My “Student of the Quarter” Boys

I am so proud of my boys. Both Parker and Dallin were chosen from their class to be “Student of the Quarter” for the first quarter of the year. 

Dallin with his class

 

Mrs. Pemberton’s Students of the Quarter-Dallin & Ashlynn

For Journaling purposes, here is what Mrs. Pemberton said about Dallin:

“Dallin is one of the most focused and enthusiastic students I have had the pleasure to teach.  When given an assignment, Dallin puts forth 110% always.  Way to Go Dallin!”

 

Parker with his friend David

Mrs. Smith’s Students of the Quarter-Rayelle & Parker

 

Here is what Mrs. Smith said about Parker:

“Parker is such an amazing student! He is so well organized and he always has a positive attitude! I am thankful to have his shining example for the other young men in my classroom.”

Volleyball with Uncle Matt

As I mentioned before, Matt has been so kind to offer a free sports program for the youth in our area.  So far he has taught baseball in the spring and volleyball in the fall.  Parker learned that he really enjoyed volleyball and did a really good job! We are so lucky that Matt is so willing to give of his time and energy for these kids!

A Couple of Old Geezers

A couple of old geezers we picked up at the side of the road. :)  

This was actually Stan and I soon after we were married…we’ve gotten younger as the years have gone by. :)

Before we started having kids, Stan and I enjoyed dressing up for Halloween.  Now we’re just too lazy. :)  This particular year, we decided to dress as old people…Henry and Martha to be exact.  We made a trip to DI (thrift store) to find some appropriate attire, learned some make-up tricks from Stan’s brother Doug (who is a drama teacher) and we were set! We headed over to my parents neighborhood and caught up with my Mom and Dad and siblings who were already out trick or treating. Once we caught up with them, we started walking beside them and hobbled along with our canes.  They just laughed at us while having no idea who we were.  After Henry and Martha put on a little act for them, they finally figured out who we were.  Oh what fun! Those were the good “old” days. (ha, ha!)  :) 

Time Out For Women!!

This last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the LDS women’s conference “Time Out for Women” with my sisters.  This was my very first time attending. Every year that it comes up, I want so badly to go, but it has never worked out until this year.  It made it even all the more fun going with sisters.  We had SO much fun! Because it was in Phoenix, we decided to get a hotel room for the night so that we didn’t have to drive back home Friday night just to have to come back Saturday morning.  I so enjoyed spending time with my sisters…going out to eat, staying up late talking, and just experiencing the spirit of the whole conference with people I love.

Here I am with my sister in law Tara, and sisters Melody, Star, and Merilana.  We missed my Mom and the rest of my sisters/sisters in law…maybe next year we’ll all be able to go!   

The whole conference was an amazing experience. All of the speakers were wonderful! I would have to say that this was one of the most spiritually uplifting events I’ve ever been to.  I learned so much.  I wish that I could go back and listen to all the speakers again.  The Theme of the conference was “We Hope All Things”.  Here are a few of the notes that I took:

*If we are to be successful, we have to get out of the business of comparing.  Comparing ourselves to others is meaningless.  It is the fast track to misery.

*Celebrate our own growth and celebrate it in each other.

*If we could remember even a little of our pre-mortal life with God, our perspective of life here on earth would be forever changed…our problems wouldn’t seem so much like problems anymore.

*We should do things for an audience of One (Heavenly Father).

*The Lord knows who we are and where we are.

*Make a choice each day.  Choose to be happy or choose to be miserable.

*Who’s influencing you?? The World or the Lord?

*Discouragement is one of Satan’s greatest tools.

*God does not want us to feel inadequate.  He doesn’t want us to feel like we have to be perfect.  God is pleased with every effort we make.  He accepts any offering.  He’s much more interested in the offerer than the offering.  Women always feel like they have to climb the mountain…today…by 2:30. :)  God is more interested in the mountain climber…even if we are just half way.

*God doesn’t love us because we are good.  He loves us because He is good.

*Where there’s Christ…there’s hope!

Can’t wait for next year!!!

Groom Creek Family Vacation

During October break we took the kids to the Roberts Cabin in Groom Creek (near Prescott).  We love this place and feel blessed to have it available to us on occasion.  The weather was perfect and we really enjoyed our time together as a family. 

On Sunday, we drove down to one of the cemeteries in Prescott.  I love visiting cemeteries.  They are fascinating to me.  I love looking at all the headstones and calculating how old they were when they died.  It’s interesting to think about these people who lived and died and wonder who they were, what they looked like and what kind of lives they lived.  Sometimes my heart aches as I look at the headstones.  My heart aches for the parents who had to bury a child, and in some cases more than one child.  My heart aches for the husband or wife who had to bury their spouse and go on living without them for many, many years.  My heart aches for the children who had to bury their young mother or father.  So many people with so many different stories. There was such a variety of headstones from the fancy & sturdy headstones to a slab of concrete with the name probably carved with a stick, to the headstones which were broken and not even legible any more.  It’s all very interesting to me.

