Veteran's Day

 This year for Veteran's Day my Webelos scouts were asked to lead the flag ceremony at Hermosa Vista Elementary. Every year Hermosa Vista Elementary does a Veteran's Day assembly and I have never been. I am now sad that I never went. It was great. My scouts did a great job leading the flag ceremony I was so impressed with them. A sixth grader sang the National Anthem and then some of the students introduced the Veterans that they knew. A couple of dads and grandpas talked about being in the service and I am so grateful for those that are willing to serve my country. I really enjoy Veteran's Day and I hope I can teach my kids the importance of honoring the Veterans.
Jack leading the flag ceremony

My scouts around the flag. They did a great job.

Halloween

Not much to say about Halloween that I haven't already posted about. My kids got dressed up and Jack and Kate trick or treated (Jay didn't want to, so he stayed home and passed out candy). Jay was supposed to be the banana and Jack the scary guy with Kate being the Fairy Princess. But things got switched around and in the end Jay was nothing and Jack just wore the Morph suit. But Kate sure was a pretty princess. We had a good time and I am trying to be more positive about Halloween.

 

Kate in her first Halloween parade at Hermosa Vista. She loved it and I'm glad we get two more parades to go to.

 

Kate's kindergarten class all dressed up after the parade. So cute and so fun.

 I got to help in Jay's class party and one of the activities was dressing up a kid as a mummy. We decided that their mummy looked like Cousin It from the Adams Family. His class was a lot of fun and I wish I would have taken a picture of Jay trying to eat his donut without any hands while it was hanging on a string. So fun.

 

Girls Cruise 2013

What a great time. I really do love my girls cruise and get away. After much debate we decided on a Princess Cruise to Santa Barbara and Ensenada with a day at sea too. We hung out, relaxed, ate way too much food, read lots of magazines and books, and just chatted. Basically we enjoyed ourselves and were spoiled. These friends of mine are great and a lot of fun. Can't wait till next year.

Amy Smith, Lori Hammond, Talena Horne, Eileen Bartlett and Kierra Lewandowski

Fall Break

 Fall Break was nice. We were supposed to go to California but since we got Jack's tonsils out we ended up just staying home and then heading up to Show Low for the last weekend. At the beginning of the week we hung with family. Karrie and the kids all come down and we played with them and Joe and Cassie for two days straight. I love that my kids love their cousins and enjoy spending time with them.

At the end of the week we headed up north. We went to the pumpkin patch in Snowflake, watched Show Low beat up on Blue Ridge in football and then went to Sunrise for free kids ski lift tickets. We waited in line for about two hours to get the tickets but while we were waiting the kids all got to ride the ski lift up to the top of the mountain. It was a great week and although I am sad we didn't go to Cali we still had fun hanging out in Arizona.

Jack's tonstils

 

After many years of debate, okay just a few, we decided Jack's tonsils needed to come out. The tonsils were normally the size of golf balls but when he got sick they would become the size of tennis balls. I may have exaggerated a little bit but they were huge and anytime he got sick the disease would settle right in his throat. Plus he snored like no one's business. It was time. We decided to do it right before fall break so he wouldn't miss as much school. The surgery went well and as Jack was waking up from the surgery he said he wanted to go to school. I think the medicine made him a little crazy. The next few days were rough since he felt okay but couldn't do much. Jack is not one to sit around and was going stir crazy trying to recoup. He did good and now the snoring is gone!!!

The Grand Canyon

"O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds they hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power thru-out the universe displayed. When thru the woods and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.          Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee, How great thou art! How great thou art! Hymn #86

I think this hymns says it perfectly. I am so glad I am healthy enough to hike the big giant hole in the ground. I love the Grand Canyon and the beauty and reverence it inspires. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and answers my prayers.

Looking down the South Kaibab Trail. Lots of switchbacks and lots of hiking. 

 Me, Jodi, Kelli and Kim. A daughter from each of my Grandpa and Grandma Goodman's kids. I love these cousins of mine.

 A few of the Goodmans who hiked across the big hole in the ground. I am blessed to have such a great family and I love hanging out with them. Luke, Willie, Aunt Diane, Matt, Dad, Mom, Jimmy, Jeremy, Kelli and me.

Healing Fields

 Every year on 9/11 I always want to teach my kids about it and maybe have them feel what I felt on that day. I remember being so sad and wondering what was happening to the USA. I remember thinking the skies were so quiet with no airplanes or helicopters flying. I remember being at training for work thinking what am I doing here and being so grateful they sent us home early so I could be with Ryan and watch the news. I remember just feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness and pride afterwards for the people who stepped up and helped. For the firefighters, the policeman, the people who donated their blood and all the others I know I am forgetting.
So this year I thought I would take my kids to the Healing Fields in Tempe. They got out early from school and we didn't have anything planned for the afternoon. It seemed like the perfect plan. I think they may have gotten something out of it but mostly they just wanted Rita's Water Ice. I tried to have them look at the flags and see the names of the people who died but really they are young. I am hoping year after year if I continue to talk to them about it they will remember. I know I got felt something from visiting. I am grateful to live in America and I know this land is a blessed land.