182nd

Well the 182nd Semiannual General Conference was the most memorable general conference ever! Before my twin took off to Scotland (yes Scotland) she and her kiddos came to visit. My nephew Preston declared that this would be the general conference where they announced that Tucson was getting a temple, he said it with such conviction that I found myself believing him.

Side note for my friends of other faiths: Our church holds a general meeting twice a year where we get to hear from the Prophet as well as the 12 apostles (think of the organization that the Savior had on the earth when he lived upon it). It is a time that LDS people look forward to, just as much as any Holiday. It is a two day conference where we get to hear from various leaders, women and men included. Many times if there is big news they announce it at these conferences. They broadcast it on cable, the internet and at most of the meeting houses.

When the Prophet first stood up to welcome everyone, I turned to my kids and said "remember Preston said this is the time we get a temple" and I really believed it. The Prophet said that there would be two new temples and said one will be built in Tucson, we couldn't stop screaming and dancing!!!! It was true we would get our very own temple in the Old Pueblo. Tears started to flow and didn't stop; it was incredible.

Our church has 139 temples throughout the world, with 27 under construction (plus 2 more now!). With a world wide church I have always loved hearing plans of new temples to be built. I never thought that we needed to have a temple in Tucson, want/would love to have absolutely, but needed no. I have loved hearing the stories of sacrifice that people are willing to make in order to make it to one of these holy temples. When my sister Hillary lived in Moldova the saints there couldn't wait to make the journey out of their country to visit one of these Holy temples. Traveling to Mesa required no passport  or special permission it is a rather boring drive through the desert, but not costly and required no real sacrifice. When Arizona got its second temple in Snowflake I thought well it takes them twice as long to get to Mesa, they should get it over us. I must admit when Gilbert and North Phoenix got temples I was envious, so close to Mesa already! When Gila Valley got their temple, I was overjoyed for the surrounding communities, they prayed so hard to get one and they did. Benjamin and I got to give tours through that temple and we absolutely loved it. So with  5 Temples in Arizona I thought a Tucson temple was not in the near future, with Tucson being the second largest city,  I felt a little forgotten. When they announced Tucson I felt ........remembered

A temple is so sacred to LDS people, we believe that the family is the most sacred thing here on earth. In Mathew chapter 16 verse 19 it says, "And i will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." We believe that the keys of the kingdom are held by the priesthood, men in the church who are truly converted to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the gospel, that they have the power to bind on earth (a marriage ceremony)  and it shall be bound in heaven ( family relationships created here live on for eternity). 

This is a great link to learn more, if you want to learn more about something you go to the source and this is a great article from our church. 
http://www.lds.org/church/temples/frequently-asked-questions?lang=eng

Summer Wrap up, and Bratting

It is hard to believe that school is in full swing and it is only August 19th. I have three kids in elementary school now, their school started on August 2nd, yikes that's early. Bella is in her second year of middle school at Basis, she started a week later on the 9th.

This summer we were crazy and did two swim teams. Olivia started a year round swim team in December of last year and the other kids joined her in the spring. They still wanted to do swim team with their friends and cousins so they did the county league too. Don't judge me, it is hot in Tucson, what else should they be doing? An hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon and County swim team is just $20 per kid for the entire summer!

Now to bore you with highlights of my swimmers, this is mostly for me so that I will remember how awesome my kids are, and so that my kids can remember that for the summer, life revolved around them. One of my nephews calls bragging, bratting, that word seems more accurate. So sorry in advance.

Bella: In the year round league they drafted her from relay team B to compete in the realy team A, unfortunetly she had to swim anchor because the girl who was absent was anchor on the relay team, our team lost their lead before she entered the water and out of no where she kicked it in to high gear and ended up winning the race for her team, it was a great victory. But my highlight race for her was at the County Finals. She was swimming the Individual Medley and was exhausted she was on her breast stroke lap and I saw her visibly breakdown it looked like she was going to cry. I started yelling you can do it, don't give up! She saw me and I swear she got the eye of the Avatar, on her next pull up she was determined and focused she was neck and neck in 5th place, but once she locked in she ended up getting 3rd. It was the best 3rd place finish I have ever seen , one minute she was so low with doubt and the next she was determined. Later she said the look of urgency on my face made her focus, I knew she was so close to the end and I could see she wasn't as far back as she thought she was. It really is a metaphor for life.

Olivia: this girl has the most beautiful butterfly, every time she swims it I am in awe of her strength. The older kids on the team love to race her and she gives them a run for their money.The best thing about Olivia's races is her routine when she gets up on the block, She gets her goggles and scoops the water up with them, she drains them then spits and rubs them, then she flexes her guns when she stretches, it is almost better than her races. She too had some awesome victories and walked away with more metals than any one kid should :)

Holman: On the county team Holman was one of two 8 and under year old boys. So come relay time him and the other boy would swim two lengths of the pool. This little duo was so fast that the two of them broke the county record in the freestyle relay, they smoked um! He was also really good at the IM in one race he had finished his 100 before the other boys got to the 75. The best part of Holman swimming is his naturally bleached hair, luckily he doesn't know how handsome he is.

