Independence Day 2009!

Our Fourth was pretty uneventful-we spent it at home but we did go swimming and go out for dinner. The fireworks were being set off just across the street from our complex so we drove (which we later regretted doing because traffic was so bad coming home) in the Best Buy parking lot nearby and watched the fireworks from the sidewalk. It was nice because we didn't have to wait too long but as I said earlier we should have just walked there because traffic was a mess! It was Madison's first fireworks show and she kept talking about watching the fireworks, even though she had no idea what they were. She was totally in awe once the fireworks started, but after a couple went off she suddenly burst into tears saying she was scared and we almost had to go home! I got her settled down by pointing out the colors and shapes and she finished watching the show quietly while holding my hand. By the time they were ending she was getting into them and saying things like "whoa, big one!" Now when she see's fireworks on her movies (Aladdin) she gets very excited and has been coloring fireworks in her pictures ever since so I'm glad to say she's not totally traumatized. We were very glad, however that we opted out of waiting hours in the heat to see them from where they were shooting them off. Maybe we'll try that next year! Hope you all enjoyed your Fourth!

Passing the time playing with the camera.


Waiting with Daddy for fireworks to start


Happy: Pre Fireworks!


This was Madison's reaction to the fireworks, just before she started to cry! You can see the slight concern on her face.

More Excuses!

Ok, it's been quite awhile since I've posted all the reasons why I haven't posted in awhile so it's time to do it again! So here we go, these are the things that have been keeping me too busy to post and all the happenings since my last post (which has been about a month and a half, sorry)

1. Summer started, which was great because Mahlon was home from work but when he's home I don't seem to get as much stuff done.

2. Mahlon got very sick. Right after school got out he got sick, two Urgent Care visits and one visit to the ER we found out he had double viral pneumonia! That took a good two weeks to get over, luckily neither Madison nor I caught it.

3. I was called as the Girls Camp Director so I was busy planning camp activities, going to Young Woman's on a weekly basis doing certification, skit prep, doing crafty things, and gathering miscellaneous items for girls camp which was June 30-July 2 (I just finished which is why I now have time to post!)

4. We celebrated Madison's second birthday, which ended up being a combo party for my neice's baptism because they both had to be on the only open Saturday in June. We had 30+ people crammed in my little apartment. Good times.

5. We also had two weekend family reunions in which we camp out-this means packing bags, tents, blankets, food, etc. More good times.

6. Mahlon got over pneumonia and headed up to Flagstaff to work for his Dad for the summer, leaving me at home to prepare for the trips, camp, and take care of Madison, etc. all on my own.

7. Going to Girls camp. Leaving Madison with my sister. Staying up too late, waking up too early, running around singing camp songs for four days, in the rain and mud, sleeping in a crowded cabin with snoring campers, hiking, archery, crafts, certification, limited showers, etc.

8. And last, but definitely not least, being pregnant. Yep-that's right I did all the above mentioned activities while being in a constant state of nausea and sleepiness, which thankfully let up just before girls camp (not the sleepiness, but that's to be expected at camp) FYI: I'm due January 11 and tomorrow will be 13 weeks. So now that I have nothing to work on, I'm over the first trimester and feeling much better, great timing, huh?

Ha, Ha! Now that I look over it again it sounds pretty awful, but in actuality it wasn't. Yes, I felt very sick, but I only puked once (that's pretty good, I think!) and I had a lot of fun at Girls Camp but I am a little relieved that it's over. I'm definitely looking forward to some down time so that I can actually start thinking about baby #2. The poor thing has been on the back burner a little bit, but it will now be front and center for a while. I know I say this every time, but I'll try to be better about posting more regularly! Until Next time! : )

God works in mysterious ways!

