7.1.13

Once again, Jeff's grandparents were very generous in letting us use their time share in Pinetop, AZ. Pinetop is about 3 1/2 hours north east of Gilbert. We couldn't have gone at a better time. This past weekend was record highs in Phoenix. It was 119 in Phoenix on Saturday. In Pinetop the high's were in the low 90's. The weather was awesome. It was overcast, breezy, and waaay cooler than Gilbert. Pinetop is nothing like Gilbert. It has huge tall trees, thousands of them. No cacti in sight! We went swimming and fishing. If were weren't fishing we were swimming. Saturday morning we tried our luck fishing at Woodland Lake we had power bait and worms. There was only one spot to fish from. We fished from a floating dock with about 25 other people. No luck here. Then we thought we try Show Low lake. We found a secluded spot to fish from, but again, no luck. Sydney was getting rather frustrated that we weren't getting nibbles or anything. We did, however, teach them about the experience in John chapter 21 when the disciples fished all night and caught nothing. Then Christ appeared and told them to cast their nets on the other side and they caught more fish than they were able to pull into the boat. Our time was not wasted and the next day we tried a third lake. I told Sydney to put her good luck fishing clothes on as this was our last chance at fishing before we had to drive home. We drove to Hawley Lake. When we got in the car it smelled like onions in someone's pit. We concluded it was the worms we accidentally left in the car over night that had died. We got to Hawley Lake and casted from shore again. We had a small herd of cattle staring us down and encroaching on us....better than bears I guess, but I was still uneasy about it. We had no luck and spirits were down. Jeff made the executive decision to rent a dinky little motor boat for an hour. The kids perked up about going on the lake. Our first cast and we caught something! Levi reeled it in and caught his first fish. The girls each caught their own fish too. It was so exciting for the kids and Jeff and I to anticipate reeling in a fish and seeing the joy in our kids faces. Macie was sleeping so she didn't participate in all the commotion of catching 3 fish. The power bait worked the best. The only problem was the fish were swallowing the hook. We didn't plan on it, but we ended up killing all the fish. After we made it back to the dock, we filleted the fish at the Hawley Lake store, drove home, and cooked and ate the trout we caught. We had a great time. Fishing was relaxing in the cool weather and beautiful surroundings. We met up with some friends for dessert Saturday night. On our drive home we DIDN'T even stop. All the kids crashed for a good amount of time. I'd love to go back in the winter and go skiing at Sunrise Resort that is 30 minutes away.

 Woodland Lake

 Levi wears this BYU hat every single day.

 Jordyn loved petting the dead fish, holding it, and making faces with it.

 Gutting the fish. The girls were all about anything to do with the fish. Levi could care less. He was annoyed with the smell and flies that surrounded us.

Back at home and eating the fish we caught. It tasted yummy. Thank you fishies.

6.27.13

In case you can't tell we had a mustache theme for Jeff's birthday. I figured since he can't grow a moustache, I'd make him one :)  I made a moustache cake and bought these mustaches for us to wear. Even Macie wore a moustache. The kids loved it! They helped me bake the cake too.

 In the morning we made Jeff breakfast in bed and the kids had picked out presents for him. Levi got him a new soccer ball, Jordyn picked out ASU b-ball shorts, and Sydney picked out car air fresheners and they drew him pictures.

The night before when he was at scouts we wrote him notes and decorated the inside of his car with these notes and streamers. We all love Jeff and were so blessed to have him as our dad, friend, care taker, provider, and lover.

6.20.13

This summer I have some plans for learning. We had a United States week-long theme a few weeks ago. We learned some patriotic songs, had a huge floor puzzle of all the states to put together and a smaller one. Levi still does both of these puzzles multiple times everyday--he loves puzzles. We started collecting quarters of each state, we used a fun travel game, looking for license plates of each state, and used an educational app that the kids play every day too. Let's just say a few weeks ago, my kids didn't know any states and now Sydney knows all the states and where they are located. We're just getting into capitals now. It's funny too, Sydney had a great idea. Instead of playing the game "colors" in the pool, we play "states." It makes me laugh to hear Levi mention random states here and there throughout the day.

 The last few weeks we learned about rocks: sedimentary, igneous, and magma. We read several books about rocks, made rock candy, observed rocks and made a chart about the shape, color, size, and drew a picture of it, and did this fun activity. We, yes me included, excavated rocks. There were 11 rocks for the kids to chip away at this block of clay. It took several days because it required some patience to get all the rocks.

All the kids working together and getting along. Another reason it was a good activity.

Safety First! 

 Next up--VOLCANOS and a weather unit.

6.16.13

The day after Macie's blessing we drove to Utah with my parents. Jeff stayed behind because he had to fly to Texas for work and then to Catalina for a week with Scout Camp. This was Macie's first road trip. She did amazing on the 9 1/2 hour drive. Unfortunately Levi and Jordyn did not. They both threw up 3 times each and I can't tell you how many times we heard, "how much longer." I had stuff for them to do, but pinterest doesn't have ideas on how you eliminate that question from kids :)

In Cedar City we went to a circus, celebrated my parents anniversary by making them dinner, serving it to them and providing entertainment (the kids got very passionate about their assignments--it was cute), went to the reservoir, park, aquatic center, rode horses, their 4 wheelers, played "AGGRAVATION", made rock candy, Sydney learned how to play Sudoku. played with cousins, and went to our first rodeo.

