So on to lighter things...This weeks been moving right along. Can't believe that August is already coming to a close. Before we know it it will be 2012. And 2012 is going to be aaawesooome :)

Niko's classes have been going amazingly well. I think that we finally got a good routine figured out with the virtual school thing. We've learned a lot over the past two years of what to do and not to do. I'm sure we'll still learn more this year, but we are working together fabulously. Science is proving to be challenging to Niko so far. This is a good thing though being that this is one of his strongest and most favorite subjects. It means that there is still more to learn, even about things he already has an understanding of. Keeps him on his toes.

We had open house with Bethany last week. It was good to meet all of her teachers and see what all she's doing and going to be doing. Seeing the different personalities she encounters each day. We met a lot of her new friends from school as well. She enjoyed a fun birthday party on Saturday. The main thing they did was go ice blocking down the hills at the park. It was jolly fun! Reminded me of my teen years going ice blocking with friends in California. SO.MUCH.FUN!

Matthew had his first day of flipping his card last week. He felt so bad. After telling me 3 different stories, the real one finally came out through tears. He was goofing around in line and then not paying attention when they got in to class. He was so disappointed in himself. He has been trying real hard to behave and have good conduct. And he HAS been doing very, very well. Which means he HAS been trying really, really hard to make us proud and be proud of himself. So it was really hard for him to explain his failure. But he knows there's always tomorrow. And he actually changed his attitude right away even after he flipped his card that day. He knows he's been doing great and to keep up the good work.

In between shifts this week, we had a good time with friends, getting to know everyone better, at a BBQ. Everyones kids ran free together, playing, running around, bouncing on everything everywhere, not just the trampoline...Adults mingled and shared stories and had a great time too.

We still are getting our afternoon showers quite frequently. We don't mind the clouds. It's a nice break in the heat of the afternoon. Unlike the desert, it actually cools off a bit when it rains.

So glad to hear that our cousins and uncle/aunt back east have power restored and didn't succumb to too much damage with either the earthquake or Irene last week. Although over 48 hours without power is no picnic in itself. I guess my brother, Brad, is in New York for the US Open right now too. He just got power back as well. It's good to be hearing from everyone here and there. Thank goodness for Facebook/Twitter sometimes, that allows us to get those quick, couple word connections. (although we personally get, more than give info on there) Still waiting to hear from some other family and friends in the carolinas and further north. Hoping things are good with them too.

Hmmm, what else? not a whole lot. Just in thought and prayer for friends going through hard times right now. Sometimes watching friends go through a trial and challenge you've walked through before can cause more heartache than you ever experienced walking through it yourself. I guess that's when feelings go beyond sympathy to empathy...

Addie's been thinking...watch out!!!

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart"

I've been mulling around some thoughts lately. I do this often, but rarely do I share them here. But this all came together and I couldn't resist. Besides, I know that if I write it here, I'll have it to remember.

The world around us is filled with people with hopes and dreams. Some of those hopes and dreams are promises that have been given to us by God. Those hopes and dreams that are in our direct control to a certain extent, things that can or cannot happen based on our personal decisions. Those are the hopes and dreams that turn "I can't" into "I can".

But then there are those hopes and dreams that we have that involve the decisions of others. Mainly I've been thinking about the hopes, dreams, wishes we have had for relationships in our lives- raising cousins close together, the types of relationships we will have with our adult children, our grandchildren, the way we hope our adult children will chose to worship, the relationships with good friends, the type of aunts and uncles we hope to be or have for our children... We all know that circumstances have a huge impact on these relationships. Circumstances that are often out of our control. Circumstances that are compromised when we are faced with decisions in life. New circumstances that are created based on the results of those decisions that we and those other people make. The result can either fulfill our hopes and dreams or completely deter us from coming remotely close to experiencing what we have hoped for and dreamed of, sometimes our whole lives.

So from here, for those circumstances that are less than ideal, are we going to live life constantly wishing? Will we allow these less than ideal circumstances cause us to be sad and depressed whenever we think about it? Will we waste our life year after year longing for what will never be? Will that longing forever leave an ache in our heart filled with the disappointment of an unfulfilled hope, wish or dream? Will we someday, when our one shot at this life is done, turn around and realize we missed out on the beauty and appreciation of what was because we were wasting our efforts wishing and longing for what would never be?

