Another year gone.........

Is 2008 already (or finally whichever suits you best) over? As I think back on the year I have to admit life in the Sims family is anything but boring! Only one trip to the ER this year is something to be said. I have three teenagers and a senior in High School amongst my brood and my baby turned 1. Shelby and Dylan embarked upon a new school and have made many new friends. Tommy is still biding his time to attend kindergarten, soon son very soon! I was released from the RS pres. and I was very sad. I will miss those ladies so much! I have been thrown into nursery which is not a surprise with Eliza hitting 18 months this Friday. The upside is Mike will be serving with me. Mike was out to sea for a total of 175 days this year which is WAY too much. We are hoping for zero days in 2009, keep your fingers crossed. We had our 5th wedding anniversary and our 4th sealing anniversary. I know I get 2 anniversaries, SWEET! I hit the 30 mile marker yesterday and I like to think I am prepared for the next 30. I love where I am at in my life. I love my family and my husband. I love my friends and all they do for me, especially with my family so far away. I am very blessed and happy and thankful for all I have. I know our Savior lives and the gospel is true. I know we have a true and living prophet on the earth today and I am so glad he is here to guide us. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and my family and has a hand in all that happens to us. I can't think of another place I would want to be right now or anyone else I would want to be with!

Christmas Came Early

Shelby and Dylan went to Elgin's house for Christmas this year so we celebrated a little early. Our Christmas Day was the 20th. We have never done the early celebration before but Mike wanted to make sure we had Christmas as a family before Shelby and Dylan left. The kids did not wake up until 7:00! But, it was Mike that woke them otherwise they would have slept later. He was obviously more excited than they were! We had a great time opening presents and we had a big Christmas breakfast. Dylan got a GPS for geocaching so Mike and the kids headed out to find some. I, of course, was on day 2 of a nasty cold so I stayed home with Eliza while she napped. Mike's Mom and Dad and Uncle Jim came out for dinner and it turned out to be a wonderful Christmas. I am so thankful for the birth of our Savior. He is the reason I try to be the best of who I am. He is the reason I am the Mom and Wife that I am. I am so blessed and thankful to have the Gospel and Priesthood in my home. I love it with all my heart. I have lived without it in the past and cannot imagine my life without it now. May the Savior be the center of your Christmas this season. Merry Christmas!!


Eliza even sat with Grandpa!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE!

George turned 14 last Friday. He is getting so tall and so old to me. He was just a little 8 year old boy when Mike and I got married. He is still as sweet as he was then and I am so blessed he is a part of my family and one of my children. George loves to make jokes and be the center of attention. Most adults immediately love him! He has just begun to babysit for some members of the ward and we have heard nothing but praise about it. The kids have adored him. He has talked about being an air force pilot as long as I have known him. For his birthday gift Mike took him to the local airport and he had his first flying lesson. Mike and Thomas got to go up with him too and it put T right to sleep. George loved it and said it was the best present ever! He had not eaten anything that morning and the flight became very bumpy in the end and he did get a little sick. But other than that it was an enjoyable event!





Chicken Parmesan for dinner and a tower of maple doughnuts for his cake. He is certainly original.



Happy Birthday George! WE LOVE YOU

Finally!!!!

It is such a good feeling to remove the Mike Counter. He is not officially home yet but will be in the next 17 hrs. or so! The kids are so excited and of course I am too. He will have been out to sea for 140 days. Way too long! Cross your fingers for us that he will get a shore job and be able to stay and work close to home for at least the next year.

I Am Thankful For...................

