Just for you Lauri

This photo is for Lauri Gardner, my not-so-secret helper for picking out some of Laura's presents for Christmas this year. Those are Laura's new boots that I got for her, with some help from Lauri.

Temple Lights for Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve at the Mesa Arizona Temple. We took the kids, and Grandma Teresa and enjoyed the temple lights. A good time was had by all. They always do such a nice job with the lights there, and the weather was just perfect for walking around.

CHRISTMAS CARD 2008

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This year we decided to put our family letter on our blog. We thought this would be a good way to get all of our family and friends to visit our blog and receive updates all through the year and not just at Christmas!

We hope that you are all happy and well this year and are enjoying this wonderful season!

Our family has had a fun year. We have been able to take the kids on a couple of great vacations. This past summer we went to the Grand Canyon with another family. The kids enjoyed looking in the 'big hole' and Mike and his buddy Curt got to hike from top to bottom to top in one afternoon! This is Mike's 3rd time doing this! Each time he has had a to find a new rookie to take with him. No one seems to want to repeat it (except for Mike) once they have done it! In June we headed to Utah for our annual family reunion. While we are there we decided to take the kids to Zion's National Park and do some hiking. The kids sure enjoy the outdoors and we got some great pictures. In October we finally got the kids to San Diego to the beach. We had been promising the kids a trip to the beach since May of this year after they had such good report cards and we finally made it! We were lucky to have wonderful weather each day we were there. We stayed at a great hotel that was near the beach on one side and Mission Bay on the other. The kids enjoyed going back and forth depending on what type of water they wanted to play in. So, as you can see we have had a great year! The kids are growing up so much and are a lot of fun! We certainly can't complain!

Sawyer has had a wonderful year! He turned 5! My baby is all grown up! Sawyer has had a great year. He finished up preschool with his favorite teacher, Mrs. K and had to say goodbye to all his friends. I wasn't sure if he would like going to the 'big kid school' with the other kids because he is my shy little guy, but when he found out his teacher LOVES M&M's and has her room decorated with everything M&M's he was sold! Also, his best friend from preschool, Joey, would be moving on to kindergarten at the same school and class with him. He has done very well and is learning more every day. Sawyer does like school, but his favorite thing is to play with his buddies! His day is all about who he gets to play with today. He has the funnest little friends, Max, Joey and Xander, just to name a few!! He is all about 'his' friends!

Sadie had a big year! My little girl finished off the second grade with straight "A's" the whole school year! She has really picked up reading and I can't keep her stocked with books! She would stay up all night reading if I would let her! I finally had to get her reading the Narnia books because they are a bit longer and harder and she didn't finish a book in a day! She has already started the 3rd grade off with a bang! She has managed to keep her straight 'A' record going! She still loves school, but I think she has learned the social part of school is the best. She is turning into my little socialite! Sadie turned 8 this year and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This was a very special day for her. She started the day off with her first Achievement Days Activity with all the girls ages 8-11 who go to church with us. They had a wonderful program and it made her feel very special and excited for many years of fun ahead. She has watched her brother in the scouting program and has been excited to do fun stuff with the girls. She is looking forward to when she is 12 and gets to go camping like the scouts get to. Sadie was blessed with lots of family being able to come down for her baptism. She is one loved little girl! Sadie also started taking piano lessons this year and is catching on quickly. I love to listen to her progress every week!

Stephen just doesn't stop growing! He is catching up to his mom every day! Stephen finished off the 5th grade just like Sadie, straight 'A's for the full year! Stephen turned 11 this past summer and moved on from cub scouts to boy scouts. I grew up with sisters and so I am new to the whole scout thing, but I love it! He has made some wonderful friends and had some great experiences. He has gone on a couple of camp outs already and is on his way to being a awesome scout! Stephen started the 6th grade this year and at first was sad that his friends all got a different class, but he ended up making a new friend and has enjoyed his 6th grade year so far. He has also continued his straight 'A' streak and we are very proud. 6th grade has been a new experience. They are preparing these kids for junior high. He seems a bit busier with homework, but is handling the pressure well. Stephen has continued with the piano and had the opportunity to play "Greensleeves" at the ward Christmas party this year. Stephen has sparked an interest in basketball this year, which is a perfect score for his height! I am hoping that we can get him involved in some organized basketball this next year. This past summer Stephen earned some money taking care of his friends dogs. He thought long and hard about what he wanted to spend it on. He decided on a gecko! I told him that was fine, but he would have to pay for everything, including the crickets he would need to buy to feed the gecko! He has had a great time with "Wiggles". I have been proud of the way he has taken on this responsibility. He even got my little sister interested and so she bought one and then Stephen educated her on what to do and not to do with geckos! This experience has been good for their relationship.

