RELAX and Use Everday Common Sense

Just in case you haven't heard this:

• Clean your hands
• Avoid close contact
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your mouth and nose when you coach or sneeze
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose with your hands

I don't know about you, but I think these are things we should always do, not just when it is flu season or swine flu is present. I just counted 10 emails just from the schools or school district about this. Enough!!!

When It Rains It Pours

Here are a few scenes from our rainstorm yesterday.

Schools are closed today due to flooding. Dale's office even had flooding so he is home. It's kind of like after the hurricane, but we have power.

Happy 13th Birthday Makenzie

13 years ago today Makenzie was born. She was 2 months early and only weighed 4 lbs. We are blessed that she was healthy and still is. One of my favorite things about Makenzie is her smile. She seems to always be smiling! We love you and hope you have a great year!

Swimming in the Rain

Last Saturday we had a big downpour that flooded the streets. I didn't get pictures of the flooding because I didn't feel like I needed to drive my car through all the water. Matthew and his friend Andrew decided they wanted to swim in the rain and so they did.

Seminary Breakfast

Yesterday I was in charge of a Seminary Teacher Appreciation Breakfast. This a breakfast that the kids invite their favorite teacher(s) from the high school to. I had to make the invitations, make a teachers gift/favor and get volunteers to bring food. The night before we set up the cultural hall with all the tables. I started to set them up an hour earlier because no one was using it and it would get us home earlier after decorating.I felt it the next morning. I'm not used to picking up big tables and hauling chairs all over the place. I accidentally set up one extra table, but it was a good thing since we had such a huge turnout. We had lots of good food and one of the Bishop's talked about the Seminary Program, two kids spoke, one was Matthew and there was a musical number. It was a wonderful breakfast, but I'm glad it is over. I had to do food that people signed up for and bombed out at the last minute, so I was up making muffins and cutting a bunch of fruit the night before. I was very tired yesterday, but very much worth it! A full house.

This is a picture of Matthew with his Calculus teacher, Mr. Eaton. Mr. Eaton came for the food, but asked Matthew if they were going to make him read from the Bible. Matthew assured him he was not going to have to read anything.

The woman on the left is Mrs. Strickland his Physics teacher, someone else invited her.

This is Brittney with Coach Garcia, her basketball coach. When they sat down, Coach asked her, "So tell me about your religion". Brittney is like what do you want to know? Her coach told her she knew the nicest guy in college that was Mormon. She said he went on a mission to Peru and was very impressed with him. Her favorite College Professor was also a member of the church. She asked Brittney if she was going on a mission and Brittney said she didn't know. Coach told her she should for 2 reasons. Reason #1 she would be pleasing her religion. Reason #2 is she would be fluent in another language and that was important since her coach is also a Spanish Teacher at the school. I guess she doesn't realize not all missionaries learn another language.

Fun With Friends and their Babies

Today was my friend Liz's birthday. We had lunch with her at Mission Burrito. I had to laugh because I was the only one without a child with me. The 2 people other than myself not holding a child is because their babies were already in their car seats. I'm glad they let this old lady hang out with them and Happy Birthday Liz!! I love holding their babies!!!

Me, Jana(has a 6 month old), Liz and her adorable daughter Brooke, Melanie(has a 2 month old) and Emily and her son Zachary.

NHS Induction

Brittney had her National Honor Society Induction Ceremony last night. We are proud of her. Brittney coming into the auditorium
Brittney getting her award. As they read their names they told what some of the teachers had said about them. The first comment was that the teacher could always count on her asking intelligent questions. After that comment I didn't hear the rest for 2 reasons. First, I was thinking I'm glad she ask intelligent questions somewhere, she is very smart, but once in awhile ask the silliest questions. Matthew especially likes to tease her about that. Second, people kept walking in front of me while I was trying to get her picture, RUDE! This was the only one I got with out someone in front of my camera.

After her award. Sorry it was so dark in there.

At the reception with friends

What cute girls!

