January 12

Another year.

1.  Getting ready for school backpack out.

2.  The hat comes on. It has been cold outside.

3.  Mommy selfie.

4.  Preschool time. I love that I have some strong readers in this class.

5.  Fun day in measuring. Measuring the height of  an emperor penguin.

6.  Homework time. Lilly is doing pre-algebra. I'm still kind of shocked. I don't think I was doing this until 7th grade.

7.  Playing in the beautiful sunshine. Oh course Kevin has made up some entertaining game. 

8.  This app. It's the subbing app. I'm checking it a lot. I think it is because it is new, but so much better then getting a phone call.

9.  Dinner, Minestrone soup. I loved it, the family tolerated it. I'm definitely not a food photographer.

10. Poor Luke being brave lathering up his skin to treat his eczema. 

11. Taking time to listen to my little reader.

12. Girl time getting out to RS.

A HAPPY New Year

Spending time in California was so fun. I loved spending time with family and especially Matt. I was getting a little anxious about getting back home. I felt like there was a ton on my plate and I wasn't able to focus on any of it while I was away. I was also feeling like a major loser because I didn't have any great New Year resolutions. Frankly I didn't even want to try, in my head I was saying what is the point, there is so much I want to do and I know I won't be able to.
Upon returning home I went our for a run and had conference all loaded up on my playlist. I was listening to Elder Lawrence "What Lack I Yet".  It was then that an answer came so clear that has really changed my out look on this year.
The jest of his talk is to ask the Lord for the one thing that I need to work on. I so needed to hear that. There are going to be a lot of changes this year for our family. Truthfully I'm scared instead of begin excited.  I plan to go back into the public classroom. Lilly is turning 12 and starting Jr High. Kevin is a working his way up in his job. Luke is learning how to read, and Max is just growing up so fast, I'm afraid I'm going to miss something and not get it all done.  So I prayed on that run and so clearly the first thing I was to do was to schedule my teaching test. So I did for February 6. After that I felt so much peace and this saying ran through my head HAVE FAITH, NOT FEAR.  Ever since then, that has been my mantra. I have let my lack of faith really stop my happiness and looking forward to all the good that is to come.
Since this little exercise I have really had the Lord guide my planing in even the simplest things and it has been wonderful. Once I seek to know that one thing, other things seem to just fall in place. The fear is gone and the happiness and hope shine in. I have made sure I wrote my mantra on our chalkboard and talked with my kids about it. Explaining that when we have faith we are hopeful and can do so much good.When we fear it is Satan that is trying to have us doubt what we are capable of accomplishing.
Indeed this has been the start of a very hopeful and happy new year.

Hanging in Cali

After Christmas we headed out to California to see Nana, Papa and Matt.  Most the time we just hung out, stayed up late and ate. My parents must think I'm uber lazy but sometimes when we go out there all we want to do is veg.
We did however find somethings to do.
We went on a hike. I can't wait to do more of this. They are all pretty good hikers now.

We went ice skating. This was on Lilly's to do list this break. She was determined to make it happen. Things came into place when I found a group-on and off we went. I'm so glad that Matt was able to join us because having 3 kids that didn't know how to skate was hard. Not to mention that the ice was CRAP, the skates were awful and it was crowded. Everyone had o.k skates but me. They hurt the moment I put them on. I was no help. Plus I can't remember the last time I was on skates. We rented a little walker for Luke to use that helped out a lot.

Kevin and Matt were able to take Lilly and Max around a time or two.  Near the end I ended up getting different skates and I was able to go out and get the feel of it again and take the kids around a few more times. Even though the circumstances were less than ideal the kids loved it. I'm glad we did it and I'm really glad we paid 1/2 price.

It was fun to talk to Matt's girl friend in the Cozumel while she is working as nanny. It was fun to see how Matt lights up when he talks about her only time will tell about the two of them.

We picked our yearly crop of citrus

Matt gave the boys hair cuts

We went to the Science center

Nothing special just taking a break.

Christmas Week

The kids were off of school this week and I loved having a few days to do Christmas stuff with them before the big day.

Friday afternoon Jack and Sam came for some cousin time. I had made some extra gram-cracker houses so we took advantage of the left overs and made up some more.

Then when it got dark we took them over to see the lights on Comstock and found snow. (well fake snow, but still magical) In the morning I took the kids to our not primary activity for cookie decorating, coco, reindeer games and The Grinch. 

John and Shannyn got back to our house is the late afternoon we chatted for awhile. Since it was Shannyn's birthday we went out to celebrate at a German restaurant. Man is this place is a Mesa gem. The food was so yummy and the atmosphere felt like I had just stepped back into Germany There was even an accordion player with lederhosen.  I would love to do again. We ended the night at the Mesa Temple lights. No need to say more than awesome.

On Christmas Adam we all slept under the tree.

We hosted Christmas Eve this year. All 27 of us. We were tight and cozy but every one fit and had a good food to eat and good entertainment,  I actually made 2 hams just to make sure there was enough. Everyone pitched in a brought something to share so that was really nice that is all didn't fall on me. I do still dream of hosting a lovely dinner party, with beautiful table settings and white lights. Maybe next year. 

As per tradition the kids performed the Nativity. My favorite part, to sit still for a moment and think of the humble birth of our Savior.

 Then it was on to more festive entertainment. Leave it John to bring the fun. This time it was a karaoke machine.  We had some good laughs and good moves.

When everyone left the kids exchanged their gifts. I think the theme this year was straws .

 We had smiles, hugs, and thank yous. Then off to bed for Santa to come.

All I want for Christmas is Lights

This year I told my family that all I really wanted for Christmas was to see all the lights that the holiday had to offer. Part of the the deal was that I wanted them to be happy about it and excited to see all the lights from all over the city. My team was good to me and we made it to all the light events on my list. And they, we had a great time. So these are all the places that we went. Of course not all on the same day but throughout the month
First to the the balloon glow in Gilbert. Oh how I just love the light and how it glows in the night sky.

Second we met up with John and went to the Tempe Town Lake boat parade. We made a whole evening out of it. We took the light rail down. Ate at a cute pizza place and headed down to the lake. Man it got cold and I was not prepared for it. John and Shannyn teased me for not wearing the proper shoes. I've lived in Arizona so long I barely wear socks or own a pair of shoes that cover my feet.

 But that was not going to take away from the night. The boats where cool and I loved to see the lights reflection on the water. There were some creative boats like star wars and this one of the leg lamp. LOVED IT.

Made a stop at Comstock ST that won this years neighborhood light fight. Sadly no pics of the lights but we did get a bad picture of the kids and the snow machine.

The kids were in heaven. Since the line to drive into the neighborhood was about a mile or more long we took a little side street parked and walked over. Perfect evening in my opinion.

To finish it off, lights at he Mesa temple always a delight and beautiful.