Best Birthday

Joseph said this was his best birthday yet! I decided to spoil him like I would an only child, hehe. I thought he needs twelve presents, on for each year! It was more I think. Being a middle child, I think it is good to show him some extra attention which he just gobbles it up! I love his smiles, excitement, hugs, and appreciation. We had fun playing badminton although the birdies flew over the fence due to the wind.;) Celia joseph and I took a walk around the neighborhood to fetch them. Celia said she wanted to go hike. We don't believe her, we remember the last time we took her on a hike and she thought she was going to die! Emmy invited me to go to the park and play badminton later and we had a great time. Joseph loves his tent and sleeping bag. I'm sure he will get a lot of use out of them for boy scouts and for just pitching up a room of his own to find peace and quiet.

Joseph's Bowling Birthday

Last Night we went bowling for Joseph's Birthday. I was excited about a Groupon I had and that Joseph really wanted to use it!  We got bumpers on the alley and had a fun time playing a few games. We love to make facial expressions when it doesn't hit exactly as planned.  Celia was a real trooper as it was a long time and she was wanting to be playing the arcade games, which we eventually got around to. w have a coupon  for the snack bar so we waited in this horrendously long line. happily it was right by our lane, so we took turns standing in line.  Slushies and nachos were a hit. Bri bowled for me once and made a strike. Joseph said that is why I won, although I say otherwise.:) Emmy made her first strike ever and beat us all the first game. I was so happy for her.  Joseph and Emmy cheered when I didn't get my third strike in a row to get a turkey, little stinkers. I wondered if I was teaching them well, like to be happy for people when they do well. Right after I thought this I received a compliment asking if Joseph was my son, saying Joseph was such a sweat heart, he had given his seat to her. That's my Gentleman Joe!

I Love General Conference

I love General Conference and the great inspiration I feel when watching. Joseph's Birthday is Saturday, well there is general conference!  He will get to go to priesthood conference with Bri for the first time on since he is 12 now! :) After, they are heading to a super yummy dinner at Lucille's BBQ together, Yum! We had to get him some new shoes, his tennis shoes with his suit won't quite cut it anymore.~

All Aspects of Easter

Spring is here. We had a great thunder and lightning storm last night, much rain. The air smells great and we are enjoying our Easter Sunday so far!  Sometimes I feel Easter can be a little too commercial, however I'm deciding now we can appreciate both.  I'm appreciative for the Lord's sacrifice, his atonement, and resurrection. I am also grateful for the beautiful season of spring and all it's newness that comes from it.  We've eaten a lot of eggs, are excited about a ham dinner, and church should be great! When I feel no pressure to make Easter be a certain way, I can just enjoy the beauties of life, the happiness of my family, and the gifts we are given from our Heavenly father.  Happy Easter!

March Miscellaneous

Well we've done some fun little things I forgot to blog about this month.:) We had a great time washing the cars. It was Joseph's idea. He is such a good boy. he does things around the house like mow and wash cars, but I forget when he does a little complaining. I need to catching him doing good to remember him more.

 Emmy and Joseph have had some fun times at Rah's Rah's house too this month.  I decided to cut several inches off my hair and Celia had a friend over to play. We are fading out tutoring in may, but we have a lot of fun teaching the kids and working on goals with the kiddos during the week days. I'm sure sometime ill miss the busy time doing things with the kids, their projects and school events.  We played a new family night game, it really works well for taking turns and being together time.

Emmy and I finished her Teen Smart driver's training and I feel like we both are better driver's for doing it. Spence is sleeping through the night right now after having a spell of not sleeping. It makes me grateful for the rest when things normalize. Phew, up next, the birthday month! Maybe we can take it easy on the celebrations and get lots of good family time in!

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.