A Night of Honors and Awards

Wednesday night was the boy's Pack Meeting for Cub Scouts, and it was a good night for them and a proud night for Monica and I as parents.
Ammon and Samuel received a lot of awards and recognitions for a lot of hard work. Monica has been really helping them see the importance of scouting and working with each of them on a weekly basis, and it showed on Wednesday.

The grand event for the evening and why we invited the Grandparents to attend was that Sam was awarded his Arrow of Light, the highest award given to a Cub Scouter, and the only one that will continue with him on to Boy Scouts. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but Monica helped him get it. She has been a wonderful example as a Webelos Den Leader and has really helped all the boys in her den move toward the Arrow of Light. If not for her and her efforts none of the boys would be getting that honor as being an Arrow of Light holder.


Monica, as the Webelos Den Leader presented the boys receiving their Arrow of Light , and the ceremony began.







He received his award and was congratulated by the pack for his work and dedication.




He then crossed the bridge representing the emmergence from a Cub Scout to a Boy Scout, and was welcomed on the other side by the Boy Scouts that were present.

As a father I am proud of both of my boys. They have showed forth a great deal of dedication and respect for their mother as they have followed her instructions and advanced in scouting. They are good boys. As Monica was sewing the Arrow of Light badge on Sam's shirt last night I couldn't help but see in a few years an Eagle badge sitting directly above it.

The Forgotten Man - Jon McNaughton

The Verdict is in.....

We had the ultra sound today and of course we found out what we are having. We will be having another BOY!!!!!! Bella was so set that she wanted to have a baby sister, that we were a little worried about her reaction, but Monica said that she took it good, she just hung her head and sighed another boy. The boys are excited though to be having another brother. Joshua went with us and he said that it was going to be a boy.

We are very excited to be having another son. I am grateful that the baby is healthy and everything is going well with the pregnancy. He was very cooperative wanting to let us know even before the technician was ready to try and find out. He said, you've been wanting to know here you go.

Of course it is exciting to see the baby for the first time. It is always neat to see your child. To me he looks soooooooo cute! I love all my children, I love being a dad. We are excited for the due date, whenever that may be. They told us today that the size indicates a due date of 12/29/10 a whole week earlier than we thought. That is a little stressful, but God's will be done, I will accept it and press forward in faith.

We are excited, if I haven't already said that!

Day's of 47 Youth Parade

This morning was the Day's of 47 Youth Parade downtown, and Sam and Ammon had the austere opportunity to participate in the Parade as part of our Stake's float. Ammon didn't want to do it, but Monica forced him to, since it is not something that you get to do all the time.

To tell you the truth, neither Monica or I knew that they did the Youth Parade the week before the Day's of 47 Parade. There wasn't a ton of people, but there were a lot and about 50 floats.

Joshua loved the bands! He would start dancing up a storm to the music and would not stop.

Then when the boys came by we started yelling their names and cheering for them. We were right by the TV cameras so they were on tv as they passed by. They had fun!

It was hot, but fun. It is better when you are anticipating something, especially when that something is your children.

A Night out at The Ball Park

This is coming a little late, but better late than never, and I need something to do. On July 5th we went to the Bees game as a family. I was nice, I got the tickets for free from work since US Bank sponsors the Bees, my manager gets a lot of tickets every year. I mentioned that I like baseball and we've been wanting to go to a game and he came to my desk and gave me tickets. Anyway it was nice because since it was the day after Independence Day they did fireworks. The kids were very excited for the fireworks. The park was pretty packed for the fireworks.

We had fun watching the game, it was a good game for the first few innings and then turned bad for the home team.

The fireworks were spectacular!

We got home pretty late and everybody was hungry. We weren't about to pay $6 for a hotdog at the park. It is always nice when we can spend time together as a family doing something fun and out of the ordinary. I am thankful that my manager gave me the tickets.

