Good Ol' Arizona Again

As soon as Brian and I stopped feeling the boat rock from the cruise, and before I had time to unpack we had another trip to take. Brian had a job interview in Az and let me tell you now he did not get the job, but we don't feel too bad, he is gonna do summer school, we get to stay in our wonderful house in Sd another summer and lots of other good reasons. So while we were waiting to hear back from the interview we enjoyed some great Arizona and Family stuff.

The weather was so nice last week there. It was unseasonably cold, we almost needed sweaters, In May! My Grandpa said this was the coldest May in 30 years! I always love Arizona storms! the air smells before it rains, Brian told me it was desert plants coating their leaves with a weatherproofing. We enjoyed a little thunder storm a few days after we got there, and all week the weather was beautiful.

My Sister Pregnant Charmaine, her Husband Randal and there 3 year old boy, Israel are moving to Iowa for him to work on his PHD so we got to say good bye again, and of course help her pack and clean house. Its fun to hang out with the girls we always have lots of fun even if we are working. While packing for somebody its always a good time to take stuff! I scored 3 purses! 2 new with tags! and a funky suede triangle shape article of clothing thing.

We went to the Temple with my sister Jenny her hubby Shawn and my parents. The Temple is always a wonderful experience. This trip was no different except my parents were both working the session we went to so it was a little extra special. The First Presidency of the Church just announced 3 new temples in Arizona! 1. Phoenix, 2, Gilbert and 3. Stafford area! That made everything kinda exiting. 3 new temples all in Arizona!

Jenny was so good at getting a willing babysitter to watch all 5 kids (hers and mine) for the night that we went out to dinner afterwards. We were just ordering dinner when my youngest sister, Clarissa, called my parents asking where they were, and why they were not home yet. She was upset because my Mom forgot she was supposed to meet Clarissa and Logan (her hubba man) after the temple for a late mothers day gift. My mom could not figure out why Clarissa was so sad on the phone and felt bad for her. We all tried to tell them to come to the restaurant where we were and we can still hang out together. They finally decided to come. When they got there we gave them a hero's welcome (Fullers tradition) as they come in. Clarissa and Logan came in and gave my Mom her gift in a Brighton gift bag. My Mom loves Brighton and most of my sisters love Brighton! She carefully opened the heart shaped tin thinking she knew just what it was and as she peeked in, then quickly shut it. We could tell she was touched, she held her breath, and looked again, then said, " Really Clarissa?... are you sure?.... I'm gonna cry"

It was very sweet as she showed us all the positive pregnancy test placed in the heart shaped jewelry case. It was also nice to know why Clarissa was so emo. She has been very sick ever since, poor girl. Its nice to know she has a great husband to take care of her. he is so sweet and loving.

While we were at the Temple we ran into My Dads Mom, or Grammy. She works in the temple also. She was exited to hear we were in town and wanted to get together Sunday night to see everybody and say bye to Charmaine and her family before they leave for Iowa. We were glad to go and stay a few more days for the getogether.

On Memorial day Brian couldn't resist the chance to go with Jenny and Shawn to Sycamore Creek and try out the 4 wheel drive. Jenny and Shawn, are always such fun to go off roading with! They love day trips and adventures like we do. We went to upper Sycamore Creek and went driving after a while we found a perfect spot to get out an splash in the creek. In that spot of the creek the water was warm and clear. The kids wanted to play and didn't waste any time before they were wet. I kept nagging my kids, "Katie don't lay down in the water!" "Brian stop splashing!" " Honey hold Susan she getting all wet!" etc...

Then Jenny says to Lacy, her very energetic 3 year old, "Here, Lacy, give me your clothes, play in the water, in your undies, and get as wet, and splash as much as you want."

Jenny is so sweet to NOT to tell me, "Clam down Chantal, they are acting like kids! Just let them play, and be kids!"

So I followed Jenny and told my kids to get undressed and play in the water. After that I felt better, stopped nagging, and had a fun time. (pretty good pictures for a camera phone!)

Jenny is so good at letting Lacy be who she wants to be, She lets Lacy dress herself. That might sound like a little thing but it gives Lacy so much freedom to try out new things and express herself. Lacy is so creative! One day when we went over there Lacy had a cute hair-do with lots of little pony tails all leading to one big one. Jenny said when she was doing her hair, Lacy asked for 10 pony tails, so Jenny thought it out and made 10 pony tails! Lacy always sings, she makes up cute little songs and sometimes dances. When we were all hanging out Lacy was making lots of noise in the other room and jenny called to her, "Lacy, If you want to Yodel go out side!" I called Jenny when we were there and talked to lacy quickly on the phone she told me, "Come over now, Mommy is starving me like crazy!" Every day Jenny has a funny story about something new Lacy told her or asked her. Lacy is such a smart, and creative girl, just like her mama!

