Start your engines..............

Well in March Cooper participated in his last Pinewood Derby Car race! When it rolls around for next spring he will be in 11 year old scouts and Carter will be having his first Pinewood Derby experience. He was all into making his car and loving all of that process but when racing time began he wouldn't race. He is so weird about having attention drawn to him he stood in the back of the cultural hall. I put his car up and raced it any ways after he won the first race he inched his way over to watch. After he won another then he put his car up on the platform himself to race whenever it was his turn. He didn't get second place like last year he got either 4th or 5th. I am happy he participated!!



We had Pack Meeting immediately following the races and he was thrilled with his awards he had earned!


Kennedy and Walker entertained themselves by watching the races and crawling under the chairs. Kenna also was seeing how close she could get to the rope without getting in trouble for going under it!! LOL

YUMMM!!

I noticed a sign today in the window of a store we were driving pass in a new lil plaza/strip mall and wondered what was going in and I could not beleive my eyes.....my heart skipped a beat even.....




http://www.costavida.net/locations/az.html

This will be just down the road and around the corner from us like 10 minutes away!! Now we can have a delious sweet pork salad quickly for dinner when I don't have the time to make it for us!! So now when the menu at our house says Costa Vida night it could mean we will be getting it for take out instead of homemade!! Every day I think I like it out here in the good ol Q.C. more and more!!

CELLPHONES vs. SCRIPTURES

So I saw this awhile back and it made me really think..........


Cellphones vs. Scriptures


I wonder what would happen if we treated our Scriptures like we treat our cell phones?

What if we carried them around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to get them if we forgot them?
What if we flipped through them several times a day?
What if we used them to receive messages?
What if we treated them like we couldn't live without them?
What if we gave them to kids as gifts?
What if we used them as we traveled?
What if we used them in case of an emergency?
This is something to make you go hmm... where are my Scriptures?

Just a thought................an Inspiring thought...........

Here is a thought I ran across while getting my Sharing Time pulled together for Sunday.

"I wonder if having unplanned and infrequent family home evenings will be enough to fortify ourselves and our children with sufficient moral strength to meet the complexities of our day. Infrequent family scripture study may be inadequate to arm ourselves and our children with the virtue necessary to withstand the moral decay of the environment in which we live.

Where in the world will we learn chastity, integrity, honesty, and basic human decency if not at home? These values will, of course, be reinforced at church, but teaching them in family home evening can be particularly consistent and effective. To combat the world's evil influences, we need the strength that comes from family home evening. . . .
"If we go forward with our family home evenings, our homes will be enriched, our wards and branches will grow and prosper, our lives will be purified, and the gates of hell will not prevail against us."

-Elder James E Faust

Wise words from a very wise man.

The House.....................

Well we finally bought a house and it closed back in the beginning of October. We looked for about a month at different houses in our subdivision. We were only looking for foreclosed homes that would be a good deal. Well pounding the pavement with our wonderful realtor Beckie it finally paid off and we got what we feel is a GREAT deal!!! Remember I mentioned that when we started looking at homes one of the homes we looked at they(the bank) came back and said the price was listed wrong well that is the house we got. We have been doing some work on it. It only needed new flooring and new paint on the inside. We also are converting the open den into a office with doors and the nook/loft upstairs into a bedroom for Kenna.

This is the view from our driveway. That is a Tot lot and grassy play area right across the street!!!!!


Here is the Tot lot!


We also have been blessed that we are surrounded with AWESOME neighbors!!! I didn't think that was possible since we were lucky enough in Mesa to have great neighbors. I am so excited for the work to be finished up in the next few weeks so we can start moving in soon!!!! I still have some painting to finish and the flooring was just finished being laid in the bathrooms upstairs today and the carpet order will be here in about 2 weeks. I will post some before and after pictures when all is said and done and give more details too!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!

New Years Eve ...............a few weeks late..............

So the last couple of New Years Eve's we have been low key and our kids have been sick each time. This year Tanner wanted to have a party with his friends at the house. So we said sure. He found out that there was a Stake Dance so he asked if he could go to that instead and have his party over the weekend. Yeah sure. So he got rides figured out and Rob was the lucky parent to go pick up everyone when it was over. So we planned on just hanging out at home with the lil ones and veggin. Well my friend Candace called that afternoon and she was last minute calling anyone without plans for an impromptu get together and it was for the family. So we said OK. It wound up that only one other couple could make it. Sadly everyone else must be pretty popular they all had plans! So we spent a GREAT evening hanging out chit chatting, eating and setting off fireworks. The ages of all the boys was great everyone had a friend or two to play with. Kenna was the only girl and she didn't care. Thanks Candace and Beth for an enjoyable evening!!! Forgot to take pictures.