With another huge Thanksgiving dinner sitting heavy in my belly I reflect on the things in my life I am most thankful for. I am thankful for my hard working, devoted husband. He is the number one reason in my life for doing what I do. I am so thankful to have him to take care of me and be the head of my family. I am thankful for my good friends. They are always there to be my stand in family when I need them. I am thankful for the gospel in my life, the restored Church of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for my Savior and his sacrifice and atonement for me. I am thankful for my parents and my brothers and sisters and the examples and support they are in my life. I am thankful for my children and the joy and love they bring to me every day. I am thankful to live in a time and place where I have the freedom to live and worship and teach my children as I choose. But most of all I am thankful to be Me and to have the life experiences I have. I wouldn't change any of it for anything!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

Egyptian Shelby

We are having so much fun doing projects for school this year. Shelby's 6th grade class is learning all about ancient Egypt. Today is their Egypt Fair at school and they were encouraged to dress up. This is the end result of the costume I made for her. Isn't she pretty!

Growing up way too fast...........

My baby girl is growing up so fast. I know, what did I expect?? She is learning a new word every day and developing her own wonderful personality. She is definitely going to give Thomas a good run. I am just trying to figure out where the last 16 months have gone. Two more months and she is already off to nursery. It seems as though her baby days have gone much quicker than my other three. Maybe because there are a lot more events going on in my life with 3 teenagers and 6 kids in 4 different schools! I need to stop and appreciate all my children a little bit more before it is too late.

Husband Tag!

So now is a most appropriate time to have the Husband Tag up for me (thanks Katy). I just came off another weekend visit from Mike. He got home around noon on Sunday and left early this morning. Very quick, as usual, but well worth the time we did have. Sunday we just enjoyed each other and the kids. Monday was filled with trying to get some Christmas shopping done (I know it is early but when he is only home one day and we are having an early Christmas on the 20th, there is a very little window!) and we took the kids to play at the park in the afternoon. We had a girls vs. boy volleyball game and it was a beautiful day! Then we took the kids to Super Target to spend their allowance money. Pizza and games last night rounded out our family fun weekend. Only a very short 35 days left until he is home for a very long time!



1.Where did you meet your husband? No mocking.........Online, and through a mutual friend who talked me into meeting him!

2.How long did you date before you got married? We started dating in February of 2003 and Married that May. Very quick but at our age there was no time to waste!

3. How long have you been married? 5 1/2 years!!!!!!!

4. What does he do that surprises you? When he gives up something to give me what I want

5. What is your favorite feature of his? I love his eyes and his heart is amazing.

6. What is his best quality? He is a great Dad!

7. Does he have a nickname for you? Not really, just the normal honey, babe or whatever comes out of his mouth

8. What is his favorite food? Spaghetti Carbonara

9. What is his favorite sport? Baseball

10. When and where did you first kiss? His apt. in Long Beach

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Go out to eat and just be together

12. Do you have any children? 2 "ours", 2 "mine", 4 "yours"

13.Does he have any hidden talents? He can fix just about anything!

14. How old is he? 36 (Wow! 10 yrs. older than Steve!)

15. Who said 'I love you' first? Of course HE did!

16. What is his favorite music? He is an 80's rocker fan

17. What do you admire most about him? I admire his drive to take care of his family. He is such a hard worker and dedicated to do whatever it takes to make us happy. And there is a lot of "us" to make happy!

18. What is his favorite color? Green

19. Will he read this? If I email it to him

20. TAG YOU ARE IT!!!! Post about your husband and show him you love him!

Latter Day Persecution

I have spent the better part of the last hour reading article upon article and blog after blog on the hate people are feeling for the "Mormons". Despite the other 50% of the population that has voted Yes (church members make up 2% of California's population), we have been the target of everyone's hate. Now is the time to pray for our Prophet. Now is the time to learn forgiveness and tolerance and love for our fellow man. Now is the time to strengthen our faith and testimony in this, the one true gospel on earth. It is frightening and saddening to read what is out there. There is even a website set up that lists the names, amounts and addresses of the church members who contributed to the campaign so they can be singled out and "humiliated" because of their efforts. No matter what, after all is said and done, this is the true church upon the earth and no one and nothing can change that. I hope and pray that the faith in our Prophet will prevail and the members will continue to be united in the awful face of adversity.

Success on 8!

