1st Grade Junior Achievement

Darin once again did Junior Achievement for Amberly's class. I think it is a highlight for both of them! Amberly just loves having her Daddy come and be a part of her class and I know he enjoys his time with her there too! Junior Achievement is such a wonderful parent led program. For 5 weeks straight he was able to go into her class and teach a lesson about Communities/families/working/money/saving, Etc. I get to go with him on the last day to "help out". It's always fun to see him interacting with the children and watch how they just love him!
We're very happy that Chevron is a strong sponsor of this program and allow their employees to take time off of work to go into the schools to do this. Chevron is big on volunteering.

Ms. Danchenka's 1st Grade Class Amberly waiting patiently to get chosen.
The following picture was actually really cute. Their activity was a charades game. Each child got to up and choose a job and "pretend" they were doing that job and the other children had to guess what it was. The favorite job was Teacher. Here Darin is demonstrating to the children the activity and had them guess what job he was doing. Notice the glasses on the nose and I think he put on the board 1+1=3. They got a big kick out of him and he quickly was apologizing to the teacher saying that in no way was he describing her! They all had fun taking a turn with it!

What Happened to December??? It just flew by!!

I put all my pictures in backwards... so we'll do a Pre-Christmas review backwards. Oh well. It will have to do..

This year was Trent's turn to put the Angel Moroni on the finished tree. We waited until Elizabeth got home from School to do it so it actually ended up being put up on Christmas eve. He was quite excited to have his turn. New Star of the year.. Each year for the past several years I have went out and bought a new star for our tree. As part of our Christmas tradition before Christmas we go in seach of the star. I hide the star somewhere in the house and everyone has to search to find it. I have usually gotten silver shiny stars or even more decorative, but this years star stuck out to me when I saw it in the store. I liked that it was simple and more homemade looking. I guess when I think of the birth of Christ and that a king was born in a lowly stable...I don't know, I guess the star just seemed to fit this year. :)
Elizabeth came home from BYU-Idaho on the 19th of December. We had already decorated the tree but we saved her special ornaments for her to put up.

The greatest gift we got this year was Elizabeth coming home from School. Quick story... her plane came home late in the evening so Darin and I went and picked her up alone. We left everyone else home. We took her out to get a bite to eat before home and arrived back here around midnight. Everyone had waited up for her but Amberly and fallen asleep on the couch. Elizabeth went over to her and tried to wake her up. Amberly gave her a hug and let her hold her but we could all tell she was not awake. She laid back on the couch by Darin as Elizabeth hugged on Trent and Eyn. Darin sat and rubbed Amberly trying to wake her up. She finally opened her eyes and looked at her Daddy and realized we were home and that meant one thing... Elizabeth was home!! She jumped off the couch and attacked Elizabeth. It was priceless!! She was so overjoyed to see her big sister. It was one of those moments that I'll always treasure!

Like I said earlier... decorating the tree. Nearly done with it!

Putting the tree together.
We had a great time decorating the tree and getting ready for the Christmas season!

Snow Day

As early as Monday the weathermen were telling us that we had a good chance of snow on Friday. Yea right! I said. It was too hard to believe! But, lo and behold Friday came around and we were treated to a wonderful early Christmas gift!! SNOW!!! It began early Friday morning and continued until late in the afternoon. It was Darin's Friday off so he got to be home to enjoy it with me. It was soooo beautiful!! Considering the freeze warnings for the entire day all the schools in Katy had early release. Some will think that is strange, but considering we NEVER get much snow or ice here people just don't know how to drive in it and we don't have the equipment to keep the roads clear of ice. Darin and I went outside to enjoy it and heard screaming and yelling coming from Amberly's Elementary School which is just a few blocks from our house. The teachers had let their classes go out to play in it. The sounds of laughter and joy were a highlight of the day for Darin and I. It was priceless!! What a great day we had!!

Eyn got just a little wet and was quite a bit cold!

Amberly taking a break
Watch out Trent!! It was back and forth like this for quite a while!

Trent was quite cold here! Yes, short sleaves! I didn't understand that myself!

Trent attempting a snow angel

Amberly making a snow angel.

Trent getting caught by surprise by Eyn when he got home from school.

Beautiful White Snow!

Darin not long after it began snowing

What a wonderful gift the snow was! We hope it makes some more surprise visits this wintertime!!

