Honor in Music!

All three girls auditioned for Jenny Oaks Baker's concert in Las Vegas and got in!

and a time to rest...let's do it in DISNEYLAND!

We had been planning on a Disneyland trip for a while and surprised the kids with one in May. It was FANTASTIC. When we announced it to them it was on a Sunday, after Church. We gathered the kids around, turned the camera on and recorded us. We said, "Kids, you are right. There is something up. The reason we have been cleaning and having you practie extra on your instruments is because something has happened. (and as soberly as we could we said)As soon as your suitcases are packed we are going to Disneyland. They all didnt believe us at first and jumped and screamed. All but Jess. She was crying about the ride over. (Her OCD can still be a problem) But she admitted it wasn't so bad and we got her excited. She even got over her California hatred (she hates anything popular). Almost anything is better than Vegas and she saw that California has many wonderful things and greenery. I understand why they say to vacation every year. It was so detoxing of stress. And while you don't always need to do Disney, vacations are a must. They are fun and build relationships. We were able to save money from Trevor's brother who is military and we got those prices. So Trevor's brother was over seas and his wife Jessica arranged the tickets for us and got them mailed to us. We got them half off. When we went to the hotel, the night before Disneyland time, we looked at the tickets and they said, "must be with military persons upon redeeming". We panicked. We prayed and hoped for the best. The next day at the gate a lady accidentally stamped it, but then asked for his military id. He said he didn't have it with him. She got the manager and they said, "we aren't supposed to let you in without it. Make sure you bring it next time and we will let you in since it's been stamped." How lucky was that...tender mercy, thank you.

Money was saved as I prepared Lasagna in the crockpot and the next night chicken enchiladas in the crockpot...right from our hotel room. I have to admit I was pretty proud of myself. After we went to the hotel for homemade lunch, I prepared dinner quickly in the crockpot and we went back out so when we returned to the room a hot meal was waiting.

Ready to go have fun! Our first day.

Jospeh's first experience with Splash Mountain. Ha! The look of death

Happy To be going on Grizzly Rapids

Not happy about going again...but the lines are SO SHORT! She was so mad. Everyone around us knew she didn't want to go again. "I Don't want to go again." But what do you do? The majority rulled. All for one and one for all.

Brett! IT's ALWAYS him. He's the one that got soaked.

Boys don't care...they're going again!

The Parable of the Cotton Candy. 1 candy. 8 family members. We learn to share and think of others, while saving money-ouch! They're expensive! (I've posted my lesson learned from the past with cotton candy)

Ready for ToyStory.

The savages have nearly escaped.

Going looney in Toon Town.

Having a break with home packed snacks. Jerky, Nutella...life can really be good.

Brett is feeling big as an official driver.

Back at the Hotel having sunflower butter and honey sandwiches on homemade bread. Jessica is thrilled.

Joseph is sad he STTTIIILLL can't go on Indian Jones.

Got the goods. This should be good to compensate the expenses of the trip.

Lighting up the scene. She is so bright and happy. Love it!

Brotherly love. Trips are so wonderful for bonding and unwinding.

Thunder Mountain Railroad was a rollercoaster we all could go on.

fast lines=happy faces.

Just love these kids

Oldest and the youngest...see the pure glee!

A trip well done and a memory well made! To conclude our trip we went to Newport Beach. What a great ending to a beautiful moment in time.

WooooWWee. I love this guy.

Our School Experience

The front desk, which became my responsibility.

Honestly, I didn't think I would make it through the school year. From 5am to 10pm our days looked something like this: 5am get up and get Alexis off to seminary by 6. 6:15 wake up the rest of the kids. Try to get beds made, prayers said, teeth brushed, uniforms on, matching socks on the boys (aparently they didn't care about that so I had to), Hair done, sometimes helping all 6 children, breakfast served, backpacks packed, lunches packed-all 7, waterbottles packed-all 7, and out the door by 7 to be to the school 35-40 minutes away by 7:45. Once I was there I ran from job to job that the headmaster had me do. She seemed pleased with my work. She even complimented me on my last week of work, "I am going to miss you. You have given me a work ethic that I haven't seen in a long time and don't get from my employees that have worked here for years." I was satisfied that after really never having a job, I was intrusted with a great deal of work and did my best.