For Those of You...........

That didn't get this invitation..

I apologize

But

We only had so many to send out.

The reception is

TOMORROW!

Aren't they a cute couple!

Welcome to the family Xyonane!

We are excited to have you in our family.

Don't you love this invitation?

My beautiful, talented daughter-in-law,

Jeremy's wife - Jo

took the pictures and designed it.

She's a great photographer.

If any of you need pictures - here in Arizona,

in Utah, or in Idaho-or anywhere else-

She's willing to travel.

(Besides - any time she comes back to AZ - I get to see her and my granddaughter! and Jeremy too sometimes.)

Check out her website and blog at:www.photographybyjo.com

Time for.............

KRISTI!!

Here are a few of the things Kristi has been doing.

This is February and March for her though.

At a band concert. She loves playing the flute.

Here she is with the author of the Fablehaven series - Brandon Mull.
She waited hours to get her books signed by him.

For any of you who don't know - Kristi is a veracious reader.

She's a fast reader - and very advanced for her age.

She loves to read series books. She's read all the big ones.

I just had her read "The Work and the Glory".

I think I'll have her read "The Fisherman" series next.

Science Projects.

I don't know about any of you other mom's out there - I really don't like science projects.

I like the part where they have to study hard to learn about one certain thing.

I HATE the doing of the project itself. I think it is because of the procrastination and it is me always staying up late and helping to finish the thing.

Actually - Kristi is the only one who has had science projects - and she is the world's biggest procrastinator when it comes to finishing it up.

She likes the research and studying part. Just puts it all off - like I said - procrastinator!
In fact - she put even coming up with an idea for the science fair until a week or so before.

Here she is with her board.

Up close and personal.



The next two pictures are of ones she had on her board.
She observed parking spots at a local grocery store.
First - without her little sign. She had to see how many people actually parked in the
handicapped parking spots without handicapped license plates or hanging ones in the front window. She had a certain number of cars she had to watch for without the sign - and then
a certain number of cars to watch park after putting up her sign.
Of course - it wasn't just her left at this parking lot. I was there too. Both days....
for hours......and hours.
Her sign said "These handicapped spaces are being observed for a school project."

She did have a few funny things she saw while watching - you'll have to ask her about is sometime.

Just a little sidenote about Kristi.
Easter Sunday she and another girl in our ward, Haley Thomas, played a piano duet.

I must say - it was amazing! They did such an awesome job. I wish I could have recorded it.

Good job Kristi! On all that you do. You are very talented and smart. You just need to learn to not procratinate so much.
(I won't tell you who she got that from!)

Wrestling Finale

February was the end of the wrestling season.

Both Kendall and Jason were on varsity.

It was nice to have to only go to one wrestling match and see both boys!

Jason struggled a little bit this year. He hurt his shoulder in football - had to do therapy - so wasn't able to start wrestling until January. Even so - he still beat out other guys in his weight class to be on varsity.

I think of all the sports - wrestling is the hardest for me to watch. It is so personally, physically demanding. You can see the intensity on the boys faces as they wrestle. The pain on their faces at times is hard on a mom.

Here's our little sports fan. He loves to go watch - well most of the time he does.

He is pretty good at paying attention to the sporting event, whatever it may be.

In his Westwood orange!

Kendall observing and waiting for his turn.
Jason on deck.

Jason getting encouragement from his team before he wrestles.

Jason again.

This is Kendall at state. He didn't do quite as well as he hoped this year as a Senior.

Blood time-out

oops - replay of last picture

State was at the big hockey arena in Glendale.

They had 10 matches going on at a time in the semi-finals. It was crazy trying to follow and see which mat your boy was going to be on.

We went to the finals that night. It was a little less crazy - only 6 mats.

Of course we had to take Carson!

And we were babysitting EmmaLee that night too.

Congratulations to Kendall and Jason for a job well done in wrestling.

They both worked so hard.

Kendall had a record of 30-9 going into state. That's was great!

Though he didn't place liked he hoped at state, he still had a great season, one to be proud of.

Jason did too. He beat out a senior to be on the varsity team - which is great to do as a sophomore. (Our high schools in Mesa are only 3 years. Freshman are in Jr. high)

I love you both. I am proud of your hard work and determination. Great job!

Back To.......

FEBRUARY

and

CARSON!!!

I haven't posted much since February - so I am going to try and catch up with a lot that's happened in our family!

So.......

here's Carson!

We always have our family birthday celebrations on Sunday. It is just easier to get everyone together on that day with all of our busy schedules.

