Lauren's Dance Dress Rehersal

Lauren has had the BEST year of dance.  She loved her teacher... Mrs. Liz.  She is amazing and has done such a great job!  Lauren also loved that she got to go with Ella and Kate.  They did a practice dress rehersal at Mrs. Liz's and the dances were so cute!  Lauren can't wait for the BIG recital on the stage!  Thanks Mrs. Liz for making dance SO MUCH FUN!

Peyton's Party

We celebrated Peyton's first birthday!!!!  We went to Sheri's pool and ate and swam.  It was a perfect way to celebrate Peyton turning 1!

Spencer's ASU Graduation

 (That's not embarrassing!)

Spencer is now an official ASU Graduate!  Lauren, Me, Grandpa and Grandma and Emily all went to watch Spencer receive his diploma from ASU.  The graduation was at 8am!  (Who knew they did college graduations at 8am?)  It was a short ceremony- that was nice.  We cheered for Spencer and afterwards met up with Scott, Steven, Sheri and Seth at Mimi's Cafe.  Congrats Spence!  Now it's on to your Masters Program!

Gilbert Temple- May 2012

I love to see the Temple!  Multiple times during the week I get to drive past this beautiful building.  It is so neat to see the progress being made.  Everytime we are getting close all the kids yell out.... There's our Temple!  I love that this is their Temple!  It is looking so beautiful and it is in such a great location.  I can't wait to go into the Gilbert Temple soon!

Sam's Letter- May 2, 2012

Hey family whats up?! Well I can't believe a week has gone by so fast! So not much happened this past week, but it was still fun! So Elder Bartleson and I went to City Island to meet with a less-active member. But as we got to her house she was just leaving! So we set up another appointment for tomorrow (Thursday). So after that we went at this seafood restaurant which was so good. It reminded me of the harbor in California, and it was kind of expensive, but worth it! Elder Wilsher and I went on a split while Elder Ivey and Bartleson went on a split together. Their area is Huntspoint and it is way better then my area, Pelham. Haha, I think thats why we did the split so I can actually see what its like to have people who will open the door. Haha, it was fun. We went and found this wall with awesome graffitti and took some really cool pictures! Then we were going along and saw these 4 guys talking about religion and they called us over. So one guy starts talking to me and it was in Spanish, so I couldn't really tell what he was saying, but he's a preacher who talks on the streets and gives away free Bibles.He talked about Jesus a lot, so I guess he was talking about some good things. But as the night went on, (he talked to me for a good 30 minutes in Spanish, so my head was hurting) so I gave him a Book of Mormon and told him to read it. And he starts kissing the Book, and the Bible and it was weird. But if he does read it and finds out the truth, he'll be golden for whoever gets to teach him! He has a family and they all are Christians. He gave us a "business card" saying how he was a preacher of the street, I thought it was funny. So after we just went home. So then on Monday we found this lady named Elizabeth tracting and she let us in and we taught her the Plan of Salvation and she seemed to like it and said we should come back! So we are on Friday! So today were going to Manhatten for P-Day!!! We're going to one of the museums, I'm not sure which one, but I'm going to take some awesome pictures for you guys! We're unfortunatley not allowed to go to Times Square, it stinks but obedience is better. Haha, and its sprinkling a little, so it will be nice and cool! So thats my week. So family campout is coming! That's so exciting! Take some fun pictures for me! And about Mothers Day, we just use the cell phones that we have for the mission. And I will call in the afternoon, for you guys because Elder Bartleson is calling in the morning and we can talk for a good amount of time, like 15 minutes, maybe 20. Haha, I tease, but probably a little more then an hour. I'm not sure how long we can, but I would plan around 2 o'clock at the earliest when I'll call. So that would be 5 o'clock here. Congratulations Spencer! Finally graduating! Here's something that will make you feel even better, I still have to go through the whole college process! Haha. And also congratulations to you dad, many awards for the best dad in the whole world! Well sounds like everything is awesome and good! I love you all and appreciate all the emails and letters! Love you and hope all is well!

Activity Days Talent Show

Hayden's Activity Days group put on the cutest Mother's Day talent show.  Her leaders... Sis. Jensen and Sis. Gressley put together the program and each girl performed a talent.  Hayden did a cheer and it was so cute and she did a great job.  The other girls each had a talent too!  Those included a story, song, playing the piano, playing the violin, dog tricks..... I was so impressed with each girls confidence to get up in front of all the moms and perform.  Afterwards we had fruit and dessert.  I am so glad that Hayden has this cute group of friends that get to spend time together.  Thanks for the Mother's Day talent show!  I really, really loved it!

Infestation

Houston... we have a problem!  I have a MAJOR infestation in my house.  These will not bite me or cause damage to the structure of my home but.... they are little irritants that keep popping up all over my house.  The problem with these is this...
1.  They roll on the tile.
2.  The vacuum will not pick them up on the wood or tile.
3.  The vacuum loves to shoot them into the sides of the carpet all along the floors upstairs.
4.  They are small and they know how to multiply.... seriously
5.  When I step on one or two or ten... bad words may or may not go through my mind.

These airsoft gun pellets/bbs/irritating balls of plastic have taken over my home and my children.  Chase likes them for his airsoft guns.  Hayden, Blake and Lauren like to collect them in jars and transfer them to buckets and count them and then forget about them and spill them and kind of clean them up and then..... and then....
I have to deal with them.  And I just throw them away.  And then I find more and I throw them away.  And I know tomorrow and the next day and the day after that I will find more waiting for me.  More that were not there the day before.  I know it could be worse.... I could have termites, scorpions, roaches, frogs, rats, bugs... but, today these are irritating me.  And I'm sure they will irritate me tomorrow too.