Hoedown Throwdown

We watched the Hannah Montana movie a few weeks ago and all the boys were trying to learn the "Hoedown Throwdown" dance from the movie. Then Spencer went to his very first Stake youth dance a week after he turned 14 and he came home jazzed about the great time he had. So, Uncle Jon pulled up a Hoedown tutorial on his laptop and everyone sang and danced LATE into the night. Good times. Good times.

Spencer's Eagle Project

I was going to say "Spencer's Eagle Project, Stage I" but we're way past that. We've put too many hours into it for this to be Stage I, but I guess this is the first "action" stage, not just a planning stage.

Spencer has had so many people be so generous with time and supplies. This is Troy Adair of Preparing Wisely, an emergency preparedness store. He donated most of the water barrels for the project.
Spencer asked all the family who was visiting for Jacob's baptism to help with his project. After Papa and Jon took Spencer on a Mystery Shop to buy paint, Papa got started priming the barrels.

Grandpa Tom brought black paint and soon everyone was helping.

Everyone, that is, except for the girls. You may have noticed that. We lucked out and got to do the "inside job."

It sure was hot outside!

Granny Paula was the dedicated sketch artist. She came up with some really cute Arizona animals to complement the African drum designs.

I was a designated "dotter."

Nana doing her "look natural" pose.

And finally, Emily was the one with the steady hand who painted the animals. The project consumed us well into the night. Now on to Stage II...

My Dad

Isn't this a cute picture of my dad and me? (Except for the stadium lighting.) Love you, dad!

Baptism and Confirmation (and Ordination)

"And now when I am baptized, I'll follow His example--

Be baptized by immersion through sacred priesthood power.

Then I will be a member of Heavenly Father's kingdom

And have the Holy Spirit to guide me every hour."

What a special day. Jacob has grown up so much and tries so hard to do what's right. I am so proud of him and his decision to be baptized like Jesus was. I love you, son.

Part of what made the day special was having both sets of grandparents at his baptism. Jacob is so blessed to be loved so much! His Primary President Sister Dagupan spoke at the service and let him help with her talk. Jacob's friend Eli Platt was baptized the same day. That was fun!

Jacob also shared his special day with Spencer, who was ordained a Teacher after the baptism. Congratulations, son! You will be a great representative of Jesus Christ.

Go Rabbits!

Every year Mesa High invites the bands and cheerleaders from their feeder Junior Highs to perform with them at a Jackrabbit's football game. We were so excited this year because we had lots of family in town who could go see Spencer do his THING! Unfortunately, a lightning storm delayed the game sufficiently long enough for the bands to decide to "dis"band. Words can't describe what a major bummer this night was! Thank goodness for snow cones (thanks dad).

One of these things is just like the other...

Isaac
Papa

Pretties

I don't get to do girly things very often. My mom was making Emily's baby girl some pretties for her hair and I asked her to help me make some. So, this morning I made three cute flower barrettes for just me!

Joy School Field Trip

Last Thursday, Tiffini Robinson and I took the Joy School kids to the Arizona Museum for Youth on a field trip. The current exhibit was "My Favorite Monster" and the kids had a great time!
After performing a monster puppet show for Tiffini and I, they worked as a team to build their favorite monster. They used every head, tail, leg, and spike they could find!

They were so proud of their creation! After they finished their monster, we read some books about monsters and played in the glow-in-the-dark room.

The kids each drew a picture of their favorite monster and then it was off to the monster movie room. They got to dress up in some pretty creepy costumes and star in their very own monster movie!

Finally was play time in the Artville part of the museum. They all zipped themselves in a tent in Max's room (a re-creation of the bedroom in the book "Where the Wild Things Are"). We had a super day exploring the museum!

Labor Day at Amazing Jake's

Nana and Papa treated us to a full day at Amazing Jake's on Labor Day. All-you-can-eat pizza, pasta, salads, potatoes, soup and desserts, and all-you-can-play video games, bowling, bumper cars, race cars, miniature golf, roller coaster, laser tag, air hockey, train rides and rock wall! We were exhausted by the time we got home that night.
Spencer and Noah on the speedway.

Jeremy was the best driver in the fastest car. Jacob would get so nervous when anyone got close to passing them!

Nana and Isaac had a nice leisurely ride.

Papa was a speed demon, as usual!

This is me.

Jacob and Isaac both thought they got first place!

Nana and Papa went on the wild and crazy bumper cars.

They held their own amidst the grinding gears and whiplash!

Nana, Jacob and me playing mini golf.

Papa and Isaac on the mini golf range.

Our last stop of the night: the Rock Wall. Noah finally conquered the hardest route!

And yes, I braved the climb, too. Didn't make it to the top but got a good workout!

Happy Birthday to Spencer

Spencer turned 14 this year! He wanted to celebrate by going out to the Oriental Buffet for dinner. Luckily, Nana and Papa were able to make it here for his birthday and got to go with us. All the boys love to try the weird stuff at the buffet table. Spencer tried baby octopus this time. He ate two of them! Usually, they just try to put the restaurant out of business by eating mounds and mounds of crab legs and shrimp.

Spencer wanted me to make Joe's Root Beer Cake for his birthday cake, but it didn't turn out like Joe's. We'll have to try and revise that recipe or just resort to getting our free piece on our birthdays. Spencer's favorite presents were the "Why" book from Nana and Papa, the drummer T-shirts ("Plays Well With Drums", and "Got Drums?") and beef jerky from Granny and Grandpa, and of course the Nintendo DSI that he paid half of. Love you, Spencer. Happy Birthday!

Baby Bird

A few months ago, Noah and Jacob discovered a nest in our huge pine tree. Unbeknownst (is that a word?) to me, they climbed up (waaaayyyyy up) and found a baby bird in the nest. They got the camera and took pictures and made videos of the cute little thing. Look closely. Can you see how far UP they are? So glad I was oblivious until it was over.

Fun With the Flag

We've begun this round of Joy School! Isaac and 7 of his buddies (and their moms) are participating this school year. It was my turn to teach last week and we had a blast learning about our flag and our country and the Pledge of Allegiance. We listened to patriotic music and marched in a parade and made flags to take home. We colored a map of the USA and Arizona. We had fun "painting" our snack: toast and jelly. We love preschool!

A Bobcat and an Arrow

A rite of passage. At one pack meeting our family had one incoming Cub Scout and one outgoing Cub Scout. Jacob had worked so hard in the weeks before his birthday learning the Cub Scout Promise, Sign, Salute, and the Law of the Pack, so he could pass them off and receive his Bobcat the day after he turned eight.

Here he is, hanging upside down (hold on tight, dad!) while mom pins his Bobcat badge on his shirt. When he turned right-side-up, the badge was upside-down. That meant he had to do a good turn before he could turn it the way it should go. Good job, Jacob!

Then it was Noah's turn. Way back in May, he earned the highest possible rank in Cub Scouts: the Arrow of Light. It hadn't been awarded to him yet because we had to schedule a special Arrow of Light ceremony. There is a brother in our ward whose bloodline is through an Indian tribe (I can't remember which one) and he presents the Arrows of Light.

The ceremony consists of ceremonial face painting with the colors representing things in nature and Scouting values.

Then a handmade Indian arrow is presented to each boy and they are instructed to always display the arrow pointing North. Congratulations, Noah!

Since the monthly theme was "When I Grow Up" the kids got to participate in a fireman relay, learn to hammer nails into a board, and write a letter on a computer.

These are Noah's friends who also received the Arrow of Light: Luke Eyring, Israel Orona and Bryce Park.