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happy seventh, juan

June 2, 201085378543We went to Claim Jumper for your birthday dinner this year. You got a new bike from mom and dad. From your siblings you received a kick board and dive sticks for the pool. And of course, you were showered with lots of cards and money love from grandmas and aunties.

I think the best present is the amazing amount of growth we have seen in you the past six month–learning to read, taking responsibility for your actions, responding to directions, relaxing your frustrations, and melting down A LOT less. You chatter on non-stop, asking questions about anything and everything.

Your favorite thing to talk about right now is how things are made.Yesterday, you wanted to know how the ‘machine’ takes the poison out of the river and lake water so that we can drink it. You also used the phrase “welcome to my world” yesterday when your sisters were telling you how hard they had it sitting in the back seat of the car. I wonder from which parent you picked that up?

Love you, little man! It’s almost our two year Famiversary. But to us, it seems like we have known you since you were born. We are grateful for your smile in our home.

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zionfest 2010

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Highlights:

1st annual talent show
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complete with video crew, spotlight guy, and MC
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Hiking
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Yummy Food
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 Lots of Cool Messes
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And good all around fun
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We love our tradition we have created for our family. We look forward to many more Zion trips in our future. Here are more pics!

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looking forward

Summer will quickly be upon us here in the desert. And you all know how cranky I get when summer comes. So I try and make the summer as busy as possible for myself so that I can endure the baking hot sun.

Here is what we are planning:

MAY
—Zion Nat’l Park, of course. Year six. We leave tomorrow.

JUNE
—Spring Mountain Ranch, Willy Wonka. Planning this outing for months now with friends. So excited to take the kids to their first official play.
—Camp Invent. Danny is going to his first invention camp with a buddy. He is totally stoked.
—Bear Lake. The kids and I are planning a week at the lake with my mom and sister. (Adam will be in China on business–boo, boo!)
—Swim lessons. Hopefully we can squeeze a couple of these in. :)

JULY
—Grandma Penning Visits. YAY!
—Relay for Life. We are going to Oregon to participate in Team Georgie this summer. So Excited!
—Washington. Oh how I love escaping the desert heat, trading it in for two weeks in Yakima. I can’t wait to hang with my family, scrap with Jes, camp at Rainier with cousins, and see old friends and their children.

AUGUST
—The Beach. Yes! Who love the Oregon Coast? We do. We do. We have been planning this vacation since Thanksgiving with my parents and siblings. One whole week in Seaside with my family. The kids are going to learn to body surf this time around. Can’t wait for vacation with my hubby and kiddos.

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nephew fix

81338137Whenever I get a little homesick for my nephews, all I have to do is steal little Zackary! I am so glad his mother doesn’t mind how dirty he gets when he comes over. He had a blast this last time playing in Uncle Adam’s truck, running after the jump rope in the back yard, and chasing after the big boys.81408143This tia loves me some Nephew Zackary time!

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current condition

Things I suck at lately:

daily workouts

filing bills

putting the laundry away

posting on our family blog

clipping coupons

calling mom and dad just for fun

keeping up on the kids’ adoption life books

removing dishes out of my bedroom

having more faith during the current political climate

making a firm decision about becoming a foster parent

 

 Things I rock at lately:

going to bed earlier

making Adam smile

meal planning

daily calorie counting

posting on the adoption blog

paying closer attention to friendship

capturing more quiet moments

daily scripture study and meditation

loving my children more, on purpose

finding killer deals at Target, three weeks running

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fhe–service

19 April 2010
Service, by Adam

We fed the missionaries dinner so we did a lesson on serving others. Valerie had her baby on the 18th so we took her a yummy Sonic Drink at the hospital. There was no ooooing and ahhhing over the baby by the ninos either. Nope, none! We had tons of fun. Thanks for letting us intrude, Val!

Song:
I am a Child of God

Treat:
Sonic chillers

Nightly Funny: 
Just a lot of talk of where babies come out. You can imagine the ewwws I get every time I explain it. Hilarious!

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baptism de nikki

27 March 2010: Logan, Utah8057We are so proud of you, Nikki! You have grown so much over the past 20 months, physically and spiritually. You definitively know who the Savior is, and that he loves you. We love how excited you are to learn about Jesus. You LOVE primary right now. You get excited about paying your tithing, participating in the Sacrament, and you try your very best to do what is right. Our family would not be the same without you, Maria Daniela.

You with mommy’s sisters, Tia Jaimee and Tia Lindsey:8072
You with Grandma and Grandpa Penning:8066

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fhe–safety

12 April 2010
Hiking/Camping Safety, by the J. DeMarco Family

Our annual Memorial Zionfest is quickly approaching so we were presented with a lesson this week on safety procedures for the kiddos. We also received Child Safety Kits to have on hand in the unlikely (or very likely) case of a missing/lost child while we are there. Loved our group FHE this month. Thanks DeMarco Family!
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Song:
I Am a Child of God
Book of Mormon Stories

Treat:
Strawberry Shortcake……again (YES)!
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Nightly Funnies:
Jena to Dave, “everyone knows you’re picky…that’s what got us put in charge of the camping potluck!”

Jaime Lynne, “Alright, we’ll be in charge of the t-shirts, but you have 48 hours to respond people and that’s it. ”

Juan……..well pretty much everything he said tonight was funny! :)

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Easter 2010

79227943Easter with the McCrackens…..4 April 2010: Las Vegas, NV. They didn’t have fun at all!7946————————————————————————79037913Easter with the Pennings………28 March 2010: Logan, Utah.
Uncle Brian surprised the kids with an early Easter egg hunt.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5AcSiM9jOY