Ammon's Birthday

Ammon's birthday was Saturday the 26th. I can't believe he is already 9 yrs. old. We had a kind of mixed but fun birhtday party for him. He wanted a lego/scoobydoo birhtday party but ended up with spiderman decorations. I guess that's all Cecilia could find. She treated us all to hambergers at Gustovos, then we came to our house for ice cream and cake and games.

We played Mistery inc. Solve that puzzle game. Basically a twist on the treasure hunt. And Ammon made his own pin the head on the Lego game. He drew out the Lego body then drew a head for everyone who was coming. He did a really good job and all the kids had a great time.

Then of course we opened presents. He loves all of them!

It was a great day for Ammon. He had a great birhtday thanks to all who could come. And a special thanks to Cecilia for all the food and decorations. Ammon We love you and are so happy to have you in our family!

9 things about Ammon

1. He likes to draw, and is good at it. He wants to be an artist when he grows up.

2. He is considerate of others.

3. He is a good helper with his younger siblings.

4. He likes legos.

5. He has a strong testimony of the gosple, and likes to share it when he can.

6. He likes to play video games.

7. He is a good speaker.

8. He likes catchup especially with frech fries.

9. He has a great imagination.

So many blessings being poured into our lives...

So, I will be starting a new job on the 7th of June working for U.S. Bank as a Personal Banker. I am excited about the prospect of being able to work again towards a career. I've been working for the Church at Temple Square as a Gardner. I know absolutely nothing about maintaining a nice yard, but my Bishop is the boss down there for that department so he said come and work for me until you find a job, and so I did. They have kicked my butt, and the work is very, very hard, but it is worth it. So many people approach us as we work and thank us for our work in making Temple Square so beautiful. I've been grateful for the opportunity to work with some good and very talented people who work hard so that everyone who visits Temple Square feels the Spirit in what they do.

I was happy when U.S. Bank contacted me and offered me the job, they were afraid that because I was over qualified for the position that I would up and leave them once I found something better. I assured them in the interview that if I was offered the job that I would not be looking for another one, but to move up in the company as soon as possible. I stopped looking as soon as they offered, I actually felt that I was going to get it so I stopped looking about 1 week before getting the job. So anyway I get the job with U.S. Bank and all of a sudden I get contacted by this company out of Portland, OR about a position that I inquired about 2 weeks prior. It was for a company developing a FEC. I spoke with the CEO, and he essentially fell in love with me over the phone. He assumed that I was LDS being from Utah and therefore assumed that I put God first in my life (he's a leader in the Methodist faith) as he does and liked that. He wrote me an email after our initial conversation telling me that my resume, website and associated links from my website along with my adherence to the LDS faith and leadership in the Republican party made me a strong candidate for the position that he had open and then welcomed me. I then started getting all of his business plans and financial projections in my email telling me to begin formulating a plan with his son and attorney to present to investors. I was never offered the job formally, but I think that I was hired. I am not entirely sure at this point. The position would be literally a dream come true, and a massive blessing from a loving and kind Heavenly Father. To be able to work with someone who has read my political writings, and liked them, and agrees with me politically and spiritually would be wonderful. Yet another blessing poured into our lives.

Then there is another company located in Canada that has contacted me and is interested in me as well. That would be a huge opportunity as well. If that works out I don't know what I will do with myself. Just more blessings! Both are stipulated on locating funding for the expansion of the business, but to have the positions would be great. I still have US Bank so no worries! And US Bank comes with benefits. What a blessing!

We are going to need the health benefits for the next blessing that God has decided to pour into our lives right now. Having health insurance is going to come in handy when Monica has the baby in January. That's right Monica is pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!! I am excited I don't know about her. Bella wants a sister, and Sam and Ammon want a brother and I want a son and Monica wants a daughter. Joshua doesn't want anything. She hasn't been to a doctor yet, but I did one of those online due date calculators and it put the due date at January 5, 2011. So it can be either in late December or sometime early January. The blessings just keep on coming!

I knew this year would bring changes, but I never dreamed of this.