Brody is 12, and Machu Picchu!

My Baby baby boy turned 12 in May.  I can't believe it.  Why do my kids have to grow up so fast?

Brody decided that it would be fun to have a minute to win it birthday party with a few of his friends.  The birthday parties that we have are nothing like what Chileans have.  It was very low key, but I think that all the boys had a great time together.  I know that Brody had a great time.  I don't really have pictures from his birthday, just a bunch of video's that I don't know how to upload. 

Scott had to fly to the U.S. for work the day after Brody's birthday, (and was gone for 3 weeks, I really don't like being a single parent) so Brody didn't get ordained as a Deacon at church until Scott returned.  When Brody was finally able to pass the Sacrament at church, he was so excited and didn't mess up at all.  (that's what they tell me anyways.  I was home sick)

While Scott was gone, Emmi also had a school trip and was gone for 4 days.  Emmi had a great time, like always, except she came home exhausted!  It was really quite and sad around here with both her and Scott away.

Most of you know that I am not a morning person, and that it is Scott that takes the older kids to early morning seminary.  (which I am most grateful for)  For those three weeks, all of us had to be up, ready and out the door by 6:15 am.  Lucky for me, I was able to come home and go back to bed some mornings, but poor Brody and Mia couldn't.  Let's just say that when Friday morning came around, it was pretty difficult to make out the door on time.  We were all exhausted, but thankfully we were able to sleep in on Saturday's and Sunday's.

After Scott returned from the U.S., he was home for 4 days before we all flew out to Peru for a week vacation.  Oh my goodness, I can't even begin to tell you what a great time we had, and how amazing Machu Picchu and the places around are.  If we could do it again, we would spend more time exploring.  There is so much history and so many great places to explore, and the food was outstanding!

Mia Brody and Kaleb all suffered from altitude sickness the first day, but felt better after some sleep and oxygen.  The rest of the days were all very long, busy days exploring.  Friday morning Brody woke up puking again, but we already had a driver hired to come take us around different ruins and I wanted to stay together as a family.  So with plastic bags in tow, off we went.  After about 3 hours, our driver suggested taking Brody in to the medical Clinic.  He dropped Brody and I off, and everyone else went out exploring, but came and picked us up a little while later after Brody got some IV antibiotics and fluid into him.  The doctor thought he had food poisoning, but I didn't think so because we had all eaten the exact same things.  I believe it was just a stomach bug, that Kaleb and I ended up with once we got home.  

Some of the fun things we were able to experience were visiting a planetarium, a chocolate museum, visiting an animal preserve, lots of ruins, hiking, stairs, a train ride, different Churches, some protesting in the streets, great food, wonderful people, and a little souvenir shopping.  It was a trip to remember, and so much fun.  I love spending time with my family, we all get along really well.  I guess that is what happens when we move around so much, we are each others best friends.

 
 
 

 


 
 
 
 
 

So, I'm a bit of a slacker

It's only been 4 months since I last posted so I figured it was time to give a large update.
Christmas was wonderful.  For the month of December we always do a little something each day, whether it is an act of service, baking, watching Christmas movies, decorating graham cracker houses, reading Christmas stories ect.  We were blessed last year, and we all had a fantastic month.  The kids were also super excited because school ended for them on the 10th of December and because we were able to fly up to the states and see so many people.  We were there for 3 weeks, and it still wasn't enough time.
 



Our first week in the states, we were in Florida.  We were able to see my parents and 2 of my brothers and their families.  My parents live out in the middle of nowhere Florida, and I knew we would all be bored so I was able to talk them into coming down to Disney world with us for 4 days.  We rented what we thought was going to be a house, but it ended up being a timeshare that had 2 small apartments.  Although we were disappointed that it wasn't what we were expecting, it turned out ok. and for the most part we all had a great time.
 

 

 

 

 

The next two weeks we spent in Utah visiting so much of our Family.  It was so great to see everyone, and we were all sad to come home, but thankfully Scott's parents decided to fly back to Chile with us. They were able to spend 2 weeks with us.  It was a pretty relaxing time, we went on a little boat ride to see the penguins, shopped at the farmers market, did a walking tour of Valparaiso, site seeing in Vina del mar, shopping in the pottery town Pomarie, toured one of Pablo Neruda's houses, walked along the beaches and lots of games at the house.  I think we all had a great time, and we were so sad to see Grandma and Grandpa Daniels leave.  

 
 
 

 

 

 
 

 
The week after they left, Emmi and Kaleb went to EFY for the week.  Emmi and Kaleb had a good time and were able to meet a lot of new people.  The came home on a spiritual high, and so happy!  While they were gone, it was just Brody and Mia at home.  It was so quite around here.  I had visions of what my life will be like in just a few short years.  Why do kids have to grow up so fast?

At this point, the kids only had 2 weeks of summer vacation left.  The were all sad, but I was getting super excited.  We spent those two weeks looking for a buying their school books and supplies.  I will never complain about school supply lists in the states ever again.  It is ridiculous here, each kid had at least 2 pages of supplies they needed and 1 page of books.  It not like I could go to Target or Walmart to get everything.  No big box stores here, I think we went to at least 20 stores trying to find everything and even now, the kids tell me about another book or supply they need.  Absolutely crazy I tell you.

