The Yentes Family Established 1986: 01/01/2009

Saturday, January 10, 2009

A New Year.....A New Chance

As I contemplate what I want to see happen for me and my family this year, I of course want things like peace, love, prosperity and happiness. But how will I help that to happen? What can I do to become better? How can I help my children become better?

We are always challenging our children (and ourselves) to "do just a little more" or "go the extra mile" so the thought occured to me that maybe by doing for others, by being more giving, being more understanding and by being more charitable we will be able to have peace, love, prosperity and happiness and it will come to us naturally and easily.

I think my hopes and desires for 2009 can come to pass by adhering to council given by President Hinckley a few years ago when he stated..... "let's make a decision within ourselves to be a little better than we’ve been, a little kinder, a little more merciful, a little more outreaching, with a little greater desire to bless those in distress and need. …........ Think of some small way in which we might improve ourselves and draw nearer to our Lord.”

It is my hope that we all find peace in service this year and love for others as well as ourselves.

Family Pictures December 2008

Disney Mania

Another fun trip to Disneyland. We were there for 4 days. We met up with several friends and some family. We had dinner at my cousin's house in Lake Forrest one night, dinner at ESPN Zone with my brother for his 40th birthday another night and played and played and played the rest of the time. Unfortunately, now it is back to reality:(

Gillian wanted to see Mickey Mouse's House so bad! But of course she got a little shy when she got to meet him.

Caleb and Ben spinning me in the teacups. Wild ride! Gillian and gary in the background teacup and the Townsend boys

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year!

We hope everyone had a safe and totally fun New Year's Eve! We had a group of about 40 here for food and fun until about 8:30 when we delivered half of them to the Stake New Year's Eve Party. Then back here with little one's to ring in the new year with a pinata, noise makers and martinellis. It was a fun night. Thanks Watson Family. We can't wait for Disneyland only 3 more days!

Celebrate Good Times!

Friends to the end! And trouble!!!!! :)

Party Girl!

Good Friends, Good Times!

This is actually a little scary! After leaving the guys with 8 little, very loud and very excited kids for an hour and a half (mary and I drove the big kids and their friends to the Stake Center and lingered:) the dads said that this is what they resorted to in order to drown out the chaos and calm their nerves. Not sure how far martinellis and paper towels get you but they are both nuts!

CHEERS!

2008 Family Pics!

We finally got our family pictures done. Just in time for New Years! Now if I can just find time to send them off to the printer for our annual New Year's Cards I will be happy. Not sure if it will happen anytime soon but here are a few of my favorites.

All About Garrett

Garrett is our rock. As the oldest of our children Garrett has always been super responsible. He is almost to good to be true sometimes. Talk about helpful, caring, involved and loved by so many! Although I spent all last year planning and enjoying many "last" experiences with all our children living in our home (before Garrett's departure to college), nothing could have prepared me or the rest of the family for just how much this young man would be missed! There are so many qualities in Garrett that I admire. He is passionate about everything he does, he is kind hearted, he loves people of all ages (and they love him), he is a great listener, a super problem solver, he likes to have fun and loves to get the job done! lol. I love watching him make his way in college, growing and becoming an even stronger and more spiritual person. Garrett has always known what he wants in life and is always willing to seek after the "good things". I love this boy with all my heart and am so grateful for the wonderful blessing of being his mother!

All About Cameron

Cameron is our steady one. At 15 1/2 and now the oldest one in our home, I have come to appreciate his sure and constant pace in our lives. Cam is easy to please, happy, silly, very loving and just fun to be around. He has many interests that range from water sports, to snow sports, to playing on the basketball team to playing instruments. Cameron does love to horse around and seems to get all the kids wrestling at one time or another during the day which makes things crazy but thats our Cam! I have come to count on him and appreciate his willingness to help out with just about anything I need. I have watched Cameron with awe over the years as he has quietly and respectfully stood up for all that he knows is good and right! He is such a great example to me and others in our family. I feel so blessed to have him in my life and am so thankful I have Cameron to love so very much!!!!!.

All About Griffin

Griffin is a joy! I have always said that Griffin is a combination of both Garrett and Cameron which makes him almost perfect!!!! :) Griffin is quiet, helpful, respectful and kind. He can be crazy and is quite fun to be around. He still loves to hug me every morning and every night and for that I will always be thankful. Griffin is easy to be around and has so many friends that love him. Griffin loves sports of all kinds, especially golfing. If he had it his way, he would be at the golf range daily. He plays several instruments but his heart is with the drums. He is rough and tumble but also soft and gentle. Like I said, almost perfect! What a blessing he has been in our home. I love our "Fiffin" with all my heart!!!!

All About Caleb

Caleb.....Caleb.....Caleb......I have so much to say about Caleb but "Larger than Life" always comes to mind as I contemplate all that I know of "Cakers". From the moment he was born, he has had so much energy, so much passion, so much fire! He loves sports and wants to keep up with his big brothers all the time which sometimes gets him hurt. :) He can drum and play the piano (the guitar is next) but his greatest enjoyment in life comes from dancing, music, drawing and photography. His dream is to be a professional dancer and photographer. He even has his own blog. He is so much fun! Everyday is a new adventure with our fun loving Caleb and I enjoy seeing what each new day brings with him. I love you Caleb to "infinity and beyond!"

All About Gillian

Little Miss Gillian is my love and the love of all the men in her life:) but she has secretly taken me prisoner of her heart and it is there that I hope I will always stay. Gillian has changed so much over the last year. I once saw her as easy and go with the flow little girl but now I realize that she has always had quite the mind of her own as she does just about what she wants to do each and every day. :) She is strong and feisty and always knows what she wants! She is her own authority and dares anyone to challenge her on that. While this makes it difficult to get her to always do what we want, I see this as a great strength as she gets older and needs to be unwavering and unyielding. She is a true "diamond in the rough"! When Heavenly Father sent her to us, he promised me that she would be a "joy in my life" and when I look at my little girl, I know I have been blessed and I feel such gratitude and love for this daughter of mine. I love you beyond measure Gilly!