Catching up!

It has been so long since I updated this blog. Here's a little of what we've been up too:

August 2010:
Austin had his Eagle Court of Honor on Aug. 7, 2010 at the Rita Ranch church building.
Chase celebrated his 11th birthday! We had Panda Express for dinner (his choice) and then on the weekend we went to the Gaslight theater as a family to celebrate.
James and I went to Mesa for the wedding of the daughter of a good friend. Young love is amazing, Lauren and Dennis are so happy and cute.
Ryan's second grade teacher did a home visit. Ryan loved playing with her!
Molly had a drama lock-in at the high school.
We had the missionaries over for dinner this month.
Austin began his first day of college at the University of Arizona. Aug. 23, 2010


So shoot me - I have no idea where my calendar pages are for Sept. and Oct. but I can say that I celebrated my 43rd birthday on Sept. 20. I also took a lovely two week trip to Washington state. It was absolutely lovely to visit family and friends, although yes! I missed my family dearly.

November 2010:
Ryan turned eight years old on November 9th! He didn't want a party so instead James took him a friend (Carver) to play mini-golf and to McDonald's for lunch.
We also went to the Gaslight theater for Ryan's birthday. We saw the Christmas show even though it the beginning of November. The kids loved it! We had second row seats.
Chase is very involved in club soccer. He is really enjoying it. Club soccer involves two practices a week for 1 1/2 hours plus Saturday games.
I am enjoying my swim (aquafit) classes three days a week as well as a yoga class once a week.
We stayed home for Thanksgiving this year and had turkey, rolls, sweet potato casserole, Dixie salad, funeral potatoes, green beans, corn and pie.
Molly and I went to see Beauty and the Beast at the Tucson Convention Center. We were lucky in that we had really great seats since we went to the matinée show the day after Thanksgiving.
The youth went to the temple Thanksgiving weekend so James and I both attended with Reid and Molly. James and I stayed there for the sealing of a friend (Gretchen) to her husband who was Austin's teacher in high school. It was a wonderful spiritually filled day.
I worked the Christmas gift shop at the elementary school.
I am also continuing to decorate the PTSA bulletin board, I enjoy it.

December 2010:
Reid had a lego robotics competition in Phoenix the first weekend of December. They received the award for most inspirational team! Reid was chosen to be the team captain and really enjoyed the process of working with the robot.
Molly celebrated her 17th birthday on December 5. I worked with some of her good friends and we pulled off a wonderful surprise party for her! It was a wonderful evening!
Molly had auditions this month for her high school's musical production of West Side Story. She earned the role of Maria! She is very excited!
I took some of the Young Women to perform hand manicures and hand massages at Sage, a day facility for developmentally disabled adults. It was our third time going since I have been a Young Women president. I love this type of activity.
I also hosted our Combined Young Women at Christmas in our home. We had a Christmas movie playing, beading crafts going, ornaments to make, lots of yummy snacks. It was fun to be together. We had each of the girls write a message to the bishopric on a paper ornament and then one of the Beehives and I went to the church building a few days later and decorated the Bishops office door with them.
James was in charge of a Single Adult Christmas dinner this month for singles 31+. He continues to serve on the High Council over Single Adults and the Stake Relief Society. I think he enjoys his calling.
I enjoyed visiting our old ward (Valencia) for the homecoming talk of a friend's son returning from his mission (Mark Carter).
James turned 50 years old on December 14. He celebrated it by doing a tandem jump out of an airplane! So fun for him!
James and I celebrated 20 years of marriage on December 15.
Molly performed in a stake youth Christmas concert. She had weekly practices for about a month and a half. It was a great event.
We had a beautiful Christmas at home. It really was lovely but I must admit it was a little too quiet for me. I know, I know...I need to embrace not being busy. I just so missed not being with any family this year. Still though, I love the little family that we have and it was great to just 'be' at home with them.
Ryan was baptized on December 30, 2010 at the Rincon Stake Center at 7 p.m. by his dad. It truly was a beautiful event. We were truly blessed by the support we had in people attending the event. Claire and Terry Sullivan and their kids, Taylor and William all came from Utah. Claire brought Ryan a 'taco' blanket that her and Patty (Ryan's aunts) made for him. It has puppies on it and came with a matching pillow. This gift will be loved for years and years to come. It is truly a favorite and is used every single day! Ryan's bishop and his wife also attended the baptism: Bishop Leon and Sister Staci Boerup came as well as Brother Dan Atkins from the bishopric and his wife Lisa and their kids. Also in attendance was members of the primary presidency and his primary teachers: Sister Melanie Hutchings and Sister Jill Reimann. Also our friends, Richard and Hannah Clark, Joanne Hendrix, Angela Garcia and family, Mark and Gaylene White (our home teachers), Trent and Carver Bell...so many. I was moved by the wonderful testimonies that were shared while James and Ryan were changing their clothing. Molly sang I Am A Child of God once James and Ryan returned to the room. It was lovely. We had refreshments at our home afterwards. The next day was New Year's Eve and we spent it in Bisbee and Tombstone with the Sullivans. It was soooo cold - Tombstone even had snow! We had a lovely visit to the Tombstone courthouse and visited the main street and a few shops there. We then drove to Bisbee and had a delicious lunch. That evening we had the Sullivans over for dinner and played some fun family games with them. It was a nice, low-key New Year's Eve spent with people we love.

