how embarrassing

Ashton has been home sick for the last 2 days of school so yesterday and today I was just driving my si to school IN MY JAMMIES! :) This morning she says to me, "mom, I'm so glad you aren't coming in!"
me: why? (hehe)
si: cause you are in your jammies and you don't have shoes on!
me: OHHHH!
that WOULD be SO embarrassing!

Modern Mommy

Today we were driving from school to meet daddy at his new office building to help him unpack and get his office decorated, Sierra said to me, "mommy no offense but you are finally a modern mommy!"
I responded, "really? Why?" She said, "cause you have your i phone with your earphones and your hard plastic cup."
I finally made it! Awesome! :) She's so CUTE, so HIGH FASHION! :)
And Ashton; not feeling well with a fever after school, darn it! He is still not doing well when I drop him off at school. Crying and not wanting to leave my side. We got him a WORRY book and started reading it this week, I think it's awesome! It helps children overcome their anxiety. I'll let you know how it goes.
He also still says "hostipal" for hospital, I think it's so cute! :)

emotions, sickness, and precious

Tonight was baptism preview.
We had my family, Dunn's, Bergener's, mom and Chris, over for dinner.
We had lunch at my dad's house.
Jake had PPI's this afternoon at our house.
We had Stake Conference today.
Yesterday Jake had meetings.
Ashton had a basketball game too; we played against giants, seriously about 3 of their players were like 6 ft. tall; and we didn't do to hot. Now coach wants to have 2 practices a week. :0
It rained yesterday too, LOVE it when it rains! :)
Now about the baptism preview. I wasn't sure about this from the start, my baby is old enough to get baptized, what is happening. A huge milestone is approaching! We left Sierra home with the family and Jake, Ashton and myself went over to the church. We headed into the Relief Society room, the doors to the font were open and we sat where Ashton wanted to sit, which was close to the front. It was a beautiful program! I was emotional the whole time, even when Heather was just talking logistics I was emotional. And at the end Kim Morris was telling each of the kids one of their outstanding qualities that she has noticed about them. She said that Ashton is sooo SMART! :) She also told the Bishop that she has not a doubt in her mind that each of these children have a desire to be baptized. Then following her beautiful words we sang a song and then I was up to say the prayer. I walked up the front, made eye contact with my boy who was sitting on the front row and I lost it. I then made eye contact with my husband who was looking at me, not sure if I could do it. I closed my eyes and prayed and cried the ENTIRE time. I couldn't get a grip! I am grateful for the primary leaders and the beautiful program they put on. I am grateful for my Savior and for the example of baptism that he set. My son is SO excited to be baptized! He wishes he didn't have to wait until October 13th, Aunt Sophi's birthday. :)
Last weekend we went to Jenn and Bill's house. They moved into a new home up North, Livermore, and we wanted to see it. It was a long weekend cause of a holiday and we thought perfect. It was a nice trip however, Ashton threw up everywhere the first night we were there. You know, it's bad enough cleaning up throw up at home but when you are in someone else's house and your husband's family, you don't know where anything is, I was rinsing out his sleeping bag, jammies, blanket in the kitchen sink. Jenn was wonderful, she was up helping me and I appreciated it. He was sick on Saturday throwing up all day, tried to eat some In 'n out fries and soda but threw it all up. We didn't really get to do anything but it was fun to spend time together and be away. Jenn finished teaching me how to embroider the edges of burp cloths too, so I worked on that while I sat with Ashton.
On Monday we were driving home and Jake saw on Facebook that a new member of our family arrived!
Jane Maureen Mendenhall made her appearance on the morning of January 16th! Congrats to Chase, Jacque and big brother Luke.

We haven't met her yet but we look forward to it! :) I love her already, look at those beautiful, perfect features!

Back to School and Fire Drills

I hate back to school after winter break, it is torture! I hate having to be up at the crack of dawn, hustling to get to school, packing lunches, working in classrooms, nervous kids. UGH!
Sierra was nervous to go back yesterday but never showed it, she had a great day! Ashton on the other hand has major anxiety about FIRE DRILLS! It was hard enough for him to go back to school after 3 weeks off and then on top of it he is afraid that they are going to have another fire drill. I assured them they were not, I asked his teacher to please let me know when they are having a fire drill so I can be there with him. All day on Monday he said he had a tummyache. It started in the morning and I told him it was just nerves and he needed to try to go to school. I got a phonecall from Sierra around lunchtime and she told me Ashton was sick. I told her that his teacher needs to call me if he needs to be picked up. I called his school and asked if they knew anything about him being sick. The lady at the front desk said that he had been up to sit with her and he did try calling me. She then put me through to him and then his teacher. Ashton assured me that he was sick, she said she thought it was nerves cause he was fine and playing at recess. I also asked him if he had eaten his lunch and snack. "yes, mom, I ate everything! I don't feel good!" Ummm yeah. If he was sick with the flu he would not have eaten a thing but he doesn't realize that. I told him that I would come pick him up. I had more time to think and I just went and sat with him during the last 2 hours of school, however, I had told him that if I came over to pick him up he was not going to go to karate. He didn't care.
Fast forward...we are home from school, his tummy doesn't hurt anymore, in fact it stopped hurting as we were driving home :) AMAZING and he realizes that I'm not budging on the no karate thing and he is in tears!!! HORRIBLE! BEGGING! "mom this hurts so bad!"
mom: what hurts?
A: not going to karate, hurts SO bad!
His sister was so sensitive and took him crying to his room and told him to put on his karate uniform, they were going to have karate class at home. She was throwing angry birds at him and he had to punch and kick them away. She is a doll! She had him stand in horse stance and he did it for 5 minutes. He came running out to the kitchen, so happy, to tell me all about it.
Fast forward...we took Sierra to piano and while we were waiting in the car for her we were playing video games and I checked my emails on my phone. I got an email from Ashton's teacher informing me that there was going to be a fire drill at school in the morning. I informed Ashton and he began to panic! I told him to calm down that I would be there with him. Still freaking out!!!
Fast forward...this morning I'm in the shower. Ashton comes in to tell me he just threw up. I got out of the shower and cleaned up a tiny bit of throw up. I told him he was just nervous and he needed to get dressed. He assured me he was not just nervous that he was SICK! He layed on the couch as I was rushing around and I kept telling him to get up and get dressed. "BUT, I'm SICK!"
Right as Sierra and I were getting ready to walk out the door I told him to hurry up, he still wasn't dressed. He couldn't eat and felt nauseous on the way to school. I told him that we would wait outside until after the fire drill. He seemed to be better when I told him that. I went in his classroom and told his teacher we would be outside until after the fire drill. She said ok. Well, they delayed the drill until 10 instead of 9, so we went in the classroom for a bit but he was nervous the whole time. 10 to 10 we took his book box and went back outside. At 10 I went into the classroom to get his snack, as I was in there the alarm went off! It is LOUD and there are flashing lights. The other kids were fine, just covering their ears. Ashton was happy he didn't come in with me.
When I left at after lunch I had to reassure him multiple times that they were not going to have anymore fire drills today. He got to go to karate today!
I'm exhausted!

