Saturday, July 25, 2015
TYLER MELTS MY HEART!
No one but me and Jared really see the softer side of sweet Tyler. He will be my cuddle bug whenever I want and he will often hold my hand unsolicited...Love this boy!
Monday, July 20, 2015
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
We have an 8th grader, 3rd grader and two 2nd graders - dang time is flying! Emma is super excited not to be a "sevie" anymore and the boys - well, this is the first year they were not looking forward to starting - they still wanted summer break. Tyler broke down the night before and came into our room uncontrollably crying poor guy. We assured him school would be fine and if he needed to he could go to Tyson's class or go back to his 1st grade teacher and she would help him. We walked each boy to their classroom and they each did fine. We dropped them off and went and met Blake and Stephanie for breakfast and then headed to the movies to see "Ant Man". Everyone came off the bus happy and had a great first day of school! Eli got lost since he was on a new side of the building but figured everything out. Here are their blessings that their dad gave them the day before right after church - I just love priesthood blessings and how each one really is so special to each kid.
Emma:
- Recognize the blessings you already received for 7th grade. Even though there were difficulties with school, dance and church - you came out stronger for it. This is how it is for life, but with Heavenly Father's help we come out better for it and stronger for it. We need to recognize his help in it. Be happy and make the most of each situation.
- Blessed are you for you are a choice spirit of Heavenly Father.
- You were purposefully placed in this family.
- You are extremely valuable in the eyes of Heavenly Father, as all his spirit children are.
- You are expected to be a good example and friends to those around us - even those not like us.
- Spend time looking for friends every where and you will find them.
- Be humble in your learning.
- Time might be difficult, but you will be able to manage your time and mom and dad are here to help you.
- As you embark on another season of dance; I bless you to recogize it will be a time of faith - it might be hard and your comfort level might be unclear, but I bless you to know with time and hard work you will improve as a dancer and your love for dance will also improve.
- Heavenly Father loves you, we love you and we love to see you do well and succeed. Be a good friend to your brothers, classmates and dance mates and you will be happy.
Eli:
- I bless you to know Heavenly Father is aware of you.
- He is aware of your decision to be baptized and aware of your kind heart.
- You are a blessing to this family and through your example we see what real compassion is.
- Heavenly Father is aware of the difficult times you have had with sports and having to change teams and having to make the best of it - even though you are learning this at a young age, you will adapt and be able to do it when you are older and face difficult things.
- Your brothers and fellow scouts look up to you. Your relationship is fragile; do your best not to hurt feelings or make anyone sad.
- You will do well this school year, Work hard and you will grow - things come easy to you but work hard to do your best - if we always take the east way we can lose these - so work hard to continue these things.
- Keep your mind strong by reading.
- Keep your body strong by eating right.
Tyler:
- Know your family loves you very much and apart of your life. We love your cheerful heart.
- As your patient with your learning and as you work hard at home on homework and pay attention in class and listen to your teacher and help the students around you - you will be able to learn.
- I bless you to learn, but as you work hard your attitude towards reading will change.
- You are bright and intelligent. Your teacher will be blessed to help you - she will increase your desire to learn.
- You are already blessed physically, but you will continue to learn and grow and understand things and you need to work hard at home and your parents will help you too.
- Be a good example to friends and teachers.
Tyson:
- In school, sports and other activites, your school mates and friends will feel your love and kindness.
- You will lift those around you.
- Help your teacher and your coaches.
- Help kids feeling down or need a friend; don't exclude anyone and everyone needs a friend.
- You will continue to grow physically strong and mentally strong.
- You will learn the material being taught to you.
- As you prepare to be 8, you will feel and grow closer to Heavenly Father and choose to be baptized.
- You always have a home to come back to and a family who loves and supports you.
Emma:
- Recognize the blessings you already received for 7th grade. Even though there were difficulties with school, dance and church - you came out stronger for it. This is how it is for life, but with Heavenly Father's help we come out better for it and stronger for it. We need to recognize his help in it. Be happy and make the most of each situation.
