Our fun day in the snow!

Some of you haven't heard about our fun snowmobile experience. Friday night when everyone got there we went to the famous Great Wall for chinese food and realized that we needed some boots and gloves etc for everyone that didn't have any. Well, we stopped off at Deseret Industries and there we found the greatest finds, especially for Joni. We found her a real snowmobiling outfit that was black and red, for the bargain price of $15. She kept saying that she wasn't going to wear it but finally gave in. We found her and Shelane some boots for $4 a pair but the best bargain of the day was jonis mitten gloves that were pale mint green for $1, I actually would end up wearing this fine gloves. Saturday started out the way our outings always start out. Getting lunch and getting the snowmobiles and of course looking in at least two stores to get a thermos for the cocoa that Joni wanted. Not finding it and realizing that if we don't get the snowmobiles soon our day would be shot. So we gave up on the thermos and dad stopped at Maverick and got a big gulp thermos and finally she got her cocoa! (Which we will see later that it was all for nothing) Anyway, we got to the smowmobile place and got two snowmobiles. The guy came out to tell us how to run them and gave us two shiny new helmets and told us not to scratch them. I am convinced that he jinxed us for the rest of the trip. We got to dads shop and got the smowmobiles unloaded and we all got on to ride to the river. Dad and I on one of the smowmobiles and Joni Richard and Shelane on the other. Dad and I wore the helmets which was inspiration. We took off first and as we tried to get between two trees we found ourselves tipping over in slow motion but we couldn't stop it. We tipped all the way over and our heads hit into the trunk of the tree. Mine was bad, but dad would have dug a big hole in his head if he hadn't had his helmet on. The kids behind us got a lot of laughs over us. But of course, a big huge scratch down the helmet! Oh Well, what can you do. It would have been fine had that have been the only crash dad and I had but for some reason, which he says it was my fault because I didn't know how to lean, we had another crash onto our side going up a little hill. The kids were behind us and they just kept catching up to us and seeing us crashed, wondering if we are all right and again laughing which I am sure it was very funny. Well, after the lecture from dad, telling me of course that when I see him lean I better lean with all my might the same way, we did pretty good. We did have another crash that jolted my spine when we hit a big ditch that we couldn't see. I am still having some after affects from that one. We had to go through the canal and that was a trick. It took Richard a little longer to try to get out of that but he made it. When we got to the lunch area we made us a fire to get warm and ate of course our Kentucky Fried Chicken which Joni wouldn't eat. But remember we had dad and Richard on the outing. We thought we would have some nice hot cocoa but Joni had to leave it on the trail because it kept spilling and she couldn't hold onto it or she would fall off so it was somewhere out there abandoned in the snow. We had a fun time though and it was beautiful country by the river. The girls and I had a good hike in the snow on the way back while they were trying to get back through the canal. I do think that Shelanes boots were the worst of the bargains since here feet probably had frostbite. It was fun but alas, when we turned in the snowmobiles we had to turn in a helmet that was scratched! That night we went to the dollar movie to see I Am Legend that Joni said was good, the men liked it but it was about vampires and kind of scarey! But it was fun. Monday of course we went to Smittys and then shopping, something that is tradition for the girls. We found some fantastic deals like we always do! I had a great time and enjoyed everyone being here!
Love you All!
Mom
Our pictures show our great outfits and our fun time.
And now for the Tuttle Timely Tidbits:
Do you all subscribe to the Ensign? Are you Wise? Do you read it? The March issue is very special use it well!
Love DAD