A cool tree at the cemetery

It’s SO nice to have a little neighborhood park just down the street from the cabin.

 

We have so much fun taking walks around the neighborhood and taking a different route each time. 

 

Stan took the boys fishing a couple of times, but not a single catch!

   

A couple of pictures the kids took.

 

We had a great time playing games. 

Dallin played Monopoly for the very first time.  I kept hearing him say, “When is this game EVER going to end?? After about 2 hours of playing he had had it! He called it quits and walked away.  Parker said, “Okay then, that means I won”.  Dallin replied, “Fine with me!!” :) Considering his competitive nature, I was a little surprised that he was okay with Parker “winning”, but I don’t blame him! I don’t think I’ve ever finished a game of monopoly in my life. :)

 

We taught Cassie how to play my favorite card game…Rummy.  I have so many fond memories of playing Rummy with my Grandma Phelps.

 

We love going on picnics to Goldwater lake.

 

 

I love my family! The time we were able to spend together is definitely priceless!!

Finally…The First Day of School

Okay so ya, I’m finally posting first day of school photos.  You would think that l would have more time to keep up on my blog now that all 3 of my kids are in school, but for some reason, life is just as busy as ever.  So, here they are…1st day of school pictures.

Awww…what a cutie pie! Dallin’s first day of Kindergarten!

My handsome Parker boy all ready for his first day of 6th grade.

Cassie all dolled up for her first day as a Freshman in High School!!!! I just can’t believe my oldest is in High School!

My 3 kiddos anxious to get the show on the road!

 

And there he goes! My baby is off to All-day Kindergarten!!

I have to admit that I had been dreading this day for a while.  The day when I would have to send my youngest to Kindergarten.  I never wanted this day to come.  I went home and cried.  The house was so strangely quiet.  That first day was a bit of an adjustment, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t like it at all. :)  I really did enjoy that time to myself to get things done.  It has been 2 months since school started and it’s my new normal now.

So now the big question I know everyone has for me is, “SO WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY???”  When Stan got home from work that first day of school he looked at me and said, “I noticed that all the bon-bons are gone.”   Ha Ha! I did have to laugh at that one. :)  So, what DO I do all day? Well…I clean the house, do the laundry, grocery shop, run errands, go to Dr. appts., volunteer at the school, organize, figure out what’s for dinner, do church volunteer work, work on finances, exercise…c’mon Crissie let’s be honest…okay fine…I’ve only exercised 3 times since school started.  But I am determined to do better! :) Anyway, you get the picture.  Basically, I do all the same things that you Stay at Home Moms do in a day…I just have less distractions for part of the day.  It’s definitely nice having less distractions.  However, I still find that I struggle to get all the things done that need to get done in a day.  I think part of the reason for that is my kids are getting older, which means busier schedules. Our afternoons and evenings have become really hectic.  Therefore, I have to manage to get everything done that needs to be done in the mornings.  And the mornings go by A LOT quicker than I thought it would.  I imagined that I would be able to get started on projects that have been on my “to do” list for years now.  So far that hasn’t happened.  Maybe someday.  And maybe even one of these days, I might actually go out on a limb and sit and watch a show and maybe eat a bon-bon or two while the kids are in school!! I look forward to that day…if it ever comes around!!

Dallin is a big 6 year old!!

On September 17, my little angel boy turned 6! Dangit!  Why do they have to grow up so fast??

The weekend of Dallin’s b-day was a busy one! Stan and Parker had a Scout campout, Cassie had Youth Conference, I had Stake Activity Day and we also had a nieces baptism to attend.  Since we were all going in different directions, I decided to send Dallin to a cousin’s house to spend the night.  My brother Jared and sister in law Tara so graciously let him spend the night on his b-day Friday night.  Dallin was thrilled about that.  He had a great time going to Peter Piper Pizza and playing with his cousins.

Here’s Dallin the morning of his b-day.  He requested to have breakfast in bed just like his big brother always does…even though he was all dressed and ready for school. :)  He also requested homemade banana muffins and smoothies for his b-day breakfast...just like his big brother always does.

 

Birthday Spankin’ Time!

 

And a Pinch to Grow an Inch!!

 

Dallin’s favorite present was his Doggie Pillow Pet!

 

 

We didn’t want to do a full-fledged b-day party this year, but we did let him invite his cousins over for a little celebration a couple of weeks after his b-day. 

 

 

Not all of the cousins his age were able to make it, but here’s Hite, Stephen, Dallin, Caden and Kellen. These boys have so much fun together.

Happy Birthday Dallin! I love you with all of my heart! You are my little Sunshine Boy.  I can’t help but smile every time I see you.  I’m sorry that you ended up being the baby of the family and will have to endure the constant smothering hugs and kisses from your Mom the rest of your life.  You’re just too cute and I just can’t help myself! :)