Piano Recital

Ethan had a piano recital tonight.It was at an Assisted Living Facility here in Gilbert.  It was fun to watch the resident’s there enjoy the kids talent. He did a great job. He played 2 songs. “Pop Goes the Weasel” and “Turkey in the Straw”.

End of Baseball

Baseball ended this weekend. It was fun while it lasted but I think we are all glad it is over.

Ethan had a blast with Jaxon and Jaren,

But spent most of his time here

He didn’t get much playing time, but had a great attitude about the whole thing.

Fun Run

Today was the school’s Fun Run. It is so fun to go up and watch the kids run. They have so much energy.I wish I had just a fraction of it. Rachel and I were able to go up and see both Zachary and Ethan run.

Zachary’s grade was up first thing in the morning. Rachel found a friend and sat with her the whole time I don’t think she even noticed Zachary running.

We went back after lunch to watch Ethan’s grade. The 2nd grade teachers gave each class a color to make it easier to find “their kids”. Ethan’s class was pink! We wasn’t thrilled with the choice but ran with it.

After they were so hot and tired, but they enjoyed their cold treats and some extra recess time.

I had a hard time getting a good shot of him. He would run by so fast most of my shots were just a second to late.

Liz got this great shot of him. It is my favorite.

Family Activity

 

So this is our new family free-time activity. Bob bought the complete series(3 seasons) of Gilligan’s Island for Christmas. The kids are addicted(that is kind of an understatement). Rachel constantly asks can we watch Gilligan? The kids will even give up video games to watch an episode.

Rachel is the funniest. We were at target the other day and walking past a display. It was of a lady on a lawn chair. The background looked liked a rainforest. She yelled,” Mom, looks it is just like Gilligan’s Island.” She also the other night at dinner was messing around trying everything she could think of to get out of eating. All of a sudden yells out, “Look what I made with my carrots!” We all gave a few guesses and she was getting upset and said, “ NO, it is Mr. Howell”

They all know the theme song by heart and it is not uncommon to hear one of them humming it or all of them singing along as an episode starts.

Our Temple

Our Gilbert Temple is taking shape.  It is so fun to drive by on a regular basis and see the changes going on. Yesterday the frame for the steeple went up it was so exciting to see. We can’t wait until it is done. Rachel asks when we can go in every time we drive by.

When it is finally finished we would love to have anyone who wants to attend the open house come for a visit.

Old toys

Over the weekend I was cleaning and organizing my cedar chest. While I was doing that Rachel came in and found my dolls that I had in there from when I was a little girl. The pink baby on the far right was a favorite that I  got for my first Christmas and the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls were that my Grandma Redfearn gave me to go with my Raggedy Ann bedroom. A friend of hers made them.

It was so fun to see her playing with  and enjoying the same toys I played with.

Happy Belated Birthday

It’s hard to believe that Brandon is 15!!! wasn’t it just yesterday we brought him home from the hospital?

How fast the time has gone, I still think of him as the little thing he once was.  It is hard to imagine that next year he will be driving and dating!!!

We had a really low key birthday this year, but the gift made up for it. Brandon spent the morning getting to sleep in a little, and having donuts for breakfast. After that he got to hang out with Rachel while Bob and Zach did Scouting for Food and Ethan and I went to his game.

After lunch at Rubio's the boys spent the day just hanging and and playing video games while Bob and I went to the temple.

Then it was on to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. He didn’t want to have them sing or sit on the saddle so we don’t have any pictures.

Then it was home for dessert and presents. He requested cheesecake so that is what we had. YUM!

Presents were the highlight of the day!! He got a video camera. He has been asking and asking for one. He is taking a video production class in school and LOVES it. He loves to show us the movies that he makes and wants to do his own, but we didn’t have a digital video camera. As you can see he was so excited.

So the goofy look was staged. We were having so much fun watching him open it and seeing his reaction we forgot to take a picture!!

First Dentist Visit

Rachel had her fist official dentist visit. For the past 2 years she has gone with me when the boys get their cleanings done and they have her climb up in the chair at the end for a second.

Today it was all about her and she did so good. The hygienist said most 3 year olds don’t sit that still. She complimented Rachel for how good she was sitting and listening.

She was so proud of herself and loved the treat bag she got too. She also got to put her name in the no cavity club drawing for the end of the month, which she is sure she will win!

Car Accident

A few weeks ago while taking the kids to school we were involved in a car accident. It is true what they say about most accidents happening within a mile of your home. We were just down the street at the stop sign.

Everyone was fine. Rachel didn’t have her buckles on all the way and was reaching to get something out of the seatback in front of her and bumped her cheek on the seat. She has a small bruise but that is all.

And of course I forgot my phone on the counter that day too. We knew the people in the car that hit us, so after using her phone to call it in Zach and Ethan ran home to get my phone so I could call Bob and document it.

The boys said they felt fine and then hitched a ride to school with another neighbor who happened to drive by.

We were able to drive the car home and it has now been at the auto body shop for about 3 weeks!! We should be getting it back next week. I can’t wait. I didn’t realize how much I loved my van until I started driving the rental.

Here are a few more pictures that Bob took when we got home.

We were really lucky. It has really made me much more aware of my speed and the way I drive,especially in the neighborhood.  We had gotten a little lax in the seatbelt department if we were “just going to school” or “just up to the church”. That has definitely changed!!!