Fall Break

We decided to do something really crazy this Fall Break so we headed to San Diego. And that's not the crazy part...we took Steve with us! Usually Steve doesn't get to vacation with the family but since he's been a good boy we decided he could come with us. (And he decided he should take a few days off work!)

The day we arrived in San Diego, Andie and I dropped Steve and Haley and Brooke off at the San Diego temple to perform baptisms. Andie and I scouted out cool beach places to take them when they were done. On our way back to pick up the girls and Steve, Andie said, "This is the most fun I've had in a long time."

Steve forgot a tie but they still let him in!

We missed Rylee!

We went to the San Diego Zoo, amazing place. Andie has now decided that she's going to be a vet! We've looked up schools, how much it will cost, what she needs to do to prepare for her DVM, etc. The girl is focused!

They were our favorite!

We also toured a really cool air craft carrier where we got to see and hear some really neat things about fighter pilots. The girls were less than thrilled but Steve had a great time!

I think my favorite part was playing on the beach. We threw around a frisbee, made a sand castle, ran in some waves and generally just had a great time.

It's not soccer Haley...

What made it super fun was the fun we had together, the inside jokes we now share, the memories made by watching a snake eat a tiny rat and Andie wanting to go inside the temple someday. I'm grateful for time away from the busy world where we are able to spend quiet (well...not in the car) time together and enjoy each other's company.

Favorite Pictures

As I sit here working at my computer I watch as my little video thingie at the bottom of the screen runs through pictures past and present. I wanted to post some here as some of my most favorite memories. Love these girls.

 

Some make me smile...some make me cry.

General Conference

We had a great conference weekend, interspersed with soccer of course. We changed things up a bit on Sunday by forgoing our usual Sunday morning feast, by getting up, getting ready and heading to the Stake Center to watch  conference there. Thanks Bishop Dickson!

As I sat and listened to the prelude music I couldn't help but feel we were doing what we should on that day, at that time. We joined with about 25 other people to hear the words of the living prophets.

Once conference started I looked down the row at all my girls (sans Rylee, hi Rylee!) and watched as they took notes. My heart grew at the sight. Even Andie with her creatively made up Conference Notebook was taking notes (picture to come later).

As we were leaving the Stake Center I told the girls I was proud of them for going without complaining and for taking notes whereupon Haley told me she had to take notes for seminary...still it was awesome.

We went home and commenced our feast as we usually do and watched the second session at home, together as a family. I'm grateful for such weekends and the opportunity it allows us to be together and feel the Spirit.

Yahtzee

We've begun this time in our lives when we have just three of us at home on Wednesday nights. It usually goes something like this: Brooke and Haley leave for mutual, Steve brings home work and tries to get caught up...Andie and I hang out, usually cozying up in my bed and reading.

But last night Andie, Steve and I decided to play a game of Yahtzee. At first Andie didn't want to play a game because she didn't "feel like losing" to anyone. Besides, it was too dark outside to kick around a soccer ball which she tried to convince Steve of otherwise. So we settled in with a baseball game going on in the background and started rolling the dice.

I started off strong as I was the first to actually get Yahtzee! I was "on a roll!"

However, slowly but surely Andie kept rolling good numbers, she even earned enough points in the top section of the game sheet to earn the extra points as well. Needless to say, our sweet cheeks who didn't want to lose last night won the game! There was no favortism either, she won fair and square.

I came in...third. :-)

I Like Them

Need I say more?

From This...to This!

Andie started out doing this...

But now she's doing this...

And she's good! Andie was asked to play up TWO divisions to play on a team with an amazing coach and a great group of girls. She is loving it! One of her goals is to become the best woman soccer player in the world. Go Andie!

Youth Stake Conference and One Great Speaker!

Brookie came home one day to find that she had a message from Sister Wrigley, our Stake Young Women President. The look on her face was priceless! Or, more like, "I think I'm going to throw up." She called Sister Wrigley back only to find out that her worst dreams had been realized...she was asked to speak to the stake youth about the upcoming Youth Stake Conference on 11/11/11.

Brooke did such a wonderful job. What a great opportunity for someone not yet 14 to stand in front of lots and lots of people and bear her testimony about the stake theme and about living the commandments. She was amazing and I am so proud of her. My proudest moment came when we were talking in a group after the meeting, the Stake Young Men's President came up and said, "Does she belong to you?" What an honor to be the mom of four amazing and talented daughters! Yes, they do belong to me!

For her feelings and reaction to the talk, visit http://www.freckledfacebrookie.blogspot.com/.

Homecoming 2011

It all started on a Wednesday night, a boy (see below) came knocking at our door. Haley wasn't home. But he knew that! He then proceeded to leave me with a camera and strict instructions that Haley was not to know who it came from and that she was to take said camera to Walgreens, get the pictures developed and then respond, hopefully in the affirmative!

Haley and her sweet friends then made a rap video (wish I knew how to attach that sucker!) and responded that yes, she would like to attend Homecoming with Michael Peterson. And so it began.

And here's what happened Friday night before the Homecoming game...silly girls!

Violins Are a Girl's Best Friend

Last night as I sat at Brooke's final MYS (Metropolitan Youth Symphony) concert, I realized that the violin she was using had been to many MYS concerts, violin lessons, recitals, spring tours, high school honor orchestras, Highland High School concerts, church events and District Honor Orchestras than I could count. It amazed me that I had been to many such concerts, lessons, honor orchestras, etc. and I felt a sense of overwhelming gratitude for my little family. As well as violin performances I've witnessed my girls in soccer games, choir concerts (including some right on BYU TV), piano recitals, etc. I've watched my girls coach soccer teams, run for office and swim their hearts out at swim meets.

I guess what I'm starting to realize as my little peeps leave the nest is that I'm grateful to be a mom. Growing up I guess I always knew I would be a mom but it was never something I dreamed about like a lot of girls I know do now and did then. But now, looking back, there is nothing I would rather do than be a mom, nothing.

And so while I send one girl off to Fourth Grade and another to Spain, I realize that being a mom is what I've always wanted to be...I just didn't know it back then.

Brooke in Jr. High

Rylee in High School