Happy Birthday Tyler!

Another celebration in our family.  Even tho Tyler and his family are spending this special day in Yuma, I want him to know how much I love this son of ours!  I think the best words to describe Tyler would be happy - content - a true family man.I have watched Tyler love kids his whole life.  They have always felt that love and he has always...always had a flock of kids surrounding him.

Today, things haven't really changed.  Tyler puts his family first in his life and he is a wonderful husband and father.  He works hard to provide for them and in the end....he is rewarded with this:

Happy Birthday, Tyler!!
We love you - your family loves you....it can't get better than that!!

Jade = Friday Entertainment

This post needs an introduction.  Jade is addicted to Dora.  Check THIS out for a good laugh!  Jenny, Jacque, Jade and me (Grammy) had a fun excursion to Cost-Co, where Jade was the champion taste-tester. 
Warning:  When the label says "No Spoon, No Mess"....it's lying!! 
Applesauce in a squeezable pouch equals applesauce all down the shirt and around the mouth.  But Jade loved it!! That is why Jade is shirtless is the following entertaining videos. 
Tyler and Jenny went to dinner and we got to watch Jade for a little while. When they returned home, we captured some funny, very memorable moments with Jade.
We will call this:

Fun with Daddy's Hat:

Needless to say...it was better than going to the movies.  Family fun....it doesn't get better than that!

Fall Fashion Show Tradition

One of the favorite traditions our family enjoys is the annual Fashion Show.  The Sunday before school starts, each cousin going to school brings their "first-day outfit" and becomes a model.  Jacque and Chelsey write the cutest descriptions for each one and there is an air of excitement and surprise that is contagious.  This year, we had a few new changes.  Jacque became an announcer (as she has graduated from ASU and joins Aaron as the "graduates") and Tyler was a spectator as well. 

Grammy always makes the "runway" look professional with balloons and this year a fringe entrance.  Music is playing, cameras are flashing, and the poses?  Well, they speak of the personality of each cousin.
Going to School - Youngest to Oldest:

Chloe - 2nd grade - cutest thing on the playground!

Dailynd - 1st grade - coolest guy in school....even with braces!!

Cami - Hot stuff in 4th grade

Ashley - Stylin' around in 6th grade

Carlee - 6th grade - Big lady on Campus

Faye - Queen of accessories in Jr. High

Clay - Sophomore with confidence and charisma

Lincoln - Jr. in High School and quite the fashion stud

Cassie - a SENIOR!!  Rockin' it this year!!

Aly: "CGCC has its top dog back as the sleek and sexy Aly saunters the campus this year. Her sassy personality is shown perfectly in her flirty black sundress and super chic heels. And check out her bracelet. Hot mama!!"

Chelsey - Fall fashion icon going to BYU-Idaho

Dena: "is making a fabulous return to CGCC in a flirty yellow louse and incredibly stylish shorts.  Check out her awesome new gray bag and summer sandals!" 

THEN...the dancing begins and all join in for the celebration of another great school year.

Afterwards, Aaron and Savannah made a fantastic "Sunday" ice-cream bar.  Toppings, ice-cream and whipped topping...a perfect ending!

Last Hurrah

Right before school started our family went over to the Olivers for a family swim.  It was so much fun....in fact that I forgot to take pictures!!  BUT.... I did happen to take a video of the cousin tradition:
Enjoy!!

Success!!

I've been playing the "Coupon" game all summer trying to get my bill below the magical 30% of bill total paid.I...DID...IT!!
Went to Walgreens, which is now my new favorite store for basics and year supply stock-ups.  Here is how I did it today:

Register ring-up:  $51.14
Coupons:  $28.28
Spent:  $22.86
Register Rewards:  $16.00

You can look at this two different ways.  I spent out of pocket TODAY a total of $22.86.  However, I have $16.00 in Register Rewards.  So, my total out of pocket is $6.86.  This means I can go to Walgreens and get my school supplies or anything else....spend $16.01 and pay only one little penny.  But for around $7.00 total cost to me, I got this:

By-the-way....the shampoo is normally around $8.99.  Yep, for one bottle!  I'm not Brand-specific any more.  I figure for under $1, I can try these different brands and not lose too much if I don't like it.
I love this new game...it's quite addicting!!
See you at Walgreens!!

