A Chrsitmas Eve FEAST

Is it bad that your 16 year old daughter cooks a Turkey dinner before you? Let me answer that question before you... YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, for a while Kenz has been hinting to me that she wants me to cook more, so that is going to be one of my new years resolutions. But, for now-- As I explained on the post before this, with the homemade applie pie-- we had our Christmas Eve dinner at home this year & Mac cooked everything. She did an amazing job. it was very tasty.

Mashed potatoes!

yummy corn.
We also had cranberries, we had some yummy rolls & the homemade apple pie for dessert.

It was an amazing dinner. My hats off to the chef.

Homemade Apple Pie...

MacKenzie wanted to make a homemade turkey dinner this year for Christmas Eve. Every year for Christmas Eve, the tradition is that we spend it with my family. Last year we were in Colorado with the family & of course Lil Val. This year, of course we are home, because we will be talking to Elder Galvan on the phone. So, part of Kenzie's homemade dinner is she wants to make a homemade ApPLe Pie--- something I have never even attempted--- Of course--- I haven't attempted a whole lot, in the cooking department. So, the only thing she even asked for help with--- was rolling out the dough for the bottom part of the crust, that is where you see her DAD's hands--- hahahahahaha. seriously, what good am I???? UMMMM, I do come in handy, when she needs a baby gift for a teacher or a gift for a friend. :)

Here is the fresh apples in the homemade crust that Mackenzie made all by herself.

mmmmm. it was very tasty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she really is a great cook!!!! We have loved everything she has made!!!!

My baby is 14 (well she was 9 days ago :)

so this year for C.J's birthday we did "Minute to Win It" themed party. We had a super fun time. (I know Stacy & I did) haha. Watching the kids was fun-- Val went to "jersey mike's" and got some subs for dinner. The kid's played some games from the show & went to the park & played 007. Than came back to the house for some amazing cupcakes from my friend April's cupcake shop. o.k. this is real blurry, but Gavin Wheeler & Zach Brundage are pulling tissues out of tissue boxes, with only one hand- seeing who can do it the fastest but of course- within a minute.

It was very funny, because their boxes kept falling on the floor- & it did look like it snowed in the house when they were done. This is Mikayla Neal & the game she is playing, you have to put vaseline on your nose & transfer cotton balls from one bowl to the next without touching them with your hands. Her teammates were helping by holding her hair back- that may have been a little "illegal" on the real show.

Bryson Varney, balancing a tennis racket on the table, with a tennis ball on top of racket, than you have to take a tic tac with tweesers & put it carefully through one of the holes & drop it into a cup. Mad Crazy Skills Needed. Do you see the focus on his face??

my guess is, you can't tell who any of these crazy kids are? hahaha.

MMMMMM. how yummy does that look??? Instead of a birthday cake, we ordered April's yummy cupcake's for C.J's birthday party. MMMM

What goes UP must come DOWN

Kenz, Brooke Myers & Breanna Neal-- and the Wahlin's dog. This is what the girls like to do for fun-- yea!!! They went to the Wahlin's to take pictures & found what were probably some newly raked leaves (sorry jill & rob) but, what do you do?? haha. How can you get mad at these cute faces? Rylee Warner is taking these pictures & is in a few shots later.

Rylee is in the middle- her & Breanna get some serious height on this shot. haha. White girls can jump!!!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE MacKenzie's friends---- I know these girls are the kind of friends that will be there for my daughter through thick & thin!!!! They love her regardless!!! I trust them, I trust her with them! In this time when there is so much to worry about out there with our kids, it is so nice to know that these girls are who my daughter is spending her time with. They are daughters of God. They know who they are & what they stand for.

Thanksgiving Day

mmmm. Deviled eggs, macaroni salad & pie!

Green beans, hahaha. easy peasy, lemon squeesy. this is what I get asked to bring----can't screw this up.

I am so thankful for many things, but as I was thinking about this day and what I was thankful for, my heart was so full, but it was a little empty too. I did find myself missing Val. When we got to Val's parents house & we were talking about him and how he is getting ready to leave the MTC monday for Nicaragua, it really hit me. He is leaving the country...MONDAY!! My baby is leaving the country MONDAY. But, I know my Father in Heaven has blessed him, he has blessed us that he will be safe.