Stephen and Sadie also had the opportunity to perform in a community musical this year. Queen Creek has a Performing Arts Center that puts on a show for kids every year. This year they did "The Jungle Book". Some friends of the kids were in last years musical and had a blast, so they talked Stephen and Sadie into trying out. Stephen and Sadie were part of a villager tribe and had a good time. This experience brought back lots of memories for me and my years being involved with musicals in high school. I am glad that they get to have these experiences so early on in life.

I have had another busy year. I got to go with my best friend, Laura Bish, and our mom's on a cruise this year for our birthday get-a-way. Laura and I don't only share the same name, but we were both born in April. So, we try to get together once a year and celebrate. This year we decided to take our mom's along and try out a cruise. We had a great time! I have continued working at home doing medical transcription. This job continues to be a blessing. It is so nice to be able to help bring some money in, but still be at home with the kids. Throughout most of the year I was working in the Relief Society Presidency in our ward. I had a great time with this, but was released a few months ago. I had a few months without a calling at church and then just got called to work in the Primary with the 3 year olds. This year we lost my grandfather after a battle with cancer. This was a blessing for him, but it has been sad for those he left behind. Grandpa will truly be missed! Oh, I can't forget to tell you the most incredible thing I did this year and am still doing.....I STARTED RUNNING! Yes, that is correct, Laura is running! I ran my first 10K race in January of this year and did it without walking! I have been running with a good friend, Lori. Even through the hot summers in AZ we got up at 5 a.m. to run! Anyone who knows me well, knows that I do not like to get up early, but the bug hit me and I have really enjoyed this new adventure. I feel great when I get up and run and feel yucky when I can't get out. I have two races scheduled in the next couple of months. I am doing the same 10k that I did this year in January and I am hoping to beat my time. Then, a friend of mine decided to get a team of 12 people together to do a marathon relay, Ragnar. We will be running from Prescott, AZ to Mesa, AZ in a 24-hour period. This is about 194 miles long. We will each be running three different legs of the race to complete the 194 miles. I will be running a total of approximately 15 miles, broken up between three different legs of the race. I am excited, yet very overwhelmed! So, if you are in the area of Prescott or Mesa AZ on Feb. 28-29 then you should keep your eye out of me on the side of the road! (I might be dead!:)

Mike's year started off great. He had started working in the training department for Mesa Airlines in September of 2007, which meant he was home more and only worked 20 minutes from home. We were lucky to have him continue with the training department until October of this year when he had to go back to flying. He enjoyed the time he had in the training department because his schedule was much more flexible and he was able to be home with the family much more. It took the kids a little while to get used to daddy just going to work for the day and not for days at a time, but once they got used to that they loved it! When the news came that he would have to go back to flying we were all disappointed. Yet, we feel blessed that at least he has a job! One thing that was very nice while he was in the training department was that he got to be home most Sundays and so he was able to hold a calling at church. He worked in the Primary with the 6 year olds. I know at times this was challenging, but I also know he made some good friends with the people he worked with. Also, with more time at home he was able to do a few projects around the house. He took on the task of building cabinets for the garage. They look great and really helped organize the garage. He was just getting ready to start cabinets for the laundry room when he had to go back to flying, so once again the projects are on hold! He has also continued with his gardening projects around the yard. He has pretty much mastered the plants and flowers, but is still struggling with getting any food to grow to maturity. We thought we were going to have a watermelon this summer, but it stopped growing! I know this won't discourage him though! Mike also lost a grandparent this year. His PaPa Parr passed away this fall. He was able to go out to Virgina with his mom and sister and was able to spend some quality time with family he doesn't get to see very often. PaPa's passing was a celebration for him because he was able to be with his sweet wife once again!

As you can see, we are very blessed! The kids are growing and are healthy. Mike and I are healthy and both working. We have wonderful families and friends who love us all dearly. We have the gospel in our lives that helps bring peace and comfort at such a troubled time. We hope and pray that this next year will bring wonderful things to your lives.

We love you all,

Mike, Laura and kids

Wal-mart Christmas Tree

This is what you can get from wally-mart, a 8'-9' douglas fir for $45.00. Seemed like too good a deal to pass up. We have a 5' artificial tree, but I've become partial to the live ones... they bring that smell that announces 'Christmas!!' into the air. We'll put up more pictures after Laura and the kids decorate the tree!

Sawman hamming it up

So Sawyer came into the front room this morning, having put his white shirt and tie on over his turtleneck shirt, and declared that he was ready to go to work. I couldn't resist a photo, and when he started hamming it up for me, I kept on clicking. I think, it is for times like these, that blogs were created. Enjoy.