Parkin and Anna were awesome travelers form car to practice and practice to the car. I am still not over Parkin going to Kindergarten he is such a love that I miss during the day, this week he has been calling me his beloved, ahhh...At least I have Anna who sometimes wants to cuddle. She has been doing so well this year in school, she really has not been the little kid at preschool but rather just a preschool kid.

This year I have three preschool classes with a total of 32 students! With about half my students being military I know that number will change with people moving and transferring, but for now it is busy. The kids are great and the parents are amazing and I am so lucky to be able to teach from my home, making extra money and being able to accomplish some financial goals.

Benjamin is busy too with being called as the Bishop of our congregation at church. He says its still so new, he doesn't know what to be overwhelmed with.

5 alive

Oh my Parky shark. My little man finally turned 5 and will be off to kindergarten in the fall. He has been the best sidekick at preschool. This year I had 4 classes. So every other day was a repeat from the day before. Do you think parkin would mind? No he would act surprised and happily redo the activity he did the day before, sometimes raising his hand to explain something he remembered form the day before. Parkin is a lady killer, they all wanted to marry him at some time, some days he would make them so happy when he said he would marry them and other days he would say no and they were left wondering what went wrong. But everyday for me he would give the most powerful hugs and kisses. benjamin and I always tell him that he has special powers. parkin always says no I dont. we explain to him that his hugs take away any bad mood, he really does have the ability to make you feel so loved and important. His smile really makes you want to smile too. Parkin is smart and quick, he recognises patterns and retains information. He is funny and his laugh is contageose. His little sister Adrianna thinks he is the coolest thing ever and Parkin trys his best to live up to her idea that he is a hero. When I unload the car and unlock the house parkin never leaves anna alone in the car, he will stay by her side untill I come to get her. This is a job that he came up with. Parkin is a leader, a fun leader that other kids want to follow.

 I teach two preschools if I invited all his friends the house would be packed, so for his birthday we invited cousin Collin, Desmond and Daniel (and of course Adriana too). These guys are his best friends anyway. I took them to McDonald's which was the most exciting thing on the planet. Then we went to see a kids movie at the cheap seats, the show was weird but the kids didn't mind. We went back to our house an opened presents and the kids played for a while till I took them home. It was a great no fuss party.

Parkin I love your kisses and hugs you melt my heart. Your happy attitide is so refreshing and everyone that comes to know you wants to benefit from your dispostion. Kindergarten is getting one great boy!! I love you son XXXXX000000.

Eleven is one more than 10

I dont know why we get so excited about birthdays around here. I proably could "blame" it on my mother because she would throw the most exciting parties that had the best themes. I think she did it to make us feel special and maybe they were over the top because there were two of us celebrating. Bella plans her parties months in advance they alwyas seem to be a big deal and this year was no different.

This year we thought it might be nice to invite everyone who already knows each other, so we invited just class mates. she invited six friends from her 5th grade class. The girls get a long really well so it was really nice. We had a cupcake decorating party. Here is where it gets over the top. Bella and I made aprons for all the girls plus her and Olivia and we made close to 100 cupcakes. We made a ton of icing and bought several icing applicators. It was nuts, Bella had a great ime and that is all that matters. Because Bella's birthday is not near christmas I could find her pictures easily.

Bella means beautiful and that is what she is. She is so kind to everyone, she looks out for the friendless and helps little children when ever she can. She was voted "most outgoing 5th grade girl" in her middle school. she is smart and beyond that she is a hard worker. She attends Basis middle school in tucson, their highschool is the #1 charter school in the nation, it is ranked in the top 5 schools in the nation from many publications. The school's motto is we think the average student can accomplish great things if you challenge them. Bella takes latin, classics, geograophy, kempo, algerbra, language arts, music, art etc. She has averaged an A in each of these subjects this year. Bella has risen to this currciculm, she is smart and beautiful, but more than that she is fun! She makes me laugh with her funny dance moves or a witty remark. Did I mention she is old enough to babysit?! we are so grateful she is in our family! I love you Bella Jules, you are our jewel!

Nine is sublime!