I know the presidential election did not turn out the way a lot of us had hoped, but one thing has made me happy! It looks like the California Proposition 8 is going to pass!! I must say I was more concerned about this ballot measure than anything else since it would immediately effect my family and children. This whole experience has strengthened my faith in our Prophet and to follow his counsel and do as he instructs us to do. This quote was emailed to our ward and the ring of truth in it is amazing!

Neal A Maxwell said this in an address given in 1979.
"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.'

"This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.

"Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."

I know we have a living and true Prophet on this earth and I will continue to follow his teachings and stand by whatever action he calls upon me to take.

VOTE TODAY!!

Exercise your American right to vote. Remember the blessings and freedoms we have to live in this amazing place in this time! Everyone's' vote counts. Get out and vote today!!

CALIFORNIANS........VOTE YES ON PROP 8!!!

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Shelby and her friend Madisyn were Thing1 and Thing 2 for their Spanish class. They are learning the names of clothing so the teacher held a fashion show. They could dress up to be whatever they wanted and these girls came up with Cosa #1 and Cosa #2. I thought it was pretty clever and it turned out well. They had a lot of fun with it. Maybe one of the reasons I am so over Halloween is it seemed the whole month of October had to do with a costume of one sort or the other. Either that or I am just a holiday Humbug, probably the latter of the two.

WARNING

WARNING!
I am beginning to allow the kids to post to the family blog. The first to give it a try is George.

Halloween is Great For Parties!!!

Halloween was really fun. I went to a fun party. It was fun because all my friends I met in the dance festival were there, and it was really fun talking to them. The cops showed up 12 minutes before ten because the music was too loud, and it was really fun to see Sister Clark (hostess) talking to the police. It was fun to meet some new people at the Halloween party. I had a really good time. Thanks Sister Clark!!!!

Glad Halloween is over!

So I am not a huge fan of Halloween. It seems like it is dragged out over a period of weeks rather than only be one day as intended. There are school parties, church parties, friends' parties, then finally the actual night of trick or treating. Not to mention the requests to have candy for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Thomas finally decided to be a skeleton the evening before his pre-school party. Of course one day before Halloween and there is not one skeleton costume to be found at Target. So I grabbed a black shirt, black sweat pants, black gloves and some medical tape. This was the end result. Not too bad I must say and he really loved it. That is all that mattered to me!

Ward Trunk or Treat

Last night was the ward trunk or treat party. There were tons of people there. I had never seen such a gathering of people until I moved here. Hundreds come for the annual trunk or treat. There was chili and kids games and karaoke. Then for the event of the evening, CANDY! With hundreds of people come masses of trunks for the treating! Eliza was a flower, Tommy was an army super hero, Dylan was a werewolf, Shelby a black cat, Michael and his friend were 2 of the Jonas brothers (no third) and Martha was a princess. George opted out of dressing up. Tommy was supposed to be batman but changed at the last minute and put on an army shirt, a cape and his cars baseball cap. One of the youth that was running the apple bobbing allowed T to submerse himself in the bucket and he came to me dripping wet head to toe. Bishop found him a granny sweater to wear from the library lost an found. Never a dull moment when it comes to Thomas. All in all it was a busy crazy night. The only thing it lacked was my other half.

Only Dylan, Shel and Eliza would allow me to take pictures.


My werewolf. He received an honorable mention in the costume contest. I made this costume!


Shelby made her own tutu.

Pumpkin Patch

Tommy's preschool went to the Peltzer Farm pumpkin patch a week or so ago and Eliza and I tagged along. They had a petting zoo and a corn maze too. Eliza marched right into the petting zoo and was not afraid of anything. She grabbed a little bunny and scared it away. She put her arms around a very pregnant goat and hugged it. She fed some other very hungry goats and kissed them through the bars. Other kids that were her age cried and cringed at the animals, but not my little one. She is too old for her britches and wants to grow up so fast! Tommy had fun feeding the animals too, but bored of it much faster than Eliza. It was a fun October trip in sunny California and it was about 93 degrees outside. It would have been a lot more fun if it wasn't so hot!

