9/11

We took the kids to the Nixon Library for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. I was moved by the displays. The had a poster with a picture of each of the firefighters and police officers slain that day. The had steel from the towers and a fire truck that had to be decommissioned in the months after the attacks because the heat of the fires were so intense that it fatigued the metal of the truck. The truck was used to put out the fires of the towers. This is a day I will never forget and we as a country should never forget this day.

My kids too were very touched by the display.Johnathan went around to each poster and carefully read each one and asked a lot of questions. They were able to touch the steal of the towers. God Bless America and the fallen of 9/11.

Staples Center

Johnathan got the chance of a lifetime. He and his team skated a 2 minute intermission game at Staples Center back in November. He was interviewed on the large jumbo tron after and asked how he liked skating in front of a sold out crowd. He said he loved it and wanted to do it again. He also knew a name of a King's player when asked who his favorite player was. He is a huge Duck's fan and I am glad he mentioned a King's player's name.

My cousins husband works the audio/visual room and he got us the interview on DVD. It is so cool!!!! Jared said he was so proud of him. The crowd was around 16,000 people. He was recognized by many after the game.

Whale Watching

We spent a fun day with grandma, grandpa, and Diane in October looking for whales. We saw 5 whales that day, a lot of dolphins, and a bunch of sea lions. It was so much fun to be on a boat and gain sea legs. It was a lot of fun to watch the whales come up and dive down. The kids had never been on a 3 hour boat ride before and it was nice to be able to enjoy God's creations. The kids liked watching the dolphins surf the waves.

This picture is of a dolphin surfing the waves on the side of the boat.

Ballet

Jenna started a ballet and tap combo class a few months ago. She loves her class. She is very artistic. She loves dance, scrapbooking, and drawing. She always has her markers or pencils out drawing something. We find her doing the splits and twirling around here all the time. She loves Ms. Kathleen too. She was so excited to get a ballerina outfit from her aunt for Christmas. Jenna is the one in the pink (middle). You can see she is dancing the best in the group.

Puppy Poop

We just got new puppies for Thanksgiving and the kids are not so thankful for all the puppy poop that comes with the new dogs. There is never a shortage of puppy poop. Sometimes someone steps in the presents and then it is really a huge mess. Does anyone know how to train these adorable fur balls?

The boy is Sheriff and the girl is Snowflake. She is very affectionate and he is oenery. The other oenery dog we have is Mint. She is not very thrilled about the new arrivals. She has been naughty a few times since the new pups got here. We had intended that she get some new playmates but she does not see it like that.

It has been good for our kids to learn some responsibilty.

Summer 2011

As summer is coming to an end, I thought I would update you on the ins and outs of our family. We have been slowly plugging away on the plans for the house. Our house needs insulation, central a/c, a landscaped backyard, and a paved driveway. We decided to start with the backyard. It is probably the cheapest of the items that need to be done. We are ripping out the weeds, cutting down the tree that is knocking our fence down, and will reseed the grass. We want to plant a vegetable garden and put in a park area for our daughter. We have the swing set sitting on the patio right now (an odd place). I can't wait for a nice place to sit outside. I am an outdoors kind of a gal and I can't wait for a nice landscaped backyard.

Our plan to insulate our house is tear the dry wall off room by room and add insulation. We will start with the office and then move our bedroom to the office for a few months while we do our bedroom.

I have been plugging away at my Master's classes this summer. I have 5 down and 5 to go. I have been toying with the idea of getting a music credential when I'm done. My home district hires music teachers. That is a 5 year plan but would be a ton of fun. Music is lacking in the classrooms because of all the pressure of state testing and lack of funding. I am guilty as charged.

The kids started school this week at their brand new school. They seem to be happy, making friends, and they like their teachers. I volunteered in my son's room the other day and both of their rooms next week. It is so nice to be a parent volunteer. I have never been able to do this and I am happy to help.

We are looking for dance classes for Jenna. We are major debating about hockey for Johnathan. There is too much Sunday activities and we are teaching him the value of loving the Lord and resting once a week.

We rested this summer, didn't go anywhere, but had a great time. The kids spent time with their grandma, went to the fair, movies, swimming, park, and their new favorite activity, thrift stores. I still am recovering from foot surgery. I am hoping the pain will all be worth it in the end.

Jenna

Jenna is growing in leaps and bounds. She graduated from Kindergarten in June. She is getting good at both reading and writing. She loves playing board games, on the Internet, and reading books. She can't go to bed without reading a book. She has been helping me a lot this summer since I haven't been able to walk. She has also enjoyed spending time with her cousins and grandparents this summer. She now wants to take dance lessons. She tried a month of figure skating earlier this year. She said the ice was too cold. She is my little artist and princess.

