Busy, busy.

Connor and ashley braved this rollercoaster, they did it last 2 years as well.

Well this week and weekend was as busy as usual. We went to the Arizona State Fair on Friday night. We always go on opening night because it is $1.00. The entire night's expenses went like this. Dinner at wendy's in the car. 11.00 for the whole family. Gas.... More than we like to talk about. Entrance to the Fair. &4.00 for the WHOLE Family. David's staple at the fair, Funnel cake $6.00, and 4.00 for Cotton candy. An entire night of family fun.....$25.00 Now that is a bargain!!!!

Connor's Belated bday party

Connor turned 9, almost 2 months ago, but we have had NOOOO time to do a party, we have postponed it a few times, so we decided last week to set the time and did. We mailed out invites Monday, hand delivered in the neighborhood on tuesday, and tonight was the night. We actually had quite a few friends that came, most of our family is far and it is short notice and lots of cool moms and dad helped us out with all the kiddos. We had nachos, hotdogs, snow cones, cupcakes a treasure hunt, rice crispy treat cake, and a lot of fun. Connor requested a lightsaber cake, so I did it with rice crispies and frostin. Thanks to all that came and we got to enjoy Connor's celebration together. Well, now we can move on to the next celebration....

Lots of reading ahead, so keep scrolling down, down...

Team Hoopes

So my sister-in-law signed up to do the MS walk in the phoenix zoo in November. She wanted any and all participants to come join in the walk donate, etc. Well we signed up that day. We are very excited to take part in it, and she had a goal to raise $100.00 then raised it. Well, she is way past that. So if you would like to participate and join us, come along Nov 8th or if you just want to donate, any and all donations will be accepted!

http://walkaza.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WLK_AZA_homepage
this is the web page you can donate to!

My Favorite things....

My Food saver... self explanatory Inside greenhouse... to start my plants inside and get them hardy before planting in the garden. Love it!!!

Fettuccine, Garlic bread with Johnny's garlic spread and My homemade Parmesean asiago cheese crusties, ( there is a story behind this. I made dinner recently for all of our family and some friends, and they all asked me what are these yummy parmesean things. i said" Parmesean crusties" and they said " it sounds gross when you call them Crusties, But I don't know what else to call them? All I know is they taste Delicioso! We eat this meal about 3 times a week. It is a great meal of a very tight budget!
My Magee, he is silly and fun and darling and throws the cutest tantrums and I just adore him. Magee is the sweetest 5 year old. He has the most infectious laugh and loves his momma. He has OCD bad about little things, like his shoes and socks have to be on just right. No one can touch his food and many more things. His best friend is Landon and he loves to have playdates. He doesn't get to take piano lessons yet but he sure loves to play on piano and mimic his big siblings. He is truly a 3Rd child. neglected in someways and overly spoiled in others. He is also the baby of the family so we have let him run the show a bit and we are paying for it now. We just can't imagine a day without his hugs and nose wiggles. He loves to get in the shower. He would get in 5 times a day if i let him! He wants to play soccer in the spring and I bet he will be really good at it. He is a slob in the room, Connorman is very tidy and hates magee's lazy ways! He was the perfect way to round out our family to 5. We love you Ethan Magethan

Little Lovebugs Preschool

-I am going to start teaching Preschool again.

Yeah... I have the perfect setup for it this time. I taught for 2 years before. Once at a friends house and then a year in my Very small Chandler home. Let me tell you ,it was small so it will great to have lots of room to read, learn and play!

Every Monday & Wednesday from 9-11:30.
We will work on Phonetics of all the letters and numbers and colors, among many other art projects and fun stuff!.
If you are interested or know anyone else please pass the word along

November 3 classes begin at 9 am. If you have any questions let me know.

A Day Off...

*** Alert*** I have had a great day, with a few minor bumps, but I am actually in a good mood, sorry if it doesn't sound like it.****

The kids have half day every wed, so they have piano and then we head to phoenix for golf lessons and today, I am not going to lessons, we will take connor on Sat, because I just needed a break from my reagularness ( I love my Regular routine, so that is big I actually need a break)

Have you ever wanted to slip away from your life. I often think of how nice it will be when we are dead and in the ground and not dealing with this thing called life. I have sure thought how much easier it will be. I get tired of the same monotony that complications in life give us. In our stake they have told everyone " Be not Offended'. I sure feel like that statement should carry on to the whole church. Keep your crummy comments to yourself and get over it. Just last week I was talking with a friend and she said, some people just need to get there panties out of a bunch. I feel like we are on the right track and then it takes one person's twisted view of you and BAAAAAM all out the window.

