RELAX

Loving Art

This is a creation from my little artist...this is the kind of art that I simply love! :)

We are thankful...

On Thursday, November 15, was Ashton's first pack meeting. He was SO excited!

 Look how many awards he earned. He's amazing! I'm thankful that he LOVES scouts, what a great program! I'm thankful for his motivation. He is very self motivated!

 On Friday, November 16th, the multicultural feast was at the kids school. It was yucky as usual!  I'm sorry, people just make yucky food. I made homemade rolls but because they have the CAFE (which really is beautiful) now we have to follow certain rules. I didn't even see my rolls. Maybe they were all ready gone? I hope they didn't throw them away. :( Not going to make rolls next year. I will just buy something store bought like everyone else. :( I'm thankful that my family loves to eat my homemade rolls. :)
Ashton made a turkey hand and I didn't even get to see my daughter. She doesn't care much about seeing mom at school. I'm thankful that she had good friends.

 On Monday the 19th my mom took all of her kids and spouses (we left our kids with sitters, well mine and Briana's were with Granny :)) to Salt Creek (missed Brett, he was on a hunting trip). What a FUN evening! We ate delicious food and laughed and laughed. I'm thankful for my hubby, mom and siblings. I'm thankful that we love each other and love to be together. They are my best friends, my favorites. :)

 After dinner, mom took us to see "Lincoln", a great movie! I'm thankful for my mom who loves to do things with and for her children.
On Tuesday the 20th, we had a DoTerra class at my house. Love telling others about essential oils because I'm thankful for the oils and what they have done for my family.
Later that same day the kids made rock turkeys. They turned out SO cute! Timmy and Amanda's kids were there too. SO FUN! Thankful my mom got all the supplies to make something so cute, that I will keep forever.
I had to leave to go to school. College doesn't take the whole week off. :( Got to cut into the cat's digestive system and it is all so fascinating. :) I'm thankful for opportunities to learn.

 Wednesday evening Ashton went to Martial Arts and earned his last tip. Now he gets to test for his orange belt. I'm thankful for Ashton's perserverance and determination. Sierra got to sleep at Grandma's house with cousin Kate. I'm thankful for cousins who can be like a sister.

 Happy Thanksgiving!
I started the rolls and then Jake and I went on a run and Ashton rode his scooter. We got to the intersection of Wiley and Orchard Village and across the street were little boys yelling Ashton's name. It was cousins! They rode there bikes to our house and picked Ashton up and Ashton got to go on a bike ride with them. :) They got to play in the tree first though! I'm thankful for strong legs so we can run, ride bikes and play in trees.

 I finished rolls and we got ready and went over to Jake's parents house and enjoyed a beautiful day with Daily's, Travis and Miriam, Brown's and Penrod's. We ate yummy food and played "Say Anything". I love Thanksgiving!
On Friday Jake and I put up the Christmas lights and then me and the kids went over to Grannie's and made our traditional candy houses without candy this year. :) I'm thankful for traditions!

 Sierra made a village with the temple at the center.

 Kate and Nixon spent the night at our house.
Yesterday morning Briana texted and asked if we wanted to hike Vasquez Rocks. Yes, we did. I quickly made a coffee cake, YUM! We went and met mom, Norris and Briana at Granny's. Took 2 cars to Vasquez, me and Briana were following directions from my phone and I decided that you can't trust the phone. It took us on a wild goose chase. Finally we got smart and called my brother and he led us the right way. :) I'm thankful for my brother. We met Amanda and her crew and Jack, Timmy.
We had such a great day! Love to be with family. Love to be outside. I'm thankful for the beautiful world Heavenly Father has created for us to enjoy.

 That's Norris and Rossi at the top!
Thankful nobody got hurt!

Last night we had Thanksgiving with my Dad and Tori. So yummy! So thankful for the apple slaw Tori makes, it is SO good! :)

After dad's house we got out our Christmas decorations (per children's request). I'm thankful for this time of year to celebrate the birth of my Savior. I'm thankful for Jesus Christ!

Ashton's flying side kick :)

Watch out! :)

Celebrating "little brother" :)

Yesterday morning we walked for a foundation called "ZOE". What a great foundation that rescues children from human trafficking.

 Ashton had a make-up karate lesson and then went to get some ingredients to make a Chocolate-Chip Cookie Dough Cake for my little brother. Made it from a recipe on Pinterest that Brenna emailed my mom. Jackie was so funny, she said, "oh you actually made something from a recipe on Pinterest, I thought they just were to admire." HAHA!!! :) My mom had a birthday dinner for Norris at our house, everyone came, mom ordered Thai Pepper, we had so much fun!

 Lucy liked the cake. :) ALOT!

 Isn't he the sweetest thing. :)

 Happy Birthday celebration, not official till Wednesday! :) LOVE YOU LOTS!!!

