Our Summer, Week 4 {mobile monday}

The girls spent an amazing week at Camp Zion on Mount Lemmon with our Stake, hiking, crafting, sharing, growing, and working on their community service projects.  This snapshot is of the girls and their beloved youth leaders from our ward.  They came home dirty, tired and full of the spirit.

Meanwhile, Monkey Boy and I spent the week watching Ancient Aliens and Star Wars, playing video games and staying out of the dreaded Arizona summer heat.  We took him and best bud Christopher to Rocks + Ropes, an indoor rock climbing adventure in Tucson... wore them right out!

- Jess

October Wrap Up {mobile monday}

End of the month wrap up for on-the-go pics from my sweet phone:
* Pep Rally and Spirit Week
* Fun Family Home Evenings
* EYO Scout Camp-out in the Santa Ritas
* Ward Trunk-or-Treat
* Freckle Face's new braces
* Busy photography schedule
* YW's Evening in Excellence, both girls completed values in Personal Progress
* All three kids made the Principal's Honor Roll for 3.5+ GPA
* Monkey Boy's Student of the Week for outstanding character
* Halloween - whoot, whoot!!
* Football and basketball games
* White Elephant Parade - 50th Anniversary
* More parties and gathering of family and friends - we are blessed!

I could've have made it through this crazy and wild ride of a month without some very wonderful and helpful family and friends - both near and far.  I am a lucky girl to have such an amazing support system!  XO - Jess

YW's Camp Adventure

Freckle Face and Buggy had the adventure of a lifetime at their young women's camp - Northern Arizona University.  Just six girls, two leaders and two priesthood holders!  Here's some pictures they took of their activities... I am sure they'll have much more to write about than I can do here.  I'll have them share their experiences in a little more detail at a later time.

So, first stop en route from southern AZ to the cool of the mountains in northern AZ - the construction of the Phoenix Temple.  Bishop Elam was able to receive a keepsake brick from the crew working that day.

Next stop, Montezuma's Well and Castle.

Day Two: Ten hours of challenge courses at NAU.

Freckle Face was the first one to attempt this jump and the only one to land with a full grasp of the bar!

 Day Three: Ten mile hike to Humphrey's Peak

 Day Four: Canoeing on Mormon Lake and a visit to the Observatory.

 Day Five: Spelunking in the Lava Caves

Webelos and Arrow of Light

Monkey Boy earned his Webelos badge, Religious Knot badge and his Arrow of Light at the pack meeting ceremony last week and advanced from the Cub Scouts into the Boy Scouts.  Proud of this little Monkey Boy!

xo

Young Women's New Beginnings

Last week the girls participated in their Young Women's group annual activity, "New Beginnings" to celebrate the program and to help welcome in the girls that will be joining them this year as they turn 12.  Their YW leaders are all so wonderful and such great examples for our girls - they are well-loved and appreciated.  Well done ladies!

Gilbert Temple Open House

Yesterday we had the opportunity to attend the Gilbert Temple Open House.  Crowds of curious people and long lines were expected... but it was worth every minute of our seven hour trip - especially on such a beautiful winter morning.  We thought it would be great to take the kids inside so they could see all of the rooms, not just the baptismal font where they can go when they're 12.  The girls were just babies (23 and 7 months old) when they entered the temple for the first time in Manti Utah, so naturally they don't remember the experience.  And all three of them have been outside on the temple grounds of several temples while Sam and I went inside for ordinance work.  Since Freckle Face turned 12, she's had the pleasure of doing baptisms in both the Gila Valley and Mesa Temples here in Arizona and she was excited to be able to count this newly completed one with the others.  She was eager to show her brother and sister what she knew about the temple.  We met some friends from our ward there, the Gardner family, and were able to go through the tour with some familiar faces.  Buggy found her place being a 'big helper' to the Gardner's three little kids.  I knew it was going to be a bit much for the introvert in me with the big crowds and so much to see and reflect on, so I didn't really plan to take any pictures but I did bring my camera just in case.  The Gardeners were nice enough to snap a couple pictures of our family after the tour.

To see more images of the temple and to learn more about the purpose of temples, visit the links below:
Gilbert Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
First Look Inside
The Purpose Of Temples

Have a great weekend everybody!
XOXO - Jess

It Sure Has "Been A Week"

Seriously is this week over yet?  So far the milestones of the last seven days have been me repairing a dishwasher and a washing machine, reprogramming the irrigation, replanting a thorny palm tree seven times because Miss Daisy didn't like it blocking her view to the busy street below... every bl**ping morning!!! And not so surprisingly I did not finish all the laundry.  I also did not fix the ice machine, even though I've made every possible attempt to get it working again... I mean, it's not a complex thing - but for some stinking reason it just doesn't want to work.  Ugh!  I also did a "Google" crash-course on the difference between formatting on a MAC and a PC.  And then the rest of the time I chauffeured my three kids and their buddies around the suburbs in a minivan like a good soccer mom does.

Now for the fun stuff - HIGHLIGHTS - from this past week... Buggy was one of only 17 students to participate in the Castle Fair this year.  She was not happy with her project outcome, but we won't get into that... she worked hard and that's all that matters.  She also had her final advanced orchestra performance of the school year - they worked on Bach's Fugue in G Minor for the entire school year - and it was outstanding. Monkey Boy got first place in his class for his carbon dioxide Science Fair project.  He did a great job and we are pleased with his outstanding efforts.  And earlier in the week Freckle Face was called to be the Beehive President in the Young Women's organization.  She too, has been working hard and we are so proud of her example.

XOXO- Jess

Polynesian Cultural Center

Another great place to visit on Oahu - the Polynesian Cultural Center.  Maori warriors, Samoan coconut tree climbers, Ali'i Luau singers, Tahitian dancers, Tongan drummers - couldn't get it all in, but here's some of my favorites.  See more fantastic images and information on the PCC website HERE.

XOXO - Jessica

Bobcat of the Month

Two awards this month already!  This kid's on a roll.

Nativity

Along Nogales Highway

After School Party

Monkey Boy's Primary teacher had a little after-school Christmas party at her house last week for the kids from her class.  He doesn't usually like to go to those kinds of things, but after a little persuasion he went and he had a really nice time.  He even let me take a picture of him with his goodie bags after the party - which is sayin' a lot!  I am thankful we live in such a great community, where we have wonderful people we are able to trust with teaching and caring for our children.

Mexican Christmas Party

The family enjoyed the festivities at our friends' fiesta last weekend.  The food was incredible and the kids of course, loved beating the pinatas.  And the dog Rocky enjoyed all the extra attention, as you can see. I only snapped a few photos, wish I'd taken more... but I was consumed with the awesome traditional Mexican cuisine.