- Blessed are you for you are a choice spirit of Heavenly Father.
- You were purposefully placed in this family.
- You are extremely valuable in the eyes of Heavenly Father, as all his spirit children are.
- You are expected to be a good example and friends to those around us - even those not like us.
- Spend time looking for friends every where and you will find them.
- Be humble in your learning.
- Time might be difficult, but you will be able to manage your time and mom and dad are here to help you.
- As you embark on another season of dance; I bless you to recogize it will be a time of faith - it might be hard and your comfort level might be unclear, but I bless you to know with time and hard work you will improve as a dancer and your love for dance will also improve.
- Heavenly Father loves you, we love you and we love to see you do well and succeed. Be a good friend to your brothers, classmates and dance mates and you will be happy.
Eli:
- I bless you to know Heavenly Father is aware of you.
- He is aware of your decision to be baptized and aware of your kind heart.
- You are a blessing to this family and through your example we see what real compassion is.
- Heavenly Father is aware of the difficult times you have had with sports and having to change teams and having to make the best of it - even though you are learning this at a young age, you will adapt and be able to do it when you are older and face difficult things.
- Your brothers and fellow scouts look up to you. Your relationship is fragile; do your best not to hurt feelings or make anyone sad.
- You will do well this school year, Work hard and you will grow - things come easy to you but work hard to do your best - if we always take the east way we can lose these - so work hard to continue these things.
- Keep your mind strong by reading.
- Keep your body strong by eating right.
Tyler:
- Know your family loves you very much and apart of your life. We love your cheerful heart.
- As your patient with your learning and as you work hard at home on homework and pay attention in class and listen to your teacher and help the students around you - you will be able to learn.
- I bless you to learn, but as you work hard your attitude towards reading will change.
- You are bright and intelligent. Your teacher will be blessed to help you - she will increase your desire to learn.
- You are already blessed physically, but you will continue to learn and grow and understand things and you need to work hard at home and your parents will help you too.
- Be a good example to friends and teachers.
Tyson:
- In school, sports and other activites, your school mates and friends will feel your love and kindness.
- You will lift those around you.
- Help your teacher and your coaches.
- Help kids feeling down or need a friend; don't exclude anyone and everyone needs a friend.
- You will continue to grow physically strong and mentally strong.
- You will learn the material being taught to you.
- As you prepare to be 8, you will feel and grow closer to Heavenly Father and choose to be baptized.
- You always have a home to come back to and a family who loves and supports you.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
LAST DAY OF SUMMER!
It's not as if we didn't do a TON of good stuff this summer, but we still needed to end the summer on a high note. This morning Denise got sealed in the Temple to Scott so after the sealing and luncheon we took the kids and Maddie to Hamilton to swim. When they were done swimming we went to Barros for dinner and then hit up Top Golf. It was a great way to be together as a family and end the summer.
The fun day might have been a little exhausting for someone....
Saturday, July 11, 2015
PROVO, UT!
Provo, Utah - the final leg of the summer vacation! We arrived Monday, July 6th and were supposed to come home Thursday, but decided to stay until Saturday - Taryn was sweet and talked us into it! Glad she did!
Sometime during the week we visited Ashley and went back to the kids favorite park and then we picked up pizzas and ate dinner at Ashley's. The kids love playing with their cousin Abigail.
Bryant set us up with a golf cart tour of BYU. Emma really wanted to see the campus. Before the tour we took the kids and ate dinner in the cafeteria there with Bryant's family. Before we went inside to eat lunch Emma randomly ran into Hoku and Anni - she was so excited to see them and go back to their dorm room and see how fun its going to be before she heads off to BYU Cougaretee camp!
After lunch and the tour we ended up going to see the baseball camp for a few minutes - mostly to try and find Logan Scwenke for Tishia, While watching we noticed the kids pitching and they were keeping track of how fast they threw the balls, so I went up and asked the coach if Eli could pitch when they were done - he was awesome and had no issues with it. Sadly, someone unplugged the pitching timer but he had fun pitching on a college mound - poor kid couldn't get the ball to reach home plate, but that's ok! He's got time to get it there!
