Damon's 4th Birthday

Damon has been anxiously awaiting his 4th birthday!  And this year, Easter fell on his birthday!  I wonder how many times that will happen in his lifetime, or if it will ever even happen again.  He thought it was pretty cool. 

 

He was very excited to open presents after we woke him up.  Kelton and Natalie even decided, without my prompting at all, to use their own money that they earned doing jobs to buy Damon a birthday present.  Well, Kelton got carried away with the spirit of giving and had to be reigned in.  He bought Damon three presents and wanted to get more.

 

Nate and I got him a scooter, new clothes, 2 Disney Planes airplanes, a Hotwheels monster truck, a train car, and a sock monkey (that I made).  Kelton got him 3 Planes airplanes and Natalie got him one.  (Can you tell there was a good sale on those?)  G-ma/pa Webb got him two Hotwheels helicopters and a Bubble Guppies board game.  G-ma/pa Burgess gave him a Planes track set with a set of mini planes.  This kid loves toys and was so excited about all of them!

Here he is with all of his new Planes and his helicopters.  (One of the planes, Dusty, he had already bought a month or so ago.)

New clothes--oh, so handsome!

I didn't get input or give options for Damon's cake.  I know he likes Ninjago and knew it would be an easy cake.  I know that Cole, the black ninja, is his favorite, but I tried to get him to pick a different favorite so I wouldn't have to frost the whole cake black.  No such luck.  The black ninja is the favorite.  I debated buying the black "spray paint" for frosting, but decided to just go the route of dying it black.  I started with chocolate frosting to make it easier, and really, it wasn't hard at all.  The taste wasn't affected by the coloring, and it didn't even turn our mouths black!

Happy boy, before church on Easter morning with his birthday cake.

I know I have mentioned how much I love his cute little face.  But I do.  It shows his personality so well.  These pictures are all pretty much the same, other than his expression, and I couldn't choose my favorite.

I still can't figure out what he kept looking at up there.

He wanted to take a picture with his "Cole hat" that he got for Christmas.

Rob, Tina, Christian, and Grandma Trish (Tina's mom) joined us for Easter/birthday dinner.  It was fun to have all of them over.

And yes, chocolate cake with black frosting is messy.

Unless you are Kelton.  "Mom, look at my messy face..."

Arie looked like someone had punched her in the eye.  Which.... would not be entirely improbable around here.

Damon was lucky enough to get two bonus presents from Rob and Tina and Grandma Trish.  Rob and Tina gave him a Switch N Go Dino.  It's like a transformer that goes between a dinosaur and a car and has lights and talks.  He of course loves it.  Grandma Trish gave him a monster truck that goes on its own after you give it a push.  He really liked playing with that too, once he got the chance.  Kelton confiscated it shortly after it was opened.

That night, Damon was having a hard time sleeping.  He has such a good daddy.  Nate got up with him and calmed him down and even went and layed down with him so he could go back to sleep.

We are so happy to have our wonderful, sweet Damon!

Easter

I don't really do Easter dresses... not because I am opposed to them, but I just usually don't think about it.  But this year, it just so happened that I got both girls new dresses right before Easter.  They both looked so beautiful!

 

I love Easter.  Easter celebrations may be a bit overshadowed by other holidays.  But everything we are, everything we want to be, everything we do, everything at all, would mean absolutely nothing without the events surrounding Easter.  We would have no happiness and no hope and the very reason for our existence would have become void.  Again, I love Easter and my Savior Jesus Christ for giving us the chance to become everything.

Egg hunt

As always, the kids were super excited about our Easter egg hunt.  This year, we were actually in Gilbert on Friday and part of Saturday because Nate's niece, Marissa and her husband went through the temple and were then sealed, along with their little boy.  But we did our egg hunt on Saturday afternoon when we got home. 

 

We usually have the kids take turns finding their eggs, but this time, we hid them all together.  Then we told each one how many eggs they could find and what extra stuff to look for, like one chocolate bunny each.  I think they enjoyed it.

We made it almost all the way through without Arie finding us.  :)  But as soon as she did....