My morning started off with an email to him, letting him know that we had received his letter with his schedule of his flight arrangements and we wanted him to call us when he reached Texas, so sometime between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday. Than of course I had to tell him of my BLONDE moment from Wednesday. I had gone to BASHAS grocery store- purchased 3 books of stamps, than I went to the UPS store & paid $30 to overnight them to him so he could have them before he left for Nicaragua. Of course, when I got to work, I was totally made fun of because-- he can't use U.S. postage in Nicaragua--DUH!!!! So, I had to email Val to tell him not to get toooooo excited about the big envelope coming on Friday. hahahaha.

Than we were treated with his email response a few hours later, their morning devotional for Thanksgiving was given by Elder Holland. WOW! He has had 5 apostles since he has been in the MTC the past 8 weeks. How amazing is that. I am so honored as his mother to have those 5 apostles teaching my son. Make sure you read what he wrote about him on his blog. http://www.eldervalgalvan.blogspot.com/

I do love Thanksgiving, but not for the food-- I love it just because, we get together with family & we see family we havent seen in a while. We were able to visit with Val's cousin Rich and his wife Anette and their two kids Rich & Celine. They are growing up so fast, it is so hard to believe that are kids are as big as they are. We laughed so hard at the table with Val's sister Kim-- I swear she could be a stand up comedian, I just love her so much & I am so happy that she is finally with a good man. She is engaged & you can just see her countenance is so different, she is soooo happy. We had a lot of fun, visiting with everyone! That's what I LOVE about thanksgiving!!!!!!! The food was fabulous of course too! Rhea is a wonderful cook, Kim helped her all day with everything. We contributed the green beans-- how hard is that for Terri to screw up(esp. since Val heated them up), Toni made some yummy deviled eggs, Sally brought the yummy ham, it was ALL good!!!!!

Something Val said in his email that was sad, he told us to remember all the people that will go hungry on Thanksgiving, how sad is that? But, it is so true? What can we do this holday season to make a difference?

oops---happy anniversary? 20 years wow

Beautiful flowers, for me?

Yummy chocolate covered strawberries, for me?

o.k. so, i can use my missionary for an excuse for alot of things--but for this?? i am LAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really it isn't all my fault--especially when 1/2 of the party is gone on the anniversary in question. O.k. so on October 19th--- Val and I celebrated 20 years of being married--- I know ---crazy- we actually are high school sweethearts- which most of you know, and have been together for 25 years. but, I consider it a HUGE accomplisment- that we have been married 20 years. He had to go out of town for our anniversary for work. This year-crazy travel schedule-- he was out of town on my bday-- out of town on our anniversary and out of town on his bday. So. He sent me Flowers to the house & chocolate covered strawberries to work----mmmmmm they were sooooo yummy.

I am still waiting for tahiti. maybe for our 21 st year. :)

Of course I am teesing, I am the luckiest woman alive, because I have the BEST most HANDSOMEST, SWEETEST, SEXIEST, GREATEST, HOTTEST, husband, father, friend----than anyone- on the face of this EARTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apostles teaching my son.....

David A Bednar, seriously? How awesome would it be, to be in the same room as Elder Bednar? Well, he is the 4th apostle that Val got to hear speak. He came last week & Val said he has been his favorite so far. It was really cute, he said when Elder Bednar walked in his heart started pounding really hard. His talk was simple, on missionary work.

M Russell Ballard was the 3rd apostle that Val got to hear speak at the MTC. Val has had some amazing experiences in the MTC. I can't even imagine, sitting in the same room as an apostle of the Lord, let alone having 3 come in a 3 week period. Wow. How awesome is that? I know that my son is being blessed with having these experiences, they will make him a better missionary and of course in the future, a better husband, father etc. I just love reading his letters and feeling his spirit and progress just jump off the page or the computer screen.

Richard G Scott. The 2nd apostle to speak to the missionaries while Val was in the MTC. Elder Scott put a protective shield by the power of the apostleship upon all of the sister missionaries and then by the same power bestowed the gift of tongues upon those learning a language, how crazy is that?????

