Alex

This is Alex. As he pointed out very loudly, he is not in my blog so I am going to remedy this. This is my son-in-law and he is quite a character! He is an aid at Mesa High be day and a matchmaker by night. He is a force to be reckoned with!
So if you are single and looking BEWARE! Yep, I am hiding my daughter as we speak!
 

Baptisms for the Dead!

Joey went this morning and did baptisms for the Dead!!! He was so excited! His toes were cold. But he did 5 baptisms and did confirming before he did those. He loved it! He can't wait to go again! He wants to go with his dad and maybe his older brother!

And he took a picture for Ashley so she can see how excited he was to go!

Yep! He is pretty proud!

Benson

Every year I invite myself to Debbie's house for the evening knowing she will find something for me to do and every year she comes through! This year I helped rearrange her class room! It was a lot of work! But in the end it looks great! It still needs a few more hours of setting up but it is going to look great!

She has a difficult situation to be in as a teacher. Because they live in a small town she actually teaches 1st and 2nd grade. so the reading level can be on three different, maybe more, levels and she had to teach them all at the same time. I don't know how she does it! But she is doing a great job! Very proud of her!

I also got to fix books. You know, the ones where the pages fall out or get ripped and the teacher stacks them in a corner until she gets a chance to fix them. Well, after a year and a half she finally got to it. Or she got me on it. LOL! It was a lot of fun! It reminded me of when I was with Ms. Greta and how much I miss it and the little kids!

THe kids watched themselves, swam, and took rides on the 4-wheelers. They did find time to feed the rabbits, the chickens, and admire the two pigs. the HOA only allows the bunnys but Grandma Phyllis has the rest at her house! I keep waiting for Joey and Kenzie to ask for a rabbit. Yeah, not gonna happen. We tried it once and the poor thing did not last the night! Nope, I would kill'em off before they had a chance!

We took some pics for Ashley. Not very good ones but hey, they are pics!

 Look! He is such a sweetie when he sleeps!

 The he wakes up!

 

Funny story! While Kenzie slept he colored on her tummy with a pen. She did not notice until after we left. Silly Caden!!!

 

 Kolby!

 Briley!

 

 And Joey! Can't forget him!

 

Me and Deb

 

So if you are ever free for a couple of days and want to visit Debbie, call and she will  find something for you to do! And it might even be fun! (I love you Deb! Thanks for letting us come visit!!!)

 

Oh yeah! I found this picture on Deb's entertainment center. It was taken at the San Diego zoo last year! First time I had seen it! Probably Ashley's too.

 

My Sunday

Yesterday, after a quick band meeting, I came home and found a package. It was from Idaho! Inside was a stack of birthday cards and a voice recorder. We sent it to her a few months back with everyone talking into it. It was filled with responses from Ashley. We listened to it, I laughed, I cried. We told Joey to be quiet (LOL ASH). It was the greatest gift. I love hearing how much her testimony is growing! I love hearing how much she misses her used to be annoying little brothers and sister (haha...wait till she gets home!) And I love seeing how much her younger sister means to her! I was reminded how much I miss her sweet smile, her snarky attitude, and our time together! Soon enough I keep reminding myself!!!
We are starting to add more for her so if I come with my recorder, be prepared to say something!

It was Joey's first time passing the Sacrament. He did pretty well, except he did push his way to be first and then looked back at me, grinning from ear to ear. Thank goodness he didn't wave! Travis says he will get it after more practice. It was cute. 
And then Joey spoke in Sacrament for the first time today. It went pretty good! He was nervous and read his talk most of the time but he did very well!  He didn't talk too fast or say something that he shouldn't (Gee, I wonder where he gets that from?)
Now, that is three talks in three weeks from our family. I think next Sunday I am going to be sick. Ill... in need of staying home (until 12:15, then I really need to go visit the Cooper ward) 

My Friday!

Summer school is over!!!! I am so excited! Now summer can finally begin! Except Zach is off to the Stake Encampment on Tuesday but that is not going to stop us! No! We are off to Bensn to spend the day (and night) with Debbie. And she will keep us busy with stuff for Girls Camp. And give us time to visit!  I love visiting my sister!

