Peanut Butter and Jelly

I thought that I would as a little humor to the site. This sound clip is hilarious. Brian Regan is a funny comedian. I think this is funny because it is all about something as simply as peanut butter and jelly and how lazy society can really be sometimes.

Sammy loves the slide!!!

Here is the video of Sammy going down the slide head first. He just gets up and goes down all by himself. He is crazy!

An update for the last couple months

I wanted to finally update the blog with all the stuff we've been doing, so the post is long. Hopefully we'll get better at keeping it up to date...

We have been busy these last couple months. We went on vacation with our family to Ouray Colorado. We had a blast and recommend it to everyone to try out. There's tons to do there; shopping, biking, hiking, climbing, swimming in hot springs, jeeping, and so much more! We went jeeping to Imogene pass with a guide and loved it!! Here's some highlight pictures...

Here is Jeremaih and Sammy at Box Canyon Falls. One of the most impressive waterfalls we have seen. It is well worth the travel to Ouray itself. It's an easy walk right to the falls too!!

Here is another waterfall within walking distance form our condo.

This was our jeep where we all were able to ride to the top of the pass.

Here we are among the wildflowers on our jeeping trip.

Overall, the best was just lounging on the deck, watching the hummingbirds! Always Sammy's favorite!

The Declaration of Independence

After our trip, we rested a few days, then went to see the "origional copy" of the Declaration of Independence. It was neat to be in the capitol for the first time since the renovation. Sammy and I went with Grandma and Grandpa Embley. It was a great day!!

This is the blown up copy of the Declaration.

The Zoo!!

Sammy got to go to the Zoo for the first time too!! We went with Grandma Embley, Aunt Julie, Daniel and Megan. We all had a great time! Sammy got to see the big birds up close and feed the ducks. He also got to ride a carasoul for the first time and ride another train. He just loved the animals. He was so exhausted at the end that he even fell asleep during the big cat show! What a day!

Grandma, Daniel, Me and Sammy riding the train. Juile took the picture and Megan was riding with her.

Here's Sammy on the carasoul. He really liked it. He wasn't sure what it really was at first but he loved the motion of it all!

The Fair

Here's Sammy saying "Quack, Quack" to the duck.

Our New Car

We got a new car too. We bought it on Sammy's 17 month birthday (August 19th) and got the licence plates on his 18 month birthday (September 19th). He loves to drive our car, as do we. It's a Ford Freestlye, 2005. It's an awsome car with 7 passenger seating (for our future large family and our current camping an vacationing needs). We have loved it!

Sammy's our cutest driver!!!

The new car!

Sammy's worn out!!

This was the first time he has fallen asleep in his highchair! He wasn't even done eating lunch!

Sam in his slumber!

He also found the ultimate car! I was washing dishes when he decided to remove the rack and take it for a spin! It was too cute to pass up the photo op.

The Embley Summer Party

This year we had a summer party instead of a Christmas party. It was lots of fun! Sammy loved running around at the stake park, but he especially liked the slide!!

(Video to come soon)

Last but not least...

Here's Sammy playing on our bed this morning. He is healthy and happy, and so are we. What more can we ask for. We are blessed beyond measure and lucky to have such great family and friends to share all this with. We love you all and hope you can all be healthy and happy too!!

Silver Lake, Brighton

It was a beautiful day Monday. So we thought we would go out for a hike. We ran up to Silver Lake. It was a great time hiking with Sammy. He loved pointing at things and mumbling.

He walked around a lot of the lake on his own. I think he would have walked around the whole lake on his own if we would have had the patience.

He also loves the water. He tried to walk right into it.



Found a tree that was just a little bigger than him.



It is a beautiful place to visit, and a pretty quick drive. I recommend it to anyone that would like to get into the mountains. The trail is even wheelchair friendly.



It is always fun to be able to find a little snow in July.

Fourth of July

For the fourth of July, Jeremiah and Colby play in the Park City volleyball tournament.
Each year we gather up a cooler full of goodies, our lawn chairs, and our sunscreen to watch a lot of volleyball. This year was especially great because the boys took 3rd place!! They won gift certificates to a local Mexican restaurant. It was a good time!

