Throw Back ThursdayFirst Grade

Here are my kids on their first day of first grade. Last year, I made a kindergarten collage, so this year I did a first grade collage. I'm not ready to send my kids off to school this year. Josh will be a senior, Danni will be a junior, Angela will be a freshman, and Emily will be in 4th grade this year.

Memorable MondaySwim Lesson at Mesa Junior

We started off taking swim lesson at Mesa Junior High with Lisa and her kids.  The first year there, Danni was registered to be in "Sea Babies" and learn to swim and learn safety with me by her side.  She hated every minute of the first class, so I asked if we could move her up. She was only 2 years old and wanted to be in the next class where she could learn independently.  They agreed and so Danni went to the same class as Josh and Britt.  Classes were 5 days a week back then and everyone was given a chance to jump off the diving board on the last day. Josh and Danni both jumped off the diving board.  Josh was scared to death and the life guard didn't even catch him.  Danni was only 2 years old and should have been in the baby class, but she was jumping too.  After that, they had a little party sitting on the deck eating goodies.  A lot has changed since then.  Angela was able to go there for a year or two.  I really enjoyed going to swim lessons and watching them learn and of course taking pictures.

Josh in class

Danni and Britt

Angela and I

Band Camp

Every year, Josh looks forward to Band Camp.  For the first week, it is really intense and they are there for 13 hours.  Since I am secretary of the MHS Band Boosters, I needed to be there as often as I could to help with breakfast and dinner.  Michelle Adams takes really good pics, so we can count on he to capture moments of band camp that we don't see.  Josh is playing the sousaphone again this year,  He really enjoys the friends that he has made while playing the sousaphone.  

Moments during band camp

Great pic of the band

Tubas 

Josh's last day at Band Camp!!

Throw Back ThursdayTJHS Pool

Pictures of my kids learning how to swim at the Taylor pool. We are really going to miss this pool!!!  Emily really likes this pool because it's not as crowded as the other pools in Mesa.

Memorable MondayJosh and Jacob

Josh and Jacob have known each other for a long time - since junior high.  Jacob is one of Josh's really good friends and he is going to miss him while he serves a mission.  Here are some pictures of Jacob and Josh throughout the years.

Good times in band

Prom buddies

Adam and Eve

Aunt Peggy came for a visit and was telling me about Family Search.  She found a line that traced all the way to Adam and Eve.  WOW!!  I had to take a picture to prove that!!

Jacob's Farewell

Jacob is going to the Philippines on his mission.  I went to his farewell with Josh to say goodbye.  One of the speakers before Jacob was on a missionary serving in the ward who would be going home in a few days.  He was originally assigned to serve in Ukraine.  Due to the violence with Russia & Ukraine, the church pulled the missionaries out and assigned them to different locations.  This missionary was assigned to finish his mission in Arizona.  It was great to hear his testimony and he sang to us in Russian.  I really enjoyed his talk.  I enjoyed listening to Jacob and hearing his desire to serve a mission.  Elder Gelspie was the other missionary serving in their ward.  Jacob doesn't have to report to the MTC from a couple of weeks, so he will serve as Elder Gelspie's companion of an off until then.  It was a great farewell and we are really going to miss Jacob, especially Josh.

Jacob and friends

Mitchell, Jacob, and Josh

Throw Back ThursdayFirst Performance on Sousaphone

This was Josh's first performance with the sousaphone last year. The performance  lasted just a few minutes before they were called off the field due to rain. With band camp starting on Monday and the rain we got this week,Iwas reminded of this performance at Dobson.

Memorable MondayFamily Reunion 2005

In 2005, we had a family reunion in Benson.  The reunion was over the Fourth of July weekend and since we were coming down at that time, they decided to bless Briley.  Debbie told our family to be quiet during the family dinner after the blessing.  Jim told Steve his dam jokes and we were laughing and having a blast.  Jim didn't plan that well, but it is one of my fond memories of this trip.  I remember that Debbie rented a huge waterslide which was so fun to use.  Rachel and I had a blast going down the slide.  We went to the Benson parade with the kids.  It was fun for my kids to watch a small town parade.  The kids slept outside in the tents, while the adults slept in the bedrooms.  On the birthday, Jim took me on a ride on the sand rail, while the kids decorated the tent that my family was using.   When I got back from the ride, I was supposed to go in the tent, but I went back to the bedroom and took a nap.  It was several hours before I saw the signs that everyone made for me.  This was such a fun trip for our family and since Lisa, Debbie, and I had little ones, it was great not to have to travel so far.  It was so nice of Debbie to host this family reunion and plan the family photos.  

Briley's Blessing
Debbie asked me to take some pics of her.

Family Pictures 

Photo shots

Playing in the park during photo shoot

Parade

Benson

Danni and Britt went down to Benson to help watch her nieces and nephews while Debbie went to camp.    Jim and I drove the girls down to Casa Grande where Debbie picked them up.  They spent the whole week watching and entertaining the kiddos.  

Goodbye Danni and Britt - see you in a week

It rained while they were down there.
These two girls are silly

When it wasn't raining, they went swimming,

Danni had a quad wreck and her shoe took the brunt.

Free Food

Today is 7/11, so 7-11 is offering free slurpees.  We head to the local 7-11 and the kids got free sluprees.  They were small and gone before the kids made it home, but they were free.

