Friday, September 26, 2025

LOVEly month of February




The first half of February was working on all of Lanes
mission papers for submittal!


The icing on the cake was him ready to receive his patriarchal blessing!
We had been sitting back, waiting for him to tell us he was ready.
I never pushed or pressured him to get it earlier.
I wanted it to be on his terms and timing.

Pres. Murset gave him a powerful blessing.
It seemed very personalized and fit his character of who he already is.
I find myself reading it often.
 So much peace and comfort
in the promises and blessings he can receive in his lifetime.

He is bound to do amazing things!!

 




We made his mission physical at his pediatricians office.
I died when he barely fit on the exam table!!






I remembered brining him to the same room when he was about 8 month old.
Those whale jammies were my favorite.


I never could have imagined how fast the time would go by these next 17 years
after this picture was taken.

I still can't even comprehend that he once was this little!!







His last stats, on the cute puppy paper.
Can I start crying now?!






The picture we submitted for his missionary portal.
The same picture that will pop up on a screen for his mission assignment with 
the general authority.

And then also learned it will stay with him for the next 2 years!!










The joys of field trips!
Pretty sure Della's teacher rigged the drawing for
what parent got to go, ha!

I don't blame her, I should feel honored that she knew I would
be reliable and could manage the chaos!

Just wished I could have followed the bus in my car!






The Phoenix Children's science museum.











It was fun running into Ruby and Breanna who also were on their field trip!









Linid's country report about the Bahamas!







Another year of our Lip Sync battle!!













I think I like Valentines candy the best!






Trying to enjoy our Valentines date night but had 
2 girls at home texting us non stop!







Not going to lie, we crushed our lip sync for Stephanies party!
We spent about 12 summers in a row going to Sea World as a family.
Just way more economical for a large family than Disneyland.

And in those 12 years, Sea World switched up their shows never.
We had them all memorized!


We busted out the Shamu Rocks night show ditty and it was a hit!!

Imagine you are listening to Lifehouse, You and Me.

It was like I was actually back at Sea World,  there in person, 
swimming with Shamu.

We won 1st place, thank you very much.








The kids did YMCA, but acted out their parents career.




And the tik tok rapping biblical peeps. 






Casey had only 1 date for the daddy daughter dance as Lindi turned 12 and left 
them for grander things.











I love getting texts from my kids at school saying something got stolen.
Ugh!

I must had been in a mood because I said NOT TODAY!!

Honestly, I was more bugged I would have to share my airpods
more than having to buy a new pair!

Luckily I had Rusty's airpods loaded in "find my" on my phone.
They were pinging way out at Higley High school, what the???


I kept watching them.
Sure enough they started traveling a little closer to home!
They stopped  in a neighborhood not too far away.

With the help of officer Figueroa ( I love my police connections), 
he looked up the address and possible
residents of who it could be.
He coached me on how to approach the house and what not to do!!

I got the first house wrong, it was an older man.
He said nobody at the house went to Higley High school, BUT
the kid next door was in the band at Higley, BINGO!

Long story short, the kid who answered the door was guilty as all gets out.
He said he didn't have airpods, but then told me to wait a sec.

Not going to lie I prayed he wasn't going to get a gun to shoot me!!

But then he came back with AIRPODS that he said he "found"
behind a desk at Seminary.
Lovely. Stealing at Seminary.
I guess he only goes to Mesa High for that, then Higley for the classes??

He seemed super nervous and probably thought a mom would
come pounding on his door!
I hope he learned his lesson.

Anywho, I was proud of myself and sent this picture captioned
VICTORY to Rusty!!

I really should be a detective.
 




Secret Valentine Dinner at Grammy's!
















Thursday, September 25, 2025

January





Christopher and his family came to visit after Christmas!
We did a park day and it was great sitting there and catching up.
It's crazy that this stage of life is almost over.
My crew of kids is dwindling and I only had 1 scooter and minimal snacks to haul.

That sadness left pretty quickly once Enzo stated he had to poop, and they 
 had to walk over to aunt MaryAnns house down the street for a toilet.
Wont miss that part of park play dates!
 





Love our impromptu lunch dates with our Dad!





Lane got some snowboarding trips in with his friends.





Rusty was set apart as a Priest!
 This year the boys are getting to do lots of things together.

Driving to and from school, golf, and now the same Priest quorum.
They may not be liking the setup, but I am sure loving it!










Our reward for straight A's on report cards is a trip to YogurtLand! 
They can pile it high, within reason:)

Lindi worked hard and earned it!





Winter time means its Fall in Arizona!
Our leaves get confused and drop like crazy after Christmas.

Lots of yard work for the boys at Grandma and Grandpas house.

They love their little side job that pays way more than it should!







The girls have matching birthmarks on their pinky fingers, just on the opposite hand.
We figured we better officially document this weird cuteness!





Inauguration Day!!
Of course, he ruffled major feathers the day of being sworn in by
signing orders involving immigration. 
But most were grateful for pardoning the ban on Tik Tok!
Oh boy were there some SAD people on the internet before he saved it.

Hoping for some major changes in the future, mostly with
Americas health crisis!









Not sure what was going on here...





Lindi went to the temple for the first time!




 




And ran for student council.
She didn't win, but got to be the class representative.
She was happy with that!






We had a ward new member gathering.
It was mostly the ward council, but happy we had two new people show up!

Aaron teaching one of the games he created.








We did another fancy dinner!
It is fun having a reason to get all glammed up!
I buy a cheap wonder on Shein that always fits pretty bad, lol.
This dress was 2 sizes too big but, oh well!







I laughed when Marcie sent me this picture.
It's like Casey is an exhibit behind glass at the zoo!

Waking up to a tractor in your front yard is exciting stuff!





Liquid gold season!!
Oh man, I can down fresh squeezed OJ!

These girls have become the best helpers making tedious jobs
not that stressful!









Landon got baptized!
He asked the boys to share a little bit about their testimonies.

It was a sweet service!







The 3 cousins born the same year.







At the luncheon afterwards I was dying that they stole baby Jane
and were letting her hang with them.









WinFo week!









This is a girl ask boy dance.
For the day activity they wanted to go to a grandparents cabin.

A little too late, I found out that said cabin was winterized 
and had no running water.
So no flushing toilets for 16 people!

I hate when I can't really have a say in things.
I was assured by the chaperons that all would be fine.

 The main van broke down on the way up.
Lane was coming up later, 
so he had to pile all of the gear in the back of his tiny truck
that was already weighed down with  4 humans inside!

The toilets were only for #1.
If #2 was an issue they had to go to the 7-Eleven!

Come to find out, after everyone went to sleep, 
the boys admitted to walking to the gas station!!

AT 2AM.
In the middle of the forest.
With sludgy snow on the ground.
In 20 degree weather, in sweatshirts.
For fun.

What is it with going big because it's their senior year?
Why can't they just go bowling?!!

I sound like my mom, ha!





Sadie looked beautiful and they had a great time at the dance.