Thursday, December 30, 2010

winter weather

Winter weather in Mesa???

Yes, but the above picture is Flagstaff, but if you look closely at the picture of Jack you will see white stuff in the picture that is actually snow. I know it looks like dirt or rocks but it really is the white stuff. We were inside and Jack yells "it's snowing" so we ran outside and sure enough the white stuff was coming down, almost like a blizzard, he he he. It is a rare thing to happen here so all of the neighbors were outside enjoying the snow. The best part though is by Sunday the temperature will be back up to the sixties with sun.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Christmas

For Christmas break I had two goals. One, to see "Tangled" and two to see "Harry Potter." Since I accomplished these two goals on Monday and Tuesday I was then able to do other things. Like take care of sick children. On Thursday before school got out Kate was up all night throwing up. I then prayed that my other kids would be healthy from 2-5 on the 18th for Jack's baptism. They were and I thought we had beaten the bug and that only Kate had gotten it. But no such luck. On Monday, Jack woke up with a fever, but not enough to keep us from doing stuff. He would just get tired and want to rest but the Motrin did its job and kept him pretty happy. He never threw up and was good to go on Tuesday. But on Tuesday the bug had moved on to Jay. He too was running a fever and just getting tired after every little thing. Again though not too bad so we were able to do most things. He would have been better off if he would take medicine but he wouldn't. So I thought by Wednesday, Kate would have the bug and we would all be better by Christmas Eve. No such luck, Jay got worse and ended up throwing up on Wednesday, so I introduced him to his best friend, the silver bowl, and told him where you go this goes too. I guess he got tired of taking the bowl with him where ever he went because he went into the bathroom, laid down on the floor, and fell asleep. Before he fell asleep he asked me for a blanket and I told him he could go lay in his bed but he didn't want to. He just laid down and fell asleep. I felt so sorry for him. But after sleeping all day Wednesday by Thursday he was better and Kate had not gotten the bug. I thought we were good. But alas on Christmas morning we woke up and Kate was warm. Thankfully she never threw up and again only wanted to rest and be held. Kate would take her medicine and would get up to play and then the medicine would wear off and she would sleep.
Besides all of the sickness Christmas was great. The kids got suitcases from Santa in preparation of the trip to Disneyland that we are going to in January. They each got a gift card to Disney to be used on our trip. It was fun to watch Jack and Jay look at the gift cards and figure out where they can be used. We had to ask them "where does Mickey Mouse, Woody, and Buzz live"? There response was "Hollywood". Eventually they figured out Disneyland and then figured out we are going. They are so excited and we are even thinking of making a chain to count down.
Christmas Eve was great. We went to the Ricedorffs to BBQ hamburgers. I swear my father in law makes the best hamburgers. Then we went to the temple to listen to Jordon Blueth. Two days in a row for me because we went on the Thursday before to listen to the Duttons. Both performers were so good and totally put me in the Christmas spirit.
Christmas morning we opened up presents at my house then went to the Ricedorffs for breakfast and the gift exchange. Then home to rest then to my grandparents then on to my parents, for the white elephant gift exchange. It is always so much fun to do and see what people come up with. I ended up with a razor scooter. Overall it was a great Christmas and I love this time of year with all the laughter and giving.





Me with my Grandpa and Grandma Goodman. Grandpa is 95 and Grandma is 93. Look at Kate's poor sick eyes.





Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Jack's baptism

The day came that my oldest turned eight and got baptized. I keep telling my children that they are not allowed to grow but they never listened. The baptism was nice. There was one other girl who got baptized on the same day, December 18, 2010, so we reserved the chapel and good thing because it was packed. Between the Andersons and the Ricedorffs there was a lot of support for these two young people making such an important choice. Jack got to have Grandpa Ricedorff give the talk on the Holy Ghost and Grandpa Goodman got to give the closing prayer. He chose "When I am Baptized" as the opening song and the entire program was perfect. I was a little stressed because my calling is baptism coordinator and it was my first baptism with more than one child getting baptized. But thankfully the Andersons are flexible and it all worked out great. The only "bad" thing to happen was Ryan said the prayer wrong so Jack had to be dunked twice. I laughed because Jack kept saying how nervous he was that his toe would stick out and then he would have to be dunked twice. Well his toe didn't stick out but he still had to be dunked twice.
I am so proud of Jack and his decision he made to be baptized. I hope and pray that Ryan and I teach him correct principles and that he continues to make good choices. I love my little Jack and I know he will continue to grow even when I tell him not to.


My family, Ryan, Kate, Dyan, Jay and Jack


Kamryn Anderson and Jack

Jack with his dad already to be baptized.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Jay's kindergarten performance

Jay's kindergarten performance was so dang cute. Jason and Shelley managed to get us front row seats so we could see all of the action. Jay knew all of the songs which were: Rudolph, Jingle Bells, Dradle, Up on the Housetop, and his favorite "We Fish you a Hairy Chrismoose and a Hippo New Year." Which the kids all sang after "We wish you a Merry Christmas." I love the age that Jay is at. He wants to be big sometimes but still gets so excited about things like singing in front of all the parents. Jay is such a great student and Mrs. Burton loves him almost as much as me.
I love the shirts that all the kindergartners wore. It will be a keeper forever.