Kids at 7-11 with slurpees

Chick-fil-A was offering free entrees to those dressed like cow.  We made some simple costumes and headed over for some free food.  It was a sweet deal - feeding our family for free. 

My kids are good sports

Senior Pics

We went to take Josh to get his senior pics today.  I snapped a picture of him before we headed to the studio.  He looks really handsome!!

After the photographers took his picture, they had him put on a cap and gown for another picture.  I pulled out my camera and snapped a picture of  him.  It's starting to hit me that he is a senior and will graduate next year.  I'm so proud of all that he has accomplished during his years in the public school system.

Throw Back ThursdayEngagement

This is one of our engagement pictures. I was having a rough week, and my knight in shiny armor came to save the day. Thanks Jim!!!!

Memorable MondayABR test

Angela had an ABR test to check her hearing.  To receive speech therapy, her hearing needed to be checked thoroughly to rule out hearing loss.  She didn't communicate well, so this test was ordered for her. The test is taken while Angela slept, so we had to keep her awake so she could fall asleep when we arrived at the hospital.  When we arrived the first time, she had water in her ear from swimming the night before.  Opps!!  We scheduled another appointment for her.  We had to keep her awake another night, which was so hard for her and I felt so bad.  The ABR test went very well and learned that Angela has very good hearing.  I didn't have the heart to take a picture of Angela with all of her electrodes on, but I did take some pics.

Angela after her ABR test

The nurses that helped administer the test to Angela

"The auditory brainstem response (ABR) test gives information about the inner ear (cochlea) and brain pathways for hearing.  The test can be used with children or others who have a difficult time with conventional behavioral methods of hearing screening.  

The ABR is performed by pasting electrodes on the head—similar to electrodes placed around the heart when an electrocardiogram is run—and recording brain wave activity in response to sound. The person being tested rests quietly or sleeps while the test is performed. No response is necessary."

AP test and ACT test

Josh received his AP and ACT scores yesterday.  He scored a 29 on his ACT, with a 32 in reading.  The highest score is a 36, so he did great.  Hi AP test scores were AWESOME!!  He got a 5 in Physics, a 4 in History, and a 3 in English.  He should receive college credit for Physics and US History.  I'm so proud of Josh!!!!  Hard work pays off!!!!

My Birthday

My Birthday is July 4th - it's always a fun day to have a birthday.  I started off the morning doing the ward patriotic events.  After a nap. we went to lunch at Firehouse Subs.  My sub was free and oh so good.  I think we have started a tradition.  Jim and I went to dinner at Joe's Farm and Grill that evening .  The food was so yummy and the company was great.  I had an amazing birthday and we ended it by lightening sparklers and  watching fireworks on the lawn in front of the visitor's center.

July 4th morning

 We started off the morning of 4th of July with a yummy breakfast cooked by the Bishopric.  It was a great turnout and I didn't have to cook.   I had to take my Patriotic pictures too!!!

My girls!!!!

Angela, Emily and I

Pace Family

After breakfast, we participate in the annual community parade.  It's such a fun tradition for the community and the kids decorate the scooters, and bikes for the parade.  Others walk their dogs and wave flags.  It's just great to be a part of the parade.  The weather was a little cooler which made the parade much better.

The family chose to walk Grandma's dog for the parade

Danni and Sayori - cute girls

Kids ready to march in the parade and wave those flags

Jim and the kids participated in the parade while I sat somewhere on the route and cheered them on.   It was fun to see all the participates, especially my kiddos.  It was a short, but great parade that involved the community not just the members of our ward.  There were many non- member, so this is a great missionary experience that is so easy to do.  After the parade, there are snow cones, watermelon, and friendly chit chat.  

Walking in the parade

It was great to see the missionaries ride alongside the members of the community

Snow cones and watermelon

It was a great morning, now on to the rest of the day!!!!!

Throw Back ThursdayAng on the 4th

Angela is 2 yrs. old and she is waving to those in the Benson Parade on the 4th of July. It's always fun to go down to Benson on the 4th!!!

Uncle Stuart

Jim's Uncle Stuart passed away from a blood clot.  He was so young and his death was so sudden.  We lived less than a mile from Aunt Melody and Uncle Stuart, but didn't visit them often.  I didn't know Uncle Stuart that well, but he sounds like an amazing man.  It was great to see his family during the service. What a great family he had!!  I'm praying for Aunt Melody and her children during this difficult time.  It's comforting to know that families can be together forever.   

Stuart K. Reber of Gilbert, Arizona passed away suddenly on June 25, 2014 at the age of 58. He was born in Mesa to Alvin and Anne Reber, and grew up in Chandler. He graduated from Chandler High School class of 1973 and from BYU with a Master’s of Accountancy in 1984. He is survived by his wife Melody Pace and his six children; Ty, Melissa, Krystal, Soren, Connie, and Stuart, as well as his mother and four siblings. He served an LDS mission in Bolivia and held many church callings throughout his life. He was the Executive Vice President & CFO at Bio Huma Netics, Inc. in Gilbert. 

A viewing will be held Monday June 30 from 6-8pm at Bueler Mortuary at 14 W. Hulet Drive in Chandler. An additional viewing will be held the following morning July 1 at 9am at the LDS chapel at 1150 E. Guadalupe in Gilbert with the funeral service following at 10am. He is already greatly missed by family and friends.