Why I Haven't Been Blogging and a Tender Taryn Moment

Do you want to know the reason why I've been completely MIA lately?

It's because somehow I have used up 98% of my memory space for my blog so I CAN'T ADD ANY MORE PICTURES!

What am I going to do?!  I am devastated, but I don't really know how to fix this problem.  Maybe switch to wordpress?  I really don't want to start from scratch again.  Does anyone have any ideas besides having to pay for my  blog?

So while I'd love to put a picture in with this post, I can't.

But I had to preserve this for memory's sake.

Last night, we had an early Family Home Evening.  Taryn's assignment was to share a story from the scriptures.  Unfortunately, I didn't prep her at all for it, so daddy says, "Okay Taryn.  Share your scripture story and why you chose it."  She turns to me and says "What do I do?"  So I quickly told her to tell the story she learned about in church yesterday.  Then we sat there slack-jawed, buggy eyed while she brought the sweetest spirit to our FHE.  


"Once, Jesus was teaching a whole lot of people and they were hungry.  So a little boy had a few loaves and fishes.  Jesus took the loaves and fishes and fed all the people.  I chose this story because we talked about it today in Primary.  I know that it is true.  I know that Jesus does things that are true.  I want to bear my testimony that I can be like Jesus."


She did it with such tenderness.  And what surprised us the most was that a) she had no prepping for it, b) she's never really practiced it before, and c) she did it all without a pause or break in between words to think about what she would say.  I was so very proud of her for all that she is learning when we're not trying to make her learn.


I love that little girl!

Hawaiian Paradise: Day 2 (Part 2)

Hi ladies!

We just got home and I am SO tired (even though it's not even 10 pm) so I really want to go to bed.  But I wanted to email you first and tell you about the rest of our day. 

We went to the temple which was so beautiful.  It was so nice being in the temple and feeling the beauty of the spirit in there.  I'm excited for when you can go to the temple and feel so close to Heavenly Father.  I know you will love it.  It is a blessing to be a part of a family that has the gospel, is worthy to go to the temple, and has been sealed for time and all eternity.  Some day you'll realize how incredible it is to have all your grandparents, and ALL your aunts and uncles married in the temple.  That is amazing.

After the temple, we went to the Polynesian Cultural center.  We watched a guy cut open a coconut with a stone, and another guy climb a palm tree with bare hands and bare feet to get a coconut.  We also watched people do dances, sing songs, and play games from their native lands.  It was really cool!  Then, we had a big dinner.  They roasted a whole entire pig in the ground and then shredded it for dinner.  It was yummy!  We also had purple rolls and coconut cake.  (there was lots of other food, but those were the coolest.)  After dinner, we went to see the evening show.  It showed a lot of dances from different countries and taught about how family and love is what makes life worth living.  The coolest part was when the guys were dancing on top of fire!  And when these other guys were throwing around sticks that were lit on fire.  I turned to daddy and said "Keara and Taryn would love this!"  Maybe someday we'll be able to bring you here and you can see it too.

The hilarious Samoan guy.  What a riot.  You can watch some of his routine on YouTube.

Obviously, we were all entertained.

Braden's favorite memory from going to Hawaii when he was 8...the guy climbing the coconut tree.  You can also see this on YouTube.

Going to Aotearoa...aka New Zealand.  Having been to New Zealand, this was something I'd already seen before.  The building, called a Whare, was brought from New Zealand.  All the performers at the PCC are from the countries they represent.

New Zealand performers with poi balls.

Ooh-la-la

Yes, there are dreaded monsters in Hawaii, too.

What funny people!

At the Luau

The roasted pig...Kalua pork!

Not a great picture, but we had great seats for the show.

We need to get to bed so we can enjoy church in the morning.  We have a busy day planned, so hopefully I'll have lots to tell you tomorrow night. 

We love you so much!  We're excited that you're with Grandma but we miss you!  Have a wonderful Sunday!  You are the most incredible girls and daughters in the world.

We love you!

Mom and Dad