{Chambers of the Mausoleum}

For the last couple of years, I have taken my two older boys, with our friends the Valencia's, on a haunted hay ride.  The boys have always enjoyed it and look forward to going for Halloween.  Well this year, Drew kept saying, "Its not even very scary!"  I asked him if he wanted to try something new and a bit scarier and he said, "Heck yah!"  I texted Pam and told her it was time to bump it up a notch in the scare factor!  She did some research and we headed to Corona to Coffin Creek!

Corona, CA -- AP
As the flood waters subside from 2 week of flooding, 13 coffins were
discovered in the wooded area next to River Rd  and Archibald Ave in
the city of Corona. "The coffins are believed to from the abandoned
Guasti Cemetery in the city Ontario" said Officer Willmans. Officer
Willmans went on to say "The coffins were found by some locals floating
in a small creek that runs through the woods. The authority's and
locals started referring to this area as Coffin Creek.

The authority's continue to search the woods for the remains of the 13
coffins. Only 2  coffins had the remains found nearby. The remains of 2
other empty coffins were found in the woods, some 30 yards to the west
of what is now called Coffin Creek.

As the sun rose, Officer Willmans said " We had to stop searching
last night, those woods got really creepy after dark. I called off the
search when I started seeing and hearings things!

 Our tickets to enter the Deadly Chambers!

 The Valencia's

 The Westbrook's

 Still smiling...before going through the haunted house!

I love hanging out with my Boys!!!!

Drew, Chandler, Ian, and Adam

As we entered the dark and dreary chambers, Ian held on tight to Kenny, and Drew held onto me.  Ian in the first room was hanging all over Kenny.   At every loud crash and scream he heard, he was jumping on him for protection.  Kenny thought it was comical, and tends to have a sick sense of humor, so he lifted Ian up and put him face to face with the terrifying monster!  All of us were letting out shrills and pushing each other forward.  I just kept reminding the boys, that it was all pretend and that this was fun!  The guide of our tour, who looked like a vampire, could tell that Ian was struggling, so she motioned for him to come to her.  I was shocked when he quickly went up to her and he let her whisper something into his ear.  She then took his hand and he walked with her through the whole Mausoleum.  After listening to the boys joke in the car the whole way about "Lady Friends," we joked that she was Ian's "Lady Friend!"  All was going ok until we came to a man with a chain saw.  Drew took off running and screamed at me, "Mom, you are trying to kill me!!!!"  At that point, I thought, maybe instead up taking up the scare factor a notch, we took it up 10 notches!  We ran to the end and were grateful when we made it through the 15 minutes of Halloween terror!  When we asked the boys what they thought, they both responded, "Can we do it again next year!"  

*Ian's new vampire friend had told him that the monsters don't jump out at her and he would be safe with her.  He believed her and held her hand instead of his dad's!

{Hands-on California}

Drew is learning about the four regions of California.  I went to his school to help the students map out the regions with clay.  Drew taught me that the four regions include: the valley, coastal region, mountains, and desert.  

 Drew showing off "the desert!"

The finished product turned out great!  It was a cool hands-on learning experience.  Drew said, "I love maps!"  He can't wait for it to dry, so that he can hang it up in his room.

We have been to all the four regions of California.  We like the variety that California offers!

{Parable of the Pumpkins}

Every Monday night, our family comes together and we have, Family Home Evening!  Family Home Evening is a special time we set aside each week that brings our family together.  We teach important lessons to our children on how to live a Christ like life, we play games, sing songs, talk, laugh, and eat yummy treats!  Family Home Evening strengthens our love for each other and is a time I treasure amongst the craziness of our week.

For Family Home Evening this week, I taught, "The Parable of the Pumpkins!"  I found the idea on pinterest and my kids loved it!

May I present to you, Patty and Perry!  The little one is Owen, made by owen!

 Drew's good friend Robbie joined us this week.  

