Look how cute little baby Max is! Everyone loves to hold him - especially Auntie Krista! He is still just a "little bundle of baby".
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Some Recent Pictures
My little Avery - he is at such a perfect age. It just doesn't get any better than this.
Whenever Rob works late or is gone somewhere at bedtime, the kids all want to camp out in my room. They sneak into my room and it's awfully hard to get them out because they act all sweet and just want to hang out. I know this is a stalling technique, but every now and then I have to give in because I know the days of kids wanting to hang out on my bed are numbered. These are the kinds of moments I'll miss when they're grown.
All the kids ADORE the newest baby in the family - Max Emery Ortega. He is my little sister Aubrey's third boy. He is a beautiful baby and Avery was really taken with him last Sunday. He was very gentle and kept wanting to touch him and kiss his head and lean his head on Max's. 
Ashlie is very comfortable holding babies because of all her experience with Avery!
Tonight at dinner Avery sat at the table with us. I just had to take a picture because he looked so cute!
This is the first time Avery has ever fake smiled for a picture. 
Avery gives kisses now. It's so adorable because he will make this kissing face (see above) and lean toward whomever he wants to kiss. He always wants to kiss people before they leave, and before bed he wants to make the rounds kissing everyone in the house. 
Avery learned to fold his arms today!
Avery does this cute knee-walking. He hasn't figured out how to get back up to walk without furniture when he falls down, so he walks on his knees over to the nearest piece of furniture and then climbs back up to standing. He also did this knee walking for some time before he was really interested in learning to walk.
Avery just LOVES Ashlie. If Rob or I aren't available, she is the next best thing; sometimes he even prefers her to us! They're lucky to have each other.Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Mark Your Calendar!
Tuesday, November 24
Conveniently located at the Riley home
574 East 1130 North,
Featuring handcrafted Jewelry, bows, squeaky toddler shoes, Mary Kay, Designer Jeans & Apparel, ornaments, “stocking stuffers”, gifts under $5 and much more!
Standing for Something
"Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right."
Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
INJUSTICE!
The longer I live, the more I see that the legal system in America is not the same as a justice system. I can see how people become bitter after living a while. I have so much to say, but can't find the words to say it. Instead, I'll include words that others have said that I find particularly meaningful right now:
"This is a court of law, young man, not a court of justice." ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
From the Bible: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Exodus 20:16
"Honesty is a principle of salvation in the kingdom of God...Just as no man or woman can be saved without baptism, so no one can be saved without honesty." ~Mark E. Petersen, CR, Oct 1971, 63
"There are many ways of lying. When we speak untruths, we are guilty of lying. We can also intentionally deceive others by our gestures, by a look, by silence, or by telling only part of a truth. Whenever we lead people in any way to believe something that is not true, we are not being honest. The Lord is not pleased with such dishonesty, and we will have to account for our lies." ~L. Tom Perry
"You might ask, "How can we be completely honest?" To be completely honest, we must look carefully at our lives and have the courage to face the whole truth." ~L. Tom Perry
"Doing the wrong thing for the right reason is still wrong." ~David McPherson
"It happens subtly over a period of time until lies and deceptions are part of us. It becomes not only acceptable, but an automated approach to obtaining what we think we deserve." ~David McPherson
"Today the unwillingness to accept individual responsibility and accountability is epidemic throughout our society. There is a lack of constancy and commitment to honor, correct principles, and righteous values. It seems that truth no longer needs to be based on fundamental principles. Instead, much of society confuses "what is" with what it wants it to be. Fiction and fantasy are confused with actuality and reality. More succinctly, the prophet Isaiah said: 'Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20'" ~David McPherson
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's 13th Article of Faith:
“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
"Honesty is a principle, and we have our moral agency to determine how we will apply this principle. We have the agency to make choices, but ultimately we will be accountable for each choice we make. We may deceive others, but there is One we will never deceive. From the Book of Mormon we learn, 'The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.'” ~James E. Faust
"There are different shades of truth telling. When we tell little white lies, we become progressively color-blind." ~James E. Faust
"To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice." ~Confucious.