So Tanner had his party and I remembered to use my new camera to take pictures.

He moved the furniture around kinda creatively and set up his projector and put a sheet up over the back door to shine it on and the kids played Rock Band and then watched a movie.

We went low key for the food set up as I have been so busy lately. We just order some good ol Barros pizzas and wings and had a vege. tray with chips & dips. A cookie tray and a big bowl of candy. Round it off with sodas and Martinelli's and it is all good!


Tanner only invited a handfull of kids and they all came. YEAH!!! He has made some really good friendships with some really great kids since moving here. I am so glad that we have so many youth in our ward and our neighborhood that he can hang out with anytime.

The Girls

The Boys

DO YOU KNOW.......................

Ok I am hoping someone knows who this talented artist is and where I can buy this painting at!! Ever since I saw this painting hanging in our church building I have been in love with it. It just touches my heart and brings a smile to my face and peace to my soul when I see it. The colors,style and content work so well together to make a painting that isn't bold in your face but will surely catch your eye!



If you know anything about the artist or where I can purchse one I would so appreciate the info thanks.

Merry Christmas 2008

As usual for Christmas we did our traditional Christmas Eve get together with my side of the family. We went to my Mom and Dad's house and we had a nice simple potluck dinner of soups, salads and breads. We ate and visited for awhile. Then we opened our presents from Grammie and Papa. They decided this year to get everyone books. So with the age span and interest being varied the books ranged from ABC's, Cooking, Gardening, Jane Austen (complete collection), Astrology, Fossils, Guitar, Animals, Comics, Jokes etc.....
On our way home we looked at Christmas lights.


Christmas morning donned bright and early! As usual Rob makes the kids wait awhile before they wake me up so I can get some time to sleep-in a lil more since I'm up late getting things prepared the night before. The kids really seemed happy with the things they got this year. As usual I didn't get many pictures. I am not a morning person!

Kenna got a new baby doll. She named her Keesha. She loved that the dolly came with a lil doggie purse that is just like her lil Gymboree doggie purse.

She was thrilled to get a stroller to push her Babies in and also have her brothers push her around in too!!

Walker enjoyed opening his presents. His favorites were his Nintendo DS Lite with Lego Star Wars game and a new Blue Blanket.




Carter was thrilled with everything as usual. He is pretty easy to get a gift for but at the same time hard to shop for. It is easy because he likes anything but yet hard because he isn't really into anything specific.It is his easy going nature I guess. His favorite thing was his Nintendo DS Lite too.


Cooper liked the variety of things he received. He got a book he had been asking for that made his day! He got a book called "The Dangerous Book For Boys" and the board game to go along with it and it has his interest. He wants us to play it Monday for family night. He also enjoys his Nintendo DS Lite and playing with his sister with her Lego's(she got Legos because her Daddy pointed out to me to pickup some GIRL Legos since we didn't have any!!)


Tanner was happy he got a Zune and new headphones like he asked for. He is pretty easy to shop for but he is a teenager and they are expensive!
Rob and the boys got me a new camera for Christmas so that I finally have one of my own. It is a Nikkon CoolPix S550. It is a 10.0 megapixels and it has way to many features on it for me who is technology challenged!! So after I learn how to use it I should be able to update my blog with new pictures and post more often.(that is the thought at least!)
After present time I went and got the ham going for our Christmas lunch. My Mom and Dad came and we had the traditional Christmas ham dinner. Everything tasted so delicious and it was nice to have my parents over. My kids are always so thrilled when they find out their Grammie and Papa are coming. They are the only grandparents they have besides Rob's step dad Papa Tony in Oregon who they adore and they talk to weekly and send emails to but it is not the same as physically being around them. Anyways all in all it was a nice day to spend with family and remember the true meaning of CHRISTmas is the birth of our Savior and the sacrifice he made for each and everyone of us.

What does your house look like??????????????

Well for Family Home Evening last week we decorated Gingerbread Houses. Tanner and Cooper worked together on one house. Carter, Walker and I worked on the other. Sissy just ate candy and frosting! Rob watched and gave his advice and took a few pictures. Cooper's idea of gingerbread house's is to make them as ugly as possible and his ultimate goal is he wants the roof to collapse. Also the whole time he is working on it he is nibbling on the different gingerbread pieces and frosting. He was my partner last year and it was hard for me to give up control and just let him make an ugly mess. This year Tanner was his partner and it was Tanner's turn to give up some control and it bugged him too! Carter was really into making the house as beautiful as possible and using as much frosting and candy as we could. So you guess who made which house..........
HOUSE A:

HOUSE B:

It was a fun evening and the boys already look forward to it again next year. We are thinking of letting Cooper just have his own house though!