While in Arizona we got to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Jones. The kids made cookies, picked vegetables from the garden, played hide-and seek, and got to play with their Uncles Scott, Louis and Samuel. They had a great time at both Grandparents house, swimming, watching movies, playing and getting the extra attention from family. We are so blessed to have a loving family!

A final treat in Arizona is the guest room. Decorated to reflect my Mothers love for Mexican art and decor. It is beautiful! I love the bright colors in Mexico and in the room. My mother painted the mural on the wall with the help of my sisters. they are so talented! We feel so welcome when we come. Except the bed is so hard! I tease her that I think she planned that so we wont want to get too comfortable and stay too long. The room is so clean, it makes me want to take extra care to keep it clean and not let the kids brake the fragile ornaments in the room. I think it is good to teach them to care for things and that we play in one room and enjoy nice things in another.

Brian and I really love Arizona! We are also loving our time here in San Diego, especially the friends and family here, but Arizona is still home.

Cruise to Cabo! pretty much the best trip EVER!

Brian and I with my family went on the best trip ever! Our 5 day Cruise to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada was awesome. here are some highlights:

• First of all losing 11 pounds to prepare for the cruise!
• Parasailing in Cabo, getting my feet dipped in the Warm ocean, enjoying the exiting boat ride close up to Los Arcos, the seals and the fake window at the tip of Baja Mexico.
• Spending time with Brian especially dancing with him! He is such a good dancer and loves to to it! (On the next cruise we are gonna dance more)
• Enjoyed family and 2 well prepared FHE lessons.
• Went shopping, got beautiful Mexican dresses , serving platters bowls and more.
• Had a cannon ball Contest with the family until we were asked to stop!
• Played like kids on the slide.
• Got a TAN! for the first time in years!
• Dresses up for Dinner every day with new shoes and jewelry!
• Played games, laughed hard, met new friends.
• Stayed up late and woke up early. (By choice!)
• Enjoyed entertainment every night.
• Laid out with my sisters (and Mom who is more like on of the sisters)
• Bonded with family and Brian.
• Loved the service making the bed, turning down the bed, leaving mints and towel animals, room service, cleaning up the room, waiting on us at dinner.
• Lobster, ribs, Bree cheese, midnight buffets, 24 hour pizza, and ice cream, chocolate melting cake, warm souffle, mango tilapia, Samoan, crab, fresh fruits, gazpacho, So much more yum yumm!
• taking pictures and making memories.
• Enjoying the best Family ever! Thanks Mommy and Daddy for taking us, teaching us to get along and introducing us to the hobby of cruising!

The Last night on the Boat I told jenny that Brian and I wanted to go out and enjoy the midnight buffet, dancing and play games on more time. When she came back into my room 20 min later I was too asleep to wake up. When we got home from the cruise Brian let me sleep for 2 house then ate lunch and slept for a few more hours! On the trip I didn't feel sleepy just crashed when we got home.

The Kids enjoyed the babysitters and I never worried about them after we left. Everybody in the family had a great time! Brian and I are already Planning our next cruise! This can get addicting!

Just as soon as the sea sickness wore off we had to jump up and run off to Az for a job interview so we are still busy, busy busy!

The only bad thing, I lost my camera! :( Luckily Brian and I had lots of family with us to Take pictures. ..pictures will come soon!

16 Virtues My Mommy Taught Me (1st draft) (Yes Mommy)

1. A clean home is a happy home

2. Your sisters are your best friends.

3. You never need to apologize for a dirty house.

4. Work hard.

5. Always looking nice is a talent.

6. Love, respect, and care for your parents.

7. Share.

8. Enjoy being a Mommy.

9. You do not need to be perfect in everything right now.

10. Save your money.

11. Good taste is a talent.

12. Plant a garden, and watch it grow.

13. Treasure hunting at thrift stores and a talent and a virtue.

14. You can still look beautiful after yard work, sweat, and dirt. While in your dirty work clothes, sweaty hair and no make-up.

15. Read your scriptures daily.

16. Support and love your husband he is your best friend.

( ok 18 virtues my mommy taught me)

17. Pray often.

18. Attend the temple often

Kaite Lady, Katie

Little Katie says the cutest things. The kind of cute that is so cutesie it becomes obnoxious, after a while, but I have noticed as I was preparing for this post. The cuteness comes through more then the obnoxious. When you can look back and laugh and remember she innocence and sweetness.

So here are her most recent cute, cuttie, bootie, tootie-ness...

These are actually what she said. I did not change then and this is a very small part of her daily language that I was able to capture, because if I do not write them down I forget exactly what she said.

Yuck-Yuck-Suckie

Poopie-woopie-spupie

Pottie-wottie-sottie

Hair-Clip-Clippy-Pip-Sippy

Chalk-alet ( refering to sidewalk chalk)

Mr. potato ( what we eat with dinner)

Susie Pusie (what she always call's her sister)

Susie Pusie Oousie Goosie Wuusie

As Well as her cute words she has 2 cute stories about she words. Every time I do her hair I lift her up and she sits on the edge of the sink looking into the mirror as she is just the right height for doing her hair. I often turn on the water to wet the brush so I can begin to tame her curly hair. One time as I was going through this routine. turning on the sink water, She kept saying, "Mommy, watch out for the cloudie, the cloudie is getting all wet! Mom stop the water the cloudie!"

