Monday Off

Things have been a little busy and crazy around here, so its good to focus on the positive. I went to the dentist and we are going to wait for my body to grow some more gum tissue before we mess with it again. Surgery in the future, but not yet, Phew.  Joseph has been having a lot of projects due lately. he has been working on his homework well so he can earn video game time. Love that kid.  Many changes at school for Celia. She isn't going to have tutoring anymore in the afternoons. he'll just have friends over to play and go to their house too. She has a little social class at school and does very well when she thinks she is the smartest girl around.:) Emmy is taking piano from a new teacher, Sister Ruiz from the ward. her first lesson went well and I think Emmy will do great there. Rah Rah has been spoiling me lately with little gifts or treats dropped by. I love it and sure need it with all the late nights with Spence and this darn Vertigo that has reared its head again.  On Monday for President's day we did some projects for Spring cleaning with Emmy, Joe, and Celia then we went to Costa Vida for lunch. It was yummy. We also got the chance to run up I 80 and see some snow at our side of the road turn off. There is a gas station right there on the Nyvack exit, but plenty of space to tromp around in the snow. Today Bri and I had a great date night Teriyaki chicken, some shopping and I go the DVD for Downton Abbey.

 I love how I get to be in charge of date night and we have a great time together.  Some things coming up are getting my curtains up, new book shelves in our room for Brian's book collection, and game night on Valentine's day. I love my family even though it is taxing sometime. It is a great work for me and I love it.

Upcoming reads

I finished a book today.:) "No one can take your place." By Sherri Dew. A Christmas gift from Rah Rah. I would recommend it.

I've visited another book group. There may be too many good books to read and too little time. When I'm feeling sick, I read quite a bit more. I don't want to wish that on myself so maybe ill just schedule less and Take time to read. I want to read "Match"," A God that Weeps", "John Adams", and finish my trilogy with "Bitterblue". Yes, I think I will have to choose, since some of those may take sometime to get through. It's good to have a list though and be excited how little by little gets things done and accomplished!

Opposites

It has been too long since I went around and took pictures of interesting things in life just for the fun of it. My interest was piqued in seeing a nurture photography photo challenge. Photos of black and shadows. I thought I read light and shadows. I loved the idea of opposites together in one picture. We had a foggy sunrise the other day with great color. Last night Spence and I went to the park at sunset. We have really long legs in the shadows.:) The sun was setting and giving forth great light and making beautiful shadows. It was very enjoyable. We needed it, coming off a day with a stressful moment in it. Today has been a good day. I'm thankful for opposites.

Emmy's Winter ball

     After much convincing by my mom we went and had Emmy's hair done for Winter ball. The style is called a waterfall braid. It was a great choice, it fell loosely and went really well with her dress. We were so fortunate to find her dress. We found it at Ross on clearance. There are only a handful of dresses in her size, I'm glad we found a great one.

     Emmy wanted to wear red and black. Since the dress was all black, we went for touches of red in the corsage and the necklace.  My mom got the perfect necklace and sent it in the mail just in time. Rah Rah hemmed up the bottom of the dress to make sure it wouldn't drag on the floor without her shoes. Emmy is so fortunate and loved. It's great she has a nice boy to go with as well. I can't help but think Emmy is growing up so fast! It is a great time, but I'm also glad I have little Celia to focus on her younger years.  Emmy will have gone to three dances by the time February is over. I just love February. It is close to spring here in Nor. Cal when Feb. rolls around. Tax returns, decorations, kindness. It is going to be a great month!

Driving Emmy and Star Celia

I'm getting excited for Emmy to actually have her driver's license. The running of kids back and forth for activities can be really busy! I think its one of those having teenagers things. Something drives you crazy and it prepares you for them to be a little bit more independent. So, yeah waiting for her to come out of school while the other kids are getting out of school makes me excited for her to drive herself to school in just two short months!  While we were waiting for Emmy, Celia and Joseph and I played at the park near Emmy's high school. Celia and Joseph just had their teeth cleaned ( Celia will be going back to the dentist on Thursday to have her two baby fangs extracted to make room for her eye teeth, yikes) and were excited to be out of school! It has been a cold winter, but a little sunshine really warms our spirits and the body. Celia got a haircut, we love the cute Dora the Explorer style on her.

Celia star of the week. She has made a poster, brought three things to share, provided photos to go on the star wall and had the teacher read her favorite book to the class. She says it is a lot of work to be a star. I'm sending a little letter about her for them to read today and I'll be her special visitor for lunch tomorrow. On Friday her friends give her a binder of artwork and a fun note from each member of the class. They grow up too quickly. I'm glad I have Celia to do all this fun elementary school age activities with. We are excited for Valentine's day. Celia says it is her favorite Holiday! That doesn't surprise me knowing her love of pink and all things heart shaped.~

Go, Fix, Rest

I want to get out and move. I went to my old gym on Monday. It was funny seeing the manager there. Of course He recognized me since I've had that membership for a while( Despite the I haven't seen You in a while look ), but I've been going to the one in Rocklin more since it is a bit closer.  It was foggy and I ran on the treadmill a little. Pretty boring, I tell ya. So the next day I went walking around a nice neighbor hood that has a great circular path and some biking paths nearby. I love to hike, and this was as pretty as being out in nature on a hike even though it was just green space near neighborhoods. I loved the blue birds, the trees, the sun breaking through the fog and everything being green. Funny how it gets so green here in the winter because of all the moisture and rain.  It has been extra cold here this year so all my plants in the backyard look dead, but hopefully things will come back in a month or two. Finding a lady bug gave me hope, he kids loved it too. I put it on my rose bush and hope she/he wants to stay.

