Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas! What a busy year we have had. The kids are all doing well. We are excited to update everyone.

Katelyn is 8 and will be 9 soon. She was baptised this year in February. It was such a neat experience. We were very excited for her. She is in the 3rd grade and is still doing well. She continues to make all A's. She had braces this year on the bottom and just got them off this week. The top teeth are next in February. She played soccer both seasons this year but tells us she does not want to play next season. We are going to try dance next. We are going to try different things until we find something she likes. She is still very interested in sharks. She wants to study them when she grows up and can tell you numerous facts about all the different kinds. She told me one day this year that she would like to learn about sharks at school. I'm not sure when they study those...college?

Sabrina is great! She is 6 and in the 1st grade. She is doing well. She loves her teacher. She also played 2 seasons of soccer. She is a great soccer player!! Her team won most all of their games. She is going to play next season but tells us she would also like to take dance. She has a best friend Alexa this year who she loves to play with. She wants a pet for Christmas but we're not ready for that. We have fish and we tell her she can play with them. She doesn't think that counts. Sabrina or Beana as we call her is usually sweet and loving. She has been practicing directions in school and recently asked me to scratch the North part of her back. She is a blessing for our family.

Jason is energetic as always. He loves to run, climb, jump, and bother his sisters. For the first time, Jason played soccer in the Fall. I coached his team and he was one of my best players. He was very good at watching to see where the ball would go and go after it. It is not easy to teach 4 year olds to play soccer and I'm looking forward to the next season where the players already know what to expect. Jason continues to go to preschool at the girl's school to work on his speech. He is doing great with this and talks more and more everyday. His teachers tell me is doing great and will test out of the program at the end of the year. He is very sweet and tells us all the time he loves us all day long.

Ty started back at UNT this Fall. He is working on a MBA in Information Technology. He had some very hard classes this semester but did well. He is the First Counselor in the Young Men's Presidency. This means he goes on campouts, teaches Scouts on Wednesday, and teaches on Sunday. It is a very busy calling. He also assistant coached Katelyn's team last season. All this means we have come to value the time we get to spend with Daddy!

I have had a great year and busy year also. This is my second year teaching 2nd grade. I love my job and have found it very rewarding. I have the Co-Teach/ESL class. I'm at my maximum capacity at 22 students with 2 more that come in for Language Arts from 8:00-10:45. My class is the best and I'm enjoying seeing them learn. I am also doing the yearbook this year which is keeping me busy. I still teach the 16/17 year old Sunday school class at church. They are a great bunch and keep me on my toes. I do love that I still get to go to Relief Society. I coached Jason's team last season and will coach again this next season. I'm learning as I go. I also discovered couponing this year. I am loving saving money on groceries and adding to our food storage. It is great stocking up on needed items. We are hoping to have a year supply saved soon. I'm still doing Weight Watchers and can't believe its been 3 years since I started the program. I feel very blessed with all that we have. I am so thankful for the Gospel in my life, my wonderful family, our great jobs, and the home we have. I hope all of you are doing well and I love reading your Christmas Letters.

Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year,

Jarah

Murder Mystery Dinner

It's been so long since I blogged but I had so much fun tonight. My birthday was Sunday and I wanted to host a murder mystery dinner for it. We had a Bridal Shower party theme with a whole cast of characters. It was so much fun seeing everyone dress as their characters. It had 3 rounds and Purple (Nikki) was killed in round 2. Then we discussed motive and who we thought did it. In round 3 it was revealed that Trianne Thingros (Inga) did it. We had so much fun and laughed so hard. It was great getting together with the girls. Thanks Ty for taking the kids out and keeping them busy. If anyone else wants to do one the link is http://www.mymysteryparty.com/.

It's Been an Adventure!

