Baptisms, Birthdays, and Bunches of fun

Baptisms, Birthdays, and Bunches of fun

We have had a wonderful few days full of so much fun! Hal and Corey came up from Illinois and Nina and family came up all the way from Tennessee!! We celebrated Alayna’s 8^th birthday and her special baptism yesterday. We have lots of fun pictures to share so this is more of a picture essay.

Everyone arrived Friday evening. Saturday morning we went for a walk up to the elementary school so the kids could play on the playground.

Played Tennis.  Nina’s kids have never played before so we went to play for fun.

The Baptism

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY TO ALAYNA!

August 29, 2010

HAPPY 8^th BIRTHDAY TO ALAYNA!

Alayna turned 8 on Friday and was so excited. We went to Wal-Mart early and bought cupcakes that were frosted together like a giant rainbow with a butterfly on it. Score! She had a great day at school. For dinner she requested root beer in crystal glasses and pizza. An odd combination, but hey- if it makes for the perfect birthday, then I’m all for it! We are celebrating with a real party and the baptism this coming weekend!

Alayna’s 1^st solo debut

Alayna was invited to participate in the Activity Days Talent Show on Wednesday. She said she wanted to sing. She chose the song “I’m trying to be like Jesus” and she practiced all week. When it came time to perform, she decided to do it accapella. She was so nervous, but she did such a great job and we are so proud of her!!

Oh, the questions I get asked….

School was interesting this week to say the least. I really should blog about my days at school because it is always quite entertaining. This week I had a student raise his hand and innocently ask where “Viagra Falls” is. Anyway, I found these hilarious cartoons posted on MSNBC and just had to share.

Tennis and Tyler

Tyler started on the school tennis team this week and has been loving it. He has already won a challenge match. His coach (who is also a teacher on my team) said in all his years of teaching he has never had a student really listen to him and take his corrections and advice like Tyler does! He thinks Tyler could go far in tennis.

We also turned in our 5K registrations so now we HAVE to do it! I am so excited! Wait til you hear what we have planned for my 40^th birthday!

Saturday

Saturday is always our busiest day!! The girls went on the ward temple trip to Nauvoo. We realized next time they go, Tyler can go with them. Where does the time go? We also helped our friends, the Alands, move into their new house. They are just around the corner from us and we are so excited to have them so close! The kids played here in the afternoon. Lucas was a good sport and let Jessica and Alayna dress him up. Jessica and Alayna also did several dance numbers for me. Jacob and Tyler played Wizard 101 and League of Legends.

More Book Reviews

Mockingjay (Final book of the Hunger Games) arrived this week! I am almost done and I’m loving it! I know, though, that I will be sad when I finish because then it will be all done. (Boohoo) I read another amazing book this weekend for class called The Invention of Hugh Cabret. The artwork in it is amazing and it’s the coolest YA picture I’ve seen recently. It’s definitely worth taking a look!

The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God. ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book

August 22

The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God.  ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book

On Monday night we received the sad news that Marisa and Kayla’s friend, Jeff Hasara (16 yr old), had lost his battle with cancer. They were devastated. I think our whole ward was. Jeff was diagnosed last year with a bone cancer when he received x-rays for a broken arm. Many boys in our ward shaved their heads along with him when he started chemo. Eventually he had to have his arm removed hoping that it would get all the cancer out. It didn’t stop Jeff. He was snowboarding, surfing, skiing, and even hunting. The tumor returned and became so large it broke through the skin. The doctors finally said there was nothing left for them to do. His testimony is incredibly powerful. If you go to this website you can read his testimony and see his pictures.

Portraits and testimony

Family website with pictures

(Jeff surfing)

On Wednesday, a huge benefit was held for him at the Mongolian Grill called “Hu Hot”. The youth from all 3 wards were there helping to sell leis and Hawaiian shirts (all Jeff’s favorites). All the profit from meals and products they sold that night went to the fund to help the family pay the enormous amount of medical bills.

We went to the viewing on Thursday. Tyler and Alayna had never been to one before and I felt it would be a great teaching moment for them. When Jeff’s dad came to give me a hug he broke down in deep shaking sobs and I just lost it. All I could think about was how much this family was hurting, but how grateful I was for this amazing, inspiring teen whose influence will last in my girls memories forever. Once again, I never want to know how it feels to lose a child.

At YW this week they had leaders there to talk with the youth. On Wednesday, the 1st day of school, all the teens wore black ribbons around their wrists in his honor. The girls went to the funeral and I think it was good closure for them. The entire chapel and gym were filled with family, and friends from the high school. The family is burying him in Utah on Tuesday.

Causing a scene at the hospital

I took the girls to get their physicals and flu mist the day before school started. They did fine until they had to get the finger poke done for the blood work. Now, the last time we did this Marisa passed out at the doctor’s office. So, she looked woozy, but I was watching her very close. As we headed down the skywalk to the parking lot, both girls sat down at the same time on a bench. Like I said, I was watching Marisa because I was afraid she would faint. I looked over to check on Kayla and saw her eyes flip up in her head; she tipped over slamming her head into a pole, and collapsed into a heap wrapped around the pole before I could even get to her. It scared me to death, but I think it scared her even more. People were rushing to help us and a cop and nurse were on the scene within minutes. That’s the advantage of passing out in the hospital. They wheeled her up to the dr  in a wheelchair and she looked exactly like her vampire picture but without the golden eyes. When we got to the room they checked her blood pressure which was only 80/56! It was at that point I realized Marisa wasn’t with us. I found her in the lobby, slouched in a chair looking super pale. What the heck? Anyway, they kept both girls there for about 30 minutes until they could get Kayla’s blood pressure up and stabilized.

School started

School started on Wednesday and we were all still in shock that it’s that time of year already. Seriously, where did my summer go?? Everyone was excited, but nervous. Everyone reported a very successful day and we are all looking forward to a fun filled adventurous year.

I took some pictures of my classroom too.

(Helping set up the classroom)

Saturday

Bob made some awesome homemade pizza sauce (7 small jars). We also canned 4 jars of just tomatoes this week. I think they are starting to slow down. We deep cleaned the house, mowed both lawns, did the grocery shopping, etc. Its always such a busy day. We also went to out to exercise: Bob and Alayna rode bikes on the nature trail while the rest of us played tennis (trying to get Tyler ready for Monday).