TUCSON!

Eli had a soccer tournament down in Tucson so we decided to take the boys and make a weekend of it. Emma had work and other things so she stayed behind and hung out with Maddie and Anni. Friday night Eli entered into some Soccer Olympic things and had fun with his team. Then Saturday morning he had a game and then he had several hours of nothing so I made Jared take us all to Tombstone. It was a drive, but it was worth it. We tried to teach the boys a little bit about what it was on our way there so they would appreciate it more, but they weren't having it and not looking forward to it. As soon as got there and parked and they saw all that there was to do - they got excited. They thought it was going to be a boring museum. We saw a show, walked around, shot some fake guns, took a trolley tour, drank some Sarsaparilla! It was a good day! Then we headed back to Tucson for Eli's next game. Then we had some games on Sunday too! Eli had a great weekend, but it was here that I think he realized, he doesn't care for his team (I don't blame him - they were not a together team at all) and decided baseball was the sport for him. It was a fun weekend and I am glad we got to spend it together on a mini vacation! I am a bit sad to not have Eli do soccer again because watching the determination on his face when he plays makes my heart so happy - he is also really fast at soccer! As a side note, it was really cold and this was a turning point for my hands. They got really bad and Jared had to go to the store to buy nail clippers so I could cut off my pinky fingernails before they got ripped off and wouldn't grow back right.

YOUTH SNOW TRIP!

All the youth drove up to the snow and went sledding and hung out! Emma mostly talked to her guy friends, but Eli ran around with all his friends and had a blast! So grateful for leaders who give up all their time to dedicate to the youth (and for taking pictures!)!

ELI GOES TO THE TEMPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME!

Since Eli turned 12 so late in the year and with the Gilbert Temple being closed during Fall Break and then with sports and holidays we didn't really have time to take him to the Temple so we finally were able to take him to do baptisms for the first time today! We had a wait quite a while and even ran into my cousins Kristen and Rick from California in there with their kids. Eli LOVED being in there and doing baptisms and confirmations. It's always so special taking your kids for the first time. Afterwards we told him he could pick anywhere to eat for dinner. Some how we ended up at Red Robin - I feel like I influenced that a bit since I was craving their french fries. He ordered everything he wanted, sodas, fries, burger and a milkshake and felt pretty cool! He came home and told the boys that when you go to the Temple for the first time you get to pick where you want to eat! We love this sweet soul of ours!

HOKU'S 17TH BIRTHDAY PARTY!

Emma and her friends went to Hoku's birthday party and they went to an Escape Room in Chandler and then had dinner and hung out most of the night and then all the girls were going to stay the night and Emma stayed till 2am when she had to come home and go to sleep till 6am when she had to get up for the Youth Snow trip! Good times had by all!