More Love Mush

Last night I got to web chat with my awesome husband. He was in Guam at the Seaman's club with his trusty laptop and free wireless internet. It was so nice to see his face. Eliza sat on the computer desk and said Dada over and over. She blew kisses and kissed the screen, he LOVED it! I love modern technology that allows me to see my husband virtually face to face when he is thousands of miles away! Of course it is not nearly as good as the real thing, but I will take what I can get. He gets back into Long Beach November 9th for another visit then one more short trip and he is home December 15th! He is such an amazing husband and father to work so hard, and sacrifice, to provide for us and enable me to be a stay at home Mom. I am so blessed to have him in my life. He truly is my better half.

Photo tag............you're IT!

Here is how it works. You go to your picture files, open the 4th folder and the 4th picture file. That is what you post. If you are looking at mine you are IT! This is Dylan's pinewood derby car from last year.

Shelby's team WON!!

It was a very exciting game yesterday for Shelby and her team. The first game was pretty much point for point back and forth. In volleyball you have to win by two points and usually the game ends at 25. Yesterday the final score of the first game was 29-31! It was so exciting and the girls were so stoked they finally won. The second game started out pretty badly for us, but we caught up and won with a score of 23-25. For those of you with kids in sports you will know what I mean when I say I about had a heart attack when it was Shelby's turn to serve with game point on the line. No pressure! I am so proud of my baby girl and all her athletic talents. I love to watch her play and I give thanks in my prayers every night for the blessing of being a Mom!

My Girl Plays Volleyball

Shelby joined the volleyball team at school. They have been practicing for a few weeks now and had their first game this past week. Most of the girls are first time players and you could tell they were all very nervous. They did well but ultimately lost. I think it was first game jitters and next time they will do much better. Shelby did awesome and one of her serves was so close! Just hit the top of the net. This picture is not great but she looked so cute (and old!) in her uniform.

Life's experiences

I borrowed this from someones blog. 99 things that you may or may not have done. The ones in bold are the ones I can claim as experiences. Some I know I will never do, and there are some things not on this list I am most proud of. Maybe I need to do a list of 99 things I have done that make me proud.......

PS VOTE YES ON CALIFORNIA PROP 8!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4.Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee Jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Mike.....gone again

So my other half was here over the weekend. We took some much needed alone time and spent Sunday night in Long Beach sans kids. It was nice to have the time together, although the kids were not so happy about it. Eliza knew who Mike was right away this time which made his day. Last visit she was very unsure of him. We did family night on Monday then he was off again Tuesday morning. These visits are but a blink in time and I wish they could last much longer! I had to restart my "Mike Counter" and it was quite depressing to see the numbers back in the high double digits. With Mike being away from home so much we have definitely learned to spend our time wisely and remember what this life is about and appreciate our family more. We just need to remember all that when he works shore side and is home every day!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my sweet mother's birthday. She is such an amazing and dedicated person. She taught me everything I know about being a mom. She is the one I go to for advice and comfort when things are not really going the way I want (which is a lot!) Growing up I knew I could count on her to be there for me. Countless hours spent at softball games, basketball games, piano recitals. She was indeed a dedicated mother and supported whatever it was we happened to be doing at the moment. With 6 kids she made sure she was there for each and every one of us when she knew we needed it. Even in times when she was not happy with my life choices she was there to guide and comfort me. I love and admire my mom with all my heart and I am so glad she has helped shape me to become who I am today! Happy Birthday Mom, I LOVE YOU!

My Pretty Princess

I took Eliza over to see Leanne today and get a few shots of her in the tutu. Leanne does such an amazing job with her talents. This is what she came up with. LOVE IT!

PS Yes, I made the tutu, don't be too shocked.

I love technology

My little sister introduced us to this website, yearbookyourself.com. Shelby and I had so much fun with it! This is one of the photos we did of Shelby. We laughed so hard we woke up Thomas. He was actually sleeping in his own bed for once too! Oh well. It looks like she has a double chin because I didn't center the picture quite right, but that made it even more funny to us.

