Done! Graduated! 2 down 1 to go!

It is hard to believe MacKenzie is graduated! Wow! This past year has really flown by. She is such a beautiful young lady & she is so special to Val & I. Her amazing way that she is grounded in her testimony of the Gospel & her Faith in her Savior is a wonderful example to me & her friends.  These girls in these photos have been her friends for a long time. Rilee and Kenz have been friends since 5th grade.  Brooke & Brianna started hanging out with Kenz & Rilee in 9th grade (i believe).  I love these girls like they are my own & I am so proud of them.
I am grateful to each of them for their friendship to my daughter. I hope someday to be there when they are each sealed to their future husbands in the temple.
I hope my sweet daughter knows how much she is loved and how truly proud we are of her.  I am honored to know her & to call her my friend & my daughter.

Rilee Warner, Brianna Neal & Kenz

We are blessed to have Val's parents living close by.  Anything that our kids have that is important they come to.  I love Val & Rhea so much & I am so grateful for them both.  It doesn't matter how hot it is outside or how crazy the crowd is, they will come to watch and wait for 3 hours as one of their grandchildren graduates.
I know MacKenzie was happy to see that they came.
We love you Nana & Tata Galvan!!!

 Val's sister Toni & her family: Jr & daughter Kalia came too, we were totally surprised.  Like I mentioned it was hot & the crowd was crazy.  But, like Val's parents-- Toni has been there to support our kids throughout their lives & we are very grateful for her & JR.
We truly are lucky to have such a great support system for our kids.

Rilee, Brianna, Kenz & Brooke Myers.
Love, Love, Love these girls.  I can't say enough about having good friends.

If you look at the P above- this was actually at the beginning of the night & to the right, somewhere Kenzie is actually walking across it. ha ha.  It was pretty cool, after the kids names were all ready- they all came & stood in the P & threw their hats in the air.
It was a great night- great year.  Kenzie has a great future ahead of her.  She & her friends are off to CA for a mini- senior trip.  Than back here for her party.

Senior Prom 2012

Mason Palmer asked Mac to her senior prom this year. He goes to Basha & she goes to Perry- but they decided to go to Basha's Senior Prom.
Wendy McClendon took their pictures.  Her daughter & Kenz have been friends since jr. high.  They went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner & the dance was held at Ashley manor in Mesa.
Brittany Williams in our ward made her dress for us, it turned out so pretty!!!
Her friend Brianna Neal came over & did her make-up & Elise Wilson came over and did her hair.
She looked so amazing. What a beautiful young lady & a handsome young man.  Mason & Kenz have been good friends for a long time & I know she was so excited to go with one of her best friends!

Senior Pictures-- Kenzie 2012

I cannot believe how time flies.  Looking at this beautiful young woman, makes me realize that it happens & it happens fast.  I remember clearly the day she was born and how excited I was to have a girl.  She is every bit that sweet baby girl that I had ever dreamed that I would have.
It's hard to believe that she is graduating from high school in a few weeks. She is such a smart, talented, grounded person.  I know that whatever step she takes next in her life she will be successful at.  She knows her Heavenly Father loves her & she has a strong testimony.  Her father & I lover her so much and are extremely blessed to be her parents.

                          

 

Snowing on Cardinal st.

On Sunday early afternoon we were greeted with a storm--- hail pounded us pretty good. It was crazy- I had to take pictures. It really looked like it snowed.



This pile of hail- came out of the rain gutter-- crazy huh? I had to send a picture of this to Elder Galvan-
One of my favorite pictures is my elephant from Thailand-- he is still in such great condition-- I need to find the picture of my sitting on this elephant when I am like 2 years old. I must say- it is pretty cute.

Wisdom teeth out.... no more A's ????

Brianna Neal & Kenzie before we left for Dr. Baker's to get Kenzie's wisdom teeth out. Brianna wanted to come to the appointment so she could film Kenzie, she thought Kenzie would be so funny on her "drugs."
All the tools that Dr. Nunley & his assistants will use to take out Kenzie's 4 wisdom teeth.
Even though Kenzie is already feeling pretty good on some valium she is going to have some nitros just to help ease the nervousness.
Here she is with her cute little chub cheeks. She did real good- it only took the Dr. 1 hour to get all 4 teeth out & he was able to get them out in whole pieces.

She was kind of entertaining on the way home: she was hitting her lower lip & asking us if she was hitting herself-- then she told me that I should punch her in the face-- because she couldn't feel it. hmmmm.... Good times.

Creativity ....Kenzie is possessed!!!

So kenzie had to do a project for her English class she is getting college credit for & it was to design a Valentine's Day card. She created this card all by herself. She always says that she isn't creative & I am always telling her that she is-- she just needs to tap into it!!! I love the saying she used on the inside--- it is so her!!!!! The card is super simple- but cute!

Brick the Turtle

This is Brick the Turtle-- he is a desert tortoise. Val found him one day when he came home from work, the little turtle was crawling across the brick on our front walkway. Kenzie decided that we should name him Brick. We brought him inside the next day after he hung around the front of the house- we figured it was a sign that he wanted to be part of our family. Kenzie called someone and asked them questions about the turtle- they told her what to feed it & they also said that these types of turtles carry salmonella poisoning- so not to handle them like a normal pet.