Young Adult Activity + Weech Girls = Hospital Visit!

I guess from now on, when there is an Young Adult Activity with the Lexington Ward, I should just pack a small purse with a book and necessities and wait for the inevitable phone call or text that says we are "headed to the ER".  Remember THIS post?  We will add another ER visit to the list....

Aly went with her YSA ward to the lake for a fun-filled day of wakeboarding and tubing.  They got to Canyon Lake around 5:00 a.m. and enjoyed the beautiful water and very few boats.  Aly is one who is in the water, catching major air on the tubes and disks and, of course, keeping up with all the guys in strength and stamina.  During one ride on the Beecroft boat, they (2 guys and Aly) hit - and flipped.  Because she was so determined to hang on, her hand got caught in handle. As she got flipped backwards off the tube, her hand twisted and smashed her fingers.  Brother Beecroft is very familiar with how Aly acts, was shocked when she could not get in the boat by herself. Not one to complain, she asked for help into the boat..... 1st red flag.....and opted not to get into the lake again....2nd red flag.  She was given ice and didn't make much of a fuss.  But her hand was cramping and she couldn't straighten her fingers....3rd red flag.  That was about 10:00 a.m.  Since she didn't say anything, no one brought her home early.  She ate lunch, helped dock the boats, tied everything down and came home....around 3:00.
She texts me:  "You home?"
Me:  "Yep, why?"
Aly:  "Just makin sure.  I'll be home in five.  I need to go to the emergency room."
Me:  "WHAT??  Why?"
Aly:  "Broke my hand"
(By the way, all of this was texted while she was driving home: one-handed)
Oh....ok....no problem.
We head out to our favorite hospital and sure enough.... a complete break!

The doctor informs us that we will need to visit an orthopedic surgeon to make sure no screws are needed to keep that bone in place.  It will sure put a cramp in the rest of Aly's summer.  She is sure loving the pain meds about now - but no tears for the tough!

I think we have heard every comment about that "certain" finger being broke.  The ER doctor sure had fun with it.  At least it is her left hand.  Aly is such a trooper!!

UPDATE:  Aly got her first cast!  Surgeon wanted it stabilized.  Nice way to end the summer...but don't worry...Aly is STILL playing on TWO soccer teams!

"Rain has Fallen all around"

There is a primary song that I would like to edit:
"Rain has Fallen all around - so much so it soaked the ground
Soaked the ground and did it's best - all our house is quite the mess!"

Last Saturday's rain storm did some mighty good damage to our home.  Around 11:00 p.m., as Brad was headed to bed, he heard "water running".  He thought it was because Aaron was was taking a shower, but he couldn't figure it out.  So he went downstairs and started to look around.  To his dismay, the carpet and closet in the bedroom where Savannah and Aaron live (Tyler's old room) was flooded....horribly.  He called out to everyone and for the next 5 hours we (Brad, myself, Aaron, Savannah, Aly, Brittany, and Tyler) bailed water and tried to stop the floods.  We are so blessed to have Tyler working for Stratton Builders!  He was prepared with vacuums and air handlers to help.  After pulling up carpet, moving our food storage, taking apart a water bed, and everything else around that area, we headed to bed around 4:00 a.m.  It was a long night.
The damage had been done and it looks like we will be in "construction mode" for awhile.  We are so thankful we had our family around to help us out! 

What a mess!!!

"A Very Good Day"

The weeks and days before our vacation, Jacque was studying like a crazy-woman, trying to prepare for her Nursing Boards, which she was taking the day before we left on vacation.  This test is a little unorthodox in its grading procedures.  It's a pass/fail type of test.  There is a maximum of 265 questions, but everyone must answer the minimum of 75 questions.  As you are answering the questions, the computer is logging your pass/fail rate.  Once you reach the mandatory 75 questions, the computer analyzes your scores and shuts off after you have done enough to fail or pass the test.  Of course, the individual taking the test doesn't know if she is passing or failing, she is just trying to get through the very tough questions.  She was afraid of her test due to the types of questions she was receiving..."select all" type questions - THE very hardest! (Turns out this is a good thing.  It means that you are doing well enough to have hard question after hard question - and you're getting them right!  If you miss a hard question, the test gives you an easier type to try and get you back up to that passing level). 

