Thursday, Friday & Saturday's activities

Warning...another long entry.

So it's Saturday night and all my primary stuff for tomorrow was done this afternoon...usually I am finishing it up about 11pm and begging Brandon to help me color the last few pages! I should finish it earlier more often this feels great!

The last few days have been a little busy but fun days. I was reminded again on Thursday how nice it is to live in a city that has so much to offer. I seem to be consistently hearing about community events that invite families to spend time together with something to do. Usually I don't feel the need to attend these activities because I feel the church also has many activities and our family has plenty to do already. However when I was on the treadmill Wednesday morning the news was doing this story about Shaq's Dunkman Contest. It was at US Airways Center and it was FREE and opened to the public. I thought "man Carson would love that but he has school tomorrow." Then I thought "school, schmool...we're going." After Boston's therapy Thursday morning the two boys and I were off to the arena to watch the final five guys who represented their region of the United States as having the best basketball dunking skills! It was actually pretty fun. And some of those men could jump! They were all in their 20's and just street ballers trying to win some cash. The winner walked away with $10k and a photo shoot in some basketball magazine. We got their early so we sat like 7 rows up from the floor. The entire thing lasted about 2 hours and it was good entertainment. I packed a lunch & snacks for us and we ate our PB&J while watching the competition. I learned about all the different charities Shaq is involved with and walked away with a greater appreciation of how he gives back to the community. After it was over we came back home and the boys both took a nap while I worked then when Brandon was done working we headed out to Mesa for a family dinner and games to say goodbye to Uncle Ryan who is leaving to go work in Colorado for the next few months.

I realized a few blessing from that day:
1. When we were out the boys were very patient and obedient as we waited in line to get into the arena. (we waited about 25 mins & neither one of them ever complained or tried to run off)
2. Even though the sign said "no outside food or drink" the man checking my bag realized I was by myself with 2 little kids and said I could take our bag full of food in.
3. Boston doesn't really need a stroller anymore so that is one less thing to load up and have to cart around
4. We seem to always enjoy each other when the three of us go out. (of course we enjoy it when Brandon is there to but he had so much work to do)
5. Not one time during the entire 2 hours watching the show (which at points did move very slowly) did Carson or Boston try to walk away or even go anywhere out of my sight. I never had to leave my seat.
6. We live in a great community that has a lot to offer...not to mention that living in our neck of the woods we are centrally located to so many things.

Friday was a day I had planned to run errands in the morning then clean the house really well in the afternoon. The day started off not as planned when I didn't wake up from my alarm to go running (sorry running friends...I must have been very tired). Then Carson's carpool came to pick him up but I had just woken up and Carson was still asleep. Two days of missed school...oh well, it's just preschool. (sorry Shawna). After breakfast I told Carson he could ride his bike while I ran and pushed Boston in the stroller so we could all get exercise for the day. We all got dressed in our exercise clothes and went out to the garage to find Carson had a flat tire on his bike. Brandon had switched tools on his air compressor and I didn't know where the right tool was to pump up the tire and he was already gone for the day. We came back in and I decided to do our errands earlier than planned and off we went. (I hadn't even showered yet but we weren't going anywhere too important). So off we were to the errands but first we stopped by the park for park day and the boys played for about 20 minutes then I got a call from my sister who needed a babysitter ASAP so we quickly did the few things we needed to do and went straight out to Surprise. By late afternoon I was smelling pretty bad but the boys had tons of fun playing with their cousins. I realized I'm making progress in learning to roll with the punches...my day didn't go as planned and I didn't even hyperventilate!

Saturday we enjoyed having Papi (a.k.a. Brandon) around. This is the first Saturday in about 8 weeks he didn't work...ok, so he did work a little this morning but only for about 1.5 hours so that doesn't really count. We cleaned up the back yard, did laundry, watched the suns game, made brownies, went on a bike ride, worked on primary stuff and attended a ward party in the late afternoon. It was nice being together and not having to go anywhere.

I made this new game for primary to teach the kids this months song so hopefully it'll be a success.

