Playing catch up!

I am so behind on this blog and have a lot of catching up to do. I am just going to post some recent (and not so recent) photos and try not to go into a lot of the details of the last month. I hope ya'll don't mind (I picked up that word in Georgia). Here's a recap of January and beginning of Feb.

December to first week of Jan:
Had lots of family visitors (loved it)

January 16th to ????
Miah went to Africa

January 17th to 26th:
Jess and Boston went to Georgia

February 4th:
Miah finally came home from Africa

Last week:
Boston was diagnosed with asthma (poor kiddo).

Georgia Oct 2006

I don't have any pictures of our latest trip to Georgia so here are some of our last trip. I went to visit a dear high school friend, Leisha, and her daughter, Shailyn.

Boston and his first date with Shailyn- already trying to hold hands. Boston was 5 months old.

Some baby cuddles (what happens when mom's are too busy taking pictures to help keep the babies upright :)
Boston trying to lick Max (THE MOST GIGANTIC DOG -and sweetest- I'VE EVEN KNOWN!)


Here are some recent pics (not in any particular order- too lazy to sort them)

B's new chore- How much allowance do you think I should start him at???




Boston and Ashton in New Mexico- Ashton couldn't keep his eyes off of his new friend.


The Explorer Museum in New Mexico. Boston especially loved the music room!


Going down the slide in Legoland. They have the greatest play area!!!

Boston being escorted by his very cool cousin Cade at Legoland.

Playing tag with his other very cool cousin (Cade's younger brother) Brandon. GOTCHA!!


Brandon, Cade and Boston- hey guys, look at me!!!

Just chillin on the couch catchin up with the cuz'.


Mom thought she'd try her hand at cutting Boston's hair! Not to shabby for her first time!
What happens when you mix hair gel with a slide (lots of static). Would you call that an "electric slide"???

The most intense month of my life

Gosh, I don't even know where to start. It's 7:30 am and I'm living on very little sleep. I just got news that Jeremiah has finally been evacuated from a hotel in the capital city in Chad, Africa and is safer than he has been in 2 days. They got caught in the middle of rebel attacks on the city and their hotel was attacked. The survived by huddling in the kitchen with other guests. They were missed during the first evacuation because of a "miscommunication" with the embassy and there was no hope to get them out because of the escalating battles. Their journey began on January 16th.

He went to Chad with Stop Genocide Now to bring relief and hope to the Darfurian refugees at various camps. They met remarkable people and did remarkable things while there. They were the only eyewitnesses with the ability to communicate to the U.S. from inside ground zero. After much harassment to the French Military from the State Department and to the State Department from us, they, and all the remaining foreigners, were transported out of the battle zone. I pray for those people left behind. I am grateful to live in a country where no matter where you go, you know they are watching your back and doing what they can to protect you. Not very many people on this earth have that comfort. Definitely not our friends in Africa.

There were travel warnings to Chad, but they went anyway more concerned about helping bring aid and hope to the refugees. I'm grateful for their courage and love of humankind and grateful for their safe return.

I'm way to tired to write any more, but all the details have been video taped and written on the charity website www.stopgenocidenow.org.

This quote says it all!

"A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race" (Joseph Smith, Jr 1840)

Gratitude Fast for the New Year

This is an email that went out to our family from Jeremiah. I'm so grateful for him and for all that he has created in our lives. Despite the challenges of the past year I have absolutely nothing to complain about. Life is wonderful and Heavenly Father is guiding us. I am grateful to feel Him inspiring us to live joyful lives. I am grateful for my perfect little boy who makes me laugh non-stop. I am grateful for all of you that I call friends. Life is amazing.




Some of us were talking over the New Years’ weekend and we thought in would be a good idea to do a special fast this coming up weekend.

2007 seemed to be a trial in so many ways to so many of us. Yet in all of our trials our Heavenly Father has been here guiding us the whole way. I know that for me and my family we have been blessed so much. I can’t even express all of the blessings that we have had inside this little storm that we are going through.

With this in mind, we thought it would be neat to do a Gratitude Fast this weekend. It will be a great way to start out 2008. We could create a list for the things that we are grateful for, share it and do a fast to thank our Heavenly Father for all the blessings in our lives. If you think you would like to participate please join us by sharing a few things with everyone and we can all read the list while we fast. By the way, you can be grateful for things that haven’t manifested in your life yet. The Lord has many blessings waiting for us when we are ready for them and we can be grateful for those blessings right now.

So here’s my list: I am grateful for my family. Through the struggles of 2007 my family has been able to grow and it is such a blessing to have people beside you no matter what you need to go through. I am so grateful for Jessica in helping me through one of my biggest trials in life. I am grateful for all the blessings in shutting down the business and for a new opportunity to spend my time on things that I love to do. I am grateful for my new career that is starting this year and my new work schedule that allows me to spend more time with my family.

Here is to an amazing and miraculous 2008.

Christmas in New Mexico

Our little drummer boy. B got to open this present early. He's a natural!


Nana and Papa in old town.
Mom and B in their Christmas PJ's. Boston got a cute dog stocking from Nana.
B and and cousin, Lexus, opening gifts on Christmas morning.
B trying on his new shirt for us.