She found an egg!!  And opened it and started eating the candy as fast as she could because she was sure I was going to take it away.  (which I didn't, but that's usually how things work around here)

Arie Kait the Cute

This little girl is so much fun.  She is still really little, but she is getting so big!  She is now 18 months old.  She's at the point where she is talking a lot and will try to repeat words if you ask her to.  She can say all of our names: Naa-lee (Natalie), May-mon (Damon), and Kel-kee (Kelton).  All of us love how she calls Kelton, Kelkie.  She loves to sing "Let it Go" from Frozen, which I'm sure has nothing to do with the fact that the other kids never stop singing it.  While none of the words other than "go" are distinguishable, her tune is right on and most people would know what she is singing. 

She loves to watch TV.  Bubble Guppies is her favorite.  She often brings me the blu ray remote and sweetly says, "Buppies!"  Problem is, I have to tell her no a lot, or she would be watching it all the time.  Then she screams.  Two year old tantrums are beginning, but luckily, she comes out of them quickly.

There are lots of other cute, adorable things about Arie, but I will just let the pictures speak for themselves.  And yes, I quite often snatch her up off the ground and squeeze her.  I'm glad she's patient with me.

She makes this face all the time.  Usually it is more exaggerated and you can see her bottom teeth and her eyes get bigger.  It is so funny.

Month of March in Pictures

I love these two little girls.  And they love each other a lot, too.  This past little while, Natalie has gotten really good at taking care of Arie without being asked.  She will sometimes get up with her in the morning and get her something to eat.  One morning, she even changed her diaper, which I discovered after finding her diaper on backwards. 

 

Arie is a daddy's girl.  She loves him so much.  I think she is the first child I've had who will often times refuse me in order to have her dad, or she will cry if I have to take her from him.

Kelton loves to read.  I taught him how to read shortly before he started Kindergarten, and he has gotten better and better at it.  His reading level is somewhere around 1st-2nd grade.  I love listening to him read and seeing him excited about it.

And yes, my kids are still crazy.... Just in case you might be wondering.

I love this sweet little face.

In March, sock monkeys kind of took over my life.  We decided to make these as a craft at camp, but I needed to figure it out first.  Each of my kids wanted me to make them one, so I did.  I made four for our camp fundraiser auction that is coming up soon.  And I think I have decided to keep making them to sell.  We'll see how that goes, since they require a little bit of time to make and a decent amount of hand sewing.

They are just so cute!  I am saving this one for Arie's 2nd birthday.

These guys were so happy to finally get their monkeys!

This month, Kelton and Natalie both received the Student of the Month award for their classes. 

Kelton and his teacher, Mrs. Vaterlaus (kindergarten)

Natalie and her teacher, Ms. Ramirez (3rd grade)

Bat Baby!!

We used the money my Grandma gave the kids for Christmas to renew our long-expired zoo membership.  The kids always love the zoo.  Arie was very fascinated by the animals.

Grocery shopping with mom... always a lot of fun... for all involved.  :)  These shopping cart cars save my sanity.  And sometimes drive me insane.  Damon calls them "go-carts" and it makes me smile every time. 



Great Grandpa Webb

At the end of February, Nate's Grandpa Webb passed away at 97 years old. 

 

Natalie had a very special relationship with her great-grandpa.  She loved him sooo much.  Great-Grandpa lived with Nate's parents for the last few years of his life, so Natalie was able to spend some time with him.  Whenever we couldn't find Natalie, we always knew she was in Great-Grandpa's room.  She would choose spending time with him over playing with her cousins.  She would spend hours in there with him every time we came to visit.  She loved to talk to him, read to him, draw him pictures, and most of all, she loved taking care of him. 

 

About a year ago, when his second wife, Cheryle, died, Natalie sat right next to him during the funeral.  Afterwards, he told Natalie, "the next time you see me, I will be dead."  I guess this is a line he would tell people often.  Natalie happily responded, "then we can be friends in heaven!"

 

We did get to see him many times after that.  And thanks to a spur of the moment trip to Snowflake, with the main purpose of me being able to scout out our girls camp site, we were able to see him right before he passed away.  I was so grateful we (especially Nate and Natalie) were able to see him so shortly before he died.  I think it made it easier for Natalie because it made it seem more like she got to say goodbye.  As we were about to walk out the door to leave Snowflake, Natalie and Great Grandpa were about to do a puzzle together.  He was asking Nate's mom where they could put it together and she told him we were leaving right then.  He said a disappointed "oh."  Natalie gave him a big hug which made him smile. Natalie said "It's okay.  I will see you soon."  It was just five days later that he died.

