Updating-Washington DC

We had a crazy chain of events this summer. Jared started out working in Oregon. His team wasn't doing very well, so they were all moved to Texas. That is important for later in the story. Alyssa, being 12 years old, was able to go to girl's camp with her church group this summer. I didn't want her to miss this, but I wanted to go see Jared in Texas. So, we planned for her to stay in Oceanside with a friend, go to girl's camp, and then fly to Oregon (because Jared was in Oregon when we planned all of this). Well the first thing that happened was that Jared got moved to Texas. We had to change Alyssa's flight to Texas. Second, the family of friend that Alyssa was staying with had an opportunity to go to Washington DC during the time Alyssa was scheduled to stay with them!

Alyssa loved the tour about President Lincoln. She recited it almost word for word for me! The father of the friend was awarded a very prestigious award for work he had done at his job. They were going to fly him and his wife out to receive this award in DC. We had a few options, to have Alyssa stay somewhere else, or to go with them. Well, this wonderful family decided to take Alyssa with them. What an opportunity!! LUCKY GIRL!! She had an amazing time.

Updating-June 2011

Lots happened in June. Alanna, Arya, and Savannah had been taking dance since January. They have had so much fun. They loved dressing up in their costumes to get photos taken.

Normally we wait until the girls are five years old before we let them decide if they want to get their ears pierced. Well, I was feeling a little defiant one day and let Arya get her ears pierced the day before she turned four. Poor little girl! The lady who pierced them did one ear wrong and we had to come back the next day to get it redone! Arya was great. She is so serious!

Alyssa turned 12 in May. She was able to go to the San Diego Temple and do baptisms. Very neat for both of us. It was a fun day. I'm so proud of my girl who is growing up way too fast.

We celebrated the end of the school year with an ice cream party and lots of friends.

Nathan made this replica of the California state capital for his end of the year school project.

Arya turned four on June 10. She is such a little cutie! She loves candy. I made her a candy cake.

Alanna, Savannah, and Arya had a dance recital. We postponed our trip to Texas just so they could attend the recital. Savannah and Alanna were in the same class and are in the picture with the blue little outfits. Arya was in a different class. They each did a dance with their class, but they also did a dance at the recital that they learned on their own. They danced to the song "Little Bitty." It was adorable.



The next morning after the recital we all hoped in the car and drove to Texas. What an adventure! I was so worried about the car breaking down, but it did fine on the way there. The battery ran out on my phone and it shut off and wouldn't charge. This was only three hours into our trip and I was so worried we would break down in the middle of the desert and not have any way to call for help. So we finally found a town and a McDonalds where we could use Wifi. I used Nathan's itouch to text Jared for help. He told me where a Best Buy was and I was able to go buy a cheap little phone until I could get mine working. Well, everything went fine and we made it to our motel in Deming, New Mexico. While there I was able to fix my phone. The next day was uneventful and we made it to San Antonio to be with Jared.

I was really surprised at what a beautiful place San Antonio is! I thought Texas was like Barstow; all dirt and dust. But it is very green and the stores and buildings are mostly hidden by the greenery. It was beautiful.

First thing we did in Texas, after hitting the pool of course, was to find the public library and get a library card. This is our second summer spending it away from home with Jared and his work. It is great in so many ways! We get to see new places that we would normally never see. We get a vacation. We get to relax. I am forced to relax. We stay in a little apartment, so there isn't much to clean, no school work to do, no pressing projects, just time to sit by the pool, work on my tan, and read! I love it!! Last summer I brought sewing to work on, but this summer I brought Arya's baby album that I am trying to do. I am only doing her first year and she is now four! Oh well. We do what we can!

Updating-May 2011

I'm so behind with my blog! It is hard to believe it has been six months since my last post. I am going to try to update it month by month. I started just doing a general post for the last six months, but as I went back through some of the photos I realized there was so much I was missing! So, here it is: May:In May Jared's dear mother passed away suddenly. She was such a sweet woman with a good heart. She was a wonderful grandmother to my children and we miss her so much.

