"Riesen" Reasons

1. She reads us good books.

2.  She helps us.

3.  She really cares.

4.  She gives us free time.

5.  She's a good teacher

6.  She is a good friend.

7.  She lets us go to recess early.

8.  She teaches us math games.

9.  She does snazzy snack.

Dress Blues

Sea World

We wrapped up our vacation to San Diego with a visit to Sea World.  Going to Sea World to many days of convincing Steve that a trip to San Diego would not be complete without a trip to see Shamu.  He is just not a crowd type of person.  He even almost had the kids convinced that going camping and shooting would be more fun than Sea World.  

The Shamu Show was, by far, my favorite event of the day.  The 25 minute show felt like 2.5 minutes.  The boys liked t he Sea Lion show the best.  At first, we were sad that the park closed at 6 p.m. that evening but we were cold and wet that we were grateful to have an excuse to go back to the hotel.

Have you seen Harry Potter?  Doesn't this look like a dementor?  My boys thought so and were kinda freeked  out by  it.

Yes, that is the REAL Jack Hanna.  The boys were not to impressed.  Im pretty sure that they still are not even sure why I made them pose for a picture with a strange man.  Jack Hanna just happened to be doing a show on the day were were there.  When we arrived at the Park I looked on the schedule and it said "The Jack Hanna Show"  I asked Steve, "Do you think that Jack Hanna will really be there.  Let go to the show just to see."  I was very excited to see that he really was there.  I had to bribe my boys with icecream if they would pose with him.  I totally should have been the one that snuggled up next to this sexy old man.

Uh mm, I don't think these are for me....

A few weeks ago my mom asked, jokingly,  Luke if he wanted "Girl Legos" for his birthday.  Luke has always enjoyed getting a rise out of people by telling them that his favorite color is pink.  So it seemed reasonable that he might enjoy a few pink and purple legos to add to his collection.  We all know that Luke has a super sense of humor and could totally handle a practical joke on his 10th birthday.  What ensued was sooo hilarious  that I wish I would have caught the whole event on video.  Seriously, it was the FUNNIEST think I have ever seen.

As Luke began to open his present he quietly said. "I dont think these are for me."  Everyone began to giggle and told him that yes, indeed, it was a present for him and he needed to finish opening the present.

As he opened the package all the way we could not contain our laughter.  Not only were the legos pink and purple but they were a package of a "pet shop beauty parlor" 

 At this point, Luke was becoming aware that he joke was on him but he wasnt quite sure what was actually going on.  He then asked, "Who gave these to me?"  We reminded him to open the card and read it to all of us.  As he read the card he realized that the legos came from Grandma VerDon and this is the look that he gave her....

Seriously, Grandma?!?1

Luke was lucky enough to celebrate his birthday with these two beauties.  Melinda was gracious enough to let us join her twins first birthday celebration.  Remember when Luke thought the pink lego package was not for him?  Well. probably because he thought the legos were for the twins.

Scarlett 

Emma

Welcome all blog stalkers....

It is important to me that my family members have access to my blog.  I tried to have my blog private and things were not working for some of those family members. I have been weighing my concerns about having an open blog with the sense of closeness with family and friends.  I'm still not sure which one wins.  But, for now, I will leave my blog open.  At least, until those that I love most become computer literate ;)

Mission Beach

room to run around+ ocean waves+ sea shells + family = Good Times By All

The water was FREEZING!  I was sure that the kids would not want to get wet because the air temp was also so so cold.

There was a high wave warning on the coast near San Diego.  The boys were fascinated with the HUGE waves.We especially liked watching the body boarders surf the waves.  

Whoa!!  Big Wave coming! This is the wave that Knocked Austin onto his bum.

                                 Burke and Shari were feeling like they needed some alone time ;)

Wouldn't Nate make a good Beach Bum??

I's fairly sure that these two were discussing shooting techniques.

If if would have been just a bit warmer we probably would have stayed at the beach a few hours longer.  When the boys lips began to turn blue we figured it was a good time to leave.  Warm showers and long soaks in the hot tub were next on the agenda!

Semper Fi

Friday, February 10, 2012. 

 The day Burkeley officially became a member of the United States Marine Corps.

 As we arrived on the MCRD grounds this was the first thing we saw.  I literally had chills.  Those rows and rows of khaki and camouflage bags symbolized the fact that Burke was finished with Boot Camp and would be coming home. (At least for a few days.  Granted, we probably wont see much of him but knowing he is home is ultra comforting.)

Honor, Courage, and Commitment.  The United States Flag has always brought me a sense of   pride and loyalty.  I remember when I was in High School and I was singing the National Anthem at a Basketball game.  It was at the beginning of the First Iraqi war.  I felt connected, somehow, to something greater than me.  At Burkeley's Graduation I felt that same sense of connection.  Now, we are all connected in a deeper way.  We are apart of a family.  We are a Marine Family. Not only do I feel connected to the Marines but I feel more connected to Burkeley.

I have no idea who this Marine is.  He was sitting at the bottom of the  stadium, just a few rows in front of us.  I think I captured moment of time that will be instilled in my heart forever.

Perfection

Can you spot Private Christian?

He sure does love his boy.  He will always be proud of Burkeley. I'm confident that at this moment he is in awe of the man he is growing up to be.  