This morning we went to the Agua Dulce Ward cause my Uncle Randy was receiving a new calling as...BISHOP! :) What a beautiful meeting, the spirit was so strong!
Then we hurried back to our ward cause it was the Primary Program. Ashton's part: "I was baptized this year. I know I'm choosing the right by being baptized because I'm following Jesus." Sierra's part (she went last): "Following my Savior, Jesus Christ, and learning to choose the right is important to me"...and then she bore her sweet testimony.  It was such a great program such a sweet spirit was present.
After church Jake had meetings and me and the kids went to Grannie's to have dinner with everyone...the Lawrence's (with Uncle Randy as the guest of honor), the Dunn's, Whitmore's, Marshall, Amanda, Grannie, Chris and Shane, my mom made a delicious lasagna and salad. :) A full house, loving to be together!

 

Look who I got to snuggle with tonight!

School News

Sierra had her Presentation of Learning a few weeks ago, her project was the Earth. She was so cute and did such a great job! I had several people come up to me and tell me, "Sierra always does such a good job! She is a great presenter." :)
Ashton had his POL today. "I am a Paleontologist." His dinosaur was a spinosaurus. He was so cute! He LOVED this project cause he loves dinosaurs. :)

1st time...

Ashton is fasting today for his first time and he is still holding strong!!! So proud of him! We will eat dinner in 10 minutes! :)

No time to blog...having too much FUN!

On October 21st we drove out to NewPort Beach to meet up with my dad and Tori. We went to the Gardens and played at the park. Briana joined up with us. Dad made spaghetti for dinner. We stayed the night Sunday night. Monday we went to Laguna and me and Sierra got a toe ring...Sierra's first one! :)

Then we went to lunch at a Mexican restaurant and then to the Mantage Beach. The most beautiful beach in California! The water is clear and there are tide pools and a rock tunnel.

We went back to the hotel and swam and then had pizza and salad for dinner. Then we went home with our sad faces on. :(
 On October 25th Sierra went on a field trip to the beach for team building skills. They had surf lessons, look at these girls=so cute!

On October 26th Sierra had her first school dance. WHAT?! She was so excited. I was not ready for that! In fact when I dropped her off I stood at the window and watched until Ashton wouldn't let me watch any more. I had the whole conversation with her ahead of time "If I boy asks you to dance what will you do?"
S: I will say NO!
M: No, you can dance with boys, in fact the youth are taught to never say no but if the same creepy boy keeps asking you to dance than just say "I have a rule that I have to dance with someone new every song"
S: Oh that's good mom!
M: Oh and this is how you hold your arms when you dance and don't forget to pretend there is a book of mormon between the two of you, maybe 10 book of mormons. :)
S: Okay :)
M: Phew! Don't feel old enough to be having this conversation with my daughter. :)

She looked so cute! She had SO MUCH FUN!!! She couldn't stop talking about it when we picked her up. She danced the WHOLE time and they never played any slow songs. YAY!
The same night Ashton went to Ninja Night at Martial Arts, that was a slumber party but we don't do slumber parties so after we picked Sierra up we went and got Ashton. He had the time of his life too! He wants to do EVERY ninja night.
Jake and I went to his parents house and visited with Grandpa Elmo, Aunt Leanne and Aunt Pam and cousin Tori.

On October 27th it was Make a Difference Day. We stood in front of Albertsons and asked for donations for our Food Drive for the Food Pantry. We had so many generous people along with a spiratic few poopers. Overall it was a great experience and great for my Ashton who is extremely shy and he actually was asking people for donations. :)

Tuesday, October 30th was our Ward Halloween Party.
I had class so Jake took the kids and manned a room and he did it all by himself, he's awesome. I had a pile of stuff by the front door for him to take to decorate his room and chips to hand out. Even cornbread muffins to turn in to the kitchen but that didn't happen, a little to much to handle.  :)
Sierra enjoyed being with her friends! Here she is with Amanda W...Sister Munoz took this, Thank you!

An artist and a zombie!

Dad even dressed up as a zombie too! :)

The next morning, Halloween! We did it all over again!

Ashton was in a parade! Sierra can't do the parades anymore, only through 5th grade. She still dressed up though and was adorable!

We dropped Sierra off at Karlie's house so they could trick or treat together. What is happening?!!!

The rest of us went to Saugus to celebrate with all the family. My brother's in-laws warmly welcomed us in their home. I brought my cornbread muffins I made for the ward party and a pumpkin apple dip that was amazing.
We ate apples, chili, cornbread and salad until we were stuffed silly and then it was time to trick or treat. YAY!

Trick or treating was SO MUCH FUN! It was Lucy's first time, she was so cute! We walked outside and it was like Disneyland. There were people everywhere. There were 2 haunted houses and we went inside one of them. It was set for non-scary before 8:00 so we could take the little boys in. They did a fantastic job. Some people had the whole front of their house transformed. They went all out! There were people dancing "Thriller" in the street. The best Trick or Treating EVER!!! What a fun night.
Sierra had a great time too! Her friend's brother did a spook alley so she had a couple of scares. :) She wants to come with us next year. :)