With Mom

I love this certificate. It says Britt. They asked them if they had any nicknames. She of course said Britt, because we call her that in basketball. I don't think she meant for that to go on her certificate.

The kids are growing up too fast. As I sat there waiting for this to start, I was thinking it was Matthew doing this 2 years ago, but it seemed like yesterday. I sat there holding back the tears, I was also having one of those days where everything was making me think about Matthew. I finally told myself this was Brittney's moment and got through it.

Blankets, Blankets, and More Blankets

Begging people for fleece donations, 5 trips to fabric store, tape, scissors, sore fingers, time, 60 blankets, finishing Matthew Eagle Project.... Priceless! First round of fleece

Final fleece donations

Matthew receiving some blankets already made from a friend

Blankets the Priest Quorum made

Stevie Homemakers

Are we having fun yet?

Matthew making sure the adults are doing it right

Makenzie doing her share

Blanket Bee

Look Mom, I can tie a knot!

Brittney taking time out to text

Jacob gets into the act

Yay!! They are done!

Final finished pile!

Many thanks to all of those who donated fleece and money to purchase fleece. And many thanks to all those who took the time to help Matthew out getting this done. We are grateful to have so many generous and supportive family members and friends!

Intentional versus Being a Jerk

Being the impatient person that I am, one thing that really bugs me are people who drive under the speed limit. Last night I was bringing the kids home from the church and there were 2 cars driving side by side going 25 in a 30 and then the limit went to 35 and they were still going 25. As we approached a light I noticed the one car was going to turn right so I got in that lane. When the light turned green I went on my merry way and the car that was going slow speed up, when I tried to get in front of it so I slowed down and it slowed down. I told the kids this guy was a jerk. Jacob then said, "Just because someone goes fast then slow, doesn't mean they are intentionally trying to piss you off " There is probably a lot of truth in that statement, but the guy is still a jerk!

Sammie, The Water Dog....kind of

Sammie loves to play in her water. Dale even put water in a big container because she likes it so much. We have tried putting her on the first self of the pool, but she always jumps out. Yesterday we put her in and she loved it. She likes to bite at the water and just splash around. Sorry the picture is so white. I must have been getting a lot of reflection off the pool. Next, Matthew took her out into the pool. She didn't seem to care for that too much. She may change her mind when it is 95 with 90% humidity! We will see.

Speechless... But Not Now!

I should be sitting out by the pool enjoying the beautiful day, but I have been thinking about something for a good part of the morning.
As I was reading comments left on one of my niece's blog, I must say I was stunned and speechless. Somebody actually said that they hopes she "grows up" faster than her child and then chastised her for the content in her blog. I'm still stunned and a little bit of "auntie" bear is coming out. I could go on and on about being judgemental, but that's what I'd be doing, I guess that's what I'm doing. I read her blog because she's not afraid to say what is on her mind and she is very open and opinionated. I like that about her. The second reason I read her blog is to see pictures of her cute little girl. If this person is so offended by the opinions and thoughts on her blog, don't read it! That simple, don't read it! I think what bugged me the most was telling her to grow up. Ouch, that hurt! People probably say that about me. Someone I really admire is a past Stake President's wife from when I lived in San Angelo. What I really admired about her was her fun loving, youthful ways. She knew when to be silly and have fun and when to be serious. She played the piano in Primary when I was in the Presidency. During Sharing Time, I'd talk to her out in the hall and she would say things I just didn't expect her to say, but they were so funny. I loved being around her. She was human and I love that about her. I'm not bashing people who are trying to to what's right, I admire those who work so hard everyday improving themselves, but we all improve at different rates. I for one, hope I never grow up, I just need to learn when it's appropriate and when it's time to be serious. And if this person is so offended by her blog, she should never have dinner at our home, we have quite the discussions with our kids at the dinner table and my kids are very open also.

