We Survived!

We are spending Christmas with my (Hillary's) family, the Wakes, in Washington this year, and decided to drive, as it would be more economical all around, especially with these great gas prices!
We started our drive from LA on Thursday at 6pm and drove straight through until we got here on Friday evening at around 8:30pm. 26 1/2 HOURS!!! Yes, it is long, but the kids were really great and we all survived. Nothing extraordinary happened, but we did have to go about 30 miles an hour for around 80 miles through Mt. Shasta and Siskiyou (which is the highest point of I-5 at about 4300 feet). The kids kept asking where we were, and as I was driving through a chains checkpoint I missed the sign: "Welcome to Oregon." Jane, little Miss Eagle Eye saw it and the kids were so excited! We passed the 45th parallel, at which point we were half-way between the equator and the North Pole, saw the Portland Temple, crossed the Columbia river into Washington, and drove through a snowstorm.
Sean and I, of course, were tired, so we talked and ate as much as possible, but it wasn't until we were getting close to the Oregon/Washington border that I finally dug out our apples and we started munching. At this point Sean decided to share some very useful information: one apple as the same energy-boosting effect as a cup of coffee, and lasts longer. Now, obviously this information would have been GREAT to know the night before when I was VERY drowsy, before adrenaline kicked in. Good to know it for the return trip, though. It will come in quite handy.
When we stopped for gas shortly after entering the pass (at 4:30am) the kids woke up and we all got out to stretch. We had the gas station to ourselves, as everything else was closed, and had a mini-snowball fight with the kids. They were having a blast since it was their first time in snow that they could remember. (I haven't taken any pictures of them playing in the snow, but so far they've gone out twice to try to make a snowman, in vain since the snow is pure powder, no packing quality at all.)
After making it through the mountains, we had a pretty relaxing time driving north through Oregon, enjoying the winter wonderland. We made it into Washington without trouble, but about 5 minutes into the evergreen state we saw the first evidences of snow. As we continued north the grounds continued to show more and more snow, eventually making it to the roads. Although it was obvious there had been a significant amount of snowfall, the roads were kept pretty clean until we got into Redmond area. We actually had to put the chains back on to get up to my parents' house. We got in, unloaded our car with the essentials, and came inside to feast on the scrumptious spagetti my mom made just for us (Thanks Mom!). After eating until we were full, we put the kids to bed and came back downstairs to relax and chat for a bit. When we finally made it to bed I thought we'd be out for the night, but James had alternate plans. We slept (more or less) until about 7:30am (thanks for sleeping in, kids!) and spent the day getting ready for Sunday and the upcoming Christmas week (mainly finding room for everyone and their things, grocery shopping and playing in the snow).
Sean spent most of his day helping Rob, Brad, and Dad put in the dining room floor so that we'd have space to eat as a family on Christmas day.
I am so grateful to our Heavenly Father for protecting our family along this trip. We have survived this long journey without harm or accident befalling us and I know the Lord had a hand in it. I am aware of his ever watchful eye, and I thank Him for our abundant blessings!
As I am thoroughly exhausted now, I'm going to save picture-posting for another time. Merry Christmas to all! May the Spirit be with you!

Happy 10th Anniversary!

I know I'm three days early (Thursday is going to be busy, so we're celebrating early) but I wanted to tell my husband how much I admire him. I am so thankful that he is mine forever, and I'll never be more grateful to the Lord for anything else that comes into my life than I am for Sean. He is my world, my joy. He is the reason I get up and breathe in the morning, and the reason I love going to bed each night. There is nothing in the world, or the eternities, that could bring me more happiness, than the thought of spending both with Sean.
For the last 10 years nothing has entered my life that has brought me joy unless it was through his efforts. He is always doing things to bring me happiness. I definitely enjoy the bordeaux, Baskin Robbins, and Mimi's runs. I love to watch our children, since they remind me of him. I love watching him watch the Lakers, or Dodgers (even though I make him keep his end of our deal) because he gets into it without getting too into it. I love that he loves things so much that he gets excited when they come up (Rhapsody in Blue). And, crazy as it sounds (and even if I don't always tell him), I love to watch him go out the door to run the Lord's errands, for I know that I married a faithful, temply-worthy man and because of such, our family can be together forever.
Thank you, my love, for being my love.

Earthquake!

