Diving In!

These pictures would have been fun to put in a flip book to see the progress. We were at Darren's sister Sina's house and Darren dove off the diving board so Malachi went next and so Naomi decided she wanted to try. She had never worked on diving with us before so we instructed her while she was on the diving board. She had a little bit of a rough start, but after her 6th dive she pretty much had it down, well we just need to get her to keep her down and not dive face first. The first few dives were like I photo shopped her in the air over the pool. It was pretty funny. Over all she did great! We were really impressed with how quickly she picked it up. She is our little fish.

Nile Crocodile!

Malachi chose the Nile Crocodile as his African Animal that he wanted to do his final school poster report on. We took him to the San Diego Zoo and got a picture of a real crocodile to add to his report. He sat and researched all the information with me and decided what facts he wanted to add to the report. I went to the school and watched him give the report. He did a great job and was very informative. These are his open house pictures of his report and a clay crocodile he made. Great job Chi!

Sleeping Beauty!

Cassidy seems to have found her sleeping spot. No matter when her nap is it always ends up on the couch. She won't nap in her bed. She always has to be a part of the action, even if she's not lucid. She is a busy bee, but look how sweet and calm she looks here!

Temecula Special Games

I serve as secretary to the Temecula Stake Public Affairs Council. On Friday March 13th 2009 we held our first annual Special Games which we now have the city sponsoring every year here after. It was an amazing event. I had Liberty with me who was only 2 1/2 months old. I didn't know how I was going to do the whole day with her when she doesn't take a bottle. Of coarse blessings come and she slept in the snugglie the whole time. Not only that but I was afraid I would be so sore from holding her in the snugglie all day, but the burden was literally lifted from my shoulders and I didn't even notice her weight.

Above is a picture of myself with our dear friends the Kehoe's and my neighbor Matt Lester and his buddy Jimmy who he was assigned to. This picture meant so much to me, because I was helping the Kehoe's at the event right next to the 25 yard dash where Matt and Jimmy spent most their day. After that day I went home and wrote the below email to my council of my experience. I also sent it to a few friends in my ward who volunteered or had children participating. Little did I know how far it would go. My girl friend who's daughter was a participant emailed it to her friends and our Public Affairs director had it emailed out to all 9 wards in our stake, our stake leaders, and the city council, city participants, and mayor. It was a very humbling experience, but truly impacted me forever. I can't wait til next years!

MY EMAIL:

Our Public Affairs Council was involved in putting together a Special Games for our community. On Friday we held the special games at Chaparral High School. It was such a touching event. I loved seeing familiar faces from our ward volunteering and participating. One particular thing stood out to me. I was helping at the bowling activity next to the 25 yard dash. As I was there I watched the kids run w/ their buddies to the crepe paper finish line. I noticed Matt Lester and his participant Jimmy running the dash again and again and again. When I spoke with Matt I asked "Wow Matt how many times have you guys ran that?" He said "I kept asking Jimmy what do you want to do next and Jimmy would say Run!" So Matt keep running.
After I left the event I was reflecting on the wonderful day. I had called our Public Affairs Director on my drive home to express my feelings for the day. I told her about the above story and how it stood out in my mind. Of coarse Jimmy wanted to run. Even though his feet could not physically do the work Matt was there to help him along the way and Jimmy was pumping his arms just as hard to get to the finish line.
Not only was this very touching to watch, but it was very symbolic to me of the Savior. We may not be able to get to the finish line on our own all the time, but he will be right behind us pushing us along. And when he asks what we want to do next and all we have to say is run. He will push us along again and again and again.
Lastly the Californian did a beautiful right up on the day. We had 2 stars from our ward make the paper (Matt Lester and Miriam Northrup). This is a picture I want to keep forever and was so grateful it was in the paper. It was a picture of Matt pushing Jimmy. The moment that is embedded into my mind of the great day and Jimmy with his big smile on his face running.
I know all who volunteered probably received more out of the day than the participants. The smiles on those faces will remain with me for a long time. Below is the article from the Californian.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/03/13/news/californian/temecula/z2dce10382d9459fd8825757800686e02.txt

Tea Party Time!

So my girl friend had a teaparty for her daughter, it was awesome! She totally out did herself. The invites were a cute tea kettle, the cake, the decore. Totally loved it all. The girls all got hats and boas to wear home. Naomi played tea party with Cassidy for days after that. Kudos to you Krista you are great.

Consider the Lilies

Consider the Lilies what a peaceful and tender phrase. When I think of my children I am so grateful for them and how sweet they are. How the Lord has blessed us with so much! With the worlds turmoil and doom and gloom it gives me such strength to know that we are all being watched over.

In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

25 Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on....

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? ...

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ...
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 ...for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be fadded unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

This beautiful song by Roger Hoffman is an expression of these words:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne178Ms2SFw&feature=related - Video

CONSIDER THE LILLIES

Consider the lilies of the field,How they grow, how they grow.

Consider the birds in the sky,How they fly, how they fly.
He clothes the lilies of the field.He feeds the birds in the sky.

And He will feed those who trust Him,And guide them with His eye.
Consider the sheep of His fold,How they follow where He leads.

Though the path may wind across the mountains,

He knows the meadows where they feed.
He clothes the lilies of the field.He feeds the birds in the sky,

And He will feed those who trust Him,And guide them with His eye.
Consider the sweet, tender childrenWho must suffer on this earth.

The pains of all of them He carriedFrom the day of His birth.
He clothes the lilies of the field,He feeds the lambs in His fold,

And He will heal those who trust Him,And make their hearts as gold.

Angels game

This was the first Professional Baseball game we took our kids to. It was 80's night and they got the retro Angels baseball hat. We had so much fun the kids loved it. Our seats were even behind home plate.