Here's the guys playing like crazy!

Here's Sammy and his cousins, all looking the part for the holiday! Aren't they cute!!

While the boys were playing ball, Sammy wanted to join in the action. He and another kid were kicking the volleyball around the park. Sammy can't get enough of the outdoors. Balls and dirt are his best friends. He's all boy!

Irrigation

Sammy thought playing in the irrigation was one of the best things he has ever done. He does not care if he gets dirty. I think the dirtier he is the happier he is. It is a lot of fun watching he grow and play. Being a parent is a great experience.


I guess also when you have a boy that can make you smile when he does stuff like this also helps make the parenting a little easier and a lot more fun.

Family Vacation to Durango, CO

So I haven't been very good at updating this blog, so I decided that I would just post a bunch of picture so you could see the fun we were having.



Moab


A family picture is always nice.


Sammy really loves the carrier! I guess when you can walk yourself, why would you want someone else to carry you?


One thing Sammy loves is the DIRT!


Got to love the bounce house.


The trains from Durango to Silverton is such a cool ride. I recommend it to everyone.


Sammy thought it was a good place to take a nap.


But, it is a 3 hour ride he also had plenty of time to be awake and see the great scenery.




Sammy might just become a pilot. He loved flying in this helicopter.


A family picture at some of the ruins at Mesa Verde. That was a site to see. I would love to go back there and spend a couple of day hiking and seeing some of the different communities and dwellings.

We had a great time. We have a lot more pictures but I thought this would be good for now.

Memorial Day

Chrissy has been really good to go and visit all of the grandpa's graves each year. This year Sammy and her made it to every one of them. We are so blessed to live in this country. I am grateful for all of those that have gone before me and shown me the right path. I am also grateful for all those that have laid down their lives for this country. Can you image what kind of a country this could be if no one was willing to fight for the freedoms that we each enjoy.

He is finally doing it!

He has started to walk more and more each day. We were starting to wonder if he was going to crawl for the rest of his life but I guess that isn't going to happen. He is doing really well. He walks a little like Frankenstein right now. It is some much fun to watch him progress and get better at different things each day. We just love the little guy.

First Lawn Mow

Sammy loves the outdoors. He also loved helping me mow the lawn. We picked him up a little mower so he could feel like he was helping out. He just loved it.

A fun video

So Sammy doesn't really want to walk we have decided. He can stand up and down without help. He even walked on the couch. But we can not convince him to talk those few steps on the ground. He is a video of him walking behind his truck.



Here is another video of him before he was even one. He loves to climb, must be my boy.

Earth Day 2008 – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

I thought I would post a few ways we can all help the earth. I am posting this a little late, I was planning on doing this on earth day but I wasn't able to log on. It is crazy to think what a difference we can all make by just doing a little at a time.

Here a some interesting facts:

• The average American contributes 1,859 pounds of air pollution to the atmosphere each year.
• Running a refrigerator and freezer for one year can produce as much pollution as driving a car from Chicago to Las Vegas.
• Each mile a person travels in an airplane accounts for 1.08 pounds of greenhouse gases.
• Every minute. 37,000 empty soft drink bottles are thrown away in the United States.

Here are a few ways to help out:

• Carpool as often as possible. Set a goal of commuting with fellow workers in a car pool at least one day during Earth Week.
• Bring lunch in reusable/washable containers. Set an Earth Week goal of having at least one waste-free lunch.
• Use e-mail instead of paper copies whenever possible.
• Conserve energy by turning off lights, computers and other appliances when out of the office.
• Drink beverages from a reusable, washable mug.
• Use double-sided photocopying or printing whenever possible.
• Buy and use products made from recycled materials.
• Participate in the recycling program at work. If a program does not exist, help establish one.
• Keep track of things you have thrown away at work each day and think of ways to prevent waste.
• Lower thermostats during winter or raise them in the summer by one or two degrees to conserve energy.
• Plant a tree that will shade your house as well as reduce the need for air conditioning.
• Combine short car trips, or use a bicycle or walk instead.
• Improve your home's energy efficiency by adding insulation and caulking, and regularly cleaning heating and air conditioning filters.
• When buying paint, cleaners or other chemicals, buy only what you need and use what you buy.
• Practice water conservation - install a low flow shower head or make an Earth Day pledge to take shorter showers.
• Use compact fluorescent lights to conserve up to 75 percent of the energy consumed by incandescent bulbs.
• Purchase durable goods and choose products made with recycled materials and with minimal or recyclable packaging.
• Reduce the amount of unwanted junk mail - have your name removed from mailing lists.
• Compost it. Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn, instead of bagging them. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally.

