Away Swim Meet

Underfoot and Hurricane participated in their one away swim meet.

Underfoot had one goal this season to get a blue ribbon.

He won his heat and got his 1st Place ribbon.

Hurricane had one goal.
He wanted to swim in a relay.

One of the team members went home so Hurricane got his wish.

Blackberries

Sweetheart harvested a handful of blackberries.

We planted a stick a few days after Hurricane was born.

Sweetheart picks a handful every day.

He takes a lot of joy in this part of our yard.

Put your Trust....to Do Good

And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good--yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy; And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.

~ Doctrine and Covenants 11:12-14

Apple Blossoms

We have blossoms!

I think they are beautiful and have such potential!

To Be Happy

We were asking about the plan of salvation.

Hurricane said: I want the plan to be happy.

So here is how he makes the plan happy.

He asked for a salad lunch.

This is how he eating it.

Here is another way.

He is to watch a scripture story 

before he goes to school. 

He's getting it done before we leave.

2,190 miles + 1,018 miles = Hanging Out

How do you see friends?

When they move away,

you have to meet up by driving A LONG way.

We were so happy to see our friends that had moved

and took a pit stop on the way to their final destination.

Random shots

Here is a gift from our amazing babysitter. 

She just moved to Texas and her brothers were cleaning out their toys.

Grapes from the arbor were delicious.

You couldn't tell from Hurricane's expression.

Eye see you.....

Joy School Class at House

We hosted the last week of Joy School.

Hurricane was thrilled to have his friends at our home 

as we learned about how important 

each one of them is in their family.

He was a very good teacher helper every day 

and wanted to make sure there were plenty of treats.

He was a very good teacher helper every day 

and wanted to make sure there were plenty of treats.

  He and his classmates learned songs and played well together.

Gilbert, Arizona Temple Open House

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is hosting an open house 

for Gilbert, Arizona Temple.

We decided to go as a family and invited our cousins and sister to go with us. 

At the temple, there is a video before a volunteer tour guide takes a group 

through to view the 4 story temple. 

Before entering the temple, little booties were put on each person's feet 

to help protect the white carpets through the building. 

Hurricane and Underfoot thought the booties were slippery on the marble floors.

The building and interior are beautiful with stain glass, paintings, and the colors.

I decided to take the boys back again to see the temple on a 1/2 day the next week.

 

We noticed the use of the agave plant 

throughout the flooring, stain glass, door knobs, hand railings, paintings, 

and even the water fall outside the temple. 

The agave has the older leaves on the outside to support the younger leaves on the inside. 

Similar to grandparents and parents 

supporting, teaching, and guiding 

their children as they grow up to support the next generation.

Underfoot loved the 18 foot chandelier in Celestial room

and the eternity mirrors (one mirror on this side, one mirror on that side of the room.)

Hurricane 's favorite rooms were the "baptize" room and "marriage" room.

The boys loved both adventures.

Meridell Park Apples

One of the joys of fall is picking fruit.

My Dad loves fruit trees. 

When my parents were looking for a home,

they wanted space enough for an orchard.

After living in their home for a while, they counted their fruit trees one day.

The count was 60 or more trees.

If having one orchard wasn't enough,

Grandpa Kirkham had another orchard.

Meridell Park's orchard has many, many trees 

- apple, white peach, pear.

We wanted Underfoot and Hurricane to know 

where some of our favorite foods come from 

and how to to pick, juice, and preserve apples.

The boys climbed in the trees to pick the apples.

The climbing wasn't always easy.

We picked clean 14 of the many trees available.

If we had had more time, we would have picked the entire orchard.

Mr. Awesome had pruned some of the trees very well.

The fruit on these trees was huge, sweet, and heavy.

A parable is told about having trials and that it is like God is pruning us

because when great efforts have been put forth 

then to have a trial to come and clip that experience away.

The parable goes on to say that pruning is necessary for 

the greatest blessings.

The boys loved climbing the trees and ladders. 

After picking for an entire morning, they were tired. 

Picking apples is the hardest part of processing or just eating.