 

But before any of that I need to share what happened Friday. We had our summer concerts. They were great! Mackenzie started the violin this year! I was not happy only because I lived with a squeaky violin when I was younger and it drove me crazy (Sorry, Tam!) But so far it has not been that bad. Maybe it is because I am a little older, maybe because it is my child and not my sister, or maybe I have developed patience from all of the other instruments I have had the opportunity to have brought into my house and played until I went searching for cotton balls. I don't know what it was but it was not that bad.

 

 

 She did a great job! I am very proud of her!!!

 

 

Joey's conert was more what I am used to. And he did great! He played 12 instruments!

The base drum, the snare, timpani, wood blocks, ratchet, acme siren, suspended cymbals, bells, crash cymbal, and triangle. My favorite was the marimba. He started the song off and then finished it! I was so proud of him! He looked like he was concentrating so hard! Such a cutie!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, he was posing! big shocker!!!

 

And then to finish the day off I had visiting teachers come! First time in over a year! It was pretty cool!

 

 

OH, one last thing. Britt started a project and I just had to share! Only because it will not be happening again any time soon! (unless I don't know about it and then, it better not be happening anytime soon!)

 

 

Make up!

On a ten year old! 

I am really not ready for another daughter who wants to grow up! Three is bad enough!

For Ash

Our pal Kadon took pictures of Britt a few weeks back and he did such an awesome job! Britt promised Ash she would send her a few of them but that, of course, takes time so we decided to post some on the blog. Ashley gets a copy of each post and we can put a lot of pictures on at one time. So these are for Ashley. Thanks, Kadon! You did an amazing job!!!

 

And there are more!!!

Joey is a Deacon!!!

Joey received the Priesthood!

He has been so excited all day!

I am so proud of him!

Next week he finally gets to pass the sacrament! I can't wait to see it!

My little man is growing up!

 Grandpa getting Joey ready birthday spankins! (ended up being 280 times! Poor Joey! :) )

 Jana and Mackay came for the ordination! Joey was very pleased! Mackay is his idol! And he loves Jana!

 Britt is holding the priesthood!

 Zach wants in on the action!

 Joey and Grandma!

 

 Joey and Dad

 

Joey insisted that Dad hold the priesthood too!

Silly boy!

another one mission bound

My young friend Katie has decided to go on a mission! She is a year older than Cortney and she is so looking forward to it! I am so happy for her! She says her life is missing something and she says going away for 18 months and putting your own life aside for a while and loosing yourself in the Lord's work is sounding more and more like the right thing for her to do. I look at Ashley and I think that even though she is not here, not furthering her education, finding a cutie pie to spend forever with, or enjoying the chaos that is our family, she is doing what is right and the Lord will bless her for it. Just like Katie.

She will have to move back home to Arkansas and we will not see her anymore but how exciting! I wish her well!

And Britt has decided this year she is going to attend Mission Prep with some of the other girls in the ward. If nothing else it will teach her how to share the gospel. And our Bishop says everyone should go. I wish I could. Maybe then I would not be afraid to speak what is in my heart!

Joey is 12!

Joey is 12!

He made it! I am so proud of him! And tomorrow he will get the priesthood and then he will be able to pass the sacrament! Yep, it is going to be a great month!

I have faith in him! I know he is a bit overwhelming but he has a heart of gold and is a real sweetie!

And his kisses and hugs warm my heart.

 

For his birthday he got some steel hand cuffs
(don't ask, it is so complicated....),

lots of army men, free food,

 a 1 lb bag of Poore Brothers salt and vinegar potato chips
 (Again, don't ask),

 and a sweet looking Nerf automatic gun, because he can't have a real one.

(Thank goodness!)

And a day at the movies.

(He had to settle for the dollar movies since Ashley can't get him in anymore)

 

So to my little man, Happy Birthday and I hope you have a wonderful day!

I Love you!!!

 

His attempt at a drum harness!!

 

His nerf gun he got for his birthday!!!

Watch out Mackenzie!!!