Shari and Burke
I seriously loved watching these two.  They both were so enamored with each other.  Cute!!!

It really is AMAZING.  The little boy that I first met 17 years ago has grown up.  He has grown up to be a MARINE.

The FEW, The PROUD, The MARINES

(I will have to post our Vacation to San Diego in a few different posts.  I took 486 pictures over the course of 5 days.  Most of them are of the exact same event but I didn't want to miss a thing. I need to take time to really study the pictures and pick some of my favorites.  Also, I have so much to say about everything I felt.)

 We started our vacation with a visit to the San Diego LDS temple (if your interested in what the purpose of  LDS Temples please visit lds.org or  just ask me).  What a beautiful piece of architecture. As we drove up, one of the boys commented that the Temple looked like an ice castle.  I agree.  We arrived at sunset and the temple was glowing.  I felt so calm and at peace while we were on the temple grounds.  It is just a little peace of heaven on earth.

The first day at MCRD (Marine Corp Recruitment Depot) was family day.  We knew that we would only have about 5 hours with Burke and we wanted to soak in everything that the Marines stand for. But our main goal was to spend time with Burkeley.  I was amazed by the precise movements of the Marines as they moved from place to place.  I could have watched them do drills for hours. Finally the  time had come to see our Marine for the first time in 13 weeks.  The recruits had a motivational run.  It was their last run as recruit. We all lined up on the deck to see if we could pick out Burke as he ran by.  When they finally stopped running and stood in one place we could finally pick him out.  Steve looked him right in the eye and started smiling and pointing at him.  He said that Burke looked at him and instinctively smiled and began to raise his hand to wave.  He caught himself...smiling in formation is against the rules and Steve just about got him in BIG trouble.

Recruit Christian...right in the middle.

 MCRD has been in operation since the early 1930's.  The buildings are all Spanish style and true to that time period.  I thought that was interesting.  I expected something different.  I suppose I thought the buildings would be plain and boring.

This shot was taken right before he was released for Liberty or  free time.  Can you imagine what was going through his mind???  We were anxious to get to talk to him and even had butterflies in our tummies.   It was is hard to express exactly how I felt during these moments.  PROUD is the only word that truly explains it.

I love this photo.  Everyone was making fun of me and asking me why I was taking pictures of his Butt.  Ha-they can laugh now because it is one of my favorites.

 The MCRD Branch of the LDS Church hosted a luncheon for the LDS recruits and their families.  We knew that Burke was allowed to attend Church services on Sundays but we had no idea that there was a fully functioning Branch. I found it comforting to know that someone was physically looking after him.

 At one point in the day we all commented that Burke was talking non stop.  He is typically extremely quiet and reserved but not on family day.  We all just wanted to gather around him and listen to his version and of Boot Camp.  He told some interesting stories.  The boys giggled at the fact that all of the bathrooms were wide open for everyone to watch him take care of his "business".  He told us that he was surprised how mentally challenging Boot Camp was.  He thought it would be more physically challenging.  He knew he could handle that part.  But the mental part was tough.  He said he got yelled at a few times but thought it was funny to watch other recruits being yelled at and punished.  One of my favorites was when the had a long hike, straight up a mountain, with a 70 lb pack.  The Drill Instructors told them that there would be food for them when they got to the top.  When they got up there they were only given an apple and some chicken broth.  Burke said that he ate that apple was the best thing he had ever tasted and he ate the WHOLE thing.

Burke and his brothers and sister.  He is the oldest of 8 kids.  Only one sister.

Steve and Burke talked non stop about guns.  Burke always referred to the guns as a weapon.  I tried to listed to those stories but I didnt understand most of the talk.  One thing that I caught was the fact that Burke was appreciative to Steve for teaching him all about the proper usage of guns.  He knew how to care for his weapon and how to shoot it accurately.

Mom, Burke, and Dad

Brothers and Sister all looking up to their big brother--Such admiration.

A few weeks ago Burke wrote a letter to Steve asking him if he would ordain him to the office of an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood (again, if you want to know more about this please visit lds.org). Burke told us that he realized that he needed Heavenly Father guidance and protection more than ever during his 13 weeks at MCRD and was ready to take this next step in his life.  Steve gave him a  especially touching blessing.  We all had a hard time containing the tears, even Steve.  It will be a time that we all will remember forever--Burke in his uniform, MCRD in the distance, the San Diego bay just steps away, and the strong worthy hands of many of the men Burke loves and admires.  Again, PROUD!!!

I have the BEST Father-in-law!

I asked for a lego table.  I knew Steve would never "get around" to making one.  So I asked my Father In Law.  A few weeks later he was at my house making this lego table.  How awesome is that?

I decided that I was sick and tired of legos being found all over the place.  You know, under the couch, in the garbage disposal, in the laundry basket, in the dog's mouth, and in the most obvious place, in between my toes when I walk barefooted--OUCH!  I wanted to have a central location for the legos.  I envisioned a place that the boys could gather around and play.  I desired a place where all the legos had a central location and must never leave.  I mean, NEVER!!!   

The boys decided that they did not want the base plates to be nailed down.  I was hesitant .  But,  I really like it.    

Only when you live with boys do you see the Lego guys being  hanged.

Back to my father-in-law, the is very talented in the wood working area.  He is also extremely helpful when it comes to motivating his son to make is wife happy.