Spring Break - Day 1

For the first day of Spring Break we headed to the YMCA and their rock wall. Each of the girls got their chance to tackle their different walls.

Meghan got about 10 feet,

Natalie got half way to the top

Elena got to the top twice on two different walls. They had fun.

We then went to a park for a picnic and more time to play on a playground.

We returned home for naps for the young ones and the older two went and played at friends.

Tonight for FHE we planted our garden.

A fun-filled Spring Break Day!

Nice Car

One of these things just doesn't belong in the picture.

No it's not the cute blond. It is the fabulous Cadillac car in the driveway. Those of you who drive by often usually see a F-250 truck. Well, due to truck problems, it is in the shop and we are borrowing Vern's dad's Cadillac. We are very grateful for the car, but it sure is a funny thing to see Vern driving around town. He has been asked if he has lowered his seat low and pumped up the music while he drives one handed. Very funny. So if you see Vern driving by in is pimped out Cadillac, just wave, laugh and realize that soon he will be back in his Tough Ford Truck.

A Fun Time at Usary Park

On Saturday (3/14) we met up with the Marchese family at Usery Park in Mesa. Cherylann Marchese and I met years ago at the Hill Cumorah Pageant as two silly teenage girls that liked boys. Fortunately, for me, we have kept in touch over the years and we get along great! They moved to the Phoenix valley a few years ago and we've gotten together a few times.

Cherylann and Kindy

(tried to scan in a picture from 1989 Pageant

to see the changes, but it was to blurry)

We had planned to go hiking with the family, but the boys thought it would be great fun to go to a shooting range. So Vern, Mike and the older kids went shooting. Cherylann and I and my three youngest went to a park and played. I sure enjoyed my time (after cleaning up a major blowout from Benjamin) chatting with Cherylann. I think I talked too much, sorry.

Katie and Elena after the shooting range at the park.

The weather was great and I could actually say that the scenery was beautiful. (hard for me to admit that about the desert).

Our men, Mike and Vern!

They had fun shooting and I'll post the pictures soon. Elena had a shell casing pop up and get her by her eye! Yikes. But she is fine. They all hit the target so it was a success.

I Hate Spiders!

I hate spiders. Growing up in Upstate NY, the only spider I saw was a daddy long leg. In school, we learned about all the spiders in the southwest US andI thought, I am so glad I live so far away from there. Little did I know that one day I would live among these furry legged animals.


One summer we were camping in Deleware and everyone wanted to watch the thriller, "Arachnaphobia". My friend, Lissa, and I did not. We went and hid in the campground so we couldn't go. We were successful that night. But we went the next day. There are two scenes that stood out in my mind. One was a shower scene where the spider shows up in her shower and another when someone was using the restroom, the spider comes out. Last spring I had the horrible shower incident when a large spider was crawling up my leg. This morning I had the second experience. I screamed so loud when I saw it...and then promptly killed it. Time to spray!


I HATE SPIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's what I get for Cheating

Today I went to register Natalie at our school, Corte Sierra, for 1st grade in the fall. She attends Heritage Elementary Charter School because her birthday is 15 days after the cut off. Then she could transfer over to first grade after Kindergarten at the Charter school. Well, today they informed me that if she doesn't turn 6 before August 31st she can't start 1st grade. So, poor Natalie will get to do Kindergarten again. Bummer for her, but one of her church friends will be there with her. The agonizing part is all the driving we've done. Ugh. At least she will be more than ready for Kindergarten.

Elena wins again!

Last Saturday Elena and the girls from her Strikers soccer team played in another 3v3 tournament. Yes in 80 degree weather! They played 3 games and won the tournament! She scored a goal as well! It was a lot of fun. Thanks to the Greaves who were our surogate parents for Elena because we had the busiest Saturday. When I went to get Elena she had her sleeves pulled up to her shoulders because she was hot...she looked just like a soccer player. It made me so proud, and I wanted to go play too!

10 Ani Fa!!!

My mini missionary companion, Slla. Rossini a Milano.

La Mostra with Slla. Costa e Anz. Guastella!

Today 10 years ago I got home from my mission to Italy, Milano. It is so crazy to think it has already been ten years...but when I stop and think about what I have done these past years it has been a while.
I am just so grateful that I got to spend 16 months in Italy meeting amazing people and things. Learning a beautiful language, learning the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then sharing them with those wonderful people.
They say that you can't truly put into words those feelings about a mission and it is so true. It was wonderful and unbelievable.
Everyday something reminds me of my time spent as a missionary for the LDS church in Italy... either saying some Italian word (they just sounds so much better than the english word), wishing I could cook like those amazing women there, reading my scriptures and remembering what I learned then and continue to learn. It was awesome. I am glad for what I learned and hope to be able to share with my children the truths of the gospel in everyday life. That is what we are here to learn on this earth. How to live our lives the fullest while following the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love Italy... don't know when I will return, hopefully sooner than later. When I stop and think about that place it always makes me smile, probably because I had the most amazing blessing to serve there as a missionary for the LDS church e il cibo e fabuloso! CIAO!