Thanksgiving Day in Hurricane

It has only taken me a week to journal these pictures, but who's counting, right? :) We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day at my parents home! It was kind of bitter sweet with the passing of my grandfather and having the funeral the day before, but we were together as a family and that is what grandpa loved! My sisters and I told my mom not to worry about cooking this year because we knew she would not be up to the task. We told her to go and spend the morning with her mom and that we would take care of the meal. So, after she helped put the turkey in the roaster my sisters and I went to work! We fed 19 people and the only thing that didn't turn out was the coconut cream pie, dang it! I tried to make it like my mom does, in the microwave, and I failed. I should have just done it on the stove top like I am used to. Oh well! It tasted good, just was more like a pudding than a pie.

Mike also brought back a tradition that my grandfather loved, but had been missing at our Thanksgiving dinner the last few years. That tradition includes everyone taking a turn and saying what they are grateful for. Not everyone loves this tradition, but I think it is a good one. I am graetful that Mike had the foresight to do this. He thought of it all on his own and caught us all off guard!! I know grandpa was with us that afternoon and was very thankful for the legacy he left behind!

Grandpa Nelson's funeral and luncheon

God Bless You Grandpa!!

We will miss you Grandpa Nelson!!

For as far back as I can remember our extended family(on Laura's mom's side) has gotten together two times a year for our family reunion in the summer and then Thanksgiving with the Christmas party the day after!! These traditions were created and sustained because grandpa LOVED his family and wanted us all to be together. We have had some great times and have made some wonderful memories. I feel very blessed to have had my grandfather in my life for as long as I did. He was such a great example to so many people. He suffered from a lot of pain most of his life, but you would have never known. He did not complain, ever! He always had a smile on his face! Every one of his children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren thought they were his favorite. Our family has been very blessed to have such a great patriarch and he will be greatly missed!! We love you grandpa!!

HAPPY 36TH BIRTHDAY!!!

Last week we celebrated Mike's birthday! Sunday evening we got together with friends, ate some food, opened presents, played games and had lots of laughs!! I do believe he was happy with all of his gifts, except his lotto ticket was a bust (sorry Leetham's)!! The kids got him a few new tools he has been wishing for and a new Utah JAZZ ball cap and his 'loving' wife got him an iphone that he had been drooling over the week before!! Happy Birthday babe!! We all love you!!

Mt. Lemmon in Tucson

Since Mike has had to go back to flying he hasn't been home much, so Sunday we decided to take advantage of his time off and spend the day together enjoying the outdoors. We drove up to Mt. Lemmon in Tucson. When we got to Tucson, before we headed up the mountain we stopped for some lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant. The kids weren't too impressed with the hummus, but they did enjoy the lamb!! We then proceeded up the mountain. The kids enjoyed climbing on rocks, taking a short hike and then of course stopping at the Cookie Cabin in Summerhaven for a HUGE cookie!! On the way back home we saw a beautiful sunset that marked the end to a wonderful day!

Stephen and his friend, Luke, took an evening last week to learn how to put up a tent (supervised by Curt and Lori), as they were going to have to be able to do it themselves at the Scout Camporee.

Nanny and Papa Parr

We had to say goodbye to Papa Parr last month. It has been a number of years since Nanny has passed on, but still they are in our thoughts. I feel blessed to have been able to spend many summers and holidays with my grandparents. I only wish it could have been more. I will miss Papa's phone calls.

I wanted to encourage everyone to call your grandparents this weekend. Make the effort to ensure that your children spend quality time with their grandparents. If you are lucky to have your kids grandparents live nearby, do not take it for granted.

Day 3 in San Diego! The last day at the beach, and the kids were determined to make the most of it. While Stephen and Sadie played in the waves, Sawyer played in the sand. We were sad to leave the beach, but were glad that we could make the trip.

And a big thanks to Lauri Gardner for telling us about Picasa, the program we used to make the photo collages. It should make blogging even more fun!!

Day 2 in San Diego. Back to the bay beach, then over to the ocean beach. The kids loved Mission Beach because there were actually waves there, as opposed to the bay. Then, after some pooltime, we went back to the ocean beach to watch the sunset.

Day 1 of our San Diego vacation. Stayed at the Catamaran Resort, right in Mission Bay. We had fun building a sand castle and burying the kids.

STRAIGHT 'A' KIDS!!!!

I am going to be one of those 'bragging' moms for a minute, so just bear with me!! :) I just got home from the kid's parent teacher conferences and I couldn't be more proud!! All three kids, Stephen in 6th grade, Sadie in 3rd grade and Sawyer in kindergarten, got straight 'A's! Their teachers are very proud of them and say they are all a joy to have in class! One of the things they are graded on each grading period is the memorization and recitation of a poem. They have to choose a poem, memorize it and then get up in front of their peers and recite the poem. Stephen and Sadie have always impressed me with their ability to do this over the years and I was a bit nervous for Sawyer to have to do this once he started school. He is my 'shy' one when it comes to doing things in front of people with everyone watching him. Well, he passed with flying colors!! Way to go Sawyer!!
Ok, I will shut up now!!! I just wanted to let you all know how very proud I am of the kids!