"Good lawyers know the law; great lawyers know the judge." ~Author Unknown
"The law condemns and punishes only actions within certain definite and narrow limits; it thereby justifies, in a way, all similar actions that lie outside those limits." ~Leo Tolstoy, What I Believe
"The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour." ~Japanese Proverb
"It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies." ~Arthur Calwell
"Judges are but men, and are swayed like other men by vehement prejudices. This is corruption in reality, give it whatever other name you please." ~David Dudley Field
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." ~Bishop Desmond Tutu
"One does evil enough when one does nothing good." ~German Proverb
"You do not wake up one morning a bad person. It happens by a thousand tiny surrenders of self-respect to self-interest." ~Robert Brault
"It's impossible to be loyal to your family, your friends, your country, and your principles, all at the same time." ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960
"'Tis better to suffer wrong than do it." ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732
"Truth is mighty and will prevail. There is nothing the matter with this, except that it ain't so." ~Mark Twain, Notebook, 1935
"This is a court of law, young man, not a court of justice." ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
From the Bible: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Exodus 20:16
"Honesty is a principle of salvation in the kingdom of God...Just as no man or woman can be saved without baptism, so no one can be saved without honesty." ~Mark E. Petersen, CR, Oct 1971, 63
"There are many ways of lying. When we speak untruths, we are guilty of lying. We can also intentionally deceive others by our gestures, by a look, by silence, or by telling only part of a truth. Whenever we lead people in any way to believe something that is not true, we are not being honest. The Lord is not pleased with such dishonesty, and we will have to account for our lies." ~L. Tom Perry
"You might ask, "How can we be completely honest?" To be completely honest, we must look carefully at our lives and have the courage to face the whole truth." ~L. Tom Perry
"Doing the wrong thing for the right reason is still wrong." ~David McPherson
"It happens subtly over a period of time until lies and deceptions are part of us. It becomes not only acceptable, but an automated approach to obtaining what we think we deserve." ~David McPherson
"Today the unwillingness to accept individual responsibility and accountability is epidemic throughout our society. There is a lack of constancy and commitment to honor, correct principles, and righteous values. It seems that truth no longer needs to be based on fundamental principles. Instead, much of society confuses "what is" with what it wants it to be. Fiction and fantasy are confused with actuality and reality. More succinctly, the prophet Isaiah said: 'Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20'" ~David McPherson
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's 13th Article of Faith:
“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
"Honesty is a principle, and we have our moral agency to determine how we will apply this principle. We have the agency to make choices, but ultimately we will be accountable for each choice we make. We may deceive others, but there is One we will never deceive. From the Book of Mormon we learn, 'The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.'” ~James E. Faust
"There are different shades of truth telling. When we tell little white lies, we become progressively color-blind." ~James E. Faust
"To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice." ~Confucious.
"Good lawyers know the law; great lawyers know the judge." ~Author Unknown
"The law condemns and punishes only actions within certain definite and narrow limits; it thereby justifies, in a way, all similar actions that lie outside those limits." ~Leo Tolstoy, What I Believe
"The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour." ~Japanese Proverb
"It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies." ~Arthur Calwell
"Judges are but men, and are swayed like other men by vehement prejudices. This is corruption in reality, give it whatever other name you please." ~David Dudley Field
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." ~Bishop Desmond Tutu
"One does evil enough when one does nothing good." ~German Proverb
"You do not wake up one morning a bad person. It happens by a thousand tiny surrenders of self-respect to self-interest." ~Robert Brault
"It's impossible to be loyal to your family, your friends, your country, and your principles, all at the same time." ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960
"'Tis better to suffer wrong than do it." ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732
"Truth is mighty and will prevail. There is nothing the matter with this, except that it ain't so." ~Mark Twain, Notebook, 1935
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Family Portraits
Jackson Family 2009
Rob & Natalie
Extended family on Rob's side: Nick, Scott, Christine and Megan Anderson, Harv & Joanne Jackson, Natalie, Avery, Rob, Alex, Olivia & Ashlie.
Ashlie, Avery, Alex & Olivia
Harv & Joanne Jackson (Rob's parents)
Rob's sister, Christine, and her husband Scott and kids, Nick and Megan.
Harv & Joanne with all the grandkids.
Alex, Ashlie, Olivia, Avery, Nick and Megan
Little Avery
Halloween 2009
Here the kids are, ready for trick-or-treating!
Alex - karate guy
Ashlie - nurse
Olivia - pirate
Avery - dragon
Alex - karate guy
Ashlie - nurse
Olivia - pirate
Avery - dragon
Decorating Cookies
Yesterday when the kids were off school we made sugar cookies. When I say "made", I mean we took the dough out of the container it came in, rolled it out and cut it into shapes to cook. I'm pretty sure they enjoyed it as much as they would have if we had made them from scratch, so I'm not going to feel guilty about using premade cookie dough!
We ran out of time to decorate the cookies yesterday because we went to the Treehouse Museum, so we decorated them today. The kids went crazy with the sprinkles!
Olivia, Ashlie and Alex (in our partly-remodeled kitchen).
We ran out of time to decorate the cookies yesterday because we went to the Treehouse Museum, so we decorated them today. The kids went crazy with the sprinkles!
