Happy 12th Birthday Shawn!

Today is Shawn's 12th birthday. I really can't believe that we have a 12 year old. I think of all of the things that a 12 year old boys does... He will start to pass the sacrament, he will hold the priesthood, he will go to jr. high, he will be in young mens, he will flirt with girls and much much more.
I remember when we were pregnant with him I always said that I hoped that he was a boy because I always wanted an older brother to protect me and Shawn does a great job of that (protecting his siblings). Having him in our family is such a joy (most of the time LOL). He is a really great boy. He has a super strong testimony and really does know right from wrong. I am glad that he is our oldest because he is a great example to his siblings and friends.
I love you buddy... Happy Birthday!

TIred...

I am too tired lately to blog. I am enjoying reading yours though. I will write soon.

Happy 10th Birthday Alyssa!

Today is my big girls birthday! I can't believe that she is 10 already. I remember the day that she was born like it was yesterday. We didn't find out what we were having when we were pregnant with her. I really wanted a girl because I had a boy, but I didn't want to say that I wanted a girl because I might jinx it. As if she could turn into a boy LOL! When we were having her Steve said "It is a girl..." I told him not to get my hopes up... He said "I see her... it really is". She had dark dark black hair and a lot of it. she has the most beautiful skin even still. She is such a beautiful girl. Inside and out. I am having so much fun with her right now. It is fun to have a little person that is yours that you are friends with. She has such great conversations with me. We really love having her as our oldest girl... she is a great example to Ashley and Cameron.





I love you Alyssa... Have a happy day!

Kids Activities...

So when Steve and I first were parents with Shawn my little sister was about 9-10 years old (even older). We would go to her all-star softball games once in a while with my Mom and Dad. They had night after night game after game practice after practice. Steve and I would comment "when our kids are older we are not going to let their activities run our lives... we are the parents and we just won't go to everything". Now remember we barely had one kid and we knew EVERYTHING... right? Let me tell you my new, as of tonight weekly schedule, just as far as after school:

Monday: Singing, Achievement Days, Soccer Practice, FHE
Tuesday: Soccer Practice, Karate
Wednesday: Scouts, Soccer Game, Scouts... again
Thursday: Singing, Soccer Practice, Karate
Friday: Soccer Game
Saturday: Soccer Game, Soccer Game

I am not sure when we will fit in PTA, work, volunteering, laundry, church callings, house cleaning... oh and sometime we have to eat too.

Just as long as our kids don't run our life... Steve and I are still totally in control. We will at least keep telling our self that.

Washington DC

About a year and a half ago my mother in law told each of my kids that when they turned 12 she would take them on a trip of their choice to anywhere in the United States. They of course were so excited. Steve and I decided that I would go with them on the trip. So each of the kids started to talk about where they were going on the trip.

Shawn immediately said Washington DC. He loves anything to do the history.

Alyssa wanted New York. She loves theater and movie stars. She wants to see a Broadway play.

Cameron said Brazil but quickly realized that it wasn't in the United States... so he is still thinking.

Ashley said Disneyland but then realized it is too close so she change to Disney World. (I am sure that hers will change with in the next six years... we'll see?)

So... Shawn turns 12 in two weeks... I can't even believe it. He will be in young men's, passing the sacrament, going to seventh grade... oh my gosh... so many things. Anyway back to Washington DC... we went on our trip this past weekend.

We left on Thursday at 7:00am and flew directly to Washington Dulles Airport. We got to our hotel at about 2:30pm. When we got in Shawn immediately organized our whole room. Each of our bags had their own space. When we were checking in we mentioned to the front desk guy that it was Shawn's 12th birthday. Two of the managers came up to our room with a tray of Tortilla Chips, Salsa, a fancy bottle of Lemonade and a Godiva Chocolate Bar. Isn't that sweet. He thought that was one of the nicest things. He was so polite and thankful.

Then we were off for some dinner at Chili's and a night tour of Washington DC.

The famous sites at night were AMAZING. We have some pictures but we couldn't get great ones... we tried but they are just okay. We saw the Washington Monument, United States Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and the White House... oh my gosh... AMAZING.