I read this poem to the children:

The Parable of the Pumpkins

by Tonii Johnson

Once in a pumpkin patch, not far from here,

There were two little pumpkins, both friends so dear.

They were so much alike, both orange and round,

They both had a stem, and they both grew on the ground.

But that is where the similarity ends,

You see, there is one big differene between these closest of friends.

Patty the pumkin is not always nice,

She often tells lies, hits, screams and fights.

She never says sorry, and she really is quite mean,

Though she looks fine on the outside, her insides are not clean!

Then you have Perry, our other pumpkin friend,

Perry is someone on whom you can always depend!

Perry can make mistakes like all of us do,

But Perry says he's sorry, and you know what he says is true.

He tries his very hardest to be the best he can,

It's not always easy, but he has a plan!

He knows how important it is to be truly clean,

Not just on outside, but also where it CAN'T be seen.

He knows of the importance to stay clean and pure,

By saying I'm sorry, repenting, telling the truth and more!

As we leave our two pumpkin friends, there are great lessons to learn,

Our actions WILL determine what kind of insides we earn.

We all make mistakes, that is for sure,

What makes our insides different is our DESIRE to be pure.

As we strive our hardest to be the best we can be,

There will be rough times, days we have to say "Sorry!"

But just like in the pumpkin patch not far from here,

The way I want my insides is SO very clear!

I'll choose Perry over Patty every day of the week,

Even though I may look okay on the outside, clean on the inside is what I truly seek!

The kids loved seeing the yucky insides of Patty!  They all decided that they wanted to be like Perry and vowed to try and be good on the inside.  We went on to explain that through the atonement of our Savior that Patty, and all of us, could be made clean again.  I want my children to remember this important lesson.  Everyone sins, but through repentance they can return to live with their Heavenly Father, and it is never too late to make yourself clean like Perry!

Now when the kids say or do something questionable, I say, "Are you choosing to be like Perry or Patty?"  They often stop dead in their tracks, smile, and respond, "I am going to be like Perry!"  I hope this lesson sticks with them forever! 

Best Buddies

The kids decorated sugar cookies and we played a round of "Gold Fish," as Drew calls it!  

Sweet Tooth Ian

Ninja Owen

  Passionate Mya

{Won't You Be My Neighbor?}

I have been blessed with the best neighbors ever!  Our culd-e-sac is packed full of kids my children's age and they all get along really well.  And the moms are pretty cool too!  We spend a lot of time with each other and always have so much fun.  

We had an impromptu gathering at Julia's on Friday and had a blast!  Owen loves going to Julia's because she always has a craft up her sleeve, so she lets him come over and be artistic!

 He made a spooky spider and bat for Halloween out of egg cartons and toilet paper rolls.

                            

She also had him paint and make wind chimes out of cans.  She is just so darn creative!  I am so grateful she lets us join in on her craft projects!

After the crafts, the kids hit the trampoline! Ian was at a friends house, but Drew, Owen, and Mya taught Elliot how to make a "Summers Sandwich!"

Drew and Ellie are the bread and Owen and Mya are the ham and cheese!  Of Course we had to switch things around, so that Owen could be the bread!

The boys were allowed to play the Wii, which is a special treat for my boys.

And the little girls continued to make sandwiches!

We moms snuck away to another room for a quick mint chocolate chip ice cream break!

It was the perfect ending for a long, busy, Friday!

{Ballerina Fairy}

I know I've posted several photos of Mya in her dance attire, but I am in LOVE with the wings Aunt Kim gave her for her birthday and had to document the cuteness!  It adds just a little bit more pizazz to her leotard!  

I must say again, "I ADORE THIS LITTLE GIRL!"

{General Conference}

I love watching General Conference with my little family.  General Conference is a time when members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, from all over the world get to listen to our true and living prophet.  We watched the Saturday sessions at home and went to the church on Sunday to view it on the television there, with hopes that our kids would be more attentive.

