The Saturday before Thanksgiving I woke up early, grabbed my camera, jumped into Bumble Bug and TOOK OFF, MAN! It was great!

I was looking for a peaceful, beautiful and refreshing place to snap a few pictures. I didn't have to go far. All I had to do was drive down the street and over the hill to the Redlands Temple. Ahhhhhhh.....there was my place!

I snapped a few pictures of the Temple, the Angel Moroni, and the surrounding flora. It was all beautiful. I love the simple angularity of the Temple's architeture; and how the plants and flowers soften those angles.








Even though we hadn't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet, the Temple's Nativity Scene was already in place. Just Lovely. My very Favorite scripture story of all time!





It was an invigorating morning! My heart was filled with Gratitude for my Savior. I felt great Joy in being near Him and His House. As always, whenever I contemplate the story of Mary, I am inspired to be a better Mother; because she, a mortal, raised the Savior of all. The fact that she enabled her Son to fulfill His destiny and purpose on this earth gives me strength to know that I can enable my children to fulfill their destiny's as well. I am so Grateful for Mary. I am also Grateful for Joseph who Loved her, supported her, cared for her and protected her. What a guy! These are two people I can't wait to meet and give Really Big Hugs to. I love them.

I hope you all had a Very Happy Thanksgiving; and are enjoying your few weeks of madness before Christmas! Much Love to You All!

Latest Painting

Acrylic on 10x12 board



As usual, there is no title. But, if you'd like to give it a title, I'd like know what it would be.

Warm & Fuzzy - This One's For Joy!

I LOVE the Holiday Season! I love to be cold & all snuggly in my jammies next to the fire reading a great book! I love to drink hot apple cider or hot cocoa! I love to watch all the classic movies that relate a message of Thanksgiving and Peace On Earth!

However, it still feels like SUMMER here in So. Cal! Since we can't turn on our fireplace yet, I made my own fire that I can watch while sitting next to the pool. So, if you are in need of a little Holiday Cheer, I hope my homespun fire will warm your heart right up! Much Love to You!

T. R. A. D. I. T. I. O. N. #2

tra-di'tion n. the handing down of customs, practices, doctrines, etc.;

If this is the definition to be understood by all
as to what tradition is,
then
the Child children
will have the following
Characteristics
handed down to them by Me & Bart ~
Hard-Work & Persistence
Faith & Integrity
These characteristics that will be with them
throughout their entire lives.

Summer vacations in the trailer,
Food Network Challenges and a Nap on Sunday afternoons,
Grandma Child's house for Thanksgiving,
Pajamas Christmas Eve,
A new personal ornament in their stocking
Christmas morning,
and
Family Home Evening Phantom
are the Activities
that will be
handed down to them;
and, hopefully
their children.

Personally,
I'm a bit of a "Buck"-it!
I like to do things differently all the time. Example:
If the Christmas Tree
was in the Piano room
last year (and the year before),
why does it have to be there
again
this year?
Why can't it
be
in the Family Room?

and

Who said we have to eat
Turkey
and all that other
Food
on Thanksgiving?
What if I want a
Bean, Rice & Cheese Burrito?

However,
with my idiosyncracies aside,
there is One group of people,
who live and die by Tradition,
that all our
Traditions
depend on.

I am so very Grateful for the Entire Group,
for their Sacrifices,
and their
Loyalty to Tradition.

Without Them, we would not
be
Living Freely to
enjoy our
Traditions.

I dedicate this video to
Them, and Their Families.



I Love You Steve, Natalie, Sam & Dallin!

T. R. A. D. I. T. I. O. N.

Whether you embrace it,
or “buck” it,
traditions are what make
the Holiday Season
go 'round.

In a few simple words, or several long phrases,
please tell me:

What does Tradition mean to You?
Where do your Traditions come from?

and

Are you Loyal to your Traditions;

or,

Do you shake things up a bit by
doing things differently than expected
every once in a while?
If you shake things up, how is it received
by everyone?

Some Recent Funnies

1. A few days ago, after kneading some bread dough, I noticed that a certain shape was appearing due to the rhythm of the kneading. HaHa - I felt this shape was quite appropriate since I was baking the bread for my family - whom I love immensely!



2. I went to my Not-So-Favorite place - Costco - on Saturday to stock up on some necessities. I decided to get some really yummy steaks wrapped in bacon. After I brought my purchases into the kitchen, Lauren saw the steaks, picked them up and said, "You like my six-pack abs?" ;) HaHaHa LOVE that girls sense of humor!



