Pinewood Derby

This new calling has been so much fun cause I get to do a lot of it with my friends and my family!  Jake was the MC for the night and opened the race up with the boys running out to a flashing strobe light and the phoenix suns music!  It really was cool. Weston got to be involved this race because his friend Brigham made a car but was out of town.  I made a THE RED WAGON myself. I won one race on one track.  haha
Things moved well and we had yummy treats.  I think it was a success.  No one cried or got annoyed...(except me.) But I always do cause I feel a lot of stress being in charge.  Not really my strength being the boss.  I get rather grumpy and bossy cause I would rather be laughing and chilling while someone else is doing the planning and executing.  Luckily no one has complained yet. I am learning a lot about myself and how to be more organized. I am grateful for all the other people who put so much work into their callings.  It really does take a village to raise these kids!!
Plus, I always end up smiling in the
end!!
  
Awards 

 

The pit stop!

Roadkill...Derby Racers and Old Tires for dessert. 

 

 

The winner of the night! Zack built an awesome skateboard and WON!!
 

I hate this pic of me.  Not my best angle.
 

 

 

SCHOOL PICS

Full disclosure....I had no IDEA that it was picture day...but they are still cute regardless. 

 

Recent Fun.

So here a few pics of recent things we have been doing to enjoy this beautiful weather.  During Spring break we went miniature golfing.  Always fun...always a little too competitive.  This time Jake and I were on a team...and we did good, I have to say.

 

 

Aubrey looked specifically an outfit for golf. She is funny.

 

Next we have some pictures of our school dance.  Dad ended up being the DJ kind of last minute.  It was super fun.  Everyone loved it...except maybe Lucy.  She thought it was too loud.

 

 

 

We celebrated Easter this Sunday with Jake's family.  I forgot to take pics of the Easter Egg hunt.  But the food and company were great as always.  We love being so close to our family here in AZ.

Look close in the pics....Jake is lovin on Lucy Bear.  He LOVES her!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I love March in Arizona! 

The Wii U!

So something that is kind of a BIG DEAL happened recently at our house.  Our Wii after I think 6 years or so...went Kaput! This mattered most to the boys in the family.  Mainly Spencer...who plays too much and to Weston who has been wanting a Wii  U.  I totally just wanted to buy a used one on Craigslist or something...but AFTER talking to the boys and Jake about it....we came up with a plan that made everyone happy.  We decided we would buy the new Wii, but only with money EARNED.  We talked about doing a yard sale or maybe a lemonade stand.  In the end we decided to sell a few of the toys that the kids don't use much anymore on CRAIGSLIST.  Then asked our wonderful GRANDPARENTS if they had any work for the kids to do.  They did!! So Last Sat. and this Sat. was spent working outside and inside and their house.  I was soooo proud of Weston.  He has a great work ethic.  He mostly pulled weeds.  (something I should have him do here.)
  

Aubrey worked mostly indoors...Cleaning mirrors and some windows and bathrooms too.
Spencer got away with playing on Grandma's kindle most of the time.  This last Sat. He moved rock and worked up a sweat.

It was a HOT day!  Cute boys!

 

 

In the end...Grandma and Grandpa were very generous and paid $60.00 for the work that was done.  Weston was soooooo excited.  I love his expressions.  I spared you the pic of boogers shooting out of his nose!!!

 

 

He couldn't believe how much money he raised for his goal.   

I am so grateful for the memories made with these great people.

So with the chores and dad selling his old cell phone and finally returning a suit to Macy's...we were getting close to the total.  In the end, I think Aubrey, and Spencer and Weston all contributed some of their own money and we had enough. 

Now if only we were this thoughtful about all our purchases in this family!! We would be rich!!! haha

So this last Sat. DAD (isn't he the best Dad in the whole world?!) took the kids and picked up the new NINTENDO! 

 

It was like Christmas morning here at our house.  Spencer couldn't even STAND it!!!  I am grateful for the lessons learned, memories made and just the fun of it! I hope my children grow up knowing what an amazing Dad they have. He is so thoughtful and loving as a father.  I love him. Even though I really couldn't care less about the Wii...I am grateful for this little family and that their dreams came true!
 

 

Emma Smith

I got to be Emma Smith tonight at our ward relief society dinner. It was so much fun! I read a bunch of facts on her and I was surprised to see she had nine children.  Many of which died young or at birth. I am amazed by her strength , beauty, and courage. I was honored to look a little bit like her tonight. I am grateful for Relief Society and all the women that I get to meet by being a part of this great organization.

Sitting up

On this beautiful spring day...I would say it is official we have a sitter.

Spring Break Camping Trip

Somebody went CAMPING for the first time!  Little (or maybe we should stop calling her that...) Lucy Bear was wonderful on her first camping trip. I guess I am a bit of a worrier, but I wasn't sure how it would go down.  We decided to go camping for Spring Break and our good neighbors the Huber family joined along.  So we had 7 kids under 9.  The kids were wonderful.  All except Callie...who was great most of the first day...but had a few meltdowns due to NO napping day two.  Having the Hubers there totally made it more awesome because our kids had great friends to hang out with the whole time.  Plus, the parents had someone to talk to the whole time!!

Weston was in his element the whole time.

I sure love this guy.  He did all the planning and most of the packing and food.  He makes my life so easy...I think it is making me LAZY! haha I honestly LOVE how much he helps with these kinds of things.  If it were left up to me...we would be winging it most of the time.

I just had to put this pic in our blog cause Ron and Shelly look so cute!  They are a great couple to hang out with.  It is so nice having friends who get along and are such good parents (not to say our other friends aren't...haha) It just makes it even easier to be with them! It is nice to have examples of a happy family around.

 

We had a few family hikes where the kids led the way.

 

Huber's brought a paint ball gun. 

 

The kids got along so well.  It made me smile.

 

 

 

It rained so much last week there was almost a creek to play in.  The kids had a blast and Shelly and I kept commenting on how wonderful it is to just listen and watch our kids be kids.  No electronics...no agenda...just enjoying nature and life.  I loved it!

 

 

 

Next time we will bring swim suits!

 

 

Here we are enjoying the view.

Next we have the Geckos!  This was a huge part of the trip...come second day!

These lizards were very loved...at one point I think they had about 6 of them.  Weston was sure he was the best lizard catcher around!

I love this picture of my two beautiful girls!!

Poor lizards!

Aubrey got AMAZING at the be-be gun.  Grandpa Peterson is gonna love her come when she is twelve years old!  We kept having contests (best out of 10) and Aubrey kept winning with eight or nine.  She even beat me and I am GOOD!

 All in all it was a wonderful trip.  We decided to come home one night early and I am grateful.  Lucy did great right up till about 5 pm on the second day. Then she wouldn't sleep and got cranky.  Jake and I were tired from our night of no sleep.  We were grateful to come home late last night and sleep in our own beds.   I am so glad we went camping...even though I have spent the day cleaning up and doing laundry...it is ALWAYS worth it.  Thanks Huber's for joining in and making it even more fun.  Let's hope this is our annual Spring Break tradition!!!