Fall Choir Concert

This is the first choir concert of school year. This is Angela's first choir concert as a MHS student. She has performed on the MHS stage twice before on junior high nights. Danni has performed many times on the MHS stage, and she is fun to watch every time. I love my girls and I hope they have a great time!!!!

We wore matching shirts on the day of the concert.
I know that I'm in style when I match my daughters.

My girls singing

Britt,, Danni, and Angela

Memorable MondayRoller Coaster at Grandparent's House

Grandma and Grandpa Shaw's home

My Grandma and Grandpa Shaw had one of the coolest yards.  It was an amazing place to discover as children. One of the highlights of his yard was the roller coaster.  My grandparents lived on a hill and  my Grandpa made a roller coaster from cement.  When were arrived at my grandparents, we visited for 15 min. and then ran outside to play in the backyard.  There was a playhouse, tree house, and a lot of area to explore, but we always ended up riding the roller coaster.  When we had family parties at my grandparents, the roller coaster was always a hit. My kids never got to see this roller coaster, but my sister took pics of David's oldest girls as they went down.  It was a huge part of my childhood.

Meyers going down the roller coaster

The end of the roller coaster

Primary Presentation

Emily had her primary presentation today. It was a sweet program and brought such a sweet spirit to church.  The primary presidency asked Emmy to answer a question, and her answer was her part of the primary presentation.  The question was:  How does the prophet show his love to you.  Her response was:  President Monson shows his love to me.  He prays for me and gives me hope during Conference.  The Holy Ghost tells me that what he says is true.

Homecoming Dance

Ethan Goff asked Danni to Homecoming.  His sign says "Danni, I'd feel like a Ding Dong, if I didn't ask now: Will you be my Hostess to Homecoming?"

Danni replied by writing a note in the drama room.  "Ethan, Hey! Hey! Hoho! I would really love to go!  I would be a Twinkie if I said no!  Danni "

The Homecoming Dance happened to be on a rainy day.  There were plans to get outdoors pics, but those planes were cancelled, so I took pics of Danni on my own.  

Waiting to go to the Homecoming Dance

Danni changed her hair style while she waited for her date to arrive, so of course I needed more pictures.  Danni looked so beautiful that night.  

Danni's homecoming dress

Danni and her Homecoming date. She looked so beautiful!!! I hope they have an amazing time!!!!!

Danni and Ethan before the dance

They had their day activity a week later.  They got up at the crack of dawn to go on a hike to see the sunrise.  It looks like they had a lot of fun.

Hike to the Wind Caves

Homecoming

Homecoming Week at Mesa High had a Neverland theme this year.  My kids dressed up during the spirit week and I was able to take a few pics.  Danni dressed up a child who never grew up, Angela dressed up as TinkerBell, and Josh dressed up on Friday for Spirit Day.  Mesa High kids really get dressed up for Spirit week and have a lot of fun doing it.

Spirit Week

Mesa High holds a bon-fire during the week too.  

bon-fire

On Friday, Mesa High has a parade that goes around the neighborhood starting with the Marching Band.  I love watching my son march in the parade.  We were able to get a great picture of him. Danni was going to find a float to be in and she did.  What a gal!!  Each class has a float with the Neverland theme.  The girls on the freshman float wavyed and called out to Angela when their float came by.  She felt so loved and important at that moment.  It was my one of my favorite moments of Homecoming.   After the parade the band plays a few songs in the Mesa High parking lot.  I always miss that part.  Mesa High hosts a carnival afterwards.  We skipped the carnival this year. 

Josh marching in the parade

Danni in the parade

The highlight of homecoming week is the game. I was able to watch the some of the game with Danni, which was a first for the tow of us.  This was another great moment for me this week.  Mesa High played their homecoming game against Tucson and won 42 - 6.  YAY!!!!  Here are some pictures of the highlights of the game.

Homecoming Game

Homecoming King and Queen presentations

Danni and I at the Homecoming Game

Throw Back ThursdayThankful for my kids

Throw Back Thursday combined with Thankful Thursday. I'm so grateful for these sweet kids of mine. I am so proud to be their mom and I love to be with them. They have grown so much over the years and have blessed my life so much. I can't wait to see what the future holds for them. I know that it will be AMAZING!!! I love my 4 kids!!!

Memorable MondayOdgen Temple

The church just rededicated the Odgen Temple after a serious make-over.  The temple looks amazing, but nothing what it used to look like.  The temple needed some upgrading, so they remodeled the temple in such a way that it looks like a new temple.

