Read Across America 2013

This is the day when kids all over the country dress up as a character in a book.
Read Across America 2013
Character: Hermione Granger
School: CTA Freedom
Grade: 1st

Thanks Aunt Jenny for letting us borrow the cape!

New home. New Dreams.

It's official.. We're moving! We will be in our new house by next month. This is a bittersweet move for me. I love the new house, it is gorgeous inside... but I will miss the neighborhood we're in right now. We were in Shamrock for 3 wonderful years and made so many friends. I will miss walking Sofia to school, because in the new house I have to drive her to whatever school she goes to. I will also miss how close I am to stores- I'm wont be far in the new house, but after living in Gilbert for 5 years moving "out" to Queen Creek is a big deal. The Gilbert Temple is 7 minutes away from our Gilbert house, in the new house we will be 16 minutes away, which is not bad, but I loved the thought of living 3 miles from the Temple. Like Brian said, "we're not in San Tan Valley, so it's not a big deal." And it really isn't a big deal, especially when we're getting a gorgeous, one-story house.

Anyways...  We walked through the house yesterday with our parents and they loved the house. They're happy for us! I think they're excited to have us closer. My parents will be less than 1.5 miles away. Brian's parents are will be just under 2 miles away. In Shamrock we were the only ones with a Gilbert address and now everyone in the family will have a Queen Creek address. We were also the only ones in the family living in a two-story house and now we will all have a single level home. Which I'm so excited for! This pregnancy made me hate stairs. I don't ever want to live in a two-story house ever again!

The first time I walked through this house I fell in love with it. I loved the floor plan and the kitchen. Brian loved the size of the backyard. He grew up on an acre so we were looking for more "land." To me, having more land just means having more work, but Brian is so excited to have a bigger backyard. And even though the house is not on an acre, the backyard is pretty big for him to have trees, a playhouse for the kids, a pool, and a garden. He's also very happy to have a 3rd car garage because he can finally have a little workshop and space to keep all his tools. Which means he gets to build things for us!

I'm happy for our new house. I think I will love it more in May when we get to bring R.M. home. That's what I'm more excited for, the idea of having 3 kids and watching them grow in beautiful house. I'm excited to make new memories with my husband and my kids.

 

APEX Fun Run 2014

 CTA did their APEX Fun Run this morning. Sofia had the best cheering squad {Hazel and I}. She was so motivated to run and run and run! She did over 36 laps!! I wanted her to stop because her face was so red, but she wanted to keep going. Sofia wanted to pass everyone and be the "fastest first grader."

This was pit stop #1. She stopped for some water and heard one of her favorite songs {Feel this Moment, The Lego Movie version}- forgot about her water and went back to running.

When the song ended she came back for Hazel and took her around 4 laps. Hazel was so happy to run next to her best friend!

Great Job Sofia! We love you!

Temple Tours

 {First of all, I should start out by thanking every one that helped watching Hazel and picking up Sofia from school. This wonderful experience would not have been possible without you. Thank you!}

A few months back, Brian and I were asked to do Spanish Temple Tours at the Gilbert Temple. We were excited with this calling because it meant doing missionary work, Brian had the opportunity to practice Spanish, and we were going to be spending time working together at the most beautiful place in Gilbert, AZ. We did tours every Monday and Tuesday from 10-3. We met so many people and most of them came from Mexico just to tour the Temple. They would take time off work and do a day trip to see the Jewel of the Desert. I am so glad Brian and I were able to communicate with these people and make them feel welcomed. Everyone we met would ask if this was my first pregnancy and when I would say third we would get a "What?? Third?! You both look so young!" Which we kinda do, Brian was approached by many people who thought he was an Elder serving a mission. Brian is extra loving when I'm pregnant, he likes taking care of me and some of the ladies we walked through said to me "You are so lucky, he loves you a lot," or "He cares a lot for you." I also heard compliments on how smart and handsome Brian is, and how perfect he speaks Spanish. Many people asked him where he served his mission and he would say Charlotte, NC and they would say he has no accent, he sounds like he served outside the USA. I loved how a lot of the ladies we walked through wished best of luck in our marriage and pregnancy, they made me feel so loved.

When the tours were over, people would say things like "It is gorgeous!" "It was worth the drive." "You're lucky to have a temple 10 minutes from your house." "This Temple is perfect!" We seriously heard it all. And I agree with all the comments I heard because The Gilbert Temple is wonderful!

Every tour we did was special, but the most special tour Brian and I did was when we walked our girls through the temple. That was a unique bonding experience because not everyone gets to walk they're kids through a temple open house, but we did. Best part is that we get to go back in a few short weeks and finish what we started 5 years ago, our eternal family. The Temple is the House of the Lord, and I am excited to go there with my beautiful girls and loving husband to make promises that will keep us together for all eternity.