It all started with a headache...
In the early afternoon I had an immense headache that lasted for about an hour. It came suddenly, then left suddenly.
Just now, well, about an hour ago, there was an earthquake in Ludlow, CA (about three hours away from here). I was sitting on the couch holding James and felt the couch move. I went into the hallway and motioned for Sean to come talk to me (he was tucking kids in) and told him we had an earthquake.
"No, we didn't."
"Yes, we did!"
"No, we didn't!"
"YES, we did!!"
"It was probably a car going down the street or something."
"NO, IT WAS AN EARTHQUAKE!"
(Of course, all this yelling was done in whisper so as not to freak out the kids).
So Sean came into the TV room and turned on the TV, saying that if it were an earthquake they'd have it on the news.
5-7 minutes went by with nothing on the news.
Sean gloated.
A minute later BREAKING NEWS flashed on the screen and we were told there had been a 5.5 earthquake in Ludlow, CA.
So, HAH! I may have lived in Seattle for half of my life, but I was born a Californian, lived here until I was 8, and moved back when I was 22, so I can say I have lived here for half of my life. I think I know the difference between a car and an earthquake!
So, to my dear husband, I love you, but I was right. :)

A thing to mention:
Last July when we had an earthquake I had had an immense headache then, as well. I had put off building a fort with the kids because I wasn't feeling well, then it went away suddenly and we started building one anyway. That is when the earthquake hit.
Now, I'm not saying that my brain can detect when an earthquake is going to happen, but I am saying that I am probably very allergic to earthquakes. I'm beginning to think they aren't good for my health.......

Christmas Card Preview

So, why I'm posting this AND sending it out via email AND snail-mail, I don't know. I guess this way I'm sure to get everyone. The picture included in our letter this year is one of the beach pictures from the previous post. Hope you enjoy our year-recap!


"This has to be my (Hillary’s) favorite time of the year! This is the time I get to recap all the fun and new experiences this year offered our family:
Sean~ Sean ended his HS teaching career in the BUSD by being the recipient of the Bellflower High School Yearbook Dedication and is now an “Instructional Math Coach” for the school district. This job involves a lot of different tasks, including night meetings, but it allows Sean to be home during the day more, too. At least twice a week he comes home for lunch and sometimes he is able to take the girls to school, or pick them up. The biggest perk, though, is that Sean is less stressed, and it offers him time in the morning to run. Sean was also changed from Second to First Counselor of the Bishopric.
Hillary~ Like Sean, my calling and job changed this year as well. I was released as 2nd Counselor in the Primary and put in as 1st Counselor, to be released again and called as a youth Sunday school teacher, which I love! With a new baby in the house it has been a fun challenge to manage two kids in school, one in preschool, and a baby who is a good sport at being strapped into a stroller, shopping cart, or car seat most of the day. (Notice I omitted housework. I haven’t quite learned to manage that yet. )
Rebecca (8)~ Becky’s big event this year was turning 8 and being baptized and confirmed by her dad. She is now in 3rd grade, taking piano lessons (and teaching Sean along the way), continuing her love of art at home, and is a great helper to me, often volunteering for various chores. She loves her primary and school teachers, class pet (boa constrictor), and Achievement Day leader.
Michelle Jane (7)~ Jane loves 2nd grade and her teacher. She started off this school year by being Student of the Week and has continued to excel in her studies, already meeting her AR goal. She loves reading books, playing educational games on the computer, beating us at Set, and playing with her siblings. Jane’s highlight of the year was attending Mayfair HS Cheer Camp and cheering at a high school football game.
Alex (5 on Dec 30)~ Alex missed the kindergarten cut-off this year, but has kept busy learning his –at and –in words, completing all preschool projects, and making two trips to the hospital. Alex has also been very patient with me while I walk around a track 3-4 times a week. Alex will patiently play in the sand at a volleyball court within the track until I’m done (about an hour); then we move to the playground so he can swing or slide while I stretch. He’s not fond of these mornings, but he lovingly and patiently complies.
James (1 on Dec 26)~ It has been fun for the whole family to see the changes occurring on almost a daily basis with our baby James. He blessed us with his smile at 6 weeks, and has generally been a quiet, happy baby. Currently he is easily cruising along furniture and enjoying just about every food offered. He is nervous about a lot of things: swings, haircuts, being up high, animals (except ours), strange noises, and water hitting his car window. He loves his toothbrush, clapping, peek-a-boo, giving kisses, and playing with daddy (who is his favorite).
Our family has grown in every sense of the word this year and we have really tried to emphasize spending more time together as a family. We have taken trips to Washington to visit Hillary’s family, walked around various parts of So Cal, made “field trips” with the kids, and through it all we’ve created wonderful memories (of which I’m having fun scrap-booking). We recognize the Lord’s hand in our lives and forever thank Him for our trials, and the ever abundant blessings that follow.
We wish to thank all who have given of their love, support, and friendship. We wish all a Merry Christmas and may the Lord bless you in the coming year!"