Imagination Workshop

This room was my favorite. It's dark w/ neon paintings and writing on the walls. It makes everything white or neon extremely light. I guess like a black light works. The kids loved seeing their clothes light up.

Testing, testing.

Oh no! Honey I shrunk the kids!

The music room was probably their favorite room. They got to bang on drums, see an old juke box, listen to music, play a piano that was connected to a bunch of other instruments and each key played made the other instument sound.

This was called the time machine. The wheel Naomi is holding spins one way while gravity moved her in the opposite direction.

This room simulated an earthquake. The kids got to build a tower w/ blocks and push a button that makes the earth move.



I took the girls to the imagination workshop in old town Temecula. It's right next to Naomi's Polynesian Dance Class'. We had a blast. It is such a cool place and very educational.

I'm going to be a Garbage Picker when I grow up!

Little Naomi so sweet. She was talking with Malachi one morning while I was doing the dishes. I don't know how this conversation came about but all of the sudden I hear, "No Malachi! I'm going to be a Garbage Picker when I grow up, because that's what Porter wants to be so I'm going to be one too."
Their little cousin Porter was visiting a few months ago. He loves to watch the Garbage man drive the truck and dump the garbage. So he told them that he wants to be a Garbage man. Well Naomi thinks it's called Garbage picker. At least that's her goal rather than a person digging through stuff at the dump??? Garbage picker!

She's going to be the death of me...

Life was so simple with 2 kids. I felt like I had some control of my life. Even 3 wasn't too bad. Once we had 4 something changed. I think it was the fact that Cassidy turned 2. She is into everything!!! My other kids never really broke anything too valuable or important or got into too much. Cassidy on the other hand has tipped over my Tiffany lamp and broke it, tore up display books, shattered toenail polish... So a few weeks ago I left my make up bag out. All of the sudden I hear Naomi yelling "She's got your make up!" It's funny how they know to hide when they are being mischievous. So she is hiding in the living room next to the chair and a half. I find her and she has my ever last lipstick rubbed all over her face, the wall, the carpet and fireplace. WHY!!!!! At first I had to laugh a little because she looked like a clown. I took a quick picture of her after I got the make up out of her hands. Then went to do damage control. I couldn't get it off the wall so I'm repainting over that. The carpet it came out of miraculously. Her face how ever it would not come off. Talk about a good ad for ever last lipstick. This was like permanent marker. So she looked like she got into a chocolate pudding and I didn't clean her up. I ran errands the next day and can't tell you how many people told me she got into a chocolate bar, or had a chocolate ice cream. Yes I did bathe her it just wasn't coming off. Well that past and sure enough she found it again. This time only on her face and legs and not so cute the second time around. Third time now she's climbing on the counter to get it. Fourth time it's not my lipstick, but my eyeliner all over her lips and face. I'm trying to hide my make up, but I can barely remember what I did yesterday let alone remember when I hid my make up and you don't want me going out into public w/o it.

Oh yes it's 80's night!

They were calling Darren Adam Sandler from the Wedding Singer all night. He was loving it!
TVCS Staff

Lisa Gale, Anne Marie Ratclife, Gena Atwood, Jen Clarke, Sarah Drago, Mary Lou Lashley.

Our school did an adult night fundraiser. It was an 80's night at a beautiful location. We had so much fun. Some of the outfits were amazing! We bid on silent auctions, had dinner, and danced. It was a blast -- from the past. ha ha

I want to be a painter when I grow up!

Naomi is such a creative little girl. She painted a picture of the sun setting over a field. She said she wants to be a painter when she grows up, oh and an animal doctor (vet).

Surprise it's the Easter Bunny, no really Surprise!

So 2 years ago I was the Ward Activities Chair. I would help Primary with our egg hunt. Well in our last ward we had a bunny come and the kids adored it. So me being the mom of creating memories for my kids decides I need to buy a bunny costume for our Easter egg hunt. So I buy it with the intent of making Darren do it. However the idea didn't quite pan out and I had to wear it. So I did it for Malachi's school as well. Now it has become a tradition and I do it for the Charter School as well as our ward each year. The funny thing is my kids haven't quite noticed I'm missing when the bunny comes around. We even did the family picture and they didn't say a word at the time as to where mom was? They did tell me about the bunny coming later and I had to lead them to believe I was helping out with the egg hunt and missed seeing them w/ the bunny but did see him. We'll see how long we can pull this off. It was a lot of fun! Even though Cassidy did not like the bunny. If she only knew.
Malachi and Jackson.

Naomi and her buddy Rocky.

Cassidy all ready to go.

After the egg hunt was all said and done.

The Mighty Ducks!

Beth Kuzma and I holding our cute little ones.
Naomi and Kyleigh.

Malachi and Kadin

The Drago Family and Kuzma Family, we took up a whole row.

Even Liberty likes Hockey!

We bought the kids these boxes filled with fun game souvineers. They were in 7th heaven.

Drago Family after the Ducks won in over time to make the play offs.

Drago Family and Kuzma Family.

So we are leaving the game and we asked a man walking by if he would take a picture for us. After the picture he was tossing a ball in his hand. Malachi noticed and asked him if he saw the Anaheim Angels game. The Angels were playing at the same time as the Ducks were. They man said yes and asked Malachi if he liked baseball. Malachi of course said yes. The man then told him that this ball was a foul ball hit from the game and asked Malachi if he wanted it. I told him we couldn't take it. The man said he has a bunch of foul balls since he goes to the games all the time. So Malachi got a game ball from the Anaheim Angels. It says on it official MLB game ball.

Malachi and Naomi wearing all their Anaheim Ducks gear they got at the game.