Snorkling and 4th of July comments

This is Gavin and his friend, Lily from a couple of weeks ago at the beach. Lily's Dad is a diver and brought snorkeling gear for the kids and took them out snorkeling. Gavin LOVED it and that's an understatement.

I'm sad that we didn't get any pictures of our Fourth of July yesterday. Jacen still hasn't taken the Fiji pictures off the camera and I'm afraid to use it and have something happen to them. I will probably do it for him though because we need to take the camera to Bass Lake this weekend. It was a very fun filled day even without fireworks (which are banned and there are no shows around here either). We started with a 5k run for me (I was very happy with a 23:10 time, 7:28 pace) and then a nutritious breakfast with our ward at the greatest-park-ever, Dennis the Menace Park, and a 1k run for the kids and families. Micah ran the whole way and Gavin led the pack. We played at the park and then headed off to the parade. Thank goodness Monterey had a return of their parade. It wasn't quite as good as it has been in years past but I'm not going to complain. At least it was a Fourth of July parade. AND it was pretty cool when the Navy SEALS dropped from an airplane in parachutes on the lawn of Colton Hall. Cool. We came home and the kids played with friends and then we headed down the street to a friend's house for a barbeque/pool party. It was a cloudy, cool day so it was great that their pool was indoor. We were exhausted and glad to get into bed early after watching Albert interviewed on television about what its like to celebrate Independence Day as a Latino. As usual, the kids will wait until the local Feast of Lanterns for their fireworks at the end of the month. I'm so grateful to be an American and enjoy the freedoms that are ours. I don't take them for granted. At least I try not to. I think its noble and I am proud that America stands for freedom, no matter who or where. No matter if the oppressed is on our soil or not. I'm proud of that. And I pray that God will continue to bless America.

Future Missionaries

Here is another picture from Fiji..future missionaries.

This trip has been like a little mini mission filled with fun and tons of service and has been a spiritual boon to Jacen. I'm so glad that he could go. He comes home on Thursday night!

A few Fiji Pictures

 Jacen had a couple of awesome days on a small island that he said was like paradise before boating back to the main island and then busing across to where they would be working the remainder of the trip. Jacen said that the bus ride was long and difficult and this picture shows why. (: I guess they had to push it out of the mud. I was amazed that it rains SO much in Fiji. In the month of June they average 8-9 inches of rain! They get way more in one month than we get all year. No wonder it gets muddy. (Jacen is the one in the dark orange shirt.)

 Here is a picture of the whole group. I love that Jacen looks so happy. (:

 Last night they went to the temple. Jacen is in the middle/left of this picture but he's behind a girl's head. Too bad we can't see him in the picture but I'm so glad that he got to go to the temple there! What a great experience.

Jacen isn't in this picture but this boy is one of his group working with native Fijians. It shows the work that Jacen is also doing.

Jacen leaves for Fiji!

I don't have any pictures. Sorry! We only have one camera and I sent it with Jacen on his trip with a promise from him that he would take LOTS of pictures! He left yesterday. Last minute, we bought him a ticket from San Jose to LAX so we wouldn't have to drive him all the way to LA.  It was a great idea. San Jose is far enough to drive with my kids! It was kind of funny at the airport because everything there is so foreign to me. I haven't flown since my college days (seriously, I don't know how people can afford to fly their family places) and everyone could see how clueless I was. Oh well. Jacen gave us each a hug and he boarded the plane. Gavin cried for several minutes. We're all going to miss him. He arrived in LA before we even got home from San Jose. He met up with his Humanitarian Experience group and called me to let me know he found them okay. He flew out of LAX at 11:30, Tuesday night, and arrived in Nadi, Fiji Thursday morning at 5:10 a.m. (that's about 10:30 Wednesday morning our time). We got an email saying they arrived safely. So today they were going to take the bus to the Marina and then boat out to a little island where they will stay in a little grass hut on the beach for two nights and do some snorkeling and beach activities, watch some resort shows and do a service project tomorrow. Saturday he'll go back to the big island and stay there the remainder of the trip. Next Monday he'll start on the work projects (building bathrooms for people that currently do not have any indoor bathroom) and his Eagle Scout project.  For his Eagle Scout project he will be helping a small, rural school. The school is very limited as far as their school supplies goes. He will be taking many school supplies such as paints, paper, pencils and pens, art supplies, posters, learning games and so forth to donate to the school in addition to books that he has collected from local schools here in Pacific Grove. He has also researched how to create an effective lesson plan and has created six lesson plans in the subject areas of math, science and language arts for lower and upper elementary levels. He and his traveling companions will deliver these lesson plans. I'm excited for him to have this opportunity and I hope that he will learn and grow from it. I want him to get to know these wonderful people from Fiji that are poor in material possessions but rich in their faith and love of their family and friends. I hope he will let down his thick barrier and open himself up to them. Upon his return he has decided to create a blog in which he will post pictures and document them and write about his experiences so that his family and friends can see. For now I will try not to worry if he's remembering to put on his sunblock and insect repellent. (:

End of School, Memorial Day and Micah is 3!!!

 No more lunches to make for a while!

I'm thinking of the positives. In reality, summer is hard for me. No breaks and over time work.

I do; however, look forward to long warm days at the Carmel Valley Pool and getting to take extra long runs in the mornings.

To celebrate the end of school, one of the things Gavin's class did was a square dance/ice cream party.

 For Memorial Day we went to the Monterey Cemetary by Dennis-the-Menace Park to visit my Grandparents grave and take flowers and see the breaktaking display of flags.  It was beautiful.  We talked about our gratitude for our freedom and also about the role Grampa Neufeld played in World War 2. We met up with the Snyder family and talked about how Grampa's life was miraculously spared. Apparently he needed to be on Earth a bit longer. I LOVED seeing all the huge flags lining the driveways and the small ones at each military gravesight. I want my children to know why we have a holiday for Memorials Day and that its not just a day to play only.