At womens conference we were told to love one another , and I do that. I love everyone. There is no one I don't like, sure there I people I keep away from but.... I love, care and serve everyone I can! I just received a letter the other day from a sweet friend, and then the next day an email from another that they appreciated my help love, friendship and service on their behalf. I can tell you that if you come across my path, I will help you. That is if you will let me! Since my little man went to Kinder I have but aside alot of time for my loved ones to help them out! If you are in need. Call me, and I will be there. I on numerous occasions get screwed up on spending too much time doing too much, but I can't help it, I am always busy. The bottom line.....
- I love my cute companion and kids
-I love to serve and help others.
-I too have frustrating days, not many, but I do have them
-I have wonderful friends and they truely know me.
-I know that I take on too much and I know it, but "trying" to be super mom can be rewarding sometimes!
-I love callings in the church to challenge us
-If I have offended you, know that it is NOT INTENTIONAL. Please don't bottle it up inside communicate whether you like to or not. Talk to me. I am human and need to be forgiven for my short comings as well.

peace out!

Random Snapshots of our Crazy Life

My Favorite song is EVERYTHING BY Michael Buble. One of the lines of the song says, In this crazy life. That is us, a fun But crazy Life.....but it is our life and here is some snapshots when I downloaded the camera today.

So apparently Sunday while I was taking a nap, Ashley got busy fixing up dads hair, can't you tell he was thrilled, but a trooper! Love my New Food saver....

After school snack today. Hot chocolate chip cookies and apple slices and caramel. Yummy! I am so greatful to be home to be able to make the kids an after school snack.

Friday night while the guys were out at the campout in the mountains, us 4 ladies and ashley painted nails and toes, mani pedis. I was in much need of it. thanks ladies it was alot of fun!



David caught his First bass and it actually tasted pretty yummy!

OUR NEW GARDEN! YEAH

Cucumbers Tomatos
Squash

Some of our veggie starters in the kitchen
We are busy. That is all I can say

Relief Society Conference.... General Conference

I love this time of the season when we get to watch broadcasts from SALT LAKE. I love it!!! Bi yearly I go up to the church to watch the RS broadcast with my fellow sisters of the stake and my friends. I can not remember the last time I missed one. Our stakes that we have been in have always encouraged the women to go up to the church not just watch it from home,, and It is more of a pain, but always sooooo much better! I can't wait for this weekend to sit and watch it. We have friends coming over Sunday to eat, listen, play and be in our jammies. It will be fun to hang out and get spiritually edified! So tune in, we are a blessed people to have living prophets!

Fun Tag

1. Where is your cell phone? Kitchen Counter
2. Your significant other? My best friend next to me on the couch
3. Your hair? light brown with red
4. Your mother? Hard worker and a smart cookie
5. Your father?Passed away
6. Your favorite thing? my husband ,my kids, my ipod,friends, my garden,who said there is just one thing!
7. Your dream last night? adopting a baby
8. Your favorite drink? Water with lemons
9. Your dream/goal? having all my food storage and living outside of the desert
10. The room you’re in? family room
11. Your hobby? food storage, gardening, organizing, taking pictures
12. Your fear? not raising our kids to their fullest potential, and that they are self sufficient and smart about life
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? 37, finished with school, with a glorious garden and lots of fruit on my trees to can and preserve, hanging out with my favorite people, hopefully somewhere cooleror maybe with a boat to stay in the water to stay cooler
14. What you’re not? selfish, self centered
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? a professional camera, which i should be getting in a few weeks, Yee-haw, I have been waiting a long time for this!
17. Where you grew up? Oceanside,California
18. The last thing you did? Took a shower after running on the treadmill
19. What are you wearing? Comfy clothes
20. Favorite gadget? laptop or Ipod, that is a tie
21. Your pets? Piper O'possum,and River Jake, our dogs
22. Your computer? Always being used, and a piece of junk
23. Your mood? Comfy relaxed and overwhelmed abit by our busy life, it is nice to sit down and watch some of the boob tube.
24. Missing someone?My sisters in cali, I wish they were closer, my mom is close but we dont have any other family close by.
25.Your car? In our garage, and has had something wrong with it since april and it really bugs me
26. Something you’re not wearing? Shoes
27. Favorite store? Target
28. Like someone? My cute hubby
29. Your favorite color? Red and brown and black
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today, my kids are funny funny
31. Last time you cried? today, that is an every day thing!