My creative juices started flowing and I got really braved and found a college student who was willing to help us find a college class schedule - I was hoping we could find a dance class that Emma could watch, but after contacting the teachers - they actually let her participate in the classes. She went to a contemporary class and to a jazz class. Both teachers were really impressed with her and told her to keep working hard and she would do great at BYU. The dancers were all sweet with her and encouraging. It always made her smile when they would ask her for help or ask her to partner with them. One time they had to get partners and critique each other and she actually told the girl what to work on - she is braver than I am! She loved how each class started with a prayer too. So grateful she had this opportunity to do this! I am also so proud of her for being confident enough to go into a college class and dance with girls who have been dancing longer than she has been alive! She impresses me!
We finally got the chance to hike the Y! It was a lot harder than I thought. It was hotter than we expected. There were a few complaints on the way up, but they were happy when we made it to the top and then on the way back down a storm was coming and so it got cloudy and the way down was awesome and the kids loved that part!
We made a couple trips to the creamery and got fun ice cream flavors while we were there and also daily trips to Sodalicious. The last night Emma babysat all the kids while Jared and I went to dinner with Bryant and Taryn. We had such a great time with their family in Utah! Can't wait to do it again!
Sometime during the week we visited Ashley and went back to the kids favorite park and then we picked up pizzas and ate dinner at Ashley's. The kids love playing with their cousin Abigail.
Bryant set us up with a golf cart tour of BYU. Emma really wanted to see the campus. Before the tour we took the kids and ate dinner in the cafeteria there with Bryant's family. Before we went inside to eat lunch Emma randomly ran into Hoku and Anni - she was so excited to see them and go back to their dorm room and see how fun its going to be before she heads off to BYU Cougaretee camp!
After lunch and the tour we ended up going to see the baseball camp for a few minutes - mostly to try and find Logan Scwenke for Tishia, While watching we noticed the kids pitching and they were keeping track of how fast they threw the balls, so I went up and asked the coach if Eli could pitch when they were done - he was awesome and had no issues with it. Sadly, someone unplugged the pitching timer but he had fun pitching on a college mound - poor kid couldn't get the ball to reach home plate, but that's ok! He's got time to get it there!
My creative juices started flowing and I got really braved and found a college student who was willing to help us find a college class schedule - I was hoping we could find a dance class that Emma could watch, but after contacting the teachers - they actually let her participate in the classes. She went to a contemporary class and to a jazz class. Both teachers were really impressed with her and told her to keep working hard and she would do great at BYU. The dancers were all sweet with her and encouraging. It always made her smile when they would ask her for help or ask her to partner with them. One time they had to get partners and critique each other and she actually told the girl what to work on - she is braver than I am! She loved how each class started with a prayer too. So grateful she had this opportunity to do this! I am also so proud of her for being confident enough to go into a college class and dance with girls who have been dancing longer than she has been alive! She impresses me!
We finally got the chance to hike the Y! It was a lot harder than I thought. It was hotter than we expected. There were a few complaints on the way up, but they were happy when we made it to the top and then on the way back down a storm was coming and so it got cloudy and the way down was awesome and the kids loved that part!
We went to the BYU musuem and the kids loved that and we ate inside the Wilkinson center and also hit up bowling! The kids pretty much think BYU is awesome!
We made a couple trips to the creamery and got fun ice cream flavors while we were there and also daily trips to Sodalicious. The last night Emma babysat all the kids while Jared and I went to dinner with Bryant and Taryn. We had such a great time with their family in Utah! Can't wait to do it again!
Thursday, July 2, 2015
BIG BEAR, CALIFORNIA!
We got off the cruise on Thursday and drove straight up to Big Bear to meet the Votaws at Joel's grandma's cabin. The cabin was awesome and so was the area! We took the kids to dinner and then Jaime and I went grocery shopping that night and bought the groceries for the week.