Christmas Pictures

Since we still have access to a beach we decided to take advantage of its beauty and take our yearly Christmas photo there. We found a gorgeous spot without too much wind and whipped out the camera. Actually, Kevin (Sean's dad), whipped out his camera and ever so patiently took picture after picture after picture...



As I am not a professional photographer, nor could I look through the lens and see what the camera was seeing, it took a while to get an idea of what we should be doing, but it all worked out and we had such a great time at this quiet little cove that we decided not to wait too long to come back and enjoy the beach without having to worry about picture taking.

Curses!

More specifically, of the Duplo kind. About a week ago I had the misfortune of stepping on a Duplo hidden in my multi-colored carpet - three times, on the same day! A day or so later I noticed a black and blue spot on the bottom of my foot and had a cramping feeling every time I walked. Apparently I had bruised the bottom of my foot!
Sean, the ever kind and loving husband that he is, chuckled and said that he would have learned after the first time! Obviously he isn't in possession of a wiggly 10 month old while trying to maneuver across a multi-colored carpet and the activities of a 4 year old to get chores done.
Ahh, the joys of motherhood!

My Birthday Jane

My sweet girl has turned 7! I can't believe she's getting so ... OLD! Ha! What a bright, sweet girl she is. She got breakfast in (my) bed this morning (donuts and OJ), followed by the present opening. Among the presents were a new digital Samsung camera (she had put in an order for that instead of a birthday party), Disney princess t-shirt, jeweled hair clip, new school shirt, and camera case/money from Gammie and Gampy. She was happy all morning getting ready for school because she knew that once we got there she'd get sung to at the flag salute. She had quite the proud smile on her face all day! I wasn't able to bring treats to her classroom to celebrate (new CA state law), but I did talk to her teacher and was allowed to drop off organic cherry juice and some croissants for the kids in her classroom.
When we got home I made one of her favorite meals - "mini pizzas" (triangle ravioli) and Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Leslie game over to give her a present (the rest she'll get on Sunday for her family birthday party). She went to bed happy and anxious to go buy some rechargeable batteries for her camera, and an SD card, so she can start putting her talents and hobby to work.
We actually started her birthday celebration on Monday at Mimi's Cafe where she ate pancakes, then we went to Chuck E. Cheese on Tuesday. On Sunday, at her family party, she gets her third favorite meal - Chicken Balls. How many kids get to have all their favorite meals the week of her birthday? For one who is so little, she sure eats a lot!
We are so blessed to have our little Jane in our family. We actually ended her birthday by taking turns telling her all the things we love about her: she plays well with her siblings, she reads a lot; especially to her younger brother; she likes to play sports; she eats her food well and is willing to try new foods; she tries hard in school and does very well; she is kind to others and helps out her mom and dad a lot; she is a great sister, often helping her brothers or sister to be happy; she laughs like a chipmonk; she makes me smile with her smile...we could have gone on for quite some time, but it was getting to be bedtime, so Sean offered her a piggy-back ride to bed, which officially ended her birthday celebration (until Sunday's family dinner).
We love you, Jane, and look forward to another year of Janey-Baney getting older, and wiser, too!

Girls' Night Out

Once again, we had a wonderful night with the ladies! Crystal, Heather, Shauna, Cindy, Rebecca, Traesa, and I all gathered at the Corner Bakery for some yummy treats and to celebrate Crystal's visit. It was so great to have her back, even for just a week. Hopefully, though, we won't have to wait for her return before we have another night out. These, we have found, are becoming more and more infrequent.
We were missing a few ladies: Rebecca, Jenny (come visit!), and Gretchen (you too!).
These nights provide sanity, laughter, and calories. All are welcome. We love to spread our friendship, love, and caloric guilt!

