First Sat @ football

Saturday was our opening day for the 2009 season. We welcomed it in with record breaking temps reaching at 113. Thankfully Cameron and Ellie both had games that started at 8am. It was warm..I think Ellie's picture says it all. I found myself questioning why Marc and I are a part of this. We are both board members with Gilbert Pop Warner. With that comes the pleasure of spending our Saturdays' down at the fields. When it is all said and done we are happy to be a part of this organization and I have already started the count down...1 Sat down, 8 more to go.

Half way to 70

Yes, I had a birthday a few days ago. Marc kindly reminded me that I am now half way to 70. I just about died when he said that. Look I am already starting to feel old and I don't need anyone reminding me that I am. It was a good day... I was able to get a pedicure, have lunch with some friends and then my family took me out for dinner. Here's to another year!!!

15 years and counting

On this day 15 years ago Marc and I were sealed in the Arizona Temple for time and all eternity. This morning we were laughing that we can't believe it has been that long. So much has happened to bring us closer together. I truly love Marc more today than the day we were married. We have 4 beautiful children who make us proud to be their parents. We have always said we would go to Hawaii on our 15th anniversary. I guess it kind of caught us by surprise... Instead we will be celebrating tonight away from each other at two different fields supporting our cheerleader and our football player.

Mom, can't I stay home with you?

If you know my Emersyn well, you know she was not sure about the first day of school. While I stood in line with her waiting for her teacher to come she was being so strong. I was thinking well maybe this will be our turn around year where there won't be any tears. I shouldn't have even thought it. Within just a few minutes her teacher was there to take them into the school and to their classroom. The minute her class started walking she grabbed my leg so I walked with her. We came to the door to go inside..no way was she going. She planted her feet and begged to stay with me. I had to go find Marc who was with Ellie to let him know her class had gone in without us and now I had to take her down to her classroom. Emersyn is very shy and feels very safe when mom, dad and Kaelyn are around. We got to her classroom and there was no way she was letting me go. After about 20 minutes I looked at her teacher and just simply said, "I'm just going to have to go, we could do this all day." Ms. Cuttone her teacher agreed and I left with Emersyn crying. How heartbreaking is that? I am a little sad just writing this. Since then, Emersyn has gotten a little better but still tries to hang onto Kaelyn's backpack in the mornings. What am I going to do next year when Kaelyn is in Jr High?

We're in the same class!!

The minute we got close to the school Kaelyn and Ellie were finding long last friends left and right. There was lot of hugging and jumping up and down. Ya know, what girls do best when they want to show their excitement.

Dad, are we done yet....?

Marc has always wanted a nice camera. He says it is a little interest he has had for many years. Well, a year or so ago we broke down and got him a nice camera. There was a little hesitation or should I say hope that he would really use this camera and not just sit it on the shelf. I have to say, we love having this camera!!! Every school year we take a few pictures of the kids before we head to the craziness of first day chaos at the school. Everyone looks so happy to be going back. Actually, Kaelyn and Ellie were excited...Emersyn...not so much. At least she was able to give some smiles. Kaelyn started 6th grade as the new president of Canyon Rim, Ellie started 3 grade and Emersyn started 1 grade.

Junior High

I remember thinking about this day when all my kids were little and home with me. Emersyn was born when Cameron was 6. I thought, "in 6 years Cameron will be 12 and going into junior high." Where did the time go? On Monday Aug. 10th Cameron started Desert Ridge Jr High as a 7th grader. School starts a little earlier now so when it came time to leave we were kind of in a rush. We didn't get a good picture of him at the house. Marc sat in the back seat and tried to get a couple pictures of him walking over to the school. You know we had to do this little it was a top secret mission. We were not about to embarass our son on his first day of school. We were not prepared for the traffic so when we finally made it to Desert Ridge Jr Cameron had to hop out quickly. Jr High is going to bring so many changes and I hope as parents Marc and I are prepared.

First day of football

Football practice for the 2009 season officially started last night. This is how Cameron looked when he got home. It was a nice 114 degrees yesterday...Cameron got a little sick. He came home, showered and laid like this for the rest of the night. Well, that is, in between heading to the bathroom to throw up. This is pretty typical of Cameron to get a little sick the first couple days of practice. He is such a competitive kid that he gives it his all and then sometimes loses it on the field.

Remembering Grandpa

Yesterday we gathered as a family at the cemetary in front of the nitch where Grandpa will rest in peace. A few years ago Grandma and Grandpa had gone to the cemetary to chose a burial place for the both of them. This is the perfect place. Opposite from this wall is a row of orange trees along with a bench. Grandpa always had some sort of citrus tree around and loved to enjoy the fruit. It was a private memorial being just immediate family. Marc, Jerry and my dad were the ones who shared stories of Grandpa. When the service was over as a family we went to Mimi's Cafe. Mimi's allowed us to occupy a back room for just us family. It was a very simple day that honored a very simple man.