Scared Silly

Alex's birthday celebration tonight was pretty scary. First, Grandma and Rachel and a few friends came to the house for supper and cake. Then we took the whole party to Rawhide, and into a haunted house called Asylum. Mind you, the six girls with us tonight range from eight to eleven years.
Through practical experiment, we discovered that eight-, nine-, and ten-year-olds can handle no more than two minutes of such a frightful production, swiftly rising to an ear piercing crescendo of screaming, crying, and pleading for an exit. We stayed inside less than five minutes and saw less than half the exhibit before rushing outside to relative peace and safety in the old-west main street.
One of the girls stayed outside with Grandma, to which another girl said afterward, "She's a smart girl."
We walked around Rawhide for a short while, saw an arrest, an execution, and a headless horseman.
After taking everyone home, Alex, Evon and I watched the 1968 version of The Fly with Vincent Price.
I suppose that's what you get if you're birthday falls in October. I'll see what David thinks of that idea Sunday, as we celebrate his thirty-ninth.

Nine Years Ago Today…

After enduring six hours of back labor I gave birth to a 7 lb baby girl. Where has the time gone! Seems like yesterday I was changing diapers and waking up at least three to four times a night, which by the way didn't stop till she was two. I remember on the day she was born she was immediately placed in my arms and for most women they are in awe of this wonderful miracle that has just occurred and it's love at first site (at lease that's what I see in the movies). Me, I was in disbelief that this is what caused me all that pain and I was glad she was out. The love set in a little bit later. Alex has brought so much joy to my life and to those around her. I can't imagine what my life would be like with out her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXANDRA ELISE!! Please leave a birthday message for Alex.

P.S. I was so happy you were a girl!

Alex Through The Years

Fall Break

Rachel and Alex had the privilege of going to a horse camp for a week during fall break. Every morning they had to groom the horses, clean the barn, memorize the different parts of the horse and saddle. They even had a 30 minute riding lesson every day and had a daily field trip such as going to a horse show and a horse hospital. The last day they got to go on a 1 hour trail ride. They had a blast.

Jeremy spent his time at the bike park hanging out with friends.

Farewell to Summer

We had a great summer and enjoyed having a pool to share with our friends and family.

Piano/Clarinet Lessons

The girls decided to teach each other how to play the other's instrument. Rachel showed Alex how to play the clarinet and how to properly place her fingers. Rachel went over the notes and Alex got so excited she ran up to me and said, "Hey mom, guess what! The notes on the clarinet are the same as the piano! Can you believe it?" I joined in her excitement and said, "Wow, that's great!"

Alex gave Rachel piano lessons and gave her note cards to study and put tape on the keys indicating each note. She taught her about posture and the correct way to use her hands. She made notes in a notebook to let Rachel know the areas she needs to work on and also gave her very positive feedback like, "You are doing awesome." When Rachel would sit at the piano and get ready to play, Alex would say, "Posture," and Rachel would sit up straight. Alex is a little Sabrina in the making. You did a great job Sabrina. Alex misses you!

Rachel is a natural at the piano and she has already taught herself how to play several songs. And yes, I said piano not keyboard — we finally bought a piano!!! Jeremy was uneasy about us getting a piano because it doesn't have a headphone jack like the keyboard and now he has to listen to the piano being played. Last Sunday he asked if we could have a day of NO PIANO!

FHE-Funnies

We had Family Home Evening the other night and Seth talked to the kids about prayer and what kinds of things we should pray for. I decided to share an experience that I just recently had with prayer. I told the kids that I was having bad feelings about someone and that this person was annoying me and I felt bad about these feelings I was having cause I knew they were wrong. I decided to say a prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help take these bad feelings away and twenty minutes later I felt better and by the end of the day I wasn't even thinking about that person. While I'm trying to be spiritual and share my experience during FHE and teach them by example I get these responses: Alex looks at me and says: "Mom, was it me?" No it wasn't you. Rachel: "Was it me?" No it wasn't you. Seth: "Was it me?" No it wasn't you. Seth: "Oh, I know who it was" (Jeremy wasn't here that night but it wasn't him, either! And for anyone reading this right now, NO it wasn't you either!!! Seriously. Especially if you're related or in a Ray ward! It's not you.)

Lemonade Anyone!

Rachel, Alex and their friend Maddi were feeling a bit entrepreneurial one Saturday morning and decided to have a lemonade stand. After hustling our neighbors (business was slow so they walked door to door) they made a total of $5.25.

"Jeremy" by Alex

Click to enlarge picture.

Happy Birthday Papa, 1924 - 2006

Today would have been my dad's 84th birthday. All his grandkids adored him and have many wonderful memories of him, like how he always had cookies and ice-cream at his house and of course they were allowed to eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whenever the cousins would sleep over at Papa's house all three cousins insisted on sleeping with him and of course Alex would have to be the one that slept next to him with her arms around him all night. I know that was one of his fondest memories of his grandkids. I think there might be a lesson to be learned here … it's the little things that create the best memories for our kids.

Back 2 School

OK, this picture was taken on the 3rd day of school. (My camera ran out of batteries on the first day). Jeremy started high school. He's not pictured because he was already out the door as I grabbed my camera. Rachel entered 5th grade and joined the school band. She said she loves her teacher. Alex entered 4th grade and started a new school and is busy making new friends. The girls go to the same school now. It was really cute to see them walk to school together with their friends on Monday. Guess my days of sleeping in are over till fall break!

Fun in the Sun

We took our first family vacation this summer. We went to Lake Pleasant and rented a jet ski for a couple of days. We had so much fun it was a bonding experience for everyone. The kids said it was the best vacation they ever had! We came back tired, sore and sunburned but it was well worth the memories we created together. Can't wait to do it again next year!

Click here for the pictures.