 

This picture is actually from last March, so it is a year old.  But I couldn't find another one.

 

 

We went to Snowflake for the funeral on March 8th.  Natalie was okay, but pretty sad.  She understands that she will see him again, but she misses him now.  I asked Natalie to smile and this was the best I could get.  She told me she didn't feel like smiling.

 Our family.  Arie was napping at my parents' house.

Grandpa Webb's living children, and spouses. 

On the right side of the picture is our little Kaitlin's grave.  You can see her small headstone just to the right of everyone.  She is right there close to her great-grandparents.

Here is his obituary:

Maurice Eugene Webb
(September 13, 1916 - February 22, 2014)

Maurice Eugene Webb of Snowflake, Arizona, died February 22, 2014 at the age of 97. He finally used up all of his 9 lives – he should have died at least 8 other times in his life because of injuries or illnesses! He leaves behind 4 living children: Eugene Webb, Keith Webb, Patricia Larson & Joyce Brimhall, all of Snowflake, 3 sons-in-law: R.H. Larson, Dennis Wilkins and Chris Brimhall, 3 daughters-in-law: Mary Webb, Pam Webb and Rita Webb, 41 grandchildren, 35 grandchildren-in-law, 139 great-grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren-in-law, 4 great-great-grandchildren and numerous step children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Luella Ballard Webb who died in 1977 after 39 years of marriage, 3 children: Barbara Webb, Steven Webb and Janet Wilkins, and his 2nd wife Cheryle Sandall Webb who died in 2013 after 35 years of marriage. His posterity at the end of 2013 numbered 241!Up until the time of his death, he read constantly, climbed stairs dangerously, and he could name all of his grandchildren and most of his great grandchildren. If he couldn’t name them, he could at least tell you who they belonged to. He was pleased to be in several 5-generation pictures. Reese was born in Pinedale on September 13, 1916 to Jonathan Henry Webb and Della Ray Webb and was the 5th of their 10 children, all of whom preceded him in death but two brothers, Jay Webb and June Webb. Reese was raised in a happy home, with his parents taking in several cousins to raise as their own and had happy memories playing with cousins and friends in the Mesa/Lehi/Apache Junction/Pinedale/Lakeside areas. He had a beautiful singing voice and performed many solos. He was taught by his mother and aunts to dance very early, and was known for sweeping many ladies and young ladies off their feet on the dance floor. He was also famous for his donkey call. He loved to visit with his future mother-in-law, the widow Julia Ballard, while his future wife Luella Ballard curled her sisters and friends hair before the dances. He knew that his future wife would be as good a cook and friend as his future mother-in-law. As a young man, he played many baseball games, but during one fateful game, he threw the ball from centerfield to home plate and suffered a severe injury that resulted in osteomyelitis in his right arm. The doctors at that time wanted to amputate his arm, but his Dad told the doctors that he had lived a good life so they should do everything they could to save the arm. He had many careers throughout his life: bus driver, welder, mechanic, saw-mill worker, log truck driver, partner in Webb & Sons Sawmill, finance manager, big machinery operator, carpenter, town councilman, member of the irrigation board, beaver rancher, cattle rancher, custodian, sprinkler salesman, landscaper, long-haul truck driver, tractor driver, sheep rancher and hay farmer, but the most important work he did was within the walls of his own home. During all of this time, he served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Counselor in the Bishopric in Vernon, Snowflake Stake Clerk, Ward Clerk, missionary, Branch President (during his mission in Bogalusa, Louisiana)and Home Teacher, but his favorite church calling was Nursery Leader. He also loved to give quarters gifts for special occasions. His children remember their happy home life. They didn’t take many vacations but were always working together and playing together. They were raised in a home where love, service and the Gospel of Jesus Christ were taught by example. A viewing will be held Friday evening, March 7, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Pioneer Park LDS Chapel in Snowflake, Arizona. An additional viewing will be from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2014 in the Pioneer Park LDS Chapel in Snowflake, Arizona, with the funeral servicesbeginning at 11 a.m. Silver Creek Mortuary in Taylor, Arizona handled the services.

Big Changes Around Here

Callings.  We went a few months in our new ward without them.  But no more.

