Cousin Love!

Haley has made a "Pre-Marital Bucket List".

She has already checked off the list...skydiving and a trip to Hawaii.

Visiting Washington DC was also on the list and conveniently cousin Kimberly is living there!

Haley and friend Courtney packed their bags and headed East!

It was a bit chilly, but that didn't stop them from having a ton of fun!

 Haley and Kimberly on top of the Kennedy Center

A quick jog to Arlington Cemetery

 In front of Kimberly's cute house on the way to church

 Meeting up with 2nd cousin Eric who is also living in DC and in the same ward as Kimberly

 checking out DC Cupcakes

 World War I Memorial

 Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

 All of the phones died, so Kimberly came to the rescue with her Mac Laptop

 Courtney and Haley at the Lincoln Memorial

(Rocking the skinny jeans and Nike shoes...total tourists!)

 Kimberly has friends in high places, so she lined up a tour of the FBI, 

which is not open to the public.

on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial overlooking the Washington Monument

Next to check off the bucket list....MISSION!!!!!!

Cassidy has been having withdrawls from cousins Katie and Abbey,

so over President's Day, she made a quick trip up to Provo

 on the new route by Allegant Air.

 Abbey, Cassidy and Katie

Enjoying late night non-alcoholic bubbly at Spark

  Dinner with old friend Taylor

 Fun friend Parker who will soon be serving in the Tempe Arizona Mission

 One of the highlights of the trip was meeting up with
some of the Toro missionaries that are currently in the MTC!

Great kids doing great things!

 Cassidy with cousin/friend Elder Olson just a few weeks before he is off to Sweden

Good Times with Best Friends and Cousins!

Bennett's Eagle Project

Bennett's Eagle Project took place on Saturday, February 23, 2013.

With the help of family, friends and lots or ward members,

we were able to pick citrus for the United Food Bank.

The morning began at 8:00 AM with sign-in and donuts

 Bennett did a great job orienting the "Team Leaders" and explaining their responsibilities.

The morning was a great success thanks to so many helping hands.

We are waiting to hear the final report on how many pounds of citrus were picked.

Thanks to all who helped!

Katie's Mission Call

A year and a half ago, Haley's wonderful friend Katie was baptized.

She was golden and it was a beautiful occasion to see her join the church.

She has been a strong and faithful member...

 serving as a Primary Teacher, attending Institute and Mission Prep Classes, 

speaking in Stake Conference and now as a newly called missionary!

We were honored to have Katie open her mission call at our home among family and friends.

Although Katie is the only member of the church in her family,

we were so happy that her family could be in attendance as she opened her call. 

 Katie with her Dad Joe and his girlfriend

 Katie with her sister Anna and brother Fletcher

 Katie and her Mom Mollie

President Robinson has become a wonderful friend and mentor for Katie!

 Katie shared her testimony and then...

 opened her call to receive her assignment...

CALGARY CANADA 

ENGLISH SPEAKING

REPORTS MAY 22, 2013!

 The girls with mission calls!

We are so excited to help get this girl ready to serve!

Her story is miraculous and she will be a part of many more miracles in Calgary!

Happy Valentine's Day

Can't stop loving this Valentine's Day Card 

that Haley and her friends made to send to their friends serving missions.

What missionary wouldn't LOVE to get this in the mail?!

They enclosed a little update on what everyone is up to.

The condensed version:

Sarah-school at ASU, Katie-school at ASU and waiting for a mission call, Makaelee-reports to Washington DC Visitor's Center this month, Madison-reports to the Dominican Republic MTC in March, Haley - reports to Peru MTC in April, Kim-just got engaged and getting married in May, Kenzie - school in Idaho, Savannah - leaves for Richmond Virginia Spanish speaking mission this month, Jessika - school in Provo.

Love these girls and all the great things they are accomplishing!

Happy LOVE Day!

Working Girl

The past few months I had considered working part-time,

but I am picky and I didn't want just any kind of job.

It needed to be family friendly!

 So, when my good friend Lori texted me and asked if I would like to apply for her job, 

I wondered if this could be what I had been waiting for.

She was the Seminary Secretary (Support Specialist) at Westwood and Heritage Seminaries.

She had been in the position for two years, but had recently been offered a full-time job.

I nervously decided to apply, which included submitting a resume.

Only in the church would a 25 year gap in employment history to be a MOM be looked upon as a success!

I went through the application and interview process and got the job!

The first few weeks were a bit stressful...the learning curve was just part of it...

being ready and out the door by 8:30am, wearing a dress/skirt everyday,

 and just the insecurities of wondering if my brain even functioned anymore

 made me wonder if I had made the right decision.

But, the good news is, I am learning my new job, my house is not falling apart, 

the laundry is getting done, my kids think it is awesome that I have a job 

and I am settling into the new routine.

I work with some great people who are kind, patient and encouraging.

The Westwood Faculty

There is still a lot to learn, but we are getting there!

The End of the Season

I never get tired of watching my kids play sports!

I look forward to each and every game and am always so impressed

with their hard work and grit.

One of the last games of the season was against Mesa High...a basketball rivalry for sure!

It was a physical game and we had lost to them previously,

so the pressure was on!

Bennett played well, but not without some injury...

 almost had the steal!

 During the second quarter, the player that Bennett was guarding, elbowed him in the face, 

which resulted in his tooth going through his lower lip.

The trainer and Curt talking over Bennett's injury.

(Clearly Curt was having a hard time focusing...he couldn't keep his eyes off the game!)

He stuck around for the entire game and then we took him to get his 3 stitches.

Cheering on Bennett and the Toros

 Hunter, Bennett, and Darin

 Coach Cook and Bennett

These guys finished the season with 15 wins and only 3 losses

and I loved every second of it!