Young Women four day temple trip

The adventure begins at 5:45 a.m. tomorrow! I am so excited to be able to go to the Las Vegas and St. George temples with nine amazing young women and six terrific adults. I'm sure there will be lots of pictures to post upon our return!

concerts galore!

We had the opportunity to attend a concert almost every night this past week!
On Monday we went to Chase's fifth grade musical performance. He did a great job. It was great that he was in the front row so we could see all his fun dancing moves:

Chase and his friends just before the show!

On Tuesday we attended Reid's middle school choir concert. It was great to be back at DSMS and enjoy a great concert. We are all very proud of Reid that he is doing choir this year.


But nobody is more proud than Molly! She is just thrilled her little brother is in choir and drama!
On Thursday afternoon I got to attend the middle school awards assembly and watch Reid receive three different certificates! He received the Technology award, the Pride award (for never having a 'no' stamp) and the Principal's award for straight A's! Great job Reid - you are starting off middle school in a great way!


Chase is having a blast with soccer this season. He is on a team with all his buddies (about six live in our neighborhood!) so he is having a a great time!

I'm having fun taking this little guy to practice and seeing him socialize with the other kids there...so fun.

Last night we attended the high school choir concert. Molly is in Concert choir (she had a solo and did great!) and Show Choir (they did some really fun music at this concert) this year and is loving every single minute of it. She is really looking forward to the school musical coming up after Christmas break. Right now she is thinking of songs and monologues for her audition. Such a fun time in her life.


The above picture was taken in her Concert choir dress before leaving for the theater and the photo previously she was in her outfit for show choir.
Tonight Austin is off at an away football game playing in the band (wish I was there to get a picture but that will wait for a home game)...

Birthday wishes

I had a great birthday "weekend"!
I guess I should start off earlier in the week since I enjoyed a birthday lunch with James and Susan. Susan spoiled me with an amazing gift (thanks so much!) and the gift of her time. It's always nice to see her.
Friday James and I attended a salad/dessert potluck with some of the leaders from this past summers Young Women camp. (Nothing to do with my birthday of course but a terrific time with outstanding people, wonderful food and atmosphere and just very relaxing.
Saturday morning James and I went to the temple in Mesa and after had lunch at Cafe Rio. Last Sunday both of us spoke on the blessings of the temple in the University ward and I told him that is what I wanted to do for my birthday. A great morning and a great place to be together.
Saturday night we went to the Gaslight theater to see Cronan the Barbarian! The oleo following the show was Johnny Carson so that, of course, was just as fun! We loved it!


I spent my birthday morning (Sunday) in ward council and then church. The young women spoiled me with a birthday song and gift of letters that each had taken the time to write to me. I am deeply touched by their kindness and the nice things that had to say. Very overwhelmed!
After church James made a delicious dinner of Caesar salad, rolls, pork chops, mashed potatoes, squash and a birthday brownie for dessert! My family is my greatest gift!


The kids all made me homemade birthday cards (my favorite gifts!). James gave me a pocket digital camera, new scriptures, a magazine, chocolate covered raisins, Pride and Prejudice book. He knows all my most favorite things. He is also making plans for an additional birthday gift that is still 'in the works'. It's not necessary but I'm looking forward to it!

I'm feeling blessed...

because of some 'outings' I've taken recently. Three in particular:

1. A Labor Day trip to Southern Utah to visit family, attend a high school reunion for James and scout out sights for another upcoming visit.

2. A weekend on Mt. Lemmon with the Relief Society sisters in our ward.

3. A family dinner out. We did not travel far but it was just very enjoyable. I've realized before that we don't go out to eat as a family very often but it was brought to my attention again Monday night. Ryan and Chase were just so happy bouncing on the dining bench, so happy to be there, thrilled they offered mini corndogs. A great family meal and worth every cent of the outrageous $$ of paying for seven people to eat out. A great evening!

I'm feeling blessed for some upcoming 'outings' happening soon:

1. Four day temple trip with the Young Women from our ward. We are taking them to the Las Vegas and the St. George temples and to visit some church historical sights in St. George. Everyone is getting very excited. I am feeling very blessed to have two sister-in-laws that are doing so much behind the scenes work in getting houses ready for our stay. Also feeling blessed because of the amazing women I have the opportunity to serve with in Young Women, they are incredible.

2. Time Out for Women Seminar in Phoenix. So blessed I have the opportunity to go with a friend Friday and Saturday. And that we are getting a hotel so we don't need to commute two and 1/2 hours back and forth each day. Looking forward to the messages of the presenters.

3. Seattle! It will go by so very fast, but I am feeling so blessed that I will be able to spend time with my parents, celebrate my mom's birthday with her, see friends and enjoy the Fall weather.

