Temple Open House

Kind of dark but you get the idea!

All of Us!

Hurry! Take the picture! This won't last long!

playing in the fountain

Us in the reception room enjoying a cookie or two in the kids' case!

We were so glad we took the opportunity to attend the open house for the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple last Saturday July 25th. We had a great time! What a neat opportunity for our children to go in and see where their parents go.

Isabel's Temple Top 3

1. The diamond lights (chandeliers)

2. The sealing room with the mirrors
3. The baptismal font


Zaquel's Temple Top 3
1. The waterfall (fountain)

2. Angel Moroni (yes, he is black but only due to a lightning strike! He is not related, sorry Zaquel!)

3. The jewels

My favorite was when we were outside by the fountain looking up at angel Moroni and Zaquel said, "Where are the Lamanites?" So I guess he has been listening during scripture study!

Outdoor Fun

Two girls having fun!

Here is Briel lookin' good in the dumptruck of all places! Amazingly she fits in it! The kids had fun pushing her around the patio. We didn't let Zaquel push her too much...it would have resulted in stitches for sure!

Fireside

Back in June, (yes, I am a bit slow at posting things!) Marcos was invited to be a guest speaker at my sisters Youth Conference in Provo Canyon. He did such a great job! He spoke about his conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, growing up in Africa, the importance of education and choices. He has come a long way and I am so privileged to be his wife!

He has done one other fireside I have been to. It was when we lived in St. George and were dating. I went with my roommate Keli and we enjoyed his stories way too much!

Love ya honey!

Baby Contest

For those of you that remember, back in April of this year I entered Briel in a baby contes, with this photo, in the West Valley Journal. Thanks to all of those fabulous people who voted for her, she took third place! Nice!

She won a free photoshoot and 8x10 photo from Kathryn Michaels Photography. If you want to see one of the adorable pics from the shoot, click here. Enter the site and click on galleries, then babies and Briel is the first one up.

I guess this photo has edge lighting which is very difficult to do. I am so gald we could help Kathryn out with this! Anyway, I do have to say, I think Briel is just gorgeous! No bias at all right?

Well, enjoy the picture and wish us luck for the final contest in January of 2010! We are in the running for Disneyland! I do hope we win since we have never been there! No voting this time, only professional judges...a bit more intimidating but exciting none the less!

African Remedies

So I am finally on the mend after being sick for a week and a half with a very nasty virus.

No, it wasn't Swine Flu. Marcos took me to the Dr.'s twice to make sure. Both times the test came out negative.

I usually do not get sick, but when I do, I do it very well. I can probably count on my hand the times I have been ill. I mean besides getting Malaria, passing out and vomiting in Stress Management Class (remember that Keli?), passing out at church, at home when I was pregnant, and now this horrible virus, my life has been pretty healthy! Even when I was teaching full-time, I was rarely ill.

Marcos was such a great hubby over the last week. He had to take 3 days off work to take care of me and the kiddos. With the week-long fever, I couldn't even get out of bed! But when Monday came around I was on my own! Thanks to our neighbor, Megan, she came and played with the kids after their naps! What a great help that was!

ok on with the remedy. I am all for natural healings and treatments when appropriate. That is why I love Africans. They are all about that too! We believe in the power of limes. Yes, that is right, limes. Marcos juices them up and we drink it up! It is a bit powerful, but it cures the common cold and that nasty virus I had.

When Marcos was able to go to the store, he bought a huge bag of 50, yes, 50 limes. The cashier was very interested in the party we were going to have. Little did he know there would be no tequila involved. So, I have been drinking the lime juice and it has really helped me get better. So next time you get sick or feel it coming on, go out and get some limes and drink a little bit each day and you will feel better in no time!

Children of God

I am so glad my kids know who they are! Now, if I could only get them to remember that when they are in an all-out brother-and-sister brawl!

Dinner with the Missionaries

What is it with boys anyway? I mean do they have to be so boyish? So here's the story...

A few Tuesday's ago, we had the missionaries over for dinner. All was well, the dinner was deliciously sumptuous, if I do say so myself, and then it was time for the favorite dessert of browines and ice cream topped with chocolate sauce. Mmmmmmmmmmm...

