Where Has the Time Gone?

It is surreal to read an old journal entry from long ago and have the perspective you wish you had then. I loved reading about my realizing I was pregnant with my first child. I wrote of all the things I wanted to teach my children. As my oldest is soon to be eighteen, I hope I have taught her what I yearned for all my children to know. Which is that The holy ghost will guide you in the right paths and choices to make in life. Keep a journal, it helps record your thoughts, good deeds, intentions, and makes for a great story to remind yourself of later. Family is more important than the trials and mundane requirements of life. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. Most hard experiences will work out. Even pain, and financial woes can pass.. Death and change are part of our existence, but we can endure to the end and hopefully well.

Life right now is barreling forward it seems as Emmy approaches the second half of her senior year. We have been filling out applications for colleges and all that is required for her to make an informed decision. It will take some adjusting for all of us as our oldest transitions into adulthood. She was away to University of the Pacific for a speech and debate competition and the rest of us had family time. We walked on a bridge. Spencer smiled right before he threw his toy off the bridge. I was cracking up. Never a dull moment with these kids even as they grow older!

 I'm glad Emmy is still willing to dress up for Halloween and spend a lot of time with the family. She is loved and we always want her around. Joseph will be in High School next year, I don't know how that happened so quickly. He was a sport for Halloween too. At our ward trunk or treat, he decorated the trunk with Emmy and he was on passing out candy duty. He ran around after to get a few handfuls of candy. Celia enjoyed running around with her friend that was in a bumble bee outfit. It made it nice to spot her friend's costume and know Celia was close by. We had date night and Bri and I had fun shopping and going for frozen  yogurt at yogurt time, one of Emmy's favorite places. I imagine we will do that kind of thing more as we adjust to her going off to college if she chooses to go out of state. In the meantime we will keep teaching and loving spending time with each of our precious children.

Sibling Rivalry?

Anaheim Concert

After a wonderful day at the beach we hurried home and ate dinner with my folks and Emmy and I went to Downtown Disney for the concert. The kids in the line were e\wearing black and I was a little worried about what kind of other bands were playing with yellow card. The first band was okay and then the lead singer turned funny. He was cracking jokes and doing disappearing acts and jumping in to the crowd. I was cracking up, it as fun. There is standing the whole time for these concerts, but we got there at just the right tie to have a guardrail to lean on which helped for the first two bands. The next band was Memphis  May Fire. I heard later they're a Christian hard rock bad. They put on quite a show with smoke and lights. The few slow songs they sang were really good. The other rock songs had a bit of screaming in it. I think these alternative folks are sensitive and deep and try to sing for the angst teenagers may be able to relate to. I feel like I got a whole new perspective on that style of music. It was contradictory to see the tattoos and hear them yell one minute and encourage and uplift with kindness the next. Overall , I enjoyed the openers which was an answer to my prayers.  Yellow card was good too. I feel like I know this band well after having seen them four times with Emmy, but this performance was different. It seems like they want to make a difference with their music and have a purpose behind it with their dedication of the song one bedroom to benefit a charity called invisible children. The lead singer's wife is paralyzed and the violinist is still battling cancer and everyone in the band was singing and paying together as if there was no lead among them. I found it interesting and endearing. Emmy of course loved everything about it and was close by wen all the bands came for a group picture at the end. It was quite the concert to attend, very nice. I was grumpy because my feet hurt at the end of the night, but over all it was worth it. I'm glad I'm getting some great time in with Emmy as she is on the cusp of adulthood and leaving the nest for college in the coming year.  I hope that our relationship will continue to be great and grow as she matures.

A Day at the Beach

It was a great weekend trip with my girls to L.A. I had ben wanting to go visit Laguna Beach and it seemed Celia did too, she loved it so much. She wants to go back to the shell store next vacation and she swears she had been to the restaurant we went to before or had seen it in a dream! We were blessed to find great parking and walk right to a wonderful restaurant with a view. The food as excellent. I loved he coconut shrimp and salmon with quinoa and roasted vegetables. I felt great after this healthy meal. Celia had a ice cream sundae with her kids meal which she loved and I loved seeing the sail boats in the background. The waiter mentioned yellow card after seeing Emmy's shirt and she was happy to mention that we were going to the concert that night. He was jealous he said and now I know why Emmy loves to wear band merchandise, to have people talk t her about her favorite music! I don't remember this area having such blue water, but it was a lovely day and even Grandma said she enjoyed the beach for the first time. I love the tide coming in and the rocks and many colors of rock and cave around the bend. It was relaxing and memorable.

Everyday Socializing

I've been having fun spending time with Joseph. He is the middle child and the other kids I have can need a lot of attention so it was fun to take just Joseph out for a mommy son date. He wanted to go to La Provence. It was beautiful there and yummy too. Celia has been wanting to scooter to school so we have been taking our bikes. Joseph rode home and I caught him on camera. He doesn't look for cars which makes me nervous, but at least he is willing to ride home from school.:) I had fun going to Halloween Bunco last night. There is always so much yummy food, great conversation and this time  costumes! I was like a girl robin hood character. It is fun for the moms to dress up since I doubt I will to take them trick or treating. We got some rain which as beautiful and it is finally cooling down here a little bit. I find myself wanting to relax and read the scriptures or watch something while the ids are at school and break up my to do lists to rejuvenate. The girls are going to L.A. and I'm sure the boys will have a great time here.

Autumn?

The Pumpkin Farm was fun on Saturday. I really want to start celebrating fall, but the weather has not been cooperating. Celia has a make up tutoring session on Saturday. It was fun to get out and about. Sometimes when in home, I just feel the need to clean. The farm was lovely and it wasn't too hot out yet since we arrived in the morning. We  checked out the petting zoo. The goats were cute and quite excited for visitors. The train ride was fun, even though I felt like we were in a hamster's cage. I did like giving the ticket, like we were on a train like in Harry Potter.  There are many life size statues around. some of metal, some of plastic.  Celia did great even though some were scary. We went through the haunted barn which was very dark, musty, and dusty. They did a great job with it although Celia asked why they would make barbies look like dead people? The rest of our weekend was great having rides together and family time. Emmy, Joseph, Brian and I played Magic the gathering card game. I didn't win and it was annoying, but I'm sure it was just my sore throat. We need rain badly and so I might of been grumpy from the dust and wind. At least we aren't at dust bowl status, but it is apparent that crops were not as good this year. I'm hoping and praying for a rainy fall and winter.