Another good day

Ok...another great day of weather. So I took the boys to the library today for story time. Carson was not thrilled to go, I think because in the past we always went to "baby time" which was more for Boston. However on Wednesday's story time is geared more for 3-5 year olds. Carson actually got into the dancing and playing around and listened to the story. It was fun to watch him come out of his shell and not be so afraid to participate in front of other people. Boston on the other hand was an emotional wreck. I probably should have stayed home and let him take a nap but we all needed to get out. He cried because some one took his spot on the rug, then he cried because he didn't get a bean bag fast enough, then he cried because he didn't get a rattle, then he cried because he didn't put the bean bag and rattle away when the other kids were putting them away. There were plenty of bean bags and rattles he was upset because he didn't move fast enough to get one out of the bucket and had to pick it up off the floor. However, his mood quickly shifted when story time was over and he got to pick out a movie of his own choice...of course it was a "Thomas the Train" movie. He really loves trains right now. Carson was excited to pick out "Quest for Camelot." Then I found a new Pilate's DVD which I hope to try out tomorrow.

After the library we went and dropped our stuff off in the car and walked over to the big lake at the park. It was an absolute glorious day. The wind was lightly blowing and the sun wasn't too hot. We walked around the lake for about 45 minutes and Carson & Boston had fun chasing the ducks which were everywhere. I wished I had some bread to feed them as I'm sure they would have loved it. Boston is so into animals. Any animal he sees he wants to hold. It's actually really sweet. It was a great 2 hours of free entertainment.

We got home ate lunch & Boston went down for a nap and I was off to Walgreen's to see how much money I could save on hand soap. I went to Ashlee's last night to learn how she saves all this cash using all different sorts of coupons. I was very impressed and very confused at the same time. When I tried the first deal at Walgreen's it really worked and I got a bunch of hand soap and deodorant and in the end the total will cost me about $3 not bad huh? Now I just need to get more into it and save at every store. I figure if I have to get up extra early before I go running to check deals and figure out coupons for the next few weeks it'll be worth the savings.

I was able to work until Boston woke up and then I fixed this nasty bean dinner. I forgot to get avocado's at the store and I forgot to cook the meat and rice so we just had black and kidney beans with a little cheese on top in a bowl. Really it wasn't good but after complaining everyone ate it...even Brandon. Tomorrow will be a better meal I promise. I don't know where my mind was this afternoon when it came to dinner...the blessing is that no one went to bed hungry tonight. After dinner Brandon took us to the park to drive the RC boat in the lake. That was fun then he headed off to Bishopric meeting and the boys and I went for a 4 mile bike ride with some friends. Today was a good exercise day 3 mile run outdoors with a friend, 2 more miles on the treadmill when I got home, a walk around the lake and then the bike ride tonight. My legs were a little tired on the last mile of the bike considering I was pulling both boys in the bike trailer behind me.

Brandon needs me to teach seminary again tomorrow. I have a much greater appreciation for any volunteer seminary teacher that teaches early morning. It's a lot of preparation and I know Brandon has been blessed with energy each day as he teaches. I never believed the man could get up and be dressed in white shirt and tie by 6:00 am five days a week. It's amazing considering that in almost 9 years of marriage I've seen him roll out of bed before 7am just a hand full of times. He is defiantly a night owl but all-in-all he's been blessed.

Summer is comming...

Can it get any more beautiful outside? I feel guilty these days if by dinner we haven't stepped out side for a bike ride or playtime in the yard. I love having the windows opened during the day and feeling the breeze not to mention the money saved on an electric bill. I love the fact that the boys want to go outside and play. I love that our trees are turning green again and flowers are blooming. I love that Brandon enjoys planting flowers and plants and takes care of them. I also love this time of year because it means I get to enjoy the sun...ok, someday's I might be know to worship it...but the beauty of that is when my skin gets darker in the summer the less makeup I wear and because it's summer that means I can wear my hair up often so if I need to go somewhere I can be showered and out the door in 20 minutes. It's a beautiful thing.

The boys are getting excited to play in the splash pad again this year. We've turned it on a couple of times but it's still a little on the cold side. Maybe sometime in the next 10 years Brandon will have a couple of free days to finish the brick patio around the pad that was started but has yet to be completed.

This week was a good week, busy but lots of blessings. I'm thankful the Lord is aware of our needs and wants and desires to bless us. Hopefully I can continue to learn to have the faith required to fully enable the powers of heaven to assist with our desires.

Lemonade Anyone?

"When life throws you a lemon, make lemonade"

- Easier said than done, but not impossible.

I think I can attribute my hips & thighs to all the lemonade I've had lately.

Ahhhhh...