Ogden Temple

One year, we traveled up north to Logan and stopped by to visit temples along the way.  We stopped by the Ogden temple and took some pictures.  The temple changed so much. I think it's super cool that my kids stood next to the old Ogden temple.  I'm glad that we took our kids to see some of the temples in Utah.

Danni in front of the Ogden Temple

Josh and Danni in front of the Ogden Temple

Throw Back Thursday Emily

Here is a picture of Emily when she was around 5 years old.  Emily is one of the sweetest girls that I know.  I'm so lucky to have her as my daughter.  She is very shy, but opens up to those she knows.  I love this girls of mine!!!!

Improv Smackdown

Danni had Improv Smack-down last night. She was hilarious and so fun to watch. Thanks for a great laugh!!!!

Memorable MondayAngela's Therapists

Angela had 4 different therapies for a year and a half from the state - Speech, Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), and Early Intervention.  Most of the time, the therapists came to our home.  We visited Darla in a church for a year before the church ended their contract.  She was able to use great equipment there, so it was great to have it at the church.  She came to our home after that and we worked on toys we already had at home.  When she was 2 1/2 the therapys ended and she started attending preschool at Keller.  I learned so much from the therapists and loved watching Angela grow.  We were so lucky to have such amazing services provided for us.  We didn't have to pay a dime.  They billed the insurance and then the state.

Angela and Lara
Speech Therapist

Angela and Darla
Occupational Therapist

Angela's PT's

Angela and Elaine

Angela's Early Interventionist

Angela and Nicole
Early Intervention

Throw Back ThursdayHealing Fields

Years ago, we took our kids to the Healing Fields in Tempe.  I think it was the first year that they put the flags up.  This picture was taken a couple of years after the twin towers fell.  I remember having to talk to my older two about what happened that day.

Memorable Monday RAIN!!! RAIN!!! RAIN!!!!

Too much rain for MHS today!!! The campus was flooded including the basement. Mesa Public Schools didn't close any schools today, but MHS had an optional day today. I wish I knew it was optional before I took them to school. This is as close to an "AZ snow day" that they will ever see.

It was a huge storm that started at 3:00 in the morning and didn't stop until after 7:00.  I drove Josh to school in the dark while it was pouring.  I could barely see the road and was really scared.  The rain let up when I took Danni and Angela to Mesa High, but by then the US 60 had flooded.  It took us 30 minutes to get the girls to school from our house.  Everyone was in Southern and the traffic didn't move.  An hour after The girls arrived at school, Danni called and said that the basement at Mesa High was flooded and  the students who had basements were directed to the gym.  A lot of students did even make it to school.  I came to Mesa High to pick up my kids.  It sounded like it was going to be an optional day. the retention area at Emerald Park was super full and the canals were running super fast.  That evening, water spilled from the retention basin into the streets and houses nearby.  Houses and Keller school were soon flooded.  We learned that the homes and business around Broadway were flooded too.  Mesa received.     Of rain in one day.  We are lucky to receive that much in a year.  It was a HUGE storm.

The basement of Mesa High flooded.

There have so much rain this past few weeks.  The marching band field has been flooding repeatly.  The  kids are not getting much time on the field.  A couple of days before this big storm, there was a huge storm that flooded the northwest section of Phoenix.  I-17 flooded just north of the valley and I watched it on TV.  It's been a crazy month and month with the rain.

Porter's Playground is totally flooded.

Emerald Acres park - a week before it flooded.
The water is almost to the basketball court.

Mesa High - We joked that Mesa High filled their pool early.

Rain totals

News stories from the valley and our neighborhood

Emily enjoying the rain

Beautiful rainbow after our huge storm

Throw Back ThursdayJim and Danni

Danni was one year when this picture was taken.  Jim spent last night helping Danni write an essay for English.  Jim and Danni have an amazing relationship.

Memorable MondayViolin

Emily got her violin this week. She is so excited!  I can't wait to practice with her!

I remember get my first violin, there was a horn on the base which I would play.  I think it played an A, so I could tune my violin.  I started the violin the summer before I started 6th grade.   I didn't practice much until  high school.   In high school,  I traded in my 3/4 size violin for a  full-size violin which I still have today.  My parents paid for my private lessons for awhile which helped me a lot.  My senior year, I did a solo for competition.  I really improved a lot since 6th grade.  I loved playing the violin in high school and the opportunities it gave me.