When we got to Cedar City my sister was there with her 5 kids and her newest baby, Finn. Finn is 6 weeks younger than Macie and is the cutest thing ever. The cousins had fun together. It's always fun to see them together since it doesn't happen all that often. I made a last minute decision to drive to my sister's house in Highland once they left to show my kids BYU and temple square. You guessed it...another road trip, another puking in the car. My mom and I drove by my the apt I use to live in and we walked around campus for a bit. Sydney was very interested in my apt and the college. The next day we went to temple square with my sister's kids. We toured the conference center, walked around temple square and visited the church history museum, which has a neat, kids friendly second story full of entertaining things.

 At the rodeo. We loved it and Sydney participated in the "cash cow" too.

 At temple square in the Church history museum

 On top of the Conference center with everyone.

 Jordyn is a great big sis! She wants to take care of Macie the most out of all the kids.

 For some reason the kids accepted the umbrellas that were offered to them at the Conf. Ctr. Random thing, but Parker had brought a turkey baster in his pocket (for some reason) and was playing with it in the water features on top of the bldg. It made me laugh.

 Girl Cousins

 One afternoon was spent at the reservoir playing in the water and sand.

 At the circus in Cedar City

Another great picture I had to add.

Making the game in Grandpa's workshop.

5.30.13

I've always thought preschool graduation was kind of a silly thing. This is our second preschool graduation. They go all out. The graduation was at Queen Creek High School at night and we had to purchase tickets too. The kids sang several songs, there was a slide show, her teacher gave a speech, while the kids changed into their cap and gown and then they walked across the stage to receive their diploma. The whole thing lasted about an hour. 

 Jordyn hugging her teacher Ms. Shiela. We started this preschool in January. I'm amazed at what Jordyn has learned in 5 months. She counts to about 130. She counts to 100 by 5's and 10's. She counts by 2's to 20. She adds (like 9 + 9). She learned her basic phonograms and started reading. She's awesome at sounding at each letter. This school was amazing and I feel good knowing Jordyn is more than prepared for kindergarten. In January she wasn't.

 They sang "You Raise me Up" by Josh Groban in Sign language. They would have a ASL lesson, spanish lesson, cooking lesson, PE lesson, and art lesson occasionally.

The two other boys we car pooled with: KJ and Josh (they aren't brothers). Jordyn and Josh are going to the same school next year. Yes they are all 5 years old...Jordyn is just really tall. Now that I think about it she had a little heel on her shoes too. I made her a candy lei and all of us went out to dinner after. Jeff unfortunately wasn't able to come because he had a campout that night.

5.20.13

Jordyn's preschool had a mother's tea party. She escorted me in her classroom and served me water and cookies and gave me the presents she made for me: flowers, a coupon book, and some questions she answered about me (the bottom picture).

 All of us before church. I love the calling and privilege of Motherhood.

 Macie and I- She is 5 weeks here.

How do I show my mom I love to her: HUG
My favorite thing to do with my mom is: LIE DOWN
My mom's favorite color: BLUE--yes
Her favorite food is: CHINESE- -no, not really
If she has extra time she likes to: SPEND TIME WITH ME AND DAD--yes
When my mom grows up she wants to be a: SHE WAS ALREADY A SCHOOL TEACHER BUT THEY GRADUATE--:)
My mom and dad met at: THE BEACH--no :)
My mom laughs when: JOKES--yes
My mom is how old? 34--yes
What my mom loves most is: FAMILY--yes
She did really good answering these questions!

5.14.13

Macie was crying and Jordyn in a baby voice says, "Are you crying for some people who have cancer?"

Next morning Macie was crying again and Jordyn asks her (again in baby voice), "Are you exhausted? Don't cry, it's USELESS."

We were at a baptism and while the 8 year old girl was getting dressed, Jeff had shown a video about Christ. Jordyn [has a loud voice] and in this voice says at the end of the short clip announces, "THAT WAS A MORMON MESSAGE. DAD. YOU SHOWED US A MORMON MESSAGE." I was sitting in the back hiding under a hooter hider feeding Macie and the lady next to me says, "Isn't that your daughter?"

At the same baptism the Bishop was speaking and asked the 8 year old, "what is the word of God?" By this point Jordyn had made her way to the back with me and was sitting on my lap now. The 8 year old wasn't answering and Jordyn yells, "It's the Book of Mormon." I was just so happy she knew the answer. (Sometimes I wonder if she's ever listening to Jeff or I or her primary teachers. It seems like she's in a world of her own most times).

3.27.13

Macie was born today at 1:11pm when you were at preschool. After preschool you came to the hospital. You love Macie so much!! You started singing her a song I didn't recognize. I asked you what song you were singing to her and you said, "A spanish song."