Let me start with Ty. Ty went on the High Adventure with the scouts. He had so much fun! He did some archery, shooting, and rode on a wave runner. He had tons of fun but came back with really sore legs. Then about a week ago he played softball with a team from work. While he was playing he got hit by a ball right beside his shin. It was a huge goose egg. Then he left for Sweden on Saturday. While he was in Sweden he walked about 3 miles to go sight seeing and come back. Then on Wednesday he woke up and his foot was purple on the inside. I wish a had a picture but he didn't send me one. It much have looked awful because the guys at work told him to talk to the on site nurse. She told him he should have it looked at. He said he was in the ER from 9-12 pm. They took X-Rays and he is fine. The Dr says the walking must have popped some blood vessels from the goose egg and they bleed into his foot. Gravity at work. He's doing better although is leg is still hurting him. That's 2 ER visits this month. I'm just hoping Ty gets to be feeling better. Can't wait until he gets back on Sunday!!! Yeah!

Tuesday was Sabrina's 6 birthday (And Penny's -Happy Birthday). She is so cute. We had a party at Old Town Lewisville Pool. Julia, Brenden, Natalee, Jessica, Bailey, Garrett, the Dossett's, the Martone's, the Ted Lewis' Family, and 2 of her school friends came. It was lots of fun but she's been asking me why one 2 of her friends from school came. I reminded her about all the people who did come to help her celebrate. It's hard having a summer birthday. She was hoping to see more of her friends from school. We are so grateful for everyone who came!! Thank-you guys. It was great having everyone there.

Then on Wednesday Julia, Brenden, Katelyn, Jason, and I went to Six Flags. Jessica said she would watch Natalee and Sabrina said she wanted to stay with Jessica too. I had free tickets for Julia and Brenden and we have season passes so it was inexpensive excursion. Brenden loved the rides. I was good for most of them but I can't to the ones that spin. It was a great day the weather was nice and the park was not very crowded. KK made me ride the Roaring Rapids and I got soaked!! She's so mean to me;0 Then we also HAD to do the boat that soaks you. It was a great day. Thanks Jessica for watching the kids and Julia was playing with us.

Yesterday (Thursday) Sabrina finished swim lesson's. She did so good! She is floating and can swim a little. She going to do another session with KK in July. I'm so glad she liked it because last year she cried for 3 days and I didn't make her go after that. This year was great. I guess she just needed get a little older.

I am really enjoying spending time with the kids. We are SO enjoying our summer.

Jason Hits his Head :(

Yesterday we went to the Dallas Zoo and played. Julia and her kids went with us. We all touched the sting rays (except Brenden who didn't want to). Then we rode on the Monorail and saw the African animals. When we got off they told us we should head for the tunnel because a storm was coming. We got to the tunnel in time to watch the storm and eat our lunch. After the storm passed we continued visiting the other area's of the zoo. Lastly, we went to the children's area. We played in the kids area's and then we changed the kids into their bathing suits and let them play in the stream. If you haven't been to the Dallas Zoo the children's area has a stream where the kids can play in the water. It had started to rain again but that was fine because the kids were in their swimsuits anyway. Jason was jumping off the rocks when he slipped and hit his head. I was watching him and it was a loud crack when his head hit the concrete. This signaled us it was time to go (2:45). We packed up the kids to leave and started home. It was still raining at this time but with Jason crying, we put up with the rain to leave. He feel asleep on the way home and slept about 20 min. Then when we got home he wanted a bucket because he said he was going to throw up. I gave him some Motrin but he was still crying every few minutes saying his head hurt. His pupils were also dilated. I called the doctors office and they said I should take him in if he started to throw up. They said the 3 things to watch out for are throwing up, dilated pupils, and excessive sleepiness. The nurse also said if he starts to throw up take him to the emergency room. Then, of course, Jason goes to sleep at 5:45 and sleeps harder then ever before. He was on the couch and he was out. Ty and Josh gave him a blessing, which made me feel much better. Then, we tried to wake him up a few times but we just thought he was tired. Then we finally got him to wake up at 9:00. We were happy he woke up. This worried Ty and I though because he had slept so long and his pupils were still dilated. We called Mom Lewis (who's a nurse) and she gave us some advice. Then we called the nurses line and she said she would go ahead and take him to the ER just to make sure he was fine. We thought we was okay because we wanted to make sure. We went at 10:00 and they did a CT scan. They came back and said he looks good. He didn't have any swelling or bleeding. The doctor said he has a mild concussion and he should be fine to go home. We were home by 12:00. I hope this is Jason's last CT scan ;). I felt better knowing everything was fine. I was just worried about how heavy and long he was sleeping after hitting his head so hard. I'm so glad Ty and Josh were able to give him a blessing and the we have modern technology to make sure their are no serious injuries.

