Dance Recital

Kenya's dance teacher has now moved away.  It's kind of sad cause she loved her and the class.  It was a friend and neighbor that was teaching out of her home and it was really great. 

The final recital was held on January 31st, and I was able to record Kenya's dances for all to see. 

(Thinking of you, Grandma and Grandpa King) :)

Invitation to All

We have some exciting news!

Soldiers Hollow

With M.L. King day on the 19th, the kids had no school.  Since we've had little to no snow we were itching to get into the fun, cold, white stuff.  So we took the kids up to Soldiers Hollow to go Tubing.  Brian and I had been once before (ages ago when there was only the two of us) and thought the kids would enjoy it. 

We told the kids it was a surprise.  Ian and Kenya spent the entire drive asking us questions to try and figure out our destination, with no luck.  

 

It was a great day to go.  Warm and no breeze.  Of course with the warmth brought a drizzle of rain rather than snow and slush all around us. 

 

At first all the kids were pretty nervous, but once we were on the lift up the two older kids were starting to enjoy themselves.  Trey remained pretty unhappy about the whole idea.  

The first time down the run we held on to all the tubes so that we went down as a family.  Somehow Trey ended up in the front of the group and there was a mixture of screaming, crying, and laughing coming from him.  The other kids were thrilled.  

 

We pretty much forced Trey to go with us two more times with similar reactions each time.  We decided that was enough torture and I stayed down on the 4th run with him while Brian took the other kiddos.  Sadly I didn't get to go down again.  After the 4th run the kids were very much ready to go.  It was short lived, but it was lots of fun! 

Singing all the Day

Every day I walk down to the bus stop at the end of the street around 12:15 pm to pick Kenya up.  She's usually the first one off the bus and is running for home before I can catch her. :)  

Today she didn't get off first.... or second.... or even third.  I started getting worried she didn't get on the bus as I picked up my pace to get to the bus.  Finally she stepped off the bus and comes running straight for me. 

"Mom!  The bus driver wants to talk to you!"  She screams and runs past me on her way to the house.  I walk closer to the open bus doors to talk with the driver.  For some reason I was nervous, maybe thinking Kenya did something she shouldn't have.  

The bus driver looks at me and starts talking with a fairly straight face. "I want you to know that I truly enjoy starting my day off with your daughter singing from the moment she gets on the bus till she gets to school."  He smiled at me and I was able to relax.  He goes on, "It's a great way for me to start every day." 

I laugh a little.  He may actually enjoy her incessant singing (and I do most of the time), but he's lucky he doesn't hear it ALL. DAY. LONG.  :) 

Boy do I love that mini me of mine.

"Counseling with our Councils" by Elder M. Russell Ballard

Since becoming the Primary President in my ward, I have been learning a lot.  The Lord is sure teaching me many things on a daily basis.  One of those things is how to council with my presidency, with the ward counsel and with my husband. 

This book has been an inspirational amount of help in teaching me how councils work. 

It's truly amazing what amount of information from God we have available to us.  The prophets and apostles are constantly trying to help us learn and grow and keep us from feeling like we're in the dark.  I'm so very blessed to have their guidance.

All Gone

A few weeks ago I was getting pretty fed up with the screams coming from Kenya as I brushed her hair.  I decided I was no longer going to continue our same routine and looked forward to cutting her hair.  

It turned out that my sister, Elena, was looking to get her hair done too, so to make the transition easier for Kenya, I planned a girls day out!  It was actually tons of fun. Kenya and I picked up Elena and headed to Olive Garden for lunch.  Afterwards it was off to the salon.  

It ended up taking us about 5 hours in all to get all the hair cut, died, etc.... but it was so worth it.

    Before

 

After

 

Junior Jazz

Basketball Season has begun.  Brian is now coaching Ian's Junior Jazz basketball team and they are having a lot of fun.  It's our first year doing basketball and Ian is really enjoying it.  He made the first basket at the very first game even.  I'm a little proud of my big boy! 

Ian is #10

 Watching Big Brother play! 

 Hands up!  Good defense!

Newest Member of the Family

A few days after the new year began, a friend of ours was saying they got a puppy but that they felt they weren't really dog people and were probably going to sell him.  Understandable.  But then they mentioned that he was a German Shepherd / Great Pyrenees puppy and I couldn't resist.

"Can I come see him?" I asked with excitement.  "We might want him."  

Convincing Brian didn't take much, all we had to do was go and look at the cute pup and we were both hooked. So now we have two dogs and we are thrilled! 

I'm pleased to announce Sampson as part of our family! 

We were surprised to find that this little guy is almost all black considering every Pyrenees we've seen has bee white, but I guess we shall see how he turns out. :) 

Enzo is quite protective of his new little brother, but they also love to play tug-o-war amongst each other.  It's fun to watch.