What we've been up to. . .

So I haven't felt much like blogging lately and then when I did there was so much to write about. So I decided a condensed version was best since my to do list keeps growing each day.

On Nov. 21 was my dad's birthday. My dad is the strong silent type who has a heart bigger than his body. He will drop everything to help someone out. Growing up even though my dad worked long hours to provide for us he was always helping out in any way he could. I remember when there was a hurricane coming and where was dad-out in the neighborhood making sure everyone was okay.

A few things I love about my dad:

*he loves the gospel

*he taught us the value of hard work by example

*to hear him sing

*he adores my mom

*loves and knows his family history

*his laugh

The picture above was taken by a wonderful family friend. He does amazing work, check him out here.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. It was the perfect day-we slept in a little, cooked a boat load of yummy food, watch the parade and some football, ate, slept, and ate some more.

The next day Dave left for a couple of days to visit his parents in California. He had a wonderful time. He has the most amazing parents!!

This year Kawika was in the Geography Bee at school. He's been in the Spelling Bee the last few years but this was the first for the Geography Bee. The principal warned us at the beginning that the questions were really hard and that even she wouldn't know a lot of them. And she wasn't kidding. If you got two questions wrong you were eliminated, after the first 2 rounds 7 out of 10 were eliminated. Kawika was one of the 3 left. Then the person who came in 3rd was eliminated. That left Kawika and one other boy. In the final round they were each asked questions and if one answered wrong and the other right then that person won. They were asked probably 7 or 8 and finally the other boy answered correctly and won. We were so proud of Kawika he did awesome!!!! The funniest part was at the end when they were congratulating the other boy for winning and let him know that over Christmas break he would be studying to take a test to qualify for the state level. This boys jaw dropped to the floor-his expression said it all-Are you kidding me I just won and my prize is studying!! I looked over at Kawika and he had a smirk on his face that said Whew, I'm glad I got 2nd place!

That night we had a party to celebrate. I made a cake and we gave him a box of nerd candies. I thought I did pretty good at my little globe cake-but don't look to closely I'm sure it's not that geographically correct.

Yoga or something like that

Often times when the kids play with Dave they get pretty rowdy. He is just too much fun! There's a lot of chasing, tickling, screaming, wrestling, and anything else that entails fun and laughter. So to get them to calm down he has them sit down and do I guess you could call the Brubaker version of Yoga or meditation. Now keep in mind that my husband is the instructor. . .

See he starts out with good intentions of calming them down. . . looking good girls-can you feel the calmness and peace washing over you?

Then it moves straight to silliness again.

Good thing all their silliness is gone. ;)

A Band-aid can fix anything, anywhere. . .

Even an owee on your ear :)

(silly girl, as long as it makes you feel better)

Fall Festival

We went to the Fall Festival at my kids school on the 8th(I know I'm behind). The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time. Kawika and Kalani both brought friends which they were very excited about. Kawika and Kyle both spent a bunch of tickets at this game.

Kyle with a nice jump shot.

Kawika shooting a basket.

Kalani and David

Kalei was so excited to ride on the pony(although I didn't capture that in a picture).

Kaili and Kalei had fun on the bounce obstacle courses.

Last year at the festival Kawika and Kyle each won 4 2-liter bottles of soda at the ring toss. They have been planing all year long to go back to the ring toss and set a world record of most soda won at one festival. But they made the game harder this year so they didn't set any records but still came away with 6 bottles of soda! They were so excited! All in all the kids had a great time at the festival and overloading on treats(anybody want them for a bit while they're on a sugar high?)

She's finally lost it!!!

Her first tooth that is. . .HOORAY!!!

That tooth has been hangin by a thread for what seems like forever! Dave finally pulled it out last Monday. She was so excited to have lost her first tooth and finally get a visit from the tooth fairy.

The thrill of the chase

I was outside with the girls the other day watching them chase each other on their bikes. I remember loving the thrill of being chased. I'm sure things like that and spinning till I fell over kept me busy for many hours as a kid! :)

Glad it's over

I just have to say I am so glad that this whole crazy election stuff is over. The thing I am most happy about was the Proposition 102 passed here in Arizona. It's the same as Prop 8 in California. I am so grateful that it passed, it's been really stressing me out. We had received counsel from our leaders here that this was a very important issue and how critical it was for us to get the word out and support this cause to save traditional marriage. I am so thankful for the Proclamation, the scriptures, inspired leaders, the spirit, and with that, what more do we need. I've had some good thoughts through all of this, I have realized that I cannot control what goes on outside of my home. I can make sure that I have a home where my children are taught true principles and the spirit can be felt. I can arm them with the truthfulness of the gospel so that when they leave the sanctuary of our home into the world so that they can make their own choices the way the Lord would have them choose.