Christmas

We found a fun ideas for an advent calendar this year.  The kids made little bags out of coordinating fabric ( I know I need to post a picture), and then we put slips of paper with something to do to get ready for the holidays in each one.  So this year we have made holiday cards, had a family dance, eaten caramel apples, made gingerbread men, sewed new nativity costumes, shopped as a family for Christmas, watched White Christmas etc.  at first I thought it would be hard to come up with enough ideas, but in the end we couldn't do all of them.  Some of them we had to do without papa which was sad, but his schedule is crazy.
Anyway, it was a lot of fun.  I wrote silly title rhyming poems for each activity and the first couple of weeks printed them on colored paper and wrapped them in ribbon.  This last weeks I just printed, folded and put in, but I couldn't do all of them at the beginning because we don't know much of our schedule until the week of and I needed to match our activities to time available.  We shall see if the kids liked it enough to continue next year, or if we will change it up a bit.

So I've always wanted a nice camera.  I should just buy something decent and be done with it, but I'm holding out for the nice one.  Which is silly, because in the meantime I am using my phone to take pictures and I know in the future I will be upset with myself.  *sigh*. My husband would buy the camera and call it and investment because then I could take our own pics of our kids, but I can't seem to justify the expense in my own mind.  Of course, I would go second hand, in fact that's probably what I would do anyway, but a decent one is still expensive even second hand.  So there is my explanation for why I am posting this!  I am entering a contest. (:  I don't expect to win, but why not try?

https://veryjane.com/giveaway.htm

Wonderful progress

I am learning to take things day by day.  Sometimes I remember when I was young and an hour seemed like forever.  I see myself vividly, I can still feel the impatience and antsy energy of youth.  I remember knowing about a vacation months before we would take it and feeling like it would never really come- that life would just keep going on and on and we would never really get there.  I sympathized with Annie when she sang "Tomorrow is always a day away".

I mostly got over that as I grew older.  Now all I want is for time to slow down.  I want a break but the break is never long enough.  I need time to think and ponder to understand to breathe, but I feel like every moment is precious and when I take time away I get behind on what I should be doing.

Now I am learning patience all over again.  I am learning to see that things have been progressing, and to appreciate the jumps that happen sometimes, making a change from the seemingly slow snails pace they usually occur at.  I am learning to trust in the Lord's timing.  To know that when He says something is coming, it is.  To strive to move forward when it seems of no use, knowing that when the time is right He will make up the difference.

I am grateful to learn, grateful to grow.  Sometimes though, as my Evie says, I wish I could just wave a magic wand and *poof* know it all.

I have to get to bed.  I've already written about Isabelle's progress at her website Izysinchstones.org

20 (or so ) questions

We decided for our family history FHE this month to talk about our own family history and keeping records of them and their likes and dislikes so that some day their children or great great great. . . (keep adding greats until mom says "that's enough") grandchildren can learn about them.  The kids loved this idea and they want to do it every year around October GC.  We'll see if we remember.
It was a lot of fun and we laughed a lot, but it may have been a situation where you had to be there.
Anyway, here are the questions and answers in no particular order.  Drum roll please........

