Conversations while doing hair #2

Background: This morning Price is staying home from school because he is sick

Lane: "Maybe I should stay home too, after all I do have the hick-ups."

Conversations while doing hair

Marley: "I wonder how it feels to be little"
Me: "Do you mean little like a fairy or little like a short person."
Marley: "Little like a short person."
Me: "Marley, I have wondered that all my life."
Marley: "Maybe when I meet a giant I will figure it out."
Me: "When do you think you will meet a giant."
Marley: "When I need golden eggs."

Lane

We have been getting ready for our annual Primary Program at church. The kids have been practicing their songs. In fact they walk around the house singing all of the different songs from this year. Sydney learned to play "Called to Serve" on the piano and plays it all of the time which puts the song in all of our heads. Just a minute ago Lane walked by singing, "onward ever onward as we glory and complain."

Last Night

2:15 AM
Eliza (with her eyes mostly closed): "There is a kitty in our pool."
Me: "Did you have a dream honey?"
Eliza: "No there is just a kitty in our pool."
Me: "OK lets put you back in bed."
Eliza: "but I really want to see it."

Ride the wave!!!

When I think about my Heavenly Father I know that he has the power and strength to do anything. I believe that no evil can stand in his presence.

On the other hand when I think about myself I feel very weak. I feel like there are a lot of things in life that I am not strong enough to conquer.

But if I put the two together . . . if I take my weakness and add my Heavenly Father's strength there is nothing that can stop us.

It is like our Heavenly Father's will is a big wave. If we fight the wave it will swallow us and smash us into the sand. However, if we follow the scriptures, prophet, and prompting of the Holy Ghost it is like taking a bogey board (it would sound a lot cooler if I said surf board here but I don't know how to do that) and riding the wave. It might be scary but it will take us beyond danger and to the place our Heavenly Father wants us to be and we get stronger in the process.

I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and wants what is best for me and for everyone because we are his children. When scary things are in our path, don't fight them. Ride the wave!!!

Cross Country #2

Here is Price in the seventh and eighth grade boys race. I love watching him race. There is just something about seeing those kids give their all at something that is really hard, and when they don't think that they can go one more step they do. It inspires me. I have to keep my sunglasses on so that they don't see the tears in my eyes, cause that would be embarressing. When Price was almost done, Rob was on the sidelines telling him to start sprinting. Price started to yell, "I can't..." Then this kid past him up and Price started sprinting. He didn't pass the other kid but he finished strong.
This is what you look like after running 1.5 miles in the Arizona heat (105 degrees). He is actually a lot sweater then he looks in this picture.

There wasn't any shade on the field so Rob was a good solution.

I can't say enough about how inspiring it is to watch them do something that challenges them and then they go back for more. Price ended up coming in 32 place. Good job Price!

Cross Country #1

This is Sydney in her first cross country meet of the year. She is now running in the fifth and sixth grade division. There were over 100 kids that ran in this race and Syd came in 21st.
She was in about 50th place until Rob went up to her and told her to run faster and she passed a bunch of kids.
This is the last girl Sydney past before the finish line.

Amanda and Sydney after their races.

We have the best bus driver

Eliza and I with our dog walk the kids to the bus stop most days. Eliza has been sad a few times about not being able to go with them. The bus driver said if we leave the dog home he would give Eliza a ride down the street. So this was her day. Eliza picked out the perfect princess dress and we did her hair in a special princess do and she brought her frilly princess purse.

Eliza, Lane, and Tanner on the bus ride

This is where they let us off and we waved goodbye to the school kids.

They did it!!!!

After weeks and months of taking out the garbage, picking weeds, cleaning the bathroom, washing windows, babysitting, picking up dog poop, mowing the lawn, moving dirt (lots of dirt), washing the cars, and yes selling kool-aid . . . they finally did it. They got enough money for a Wii.

I can't believe four kids could save this much money between them.

Kool-aid for sale!!

Our kids decided that they wanted a Wii so they pulled all of their money together and they have been doing their chores desperately to earn more money. Saturday we were done with the chores and they asked if they could have a kool-aid stand. I remember having kool-aid stands and working so hard in the Arizona sun and getting enough money to maybe buy a $.25 ice cream cone at McDonalds for everyone who helped. I tried to convince them not to but they persisted and set up this very cute kool-aid stand. They made the sign, set up the table and chairs (and umbrella), and made the kool-aid. After waiting for about 15 minutes in the 105 degree weather and no one showing up they came in and got the phone and started calling friends and neighbors.
This is our neighbor, Janice coming to buy a slightly cool, totally watery glass of kool-aid. That was so nice of her. They ended up making $13 for a little more than two hours of work. You split that four ways and that is just over $3 each. They thought it was totally worth it.