Matthew Gets a Prom Date

Back in my day, you just called the person on the phone and asked them to Prom. Now days you need to be creative, you would think a text message would work, but noooooo! Here is Matthew asking a friend (actually Brittney's friend, Chantel) to his Senior Prom. A little background on what he is doing. He is copying a scene from a movie called "Hot Rod". The kids are always saying quotes from this movie. If you haven't seen the movie this may not be as funny. Dale and I watched the movie last night, an hour and half of our lives we won't get back, but see why teenagers think it is funny. In the movie a kid named Rod is a dare devil on a moped. Matthew had to settle for a bike since we don't own a moped.

Matthew's friend Andrew helping him get his helmet on.

Getting the bike out of the truck
Making sure his helmet is secure.
We don't want him to get hurt!

Video of this event going down.
(Blackmail for the future)
The music in this video is coming from the truck so all the neighbors could hear him coming also.

She accepted his invitation to the prom.

Happy Easter

Kids in their Easter Best.

They weren't to thrilled to get their picture taken

This Would Drive My Mother Crazy, It Did Me

Matthew and I went to the fabric store to purchase a bunch of fleece to make blankets for his Eagle Scout project. I was going to buy a bunch of the same fabric and Matthew said I should have them cut it in the 1 1/2 yard pieces. I said it was easier if we just bought it in 3 to 6 yard pieces depending how much was on the bolt, and I would cut them up at home. I had already done this previously and he thought it would be easier for them to do it. We went with my way and when we got to the car he said, " I know why you want to cut it yourself". Could they be any slower in measuring fabric. They would unroll the bolt twice, which isn't even a yard and do this for every yard. Unroll a whole bunch at one time and then measure it people!! This would be quicker and you wouldn't forget what yard you were on. I'm becoming my Mom. Very frustrating, but the fleece was 50% off so I can't complain about the price.

A Child's Prayer

I sure hope Heavenly Father has a sense of humor or our family will be headed south. Last night after FHE (we watched 24 together), it was Matthew's turn to say the prayer. Brittney was in a hurry to watch another show(The Hills) so Matthew decided to take his time in saying the prayer. He was going really slow and being so serious and giving thanks for everything!! I was trying hard not to laugh out loud. When he was done, even Dale had a smile on his face. Dale usually is the serious one, but he even found this some what amusing. I know everyone is wondering which is worse, the slow prayer or watching 24 for FHE. Hey, we had refreshments, homemade cookies, so it was FHE!

Dinner at Pappasito's

After an afternoon of canoeing and play at the park we went to Pappasito's for dinner. I don't think I have laughed that hard at that restaurant. We were eating the jalapeno peppers and the limes, but the real fun is when the waiter brought us out a habanero, a very hot pepper. Jacob said he would take a bite for money. We had to pay up. Kristina and Tyson didn't learn from him and had to see for themselves how hot the pepper was. I'm sure people thought we were drunk we were laughing so hard. It didn't help that Matthew stood up and knocked over a tray of dirty dishes that was placed next to him, luckily nothing broke, just funny.

We are a happy family

Matthew before knocking a tray over

Dale wouldn't biteJalapeno was mushy and yucky, but seeds were hot!

Milk, it does a body good, especially after eating a habanero

Habanero Challenge

Afternoon in Austin, Texas

Saturday we went to Austin to see Dale's nephew, Tyson and his family. Dale's niece, Jenny and her friend Tyler were visiting from Utah. We went to a park where we could canoe and then played on the playground. It was a beautiful day!

The whole gang, but me. Someone had to take the picture.

Row, row, row your boat

Our cute kids

Hot husband

Jacob and Alissa

Matthew and Alissa

Kristina and Tyson

Makenzie, Dale and Brittney

Jenny and her "friend" Tyler

We had a fun afternoon with family!!!

Basketball Banquet/Award Event

Brittney had her Basketball Banquet Thursday night. I don't know why it was called a banquet, they just had cookies, cake, brownies and pop and water.

Brittney receiving her certificateBrittney with her teammates

Congratulations on a great season! District Champs!!