Veteran's Day highlights

Veteran's Day was mostly a quiet day for us. I had big plans to go to a museum, or some place fun to enjoy the day, but I forgot what day it was and thought I had another week to be "Fun" mom. :) So since the libraries were closed, I couldn't get a Culture Pass to go to any of the museums or even the zoo for the day. That's fine, they were probably crowded anyway and some days my kids get tired of going places - not that we go some place fun every day, but sometimes it's just nice to stay home - together.

Playing in Lea's room is always a highlight - my boy loves a cape, no matter the color.

Lea had the day off from school, spent part of the morning hanging out, then went on a 2 mile bike/scooter/stroller walk around Meadows Loop (our neighborhood) and came back to the park by our house. We had a picnic, played, and dug in the sand. The kids had a good time even though it was unusually warm for November - it felt more like a summer day with the sun beating down. They had a good time and played with some other kids who came to play at the park. I'm always surprised at how easily kids can play as if they've known each other forever.

Picnic lunch - beautiful day

group photo....as good as it gets...

Helicopter flying by - on occasion we see Military fighter jets fly over - it's awesome! Makes me proud!

Lea the photographer

and......Lucas the photographer

Back for nap time and some creative activities for Lea to do while the little ones slept. The tooth pulling in the previous post happened before dinner - another highlight :)

Lea decorated this toy car she was given for her birthday

A "Girl" guitar - decorated by Lea

The "Boy" guitar - "Let's rock n' roll"

It was a pretty relaxing day and it was nice to spend the day together without shelling out a small fortune to entertain my kids. Thank you to all the Veterans who served and those currently serving. I have several family members who have been in the military and so does Jeff. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It's a peaceful feeling to have the sweet freedoms we have. To worship how we want, go to school where we can, the right to vote and so much more - it's a long list of worthy causes that our Veterans have fought, died and are fighting for. We're just so humbled and thankful.

Tooth Fairy, Tooth Fairy, what do you see?

I see a little girl with only 5 front teeth! 5? Yep! First there were 6 (because of the 2 adult teeth growing behind), now there are 5. What is the exchange rate for a tooth these days? We'll see, there is some discussion amongst a couple Tooth Fairy helpers. This is the first tooth, so where do we set the standard without going broke with LOTS more teeth to be pulled................

After much wiggling, I managed to twist it a couple times and felt the pop, pop as the tooth came loose and was hanging sideways and laying straight out....gross huh? I told Lea to pull it out herself and away she pulled. Slightly panicked at the sight of so much blood, but quickly excited she pulled out her 1st tooth!!!!

Phone call to Daddy and phone call to Grandma Judy

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!!!! Wahoo, wahoo, wahoo, wahoo!!!

Lucas: "Mom take a picture of me yelling....aaaaahhhhhhhhh!" The celebration!

Opposition in all things

Mesa Temple: built in 1923 and the 7th operating Temple. There are now 130 operating Temples in the World and 19 announced Temples to be built. WOW!

2 Nephi 2: 11, 15

  11 For it must needs be, that there is an ^aopposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

      •  •  •

  15 And to bring about his eternal ^apurposes in the end of man, after he had ^bcreated our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the ^cfowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the ^dforbidden ^efruit in ^fopposition to the ^gtree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.

Should it be any different when the Lord announced through a modern day Prophet that a Temple was to be built in North Phoenix or anywhere else in the world...? Satan knows that is if this Temple is built, work will be done that he can't control. Families will be sealed together - past, present and future, which the family is essential to the Lord's plan of Salvation. We are so blessed to have Temples as close as they are.

There are problems with getting the property re-zoned to build the Temple. Here is the call to action for the Saints in our Stake. Jeff is on his way there as I type and said there a lot of police officers and cars out as they expect some conflict. Which I hope doesn't happen and cooler heads prevail. This Temple is much needed as the Mesa Temple is bursting at the seams with activity....it's exciting to say it's so busy we need not only 1 more, but 2 more Temples in the Phoenix area!!! :)

Friday, November 6, 2009

Help Needed for the Phoenix Temple

Due to some opposition to the measure, the Bishop, Stake President, and Area Presidency are asking that we attend the Phoenix Planning Commission meeting to support the rezoning of the proposed Temple grounds at 51st Ave & Pinnacle Peak.


Date: Tue, Nov 10
Location: 4525 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ (Central High School, near Indian School/Central Ave).
Time: meeting starts at 6:00, but we are being asked to be there by 4:30.
Click here for a link to a map to the meeting from Laveen. A map is also attached.
Click here for a link to the meeting agenda.
In addition, all voting age members are being asked to write to each City of Phoenix Council member and the Mayor of Phoenix to express our desire to have the Temple in Phoenix and to support the rezoning measure. The City Council will vote on the measure on Dec 2 if the measure passes the Planning Commission on Nov 10. Remember to express support, but don't bear testimony, this is not the proper venue for testifying. District 7 Michael Nowakowski council.district.7@phoenix.gov

As suggested by President Johnson, we are arranging carpools to the meeting in order to get 20 people from our ward in attendance. If you can drive a carpool or want a ride in a carpool, please contact me. If you will be driving individually, please let me know!

