Mommy Blunders Uncle Ryan to the Rescue

Jake came up to me after sacrament mtg today with tears in his eyes and said, "Mom you forgot my talk."

With a dance recital that took over my life, trying to plan everything for Nursery for the new year because we are leaving this week, and Christmas baking, I had totally spaced it. Plus dad was on call Saturday and thus not at church to help out.

I felt bad, but said, "It's okay you can have a turn another time. Just tell the Primary President that mommy messed up and forgot."

Jake shook his head and still sniffling went back to Primary.

At the end of our 3 hour block, Jake comes skipping to the Nursery to find me and says, "Uncle Ryan helped me give a talk." He was so happy. So thanks Uncle Ryan, you saved the day.

Christmas Show

This weekend marked Jake's first and last dance recital. The studio that we are currently at puts on both a Christmas show and an end of the year recital. Unlike Clovis, where you experience only one crazy weekend a year with a few extra Saturday rehearsals, this one seemed much more intense.

We had dress rehearsal two weeks before the performance. (Act one for two hours, Act two for two more hours, plus all the regualar weekly rehearsals.) Then this last week, we had another dress rehearsal this time 5 hours for us on Friday night, followed by an additonal tec rehearsal the day of the show for another 5 hours, followed by the performance that night.

By Saturday night, Sara didn't even want to perform. At one point she is supposed to be sitting on a couch ON STAGE watching the other performers and instead she is completely sprawled on the couch falling asleep. (With 4 more dances and costume changes coming up.) I had to run to the opposite side of the stage and yell at her to sit up. It was hillarious. I can't wait to see the video.

Jake and Aubrey, just before their performance.

Aren't they cute.

Aubrey was our sugar plum fairy. I think Sam only dropped her on her head 4 or 5 times. In fairness Sammy is only 7 and Aubrey is 6, so I think they did really well, and no accidents during the show. Yippeee!

Sara being the Angel that she is.

Becca and Sara in their party girl attire.

This dance, almost came together. We had some line issues, but other then that the girls did pretty good in their final performance.

Anna was the cutest little reigndeer you ever saw. Especially when she started prancing on her tippy toes.

We made it. One down and one more to go in May.

Thanksgiving Day

This year Thanksgiving was at our house.

Here is the food. (Or at least a sneak peek)

Some happy eaters. (We drove to Phoenix and picked up Great Grandma Brown and Aunt Penny for the occasion.)

Cute kiddos.

We even managed to find a few Pilgrims, Indians, and a Pirate to join us. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

The other day, Rebecca decided to start making costumes for the kids to wear on Thanksgiving Day. They turned out pretty cute. I don't know that they will be able to sit down and eat or move but hey everyone suffers for fashion Right???

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

We have a New Dance Studio! Yippeee

After dancing on carpet and in small cramped spaces for 3 1/2 months, the new dance studio is finally finished. Yaaaaahhhhh! Complete with 2 large studio rooms, one carpeted recreation room, a small kitchen, office, waiting area, and touch screen sound system. Fun stuff.

To celebrate, the studio had a big grand opening. They had bouncy houses, and food, demonstrations and local artists. Sara liked the magician, but I think Rebecca enjoyed the Hip Hop dance crew the most. The girls had a chance to show off some of their moves as well. Some of the classes did numbers they are working on for the Christmas show. (The girls performed a ballroom piece and a few of their company routines)

I can't wait to start seeing the dancers at the studio improve. I think just having room to move and a good floor to dance on makes a huge difference.

Jeffie side note: My girls still miss your studio. They think that you really challenged them, and they miss that. Moral of the story, teachers make the biggest difference in the lives of young dancers, but as a teacher, I am super excited to have the new space to work with. Jeffie, you want to move to Arizona, the studio could really use you? (They think I'm the scary one. Are you laughing yet, because Rebecca thinks it's hilarious.)

Happy Halloween 2009

Chad with Rebecca the Corpse Bride. (And no I had nothing to do with the makeup. She found some old face paint and had fun when I wasn't paying attention.)

