Picture Tag

A friend of mine did this on her blog. It was so much fun to be creative. I tweaked it up just a tad bit, but you get the idea.

My Dream Vacation

My Favorite Place


My Favorite Pets

My Age

My Bad Habit

The Town I was Born In

My Favorite Color

My Favorite Food

My Favorite Object

My First Name

My Best Friend's nickname

The Town I Live In

What I'm Doing Now

My College Degree

My First Job

My Maiden Name

This tag was a blast to do. I tag anyone who would like do it.

Operation On-Target

"Operation On-Target is a high-adventure activity mainly for Varsity Scouts, but also includes Venturers and older Boy Scouts. The event is mainly held in the western United States. The basic idea is to have Scouts scattered across a particular area, located on mountain peaks within line of sight of each other. Using large signaling mirrors, they relay messages from peak to peak." - Wikipedia Encyclopedia

Last Saturday, Jim and Josh went with the older scouts and participated in the "On Target" program. Jim has his ham radio license and they needed his help to contact the other scouts on mountain peaks close by. They used mirrors and ham radios to make contact with other scouts. It was a great opportunity for Jim to dust off his ham radio and use it. Jim loves to use his ham radio, but there hasn't been the much opportunity for him. I was really glad that Jim was able to take Josh with them. I want Josh to see what advantages and opportunities there are for those who have a ham radio license. My dad is very active in the ham radio community in the valley. Every Saturday, they check their equipment to ensure it works in case of an emergency. There was a time during Father's and Son's camp out when several fathers tried to use the cell phone but were unable to make a connection, but Jim was able to call home (everything was okay, they just forgot something). My Dad would love nothing more than for his kids to get their license. Since I married Jim, I'll let Jim have that responsibility. Sorry Dad!

Super Saturday

Our ward had a Super Saturday craft day about a week and a half ago. Dani really wanted to come with me, so we made a day of it. I usually don't do crafts on my own. I usually don't have the supplies and am totally afraid I will mess up. I want someone to guide me through the whole process. I completed all the projects that I signed up for. That's a miracle in itself. Dani loved making bracelets and now makes bracelets and earrings for her friends. What a girl! I even learn to can food and make fabulous desserts. I can make the desserts, they seemed easy enough. I'm nervous about canning by myself. My sister is willing to come over and walk me through the process. Thanks Lisa!

Here is a frame that I made. This was a fun project to do and Dani helped my pick out the colors. I'm going to put a picture of my three girls in it and hang it in their room.

Here are a couple of magnet boards that Dani and I made. They were so easy to make.

Here is a pic of the bracelet that I made and a necklace that Dani made. Making jewelry was so fun and now Dani and I show this fun,but very expensive, hobby.

My Cousin

On Friday my cousin Sean Burbidge passed away. He was just a year younger than I. I remember one summer when he spent some time with our family. It was the most adventurous summer I ever had. We would ride bikes and play in a field near our house. It's seemed we were never home. We thought Sean was so cool and wanted to hang out with him. Those are the childhood memories I have of him. Our family moved to Arizona and I didn't keep in contact with him. He dad, Gary, moved to AZ for a short time and we would talk about him and feel connected again for a short time. Gary and his wife moved away after a year or so. My mom has kept in contact and keeps us all connected. We were sorry to hear about Sean's death and wish we all could attend the funeral to support Gary, my mother's brother. My parents are leaving tommorrow to attend the funeral and I wish I could go with them. My sister and I are the only ones in our family unable to attend. We will be thinking of Sean and his parents on Thursday. Cousins are so cool, even if you've known them for such a short time.

On Sunday I went to church and felt the Spirit very strong in all the meetings. It was such a comfort to have the gospel in my life. We have been talking about the Plan of Salvation the past two weeks in Relief Society. It has been such a blessing to know of our Heavenly Father's plan and know that we can see loved ones again and know what the plan is after our physical death. I was young when I lost both my Grandmas and my Grandpa died when my mom was very young. The Plan of Salvation is a wonderful blessing in my life and it gives me great comfort knowing that I will see and learn more about my loved ones that passed away too young. Joseph Smith said "The great plan of salvation is a theme which ought to occupy our strict attention, and be regarded as one of heaven's best gifts to mankind"

Josh's Birthday Party

We finally had Josh's birthday party. Josh invited his cousins and one friend to go out for bowling and pizza. There were 7 bowlers all together in one lane. We asked for two, but ended up with one lane. It took much longer, but the boys loved competing against each other. I love to bowl with kids, especially when they use the bumpers. The kids love to see that they are bowling well.