Carson's actual birthday was on a Thursday. Our neighbors brought over this cake for

him on his birthday. He was so excited! Thanks Gardner's. He loves that family.

I love his smile.

Here he is at the family party. Look at the load of presents.

He knows that on birthdays you sit in the "birthday chair" to open your presents.

He was sitting there waiting so patiently for everyone to finish singing

"happy birthday" so he could get to his haul!

He had helpers in opening his presents.

This is the batting tee/bat/ball the Mikel got him.
Every birthday we make homemade ice cream. It just wouldn't be a birthday around here without it! Carson loves his ice cream!
Here he is with his cake

Everyone had to get in the act of playing with his presents.

Or in Jason's case - putting it together.

We had the Gardner's over for his family party. Their kids loved this little motorcycle track as much as Carson did. Thanks Jeremy and Jo!

Here he is enjoying the present from Matt and Jo.

Thanks Jason for setting it up.

Haircut by Dad

Had to look good for his birthday party!

(This isn't his 1st haircut - just the 1st one dad has given him)

Mikel was the assistant. Carson wouldn't keep his head still.

That's it for February and Carson.

I have LOTS more to do of other family members and activities.

And...

we still haven't gotten to March's pictures and posts.

Ahhh..

.

.

.

procrastination.

Don't we love it!

Easter Gifts

Let us not forget why we celebrate Easter.

It is so easy to get caught up in the world's celebration of Easter.

Remember the gift Christ gave to us at Easter - that of Resurrection.

It doesn't matter who we are - all of us from Adam on will be Resurrected.

Let us not forget the second gift he gave us - that which we must work for.

The gift of Eternal Life - with our Heavenly Father and his Son in the Celestial Kingdom.

May we all strive to reach for this second gift from our Saviour.

Happy Easter!

Sweet is the Peace....

......the gospel brings!

I love General Conference. I love the peace and contentment it gives me listening to our Prophet, Presiden Monson and the other general autorities.

I loved the messages of how living righteously and following Christ will bring us peace in these troubled times. Being reminded that we do need to be more frugal and live providently. How long have our Priesthood leaders told us to be frugal and stay out of debt? Now with the economy the way it is - we know why.

I appreciate the words of encouragment to be better and do better in our daily lives.

I love the admonishment of being more deligent in attending the temple.

I love that they are concerned for my welfare - and also for each of one you.

I loved hearing President Monson say how he prays for each one of us - and asks that we pray for him and all the brethren. I loved how he said to tell our kids daily how much we love them - and for our kids to tell their parents how much they love and appreciate them.

I feel so uplifted and spiritually fed after two days of conference. I always vow to do better and be a better person after listening. This conference is no different. If you notice any difference in me - that I am doing better, please let me know. I would appreciate the uplift!

Happy Birthday Mikel!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, talented daughter, Mikel.

Can you believe she's 21 today?

This is her in November of 2007.

I wish I had scanned a picture of her as a baby - this little tiny 6 lbs 2 oz girl - just as white as could be with this hair so light you could hardly see it! She was adorable.

(I wish I had a copy of the picture Jo took of her this last December. It was beautiful!)

Here's Mikel Christmas Eve with Kris, and Matt & Xyonane.

Here she is Christmas Night -from a blond to a brunette.

Here she is as the mighty hunter in 2007 - with her first deer.
Most people are so surprised after meeting her- and finding out she's a hunter.
Like I said - Mikel is very talented. She is a very good cook - never afraid to try out new recipes. She is the one who decorated most of the cakes now for our family, and does a great job.
She sews and likes to do crafts - scrapbooking, etc. She loves sports and was on the softball team at Westwood - now she is Kris' biggest fan for his softball (and sometimes plays on the intermural team). She is very smart - but is still trying to decide what to get her degree in - being a high school math teacher or an accountant. (She has her dad's math brain).
She has always been my biggest helper and I miss her a lot since she has moved out of the house. She would especially take care of Carson - bathing him, dressing him, taking care of him - and even taking care of him at church. She is going to be a wonderful wife and mother someday.
I love you Mikel. I am so blessed to be your mother. Heavenly Father truly blessed us to send you to our family. We were blessed to move to Arizona when we did - to be led to the doctors to find and operate on your heart at such a tender age. I have no doubt the Lord guided us every step of the way. He loves you - as do all of us here.
Have a great - enjoyable birthday - knowing you are loved by one and all!
(Side note - I must say - even though I love you - I like you a lot better as a blond than as a brunette. It's as a blond you have been almost all your life - maybe not as blond as you were as a child - but still blond!)