Meet Mack

 This is Mack, our Christmas Elf.         

      Isn't he cute sitting there with those big blue eyes, and warm smile?  Okay, okay, I'll admit it, it's a tad bit creepy, I know!  But the kids really like him.  You see they believe that Mack is the eyes and ears of Santa Claus, because how else would Santa know who's Naughty or Nice?  Each night, while the kids are sleeping, our elf journeys back to the North Pole to share his observations with the big guy.  Before morning he's back and ready to take notes for that day.  Which means his location for the day has changed and it's up to the kids to find him, and I guarantee inquiring minds want to know.  The kids' reactions to our Christmas Elf have been priceless.  Andrew talks to him and can't get enough; Cameron thinks he's super cool, and asks me with awe if he's a real elf; while Austin is torn between wanting to believe, but also thinking he's just plain creepy!  I finally let Austin in on the secret of it just so he could enjoy the situation a little more.  I think it'll be fun to have Mack around.  It's nice to add a little anticipation and make believe to each day, makes it more fun that way.               

Time With Friends

Friendships: 

It's not in the quantity of communications,

it's about the quality of the connection.

 

      I really don't know how I ended up so lucky, but I have amazing friends!!!  This includes my friends who are not shown in this picture, because I truly cherish each and every one of them too.  But in reference to this entry I'd like to talk about the connection I have with these four women.  I don't know how common it is to find 5 women who come from such different backgrounds, share different interests, and yet compliment each other so well.  I wonder if it's more common than I think?  Regardless, it works for us, and I am a better person because of their influence in my life.  One of the best parts of having long-standing friendships are the little traditions that just become the norm.  We have several, but most specifically our Christmas Dinner/Gift Exchange and Twilight Movie excursions have been among my favorites.  When Shannon moved away, I wasn't sure if that meant our traditions moved with her, but I am happy to say ... not this year!!

      Last Friday Shannon flew out from Vegas to spend the weekend with us.  It almost seems like WE should be the ones flying out to Vegas for a girls weekend, but doing it this way felt right, almost like no time had passed at all since she's been gone.  She also booked us adjoining rooms in the Aloft Hotel by the airport so we could truly have uninterrupted girl time :)  This is how we spent our day:

• Lunch at Red Robin
• Shopping at Cascade Station
• Happy Hour at Portland City Grill
• Dessert at Papa Haydn's
• Window shopping on NW 23rd
• Gift Exchange in hotel room
• And long chat in hotel lobby in pj's & bathrobes                

      Saturday was equally as much fun!  

• Sleeping in till 8:00 a.m.
• Cinnamon rolls & hot chocolate in bed
• Back to NW 23rd for more shopping & lunch
• 2:00 p.m. showing of Twilight in Scappoose
• And traditional fried ice cream following the movie at Ixtapa

      Our time together this weekend was definitely fun-filled, but it was so much more!  I was also uplifted, inspired, listened to, and reminded how special our connection truly is.  I do cherish each one of these women.  Thank you ladies for your unconditional love!

A Preschool Lesson On Honesty

      A couple of months ago I accidently double booked myself to teach a Sunday School lesson in Primary, so I recruited Spencer's help to bail me out.  I chose to teach Austin's class and Spencer chose to teach Andrew's.  After class I happend to glance over and look at a chalk board and noticed this drawing.  I started to laugh because I recognized it as Spencer's.  Below is his interpretation of the boy who cried wolf.  The lesson was on honesty and this is how he taught it to a bunch of pre-schoolers.  Kind of adorable if you ask me.  

Award Assembly

      Cameron received an award from his teacher at the last assembly for having a "Great Attitude".   Now don't get me wrong, I think it's great when kids are awarded and recognized in front of their peers, it makes them feel special, and as a parent you couldn't be more proud of them, but what about those kids (like Austin) who try so hard and rarely receive recognition?  My heart just aches for them.  I try really hard to instill in each of my boys good sportsmanship and being happy when others do well, but part of the time I find myself down playing to Austin the recognition that Cameron recieves because Austin just doesn't.  I worry so much about my kids' self-esteem.  I want each one of them to feel special and great because they are!  I guess sometimes I lean more towards secret recognition, where only those being awarded attend.  But most likely, I am just way over-thinking this whole thing, like I do with most things.         

Technology Is Awesome!

      For several years now its been a tradition for my friends and I to get together, usually for lunch, to celebrate one another's birthday.  Luckily when Sheila moved away she was still close enough to carry on the tradition.  When Shannon moved away, I thought our tradition would be forever changed, but it didn't.  Thanks to technology, and Paige's iPad, Shannon has been able to celebrate with us and it seriously feels like she is really in the room.  Technology is awesome! 