Six Flags over Texas

Today was such a fun day. Jarah and I had our first day our together with no kids. We both took the day off from work and went to Six Flags over Texas.

We started out the day running a few errands once we dropped off the kids at school.

Around 10:00 am, we arrived at Six Flags. It was so much fun not to be in the kid's section of Six Flags and watch the younger generation go ride on all the 'adult' rides. We rode on the Batman ride, the boat ride and others. We waited in line for lunch at Papa John's Pizza for about 30 minutes. The park was filled full of teenagers from all over the place. I think all of the schools decided to take their field trip today. The longest we had to wait was 30 minutes for a ride. After lunch, we rode this roller coaster called Runaway Mountain. It was totally in the dark. I was not expecting this fast and in the dark roller coaster. We look forward to riding more rides in the future.

On some of the rides, I took my little camera that I normally mount on my R/C Helicopter. I have put together a little video from the 'Acme Rock-N-Rocket'. Its this ride where you sit in a huge boat and it goes around in a circle upside down. The video has been included. Yes, that is me screaming!

After we left Six Flags, we ran some more errands before picking up the kids.

I started the craziest project after dinner. In front of our house, we have these bushes that have crab grass in front of them. Mosquitoes use this grass as a breading ground. Jarah mentioned that it would be nice to get rid of those little crab grass plants and see what we can do with it. It was so nice night tonight, in the 70s, that I decided to rip them out. I took out about eight feet of crab grass. It was tough. I also trimmed the bushes before pulling them out.

It was bath time and ready to get the kids to bed after that....

We ended the day watching 51st Dates.

Ty

Ty's Birthday and Mother's Day

Happy Birthday! Yesterday was Ty's 32 Birthday. YEAH!! Birthday's are a great time to think about life. It's hard to believe we're in our 30's. We have 3 wonderful kids and have been married for 10 years. Ty is planning on starting school in the Fall to get his Masters a MBA in Information Technology. I think it's just competition because I already have mine ;)

We went out to Tom (Ty's Brother) yesterday and then went to my Mom's for a Mother's Day celebration. It was so fun getting together with the families. I love hanging out with Jessica & Russ' Family and the Jonny & Tiffany's Family. We need to get together more often.

I got some workout tapes for Mother's Day and some really great cards. It was really cute while be were picking out cards there was a lady next to us who said it was her first Mother's Day. She had a 10 week old. I remember my first Mother's Day as a new Mom. I can't believe this is my 9th Mother's Day. I love being a Mom and taking care of my 3 children. Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

Allergies?

I really didn't feel well this week. I was sneezing and my nose was running. I can never tell if it's allergies or a virus. I still went to work because it wasn't that bad. It would have been harder to make sub plans. I actually didn't feel bad at all just tired. I can home Thursday and sleep from 6-8 and still went to bed at 10. That was so nice!

The kids are all doing well. Sabrina keeps saying she doesn't want to play soccer. She has refused to practice the last 2 times. We take her and then she will only sit on the bench. Katelyn has practiced for her the last two times. We love Sabrina's coach and are not to fond of Katelyn's coach. The strange thing is Sabrina plays so well. She is so cute out there. Oh well what can you do. We'll have to try something else for to do. Katelyn and Jason both say they want to play in the fall.

Only 5 more weeks of school! I had applied for Summer School but then decided I wanted to play with my kids this summer and Ty's family decided to have a family reunion in July. So I got a e-mail that said I had been selected for Summer School and to go to a meeting. I e-mailed back and said could I just sub. Then I could do it if I wanted or not. I didn't go to the mandatory meeting so I figured I was good. Then I got another e-mail saying congratulations I have been selected to teach summer school. So I sent another e-mailing saying please take me off. Luckily I got a conformation e-mail saying I'm off the list. I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to get out of it. Could I plead sick all summer? :)