"Getting into the spirit"

Last night we had our ward Christmas party.  We had a yummy dinner with the traditional ham, salad,

and potatoes.  Madie was able to participate in the program by playing a chime.  She hit one note and it was the very last note (the most important note) to end the song of Silent Night. (She is on the far right)

One of our favorites to make as dinner or a treat is Indian fry bread.  Madie helped me out by rolling the dough while I would fry.  I just love having her around the house and to have so much enthusiasm!

Bon Appetit!

Okay, my last blog I told about us going to the Mesa temple to look at lights. Well this blog actually has proof of attending it and seeing the displays that are set up. This is Isiah professeying of Christ's birth.

The clan.

More of the clan, trying to be photogenic.

Not a great shot but the lights are gorgeous! Have to be there in person or I need a better quality camera.

In the background are the wiseman, but check out Madie's facial expression. These two LOVE to pester each other!  The joys of sibling rivalry and Madie keeps mentioning of wanting a sister, sorry hun but that is not going to happen.

Where to begin?

As of today I have finished my hours for interning special ed children, no more class, and no more homework! This semester has been interesting with ASU changing the program, Jay's back flaring up and getting the flu, not having enough hours in one day.

I have to say I can not wait until Brock can drive! Taxiing him to and from practice has been tedious. This is when I wish we lived in Idaho, he would have his driving permit and the schools offer driver's ed training. Any suggestions on where to go for that in AZ?

The past two weekends we have done our old traditions as a family which is... going to the Mesa temple to see Christmas lights and attending the Nativity Festival. Of course the boys act up and Madie has to be defiant every time we go somewhere in public. We went into the visitors center to see the Christus. The first thing that Madie said when she saw Christ is "mom he's showing his nippers." I couldn't help but laugh. I absolutely love looking at Christmas lights and listening to Christmas music!

Then last night we went to the West Valley Nativity Festival and it was absolutely gorgeous! Better than last year! So many people put a TON OF WORK into this festival. The program was wonderful as well! Next year will be a "date night" for Jay and I.

So with school out of the way, I have time to tie their fleece flannel blankets, wrap up the gifts, send out Christmas cards, volunteer in Madie's classroom, get some exercise, and bake my famous pumpkin rolls, yummy!

My two most favorite things to do!

Happy belated Thanksgiving day everyone! This is one of my most favorite times of the year and that is to eat all you want on Thanksgiving day and let it digest for 3 days. Visit with family and have a great time of laughing, making crafts, looking at the ads for the next days sale events, i.e. Oh, and then after you've pigged out, you don't go to sleep, stay up all night and wait for the mad rush of black Friday crowds to fight for that one item... Honestly, why do I get up so early when I'm not even planning on NOT getting the hot items that everyone shops for? I figured out why: its early, my kids are asleep, and it's so peaceful in the morning until I go into the stores. I have to say, I think Arizona crowds are much nicer than the Idaho crowds. I will never forget that one event with my sister at Circuit City in Idaho Falls, ID!

Now that Thanksgiving is over, my two most favorite things to do are: bake and shop. Yes believe it or not I do enjoy shopping, especially when they're are so many sales! I felt like baking on Thanksgiving eve and made homemade rolls and cinnamon rolls. They were so good, it reminded me of my mom! I guess that is why I did it, to bring a little bit of her in my kitchen.

I also pulled out the Christmas decorations and the kids were great help! Brock put up the lights around the house and Madie and Drake helped put the tree together and trim it! Good thing Santa is watching and counting all the good deeds they do for their mom!

You know that saying you marry who you date?

Today I was thumbing through the library in our office and came upon my old journals. I decided to open it up and read some things back in the year 1992 (one of the most memorable years for me). This is the year that I met Jason, attending Ricks College, and playing volleyball for the college. There was no social life (or I thought) and as I was reading I wrote "Tuesday I went to classes and practice and went for a walk with Jennifer. We saw Jason on campus and stopped to talk to him and asked how his ward did with the Moroni Marathon. HE IS SO COOL! If I didn't play v-ball and worked at the grocery store I wonder if something would happen between the two of us. I shouldn't worry about it, my heck it's not like I want to marry the dude." The last line cracked me up! I shared it with Jason and we laughed.

So why am I sharing this with you? Because the statement "you marry who you date" is so true! If you live worthy you will marry a worthy mate, if you party you will get a person who parties. And then when you are married and start to want to live the gospel again, your partner may not like that because he/she does not know that person of who you were. I plan on sharing this with my kids to be very wise and picky on who they take on dates and like!

Advertising...

Those who are reading this, I normally do not like to advertise but I feel that this news needs to be spread. If any of you know someone who has a child with a disability and is need of support for emotional or social please reach to the free organization called raising special kids ( in AZ). Each state has there own organization, just under a different name.

