Family Call Wrap Up

So to summarize the call from tonight, for those of you there, and not there is this...

Starting Mon we will all go to the park in the morning together, so what we want to do there, and go home for lunch, either all together or on our own, whatever we decide. Then that afternoon each family will do what they want, either Disney, the beach, the petting zoo Gerald talked about, the temple, or anything else you want to do.

Sunday sometime we will have a special viewing of the Rogers Family Film Festival where each family prior to coming will make their own version of some fairy tale or Disney Movie, less than 10 minutes long. Clint please make one and send it on, make sure Grandma is in there somewhere. Also if Becky wants to we can do the Olypics she was talking about.

Gerald wanted to do something special Sat night, so we need to know if you are planning on going to Disney that night or not. Please also post your times for arrival. Michelle if you want to go to Disney Sat night you can give me a list of things to get from the store for you so you dont have to take time to do that, we will probably go earlier that day. Or anyone else, can give us their list as well if they wont make it in time for shopping.

As for food we will only have one big meal together, which will probably be Sun night, so if everyone wants to pick a part of the meal to provide that would be great. Any suggestions on what the main course should be would be great, or whoever picks that part of the meal can decide. Im thinking we will need a dessert, drinks, bread, main course, salad and side. Any volunteers? Gerald was wanting to have some healthy breakfasts, and we will need lots of snacks, drinks, and sandwich stuff for disney and lunch. I think everyone should get what they like, and if theres extras we can all just share, like we did at the beach, unless we want to split it up, but because we all have very different eating habits, and likes, this will probably be easiest.

Other than that if anyone has any questions or concerns please feel free to voice them here. It looks like the parks open at 9 everyday and close somewhere between 7-11 depeinding on the park and the night. See ya all soon.

Disney fun!

Hey everyone,

I hope everyone is excited as me that May is getting closer; I am looking forward to the trip. I have a few questions probaly Marie could answer but, we all should. Are we going to have our big meal at lunch time and each of us take a turn again like we did in Texas? I figure that if were going to relax a couple of hours at lunch time we could have our big meal than and just have sandwiches at night that we bring with us. Does that sound good to everyone? How did you guys work seeing the Disney Parks last time time you went ? My mom says the best way is a Park Hopper pass but, I have know idea. I haven't bought my park tickets yet but will be buying them in advance because I have a Disney Visa so I have $208 bucks I can get off my tickets, which I will be taking advantage of finally. ( I finally have a reason for this credit card)
Anyway if doing the meals the way I suggested sounds good let me know than we can just decide which day were taking. I figure me, Marie, Jana, Becky, and Monica can take one day Monday through Friday. Sunday we can all help together on a meal. Saturday the day we fly in we could just buy our food get pizza or something quick, easy and cheap. I don't think your parents should have to cook because they are paying for the house. Does that sound good? We can all just pitch in again on buying breakfast food and lunch food. Last time we had more than enough food. Just let me know how this sounds and when is everyone getting in to Florida.

Disney Fun

We think we've figured out a little of what we want to do. We are going to drive down from Connecticut. We'll start Friday night and stop at Cory's sister's house in Virginia. We'll stay there until after church (or at least after Sacrament) before heading the rest of the way to Orlando. So we'll probably make it in late Sunday. We are planning on buying a five day park pass - without the park hopper option. We decided we didn't want to pay the extra $135 ($45 per ticket) just to be able to go to more than one park each day. We hope to join every body for at least the evening portion, but hope that for at least two days we might all be able to go to the same park for both parts of the day. ( I liked Marie's idea of coming home for lunch and relaxing and having naps as necessary.) I also hope that at least one evening during the week we'll be able to have some family time to try those Olympic games that I enjoyed on New Years' Eve and mentioned on Skype. I hope we can also schedule a family picture sometime. If others are interested in switching off to allow others to go to the temple - we'd be in for that too.

The only draw back to our plan for driving is that we'll need to head out again on Saturday. I'm not sure how quickly. But I hope that is enough details from us to help others plan.

Disney World Planning

Hey everyone, we are coming up closer on the big trip to Disney World. I was hoping to get some feedback on how everyone else invisions their trip to be. Things like are we all gooing to go to the same park everyday or all do our own thing? is anyone going to any of the water parks? Are we doing other things besides Disney? When are you planning on getting there and leaving? Whose getting cars, who need what from the house like strollers and porta cribs, and any other pertinent information. I dont think anyone is going to get overly excited about planning, but I just thought we would all have more fun if we understand everyone elses expectations for the trip so we know what to plan for. Do people already have tickets, plane, or park or otherwise, and Craig do you still know how to get good parking passes? Instead of leaving your response as a comment, leave a full post of what you ant to do while we are there. I tend to get a little excited about big trips so sorry if Im palanning early, but hey thats just me!

