May 25th.....Hunter's 3rd Birthday!

Hunter turned 3!!!!! I can't believe it! Just seems like we brought him home from the hospital!!! Hunter is in love with trains...Thomas the train, in particular! He asks me almost every morning if we can visit the train down our road....it comes by around 8:30- sometimes we wait for it to pass after I drop the kids off at school after 8!  Hunter is a great kid! He listens for the most part and is laughing and smiling most of the day! He says the funniest things!!!! He does keep me busy, but he's such a blessing to our family! We love you Hunter!!! Happy Birthday to you buddy!!! ;)

 At Hunter's request, we had brownies with ice cream...and hot fudge....with bananas! Delicious!

 Daddy and I got him a Thomas the Train game....he loved it! Aunt Vicki also got him a Thomas shirt (which he has a very hard time taking off....EVER, except for bath time ;) )

Hunter played all day and sang...Happy Birthday to Hunter....Happy Birthday to me! It really was the cutest thing!

May 20th....Wolf to Bear

Ethan had his ceremony from Wolf to Bear on the 20th! He was really excited to advance!  He has completed all the requirements and also 37 electives this past year to earn 3 arrow patches (10 electives per patch).  We are proud of you Ethan!  Keep making good choices and having fun! ;)

Scouting is "awesome and fun!"- Ethan Jeppson 

May 10th....Alexis Piano Recital

Our little Alexis LOVES playing the piano. We found a teacher and she has been taking lessons weekly for several months.  Every year, in May, this teacher puts on a recital for all of her students who have worked hard to play their piece memorized in front of friends and family at her church in Broadway.  This was a wonderful experience for Alexis.  She was definately excited and yet a little scared to perform her 'song' in front of people she didn't know!  My dad was able to be there and afterwards, she told me he made her feel 'more like at home' while playing! It was so wonderful to watch Alexis play and have fun....even with her serious face while playing.  She was all smiles after she sat down with her family! I'm so proud of you Alexis....keep up the Awesome work!

Our Washington DC trip....

We decided to take the kids out of school at 10 and head up to Washington DC for some fun at all the museums with Chris' family still here for one more day! Boy was this fun! We drove to Vienna, VA and rode the Metro into DC~ much less hastle and fun for everyone! We met up with Chris' family about 3ish.... after we visited the White House, Washington Momument, WW11 Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial (from a distance).  The kids and Chris and I really enjoyed this day! It is always so interesting to visit historical sites and of course, our nations capital!!!

 Chris and the kids on the Metro.....Hunter didn't stop talking about the Metro and how it went underground....he was in heaven! ;)

 This was a close as we came to the White House....and we passed about 7 or 8 Secret Service vehicles along the way!  Sheesh!

 The Washington Monument....we could see where the crack was from the last Earthquake we had in March.

 The family watching the fountain at the new World War 2 Memorial! I had not seen this before, it's a newer monument!

 Home sweet home.....in Maryland! Thank you to all who gave their lives for our freedom!  This was a humbling place to visit!

 Both Ethan and Alexis have been studying Abraham Lincoln in school and we just read Abe at Last before this visit! (The latest Magic Tree House featuring some stories from Abe Lincoln's biography).  The kids really enjoyed this!

 After meeting up with Chris' family, we visited the Air and Space Museum.....and saw the Telescope Chandra....and learned more about what my name means....light, the moon, illuminating! Well, that explains myself, now doesn't it!??! LOL!

 Ethan and the capital...."Mom, how do I get to work there when I get older?" he asks.....Well, son.....

 Then we visited the main Smithsonian Building.......and I remember this elephant from 3rd grade when I went here for the first of many times!!!! Still hasn't changed! ;)

What a very fun day! We left and got back to our car after 9pm....pulling in the driveway a little after 11pm.  What a blast we all had....and memories not forgotten!