Peek-a-Boo James

One of James' favorite games is Peek-a-Boo. He gets so excited to see we are still there when he pulls the blanket off. Don't forget to turn off the music at the bottom of the page before you start the video.

Princess Becky

Becky had a great Achievement Day where all the girls dressed up in their Halloween garb, played games, and had a blast! Thanks to Joy Basso, that is! We are all so grateful for the time and efforts she puts into her calling! Thanks, Joy, and thanks for all the pictures, too!

Our Happy Halloween

Ok, so I could have taken better/more pictures, but I can only do so much! After getting ready for the actual event, I'd forgotten to take pictures before we left, and then it was so dark none of the pictures came out well. Next year....


We had a ward Trunk-or-Treat which went well. All the kids came home with about 15 lbs of candy, of which most was then promptly distributed to other avenues (Sean's candy jar at work, Hillary's church class, etc).
We then went to Grandma and Grandpa Monroe's to trick-or-treat. I did get one picture on their steps, if you can tell (it's so dark!). Becky is a pink princess, Jane is Sleeping Beauty (on the top step, hand on the door), Alex is a superb fireman, James is a doctor, and Sean is a very patient dad!




Although Halloween is not my favorite holiday (more like least!) I am warming up to it. I already have the designs of my trunk for next year. I'm thinking pirates, water, ship, plank, helm, sail, cannon, etc....

Rockin' Robbin

For the Cerritos Stake 50th Anniversary Celebration all ward primaries were asked to do a dance. Our Bellflower Ward primary did the Copy Cat to Rockin' Robbin. It was so cute to see the kids all dressed up with curled ponytails, slicked hair, poodle skirts, scarves, and rolled white t-shirts.

Kids in the program included Becky, Jane, Alex, the Bakkers, Vasquezs, Tatum's and Douglass'.



After the program was a dance and all the kids got to boogey to 50's music and were allowed to dance on the stage with all the props and decor.


We are all so excited the kids got to participate, but after a dance practice almost every Friday night since July, we were ready to be done, too!

Best Buds

James had just one other friend in our ward who was close to his age (just 1 1/2 months apart), but he moved this past summer. A week ago Kaleb Watts and his mom, Crystal, came to visit and we had a fabulous playdate catching up and marveling at the similarities between the two. Kaleb and James both make the same excited noises, both are scared about the silliest things (James freaks out when I try to swing him), and they both are too excited about the world around them to want to nurse much anymore. Both are cruising and anxious to take steps on their own, and both are so sweet and smile easily!
Thank you, Crystal, for bringing Kaleb to visit. I can't wait to move closer to you guys and let the boys spend more time together so they can grow up to be best buds!

My Little Sandman

Three or four days every week you can find Alex and his little friends, Emma and twin brother Ben (not pictured), playing in the sand at a local park while I walk with their mom. He's so patient, often counting my laps as I walk the track around the volleyball court's sand box. After about an hour we gather the kids and their toys and guide them over to the playground where they spend most of their time on the swings.



I realize how blessed I am to have such a kind boy who is patient with me as I get some exercise, pushing James in the stroller. It's not his favorite activity, to sit in the sand every day for an hour, but he puts up with me and I appreciate it!

Let me in!

Poor James is often left out of the other kids' activities. The kids aren't trying to be mean, they just don't want him tearing down their blocks, or messing up the cars that they line up in a row, or knocking down their forts. Often they barracade themselves into their rooms and he is left knocking on the door as if to say, "Let me in! I know you're in there!"
It's so cute how he goes in search of them. Not too much longer and he'll be in there with the rest of them! He's such a sweet tempered little guy.

Obsession

Ok, so our family is a bit obsessed with cars. Whenever the kids see a nice car they want a picture with it. This nice Lotus was outside Mimi's Cafe in Downey when we went there for breakfast one morning (I think Alex is actually taller than this car if he stood up straight!). There are several pictures of my kids in or next to some pretty sweet cars, but these two are the only ones I'll post. Below is a picture of Alex and Sean in the little Nissan Sean borrowed for Bellflower's Homecoming parade. He stopped by the house to give Alex a ride before he headed off to the parade, and Alex couldn't stop smiling the rest of the day!

