City Council Meeting

I had the opportunity last night to attend a city council meeting and speak in behalf of an agenda item.  The street that passes the side of our house has a problem with people wanting to speed.  In April of this year a boy the same age as Tim was hit by a car and was lucky to survive.  All efforts to have people slow down, have failed.  After a few of us spoke the City Council made the decision to install flashing lights and speed limit signs and start the process of installing sidewalk!!  I am so excited to see this project completed for the safety of all the kids in the neighborhood.

Strawberry Jam, Preschool, Friends, General Conference and Soccer

This has been a very busy week.  I was excited to learn that Sariah made it on the waiting list to start preschool.  She had her first day on Monday.  Her teacher is Ms. Weston and Sariah adores her, she even made up a song about her.  With her starting preschool I was able to get more things done around the house!   I made thirty Jars of Strawberry Jam to give away and for us to last a year.  It was fun going to lunch with two of my friends on Wednesday.  It is always nice to have good friends who support you in your challenges and who understand being a mom.  Nathan and I were able to go out on a double date with some friends on Friday night.  We had plenty of talk time while we waited for over two hours for our food.  The food was good but the service was struggling.  We were able to cheer the boys on today at their Soccer games.  The score of the Purple People Eaters (Sam's team) was 4-1 with them winning.  The score of the Greyhounds (Timothy's team) was 8-6 with them winning.  We were able to come home and watch General Conference. This is my favorite time of year.  I love being able to listen and learn from the leaders of our church. I have so much to improve in my life, it's good to hear the ways I can do it.

                                                     Samuel at his soccer game today.

When we arrived home today from the soccer games we received a package from some good friends who live in Japan.  Sariah has been so happy with her little dolls and purse. The boys love the Origami paper and the solar Ninja's and Samurai.  I got a cute little tea set and a book mark with butterfly's on it with a hand written message from my friend that said "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you"  We also got some "healthy balls" that make a soothing noise when you shake them.  We were very blessed to meet this wonderful family.  We are glad they are happy and enjoying their time in Japan, but are secretly hoping they will come back to the desert some time.

Never take a person for granted.  Hold every person close to your heart.  Cause you might wake up one day and realize that you've lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones.  Take the time to let your loved ones know you care.  A simple note,a phone call or an act of kindness.  We need to treasure our friends and family.  I have felt so blessed in my life to be surrounded by so many wonderful people.  I appreciate all I have learned and grown from each friend I have made over the years.  Let us all live today like we have no tomorrow.  Life is precious and we shouldn't take it for granted.

Soccer

This has been a very busy week for our family.  We spent a good amount of time at the soccer fields between practices and games.  I have decided that soccer season is by far my favorite time of the year.  We were able to cheer Tim and his team on Thursday night, which they won with the final score being 7-3.  We only had one practice on Friday night, which made it possible for us to relax.  We all went to the Saturday games.  It was fun to watch Samuel's team play as they continue to work better as a team.  The final score for that game was 5-1 with the team he is on winning.  It was hard to watch as Timothy played his game because it was so close.  The team pulled it off in the last two minutes with them winning and the final score being 3-2.  It seems like between being a mom, church responsibilities, community responsibilities and driving the kids everywhere there is little time to relax and just do little things you enjoy.  For those of you who are Moms I am sure you can identify.  It was nice to be able to go with a group of friends to a dinner and a Relief Society event at the end of a long week.  It is always nice to hear that other Moms are going through some of the same trials in their week.  It is amazing to me how my Mom was able to do such a good job raising six of us.  I am excited to report that Sariah will be starting her first day of Preschool tomorrow.  I know I am ready, I hope she is!!

                                                  Timothy in action at his soccer game!!

                                     Sam relaxing and watching his brother play soccer!!

                                              Sariah and her friend playing in the backyard.

Another busy Tuesday

I think right when I was thinking that Tuesday couldn't get any busier, I was elected to the School Site Council at the Junior High School.  I spent the entire morning getting food in the house, dishes done and clean clothes for the kids.  You know all that never ending stuff that Moms have to do ALL the time. I finished it with not a minute to spare.  I then had to rush to the Junior High School for the SSC meeting, I was actually thinking that with the entire school voting I would not get elected, I guess I shouldn't be so sure next time.  As soon as I was done there I went straight to the elementary school for the PTO meeting.  Once I got home I had the boys get into their soccer gear and helped Sariah into her dance clothes.  The boys did their soccer pictures and Sariah went to dance.  We enjoyed a quick family dinner at McDonalds before rushing to Samuel's Pack Meeting were families were invited.  I then had to leave that early to attend a meeting for my calling in church. I think I am ready to call it a day.  

Family weekend

We started the weekend off with the Angels game.  We had Samuel's first official game of the season on Saturday.  I unfortunately only had my camera that was dead with me.  The team did awesome.  The final score was 5-1 with his team winning.  He had at least 3 assists.  I then went to super Saturday at the church, and enjoyed the nice break from the kids.  I came home and fell asleep for 3 hours and woke up sick.  We still went on our date to the play and dinner that night.  It is so hard for us to make time for each other that we try not to cancel for anything.  I came home that night and crashed only to wake up still sick.  I was very happy when Nathan cancelled all of his Sunday meetings and took the kids to church.  He even took my place in the Nursery.  I slept most of the day and Nathan took care of the house.  I am so lucky to have such a caring husband.  

Game #6 Angels vs. White Sox

We finally were able to schedule and go to the sixth and final game of the summer.  It is nice to be only a two hour drive from Anaheim stadium.  I do think that Nathan may have broken that record on the drive home on Friday night.  We were able to go over with a few friends from Twentnine Palms with us.  We were able to park in Nathan's favorite spot across the street from the stadium which is a fast entrance and an even quicker  exit.  We ate at our favorite little place in the parking lot next to where we park.  We got to the game in plenty of time to sit down and get the kids all settled in.   Unfortunately the game was not all that exciting and the final score was Angels 6 and White Sox 1.  They had a really awesome firework show following the game, which the kids loved.  We were able to get home a little before 1:00 am.  I had to laugh because the two 12 year old kids told us they could not sleep in the car.  You will get a laugh out of the following picture.  I promise to get the pictures and the budget finished from the summer trip.  I hope you all enjoy the pictures from this trip.

                                    Picture of our family at the Angels game vs. The White Sox.

Picture of Timothy and Domenique not sleeping in the car on the way home from the Angels game.

Family Home Evening Night

So just when I think that Sunday is the hardest day of the week Monday rolls around.  Monday is the day that makes up for the laziness of the weekend.  After five loads of laundry, vacuuming, mopping, cleaning the bathrooms and dusting I was ready for a large Diet Coke.  I have to remind you this was done with many interruptions from my tiny blond helper.  After all of this I went to three hours of soccer practice.  We made it home late and had a late family dinner and Sam reminded us that we still had to have family home evening night even though it was 9pm.  So of course we agreed and played 4 months of payday as an entire family.  It was about part way into the game that Sariah made her way behind Nathan and Timothy on their chairs and put herself to sleep.  I guess all that cleaning and doing laundry made her tired.  I have to admit I felt like doing the same but I am sure it wouldn't have been as cute.  Raising three kids is tough work!!

Sariah Asleep on chairs while we played Payday for Family Home Evening Night!!