Turkey Bowl

Each year on Thanksgiving morning the Traditional Turkey Bowl is being held all around the country. As long as I can remember this tradition has taken place. I guess it's a man's way of getting out of helping with cooking the Thanksgiving Feast. Well, this year our ward not only held one for the "Men", but the younger kids got involved too and had one of their own. So, Darin loaded up Eyn, Trent and Amberly and headed off to our high school practice field where the grand event took place. Amberly and one other girl didn't want to be left out of the fun! They all had a great time and had many tales to tell when they returned home. We later found out that Elizabeth participated in a Turkey Bowl in Boise where she had gone for the Thanksgiving Holiday week. Here are just a few pictures from the two games being played by each other.

This picture has a story

Okay Michelle, Thanks for the tag! :)

Here are the rules -

*Open your first photo folder.

*Scroll down to the 10th picture (if you don't have 10 in that one, then go to the next folder that does).

*Post that photo and the story behind that photo on your blog.

*Tag 5 friends to do the same.

The story on this picture - This was taken on the first day of school when Amberly started Kindergarten and Trent was starting 5th grade. 2008-09 school year. Trent was really excited because he was actually getting to ride his bike to school for the first time to the new elementary school. Amberly was full of smiles that morning because she was so excited to finally be going to school. It's amazing how much they've each grown this past year!

Veterans Day

Today my thoughts have been turned to all the veterans in my life. How grateful I am for their service in the armed forces. My Dad retired from the Navy in 1975 when I was 5 years old. He taught us by his example how much this country meant to him. I'm grateful for that example. He served during the Vietnam War. He was actually off of the coast of Vietnam shortly before my birth and his ship had been recalled back to the States in time for my birth. He never liked to talk about what he saw and experienced during the war, but I did hear a few stories and I'm so glad he lived to return back to us. He chose to become a recruiter after I was born so that he didn't have to be away from his family as much. Thank you Dad for your example and for all you taught us about respecting and honoring the wonderful country which we live in.

I also need to write how grateful I am for my husband and for his service in the Air Force. He served in the Air Force for the first 6 years of our marriage. It was during Desert Storm and it was a scary time for us. His group was put on a 99.9% chance of being sent over seas. His bag always had to be packed and by our door. I remember sitting on the floor in our apartment, pregnant with Elizabeth, and crying as the bombs were falling on Baghdad. It was a hard life, but I learned so much. I had grown up with a military Dad, but being a wife I think I learned more about my Mom and the sacrifices the military spouses have to endure. They truly deserve the honor and praise just as those veterans do. I will never forget the pride I felt being on base and having to come to a complete stop every time the flag was raised or lowered and listening to the National Anthem. It still moves me to this day. We live in such a wonderful country and are so blessed with blessings beyond our comprehension. How grateful I feel. How blessed I feel for living in a land that is free. A land where thousands have fought so that each one of us can enjoy all of these blessings. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all the Veterans and to their families. You each are heroes in my book.

Mary Poppins

Darin told everyone in our family all week not to plan anything Friday evening because he was taking me out that night. All week I anxiously waited wondering what he had in store for us that evening. I was not disappointed!! He knows how much I LOVE Broadway musicals and I had just recently told him about a friend going to see this and I thought it sounded wonderful! I was pleasantly surprised and loved every second of our evening out!! The music was absolutely delightful and the scenery was incredible!! I felt like a child transported back in time as I sat there watching it with a smile on my face from start to finish! Thanks for a wonderful evening honey!! You know... Wicked it going to be in Houston in June.. Hint Hint!!

The best words to describe the evening are : SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCOUS!!!

Homecoming Parade 2009

Last night was the Seven Lakes High School Homecoming parade! We found a great spot and really enjoyed it! Eyn was on the football team float and looked like he was having a great time! I always enjoy seeing the school spirit. The band sounded awesome and the floats were fun! Amberly and Trent liked that they were handing out candy. (Just what they needed, more candy!) Go Spartans!

The Spartan Football teams!! Eyn is on the top row on the end with his arm raised in the air. He had waved at us so we could see where he was.

Amberly and Trent watching the parade

Choir Float (Elizabeth asked me to take these!) Another view of the football team!!

Go Spartans! Beat Taylor HS this week!!