Another first

#22

Today was Ashton's first basketball game. His coach is Shawn Lyon and his daddy helps coach too! He was SO nervous and wasn't quite sure what he was doing, but he did what he was told and did SO great! He shot once and it was right there but it didn't go in :( and he got the ball away from a couple of different people on the opposing team.

Go MAGIC!
Tonight papa came over and we got In 'N Out, made brownies, tried to make icecream but it didn't work (cylinder wasn't cold enough, we'll try again tomorrow), kids watched Kung Fu Panda 2, adults watched Planet of the Apes.
It was a party!
School starts Monday! :(

Sometimes there are disappointments...

Sierra got a new haircut today, see her beautiful side bangs! :) Tonight was the City Artwalk. Here is Sierra with her artwork #12, the Colors of Friendship!

 Tonight was People's Choice Award...so many people came to support Sierra and we appreciate all the love so much! The Stevenson's, Terry and Janelle, Pat Dalton, the Dunn's, Shane and his friend, Chris; Sophi's friend, Trista, Papa, THANKYOU!
We all voted and then went to PC's to have a bite to eat. We walked back to hear them announce the winners...

She didn't win, sad! But, we think she is a winner, she was chosen in the top 20 in her age group, 5th-8th grade, out of over 800 participants! What a great accomplishment!
She was disappointed but such a good sport! We love you, Sierra! Our sweet, darling, talented little artist! :)

Winter Break Vacay

Tuesday we drove to OC and jumped in my sister's car just in time to go get Nix from school. Then we went to the animal hospital where they rescue and rehabilitate seals and then return them to the ocean. They only had 2 when we were there, fun to check out.

 Went back to Briana's and got swim suits on and went swimming...well Briana and the kids did, I just watched. :)
We watched "Smurf's," ate some yummy leftover soup, clam dip :), peppermint hot chocolate!
The kids and uncle Brett made a movie that is so cute! He posted it on youtube so you can check it out, it's titled "The Barefoot Baddy."
This morning Briana made a yummy breakfast with eggs and mixture of white and orange potatoes. Then we went to the beach! YAY! We were at the beach for about 6 hours, you can only do that when you live 10 minutes away. It was hot, the sun was hot, so warm, so wonderful! The ocean was freezing but the kids didn't care, I care, I tried to get in the ocean with Sierra but I really couldn't, icy coldness! But I can sit in a chair in the hot sunshine with all my sunblock on and soak it up and watch her boogie on the boogie board! :)

 We went to the rocks and found all kinds of interesting sea creatures! Fun to explore!

Went to Cafe Rio after the beach, LOVE Cafe Rio! Went to Briana's and made the kids grilled cheese cause they don't appreciate Cafe Rio like I do. Enjoyed my delicious salad, showered me and the kids and then headed home. Love to visit my sister at the beach! We don't get to go often enough. Thanks Brett and Briana! Love your family! xoxo
Thanks Briana for all the photos too! :)

Happy New Year 2012

Welcome 2012!

 To start the year off...I was released as 2nd counselor in the YW presidency.
I am sad, I LOVE the YW, especially my beehives! I will miss their sweet spirit, I'm privileged to have been able to work with them as long as I did! I know that my Heavenly Father has a new direction for me to go... how can you stay sad for to long when you are called as nursery leader and are surrounded by these adorable faces!

My niece, Melanie

Lucas J

Eli A

Naomi M

 That evening we celebrated my mom's birthday!
Chris, Shane, Blake and Mashayla, Dunn's all came over

 We danced! Here is Sierra and Uncle Blake

 Sierra, Rocky, Ashton and Lincoln

 Blake and his sweetheart, Mashayla

 Ed was in town and came too! :)

 Jake, Chris, Shane and Rich

 Like old times...the boys wrestling Ed.

 Blake and Ashton are twins in their skinny jeans. :)

I danced too! Just so ya know...I won against Sophi, Blake and Sierra. Ed had won against his group so we had a dance off. Sophi was leading the whole time in our group until the end and I pulled ahead for the win so, Sophi, Ed and I danced in the dance off and Ed creamed us...haha! SO much fun!!!
Happy Birthday Momma!!! LOVE YOU and appreciate all you do! You are truly A.MA.ZING!!! xoxoxo
Happy New Year!