For Family Home Evening, the monday prior to conference,  I talked to the kids about the prophet King Benjamin.   I showed them a picture of King Benjamin preaching to the people from a tower.  I explained to them how people traveled from afar to listen to him speak and put up tents with their doors facing him, so that they could hear his words.  We decided to build our own tent for conference, so that we could listen to the prophet and his apostles, just like the people from King Benjamin's time.

We rushed home from soccer and quickly built our tent.

The kids gathered blankets and I provided them with quiet activities to keep their hands busy while they listened.

 

 I am so grateful to know that we have a living prophet, who leads us and guides us today!   The gospel brings me peace as I strive to keep the commandments.  My life and the life of my family has been so blessed with the knowledge that we know that Jesus Christ loves us, knows us, and hears our prayers.  My greatest desire is for my children to gain strong, personal, testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel and to raise up their own families to the Lord.

 

WE are Mormons, We Know It, We Live It and We Love It!

{Fabulous 32nd Birthday!}

I had a wonderful 32nd birthday!  It started with snuggles in bed at 6 am from Owen.  He wished me a happy birthday and then asked me, "Mom, does this mean you are a grandma now?"  I guess in the eyes of a 5 year old, a 32 year old is OLD!  He then went on to tell me, "I love you all the way to the moon and back, the earth and back, the mountains and back, and to the sun!"  Thats a lot of Love!

My sweet husband surprised me with a dozen yellow roses and made the kids and I delicious french toast for breakfast.  The kids then showered me with gifts!  They each came up with their own gifts for me and I loved each and every one of them!   Mya wrapped up her dolls pink blanket, 6 of her books from her book shelf, her salt and pepper shaker and pan from her kitchen, and her door sign that says, "Mya's Room" into a Captain America bag for me!  She was very pleased with herself and I told her we would read all the books today together.  Owen covered up a box of space bags that I had bought at Costco yesterday, with a blankie and gave it to me.  I acted totally surprised and gushed over how much I need them.  Ian wrote me a card and told me that he loves when i rub his back and that I am kind and a good mom!  He also strung me a necklace out of ribbon and plastic rings and gave me $ .62!  He believes getting money is the best, even if its just change!  Drew had a little help, unknown to him, by me with a gift.  He told Kenny that he wanted to give me a book and "50 bucks!"  Kenny asked him where he was going to get the money and told him he could give it to me from his birthday stash.  Drew didn't seem to eager about that and let it go.  I told Kenny I had a book I bought for myself for Christmas and to give it to Drew to give to me.  He did and Drew was smiling from ear to ear as I told him that the book, "Forget me Not," By Dieter Uchtdorf was a book that I had always wanted to read.  I adore my little family so much.  These thoughtful gifts mean more to me than any store bought gift.  I am so blessed to have four amazing children and a husband who loves and respects me.

I received tons of cards, texts, phone calls, & facebook birthday wishes from friends and family.  Then the goodies started piling in throughout the day!!!!  The way to my heart is through my stomach & that means Chocolate!  

 Jessica made the biggest mint chocolate cookies that were to die for!!!  Mint and chocolate are a favorite of mine.  In the card she wrote that the cookies were "MINT" for me!

Girlfriends surprised me at Pizza Hut for lunch and brought cinnamon rolls, a platter full of chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting!  I was in Heaven at this point!  I love my friends!!!  

 Kenny came home from work and handed me a new i phone 5!!!!  Its beautiful and I went and picked out a K-State purple case to protect it!

That evening I left Kenny with the kids and went to church to spend time with ladies.  We had a western theme and danced the night away.  We ate chili and cornbread, my stomach by this point was belly ache full!  Which in my eyes, means my birthday was a success!

    I even won an award for best dressed!

Friends from church

I came home and Kenny and I watched the movie, "What to expect when your expecting."  It made me glad that my pregnancy days are in the past!  

I felt so loved today, so thank you all for making me feel so special!  I was given bubble bath and lotions and a gift card for a pedicure, so I am going to pamper myself again tomorrow! 

 I love being in my 30's and look forward to many more birthdays to come!