As I looked into the sink I saw a little soaked, cotton ball. It was a good laugh as I finished her hair, and tossed the cloud into the toilet.

Next little story was this morning. Brian was telling me about something going on in Arcada, California. Then he aid, "You know I don't even know where Arcada is,"

and she quickly responded, "I'm right here daddy!"

We love our Katie, she sure is a fun, funny, sum, summy, girl!

Going Private

We are going private.

I often read blogs of others whom I do not know, and with Google Reader I keep pretty updated on everybody I do know (I am a blog stalker). So its hard for me to decide weather or not to go private myself. However I am kinda paranoid about safety so we are going private.

If you want to be added to my safe list and continue to safely read my posts (blog stalk me), because you know I will be reading yours! Please send me an email or add a comment here and continue to check our updates.

To read my blog you do not need a blog your self just a email address, so sent me an email, if that is better for you.

Team Jones will look normal again soon. Only Private :)

"Do You Know Who Brought The Snack?"

We love preschool! I have found an awesome preschool program here. It is a parent participation class through Mesa College Continuing Education. It is a free class in a great location, nice class room, and we go on great field trips with a big discount every month. We have been to Sea World, Lego Land, The Natural History Museum, a farm, a pumpkin patch, the Imax and more. My kids love to go, and they are learning lots! I love to go with them and watch their independence but still be there for them if they need me for a hug, a story or a congratulations. The Teacher lets babies come along with there parents, and I have met so many people and have a great support group from school. Best of all its free! (I am so frugal, or cheep?)

Teacher Marina, who leads the preschool, is awesome she is very well organised and answers the kids questions very well. My favorite is when she told the kids too Male animals were fighting over who was going to marry the female. My kids have learned a lot this month is insects. Brian always wants to know is a bug eats other bugs or plants. The preschool is very well organised. The day begins with a welcome song, calendar and the first circle time lesson. My kids brought the snack for the day so they are the big helpers. For calendar she does it in English and then in Spanish and sometimes in Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, German or whatever language the child's parents speak as there first language. Here the kids are with, "Lets count in Spanish"

After the morning circle time the kids have a free time. During free time they can play outside on the playground, swings, sandbox, water table, painting, grass games organised by a parent balls bikes skates etc. Or they can play inside and make the craft of the day(that goes along with the lesson). playdough, puzzles, (or fine motor skills that relate to the days lesson), read books, play computer games, or the many toys inside. While the kids have free time half the parents have parent disussion where we discuss parenting issues. while the other half of parents run a station for the kids doing one of the many activities. After an hour of free time. we have the second circle time.

The kids wash their hands for snack and sit for a song sometimes a story and to talk about who brought the snack and what they brought.


After snack we repeat the free time/ parents discussion time. After that the last circle time comes my favorite the freeze dance. All the kids love to dance! Its co cute to watch the kids dance. Little B has been named the Mosh Pit Dancer, (minus the violence) for his unique style .

FHE Walk & Games

Well the weather got warmer and I wondered why I ever missed it. I will never do that again! Instead I will try to enjoy each season as it comes...Remind me of that in August while we are here in San Diego we have NO AC! Anyway, Monday was a warm day so we did something we love to do on warm days, went for a family walk. Walking is great low impact exercise, especially with hills! It wears the kids out, and it is a perfect family activity, we love it! Last year during the summer we tried to go on 2-3 walks a week. We we were pretty good at sticking to our goal. There are lots of fun places to walk to near by. Our favorites are, the Elementary School's grassy field and park with a beautiful view of Mission Valley. The Children's Hospital that has a fun healing garden, and today's walk, the foot bridge over Highway 163. Sometimes we go on short walks just over the bridge and back. Today we walked all the way to taco bell/ KFC for dinner. The walk was nice. The kids love to play red-light green-light as we walk. I always enjoy good conversation with B. as we look at all the houses and the plants unique to beautiful San Diego. Most of all we all enjoy being together. (Awww I must be feeling Cheesy!)
After our walk, and the kids had their bath we had a FHE lesson. Then little B wanted to teach us a game. He was so exited he said, "One person hides and that is "ho-ho" the someone finds him that is "Kilan". OK, OK? Can we play?" Of course we recognized the game (with the addition of some new names for the hider and seeker) We had lots of fun playing with the kids. Susan played right along with us. When is was her turn to hide, she was left in the room for a few seconds then we all came and found her. She was so happy to see us all again, full of energy, giggles, and hugs! It was a fun night.

We asked little B where he learned the game from and he said nick jr.com. The same game that had taught him some Chinese words! Smart kids!