Just a few things to keep in mind to help this lovely earth of our stay a little nicer.

"Happiness is an inside job!"

I saw this saying on a bumper sticker and thought that I should share it. The more I think about it the more I know that it is true. We have the choice to be happy or not. I think that this can be hard sometimes, but I know that it is up to each one of us to be happy. Conference was really good this year and I found President Uchtdorf's talk in the priesthood session very inspiring. I decided that I would post the whole talk. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

A Matter of a Few Degrees

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency

The difference between happiness and misery . . . often comes down to an error of only a few degrees.

My dear brethren, I feel your strength and goodness as we assemble as the priesthood of God. I love you; I admire you. Thank you for your faith, your prayers, and your willingness to serve the Lord.

It is now two months since President Thomas S. Monson called me to serve as Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church. I am sure this came as a surprise to many, and it caught me off guard as well. In fact, I would say I may have been the second most surprised person on earth, the first being my wife.

On the day the Quorum of the Twelve met in the temple to sustain President Monson and ordain and set him apart as prophet, seer, and revelator and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I felt overjoyed to have the opportunity to raise my hand in support of my beloved friend and leader.

After President Monson was sustained, he announced his counselors.

President Eyring was no surprise. He is a man of stature and character—a wonderful choice as First Counselor. How I love and admire him.

Then President Monson announced his Second Counselor. It was a name that sounded strangely familiar. It was my name.

I looked around the room, not sure I had heard correctly. But the smiles from my brethren and the look of compassion from President Monson assured me that once again my life was about to change.

We all miss President Hinckley. He continues to bless our lives.

President Monson is the prophet of God for our days; I honor him and pledge my heart, might, mind, and strength to this great work.

In 1979 a large passenger jet with 257 people on board left New Zealand for a sightseeing flight to Antarctica and back. Unknown to the pilots, however, someone had modified the flight coordinates by a mere two degrees. This error placed the aircraft 28 miles (45 km) to the east of where the pilots assumed they were. As they approached Antarctica, the pilots descended to a lower altitude to give the passengers a better look at the landscape. Although both were experienced pilots, neither had made this particular flight before, and they had no way of knowing that the incorrect coordinates had placed them directly in the path of Mount Erebus, an active volcano that rises from the frozen landscape to a height of more than 12,000 feet (3,700 m).

As the pilots flew onward, the white of the snow and ice covering the volcano blended with the white of the clouds above, making it appear as though they were flying over flat ground. By the time the instruments sounded the warning that the ground was rising fast toward them, it was too late. The airplane crashed into the side of the volcano, killing everyone on board.

It was a terrible tragedy brought on by a minor error—a matter of only a few degrees.1

Through years of serving the Lord and in countless interviews, I have learned that the difference between happiness and misery in individuals, in marriages, and families often comes down to an error of only a few degrees.

Saul, the King of Israel

The story of Saul, the king of Israel, illustrates this point. Saul’s life began with great promise, but it had an unfortunate and tragic end. In the beginning, Saul was “a choice young man, . . . and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he.”2 Saul was personally chosen by God to be king.3 He had every advantage—he was physically imposing,4 and he came from an influential family.5

Of course, Saul had weaknesses, but the Lord promised to bless, uphold, and prosper him. The scriptures tell us that God promised to always be with him,6 give him another heart,7 and turn him into another man.8

When he had the Lord’s help, Saul was a magnificent king. He united Israel and defeated the Ammonites, who had invaded their land.9 Soon a much greater problem faced him—the Philistines, who had a terrible army with chariots and horsemen “and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude.”10 The Israelites were so terrified of the Philistines that they hid “themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks.”11

The young king needed help. The prophet Samuel sent word for him to wait and that he, the prophet, would come and offer sacrifice and seek counsel from the Lord. Saul waited seven days, and still the prophet Samuel had not arrived. Finally, Saul felt he could wait no longer. He gathered the people together and did something he had no priesthood authority to do—he offered the sacrifice himself.

