Been awhile....

It's been a long while since I've posted!  Wow!!  I'm terrible.  Anyways lots has happened in the past two years.  Lol. Facebook and Instagram have taken more of my time than my blog and now I realize I need to change that.  My blog is printable and really more of a journal to me.  McKenna is driving now and is on her second car!  Not her fault but her first which was her dream car a VW beetle bug didn't run very well so we sold it and got her a Hyundai Accent.  She went on her first date recently and also to her first formal dance with long time buff Conner Scoresby.  Pictured above.  Neither have their license only permits so Jenna and I got to tag along!  Hee Hee McKenna gets her braces off in a couple of weeks and is in the dental assistant program with CAVIT.  She's a straight A student and a wonderful young lady!  Time flies by!!!  

Calvin is 12 now and got braces last month.  Lucy our dog is pretty much a Calvin and Will lover.  She's definitely Calvin's dog though.  He is an "A & B" student and a wonderful deacon who loves to pass the sacrament!  He is a great big brother to Sophia!  He is so sweet upbeat and cheerful love this handsome boy!!! 

Sophia is now 4 getting close to 5 and loves going to dance class where she does tap and ballet.  She loves her battery operated car and loves to go fast!  She is a doll and we are so blessed to have these three amazing children!!!! 

Will aka muscle man because he works out so much is a busy guy.  He works a lot as the Broker of a busy real estate office along with his own real estate deals and working in Mesa daily.  He is out hunting which is his favorite hobby.  Church keeps him busy as the financial clerk.  He is an amazing daddy and we are very blessed to have him!  

Me well I'm busier than I've ever been!  Lol. I'm a stay at home Mom and help Will with real estate, run kids all over Maricopa and am going to real estate school to become a licensed realtor.  I'm going with my dear friend Sandy Lines.  That makes it much better!  It's harder than I thought it would be for me.  I also am the Primary President and wow that's more than I ever anticipated but I love it and love the children and love my presidency and the teachers.  Our life is pretty blessed and we thank Heavenly Father daily for it!  We have our trials and struggles from time to time just like everyone else but I don't care to discuss that.  :-). 

This week we are looking forward to my sister and her girls arrival on Wed night then a wonderful thanksgiving at my Moms down the street.  Then Saturday we all my parents, sister and nieces and us are going on a 7 day cruise!  Super excited and blessed!  

The Best 3 Gifts Ever on Sept. 7, 2012

 Sophia 2.5yrs 

Calvin 10.5yrs

McKenna 14.5yrs

 2nd place t-shirt for tournament

I must say that these three beautiful wonderful children are the biggest joy in mine and Will's life!  They make us laugh, smile, cry, crazy and everything in between and we wouldn't have it any other way!  We love them so very much and feel so blessed to be their parents and have them in our lives!!!!  

what do you do when you feel old, fat, ugly and boring?

Dianne Hathcock Finch and Pamela Rush Spencer like this.

Stephanie Burt Payne Get a haircut or read the obits and get over it!!

Saturday at 2:30pm via mobile ·  · 1

Tiffany Thomas Nolan you are young beautiful and fun!

Saturday at 2:33pm via mobile ·  · 3

Brandy Gilliam Vega I'm texting you ;) I've got an idea!

Saturday at 2:34pm via mobile ·  · 1

Richie Davis I hang out with someone older, fatter and uglier!!!!

Saturday at 2:36pm via mobile ·  · 4

Leslie Bunker Why are you talking about me like that? Boo!! :-)

Saturday at 2:53pm via mobile · 

Pamela Rush Spencer You are Beautiful!! It could always be worse! I know from experience! :(

Saturday at 3:55pm via mobile · Like

Janine Richie There will always be someone taller, thinner, or younger than you, 

but there will never be another you. Rejoice in who you are.

Saturday at 5:00pm ·  · 1

Natalie Gold Malan I hope you're not talking about you, but if you are I know 

plenty of people (including me) who admire and love you for many other reasons 

than your outward appearance (though I have to say, I'm also pretty sure 

everyone thinks you're gorgeous!). I'm not going to pretend I haven't felt the same 

way many times. Just remember, if you give in to those beliefs, that's exactly 

what you'll become, and we're better than that! So get up and do something nice 

for someone else (and give yourself credit for all you're already doing for your 

loved ones). It's the best way to feel good about yourself. ;)

Saturday at 5:41pm ·  · 1

Kelly Palmer Lozano thank God for every minute... it's a privilege denied to many :-)

Saturday at 7:51pm via mobile · Like

Ginger Nelson Wiltbank I don't know... maybe we join some kind of club so we 

can all cry together? :) I feel the same way!

Saturday at 7:59pm ·  · 1

Alison Rumel Maynes Look in the mirror & remember it was just a crazy thought & 

not reality. :)

Saturday at 10:38pm · Like

Nancy Smith-garoutte Remember all the good things about you--which I know is over a 

million :)

Yesterday at 10:18am · Like

Quesnel Atwood Have some Ice-Cream, it always helps me out!

22 hours ago · Like

Carrie Packard

 I totally agree with Natalie! But when I feel that way, I treat myself to something-

clothes, chocolate ice cream or whatever else, and then I change something 

about myself like my hair or get a new hobby.

