This is Halloween!

Here are some pics from Halloween. The girls had a parade at school in the gym. Aysia was a devil (she decided not to dress up this year :, Amaya was a Chinese Princess and Jr was Frankenstein. It was fun!


Cutest Frankenstein EVER!


Waiting for the parade to start!


I think she looks so pretty in this one!


Leaving the classromm for the parade!


At the parade with her friend Emma!

catching up

Ok,so I have been really bad about posting and I really don't have an excuse for why. So,here are some pics to try and catch up.

You may remember that I broke my arm a while back... Here is the pic of the cast and spacing sling thing. It's a bad pic, but I took it myself so I couldn't get a good angle.



Next, Aqeel has learned a new trade. He is now a carpenter. He helped my Dad build a shed in their back yard from sratch. Here is a pic...


Dad & Dixie


Aqeel hard at work

Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage

This video was sent to me via email and I thought it was important enough to share here. We have heard that "to whom much is given, much is required." I believe this includes standing up for things that may be hard for others to understand. There have been many who have said that voting yes on Prop 8 is voting for hate. I can see how people without the understanding and belief of the gospel would feel or think this way. However, those of us who know understand that voting yes means taking a stand for what is right. This video shows an example of the effects of legalizing homosexual marriages and it is quite interesting....

Debates...

I don't know about the rest of you, but watching the Presidential debate tonight has left nothing but a bad taste in my mouth. The constant finger pointing and unanswered questions were really depressing. I don't know how either politician can expect to gain support by this type of behavior. I am saddened by both men and have no desire to vote for either person. I am so glad there is a place to pencil in a candidate on the ballots because at this point the only answer for me is someone other than Obama or McCain. What do the rest of you think????

So inspiring...

One of the things that I remember most about my mother is seeing her reading. I think she keep desseret book in business buying at least two books every month for years. We have a vast collection of books because of it and I enjoy reading almost all of them. In fact most of the members in our town know of my mother's mini library and used to come over and check out books from her.

So, last night I was looking through the shelves and I came across this book. On the back cover was a picture of the authors with their family. As I looked through the picture I realized that I knew two of them and so I decided to read it. As I read this book each page became more and more personal to me. Each part of the story struck a cord within me and I was amazed at how the story of family a didn't really know could have such a resounding impact on me. Though the story is about the long battle of loosing a loved one to cancer, something I cannot fully relate to, it is also about the joys of adversity. Some of you may think that joy and adversity cannot dwell within the same sphere, but to me it does. I have struggled with much adversity in my life and from it I have learned how much my Heavenly Father really does love and trust me. To quote a passage from the book, "I have a different understanding of adversity now, viewed not with despair or anguish or regret but with confidence that my loving Heavenly Father is earnestly trying to allow me to learn something very important-so important that he is actually willing to let me suffer in order to learn the lesson." These words are so true!


So, if any of you are looking for a great book to read try and find Marathon of Faith, by Rex & Janet Lee. It is such a wonderful book of inspiring faith! I am grateful to the Lee family for sharing their personal experience so that I may be touched and uplifted by it!

For you Diane...

I found this dress on Nordstrom's site. I think it is so cute and it would look great with your body shape. It's called a OC by Oleg Cassini Belted Taffeta Dress. Anyway, just thought I would try to help in your search.

p.s. also found these shoes at simplydresses.com and thought they were so cute.

Wisdom Wednesday - Changing schools

Lat night was Parent's Night at Aysia's school. We had a good time seeing her classroom and meeting her teacher. However, looking over her class work was a different experience. Aysia has done really badly with math concepts here. These are the same math concepts that while in 1st grade in San Diego she had mastered. It occurred to me last night that while in South Carolina she didn't bring home a whole lot of math homework and definitely not a lot that had to do with memorization of addition and subtraction tables. So, now that she is here and the curriculum is centered more around math and reading/writing she is not doing so well. This has made me really regret the fact that we have moved our kids around so much. Aysia has lost so much in the year that we spent in South Carolina and it really makes me question why??? Is it because the curriculum isn't as advanced? Maybe the fact that she had such a young teacher had something to do with it??? Maybe it's just been the crazy summer we have had??? I don't know the real answer but it has certainly posed an issue for us. Also, Amaya has started kindergarten and we have learned that she needs extended day kindergarten to help her catch up to the rest of her class. I know that Amaya has fallen under the curse of the middle child. We did not work with her at home on memorizing the alphabet, beginning to learn to read, or even writing and so she is a bit behind. This whole experience, maybe these are the prego hormones talking, has really made me feel like I have done a true disservice to my children academically. I know I shouldn't really worry because Aysia will remember and catch on quickly. Amaya will catch on also. After all she isn't the only one in her class that is behind and she is only in kindergarten. So, I guess my words of wisdom for today would be to be engaged in your children's learning both in school and before school starts.