What's UP?

Hello? Anyone there? I think I might give this blogging thing another try. Don't know why but I haven't felt much like blogging lately. As in, ONE YEAR. I miss my blogging friends. I am sad that I haven't kept a record of this last year. Sooo many things have changed. I'm too overwhelmed to try to catch you up so I think I'll take baby steps. I'll start by posting a couple of pics... let's see what I've got:

 You've seen the movie UP? Well, the Up house landed here in Utah!

Here's the nursery. Recognize the stuffed animals?

Here's Carl sitting in his chair in his living room.

Jonah with his cousins on the front porch.

I loved that movie. I laughed, I cried. 

Balloon Fiesta - 2010

One really cool thing about living in Albuquerque is the Balloon Fiesta! It's amazing! It's held every year, beginning the first weekend in October. People come from all over the world to participate in or witness this event. We see hot-air balloons year round, mostly on weekends. Just look out your window around 7 a.m. and there should be several in the sky, floating in this direction. They often land here in Rio Rancho. Last year we had one land in front of our home.

But the only times we see the Special Shapes balloons are during the Balloon Fiesta! They even have 2 days dedicated to the Special Shapes. Can you see Sponge Bob?

The Little Bees are one of the most popular special shapes balloons. And just this last Spring baby Joelly was born to proud parents Joey and Lilly. Below is a picture of Lilly and her baby bumblebee. Joey was floating off on the left and I couldn't get him in the picture.

 You have to get up pretty early in the morning because of traffic and parking. This year we didn't leave till around 5:30 a.m. This picture catches Dani in a yawn. That or she's checking her breath.

We caught several pictures like this one. I'm sure there would be plenty of us older folks pointing too, but we're just not as cute when we do it.

Once again, I'm extending an invitation to any friends and family who would like a place to stay next October during the Fiesta! You won't be disappointed!

I wanna be a Missionary.... so Fetchin' bad!

Families are Forever

This is my husband's sister's family. Aren't they beautiful? My Liesl took this picture of them a week ago in Leeds/St. George, Utah. The oldest child is a 14 year old boy, twin 11 year old girls, a 9 year old boy, 6 year old girl and the youngest boy is 3. There's only one problem with this picture...

My brother in-law has cancer. Myeloma. We will know more details soon, but for now, please pray for them. It doesn't look good, but I believe in miracles!  

All About Brigitta

Have I mentioned that my children are disobedient? Well, take for example, Brigitta - in the last week he has gone from a little one digit to a double digit. That's right! Brig (let's call him that, shall we?) is a DECADE!

Shocks! Pegs! Lucky!

Brig got a new bike for his birthday. Traditionally, the boys get a b-b gun for their 10th birthday (if it sounds like we have a lot of traditions - well, we have a few. I've just got a lot of kids so it seems like more). But Brig really needed a new bike! And he loves it!

Brig kept asking when he was going to have his birthday party. I was supposed to go out of town this last weekend, so when it was canceled at the last minute, I told him - Saturday! So, Thursday I sat down to make the invitations... What to do? I can't have a party in the back yard - well, I could but between the dog poo and the sharp rock landscaping, it wouldn't be much fun. But do I really want a bunch of 10 year old boys in my house? I'm considering a park... but, what to do?

Then I opened up an e-mail from the Captain suggesting we could go to the Get Outdoors Day event being held at Tingley Beach. I love that name. It makes you think of a beach that's all fizzy and bubbly. I like this idea, so I make up the invitation and invite the kids to come with us or to bring their family and meet up with us to celebrate Brig's birthday. A couple of families met us them there (I was sick. I ended up staying home with the young'un while the Captain ran the show).

Can you say Brilliant?! Not the sickness - the party! It was the easiest party I've ever thrown. All I did was print up the invite, answer a couple of RSVP's and make cupcakes! Then everyone else did the work and the kids had a blast!

There was climbing!

 Fishing!

 Remote control sailing!

 Face painting!

 More climbing! (we provided the pizza)

More climbing! (they provided the wall)

And a Tingley beach!

Friends to block the wind from blowing out the candles...

And friends to provide the gifts!