Just something little...

Hi there. Dad wanted me to post this.

http://education.byu.edu/news/2007_features/etrd_award.html

It is not as exciting as Scott and Michelle's news, but it is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Well, I hope you are ready for this. . .

Let me start off my goals by sharing a scripture;

Luke 2:52 "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

In this scripture we learn how to lead a balanced lifestyle. Jesus grew in four areas of his life.
Wisdom=learning and studying from the best books
Stature=physical well being
Favour with God= spirituality
Favour with man= his network

My goals reflect these four areas as well. And I learned from a couple of great sources that you should always write your goals in the present tense as if you have already accomplished them so here you go . .

1. I am temple worthy! This of course is my spiritual goal. Since the time I wrote the letter to all of you last year my life has definitly been improving in this area. Unfortunetly, at this time I'm still not taking the sacrament, and I still don't have a current temple recommend, but I am getting a lot closer. In this area I could use some prayers of support. I am convinced that the prayers of my family members is the reason for my success on my mission. I could use some of that strength now. If any of you can think of any other way of helping I am open for suggestions.

2. I have a meaningful relationship with every member of my family! Apart from Serena, I think I have some work to do in this area! So what I am asking for here is for your help in achieving my goals, a willingness to share your goals with me, and to help me better understand what we each need to have a meaningful relationship. To me, a meaningful relationship is one that builds you up, making you a better person for having that relationship, and one that draws you closer to the Lord. We are a very sarcastic family for the most part. That sarcasm keeps us guarded. It doesn't allow us to grow together as much as we could if we were more sincere in our relationships. In fact, even if we don't admit it, it tears us down and pulls us farther away from the Lord. As hard as this may be, maybe could we try not to never put one another down? To be more sincere in our relationships with one another, and maybe every once in a while even share our feelings? I want my brothers and sisters to be the ones I come to when I have a problem. I want are family to be a "safe zone." Where we can share anything with one another with out any fear of being judged, or made fun of or disliked. Wouldn't that be awesome?

3. I am financially free! (I figured my physical apperance is already so amazing, I could change this area to financially large in stature.) As all of you know Dad and I have started a new business. We could really use your help. Part of this company envolves network marketing.
If there were meetings availible where each of you live, I would ask you to go. I honestly think you could all benefit from these meetings. Unfortunetly, there are no meetings in Conneticut, or Michigan. So I have specific things for you each to do. Marie, I want you and Josh and even Josh's dad if he is availible to go to the meeting in Houston. Joey's dad is down there and he is involved, so i'll give him a call and have him invite you to the next meeting. Becky, I would love for you to invite Cory's dad to come with Dad and I to a meeting here in town. Craig, I would love to invite you to nruniversity.com and there is a link for "local briefings." There you can find the time and location of the meetings close to you. Please make time to go to that meeting, and go! It would mean a lot to me. Scott, I hope that next sunday on the family calls we can take time to talk about the company. Clint, I would love for you to come to a local meeting with and Dad and me. And Gerald you've already been, but it might be beneficial to go again to see what is new, and how the company has grown. Now the reason I ask all of you to do this is not so that you will sighn up, that would be awesome, but not exactly what I am looking for. I hope that each of you will be able to think of other people that you would feel comfrotable having me or Dad contact. I want to leverage your network. I know each of you know hundreds of people that I don't know, and my bet is there are quite a few that qould be interested in what we have to offer.

4. I am a doctor! In this area like the first, I will need your prayers. Pray that I get a 4.0 this semester!

I appriciate your help. Please share your goals with me, lets all do better at building a meaningful relationship through prayer, service, sincerity, and kindness. Thank you all for your examples!!!!

Christmas Joy

"Happy 10 year Anniversary Honey"(Ya gotta love this guy)

Our house a glow (even though you can't really tell in this photo.) We are off to visit the neighbors.

Jeremiah dressed up as "Rudolf" was we went visiting.




Serena likes to pretend that she isn't tired and doesn't need naps but we found out otherwise. Her favorite quote as of late is "I not tired".

Jeremiah using his favorite "under $10 video game" that he got from Eliah.

We Love you!