So we made him a little place to live. Than we kept him for a few days & C.J. would take him out in the grass to play, but Nixon didn't care too much for Brick. He especially didn't like it if I even said the word turtle or the name Brick. YIKES. We decided that Brick needed to be outside in the "free" so we put him outside to live in the free. The next morning we found him trying to get in the house over by our bedroom door- there is a hole by the door jam. So, once again we thought it meant he wanted to be a part of our family. So, we brought him back inside. SeriousNESS!!!!

It lasted a week & we ended up taking him back out side---- the little Brickster has been gone now about a week-- no sign of him- wanting back in.... Wish him luck.

Nica Mom's Luncheon

Nica mom's. So, this is Denai Pace on the left & Julie Ward. Denai is Elder Collin Pace's mom & Julie is Elder Trevor Ward's mom. Collin has been in the field with Val & Trevor was in the MTC with Val. The interesting thing is-- my path has crossed with tons of people that they know-- The Ward's are in some old friends of our's ward (the plowman's), The Pace's are related to Marshall & Holly Hancock & they also know the Barney's, the McBeth's, the Bullwinkle's. (small world) Collin & Trevor have known each other, I think since junior high. So it is pretty cool that they are serving in the same mission.

I was pretty excited when Denai called & asked if I would be interested in getting together for a lunch & if I would want to try this place that serves central american food. I was like- heck ya!

Of course- anyone that KNOWS me & knows how picky I am-- was probably like, RIGHT....

But, it wasn't bad-- I didn't eat everything on my plate- but I would go back!

I have to say--- I did enjoy the company- way more than the FOOD! But that's o.k. right?

And the whole, NICA mom- thing is a little inside- joke- cuz our boys call things- nica- short for nicaragua.
Chips & salsa & some kind of cabbage- mix. I thought it was pretty tasty. The salsa was pretty bland, not spicy at all, the chips were thick- I actually used them for my chorizo- instead of the tortillas they gave me, because they were really thick-- (the pupusa's).

I found out from Denai that she actually sends her son Collin a packet of spices every month in his box, because the food in Nicaragua isn't spicy at all.
This was a dessert that Denai wanted to try because her son Collin said he eats this alot. It is fried banana's. The white stuff was more of a bland yogurt- at first I thought it was going to be a sweet creamy sauce- like what you would dip fruit in, but nope. It wasn't bad though.
These are pupusa's and they are basically a thicker tortilla with pork & cheese inside. They were tasty!. I think I liked these the best. I would definitely go back & order these again!!
This was their version of Chorizo. It was pretty good- it was a little greasy, but it was good. The flavor was different because their food isn't as spicy as traditional mexican food.
This is what Julie & Denai ordered- it was a shrimp salad. It was called sevichi I believe. It had avacado & cucumber. It was pretty good.

I am really excited to get to know these mom's more, we had a good time & it is good to share experiences that your missionaries are each having. I know that my son is a better missionary because of Elder Pace & Elder Ward. I am grateful to both of these mother's for the son's they have each raised!

Thanks again Julie & Denai for taking time out of your busy day to spend with another Nica Mom!!!

January Birthday Lunch-- Crackers---YUM!

The SUPER-HOT-January Birthday BABES! LeAnn, Ana & Sarahanne! Happy Birthday to 3 of my amazing friends! I love you all & I am blessed to know each of you & have you in my life!
The super sweet "un-January" birthday ladies & baby Mitt!
This is CLASSIC- Wheeler! I love how funny this little saying is on this box! but most of all I love how Stacy see's these funny things on her trips & thinks of her friends back in AZ- who will totally appreciate her cuteness.... she gave all of us one of these-- not just the January bday ladies got these.
One of the "funny" gifts Stacy got LeAnn- they are the panties that you get wet & they expand. Well she thought it would be cute- to put them in her drink- to get them wet- well they wouldn't expand in the drink-she even left them in their the entire time. YIKES--panties in yo drink! LOL

Freshman Girls Basketball City Champs 12'

This is definitely one of my favorite pictures of C.J. I can't believe the height she gets. I guess white girls can jump. LOL. C.J. 's claim to fame this year were her "fast break" lay-ups. She would get a steal & take off down the court & score. It was pretty awesome!!!!

I don't really need to introduce Allie Hancock- but I will-- her family has been friends of our since Allie & C.J. were twinkle's in our eye's. LOL. They played basketball at Payne their 7th grade year than Allie took her 8th grade year off to nurse an ankle injury & to concentrate on softball, but we were glad to have her on the court this year!!!
This is Rachel Price-- she has played basketball for the past 3 years with C.J.-- she played with her at Payne Jr. high for two years. Rachel is a very good friend of C.J's.



C.J's First year at Basha for Basketball was a success-- at least this proud mom thinks so!!!!

I tried to keep track of her points most of the year & if I am correct--- they played 18 games,

they unfortunately had 3 losses. (hamilton- highland & gilbert) so 15 & 3 was their record. They did win the title of City champs, in the 18 games they played-- c.j. had 295 points. She had a great season-- all the team did. We had a great team. All the girls were so fun to watch. I can't wait to watch them the next few years as they all get older & better!!!

Congratulations City Champs---