Friday we went on a 10 hour tour of the city. We of course had stops along the way. We went to some of the same stops but I liked them in the day a lot more because we could take pictures. We also stopped at a whole lot of museums. At the Smithsonian National Mall they have a whole bunch of museums and they are all free. Super Super cool.

Saturday we were on our own... no guided tours. We got on a double decker bus and started for the sites that we missed the day before. Our first stop was the Holocaust Museum. WOW! I can't believe how sad that one was. It was so powerful. There is one area that gives you the perspective from an 11 year boy. Just being with Shawn and seeing this made me even more sad for these kids and families that lived through this. I have always been interested in this subject but after being there I bought a couple of books on it and can't wait to read them... (Anne Frank being one of them, I haven't read her story sense about 7th grade and can't wait to read it again).

We went to the Museum of African Art . Shawn is decorating his new room in the basement (when he moves in) in African Motif. He took lots of pictures there and spent some birthday money in the Museum Store.

It was SO MUCH FUN to be with Shawn and my Mother in Law. I don't typically get to just be with Shawn... especially for four days straight. It was such a great opportunity to have us spend some serious quality time together. He is such a good kid. He used manners, had adult like conversation, hugged me a million times and kept telling Grammy "thank you, this is so much fun". We have lots of pictures so I will just show you a few.



Thank you Grammy... we had such a GREAT time - We love you!

I love you Shawn... you are a great pre-teen.

Book Tag!!!

Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)
2. Turn to page 123
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

Ok so I picked up two books that I am reading right now... The first one is "simplify" by Carolyn J. Rasmus.

Here is the fifth sentence on page 123:

"When we feel stressed, troubled, unsure, or discouraged we need to remember the things that we are taught in Primary: We must believe in Christ and all He has promised to do for us. "

What a great thought!

Here is the second book that I am sort of reading (or just starting)... "Mary, Martha, and Me" by Camille Fronk Olson. She is actually the lady that hired my Mother in Law at the LDS Business College. She was the Dean of Students for a while before my Mother in Law was.


Here is the fifth sentence on page 123:

"His grace is sufficient. Sufficient means enough."

I am pretty sure that I was tagged right now to actually get to these pages in both of these books right now in my life. I feel a little stressed out lately. I have had a headache since last Friday. I need to take both of these thoughts in and actually use them in my life right now.

Thank you to those who tagged me. I am glad I did this.

Now I am going to tag anyone that reads my blog... if you haven't done this do it... It was fun.

Happy 24th Birthday Josh!

So today is my little brother Josh's Birthday. He was born 24 years ago. I was almost 10 years old when he was born (that is Alyssa's age right now). I was so excited when he was born. I was in the 4th grade. When my mom was feeling up to it I brought Josh to school for show and tell. I loved when I would get to tend him. Josh and I have always been friends. He is such a great guy. He is super handsome, SUPER smart, really fun to talk to, and totally funny. We have always been close. I love to be his big sissy and I love to have him as my "little buddy". Happy Birthday buddy - I love you!

I asked Josh today what he wanted from me for his birthday and he said for me to find him a wife. So if any of you know a cute, young, single, fun, LDS girl let me know and we will set them up.

Today for his birthday we went to lunch at Olive Garden with Mom, Dad, Josh, Steve, Ashley and me. Then this afternoon I made his favorite cake... Homemade chocolate cake with real whipping cream & crushed up candy canes (note: in April you have to use the mints like they give you at Sonic). For dinner tonight the whole family went to dinner at Bonsai at Cottonwood. We had a great time. We brought the cake there and sang happy birthday.

Happy birthday Josh!

A good BUY...

I was at Wal-Mart today. I know weird I am usually at Target... but today it was Wal-Mart. While I was there I walked by an end aisle (kind of by the wrapping paper). On the end cap, they had these darling packages of gift bags. In each package was 8 gift bags with 10 pieces of coordinating tissue. They were originally $5.00 each. They were on SALE for $3.00. SO... for $15.00 I bought 24 gift bags, 40 pieces of tissue and 3 rolls of wrapping paper. Pretty great deal huh?