Finally

Hmmmmm I'm obviously not the best blogger out there!

So much has happened to our little family since we last posted. Probably the biggest news is that we moved. We are now living back down in the valley of the sun. We moved back to Mesa on New Years Day! Our family really knows how to celebrate a new year! It has been an adjustment f0r the kids to go from a small town back to the big city with a HUGE school! They have their moments of sadness - missing old friends etc . . . but are making great efforts to fit in to their new situation. They love their dad and love having him around more.

Speaking of Rod - he is one amazing man! He took this new job so that he could spend more time with his family - - - the week we moved down here he was offered another job. It would have been quite a prestigious and well paying job but . . . he turned it down. He said that having time with his family meant more than money. I'm grateful to be married to a man who loves his family!!!

10th Anniversary

Rod and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary in June! He is sooooo wonderful - he totally surprised me by taking me to a fancy salon for a hair cut - then arranging to have a photographer come take our pictures. (TOTAL SHOCK-especially considering we have NEVER done that and usually aren't into pictures of ourselves) Then we went to the same place we went to on our honeymoon. It was a fabulous time. I'm grateful everyday for who I married!

Psycho Homeschool Family

Well, I'm sure after posting this new entry on our blog - we will be labeled "the Crazy People"! Yes, we have become a homeschooling family. I feel really silly admitting it because we aren't the "typical" homeschooling family. We didn't do it because we think we can provide the optimal learning environment at home for our kids or because we think we know what the best curriculum is for our kids. We were put in a situation that needed attention and after prayer - we decided to handle the problem this way. We will be putting our kids back in the public school system in the future because their mother isn't smart enough to keep on doing it this way!!!

We started homeschooling in December. We went ahead and started Cooper with school too so it wouldn't be so hard on Emma. Since then, Cooper has learned all his letters and sounds and is reading simple books. Emma is trying to learn her multiplication table and isn't so fond of her mother correcting her punctuation ALL THE TIME. We just hope that by doing this for a while we can give our kids a more solid foundation and confidence in themselves for the future no matter what school they'll be in. Its been a big learning experience all around!

Rod is very busy with work! Lately, he has been spending a couple of days a week at the legislature trying to help with some bills that would effect Navajo County. He has been working long hours and doesn't like all the travel that comes with this job. When he was hired, his boss told him that he would have "light travel". We're learning that he didn't exactly tell us what his idea of "light travel" is. The governor is coming up to Navajo County next week and Rod is in charge of the whole show. Hopefully he'll get a break sometime soon to recoup.

It has come to an End

Well, soccer is over. Emma and Cooper had their last game on Saturday. For those of you who followed the last story, the miraculous winning streak came to an end. They both lost their last games, but, they had Grandma and Grandpa Ross there watching and taking pictures, (they both love the camera) so they didn't care. It was a fun season, Emma had fun making new friends and Cooper gained lots of confidence. Here are some pics from their last games.

Prayer and Soccer

We have officially become soccer parents. Both Emma and Cooper are playing in a little AYSO city league. They are loving it. Well, Cooper is. After the first practice Emma gets into the car and asks if she has to do soccer forever. But, after finding out that the boy she likes is on her team, she hasn't asked about doing anything else again. Not sure if thats funny or if we should be worried.

Going into their first games, they both were really talking it up. Saying things like, "Our teams are going to win" and "I'm going to score a goal". Well, they both were humbled in their first games. They both lost badly. The car ride home was pretty funny. They couldn't believe that they lost, trying to figure out how when they knew they were so good. So, the next week rolls around and we were saying family prayers the night before their games and it was Emma's turn to say the prayer. In her prayer she asks Heavenly Father to bless them both to win their games. Rod and I give each other the we need to explain that Heavenly Father probably doesn't care about who wins the soccer game eye during the prayer. (yes, we did open our eyes) So, after she finishes, we start talking about how we should pray for things that are really needed and Heavenly Father probably doesn't care who wins. . . etc. . . .. The next day comes and Emma's team was first to play. Keep in mind that her team stunk the week before. They amazingly pull off a victory in the last moments. The score was 3-2. We then go over to Cooper's game and watch his team pull off a 12-2 victory. On the way home the prayer came up in the conversation, and as parents we were humbled. Emma explains to us that maybe Heavenly Father does care who wins the soccer game and He answered her prayer. Well, since then Rod and I have been humbled even more. Emma continues to pray every Friday night for victory the next day and since then, both her and Cooper haven't lost a game. So, the lesson to be learned - kids have a direct line to Heavenly Father, and He does care about soccer games. Rod is debating asking Emma to pray for the Phoenix Suns this season. If they win the championship, you'll all know why. =)

I've been Tagged, so here it goes. . . . . . .

Ok, so I was "tagged" to do this. But, I must admit, I had no clue what being "tagged" really meant and I had to ask the person who did it, to explain it to me. It was a little embarrassing! (thanks Alli!)


Four Places I've Lived:
1. In Mesa, AZ
2. In Sedan, KS ( Go BLUE DEVILS) =)
3. In England. Still the most beautiful place to me.
4. In Holbrook.

Four Favorite Books: (This one is hard for me - I love to read)
1. Anything Jane Austen (Can I have the author and all her book count as one?) I guess its my blog, so I can do what I want.
2. The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale
3. John Adams - I've learned so much about our nation's history from that book!
4. Oh the Places You'll Go - Dr. Seuess

Four Favorite Movies:
1. Pride and Prejudice (All Versions - I think there are about 50)
2. North and South (BBC)
3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding. (The story of Rod and I)
4. Italian Job (Action, and the music)

Four Embarrassing Facts About Me:
1. Tripping on my way down from the pulpit after doing a musical number. (Oh, what grace I lack!)
2. Making one of my companions be a page turner for me as I played the violin. The thing was, at the time the page needed to be turned, it was a rest period for me playing. So, we looked pretty stupid up there with her standing by me with basically nothing to do! (maybe you had to be there but, every time I think of it, I have to laugh outloud!)
3. Walking down the isles at stores, and having Cooper blurt out all the things he notices about the other people in the store. Not very nice things. He doesn't understand being quiet. I feel lucky to have made it out of the store with my life.
4. There are soooo many others, I usually try to block them out of my memory so I don't make myself feel terrible about them.

Four Dreams of Mine:
1. Finish a degree in something!
2. Run without feeling old.
3. Serving a mission with Rod.
4. Being on a postage stamp.

Four Pet Peeves:
1. When I have an odd number of emails. ( I know, its silly, but it drives me crazy)
2. Biscuits smashed to a thousand little pieces and strategically thrown around the kitchen by my kids when I'm not looking of course!
3. Touching FEET!!! ( It grosses me out!!!)
4. When teenagers walk in the middle of the road because they're cool while you're driving right at them!

Four things that make me Really Happy:
1. Watching my kids sleep - they're beautiful.
2. A clean house
3. Going on dates with my hunky husband
4. Having "real" talks with friends and family

Dogs

Well, Rod and I have both told each other that we wouldn't have a dog in the house. Today, we have a dog in the house. He is asleep now so we're both fine with him right now. I wasn't so fine when he had a little accident a little while ago. But, we thought that maybe we should just put Preston in big boy pants at the same time- we'd have two messes (one human and one canine) to clean up but we'd be done with potty training the rest of our lives!!! The thought brings a smile to my face. Not having to buy diapers anymore brings a smile to my face. Then I think of the few weeks till completion and wonder if it'll be worth it. Maybe Preston wouldn't mind diapers till he is 15 and maybe the dog really will be happier outside. If we do go ahead with the plan, I give fair warning to anyone considering coming over to our home . . . . . . it won't be pretty!