Peaches, peaches, peaches...

Peach preserves, peach jam, frozen peaches, peach juice... My girlfriend Michelle, and I spent about 5 hours doing peaches. It was fun. I am hooked now. I just have to get all the stuff to waterbath can! There is something fun and rewarding about doing the things we are asked to do for our families home storage!!!

An evening at the lake

We are very planned out people, but when the oppourtunity came early in the afternoon we took in, and hoped in the car to take a break from our busy weekend.

For weeks a few families in the ward and us have been planning out our gardens and getting them ready to plant, till, and shovel in 5 tons of Soil and manure. All day friday and sat we did that, and what a fun time we had. Tireing but fun.

After much hard physical labor, our bodies were tired from building our new garden ( many weeks in the making and lots of dirt and cow manure later, we went to Lake pleasant with some friends to relax and fish, and eat.) David caught his first Bass, and the kids and I rode the wave runner. It was a very pleasant afternoon at Lake Pleasant

.

Allergies are not a picnic

2 minutes in to the test 15 minutes and itching like crazy, Ashleys you could barely see. Poor guy!

While our medical deductible for the year has been met we decided to go get allergy testing for us all., because it is not cheap. So till december it's free. I already had my turn and was allergic to Dogs, yes we have 2, all the trees and bushes in az, and food allergies, i have alot of them but not as much as my little man. Today was Connor and Ashley's turn. Ashley came up fine, minus hay fever stuff. Connor on the other hand is in BAD shape. they tested 41 normal things and he was allergic to them all! Not just allergic, severely! they want him to do the allergy shots for 3 years, 1 shot a week, wow, that is alot. They want us to get rid of carpet in our home, no shoes in the house, because of the outside world it brings in, Hepa filters in his room, we are going to have a major lifestyle change! anyway ethan and d go next week and we will see how that goes. Connor as the lpictures show, had huge hive looking reactions! He was a trooper and went back to school though.

Yes for Marriage

I am a volunteer working on behalf to get this Propostition 102 PASSED. We were asked to get people registered to vote within 2 weeks. To vote in the November primary election you have to be registered by October 6th. We need to protect the institution of marriage. We all know we don't want to get in the mess California is in.

Please log on to:
http://yesformarriage.com/
and register for your early ballot to come in the mail by Oct 6th, and your early ballot will come in the mail. My family votes every election and it is important to do your duty. This is one of the rare things that I would actually vocally support to my loved ones and pass along. The entire prop says" Marriage between one man and one woman." Please pass along to all the people you care about as well. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Family Home evening

I love Monday nights. I love FHE each week. This week our project will be building a garden box tonight. We were suppose to go to Chandler for a "Family thing," but that didn't work out because David decided to go and get a virus, which has manifested as a rash over a week ago and wont go away. I feel so lucky to have such great people around us in our town. We havent felt so at home since UTAH. We have no idea how long we will be in the brown state of AZ but, we sure are trying to make the best of it. Our stake president asked each of our families to do a few things for the month of August, which we did.

1. cook your family breakfast lunch and dinner. a hot breakfast aka pancakes, eggs, etc. EVERY MORNING. i thought that this task would be really hard, but it wasn't and we have kept it up! and don't go out to eat ( which has been easy because we have been living on very little moola for a few months now) our kids love it and we love it.
2. keep track of your expenditures. List wants, needs and savings. WOW was that eye opening!then total the numbers and turn them in to the bishop, totally anonymous.
3. Plant a garden. Which we did, but we are doing a bigger and better one. There is 4 families in our ward and we are all working together on all of them this whole weekend. Fun project, we are looking forward to.

We did all of these things and it is great to get your affairs in order! I appreciate having so many great friends around to help support oneanother in these tasks! I will post pictures of the garden later!