Two of his cousins, Kade and Devon, were bowling very well and were switching off who was winning. They were loving the competition. One of Josh's cousins, Riley, arrived late and was bowling two games behind everyone else. When everyone else finished, Riley bowled the extra games and ended up winning. It was so fun to see how surprised the other boys were, they never saw him as a threat because he was behind a few games. It was so great to watch. Josh helped Angela bowl and it was such a sweet moment.



Josh has great cousins and friends. They had a great time and really played well with each other. They were so polite and kind. It was an awesome birthday party and Josh felt it was worth the wait.

Bells

Dani has started in the band playing bells. She has been watching Angela playing bells for her "Let's Play Music" class. When Ang is done, Dani picks up the mallets and starts to play the bells. She was so excited to be in the band that she took it upon herself to ask the band teacher if she could be in the band. Dani loved the first day of band and I can't wait to hear her perform on the bells at the upcoming concerts. She is in her second year of piano lessons, so the bells will help her with the piano and vice versa.

Braces Removed

Josh had his bottom braces removed. He just needed 4 braces on his bottom teeth during his Phase I of the orthodontic plan. They made room for some teeth without needing an extraction. They look really nice. Most people can't see Josh's bottom teeth, so they may not have noticed that he had braces nor will they see the difference the braces made. If no one really sees your bottom teeth, why fork over the big bucks to fix them.? Anyway, he was very excited to complete Phase I and get those braces off. He now has a metal retainer on the bottom until he is ready for Phase 2. The retainer doesn't come out nor does it bother him at all. After he had his braces removed, the dental hygienists put on some silly hats and sang to him. They gave him some yummy treats, especially the ones you shouldn't eat with braces on. He didn't know what to think about the performance, but sure did love the treats. He will see the ortho every 6 months until it is time to get full braces on all his teeth. It's a long road, but Phase I is over.

Josh before he had his braces removed. Can you see them?

The sweet ladies sang to Josh and gave him a lot of candy. That was the best part for Josh. He worked really hard for a year taking care of his teeth with the braces and wearing a retainer. Well, he only wore the retainer for a few months, but that will help when he gets braces on all his teeth.

Congratulations Josh!

I'm Going Private

When I discovered blogs, it was such a great way to find friends and reconnect with others. There have been friends who have found my blog and I'm glad that I was able to reconnect with them. Well, now I have decided to go private. Some of my friends and family members receive my blog via email, this decision should not affect you. You will continue to receive the emails through the blog. If you would like to view my blog, you will need to give me email address and you will have access to my blog. If you would rather receive the emails instead of checking my blog, leave me your address and I'll include you. Thanks for understanding. It's important for my kids to see me protecting them from the Internet. I tell them not to give information out, but I do. So, I'm changing that. You can email me at tamipace@yahoo.com and give your email address or leave it in the comment section. I'm going private on Sunday Sept. 14th.

Dani got her ears pierced

Dani went to the mall on Tuesday and got her ears pierced. I was more nervous than she was. I took pictures and that helped calm my nerves. She was really nervous but so excited. I wanted her to wait and decide for herself if she wanted her ears pierced. Some of her cousins get their ears pierced when they are 8 and others wait until they are 12. It was so hard to decide on that magical age when Dani could get her ears pierced. Dani has a cousin, Brittany, who just turned 12. These two cousins are very tight and do a lot together. So, Dani and Britt went to get their ears pierced together. The girls were very brave and look so cool with their ears pierced.

When I was young, my parents made my sisters and I wait until we were 16 before we could get our ears pierced. I waited until my 16th birthday, but when it came I decided not to get my ears pierced. Til this day, my ears are not pierced. That saves a lot of money on ear rings. I refuse to wear clip-ons, except on my wedding day and only for pictures. Those guys hurt, probably worse than getting your ears pierced. For a brief moment, I thought of going with the girls and getting my ears pierced too. Then I came to my senses and realized that I really didn't want them pierced. I didn't want to deal with earrings and finding the right pair or it's match. I've gone 30+ years without earrings and can go 30+ more years . Dani really wanted her ears pierced, I never really did.

Here is Dani and Britt before they got their ear pierced. They were so excited, but they had to wait. When we arrived the first time, we didn't have the proper ID. The second time, the stores closed early on Labor Day. The girls went the third time, and finally got their ears pierced.

She looks terrified and brave all at the same time. I'm so glad I changed my mind. That looks like it's going to hurt.

She survived.

Here the girls are with their ears newly pierced. They are happy the ordeal is over.