Jeppson family fun

While everyone was here, we decided to do a few fun things! To name just a few, we saw Luray Caverns, Skyline Drive, baptism and party on Saturday at local park, Lexington and Southern Virginia University, Washington D.C..... Here are a few pics...more to come!

Ethan's baptism....

Ethan has decided to be baptized! We are so very proud of him. He tries very hard. He is a wonderful example to all of us. He is tenderhearted. He is quick to forgive; He is helpful!  We love him so much! Here are a few pics from his special day. Our entire family was here....ALL 21 of US!!!!! It was WONDERFUL!! We LOVED the time spent together! Families are forever...and we are richly blessed to have the family we do!  Thank you to EVERYONE who came to support Ethan during this special time! You helped make it memorable!

 Ethan with Uncle Josh....

 Ethan and Daddy

 Cousins Haley and Breanna....Breanna played a flute piece~ She did a fantastic job!

 Ethan and his friend Lee!

 Grandma and Grandpa with Ethan

Ethan with his brother Hunter. 

For those of you that couldn't make it, here is the slideshow we put together ( THANK YOU NICK) which was shown while Ethan and Daddy were getting changed! Enjoy!

I am a Mother

I am a mother.  I have the PRIVILEDGE of being a mother!  It is my calling.  I honestly can't imagine being ANYTHING else.  I LOVE what I do.  It's my full-time job.  It's not just my job...it's my duty, my opportunity to teach, serve, learn, laugh, love, cry, give my everything.  I am so blessed to be a woman and to be a mother.  Things don't alway go right, sometimes they are totally crazy...but when I fall down, I say a prayer and get up and try again!  That's the beauty.  It's the consistancy of not giving up.  I'm always there...I hope to always be there!!  And when I'm not present, I hope the kids will remember what they have been taught....they are children of God.....they are RIGHTEOUS....they are SPECIAL!!  So special....they were made in His image.....and that's saying something!  As a family, we read 4th Nephi tonight.....about how the people were united....and were one in Christ.  There were no divisions...no poor/needy.....Everyone was equal....WOW! And there was never a more happier people on Earth....and why was this....because they had the love of Christ in their hearts.  They worked together.  They prayed together and met together (Church) to pray and learn of Jesus.  They kept the commandments.  Tonight while sitting around the table, the kids got it! They said, "We do this and we are happy."  It's sometimes the simple things that are huge!  I love being a mother. 

 My mother in law with all my sister in laws.....Luray Caverns just a few days ago. I love and cherish you all! I hope you know this!  Thank you for coming and for blessing our family.

 My mother and father with Ethan on his baptism day May 5th at church.  Thank you for your support.  We love you.

Alexis, Hunter and Ethan....my world....well besides my husband who was busy studying for Finals when this picture was taken! 

Tomorrow is Mother's Day.  I am thinking about all those mom's in the world who have influenced me....to name a few:  my own mother, my great-aunt Anne Riley- who passed away while I was in high school, Jan Blackburn, Nancy Cowie, so many others to name....so many great, strong, faithful women who have helped me to become who I am today.  I am so grateful....I can't begin to write down how thankful I am.  I am so blessed.  I have my body to move about to bless others, to serve them to strengthen them and strengthen myself- to strengthen my own testimony of this work.  I feel so blessed to have the priviledges that I do.  What a blessing to be a woman, to be a mother!  Thank you to all those who have touched my heart and have served to bless me and my family.  I think of when Alexis was born at 34 weeks and women brought meals for 3 weeks, both in the church and out- MaryAnn Bayless....whom I worked with...brought over a roast, potatoes, carrots and homemade rolls....we ate on that meal for 3 days....so delicious.  I think of moving help we have received.  Countless times, women have served.  The potential that we have as women- to bless the lives of others is such an amazing quality the Lord has given us.  I hope to remember my divine nature and to never forget the priviledges I have been given by my Heavenly Father- for I am a daughter of Him!  I can do all things in Christ, which strengthen me. Phillipians 2:14.