Raingutter Regatta 2012

      When you're a Cub Scout there are a few events a year that you really look forward to, one of them being the Raingutter Regatta.  I feel bad sometimes because I am just not as enthusiastic about these activities like Austin probably wishes I was.  But I do encourage him to do his best and have fun and I think he does have fun.  The Raingutter Regatta is a racing event that is the sailboat equivalent of the pinewood derby.  Scouts are free to paint and decorate their sailboats as they choose.  The boats are raced in a standard rain gutter that is ten feet long, placed on a table or saw horse, and filled to the top with water. The boats are propelled by blowing on the sail and cannot be touched with hands. The first boat to reach the end of the gutter is the winner; and the overall winner is determined by an elimination system. 

      Austin had a fantastic run with his boat.  He ended up un-defeated and winning first place, and his Cub Scout leaders made some pretty neat trophies for the top three participants.  I guess this goes to show that Austin is full of hot air, and in this case, that's a good thing!

Our Thanksgiving Break

       Back in September I told Spencer I would like to spend Thanksgiving in Utah this year with my Dad & Step-Mom.  Sadly, I can only remember one time *ever* in which I have spent the Thanksgiving holiday with them.  Spencer was very supportive of my wishes to go, so I made plans immediately.  Due to budget cuts in our school district the kids had the entire week off.  Spencer, unfortunately, wasn't able to take that much time off during the store's busy season, so I booked him a one-way flight to Salt Lake.  The boys and I didn't have the luxury of flying like Spencer did so we made the 12 hour trek by road, and I'm so glad we did!  We left Saturday morning and drove to Meridian, ID where we planned to stay the first two nights at my brother's house.  The timing of our trip was perfect!  I found out that after a 15 month renovation project on the Boise, ID Temple, it was finally being re-dedicated the Sunday I was there, and I was able to attend one of the dedication sessions at the Stake Center.  In addition, the youth of the church in that region were asked to take part in a Youth Cultural Celebration program the previous night for President Monson at Boise State.  My niece, Alexis, was performing in the program and so we all went to the Stake Center for the broadcast.  While in Idaho, the boys and I were able to visit with my friends, The Cluff's.  It's nice after so many years apart to be able to pick right back up as if no time has gone by at all.

      We left Meridian on Monday morning and made the final leg of our trip to Salt Lake.  My brother and his family planned to stay the week with his in-laws so we were able to travel together.  I pulled into West Jordan at 3:00 p.m. on Monday. 



      On Tuesday, the boys and I drove down to Provo so I could visit with my Step-Sister, Brittany.  She and Que recently moved to Utah County and so I wanted to check out her new house.  Afterwards we headed to the Mall and did some shopping before we had lunch at Red Robin.  After lunch she introduced me to Spoon It Up, a frozen yogurt place, for dessert. 

      Wednesday was a day of shopping and just hanging out around the house.  Spencer flew in that evening around 5:30 p.m. and after picking him up we all went out for ice cream.  Next to seeing family, one of our favorite things about coming to Utah is the food, especially the ice cream!  I have never found a place in Oregon that even comes close to the amazing shakes that you can get in Utah!  It's like heaven in a cup :)  By the way, none of us can truly eat all of this ice cream, but it sure is fun to try!     

      Thanksgiving Day was great.  We had 14 people at the dinner table (My Dad & Dianne; Uncle Lane & Aunt Kathy; my cousin Priya & her boyfriend Dusty; my sister Brittany, her husband Que & son Liam; and then my family).  My brother, Thayne & his family came for dessert around 4:00 p.m., and we also had a nice visit with Ryan & Ashlynn that evening as well.

Nanette, Thayne, Uncle Lane, Aunt Kathy, Dad, Dianne, Spencer & I, Brittany & Que



      Friday was our busiest day of the trip.  It seemed like we packed everything we wanted to do into that particular day.  We started our Black Friday shopping around 7:30 a.m. and didn't return until a little before 2:00 p.m.  That included a must have lunch at Cafe Rio.  At 2:00 p.m. we met up with several of my family members in Sandy and took the Trax into downtown Salt Lake to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square. 