Saturdays

I love saturdays, Well sometimes. Today was an especially BUSY saturday. (Our whole existence is just so busy right now), but today was crazy. I had a stake activity i had to be at, at about 8. But I woke up right before 5, Worrying about well....everything, that is just what I am known for. The "worry wart". David and the kids had to leave at 740 to get Connor to golf lessons. I got home after 12 and they were all exhausted. We went to a friends an hour later to swim and help them pass out some neighborhood flyers.That was fun and we got some good exercise, of to Walmart to buy sundays dinner, which we will have 17, get gas, which we always do on Saturdays. Home to make dinner for us and the Missionaries, DAVID is the ward mission leader so we get to feed them lots), and off to a ward activity. Wheeew. Exhausted and D has to get up at 530 for meetings in the am. I love sometimes when saturdays are over , because then my favorite days Sunday and Monday come! Happy Saturday!

Like Father Like son

David is gone each sunday morning at 6:15 now and he left before we were all up. Ethan comes in to get his hair gelled, and is dressed just like David for the day, gray slacks, Blue blazer, black shoes, and he dressed him self!! I couldn't resist taking a picture, because they already look so much alike so it was cute as can be.

This is why I love Sundays!!

Sundays are just the best. wehave church really early this year, and so we have the whole day to lounge, rest, and plan for the upcoming week. So I never used to nap, well i am able to on occasion now,and this past Sunday I got 3 hours!!!! Holy crow I couldn't believe it. Our best friends the Thompsons' come over and we eat each sunday and lounge around nap, Play games and just hang out. This has become a fun tradition For both of our families, anyway, Ashley aka, our family photographer, took pictures and of course plenty of random ones too.

2008 getting to know ya

Welcome to the 2008 edition of getting to know your Friends. 'Press FORWARD'then change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to yourfriends including the person who sent it to you.The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friendsthat you might not have known!

1. What time did you get up this morning? I got up at 6am couldnt sleep

2. Diamonds or pearls?both

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? indiana jones

4. What is your favorite TV show?greys anatomy, the office, too many others to name
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?banana and glass of water or Dr pepper

6.What is your middle name? Ann

7. What food do you dislike?brussel sprouts - they make me GAGso there with you leslie

8. What is your favorite CD at moment?Joseph smith tribute band

9. What kind of car do you drive? Nissan Quest minivan...

10. Favorite sandwich?Turkey bacon avocado on plain bage

l11. What characteristic do you despise?Liars and hypocrites and laziness
12. Favorite item of clothing? flip flops!!!!!

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? europe or somewhere in the carribean

14. Favorite brand of clothing? old navy

15. Where would you retire to? I just want to serve missions and play with my grandbabies hopefully

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?I hate my bday

17. Favorite sport to watch? Football basketball, golf

18. Furthermost place !ou are sending this? on the blog so ....far

19.who will send it back first????????

20.When is your Birthday May 12

21.Are you a morning person or a night person? both

What is your shoe size?4 in kids 6 in womens

do you have Pets?I have 2 Dogs.

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? My garden is poppin up!

What did you want to be when you were little? mom, Chiropractor

How are you doing today?Good. Ankle still hurts, but i can excercise and do my daily things, all is good!

What is your favorite flower? Gerber daisy, tulips, anything but roses and carnations

Holiday you are looking forward to.Thanksgiving

favorite past time? gardening, reading, blogging

what are you listening to? my kids fighting as they put the dishes away.

What was the last thing you ate? Raisin oatmeal granola bar

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? black or read

what is the weather like Now? Hot! not utah nice fall. oh i miss that

who was the 1st person you spoke to on the phone today?

Michelle & sean

Favorite drink..Water and Dr pepper

Favorite restaurant..red robin.

Your natural hair color? What it is now, I have never colored it!
41. Summer or winter?Winter I love to be cold

42. Hugs or kisses?Both. But i love to hug

Chocolate or vanillavanilla

Coffee or tea?neither

45. Do you want your friends to email you back?Yes!!!!

46. When was the last time you cried? today. i cry almost everyday good and bad

48. What did you do last night? Went to scout meeting, watched the office

What are you afraid of?Something happeing to david and the kids. and the dark.

Salty or sweetsweetow many keys on your key ring?

52. How many years at your current job? 9 1/2 as a mom

favorite day of the week, its a toss up between sunday and monday

how many place have you lived? 15 that I can think of, but I am sure there is more or more.

Do you make friends easily? Yes, but it takes a while for me to trust! Boy Have i been burned, but then you are my friend forever and ever