Pinewood Derby

It's official I have a scout in my household. I was raised not liking scouts so my testimony of scouting is coming. I see that there are actually good things that come from scouting. Just don't ask me to donate to "friends of scouting".
Jack had his first Pinewood Derby. It was fun and exciting. The Saturday before Ryan went to our ward members house and cut out the car. Then they spent the next few days sanding it and getting ready. On Wednesday, the day of the race, we were painting it and putting the wheels on at 4:45, the race started at 5. But it got done and Jack came in third place. He was a little bummed out because before the weigh in he was winning all of the races, probably because the car was overweight, and after the weigh in he couldn't win. It was a great lesson in sportsmanship and winning. Thank you to Jack's scout leaders, they are two wonderful women who are teaching my son valuable lessons.

I love the anticipation on Jack's face. He was so fun to watch.

Flat Iron

A few weeks ago Joe called and wanted to hike Flat Iron on President's Day. Of course I said yes, but really I was thinking we'll see. It depends on Ryan's work schedule, babysitters, and a million other things. Well, the million things worked out so at 6:45 am Joe and Cassie were picking me up to go hiking. After getting Karrie and Jake we headed east to our destination. When we got there and I looked up I thought how in the heck do we get to the top (our destination was the part that looks like the front of the Titanic or an iron). Joe's response was "there are no switchbacks, it is just straight up." He wasn't kidding. We actually climbed the mountain and then come up from the behind the iron. I think my back, shoulders, and arms hurt worse than my legs. It was a great reminder that I am able to do hard things. When I start to beat myself up over what I ate or how my body looks I remember that I am able to do hard things. It was a great time full of laughter and jokes. In fact at one point Joe said we were about 19 minutes from the top, about an hour later I think we were there. But we made it nonetheless and I hope Joe plans more hikes like this.

All of us at the top, Jake, Karrie, me, Cassie, and Joe

The picture below is why I live in Arizona. I love that there is a desert with snow in the background. It was so clear fron the recent rain and breathtaking.

My baby is three

My baby girl Kate is three years old today. I know I often ask and wonder how does this happen? How do three years fly by and my children grow up? I don't really like it. I swear it was just yesterday that I was at my parents house with Karrie, Debbie, and Cassie and Kate was only two weeks old and we took a picture of all the little girls. Now they are all three. When did this happen and how?
Kate is without a doubt the baby and the only girl. She still has her pacifier that we keep threatening to throw away but haven't yet. It would mean too much work for me. She will not be potty trained so I change poopie diapers daily. All because I am too lazy to make the effort to potty train her. I don't know how women have more than three children.
But I love my Kate. She loves to dance and sing and play. When she runs she looks like she is trying to dance and run at the same time, moving her shoulders instead of her arms. It looks funny and cute. She loves princesses but will play power rangers with Jay whenever he wants to. She wants to be a cheerleader but will pick up the ball and play too. She is all girl but can hold her own with two big brothers. She is so special and I am truly blessed to have her to raise.

Disneyland

We has such a blast at Disneyland. It really is the happiest place, even when my kids are tired and hungry and want to buy stuff that is way overpriced, we still had fun. In fact we had so much fun that we ended up buying season passes so we can go back as many times as we want.

I took Kate to the princess lunch. After waiting in line for 40 minutes just to see the Tangled princess I decided to suck it up and pay to see the princesses. It was so worth it. We walked in and there was Ariel. Kate got to meet her and spend time with her. Then we sat down to lunch and each princess was announced. Then they went from table to table to talk to everyone. First was Sleeping Beauty. When Kate saw her she waved so cute to her and was so excited. Next came Kate's favorite, Belle. Kate was wearing her Belle costume. She walked up and hugged Belle then Belle asked Princess Kate to twirl with her. Of course Kate did and it was darling. After that was Cinderella and Snow White. It was so fun to talk with the princesses. When Kate asked Rapunzel where Flynn Rider was her reply was "he is with Maximus getting me a Valentine's Day present." Too cute and too sweet I am so glad we did this. Kate's pictures with the princesses.

Kate's favorites besides the princesses: the tea cups, the caterpillar, Toy Story. Kate's non princess pictures of Disneyland.

Jay's favorites: river rafting, Monster's Inc., space mountain, soaring over California, pirates, and the tea cups. I had to bribe Jay with ice cream to take a picture with Woody, he never wanted to get in any of the pictures. Jay rode on the Tower of Terror and will never go again, but he did it. Jay's pictures of Disneyland.