      Everyone, all week long kept telling me that I was crazy for wanting to go to Temple Square on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, but we really didn't have another day if we wanted to see the lights so we decided to go anyway and take the train in.  I'm glad we did because when we arrived at 3:00 p.m. the place was deserted.  We had the entire grounds to ourselves.  After taking several pictures by the reflection pond we went to the North Visitors Center, and again, had the place practically to ourselves.  We then went to the 4:30 p.m. showing of the Joseph Smith movie.  When we got out of the movie the lights had been turned on and the boys got to see what we came for; Thousands of tiny lights strung all over the grounds.  It was beautiful!  After walking the temple grounds for a while we headed over to the Conference Center and were given a tour by my Uncle Lane.

      When Saturday came around we were all pretty exhausted from the fun-filled week we'd had so far.  Spencer had plans in the afternoon to watch the Civil War game, but we couldn't find anyone who aired the Pac-12 Network.  So we settled on Applebees with Ryan & Ashlynn and again hit up Iceberg that night for some delicious shakes and onion rings.  I definitely ate way too much on this trip, but I LOVED every minute of it!

      We left for home early Sunday morning and I am so surprised with how well the boys traveled.  Not just during the long car ride, but the week as a whole.  They didn't fight or argue, they didn't complain about anything, they were just awesome.  The whole trip was awesome!  This Thanksgiving I have so much to be grateful for.  Life isn't always easy sailing, but when you focus on the good things you have going on, the bitter parts don't taste so bitter.  I am very grateful for a loving Heavenly Father whose love can always be felt no matter where you are & no matter how much you're struggling.  I can't express my thanks to Him enough!

Overjoyed With Gratitude!!!

      I have a lot to be grateful for!  Not because life is perfect, because we all know it never is, but right now I am choosing to recognize all the blessings in my life, and how can you not feel gratitude when you focus on those things?  I am overjoyed today and filled with gratitude for a major blessing that has come our way.  I would even go as far as saying a miracle has taken place.  About two weeks ago my car, a 2008 Buick Enclave, started having transmission trouble.  As we all know transmissions are not cheap to repair, and do we NOT have an extended warranty to help lower costs.  The good news is my transmission gave us plenty of warning so I was never left stranded, blessing #1.   

      Upon inspection the Mechanics determined that my transmission was beyond repair and that a new one needed to be ordered.  That makes a huge difference in expense.  If they can piece a transmission back into shape it's a lot cheaper than buying a new one, makes sense.  But of course, we needed a new one.  So the final estimate for the cost of repairs ... $3,400!!!!   I was numb and emotionless when I heard that number, but what do you do?  I need my car.  So blessing #2 came when the dealership was kind enough to give me a rental car, free of charge, while they work on mine.  Thank you! 

      So then the real clincher, the miracle, came yesterday in the form of a telephone call from Buick headquarters.  A few days prior Spencer had given them a call explaining our situation and telling them what a fan he normally is of GM products.  That apparently was the ticket because they called Spencer and gave him incredible news; They will be covering the cost of repairs by running it through their insurance.  All we need to pay for is a $250 deductible.  For real!???  How often does that happen?  To me that is a miracle and I am so, so grateful!     

A Text From My Husband

Today I received the sweetest text from my husband, it said;

 

"I thought about what you said last night and how we need to

remember our blessings.  I wanted you to know that you and

the boys are my whole world and what a blessing it is to have

you."

 

What a sweetheart.  He just made my whole day!

Soccer Season 2012

      Saturday was the official last day of Cameron's soccer season, and I am sad to see it end!  With the extended summer we had throughout the majority of the season it made for quite an enjoyable outdoor activity.  He was on the U9 team this year and his team's name was the 'Sonic Sharks'. Doesn't that just ooze threat!?   Cameron has really shown some real talent this year.  He really has the right combination to be a great athlete; he's got the ability, the drive, the competitive edge, the mental toughness to stay focused, and when he plays he truly gives 100%.  During the season Cameron had a few incredible plays but these two were awesome to witness:

1. The opposing team had the ball and accidentally kicked it high into the air.  Cameron who was between the kicker and the goal jumped up in the air hitting the ball with his head stopping it's forward motion.  As the ball fell down he jumped up and kicked it right into the goal hitting the net high.  It was awesome!      
2. This one happened right in front of us.  The ball was thrown on the field by an opposing player.  Cameron anxiously awaited the throw in.  The player threw the ball just to the right of Cameron trying to get it to his teammate, but just in that instant when he released the ball, Cam jumped right in front of the kid yelling, "Thank You!".  He stopped the ball with his chest and then dribbled it all the way down the field.  It was hilarious!

      While Cameron was great individually he was still a great teammate, which is equally important in my eyes!  He passed the ball to others; he encouraged and celebrated others' success; and he treated everyone on his team fairly.  He was fortunate to be on a great team this year with other talented kids like Roberto & Mackenzia, and I know he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.