Mexico trip

Mexico,
What can I say but sun and fun! I am publishing a bunch of pictures on the blog so you will get to see our most beautiful motel that we found out was $399 night and we got it for $200 for the whole week! However, it is the Travel share presentation capitol of the world. And of course dad and I were not very prepared for this! When we got to the airport, we were wisked away to sign up for a shuttle that is where we received our first presentation offering to give us a shuttle ride for free a free breakfast, mexican blankets and a free sunset cruise if we would just come and listen to the presentation. He said now don't let anyone see this voucher because at your motel some mexican girls will come up to you and ask to see your voucher. Don't show it to anyone he said and I will pick you up in the morning. We promised!!!!! we would show up. Well, when we got to the hotel we checked in and the concierge asked of course to show us our voucher. Dad stalled for a while and then I pulled it out of my purse. She wanted us to go to her presentation so she offered us breakfast, a private taxi back to the airport, a $100 voucher for anything we spent at the hotel and the sunset dinner cruise, plus discounts on all of our other activities that we wanted to do if we would stay and watch their presentation.(I forgot the mexican blankets) But I told him I would be there no matter what! So I was feeling guilty when we finally gave it up and went to their presentation. We got checked into our room and ate at the restaurant in our hotel for the night. It was outside and beautiful. Well, the next morning we went to their presentation and after a grueling 5 hours ( they said it would only take an hour and a half) We had seen all the property you could see and at the end they were upset that we didn't buy anything but Tuttle didn't blow! (Tyler, remember your RCI presentation in Florida?) And of course, I felt guilty! We went to pick up our prizes and they gave us everything that they said except when we said we wanted to sign up for more activities they said we had to go sign up with the girl over at the other table. She was actually another presentation and to get our activities, the beach ride on the four wheelers, the snorkeling excursion on lovers beach, breakfast and lunch at their hotel plus the opportunity to use all of their facilities for the day because this hotel was on the beach that you could swim on. Well, we gave in again! And signed up for the tour in hopes of getting all of our goods free! This time we knew what we were getting into and wanted to see some other facilities anyway so we really knew how our hotel rated with all the other hotels in Cabo. The rest of Tuesday we went shopping into town and ate at a little Brazilian place it was really cute and the food was good. So the next morning we get up early again and wait for our presentation. The place was actually really pretty, maybe I liked the rooms better. They had a really cool pirate ship in the middle of one of their pools with a jacuzzi on it. It was a bar where you could get drinks and food. It was really neat and they were right on the beach where you could swim. After we told them NO! and they sent in the big wig to try to hook us but again we said NO! We went to pick up all of our free stuff and got everything they said. So we stayed by the pool for a while and got some really good nachos and a smoothie then we left off of their beach in a glass bottom boat to lovers beach and stayed there for about 4 hours. We had met some friends and they said they would watch our stuff and so dad and I left to experience the snorkeling. It was still just a little cold but we snorkeled all the way around the one side of the rock mountain and swam up on a beach that no one was at. It took us a little bit of time to get on the beach because of the waves. It was beautiful we stayed there for a while and then when we tried to leave it was dangerous. Dad told me to hurry and go and then the waves came in and he told me to come back but it was too late, I was being tossed by the waves against all the rocks. I got back up on the beach and we had to wait about 15 minutes before we could leave and this time we were more careful and we did get out of there but when I got back from snorkeling I had blood running down my leg and I had about 3 deep little cuts from the rocks. So I was wounded! The other side of lovers beach was the beach that you see on Planet of the apes it's on the pacific side and you can't swim on that side. Anyway, we had a great time and got back to the hotel with the pirate ship and got in the hot tub and hung out there until dinner and we ate at the restaurant at the hotel (because we had a free voucher) it was beautiful we were outside and it got dark and they lit up all their torches and the cruise ship was out on the water and it was amazing. The food was great too! We had ceviche horderves, it was delicious. Thursday we were just going to relax at our hotel. I went to the spa and got a pedicure which was amazing, I watched the whales and dad read his book then we had to get ready for the sunset dinner cruise. The food was great and it was really fun, they even had entertainment. We got to see the sunset on the boat and a lot of scenery. Friday we got up and took a water taxi across the bay and ate breakfast at a little place right on the beach called The Office. It is suppose to be pretty famous. The food was great, I had nachos again and a shrimp omelet. The food was great and we liked it so much we went back for dinner. After breakfast we went shopping for a while. This is where I met the mexican and had my picture taken with him. We had to be back to the hotel by 2:00 because they were picking us up to go to our 4 wheeler extravaganza on the beach! They picked us up and took us north about 15 miles got on the 4 wheelers and followed a guide until we got to the beach. When we got to the beach we could just ride around for about 30 minutes. It was a blast, it was so much fun and there were so many whales here. A lot more whales than we had seen anywhere else. There was a whale that kept jumping straight up out of the water, 5 times it was amazing. For some reason, I was mystified by the whales. We had a great time though and you will see some of our 4 wheeling pictures and the pictures of the sunset by the cactus. The next morning we got up and walked along the beach at our hotel. Our hotel was on the pacific side of the ocean so you couldn't swim there because of the undercurrent. But it was beautiful and pretty much uninhabited. You didn't have everyone coming up and trying to sale you something. Dad and I decided that our hotel was the most beautiful of all We ate breakfast at the hotel and laid by the pool for a while and then had to get up and get ready to go home. We got all the way to the airport and dad forgot his phone. We haven't seen it yet but hopefully on Monday. Well, it was a great trip one that we will all have to go on someday! Love mom

