What'z up with the Nowell's: 2008

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Christmas Message

Let us remember that our beloved Prophet and Presidency has reminded us that this is the season for giving. There are many ways for us to show our thanks and give service to others this season. We only need to pay attention to others needs and find ways to meet them. May we all reach out and make sure everyone feels the Saviors love for us this Christmas Season.

Ps. 50:14 "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay they vows unto the most High." "Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps. It was said of Him that he "went about doing good." As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will be ours." (Thomas S. Monson "Christmas IS Children, Remembering, Giving," Church news, 14 Dec. 1996)

Pres. Monson stated in a First Presidency Message in the Dec. 1995 Ensign, '"What did you get for Christmas?" This is the universal question among children for days following that most celebrated holiday of the year. ...If we change but one word in our Christmas question, the outcome is vastly differeent. " What did you give for Christmas?" prompts stimulating thought and causes tender feelings to well up and memory's fires to glow ever brighter.
Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than things. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable and it becomes the Spirit of Christ.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb.
IF I were a Wise Man
I would do my part
Yet what can I give ,Him?
Give my Heart.
(Christina Georgina Rossetti)."'

May we all be blesssed this Christmas season not only by the gifts we are given, but by the gifts of service we give. And may we find joy this new year as we "make a conscious , committed effort to bring Christ into our lives." (Pres. Monson Dec 2008 Christmas Devotional )
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Cliff's Kidney Stone Surgery

Just to let you know that Cliff had Kidney Stone surgery and is doing fine. Yep if you are wondering that is where they go up, yep up with a metal rod and laser the stone, and leave the pieces in with a stint tube to the kidney for a few days. Then if you are a doctor and stupid, well lets say brave, then you pull out your own stink in 4 days. It has prickly ends that pull the stone pieces with it. Sorry guys he wouldn't let me film that one for ya as he moaned or squealed in agony. So well, all he says is it is like having dental floss... And that it is definitely something every male should have done once and naturally only once. Loads of laughs for me though, at his expence. I pray I never have to experience it.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Kowen's Birthday

Kowen's 2nd Birthday

We had fun with box races, spoon and egg choo-choo races, trains, games, and hotdogs and cake of course.

cutie pies

pic time

Kilee got her hair done by Aunt Jill for a girls trip to the store. The kids did well with the other cousins as they got their pic made.

Ice Cream cones

Ice cream tastes better at Aiti's because she put it in cones. Spoiled.

Kowen is saying Thank YOu in sign language. Now that he is approaching 2 he is finally talking. He still has passy thought. He likes to say NO and Yeah to answer questions, so cute. He still screams DA DA all the time. He enjoys telling everyone to Go, whether it is time to go, or go faster dad, or bye mom i have to go. He is so good on his razor scooter it scares me. After improving his skills as he rode around Grandpa and Aiti's house indoors, he continues to go too fast down hills for moms sake. What a big boy, my bad he won't let u call him that. If you say he's a big boy, he'll say no, Big Baby.

Grandpa and Aiti's House

WE enjoyed climbing trees, going to New Orleans Zoo, riding in a horse drawn carriage, eating out a lot, popsicles every night with grandpa, and shopping trips with Aiti because the kids would always get a prize for going with her. Kowen faught for Aiti's attention when Addy stayed a week or so. WE had a going away water balloon fight where grandpa and Aunt Jill filled up more than a hundred balloons to throw that lasted less than 5 min., but they had fun.

Waterpark

We enjoyed going to the waterpark alot while visiting in Alabama. WE went with Aiti, Aunt Jill and Addy, and cousins Taylor, Payton, and Hayden several times. What a relief to the humidity. Hawaii has humidity, but less, the heat stays in the 70 - high 80's.

Airplane to the mainland

The flight over to Jackson, MS was long, but bearable as the kids were allowed to walk up and down the plane and play with other kids. Kowen's favorite part was the bathroom that he could open and close and hide in, when empty. He found it occupied by a little girl one time. They also got to climb up to the pilots and look out the window as there were only two small windows downstairs. Mom got to see the Golden Gate Bridge as she just happened to get lucky and search and find her kids up there at the same time. The trip back to Hawaii wasn't so lovely. We rode backwards on a C-5. It was hot and crowded like a normal plane. It will be a while before we go again, we'll stay landlocked for a while.

Kandon's birthday

Sorry so late, these are Kandon's birthday party pictures from June. We had a transformer cake and a slip n slide race. Lots of fun. Lots of muddy ground afterward.

Soccer Pics

Easy to spot. Only blonde on the field.

His hair always sticking up.

Kowen alone and Kandon's Soccer

Since Kandon is in school now, Kowen spends a lot of time on the coffee table watching tv. He also likes watching Kandon's soccer games. Kandon scored the first goal of the season in less than a minute or so. He went several games before he scored again last Sat. He is getting better as he learns not to run and be the caboose as he watches others play on the field but not attacking the ball. Mom is the one screaming at him to run, while dad sits and watches. He has to remind me it is only a game. Loads of fun though.

Family Fun Fair

These are from the church Family Fun Fair. We took our neighbors Savannah, Mackenzie, and their mom Holly. It was a lot of fun and sugar. Cotton Candy, red snow cones, popcorn, hotdogs, and ward potluck. They rode rides galor.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Body Painting

Mom gave them the idea so she could clean out the car and they would stay in the back and watch Kowen. Watch him and paint him they did. Supposedly he sat on the slide and motioned them to come over and paint him. Then Kandon wanted them to paint his back. This is our neighbor Mackenzie.

aquarium

We went to the Aquarium and found that unicorns do exist. We saw sea dragons, frog fish, zebra eels, and many other strange animals. But the things the kids were interested most in were the snacks. Kowen even tried to scream back at the seal.