So Zaquel decided he was done and jumped down from the table and headed towards the bathroom. I loved his independence or so I thought... Then a few minutes later, during their spiritual message sharing, the missionaries were giggling. Yes, giggling! You see, Jungle Boy and I were facing the missionaries and our backs were toward the hallway. So we said, "Is he naked?" (referring to Zaqel of course) They said "yes" and tried not to laugh. So right as we are turning around Zaquel says, "I have poop on my butt!" We turned around and there was Zaquel bent over with his little bum up in the air and poop all over it! I mean really, boys and poop, I just don't get it! He wasn't trying to be funny, he really needed some help cleaning himself off. I let Jungle Boy do the honors. I know, so nice of me!

By this point, the missionaries were crying because they were laughing so hard! Then a few minutes later, all cleaned up and with only underwear on, Zaquel graces us with his presence once again. He then tells one of the missionaries as he is pointing to his chest, "These are my boobies!" How nice of them to get an anatomy lesson as a trade off for a spiritual one! I tell you, never a dull moment at our house!

SIDE NOTE:
The missionaries did say it made their day! They had been in an accident earlier that day and were a bit stressed out. So next time they need enlightening... I am sure they will be right over!

And yes, he is wearing underwear in the pic!!!

St. George 2009

Our Little Swimmers!

Us with Karla. We stayed in her place our last year of college while she was on her mission. What a blessing that was for us! She too is a vital part of our Personal St. George history.

Our stop wouldn't be complete without a visit with Dan, one of the most generous, intelleigent, kind, and dedicated men in the world. He was one of the instrumental people who helped Marcos get to Dixie College. Amazing! And yes this is Marcos's favorite shirt.

Marcos with our old boss George.

The kids on a couch in the Gardener Center where both of us worked as college students. This is where Marcos used to check-out my hot (back-then-before-kids) legs while I was working as a catering goddess.

The kids at the fountain on Dixie's Campus.
This is where Marcos and I went to our 1st dance together...sigh. It is also adjacent to the grassy area where we had lunch together and a lovely little bird decided to drop a load right on Marcos' head. The way it seeped into his spongy curls was fascinating! I don't think I have laughed so hard in my life. He was so embarrassed! You see, we were still just in the dating stages of our romantic relationship and I think his face was bright red underneath all that blackness! Love you sweetie!

Here we all are at the Brigham Young House. This was a cozy little spot for reading or a great pic! Thanks to the sister missionary who took it!

Us at the Brigham Young Home. What industrious people those Mormon settlers were! I mean dragging all that pine down from pine valley to build this house, planting a garden complete with cotton, importing a tree from France so their silkworms could have their staple diet of Mulberry leaves, and handcrafting just about everything!! One of my favorites were the almond trees in front. I am so glad I don't have a toilet like Brigham Young's. If you've never been up to his room, all he has is a ceramic canister with a lid. Nice I know. That is why I wasn't born then. I couldn't have done it!!
Why don't I have such a nice tan like my kids? Oh yea, I'm white!

Isabel basking on a rock at the park.

Okay, Zaquel was so fast going down the paths! I am so surprised that he didn't take out one of the many walkers!

There is literally a park just a stone' s throw away from the condo's backyard. We took their scooters for them to enjoy the park's paths.

She loved the water! It was fun to see her splashing around and trying to tip herself over face first in the water! So sweet!

My Guys! How cute! I was so glad my sis-in-law let us borrow the life-jacket!
Zaquel could swim and jump-in with ease! And I didn't have to worry too much about drowning with that! Nice!

Who was this amazing photographer?

This was her favorite thing to do at the pool.
What! Is that Zaquel in the hot tub? He isn't 14 so shhhh! Don't tell!

Isabel right before she jumps in!

All the kiddos by the condo door.

Swimming fun times!

We had so much fun on our little vacation! The kids loved swimming in the pool and Marcos and I loved reminising (spelling?) of our dating days/engagement/1st year of marriage that happened at Dixie. What a fabulous place with so much history, personal and community. It was so nice to stay in the same condo with my kids that I stayed in as a girl with my family. I think it's amazing how things work out and I don't believe there are any mistakes when it comes to those things. Heavenly Father has a purpose for everything and he puts us in places where we can achieve those purposes. Anyway, what a great time it was. It is so nice to look back and see how far you have come together. (Marcos and I that is) I mean after 12 years we are faring pretty well.

We were able to reconnect with some friends of ours in Cedar City and had a great time at Discovery Park with our kids. Papa and Briel on the swing. How adorable!On the Pirate Ship Isabel and Zaquel on the sweet tire swing