The Important Things

First I must apologize for my lack of participation these last weeks. I will repent and do better. Your mother and I had an incredible time on our 30th wedding anniversity trip to Cabo. It is a beautiful place and I now know how to go cheap. Anyway I'll let mom fill you in on that subject.
I'd like to spent some time on weightier matters. Saturday I attended what I believe was the best meeting I've been in possibly in my whole life. Worldwide training was incredible! I don't know how many of you went but I hope you were all there. It was for all adult members. Of which I'm sure you all qualify. We have always emphasized being in every meeting during your upbringing. Did it sink in? Remember when we'd make you go to all the firesides? Well did it take? Anyway, the theme was "Rising up a Righteous Posterity. It was great! I wondered thru the whole thing "How have we done?". Well I know the job will never be done but it was interesting how many examples of experiences the leaders had that we as a family have planned, experienced and charished. I really had to chuckle when they started to talk about how family "projects" were important. Planning, working together, and accomplishing grand projects of "unadvanced Ag" bring memories of mostly joy to my mind. Its amazing how you only remember the good that comes from those activities. That's why we want you to live close enough to us to have some more "projects". I know you kids have had wonderful grandparents to teach you things, inspire you, love and care for you. I want you all to download this training and memorize it. Seriously! It was the best discussion on family values, righteous living tips and testimonials. I know that mom and I were very blessed with spiritual kids. There is no doubt about it, but I wonder really how much power 2 pages has had on our souls? Please comment.....I think your mother should start a blog....LDS MOTHER. She could be the doctor laura of lds culture. Really. She has always wanted to be a counseler but with no degree she thinks she can't do it. I know she can. So I need help. Encourage her. Anyway, we attended the dedication of the Rexburg temple this evening. It was powerful. The Spirit was so strong I could hardly sing or breath. Elder Nelsen and Elder Bentnar spoke and it is the coolest temple. It has wheat in the stain glass windows and Elk in the world room. Hows that? Well all of you take care. I want a report from each of you after you have memorized the worldwide training. I want ideas as to how we can raise a righteous posterity. You Know!!! NO EMPTY CHAIRS !!!!
We Love You all and are very proud of all of you. You're all doing a great job at LIFE. Keep up the great work. Prayers, 2pages, magnify calls and smile. Love, Dad

Another Cut and Paste

So I've been going kind of crazy posting on my own blog but always neglect this one-although it doesn't look that way considering I am the only one that has posted in like 2 weeks besides Joni and wait, I have like 5 posts...I promise this is the last post, but it was too cute...these pictures are too cute of my dear children. So here is another cut and paste from the Tuttle Archives...