Dyan, Ryan, Kate, Jack, Jay, Kaden, Shelley, Tessa, Jason, and Rolana
Jay and Kaden

Jay with Mrs. Burton the best kindergarten teacher out there.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Keelie's birthday at the Zoo

We got to go to the zoo for Keelie's third birthday. Joe and Cassie had a hook up that got us all into the zoo for free and got us free camel rides and got us into the sting ray exhibit too. We had a great time with all of the cousins. Jack just takes off with Jake, Ty, Durham, and Raulin and Kate has so many girl cousins her age it is so fun to watch her play. Jay just hung around Ryan the entire time, usually he plays with Wyatt. We had a great time and I loved hanging out with all my brothers and sisters. Thanks Joe and Cassie can't wait till next year.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Jack's b-day party

I want to turn eight again and have the birthday Jack had. The day started with donuts and opening of presents with the family. Then off Jack went to school with 28 donuts for his class. When he got home about 30 minutes later a group of boys showed up for a fun filled birthday party. We had pizza and brownies and ice cream. The boys all ran around and created havoc. Then Ryan and I rounded them up and off we went to the Suns game. The Suns were having scout night out with the Suns. So, we took advantage of cheaper tickets and tickets paid for by the scouting program and had Jack's birthday party at US Airways Arena. We got to go early to watch the players warm up and get their picture taken with the gorilla. The boys were in heaven and had so much fun. The rest of the night was spent in the gorilla green zone where the boys could shoot hoops, run around and play video games. We also watched the first half of the game. But the Suns were not doing good and the seats were way high so the boys, really me, lost interest. Overall it was a great day and I hope Jack remembers it always. And we had no tears this year about his birthday ending like in years past.


The boys: Jack, Steven, Bryson, Andrew, Davis, Jake, Sterling, Jay and Kaden

Friday, December 10, 2010

Jack is 8

I swear it seems like yesterday that my oldest boy was being born. I was all stressed out about finals at ASU and my doctor was all concerned about the size of my baby. So, I conceded in having Jack early and took two incompletes. Jack was born healthy and not huge but not small just a perfect six pounds 10 ounces. I remember being at the hospital and Ryan's brother Randy always being there. It wasn't until later that I realized that Jack was his first nephew and he was just a proud uncle. Randy came every day twice a day. Once he even came without Rebecca and she was not happy about it. But I love that Jack was and is so loved and he is also so loving.
Jack has been counting down to his birthday since after Thanksgiving. He is just so excited for it. He gets to go to the Suns game tonight with the scouts and a few friends and bring donuts to his school class. He got a new bike and scriptures.
Jack gets baptized next week on December 18th. I can't believe he is old enough to get baptized. I am proud of the decisions he makes and I love my little eight year old. Who is not so little and is growing way too fast.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Best Christmas Pageant Ever!!!

Friday started with me substituting and catching three people cheating on the quiz. I was so sad and hurt that they would do that but my day got much better. That night we, my family, the Platts, Laura and John, and my parents, went to see the "Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at the Mesa Arts Center. It was wonderful. I laughed and cried. My children all laughed and thought it was the best show I never heard a peep out of them except laughter. It is so great to have the Christmas spirit. I seem to cry and laugh a lot easier this time of the year. Everything just touches me so deeply. I love it. I wish I could keep this spirit year round.
Saturday was wonderful too. My good friends the Owensbys had their second child sealed to them in the Mesa Arizona Temple. What a beautiful ceremony. After it was all done and I saw their little family standing in the sealing room it struck me that their family is perfect and their children are theirs forever. Even though their children look nothing like them, Zadok and Isaac are theirs and just had to come to them a different way. I am amazed at the sacrifice the birth moms make and the sacrifices Steve and Angie make. I once said that I love Angie's perspective on things but I don't want to have to go through what she has to get it. I will just try to listen and learn from her. The temple truly is an amazing place and we have an amazing gift in that families really are forever.
Sunday was fast and testimony meeting. Steve and Angie blessed little Isaac and the Easthopes blessed their little Anna. What a great meeting. Melanie Easthope bore her testimony and gave such a great analogy. Melanie was putting up her Christmas decorations and she has a nativity from Bolivia, where she served her mission. In her nativity the moms carry their babies on their backs to Jesus. She then likened it to her and how she has had others carry her on their backs to Jesus and now she is a mom herself and she needs to carry her own children to Jesus. It was such a great testimony. I know I have been carried many times towards Jesus and I know that I need to carry my own children. I just hope I do the job and teach my children like I have been taught.
It was a great weekend and I love this time of year. I love that people are just a little bit nicer and cheerful. I love that I see Christmas lights everywhere and the Christmas songs are playing. I love that I can play "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" ten times a day if I want to and no one says anything. I am blessed in so many ways and I am grateful that I got to participate in such a great weekend.