Halloween

This year, my heart was not in Halloween, so my kids relied on their imagination and costumes from my sister.  My kids went to the Ward Trunk or Treat a few nights ago, but I went to NAU with my older two kids to watch them compete.  Jim and Josh took the younger two trick or treating that night.  Josh went to a Halloween party later that evening.  Danni spent the whole evening with Britt and her cousins.  I had to drive to Britt's house to get a picture of her.  

Josh didn't dress up - too busy making party plans

Danni - I'm not sure, but she looks stunning

Angela - Medieval Princess

Emily - Little Red Riding Hood

Memorable MondayFootball Games 2012

 Last week, Mesa High played Mountain View.  It was a great game and I had a lot of fun.  I wanted to look back on this Memorable Monday on all the football games that Josh and Danni attended.  It was great to see Josh's personality at the football games the first half, and he talked to members of the other band the next half.  Josh in band student council and they make a card for the opposing team's band.  Danni is usually sitting with the color guard or practicing.  Since they don't provide band music, the instructors take this opportunity to practice.  Danni missed hanging out with the band during the football games.

Josh in the stands

Danni in the stands

Josh on the field

Danni on the field

NAU

I went up to NAU to watch my older two kids compete.  Some friends and I rode up to Flagstaff in a car together, since there was no room on the bus.  Since the trip to Flagstaff was longer than the usual competitions, the MHS Marching Band traveled in style - Chartered Buses.  The trip to and from Flagstaff was so much fun and we had a great time chit-chatting.  It was great to watch the band perform inside of the Skydome.  The kids did such an amazing job and earned the award of Excellence and received captions in General Effect, Drum-line, and Auxiliary.  

Congrats to the MHS Marching Band!!!

Memorable MondayPlaytime!

Challenge:  When you have a few minutes or a few days, what do you like to do in your "play" time?

Here is a list of things that I like to do:

As a youth:

*Watch TV

*Play baseball in the middle of the street

*Play with cars outside - we would make roads in the dirt

*Play football in Lloyd's backyard

*Play paper dolls, we cut pics out of magazines

*Play with friends & siblings

*Go to the railroad tracks, field, and gully

*Listen to music and talk about boys

As an adult:

*Read a good book

*Watch a movie or TV show at home

*Go out with friends

*Go on a date with Jim

*Go see a movie

*Organize pics - fun to look over pictures

*Travel 

*Spend time with family

*Play board and video games

*Play logic puzzles

*Sleep in

When I retire:

*Travel

*Read books

*Visit family

*Go to movies
*Go out to eat for lunch and dinner
*Play game

Marching Band Comp @Liberty

Josh and Danni competed in Peoria today at Liberty High.  I decided to stay home from this competition and spend time with Jim and my younger two kids.  They took 1st place again and beat Perry.  When I came to pick them up, I saw this huge trophy and needed a picture of course.  Congrats MHS!!!! 

Choir Concert

Danni had her first Mesa High Choir Concert tonight.  The concert was titled "Journey".  It was an amazing concert and she had a duet with Brittany during one of the songs.   EnChante sang some songs with Bella Voce and some songs with Music Men.  They have a student teacher, Mrs Curtis from BYU - Idaho.  She conducted a few songs.  How fun to have just new music teachers for the first half of MHS choir.  The choir did an amazing job and I really enjoy Mrs. Turley has the choir teacher.  

Danni, Brandon, and Brittany

Bella Voce & Enchante Choir

Danni and Brittany singing

Memorable MondayFall Pictures

The kids FINALLY got their school pics.  They really turned out great and the kids are really happy with them..  Since, Emily is in 2nd Grade, I had to see my kids 2nd grade pics side by side.

2012 Fall School Pics

2nd Grade Pics

Pioneer Trek

Josh and Danni went on a Pioneer Trek these past few days.  They meet at 6:00 in the morning on Thursday and finished Saturday afternoon.  They walked and did various pioneer trek activities. There was a lot of great activities planned for them, including family and stake devotionals.  Josh and Danni took some information about an ancestor with them and share their story along the way.  I'm so glad that Josh and Danni took this opportunity to go on the trek with the stake.  It will be an experience that will stay with them for a long time.  Danni and Josh took some pics while they were on the trek.  