This morning we took another outing to the zoo! Our second time in just 6 days-I know, a little much but we have a membership and it is starting to get really nice outside so I want to take advantage of that! Plus-I need to get out of the house atleast once a day or things get a little crazy for us. So, we went with some friends this morning and the weather was great-a little cooler around 60 degrees but the sun was shining and it felt warmer to us. I really need to take a photography class to figure out how to take a really great picture, but while I was snapping shots I snapped a few of the kids together and realized what a love Porter and Claire have for each other. The Love Between A Brother and Sister-that is what the title of these photos should be. Even though at times Claire gets a little fiesty with her personal space (or when Porter is COMPLETELY invading that space) and screams, it is moments like this when they laugh and play together that it makes it worth it.

Good Intentions...BACK-FIRED!

Thursday early morning Porter came into our room and found me reading something. He asked me what it was that I was reading and at first I was a little hesitant to tell him, but then I realized that this was a golden teaching moment in a parent's life to teach your children more about Heavenly Father's love for us and the plan in general. I told Porter that I was reading from my Patriarchal Blessing. He asked me what that meant and we went on to have a 20 minute talk about the wonderful blessings of a Patriarchal Blessing and how special they are. We talked about the war in heaven and that because we chose to follow the Savior we were given bodies and allowed to come down to the earth and now we can't remember but we had special jobs and special assignments in heaven before we came down to the earth...and so on...you can see where this is going. So, I told him something very special about him that was in my personal Patriarchal Blessing and how our own family came to be. Yes, I remembered to tell him how sacred these things were and that we must keep them to ourselves and to our close family members...well, nieve mommy went on to tell him that I bet he was a leader up there in heaven before we came down here and that Heavenly Father probably gave him special jobs and he was true to the Lord. I just wanted him to feel how special he was and how much we loved him as well as our Father in Heaven. Well, everything seemed to be going really well. Thursday and Friday were miracle days with our little boy-he was so sweet, not 90 percent of the time but 99.9 percent of the time. He was the greatest helper, he took care of me and Claire, he made us lunch, cleaned the playroom by himself, made his bed, dressed himself, etc. all while he kept saying, "Mom, I know...I was a leader and I am special to Heavenly Father." Did I think anything of this? No. Until today when Tyler just came in an informed me of "an incident". Can you say...BACK FIRE! We just got home from the gym and I was in our room making a list for the grocery store when Tyler came in laughing. He said that Porter had just told him what happened at the gym. While he was in the child center he went on to tell these girls that he was a leader in heaven-and he said they didn't believe him. Okay, so Tyler and I were busting up laughing-and Ty said, "Great, you've just made our child some religious freak to the other kids!". Total back-fire...but do I miss out on an opportunity to teach? I am so confused-parenting is so rough. Yes Mom, I am still glad that we are in the stages when it is as easy as putting hot sauce on his tongue. This doesn't ever get easier does it?

Unpredictable and MY MOMENT

Again-I feel that I have been neglecting this family blog and posting on my personal blog! I am sorry. I am not sure how many of you actually see my other blog, so here are my recent posts...ALONG WITH SHEETS! Seriously-my sheets ROCK!



Well, I've learned that children can be so unpredictable. So you have to know our sweet Claire. Her favorite thing to do in our home is to push a laundry basket down the hallway, load it up with knick-knacks and toys and drag it back...this happens over and over for hours at a time. So, we wrote Santa a fantastic letter and asked him to bring things for Claire that she could push up and down the hallway with her loads of "stuff". Well, he brought her a bike, a shopping cart and a push bike-you know those little ones where you sit on them and push them with your feet and they have a steering wheel and the seat lifts up into a storage compartment? Those were GREAT gifts and Santa knows Claire so well-but apparently she is unpredictable. So, Tyler and I, as one of her gifts from us this year, we got her a doll Graco Stroller and the matching Graco Pack 'n Play for her babies. It is the cutest thing in the world-hot pink and black and looks JUST like the real Graco things. Well, I set it up this morning and if she isn't trying to climb into it to put herself to sleep in it (may I remind you that this isn't a HUGE pack 'n play-this is for a doll so it is tiny-and she barely fits all scrunched up), she is...get this...PUSHING THAT THING DOWN THE HALLWAY! Does it have wheels? No. Does it have anything that would tell you to push it like a bike? No! But, that is what she has now been doing for 2 hours. Children are so unpredictable!

