First Quarter

The last day of first quarter this year, I had a huge dilemma. . .Shadow a student for eighth grade, or Battle of the Books for Ryan. . .same time different schools. . .what to do?
My mom agreed to go to Ryan's battle (he was the only one on his team battling -- go figure) and I went to Jacob's.  I was so torn and I was so thrilled to hear how awesome he was!  The pictures my mom took were so lonesome looking -- him up answering questions and BLOWING EVERYONE away!!!  He ended  up missing one but became the instant second favorite for every parent watching except for his Grandma :).  Note, this is in April, when I went to the other battles every parent told me what a good job he did.  The fact that Ryan did this independently (or even at all) blew me away -- Ryan doesn't like to be in the spotlight at all, and to be all alone, really wasn't something I thought he would do. . .proud, proud mama at this house :)

Jacob's schoold classes were fine.  I just have to say, there is a reason you go to school when you are young, I was a bit bored and stir crazy!  Glad that I could text and do things to keep busy!  :)

Family Reunion in Utah

 

 

Jake's family has a tradition of a reunion every year.  Each child takes a turn and plans and implements the reunion.  This year, with Jake's parents on a mission and Jake in charge, made it really a stretch to have the motivation to plan and implement one.  Thus, we (Jake and I) struggled with the plans.   We finally decided that yes, we should have one and that maybe Utah in September would work.  So, we went up for an extended DeGraffenried reunion and then met with the Ed and Pam DeGraffenried family after and spent Saturday afternoon and Sunday at Jake's oldest brother Charles home.  The reunion was done true Deana (really Jake) style.  Costco pizza (I think we got 13), and fruit and vegetable trays, and chicken pot pies (I think we got 8). . .easy and everyone enjoyed their time!  It was really good of his family, everyone that lives in Utah made it a point, and they brought salads and desserts.  So fun for the cousins to spend time together.  We were a quick trip, Saturday morning to Monday first thing in the morning!  Fun, fun times!

Mesa Swat Team

Ok, so there are times that you get so, so, so far behind, that it is tempting to just stop. . . That is where I am with blogging.  But, I have a thousand memories floating on my laptop, that are taunting me. . . I loved all that I did, and if I don't blog them, then they will just be that a picture. . .so here I go trying to catch up on some memories. 

I took a carload of nine year old scouts to the Swat team in Mesa back in September.  They LOVED it, and loved getting to climb and explore everything.  This picture doesn't do justice the energy that was bounding!  :)

Get Away 2012

In July, I begged Jake to get me out of Gilbert. . .It had already been a long, hot summer, and I needed OUT!  So, the week after school started, I planned that we take a long weekend and get out of Gilbert!  I made Jake my companion, used points on Southwest, and a free trip and I planned where to go.  Well, there were a couple of places that I thought sounded fun. . .Jake didn't care where we went, so one day when it was a 115 degrees, really and I was miserable I decided the coolest place that we could realistically go was. . .Northern New York!  We had a plan, it got a little hairy when the Dr that works for Jake, his father in law died.  No coverage on Saturday and there would be a relief vet working short.  . .Literally, we didn't know if we were going, until Jake came home to leave.
We left a week after the boys went back to school and flew into Buffalo. 

Niagara Falls was our first stop on Friday morning.  I Loved everything about it.  Everything.  The amount of water that came off of the falls was so amazing, the green the power of the water everything.  I really thought the clourds were amazing.  We parked in New York and walked over to Canada.  We had many people tell us to ride Maid of the Mist.  Loved that.  It was so amazing to see it all up close and really made me appreciate it all so much more.   

We laughed when we came back to America that we had to pay to get back in!!  It struck us funny when we paid our fifty cents and came back into America!

We drove to Palmyra, New York and got to see some of the church history sites.  This clouds and sunsets were so beautiful.  This one was taken from the Hill Cummorah. 

 

 

When we got to Palmyra, we went and saw the Smith family home.  It was pretty amazing to learn and actually be in the area where Joseph Smith actually grew up, and prayed and was blessed to learn the truth and start his translation of the Book of Mormon.  It was interesting to lean that the temple is built on some of the Smith family land.  I was disappointed that we didn't get to do a session, but we loved getting so see that beautiful edifice and feel the Spirit in the area. 
The Grandin Print Shop was our first stop the second day and I was pleasantly surprised to see the office and learn more about it.   It truly testifies of the Lord's hand in all things. 

We took the opportunity to spend a good amount of time in the Sacred Grove and the feeling in the Grove was so peaceful and the area was gorgeous.  I will truly count this one of the most amazing parts of our trip.   

After our visit to Palmyra, we hopped in the car and drove to Kirkland, Ohio.  It was interesting to see the historic center and learn more about the time that the Saints lived in Kirkland. 

On Sunday, we went to church in the Kirkland ward, it was their ward conference and it just gave a pleasant feel when they read the notes of the Kirkland Ward Conference.  Crazy to be there!  After church we went to the Kirkland temple.  It was truly amazing to see the temple that the early saints sacrificed so much to build.   

We also went to the John Johnson farm.  I think this was probably one of my favorite places.  I really gained a deep sense of gratitude for these early pioneers sacrifices and the amount of their faith to give so much.  Jake made the point that it made him understand the saying where are your sites, and what our sites were what we would get.  I do love these early pioneers and the example they set.   

Lake Erie.  We went and walked along Lake Erie, it was pretty amazing to see the great lake and see the size of the lake, for this Arizona girl, I have never seen anything so big! 

We enjoyed our trip. The 70 degrees, the beauty was amazing!  I am so grateful that we got to go, as we were coming home, we were trying to decide when to bring our boys! 

A Democrat in our House?!!!

Spencer always puts a smile on my face with the things he says. Sunday was no different. He was talking about the Pledge of Allegiance, he told us that it annoyed him to have to say it, and sometimes he didn't say it. We asked him why, which he proceeded to say, my teacher said that when you pledge allgiance, what you are saying is that you are promising your country that you will do your best, and sometimes he doesn't want to do his best. I proceeded to tell him that if he doesn't want to do his best he isn't going to want to be a cub scout because they always promise to do their best (he can't wait to be a cub scout). He thought for a few minutes and reported that he guessed he would say the pledge. He then proceeded to tell us that when he grew up he was going to be a gasp Democrat. Jake took it in stride and said ok Grandpa Knapp (my grandfather that I never knew was a Democrat) -- I guess we will have to see what becomes of my aspiring Democrat, but I sure love our Spencer boy!

Snocones for Sale!

 

In June and July, I marked one of the things that I really wanted the boys to be able to have a snocone stand.  They did it!  Along with a dozen of their favorite friends at different times.  They made about 50 dollars to have a late night, that still is to come. . .
Ryan sold snocones when the firework stand was across the street and made 30 dollars on his own.  I was proud of fhim, as this is a stretch for him!  It was hot, and these boys all earned their snocones, that is for sure!

All Caught up!

This is a text that Jake sent me while he and the boys were in Utah.  They forgot or wore an odd combination of clothes or forgot items.  It really is demonstrative of all three of them and their personalties! 

I finally caught up with blogging!  What a  crazy summer we have had!  Glad to be caught up, but wish I would have stayed on it.  Here is to turning over new leaves!