The kids stared school the beginning of March.  Mia had her 10th birthday and she wanted a party with just a couple girls.  Well it turned into a much larger party than I was expecting, 10 girls came.  Good thing the weather was so nice, because we were able to have a pool party and for the most part all the girls had a good time.  I can't believe my baby is now in the double digits!

March also was the start of piano lessons for Kaleb, Brody and Mia.  I absolutely love their piano teacher.  His name is Christian and he was our Bishop when we first came to chile.  He has so much talent, and Brody loves having him as a teacher not only in Piano, but a church also.  Mia and Kaleb I think are just appeasing me.  I don't think they are huge fans of playing the piano, but I will make them take lessons this year and see if it gets any better.

Emmi started cello lessons and is on a "cello"  high.  She loves her teacher, and loves the cello.  Mia is also taking voice lessons, which she loves.  Kaleb is in debate club, not sure if he loves it or not, but he is the one who wanted to do it.  Brody is in chess club, and is really enjoying that.

April brought on Scott's 40th birthday.  It was pretty low key, no big party for him.  I felt a little bad, but he said he didn't care.  We did end up going to a friends house for a BBQ, and we took the cake and ice cream to celebrate.  It was a good, relaxing day.

This last weekend was our Anniversary.  Seventeen years we have put up with each other, and I wouldn't change a thing.  I think we both agree that we married the perfect person for us.  Scott isn't really great at planning anything, so I told him I was planning a get away weekend.  I got a babysitter for the kids, (which I think, we didn't really need but it was nice to know an adult was at the house) and I whisked Scott away to Santiago.  The thing is that Scott and I really don't like big cities, but we had a great Friday and Saturday without kids exploring the big city.  We both loved all the old buildings, the details were awesome.  We walked through an art museum, enjoyed some yummy gelato, tried some Chilean Mexican food, (not our favorite)walked up and down a million stairs, ( I don't understand the love of stairs here, but I guess when you are up next to the Andes mountains you need all those stairs) toured another of Pablo Neruda's houses, took an acensor to a high point, and were able to see just how big Santiago is.  Wow, it is huge! Overall, it was a really good weekend.

I think that pretty much catches me up.  I know there is so much more, but my fingers are tired of typing. Oh the boys bought themselves turtles, they are super cute and I don't even have to take care of them.

School's out for Summer!

We are so happy that school is out for the summer!  No more early mornings!  Oh wait, I was up and out the door at 6:45 this morning for a run with Scott.  I keep saying I am going to participate in a  marathon, Scott is so kindly setting his alarm to help motivate me to get out and running.  I sure love him by about 8ish.  hehehe.  The good thing about this is I feel so much better after a run, I get to spend one on one time with my best friend, and the kids get a hot breakfast. 

Even with school being out, there is so much to do before Christmas.  Goody trays to make, friends to visit, reports cards to pick up, van to be fixed, tickets to be bought and so much more. 

Last Sunday on our way home from church Scott asked me if I smelled antifreeze.  I couldn't smell anything and I don't even know what antifreeze smells like.  Anyways, when he turned off the engine, the passenger air vent was smoking, had a boiling sound and then got antifreeze all inside of my van.  Scott took the van in Tuesday morning and we still don't have it.  Good thing we have 2 vehicles, or things would be more difficult.  Who knows when we will get it back.  Last time it was in the shop for almost 3 weeks.  Good times.

We are still waiting to get our tickets to the U.S.  One of the perks of living here in Chile is that the government will give us 2 sets of plane tickets  for each family member back to that states.  It is just a process trying to get them.  We asked for them back in September, but because the 2015 budget hasn't been passed, we can't get our tickets issued.  Hopefully the budget will pass soon so that we can come see friends and family in January. 

All of the kids finished the year with awesome grades.  I am so happy that they were able to do so well with having to learn a new language.  Brody was going through his papers on Friday and he made a comment that "Wow, I guess tutoring did help!"  He hated Spanish tutoring, but I am happy that he realized that it actually helped him.

It is supposed to be summer weather here, but it is nothing like last year.  Foggy and cold most mornings, it reminds me of Oak Harbor weather.  I keep hoping it will warm up, because I am getting tired of wearing sweaters, jackets and long pants all the time.  With my luck, it will be nice In January when I am in Utah freezing.  At least I will be able to visit with family and sit by a fireplace to help keep me warm. 

Well I better get going and entertain some kids.  I have heard "I'm bored"  a few to many times this morning. 

Brody received a couple of awards.  Best English, (that one is kind of a given hahaha,) and Best Academic Achievement in his class.

I just love this picture of Brody!  It cracks me up every time I see it.

                                                        Like Father, Like son.

           With Kaleb's ceremony they had the military band, and a bagpiper.  Pretty cool.

Kaleb's prize giving ceremony.  Poor kids had to stand like that for the entire ceremony.  2.5 hours! 

Mia's prize giving ceremony.  She is in orange, 5 over from the green, 2nd row from the top.  I really enjoyed her ceremony, they sang some fun songs, and it wasn't super long.  Short and sweet is how I like them.  Emmi has her's tomorrow night, hopefully it won't be to long.