January - March 2012

More Catch-up: Jan - March 2012

Hanna and Wyatt "helping" in the kitchen. 

 I'm just glad they want to help at all.

A fun hairstyle we did for Cali's hair one day. 

 I was so happy she let me do it.  

Usually she does not want to sit still or complains about how it feels.

Daddy's girls....watching a move, cuddled up on the couch.

Wyatt's first time at Chuck E Cheese.  Can you tell he LOVES it!!

Seth and Wyatt with Wyatt's favorite fire engine. 

Dad pushing the girls on the tree swing.

Hanna during one of her "dress-up" days.  

Cali was the same way and I loved it.  

I had wished I would have taken a photo for every crazy outfit she put together. 

It was not really all that cold this day but Hanna wanted to pretend it was.  :)

Robert Down Elementary 2nd Grade Field Trip

Whale Watching in the Monterey Bay (Feb 2012)

Our house is somewhere over on the shoreline.  

Great photo of Cali pointing to the whale blow spray.  We did not see much this day but this moment was awesome.  The whale was much closer than he appears. 

• 
  
• Cali got sea sick and had to lay in my lap most of the time.  Bummer!!

Hanna built a block tower that was taller than her.  Pretty cool.

Wyatt "locked" in KC's locker at work.  He wasn't very amused.

The bag lady representing the idea of using your recyclable bags at the store. 

 The kids couldn't stop looking at this girl.

Cali's life size drawing of herself from the inside.

Family Fun Days at the PG Natural History Museum

Wyatt and Hanna at music class with Miss Kelly.  
We love our morning wake up with friends!

Family Trip to Disneyland

February 2012

First Trip for Hanna and Wyatt

We stayed 3 days and got to hop back and forth between both parks 

(Disneyland and California Adventures).  We stayed in a hotel that

was close enough for us to walk to the parks each day.  The kids

had a great time and so did the big kids.  Mom and Jack

came up for one day and played with us and then let

KC and I enjoy a night to ourselves.  

This was Hanna's wish...to meet and talk with Rapunzel.  However, when we got inside the cottage Hanna just froze up and couldn't talk.  It was actually very cute!

And Cali's wish...to meet Ariel.  We missed her last time we visited so Cali was beyond excited to see her this time.  It really made the trip worth while to see the glimmer in her eyes.

KC's dream...to see his kids be part of the Star Wars experience.

Go Cali !!!!

Wyatt was pretty scared of this guy.

Hanna with her new hair.

Which one is the doll and which one is Ariel?

Riding with dad.

Hanna's turn to take on the "bad guys" and most importantly "Baam Baam" 

Reliving a moment in time....when we were just friends we went to Disneyland with a group of friends.  We took a picture right here 12 years ago.  

BTW...we look just the same now as we did then. :)

Hanna at Seaside Preschool with Ms Debra

Valentine's Day party 

Hanna and Seth at Seth's class Valentine's Day party

Seth and Mrs Levy at the VDay party with her flowers.

Happy "Love" Day

Dad and Wyatt in Cali's class for Valentine's Day

Lucy and Cali on Valentines Day!

Hanna's outfit for the Day...she is so serious.  She has no idea that millions 

would kill for her red hair but she still wants Rapunzel's look.  

RHD Talent Show Feb 2012

Lucy, Hann and Cali

*dance routine to "Hey Mickey"

Joey and Seth

*magic act

Fun on the trampoline

Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Sweetheart

March 2012

*gram's arm, Wyatt, KC, Jack, Hanna, Carolynn

Grandpa, Cali, Seth

Mermaid Tops

The girls kept asking me to make them "mermaid shells" and this is what I came up with.  

I love that they love them!  I love how my girls are so fun and love to dress up.

Monterey 2 Ward Pine Wood Derby 

March 2012

Cali and Joey participated too.  Joey had come with Seth to scouts a couple of times and wanted to do the derby too.  Joey is in Seth's class at school and comes from a wonderful family.  

Wyatt loves Seth Huston!!!!

Cali just lost her race....she was VERY upset because last year she swept the sibling category.

Here's Cali and Hanna with their cute "Mary Jane style shoe" car and award for style.

Cali is trying her best to have a happy face (after many tears).

Cali and Joey

They both lost their categories but they are trying to be good sports.

Seth did not win the race but won an award for style.  

A proud "Mom Moment" was when he went up to the winner and shook his hand to congratulate him.

Cali's Concert

She set up the living room with her dolls behind her and performed for them.  

This is what I love about Cali.

Daisy's 4th Birthday

Princess for a Day Party

Hanna, Cali, Daisy and Daisy's friend

The girls campout!!

They have started building forts in their room.  It is so cute.

Tonight I let them sleep in the fort and watch a movie.