Sara didn't want to go trick or treating this year so she stayed home with me and helped pass out candy. In her words, "I just want to be healthy mom." Good for you Sara.

If one is good, then two is better.

Focus, . . . Candy. . . Candy. . . Candy. . .

Every year we let the kids draw the faces they want on their pumpkins, and then we cut them out. I think they turn out pretty cute.

Trick or treat.

Happy Halloween everyone.

Clearing up confusion

Okay, click on the title of this link and it should answer most of your questions. It talks about the different vaccines and what is in them. It explains the issue better then I have been able to, so here goes.

One last word on H1N1

I thought this was interesting, Hope it helps. Just click on the title of this blog and you can watch Ron Paul's opinion about the H1N1 debate. He called out President Obama in front of congress for declaring the H1N1 virus a national emergency and yet he didnt want his own kids vaccinated. Interesting?????

H1N1 Flu Virus

I am sure that a lot of you have questions about the H1N1 Virus (or Swine Flu). I talked for a few minutes this morning via facebook to a friend of mine about some of the problems associated with the vaccine. I thought I would write this blog in hopes of clarifying a few things. Some of my information comes via the government's CDC website, but other info is just from conversations with my husband about the disease.

In my opinion:

I am not one that believes in taking a lot of drugs even when I am sick. As my husband states, "You are just putting more poisons into your body, so it's up to you to way out the options." Are some medicines necessary? I think so. I do however have a problem with the government mandating you to put something into your body that you don't want to. Having said all of that. Here is what I have learned about the H1N1 Virus.

Apparently the H1N1 virus is common in a combination of animals, birds, pigs and humans. Basically it's a mutant. The original belief that it came from pigs in North America is wrong, I believe that is why they have renamed it.

What is the H1N1 Virus?

It's a severe upper respiratory infection that attacks the lungs. The virus presents like the flu, but is significantly more deadly to people between the ages 25-40 then the common flu. I asked my husband why this particular virus was effecting 25-40 year olds. He explained to me that because 25 to 40 year olds have strong immune systems, their bodies go crazy trying to fight off the disease. As a result, people are having kidney failure and a number of other problems resulting in death. Something my husband had commented on was the fact that this particular virus may have been around for a while. They are finding in adults over 60 that some have immunities against the disease. Children have weaker immune systems, so they fight the disease at a more tolerable rate causing fewer fatalities.

Keep in mind every year 36,000 people die from the flu and over 200, 000 are hospitalized. Between Aug. 30, 2009 and Oct. 10, 2009 there have been 4,958 laboratory confirmed hospitalizations due to the H1N1 virus and 292 deaths.

Now whether you decide to get a flu shot or not, or the H1N1 flu shot or not, make sure that you know everything about the disease and about the vaccine. Some flu vaccines contain mercury, eggs, and potentially dangerous substances for people who's bodies are either allergic or highly reactive to low dose poisonous substances. Education is key. Know your body, and then "way your options." Good luck, stay healthy!

Dancing Fools

Today Jake took his first dance class. (My Jazz I class)

When dad picked him up, he told him that he LOVED it.

(Love= LIKE times 10)

Jake decided he wanted to take the class after watching the girls take a dance class from Keith Clifton in California. Personally I think Jake liked the fact that there were 6 really cute girls in his class, he was the tallest, and he got TONS of attention. Oh, and we did a zombie dance to get ready for Halloween. Dad can't really blame him for loving it. Who doesn't like to dance like a zombie?

My poor husband, with two girls who dance, two boys taking dance classes and a wife who's the dance teacher, he's surrounded by dancing fools. I guess that's what happens when you leave mom in charge all the time. Maybe when he finally gets out of residency and is home more often he can indoctrinate basketball or soccer a little more.

Till then LET'S DANCE!!!! (Have you seen "So you think you can dance" this season??? It's amazing)

Family Photo Attempts

Have you ever gone out, spent money on new clothes, worked for an hour to get your girl's hair looking cute only to have family photo chaos?