Eureka Science

This morning I was able to go and help the 1st graders at Eureka Science. Eureka Science is a parent run science program at our elementary school where the children get to learn fun and exciting aspects of science. Today the 1st graders were learning about simple machines. It was sooo much fun!!! I was able to work with the children as they got to use a peeling machine to peel and core apples. When the apple came out it was actually like a slinky! The children loved it!! Other activities included using a screw driver, using pulley's to lift a carton with rice in it, using catapults to fling marshmallows at a target, getting on teeter tater's with a classmate, and some other small simple machines they got to experiment with. What a great program it is!!! I always feel so blessed for the wonderful schools my children go to! Amberly looked like she was having a lot of fun. I loved being able to be with her. It made me sad because when her class was done and my shift ended to go home she began to cry. It broke my heart! She wanted me to come back for lunch but I had lunch plans with friends and couldn't. I'm glad that there are lots of opportunities to volunteer in our schools!

Amberly (middle) using her screw driver to put a screw in a board

Amberly at the apple peeling/coring station

Halloween!

Halloween is always fun!! This year Halloween was a little different than usual. Darin and I both got to stay home and give out the candy. Eyn went to a "teen" party at a friends home in our ward. Trent went trick or treating with a friend from school and Amberly went out with a friend from down the street. It was kinda quiet. They all seemed to have a lot of fun! Trent and Amberly both came home with oodles of goodies! Talk about sugar overload! Eyn said he had a lot of fun at his party. So, I guess you can say it was a very successful evening!

What would Halloween be without a black cat?!? This is our cat "Katy". I had to include her!

Amberly was our little witch this year!
This is Amberly and her friend Skye from down the street. She was a witch also.

Eyn and Katy. Katy didn't know what to think of Eyn's mask. He thought she would be scared off by it, but she's too good for that! She leaned over and sniffed his face! It was cute.

Eyn ready for his party. No, we don't usually do masks and I think he wore it on top of his head most of the evening. He did look good though! He answered the door for some trick or treaters for a little while before he left for the party and got some good responses from them.

I feel really bad because I failed to get a picture of Trent! He looked awesome all decked out as a Star Trek Officer. He is quite the Trekie and looked great!!

Hope you all had a great HaLlOweEn!!!

50th Day of School

Today was the 50th Day of School and Amberly got to dress up for it! Doesn't she look adorable!! I love that they get to do such fun activities at school! I bought Amberly's skirt about 4 years ago at a garage sale for 25 cents. Best deal ever!! She has gotten to wear it so much and it's still a little big on her!! Love deals like that!!

Ward Split

On Sunday, November 1st, our ward was split. They took a portion of our ward, Katy 3rd, and a portion of Katy 1st to form the new Katy 4th ward. Our family will be remaining in Katy 3rd. It's the first time since we've lived here to not be moving into the new ward when a major split like this has occurred. I have had mixed feelings over the split. Part of me is actually jealous of those families starting the new ward. I loved the excitement and newness when we have been involved in splits in the past. We will definitely miss the families that will be going to the new ward. The sad thing is that we won't even be meeting in the same building. Our ward will continue to attend at the new Richmond Stake Center and Katy 4th will go to the old Katy building. Yesterdays meeting was wonderful! The testimonies shared and spirit felt was wonderful! I loved how the wife of the new Bishop (who we just think is going to be wonderful!!) said that the event that was happening that day was an ordinary miracle which is occurring all over the world within the church. How faithful members of the church don't choose where we want to go to church, but rather, we are assigned which ward we are in by where we live and that is where and when we meet for church. During the meeting it was announced that a dear sister in the Sealy Branch had died that morning from cancer. Pres. Allen told of how she has been the seminary teacher there and they asked her if she wanted to be released when this new school year began. She replied that she wanted to serve and do her part until she no longer could. What a wonderful example of enduring to the end she was!!

This picture was taken at the back of the gym prior to the meeting starting. 850 members from the Katy 1st and Katy 3rd ward attended the special sacrament meeting. We actually had a very unique meeting. They passed the sacrament to the entire congregation. They had the sacrament table set up in the chapel with 12 deacons and 3 priests and one also set up in the gym with 12 and 3. Katy 3rd was in charge of those in the chapel and Katy 1st in the gym. Eyn actually got to bless for his first time. He did GREAT!! He was nervous, but didn't miss a word. He couldn't stop smiling when he was done! This is the map they passed out to everyone with the new changes.
It's always great to see the growth of the church in our area. When we moved here 11 years ago we were part of the original Katy Ward. We have since then been in Katy 2nd Ward, Katy 3rd Branch, and Katy 3rd Ward. During this time we have seen portions of our ward when in Katy 2nd put into Katy 1st and Nottingham country Ward. The growth here is amazing!