I MISS MY HUBBY!

So it is late at night and I am missing my husband so hey, why not blog about it! He was in China over the weekend and we got to talk on the phone. With the awesome phone service we have he gets a Chinese SIM card for his cell phone with a Chinese phone number attached to it and I can call him for only 1 penny a minute! You can't get any better than that. I love hearing from him but I think it made me miss him more. I am going to get mushy now so stop reading if you don't want to hear it!!

Bridget's Top 10 Things She Misses Most About Mike:

#10 The way he stays up late and plays his stupid computer game he loves so much

#9 A million phone calls a day because he is bored a work

#8 Watching TV curled up in his arms

#7 The way he smells after he is just out of the shower and freshly shaved, best smell in the world!

#6 The way he looks on Sundays right before we head to church

#5 Sitting next to him during church while our kids fight on the other end of the bench

#4 The way he plays with Eliza and makes her laugh

#3 The way he makes time for Thomas no matter what

#2 His voice

#1 Sleeping next to him every night. Ok so maybe with a kid or two in between but you all know what I mean!

Never a dull moment

Every time Tommy's friend Liam comes over I know I am in for some kind of excitement. The boys had gone out front to shoot his new airplane launch toy. T came in to tell me his airplane had gone on the roof. I said "Ok just a minute." The next thing I know T is yelling "Mom I am just getting my plane!" I said "Where are you?" Then came the reply "On the roof!" He had climbed out Martha's bedroom window and onto the roof to retrieve his plane. I was too stunned to say anything but of course had to grab the camera. Then came the stern lecture to never go on the roof again.

Happy Birthday Michael!

My little Michael turned 17 yesterday. Not so little any more, he can look me in the eye and will be taller than me if he keeps growing! He has talked about becoming a Marine for a long time so he requested Marine Corp merchandise. Teriyaki chicken, orange chicken, fried rice and egg rolls were the dinner of choice. Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting to top it all off. I think I gained 5 lbs. with that meal. He is officially old enough to attend missionary prep and he plans on going with a good friend of his. He was 11 when Mike and I got married. He has become a wonderful young man. He has grown up so much over the last two years it is amazing. It is a blessing to have him as a son and for him to call me his Mom.

I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Our Stake does a temple extravaganza (my own words not theirs) every year preceding our stake conference. This year was to spend as much time as possible at the temple in a 24 hour time frame. I was able to attend this morning with my VT and friend Allison. We started with a 10 am endowment session. I was able to do one of her family file names and it personalized it a little more for me. We then ate yummy homemade burritos in the cafeteria. Off to do initiatory work. I had not done an initiatory since my own over 4 years ago. I remember it being my favorite part of my personal experience and I now remember why! It was my favorite part of the day. We then headed to do sealing work. Allison again had some family file names to do and it was so nice to be there and share in her geneaology work. She promised that this month's visit at my home she will show me how to use the new online church program so I can put together my own family file names for next time. I am very excited about it. The youth of our ward were doing baptisms as we were coming out of the sealing so we popped in to peek at them. It was Allison's youngest daughters first time there so she was able to be a part of it. My three oldest children were there as well and I am glad I got to see them. I am so thankful for the blessings the temple brings into my life! I was very blessed to spend over 6 hours there today and I wish I could have done more. It strengthened my testimony of family and temple ordinances so much. I am blessed to have my forever family with a wonderful man and husband at the head.

Sweet Eliza

I know it is a little early for Halloween. My friend brought me a costume she used for her daughter and I had to try it on Eliza. Of course she looked adorable!

T's first day of pre school

Tommy finally had his first day of pre-school. He was sick with a stomach flu type thing and missed the first two days, but finally was able to go. He is pre-k this year and goes three days a week. He is ready to go to the Temecula Valley Charter for kindergarten so is just tolerating pre-school this year and biding his time.

Happy Birthday Martha!

Martha had a friend over and they had some fun with the camera.