They were hard workers and for that I am grateful.

We took an 8 foot trailer being optimistic to fill it to the top!

The sides are probably 3 foot.

Our optimism was greater than the time we had to spend.

We boxed up 5 banana boxes full of apples after juicing

with still a few apple left to be juiced by my brother and his wife.

Pressing apples is a lot of fun.

The apples are washed, 

chopped in the press' shredder, 

smooched with the pressing tool, 

pasteurized, and canned.

Our nieces came and helped.

Dark Hair stuck with me to end. We call the juice liquid gold.

In the end, we came home with 16 gallons of juice.

 We packed up 5 banana boxes full of apples.

We shared 4 of the 5 boxes and came home to can applesauce.

I still have a few left to put into a pie for the pie party.

We are grateful the apples were shared with us!

Thanks to my brothers, their wives, and children for hosting us!

Okra Flowers

In the garden, we planted okra.

The fruit of the plant is known to be slimy if not prepared correctly.

But when it is matched with tomatoes, it is delish!

The blossom is really beautiful as well.

With the pale yellow and the dark center, 

the flower is a gentle addition in contrast to our brown and sage desert.

I'm reminded of God's beauty in all things.

He reminds me to be gentle, soft, and still.

A Wedding

Miss Hannah and I were roommates in a different lifetime.

We have been a support to each other in 

school, dates, missions, marriages, and children.

The last few years have been hard and painful for her. 

Over the past year, she has become stronger.

She met a man that she felt safe with and wanted to marry.

Her children like him.

Most importantly, he treats her like she wants to be treated.

Cheerful Examples

The angels among us are the ones who are daily living their trials and being cheerful.

I had a hard time putting into words what I wanted to say and came to the realization that the angels who quietly go about their lives cheerfully are great examples.

~Nancy Farrens

First Lost Tooth

He did it while opening a bag of Cheetos.

He lost his first tooth.

I don't think it was because he was eating Cheetos.

He did it on vacation.

His Uncle A gave his childhood Tooth Fairy box to Underfoot.

Because the Tooth Fairy needed to know to come.

His Uncle A is very sentimental, 

and I was humbled that he gave the box to my son.

Thank you Uncle A!!!

 

When did my baby grow up to have his teeth fall out? 

I was sent this quote and believe it fits perfectly for this moment.

(And many more...)

"Let us relish life as we live it, 

find joy in the journey and 

share our love with friends and family. 

One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows. 

Let us not put off what is most important." 

~ Thomas S. Monson

Celebrating life!

This boy had a birthday!

The celebration lasted all week long!

He liked a chocolate cake with maple icing

that a friend made.

She made him little cupcakes!

He shared with a perfect heart!

Kinder Grad

Underfoot was promoted to the 1st grade. 

Principal G and Underfoot

 The elementary school held a graduation

 with each child's name being announced 

along with their hoped for future profession. 

 Hurricane thinks his tongue should be out in most pictures.

Underfoot had mentioned his future profession to us 

before it was announced, 

and we smiled and thought great.

Mrs. T, kindergarten teacher, and Underfoot

 Little did we know that

the teacher would say, 

"GJ wants to be a mechanical engineer, 

JL wants to be a mechanical engineer, 

Underfoot wants to be a ninja, 

MM wants to be a chemical engineer." 

Underfoot and Miss T, classroom helper

He explained later that a ninja is like a spy who does only good things.

I walked out of the school thinking, 

"oh boy, a ninja," 

and I turned to a friend and said, 

"He reminded us all that he is 6 

and it's awesome to be 6."

Celebrating Life

Why is this boy so excited? 

 It was his birthday.

He got to pick the menu for the day.

He went on a hike.

He asked for a Yoda cake.

I didn't make a Yoda cake.

 

I made a sarlacc eating Boba Fett.

The tenacles are gummy worms covered in chocolate.

The mouth is a chocolate covered strawberry.

He requested a blood orange cake.

I can't find the recipe to share it.

Even though it is sparklers, he had to try to blow them out.

We love our Underfoot who is growing into a wonderful boy.