So as many of you know, about three months ago the district that Mahlon works for informed him that they would be cutting hundreds of jobs, including his. In April he received his official letter informing him that he would not be offered a contract for next school year. We were very worried and sad because all across the state teachers were losing jobs and the likelihood of us finding a new job seemed very slim. He began applying to anything we could find, which wasn't much. Mahlon is certified to teach Art, but his real passion is photography. At his current job he was teaching one section of each Art, Ceramics, Media tech, and Photography, not the ideal job-but it was paying the bills. So, we were looking for anything, but really hoping for a full-time photography. We applied out of State to several districts and heard nothing back. Then about a month ago we heard Chandler School district was hiring a photography teacher and we thought "This is it. This has to be the job we get." Everything seemed to perfect: it was exactly what Mahlon wanted, full-time film photography, close to family, etc. We applied and he got an interview. We prayed and prayed that the Lord would bless us with this job. I felt that if he didn't get this job, our only other option would be to move out of State, and even that didn't seem promising. We both felt peaceful and hopeful, we were confident that he would get it. Well, he didn't get the job.
We were heart broken and I was ANGRY! I complained because I honestly believed what God has promised, that if I asked in Faith, God would bless me with whatever I desired. I refused to accept that what we had asked for was not right and that that was why we were not given it, I just felt that we were somehow cheated.
Not more than a week after hearing about not getting the job in Chandler Mahlon received a call from his current district saying that they had a full-time photography job available for him within the district, but at a different high school-there was just some paper work to do before they could get a contract to him. I have never felt so stupid- so humbled and so sorry for being angry at the Lord. We had thought that moving to Chandler was the best option for us but God knew better. He knew that it would be in our benefit to not have to move, again. He knew that it would be better for Mahlon to keep his seniority rather than start over at a new district. And He knew that this opportunity would be coming to us. I believe in miracles and I believe that Mahlon getting the job he wanted in a district that had previously cut him was nothing short of a miracle and I can only thank my Father in Heaven for being patient with me and answering our prayers, in a way we could not have imagined- but in a way that has our best interest in mind. So next time things don't go the way I think they should, I'm just going to step aside and let the Lord handle it, He's better at it than I am anyway!
So here's to being employed once again!

The Wizard of Oz!

Last Weekend we went to Flagstaff to see my sister, Tianna perform in the high school musical (That phrase has a whole new meaning now!) The Wizard of Oz. She played Aunt Em and Glenda, the Good Witch of the North. She did a fantastic job! (I don't have pictures because they didn't allow any) The entire production was really well done.
The Picture above is of Tianna with all her nieces and newphews that came to the show. She blends right in because she is so small! She's the one in the Blue!

It was fun to see all my sisters, it's not often we all get together in one place. Above is all of us together after the play.

While in Flagstaff we took advantage of the cool weather and went out to the forest to a nearby pond. Madison loved playing in the water and being with her cousins.

First Haircut!

Some of you may remember how bald Madison was as a baby. It took over a year for her hair to really grow, then it seemed to grow over night! However, it grew in two lengths, the back was longer than the front and if I didn't do it in a pony tail or something it resembled something like a mullet (not good!). SO...I decided to cut it off and make it all the same length! I think it turned out really cute! Sunday I flipped it out at the bottom with the curling iron and it was adorable! (I'll have to take pictures and post them.) I think my hair cutting skills have improved since my Barbie trimming days, which is a good thing, because my Barbies usually ended up looking a little butch!

Bald Baby Madison...


Before....


After....


Of course I saved a lock of hair for the scrapbook.

Does anyone even look at my blog anymore?

Well-if anyone out there hasn't completely given up on me-this is for you. I don't know where we've been all this time-we've been busy I guess, but that's everyone's excuse. I've just finished catching up on everyone else's blogs- I didn't comment but I sped-read and looked at pictures. Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. Here is an update and I'll try to keep up with things now! (We'll see)

1. March 11 was Mahlon's and my 4 year Anniversary.
2. Spring Break we went camping and visited Tucson (I'm sorry I didn't call anyone-we were babysitting Tania's (my sister) kids and had 8 little ones!
3. March 28 my Brother-in-law was married in Gilbert, Madison was the flower girl and I was holding two cameras, neither of which was a video camera and I hate myself for that!
4. Mahlon lost his job. Yes, he was cut despite our protests-we have to move in July with no prospects of any new job. All our spare time has been spent in job hunting.
5. Easter weekend we spent in Gilbert, dying eggs, finding Easter baskets,going to church, and having an Easter egg hunt.
6. Poor Mahlon spent Easter weekend with Strep.
7. I've been busy with my new calling: Ward Camp Leader (yes, I'm in charge of Girls Camp, luckily its a Stake Camp so my responsibilities are minimal but there is still a lot to do!

I'm feeling lazy so I don't want to give all the details but here are some pictures! There are pretty much in order.

Save Our Schools...And my husbands job!!!!

I don't know if anyone heard about this, or saw it on the news but yesterday there was a big Education Rally at the Capitol protesting the budget cuts for Arizona schools. Mahlon, along with some other teachers (and 2,500 others) went to show their supprt for schools and education. I usually don't make political statements, but it is sad to see education suffering as a result of poor money management. And becuase Mahlon is at risk for losing his job over this, it's more personal to us than usual. The website www.march4schools.com has links to more information and ways to contact legislatures and sign petitions against these cuts to educations. Please take the time to voice your opinion. Education should never be compromised! Thanks!