Preschool Picture

Alex had his preschool pictures and he was absolutely adorable! The handsomest little man in the picture! He was so excited to get dressed nice for the picture with his class and his favorite teacher. I can already see him greatly missing Mrs. King come Kindergarten next year.

Brush Brush

One of James' favorite new toys is a travel tooth brush. I keep it in my purse and whip it out when he needs something interesting to chew on. It's great because it has its own tube to put it back into when he's done. I just rinse it off and stick it back in my purse.

Out go the old, in come the new...

Yesterday was our ward primary program and, I have to say, am I ever glad it is over! As much fun it is to see these darling kids say their lines and sing their songs and sit on the stand for over an hour with minimal adult supervision (ahh, the scenes that arose were hilarious!) it is so stressful, I actually caught myself smiling all day after that because I physically felt the stress leave my body once the closing prayer was said. I don't think I've ever been more relieved!
Next year, however, I am happy to say I will be able to view it from OFF the stand, as I was officially released as First Counselor in the Primary Presidency yesterday and called to be a Sunday School Teacher over the 14/15 yr. olds. I left the stand after the closing prayer and, amidst tears and cries over my release (from my own kids!), went directly to my new classroom and taught my new class. What I thought would be a class full of the kids I'd first taught when I was called to primary 3 years ago turned out to be a class full of strangers, except for one returning student. I had a fun time getting to know them and getting a glimpse of their fun personalities. I look forward to developing a relationship with these strong youth and feel privileged that the Lord feels I am worthy enough to teach these great kids. I pray I will prove him right!

Brain waves ~ ~ ~

Yes, mine have been working again.
Recently Sean and I were discussing some people whom we love dearly and how they always seem to have one trial or another going on in their lives. To us, these trials are big ones, but, as we were discussing one family in particular, we realized that if anything bad were to happen to anyone, it would be (said family). (Names have been omitted to protect the innocent). I know that Heavenly Father is always there for us during our times of need and knows what we can handle, but it dawned on me that He is actually there and knows what we can handle!
Really. These people with trials that seem to be hard to me are probably water off a duck's back to them. Heavenly Father allows these trials to constantly come their way because He knows that they can handle it. Heck, they probably need it! I mean, they're probably saying in their spiritual self, "Bring it on!" They wouldn't be able to grow and learn off of one measly trial. No, they are so spiritually strong and secure that they need the heavy duty stuff!
Oh, to be as strong as (said family) and to have the spiritual integrity that they hold. I hope that I could be as they are in the face of these trials, though at the same time I hope to never find out! You are my heroes! Thank you for your sacrifice, willingness to serve, and wonderful example! I am better for knowing you and hope to always be in your acquaintance.

Cheerful Jane...

The Friday following the cheer camp Jane performed with the Mayfair Cheerleaders at the football game in Ron Yary Stadium. She got to go down to the field, use the cheer boxes, and even got her own pom-poms! She had so much fun, especially since she had her friends, Isabelle and Grace, though she spent more time watching the game than she did actually cheering! At half-time her cheer day was over and we all went to Baskin Robbins for ice cream to celebrate her job well done.
We're so glad she had this (cheap) experience. Thank you Mayfair!

Here She Goes Again!

Jane was selected by her teacher, Ms. Cornejo, to be Student of the Week on 20 Sept. Duties entailed door monitor, line leader, homework stamper, etc. She even got to sit at Ms. Cornejo's desk for a whole day! Her teacher asked to send in a photo of Jane to be displayed on the board, so this is the photo we took that day and sent in the following Monday.

Rah, Rah, Shish-Koom-Bahhh!

On 20 September Jane entered "Cheer Camp" put on by the Mayfair Cheerleaders as a fund raiser and got a t-shirt as a souvenir. For 3 hours she decorated a poster, learned cheers, practiced moves, and had a blast! At the end she ate pizza and told me on the way home she wanted to do it again next week. Well, she's in luck! That following Friday night she was to perform at the Mayfair football game. She was so excited she ended up sleeping in her new t-shirt that night!

Snip, Snip Here...Snip, Snip There!

We took a trip to Neal's Barber Shop on 19 September, "the best Barber this side of the Mississippi!" (as Sean would say). Alex and Sean both got cuts - they wouldn't go anywhere else, and we are looking forward to James' first cut when he gets a bit more hair!
Neal is a dear friend and served with Sean and Bishop Douglass in the Bellflower Ward Bishopric as First Counselor until just last week (when he was released and Sean was ordained First Counselor, with Brother Vaili as Second Counselor). Neal Clyde (shop located on Lakewood Blvd. just South of Alondra in Bellflower in case anyone needs a cut)is a fabulous man and, though he is still in our ward, will be missed in the Bishopric. We love you and we are so glad you didn't move either!

