Hands down...Best Holiday

The 4th of July has always been my favorite holiday.

Maybe I like independence and my Country...

Maybe I don't like the British or their teeth...

Maybe I like fireworks, festivities and family parties..

or maybe I just like Joby who happens to have been born on the 4th...

The culmination of all of these makes for a delightful experience.

Family BBQ/ Pool party and fireworks at my parents and then onto the Archers for more fun!

Cru got his first pair of Boots from Grandma and Pop Archer this year!

We are on Day 4 of him refusing to take them off for bedtime.

A couple months ago Callie told my nephews, when we were out hiking, to pick some flowers and give them to me. Both Landon and Kason picked a flower and handed them to me saying "Here Julie!" Cru must have wanted the smile and hugs I gave them because ever since that day if Cru sees any flowers he will pick one for me and while reaching say "Here Julie!"

its the only time he calls me Julie instead of mom and its so ridiculously cute.

In the words of Will Ferrell..."AMERICA!!"

I'm one and ridiculously cute

I like the the pool, the beach, eating sand,

wrestling with my brother and...

cake! And I just turned one!

Easily amused

Ah...if only we were all so easily amused as children.

Maybe Florida is our next move....

I married into a crazy awesome family!! (Archer/Colmans.) Yet another wonderful family reunion and so great to have Katie and Evan come with us! I wish I had footage of everyone. After this trip Florida is in the running for I and Joby's next move.

For 10 years I went to the beach almost everyday. Since moving I haven't been in 2 years. It was beyond refreshing...

It will never lose my affection.

Sidenote: katie and I are both 18 weeks prego in this video. look how AMAZING she looks and how "not so amazing" I look. (ugh.) luckily, these pictures grossed me out enough that I got back on live the life and have lost 5 of the 10 pounds of overindulgence in the first tri-mester. I miss my metabolism from my 20's....

Stuff

It is extremely easy just by looking at a toy to decipher if it is from China or the U.S.

China's English branding is delightfully bad. It typically lacks punctuation, prepositions or plural forms of nouns.

This is one is our favorites, so far, because it incorporates all three grammar mistakes listed above. It is a bucket of little plastic safari animals...I mean animal.

It makes Joby and I deliriously happy when we discover China toys in Cru's toy collection because we get to incorporate the new lingo into our daily conversations for the rest of the week. For instance, today I followed Joby around the store with random items stating "Lovely and fun (whatever I was holding) these are what you want."

I have been searching to see if they also have other lines like "The world of insect" or "The world of person."

I also like that they inform me that "these are what I want" because it takes the annoying decision making process out of buying toys.

In other news.. I was giving my Relief Society lesson yesterday and we were discussing the dangers of carnal security. After people had supplied some examples of carnal security I began to move on to the next subject when randomly someone just said

"boats."

And I don't even know who said it, but it was so funny because it was said out of the blue and with complete disgust. It was said in such a way you would think boats were the downfall of society. I just started laughing and I couldn't move on unless I addressed it so I just stated "Mark my words if you own aboat you are being lured by the adversary into carnal security." Everyone was laughing, but I wish I would have found out who it was so I could ask for some background on her animosity towards boats. For the rest of the day anytime there were breaks in conversation I would just say "boats."

In other other news.. Cru pushed Sage in the bathtub. So she got right next to his face and screamed the most high pitch shrill scream I have ever heard in my life. It literally hurt my ears.Cru started crying hysterically because it scared him. I was laughing so hard I couldn't breath. Nice to know my little chica can already fight back.

candy confidence

I received this picture and text today...

"Hey Julie remember us????

You can't hurt us anymore!!!!!!!!"

Apparently the candy community is getting a little cocky knowing I have quit them.

Juice puppy era

Cru loves to dance. We typically designate 7:00p.m. after hours at the Archer house and we blast the salsa music and dance until I pass out on the floor. My endurance currently gives up at 7:45. I don't know how I use to dance until 3, sometimes 6, in the morning.

This video is a couple months old but I love it because it shows his sweet complex arm movements. Additionally, this was the juice puppy era so he would randomly say "juice" or "puppy" the whole time he was dancing. You can kindof hear it on the tape.

His current motivation is still puppies but he's added horses to the mix.

Mr. Mom

So I've decided I'm going to slowly delegate all my responsibilities to Cru so I can do whatever I want.

forgotten payback

Joby and I like to try and out embarrass each other. It somehow deepens our bond.

For instance if I ever get up to go to the restroom after finishing a meal at a restaurant Joby likes to yell "If you go throw up your meal again I'm not paying for it!" He waits until I am walking past a table of people.

I like to make up things Joby says in conversation with people we have just met like "See Joby they aren't stuck up like you said or mid conversation with them turn to Joby in disgust and say "STOP farting!" Or when he makes a sarcastic remark about someone if he has made me really mad I will tell them. "Joby thinks your hair looks like a mushroom exploded"

This is just a small taste of our sick little game, but more often we end up laughing to the point of urination as opposed to getting angry in our attempt to out embarrass each other.

However...