	Evelyn
What's your favorite food to eat?	Don't have one- like spinach ravioli
If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be?	Baby penguin
What's the farthest from home you've ever been?	California
What is your favorite thing about primary?	Listen to Macio and them
What is your most ticklish spot?	I don't really have one
I love….	Ballet
When I am done with school i like to….	watch tv
My best friend is….	Julie, Miki, Libby
When I grow up, I want to be………. because…….	Scientist because I love doing science experiments
How tall am I….	4' 5"?
I like to collect….	Seashells
My favorite subject in school is…..	Science
The most exciting thing at school this year was…..	Science experiments
The funniest was….	?
Favorite toy	My mind
Favorite outfit	Lots of them
Favorite game	Foosball
Favorite animal	Penguin
Favorite book	?
Questions about Mom:
What does your Mom do while your busy….	She does her college
What is her favorite TV show……	?
What is your Mom’s favorite saying…..	?
What do you like best about Mom……	Because she likes to talk to me
Questions about Dad:
What does your Dad do at work…..	He's a manger or something
What is his favorite TV show….	Papa has lots of TV shows
What is his favorite Book…	?
What do you like best about Dad…..	That he will cuddle with me
	Alayna
What's your favorite food to eat?	A lot of foods -olive oil, pasta, parmesan, veggie, herbs
If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be?	Squirrel monkey
What's the farthest from home you've ever been?	CA
What is your favorite thing about primary?	Singing time
What is your most ticklish spot?	Stomach
I love….	Ballet and reading
When I am done with school i like to….	Play and read
My best friend is….	Finoula
When I grow up, I want to be………. because…….	Choreographer because I like it
How tall am I….	5'1"
I like to collect….	Nothing
My favorite subject in school is…..	Ballet
The most exciting thing at school this year was…..	pulling a table cloth out from under things
The funniest was….	?
Favorite toy	My book
Favorite outfit	favorite jeans with a cute T
Favorite game	Clapping game
Favorite animal	Squirrel monkey
Favorite song	Love at Home
Favorite book	Book of Mormon and Harry Potter
Questions about Mom:
What does your Mom do while your busy….	Work
What is her favorite TV show……	Psych
What is your Mom’s favorite saying…..	So. . .a needle pulling thread
What do you like best about Mom……	That shes loving and intelligent
Questions about Dad:
What does your Dad do at work…..	Costco supervisor
What is his favorite TV show….	The singing one
What is his favorite Book…	Book of Mormon
What do you like best about Dad…..	That He's fun
	Joseph
What's your favorite food to eat?	Food
If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be?	Golden retriever
What's the farthest from home you've ever been?	Miami, FL
What is your favorite thing about YM?	Week-long camp outs
What is your most ticklish spot?	No comment-
I love….	Singing
When I am done with school i like to….	Watch TV
My best friend is….	Ryan
When I grow up, I want to be………. because…….	History professor because I then can teach history the way I like to teach it
How tall am I….	6'3"
I like to collect….	Pens!
My favorite subject in school is…..	Government
The most exciting thing at school this year was…..	When I almost went and did the Russian with only one night practice
The funniest was….	How long everything takes
Favorite toy	My sword
Favorite outfit	Jeans and t shirt
Favorite game	two way 50 football
Favorite animal	sunfish
Favorite song	I am a child of God
Favorite book	Book of Mormon
Questions about Mom:
What does your Mom do while your busy….	She's busy
What is her favorite TV show……	Monk
What is your Mom’s favorite saying…..	Know what I mean?
What do you like best about Mom……	Even though shes busy she always finds time to help you- sometime
Questions about Dad:
What does your Dad do at work…..	Supervise the front end
What is his favorite TV show….	The Voice
What is his favorite Book…	Book of Mormon
What do you like best about Dad…..	He's always willing to listen and has a sense of humor
	Noah
What's your favorite food to eat?	They are all so good-Chocolate cake
If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be?	A Panda
What's the farthest from home you've ever been?	UT
What is your favorite thing about primary?	When they give us treats
What is your most ticklish spot?	I'm ticklish all around my feet are ticklish
I love….	to imagine baby panda bears
When I am done with school i like to….	Play with Izy, but sometimes I like to go down and watch TV
My best friend is….	The person who just moved to Texas, Asher
When I grow up, I want to be………. because…….	A fireman or a policeman, because I like to slide down poles and The policeman popped in my mind because policeman stop people who were like going to fast and killing people accidentally
How tall am I….	Let's see. . . 2'22"
I like to collect….	Everything!
My favorite subject in school is…..	Don't you know? Everything!
The most exciting thing at school this year was…..	Happy Scientist
The funniest was….	nothing
Favorite toy	Army man and the big spaceship things
Favorite outfit	Soft pants and t-shirt
Favorite game	Checkers because I always win
Favorite animal	Panda
Favorite song	I love to see the Temple
Favorite book	Treasure Island
Questions about Mom:
What does your Mom do while your busy….	Sometimes she cooks, or sometimes she's busy
What is her favorite TV show……	The one's were the were one person have visions that helps them solve problems
What is your Mom’s favorite saying…..	Just Kidding
What do you like best about Mom……	Because shes always available to cuddle
Questions about Dad:
What does your Dad do at work…..	Exchange other countries money for United states money
What is his favorite TV show….	The voice
What is his favorite Book…	I don’t know
What do you like best about Dad…..	That he cuddles with me
	Mama
What's your favorite food to eat?	Ice cream
If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be?	An awesome dog that did whatever i asked it to
What's the farthest from home you've ever been?	Canada
What is your favorite thing about church?	Getting to know the sisters
What is your most ticklish spot?	Tummy
I love….	My family
When I am done with school i like to….	Read
My best friend is….	Joseph Daniel
When I grow up, I want to be………. because…….	A mom I love love love my children
How tall am I….	5'8"
I like to collect….	quotes
My favorite subject in school is…..	Math
The most exciting thing at school this year was…..	Springville for Family History
The funniest was….	Funny things kids said
Favorite toy	Blendtec
Favorite outfit	Comfy jeans and cute cute comfy shirt
Favorite game	Michigan rummy
Favorite animal	Butterflies
Favorite song	On my own
Favorite book	Book of Mormon
Questions about Your sweetie:
What does he do at work…..	He deals with people
What is his favorite TV show….	The Voice
What is his favorite Book…	Book of Mormon
What do you like best about him…..	That He loves the Lord and serves Him with all his heart
	Papa
What's your favorite food to eat?	Food shared with my family
If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be?	dog
What's the farthest from home you've ever been?	Brazil
What is your favorite thing about church?	Helping others with their testimonies
What is your most ticklish spot?	My ribs
I love….	I love My Family
When I am done with school i like to….	Read the News
My best friend is….	Julie Lopez
When I grow up, I want to be………. because…….	A Airforce pilot because i like to fly
How tall am I….	5'7" and 3/4
I like to collect….	Fat cells
My favorite subject in school is…..	Physiology and theater
The most exciting thing at school this year was…..	Trip to Moab
The funniest was….	When we were in moab and the kids tent blew over in the strong winds and some of them didn't wake up
Favorite toy	Cell phone
Favorite outfit	Jeans and t shirt
Favorite game	and then. . .
Favorite animal	Bald Eagle
Favorite song	I am a child of God
Favorite book	Scriptures
Questions about Julie:
What does your She do while your busy….	home schools our kids, takes care of the house, feeds Isabelle, Textures walls, Shops for our food, helps us save money, works on websites, takes kids to ballet and doctor, cooks food, takes naps, eats. . .
What is her favorite TV show……	Psych
What is her favorite saying…..	Know what I mean
What do you like best about her……	She's a true eternal friend

