Talent Show

On Monday night Rebecca was in the Queen Creek Elementary School talent show. This was done as an Eagle Project to raise money for the library. It was very well organized and they had tryouts and a rehearsal. Rebecca put together a dance with gymnastics in it to the High School Musical song "You are the music in me". Jake and I were a little nervous when she first wanted to do the talent show. This past summer at the Family reunion in Utah they had a talent show and she and a cousin did an "impromptu" dance and lets just say it was very impromptu! She really wanted to do this so she prepared and did a great job. I was really impressed with what she did all on her own. It was a really fun evening and there were a few other kids in our ward in it too. They all did a great job!

Build-A-Bear Birthday

On Saturday we took Kimball and Tanner to Build A Bear and Applebee's for their birthdays. Tanner's birthday is in a few weeks so we combined their celebration. Kimball has been telling me all year that this is what he wanted to do for his birthday. Jake was asking him are you sure this is what you want? He thought he might want to go on a "man's hike" or campout. No, he wanted Build A Bear and dinner! They had such a fun time. Kimball chose a dog and Tanner an elephant. They went through the whole process of making it and Tanner's favorite part was blow drying it and brushing its fur. Kimball was all about picking out an outfit and shoes and a hat. Tanner wanted nothing to do with it. He could not be talked into any outfit or accessorie. He wanted it "just regular"! Kimball named his Coco {we had a dog named Coco} and Tanner named his Matt {his favorite show is Cyber Chase}. After we went to Applebee's for dinner and Tanner got the Macaroni and Cheese and Kimball got Chicken Strips. It was a fun birthday for them and that is all that matters! Kimball and Tanner with Coco and Matt


Waiting to be seated at Applebee's

Tanner grooming his elephant

Happy Boys!

Kimball all smiles

Tanner's heart that went inside the elephant

Happy Birthday Kimball!

He turns seven years old today. I remember when he was just a baby with blond curly hair and the biggest smile. Kimball is the happiest kid and loves to play with his friends and brother and sisters. He looks forward to camping and hiking with his Dad and family. When Kimball was a little guy he would make a humming sound when he would eat and every once in a while we hear it and we know the food is good! He loves to play and have fun but he can be quite a tease! {watch out girls!} We love you Kimball! At the Indian Ruins
Happy Valentines Day

Fathers Son Campout

Fire Escape Plan

Last night for Family Home Evening we went through a fire escape plan. We are using the Family Prepardness manuel that we got at church for some of our family nights. We decided that the family meeting place would be way out front next to our Jacaranda trees. Then, we went downstairs in the basement and had the boys open their window and try to climb up the window well ladder and push the cover up. It was not an easy task for them and we told them that they would probably never have to do it but we wanted them to be aware of where it was and what to do. Next, we had the girls open there window and learn how to get the screen off or if that didnt work to just kick it out. At the end we reviewed what to do and Jake asked, "Now where is our meeting spot?" and Kimball says "Go to the Jack O' Lantern trees!" Yes, go to the Jacaranda trees. It is nice to be having more consistent family home evenings again. When the girls were in gymnastics we were not very good at getting it done. Now, the kids look forward to it and are taking part in planning the lessons, music and treats.

The Sweetest Sound

When the other kids were babies their first word was Da Da. And yes, he is wonderful and charming but who feeds them, changes most of the diapers, and gets little sleep! Well, Tessa's first word is Mom,Mom, Mom. She says it so cute while looking up at me. She is such a fun baby and even though she has been my worst sleeper all that goes away when she looks up and me and says Mom, Mom, Mom!

Dishes Duty

A few months ago we started having the girls do the dishes each night, switching off weekly with emptying the dishwasher and rinsing and putting them into the dishwasher. Kimball and Tanner clear and wipe the table. Before I did the bulk of the dishes, Jake doing them now and then. If I was tired I would leave them for the morning, and grumpy and resentful do them. So, last night when the girls were finishing off some leftover pasta after dinner Rebecca went for her own bowl and fork and Sammi said "Lets just share and then I won't have to wash another dish". I just laughed to myself because she is getting it! It has been so nice to have that help. I dont know why we didnt start years ago!

Sand Dunes

We went to the Sand Dunes in Glamis over New Years. We met the Johnson's and Donn's there. I was really nervous because this was a new experience for us. Our friends Eric and Elizabeth let us use their trailer which was so nice because it has a bathroom with a shower and a heater. It got pretty cold at night so that was great. We had the best time! I felt way out of my comfort zone at first but ended up loving it. We got there on New Years Eve and spent the evening with fireworks and Sobe bombs. It was crazy! They put gasoline in Sobe bottles and put them in the fire and they build up pressure and shoot this huge fire ring in the air. I was worried with my kids but they had such a good time. Jake and I stayed up until midnight, our kids till about 9:30. They were tired and we wanted them to have fun the next day. I went to bed and Jake went up to the hill to watch California ring in the new year an hour later. The kids loved riding on the quads, and I had no idea they had such a need for speed! I went on a ride with Susan in her sand car and she is an awesome driver! She has skills! It was so fun going straight up the big hill and all over the dunes. My kids loved the sandrails, quads and rhino. It was quite a trip, with Kimball getting pulled over by the patrol and Jake getting a ticket. The little guy was so sad and he was right near our camp but because an adult wasnt right there we got an unsupervised $100 ticket. We called it a "bad parenting ticket". Tanner was watching and said to me "Is he going to jail?" We were very careful after that. My kids had been on quads before but not in the sand. It was such a fun weekend.Tessa loved watching all the action out the screen door


Kenyon was so cute with Tessa and loved playing with her

Sammi, Jake, Kimball and Ridge

Sammi was quite the driver, she flipped it twice!

Kimball, Tanner and me with Gene in the sandrail

Rebecca

Rebecca, Kenyon, Zanna and Tanner

Kimball