I just remembered an uneven score we have from a flight we took shortly after I had Cru.

I was emotionally vulnerable due to just having a baby and couldn't retaliate.

Everyone had boarded and it was unusually quiet. No one on the plane was really talking

No one except Joby who loudly stated "Ewwww why don't you put on extra deodorant when you know we are traveling!"

Luckily we are planning a trip this year that will require a plane ride.

There will be recompense.

Once upon a time...

A little over 5 years ago we went to Costa Rica.

At the time Joby and I were just friends.

You would have thought Jason and Joby were the ones to hook up after the trip...

(see video)

But the night before we left Joby and I stayed up late and talked on the balcony.

He expressed how he couldn't wait to get married so he could spoil his wife and treat her like a princess.

It worked.

2 months later he moved from Florida back to San Diego by me.

I gave up latinos

Joby gave up his bank account.

14 months later we were married.

And four years later we are still living happily ever after

Happy Anniversary!

I've been thinking....

For the past 3 to 4 years I have felt the strength and urgency more than ever to purify my life and cleanse myself of any and every weakness that would prevent me experiencing the spirit to the fullest. I'm sure becoming a parent is an influential part as you want to be the example of the principles you are teaching your children, but there is more to it. We all know we are living in the last days. I remember being referred to as millennial children in talks growing up and we know the Apostles and possibly the Prophet who will be the Apostles and Prophet during the millenium are here. (see talk). We can see mens/ womans (maybe our own ) hearts failing as prophesied in our daily encounters. Analyzing my own mind I see my own worldly snares I am vulnerable to. I feel like I have had things come into my life that have helped free much of my captivity so I could further prepare myself and family. One being the revelation to leave California and move to Utah. (I also find it interesting that so many people are flocking back to Utah. Even those without family here)That blessing not only brought us closer to family, but has taken us almost completely out of debt. Something that I believe would never happen had we stayed in California. Another is emotional healing, through the Atonement, from some heartaches in life. I feel like a whole person again. Another is Live the life. Its aprogram that gave me the proper formula for taking care of ones body and perfectly following the word of wisdom. I felt addicted to sugar and had many failed attempts at alleviating it from my life. Since following live the life I have not only almost completely absolved my addiction to sugar but also to preservatives and every unnatural craving induced food source in our society. I eat for sustainability not for the serotonin high. Its a powerful feeling. It wasn't easy but so worth it. I had always admired John the Baptist because he lived off of locust and honey. He ate purely for sustenance and that was because he didn't want to have any societal appetites that impede his communication with God. I have never understood 3:7 to the degree I do today. "for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save heshall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." Heavenly Father has placed many people, books and things in my life to help me accomplish things he has commanded me to do. I also know the Saviors spirit has been poured more abundantly across the earth as I have never felt the strength to accomplish thesethings as I have these past 3 years.

Through Study we know the signs and they are all around us. We know that the seventh seal was opened in the year 2000 (one reference)signifying the last days and the half hour of silence in Heaven before Christ comes. And thanks to John in Revelations we know what will happen during the half our of silence and its definitely not a glamorous time(Revelations chapter 8) In Millennial messiah Bruce R McConkie claims we can calculate what a half and hour is in gods time. He stated that if 1000 years is one day to God then you divide 1000 by 24 to see if you can find out how long one of God’s hours is, and it’s just under 42 years. so according to McConkie a half an our is just under 21 years. Additionally that is only correct if our calandars are correct. We know that they are correct and God goes by our calandar(gregorian) by D&C 20:1. So his speculation is that we may not know the time or hour....but we know the year of the millennium. If this is true, the next 10 years should be interesting....

Regardless if the millennium is in 2021 or 2091 I know there is a storm coming as I can feel the urgency to get my house in order. Additionally John spoke in Revelations of the beast that will rise up and place us in a under a totalitarian government. (Revelations 13) It has been speculated that this beast that was "wounded to death" but then "healed" is making reference to the Soviet union. Which I agree with. The evil soviet union empire was crushed under Reagan, but I saw this the other day and it was unnerving "Restoring the Soviet Union" I find it interesting that John refers to the powerful beast in Revelations as a bear and so does this article. I thought to myself, "And it begins..."after reading this and their talks of restoring the scary KGB.

I loved this video. Its was very nicely done. It doesn't induce fear or contention like most "warning" videos. It brings peace through the Savior. Because ultimately we should not fear but have faith in our Savior. He is "the only way"

Additionally I love this artist. Jon Mcnaughton. My sister introduced me to him. You can click on any person or image in his painting to see information behind his symbolism.

Not really a fun post....just something thats been on my mind

I learned it by watching you dad

Like Father...

Like son..

Sage is almost 6 months. Time to have another one!

I'm not pregnant, but if Joby knew I said I wanted to get pregnant again he would probably get a vasectomy.

He thinks two is perfect.

I think six is perfect.

This should be interesting...

Look at me!

I'm sixth months in a week!

And I'm ridiculously cute.