The next day, Friday July 3rd - we were blessed with a once in a lifetime opportunity from the Ethiers and we got to take the family to the Dodgers game. Not only did we get to take them to the game, but we also got to go onto the field before hand and take pictures and get autographs with the players. Then we got to watch the game. We also got to walk where they don't let people from the public go and we got to see the golden glove awards, famous Dodger athlete pictures, bats, memorabilia, etc. Then after the game we got to go onto the field for fireworks and the boys just ran around playing on the baselines and where ever they wanted with kids of other players. The boys had smiles on their faces the entire time and just loved being on a real baseball field. Emma doesn't love baseball as much as the boys, but she appreciated and knew how awesome this opportunity is! They have no clue how lucky they were - this is something I hope they remember forever!
Puig
Blake Griffin basketball player for LA Clippers
The next morning was Saturday, 4th of July! Look at our view!
We took the kids hiking! It was a harder hike than I thought. Half way we decided it would be better if Jaime and I took the little kids back to the cabin and then let Jared and Joel take the older boys - well Emma wanted in on that deal. Good thing we turned around when we did because it was really difficult and they had to help each other up and over things!
After the hike we got cleaned up and walked into downtown and got some ice cream! After that we went back home to prepare a traditional American BBQ for dinner. After dinner the kids got a little creative and decided to go sledding down the dirt hills! We waited till the sun went down and it got time for fireworks. 9pm finally came around and we turned the radio to Big Bear radio station and they played all this patriotic music while we listened and watched out over the lake to see the firework show. The kids snuggled in blankets and ate popcorn. IT WAS THE BEST!!! Jared's favorite part was watching all the suckers get stuck in traffic while he laughed from the balcony!
Sunday there was more card game playing. We went up to a ski resort, rode the ski lift up to the top, ate a picnic lunch, hiked around (while hiking Joel offered the boys a dollar to whomever found the biggest pine cone!) and then rode the ski lift back down. That was a great time had by all! We also went and rode these fun things down the hill!
The next day, Friday July 3rd - we were blessed with a once in a lifetime opportunity from the Ethiers and we got to take the family to the Dodgers game. Not only did we get to take them to the game, but we also got to go onto the field before hand and take pictures and get autographs with the players. Then we got to watch the game. We also got to walk where they don't let people from the public go and we got to see the golden glove awards, famous Dodger athlete pictures, bats, memorabilia, etc. Then after the game we got to go onto the field for fireworks and the boys just ran around playing on the baselines and where ever they wanted with kids of other players. The boys had smiles on their faces the entire time and just loved being on a real baseball field. Emma doesn't love baseball as much as the boys, but she appreciated and knew how awesome this opportunity is! They have no clue how lucky they were - this is something I hope they remember forever!
Puig
Blake Griffin basketball player for LA Clippers
The next morning was Saturday, 4th of July! Look at our view!
We took the kids hiking! It was a harder hike than I thought. Half way we decided it would be better if Jaime and I took the little kids back to the cabin and then let Jared and Joel take the older boys - well Emma wanted in on that deal. Good thing we turned around when we did because it was really difficult and they had to help each other up and over things!
After the hike we got cleaned up and walked into downtown and got some ice cream! After that we went back home to prepare a traditional American BBQ for dinner. After dinner the kids got a little creative and decided to go sledding down the dirt hills! We waited till the sun went down and it got time for fireworks. 9pm finally came around and we turned the radio to Big Bear radio station and they played all this patriotic music while we listened and watched out over the lake to see the firework show. The kids snuggled in blankets and ate popcorn. IT WAS THE BEST!!! Jared's favorite part was watching all the suckers get stuck in traffic while he laughed from the balcony!
Sunday there was more card game playing. We went up to a ski resort, rode the ski lift up to the top, ate a picnic lunch, hiked around (while hiking Joel offered the boys a dollar to whomever found the biggest pine cone!) and then rode the ski lift back down. That was a great time had by all! We also went and rode these fun things down the hill!
Monday morning finally came and it was time to head out to Provo! The kids had a blast together and Votaws showed us a great time in Big Bear! They kids pooped out every day after fun!
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