Mason turns 12

So it is kind of a huge deal when you blink and then realize that 12 years have passed by super quick. Mason turned 12 on Monday November 24th. It didn't really hit me until he asked me to drive him to Mutual on Wednesday night. It took me back and my immediate response was "you aren't old enough" wrong Kylie - he is now. So reluctantly I drove him to the church, and then watched him jump out of the car and run in - chatting with the other deacons. What a wake up call. Then when I went to pick him up there was a bunch of guys hanging outside goofing off....yep this is all coming back to me - all the fun stuff we used to get up to..the trouble we caused, the thought that we could do whatever we wanted cause we were cool...it is all coming back to me and I am not excited. So Bishop Olson said it is all uphill from here - I could hit him for that comment but it is true :( So now I have a kid who wears skinny jeans, flat billed hats, MP3 constantly in his ear, sports jock with girls hanging around...oh and lets not forget the wearing of Axe body spray in large doses almost teenager who thinks it is cool that Tanya Yost thought he was in 8th grade AND turning 13. UUURRRGGGGG - when will this be over..I don't think I was cut out to be the parent of a teenager....and am I even old enough?? Sadly yes - and I will have another one in 4 years. At least I'll get to practice of Mason :)

LA Temple Faith Builder - Prop 8

I "borrowed" this from Tara's blog - Being that we are in AZ - we don't always hear about CA things. The LA Temple is near and dear to our hearts as that is where we took out our endowments and were sealed. I was shocked to hear about the protestors after Prop 8 passed but did not understand fully the problems they faced at the temple those days after the election. Tara had this on her blog and I wanted to share it as I think it is a true faith builder.

This was sent by a person who works at the LA Temple. What an incredible story! It is so relieving to hear "our side" of what has been happening the last few weeks...
My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders: My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional.
She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant. After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patrolled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would. On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room. Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put everyone at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions nonstop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple. Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the Mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!". I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer. Your sister in Christ, Patricia H. Arnazzi

Blue Man group missing one

So Clayton was at it again!! This time I spanked him then took a photo then put him in the bath. He thought it was fun getting his photo taken though...so i'll have to rethink taking photos next time. He was doing this while I was doing homework with Tristen :) The girls left out the markers :(

Welcome to Jnr High Football

Mason's first year playing Junior High Football - he is #22 - could you tell....He is still the smallest guy and the youngest...He isn't getting playing time yet - there are 7th and 8th graders on the team and Mason is the little fish in the big bowl here :) I guess he'll start trying to bulk up so he can run with the big boys!! I love the last photo of Tristen being the ever supportive sister - at the game - giving her support...paying close attention to everything that is going on!!!!

the Cool Kids in Town

Here is Clayton with his friends - they look like a bunch of trouble makers don't they!!!!
DJ, Clayton, Ryker & Jada

Clayton and DJ

here are a couple of pics of Clayton and his buddy DJ who lives on the other side of Jada. They have become good friends and love doing boy stuff together...especially when Jada isn't around to tell them otherwise. The funny thing is that they look a lot alike. When they first moved in Kevin( DJ's Dad) tried to get Clayton to go inside his home...he thought he was DJ - and I have done the same thing too :)

Clayton is Defiant - who would have thought!!

Clayton has become quite defiant in his old age. Yes - there is something in the water because he is not alone - both his best friends DJ and Jada have started this new thing also. It isn't just your normal " I don't want to" It is "I don't like you", "I am not doing that", standing still and not moving, having to drag him to where ever I need him, screaming at the top of his lungs, not staying on his bed when I put him on it for time out....that sort of thing. It is a little discouraging, I did not have these issues with the other 3 kids...and I am struggling with this. I sure hope my willpower outlasts Clayton's cause I can tell this is going to be long fight. I will win - I am bigger after all and the mom!!! The other day he decided to color - on the table - so here are some pics of that lovely episode. I actually cleaned him off and then thought to take photos...so you cannot see his hands completely blue - but I am sure you can imagine. And he did get a spanking for this - can't you tell how sorry he is??!!

MASON DID IT

ok - so even with his sad hyperextended knee, Mason made the Walker Butte Coyote Football Team - Yay Mason and Yay me not having to drive far for practice - it is right after school so I only have to pick him up....AND the sisters in the ward whose kids made it also are working on a car pool - could it get any better people?!? I say no...except that the games will be closer to home too - woo hoo.

the Weekend in action

Happy Tristen
Michelle is the only adult who dressed up
Giselle and Anakin
Here's the Tristen we all love!!!!
DJ the ninja, Jada aka Giselle and Clayton aka Anakin






So this past weekend was a whirlwind - Thursday night Mason came home from Rams football practice and had hurt his knee. No big deal right?! I was wrong - it was iced, it had to be up...He didn't go to school Friday and I was under the impression he was not able to go to "the party". Kids got home - costumes were thrown on and we were headed out the door for Trick or treating. Stevan had his friend James Coleman (also a physical therapist - yay us) come over and check out the knee...it had been hyperextended and now needs to be rested for a week - no activity no sports. He showed Mason some exercises and stretches and Mason has been pretty diligent at doing those. So....we went trick or treating - as you can see from the photos we had some not so happy people - could you guess it was Tristen before even looking at the photos?? Yep - her hair was too poofy and I suck at making her look pretty apparently. Whatever - I told her she looked fine and if she wanted to go she would lose the attitude. I beleive she smiled when Michelle took photos - what a brat! So Michelle, Jade and I took the kids out - they were done pretty quickly - and then we sat out front of of house chatting until what I thought was late...Mason ended up going to "the party". Stevan dropped him off and wasn't happy at the reception Mason got...I guess a ton of girls came out "ooohhhh Mason is here" Ha Ha - Stevan isn't ready for this!!! Not that I am either - but what do you do. So Mason was dropped off at 7 and we told him we'd be back at 10 to get him...I went to bed and Stevan had to fight sleep and go pick him up at 10. How sad is that!!! We were ready for bed at 9pm!!!! oh - and I still didn't get a photo of Mason - Hippie - gotta love the birks and tie dye. So on Saturday we went to watch Mason's team play in the playoffs - they lost...Mason didn't get to play and I could see that it was hard for him to sit on the sidelines. Stevan also had to fix the truck - I guess he had a blowout on the road and needed to fix the upper arm bushings?!? So he did - thank goodness he is a jack of all trades - I am sure that repair saved us a couple hundred bucks. So we ended the weekend with Stake Conference - it was great and we enjoyed hearing from President Boyd K Packer.