We had the opportunity for parents to come and talk to us about their story and their program to better the child's life. They would like the teachers to be on the same side and to understand where the parents are coming from. Its a great resource for families to use, if they are feeling that they need some help. Spread the word!

Halloween

What was I thinking? I was so busy cleaning my house, taxiing the kids all over the place, making Carrot Chowder for the Trunk or Treat, and hanging out at Basha's for there fun stuff that not once did I pick up the camera to take the kids pictures of their costume.

Well I will make them put it on again so I can make up for it.

Aroma Therapy

I'm not going to vent but I will say juggling school, church, emotional issues with myself, kids, and hubby, along with the household stuff has been quite a challenge for me lately. Jay surprised me by saying he wanted to get out of the valley and spend time with the family. I took him up on the offer. So I did my Autism walk at 6:30 am at the Phoenix zoo. Came home and helped with breakfast, getting kids ready, changed my clothes, loaded the car, and off we went! We hadn't been to Prescott for quite sometime so we decided to go there and see the Susan Hall museum and enjoy the town. It was fabulous!I was taking in all of the leaves changing colors and enjoying the cool breeze. In fact my whole family had their spirits lifted. The kids think their mom is nuts because I took off my shoes and socks to FEEL THE SOFT COOL GREEN GRASS under my feet and hear the crunch of the leaves. I also made them stop when we were walking along a creek to smell the dead leaves and dirt to appreciate the smell of fall. What memories for me! (Potato harvest)
In this picture they're some sour faces, they really did have a good time. Look beyond them and see some of the red in the leaves...

Imitation of "Rocky".

Couldn't resist to not take this picture. Brock was drooling over the car and so was his parents. Brock says "Its only 22 grand lets get it". Hmm, we'll think on that.

Madie looking for a cowgirl hat to wear on Halloween.

This is not in Prescott but this where we spend our Wednesday nights. Brock had his last football game this week. Their record is winning 2 games and losing the rest. I wish I took a picture of Jay up in the both announcing the game. He did a terrific job and it was therapeutic for him!

Fall Break...

This past week all of my kids had fall break and where I intern is fall break. So I decided to have some fun with them on the west side of the valley, when I didn't have college classes. On Wednesday we went to Peter Piper Pizza, ate until we were sick with the all you can eat buffet. The kids enjoyed playing air hockey all kinds of games to earn tickets for their prizes. The boys' spoiled Madie by letting her pick whatever she wanted while they only got one item. She couldn't ask for any better brothers' than them.
Then on Friday I gave into Drake's request since he has been begging to go to our favorite zoo the Wildlife Park for the past year. We used to go all the time until the prices have doubled. I used my $3.00 off coupon to save a grand total of $12.00. We had a great time and I could have stayed there longer but my feet and Madie were getting tired.
Here are some of the high lights at the zoo that we enjoyed. We are breaking the rule to not feed the monkeys but we couldn't resist with this baby Gibbon. Drake is taking a turn to feed it.

Brock's turn to feed the baby Gibbon. (I wish I got a picture of Brock trying to hand his phone over to the monkey "Dexter" (the type of monkey who plays in the Night at the Museum).

Madie feeding the black Gibbon monkey. He was really sweet!

Madie loving every minute of the petting zoo. This Llama came right up to her.

The new exhibit is the aquarium. We stayed here forever and even fed the sting ray shrimp. Notice Madie's fingers, she was so good to follow the instructions. "Touch them with 2 fingers on the back. Avoid the eyes and the tail".

Drake finally getting a chance to pet the sting ray.

Another part of the aquatic building is touching baby sting rays, horseshoe crab, and star fish. This water was so clear my first thought was how is that alive without any water? (Time to get the ol'e eyes checked)

We also fed the giraffe's which is a highlight and saw all the little new baby tigers, and wild cats that is so famous at the zoo. The kids got to see in action just how Tortoise's reproduce. I've never seen land tortoise's get so much attention before! They also have a new ride (robbery) that is a log ride. I supported the zoo by going on the ride and we all had fun getting wet, accept Madie (she got a little scared at the end). I am preparing them to go on another trip to Disneyland in the future...

The invention...

So today I went to Target and Madie found the toy that I despise...I thought by having a girl I would not have to go through this again... It is POKEMON. Yes she and I had a long drag out talk about this toy. Whoever invented this toy, cards, and shows needs some serious therapy!

Halloween is coming!

Halloween is coming, coming, coming. Halloween is coming oh what fun! This is a tune of a preschool song that we used to sing when I taught it in my home.

My spirits have been lifted up with the cool morning air! I can't get over how much my emotions play with the weather!

Well I have decorated my house with Halloween stuff, made gingersnap cookies (to make my house smell good), have the costumes picked out for Halloween! I absolutely love this time of year! I don't care for the grouse scary costumes but the original ones. People who are so creative on making it themselves! My brother in law is awesome at this! I know call me crazy! So with it being Halloween around the corner I thought my music selection for my blog should match.

Happy Halloween everyone!