Olivia, Ashlie and Alex (in our partly-remodeled kitchen).Friday, October 30, 2009
Halloween Costumes!
Olivia-the-Pirate (far right) and Karate-Kid-Alex (far left) got to dress up at school this year for the first time. They had a school parade and class parties, then they got to go to the school carnival, the Spooktacular, in the evening. They've already had so much fun they don't need to go trick-or-treating!
The 4 kids in the middle are our neighbors who live across the street who drive to school with us in the mornings. From left: Josh, Jacob, Michael and Kenneth.
The 4 kids in the middle are our neighbors who live across the street who drive to school with us in the mornings. From left: Josh, Jacob, Michael and Kenneth. Birthday Wishes
My kids wrote these cute notes for me on the dry erase board on my birthday! Cute, huh?
Treehouse Children's Museum
Today while the kids were out of school, my mom, my sisters and I took our kids to the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. It was a fun afternoon for all of us - adults and children alike! Back row: Noah, Adam, Grandma Miller, Ashlie, my sister Aubrey, Asher. Front row: Emma, Kenlee, Olivia, Alex, Josh. Not pictured: My sister Jenny and I.
I like both this quote and picture that were on the wall on the Treehouse Museum.
Alex and I learned to ride a horse! Yee-ha!
The girls decided to give it a try when they saw how much fun Alex and I were having.
How often do you get the chance to kiss a frog? I just wanted to know if it was really a prince!
Checking out the pretty fishies...
My mom, in the Oval Office, with President Obama. He's not exactly her idol, but she has respect for the office of President and is always interested in learning about our country's presidents.
In the center of the museum there is a giant "tree", surrounded by the interactive, hands-on exhibits. This museum is a lot like the children's museum that used to be in SLC on Beck Street, but it feels much less crowded and has lots of benches for adults to sit on.
Olivia, Ashlie, Emma and Kenlee enjoyed the art room.
Project of the day: monster masks! Didn't they do a great job?
Grandma Miller, helping Asher cut out his mask.
The highlight of Alex's day: obtaining some string (intended for masks) from the art room and using it to play Cat's Cradle.
This horse was really uncooperative!
Ashlie enjoyed pretending she was a knight.
Silly girls!
Josh tried out being an astronaut today. Asher tried being a racecar driver (not pictured).
Olivia and some giant teeth.
Alex, exploring with the microscope.
When asked what Alex's favorite part of the day was, he didn't hesitate to say, "Lincoln Logs!" He's wondering now how he can get some of his own.
This was a cool arch Noah, Josh and Adam got to build to learn how the keystone holds it all together.
Olivia enjoyed the gigantic dominos. We didn't find this "building" room until the very end of the day. If we had found it earlier it would have been difficult to drag the kids to the other exhibits. There were all kinds of building toys that the kids could have spent all day enjoying.
Asher did not want to leave! He REALLY didn't want to leave!
Time to go! (My mom, me, Adam.)
I like both this quote and picture that were on the wall on the Treehouse Museum.
Alex and I learned to ride a horse! Yee-ha!
The girls decided to give it a try when they saw how much fun Alex and I were having.
How often do you get the chance to kiss a frog? I just wanted to know if it was really a prince!
Checking out the pretty fishies...
My mom, in the Oval Office, with President Obama. He's not exactly her idol, but she has respect for the office of President and is always interested in learning about our country's presidents.
In the center of the museum there is a giant "tree", surrounded by the interactive, hands-on exhibits. This museum is a lot like the children's museum that used to be in SLC on Beck Street, but it feels much less crowded and has lots of benches for adults to sit on.
Olivia, Ashlie, Emma and Kenlee enjoyed the art room.
Project of the day: monster masks! Didn't they do a great job?
Grandma Miller, helping Asher cut out his mask.
The highlight of Alex's day: obtaining some string (intended for masks) from the art room and using it to play Cat's Cradle.
This horse was really uncooperative!
Ashlie enjoyed pretending she was a knight.
Silly girls!
Josh tried out being an astronaut today. Asher tried being a racecar driver (not pictured).
Olivia and some giant teeth.
Alex, exploring with the microscope.
When asked what Alex's favorite part of the day was, he didn't hesitate to say, "Lincoln Logs!" He's wondering now how he can get some of his own.
This was a cool arch Noah, Josh and Adam got to build to learn how the keystone holds it all together.
Olivia enjoyed the gigantic dominos. We didn't find this "building" room until the very end of the day. If we had found it earlier it would have been difficult to drag the kids to the other exhibits. There were all kinds of building toys that the kids could have spent all day enjoying.
Asher did not want to leave! He REALLY didn't want to leave!
Time to go! (My mom, me, Adam.)
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