3. Yesterday after church, we were all quietly minding our own business when I saw out of the corner of my eye something dash down the middle of our street; then several cop cars and an animal control truck quickly follow after it. My first thought was that it was a dog; and, how strange to have so many "officials" chasing a dog. I moved closer to the window to get a better view of what was going on. Then I saw a girl running down the street after the cop cars - with a camera in her hand trying to get a good picture of the dog. So very strange. I kept watching. Then I saw what kind of dog they were chasing - one the OINKS! It was a huge PIG! Of course I ran out to get a picture of this funny event; but the pig ran too FAST! HaHa! Who would've ever thought a Pig would be quick as lightning!



4. I was in the kitchen waiting for Cameron to come back into the house after helping Bart with the trash. He came in all right - yelling at the top of his lungs "Mom you've got to come see this; there's a thing outside - it looks like a possum. What do possums look like anyway?"



Who needs TV when you have Reality?

Sidewalk Chalk Art

Created by Bethany's Friend-That's-A-Boy, Rhett Jensen



Too bad we couldn't keep it forever

Fall Festival 2008

Who would've thought the last Saturday in October would be so Warm?! Our Ward Activities Director, Denise Zuniga, and her committee sure didn't. As they planned for the "Old-Time Fall Festival", the need for warm soups and hot apple cider was anticipated; however, we do live in California, the land of Never-Ending Sunshine. So, when the day of the Festival arrived - without a chill in the air - we left our jackets at home and gathered at the Child Family Residence to eat, visit, play and dance.

The Fun Began with the Arrival of Laura Beckstead's Mickey-O-Lantern!



As you will see, the Face Painting Booth was quite popular -

Abby Freestone & Alyson West preferred designs that enhanced their natural beauty.




Sara Miskin & Megan Riley succumbed to artist Jack Moser's creepy influences.




Which are the results of the company he keeps.



Meanwhile, Becca Moser spent quality time teaching her clients not only the correct techniques of applying face paint, but the deeper meaning of life ~



Who then used this message to relieve the concern of others.

"Sydney, do you think this pink heart matches my outfit?" asked Bishop Adams. "Yes, Bishop," Sydney replied, "but you must remember that beauty comes from within!"



Along with the face painting booth, we also had a ring toss, fishing, ping-pong fish bowls, football toss, bean-bag toss, nerf gun shooting gallery, & eat-a-hanging donut.

With great form, Max Bogh not only knocked the cans down, he knocked them out of the corral!



Ryan Thorpe and Cameron Child worked hard at synchronizing their tosses.



Perfecting the donut hang required much effort ~ and many trial bites ~ but Cody Christensen and Robert West didn't mind.



After everyone had their turn at the games, and filled their tummy's with delicious soups, rolls, and pumpkin pie, Scott Riley fired up the sound system to call some Square Dancing for the whole gang.



They danced...



...and danced...



...and danced...



until some people pooped out.



This loss of frivolity caused great concern for President Miskin.



He was afraid the pooped-out dancers - like Dan Hull and his sons, Joshua & Jacob - were going to leave.



The other dancers followed President Miskin's lead and waved at them to come back and dance some more.



(Meanwhile, no-one was aware that whether they wanted to leave or not, they couldn't; Aaron Thorpe had lit a fire blockade to prevent anyone from leaving the property ~ Bless those Scouts!)



Yet, even with the invitation from the dancers, and fervent pleading from Kari Bogh, some people - like Susan Freestone, Dillon Giles & Dallon Nichols - simply didn't want to dance. They just wanted to eat their cotton candy.





After much discussion among all the people,






it was Paula & Jimmy Ferguson who were influential in forming the opinion that the Dancers Demise came from none other than - The Warm Weather.



Mishayla Nichols agreed!



So did Lana Nichols. She declared, "It's All Good!!"



From that point on, all the Happy Dancers



continued their Stomping and Hoo-Hawing into the night.



Yes, it can be said that "A Good Time Was Had By All!"

Mark Beckstead, Carlos Zuniga



Rose Thornton



Luis Carrillo



Jaylin Nichols



Ryan Riley



Kylie Christensen



Becky Goodson, Dallen Nichols, Scott Litel, Cory Nichols



Brett Christensen



Suzi Litel



Robert West



Lexi Christensen



Robert Bogh, Tyler Hastain