Only Temporary, I promise Mom!

Rob cut the boys hair today and left only this on Spencer's head today!
He said if their is anyone's personality that would suit a mowhawk it would be Spencer's.
We thought he would want it shaved off right away, but no, of course not. He does know that it is only temporary, and it will be shaved off before church on Sunday morning.

Gratitude!

My beautiful daughter had her first opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting last week.
Yes, it's very hard for me to believe she is 12 and is a young woman old enough to be a speaker in Sacrament Meeting!
Well it was Mother's Day, so Emily Wanted no help from me, Only Dad! So, I gladly went to bed and left them to figure out the talk (Crossing my fingers just a little).
Her topic was on gratitude for Mother's. I just loved that she was given that topic...maybe it would just give her a tiny reminder to have a little more gratitude for her very own Mother...Me! I must say though she s a pretty darn good kid. Robert and I are so proud of her and how she is growing up.
Anyways, She was so nervous to be the first speaker, but let me tell you she was amazing! So confidant and beautiful. She gave such a lovley talk. Rob wanted me to know that the last part of her talk when she said Something about me she did not write any of that down, she wanted me to know that it was coming directly from her, and she meant it. Ok, that was the best Mother's Day EVER!!!!
In her talk she had some Quotes that I though were so neat on Gratitude :
David O. McKay said: " Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts".
Joseph B. Worthlin said : " Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful. Thy tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable". I think for sure that is one to live by.
I started thinking after her talk that you know, things do kinda stink right now, we don't know what lies around the corner for our family. We could be anywhere by the end of the summer. At leaste I have hope that we will have some answers by then =). But, if we are somewhere new and different I will always have the 5 most most important people in my life with me where ever I go. I am so grateful for that!!! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father gave us families, so that we don't have to endure our trials and tribulations in this life alone. And we can share every happiness in this life with them as well. Things never seem so tough when you have a support system like your family. My brother's and sister's, cousins, Aunts and Uncle's, Parents, grandparents...even friends become so much a part of your family. I cannot imagine where we Would be without them all. How lucky and grateful our little Etchells family of 6 are.

Christopher Mastering the stairs at 18 mo.

this is Christopher's newest achievement! You can see the struggle he has trying to climb the stairs, but it is so amazing to us to see how determied he is to do it. With this kind of determination he can acomplish anything I know it! ( sorry for th annoying laugh,that must have been Robert's,could'nt hve been mine =) )

"Sweet baby James"

Happy Birthday to Our James Douglas! 11 years old, I can hardly believe it!
Now James is probably the biggest fan of all things Nintendo there is. He has all there Systems, and he knows all the latest news about new games coming out. He even wants to go on his mission to Japan, because that's where Nintendo is made. He is a funny kid.
So he was super excited to find out that the newest Nintendo system the "DSI" would be out just in time for his birthday. We told him that was so cool, and we would get it for him if that's really what he wanted.
Then he knew that both sets of grandarent's always send him birthday money, and he thought he would get a few games to go along with it. He had it all planned out. But he is learning as he get's a little older that sometimes plans have to change.through this recession I think everyone is slowing down on spending. And Our views on what is important and necessary change as well. We thought for sure we would still get him the Dsi but maybe he could add his Grandparents birthday money to it as well. I was not quite sure how he would take it. But he was thrilled and happy to hand over his money.
This little boy is such an amazing kid. He is ready for anything.The possibility for moving is Huge right now, and the kids love it here. So when we told them that we may be moving he said " Mom, I've been thinking, I think moving would be Bittersweet. Bitter because we would have to leave Kansas,our house and friends, but sweet because of all the new neat things that could happen". (did that just come out of my son's mouth)?
When he said that Emily and I just looked at eachother in shock. He's a pretty cool kid.

I love my James, I am so proud of his choices he makes in life, and his sweet personality. He is going to turn to be such an amazing man one day.