He is now 18 months old!

He is just like his FATHER!!

So Erix is a busy guy these days. Weather has warmed up, so that means he is working alot which means up early and home late. I am busy with school finishing up in the next few weeks, so Amulek has been spending a little more extra time at Na-Ma's and Pop's house. Yesterday being sunday, our branch doesn't meet till 2:20-5:30. And since Erix was recently called, he wanted to go make a few visits to some of the families who were not at church just to get to know them. So I left him at church and I went to my parents house to have dinner with them and to hang out with my younger brother who has been visiting us for the past few days on his break between semesters. Well, Erix didnt end up getting home till after 10:00, Amulek was still awake and those boys have a ritual when Erix comes in the door to my parents house....right as you walk in, the back of my dad's reclincer is to the door. Here is how it goes..
In walks Erix.... Amulek and Erix's eyes meet... they smile... Erix drops down REAL FAST and hides behind the recliner (while pops.. my dad is sitting in it)... Amulek squeals cause daddy is hiding... Erix peaks out from one side.. Amulek steps back with a curious grin on his face... Erix hides again... Amulek looks arond for Erix... Erix peaks out a lil from the other side... Amulek giggles... Erix hides again... and Amulek laughs.... then... Erix comes jumping up from his hiding place and Amulek goes running... Erix chases and begins to tickle Amulek. They both LOVE LOVE LOVE this game, and so does everyone else in the room. (Its great entertainment!!)
So I didnt get that on film, but I DID catch Amulek and Erix playing another game together while Erix ate his dinner. ENJOY!! We sure did!

Just an update:

This seems to be the easiest way for me to tell everyone without anyone feeling left out of family news. So...as of yesterday Erix is now the Branch President of the spanish branch here in our stake. I am not sure if I am suppose to react a certain way, but I am excited- calm- but excited. We have attended the branch a few times and have spoken there, and we know a few of the members who are so kind. We are anxious for all the work to do to help the branch progress. I have been in a branch my whole life, so it wont be culture shock for me. And I was aksed to bare my testimont yesterday, and standing at the pulpit I felt flashbacks from my mission in Texas. It was there in Texas that I learned of the spansih language and culture, there where I learned to love these wonderful humble people, and where my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ became even more rooted to the power of missionary work. Ever since I served in south Texas the Lord has blessed me with the ability to open my mouth and declare His gospel. I LOVE and often look for opportunities to talk about religion with anyone. I rely on the spirit often to know what exactly I should say, and how to say it. I thank my Father in Heaven daily for blessing me with a "big mouth" and being bold, and for following the prompting to serve a full-time mission. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the source of all the joy and blessings I have in life. All I have is a blessing from God, and I know that being in the spanish branch is where the Lord needs my family to right now.

more pictures

Amulek with his great-grandmother "Pumpkin Pie"
Amulek with GREAT uncle Larry and Aunt Lorna
sweet cute cousin Julia and I were playing around with the camera. :)
This is a picture at the Market in Charleston near the Battery..... ppl have weave the baskets there, they are beautiful, but EXPENSIVE!
Amulek at his first market trip with mami!!

S.C. pictures

So I was going to make a slide show instead of posting a bunch of pictures, but its updating the system right now, so enjoy!

Spring Break 2009

I have been asked a few times the past few days to post some pictures of our recent short trip to Charleston South Carolina. This was a first time for both Erix and Amulek. It was exciting for me to share and show them both things that I grew up doing, and places I went to annually as a child when I would visit my grand-mother. I will admit that it was a trip greatly needed. I am in my final year in school which means the hardest, for me anyway. I needed this break so bad, and it was exactly what I wanted. I had a great time with family relaxing and riding around a beautiful area of the country. Erix even saw the old hospital where I was born, the chapel where I was blessed as a baby, another where my mother was baptized 34 years ago. It was really a great visit. I havent lived in SC since I was a few weeks old, BUT it holds alot of memories and roots of spiritual blessings for me and my family. Amulek was GREAT traveling, and of course he was the center of attention. There was not a single bad moment, it was perfect!!

I just wanted to post of a few of my favorite pictures we have recently taken of Amulek. I love him so much and I try to capture moments everyday of silly things that he does, or things he LOVES to do. He L O V E S bubble baths, and his new kick is walking around in mommy or daddy's shoes makes me think "he will soon have walked a mile literally in my shoes". He also got hold of a green crayon and it looks like he enjoyed the flavor! Amulek also loves dogs, and his aunt Sarah got him the cute winter hat :) which he also likes to wear around the house. And I can not forget the day we went to church and he wet through his pants and we had to stay late, so he walked around in his dress shirt and diaper for a while, it was so funny! And him, he is just an amazing kid! I love him so much , and I am very grateful I have him and each day full of these simple precious memorable moments.