Basketball camp

Kyle still LOVES basketball. So much so, that we decided to have him in both sessions of camp. He was so excited to get his shirt, a ball and signed picture of Jahii Carson.

Jahii use to play for Mesa High and just signed on with ASU. He is unbelievable and so much fun to watch. He is so good with the kids and such a great coach. We went home and put his autographed picture right in a frame and found a safe spot for it in the boys room. It's pretty cool.

Kyle, Jahii and friend Trenton after getting his autograph.

The whole group

the best little cheerleaders around.

Autographs

I made individual autograph books for all of the kids.

Each book had the kids first initial on it. I also gave them a Disney pen with it. Most of the characters ended up using there own bigger pens though.

Meeting Winnie the Pooh and friends.

My favorite signature was tiggers. I just love his bouncy double g-ers :)

We found Woody. They kids were excited to get his autograph. Jaden ended up buys a Woody doll as his souvenir with his own money.

Becca was in HEAVEN when we found the princess castle. She LOVED them. And Ariel was her very favorite. I just love the pictures of them together.

Disneyland Rides!!!!

I took tons of pictures of our trip to Disneyland. I think I've narrowed it down a bit so I can finally post about our fun vacation. I am going to break it up and post about it everyday til I'm done. As you can see I took A.LOT! of pictures. :)

We of course loved going on all the rides.
Here is everybody's answers to....
What was your favorite ride at Disneyland?
Ryan: Space Mountain
Debbie: Hollywood Tower of Terror or Space Mountain. I LOVED not knowing wha to expect. I also loved the California Adventure Airplane ride, it was so cool and felt very realistic, but I think I liked it most of all because I know it had special meaning for Amy. Her Dad was a pilot and I know it reminder her of him.
Kyle: Star Tours or Pirates of the Carribean, of course! He also loved the Star Tours ride. They changed it a bit and we got to go on the "ghost ride" showing of it. The boys LOVED it.
Jaden: Indiana Jones Ride because of the huge snake AND Star Tours because it feels like you were in a real spaceship
Becca: Ariel because I LOVE her! She has talked non-stop about the Finding Nemo ride so I was suprized she didn't say that one. They all are just so amazing.

We enjoyed all of the 3D movie rides. Well most of us did....Becca was scared of the bugs life ride. She takes after her mama and is terrified of bugs. I made matching Mickey and Mini shirts for all of the kids to wear on the first day. It sure made it easy to spot them and keep us all together.

Date Night with Jaden

So yesterday I wrote about going on dates with our kids. I realized I still have pictures from our last date with Jaden that I never posted so here it goes.

Here we are about to leave. We didn't tell him what we were doing. It was fun to see him try and guess where we were going with each turn.

We went to the big golf land/sun splash castle that you can see from the freeway. Jaden was so excited. We didn't take our swimming suits so we didn't do the swimming part of it but we LOVED the bumper boats.

Ryan was drenched when he got out. I'd say Jaden won that game. :)

Next we played a game of Lazer Tag. It was so much fun. My score was a big FAT zero. haha. I know I shot people, but apparently I got shot too many times. Ryan put the entire group to shame with his awesome Police man skills. Jaden did really good too.

It was late when we finished everything so we went and got breakfast at Denny's afterwards. I Love my little

J-frog. He's such a sweet kind hearted little boy.

change of plans

Friday is always date night around here. I look forward to it and LOVE it. We do a rotation with our date nights and I love it. It goes like this

week one: temple and dinner

week two: one of the kids joins us on our date. Ryan and I usually have an activity picked out and they pick the resturaunt. I love this because I feel like we get to really bond one on one (as a couple) with our child. We have had some nice deep talks and I feel like I know what my child is going thru or struggling with or just plan loving at this point of life after a fun evening together. It teaches my boys how to be gentlemen and shows Becca exactly how she should expect to be treated by a boy. She LOVES that daddy opens ALL the doors. They are learning how to order exactly what they want instead of us telling the waitress/er what they want. I've had people say they would hate that because they go on dates to get away from their kids and believe me I totally get needed a break, but for us it is such a good experience and something I really look forward to.

week three: date night just me and my honey. We rotate who picks what we do and that person also lines up the babysitter.

week four: double date with another couple or group of friends

Sometimes the weeks get switched around, but that's pretty much how we do it.