There always a mishap when I plan to go out and exercise. Celia broke her glasses Monday, Tuesday Spence slept in Tuesday so we couldn't walk the other kids to school, and Today Joseph had a scrapped up knee from a mishap yesterday so walking was out of the question. Guess I'll just have to make the effort at a different time today. It makes me happy to stretch , be out and about,  and exercise. Its not a resolution per say, but consistently treating my body well is! That being said I have some sleep to make up since I was with Spence last night. I gotta get my no light curtains I bought up so that I can cat nap during the day sometime, my body knows when its light out and wont let me sleep. Here's to tricking it and getting some rest!

Ringing In the New Year

Sometimes I feel like writing things down is so very beneficial. I had an amazing week last week and yet the memories start to fade just a little in the light of new challenges and the mundane.  I was the recipient of many tender mercies. First of which was strength and health to drive to L.A. and back. I felt very ill the night before leaving for our trip to visit my folks in L.A. I heard there were problems and accidents on the grapevine due to snow and Ice. I checked the weather there and realized Friday would be the time to go and that getting there before dark would be ideal.

 I had a prayer with Bri and the family and after much preparation Emmy, Celia, Joseph and I headed to Grandma's house.We saw a beautiful sunset and although there was a bit of traffic, we were enjoying our ride down. Mid way through the grapevine we decided to pull off and get some food. As I was turning left the car in front of me seemed to be going backwards and as I slammed on the brakes, I realized glass and other debris was headed our way. I yelled and realized after looking around, we hadn't made contact with the car and the big monster truck that struck him was head on in front of us shining its headlights less than two feet away from our car. I got out, we were fine, our car was fine, and all was well with the other drivers. Yes, I felt we were spared from the accident. Not lucky, but protected. As the days and events unfolded that week. I saw more and more the tender mercies, good deeds, and blessings we received.  It sounds silly to name them, not conveying the love and fortune we felt. Suffice it to say we enjoyed a lovely time  in great places, with family, and did well to strengthen our most important relationships, that of the family.

 After the Aquarium of the Pacific at night, we found Celia's doll she had lost, and my kids player with their cousins( Addison and Kieran) played the Wii literally until they were taken home for family time. Sunday we enjoyed some Church and a Thanksgiving like New years Eve Dinner, Delicious~

 Knott's Berry Farm was a highlight of our trip. Fast pass;) and an Ariel view of all of Orange county's New year's fireworks from the Sky cabin was Magical. Celia loved the lollipops and stuff animal used to comfort her after going on "The Jaguar".  We all were happy driving home  to be back with Spencer and Brian. He was so great to watch him for that time away. Happy New year, now I just can't wait for school to start.:)

Relaxing Christmas at Home

We had a white Christmas Eve morning. It was fog, not snow though. It burned off and was a lovely day. I loved watching the kids make a ginger bread train... not really they were doing it wrong and making a mess, ha ha. No, this was our first time making one. We had fun, but I had to snap a few pics before it fell over.  We cleaned and organized a bit as a family. That was my Christmas wish, to work together, to get things organized and have my kiddos learn how to "Keep things" right before they "get things". The two younger kiddos could not wait to open presents. They were beginning to be a broken record with the asking. It was nice timing then for Papa and Rah to come over with their gifts to the kids. It is very nice to stay home and relax for the holidays, especially for Spencer. He has done pretty well the past few days.  We enjoyed a Ham and Scallop potatoes dinner and great cookies and brownies. Amber stopped by and we wrapped a few last minute gifts. We drove around our neighborhood and looked at the tremendous amount of luminary lights. We were full, happy, and grateful this Christmas Eve.

Santa stayed up late and the kids were up early. Everyone was pleased with their gifts and we've had great family time together.  Celia is fun to watch, it is nice to still have a little one so excited. She is in the cardboard box that Emmy's electric guitar came in. That Box may be her favorite thing about Christmas, Lol. I feel so grateful for family and am excited to see my Parents( Been missing them) and Tanya's family for New Year's. We are blessed and have checked all the good things remembering Christ and giving to others off our list at least for a couple days. Merry Christmas!

This Christmas

We've had a lot of rain and frost finally around here. The weather thought it was supposed to summer all the way through November. I love that our lights plug in to our outlet outside and are wired to a switch in the garage. Turning on and off the Christmas lights is easier than ever! Brian found an outlet to do the same for the tree inside, its on a switch.:) Rah and Papa gave us their big tree so we have been enjoying two this year.:) I'm glad I shopped Black Friday, its crazy out there. Even shopping for groceries and going to store on date night yield black Friday like lines. Amazon is great for purchasing on line and I fee l so blessed to have time to service others , attend the temple, and enjoy Christmas. 

We are so blessed with the conveniences of life and the strength we have from practicing principles we learn in church and through  personal study. We had a lovely dinner and program about the miracles of Christ last Thursday. The program consisted of speakers sharing with us scriptures and testimony of the miracles of healing, forgiveness, and sealing power of the priesthood(families being together in the next life). I gave the closing comments and loved the beautiful music performed there and the spirit that was shared. It helped me for the next morning reading about and seeing photos of a terrible shooting at an elementary school in CT.  Like many I cried and felt mourning for the precious lives that were cut short. Also, for the families that would remain and all those hurt by the situation. I did however remember how we had just heard and testified of Christ's healing influence. Of course I am mourning, but it helped ease the pain a little to know of the gospel plan and Christ's important part in healing and making things right in all circumstances.

This Christmas I am taking President's Monson's advice to ask what can we give to our Savior. Obedience to his commandments, service in his kingdom, and love to all those around me. Another admonition  was given to treat others with kindness and not have contention in our homes and in our hearts. I love my family deeply and I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ loves us all as well. I am learning, but I believe it will be a Merry Christmas this year especially as we strive to focus on what matters most, and loving others.