Tonight, I had a "moment"...even if it was seriously and literally just for a moment, it was a moment. Tyler and I were in the playroom with our two wonderful children playing in the last few minutes before bedtime. Porter and Tyler were playing football-practicing the catching and throwing, and Claire was "vacuuming" with this cute little toy vacuum that Grandpa and Grandma Tuttle gave her for Christmas. Porter was laughing with joy-even when the football hit him right in the face and left a red mark the size of a grapefruit. Claire was singing "Clean-up, Clean-up everybody, everywhere..." and then she'd look up at me and say, "I help you mommy" as she was "helping" me vacuum and clean-up. Two sweet and precious children we have and we are so blessed to have them in our home. The moment culminated when we kneeled down for family prayer. We knelt in a circle (or I guess square-since there are only four of us) and during the prayer I opened my eyes just for a moment to see my children. There they were, both of them on their knees with arms folded and well, eyes-not really shut, we are still working on that part, but to see them kneeling there-that was a moment I won't forget. It stayed in my mind while I was cleaning up from dinner and Tyler was at the gym. It was so quiet in our home and peaceful. I was thinking to myself if I had to choose one word to describe my children that started with the letter of their name what would I choose. For Porter-so many came to mind-Perfect and Profound were the top two. He is perfect for me-and teaches me so much and all the time he teaches me things that are so profound about life, science, the gospel etc. Claire-there was only one word for her-choice. She is a choice child and such a joy all the time. I find joy in everything that she does-she is pure and really a choice daughter-daughter of mine and daughter of God and she has been since the day she was born. I have been so blessed with a wonderful husband and wonderful children and it was a moment for me to reflect on that and the love that I have for them. That was my moment.

Those are my recent moments and at the moment Porter and I are trying to memorize the new First Presidency's names. What an exciting time in church history and although we miss President Hinckley we welcome and are excited to sustain President Monsen. What a great man and a great time in our church.

Love Erica

Sheets

So I posted this on my personal blog-and just had to share it with you! I am a believer in Sheets! Mom and Dad, we were going to buy you some for Xmas but then the microwave idea surfaced, but now I am thinking you would have LOVED these!



Okay, who knew that sheets could determine if you ever get out of bed or not? Example: Saturday morning the kids woke up really early-both Tyler and I had been up late the night before watching movies together and so we just decided to stay in bed as long as possible...why? Our sheets. Back in December I got a call from my sweet sister that told me these sheets were on super clearance at Overstock.com. Yes, I am giving that site a little bit of a plug, but seriously-our sheets! So, I bought $500 dollar sheet for something like $79.00 for our King Bed! They are the best money I've spent in a long time. Who knew that sheets could make such a difference? They are something like 1000 thread count-which I never really understood before, until once again-until I laid in these sheets-they suck you in and don't spit you back out. So Saturday morning, while the kids watched cartoons and ate breakfast, where were we? Still in our sheets. It almost puts you into a coma-tost state (yes, no clue how to spell that). So where were we at 10am? In our sheets. Sunday morning came around and knowing that church was early, I knew we had to get out of the sheets. I stayed in as long as possible and could barely drag myself out-but finally I flung the sheets off in one swoop and jumped out! I had escaped. Tyler and I laughed about it this morning-as we did what? Laid there in our sheets trying to get out-and agreed that yes, once you are out you are out and fine, but there is a slim chance that once you climb in that you will climb out-and chances are these sheets could potentially make us, and anyone late for anything they have going on. Sheets. What a beautiful thing!