January 2011:
Reid turned 13 on January 8. He chose not to have a family party so we had Panda Express (his choice) and kept things very low key. He wanted money as a gift (such a teen!).
On January 9 James, Molly, Reid and I went to a Stake Sunday Evening Discussion for the 2011 mutual theme of "We Believe". Molly sang with her boyfriend, Brad. It really brought the Spirit.
Reid had four teeth pulled this month that just weren't coming out on their own. The dentist was a little concerned he may need braces but we took him to the orthodontist and things look good for now, we will check in in another year. whew!
Reid had a scout camp-out this month. It was cold but he went prepared and enjoyed himself. This ward does a great job of offering camping trips pretty much every month.
We spent every Saturday at a soccer game for Chase and have really enjoyed the season.
Molly attended a Priest/Laurel conference at the Univ. of Ariz. campus. It involved hundreds of 16 - 18 year old youth and all had a great time.
Molly went to Regional Choir auditions and made it in! They take 25 girls and 25 boys that are the best of the best from the regions. It is an honor to be accepted and she is looking forward to performing with them in February.
Chase and Ryan had well-child doctor visits and all looks great! Ryan is doing so much better in communicating with the doctor. It is amazing how much his shyness has improved from a year ago. He let them test his hearing and take his height and weight. He was a little shy about the eye exam but completed almost all of it.
James went to Utah for six days this month to complete things at his mom's house. It is a long process of going through items and preparing the house to rent. I know he wishes he had more time in Utah.
I was in charge of a Young Women Board meeting this month. Our theme was the 2011 mutual theme "We Believe". It is good to gather together as sisters, all of us who are reaching toward a common goal. We often have presidency meeting but it was great to be with our sports directors, camp directors, advisors!

February 2011:
Ryan participated in his first Pinewood derby! He did so great! A fun time was had by all.
I worked spring pictures at the elementary school.
We just had a youth etiquette dinner at church. The laurel class was in charge. This was the second time I have done this event since I have been in and I enjoyed both times very much.
Molly attended a Choir weekend trip to Northern Arizona University.
I am enjoying attending my swim classes, yoga, book club once a month, stamp club every other month...
Valentine's Day was pretty low key but nice. We gave the kids each their own box of girl scout cookies (except Molly who didn't want cookies so she got new mascara) :)
We also gave them a Where's Waldo book and a new Wii Just Dance 2 game that should be fun for their entire family.
James and I went to Red Lobster for dinner on Friday. James gave me a gift card for our anniversary in December but we had yet to go). We then went to the movies at the mall so it was a late anniversary/happy Valentine's day date.
I gave James the normal See's chocolates and handmade card and notes and he gave me a Fuji instant camera (which I adore!) and a singing telegram! There is a group of homeschooled students who do this every year to earn money for a trip (this year they hope to go to Washington D.C.) and they sang You Are My Sunshine and presented me with a Marie Callender pie, a red rose and a card. It was quite fun!
Today I enjoyed lunch at MiMi's restaurant with Susie in celebration of her birthday. It is always fun to see her!
Coming up this month is Vail Pride Day, more soccer games, New Beginnings for Young Women, Rodeo Break, the Children's Show Molly is performing in, and my parents will arrive at the end of the month or in early March!