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

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.

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.

State Champs!!!

Show Low 3A State Football Champions!!!!

What a game. It was one of the best football games I have seen all year. Show Low came out strong in the first half and held Blue Ridge to 3 points. Going into the half up 20 to 3. Show Low's defense was incredible and the offense was rolling. Then the second half started and it was a different game. Show Low's defense was good but nothing like the first half and the offense couldn't score. Blue Ridge intercepted the ball and then drove down the field to score. Cutting the lead to 20 to 10. Blue Ridge then got the ball back after a bad snap, giving them great field position and they were able to score again, cutting the lead to 20 to 17. Show Low got the ball back and was driving but could never score. Blue Ridge then got the ball back and was driving down the field. Blue Ridge was on Show Low's 36 yard line when the quarterback threw a long ball into the end zone with 58 seconds left to play. We were all screaming saying please don't catch it and Blue Ridge didn't, Show Low did. An interception in the end zone to clinch the game. The game was over, all Show Low had to do was take a knee, which they did. The title was ours and it was so sweet. Winning is way more fun than losing.
Go Cougars!!!!!

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving, it is my favorite holiday. What other day of the year do you get to stuff yourself and not feel guilty all while enjoying the company of your family. It is great!!!

This year was like the others. It started with a nice hike up Usury Pass with Rachelle then on to my parents, then on to Ryan's parents. We just hang out and eat all day. The food is set out and I just snack on it all day long. I have no self control on Thanksgiving. But I don't care. I love it and have no guilt.
A tradition my mom started and I try to do every year is make a thankful list. This year we had a thankful notebook and my family would draw pictures and write what we are thankful for. But I need to write my list down so here it is: Ryan, Jack, Jay, Kate, the gospel, Jesus Christ, my mom and dad, my sisters and brothers, my in-laws, freedom, America, the military, my health, rubber bands, diapers, birth control, washer and dryer, electricity, sports, shoes, clothes, sunshine and rain (but mostly the sun), music, atonement, friends, great neighbors, movies, my great ward, my primary kids, and so much more. My list could go on forever. I love Thanksgiving.

Grateful

I am writing this post with tears in my eyes because I am so grateful. The other day Ryan dropped Jay off at school in a different spot. Ryan had spotted his brother so he followed him around so Jay and Kaden could go to school together. While the boys were getting out of their cars and getting backpacks, Jay decided he could cross the street and head into school. Little did Jay realize that there was a bus coming. Ryan said time stood still and everyone froze. Jay saw the bus and just covered his head and put his arm at to stop it. Thankfully the bus did stop just in time and Jay is okay. But Ryan said it was the scariest thing he has ever witnessed.
But I am grateful. I am grateful that prayers were answered in keeping my family safe. I am grateful that the bus driver was paying attention and was able to stop. I am grateful that even though I was subbing Ryan was around and took care of Jay. I am grateful that the principle took the time to talk to Ryan. I am grateful that Mrs. Burton and Mrs. Long took Jay kicking and screaming on the bus for the field trip that he would have been so upset if he missed and then texted me in the middle of the trip to tell me Jay was okay. I am grateful that had something happened to Jay, two priesthood holders would have been right there. I am grateful for Karrie who took Jay in the afternoon. But most of all I am grateful that Jay was not hurt. That at dinner that night we were together as a family eating pizza and talking about the importance of looking both ways to cross the street. Jay can be a little ornery but my life would not be the same without him and I am so grateful he was watched over and protected.

Weekend

I don't normally blog about what I do on the weekends because I usually only go to football games. But this weekend was different. Yes, there was a football game, which Show Low beat Winslow 68-48, but I also went and saw an awesome musical performance, "The Price of Freedom." It was so good and even better because it was free. I am cheap so when I hear about free things that are actually good I take advantage of it. The story is set in World War 2 times and it is about four men who go off to war and the women they leave behind. One leaves a wife who is pregnant, two have a mother who worries about them, and one has a girlfriend. The men and women write letters to each other that are set to music. It was a powerful reminder to me of the great freedoms we enjoy and the people who are willing to fight for those freedoms. I do love learning about World War 2 and I am in awe of that generation. Here is the link to Spire music that puts on the production. If you are ever in need of something to do check the link and see if anything is going on. You will not be disappointed. http://www.spiremusic.org/
On another note I also ran a 10k on Saturday morning. I was not pleased with the race especially since I was suppose to run the half marathon. I was not ready for a half and in fact the 10k was not fun. I finished in 1:01.10. My slowest time for this race. I had no joy in running and wanted to quit halfway through. But since that is not an option I finished. I need to mix up my work outs. I think I will try hiking again. I do enjoy that. I love being outside and soaking up the sun. But for now my racing days are over at least until I get talked into one.