3.24.13

I thought I'd write down a few teaching moments I've experienced the past few days. I love how teaching moments are usually spontaneous and I'm grateful I've recognized them and been able to testify of gospel truths I believe in.
1. Today we were making edible tombs. *side note* The week before Easter I focus a little bit each day on the events leading to Christs' resurrection. We call them "easter devotionals." Today was the first day and we talked about the tomb that Christ was buried in and so forth. After this devotional we made edible tombs (frosting graham crackers and using large marshmallows as the big stone to cover the tomb). Well Sydney is a perfectionist and she was getting very frustrated she couldn't get her edible tomb to her liking. I asked her if she wanted help a few times to which her reply was always the same, "NO! I wanna do it by myself." It then dawned on me then to teach her a little bit about the atonement and that we all need help; we need the help of Christ. We ourselves cannot be forgiven or resurrected again without Jesus' atonement. "By his selection and foreordination in the Grand Council before the world was formed, his divine Sonship, his sinless life, the shedding of his blood in the garden of Gethsemane, his death on the cross and subsequent bodily resurrection from the grave, he made a perfect atonement for all mankind. All are covered unconditionally as pertaining to the fall of Adam." Of course I tried to make it simple and sensible to a seven year old. She then allowed me to help and we made her tomb and this made more application to the atonement as well.
2. Yesterday I was on a date with Jordyn. As we were walking she mentioned, "I don't want another mom when you die. I want you to be my mom forever." Although it kinda freaks me out a little that she even said this, (like does she sense something is going to happen to me and of course I'm about to have a baby and things can go wrong) I was able to testify of families being together forever. Because Jeff and I have been married and sealed in the temple and to our children I can reassure her without doubt that we will always be bound together for eternity. I don't know if these moments teach Jordyn more or are more for me. Either way, it was good for both of us I'm sure.
3. Earlier this week I was trimming our grapefruit tree when I felt this wet stuff dripping down my arm. When I looked down I realized it was an egg and I had broken through a nest. At first I was kinda disgusted and wanted to wash off my arm and hand right away. When I was in the kitchen doing this, I saw a bird, I'm guessing the mom bird, right where the nest was. All of the sudden my heart felt her pain as she was probably inspecting what happened, why it happened, and feeling very sorrowful that her unborn bird was gone. It could be because I'm prego but I was wondering if this was a foreshadow of my future. I know I can't think that so I reflected more about Easter coming and was thinking about the life of Christ, his mission, death, and resurrection. Once again, I was reminded that we will be made whole again through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Although sorrow is very much a part of losing someone you love it gives me great hope and joy in knowing that we will be reunited with those who have departed before us.

Today we also discussed the Last Supper and Jesus washing the apostles feet demonstrating to serve and love others. After, we all washed each others feet. I'm doubling up on these devotionals since my family is coming Thursday. But the Mesa temple has the world's largest Easter pageant that I'm super excited to attend. Surprisingly I've never seen a pageant. Hopefully I'll make it till then.

 The edible tombs they are about to eat.

2.23.13

Tonight Jeff took Sydney and Jordyn to a daddy/daughter dance at the gym we go to. There were princesses there, crafts, a horse drawn carriage, food, and a full on DJ. They all had a fun time getting dressed up and dancing around with other dads and girls.

2.21.13

The Gers came to visit us over Presidents weekend. They are Jeff's grandparents and the kid's great-grandparents. We call them the Gers in short for Geriatrics. I know it sounds kinda cruel, but they have a great sense of humor  and refer to themselves as the Gers too. It was great to have them here for a few days and get one-on-one time with them. On Monday we went to the zoo.

 Hanging out at home with Grandpa.

 The whole crew

 Spider monkeys

 Grandma and Jordyn

Observing giraffes, ostriches, and some other animals.

2.14.13

I'm glad valentine's is over. I'm so over candy right now I despise even talking about. I'm not a fan of those conversation hearts. I'd rather have chocolate, but by now, I don't want chocolate EVER again. This poor baby is on sugar over load...I feel bad and guilty. Anywho, we did celebrate. I do the "love mail" with the kids every year, writing them a love note and putting a little piece of candy in their mail box. They look forward to the morning to open their mailboxes.  Valentine pancakes one morning

 Wax lips they got in their mail boxes.

 Jeff made me a candy gram and had the kids help. I think you can read it by the picture. The kids love the idea and were super excited to surprise me with it.

A few days before V-day, I was wearing a red sports bra since I had just worked out. Jordyn, "Look dad. Mom has red boobs just in time for v-day."

On V-day I left one last note and little candy (big wax lips and a moustache for Levi) in their mail box along with a new book and bathing suit. We picked up Sydney for lunch and the 5 of us went to a pizza place by her school. Everyone loved that. For dinner we enjoyed chicken teriyaki and friend rice with some pink soda and each of us went around the table telling each other why we loved each other. That night when the kids were in bed, Jeff and I watched "Survivor!" We love that show. It was a great few weeks and I have to admit I'm glad we're moving on from hearts, red, and chocolate.