Sanchez Adobe

A fun, family outing.




Luke's homemade candle

# one hundred billionth reason why we like Luke's school

How many schools do you know that would let the kids play in the sprinkler at recess on a hot day? Well, today is the second time that has happened at Luke's school. Actually, the first time it was the sprinklers; today it was the principal with a hose, squirting whomever wanted to get wet. No, the kids didn't have extra clothes. They just dried off in the heat- especially because the schools where we live have no need of air conditioners. I really like the hometown, casual atmosphere in this district.




This also makes us look very forward to Halloween this year. At our old school the kids were not allowed to wear their costumes to school. They could bring them, change for the parade, and then change out of them after the parade - no going home in their costumes. Luke's friends have already been asking him what he's going to be. We assume there are some great things planned for that day; so far we know that the kids do wear their costumes to school, and all day.

The only down side to this is that my school has this same fun attitude, and so I have to find myself a costume. Oh well, we're off to Party City!

The Fog Fest, Women's Conference, and a movie

I have been so productive lately its scarry. I won't go into the details of my daily routine, but it starts at 5:30 am and ends at 10:30 pm. With my job I am getting exercise chasing those kids around, and with my seminary calling I am doing lots of scripture reading. But I also firmly believe that sometimes you just have to take a break; do something fun; be unproductive.

So, Friday night, after doing the Costco shopping, the kids and I watched movies and played Monopoly Deal, of course. Luke fell asleep to Harry Potter while I watched some old sitcom episodes on Youtube. I went to bed at about 1 oclock. Okay, that wasn't very smart, but sometimes I just give into my nature of being a night owl.

Saturday Andrew Porter woke us up at 9 asking if we were going to the Fog
Fest. I'm glad he did. We got ready fast and headed down there. I usually don't go; I don't love the crowds. But this year Reggie was working and so I took the kids. I ended up loving it. We started off watching the parade. Then Samantha got a call from her friends to meet them at the pier. She went off with them all day, which I think is great. Luke and I walked around with Jade and Andrew. My favorite parts were:





Wax hand making







Luke and Andrew boxing in the jump house. The gloves were almost bigger than they were. It was hilarious to watch.






Once we got home I did some cleaning and then watched a Women's Conference from Salt Lake City, on the internet. It was wonderful. My favorite part was #3 of President Uchtdorf's advice: Forget-not to be happy in your life right now; everyone has goals, but to feel like you won't be happy until you achieve them, or get what you want, is a sad thing. It made me think of my job. I had originally wanted to work with younger children, but this is the job that opened up. Now I've found out that some jobs with the younger kids are opening up and I could try to transfer into one of them. But Reggie reminded me of how happy I am where I am; that I always come home with stories of how cute these kids are, and how much fun I am having with them. It feels good to not be looking for what might be the next best thing, and just enjoy where I am.

Once the conference was over I headed out the door to go with some friends to see "The Help". It was really good, in spite of the fact that we sat on the second row. And, I may never eat chocolate pie again in my life.

Now it is Sunday night. I've gone to church, taken a nap while watching Disney movies with the kids, made chocolate chips coookies, and done some blogging. Time to clean up this house and get ready for another productive week. I feel rejuvinated and ready to go!

a picture for the first day of fall

A few weeks ago, when church was over, the kids came out of their classes with the biggest smiles on their faces carrying the biggest apples in their hands. One of the teachers had brought a fancy apple peeler that also sliced the apple in a one piece, on-going curly-que. They were so excited you would think they were carrying a bag full over Halloween candy.

A week later the teacher gave one of those apple-peeling machines to our family. Luke is eating alot more apples these days.

Indian summer is finally here!

No, it is not always foggy where we live. For a few weeks in the fall we get the most beautiful, perfect weather. The sunsets over the ocean are amazing. We celebrated this weather by going to the school yard with our new jack-o-lantern playground ball, for family night. We have just enough home right now to play a mean game of 4 square. Can't wait for everyone else to come home for Christmas so we can have a mean game of kickball. And yes, the weather will be just fine for kickball in December.

a new doo

Samantha has had really long hair for a long time. She finally decided to go for something a little easier to manage. It is so cute! The first day she was a little shell-shocked, but after all the compliments she is continuing to get, she has decided that she likes it. (I am including a picture of her with me because she is smiling in it. The other pictures show her hair, but don't show how happy she is.)

Oh never mind!

I keep trying to put a video on here that is think is so funny its worth sharing, but I am having trouble with it. So never mind! I'll have to think of something else.

Eve

Tomorrow's Old Testament lesson that I am teaching to the teenagers is about the Creation. There is one quote in the manual by our last church president, Gordon B. Hinckley, that I want to share. I just love it.

"When the process of creation occurred, Jehovah, the Creator, under instruction from His Father, first divided the light from the darkness, and then separated the land from the waters. There followed the creation of plant life, followed by the creation of animal life. Then came the creation of man, AND CULMINATING THAT ACT OF DIVINITY CAME THE CROWNING ACT, THE CREATION OF WOMAN."

Today

Today Samantha saw, for the first time, footage of the 2nd plane flying into the World Trade towers on September 11th, 2001. And then she saw some of the pictures of the devasation; the towers collapsing, etc. I was surprised at the complete shock and worry on her face while watching these, because I didn't realize that she had never seen these images before. She was 5 when this originally happened. I know we've talked about it a little at home, and I assume she has heard about it at school, but I guess she learned and saw more than ever before today, on this 10th anniversary.