Christmas Eve in Old Town~ Luminarias

I love going home for Christmas. New Mexico has many wonderful cultural traditions. One of my favorite is Luminarias on Christmas Eve. Old Town and many of it's neighborhoods become the center of a famous walking a bus tour. Luminarias and Christmas trees are put out and there are vendors with hot chocolate, tamales, and sopapillas. Here is a little history about luminarias and some pictures.The oldest church in Albuquerque. Built in the 1700's.


Nana, Papa, Boston and Jess. It's so cold. It snowed a couple of days before we got there.


Boston kept trying to blow out the candles, with no luck.

In the 1800’s luminarias were small bonfires built along the roadside to commemorate Christ’s birth. They were used to guide people to Midnight Mass on the final night of LAS POSADAS, “lodging or inn”.

Later people used farolitos, small paper bags with sand in the bottom and a small candle inside to light the bag. This was a substitute for the more dangerous bonfires. Children in the southwest, reenacting the night of Las Posadas often carried the farolitos in their hands. Today they are used to line walkways, driveways and roof tops.

The night of Las Posadas is a festive celebration first introduced to the Mexican Indians by European missionaries reenacting the story of Joseph and Mary’s search for lodging in Bethlehem in a series of NOVENA, “nine days”, beginning December 16^th.

Each night a group of carolers would go from house to house, carrying small lanterns made of a paper bag with a lit candle inside (farolitos). The carolers would sing a song pleading for food and shelter. Some homes would turn them away, but others would invite them in and offer food – posole, red and green chili stews, Christmas Eve tamales, biscoshitos, etc.

O' Christmas Tree

Here's a look at our Christmas Tree this year. I didn't put out all the decorations as we were gone for most of the Holidays. We received a very special package from Jeremiah's mom~ her famous window cookie ornaments. They are beautiful and delicious. We were so excited to display them on the tree . . . and then eat them.





A look at Christmas past. This is Boston last year. Time goes by so fast!!!

'Twas The Light Before Christmas~ Newport Beach Boat Parade

We had a GREAT day today. This morning we went to Laguna Beach, had breakfast and played on the beach. Boston played with Abu (a puppy puggle owned by our friend), played soccer with some kids, chased pigeons, tried to play volleyball with a girl and her coach, and climbed on a little girls back and played with her hair.

This kind of thing happens more often than I'd like it to. He loves hair so much that he's constantly trying to cop feels. He started out climbing on the bench next to her and her family. Then he'll stare at her while she is watching the dogs (they are turned around on the bench leaning over the back). Every time she turns away from him, he'll reach for her hair, but not really touch it. He'll do this for a good five minutes than finally grab hold of a piece and rub it in his fingers (like any normal kid would do with a blankie). Then he gets really comfortable and climbs around on her back and just holds her hair and plays with it. Instant friends!!!!! Wish I had my camera. Like I said, this isn't uncommon.

After the beach, we head home and take naps then we meet up with the Savage's and Fischer's for dinner at Chipotle (so glad we got to see them) and head down to Newport. What a great day!



Here we are with the Fischer's in Newport Beach at the Christmas Boat Parade. It wasn't as cold as Boston looks. But I'm the mom who dresses up her kid like Randy (Ralphie's little brother) in The Christmas Movie.




Boston helping some boys out with their castle.

Oh, found some older girls to help with their castle. Think I'll stay here for a while. Notice how Boston is "leaning" on this girls leg. Making himself comfortable.

Just leaning.


The only non-blurry photo of the boats (or should I say, yachts. We ARE in Newport) as they passed. They were very festive! I especially loved the one's that played Christmas music.

Boston Lou Who

This picture went around the Forest family email!!!! Thanks Uncle Jason for taking such a classic picture. I wasn't around for this, but apparently he was "talking" through the bars when this was captured. That' s my little man~ Express yourself, baby!!!!

Training early

Miah is currently reading a book on leadership and coaching. He put it down for a minute and Boston grabs it, sits in his little Boston-size chair, and starts to read it like daddy does.



Have to start reading the right books to prepare for the future!!!



Boston is also going to be in a band when he's older (or now if someone will accept him). We do "music time" everyday - Boston decided that. He will grab Miah's hand and pull him into the "music room", grab the guitar and give it to Miah and then wait for him to play. Boston will dance and go to the keyboard and play shaking his head. In this picture he grabbed the guitar stand and is "singing" into it like a microphone. I have not idea where he got this idea, but it works perfectly. I can't believe this kid. . . he amazes me everyday.

Boston and Whitnee

Did I mention that Boston loves his cousin Whitnee. Well, he loves older girls (that's my boy). He learned to make funny faces recently - I think he learned it watching Yo Gabba Gabba (if any of you have heard of this ~ weird show). He loves to try and copy any funny face you make. It makes me laugh so hard. He's doing all of this while she was trying to watch a movie.



B making Whitnee a funny face.

You can see B laughing at the funny face he's making on Whitnee.

B making his own funny face. I don't have this on film yet, buy my favorite is his cocked to one side with his tongue sticking out.

Boston climbing on Whitnee's back.

Both of them STILL watching the movie . . .