Jack's favorites: Tower of Terror, California screaming, Indiana Jones, Thunder Mountain, river rafting ("it was like the best ride"). Jack was a trooper he wanted to go on all of the big kid rides but everyone once in awhile we had to do little kid things and he did them. Jack has no fear and wanted to ride all of the scary rides again and again. Jack's pictures of Disneyland.

We really had a great time and our kids had a blast. Even though the first three rides we took them on scared them, Indiana Jones, Pirates, and the haunted mansion. Once we got those rides out of the way and they started to see Disneyland they were so happy.

Ryan's favorites: seeing Kate smile, going on rides with Jack and Jay and watching their faces, Jay still being young enough to cling to my arm cause he is scared.

Dyan's favorites: all of it. I loved being with my family. I loved having a group of friends to show us the ropes of Disneyland. I loved that Jack has no fear. I loved watching Jay become a little less afraid of the rides as the days went on. I loved Kate wanting to see the princesses and calling Sleeping Beauty, Stinky Bootie. I loved watching Fanstamic. I loved it all.

Good Reads

A few good books I have read lately.

"These is my words: the diary of Sarah Agnes Prine 1881-1901" by Nancy E. Turner

This book has been my favorite so far this year. It is a fictional account of a woman who lived in the Arizona Territory from 1881 to 1901. I loved how it was written as a journal. It made it easy to stop and put down because the entries were fairly short. I also have a greater appreciation for living now, with all of our modern amenities. As I was reading it I thought of my own grandmas who grew up in Arizona and what life was like for them. I know my grandmas did not live in Arizona before it became a state yet they lived in small towns and how to do a lot for themselves. I especially thought of my Grandma Taylor because in the book Sarah writes how her neighbors speak Mexican, not Spanish. My own Grandma Taylor use to say this all the time. I just laughed to myself and kept reading. In the book Sarah writes how she has to deal with rattlesnakes, scorpions, tarantulas, and so much more. Again I am grateful I only have to deal with scorpions, which is bad enough.

"Sarah's Quilt" and "Star Garden" by Nancy E. Turner

These two books are a continuation of Sarah Agnes Prine's diary. I didn't enjoy them as much but I liked how it kept the story alive. In "Star Garden" Sarah writes about rain and how for most people rain is a dreary thing but here in Arizona it is an answer to prayers. I thought even now that is true. I can't even begin to tell you the number of times I have prayed for rain and the number of times I have been grateful for it. These are good books but "These is my words" is by far the best of the three.

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

I really enjoyed this book. It is set in Mississippi in 1961-1964 the height of the Civil Rights movement. I loved the characters that are in the book. I really felt like I was there. The story is about two black women and one white woman. The white woman wants to write a book about what it is like to be a black housekeeper. Of course they have to keep it secret because it is not a good time to be helping each other out. But the book really brings out how alike people are. Of course we have differences yet we all want to same things in life. I really enjoyed this book.

If anyone has anymore suggestions for books I would love to hear them. I am always on the look out for great books.

Sad, yet Happy

This week I have been cleaning out my house, getting rid of toys the kids no longer play with, DIing clothes that don't fit, taking down the crib and getting Kate into a toddler bed. Things like that. As I am doing all of this I feel a little sad. The crib has been set up since Jack was born, eight years ago, and now it is down, never to be set up again. The train table that Jack loved is gone, but we kept the trains and train tracks. This means he is growing up and I am a little sad about this. The cute dresses of Kate's that I loved no longer fit her so they went to the neighbor who just had a baby girl. I hope they will be loved there. All of this makes me a little sad, yet I am happy. I know my kids are growing and it will be so fun to see what they become. Jack will always love trains but now he loves football and basketball more. Kate will get new dresses and maybe even sleep in her toddler bed from now on. Jay will continue to grow and find other things that he loves. I know it is a part of life but it still makes me a little sad to see my kids grow. I love the ages they are at now, but I know as they grow older I will love where they are at and how much they are learning.

The countdown is on!!!

Disneyland here we come!!! In two weeks we will be at the happiest place in the world. I don't know who is more excited me or the kids. I am leaning toward taking Kate to the princess breakfast or lunch. She is free and I think she might enjoy it. I am sure the boys would like it too but not enough to pay for them. I can't wait and I hope we have a great time and great weather.