As I'm pondering these things throughout the past days, Niko sums it up and gives it all meaning when he says from the lunch table, "God knows everything that's going to happen in our life."

Can we just accept the circumstances that are out of our control? Can we come to a place where we accept them for what they ARE, not for what we hope they would be? Make the best out of what is? Be truly happy for the direction that God takes people and be genuinely excited for them? Be truly grateful for the circumstances that are, embrace them, and be completely content, at peace and happy in them?

Now add this to the thought Niko contributed. God plans our days and the days of those around us. It's not a surprise to Him that things are the way they are. In fact, He planned them to be the way they are. So maybe we should shut up, stop being selfish, stop the whining and complaining and guilt trips, and start praising and shouting our hallelujahs for what is!!!

Things are perfect today!!

****************************************************

Other random thoughts on this subject.

Be happy and joyful in this day that God has given us. You can't do anything about yesterday or control what will happen tomorrow. Experience this day the way God would want you to. He planned it just for you. Live it and enjoy it and be thankful for it.

These thoughts are not in context to the physical realities such as a loved one in prison, terminal illness, injustice-in these circumstances we need to put trust and faith in God that he is working and there is a bigger picture beyond our comprehension being painted and put together. My thoughts are more in context with relationships and adjusting our perspective so we can make the most out of everyday and live a life content and at peace.

Interdependency is a healthy realtionship. It is based on individual identity, but still appreciating one another. They help one another throughout life. Walk through life supporting and affirming one another. If one stumbles, the others help pick him up. If one excels, the other rejoices. They remind and hold each other accountable to the call that God has on their life and the passions that God puts within them.

"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek it's own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Cor 13

A Little Getaway with BIG Memories :)

Mike and I were able to have an 'us' weekend. We took a quick trip up to Seattle. We visited with his Uncle and Aunt and also had some time to explore the area on our own. Scott and Shara were the 'hosts with the most'-so fun to be with, so gracious and hospitable. We laughed A LOT! The Duck tour was awesome and informative and very fun.

Mike and I also got to spend a lot of time on our own. We laughed A LOT some more! We also learned a lot and saw a lot of really cool things.

Check out the rest of the pictures to see what all we did. THANK YOU Scott and Shara for everything!!!!

And THANK YOU to my mom and Dave for watching the kiddos back in the AZ!

The Seattle Underground Tour

Monday night we took the underground tour. It was one of the best tours, 90 minutes full of stories and history. We learned so much about Seattle. The city had been built at a 49 percent grade at one point of time, a story in itself. A fire burned a huge portion of the city down, another story. And when they rebuilt it, they tried to do things different than before. They way they ended up building it, they literally built portions of the city underground and the way other things came about, certain portions ended up underground. Definitely history worth looking into.

Pioneer Square and the famous totem pole. Great story to that too...

Standing in a store underground, looking out the storefront windows...
More underground storefronts...

An example of the first sewer pipes used in Seattle-hollowed out logs...

Street car station on the corner of pioneer square...

Picture of Nordstrom in his first shoe store in Seattle...

wrapping up the week

This week fleeeeew by!!! Is it Friday already? Kids had a mostly great week this week.

We've already shared some of what Niko was up to this week. He also had some Live Lesson Chats with his class at school online. They broke up into groups of 3-4 and did some small group work. They used their microphones and talked to each other and worked on some questions together. And then they went back into the main group and reported what they discussed. It was pretty clever!

Matthew has been doing fantastic. His teacher has been in Hawaii dropping her daughter off at college since last week. She came back yesterday and told them all about her adventure. Even with the substitute Matthew has been staying on 'green' and making good social choices. He is having a great time and making friends...

Bethany has made some friends and is plugging along with the junior high workload. She amazes me. She is so on top of it and so punctual and responsible. Love that chica....

Bracing ourselves for the effects of Hurricane Gregory this weekend. Supposed to get pretty hairy around here. Last night we got some nasty wind. The weather is always fun and unpredictable. Right now the sunlight is beating in the windows, but the thunder is ripping and cracking right over the house also. Every now and then a couple HUGE raindrops will smack on the skylight...Weird...

Supposed to have a big music festival downtown this weekend. Wonder if the weather will affect it?

you say tomato, i say tomato...