When Samuel arrived, he was brokenhearted. “Thou hast done foolishly,” he said. If only the new king had endured a little longer and not deviated from the course of the Lord, if only he had followed the revealed order of the priesthood, the Lord would have established his kingdom forever. “But now,” Samuel said, “thy kingdom shall not continue.”12

On that day, the prophet Samuel recognized a critical weakness in Saul’s character. When pressured by outside influences, Saul did not have the self-discipline to stay on course, trust the Lord and His prophet, and follow the pattern God had established.

Small Errors Can Have a Large Impact on Our Lives

The difference of a few degrees, as with the Antarctica flight or Saul’s failure to hold fast to the counsel of the prophet just a little longer, may seem minor. But even small errors over time can make a dramatic difference in our lives.

Let me share with you how I taught the same principle to young pilots.

Suppose you were to take off from an airport at the equator, intending to circumnavigate the globe, but your course was off by just one degree. By the time you returned to the same longitude, how far off course would you be? A few miles? A hundred miles? The answer might surprise you. An error of only one degree would put you almost 500 miles (800 km) off course, or one hour of flight for a jet.

No one wants his life to end in tragedy. But all too often, like the pilots and passengers of the sightseeing flight, we set out on what we hope will be an exciting journey only to realize too late that an error of a few degrees has set us on a course for spiritual disaster.

Is There a Lesson for Our Lives in These Examples?

Small errors and minor drifts away from the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring sorrowful consequences into our lives. It is therefore of critical importance that we become self-disciplined enough to make early and decisive corrections to get back on the right track and not wait or hope that errors will somehow correct themselves.

The longer we delay corrective action, the larger the needed changes become, and the longer it takes to get back on the correct course—even to the point where a disaster might be looming.

You men of the priesthood have been entrusted with a great responsibility. Just think of it: our Heavenly Father trusts you young deacons, teachers, and priests with the “key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel.”13 You men of the Melchizedek Priesthood have received an oath and a covenant in which you have been promised all the Father has if you magnify your priesthood.14

The Lord reminds us that “unto whom much is given much is required.”15 Those who bear the priesthood of God have a great responsibility to be examples of goodness to the world. We live up to these expectations when we quickly recognize the dangers and influences that tempt us to drift from the Lord’s way and when we courageously follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost to make decisive corrections that will bring us back on course.

This conference is being translated into 92 languages and broadcast to 96 countries by the miracle of modern technology. Many of you brethren attend general conference by means of the Internet. New technologies such as this make it possible for the gospel message to be spread throughout the world. The Church Web sites are good examples of how you can use this technology as a wonderful resource of inspiration, help, and learning. They can be a blessing for you priesthood holders, your families, and the Church.

But be cautious. These same technologies can allow evil influences to cross the threshold of your homes. These dangerous traps are only a mouse click away. Pornography, violence, intolerance, and ungodliness destroy families, marriages, and individual lives. These dangers are distributed through many media, including magazines, books, television, movies, and music, as well as the Internet. The Lord will help you to recognize and avoid those evils. It is the early recognition of danger and a clear course correction that will keep you in the light of the gospel. Minor decisions can lead to major consequences.

Entering a strange and risky chat room on the Internet could lead you into the center of a raging storm. Putting a computer in a private room that the rest of the family cannot access could be the starting point for a deceitful and dangerous journey.