 Here we are with my sister's family. I wonder if my grandparents knew we were there. I miss them. I bet they did.

 Today is also Micah's 3rd birthday! He has been waiting for this day for months and months.

Unfortunately he had a cold but he still had a great day.

Jump-N-Around was his choice and he wanted his cousins to be there.

 Then we came back to our house for some cake and ice cream and presents.

He was surprised this morning with a tricycle. Then this afternoon he got some kitchen/food items, cool light up cars, a xylphone, a water toy that hooks up to the hose, dinosaur magnet toys, a car carrier that hold little airplanes and a puppy to take for a walk.  So fun.

 His cousin, Maila, shares his birthday! She turned 9 today! She helped him blow out the candles.

Love this little guy and so glad that he's in our family. Three years have gone by way too fast.

Albert's Hurt

Albert hurt his knee...badly.  It's been 3 weeks I think now.

He was playing soccer, playing on a team in a league game and was running for the ball. He was kicked full force behind his knee and he went down hard. I saw him laying on the gound moaning in pain and I knew it was bad. Poor little Gavin was saying, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy..." He had to be carried off the field and when we made it to the emergency room he was seen quickly, as his pain was intense. After an MRI we found out that his ACL and MCL and Meniscus (spelling?) were all torn as well as a bone fracture.  He was stuck on the couch for a week (thinking he needed a little bell!) and then slowly began recovering.  He could drive after a little over a week (because it's his left knee) and now is doing physical therapy. Surgery looks inevitable but we will see. Our insurance will only pay for a teeny tiny portion of it. He is exercising so well to keep his body strong and improve the movement and healing.  I'm so proud of him for that.

Easter Sunday (I know, it's about time...)

Easter morning started with a visit from the Easter Bunny

I wish I would have gotten a picure of everyone in their Easter dress clothes but that didn't happen.

Then after church, a hunt for chocolate Easter bunnies that Grampa Jim left. I have fond memories of finding our chocolate Easter bunnies and wanted to do that with my kids.

Gavin found his!

Then we went across the street to play some wiffle ball, one of our favorite family activities.

Go Linnea!

Favorite Things

My son was worried about the thunderstorms that were in our forecast and played out last night. (He ended up sleeping through them anyway but I didn't.) I sang him the song from The Sound of Music, "Favorite Things". I need to make my kids watch that movie. I feel like they won't grow up to be well-rounded, well-adjusted adults without it. I know its silly but one of these Sundays we are just going to watch it. "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...." Anyhow, singing that song has made me start thinking about my favorite things. So this week what I've thought of is:

I loved the movie. I wanted to re-read the books since it had been quite a while since I read them. So good. I love a good book. One of my favorite things is curling up with a good book at the end of a long day.

My favorite breakfast that I eat almost every day. So nutritious and yummy enough I'm tempted to think of it as dessert... muesli.

I love the rain and we've gotten quite a bit this week. Chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven. Love them. too much.I like my new J Crew bracelet that I bought because it reminds me of my children's love of finding frogs.

We have been playing lots of wiffle ball and I love it. It brings back memories of my childhood and playing with my older brother. I love that we have such a great place to play right across the street. So fun.

Goodbye Carmel House

My Grampa has been passed away now for 6 months or so and his house was put up for sale. It's bittersweet I guess. It was put on the market and their was a full price offer the very next day. In this market that is amazing. And its selling will benefit all the beneficiaries such as the Hopi Indian children's school (my Grama always had a soft spot in her heart for Indian children and I grew up visiting this Hopi Indian reservation taking them books and computers and such), the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and others. However, I will miss this house fiercely. This was my favorite vacation spot as a child. I loved climbing in those beautiful oak trees and playing in the tree house my cousins built which has now been taken down. I loved swinging from the tree swing. I loved smelling the Eucalyptus trees and feeling that wonderful feeling of being somewhere where I was loved so very much. I loved all the holidays spent there and summers and time with my grandparents. I love them so much and miss them and I guess their house is just a symbol of them and the time I spent with them. I hope the buyer won't tear it down. I hope they will love that house that my Grama and Grampa built so many years ago.

Gavin's Baptism!

Gavin was baptized on Saturday! He has been waiting for what seems like a LONG time to him.

He was so excited.

He was baptized by his Dad.

Gavin chose the songs: Scripture Power, Army of Helaman and Praise to the Man. He loves those "get-up-and-go" type songs.

Morgan said the opening prayer and Tera said the closing prayer.

Linnea and I played a duet on violin and flute of Teach Me to Walk.

Grama Shirley gave a talk on Baptism and Jacen gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.

Chris and Jacen were witnesses of the Baptism.

Gavin said, "The water was cold but I still felt warm inside."

Gavin said, "I feel so clean!"

For those not of our faith, we choose to baptize at age eight rather than infants so that the child has an opportunity to learn about what they are commiting to and can make the decision. We believe that eight years old is the age that one becomes accountable to God.

Gavin was so happy to recieve his new beautiful black set of sciptures with his name printed on them.

Garet and Thor are Chris' two Autistic children. They are so much fun and love stuffed animals SO much! They found all they could in the house and took them down to the small landing in the stair case and played with them for the longest time. The bounce house was set up downstairs because it was raining outside so the other children were walking up and down past the "zoo" on the stairs.

The kids went across the street in the rain to look for frogs and found several and put them in a wooden box. They brought it home and set it on the counter. Thor came along and opened the box and let the frogs out. We found all but one under couches and behind furniture. Then a while later Chris, with a mouthful of broccoli reached down to pick up another piece and almost picked up a frog. He didn't eat any more broccoli. (: Can you find it?