Grand Resort

Debbie invited Lisa and I and our younger girls to the Grand Resort whee she was staying.  It was so fun to watch the girls swim while we hung out and swam ourselves. My favorite part was the lazy river, which we went on several time.  We was a great evening and when I went home, there  was a bird on my windshield, a nice bird.  I didn't want to drive with on my truck because it looked like it might have an owner.  I spent 10 minutes shooing the bird away before I could leave.  I sure hope it found it's owner or home.

Our girls!!

Memorable MondayJournal Entry June 20, 2006

We just finished 3 1/2 weeks of swim lessons.  Emily just loves being in the water.  She is learning new skills, but would rather just play in the water.  That reminds of my other kids.  It was a great way to cool off for the rest of the day.

The girls just finished dance.  They had a dance show on Friday.  Angela had a show first and then Danielle.  They did a real great job.  I had seen their dances several times so I knew how they were doing.  Jim hasn't seen them dance and was thrilled to see them do so good.  We pay the dance studio enough money, they should dance great.

The studio didn't want anyone to video the show.  They had professionals do the job for money, of course.  I didn't video the show.  I just watched my girls dance.  It was a great experience just to sit and watch the show and not worry about recording it.  I usually watch my kids perform in front of and lens.  I will buy a DVD of their show and remember the experience of just watching my girls dance.

Tomorrow we are heading up to Utah.  We are staying there for 10 days.  I talked Jim into staying longer so we could be in Utah for a baptism.  I am so excited.  I want my kids to enjoy spending time with their family in Utah.  My kids love to spend time with the cousins that they have in Utah.  They talk about so much, one would think that they see them a lot.  We are going to relax and have a great time in much cooler weather.  

I'll write in a couple of weeks.  I be in Utah next week.  Take care.  Here are some dance pics from after the show.

Memorable MondayJournal Entry June 13, 2006

 This week, we are busy taking swim lessons.  This is the second session of lessons.  Last session, Dani passed a level.  She is now a Sea Star.  She is so excited.  Now, she is in a class with her cousin. The kids love to swim.  I take them to swim lessons and sometimes we take them swimming in the evening.  It's been fun and keeps us cool.

The neighborhood school offers free breakfast and lunch.  The kids love it and I don't have to cook three meals a day during the summer.  

Angela lost her two bottom teeth.  I was worried about how she would react when she lost them.  I talked to her about it.  A while later when I was on the phone, she gave me her tooth.  She lost the other tooth later, but was never found.  

We are leaving for Utah in a week.  We are so excited.  We are going to spend time with both sides of our family.  It will be fun to spend some time with family especially in Salt Lake where I grew up.

Summer is going well, I e-mail you next week.

Bowling

Mutual was cancelled and Josh didn't have to work, so we went bowling. We went to Fat Cats.   It was a lot of fun to just spend time together.  I even won the game.  YAY!!!!

Angela and her purple bowling ball

Emily bowling

Josh ready to bowl

Emily's turn

Ang and I

Josh and I

Ang and Em

Our shoes

Em and I

Danni and I

Jim and I

I WON!!!!!

  

Memorable MondayJournal Entry June 7, 2006

These past weeks have been so busy they flew by. On Memorial Day weekend, we went camping with Jim's parents.  We went up by Pine, on top of the Rim.  It was a lot of fun.  The nights were really cold.  We played games and had a great time.  It was really dusty.  We had a difficult time keeping the kids's hands, face, and clothes clean.  We realized soon that it we were not winning the battle.  We just focused on the hands ever so often.  Otherwise, we would be cleaning every minute of the trip.  

We started swim lessons the day after we go back from camping.  The first day the water was so cold.  I didn't want to get in.  Poor Emily, she wanted to get in, but it took me 5 min. to get the water.  Now that the temperature is hotter, I don't waste time.  I get in a little quicker. 

Jim went to the Grand Canyon last weekend.  That was three camping weekends in a row.  Lucky, he enjoys camping.  They hiked down to some waterfalls.  Jim saw some people that he knew down in the canyon. He was sore and tired when he got home.  He had a great time. 

The schools in the neighborhood are providing a free breakfast and lunch for the kids.  I don't have to prepare breakfast nor lunch.  It's great fun for the kids.  I just need to remember to eat well myself.  It's hard to do by myself.  I could pay to eat with the kids, but I haven't yet.  

The girls are having their dance recitals next week.  I thought it was this week.  I almost showed up at Mesa High.  The recital is going to be at Mesa High this year.  I went to dance and found out otherwise. That would not have been good to show up and there was no recital.

Memorable MondayPast Temple Open Houses

When I was 12 years old. I was able to go to the Jordan River Temple Open House.  The temple was only 15 minutes away and we watched the temple being built.  We went the the groundbreaking ceremony, the open house, and dedication inside the temple.  We went and saw the temple under construction often.  I will never forget watching the temple from the beginning to the final stages and then doing baptisms for the dead,  I grew to have a testimony of the temple throughout those years, years of my youth.  I wanted my family to experience that when I had one.

Jordan River Temple under construction

My Family

AZ now has 6 temples - Mesa, Snowflake, Gila Valley, Gilbert, Phoenix, and Tuscon.  My family was able to attend all the open houses except for Mesa.  It was already dedicated before I moved down.  I do hear rumors that they will close it down for much needed renovations.  Maybe after that, I can take my family to that Mesa temple open house.  Emmy wasn't alive when the Snowflake Temple was dedicated, so she wasn't there.

Mesa Temple

Snowflake Temple

Gila Valley Temple

Gilbert Temple

Phoenix Temple

Tucson Temple

Tucson Temple Open House

We went down to the see the Tucson Temple on the very first day of the open house.  It was a beautiful temple especially the Celestial Room.  The temple was small, but big sealing rooms.  I imagine a lot of weddings will take place there.  The detail in the boards and art was amazing.  I would love to go to that temple one day as a patron.  It was fun to go as a whole family.  Afterwards, we had lunch and headed home.  It was such a perfect day.

Tucson Temple
I took this great pic

My Family with the Christus

The famous blue dome

Beautiful Danni

Love the flowers and the desert landscape behind

Jim and I

My family in front of the Tucson Temple