While in CA for fall break I thought it would be a good idea to get pictures taken of the kids for the house or holiday greeting cards. We made it to our first location, only to have Joey refuse to even stand in the picture. (Let alone smile)

He cried, I begged, bribed, pleaded, NOTHING. Finally as we are about to leave, he agrees to stand in and smile for a few shots. (Little stinker)

When we arrived at our second location, the sun was bright, the kids were tired, and all I could get was well, you can see for yourselves. I am hoping my mom was able to get some better shots, but I haven't had a chance to even look at the ones she took and now I am back in AZ. Oh well, so much for cooperation. Maybe next time.

Whatever you do, don't all look at the camera and smile at once.

Like the arm covering the face Rebecca. I promise the boys don't bite.

When all else fails you can always make faces at each other.

There are Pumpkin Patches in Southern AZ

Jake's cute kindergarten class took a trip to the pumpkin patch on Thursday the 8th of October. As a parent helper, Joey was able to come along and participate.

The kids picked their own pumpkins, ran through a haystack maze, pet small animals, took a hayride, and learned about the types of foods that grow on farms. Both boys had a blast.

Joey loved being part of a class. He is having a hard time not being in preschool right now, so this was a fun break from all day at home with mom. Jake is just so full of energy it's cute to watch him interact with his little buddies at school. What a fun day. Who would have known that there were farms out here. I've always thought of Southern AZ, as strictly desert. I guess I have a lot to learn about this place.

He's Four!

Last year we made the mistake of trying to plan a birthday party for Joe with the distraction of a bouncy house. He didn't want to leave the bounce house and when offered cake and presents he simply said, "no thank you."

This year I decided to ask Joey what he wanted for his birthday and the results were:

1. a cake

2. a pinata

3. presents

4. the park

5. water balloons.

It was a great party. Low key on my end, which is always appreciated, and a beautiful day to be outdoors. Joey invited four little buddies, plus our family and his friend's families. We played a few games, cracked open a pinata, ate cake and ice cream, opened some presents and then went home when Joey felt like leaving the park. To bad all parties can't be this easy.

Happy Birthday Joe.

Soccer, Dance Shows, just another day in the life.

GRANDPA'S IN TOWN

My dad came to visit us this last weekend after stopping in Phoenix to help his mom finish installing the new security door on her house. Grandpa brought with him Joey's birthday present. (It will be his birthday this weekend) We thought it would be fun to let Joey open his present while Grandpa was there. (Grandma had bought this ultra mega marble thing at Costco for Joey) Joey LOVED his present and immediately proceeded to hand Grandpa the instructions to put it together. There were no joke, 70 pages of instructions. I think Grandpa remembers now what he didn't miss about Christmas morning all those years ago.

JAKE'S NEW SOCCER TEAM

Jake's new team, minus two of the kids.

Grandpa Brown and the girls.

This is definitely Jake's year for Soccer. He decided after the first game of the season that he was tired of loosing. After that Ahhha moment, he has been their star player. He scored all 7 goals in his second game and 5 out of 6 in the third, bringing Victory to his team on both occasions. Grandpa was watching him and said, "That was almost too easy," after Jake scored his 3rd consecutive goal. I can't believe that just 1 year ago I was wondering if Jake was even going to stick with soccer. I guess we will just have to wait and see. Good one Jake! Your Awesome.

He dribbles on down the field. . .

He scores. . . . Look at that face.

FIESTA SAHUARITA

Rebecca and Sara had their first dance show for the new school year last weekend at Fiesta Sahuarita.

Fiesta Sahuarita is kind of like a big carnival event minus the rides. There were rock walls, bouncy houses, booths everywhere with carnival style games and food. It's a great way for local bands, businesses, etc. . . to showcase their products. The girls had a great time. When I found out what Sara was wearing, the Jeffie influence came out and I immediately started making bows for the girl's hair. Thanks Jeffie, we miss you.