Even though Bethany is in Junior High, once and a while she still gets pronunciations wrong (and I still think it's cute-hehe)

Today she asked if she could get an "Awe" Root Beer on the way to youth group....I responded, "Do you mean an A&W root beer?"...She says, "Huh?....Ooooh, I get it." Love it!!

She is reading The Help and was talking about the "south-ern" accent..."Do you mean southern?"...So then she talks on and says it again "south-ern" Haha-love it!!

Science for today...

Niko and I went to the Highlands Center for Natural History today and went on a Naturalist Field Day walk. We really enjoyed the information about the rocks and vegetation and critters. It was a small group-just us and another 10 year old with his grandparents. But it was fun and Niko asked to go again. Each leader presents something a little different.
A lizard tail the boys grabbed in a failed attempt to catch a lizard. The tail was bright blue.

This is an Alligator Juniper. Very interesting bark pattern.
This is some very cool rock formation. They say the best sample in the country of it's kind. They use this location to photograph for textbooks and such. It was so cool that i forgot what it was-haha. I know Niko would remember though

What a day!!

Not even prepared yet to write about it...maybe after I take a nap :)

34

Tomorrow is my birthday. Mike will be working, so he gave me an amazing day today. He came home from work this morning and had these beautiful flowers to brighten my day!!

We took a walk to the park with the boys and played some basketball. Then Mike got started cooking a Sunday afternoon late lunch, early dinner. He prepared quite the spread. Did the whole thing himself. It was amazing. What a treat!!!
Grilled wild-caught Alaska salmon, with pineapple, mango, and teriyaki...
He made a beautiful salad to go with it....

And grilled the sweet, yummy corn we got from our produce basket yesterday...We also had cantaloupe, rice and sweet potatoes...Quite the spread. He spoils me way too much...

After all that, we laid our full bellies down and had a nice nap as it poured rain outside....

This is my birthday cake, num-num...

Matthew made me a card of the five of us singing around my cake....The drawing was adorable, but on the cake he wrote "Lol" That made me lol-haha

I have the best family ever-the best husband and the best kiddos. Celebrating another year of my life with such an amazing group of people was the biggest treat of the day. Sure, no day is complete without the typical fight to referee or attitude to adjust, but I am so grateful that I'm given the opportunity to love and encourage and receive from them. So blessed, always blessed!! And so grateful, always grateful!!!

Today is Grandpa DiValerio's 86th birthday. Though we're not able to celebrate with him in person, we are reminded of all the great memories we have had with him in the recent years past...
He was always up to spending some time in the fresh air with us, throwing a football around with the kids, giving them pointers...

We are grateful for the little time that we get to spend with him, always wish we could work it out to spend more time.

Happy, happy birthday Grandpop!!!!

Fruits and Veggies

This was the produce basket we received this morning from Bountiful Baskets Co-op for 15.00. I think we did pretty good. There was a delay and mix-up with one of the delivery trucks and they had to send another one up from Phoenix. Normally there is a smidgeon more in the basket, but I'm not complaining.

We have gotten baskets in the past in Gilbert. I've always been happy with them. But with Sprouts and farm produce stand like the Ranch Market in Mesa, I seemed to find better deals around town...But since moving to Prescott, I just haven't found my go-to produce place. It's a bit disapointing. But Bountiful Baskets provides a fantastic solution to my dilemma.

They offer an organic basket for 10 dollars more. Looking at the photos of other members, it looks like it's a great ten dollars spent. They also offer bread, bulk produce (this week was a flat of strawberries) specialty packs (this week it was an Italian pack with herbs and italian specific produce) granola, and other specialty items each with their own upgrade price.

It's fun and exciting. They have offerings in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona, and many other states. Check out the website.

Welcome to "Indian Meadows Elementary" (Niko came up with the name this week)...

This is where it all the magic happens :)

And, yes, one perk of not having to 'go' to school is not having to wear a shirt all the time (Niko cheers)
This week has gone amazingly well. We both have had an amazing attitude and have been working hard. It makes such a difference to be able to have a designated space OUTSIDE of the home to physically go to, do school, have 'recess' and lunch breaks and then be done at the end of the day. It keeps school and home separate to a certain degree.

Fifth grade is hard work for sure. I have gone through the same curriculum with Bethany in fifth grade, so we kind of have a heads up on what's to come this year. It's exciting and fun, but this is the year of research, learning how to write a solid report, going from answering in complete sentences to essay questions, preparing for 6th grade.