Dear Friends and Family,

We have just entered a new month.  This month of October is a special one for our family.  Four years ago on the 13th we welcomed into our lives and home a new little girl and our lives will never be the same.  From the beginning there was something special about Isabelle, her spirit is strong and many commented on it.  Unfortunately, this special little girl, as most of you know, has come with a huge set of challenges.  It has been a fight to feed her, a fight to keep her well, a fight to help her learn and grow.  We have come so far since those early days in 2008, but we still have a long road ahead of us.  So far we have been able to find a way to do those things we feel are most important for her, but now we feel she needs more then we can do on our own.

After much prayer and consideration we have decided to ask for those who feel they are able, to for help with what we hope will be her best birth-month gift ever.  There are many ways and options to help.  The most valuable help you can give us is your prayers that we can find out what exactly is going on with her little body and thereby a way to help her.  If you feel moved, and are able to help in other ways we have chosen to put up a website detailing some ways this is possible.  We are deeply grateful that the Lord has chosen to bless us with this little girl, and grateful to have the support of friends and family.  Thank you for all of your kind words, your prayers, and your love.

Izy's website is www.IzysInchstones.org

We appreciate you sharing this service opportunity with any you feel might want to help.

Sincerely,

The Lopez Family

But wait there's more.! The rest of our vacation was fun as well.  First we went to Goblin State park.  Totally fun and worth going off the beaten path for.  The main attraction was that the children were allowed to go wherever they wanted to (we kept a close eye).  They could, and did, climb on whatever formation took their fancy.  They really got to be a part of the landscape.  You could look off to the horizon and imagine that you were a pioneer just discovering this land.  One of the reviews online said that we shouldn't allow this.  I think that children need to touch and experience not just look to truly appreciate.  In the end the love that they develop from being really in nature will pay off with a greater appreciation for the world around them and a determination to be a good steward of them.  I will upload the pics of this once I get ahold of my hubby's camera.  (:

These next pics are of the slot canyon that we hiked.  I only wished we had had a bit more time there.

We all went because the description said it was an easy hike.  I think the canyon itself was, but getting there proved to be a bit more then some of us planned on.  We had to get up to a ledge some 5 ft above us.

The kids loved finding little hidey-holes and insisted that they get their pictures taken each time.

Hanging with family.  Beautiful rocks and beautiful girls.

