Festivities

I wasn't feeling very festive for Easter this year. It was nice when Allie, Celia's tutor brought her some egg dye and a basket, with tons of stickers. Merlene also brought over Easter eggs filled and we had a little hunt in our backyard. I took Joseph and Celia to our ward Easter egg hunt. It was smart the primary leaders had all the kids only chose six eggs until everyone had picked up six. Celia and Joe played a few games including the two legged race. They didn't win, but it was nice watching them try at least to work together.  I enjoyed talking with a visiting family and a few friends.

  I've been a little under the weather and am excited to a little quiet time after spring break is through.  This evening Emmy and I went to Antelope and watched the general YW broadcast there in our old church building. I'm glad they have the mothers attend with their daughters. I love the speaker and their talk of standing in holy places, doing our family history, and being not moved from righteousness. Also, President Uchdorf gave a great talk about journeys and the plan of salvation.  The Lord will not leave us alone, love one another, and be of good cheer.  It was very uplifting.  I always feel good when I read the scriptures or hear from the prophet and apostles and their encouragement. Tomorrow I Easter and I hope we can teach our children of the importance of our savor and his resurrection, so they can know the true meaning of Easter, and the great hope it brings.

The Girl's Performances

All month long Celia has been practicing and waiting to dance in front of the whole world! Parent teachers and family constituted that when she performed at her school the Starstruck dance last Wednesday night.  It was a cute boys and girls routine. The girls flipped their hair and the boys flexed their muscles. The choreography was darling and I was so impressed with all the performances. Celia was the first to come on stage and the last to leave. She found Emmy in the audience and smiled and looked at us. She didn't seem to nervous and danced well.  Emmy was taken to young women's by her leader that was at the show watching her daughter. That was nice and convenient and a blessing.


 I'm excited for Emmy to get her license since it will lighten my taxi part of my motherhood duties. However, we've been working on a teen smart driver's training to get a discount with our insurance, and it only makes me more nervous. There are so many hazards out there and the curriculum is teaching the teen driver to be aware of them . There are some computer simulations and workbooks to fills out, videos to watch, and time spent with me in the car. I'm trying to work on my patience when I feel nervous in the car teaching Emmy. I'm sure we will all live through this and she'll be a better driver for it. The Big day is tomorrow. We'll go to the Carmichael DMV in the morning ( a hint given by her driver's Ed teacher) to improve her chances of success in obtaining a California Driver's license!

Last Saturday's Fun~

It was a little bit of a busy weekend. Our weekends usually are pretty low key. We try and go for family rides and spend as much time as we can together. Emmy has been going to Church youth dances every Saturday since the end of Jan. Sure enough there was on Saturday. I was invited to Kristin's 40th Birthday Bash at BJ's Pizzeria. Bri volunteered to watch Spence and the other kids so I took Emmy as my date.:) Then they Andrew and Emmy Dressed up and I took them to the dance.

We had a great time at the Birthday. I didn't mind sitting at the kid table meaning with Emmy and Andrew and his brothers. Emmy and Andrew are always fun to be around, and talk to. I felt extra special that Kristin came over and hung out with us for a  little bit.  She so sweet and how wonderfully spoiled she was to have such a great celebration week and dinner with her friends to top it off. I'm so happy for her! I enjoyed Stake women's conference in the morning learning about the many religions there are in this area. I felt like I need to learn more, so it must have been great! Presidency meeting yesterday and then church. I am liking the times when I get to be home and feel grateful for the opportunities to play and serve in my life.

American River Confluence Trail

Well, I do know what I like to do. I was so happy to get on a five mile hike last Friday. We went to Auburn and found a trail right by the river. There was a waterfall and a great up and back. There were seven of us hikers and it made for a really great time.  I love falling in single file line and talking while walking in nature. These wonderful women are a little older than me and I love hearing their perspective and great insights. We hiked way down to the river then had to go right back up. It was crawling style. It was very fun and I wish working out at the gym was this fun. I'm sure I'd do it as often as I could! These are pictures our hike leader Heidi took.:)

Padres in Town

We had so much fun with my parents in town to visit last week. My folks came to church with us and my Mom got to hear me give my lesson in R.S. It was about families and children and she said afterwards we really do teach our children and ending learning from them as well.

 My Mom, Dad, and I were adventurous everyday. We went to the gym and shopping a lot. Bri and I took them to Lucille's BBQ, The ribs were a real hit. We walked around the fountains after and enjoyed the chairs around the fire pit. We planted some super cute succulents and traveled all over like tourists.:) I got a little spoiled having another driver around. Emmy is going to test for her license later in March. I think we've been taxi and taught her enough to actually feel a little bit comfortable with the Idea of her getting her license. ( Just barely).

Celia is going to be in a dance recital called Starstruck next week at school. She talks about how the whole world will see it. She feels like her friends and family are the whole world! She says the cutest things. Most recently she told  me she was hot, then said, I'm like a turkey sweating in November.:) She is doing pretty well, although we tried to have her stop tutoring all together and make some changes at school. Needless to say after a call home from her principal for punching another child, we put things back to the way they were. I just love our kiddos. They all take so much time and effort, but that is what is so fulfilling about being home with them.

We are still waiting on Spencer's IPad from school for his speech device however, lately he has been approximating words more. He wants to talk and is showing us he is listening anymore. SO that is a heads up for us to be careful what we talk about around him, because he is in on the conversation!
Joseph has been raising his grades to earn a video game. Whatever works right? He recently got a 4 in earth science. There has a funny grading system here in Roseville, but basically its a well earned A. I'm so proud of her hard work and especially raising his P.E. grade up a bunch. Sixth grade P.E. is quite a bit more vigorous than what he was used to before, so it can be a lot of effort.  Don't we all have things that are harder than we're used to. That takes some getting used to and some positive reinforcement to get it done.

Well we are doing good and trying to focus on what matters most and brings the most happiness here and now and in the world to come. Dad did some genealogy with my book of remembrance on his new mac. It made it so I could find some temple ready names. It's our stake challenge to take one name to the temple. I had been working on  it for almost a year and thanks to my dad I was able to bring and do work for three names at the Sacramento temple this week. I'm excited and felt it was a faith building experience to think of linking our family members together.

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.~