Well...I am going out of town and I was really looking forward to date night with just my sweetie. Before we spend weeks away from each other. The day of I was trying to think of what to do. I kept feeling like we really just needed to do something as a family. I kept brushing off the idea but everytime I'd go to figure it out I kept feeling like it should be a family thing. It hit me...I am going to miss Ryan, but so will the kids. Friday is the last day off he has until after our trip. Once I realized that , family night it became.

I am so glad we did it. We ended up going to the Mesa Visitors Center and watched the new Joseph Smith Movie. We've seen it before but this time was really neat. The kids were perfect. (I was worried if Becca would get bored with it or be disruptive to the others) She did great! There was one point that I felt the spirit SOOOO strong and I looked over and it was as if I could literally see my kids testimonies growing. It was the neatest thing. We had a great talk about the movie in the car. I know this is my journal but it being a blog too I will limit what I write here but we all left with a greater desire to be better and help do all we can to serve our Father in Heaven better. We left feeling very grateful to the pioneers and all that they suffered and endured so we could have the truth. It was a great night and exactly what I needed. After the movie we went out for pizza. I am so grateful for the tender mercies that I feel daily. I know I would have LOVED date night with just Ry, but I would not trade the feelings and experiences we had that night together as a family for anything in the world.

Magical Equation

What do you get when you take

Family + happiest place on earth + Best Friends X 6 = A great big MAGICAL DREAM COME TRUE

We have talked/dreamed about going to Disneyland with the Cowley's for years. Well this year was the year. We were all so excited. The whole drive to California I could NOT believe it was finally happening.

I didn't even think to take pictures inside the hotel, but it was the perfect set up. We had connecting rooms/suiet The Cowleys side was HUGE it was awesome and had a mini kitchen which worked out great for Breakfast and packing lunches.

I LOVE that our families get a long soooo well. They are as close to family as you can get without actually being related and we love and cherish them so very much! I Love how magical Disneyland is. It's just so happy, clean and wholesome. I can't wait to go back.

Happy Fathers Day, Dad!!!

Dear Dad,
Words can't say how much you have meant to me all these 33 years. I know that saying 'thank you' doesn't cut it...but when it comes to you I just have so much to be thankful for so here it goes.

Thank you for throwing out your back teaching me how to ride my brand new 10 speed. To this day I giggle inside when I see a bike, because of you and your happy positive attitude. You taught me then that it’s good to laugh at yourself. I have never seen you complain even when you are in physical pain.

Thank you for teaching me to drive and for seeming so calm while doing it. I truly felt that you had confidence in me. (Even if you were screaming in fear on the inside) when I didn’t stop at the stop sign at the top of that super steep hill.

Thank you for trying to teach me to be a conscious person...aware of those around me and knowing how to treat them with kindness and respect. I have always LOVED to tell everyone who knows you that I am your daughter because they all LOVE and respect you.

Thank you for driving me all over town to all my volleyball or basketball games. I am sure it was not convenient for you. I know your demands at work and service as Bishop/Stk. President kept you so super busy caring for everybody else...(you just put me first all the time and just made me feel so special!)

Thank you for loving mom and giving me the peace and security that comes with knowing that your parents are a team and love each other no matter what trials or hardships may come our families way.

Thank you for setting an example of exactly what to look for in a husband and how I should be treated. I would not have had such high expectations if it were not for your perfect example.

Thank you for sharing your love of the gospel with me and for always being willing to give me a Fathers Blessing any time I’ve needed it. Your testimony has been a great stregthn to me through out my entire life.

Thank you for being the most adorable Grandpa to my kids. You make them feel so special and they know that you love them. Thank you for all the on demand Donald Duck talking. I love watching my kids giggle whenever they are near you.

Thank you for all of the advice you have given me. Even now as an adult I value your opinion and you always know just what to say.

I am always extra emotional when Fathers Day comes around. Oh how I wish we could be with you celebrating your greatness. You mean the world to me and I absolutely adore you. I am so blessed to have you as my Dad!

love,
Debbie