Rodeo break

I vividly remember meeting with a Tucson realitor five years ago this weekend so we could purchase a home and make our move from Gilbert to Tucson. We pulled up into a local school parking lot so we could find out about the school district and our realitor realized school was closed for rodeo break. I remember thinking, "What?!? They close school here for a rodeo - are you kidding me?" Well, it is very true, but I've lived here now five years and I really don't know anyone who goes to the rodeo, including ourselves. But, here is what I did do yesterday...

I went with our laurel class to scout out a campsite for a young women overnight. We are hoping to have a camping trip to complete all of our girls camp certification requirements of fire and cooking. The laurels are also in charge of a Young Women/Young Men Joint activity in April so we needed to see if the location would be good to have the young men join us later in the second day.

The boys had a great time jumping on the trampoline - we are still enjoying beautiful winter weather of over 80 degrees.

Chase made his cake for the Blue and Gold Banquet. He won the award for "Best Battle Cake - the green guys are goners!"


He also received a bead for completing three requirements in his scout book. They had a nice program for the cub scout families with a hot dog dinner.

missing...

my mom and dad today. bunches.

On Saturday...

we needed to divide and conquer to get the kids to their activities. James took Chase to the pinewood derby so Reid tagged along. My mom and dad, Austin, Ryan and I took Molly to Vail Pride Day at the Pima County Fairgrounds so she could sing. Here's my dad pretending to be a moose!



Molly sang with two friends from school - they all did a fabulous job!

We had a good time walking around looking at all the displays. We found Ryan's paper on his frog named Bob...

We found artwork by Reid,

and artwork by Chase.

Afterwards we all met back together again at Reid and Chase's first soccer game of the season and then enjoyed dinner together at the Village Inn. It was a good day.

New Beginnings 2009

Our theme for New Beginnings was "Stand Ye in Holy Places" focusing on the temple. Our table centerpiece had pictures of each of the young women standing in front of the temple...I love the chalkboard art we had Hayley, one of our young women, do!

The Mia Maid class did a presentation about the purpose of the YW theme - it was fabulous!

Here I am talking (and looking pretty odd in this picture!) about two extraordinary young ladies, Molly and Julia, who will soon receive their YW medallion, the highest honor a young woman can receive in the young women organization. We will be having a special recognition night in their honor next month.

All the young women and leaders sang "I Love to See the Temple"

One of our Mia Maids, Marissa, made this cake of the Mesa temple - she did an great job. It tasted terrific too!

The Beehives did a fabulous job with the refreshment table!

Here's our Laurel class following the evenings program:

The Beehives also spotlighted those that have moved into young womens within the past year, been baptized or moved into the ward within the past year - they did a super job! Bishop Boerup spoke, he always does fantastic. The Laurels did a cute skit for parents about how to and how not to conduct personal progress interviews with your daughter. Other hightlights were a fabulous slide show that Sister Spear put together and comments by Sister Allen on the importance of personal progress.
I introduced to the parents the activities we will be doing in the coming year that are in support of our four-day temple trip and Sister Nichols talked about the details of the trip.
I was especially happy that my parents could come!

Having fun with my parents...

Today my parents and I picked up Susan and took a lovely drive through the Saguaro National Park West. It was a beautiful day for a drive!

My parents and I (above) and my mom and dad with Susan (below), we stopped at the visitors center to enjoy the view.

Since my parents have been here my mom has made all our favorite foods: we've had roast beef, pot roast, tacos, hamburgers, homemade chicken noodle soup, fruit salad, green salad with ALL the extras, lemon bars, chocolate chip cookies, snickerdoodle cookies and the other day my mom and I made baklava. I had never made it before and it had been a long time for my mom to make it but I had been craving it since my friend Hannah had some around Christmas time. Here is all that was left the next day! It was a huge hit and something I will make again.

Austin needed to make some puppets for a Advanced Placement class so of course Ryan wanted to make some too. He made these all on his own: a king and a wizard!

It has been so great having my mom and dad here. Today they were a big help taking Reid and Chase to soccer practice so Molly and I could decorate for New Beginnings at the church. I am sad that they will be leaving on Monday, but thrilled they are coming back in July!

Gettting ready for New Beginnings...

Tomorrow is our Young Women's New Beginnings program so today will be spent finishing everything on my to-do list. Our theme is "Stand Ye in Holy Places". This entire year we will be focusing on the temple and then in October we will be taking the young women on a four-day temple trip. We hope to be doing baptism for the dead at the Las Vegas and St. George temples as well as visit some church historical sights and a cultural arts event in St. George.
Since our theme is the temple I've made these white chocolates for everyone to bring home. I still need to add the 'topper' to the top of the baggie. I think it will just say "Stand Ye in Holy Places"

Each of the young women will also get to bring home a wallet size photo of the temple.