I sigh of relief. All the books on the businesses are totally caught up and everything balances! Literally a miracle! Another testimony that the power of prayer really works...even when it comes to a small business needing balanced books! To my children...(because this is becoming our family journal) never forget to allow faith to accompany your prayers.

Speaking of prayers...is it the mere fact that I'm getting older and General Conference means more to me now than it did before or was this past conference weekend one of the best. Or is it both? Either way I was amazed at the spirit that accompanied the talks and the direction that was offered. Not to mention the Solemn Assembly that I and my children were able to participate in when sustaining President Thomas S. Monson as the new Prophet, Seer & Revealator (spelling). Amazing.

And what a way to send it out with a bang...the last session on Sunday afternoon was awesome. Not to mention both kids were asleep so there were no distractions.

Also, I am once again so very thankful to live close to family. Like everything else, living near relatives does have it's ups and downs but how thankful I am to live next to family today. My sister took my kids over night last night so I could finish this business work. What a relief to have it all done and know my children were taken care of in the mean time. Thank you Jennifer I am sure they are having so much fun!

NEW SCHOOL

As many of you know Carson starts school this August and I have been on a hunt to find the right place for him. In my search I have found a new school opening this 2008-2009 school year called Eagle College Prep Elementary School. They are new to the Phoenix Area but have schools back east. They have an information meeting this Wednesday night, April 2nd at 6pm at AZ Lutheran Academy located south of Southern and 27th ave.

I have spoken with the owner a few times and other than that I know nothing about the school and am not promoting it, just interested to see what they have to offer. I wanted to put the word out to other parents in the area who might also be interested in education options for their children. If you are interested in attending let me know, maybe we can go together!

Check out their website at www.eagleprep.org

"Ode to Opal"

This post is more personal and is intended for my posterity. You are welcome to read if you'd like.

Opal Tenney Goodman Allen passed from this mortal life on March 27th 2008. How fitting that her funeral, a celebration of her life, was held on what would have been her 95th birthday March 29th 2008. I was privileged to attend with my husband and children. It was great to see all the many, many cousins and I wanted to write down some information about her for my posterity.

Born on a goat farm in south-eastern Arizona on March 29th 1913 to Nathan Orson Tenney and Myrtle Mary Wear Opal was the forth of ten children. At the age of 12 her family moved to Prescott, AZ and purchased a cattle ranch. She later married Everett Lee Goodman in the Salt Lake Temple and moved to Idaho where they farmed. After Everett became very sick with a kidney disease the family purchased a store and motel in Myrta, Idaho. Everett died in 1957 at the age of 48. Opal, being a widow with 7 children still left at home (Jackie, the oldest had recently married) sold the store and motel and moved the family to Prove, UT so the 2 & 3^rd children could attend BYU and still live at home. She became a national sales-woman for the company that hired her and was able to support her children on her own for the time being.

After a few years in Utah the Lord had a different plan for her and brought the family back to Prescott, AZ. She then married Merle M. Allen. Merle had lost his wife, Tenna Allen, months prior and had three grown children. She had known Merle years previously as she and Everett worked for him many years before in Prescott. Merle was 62 years old and Opal was 47 when they were married for time in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Merle took on the responsibility to help continue to raise the six children that were still at home and was the “granddaddy” I knew growing up. They were married on July 1, 1960 until Merle died in 1997 at the age of 98.

Opal a.k.a. “Grandma Goodie” has a posterity that currently includes 8 children, 45 grandchildren, 95 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. I was privileged enough to be around this incredible woman many times and lived in her home while attending Yavapai college. She got to know Brandon well has we dated and were engaged while I still lived there.

I’m not sure of another woman that set a greater example for her posterity to follow. She believed in the gospel and lived what she believed. She was a missionary to literally anyone she met and if my memory serves me right she personally shared the gospel with 25 people who were baptized and that does not include the mission her and Merle served while they were married. She loved her country and was involved politically in her community and state. She believed in education and was the forerunner in starting Yavapai College where some of her children and grand-children have attended. She believed in smiling all the time and thinking positive. She did not believe in thinking negatively and always reminded other to change their attitude and find the bright side in any situation. She believed in serving and served in her family, did church service, community service and quiet service that many people never knew about. One of her motto's was, “If you act enthusiastic, then you’ll be enthusiastic.” How true is that!

She left a great legacy for her posterity to follow and I hope I can gain many of the same traits she had and teach my children a love for the Savior, family and this country has she did. She will be greatly missed, yet how wonderful the reunion will be with her when my time is through.