Memorial Models

This year in reading the kids had to write a paper on a memorial

 and make a model of that memorial.

Xander chose to do the USS Arizona. 

Excerpt from Xander's report:

"I believe that this memorial is very important to the Navy and all military personnel who are serving and have served our country. In my opinion, this memorial was made to help everyone remember the devastating effects that war can have. What happened on December 7,1941 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was a tragedy never to be forgotten."  

I think his came our really great! The cellophane "water" on top has a rainbow sheen to it which is especially fitting since the battleship to this day continues to leak oil.

Alyssa chose one that was not on the list, but we had visited!
This is the Balto Memorial in Central Park. 

This project weighed a ton! Okay well not a ton, but I'd say at least 15lbs! Thankfully there is no shortage of rocks in our yard! Great job Lissy!

For years we have visited the statue and taken a pictures. 

Who knew it would actually be useful for a report some day?! 

Here is a little tidbit from Alyssa's paper about Balto and the sled dogs:

"On January 20,1925 the town of Nome, Alaska sent out an urgent telegram that said they needed the antitoxin for an outbreak of the disease Diphtheria among the children.  Trains did not travel that far north and the only plane available had a frozen engine. So the best chance at getting the medicine across the icy tundra was by sled dogs. Twenty different musher teams raced over 647 miles for a total of eight exhausting days to get the medicine to the children. Balto was chosen as the lead dog for the final stretch of the journey.  Balto led his team through strong winds that tipped the sled over, dashed through reindeer, and ran in temperatures fifty degrees below zero.  On February 2,1925 the final team arrived at 5:30 in the morning and the town was saved!  Balto was a true hero to the town."

Now we actually know what it is all about! 

The Blessings of the Priesthood

Today in YW I taught a lesson about the blessings we receive from the Priesthood.  I asked the girls earlier in the week to think about a way they have been blessed and come willing to share with a story or a picture of an event in their life. I loved their stories and appreciation of the priesthood. 

As I was preparing the lesson I thought back over my life and the countless blessing that I have received from my father. I am grateful that he was still alive to be able to give my children a name and a blessing.

Alexander and Alyssa on the day of their baby blessing 

December 24, 2000 

by Richard Nowlin

Baptism and Confirmation

October 11, 2008

by (Uncle) David Mahler

Xander  receiving the priesthood

October 14, 2012

By David Mahler

On Monday there was no soccer practice due to a Saturday tournament.

Tuesday soccer practice was cancelled. 

Two days in a row! We weren't quite sure what to do with ourselves!

I grabbed a book and a plunked my butt on a lounge chair in the sunshine. 

Next thing I know Xander is doing the same thing.

Well Lissy she likes to do things a bit differently!

I can't imagine that this is comfy,  but hey if it makes her happy!

Shrunken slides

A few weeks ago I ran out of the house, got halfway to church for Mutual and realized that I had forgotten to change my shoes! I was laughing so hard. 

I felt like such a dork at church, but I was comfy!

(I have done this more times than I can count!  Usually with flip flops that don't match my outfit and occasionally slippers. )

The fact is they weren't even my shoes! They are Xander's. 

I wear his slides around the house because they are super comfy.

 WELL I won't be doing that with these anymore!  

His slides had a bit of an issue! No wait! A MAJOR ISSUE!

 He left them out by the pool in 89 degree heat and they 

SHRUNK (one about 3 sizes)

&

(both ends)  CURLED 

I called Nike customer service and they laughed right along with me and said that is bizarre. Their policy is to send in the shoes and if it is within 2 years and they feel the product is faulty they will send a gift certificate for the replacement amount. I can't see how they wouldn't! I leave my $2.00 flip flops out by the pool and nothing strange happens. Fingers crossed. 

Too bad I didn't take a picture of Xander's HUGE toes overlapping the top. It was hysterical! 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Alyssa had most of her soccer team over after a very hot practice for pizza, swimming and hanging out!

I LOVE these girls! 

They are strong, tough, funny, beautiful, so NOT into drama, easy going, silly, great friends and they work hard to do their best! 

Oh and did I mention crackpots?!

Lauren telling Shawn- BRING IT ON! 

They love hamming it up for pictures!

Xander and his friend Shawn were the only two boys at the party. This picture CRACKS ME UP! Look at the expression on Shawn's face! "AHHH what do I do with all of these girls around me?" In a few years the boys will love it!

But for now they are happy to mostly be silent observers from afar!

Mother's Day Flower

~Like Mother like daughter~

This is the picture that Lissy had Paul print for me for Mother's day. She found this flower (trilluim) in the backyard, grabbed my camera to take a picture and told me about it, but I forgot to go outside and see it. I didn't even remember to look at it on the camera. She is always snapping away on my camera. I usually don't see all that she has caputred until I am uploading a million pictures...

The funny thing is a few days later I found these flowers another place in the yard and posted it on Facebook. Unbeknownst me to that this was the same flower Alyssa was talking about. So I was really surprised when she gave me this beautiful picture for Mother's Day. 

Paul found it really amusing that both Alyssa and I found the same flower in our yard. There were only 4 of these flowers blooming in 2 different areas. I love that my daughter is so like me in the fact that we both appreciate the beautiful little things in life! That in itself is the best Mother's day gift I could ever ask for! 

Why didn't the turtle cross the road?

Xander just did a great deed! Me well... not sure if I get the loser mom award or what? We were on the stretch where you get onto the Pike (Exit 10A Westbound) just under the overpass in the RIGHT HAND LANE CLOSEST TO THE GUARDRAIL and there is a huge (foot plus long) snapper turtle in the middle of the lane. Well I can't hit it! Nor do I want try and drive over it just so the person behind me can hit it. SO I put my emergency flashers on and have Xander get out of the car on the right side while I direct cars around me. He picks up the snapping turtle who is trying his best to bite him and after dropping him once (oops) he puts the turtle over the guardrail (which he can't fit under, thankfully) and jumps back in our car and are on our merry way! 

Thankfully Xander didn't get bit, that would of been fun explaining it to the dr. or hit by a car! So good deed done! ME-not a loser Mom! Now if I took pictures of him doing this rather than redirecting traffic that would have been another story!