It's hard to know how much they need to know; how much they need to see. Luke and I watched a video timeline on the computer about that day. He handled it fine; with reverance. But I didn't show him all the pictures I had looked at. I don't know if he needs to see the ones of the people hanging out of the burning towers and falling out the windows.

Anyway. I don't know. Its important to remember that day and think of the good and innocent people that risked their lives and lost their lives. It's comforting for me to imagine a loving God embracing them with open arms that day. It's good to feel the patriotism in the air today.

Parker Brothers and Snapfish should pay Julia and Josie a commision!

There are 2 things that we have become addicted to around here because of Julia and Josie.

Julia and Lester have a new favorite card game called "Monopoly Deal" and they have gotten alot of people hooked - including us. Every night now Reggie, Luke and I play at least 2 hands. I know that Parker Brother's have made alot of money on this game because of Julia and Lester's recommendation.

Josie was so kind, to take pictures at Hillary's shower and wedding reception. She put the pictures in a "Snapfish" album and shared it with us. I ordered a couple of pictures from there, and the coupons started flooding in! I opened up an account in my name, Reggie's name, and tommorrow my parent's name, and am storing all of our pictures in Snapfish albums. I have made so many Christmas gifts from these coupons!

So thanks, Julia and Josie!

Year One

Today marks one year of having no t.v. reception in our house. It was very hard making the decision to get rid of cable (and where we are you don't get any channels without cable) and I was worried about our abilbity to live without it.

For the most part its been a good thing. I like not having the constant background noise of the t.v. I like that we are not as distracted from each other - when somebody talks the other person actually hears them. I like that our children are no longer having to battle the t.v. for our attention. I like not having commercials in the house. I like not being tempted to watch some of the garbage that is offered these days. And I know, it's pretty pathetic that I would be tempted to enjoy garbage, but there you have it.

There are some things that I do miss though. Not all t.v. is garbage. Ironically an hour after the cable was gone, last year, we heard about the San Bruno fire that was happening. We couldn't believe that we had no t.v. to show us what was going on. And now, as the tenth anniversary of 9/11 is drawing near I know that we are missing alot of news stories and specials and tributes. I wish we were watching that. Again, we are able to find some things online. Just looking at pictures of that day is chilling.

Even though we don't have t.v. reception, we do have t.v. We love our DVDs and have some good family time with those, and the ones we check out from the library.

Somtimes we consider getting the cable turned back on. But for now I think we will leave things as they are. Sometimes it is hard, but I think the postives are outweighing the negatives. I think it is like people who get their exercise every single day. Its hard, but they know it is helping them live a good life.

Seminary 2011

I am impressed with Samantha, my older girls, and Mormon teenagers everywhere that have ever and do now go to "early morning seminary" - a religion class that happens every school day - at 6 am. That is alot to ask of a kid - to give up precious sleep to attend more church meetings - but they do it - mostly with a good attitude/mostly staying awake through it all.

In my day we met at the church building, and then walked to the Bart station to take the bus to school. Even though it was hard I remember it also being kind of fun. We were mostly good kids, and gave the teacher a hard time only once in a while. I remember most fondly the teachers that smiled through it all.

Well, since Julia was 14 I've been a parent of seminary kids, and I see that it also takes sacrifice on the parent's part to make sure their kids are up and either get them to seminary or entrust them with their car.

I've been the student, I've been the parent, and now I get to experience seminary through the teacher's eyes. This school year I am the teacher, and instead of the church building, seminary is being held in our home. There are alot of blessings coming from this: I am gaining a better knowledge and love for the Old Testament as I prepare the lessons each day; Samantha is able to attend with her friends everyday; Luke is able to sleep through it all in his cozy bed.

And again, I am so impressed with the 8 teenagers that are showing up at my house at 6 am every week day. I plan to show them my appreciation by every once in a while having yummy smells coming from the kitchen as they walk in the door.

all thoughts turn to Christmas

Well, I took the leaf out of the dining room table tonight, making it square again. Just enough room for 4 people. It is strange to have our household size changing all the time.

When it came time to say goodbye we found ourselves talking about Christmas. "See you at Christmas!" "Just think, when you come back there will be a Christmas tree in the house!" "Don't forget, you are coming home for Christmas!"

I admit, I absolutely love Christmas and find myself very sad when it is over. This last January I decided that maybe I put too much stock into Christmas. Maybe I concentrate on it too much, causing there to be such a let down when it is over. So I was going to downgrade my thoughts and try to enjoy each season and each month for its own uniqueness. BUT . . . . . How can I not look forward to Christmas - especially this year? All of our children, and their husbands, will be home. My niece is getting married a few days before Christmas and so we will be having even more fun, extended family time. And one of my favorite websites keeps sending me some unbelievable coupons for the perfect gifts! I love Christmas! and this is going to be an unforgettable one!

So. Please be patient with me if I am an emotional wreck on January 1st, 2012. Until then, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Well!

I told Julia that she and Lester are grounded, and so cannot move back to Idaho, but they are still packing! What's going on here?!!!!