explain why she is so amazing.

Our typical daily activity:

I get up at 5:00 ish every morning. I quickly and quietly get myself ready for school and sneak out the door in hopes that I don't awake Erin or the boys. After you here the rest of my account a better understanding of my sneakiness will be understood. I then remain at work/school from 5:30 AM until about 5:00 PM. Depending on traffic and patient's I get home anywhere from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. While I'm away Erin gets up with the kids and gets them ready for each days activities. This includes grooming, clothing, breakfast, and their whining demands (very frequent whining demands). She then plans, organizes, and executes daily activities to help the boys learn, grow, and not go crazy. She also takes care of our food, supplies, and most of our bills. She then wrestles with Peyton each afternoon trying to get him to take a much needed nap at the same time Porter, I'm sure, is continually prodding for more this or that (usually game time on the computer). Once the boys are both awake again she begins again the list of tasks and activities mentioned above. Oh, did I mention in this crazy schedule she finds time to do the laundry, clean the house, all at the same time encouraging our boys to learn, from her example, important lessons in life regarding responsibility and hard work. After noticing that the day is coming closer to the time I get to return home, she commences the labor of preparing a wonderful family dinner that will be ready in time for my arrival. She does this I know to ensure that we can all eat around the table together as a family. She does this even though she'll often get a call saying I might be a little later than planned due to lab work or traffic. If I do get home late she always has a plate waiting for me ready to eat. We then spend the next couple hours together as a family doing as much as we can together. We say our prayers and read our scriptures and, depending on the work load I have, we help each other put the kids to bed or she puts the kids to bed. Usually she take the more difficult child, Peyton; because she knows how much I have to try to accomplish with the little time left in the day. I then descend to my cave and read for the next couple hours until I can no longer keep my eyes open. Erin spends this time as her much needed personal time. Often staying up as late as I in order to get to talk with one another before we go to bed. It never fails that not too long after we fall asleep Peyton awakes. Often I don't hear him, but I know that it happens as I awake and pass through the living room only to find Erin and Peyton on the couch fast asleep. Both exhausted from another short interrupted night.

I mention this because it truly exhausts me to think about how crappy our life may seem and how uninviting, to most women, Erin's life may appear; and to most I think they would "never put up with it." Erin does more than just put up with it...she makes it seem wonderful. Our life has followed a very similar pattern for the past 4.5 years and I know I can count on 1 hand, maybe 1 finger the times that I've heard her complain. I know I've done more complaining and expressed my stress way more often than she. She is amazing as accepting our situation and making the best of it (that sounds a lot like some other perfect being we all know and love) She's always encouraging me to do better and thanking me for working so hard. She is the closest I'll ever be to someone or something so perfect. She is supportive and positive which allows the rest of our family greater ability to do the same. I can't express enough how wonderfully perfect she is.

I felt like I should write this and I think it was a great exercise. It let me see really how much she does for myself and our family each day. She is probably one of the least selfish people I've ever met.
I love you Erin.

Porter's 5th Birthday

Porter decided that he could do whatever he wanted on his birthday, so most of his day was spent playing games on the computer, swimming, and playing with his toys by himself.

The Dragon Cake

Porter's new bike from Grandma and Grandpa Gurney

Porter really wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheeses for pizza and games. We tried to talk him into going some where else for dinner, but he insisted that the pizza was delicious, so we had to eat there.

Porter got really excited when he saw Chuck E. Cheese

This is Peyton's face when he saw
Chuck E. Cheese

So I posted this because Lynn sang Happy Birthday to "Peytor". I think he forgot whose birthday it was.

Porter's "Pretend" Birthday Party

We thought it would be fun to have a birthday party for Porter with his cousins. Porter kept calling it his "pretend" party because it wasn't on his real birthday. The theme was a carnival. We had games and prizes, cotton candy, peanuts, hot dogs, face painting...the works. The kids had a blast and it was the easiest party I've ever thrown.


We spent all night decorating and painting. We payed for it the next day and had to take a major nap so that we could party in the afternoon. I painted the muscle man.

Jodie painted the monkey

Carnival decorations

Stack Stand

Tanner and Kara

Kendra and Peyton

Porter and Tanner

Me and Jodie

Porter said, "I'm falling at my party"

Kendra is getting a heart painted on her face.

The sun catcher station

They toasted to Porters party

Barry was an awesome hot dog cooker

Balloon toss

He got a few presents from me and a transformer from the Acors.

Wisconsin visit

I decided that since the kids and I were just hanging around this summer, we should take a little trip to Wisconsin to see my sister Jodie, Barry and the kids. They just moved into a huge new house and it was fun to see. Porter couldn't wait to see them. The kids did awesome in the car. I was nervous to travel by my self, but it turned out great! We had a lot of fun! Jodes and I went shopping and found a lot of great things to decorate her new house with.


We went to Rotary Gardens on Tuesday. It was gorgeous! Flowers everywhere! We barely made it through and then it started to rain. The kids had fun running through the mazes and down the trails.






The kids had fun playing outside, inside, riding bikes, playing the Wii and watching movies.