The USS Enterprise

This morning we got to take a tour of the USS Enterprise, a naval air craft carrier in port in Norfolk. A friend of our is stationed on it so he and his wife gave us a tour! It was so incredible and the girls had a great time. We did lots of walking and lots of stairs, no wonder the navy is so fit! Sarah Vieve and Addie enjoyed playing in Ian's bunk and Owen was in geek heaven. This was a one in a life time opportunity and we are so thankful the Glackins could share this with us! We are also so thankful for the brave men and women who keep us safe, we truly respect you!

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we're going to make our blog private

so due to the sensitive nature of owen's future employment we are going to make this family blog private. i'll need your email address to add to a list of invited readers. we really enjoy blogging and staying in touch with our friends and family and hope you'll continue following us on our exciting journey :)

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happy birthday owen!

owen turned 30 on saturday! we had an amazing day and incredible food. i made some killer gluten free cupcakes and we went out for the best indian food we have ever had (and we LOVE indian). one of the gifts owen got was a gamed called dominion (thank you taylor and joy for introducing it to us!) and we have been playing it nonstop, so fun! happy birthday sweetheart! love you

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Hunt Farm

The girls and I went to Hunt Farm this week in Virginia Beach. It was really cool...petting zoo, pumpkin patch, hay ride...the girls had a blast. We went with our wards mothers group so I had a fun time too chatting with the gals :)

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Pumpkins!

You've probably already seen these on facebook but I thought I'd post them too for all my non-facebookers. Vieve LOVED carving pumpkins and mushing the *guts* between her fingers...gross.

But, I learned two very important pumpkin carving lessons this year...

#1 Just because a *pie* pumpkin is small and cute, does not mean its meant to be carved...its not...unless you want to lose a finger.

#2 Carve your pumpkin the just before halloween, not october 1st, unless you are trying to breed a colony of fruit flies, make a liquified mess of goo on your porch and tick off not only your neighbors, but also your mail man.

Sheesh! How come no one told me these things!! Thanks parents ;)

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District of Colombia!!

We had the incredible opportunity to go the the DC Temple as a family last month. A BIG thank you to all the people that made it possible. Norfolk is in the DC temple district and it is a big deal to go all the way up there, especially with kids, but so worth every second of the 3 1/3 hours getting there (plus traffic...crazy, insane traffic). We had such a wonderful time and so thankful we were able to go!

I'm going to go out on a limb for a moment...
A lot of my LDS friends freely and without reservation share their testimonies on their blogs. I haven't done this before, I think mostly because I know its mostly my family and close friends that read this blog anyway. And for some reason I've always been plagued with "you-know-me-so-well-stage-fright". For those of you that don't know...I grew up a theater brat, in and out of dress rehearsals, my parents were both involved in the performing arts when I was a child and I naturally fell into that too. I can comfortably sing or act in front of thousands of people but if my parents asked me to sing on Christmas Eve for the family, or practice my music in front of them, I'd wig out. Strange I know...I'm sharing this because I have family that read my blog that are not active members of the church and I suppose I haven't shared my testimony because it's something I hold so sacred to me and I don't want to me mocked...I know they wouldn't...well hope they wouldn't.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I love the gospel. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Not because that's what my parents taught me, or what I learned in Primary, or because that is what someone wants me to say or I'm supposed to say when sharing my testimony.
I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God because I've read it.
And prayed about it. And I know in my heart it is true and if I said otherwise, I'd be a liar. I know that Christ's restored church is on the earth. I know that families can be eternal. I know God loves me and has a plan for me. And I love His plan, it brings such joy to my life.
I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.
His courage and strength to press forward with God's work amongst torment and adversity is such an inspiration to me. He is the bravest person I know other than the Savior.
I love President Monson. His is such a kind and gentle man and speaks with the authority of God. I know beyond all doubt that prophets are on the earth today.
I know that my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints enables me to be with my family forever, to make and renew covenants with my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I know that this church has the truth and fullness of the gospel. And this testimony will not be shook. It may be tried but I know my Savior is on my side and will hold me up against all the world will throw at it.

Owen and I are set apart Missionaries, to share testimony, invite the spirit, fellowship and love and I wanted to share this with the people in my life that I love most. I hope and pray everyday that someday my family will pick up the Book of Mormon, I know they all have copies, and that the Spirit will bring to a remembrance the thing they once knew, that truth will be restored in their hearts. And just so they know, I'm going to dedicate the rest of my life to help them get there, with love patience, example and testimony.

Funny Girl

We went to the park today with friends and we got some cute pictures of the girls, well mostly Sarah Genevieve. Cecily has some new teeth coming...crabby baby, so these picts are just of Sarah. She pulls the funniest faces, who on earth does she get that from?!? :)

Nana and Grandad 2010

I got fed up and kicked Owen off his computer so I could do some much needed picture uploading! These are from Ivan and Kim's visit last month. We had such a fun time with them and did some great things...zoo, beach, aquarium, beach, dinner out, beach, hung out at home and had a great time together, and then went back to the beach!

Thank you for all the fun memories!! We'll just have to wait till 2012 to make some more, unless we can convince you to come sooner!!

duets

I can see it now...10 years our home will be filled with beautiful music!! (Or a 12 and 11 year old arguing that they don't want to practice, if they're anything like their mom!) Thank you grandma Pope for your beautiful Chickering piano, we are certainly enjoying it!

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