Maddie's 8 Year Party

Maddie, Hanna and Cali

My Fun Kids

Seth

Cali, Hanna, Wyatt and Seth

Cali

Family Bike Ride

*Wyatt in his bike seat, Carolynn, KC with Hanna in front bike seat

Cali and Seth

Breaker in front of Cali

Cali

Seth

Cali learning to shoot Seth's beebee gun

Hanna on the tree swing at home

Seth using his beebee gun

Cali, Hanna, Seth and Wyatt

Cali shooting the gun

Family Walk around Frog Pond

Hanna, Seth, Wyatt and Cali

Cali has lost both top teeth

Seth started learning the violin February 2012

Hanna playing Rapunzel with her friend Owen

Wyatt, Hanna and Mom took a walk in Carmel Valley

Breaker loves to climb the tree.  The kids are convinced that he is part cat 

because he climbs the tree and is afraid of water.

Hanna in her Snow White dress sitting in the fields near the Pt Pinos Lighthouse

Hanna and Wyatt being oh so cute!!!!

The kids made this cute card for me for Valentines Day 2012

Coast Guard Tour of San Quentin Prison Dec 2012

Today KC and I were able to tour San Quentin Prison with his Chief's Academy class.  It was put together by one of the instructors under special circumstances.  We were able to walk around the open "yards" and go through the halls of the cells.  There were certain areas that are off limits due to high security.  Those areas house the criminals that are the most threat to society.  

It was very interesting to say the least.  Prior to going I had read a couple of Ensign articles that ironically talked about  how everyone can change...even criminals.   The articles talked about how the light of Christ is in all of us and by our choices we can radiate it.  So, I did a little study and choose to look at as many of the inmates in the eyes as would let me and smile at them too.  I wanted to do this to see if I could still the light of Christ in them.  Interestingly enough...I could a lot of the time.  I even felt like a few of them were happy to have someone looking at them for who they were and not for what they had become. They even smiled back and had a softness in their eyes.  However, there was an area we were allowed to go into but only behind the fence.  In other words, we could all see each other but through a chain linked fence.  When we were in that area I felt the spirit leave and the feeling was very dark.  When I looked into their eyes there was emptiness and sadness.  I really felt like those men had lost their spirits. I will not totally understand what I felt that day until after I leave this earth but I know that I did not like the way it felt.  

We were also able to see the gas chamber and that was very interesting too.  It was just like the movies....cold and dreary.  We learned some facts about the room and where the families sit vs the witnesses.  The whole thing was very sad.

I left the tour having a greater appreciation for my life, freedom, family, education, choice of food/clothing/etc and so much more.  I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and that I choose to live the teachings of Christ everyday.  

Seth....Valiant Nov 12, 2012

I love the things my kids say and if I had enough time in the day, I would write them all down.  However, the laundry would pile up, the kids and KC would get hungry, the bills would not get paid, etc, etc.  So, I am left to write down the best comments I hear.

Today, Monday, November 12, 2012 Seth said something that made me very proud to be his mom.

While we were in the car and I was talking to the kids about choosing the right, even when others might not be, we discussed a few examples of what I was illustrating.  I said, "even if your friends don't wan't to do what the teacher is telling you to do and your friends make a bad choice, YOU can do what  you are suppose to do.  In other words, don't follow your friends but do what is right."  Seth says in a funny voice, "and for extra-credit you can tell your friend(s) to do the same".  

Gosh...I love that kid.  He is absolutely right and taught me to go the extra step.  

I love when my kids teach me something.

Election Day Results Nov 6, 2012

Romney did not win!  Our president for the next 4 years is Barrack Obama, again.  It will be a challenging term but I am determined to make the best of it and to be as supportive as possible.  I feel I must do this for myself and for my children.

I shed a few tears when the victory was announced and said a few things I should not have said.  However, the truth of the matter is that my team did not win and right now I am mad.  Give me a few days and I will do my best to be the best.

Good night all....

Election Day Nov 2012

Today is election day and is a HUGE historical event.  Obama is running to be re-elected and Mitt Romney is running as the Republican nomination.  

It finally hit me the other day how monumental today is.  Barrack paved the way for "something new" 4 years ago by being the first African-American to be voted as our country's president.  That marked a big day in history for so many reasons.  And as a nation I believe most people were accepting of that.

  Today we are being asked to make another historical decision...re-elect our current president or vote for the "mormon guy".  As you know, I have voted for the "mormon guy".   I have pondered on this decision ALOT.  I have wondered am I voting for him because he IS mormon or because I agree with his policies?  I finally came to the decision that I am voting for him because he is mormon.  He lives the same standards I do, he lives the higher law that I do, he answers to God like I do.  Therefore, if he is doing all of this faithfully then I don't need to know what his policies are or his views because through our faith I know where he stands.  

All of this thinking and pondering and watching the scriptures come alive in our modern day has made me very emotional.  I am grateful to live in this great land.  The promised land.  I am grateful to have been blessed with 4 amazing children that I KNOW are ready for the last day challenges.  I am grateful for a husband who honors this country through his service everyday.  I am grateful for how much my husband loves me and our children and that I know he would do anything for us. 

 And I am grateful that through my faith I was blessed with all of this.

I know the Lord's hand is in this day...election day 2012.

I know that Mitt Romney, former Stake President and Bishop, made it this far 

because the Lord has plans for our country.

And I know that whatever is to come of this election, 

it will be because of what the Lord saw fit for our time.