Our Heaven on Earth...

Our favorite little piece of heaven on Earth is Lake Powell. We decided to take a long week end for Father's Day and head to the lake; Mike could fish with the girls and I could study for my final and read a good book. Saturday, brought rain and wind, so we decided to take the girls up to see Rainbow Bridge, since they have never seen it. The lake was a little higher this year so we docked our boat, and hiked the 2/3 of the mile up to the bridge. C and M walked all the way to bridge. (Directly under the bridge is Indian land and the children were not allowed to stand under the bridge because the land is sacred to the Indians) However, they thought is was pretty cool! On the way back to Wah-Weap Marina, we docked at Dangling Rope, and bought ice cream for the girls....A family tradition carried on from Mike's family, although, Mike and I were looking forward to the traditional bomb pop! which they unfortunately no longer sale:(


Sunday:
Brought fishing and wind and some relaxing. M caught the first fish a small bass and then a blue gill. T caught a nice striper! I caught a nice nap!












after some fishing and Mike not catching anything... C decided to waterski
and the girls wanted to tube with their dad, and then we went exploring and looking for new canyons, another family favorite!














Monday:
We found a nice beach and the girls played in the sand, and I got stung by a scorpion. If you have not experienced this pain, I can tell you that a spinal tap for a C-Section hurt less! Here is a picture of us trying everything to help the pain stop. (We squished up an Excedrin tablet and rubbed it on the spot and I tried the urination thing that they do with sting ray bites, and let me tell you that worked!!! We finally ended our beach excurision and went to find a benadryl.


A trip to Lake Powell is not complete with out finding the perfect cliff to jump from. (Years ago, I witnessed my brother in laws and husband jump from pretty high cliffs) But.... I will not let the girls jump higher than a 2nd story house boat. In the one picture, you can see C doing a toe toucher while jumping off the cliff.

PUZZLED

A couple posts back, I mentioned that M and I went garage-saling. We bought this ridiculous puzzle that had 1,000 pieces. Buying from a garage sale means there is no guarantee that all the pieces are in the box, I told M; but she insisted that we buy one. So...her and I tried and spent lots of time on the puzzle. When C and T returned home from girls camp, C wanted to try putting the puzzle together. So...as the week has progressed, we continued to work on our puzzle. Infact, it was therapeutic to walk away from my master's homework and continue with the puzzle. Yesterday we finished the puzzle, and to my amazement every piece was in the puzzle! It's our little trophy, and it helped keep the girls entertained away from the computer and TV.

Has it really been that long?

Time Flies when you are having fun. M and I celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary yesterday. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was a new bride. He called me around 9:00 and said "Hey it's official, we've now been married 20 years."

Me in my wedding gown.

M and on our wedding day. (the girls were laughing at my puffy bangs and M's longer hair. Infact, they were laughing at my brother David's hair and they started singing "I want my mullet back")

M and I went to Hawaii for our honeymoon.

He surprised me with 20 long stemmed red roses, a rose for each year, and for dinner we went to the Melting Pot. The Melting Pot was so Yummo! We were going to go somewhere exotic and far away, and romantic for our anniversary. But we have decided to wait until October and go on a cruise. I am so busy with this master's class this summer, that I didn't have enough spare time. Pretty pathetic huh?

Where has 20 years gone? Let's see...We have 3 daughter's, 2 dogs, and have lived in 5 states. Through the years, we have laughed, cried, worried, fought, and loved. Our friendship and love is better today, than it was 20 years ago. There is the old saying: "That love is like a violin, the music only gets sweeter with time!"

On The First Day of Summer Vacation my Day went like this...

Today was my First Official Day of Summer Vacation...

