I Did It!!

Yes, that's right I finally got videotaped teaching my first official "Water-In-Motion" swim class. I had so many fun supporters come join me and I was so glad to have all their familiar, smiling faces. After hours (and I mean hours and hours) of practicing I can finally relax a little and just enjoy teaching this new class. I don't have an official schedule of classes yet (still waiting on management for that) but I am just so relieved to have my video done. I found out that it takes the corporate office about 9-12weeks to respond back with a pass or fail grade, so I'm crossing my fingers that my video is good enough to get their stamp of approval. Meanwhile, I'll just have fun teaching and hope to see some more of my family and friends at my classes.

I also wanted to write down how much I appreciate the love and support I receive from Brett. He made me wait to videotape my class until he got back from his very long dental rotation, so that he could be there. He has been so good at giving me good words of encouragement and being enthusiastic about me trying new things. I know these last six weeks have been a little rough, but I really have missed him being around (and not just to help take care of the kids). I have decided that for the next month before he takes off on another rotation that it is going to be a month of re-connection. I know that may sound odd, but I just feel like we have been pulled apart in opposite directions lately and we just need to re-focus on what really matters and that includes strengthening our relationship with each other and our little family. I'm sure we need more than a month, but that's going to be a start for us since Brett will be heading to New Mexico to work in their dental clincs during the months of October and November. I just got to reading some of last month's Ensign articles and I really liked the article "Becoming United as Parents" by Mark T. Hales. I couldn't have read it at a more perfect time...it was just what I needed. I just loved his four points which were: United through Work, United through Equal Partnership, United through Prayer, and United through Expressing Love...definitely areas I can strengthen. The Mormon Message: Parenting-Touching the Hearts of Our Youth, was also a great one to watch. Our church leaders are definitely inspired to give us messages that we need in our lives.

So, if you read this, Brett, thank you. Thanks for being a great person (husband, father, friend, church member, gospel doctrine teacher, student, worker, service provider). You do so many things and I take you for granted. I realized how much I take for granted with you being gone these last 6 weeks. You have always viewed our marriage as an equal partnership and have always gone above and beyond to help me out with the house, the kids or anything I need. I am horrible at expressing my love (as you know) but I really do love you and am so glad to try and figure out this crazy life with you. I know I will be riding on your coat tail into heaven...I'm just praying I hold on tight enough:)

A Little Arizona History

My brother's birthday was on Wednesday, so he decided he wanted the whole fam to take a little road trip to visit Arizona's oldest intact European structure which just happens to be located in good ol' Tucson. So we all piled in my mom's car and headed to the National Historic Landmark, San Xavier Mission, which was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Construction of the current church began in 1783 and was completed in 1797. The church's interior is filled with some pretty cool original statuary and mural paintings. It was fun to take a little historical adventure with the kids. We had dinner that night and then we ended up seeing "Inception" afterwards...crazy insane movie. Here are a few phone pics I took of us down in Tucson.

They Say and Do the Darndest Things

Bradock and Raylee have been cracking me up with the things they have been saying lately. On Thursday night we went over to my mom's condo to say hi and Sarah and McKai were there. McKai started to cry and Raylee goes over to her, gives her a hug and says "Oh honey, don't cry." She sure loves that little cousin of hers.

Tonight Brett was getting ready to head back to Flagstaff and was packing his camping gear into his truck. Him and his buddy, Rob, have had a change in their housing situation there in Flag, so they have decided to stay in a pop-up-trailer in the woods and commute to the dental clinic everyday...absolutely crazy, I know . Mr. B, seeing all the camping gear, was getting excited to go with dad. He had grabbed his camping chair and added it to Brett's pile of stuff and was even trying to persuade me to go by saying "It's really fun mom!" Unfortunately, Mr. B didn't realize he wouldn't be able to go on this trip and was pretty upset when dad left. To try and make up for him not being able to go camping I set up his little pop-up-school bus tent in his room and put a sleeping bag inside of it.

After laying Raylee down Mr. B and I walked into his room and he got the biggest smile on his face
Mr. B: "Oh my gosh...Is this my new bed?!"
Me: "Ya you get to go camping in your room"
Mr. B: "Just like my daddy. He would be so proud of me. He would be so happy."
Me: "Ya he would."
Mr. B: "Mom I'm not going to get out of my bed tonight." (This probably stems from me telling him every night to stay in his room and to not come sneaking into my room and lay on the floor next to my bed.)
Me: "Well that makes me soooo happy."

I got Bradock all situated in his "new" camping bed and he looks at me and says
Mr B: "Mom can I have a hug and a kiss?"
Me: "Absolutely!!" (Big bear hug and kiss are given and then...)
Mr. B: " Mom can you leave? I want to be alone now." He then rolls over and pretends to be fast asleep...silly boy!

These Boots Were Made for Walkin

This one's for you Dad. We love our boots just like you and can't wait to see you this weekend!

Family Reunion Time

This past weekend we, once again, drove up to Pinetop to hang out with Brett, play at the big Perkins Family Reunion and enjoy some nice cold weather. Does anyone else go to family reunions and leave thinking your family is just a little bit more crazy every time?! Well, we had lots of fun and wished the rain had stayed away on Saturday, but it made for a nice chilly day. Oh, and the most exciting news is our Uncle Justin is home from the Dominican Republic. We have missed him so much and are so glad we have a couple weeks to hang out with him before he heads back up to the Y.

The kids had a blast on the rope swing. They were laughing hysterically...it was the funniest thing.

Oh Where Oh Where Has Our Dad Gone?!

Brett is in his 4th year of dental school so he gets the opportunity to work in Community Health clinics providing dental care to the under-served for the rest of this year. So for his first rotation he is currently living in provided dental housing in Flagstaff and then commuting to Winslow and Leupp to various dental clinics. My first question to Brett was "Leupp? Where is that?" He said "google it" and well let me tell ya there is not much to google. Luepp has a population of 970, one ATM machine, one gas station which is the only place in the entire town to spend money. Across from the gas station there is the occasional vendor that sells tamales, tires or turquoise. Brett said that the nicest building in the town is a small LDS chapel which has the only paved parking lot and grass lawn! Because it has the only grass in town the church has a fence around it with cattle guards at the entrances to keep the local cows out...crazy!

Anyways, Brett selected this particular rotation as an opportunity to work amongst the Navajo people to learn more about Raylee's heritage. While working there he is always asking how to say things in Navajo. He had told some of the assistants there about Raylee, so he asked how to say "Ray" or ray of light and they taught him the word "Shaundeen". Brett said he got goose bumps as he was in disbelief because this was the name of Raylee's birth mom. I guess our little girl's name was inspired. Not only has Brett had some great dental experiences these last two weeks, he's had some great personal ones as well.

Brett has been toying with the idea of working for a public health clinic once he graduates, but as you can see from the pics below, I put my foot down on Leupp...no way Jose!

This last week has been a crazy one for us as well. Both Bradock and Raylee have been sick with fevers, my brother-in-law Chance's dad passed away, and I helped do some major food prep for a wedding my mother-in-law was doing. Let's just say both the kids and I were excited for Brett to come home this weekend so we could enjoy his fun smile and extra hands. With 2 weeks down Brett has only 4 more for this rotation and then he is back to some local clinics here in the valley. We can't wait to have our dad and hubby back full-time. Hopefully, with all the fun bow hunting, Cardinals game and outdoors stuff he's gotten to do after work he isn't enjoying his bachelor time too much!