But the Lord requires not only outward acts but also your inner thoughts and feelings to be close to the spirit of the law.16 God “require[s] the heart and a willing mind.”17

We, the priesthood of God, have the responsibility and the power of self-direction: “It is not meet that I should command in all things,” saith the Lord. “Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves.”18

Our Heavenly Father knew before we came to this mortal existence that negative forces would tempt us to drift from our course, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”19 That is why He prepared a way for us to make corrections. Through the merciful process of true repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our sins can be forgiven and we will “not perish, but have everlasting life.”20

Our willingness to repent shows our gratitude for God’s gift and for the Savior’s love and sacrifice on our behalf. Commandments and priesthood covenants provide a test of faith, obedience, and love for God and Jesus Christ, but even more importantly, they offer an opportunity to experience love from God and to receive a full measure of joy both in this life and in the life to come.

These commandments and covenants of God are like navigational instructions from celestial heights and will lead us safely to our eternal destination. It is one of beauty and glory beyond understanding. It is worth the effort. It is worth making decisive corrections now and then staying on course.

Remember: the heavens will not be filled with those who never made mistakes but with those who recognized that they were off course and who corrected their ways to get back in the light of gospel truth.

The more we treasure the words of the prophets and apply them, the better we will recognize when we are drifting off course—even if only by a matter of a few degrees.

What If We Have Drifted Far off Course?

Now, brethren, there are those who have neglected to make appropriate course corrections and now believe that they are too far from the Lord’s way to ever make it back. To them we proclaim the good news that is the gospel of redemption and salvation. No matter how terribly off course you are, no matter how far you have strayed, the way back is certain and clear. Come, learn of the Father; offer up a sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Have faith, and believe in the cleansing power of the infinite Atonement of Jesus the Christ. If we confess and repent of our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.21 “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be [made] as white as snow.”22

It may not be an easy path, and it requires self-discipline and determination, but its end is glorious beyond description. You are not doomed to a tragic end. Many are eager to assist you—your family, bishops and stake presidents, your quorum leaders, and home teachers. Of course, your greatest friend is the all-powerful Creator of the universe. It is His priesthood you bear. He understands your sorrow. He knows your grief. He and our Father in Heaven will bless, comfort, and strengthen you; They will walk beside you and carry you as you strive to right your course.

My dear brethren, you are truly choice and precious sons of Heavenly Father. He has entrusted you with the sacred power of the priesthood. Please do not drift off course, not even a few degrees. Hearken unto the Lord your God, and He will do for you what He promised to do for Saul: He will give you a new heart, make of you a new man, and always be with you.

I testify of our Heavenly Father, who knows and loves you. I bear witness of Jesus Christ our Savior, who is the head of this Church. President Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God today. I express my love and gratitude for you, my dear friends and brethren of the priesthood. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sammy came down with Roseola

The past few days have been interesting to us. A lot has been going on and we have been having a lot of fun. Chrissy did have her birthday on the 29th, so we did have a couple of parties for that. She got some great things from everyone.
Sammy did get sick we found out on Sunday. He had had a fever on Thursday and Friday, but it never got too high. He was chewing on everything, so we just thought that he was teething. Saturday he didn't have a fever, but Saturday night he didn't sleep. He was awake every hour for about an hour. It was exhausting to Chrissy and I. And we couldn't figure what was wrong with him. Around 6 in the morning Chrissy noticed spot on his head. So we though he might have the chicken pox. So we took him to the doctor to find out what he had. Come to find out he has what is called Roseola. I guess the signs are a few for up to a week then it just stops all a sudden and the kids get a rash all over their bodies. It only happens to babies to 2 years old usually. It was nice to find out that he was now on the tail end of it. Here are some pictures of Sammy for all to see. He looks like he has broke out in pimples.

Quote of the Day

"Think of life as a terminal illness, because if you do, you will live it with joy and passion, as it ought to be lived."
- Anna Quindlen

Easter

Easter was a great time this year. Sammy was getting the whole easter egg hunt thing down by the end of all the different parties we went to. He didn't like giving up his eggs. He found them why should he have to put them in a basket. He just wanted to play with them.


Helping him walk around


Easter baskets for everyone.


Grandpa and grandma with Sammy. And look he is not even crying!


Put it in the basket.




What is this thing anyway?