Mandy

About 2 weeks ago we found out one of my friends, Mandy, might have some sort of cancer. After several appointments and 2 weeks of waiting, the good news is in. She has Hodgkins Lymphoma. That is a type of cancer, but it is the most treatable type of cancer. She should be fully recovered in 4-6 months. We are all thankful that our prayers have been answered.

I was talking to Mandy this morning about all the "BAD" things that happen or will happen to each of us. I believe our attitude towards these trials determines whether we feel like these trials are devastating (or not). I am grateful for a perspective on life that does not just include the time between birth and death.

This is why we love Phoenix

work, work, work

Before we could play we had to pick 2 grapefruit trees.

My dad has a pretty good system. After 30 + years of handing the fruit down like this. . . he realized their was a better way.

He would stand on the ladder and toss the grapefruit onto this sponge pad and the kids would pick up the fruit off the ground. This way the fruit would not break open and it was faster to put in the boxes.


Even Chloë was a good little helper.

Butch, uh I mean Uncle Jon

This is Dad's older brother, Jon. Dad always called him Butch, until his wife said, "His name is Jon." Well, that was the end to that tradition. Dad and his brother were always very close growing up. (Jon just told me that he and Dad never went to the same school) It sounded like they had a lot of adventures. One time Dad was climbing a tree and it was time to go. So Jon said, "Jump down." Dad did. Then he threw up on the neighbor boy's shoes because it was a far jump and it hurt so bad when Dad landed. But then they ran off and continued to play.

Dad's dad (and his dad)were civil engineers and so was Jon. My dad is an electrical engineer. He always wanted one of his girls to be an engineer, but he is still proud of us. Maybe Sam will carry on the tradition.

Grandma Mimi

Mimi got this new chair for Christmas. I think it is nice because now she can sit up more to talk with people. Before she would lay on the couch all day.

Mimi and my mother have scoliosis. This causes all sorts of pain from nerves being pinched to the rib cage being compressed and on and on. My mom had surgery when she was a young girl to fuse her lower vertebra together.

This is Auntie Pat, Mimi's sister. When my mom was growing up many people thought Aunt Pat was my mom's mom.

We are on vacation

I am usually pretty strict about putting my kids to bed early, but I am easing up! Thank goodness. We had to pick Kira's mom up at the train station at 8:30pm. So we decided to go to Sea Port Village and ride the merry-go-round.

Beach

This morning I braided the girls hair. Olivia was very impressed
that I knew how to do that.

Every morning Poppy Mikie made the kids pancakes. Thanks grampas!

Then we headed off to the beach. Sam loved making shapes in the sand.
This is the lobster he really liked.

Olivia loved running in the water. You have to see the video and
hear her voice to appreciate it!

Chloë had a love hate relationship with the sand. It was fun to play in, but then she would realize it was stuck to her hand and she did not like that.

Here we are building a road for Super Rock.

Poppy Mike is a great builder, it is in his genes.

There is more than Sea World

We hung out around Mimi's place for the morning and then we went to the Science center.
Sam likes it when Lula grabs his face. He laughs and says, "Look mommy, she's touching my face!"

There, we played by the water fountain and bought tickets to the surround IMAX movie for tomorrows show. Grandpa Mike had a treat in his pocket that he gave the kids to eat when needed. It was cute to see him share it with his grandkids.

I am not sure what we call this pose, but Sam really wanted me to take his picture doing this.

Kira and Liv ran around the fountain and enjoyed each other's company.

San Diego

Olivia had this week off school so we decided to go to San Diego and Phoenix for a few days. Leslie happened to be working in southern Cali at the beginning of the week, so she brought Kira to San Diego to play with Sam and Liv. They LOVE being together, even though we did have a few incidents.

This time we did not go to Sea World. The kids and I are reading a book about a cat and dog family who live in a lighthouse. I told my dad this and he suggested we go see this light house at the Cabrillo National Monument.


I have never been here before, and it was 10 minutes away from my Mimi's place. The kids had a nice time running around outside and watching the boats and military planes.

We also got to investigate the lighthouse. It was neat for the kids to see the little bedrooms, kitchen and garden the light house keeper used.

Valentine's day candy

I am not very good about writing down the cute things my kids say.
But this was awesome.
So Sam had a Valentine's day party at preschool and he came home with 4 Fun Dips. Remember those. . . it comes with a dip stick made from sugar and a side pack of sugar granules-
(actually the ingredients are:
Dextrose, maltodextrin, and less than 2% of citric acid, calcium stearate, artificial flavors, blue 1, blue 1 lake, yellow 5.)
Anyway, while Sam and Olivia are enjoying this treat,
Olivia says, "Why can't we eat the stick?"
(I don't inform her she can eat the stick.)
Then Sam says, "Because it is not healthy."

I think he will be our dentist. Here are Olivia's teeth after the treat.
Sam was too ashamed to have his picture taken.

Chinese New Year

Today Olivia's class celebrated Chinese New Year. They read a book in class and helped Mrs. Engelhardt make a dragon.

It was fun for the kids to be in the head of the dragon. I also thought it was a great exercise for the children to follow directions and work together under the dragon. Olivia's class was the only class to do something like this. It gives the kids a different kind of learning experience. Normally I am not into fluffy education, but things in our area are so academic, it is nice to have a break. She is in KINDERGARTEN!

Mormon Rap

Family life does not get better than this.
I love you Daniel!

It may be rainy but. . . .

We are having fun. . .
reading books, coloring, being super heroes, making lego spacecrafts,
making cookies, dancing and singing, making valentine cards, doing "homework",
and creating great works of art!
(all before 5pm)
Sam calls this "A Boat on Water". I think this is pretty realistic. Good job Sambo!

Good kids

This morning Olivia said we were not allowed in their room because she was planning a surprise. Finally, she came out and brought Daniel and me in with our eyes shut. She, Sam and Chloë had cleaned up their room and made their beds. Aren't they cute!


Yesterday, Lula was crying but I was cleaning up the kitchen so I left her to cry. Olivia went and got her out of bed (don't ask). Then she bundled Lula up, gave her some toys and sat next to her to keep putting the pacifier in her mouth. I came out of the kitchen and saw my cute kids all happy.

100 days

Olivia celebrated her 100th day at Kindergarten. All the kids made a poster full of 100 items. Olivia chose tiny beads. She glued them on in the shape of 100. You can see them, they look gray. I guess they were too tiny, so she decided to write 100 really BIG! Everything you see was her idea. I think she did a great job!

Chloë's 2nd birthday dinner

Tonight we had the Miners over for a birthday dinner for Spencer and Chloë.

Olivia helped me make their cake. Sorry Spencer for the My Little Pony theme!

Chloë loved all her gifts. Thank you everyone!

She will be the perfect little housewife.