Stephen's Gecko, "Wiggles"

Over the summer Stephen's saved up his money from his allowance, birthday and taking care of the neighbor's dogs. He thought and thought and thought about what he wanted to purchase!!! Here is what he decided on..................WIGGLES!!!

My babies are growing up!!

I know that I have added a lot to our blog over the last few days, but I came to realize just what a milestone month this has been for my children and for their mom and dad!! The month of August started off with my baby girl turning eight and then two days later the kids headed back to school!! That is, ALL of the kids!! Sawyer started kindergarten this year!! He was SO excited to be going to the BIG school with his brother and sister!! His teacher is a collector of M&M's and has her room decorated with all of her collection, so of course her and Sawyer hit it off great!! Stephen started 6th grade this year and I didn't think much of it until at 'Meet the Teacher' I was asking if she needed help from parents during the year and she told me that this is the year that they start having the students do more and the parents do less! It is started already, my oldest boy is growing up, in more ways then one! Then a few weeks later when Stephen officially moved from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts it hit me again the my boy is starting to be pulled from his mom. It does help me a lot that Stephen still comes to find me throughout the day to get a 'mommy hug'! I have told him since he was a toddler that he better always love his mom and not turn into a boy who doesn't like his mom. He promises me that will never happen! We then ended the month on a wonderful note with Sadie's baptism! Having family and friends around to celebrate wonderful milestones is what this life is all about!!

Sawyer, age 5

Sadie, age 8

Stephen, age 11

Way To Go Stephen!!

With all of the excitement of Sadie's baptism last weekend I totally forgot to get the pictures on here for Stephen's Arrow of Light Ceremony!! (BAD MOM!!) Two weeks ago Stephen officially moved on from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts!! The district puts on a wonderful program for these boys who work so hard! The exciting thing was that his two best friends, Walter and Luke, got to move up with him! I am so very proud of Stephen and all the hard work he put into his years in Cub Scouts and I know he will be a wonderful Boy Scout!

Fun Family Weekend!!

We all had a great weekend with lots of family in town for Sadie's baptism!!

Megan and her aunts, Nicole, Jana, Laura and Michelle!!

Sadie with her aunt Jana

Mike and Laura (taken by Sadie) :

Nicole and her son Ryder

Megan and her FAVORITE aunt, Laura

Sadie's Baptism

Sadie's Baptism Day August 23, 2008

Sadie with her grandma Heidelberg, her mom and her aunts.

Sadie with her grandma and mom

Sadie with her other grandma and mom

Sadie in her baptism dress

Sadie and her mom

Sadie and her PaPa

Sadie's mom and aunt Jana, aunt Nicole and aunt Michelle (Laura's sisters)

On Saturday, August 23, 2008 Sadie was baptized by her father. We had a wonderful weekend! The house was overflowing with guests, which was SO much fun! We were actually able to find places for 11 people to sleep in our house!! Sadie was blessed to have her grandma and grandpa Heidelberg, grandma Teresa, three aunts; Michelle, Nicole and Jana, four cousins; Megan, Michael, Tyler and Ryder, one uncle; Brent and lots of friends; The Leetham's, The Diloi's, The Minor's, The Pinkham's, The Wilcox's, Brother Humphreys from the bishopbric and the primary president Sis. Rogers and of course her mom, dad and brothers all attend her baptism. We all enjoyed the wonderful spirit that was all around Sadie that day.


The morning of Sadie's baptism she had the opportunity to attend her first Stake Primary Achievement Day activities. I don't think she could have started her day off any better! I know some of you will remember the song "Walk Tall You're a Daughter" from our days in Young Womans. Sadie came home with a copy of that song on a CD and played in the van driving home and well, that started mom's tears flowing! It made me realized just how fast my baby girl is growing up!! It was a wonderful day and I am so greatful to all of you who helped make that day extra special for Sadie. We know that there were also lots of you who were with us in spirit. We missed all of you up in Utah and beyond that were not able to attend!

Mike's Garage

I've been working on cabinets for our garage. They are almost done, here's a couple of photos of the garage, and you can see why the cabinets are needed. Hopefully I can post a few more photos soon of the completed cabinets.

Sadie's Birthday!

Sadie woke up this morning at 6:30 so she could open her gifts before her dad went to work. We have a new addition to our family, Kit an american doll.