Every Mom Has One of These...

So we must have had a busy day on 19 September, though at the moment I can't think of what we were doing specifically - besides the haircuts -(don't quote me, but I think this is when James was sick). James fell asleep eating his Cheerios and we all saw it happen. First the nod, then the other nod, then the pointless attempt at trying to get comfortable on the tray...and...he's out!

My Hero!

I was feeling ill yesterday, and kept getting worse as the day went on. At 4pm I picked the girls up from school and practically passed out when we finally got home. I called Sean to ask if he had a meeting that night so I could plan my rest or demise, as the case may be. Sean called me back at about 5:30 to say that he did have a meeting and I literally cried. Upon hearing that I was worse instead of better since he last talked to me that day, he told me he was skipping his evening meeting and coming home with pizza when his work meeting was over. I counted the minutes until he got home at 6:15 and gave up all my energy reserves to stay awake and keep the kids entertained and busy with homework until he came home.
When he walked through our door he took charge of the "situation," getting the kids fed, force-feeding me medicine and water (ugh! I hate taking any medicines!), helping them with their homework, and tucking me into bed. He even switched blankets for me because the one I had on the bed was too scratchy for my ache-y body! I got to rest for an hour before I had to feed James, and then he got the kids into bed and joined me on the couch to keep me company.
How I could have ever survived without his love is impossible to think! He truly is my hero, and even had the patience to hear and answer my questions about Lord of the Rings while he watched it (I saw it once when it came out, and not since, so I'm a bit lost on the details).
Because of Dr. Sean I feel so much better today. I still have the stuffy nose and ears, but I've learned my lesson and decided to stay home and rest today so Sean doesn't have to sacrifice his plans to take care of the results of my stubbornness. Sean even got the girls ready for school and dropped them off for me so I could have a really relaxing morning. I truly love my husband, and I'm so grateful for his willingness to take care of me, even when I'm sick and loopy! Thank you, my love!

Stuff memories are made of...

1. We were reading in Moroni 7 a few days ago and got to the part where the Lord promises to answer the prayers of the righteous. The kids then asked if Heavenly Father will answer our prayers.
I said, "Yes, as long as it was what we needed."
I was trying to get them to understand the difference between need and want, so I asked them Heavenly Father would give me a pony if if I prayed for one.
They said, "No."
I said, "That's right, but why?"
"Because you don't need one."
"That's right. Heavenly Father only gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want."
Then Becky got really excited and said, "That's what Santa is for!"

2. I showed up to Alex's preschool to pick him up and he was the last one there with the teacher (despite the fact that I was there at 2:40 and preschool wasn't supposed to be over until 3pm). I watched him help the teacher put all the bikes away, gather all of his projects and put them on one clip so the rest of the clips could be put away (which he also helped to do), then gather the balls and take them inside, all the while talking with his favorite teacher, (who also happened to be Sean's preschool teacher) Mrs. King. They looked so cute talking and working together that I just had to stand and enjoy the moment. Alex treated her questions with seriousness and loved the attention he was getting from her. Sad to say he doesn't get a lot of one-on-one time at home. We'll work on that!

3. James was sitting in the front seat with me in our rental car (ours is in the shop- again!). We'd just finished getting groceries, but it was still too early to get the girls from school. He was enjoying playing with the steering wheel - trying to turn it as if he were driving. Then he found the blinker! He turned it on, then went back to the steering wheel. I turned it off, only to watch him reach to the side and flip it back on. I turned it off, he flipped it back on. This went on for a while. Oh, the joys of a 9 month old!

4. Jane's tooth had been sticking out - think Nanny McPhee and flip the tooth up so it sticks out towards the front - for over a month! It was terribly loose, but was still hanging on by that darned thread! Well, picture day is going to be coming up soon, so I got a bit determined and took her into the bathroom during bedtime and "helped" her brush her teeth. I told her the dirt was stuck and wouldn't come off. Well, I just kept brushing and brushing and finally it popped out at me and landed on the floor. We were all VERY happy and relieved that the tooth was out - and Jane was happy to have the tooth fairy visit again!