Martha turned 15 on September 11th. She has been counting down for about 4 months now and it was finally here! Chicken fried steak and cupcakes with sprinkles were the request. Martha was only 9 years old when Mike and I got married. Time sure does fly by fast! She has grown into a beautiful young lady and I am dreading next years birthday already.................the age of dating!!

Super Saturday Projects

I am pretty proud of my Super Saturday projects this year. My enrichment committee leader Sandy has been awesome with all her ideas and hard work. We are excited about the things we have this year.

Anniversary

Yesterday was the 4th anniversary of being sealed to my family in the temple. What a wonderful blessing to have an eternal family. I am reminded of the plan of salvation and the wonderful promise that no matter what happens in this life, we will be together forever in the next.

I know it has been forever since I posted...........

Since my last posting, Eliza Lynn had her 1st birthday July 2 and has turned into quite the rascal. She is developing her own personality and loves to wrestle and play guns with the boys. I did get her a baby doll and stroller for her birthday, but she went back to playing guns and Legos. At least she is happy. All the kids are finally back in school. Shelby and Dylan started at their new charter school and LOVE it. It is going to be an amazing year for them there. I will also get to do a lot of parent volunteer time in their classrooms. Martha has embarked upon her Freshman year and is hating early morning Seminary. Michael is the mighty Senior and in his words is "very stressed!" George is in the final year of Middle School and can't wait to be done. Tommy will start pre-school in a couple of weeks and can't wait to be at school like every one else. Mike is currently out to sea on a ship and we miss him terribly. His ship runs from Long Beach - Hawaii - Guam - Nigbo - Shanghai - Long Beach. We see him every 35 days when his ship is in port at the Port of Los Angeles. He will get to come home for a vacation break on December 15, not soon enough! I have been busy with the kids and church. I didn't think I was very crafty, but in preparing for my Super Saturday I have been quite the crafter! And I have acutually had fun, go figure. All in all everyone is doing excellent and we are a very blessed family!!

Shelby and Dylan 1st Day

Lizzie's first birthday!

We took the kids to the Palomar Observatory over the weekend. We also had a little snow fun and it was enough to last us until Christmas. Little Michael choose to stay home and play football with friends. It resulted in a sprained ankle and now he has to miss Youth Conference this weekend. Guess he should have choosen Family Fun Time!!

Roller coaster

Tommy was not thrilled with the Dragon Coaster either, but Mike sure had fun.

Legoland

Tommy was too afraid to pose with the Big Lego Guy. He did have fun running up to him, punching him and running away!

Whats Happening

Little Michael is still very involved in NJROTC and loving it. The military ball is coming up (like ROTC Prom) and he is excited to ask a young lady from church to go with him.

Martha is quite the babysitter for a number of people in our Ward and loves earning her own money, and spending it of course.

George is going to start flight lessons (via G'Pa Sims) in the hopes to become a pilot someday. He has yet to embark upon his first lesson but hopefully it will be soon.

Shelby has decided to cool it with swim for a while and maybe take up some dance or try her hand at softball. She is a very busy 5th grader in all her prep for the big Jr. High next year.

Dylan has switched gears from baseball to basketball this year. His first skills clinic is in February and he can hardly wait. He just turned 9 and spent his birthday at Legoland and it was the best birthday of his life!

Thomas is in pre-school and loving it. He already has a "girlfriend" and must always hold her hand to and from the park. He just turned 4 and also spent his best birthday ever with Dylan and Dad at Legoland.

Eliza is already 6 months old and getting more mobile everyday. She is crawling in her own little way and loving the independence mobility can bring.

Mike still works hard at the Port of Los Angeles on the swing shift. He has a carpool partner so the commute is not as brutal as it has been in the past. He built 2 computers and spends most of his free time playing on them with the kids.

Bridget has started playing tennis with a friend and going to aerobics. This year is the year of fitness and healthy eating (for the month of January anyway). She stays plenty busy with all the kids activities and her church calling which she loves!