** Still loking for Birthday photos arggg

Olivia turned 9 on December 26 and these last couple of months have really been amazing for her. She has accomplished so much these last 5 months. About a month before she turned 9 we set a family goal to fast for Olivia so that she would have the courage and determination to stop sucking her thumb, as far as habits go this is a very tough one to break!! When Olivia was born she had a hicky on her wrist of where she sucked in the womb, a habit she had before she was born, we even have sonogram pictures documenting this! So for a month we would pray at every family prayer and every personal prayer for this goal. Then when the fast Sunday approached we all new what was on our families thoughts. Sunday came and went with no real change. Then the following Tuesday on the way to piano lessons I saw Olivia about to put her thumb in her mouth, she paused and then put her thumb down. I knew at that exact moment that she was ready! I told her Olivia do you feel that in the air? She said what mom? I said it is something amazing you are done sucking, this is it! And to celebrate we need a reward, I will take you out to get a pedicure and you need something else, what should it be? She said I would like to wear mascara to church for a month. I said done! With the help of the family prayers and the strength she got from the Holy Ghost she did it!! All before she turned nine! My sister Lindsey told me that amazing things happen after kids get baptized and they have the Holy Ghost to help them always, she was right, we consider it to be a great miracle in our family.

For her birthday we had her best friend from school over, friends from church and her some of her cousins over for a cookies and a hot chocolate party. This was the first year we had her birthday before Christmas. Usually her birthdays consist of a family gathering, I mean it is Christmas time after all. She always gets a cake and presents but usually we don't invite friends because it is family time. So she was so excited to have friends. We made a ton of sugar cookies and icing. We ate pizza and decorated cookies. Then we took beanie caps and decorated them with felt flowers and buttons. The girls were very creative. We played holiday music and served the hot coco in tea cups and talked in British accents. It was a very fun all girl event.

Olivia amazes me. She is confident, independent, helpful, nurturing and so very smart. One of her best qualities is she forgives freely and doesn't hold grudges. She is beautiful inside and out. When she sets a goal she goes for it and tries her very best. I never can predict what Olivia will say or how she will react she is unique, we call her our spice, she adds flavor to an otherwise boring day. I love you Livvey Jane and consider you to be a young woman of great strength and courage. Love and Hugs always.xxx000xoo0

Seven is heaven

**I know this is way late, but I wrote this post back in December but was waiting to post it with his birthday photos, which I cant seem to locate on the computer. If I am to catch up on my kids birthdays I must publish their birthdays with different pictures.


H-Man turned seven December 1st. He wanted a dog themed birthday party,which I have done before but wanted to make unique for him. I got doggy bowels at the dollar store, one for each guest. I made chocolate cupcakes and put it in the the bowl and covered it with "puppy chow" the rice cereal that is covered in peanut butter and chocolate and then sprinkled in powdered sugar. I t was adorable, if I do say so myself. Holman still uses his dog bowl for cereal. He had a good group of friends come, he is a shy guy at school but has made some really close friendships with neighbors, class mates and church friends.

Holman is my sweetheart. He is responsible and really looks after his siblings, he loves Adrianna and is always helping her, he does this even though she doesn't always show her appreciation :) He is an excellent big brother to Parkin and even will pick a fight with older kids if he thinks his older sisters are not being treated well.

Holman from birth you have been easy going. My only kid not to require a binky or suck on your fingers, you were just chill. That is how you are now, you are incredibly funny not in a showy way, you wait for the best timing and say your comments sudaley and then we all bust up laughing over your wit. Just last week we had cut up cucumbers for dinner as a side dish, after dinner you quietly grabbed two and laid on the couch, put on each eye and just laid there with your hands behind your head all zen like. I love you son so very much and I think the world of you and look forward to watching you grow.

Terrific Twos!

We have now entered the terrific twos. As my friend Emily said in her recent blog it seems once you have children time flies super fast. I love this little angel, for as much as my children take after their Dad, with their dark hair and olive skin (which I truly love) this little girl is a mini me. She is blonde (for now), blue eyed, blanket carrying, highly opinionated girl. She calls her blanket (which her Grandma Babs made) dinky or deedee, I had a blanket (made by my fathers mother Grandma Holman) which I called Bobbey and also loved to pieces, literally. She wakes up carrying it, she finds it for comfort and for joy and makes sure she has it when she falls asleep. If one of her brothers or sister's is sad she will hand them her blanket as a complete gesture of charity and love. She rarely is seen with out it. She will take it in the car and when we run into a store she knows she can't take it with her so she will say bye "dinky." When she returns with complete delight she will yell "deedee!" Because she is the youngest of five she knows how to speak up for herself, and speak up she does! I love this little lady with all my heart and am so thankful she she is in our family. We recently took family pictures and Jen Howe, our family photographer, had each of us hold a letter so that the seven of us spelled FOREVER and our little Adrianna was in charge of the last letter R. She did such a great job. She held that letter like her blankets life was on the line. It is this determination that describes her. She is fun, loving, determined and beautiful we love you so very much, my little dutch girl.

My little angel girl

amongst the cousin throng

Look how excited she is!

Aj loves getting new clothes, what a girl :)