2017 family theme

 

In 2016, our family's focus was the Six B's spoken about by Gordon B. Hinckley. We recited the 6 B's every monday night at family home evening and tried to incorporate them into some of our lessons and discussions throughout the year. We started the year off strong with our family goals, but after a few months in I think we all forgot that we were even planning on setting goals that year! I know that when we were deciding on our 2017 theme, for the life of me, I could not remember if we had even set any family goals in 2016. Thank goodness for this blog so I could eventually go back and check to remember! Some years are better than others.

I sat down a few weeks ago to brainstorm my thoughts for our focus in 2017. After praying, I made a list of thoughts, words, and scriptures that came to my mind. My mind kept settling on something to do with the word "courage." Eric and I talked about a few different ideas. But it wasn't until the day before we presented our theme to our kiddos that we settled on a phrase and a scripture.

Our 2017 family focus is  Have Courage, and Be Kind

and Alma 53:20-21  

20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

 21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.

This phrase "Have courage and Be Kind" was the trendy latest-thing after the Cinderella movie came out so we hesitated to use it for fear it had been over used. We like the idea of carving our own path around here and not jumping on a bandwagon. But there was no way around it, the phrase was simple and to the point and exactly what we want to focus on this year.

Our goals this year are focused directly on this theme and have more to do with our character, our actions, and our thoughts.

Have Courage and Be Kind

2017 family goals

Have courage

-to try new things

-to stand for the right

-to be friendly

-to act

-to face your fears

-to be honest

-to show up

-to be involved

-to care

-to develop and share your talents

-to choose the unpopular, but right, choice

-to follow your heart

-to communicate clearly

-to look everyone in the eye

-to say “I’m sorry” or “I was wrong”

Be Kind

-notice others

-give compliments

-hold the door for others

-show empathy

-give hugs

-smile

-be generous

-show gratitude

-say please and thank you

-say “I’m sorry” and be quick to forgive

-stay calm

-use a pleasant tone of voice

-put others before yourself

-don’t argue

-assume everyone is trying their best

-give the benefit of the doubt

-to yourself

When we presented the theme to our kids and talked together about what it means, I also found this quote that I just love. I read that this was on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta and it is based on writing published by Kent Keith. It's hanging on our quote board right now.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  

Forgive them anyway.If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

So there you have it. We are ready for 2017! 

az science center and the zoo

When Eric had some time off of work during the christmas break, we went on a few family outings.

We spent one morning at the arizona science center.

We also spent a day at the zoo.

You can't go to the zoo without heading to papago park and climbing hole in the rock.

I love how Perry saw the girls posing with their hands on their hips and had to copy them.

Out of the mouth of Layla

 

Just a few days after her first tooth came out (the tooth she let Kacin pull out!), she wiggled her second tooth right out.

 

I had this conversation with Layla the other day when it was time to clean her room.

Layla: When I'm a mom, I'm not going to clean.

Me: well, who will?

Layla: the husband

"Take a picture of my beard."

 

Layla is sooo excited to start soccer soon. She was asking me all sorts of questions about starting. My favorite question was this: "Is my soccer coach a huge human?" If she means, adult then the answer is yes. And I guess that also makes me a "huge human."

 

We watched Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark as a family. After one of the guys died in the cave Layla asked if he would become one of the bone "decorations " on the walls of the cave. 

on the last day of the year

On the last day of 2016, we finally got to do the thing that the boys had been begging to do since we moved down here. We took the atv's out into the desert and spent the day quading with family.

It was the perfect day for it. Over cast skies. Muddy ground.

And a beautiful desert landscape.

My brother in law Josh is awesome. He loaded up all of the atv's and got everything ready. He also borrowed this rhino from a friend. I want one of these! It was a blast taking the kids around on this.

See Perry's hand on the steering wheel? He insisted he "drive". So he kept one hand on the steering wheel at all times.

It was a little muddy . . .

Even Grayson got all buckled in for a ride. I don't think he was too impressed though.

I gave Kacin and Kyler driving lessons.

Perry was chasing the girls down in this. He told me he wanted out of the "girl" car and wanted the "boy" one.

He was definitely pretty happy when he got a turn to drive it.

We had hours of fun out there. And can't wait to do it again. But we had to get back home for a New Year's Eve party at our house. It was kind of a last minute thing, but we hosted a 60's murder mystery party. Followed by a game night. We had a blast getting to know some fun people!

We actually made it to midnight and watched the ball drop on tv.

Happy New Year!!