Thank you,
Bro King

Primary Program

Sunday Nov 8 - today was the primary program for our ward. It's a Sunday I look forward to the entire year. The one Sunday were the Primary age kids 4-11 are involved in sharing what they've learned since January. We missed last year because of head lice and well just didn't feel right about sending our itchy head Lea to sit with everyone else even though we picked it up from church. (that's a whole other story, for another time).
Our primary is HUGE! I would say at least 100 kids, not sure how many were there, but it was a wonderful program. Lea's school teacher, Mrs. Noyes, came (she is not a member of our faith, that I know of, but understood how important this was to the kids and came). There are 2 other kids in our ward in Lea's class at school, so I'm not sure who invited her to come, regardless, it was so great to see her there. The kids appreciated seeing her support them outside of school and even former students ran to give hugs and say hello.

The kids boldly and proudly sang the songs they were learning. There was a violin group, 2 small groups of singers, lots of speaking parts, ASL during one song and a combo playing with the organ and piano! With so much going on, you would think it would be utter chaos, but it was so smooth. The kids walked quietly when needed, sang and watched the choristers, stood and sat when prompted by the choristers - it was amazing. There was the occasional hand-wave to the parents or smaller siblings and the ever consistent "yeee -ah" from Abbey in our row - calling for Lea. :) Lea did great and spoke up when it was her turn. She never ceases to amaze me with her ability to speak in front of others - this is so NOT my strong suit. She does great and we're so proud of her! Lea's part was about having a family that loved her and the blessings of having a loving family.

It was a beautiful reminder of the Lord's plan for Eternal Families - I'm so grateful to have this knowledge. I can be with my family through the sealing powers of the priesthood in the Temple, if I do my part. It's not a freebie- it requires work and work it is. :)

Thank you to the Primary Teachers and the Primary Presidency - you work so hard not just on Sundays, but during the week to help my children learn when they come to church. They love to come to church because of their fantastic teachers - they can hardly stand to sit through the first hour of church because they love Primary so much. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Mean mom....

So I'm starting to feel like a mean mom - am I doing something wrong or is it just kids being kids learning to express themselves? I'm hoping for the 'learning' part and not the 'I'm in the wrong' part.

Lea has learned that Mom is not always nice and sometimes she calls me "mean". Sorry - it's part of my job to ask you to work, help out and to tell you "No". We did stop the attitude of "I don't like you" and yes even "I hate you." Hate is now a 4-letter word in our house we no longer use and get busted when used. I'm guessing this came from school because it's not from home. She's learning to use words/expressions bigger than I think 6 year old's should know but it's fun to chat with her about her day.

Lucas today told me (while attempting to get him to take a nap - he did eventually take a nap) "I don't like you mommy." (to myself: Ouch, this is starting to hurt my feelings.)
Me: "Why Lucas?" (trying not to freak out.........breathe....breathe)
L: "Because.... I don't like girls."
Me: I'm a girl and a mommy.
L: No, your hair is down so you're a girl.
I put my hair up: So am I a boy now or a mommy?
L: A mommy.
Me: putting my hair up...mommy....down....girl.....then messy to become a monster and tickled him until he laughed so hard his face turned as red as his hair. :)

Are you a mean mom too? Do you make your kids work and be nice to others!? :)

More Halloween

More photos from Trick-or-treating and 50 cent corn dogs at Sonic - wahoo!

Lea's pretty hair - the bun was quickly removed after tears (from her) and replaced by a slightly curly ponytail.

 Darth Mal, Spidey, Darth Vadar with the pretty ballerina (aka Princess Lea)

A pirroutte.......whatever, a turn.

This is how you shoot spidey-webs while eating a corn-dog

Darth Vadar force on Darth Mal - scary!!

 

Even more scary is the grumpy ladybug.....wow she was grumpy to start, but it got better.

the Crazy Dominican Scorpion even made an appreance

To which he almost died after scaring Erin at her door - yes that's a real knife - he freaked her out by pounding on the door and saying he wanted candy and he knew she was in there. (sorry erin, we had no idea he was going to do that, should have known though....geoff and pete is just as bad a combo as Jeff and Geoff.) She answered the door only after finding out it was them, with a knife and phone in hand ready to dial 911, saying "this is what I have for you Pete!"  Pete also scared some of the kids walking down the street, but they laughed - just plain crazy when you get the whole group, not just the crazy guy. :)

Abbey quickly got the hang of Trick-or-Treating and no longer wanted to be carried - she "ran" and attempted to keep up with the big kids. Her bag was filthy by the time we got home. All of her candy had a nice layer of dust on it. Who cares though - she had a blast!

At Palfreemans - before the mob followed us to the door.

Halloween house at the end of the street - the picture does not do justice to the detail this guy goes through to decorate. He starts Oct 1 and just keeps adding more every day. Christmas is awesome too!