Alamo Eagles

Today Brevin was honored for being the Citizen of the Month. His teacher sent me an email to let me know when to head on down to the assembly this afternoon. I have never been to an Alamo Eagles assembly before. Woa! Talk about School Spirit.

First of all, the entire primary grades stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by 'This Land is Your Land'. This NEVER would've happened at our ultra liberal school in Davis. When we first moved to Vacaville, Brevin didn't even know what the Pledge of Allegiance was because he never had to say it in school. Sad, sad, sad. Well, he's making up for it now.

Then they have the student council members give the announcements. One boy in the student council is a friend of ours. Brevin looks up to him so much. So nice to have great role models.

Then they announced all of the Student of the Week students. Two from each class, each week! Wow! Then they announced the Student of the Month. One from each class, and a lunch with the Principal! Then they announced how many students had perfect attendance for the month. All of those students are then put into a drawing for a $10 escrip card of their choice in the office. One student from each grade is chosen. Finally, they put all of the names of perfect attendance back in the pot for the winner of an ipod! I don't even have an ipod yet!!! A first grader won! The whole primary student body cheered and clapped and gave each student who received any award a high five as they made it to the front of the MPR.

I love this school. It was also nice to win a basket at the annual Fall Festival! Alamo---EAGLES!!!

FHE Princess Style

Last night for FHE, my girls were still in Princess character. Michaela was Sleeping Beauty and insisted on standing in front of our fireplace to be next to her prince, Prince Phillaah, (not Prince Phillip, Prince Phillaaah). Lindie was laying on some blankets on the couch moving her "fins" around, as Ariel should.

For Show and Tell, Michaela, aka Sleeping Beauty, and Lindie, aka Ariel, danced to some princess music. Sleeping Beauty was dancing with her "Grammie Blankie" (the red cowgirl up blankie) and putting it around her head like a veil. Every once in awhile she would look to the side and wave to her Prince Phillah.

Ariel was twisting and turning on the floor, putting her mouth in a circle to blow bubbles and sing, while dramatically reinacting a swim scene in her mind of how Ariel would swim.

Randy and I looked at each other and tried SO HARD to keep a straight face and give our girls the praise they needed. Later that night, we were able to giggle and laugh outloud.

For Brevin's Show and Tell, he told us about how awesome he is in kickball during recess at school. (Which he is, I have seen him and I am totally unbiased). He now wants a tetherball for Christmas--I am trying not to see Napoleon Dynamite images of playing tetherball in my head. My sister, Celeste, had a tetherball and I thought she was the coolest sister around. We'll see what Santa brings....

Election Day from a 2 year old

As I was walking toward City Hall to vote this morning with the girls, 2 year old Michaela asked me some questions.

"Hey, mom. Where is all of the water?"

"The water? The water for what?"

"For the BOATS! You said we're coming here to go on a BOAT!"

Boat, Vote, what's the difference?

This election has seemed like one long boat ride. I am so thankful I did my all. Whatever will be will be.

Stake Conference

I was asked about three weeks ago to speak in the evening session of our Stake Conference. Needless to say, I felt extremely inadequate. I have only lived in this stake/town for 4 months. What could I possibly say that could contribute to the topic "Standing in Holy Places?" There are so many other highly capable people in our stake to speak--why me?

I tried to tell myself while I researched the topic, "Whom the Lord call, the Lord qualifies." It didn't help. My face still broke out and I have no finger nails left.

Saturday was Stake Conference. Randy was singing in the choir behind me, I was sitting next to two other people who were also asked to speak, none of whom I knew. I looked out at a congregation of people and I could only recognize 10 faces. I felt extremely intimidated and felt grateful for the blessing Randy gave me before the meeting. I also felt grateful for Auntie Carol and Uncle Jerry who were spoiling my kids by taking them birthday shopping so Randy and I could be together--kind of.

I wish I could tell you what I said. I had five talks prepared and, finally chose the shortest, sweetest talk with the most personal experiences and with only a handful of scriptures. I felt the Spirit and knew that I wasn't talking. Complete strangers came up and congratulated me--well, that's not saying very much since most of them were strangers to me. Still nice of them to take the time to put my mind at ease. They felt the Spirit. For that I am thankful.

When my talk was over, I had the pleasure of listening to our Stake President give a powerful talk. So thankful for our stake presidency. He personally thanked each of the speakers before him saying that they prayed about which topics they should select and who should present them. I hope I didn't let him down.

Afterwards, our sweet hometeachers invited us to join up with other young couples in the stake and meet at Fenton's Creamery. The evening definately ended on a high note! Good food and great friends!

Whew. Only the Fall Festival at the kids school, babysitting for friends and holding up a Prop 8 sign at a prominent crossroad in town to go this week. Whew.

I was wondering what to wear today....

Randy and I haven't had this hard of a laugh in a long time. Should I wear the pizza or the ketchup bottle? Come on Pierre, has your fashion sense left you?

http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news;_ylt=A9j8eu1vTOpI2hIBxyTRtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTBhNjRqazhxBHNlYwNzZWFyY2g-?p=pierre+cardin&c=images&ei=UTF-8&datesort=1&fr=&x=wrt

Missing Chile

Watch this. Is the glass half empty or half full? You decide.

http://www.adnstream.tv/video/nilSqaMboM/HISTORIA-DE-UN-LETRERO-THE-STORY-OF-A-SIGN

Brevin's 8th birthday was on Sunday. In following tradition, we tell him about the day he was born.

It was a Thursday, and he was scheduled to be induced at the exact time he was born on his own. What a kind and considerate baby. The Summer Olympics in Australia were on in our hospital room. For some reason, to this day, I feel like I should be nursing a baby whenever the Olympics are on. I remember Grammie was there with Randy (behind me so he couldn't see anything, which was a good thing since he almost passed out from that view), they were both such a great support to me.

I remember putting Brevin on my chest the minute he was born. I cried tears of joy and said, "Oh, isn't he so handsome!" I knew he was my Brevin boy. I loved his dark blonde hair and his Kermit the Frog legs (some things don't change) and what an easy baby he was. He was my angel baby. Ate, diaper change, play, sleep.

I remember holding him and thinking "This is an obedient Spirit". He is an obedient child and a great older brother for his two younger sisters.

To celebrate his birthday, he went flying in an airplane! As I saw him take off with the pilot and the other two kids, I thought--"He's really flying. Let him fly. He's ready." And he really is ready to be more independent, accountable, a boy.

For his birthday, he wanted a Transformer Party. New friends and old friends were there. From his family, he enjoyed getting his own Cub Scout Uniform, own set of scriptures, and a scripture case from Ghana and an elephant carved from Ghana. Thanks Mom and Dad. He is really growing up.

His baptism will be October 11th. How did 8 years go by so quickly?