Horseback Riding

For a couple of months Bonnie and Gwen have been able to take some horseback riding lessons from a young woman we know.  They have had so much fun doing this.  It has ended up being about twice a month on a Saturday morning.

Overall it has been a wonderful experience for them.  There was one day that went a little awry, but Bonnie came through with flying colors.  She had been learning to take the horse from a trot to a gallop inside the ring.  She was doing really well at it and they had her move to outside the ring.  Unfortunately, the horse got to close to the ring and one of the bolts holding the ring together, snagged Bonnie's jeans and her leg.

She got a pretty sweet scratch on her leg.  I am proud to say that she stayed right on that horse and even rode it around for a while longer.  She also was right back up there at the next lesson and did a fantastic job. 

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Every year Ben's dad comes down in March some time for Spring Training baseball games.  Ben's brother Jake is always really good to schedule everything for their guys adventure.  This year we took the whole family to a game on Saturday and we had a wonderful time.

Jared and Gwen stayed down by the fence.  Jared had his baseball glove and was determined to catch a ball.  Even though he didn't catch a ball we had a fun time.

Hanging out on the grass during the game

Thanks Jake, for planning this fun activity.  The week after this Jake and his family moved to Utah for him to start a new job with GE.  We are going to miss them so very much.  We didn't get together a whole lot, but it was so nice knowing they were there and getting together when we could.  We love you guys!

Pinewood Derby

 This year was our sixth, and final (Hallelujah!!!), pinewood derby.  We had a fun time and Jared took 3rd place.

Jared's car was called the Jailbird

The very coolest part of the night came at the very end.  One of the senior boys in our ward, whose little brother is Jared's age, had gotten his mission call in the mail right before coming to the pinewood derby.  During the derby he called his grandparents and his friends and at the end of the night he opened it with everyone there.  As soon as he started reading it he started crying, and his mom started crying, and then every other mom in the room started crying.  He got his call to the Scotland Ireland mission.  It was so neat for all those young scouts to be there and watch him open his call.  He is the first person in his family to serve a mission.

Running, running, running

Dan and Anne came to visit us the first weekend in March.  They came down so Anne could run the Phoenix Marathon.  I did the Phoenix Half Marathon so I could pretend to be half as tough as Anne. After my last half two years ago I decided I would never do one again.  It was hard and I was miserable.  I was so tired and at the end I threw up and was sick for the rest of the day.  I decided to try again because Anne talked me into it.  Thankfully Anne knows what she's doing when it comes to running and she gave me a lot of very helpful advice.  I was able to run the whole thing, I walked quite a bit the time before.  Also, I did not throw up afterwards.  That was a major bonus.  I also did the whole thing 2 minutes faster than my previous race.

Anne did her very first full marathon.  She was amazing!  Her goal was to finish in 4 1/2 hours and her final time was 4:29:12.  It was fun to be able to finish my race and then go cheer her on at various spots on the course.  My final time for my race was 2:18:35.  Anne's average minutes per mile for her whole marathon was many seconds faster than mine.  Maybe one day I can be as cool as she is.

We love having Dan and Anne come and visit.  We may have to make this a yearly tradition.

Hair cuts

Both of my girls have been wanting to get their hair cut for quite a while.  I finally called my friend and she was able to take care of them for me.  Here are the pictures of their cute hair.

Bonnie before

Gwen before

Bonnie and Gwen after

I am sure I am very partial, but I think they look amazing!

Les Miserables

Sunrise Mountain High School put on a production of Les Mis.  I thought it was rather ambitious for a high school and was not sure how it would turn out.  Nate really wanted to try out for the play.  He made the cast as part of the ensemble.  He was on the chain gang, a worker, a "lovely ladies" visitor, and a revolutionary.  The play practice was after school three days a week for a few hours.  They worked really hard and I even helped sew a couple of the many costumes that were needed.  In the end I must say that they did a fabulous job.  The play was fantastic and I really enjoyed going to it, and not just because Nate was in it.

This is Eponine's death scene.  Nate is in the middle under the guy standing on the barricade

I think he is a student here (on the far right) when they are teasing Marius

Nate is right in the middle on the barricade. The night before the big battle.

Coming in for the final song with the whole cast

Maurine

In January one of my very best friends came to visit.  Maurine and I have been friends forever.  This visit was very short, but it was so great to have her here.  Maurine's baby, Spencer, was born with a rare birth defect called agenesis of the corpus callosum.  Basically the whole central hub of his brain never developed. They are trying to find the best kind of treatments and therapies for him.  This is why she was in Phoenix.  Maurine and her family live in Hawaii, her husband is in the Navy.  They are trying a therapy called the Anat Baniel Method.  There are no therapists who work with this type of therapy in the islands.  Being the amazing mom that she is, she flew out here for a conference to try and learn at least a little bit by herself, to do what she can to help her son. I loved having her visit.  You know you are truly best friends when after four years of not seeing each other you can carry on a conversation like to were together yesterday.  I am so very grateful she came to visit.  