Relief Society Retreat!

Our ward Relief Society hosted a retreat this past Friday night to Saturday afternoon at Camp Zion. It was, for me, a much needed getaway to recharge and escape to cooler weather.
It was wonderful to be surrounded by such wonderful women:

It was nice to be out among the trees and away from all responsibilities:

It was nice to be with good friends (me and my buddy Joanne!):

It felt good to laugh out loud at these crazy women and the fun skits they performed:



Friday evening we were treated to a talk by our stake Relief Society President. It was amazing! She talked about how each and every one of us has gifts and talents and the importance of recognizing them within ourselves. I was able to get A LOT of scrapbooking projects complete later that night - so fun to work while chatting with terrific ladies.
On Saturday I got to go rappelling (only my second time doing that, so fun!) and just enjoyed walking around the camp, participating in the different conversations with the ladies, reading my scriptures, working on some projects for the young women, etc...A wonderfully relaxing weekend!

James' 30th High School Reunion

James had his high school reunion in Southern Utah over Labor Day weekend. We were unable to go to the Friday night potluck at the park but did attend the Saturday evening dinner at the local middle school.
James attended his five year reunion (long before we met) but had not been back to a reunion since, so he was very glad he was able to arrange his schedule so he could go.
It was a wonderful evening reconnecting with high school friends. I have heard stories of all these great folks through the years and I quickly learned upon meeting them that these are all good people and James' life has been blessed because he knows them.
His graduation class had 66 graduates, these are those that attended the reunion:

Labor day weekend in Utah

We took a quick vacation to Southern Utah for Labor Day weekend. It was James' 30th high school reunion (as well as Peach Days in Hurricane and a trip to preview the sights for our upcoming young women temple trip).
We visited Pioneer Park in St. George - a gorgeous area overlooking the city, the temple and with a beautiful backdrop of red rock. We hope to have a devotional here when we return in a few weeks:


On Sunday we got to go to church as a family! Since James is on the high council he has only gone to sacrament meeting with us twice since he received his call in June. It was extra special that he shared his testimony during fast and testimony meeting.


Always a highlight when we go to Southern Utah to visit James' mom! She is an amazing woman and blesses our lives immensely.



The Sullivans invited us to Sunday dinner at their family cabin. It was a fun retreat to the woods and cooler weather for all. I enjoyed the beautiful green on the drive.


Molly and Ryan going for a ride with Uncle Terry...


The cousins playing games together.

Aunt Patty made all the kids pajama pants! They were a huge hit - the kids all love them.

It took us eight hours to get there and about ten hours to get home but worth every minute of it.

Today I'm...

Today I'm procrasinating getting ready for our weekend get-away. I've done all the laundry, bought the snacks for the car ride and food for our arrival but I'm not finding the energy to pack.

Today I'm thrilled to say I weighed in at WW and lost 4 pounds - woot woot!

Today I'm glad my kids are all healthy and fever-free. Fever and achy bodies have been passed from one to another lately.

Today I'm feeling so tired of all this Arizona heat. Bring on Fall!

Today I'm thinking about a friend from college I've recently reconnected with. Don't you love it when you have friendships with people that just 'get you'.

Today I'm missing my family. And the Seattle waterfront. And grass. And Ivar's fish and chips. And wearing socks and scarves...

Today my mind continues to think of each and every one of the young women I have the privilege to work with at church. As I pray for them each day and each night I hope they know how much I truly love them.

Today I'm ignoring most of the things on my to-do list and telling myself it just doesn't matter.

Today grateful for my many blessings.

Youth temple trip

On Saturday I had the opportunity to go to the temple with the youth of our ward.

The young women went in first while the young men went to the visitors center. Afterwards we switched and got to look around inside the Mesa visitors center.

We also had a little photo shoot which is always a lot of fun!


We also had a testimony meeting while we were waiting for the young men. It is always wonderful to hear the thoughts and feelings of these remarkable young ladies I have the blessing of associating with.
I am currently serving with these two ladies in the YW program. They have both just received callings and we are thrilled they could come to the temple!

This trip to our local temple has all of us looking forward to our upcoming four-day temple trip!

Chase's tenth birthday!

Chase had a fabulous tenth birthday! He opened his presents on Monday night (his birthday was last Tuesday) since his Tuesdays are pretty busy with school, then yoga, then cub scouts.
He opened gifts from mom and dad, nana and papa and aunt Cindy...



I brought snacks into his classroom for his birthday also. He choose pretzel goldfish and colored goldfish so I put them into individual sized lidded containers. He also brought Oreos for a snack to share with his friends at yoga. By the time cub scouts rolled around he chose not to bring anything as he was all 'snacked out'.
It was a good day.