One nice thing was all of Jared's brothers and sisters got together for the first time in over 20 years!

Other good times in May:

Arya and her primary class.

Alanna and Arya at bedtime. Nathan serving lemonade at his Mother's day brunch.

6 Months!

We came home in August and decided to move! During the first week of school we moved from one house to another. Jared was still in Texas. It was amazing the help I received from friends, family, and members of my church. People came over before the move and took all of the heavy stuff from upstairs to the downstairs. TONS of people came the day of the move. We were moving from 8am until 9pm. I was so grateful to everyone and especially for our sweet friend who took my kids (so I could have 15 minutes of peace) and got us pizza for dinner after we hadn't eaten most of the day. Then even more people came over to help me clean our old house to get it in perfect condition to turn the keys in. It was crazy and oh so difficult to have Jared gone during this time, but I had so much help.

Then my computer crashed. Hard to homeschool with no computer. Jared ended up coming home mid September to help me out. It was just too hard on both of us at this point to have him gone.

October was fun with Halloween. Alyssa was Snow White, Nathan was Charlie Brown, Savannah was Fancy Nancy (FUNNEST costume I ever made!), Alanna and Arya were Sparkle Fairies.

This is a picture of Arya waiting for Amy Ayala to come pick her up for preschool.

November has been a very difficult month. Our very good friends the Ayala Family moved. We have been good friends with them for five years. We did dance lessons together, preschool, and even started a business together. Alanna cried and cried as they were moving. Arya talks all the time about her best friend Sofi and how much she misses her. Such a hole when people leave.

I've been looking for work. Jared has been getting a few side jobs. People have been calling him for alarm systems. We have been very blessed, but every day is a struggle.

Alyssa and Nathan are both involved in Musical Theatre through school. Alyssa got a lead role this year. The are doing Fiddler on the Roof. Alyssa auditioned and got the part for the middle sister Hodel. She is the only female lead with a solo! Nathan is in the ensemble. This is his first year. He is very talented and I'm sure will get better parts as he gets older.

I'm working with the Cub Scouts now as Cubmaster. I love these sweet boys. We are planning our first Arrow of Light Ceremony. It will be great!

I am so thankful for all I have. Things sure could be better, they have been better in the past, but I have a wonderful family, beautiful, smart, amazing children, a husband I wouldn't trade for anything, a warm house to live in, food on my table, and we are all healthy and working on being happy.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Alanna's Party

Alanna had a cooking party with her friends this year. We had about 15 cute kindergartners here. Fortunately I had Alyssa and two of her friends to help out. Savannah also had a friend over to help with the activities.

Alyssa and her friends coordinated the events and helped keep everyone entertained. Here they are playing toss the bean bag in the cupcake tin.

Savannah was amazing with the children. She kept them in order and talked so cute to them! Here she is leading them in Simon Says while I am cleaning up the lunch and getting the cupcakes ready to decorate.

Alyssa made these amazing cakepops for Alanna's party.

One of the activities was to make these cute flowers for their bakers' hat. Alyssa and her friends helped the guests with it. Aren't those hats cute!!

It was a huge success thanks to many helpers!

Alyssa turns 12!

For Alyssa's 12th birthday she wanted to have a party at Build A Bear.

Surprised? I was too, but I humored her and did it. She was worried her friends would think it was too babyish, but they all loved it. They built their bears and then we went back to our house for food and a movie. Those girls can eat!!! They ate almost nonstop during the whole movie! Ahhh to be young! Alyssa is such a great young woman! She keeps me laughing and is a joy to our family.

Happy 12th birthday!

Alanna turns 6!

Happy 6th birthday to my sweet, sweet Lanicake! Here she is with her gifts: the movie Tangled and her favorite candy Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. I think she was more excited for the candy!