Maurine with my kids

Me and Maurine

For anyone who has facebook if you want to learn a little bit more about Spencer here is the address to a page they have set up for him to try and reach out to those in similar circumstances for support and friendship.  http://www.facebook.com/SpencersSmile

Love you Maurine!  You are truly an amazing mom and friend

Football

For most weekends during the winter Ben goes and plays flag football with a group of guys on Saturday mornings.  A couple months ago a friend of ours broke his finger playing with them.  He was in a cast that went clear up to his elbow for about 4 weeks. 

Well, one Saturday in January Ben was getting up early to go play football.  Being  loving and supportive wife I may have said something like, "If you get hurt I'm going to laugh at you."  About an hour later I got a phone call from him, and this is how it went down...

Me: Hey hon, are you done playing already?

Ben: ...Go ahead and start laughing.

Me: NO!!!  You did not really get hurt.

Ben:  Yeah, I really did.

Me: What happened? (This was said amidst some laughter I will admit)

Ben:  Not sure, but Brett (a guy who plays with them and is finishing up his 3rd year as a D.O. resident) said to put my arm in a shoulder sling and if it starts to swell I better go see a doctor.

I'm pretty sure, but I refuse to confirm or deny, that the conversation may have ended with me laughing a little more.  

Since it was Saturday and we knew a trip to the urgent care would cost quite a bit of money and they would take an x-ray and tell us to go see an orthopedic surgeon we decided to wait until Monday and just go the orthopedic surgeon.  There may or may not have been periods of laughter as I helped Ben get dressed and undressed over the next couple of days since he couldn't move his shoulder.

Nice yellow bruise

This is what the doctor showed us on Monday.  Ben had to wear a clavicular brace for a few weeks.  It looked kind of like a back bra and I had to help him put it on and take it off, and yes that involved more laughing.  Good thing Ben loves me cause I was not the most sympathetic wife during this whole ordeal.  Thankfully, now it is completely healed.

Polar Plunge

Every year the city of Peoria has a polar plunge in January.  They challenge any resident who wants to come to swim across a 25 meter pool that has not been heated all winter.  I know we are kind of pansies here in AZ, but the pool was sitting at a frigid 40 degrees and on this particular day it was about 40 degrees outside the water as well.  Anyone who swims all the way across gets a free t-shirt.

I got an email from the city telling me about this and asked Nate if he wanted to do it?  He looked at me like I was completely crazy and said, "No Way!"  However, Jared and Gwen both wanted to try it.  So the morning of the event Jared, Gwen, and, I all put on our suits and went for a swim in the icy water.  Ben came along for moral support and to take pictures.  Nate and Bonnie stayed home in their nice warm beds.

Jared and Gwen right after their swim

That is me swimming across

Me after my swim

Our proof of how tough we are

 It was so cold!!!  It took me the rest of the day to warm back up after that.

Christmas!!!

We had a wonderful, small, stay-at-home Christmas. We loved the family time, and the food, and the presents.  Mostly though, we are eternally grateful for the Gift of Jesus Christ, for His birth, His life, and His atoning sacrifice for each of us.

Opening Christmas PJs

New PJs... and crazy kids

Ben and I in our new PJs

Christmas morning Christmas Tree

Waiting to come downstairs

Christmas Stockings

Christmas morning after opening presents

Christmas afternoon once we got the new trampoline set up

Joe and Sara

For a few days in December by brother, Joe, and his wife, Sara, were able to come and visit while they renewed Sara's passport at the Ecuador Embassy.  I didn't know there was an Ecuador Embassy in Phoenix, but I am very grateful there is as it provided a great reason for them to come and stay.  Besides standing in line at the embassy, we were able to fit in a few fun things in our lovely winter weather.

We played some pool

And played some football

And played some soccer

Gwen didn't want to play football or soccer and played in the dirt in the shade instead.

 Then on Saturday night we went to the Mesa Temple to see the Christmas lights.

 Joe and Sara, we loved having you visit!  And despite the inconvenience, I think you should have to renew your passport every year. Or you could move here.  We would take that too.  Thanks for coming!

Piano Recital

Every December and May we have a piano recital.  We always perform these at one of the local retirement centers.  This year was no different.  My favorite thing about this year, however, was Gwen's song. 

Gwen chose to play, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"

I tried to download the video clip but it wouldn't work.

With our piano teacher, Amanda West

Nate's Birthday

Nate turned 14!  For Nate's birthday this year, instead of having a birthday party he asked to go paintballing with a group of people in the ward.

 Some of our awesome damage from paintball.

 Then on Sunday we had a family party for Nate.

 Becca and Nick were able to come over and celebrate with us.

Birthday Cake!

 We are so grateful that Nate is a part of our family.  He is smart, funny, and the best big brother a group of kids could ask for.  We are so grateful for his example to those around him and his desire to do the right thing.  We love him so much!!!