These pictures of each of the YW in front of the temple (we took them during our previous visits) will be on display during the evening. The YW will also get to take them home.

Since our theme is the temple we are doing our decorating in white. I picked out flowers I liked for a centerpiece but have never put one together before so my friend Lucinda came over and put this together for me - I love it!

Today will be spent finishing up the chocolates, writing my remarks to share with the parents, gathering up pictures of the temples, more white flowers...

Young Women...

Our Young Women value this month is Individual Worth. The corresponding color is red so it's been great for Valentine's day! The first Sunday of the month I gave out these cute red heart picks with a card attached. We each wrote nice things about each other on the back of the card while everyone was at my home for our movie night but they weren't allowed to look at their own card until they were handed out.

The second Sunday of the month we are combined with the Relief Society so I don't normally do a handout. The third Sunday was today so I gave each of the YW a Valentine with some Dove chocolates in a clear bag tied with red ribbon. I love when it is our (the Laurels) turn to conduct since that means we also get to bring the centerpiece - So silly I know but I love that kind of stuff.

Last year for birthdays each of the young women received a 5x7 picture of Christ. This year when each young woman celebrates her birthday she will get to choose a pair of socks with a tag that talks about 'being an example of the believers by walking in the footsteps of Christ" from the young women leaders. One of my counselors found this idea online and I just love it and I've been pleased the girls have really loved it too!

A happy Valentines day!

James and I had a wonderful time at the Tucson Symphony, featuring the Broadway Tenors, concert this evening! We had the most perfect seats in the fourth row, center. The symphony was amazing but the highlight was the three men known as the Broadway tenors as the sang the hits from Broadway musicals...a wonderful way to spend Valentines day.


The kids woke up to a Valentines Day treat from James and I. We just got them something sweet this year but picked out their favorites and they were very happy. We went on a hike at Bear Canyon this morning (sorry I didn't get any pictures!) and Molly missed the picture as she was still getting herself ready.

I gave James the big box of See's candy since the kids always want him to share (See's chocolates is a family favorite and special treat!) I also wrote him a love note (message) in a bottle. Chase loved the bottle since it came with a cork so much he convinced James to give it to him right after opening!

A picture of the kids' goodies!

Stake Roadshow

I'm finally getting around to posting some pictures of the roadshow - it was a FABULOUS event! Our youth did an amazing job - it is so incredible that it was the youth themselves that wrote the script, the song lyrics, did the blocking, etc....they are such a very talented group!

(above) The womens chorus (otherwise known as: Moral Man's fan club!)

(above) Moral Man and his evil nemesis Lying Lass

(above) Doug 'checked this book' out!

(above) Doug being rejected...
(below) The men's chorus with their catchy "tasty truffles of truth" song!

I was thrilled that my parents could be in town for this event - they loved it!

Science fair has once again come and gone. I am thankful for a husband who takes on this project with the kids each year.
Reid did his project on 'which oranges has more liquid: those grown in Rita Ranch (where we live) OR those grown out of state.

Chase's project was on which household cleaner cleaned a penny best.

Today we had Susan over for dinner. I'm thankful for my mom who made a delicious ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green salad with all the trimmings, rolls, asparagus and corn dinner with two types of pie (apple and razzleberry) for dessert. YUM!
Susan's birthday is coming up on Wednesday..we hope she has a great day!

After dinner Nana played toy kitchen with Ryan...so fun!

Having fun...

It has been great having my parents here for a visit! They have really enjoyed the beautiful 80 degree weather. So far we enjoyed a hike (previous post), we took a trip to Sabino Canyon where we enjoyed their 45 minute open air narrated tram ride...

Reid and I went hiking there about a year ago, but I had never taken their tram ride so it was really fun for me too. The views were gorgeous!



We took a drive through the Saguaro National Park East. It is so close to our home and I had never been there. I loved this plaque I came across...


My mom and I went to see the dollar movie, "Australia" on Tuesday. We both liked it. Other than that we have just enjoyed spending time together. My mom is doing lots of cooking and my dad is doing lots of small jobs around the house for me. Today we defrosted our full-size deep freezer - how's that for fun? But, I'm so glad it's done.


Last night I went with Susan to see BYU's Living Legends. It was a great show...fabulous dancing and amazing costumes.


They announced they are bringing the BYU Young Ambassadors to Tucson in 2009 - very excited for that show!