He has a different teacher than Bethany had, but she seems equally as helpful, resourceful, available, and organized. Looking forward to this year.

As you can see from the photo, Niko is enjoying it. He is relaxed and confident and is quickly refocused when he needs to be.

Granted it's the first week, but it's a good indication of how the rest of the year can be.

Schools IN!!

Here in Arizona-land, today was the first day of school.

Bethany was up bright and early...but hate to say it, Matthew was up ever brighter and earlier. At 4:13 to be exact. He came in to tell me that it was getting light outside and we needed to get ready for school. I assured him that we had plenty of time and he needed to go back to bed. So at 5:15, he came in and said we needed to get going...I mumbled to him that he still had 2 hours before he had to get up and start getting ready...Mike got up at 5:45 to get ready for work and Bethany got up to get going then. At 6:15, Matthew yells from the bathroom, "I need a towel!!" Yep, he had gotten in the shower all on his own after Bethany and was itching to get going. HEHE!!!

Mike and Bethany headed out the door about 7:00. Bethany was excited to be having her dad drop her off to her first day of junior high. He went in with her and got her locker all set up and then she was off to face the day :)

Matthew and I headed out the door at about 8:30 (yep, he starts school at EIGHT-FOURTY-FIVE, People!!!) As we drove to school, he asked me to pray for him while he was at school. As we walked in to the school, he says, "Don't you want to rewind time?" "What do you mean?" "Like when you were my teacher. I wish I could rewind." Awe. I told him that he was going to have a great day and meet lots of new friends and learn great things from other grown-ups. He just swung my hand around and said, "I love you, mom" When we got to his class he was ready to go. He got to his seat and got all settled.

Love the excitement of The First Day of School!

Bethany got a fresh hair cut for school. It's really cute on her.
Matthew got to help pick out some of his own clothes this year to express his own style...One of his top picks was a pair of 'Super' Skinny Levi Jeans...in camo....he LOVES them....

So all in all their first day went well. Matthew made a friend and said he has a crush on the girl that sits behind him. They have a lot in common from what he says-lol. Guess we're going to have to have THAT talk again. He explained all the papers he got and what he needs and the "marble jar" and everything else.

Bethany had a great day too. She started with Band and the teacher was impressed with how much she knew-surprise, surprise...She made it through her classes to lunch. At lunch they separate the boys from the girls. Boys eat first 15 min, Girls eat the second half...Then she was on to her afternoon and then done. She is set to start volleyball on Wednesday and her first game is supposed to be Thursday. She's very excited about everything.

Warning! Very Gross...

Explicitly...gross!!!

We got the ear wax remover stuff for Matthew's ears. After using it for a day we were able to flush out these jewels! Can you believe these were in his ears? They look like pebbles. Amazing...

He can hear better now. Still talks way loud...

Scarves

Bethany and I both have been really wanting to wear these cool scarves that we are seeing everywhere. We can never figure out how to wear them though. Found this website with some very nice tutorials.

http://www.scarves.net/how-to-tie-a-scarf/

Mr Chambers

"The main thing about Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship (with God) we maintain and the atmosphere produced by that relationship..."

Something from Twitter

Web Smith (@CrossFitChron)
8/6/11 7:01
Praying, hoping, wishing does NOTHING if your knee is still is on the ground. Faith isn't praying, it's moving. #REALTALK

Something to chew on...

This was a portion of our parenting class tonight. It was some good stuff for us to chew on form so many different perspectives...

Live to please God, not your children.

Do not make children the center of your lives (Ex 20:2)

Children cannot make parents happy or sad. We/parents are responsible for our own feelings.

When we depend on our children for emotional support, we are placing a terrible burden on them. They cannot be free to live their own lives if they are responsible for ours.

Teach your children God is their source, not you (Phil 4:6)

It was official before, but...

It was official before, but Mike received his badge and publicly took his oath at the city council meeting this week. He was one of four that were hired since March. The department also promoted/pinned 3 new engineers and a captain. Being that it was at the council meeting, it was a small scale event. And somewhat last minute, with the final date and times being confirmed just recently.

Mike's fire fighter mentors/friends/brothers from Phoenix Fire Fighter's For Christ surprised us by showing up. That was pretty special to have them there. They have encouraged Mike along the way, worked with him throughout the testing process, gave him a kick in the pants when he needed it, never let him give up on the calling God has put on his life, even when others and on a rare occasion even Mike questioned it, they were there to remind him what he needed to do.