I'd say all I had to do was to show up, but I didn't even have to do that! Actually, I feel bad about that. It was a great day, or so I hear! And guess what else? They came home with the biggest treat bags full of frisbees, buttons, balls, pencils, bumper stickers, pedometers, and all kinds of trinkets that mom's just love! A couple of my friends even won drawings.

And here's the kicker - it's an annual event!

Happy Birthday Brig!

Click on link to find out more about national Get Outdoors month in your corner of the world and to plan your kid's next successful birthday bash! Did I mention it was all free?

Utah, you're not too late! June 19th is your Venture Outdoors Festival held in Millcreek Canyon!

All About Louisa

As if marrying one off and another one leaving the nest wasn't enough, Louisa decided to up and turn 16! Why? I ask. Why? Why are my kids so determined to grow up? And speaking of growing, Louisa is 5'9" now. Some kids call her Gigantica. Of course, those kids would be her older sisters.

To celebrate her Sweet 16th she and her friend, whose 16th b-day was a few days before hers, had a birthday bash together. Yes, those are matching shirts. That's what happens when you leave your moms in

charge. 

We held the party at her friends' house because they have grass. Grass is a luxury in these here parts. We also held it at their house because Louisa's friend said her house was cleaner than ours... 

 After a barbecue the kids played games till it got dark, and then they played night games. You know what I love about throwing parties? When they're over! 

But I'm getting ahead of myself. The week prior to their party was Girls' Camp! The Captain and the Boy Scouts set up their camp site as a service project. Here you can see some of their handiwork:

The name of our ward is Star Heights, hence the star. Louisa was a YCL this year (Youth Camp Leader). Because it was a Stake camp she bonded with a bunch of girls in the stake and made some new friends. We have a small ward, but the girls are great!

Back to the birthday... We have a tradition of a Birthday Breakfast. When asked what she wanted for her special day she said, 

BACON!

ORANGE JULIUS

and MONKEY BREAD!

Wise choice!!! And with it being her 16th birthday we also have a tradition of buying our girls' their gemstone ring. She was pretty smug that she knew what it was, so she was a little surprised when we gave her a necklace.

And surprised and pleased to get the ring that went with it.

Louisa will be attending EFY in Utah in a couple of weeks and then we'll rush back to New Mexico so she can begin Drivers Ed. As much as I don't want her to grow up, it sure will be nice to have another driver here at the house!

Class of 2010

(I realize I've used my daughter's given name - But I just didn't have it in me to try and spell her Von trapp name correctly today)

Wasn't this just yesterday?

And now, look what's happened:

(maybe I should have bought the portraits)

Tomorrow is the big day. She graduates from Rio Rancho High School. Years ago I remember thinking, 2010! That's forever from now. And now it's here. And I can't stop weeping. I can handle her graduating... It's the moving away I'm struggling with. I'm not crying for her. I'm crying for me.

I don't want my life to change. I liked it the way it was. All my little chicks were under the same roof. Now it seems that my prayers are more earnest than ever as I ask Heavenly Father to watch over them and to help them choose the right.

Last week we had a Spring Fling for Relief Society and invited all the Young Women to come. It was such a wonderful evening. We celebrated the girls that were graduating from Young Women's into Relief Society. We talked about both the Young Women's Theme and the Relief Society Declaration.

Noel stood with the Young Women and repeated their theme:

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works and
Integrity

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values,
we will be prepared to
strengthen home and family,
make and keep sacred covenants,
receive the ordinances of the temple,
and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

Then Noel walked to the other side of the room where the women in the Relief Society were and they all stood and repeated the Relief Society declaration:

We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation.

Earlier I was asked to spotlight Noel - and the waterworks began. She has been such a joy to our family, it is very hard to see her leave. But I am very happy for the fun and exciting things her future holds. She is such a talented, responsible, valiant young woman. It's not fair for me to keep her all to myself.

Her plans are to attend Utah Valley University for the next year and then possibly attend Utah State University. She wants to go into nursing or physical therapy. Whatever she choses to do, she will do a great job. I love her!

The remainder of the evening was spent socializing with group games and snacks. I am so thankful for the Relief Society program. I realized that no matter where she is in this world, she'll have the women in the Relief Society to take her under their wing and to help her.

Wish me luck tomorrow. Better yet, wish me luck on Wednesday when she (and my oldest daughter who came down for the graduation) leave for their bright, new futures!