Let's start with me.  I think I mentioned that I was in charge of putting together the music for the Christmas program.  This wasn't a calling, just an assignment.  I led the choir and played the piano part of a duet.  I also played the piano at the ward Christmas dinner.  This ward is really lacking in the musical instrument abilities department, and it was made clear that I knew music.  Now, since moving to Sahuarita eight years ago, I have never NOT had a music calling.  I've had a few others scattered in with the music ones, but it has been predominantly music.  Honestly, I really, really, wanted a change.  Yes, music is important.  But I wanted something different.  When they called me in about 7 weeks ago to give me a calling, the member of the bishopric said they had kind of "gotten wind that I had had a lot of music callings" so they were going to give me something else for a change.  (Maybe I was a bit too vocal about being destined to do nothing but music in a musically challenged ward, and that I was already burned out.)  Anyway, they asked me to be the Ward Young Women's Camp Director.  I don't know if I've ever seen this happen, but on the Sunday they sustained me, after they called my name and I stood up, and then they said I was being called as the camp director, there was an audible gasp from several people (including the lady sitting right behind me) in the congregation.  It was kind of embarrassing.  I think people were truly shocked that I wasn't being put in a music calling. 

But I am pretty excited about planning girls camp.  It is a bit overwhelming, but I think it will be fun.  Normally, they always do stake camp, but this year, each ward is being left to do its own thing.  So I am in charge of every single aspect of camp.  I will obviously be assigning things out and working with the YW Presidency, but I am the one who is putting it all together.  The more I plan stuff out and think about it, the more I realize that there is so much to do and keep track of.

Okay, on to Nate.  About the same time as I got my calling, the Elder's Quorum presidency came over to our house and called Nate to be a teacher in the Elder's Quorum.  He was really excited about this calling because he doesn't mind teaching.  And, he is busy, and this wouldn't require a lot of time.  He only had to teach one Sunday a month. 

So, callings... check.  Breathe a sigh of relief, because you really never know what you are going to get, right?  ;)  That sounds terrible, but I know you feel the same way... don't make me start naming callings.  We all have our own personal list of things that make us cringe.  Not that we wouldn't do them, but... you get my point. 

But then...

One week later, we get an email on Sunday morning (addressed to Nate) asking if both of us can come in and meet with President Johnson, the 1st counselor in the Stake Presidency, after church.

???

No, no.  We just got callings.  We are good.  Thanks. 

Just kidding.  We of course said yes.  Then we spent the rest of the day speculating on what was going on.  I think we came up with just about everything.  Except for the right answer.  Nate even determined at one point that the calling was actually going to be for me even though the request was specifically addressed to him.  That was about as close as his suggestion that maybe the stake presidency was just calling people in to visit with them to get to know them better, and since our last name starts with W, it had just taken them a while to get to us. 

President Johnson didn't get right to the point.  I think they actually enjoy watching us squirm a bit, not knowing what is going on.  He talked to us for a bit about worthiness, and if there were any reason why Nate couldn't accept a calling, etc...  It was interesting answering these questions before knowing what the calling was.  It was like being backed into a corner with no escape.  :)  And it made me even more confused because I kept wondering, what on earth are they calling him to?  When he told us they were reorganizing the bishopric, I still didn't put it together and was surprised when he extended the call for Nate to be the 1st counselor in the bishopric.  Our bishop is staying the same, but they are replacing both counselors.  I guess they do that in our stake;  they leave the bishops in for a long time, but replace the counselors about every two years.

There was a miscommunication, a couple of times, about when this would take place.  Originally, President Johnson thought it was happening the next Sunday.  A few days later we found out it would be done at ward conference.  Ward conference then got moved.  From the time Nate was called until he was sustained, it was 5 weeks.  It was way too long.

Nate was sustained on Sunday (two days ago).  All of our parents came to be with us and so the dads could ordain him a high priest. 

So, big changes in our house.  I know really busy people get called to time consuming callings all the time, so we will make it work.  We didn't tell the kids until Saturday what was going on.  I don't think the boys really understood, but Natalie did.  She was mad, which then morphed into sad and pouty.  She knew he wouldn't be able to sit with us at church.  She exclaimed, "I'll never get to see you again!"  The boys understood a bit more once Sunday came.  I lost track of how many times I heard them ask, "where is dad?" both before and after church.  (He was asked to attend the early morning meetings.)  Of all the days of the week, Sunday is the one and only day that the kids can count on seeing their dad.  They will have to adjust to that a bit. 