That same week, Jacque had an interview with Phoenix Children's Hospital.  This is her dream job...working in the PEDS unit.  She thought it went well, but was uncertain they were hiring any more new-grads.

Wednesday morning, Jacque begins the test.....and after 75 questions, the computer shuts off.  This is either very good or very, very bad.  And she didn't know!  It was a rough day and we prepared for the worse...after all...only 75 questions were answered...the very minimum.  She would have either "rocked it" or "bombed it"

On the first day of our vacation, early in the morning, Jacque starts to check the State Board website.  She will find out if she passed or failed only by checking to see if there is a license number by her name on the public record.  Refresh....refresh....refresh...and so it went up until we were boarding the plane.  She refreshes one more time and lets out a squeal.  She had passed and was officially a RN!  But her squeal was a little loud, and then her proud father announced to anyone who would listen that our daughter just passed her boards.  The people on the plane clapped with congratulations.  Jacque was very, very happy!

After arriving in New York, we were all in our rental car each talking or chatting on our phones.  Jacque's phone rings and she says...."SHHHH....it's PCH calling".  We all hang up and listen very intently!  "Yes", she says.... "I passed my boards"...and then...."Yes, I would love to work at PCH!"  Jacque passed her boards AND had a job working in the cardiovascular ICU  all in the same day.

We celebrated all night long....it was a very, very good day!

Trip Back East

Our family trip was quite the adventure!  We saw beautiful scenery, historic sites, traveled by car over 1100 miles, 4 plane trips (meaning over 6 pieces of luggage, carry-ons for everyone AND a car seat and stroller, and enjoyed the Spirit of these sacred places.  So many pictures by Jacque, Jenny, Aly, and myself (over 935 edited) and many memories.  I will try to limit this post to only the highlights.

Best of the Trip:
*   4 1/2  temples!  Palmyra, New York; Toronto, Canada;  Kirtland (it counts!); Nauvoo, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri.

*   The scenery - so green and absolutely beautiful

Canada:

*   Putting Church sites with scriptures and historic moments of our history

Jade enjoying the Palmyra Temple

A View of the Temple thru the trees

The Hill Cumorah Visitor Center

Walking down the hill Cumorah

Joseph Smith's home

3 brothers in each bed....Moroni appeared to Joseph here

Book of Mormon Publishing Site...what intricate detailed work went into this!

In front of Carthage Jail...words cannot express feelings at this site.

D&C 135:4-7

First night in Nauvoo - went to see Aunt Sue and Uncle Paul Bunker who are serving a mission in Nauvoo.  They were part of the cast of "Sunset by the Mississippi"

"Elder Packer", a good friend of Aly - also in the cast...and his "interesting" companion!

My Aunt Sue, using her amazing talents to accompany the cast!

Last day in Nauvoo - very, very rainy....all day long!

The Smith Cemetary beside their home in Nauvoo

*   Inside jokes between the siblings

"POUND IT!"

Dad - talking to all the Koreans he could visit with

A candy shop...aka...heaven and chocolate!

very serious, people!

the "necessities" of life!!

traveling in style...with Dora!

I think she loves her daddy!!

without Jenny...uh-oh!

counting the days

the "fun" car

waiting for our next flight - out of Chicago

Jade's favorite new toy....Grammy's new I-Pad

a little down time in St. Louis...before the huge thunderstorm

Aly could now check off a bucket item - catch a fire-fly!

Day 10 - happy to be going home!

Thru rush hour traffic at 9:00 p.m. in Canada, to torrential rain in St. Louis, day after day of restaurant food, lots of hours in the car, to sweet moments in the temple and the powerful witness that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of the Lord, this vacation will be one we all remember.