We Love Grandpa Jerry!

On St. Patrick's Day my mom since moving here has always done a traditional Irish dinner corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. For the last few years we have always dropped a plate off to my mother and father in law. They love it. This year we invited them over. Not only was it St. Patrick's Day but it was also my father in law Jerry's birthday. I was so glad they were able to come for the dinner this year. I do so much with my family. We do every Tuesday night dinner at my house and we get together on the weekends. We are always with my family. It is nice when we could spend time with Clint's family also. My kids love when they are able to spend time with all their grandparents. I know my kids like it when Clint's parents come over and they have all their attention rather then it having to get split up in 15 different directions. So they had them all to their selves. Jerry is a good grandpa he has a way of noticing the kids good qualities and praising them for it. We love Grandpa Jerry.

Our FHE Fun!

I try really hard to do Family Home Evening every week. I truly believe it is important. Because we had spring break this week we were able to stay up later. So I decided to do something fun for FHE. I invited boys from our ward to go with our family. We went to Golf Land. I really like to do mini golf. It is really popular where I grew up. There were quite a few places to go back home in Connecticut. I would love to build a course out here on the east side of the valley. Just a dream. Any way I took my kids and two boys from our ward who I really like. They are good boys I was glad they were able to come with us. Clint met us there after work and we had dinner then did a game of mini golf. It was so much fun. Because we had so many people in our group we divided up into two teams. I was with my older two and our friend Nick and Clint was with Ester Eliza & our other friend Martin.

Some might think that is not a very good FHE but I like to have a good time with my children and their friends. I want them to learn that Mom and Dad can play and have fun too. I also want them to learn to enjoy the time we get to be with each other. I read once a prophet said that FHE does not have to be a class room setting. I am thankful for FHE. I get upset because it doesn't always run smooth but at least my kids are being raised in a home that does it.

Jacob, Nick and Hanna

Clint & Ester and Katie who was everywhere.

Katie climbing on the wall that the kids were asked to stay off of.

Taking it easy after 18 holes of fun

Martin, Jacob & Ester

OUR FAMILY HOME EVENING FUN!

ZOLA turned one already.

My niece Zola turned one last week. They had a really cute first birthday for Zola. Monica had it at Cafe Rio. It was very quaint. I can't believe how fast time goes as you get older.

Princess Zola and her beautiful Mom

I love her cute smile

Her cute cake that my sister Carla made. Monica saw a picture of a lopsided whimsical cake and Carla made it for Zola. It was really pretty you can't see in the picture but it had pretty edible giltter on it.

This was the little cake just for Zola. She didn't get to crazy with it.

I can't believe Zola turned one already.

I love Scouts!

I love my calling. I get to do things with the scouts. It is all new to me and I am learning a lot slowly. On Saturday I got to be the leader for our ward to go to the 11 year old scout stake day camp with Jacob. We don't have a leader over that right now. Since I am over Cubs in our ward I went. It was fun spending the day with Jacob. The wards were divided into groups. We were lucky we got to be with our old ward and Jacob's best friend is in that ward. We went to four classes. They were all very interesting. The first class was on compasses and how to use them. It was hard for me. I had to keep on asking Jacob for help. I still don't really get how to use them. I kept thinking of Bella when she has to go find the meadow by herself when Edward leaves. I remember she used a compass.

Then we learned knots. It was really fun. I could do the bowline like no body's business. Jacob was getting mad because I was able to do it faster then he was.

Then we went to a first aid class. Jacob was acting like he has passed out. Then they were talking about how to help someone out if they were hurt and couldn't walk. At first the guy teaching the class wanted the boys to carry Jacob who was the biggest of the three. One of the scouts said "OH NO!" then they carried him instead.

Our last was fire and outside cooking. The boys loved that the most. They got start their own little fire. It was a fun day and the more I am in scouts the more I love scouts.

I almost PEED my pants!

On Friday I met Monica for lunch. We went to her new favorite place Pei Wei at Dana Park in Mesa.

If any of you have been to Dana Park you know they have these fountains all around.

The kids love to throw coins or coings as Eliza calls them in the fountain. After we had lunch the kids wanted to do that. They were trying to get it on the top tear of the fountain. Monica's son Grant thought he had a brilliant idea. He got up on the little ledge with his coins and took aim to throw it in the top.

Well he lost his balance and throw himself in. It was classic.

Grant never let go of his fortune cookie through the fall and everything. He was upset he had crushed it though. He was soaked from the waist down. I have always waited for one of Monica's boys to fall in a fountain. Every year when we go to the temple lights I wait for it to happen and it never does. This time it did and I laughed so hard I seriously almost peed my pants.

Lost Dutchman Parade 2009

On Saturday Jacob was in another parade. Every year the last weekend in February is Lost Dutchman Days here in Apache Junction. They have a lot going on that weekend. There is a parade, rodeo, carnival and an arts and craft show. We have only ever gone to the parade. I like that the city does it. It makes it feel small town. Our family is always busy on this weekend with birthdays but I am glad we were able to go to the parade. Well I went with all the kids and my true and faithful sister Monica came to help with kids and support Jacob. Clint was still camping.

Jacob and his blue trumpetJacob marching

Thunder Mountain Marching Band

The Girls waiting for their big brother

An old Apache Junction Police car

Clydesdale horses

Hanna and her friend Daisy enjoying the parade

Eliza and Miss Devry

(her preschool teacher and my friend who I will miss when she moves)

Cool bikes

Jacob wants to build one with Clint

Superstition Search & Rescue

I have a lot of respect for these guys. I am sure they get used a lot. I myself have almost had to use them when Clint had gone hiking once. Thank goodness he was alright.

An Apache Junction Parade consists of a lot of horses and cowboys

AND

A ton of these guys

They are nuts driving around in these little cars

CAUTION: Watch your kids

Me and my Katie

It was a fun parade with friends and family to hang out with and laugh. I enjoyed the longest parade ever The Lost Dutchman Parade 2009.

MY ELIZA IS 5!

Mommy & Eliza

On Friday we had Eliza's 5th birthday party. She has been asking since Christmas was over when her birthday would be. She would ask almost everyday how many more days to my birthday. I made her a countdown 55 days ago. Now it is over. It is a little confusing for her because she was born on February 29th which happens only every forth year. So we always do her birthday near then. On the years there is no 29th we celebrate it on the 1st. Eliza has been so excited about her birthday. We had it at Peter Piper Pizza. It was so much fun. Thanks to all my friends and family who helped me. I was a single parent that night doing a party with a bunch of kids. My husband was doing what he likes best camping.

Eliza and a group of her friends.

Uncle Lee & Big brother Jacob

Lee was betting with Jacob he couldn't eat a bunch of red pepper on his pizza. I don't know what the outcome was.

Eliza on a quad game

The quad was nothing like a real quad. I tried it and was awful at it.

Eliza and a gift from one of her friends.

Eliza enjoyed all of her gifts and was so happy to show what she got after she opened them she would hold it up high for everyone to see.

Hanna and Katie with some of their friends

Jacob and his best friend Alex

Katie and her friend/enemy Grant

Nanny Mom and Zola having a fun time

Quade cashing in his tickets

Quade had a fun time pushing other kids out of the way so he could play a game.

Me and my sweet children

We had a fun time and were very tired by the end of the night. I am thankful to be able to do fun stuff with my children. Even though Clint was not there he provided for the fun party. I can't believe my thumb sucking hair twirling petite little Eliza is 5.