Family Home Evening

Sean and I had such a fun time walking around Shoreline Village that we decided to take the kids and Chewy back there for a walk for Family Home Evening. The kids loved the boats, birds, and random surry-bikes. It was very relaxing and refreshing and makes staying here another year a lot more fun!

Summer Recap

Well, I'm sorry to say that I haven't been up with my blogging this summer...uhh...obvious! And, instead of going back and blogging each event seperately, I decided to take the easy-man's out and put all summer activity pictures into a slideshow and recap it all in this posting.
For the most part, we had a great summer filled with family activities and many "firsts" (mostly James'). The two weeks of "Family Week" had to be our highlight because this is when most of these summer activities occurred (who knew one could fit that much stuff into two weeks?!). Sean also started preparing for his new job at the District Office, though it didn't actually start until end of August, and Hillary tried her best to keep the kids busy while dad was away with promises of stuff we'd do when he got home. There was one day when the kids entertained themselves entirely with legos, only stopping for the occassional meal. Gotta love the Legos!
Although we're sorry to see summer leave we were all glad to be back in routine once school started again on 4 September. The girls are back at The Intensive Learning Center (Becky in 3rd grade and Jane in 2nd) and Alex is back with Mrs. King at preschool. He is her very best helper, as he is at home with his mom. I am so grateful to have him here to entertain me and James and make us all laugh when we especially need it.
Sean seems to be adjusting well to his new position, although it still keeps him hopping as he learns the new math curriculum and how to best teach it to fellow teachers.
We are continually reminded of our blessings and thank our Lord for guiding us along His path.

Bellflower Ward Beach Party

On Saturday 13 September the Bellflower Ward headed out to Bolsa Chica Beach for some fun in the sun. The sun didn't actually come out until 1/2 hour before we left, but the weather was still nice enough to explore the beautiful waves, sight-see some dolphins, boogy-board, and dig in the sand. We had a wonderful time and would like to give three cheers (hip-hip, horray!) to the Bellflower Ward Activities Committee! Thanks for a great time!

At the Beach

Earthquake 5.4

We all had fun experiencing our first mid-sized earthquake since moving to southern CA this morning at 11:42. We felt the shaking, rolling, and then swaying as it moved on. The kids and I were building a fort in the living room when it started and it took a while for me to realize what was happening (sometimes when a large moving/delivery truck or a car with LOUD music drives by our windows rattle). Once I realized what it was I got the kids and ducked into our hallway, distributing them into various doorways. While huddled there with the kids I made a mental note not to choose that place again - we have a lot of picture frames throughout the hallway and in a bigger earthquake they might fall on us or crash on our wood floors, creating a large mess of glass.
Once the shaking stopped we made our way to the couch and turned on the TV to get info. Hillary got in touch with Sean at work and let him know we were safe, and vice versa. The kids were still scared, so we read the last three chapters of Helaman to help us feel better. Our goal was to help them feel better, but those chapters happen to coincide with Samuel's prophecies of the signs of Christ's death so....another mental note: pick happier chapters to read!
And James slept through it all!

Alex's Owie

On Friday, 11 July I noticed that Alex's wrist was swollen with a bug bite/sting that had a red streak traveling all the way up his elbow! Immediately upon showing Sean he was taken to the emergency room (as it was 10pm when we first saw it) where he was administered a HUGE shot in the bum full of antibiotics, and given a prescription of more to take for the next couple of weeks. He was so good during the whole procedure and Sean let him watch "Meet the Robinsons" on his IPOD to keep him entertained at the hospital and while waiting at the pharmacy. The following Monday our regular doctor was not pleased with the results of the original prescription, so he ordered some more. This new medication cleared up the streak in just 3 days! We were very pleased with the progress, but a week later the original bite was still there, red and swollen. So on a return trip to the Dr. we were told there might still be a stinger or something lodged into his arm. The doctor numbed his arm so he could go digging for "treasure" and found a little "foreign object" that was sent to the lab. He then cauterized the area, gauzed it up and sent us home telling us all would be well. It is now, a week later, finally starting to go away completely, with most of the redness and swelling gone. We are all so very thankful that we saw Alex's arm before we sent him to bed that Friday night. We are fully aware that the Lord is looking out for our family and blessing us daily.