January 19th New Beginnings

I'm the YWs President in our new ward,  Bear Canyon. It's a small group of awesome ladies. Bella and Olivia love that their mom is even more up in their business :)We had two girls plan our annual introduction to the young women's program at church called New Beginnings. It's a world wide thing all LDS young women do. Our them was taken from James 1:5-6. They focused on the light we receive when we ask for answers and receive them from Heavenly Father.

January 7th, Adrianna stops sucking her fingers!

Parkin went to an orthodontist appointment to check about getting braces. While in the office he saw, a retainer contraption for kids who suck their fingers. He looked pretty fierce with spikes pointing outward toward your teeth. When a kids puts their fingers in their mouth their finger gets poked.  I didn't think much about it. Later at dinner Parkin got real emotional and near to tears. I asked him what was wrong and he said he was worried about Anna having to wear that retainer. He described it to Anna and it got her all worried. Enough that, that fear fueled her to stop sucking her fingers!! We got a chart out and if she could go a whole month without sucking she would get a gift. She was properly motivated with a prize and fear :) Thank you Parkin!! We have tried several times before, but her brother's concern is what did it!  She chose going to get a Build a Bear stuffed animal. Benjamin and I live taking our littles their they get so excited, it's magical for kids and adults. Way to go Anna!!

January 1, 2017 family cruise!!

A family dream came true! Robin and John booked a family cruise and invited anyone else to join them. Since we both have foreign exchange students, both families try to do some extra fun activities. We were up for the adventure! Lindsey's family would not be left out, then our parents joined in and Hillary's crew followed too. What fun we had! The cousins all had a blast and git along great. We adults had some great times just hanging out and eating and talking in the dinning Hall. My favorite memory was playing man hunt. We each put our name in a hat, picked and anonymous name and scattered. We then had to search for that person, touch them and then they were out of the game. Then you took the name they had and then that became your new target. Super fun. The little men Desmond and Owen won the game. They bobbed and weaved through the crowds like nobody's business!  What a relaxing vacation, you don't have to worry about food or lodging, nobody's cooking for the large group. Everyone is truly on vacation. What a once in a lifetime adventure.

New Years Eve December 31, 2016

We partied hard at Scott and Susie's place. They set up a balloon drop. So fun! Adrianna put a balloon in her panda pajamas it was so funny. The teenagers went to the dance. Then we left for California at 3 am yikes that came early especially on New Year's day!

December 26, 2016

Olivia turned 14! We celebrated by getting Panda Express and having butter pecan cake. She got black converse a cash to spend. She us a bright, hillarious and very helpful young woman. We love her! She got to go to her first dance on New year's Eve, so exciting. She continues to impress us :)

Geography winner!

Out of 130 4th graders Parkin took a quiz and placed in the top ten of the 4th graders! What's most impressive us we didn't even know he took a test for the contest. We of course we t to cheer him on at the 2nd round. He didn't place, but was our family winner that night!

Christmas traditions

We went to the Clark's for the annual ginderbread decorating party do fun!

Where is Parkin?!