On to a new Adventure....

Here we are on a new adventure in our home. For the past year and a half, Chris has worked for a company called JAWA. Well, he started the job when they were called Cylon Corp. then a name change later brought them to JAWA. The company has been hit with a lawsuit by Verizon Wireless. So, this is a small company hit by a super power big company. Finally there was a decision from the courts on the injunction that didn't really rule against JAWA, but it didn't help us either, so the company had to start with layoffs. We unfortunately were hit. So, once again, we find ourselves jobless. Hopefully this won't last too long!

Happy Mother's Day

Katelyn's 1st grade class did a wonderful Mother's day program. Katelyn was so excited to share it with me. I just love being a mom! First, they invited us to our chairs (aka their chairs) and showed us presents they had made for us.

The book was a story they made about us based off the book series If you Give a Mouse a Cookie. The bag was full of little things they made for us, like bookmarks and cards. It is sitting on a place mat that also was for us to keep.

Second, they lined up and sang us songs and recited poems. So sweet! Then they served us muffins and fruit and then showed us around the room of things they had made about us.

I love my kids! I'm so grateful for my sweet Katelyn who is a joy in our home. I am so grateful for all the wonderful women in my life who support me and teach me how to be better. I'm especially grateful for my mom who doesn't get annoyed with me when I call her 3 or 4 times a week to talk or ask silly questions. And I couldn't ask for a better mother-in-law who is always willing to help and treats me like one of her own. Happy Mother's Day!!

Megan's parent program - African Savannah

We are once again at a Discovery Club parent program. This unit was the African Savannah. They learned about the desert, animals found in Africa, and they even attempted to learn all the countries in Africa.

They each had a special speaking part in the program. Megan's part was about the lions and lionesses. My video is not great, but it's cute to see her stand and say her part and not be shy.

"My family is called a pride. We sleep most of the day and hunt at night. The lionesses hunt with other lionesses. The male lion gets to eat first."

Easter

I love Easter time. It is a time for family, a feeling of Spring, and a time to reflect on our Savior who died for us and to celebrate that He is Risen.

Each year the kids get matching/coordinating Easter clothes to wear on Easter Sunday. And each year it's a great picture moment!

 

And, of course, Easter time is a time for the big Easter egg hunt! It's fun to see the kids get so excited to find a plastic egg because they know something good is inside.

Adam, eagerly awaiting the go ahead to go outside.

Megan with her cousin Blake. The kids are divided up by age groups and given specific areas to hunt. It's perfect so the little kids don't have to compete with the bigger kids.

Katelyn's 1st Grade Zoo Field Trip

The 1st Grade got to go to the Zoo and I volunteered to be a parent chaperone. This was so much fun! AZ has a really great zoo. Somehow we haven't been that many times in the almost 3 years we've been here. The trick is to find the right temperature to enjoy the zoo and have animals out. This zoo day was just about perfect.

Katelyn in front of these amazingly red-orange birds. I don't remember their name, but I was so impressed by their color.

Since my job was watching a group of 1st graders, I didn't take that many pictures. I did love this flock of flamingos by the water. Not sure how they can stand on one little skinny leg with that big body to support. Guess I'll need the kids to do a report on flamingos one day so I can learn how that works.

This was the group of kids I was with for the day. Hope they had a fun time!

General Conference Time

The kids are finally getting to the age where we (as parents) can actually listen again! We have games and activities for the kids to do while they listen. They are also told that the family room is the reverent room. They can work on their projects and listen or they have to leave. And even better, is that they don't want to leave because they like the projects!

Chris somewhere over the years started the tradition of donuts for breakfast to start off the Saturday morning session. The kids certainly don't mind.

Megan and Adam. Somehow the Minnie Mouse hat got out.  

Katelyn and Megan came up with a play to show us using the animal lacing cards. It was very creative and so fun to see their show.

Ta-da! Aren't we cute?!

Each General Conference, we put the pictures of the First Presidency and the Quorum of The Twelve Apostles on the back wall of the family room. As each one speaks, the girls take turns moving the picture from the back wall to this wall by the TV. The girls love it (unless they are fighting over who's turn it is), and we love it because they are starting to recognize names and faces.

Katelyn and Megan showing off their finished project.

Slip-N-Slide time

It's that time of year again when it's just warm enough to pull out the slip-n-slide. Feels like summer is on the way!