Cooper's First Orchestra Concert!

Cooper had his first Orchestra Concert this year. He decided to play the Bass this year in Orchestra. He has never played an instrument before but his friend Zach plays the Bass so he HAD to play the bass as well. They have 4 Bass players.


I really thought he would get bored and drop out or at concert time chicken out. I was wrong(sometimes this does happen)!!LOL!! He had so much fun showing us his instrument and playing. He is trying hard too. He even called my parents to invite them to the concert. I am so glad they support my kids in their accomplishments. Thanks Mom and Dad!! Anyways the concert was lovely and everyone played perfect. It is quite the site to see Cooper and this big ole Bass. It is bigger than him!!

Cooper playing with Kenna before the concert and waiting with the other children for the concert to begin. Orchestra is for 4th 5th and 6th graders. The principal was telling us that there are 45 4th graders in Orchestra this year. That is majority of the fourth grade!


Way to go Cooper we are so proud of you and your accomplishments!!

Cooper and the Spelling Bee...........

Well Cooper again this year was the classroom Spelling Bee winner. So he competed against 20 other students in the School Spelling Bee.

I was worried how he would do since he gets nervous around groups of people. On the Monday before the Bee I suggested he get his word packet and practice some more so he could do good in the Bee. His answer was "I don't want to do good". So Friday came and I would not have been surprised at all had he got out in the first round either because of nerves or lack of caring/trying. He made it all the way to the fifth round down to the last nine children!!!!!! YEA COOPER!!!!!!!! He got out on the word "Restaurant". We were thinking maybe we need to go to more RESTAURANTS that way he can maybe learn how to spell it for next year! LOL

Thanksgiving 2008

This Thanksgiving we got together with my Dad's side of the family. My dad only has one sister my Aunt Nancy. She has one son and one daughter and a step son too. So it is not a big gathering like my Mom's side of the family where it seems like we are related to half of Mesa. Anyways we all get together every few years and it is nice to reconnect and catch up and see everyone. We gather at their church (Grandma, Aunt Nancy and cousin Tania's) in Mesa. We divide up the responsibilities so that not everyone has the burden of doing everything. It is nice having it at their church because it has a kitchen to cook in and a playground for the kids to play. Sadly I didn't get as many pictures as I thought I had. Here is my Mom and my cousin Tania cooking up some delicious food for our feast. My cousin Tania is the cousin I remember spending the most time with growing up. That was fun times back then!!

They always set up the kid table with something to do. The kids were coloring their pictures and visiting when my brother Eddie came to check in on his lil guy Chance who was at the table with Carter, Emily, Meagann, Bailey and Caleb. Carter is under the table hiding from Eddie because....................

I don't know the full story but Eddie's shiny bald head must have held Carter's attention because he reached over with his green marker and marked on it!! So of course Uncle Eddie had to hold him upside down and give a pink belly and torture him for a bit.

It was so great that my Grandma Rachel was available to make it. We had not seen her in awhile.

At first Walker and Kenna didn't want to talk to her but Grandma Rachel played with them. She was following them around and they were play scaring each other. Walker and Kenna LOVED it they would run round and round "scared" and screaming. Cooper even got in on it too. I remember Grandpa playing checkers and Uno with us and Grandma being silly and fun and taking us for walks along the canal or walks up to the K Mart.




All in all it was a nice Thanksgiving day.

Carters Thanksgiving Program

Thanksgiving week Carter's class did a Thanksgiving Program. Carter's teacher does this same program every year with her students. So we of course had enjoyed it a few years back when Cooper was in her class. The program consist of the children telling facts about the first Thanksgiving mixed with songs and even jokes.


It was cute to see again but what I was thinking about was the different personalities between the two boys. So Cooper when he was in this class and had his part it was like 6 words long and he was so shy that he mumbled them and was glad to be done. Then there was Carter, he had his part and any child that did not show up he did their part too because he had every ones parts memorized! He was THRILLED to do it. He would have been happy if it had been a one man show!

I was glad that my parents came to watch Carter's program and he was quite proud to share it with all of us. After the presentation they serve punch and cookies for everyone.

If you notice behind the refreshment table there is a tent. Walker noticed the tent. That is a special reading tent. Ever since he made that discovery he has wanted to be a "BIG BOY" and go to school so he can read in the tent. He is working on potty training better now because only big boys go to school. Although I have not broke the news to him that he has to go to Pre-K then Kindergarten then finally 1st grade has the tent!

Kenna was just happy to be out and about being her cute "lil" self!


I am looking forward to seeing the program again when Walker and Kenna are each in 1 st grade in the following years.