LAS VEGAS TEMPLE

Today a dear friend of mine came for a vist,

and we went and spent a morning in a temple (LDS Temple).

 

 

 

I love going there. 

It is such a pieceful place.  When I enter the temple, all my worries, troubles and my crazy, busy life seems to take a back seat.

 

It was a good place to spent my morning, since the afternoon was spent in

the dentist office

with my entire family.

 

Six check ups, and clean ups later, and $1400 poorer...

and follow up appointments for next month for another $1000...

 

sometimes I wonder if we should consider a dental insurance...

 

or to stop eating sugar!

KAI ROCKED THE XCOUNTRY MEET

Kai is in the Mannion Middle School cross country team. 

They have been training since mid July, which is no  small accomplishment in the Vegas heat.

 

Today was their first meet of the season. 

They run 1.5 miles.

 

It was a hot day - 105 F (40 C). 

I was hot and sweaty, and I was not even running...just cheering him on.

 

There were about 60 kids running,

 

Kai took a first place.

 

Jason and I were very proud watching, and cheering him on.  The best part was that he went to the competition expecting to take a second place overall, but he pushed on and won the meet.

 

Go Kai!

 

 

 

 

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

...and the summer vacation is over!

 

It was fun as long as it lasted, but all the good things come to an end.

 

Today was the fist day of school! 

 

Markus had to get up 5:15 to make it to seminary, and then to High School. 

Kai had to be at his middle school by 7:45,

and Niko and Maija had to be at school by 9 to not be tardy. 

 

Niko rode his scooter, and just like last year..wanted to leave 40 minutes before the bell rings...just to make sure to be there in time...when in reality, it takes him less than 10 minutes to get to school.

 

And then there is Maija...always running late. 

By the time Niko was at school, catching up with all his friends...Maija was still looking for her socks, and who knows what else....

 

It was a great day!  Kids all made it to school.

 

Jason and I enjoyed the first day to school as well...by running errands together,

grabbing some lunch in a San Francisco Sourdough Eatery,

and enjoying the quiet car ride around town ...

We got to listen the radio station we wanted to...such luxury!

 

 

Kai ready for school.

 

I almost forgot to take a picture of Niko.  Fortunately he forgot his luch and came back for it.

 

By show of your fingers...what grade are you in?

 

I did forgot to take a picture of Markus but when it is 5 something in the morning, it is easy to forget lots of things.  So, this was taken after the school, while Markus was working on his first homework assignment.

 

 

 

 

FALL AND BAND

Sure sign of fall:

 

The marching band practises have started.
 

Last two weeks Markus has been rehersing with the marching band, 6-8 hours per day.

Last Friday they performed for all of the ....

 

...proud parents...

 

We are ready for Football Season.

Go Foothill Falcons!

 

 

 

 

RAIN!

According to statistics it rains only five days during entire year here.

 

So, when it rains it is a big deal! 

 The kids go looking for rain gear (mostly umbrellas),

and if they are lucky the may find a broken one somewhere in the back of a closet.

 

Today was one of those very exciting rainy days

...it rained off an on all day long

...accompanied by thunder and lightning...

What an exciting day!

 

 

 

ICE BLOCKING

Here in desert, where we live, it practically never snows. 

One would think that we never get to go sledding,

but not so...

Last night we took the Activity Day Girls (church group for girls 8-11 years old),

and went ice blocking to a nearby park.

This is how it works:  you get a block of ice from a store, you hike it to the top of the hill, and you set it on the ground. 

You sit on the ice,(you may want to use a towel between you and the block of ice)

...and then...

weeeeeeeeee....

the ice melts in the heat and you slide down the hill

 

According to Maija it was the best activity yet!

 

 

WHEN YOUR HEART SPEAKS TO YOU TAKE NOTES

All around Wonderful Day!

Markus and Kai returned home from a week and a half stay at the cabin. 

It is so fun having everyone home again...

...nosier, more chaotic...

rounding up everybody for scripture study and evening prayer seemed to take three times longer...

yet...I would not trade our chaos for all the riches in the world...

Church was inspiring...

I made some new resolutions again...

During the summer I have been neclecting my conference Ensign reading...

I really need to start again...

In Sunday School we talked about how to teach children to be humble.  I loved how our teacher reminded how Heavenly Father teaches us how to be humble through challenges...we can learn from Him and NOT rescue our children every time they face a challenge...

The lesson in Relief Society was to

Take Notes When Your Hear Speaks to You...

I am ready for a new week ... and some reading

...and note taking :)