Case Updates

We have been busier than ever lately. I am still plugging away at my Master's courses; 4 down and 6 to go. I will have a degree in integrating technology in grades K-12. The funny thing about this degree is I will have a technology degree but it is my husband who is major techy (no degree required for him). He has a natural ability and talent in this area.

I also had major foot surgery on my right foot last week. I am learning the art of patience and relaxation (a task I'm not very good at). Jenna and Johnathan have enjoyed a nice week with grandpa and grandma bike riding, slip-n-slide, playing with their cousin, the movies, and much much more.

Johnathan is learning the art of being a full time goalie. He spent 3 days at hockey camp where he took shot after shot. Grandma and Grandpa took Johnathan to 2 of his hockey games while staying at their house. Grandma said he blocked a lot of shots but the team needs to learn defense. Johnathan comes home very tired after his games. He works hard and makes many great saves. He is not doing a bad job for his first time as a goalie, but has some room for growth.

I am so proud of Jenna and the growth I have seen in her this past year. She is reading simple books, she knows a lot of sight words (maybe 50 or 60), her writing is getting so much better, she can't go to bed without reading a book, she loves art, she loves to play, and is a huge helper. I am trying to talk her into gymnastics but wants nothing to do with it. She tried figure skating out for a month and doesn't want to go on the ice because it is cold. She is happy running through her slip and slide and riding her bike. Johnathan started sports at 4 but my 6 year old wants nothing to do with sports. Maybe I can sign her up for an art class.

Arrow of Light

Johnathan earned his Arrow of Light award in Cub Scouts in April. The Arrow of Light is the only Cub Scout Award that you can carry over to Boy Scouts. It is the highest ranking you can have as a Cub Scout. His Uncle Jared's dad made him a cool plaque to hang in his room with a real arrow for the special occasion. It was really cool. He worked hard to earn this honor. Some of his badges included his Outdoorsman, Handyman, Readyman (first aid), Citizenship, Engineering, memorizing the 12 point law. He loved cub scouts and is now ready to move onto Boy Scouts.

Some found memories of Cub Scouts include wood work projects, making the Pinewood Derby cars, the Rain Gutter Regatta boat, bowling, summer bike ride, summer camp, and having a great time with his friends. His favorite thing that he did in Cub Scouts was when scouts was done early they could go outside and throw a ball with his friends.

Citizens Bank Arena

Johnathan skated at Citizens Bank Arena last weekend with his hockey team. They met at the arena at 1:00 and skated until 3:30 with his teammates and team parents. He was blocking some pretty tough shots from the adults. Johnathan is a new goalie and is loving it. At 4:00 it was off to the team party. His name was drawn to be at the arena at 6 for the high five line. He high fived the players and watched them warm up for the game. Luke Beaverson gave him a practice puck. He was a pro player who was sent back to the minors because of an injury. Johnathan said he was never going to wash his hand again.

During first intermission of the game, his team got to skate a mini scrimige five minute game. Johnathan was player not goalie during that time. He got put on the jumbo tron skating a lap around the arena. We told Johnathan that that was the largest game he will skate in until he is a pro player. He only skated in front of 10,000 fans that night. He has still not come down from that exciting day. It is a day he will never forget!!!!

New House

It has been a busy 3 months. I went back to school last fall. I am working on my Master's in Education and am specializing in integrating technology in grades K-12. The program is pretty intense and keeps me really busy on the weekends writing papers. It is great that it is an online Master's program.

Johnathan has been on a hockey team since last September and the season won't end until April. He is getting really good. He is borrowing his coaches goalie gear and is getting really good at goalie. He loves hockey and lives and breathes it. He gets to go play on the ice at Citizens Bank Arena during the Reigns game in April during intermission. He is really excited about that. He knows all the stats of every hockey player known to man (at least it seems like he does).

In December escrow closed on our first house. It closed the 23rd of December. I would never recommend closing escrow the week of Christmas. We then traveled on Christmas Day to Utah to spend time with my siblings. We had a great time in Utah. We went tubing down a scary hill (the kids loved it but me not so much). We went to Temple Square and enjoyed the Christmas lights. The kids loved playing in the snow and spending time with their cousins.

We came home and moved on December 31st. The house is pretty cool except it is a fixer upper. It needs insulation and central a/c. They did remodel the kitchen and bathrooms, and flooring which is a good thing. Our first weekend in the home, we flushed the toilets and the tubs and toilets started to back up. We had to do a sewer pipe replacement. Plus when we were in Utah, our roof leaked over the office. The roof had to be patched.

Our home is 5 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms. I can't believe that we can fill up a house so big because we are use to such a small apartment. It is nice to have space of our own and not worry about neighbors.