8 is Great Preview...

Tonight after church we fed the missionaries. Rusty made his famous tacos and we chatted with the Elders while the boys ran amuck. We got to drive the Elders back to the church so we could all attend "8 is Great!"  The whole primary room was full. So many kids getting baptized this year. Berkley is so funny. He eyed the 8 doughnut treats the second we walked in the door. I can't believe he is already old enough to be choosing to get baptized! October will be here before we know it. Save the Date- November 15th @ 9am. 

Gilbert Temple Open House...

I know we are biased because this is "our" temple, but it really is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  We got the chance to take the boys along with Russ & Cindi and Jill & Jaci the first day of the open house.  I can't even describe the peaceful feeling you get inside.  The boys loved it- aside from Brenner who did NOT like the plastic booties they had you wear.  It is crazy to think that this could be the temple our kids are married in! Can't wait for the dedication and to start doing work there when it officially opens in March.

Stake Temple Walk...

Our stake decided to do a Temple Walk.  Rusty was on the committee and had a number of meetings to plan it for months and months.  We met at a nearby soccer field, and walked the mile and a half to the Temple, took pictures and walked back.  There we had a nice picnic lunch.  We had a small program and by then I could barely breathe because of my grass allergy! So, we cut it short and headed home.  I hope it is a day the boys always remember.  They can't wait to go through the Open House soon.

We walked with the Porters. The boys ran off ahead of us most of the time. 

When we got back to the park the Stake had keychains for the adults and bracelets for the youth. Our stake theme is PASS -Pray Attend Study Serve. 

Field Trip!!!

I know, I know. Braden is in the 5th grade and this is the very first time I have ever chaperoned.  I am pretty proud of myself for ding this one too because it was an all day outing to the AZ Science Center. On the bus ride over one of the three busses had brake trouble and we had to stop to make sure they all didn't die.  Just kidding, but really.  Funnily enough, I knew a bunch of other moms on other busses and the ones on the bus with out breaks were only told they needed to see if a light had gone out.  Kinda funny!  Needless to say we made it there.  We had from 9-1 at the center and the kids had a packet we had to fill out so we wandered from exhibit to exhibit.  I had Braden and two other boys and two girls.  They were good kids.

Braden and his buddy Stratton 

The ride home was louder than the way there and I was very, very ready for a nap when I got home. 

Triplets Blessing Day...

We got to travel all the way over to Peoria for the Rafferty Triplets baby blessing.  Rusty was asked to be in the circle for the blessings.  I got to hold little Brooks for part of the meeting and his big brother Jace kept telling me, "That's MY baby" it was pretty cute.  After the meeting we went back to their house for a luncheon.  My parents and my cousin Hayden and his cute family were also there.  Plus Genny and JJ's families of course.  It was such a special day!

Here I am with Brooks. Atleast I'm 90% sure it's Brooks. 

Hayden and Genny love about 8 minutes apart. So fun that of my 7 cousins we three are the youngest and we live in the same state. I'm trying to convince Hayden and Cheyenne they've lived on the west side long enough and he needs to finish med school over near me. It's only fair. 

Braden's First Band Concert...

Well, in 5th grade the kids get to pick an instrument to learn to play at school.  Braden picked trumpet because Rusty, Ryan, Russ and Maryn all played.  He's picked it up quickly because of his piano.  His first concert was at Highland High School. They did great.  I am sure it will sound more and more like actual music the lounger they play ;)

 Boss enjoyed listening to a lot of Braden's friends in the orchestra.

 It was hard to get pictures because he was right in the middle, but there he isa right behind his teacher's elbow.

 Taking their bows.

 Brenner wanted his picture taken too.

 There were so many family and friends there to watch Braden that I had to save an entire row on one of the amphitheater sides, I got a LOT of mean looks and discussions, but I threw down and saved every last one of the seats I need.  That's why you gotta come early folks!

SYTYCD in Concert...

In November Rusty and I got to finally use the tickets he had gotten me for my birthday.  We went to Melting Pot for my official birthday dinner and then drove out to Phoenix for the concert.  It was such a cool experience.  First of all, it was my first time to Melting Pot and it was yummy. 

Then the concert was a blast.  It was in a smaller theatre and the dancers started out the night in the audience so we saw them up close! They did a lot of numbers from the season, but with different partners. And some of the dances they made longer. And one of them the Sand dance, they even added the girls too! It was so so so cool.  There weren't breaks between the numbers, they blended one dance into the next- so awesome.  Of course it is hard to take pictures of stuff like this, so you'll have to take my word that it was amazing.  Definitely want to go again!

A Very Berry EARLY Christmas Dinner...

I am still on the Relief Society committee and we got to plan our big Christmas dinner early this year.  Because of building scheduling we had to have it the second week of November.  Although everyone thought we were crazy, it was nice not to have to have one more thing to go to in December.  I work with a great committee.  I made the invites and posters again.  They were fun.  We were going with a berry theme and we used lots of burlap.

It took 4 suburbans and a few other cars to get everything over to the church that day to set up. We worked from 10 am until 2pm and then we came back at 5 to finish.  After it was over we were there until almost midnight cleaning up, but it was totally worth it.  Plus we got to take home lots of left over pies...

I made the JOY sign and it doubled as a Bunco gift a week later. 

The Commitee (l-r) Rachelle, Erin, Krystal, Jackie, Heidi, Tara, me, Barbara 

We served soup in bread bowls and a berry salad. We had dozens of pies for dessert and ice cream. We played a game (the Left Right game) which I Emceed and talked and laughed. It was a great night. All in all we had about 115 women there and there are only 130 in our ward RS so we had an unbelievable turn out. Can't wait to plan next year!! 

Turning 34...

It wasn't so bad.  Rusty got me tickets to see So You Think You Can Dance when they come in November.

Roses from Rusty. 

Rusty had Kneaders French toast for me when I woke up. 

Gifts from friends. 

The best part was it was Bunco and my sweet friend Kim planned the whole night around me.  The food was my fav, Costa Vida style salads, Red Velvet cupcakes. There were balloons and streamers and all the prizes were "my favorite things".  I even got to pick first, cause heck, it was my birthday!

Kim Carrol and I 

Some of the prizes were a sleep kit (which I picked), chevron bracelets (which Kim picked and gave to me), gift card to Thrive, a Silhouette tool, and gift cards to my fav spots, a frame, Princess Bride DVD and a couple others. Plus the group got me a gift certificate to get a pedi! 

Back to Preschool!!!

9.2.13

Brenner had his first day of his second year of preschool with Miss Christine and Miss Larissa today. He wasn't very excited last night when I told him tomorrow was school. He was carrying on and pleading not to go. Rusty gave him his back to school blessing and he settled down for bed. 

This morning when I asked him to get his shoes on he quickly put it together where we were going. And he freaked. Luckily, Rusty was still home, waiting to see if he had to report for jury duty (he did not) so he came with us. 

He walked right in the door, said hello to miss Christine and went straight to pick a work and found a place to sit. I was so happy it was so easy! He told us goodbye and we were on our way!

When I went back to pick him up he was super excited to show me something. He led me to the snack table. He was very excited that they had had NutriGrain bars as part of their snack. It was so funny because I can remember Berk going through a phase where he loved those too. Brenner will be going three days a week this year and come spring we will have to decide if he will go to kindergarten in fall or do another year of preschool. I'm excited for my time with just Boston each week!