We've been told by numerous people that our family will be blessed by this.  So, I've been making a wish list.  Okay, not really, but maybe a little bit.  :)  I am excited for this opportunity Nate will have to grow and help others, and the growing experience it will be for our family as well.

Fun times at FHE

FHE lessons with little kids can be.... You can fill in the blank with almost any word imaginable.  Tonight it would be: frustrating, good, and funny--in that order.

Let's start with... frustrating.

First of all, I think the phrase "It's time for Family Home Evening" must translate into kid language as "Come on kids, it's time to bounce off the walls and be as crazy as possible."  That is how we usually spend the first half (or all) of FHE--just trying to get kids to #1) stay sitting, and #2) in one place, #3) quietly, and #4) with their hands, elbows, legs, toes, tongues, etc. off of anyone else.  Meeting all four criteria would mean an unacceptable surrender of the children's rights, and therefor, the parents usually get to the point of begging, pleading, and threatening that just #1 be met.

Okay, now on to... good.

Our lesson tonight was on the sacrament.  Not so much the traditional lesson on the sacrament (though those things were mentioned), but on sacrament passing procedures.  *Sigh.*  Someone else please tell me that this is not just my kids, and that you are sitting there smiling because you already know from experience where I am going with this. 

Let's backtrack a bit... This has been going on for months.  But for example, yesterday at church, after the bread was passed, I ended up escorting a noisy, whining, Kelton out of the chapel because he was not allowed to hold the bread tray for everyone, or hand the bread tray back to the deacon, or whatever other "holding of the bread tray" he didn't get to do.  As I am in the foyer with him during the passing of the water, I hear weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth coming from inside the chapel doors.  I think to myself, "is that my kid??"  Oh yes.  Of course it is.  I open the doors to intercept a screaming Damon from Nate, who has already loaded up both Damon and Arie (because he can't leave her) and is on his way out.  Damon, at the ripe old age of three and three quarters, thinks he is old enough hold, pass, and do cartwheels with the water tray.  Nate wouldn't let him hold it... led to a tantrum on the floor... led to Nate not giving Damon a cup before passing the water back to the deacon... led to catastrophic meltdown.  Awesome.  Who knew the sacrament could be the means of such fighting?

So... on to our lesson.  We laid down specific ground rules that I would have never imagined in a million years would need to be instated.  Bread may be passed from person to person.  You take a piece of bread, then you get to hold the tray.  You do not get to hold the tray until after you take a piece of bread.  The last person gives the tray to Dad, who gives it to Mom, who gives it to the deacon.  The water tray is not held by anyone but Mom or Dad.  (this got a lot of complaints and mad facial expressions.)  Deacon gives the tray to Mom, those sitting by mom get their own cup, Mom gives the tray to Dad, and those who sit by Dad get their own cup.  Dad passes it back to Mom who passes it to the deacon.  Once rules were established, and grumping was done, we practiced...over, and over and over again using a pot lid.  :)  And you know what?  I think they've got it!  They got the role play down and could answer all procedural questions correctly (almost... see next section).  We'll see what happens when they are actually put to the test.  Now, if we could only get Arie to not snatch a second piece of bread as the tray passes back by her. 

Which leads to... funny.

Ahhh, so after all of our wrangling and explaining, and practicing, I just wanted to drive one last point home--to make sure they really understood.  In very clear, slow, deliberate speaking, I asked Damon, "So, who holds the water tray?" 

His serious response... "Um... minions??"

That's it.  Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 are on their way back to the library first thing in the morning.

Happy boy

Kelton has been begging and begging and begging me to teach him piano lessons for at least the past six months.  I wanted to make sure he was really interested and wasn't wanting to do it because Natalie is or because he sees other kids come over for lessons.  (I currently teach 7 students, not including my own kids.)  Natalie showed him how to play a song a few months ago and he has really been begging since then.  One time when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he asked for piano lessons.  So he somehow got it in his mind that once he turned six, he would start piano lessons.  He has really been asking a lot in the past few weeks.

So today was the day.  Even though I taught four other lessons today, I felt bad that he kept having to ask.  He was so excited to start that he did all of his after school jobs at super speed.  He caught on really fast to the things I taught him.  I have to say, when my kids do well at the piano, I think it makes me more proud than just about anything else.  I hope he keeps up his excitement for many years to come.

And this one has many more years to wait her turn.  But she likes to practice.  :)