As we pinned on the badge, I couldn't help but be reminded of all the ups and downs the past 7 years. When others told us to quit and questioned Mike's direction, we knew that this WOULD happen. God's always faithful to His promises...we just aren't always faithful to believe them and walk them out, especially when things don't make sense...

This is Mike's dream job...and he's finally living it. So many times we as a family could have just put it on the self and said, "Yeah, that would be fun to do some day...if...", but it took sacrifice and dependance on God for Mike to be able to continue to pursue this time and again. 7 years later, it's made a difference. We are where God wants us as a family and he is doing what God wants him to do. God gives us desires in our heart for a reason. He doesn't limit us to just putting food on the table and a roof over our head. He wants us to do what we enjoy doing, and enjoy what we're doing, doing it for His glory. Never ignore what you enjoy doing or dismiss it. A passion could very well be a calling.
So an hour dealio at city hall, then he was back to work. Just like that. Mike's dad drove home, Mom and Dave took off, the FFC Boys headed home...and it was business as usual...only with a badge now :)

Gearing up for school

Bethany picked up her schedule. It will probably change again next week when she starts, but she's happy with it.

1- Band

2- CE Practical (woodshop)

3- science

4- math

5- lunch

6- language arts

7- social studies

8- ACE (homeroom)

No PE, but she will be starting volleyball on Wednesday. Not sure how this school is working all that out. But we shall see...

We spent some time walking from class to class, up and down the stairs, opening her locker a couple times...She feels pretty comfortable with everything. Her locker is downstairs and most of her classes are upstairs. But she managed to come up with a plan so she only has to carry two books at a time. Exciting times for her (and dad and mom!)

Check ups

Kids had a dentist appointment today. NO CAVITIES!!! Woo-hoo. They have always done well in that department. Must have their dad's genes with the teeth...

Matthew said that they told him he needs to 'backwash' more and floss more-haha.

Getting all ready for the big first day of school next week.

They all went into the doctor for physicals as well this week. All healthy as all get....for the most part. Bethany passed her sports physical so she's ready for volleyball. Niko was all good except for his typically enlarged tonsils. They ran a strep test just for the heck of it and it came back positive. He is asymptomatic (has no symptoms) so is just carrying it. He got on an antibiotic (first time in over 8 years!), but we'll be watching them close so we can work on getting them out. He doesn't feel bad at all. Matthew was all good except for some huge balls of wax in his ears! Could that be why he is talking SO LOUD ALL THE TIME!!!? We're working on getting all that junk softened up to clear them out....All in all, good reports.

Thoughts from Matthew

Observations of Matthew regarding camping...

For some reason our campsite was infested with huge black ants. Could have been the rain, not sure. We also have an ant issue at our house-the tiny little black ants that can't go anywhere unless they are in formation.

So driving down the road the day after camping Matthew says, "The ants at camping were wild ants. They weren't tame like at home. Our ants have a plan; they work together; you know, teamwork. The camping ants just went all crazy and wild."

Funny that he was thinking about it that way...

Camping

Last week, last minute, we decided to squeeze a camping trip in before school starts. Had to kind of take the weather for what it was and deal with it. It was beautiful during the day, but again, the storm rolled in about 6-ish and poured on everything. Despite that though, we came home with some good memories. It's been a while so we worked through the kinks and survived the 24 hours.

Eating dinner before the rain started...

When the rain came down, we headed in the tent and I read from the book we've been reading together, "On The Wings of Heros"...When the pitter-pat slowed down and a bird started singing, we headed back out to the fire pit and restarted the fire.
Niko excited to get back out, Bethany was getting relaxed :)
Niko got the fire started and we had just enough time to put together some s'mores...yumm...

Good job Niko on the fire...
Then it started raining again, and we called it quits...back into the tent we went....
This frothy, yummy latte was much needed in the morning after a humid, wet night sleep...
The bikes were fun to have along this time. Boys went on a couple rides around the loop...
After bfast and packing up a bit, we headed to the lake for some fishing...It was a learning experience. Lot's of tim untangling and retying things.

The lake was pretty...
These are some of the good memories we brought home. Have to admit there were some not so fun times in the short time we were out. But it's always nice to remember the positive and take that to the bank :)