You are such a great lady!

18 hours ago via mobile ·  · 1

First day of seminary and high school for McKenna and first day of 5th grade for Calvin....Sophie well she thought it was her first day of school but it was school at home with Mommy since she's only 2!!!  Her face says it all :o)  ha ha

I sure love these three kiddos of ours!!!  They are so amazing, funny, cute and special in their own ways bringing us joy every single day!  Not sure how I got so blessed but I did.  Their Dad is pretty wonderful too and makes for a great Seminary teacher according to many youth including McKenna!  Loving it!!!!

McKenna is Amazing!

Last night McKenna got her Patriarchal Blessing and talk about amazing!  I know I'm her Momma and a bit partial but wow!  I knew she was an awesome girl but I had no idea just how awesome!!!!  I've seriously never heard, read or heard of a better blessing in all my life!  Neither has Will!  We are so honored and humbled to be her parents!

It's obviously very spiritual and private so I won't share any of the details but we are in still in aw.  She has prepared for many months almost a year for this by fasting, praying and reading.  She's a great girl and we love her so much!  Very proud of you my pretty angel!!!

Girls Camp 2012 - Loved IT!!!

Bishop asked me a few months ago to girls camp for 5 whole days and I immediately said yes selfishly thinking that it would be an opportunity of a life time to go with McKenna but as the date got closer and closer I started to not want to go.  I told myself that was normal because I'm a baby and like sleeping in my own bed every night and that Sophia would have a hard time without me but I had faith that Heavenly Father would help me because he wanted me to go right!  :o)

Well I'm so happy to report that he did...my feet didn't hurt as much as I expected them to.  Our tent and air mattresses weren't very comfy the first night but when you are extremely tired anything somewhat soft feels good. I took Dr. Pepper so I wouldn't miss those but found that I didn't want them like I thought and went from drinking 3 cans per day to 1 or less per day.  We had to walk uphill for everything so that helped me exercise a bit.  :o)

We had a nautical theme "S.O.S." standing for "Seeking our Savoir" and each ward in our Maricopa Stake was a "ship" we were the Friendship and our color was hot pink!  Bishop was a trooper with all the pink too!

What an honor it was to go with my beautiful daughter to camp and see her in action!  She didn't realize many times that I was watching her from afar and seeing all of her acts and words of kindness!  I was so impressed with her and so humbled to be called her Mom!  Seriously I knew she was a good girl before but she is so much better than I gave her credit for....truly an amazing young lady!!!

I grew to love all of the girls at camp pretty fast.  They were all very sweet and helpful.  We had a couple of little incidents as do all groups of girls but they were worked out quickly.

We were so busy with so many things including: zip line, bee bee guns, archery, volleyball, basketball, tether ball, lots of fun crafts, survival training, gifts, yummy food & treats, heartfelt letters, silly skits, celebrity appearances and performances, dancing, singing, cheering, pink everything including new hair extensions, little sleep, no rain, few bugs, spiritual uplifting and tons of fun!

I'll never forget my awesome week in the wilderness with a bunch of amazing girls, my awesome daughter, good friends Tiffany, Carrie, Sandy, Pam, Heidi and Bishop!  So glad I went what a testimony boost and spiritual blast in the woods!  Here's a few pictures...

 Our group picture on Thursday Maricopa 5th Ward

 Morning role call 

Kelsey and McKenna  

 Ashley, McKenna, Kelsey and Bailey sweet girls 

 Bishop was break dancing with the other ward Bishops

 Introducing our amazing girls (yes I've gained weight) 

 Me, Sandy and Tiffany after dinner 

 McKenna in her messy tent (just like her room :o)

 Sandy, me, Tiffany and Bishop 

 Skit night Bishop was Taylor Swift lol 

 Bailey, McKenna and Denise they took great care of Denise who has type 1 diabetes and had a few scary blood sugars.

 Archery with long bows I wasn't very good with them and had a 45 lb bow that showed my whimpiness :o) 

 Bee Bee Guns were my favorite!!  Kenna is a great shot and I wasn't too bad myself!  We all loved it!!! 

 Bishops trying to do the YMCA dance I'd say they need to practice the letters!  ha ha 

 Skit night we had some celebrity guest judges Christina Aguilera, J Lo, and Cee Lo with precious the girls in between are Bailey, Autumn and Kaitlyn from our ward.   

 Bailey, Leader and McKenna reaching the top of Mt Lemon after their very steep 3 mile hike.  

 Leaders impromptu skit Tiffany, Pam and I trying :o)  

 Me writing the girls notes telling them how wonderful they are and how much our Father in Heaven loves them.

 Us getting ready for our skit....my least favorite :o) 

 Spiritual thoughts with Bishop in attendance wearing his pink headband and flower like a sport!  

 Some of the scenery so pretty 

 Role call each ward had to stand and do a loud cheer to determine the order of eating whoever was the loudest and best got to eat first.  (This is one of the pictures that determined my diet fate....dang gina!!!) 

 Our theme.  There was lots more decor that supported it everywhere the campsite.  

A beautiful view of Tucson from our camp site :o)  

Getting our pink hair put in!