Happy to be a Mom!

I love this thought from President David O. McKay

"She, who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions -- deserves the admiration and the plaudits of man. But she who rears a family of beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, long after paintings have faded, and books have been destroyed she deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God. In her high duty and service to humanity, she is co-partner with the Creator himself."


Sunday, July 22, 2012

Spencer Reads

Mommy Moment for a minute: Only read if you want to hear a mom brag about her little boy.

Spencer loves books, he always has as a 14 month old he would bring me books to read. Spencer and I have worked on a reading program since January. He was so excited about it frequently would ask me to work on the program with him. He turned 4 years old May 26 and he is now officially reading.

His attention span goes up and down from reading a few short pages of "Little Critter" and some Dr. Seuss books to helping us read a verse or two from the Book of Mormon during our morning scripture reading.

"Are you my mother is a book he recently read to me, the entire thing, on the train one morning.

I was hesitant to start part 3 of this reading program which includes the hard words like though, rough, eight. Words that you can't sound out and yet we started it a bit, again he picked them up much faster than I anticipated. Once he reads a word once or twice in a book he seems to have it memorized and can read in other books as well.

I think my little boy is a genius. My favorite is to see the pleased look on his face after he has read something. His sweet smile melts my heart. Verbal and reading skills are definitely a wonderful talent he has inherited from his genius daddy! Love my boys.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Another Family Motto

The Wagstaff Family . . . We're Going Places. . .


Bali

Last Weekend we went to Bali, Indonesia for a 3 day 4 night Family Vacation! The picts are a bit out of order but, you'll get it. We spent two days in Ubud where we saw lots of culture and then we spent one day at the beach. We loved every minute of it. 
 One afternoon we went to the Rice Terraces, here we are hiking across the Bamboo bridge.
 The Rice Terraces are amazing all are made by hand, no machinery can really even get in
 One of the friendly laborers
 These are truly one of the most remarkable things we have seen in the world.


 We hiked down into the valley and then up to the other side and back


 We stayed at a Villa for 3 nights, they had stone statues everywhere
 This was the view out our back window.

 We went and found some treasures in the Ubud central market
 Ubud Palace

 Marianne reading scriptures at breakfast
 More Ubud Market
 One morning we went to the Monkey Forest
 The monkey's were everywhere and were slightly intimidating. They jumped and climbed on people

 My kids being cute, you have to capture those moments when you can get them.


 Making friends with the Monkey

 Our villa was on the main street of Ubud which worked out as a perfect location.
 Marianne in the Hiking Back pack we borrowed from our friends thanks Ekbergs
 A lot of the people there carry things on their heads
 imitating the elephant statue
 One of the highlights was riding elephants through the jungle

 Marianne riding with Devin, she has turned into a big Daddy's Girl

 riding through the jungle
 Spencer Katie, and I rode together


 They also had a cool Elephant show
 amazing!

 Cute Sisters
 Cute Mommy
 A classic Mariannne face
 Watching the elephants
 Kids playing

 Devin loves to capture photos of moments of nature and does a pretty good job

 Petting the baby elephants

 Rice Fieds



 Next to all of the statues around our villas the workers come and place offerings of special flowers and coconut milk- which attracts a ton of ants. These offerings where everywhere in Ubud
 We went and saw one temple called Goa Gajah, Elephant Caves. it was awesome.


 The rice fields surrounding the temples
 Watching an artist at work.


 Walking through the temple, Devin and I had to where these surongs to show respect in the temple grounds


 In front of the 9th century old Elephant cave



One night we ate indonesian food in a restaurant where we sat on the floor
x
 yum
 And lots of Gelato. We were almost out of Rupia money and didn't have quite enough to buy Gelato and where trying to decide weather we should go exchange more or live without gelato. Gelato won out in the end :) in the Smith Family Ice Cream is like a major Priority "God, Family, Ice Cream"
 Our Villa had an amazing breakfast everyday. Jaffles (kind of like a panini with egg and tomato) then we had banana pancake with coconut syrup, and lots of plates of fresh fruit with pineapple, bananas and papaya- no mango surprisingly

 Third day we were at the beach. Here is a 23 week Pregnant Shot
 Spencer playing in the Sand
 Marianne was thrilled about filling up this bucket and dumping it out again

 Playing some sand futbol

Bali we love you! Hope we come back some day!