Danni was a member of the Carter Family

Danni made great friends

Danni and friends

Josh was a member of the Hird Family.

Memorable MondayFamous People

Challenge - Who is the most famous person you have met?

I've met and seen some famous people up close.  

* President Monson - I saw up close at Women's Conference

*Presdient Uctdorf - I shook his hand at Desert Book in SLC

*Elder Oaks - I shook his hand after Stake Conference

*Elder Ballard - He performed Jeff's wedding ceremony

*President Obama - I saw him at Jim's ASU graduation

*Donny & Marie - I saw up close at a book signing in Mesa

*Steve Young - I saw him up close at the Mesa Temple doing a fireside

*Gladys Knight - I saw her at a church fireside

I saw some fabulous people through Time Out and Women's Conference.  I saw some famous ball players at the basketball and baseball games too.  I'm love to see famous people, but I would rather hang out with my friends and family

General Conference

General Conference morning was full of exciting news from Salt Lake City.  News about lowering the missionary age was all the buzz.  The age for YM to enter the mission field is 18 and YW is 19.  When I went to band camp that morning, the youth were super excited about the change.  Some of them were making plans to prepare for their mission.  Some of them will be on their mission a year after this announcement.  

Another announcement that created a buzz in AZ, was the announcement of the Tucson temple.  I know that the members in that area have wanted a temple for a long time.  The Barneys used to come up to the Mesa Temple and now they go to the Gila River Valley Temple.  After the dedication of the Tucson temple, they will go there.  After the dedication of all the temples that have been announced in AZ, there will be 6 temples in AZ.

I really enjoyed listening to the conference talks.  I really enjoyed listening to Elder Holland's talk.  He bore a powerful testimony about how Christ called his disciplines.   This was my favorite talk on Sunday.  I missed most of the talks on Saturday.

"To which Jesus responded (and here again I acknowledge my nonscriptural elaboration, perhaps saying something like: "Then Peter, why are you here?  Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having the same conversation?  Wasn't if obvious then and isn't it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish?  What I need, Peter, are disciples - and I need them forever.  I need someone to feed by sheep and save my lambs.  I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith.  I need someone who loves me, truly truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do.  Ours is not a feele message.  It is not a fleeting message.  It is not hapless.  it is not hopeless, it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history.  It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world.  So, Peter, for he second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyalty until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me."

It was a great Conference weekend with great talks to guide us through this next 6 months.

Gilbert Invitionall

I sat in the stands and watched my kids perform at this competition.  It was amazing to see both Josh and Danni perform their show.    They did an amazing job and took first place in their division again.  They are on a roll and I'm so incredibly proud of the kids.  I always get chills when I watch the band march onto the field.    This was the first time that I was able to get really good pics of my kids while the performed.  

Can you find Josh and Danni?

Good Job MHS Marching Band!!!

STUPID HARD DRIVE

My hard drive crashed again!!  I love to have access to my pictures and relish on the memories that stir when I look at them.  I'm so grateful for my blog that I have a lot of great pics because of it.  It's not the end of the world - it just makes for a tough day!

Angela's First Taylor Choir Concert

Angela performed in her first choir concert at Taylor.  She did an amazing job and some friends in her choir.

Angela's Choir - Premiere

Angela and Friends

She had a great time and loved the 3 pianist that played for the choir.  She thinks they were handsome.  I was so proud of Angela for getting up there and singing with the choir.  This is a huge step for her and she did great.

Memorable MondayPrimary Program

Emily had a part in the Primary Presentation.  "I will be baptized in November, and will be the 4th person in my family to be baptized.  I am most looking forward to going into the water and becoming a disciple of Christ"  She did her part very well and it was a beautiful program.  It was different having just one child participating in the Primary Program.  The last time that occurred was when Josh was a Sunbeam in 1999.  I remember how excited I was to watch Josh sing with the primary children.  The Primary Program is my most favorite sacrament meeting of the year.  Listening to the children sing and talk about the principles that they have learned throughout the year brings a special spirit.  I have been in a  Primary Presidency and a Primary teacher helping out with the program as well.   It's amazing to see how programs come together and how much work is involved.   I just love Primary Presentations and watching my kids sing and testify of Christ.