Ash & Amber

A bit of growing

I can hardly believe that our baby is 4 months old. She is getting so big, which I didn't realize until I took her to the baby clinic; all of the other babies are so small in comparison. Even the older kids look short. Edith is getting her first two teeth. I wouldn't have even noticed if it weren't for all of the spit. Wow, this baby can produce saliva with the best of them. She didn't even whine about it until her 3rd injections on Thursday. I think that was just too much for her: 3 shots, 2 teeth, one snotty nose. Poor girl. I tried to get pictures of the teeth, but every time I pull down her bottom lip, her little tongue comes out to lick me.

Edith has been practicing sitting up. I think that it is particularly funny when she is still trying, but slowly folding in half or landing on my leg.

She's stared rubbing her nose when she's tired. If she's tired around other people, she puts her hands in front of her face and hides in Mommy's chest. I think that she thinks it's funny.

I didn't put her in that pose. I just happened to catch it.

Faith In God - Missionary Night

So I managed to get roped into doing a missionary night for the Faith In God kids. I was so not really looking forward to doing it since the lads that would be there are normally a freaking nightmare! To my utter and most pleasant surprise they were very good. I had a great time and the Elders also enjoyed teaching the wee (little) ones. (Just small Scottish slang picked up from my mission.)

I wasn't really sure how to go about what needed to be covered, so in true missionary fashion I turned to PMG and went from there. Thankfully they were full of questions and seemed to even be interested in the answers! I asked at one point ''Why to get baptized?'' to which the reply ''Because you will burn in Hell for eternity if you don't'' came, I knew it was going to be a fun night. It wasn't till the end that one of the boys asked how we know that Joseph Smith actually translated the Book of Mormon and was a prophet. I was taken back by the sincerity in his voice. What a beautiful teaching opportunity this was. We all sat down and bore testimony of how we each individually knew the answer to the question and I committed them all to read the Testimony of the Three Witnesses and to pray themselves. We also spoke about this month's First Presidency message, about staying strong and keep going, do the right thing. I didn't expect a lot of what was spoken about, but that is the way it goes when the Spirit directs as these young kids had serious, thought provoking questions that they sincerely wanted answering.

Today at church, one of the parents of the kids came up to me and said ''Well, we're not sure what you did or said, but our Sam came home and demanded that we start saving for his mission because he is going to serve and can't wait to go!" My fears vanished and with that I knew that somehow, the evening had been a success.

What a blessing it was to teach the young people of the Church and in general be involved in missionary work. Love it!

A few family pictures

Pretty self explanatory, really.

They Grow Up So Fast

We figure that no one really is interested in seeing the adults in the family, just the new addition.

Edith looked so incredibly cute in her little chair. (Yes, those are butterflies.)

Since all the other mums at the baby clinic use their strollers and leave them parked by the door, I figured that since I'm a MOM, I'd be clever and use the sling. She hated it at first, but she likes being able to look around. We just have to do loads of extra bundling.

I took this picture AGES ago, during Edith's first 2 weeks of life. It was just so funny.

Edith loves her bunnies!!

A family in the ward gave us a lovely pink bunny play mat. Edith has long conversations with her new friends.

Oh, and mind the poop.

We've been working on clicking. It's so exciting!!

Mom & Dad - Edith's Blessing

November 1st, 2009 - Edith Nadine Devine was blessed by her Father, Ashley Devine, accompanied by Grandads Jones & Devine, Uncles Martin & Jon, and Bishop Keith Woodward at the Mansfield Ward Chapel. All went very well and Edith was very well behaved (no noises came from either end! YAY!)

5 Men and a Baby.

Although this was a very spiritual day, Amber and I struggle to take serious pictures (as you may have already gathered).

Proud Daddy with Daughter. (Not so sure about the Pioneer bonnet but she pulls it off well)

Everyone who came to see the blessing (Family and friends wise)

Evidence once again that at least one of us can't be serious in a picture.

All the men again

A better one...

Very proud parents!

Mom & Dad - Sherwood Forest

So this was the first of our many adventures when we had Mum and Dad over. Mum was so excited about visiting Robin Hoods forest it made me smile so much. When we arrived she was amazed by everything and it all was ''Robin Hoods Fern'' or ''Robin Hoods logs''. We were close to buying a hat and toy bow & arrows to reconstruct a forest battle. Someone had their wedding in the forest that day so there were people all dressed up in proper Maid Marian, Robin Hood, Friar Tuck outfits, it was brilliant!

Not sure if your supposed to enjoy the stocks, but Mum was!

Aww bless, in front of the Major Oak. aka Robin Hoods chill pad.

3 Generations.

Amber was not avoiding a picture with Mom & Dad, she was fussing and wasn't prepared.

Unlike the above, I was prepared and wanted to be in the picture.

The British 'Robin Hood' Fern.

So excited!!!!

It was like really being there!

Robin Hood and little John fitting it out on the brdge.

Amber and I are becoming really good guides for Sherwood Forest. Mom Jones was hilarious! She was so excited, it got me back into the Robin Hood mood.