Claire's Book Report

Claire did her first book report this month.  She read the book she got for Christmas Thea Stilton - A Mystery in Paris and loved it.  She was so excited to make a fashion show treasure map for her project and she said her presentation went "perfect". 

The Temple

I really needed this today.  I am so grateful to live so close to the Temple.

Just because

Today after work I ran home fast to pick up Tayson for basketball practice then headed back to crossfit for the second time.  I didn't do the WOD again instead I went to finish off the 30,000 meter row challenge.  I had 9,000 meters left and I wanted to finish what I started.  It took me a good 50 minutes.  When Tayson and I walked in the house after a long day these flowers were on the table and Todd was starting a load of wash.  I asked him what they were for and he said "just because I haven't bought you flowers in a long time".  I sure did get lucky when I found this guy!!!

Luke's Wolf

Quick trip to Vegas

I got a call on Wednesday from Danny that he was going to be made Bishop on Sunday.  So we rearranged a few things, packed our bags and headed down to Vegas for a quick weekend trip.  I am glad we were able to be there to support him as he takes on this new challenge and calling.  Saturday night he had all his brothers (Steve, Todd, Chris, David, Trent, Mark, and Jeremy) along with my dad give him a "brothers blessing" to comfort him.  I loved seeing all the boys using their priesthood and I could feel the spirit as they united together.  Danny will be a great bishop.  He will spend a lot of time on his knees and in the temple I'm sure.  I look up to him so much and am so grateful for his spirit and for my testimony of the gospel.  I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing family and love that almost everyone was able to come down to support Danny in his newest adventure. 

I even got to go running outside with Kami and Danny on Saturday.  I love running in 50 degrees!

1 Day Meeting....In California

Today I got on a plane flew to California took the shuttle to the Disneyland Hotel went to a few hours of meetings then took the shuttle back to the airport and home.  Talk about a long day with a long commute.

Luana's Last Day

I can't believe 5 months is already over.  It seems like Luana just got here and she's already heading home.  We will miss her so much!  She fit in so well with our family and the kids and Todd and I just adore her.  Some of my favorite things are how obsessed she was with Rhianna - hilarious.  How she always said "menina" (girl) a million times in a sentence.  She always loved everything she saw "it's so beautiful" and she would pull out her camera to take a picture of the funniest things on the side of the road or of the moon.  Every day.  Her laugh was contagious and Luke said she had magic fingers and was the best at tickling.  She is so full of life and fun.  I am going to miss her so very much!

For her last dinner in Utah I asked her what she wanted to eat the most and she picked PF Changs.  She loves the Mongolian Beef there.

 She posted the cutest thing on facebook.

My last day here and so much to say! First at all, I wanna say THANK YOU for everything, you guys is the best host family ever , craziest, funniest and so many great things! I really enjoyed this experience that changed my life forever. I'm leaving, however It's not a farewell, but a SEE YOU GUYS SOON. I gonna miss you guys so much, you always will stay in my mind and my heart! I feel so happy, great, blessed, because you always make me feel like part of the family and like in home. I'll never forget my host sisters and brothers, Sophie ( Sophie Spanish), Claire ( calling me for play with her), Tayson and Luke ( teaching how swimming and with crazy games), you Kathy for be so nice, adorable, funny and so many things, you Todd for be so nice, " sometimes speaking Portuguese with me and forgetting some words" and funny too, for sure Lizzy ( always take my sandals and go outside kkk ) and Zeus for be so calm! Both Kathy's family and Todd's family is amazing! Everything in this experience was worth, met you guys, be with you guys! I'll come back and make sure that see you guys soon. May God bless you guys and I love you! *----*

 
And left us this note:

The Circus

Every year my dad gets all of us tickets to go to the circus.  It is so much fun to all hang out together and it's at UVU so it's close to home.  There were some sweet new acts this year - motorcycle jumping and a human cannon.  And the old faithful hula hoop girls, clowns, dogs, tigers, magician and my favorite the elephants.  

Sophie has decided she wants to be in the circus when she grows up and I think she has a good chance - the girl is crazy and would have a blast.  I guess she just needs to learn some skills :)

Fishbowl Swim Meet

The boys had a 3 day swim meet.  Luke and Tayson both swam on Thursday then Tayson swam Friday and Saturday.  Tayson's coach is working hard with him to move from the bronze team to the silver team so he swam a ton of events.  He hit his B times for all the events he swam.  So now he just has 1 last event to get his time in - the 200IM.  

we spend a lot of time sitting around

 I'm pretty sure he will regret making this face

Luke on the blocks

Luke finishing his 100 free strong

more and more waiting around

Tayson's last event - the 100 breaststroke

by Saturday his arms were all covered with his events so we had to write on his leg

I love watching my boys swim.  They have made huge improvements in the last year of swimming - sometimes it feels like they've swam forever but they have only been swimming club for 8 months so far.  They make me proud how hard they are working. 

Luke - the perfectionist

Luke made me erase the X and put a check-mark because his teacher said "have your parents watch you and check the right one."  So sorry I didn't do it right buddy :) 

My Big Strong Man

I love that Todd and I are doing crossfit together.  I love it.  We don't always workout at the same time - but when we do it's a blast.  I love seeing how strong he is.  Our gym is like a family and everyone cheers each other on and the support and friendships are the best.  Todd got his deadlift PR (325 lbs) today at the gym and seriously he is just so strong!! 

Melted my heart

Getting the kids to school can be stressful.  Getting 4 kids out of the house at the same time is never easy.  And when you add on the early morning and making sure hair is combed, homework is done and signed, lunches are packed and they are dressed warm enough it gets a little hectic.  Every morning when I drop the kids off Sophie is the last one to leave the car and she always gives me extra hugs and kisses.  This morning she took extra long and gave me about 10 kisses - which I loved.  While she dawdles Tayson waits for her so she makes it to her class.  He can be so sweet with her and I love seeing my big 6th grader and my tiny kindergartner walking into school together.  Today it just melted my heart as I watched them walk away.  How are they both so old?  How can I make sure they always stay so close?  How can I make sure Sophie never stops giving me 10 extra kisses every morning?  I am one lucky mama to have 4 these beautiful kids. 

P.S.  Tayson still has the same backpack he had since kindergarten.  It's starting to fall apart and I want so badly for it to last this year just because.

FHE Bowling

For Gabby's last night here we took her out to eat quesadillas (her favorite American food) and bowling.  She had never been bowling before.  The kids love Costa Vida and bowling so every was more than excited for a fun night out as a family.

Team 1:

Team 2:

 Team 1 killed our team - killed us!

Frozen

We took the kids to play on the frozen lake after church.  It's an amazing thing to walk on a frozen lake.  Todd and the kids found fishing holes and tried to break them by throwing rocks - but the ice was too thick to even crack a little.  Todd put his arm in one of the holes and it was over a foot deep.  Gabby and Luana were amazed by it all and had a blast.  I started to get a little cold so Todd let me wear his super warm hat that he has for Canada.  It was awesome. 

My DIva

Yesterday Sophie bought some fancy Cinderella jewelry with her Christmas money.  She planned her entire church outfit around her wrap and jewels.  She wanted her hair curled and her nails painted.  And she rocked those plastic jewels with style.  I love how fun Sophie is and how full of life she is.

New Haircuts

Tucano's

We finally made it to Tucano's with Luana.  She was excited the minute she walked in and could smell the food.  Everyone spoke Portuguese with her and she was in heaven.  It's always fun to have a reason to go eat that much food.