Busy little Bee.....hive

In my last post I eluded to some upcoming achievements...well, here is a big one:
Shay received her Young Womanhood Recognition Award this past Sunday. She had to be quite a dedicated young woman to earn her award in just 2 years. Here are just a few of the things she did to earn this award...

*Read the Book of Mormon twice! Once for the value Faith and once for the Virtue value.

*volunteered 40 hours last summer as a junior lifeguard-learning 1st aid and CPR skills

*took a few sewing lessons and completed a pair of pajama bottoms along with 2 quillows(a blanket that folds into a pillow)

*watched all sessions of conference, including the YW general broadcast-and took notes on them.

*taught younger siblings a skill-Kinsey learned to make crocheted hats and Derek learned made a quillow

Shay's next goal is to earn the Bee. This can be done by helping another girl earn her award OR by reading the Book of Mormon again. She already asked for a new Personal Progress book and is contemplating earning a second award.

We're proud of you sis!!

My favorite 14 year old!

14 years ago, 2 days before Mother's Day..this girl gave me my most prized title of motherhood. I still remember how overwhelmed with love I was for this little girl. Now she's 4 inches taller than me and 14 years old! I have come to not only love, but admire this girl. She is a responsible, kind, smart, helpful, talented, beautiful girl. I feel so lucky that I got her.

We started the morning with our traditional birthday music blasting from the stereo to wake her up. Then she had her favorite...mickey mouse waffles w/ strawberries and whipcream.

It was her year for a friend b-day party. We planned a ward treasure hunt. They got a clue that led them to a ward members house and then had to accomplish a task before they could receive the next clue. Here they are bobbing for apples in ice water! They had to do things like...make a certain # of baskets, get 30 marbles out of icewater with their toes, 100 jumps on a pogo stick, guess 6 pictionary words, get so many points in wii bowling, pass of 4 DDR songs with a grade of at least a B and bob for apples.

We ended up back at our house for a cookout, presents, cake, and more fun. She's got a good group of girl friends. Her surprise was a baby bunny, and 2 baby chicks..we ended the evening playing oo7. The girls had a great time and got lots of exercise.

Stay tuned for more accomplishments from this girl...she's AMAZING:)

Just like the pioneers!

-Fresh eggs
-garden grown crook neck squash, zucchini, tomatoes, strawberries, chives, and white onions
-still waiting on corn and watermelon

that's about as pioneer as we get..

I'm Worried...

Steve and I have exercised pretty much our entire married life. Which btw is now 18 years (I actually had to use my computer calculator to make sure) BUT..we have never really incorporated running into our workouts. I mean, only the crazies enjoy running. I've always felt like it was a form of body torture. My feet, hips, knees, back, heart and lungs seemed to hurt after every attempt. A few years ago our stake challenged everyone to run in a 5K they were hosting. Steve and I decided we could make the effort, train for 12 weeks (I know you runners are laughing) and join this run. We did it. I felt good about it. Didn't run again for over a year. Fast forward....Saturday's are the day we get to workout together. We had been walking, then walking with weights, then walk/jogging, and finally progressed to jogging the complete 3 mile loop. As we started jogging it wasn't taking us long enough-so..we added a little to the route and bumped it up to a 4.2 mile loop. After sometime of doing this we started getting this CRAZY itch to see how much we could do--and still be somewhat comfortable. We bumped it up to 5 miles. That's when Steve started to scare me. He began talking about his runs, looking forward to the next run. He even started running on his weight days!! What the...This morning he came home from his workout and said 7.5 miles baby! " This 50 year old man can run 7.5 miles." What is happening...he swears he's not going to go marathon crazy on me...but I'm starting to get nervous...

Live, Love, Learn

About a year ago hubby's work changed to 4 /10 hour days instead of the typical 5 day work week. For the most part we have LOVED it. It's great having a 3 day weekend EVERY week! When the kids are in school it's like a whole day we get to spend together on a date. First we go to the gym, then we do our Sister Savings/coupon shopping at Wal-Mart. We frequently go to lunch or to the temple together. It's awesome.

There is just one little issue we've(more like I've) had to deal with.....Hubby is the cook. Has been from the beginning. The work schedule change meant we weren't able to eat dinner tell around 7pm. I pretty much need to eat around 5 or I'm cranky. Not only that but- I DON"T COOK!!! So, here's what we came up with.

Each person in the fam takes a night for dinner-hubby has to take weekends due to his schedule. That means my 4 children are getting to each cook dinner 1 day a week. So far it has worked out amazingly well! I get to eat around 5 AND I only have to cook 1 night a week:)

Here are some of our recent entrees

teenager-omelets, pizza, mac n cheese casserole
deacon-sloppy joes, chili and cornbread, tacos
twin 1-pancakes, grilled hot dogs and corn on the cob
twin 2-waffles, mac n cheese, scrambled eggs
me-sweet n sour chicken, chicken squares, chicken noodle soup (home-made even), nachos

Yay for opportunities to learn and improve!

A few of my favorite things..

I have really been enjoying my kids and family as of late. Not that I don't usually enjoy them, but, I have just had an awakening to how much fun they all are. What a blessing to be a wife and mother to this crew. I figured I better blog about it so that on some future frustrating day..I can look back and remember...

Steve and Derek have been working hard on Derek's science project. Determining which metal is softest-aluminum, copper or brass. Here they are cutting the metal to be tested..

For FHE we each made valentines day mailboxes that we hung on our bedroom doors. We spent the week filling up each others boxes with notes of love and appreciation. You can see that this girl is loved AND appreciated.

I couldn't resist getting a picture of the new glasses. Isn't she cute?? You can almost see the little heart she had in her hair for V-day today. We've had fun putting hearts in her hair all week.

And here's my boy with his newly acquired braces. Life is constantly moving and busy at our house...but for the most part..I sure enjoy these guys.

Tid bits

Went on a field trip to the state capital this week with my 8th grader. Here's some things I learned...do you know the answers?

How many Supreme court justices in AZ?
How much do they make?
What is the line of succession for governor in AZ...1-5?
We elect many positions that other states let the governor appoint, such as secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, superintendant of schools, etc.
The state librarian gets to do some cool stuff:)
AND 8th graders are A-L-O-T scarier then they used to be....

On another note...Kins was awarded the award this month at school for the character trait of determination...Uh..YAAAH. She got to eat lunch with the principal. We had to laugh, even the teachers notice her ummmmm trait.