Did I sleep in? No, up at 5:30 a school habit.
Did I exercise or run my 3 miles? No, instead I got C and T up and ready and loaded for girls camp.
Did I make them breakfast you ask? No, I helped them pour their cereal. I did help T get her sack lunch packed and ready.
At 6:45 we loaded the neighbor girl, and my girls in the Excursion, and I drove them to Wal-mart to get batteries for their flashlights, and then to the Stake Center to catch the bus and meet the group. They quickly jumped out of the truck, waving, blowing kisses, and ran to meet their friends and leaders. That left M and I sad and glad. I walked over to get a real hug and kiss good-bye. But my girls were so excited and laughing, with the other girls. I stepped back and realized they were growing up. (I hope on Wednesday, when they return, they are excited to see me)

Then...M and I rejoiced in being together and having Mommy and Me time. She asked after the girls were dropped off, if I would swim with her this afternoon and play in the pool with her. I thought that was so sweet that she would ask me. We then treated ourselves to breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts. (I tried to choose healthy, knowing I will have to exercise)

After M and I went to a benefit Garage Sale for a girl that goes to Middle School with C. (Natalie has recently been diagnosed with Cancer.)
M and I found some great steals and deals at this garage sale.We bought a couple of puzzles and we are currently frustrated with a 1,000 piece puzzle. (Who knows if all of the pieces are even in the box.) I bought some Halloween decorations... (that I plan to tweek. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Chanelle, who always finds great deals and can change them into something fantastic!)
I almost bought a lady bug Halloween costume, so I could tweek it. Every year at school, we have a book parade, during Reading Week. I am always scrambling for a costume. I thought maybe I could be the "Grouchy Lady Bug" or a friend from "Miss Spider's Tea Party"

We then returned our library books, started that puzzle, went swimming together, and that night her daddy and I watched her pirouette at her dance recital.

In memory of...

M asked this morning what Memorial Day is all about. Mike explained to her that Memorial Day is a holiday set aside for remembrance of our fallen soldiers from all of the wars that our country has ever been involved in from the Revolutionary War to the Irag War. At the moment he was telling her, I so badly wanted to transport our SUV into a space craft or a time traveling machine, so she could see things that would help her remember what this day is really about.

This is the Marysville Washington Cementary. I have never seen a cemetary so decked out in flags. It always made my heart proud to drive by it.

The USS Carl Vinson, returning to port in Bremeton, Washington in 2003. I wasn't there, at the port, but I will never forget the unity of community as it pulled into port. I loved how the sailors were all standing so proud in their whites, waving to family and friends awaiting for them.

My grandpa fought under General Patton in World War II. He returned safely home to my grandma, mom, and uncle. But there were many who didn't. My heart goes out to their family and friends this day.

...And for the men who fought very early in our country to make it what it is today, I thank you. Thank you for fighting in what you believed in, to make our country free. Every morning as my children in my class raise their hands and place it on their hearts, to Pledge to our flag, I think of you.

No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks...a quote by Alice Cooper

Okay so, it has been a while since I posted. We are alive, healthy, and finishing out the school year. (The countdown is 3 days...of absolutely, positively...NOTHING!!)

I wish we had gotton out before Memorial Day this year, but the district calandar people didn't plan it that way! I guess that is okay, because now I can just sit, laugh, and play with my 1st graders, and probably cry for joy that some of them are leaving, and sadness for some others.

As the school year ends, summer plans begin. With Arizona summer vacations being short, due to year round school, summer seems busy already...I hope there is time for rest!

Things that are on the family list to do:
1. Dance Recital for M
2. Master's classes (I have 2 this summer, 2 nights a week for 8 weeks)
3. Girl's Camp for C and T (they leave 2 days after school gets out)
4. Painting the foyer (hopefully before family comes to visit in June)
5. A trip to Lake Powell (God's secret if you have never seen or heard of Lake Powell, check this link out.http://www.lakepowell.com/)
4. Yeah!! Family comes to visit in June
5. Camping for the 4th of July
6. C and Mike have birthdays
7. Boot Camp (Yes, I am signing up for Boot Camp..or have good intentions of it. If Helen on the Biggest Loser can do it, I can too!)
8. reading a good book (not Twilight)
9. organizing some unorganized things (mainly M's bedroom, and a couple of cupboards)
10. some scrapbooking caught up.
11. the upstairs started for expansion of a family room
12. fishing for Mike

stay tuned...."A goal not written is merely a wish!"

Count your many blessings..name them one by one...

We are so fortunate to know the Lauro family. Natalie and C met during the fourth grade and were in the same school class for 2 years. The girls even went to California to Sea World for a school trip together in 5th grade. This is Natalie's story and I would like to share it with you. Her story will make you go hug your children and thank Heavenly Father for your small blessings in life.
http://www.pchhandprints.org/ (Click Natalie's story)