Russel M Nelson was the first apostle that Val got to hear speak in person and he was so excited to hear an apostle of the Lord. Val told us in his letter that during devotionals they only stand if one of the "bretheren" are about to enter, so he was excited when they were told to stand. He said the Elder Nelson spoke about missionary work & how the apostles & the prophet pray for the missionaries safety every day, also not only do they pray for them, but 14 million members around the world are praying for them. As a mother of a missionary, wow---- that makes me feel "at peace" I know he is doing the Lord's work. I know he is safe. I can't tell you how many times I have teared up since he has left, but honestly, they have been tears of joy- tears of pride, because I am so honored to be his mother. He truly has changed and he has become a true desciple of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

I was talking to a friend last night who said, that I looked beautiful, seriously? I told her she needed to go have her eyes checked. I have never been good about taking compliments from people, but seriously. I told her that I really do feel different right now. Maybe it is that I have a glow--- not being corny, but a glow like a pregnant woman---hahaha. But she was insistant that I was really beautiful, I was like, whatever, so I told her, it's cuz of my missionary, I really do have a missionary glow. Is that possible? Really, to feel the spirit so strong through his letters that they are affecting me? I hope so, cuz I want them to. I want people to say, what is different about you, why do you have that ora or whatever it is? Than maybe I can get my own opportunity to do missionary work here, and explain to them about my love of the Savior. Explain to them, that what the see in me, is the Light of Christ. I don't know-- what do you guys think??? Is it possible for me to have that glow?

Birthday Lunch w/Friends @ Oregano's mmmmmm

I don't know how to describe how I feel about my friendships. They are very special to me!!!!! I am lucky because my friends are the type of friends that will do anything for you. They always know when I need a phone call, when I am missing my missionary. I just love my friends. I am grateful to my father in heaven for them, because he knows I need them!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amy Jo (bff) Hancock & me, o.k. the first picture we took I left out, cuz we thought Garrett would have been jealous- cuz, she hadn't given him a kiss yet that day-- hahaha.

LeeAnn Basha & me.

Stacy "wheels" Wheeler

Vonda Guttery, me-what-who took this picture-c.j. I want a retake---uggggg my eyes are closed- hahahaha. & Julie *jules Martinez.

Pam Jorgenson, me & Kristen Shephard.

Nancy Crouch, me & Jill Wahlin-- luv my cheezy grin! I love these girls, they are all so fun and they took time out of their oh so busy lives to come spend it with me. Thank you so much ladies!!!!!!!!!! C.J. was with us too, I let her come since last year Kenzie came to lunch with the girls. I love C.J. too. She was the photographer. haha. she did a good job--- except the one with my eyes closed-- she did take a bunch of pictures of some birds I didn't include haha.

Birthday's, yuck. ha ha

Letter from Val-----BEST Birthday present EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Celebrating another birthday. Mine yesterday started out with my sweetheart waking me up at 4:45 a.m. to go to the gym. The funny thing, no Happy Birthday- just "are you going?" So, we get to the gym & we start setting up our little "body pump" station & one of the other trainers comes in & a couple of the teachers yell "happy birthday emily" & I thought that would trigger Val's brain--nope. About halfway through the class, I lean over to Val & say--"no one should have to come to the gym on their Birthday." he looked at me with the cutest little boy shy i'm sorry smile you have ever seen, gave me a big hug and kiss & said Happy Birthday.

It was sweet.

After class- went home and showered--I had a golf lesson at 9:00, than I stopped at my friend april's cupcake shop to show her some material for her board I am going to do for her new shop opening soon--(i will send details) than the girls & I went to post office to drop off Kenzie's letter to Val & than went to Baja Fresh for lunch- they took me out to lunch, but I paid-- fun huh. Than we went to Anthropologie to browse, stopped at Joann's for a few things than back home. I took a short nap than got up & showered for the 2nd time today--wanted to be fresh for birthday dinner. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm cheesecake factory.

Than we came home to a surprise in our mailbox from Val, another letter & a sweet surprise on our doorstep---chocolate mint brownies from my visiting teachers. I love them, they are so good to me!!!!

Curbside delivery

One last picture with our son. When I say "curbside delivery" I mean it. We were able to have a few short hugs & some tears were shed then we were on our way. What a handsome missionary Val is.