Its strange, I have opposing forces working within me. I get stressed just watching my sister handle 3 under 3 yet I have this pull to keep having kids fast. I occasionally watch The Duggars. I am fascinated with the amazing patience and laid back disposition of the parents. I'm pretty sure it would be impossible not to acquire great patience after 19 kids. I love how their family functions like a small corporation and everyone works together on different levels for the success of the individual and family as a whole. Everyone is happy and loves to serve their brothers and sisters. Its actually quite inspiring. And you can tell the parents have crossed that difficult threshold of living the law of consecration. Its not "all about them" anymore. It is about their family and serving others. Its hard to give ones life completely to the Lord as people such as they have. You almost question if by doing so,by losing your life in service to others, he can make you happier then you yourself could. I loved Apostle Christoffersons talk reflections of a conscecrated life in which he states, "True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes."

Having children puts you on the road to living the law of concecration. Through challenges and looking beyond your own happiness as a parent you gain eternal character that can't be achieved merely by attending to your own needs and happiness. That character blesses your family, friends and communiy. I love being a mom...have i achieved that spiritual growth where I forget about me in leu of others needs... not even close. Do i sometimes look back to my exciting life before kids? Yes. Do i want to go back. No.

Little prince and princesses make life sweeter.

Bring on the terrible twos!

Cru is pretty much the most hilarious person Joby and I know and we love watching him grow up. He's 2!!!!

In other news, I just happened to see this facebook message chain my friend commented on. I don't know any of the people in this post but one response to the girls status made me do a double take.....

Though Erica was always suspicious of Elly it was her use of the Facebook "like" status that,like so many others, finally revealed her true sinister nature

Grass is cool...the legal kind

We finally have grass!! Just in time for it to snow on it and kill it. Yay!!

Whatever, we will enjoy our 6 or 7 days of green grass.

We pretty much spent last night sitting on our porch staring at it and waving to neighbors who offered grateful salutes for fixing the eyesore of our street.

(Sadly this is a crappy overexposed pic, and yet my skin is still pretty much that same pasty white color. Bring on the orange-ish hue mist on tan! When we were dating Joby use to make fun of my mist on tan saying he understood our chemistry as he was always attracted to basketballs.)

I remember before I was married and actually owned property, my brother sent me pictures of his freshly laid sod at his house. I remember thinking "whoo hoo grass...I could care less." It's interesting how your enthusiasm for different things in life increase as you experience it firsthand. I now understand. I was nieve to the joys of owning grass. Don't be surprised if you receive a text with a picture of our yard.

I think Cru and his cousins would prefer a dirt Yard. They have had a blast digging, pushing their dump trucks, eating and tracking the dirt all through our house.

Why are they still knocking!

We have a big sign on the door that says, "Out of candy Sorry," because we didn't want to give candy out on the Sabbath. However,they are still knocking and waiting for us to open the door. We are hiding by our stairs and looking out the window at them. They staring right at our sign and continuing to knock. I heard that one in four trick or treaters are illiterate. Okay so I just made that up to give understanding to this situation.

Seriously stop knocking!

Happy Halloween

More Archer family

Follow the Prophet

Thought I would post the link to this talk since it was referenced three times in Conference.

The fourteen fundamentals in following the Prophet -President Ezra Taft Benson

President Thomas S. Monson

His voice-the most important scripture.

1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.

5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.

7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.

9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.

10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.

11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.

14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.

*Each prophet seems to have vauable experiences and revelation specific to the generation they preside over. I was pondering President Monsons stories of caring for the 84 widows and trying to see how it relates to our situation and what valuable direction it gives us. I think he is trying to tell us that the best way to get through these trying economic and uncertain times is through service.

As the Savior taught, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Luke 9:24) So as President Monson lost his life in service to the 84 widows he brought great purpose to his life and happiness during a challenging time and ultimately found his life.

I know in difficult times I have a tendency to become so focused on my needs not being met that I can't hear the distress cries of others. I also know that when I only live for myself i never move forward and have an apathetic outlook on life as I have no purpose. The Prophet knows our needs and that they can be met through service to others.

I like what I read on another blog:

Often we live side by side but do not communicate heart to heart. There are those within the sphere of our own influence who, with outstretched hands, cry out, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” (emphasis added)

This seems to be counsel that we need to go beyond the shallow conversation of everyday if we are to comfort those with deep hurt. Even if we can’t take away another person’s struggle, we can alleviate their loneliness and isolation, which will make life easier for them to bear. Communicating heart to heart is another way that we can escape that shriveling self-centered focus.

I'm grateful to friends, family and the Gospel that allow me the chance to serve so I can live a purpose filled life.

Don't you want to kiss her face off!

Its official

My daughter is prettier than me

I was afraid this would happen

I'm pretty sure my jealousy will drive me to obsessive amounts of plastic surgery in my forties

Don't you want to kiss her face off!! I love her!

He knows why

Can someone please do this to my husband...

And yes, he does know why.

In less hostile news, this was on our TV this morning. I was so groggy from bad sleep I thought it was a weird mind trick. I don't know if its the growling asian boy or the toy dinosaur or the combination(likely), but I could watch this over and over.(even though it's horrible video quality)