David and his boys joined us for a few days.  David had a waterproof camera and was the only one to get pictures of the rafting trip.  What could be more fun then going rafting in the same rafts that I used to go in as a girl?  They are, well seasoned, shall we say?  So one of the caps to keep the air in was missing, but no problem dad MacGuyvered it and he always has done.  He found another cap that fit.  Of course this cap didn't screw on, it just popped on, but it kept the air in so we are good, right?

We were having a lot of fun especially on the rapids (nothing to big) and then we got to the last rapid.   In our raft there was My dad and I, Alayna, Mezi and Getu.  When we would go through the rapids they would get off of the edges and into the river, I mean raft.  Only it was hard to tell because we had about half or so of the river in the raft with us despite all of our best attempts at bailing.  So I guess the kids took to sliding and diving in, possibly to make it more like a water park.  Getu slid this time, forgetting that the last time he did that he was yelled at  asked politely not to.  The timing couldn't have been worse.  He slid right over the MacGuyvered plug;  Knocked the plug into the water; The air started shooting out of the raft; We started sinking lower; Everyone Yelled and scrambled madly around flailing and screaming for the plug calmly looked through the water for the plug;  Dad screamed for yelled at asked Getu to put his finger in it; He put his finger on top of it and air rushed as quickly as ever out of the raft and into the air; I screamed, said "A Rock!  paddle";  My dad grabbed a paddle and we quickly steered the raft away from the rock; my dad stuck his finger into the hole, stopping anymore water from escaping;  The girls yelled at asked Getu to move his butt bottom as he was probably sitting on it;  Getu Yelled said that he wasn't and to keep looking;  All of us frantically splashed and searched through the elbow deep murky water to find the plug; Someone found it; Dad put it on;  we looked up and the rapid was ending.  There was take out beach.  Just in time.

Finally made it to delicate arch.

 We tried to convince Noah this was Delicate arch and we could go back.  He was tired enough to be all for that idea, although he was a bit disappointed that we had come so far.  When we said we were joking he thought it was funny and wanted his picture with it.

 Mesa arch in Canyonlands

Beautiful people in front of a beautiful view.  Wheew!  What an exhausting fun vacation!  Next time you should all come with us!

Family History

So on our vacation this year we were able to sneak in a bunch of learning and some pretty awesome family history.  Beyond the family history that we were making by going on vacation.(:  We got to visit with my grandma and the kids that don't remember her got to meet her and will probably remember her for at least 6 months.  On that note I have to admit something.  Part of the reason I consistently want to see or be with family on our family vacations is the genuine desire to be with them.  Family is the most important thing in this life and I miss my parents and brothers and sisters dreadfully after a while of not seeing them.  So, yes, I would rather see them then the Statue of Liberty or Boston, etc.(of course the best thing when possible is to spend time with family in a cool place)  I have an ulterior motive as well though.  I want my kids to know how important it is to put family first and go and see them often so that when they are grown up and married they will (hopefully) keep that attitude and if they happen to move far away for jobs they will come and bring my grand kids often so that I can see them.  And even later, when I am old, if they have to put me in a home they and my grand kids will either come and see me often or feel intensely guilty about not doing it, knowing how important family has always been to me and how I went out of my way to show it.  So, now you know, I am even now preparing my children to be guilt tripped into spending as much time as possible with me.

 We also drove through Spring City, UT on our vacation and saw some of the buildings that my great great grandpa built.  Here are some pics.

 This is the spring city church that he helped to build.  He was a stonemason.

The front with our family.

Getu, James, Alayna, Mezi, Joseph, Evelyn, and Noah in front of the church.

 He also helped to build the Manti Temple.

We went to the pageant, and it was really good.  I would advise anyone who wants to go to go when you have slept more then 4-5 hours a night for the nights before.  Towards the end I had a hard time staying awake, which was especially annoying, because when I was awake I was enjoying it so much!  But then i would wake up again to find that I had missed a bunch.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Joseph and I got to go through a session.  This was triply cool because-
1. We love the temple and rarely get to go together
2. My grandpa helped to build it
3. Josephs parents were sealed here ( at the time they lived in New Jersey they were in this temple district!)
4. We have never been to a live session before and here the sessions are live.
5. The architecture was absolutely breathtaking!
OK, so that list got longer and guess it was Quintuply cool?  Hmmmm. In any case we were very grateful for the opportunity.  Thanks Mom and Dad!