Happy Birthday Sweet 16 Mac

See bottom- for explanation of this photo********Birthday dinner @ Kona Grill. Happy Sweet 16 Kenz-- we love you!!!!!!!!!!! We are so proud of you. This is one of the 1st years we have been home on her birthday- we are usually in CA- this year we came home a day early- so we took her to dinner just the three of us. It was fun. we are the proud parents of another driver. yeah-- don't we look super excited. Although we are excited about MacKenzie being "sweet sixteen"

Red Velvet Cake--- her favorite--Dessert @ Kona Grill-- Birthday

What MacKenzie really want's for her bday- a Porche' Cayenne ha- not going to happen-- we found a place in San Diego this past week where we saw one for sale, so we stopped to take a photo.

Here she is with her real gift. A MacBook. One of the things her dad decided to do for her this year was he started something 12 days ago- he called it the 12 Days of Kenz. since she was turning 16 & she made it "sweet" he decided we were going to make it very special, so we did something fun for her every day for 12 days before her bday. The first day- she got a new putter, & the last day she got her mac book.

Here are some of the things she got in between:

Bubbles

Silk (soy milk)

Nail Polish

Toms (shoes- buy a pair- they give a pair to a needy kid)

Preztel M & M's

Gum- trident- layers

Candy Necklace

Head phones for ipod

Go to see movie "Dispicable Me"

Got to paint her dads nails -- see photo at the very top.

Mission Call Yesterday!!!!!

Mission call came yesterday-- ***pretend my post is from yesterday
yeah. Where is he going-- I don't know- we all kind of have our thoughts. I would personally love for him to go to Thailand, because when I was little we were stationed there with my dad when he served in the Army & I think it would be cool for Val & I to get to go pick him up when he is done serving his mission. But, I was reminded that the church is probably not sending missionaries there right now because it is not the safest place. I agree. alot of people have mentioned that they think he is going to serve an Asian mission--?? we'll see. This was our 1st attempt at checking the mail-- no mail. Ha ha- it was only like 10:40, it was my suggestion, because I wanted to make sure yesterdays mail was really gone.

This is Val, he actually has the envelope in his hand- but he is totally being a "stinker" and wont show me his cute face. He thinks I am a camera freak- which really I am not even a 1/10th as bad as most mothers.

O.k. so the "boys" have this theory or myth that if the postage is over $1.58 you are going out of the states. So, this is what we had staring us in the face from 12:05 until Val actually opened the call at 5:30 or close to it. We we waiting for one of his leaders to get here. I wanted to take the envelope & run in my room, lock the door & open it. I would have re-sealed it, I promised. O.k. that would have totally been so not cool of me to do.

I felt bad, but when you are waiting for people to show that are very important in your life-- you need to wait. My brother Russ is the only family I have here & we really needed to wait for him. He was only like 5 min. late-- now Cody Hatch--that might have been partially my fault do to bad directions. But it was worth it. so we had everyone there and the envelope please.....

Seriously, I thought he was totally messing with us when he read Nicaragua- because one of his best friends is going there too. He was so totally excited- I loved watching his face, as he read his name- Elder Valentin Martinez Galvan III

Troy, Dalton, Val, Kevin & Blake (blake also going to Nicaragua)

So, here is the interesting thing about Val's call. He doesn't report to the MTC until Sept 29th. It is a ways off, so I do have a good friend that reminded me that I am lucky to have the EXTRA time to spend with my only boy. (thank you Kim Pierce) I am lucky, because he is a special young man & the people of Nicaragua are lucky to have him too. so, i will keep you posted.

EVC 7th Grade Girls Softbal Champs!!!!!

Sweetness!!!!!!!!! EVC 7th grade softball champs. C.J. had a great season, playing a little bit of outfield & catcher. Today she even played 2nd base-- she didn't love it--but was happy she was playing. She had a great experience playing with her team this season & Coach "G".

Out to shake Willis' hands- they are runner's up. They were our toughest competition this season. Both times we played them this season they were the only team in our conference to hold us to under 10 runs. WE won today 8 to 4.

This is my favorite- after every game-if they win--- they would gather in a huddle- and this is what you would see-- they circle and they have a "winning chant". EVERY game-- because these girls went this season UNDEFEATED------

Assistant Principle just handed them the winning trophy.