kevin's new job

I think 2012 can safely be called the year of unexpected major life changes for many of our family members, and apparently we are no exception!  After seven years at US Airways, Kevin decided to accept a new job.  Here is the story...

Kevin was frustrated in his position at US Airways.  For the past two years, he was in an operations role managing 17 difficult employees and negotiating with unions all day.  He really wanted to get back into a finance position at US Airways, but the opportunity never came.  He realized that the longer he was out of finance, the more challenging it was going to be to get back in, either at US Airways or another company.  Not to mention there is always so much uncertainty working in the airline industry (mergers, bankruptcy, etc.).

Kevin has been looking and interviewing over the past few years, but nothing ever felt right or progressed past a first or second interview.  But in May, within about a week, suddenly he had a slew of interviews and two companies practically fighting over him, both offering him finance positions.  It was an emotional week as we discussed and re-discussed the pros and cons to each of the positions and companies.  To give up the phenomenal US Airways benefits package was a tough sell (not only free flights plus really cheap insurance coverage).  But in the end, after much prayer, Kevin decided to accept a position at a company called philosophy.  I am supportive, but always more hesitant about major life-changing events, especially unplanned ones!

philosophy (they don't capitalize anything - it drives us crazy!) creates and sells high-end health and skin care products and is headquartered here in Phoenix.  Kevin started in the middle of June as the Senior Finance Manager over Marketing.  He is enjoying his first real office (no cubicle!), only one employee to manage, and a slightly shorter commute.  He is learning more than he ever wanted to know about skin care items and his office overlooks the inside of the production facility. He said it's fun to do finance for a company that has high profit margins instead of for an airline that has very slim margins where everything is about cost savings.

The benefits aren't as good as unlimited free flights, and the health insurance isn't quite as cheap, but we do get lots of free skin care items, samples, and discounts for friends and family.  Hopefully it will turn out to be a good decision for our family and Kevin's career goals.

father's day

I totally forgot to take a picture of Kevin and the kids before church, so this is the best I could do after church!

Dressed up or not, we love Kevin dearly and are thankful for all he does for our family.  He honors his priesthood and is kind and loving.  I am very blessed to call him my husband and the kids are extremely lucky to call him dad.

natalie's birthday party

Natalie's birthday party was a success!  A few months ago she decided she wanted a water party in the backyard and I was totally sold on that.  Coming up with ideas for summer birthdays is tough when it's so hot outside, and I have two summer parties to plan every year (Brandon's birthday is in August). Water parties are easy and fun for everyone!

Ever since I figured out how to do "fancy" cupcakes (as my kids call them), I have given up doing intricate cakes.  I couldn't find any water-themed wrappers or toppers, so she got cute flower ones and loved them!

We started off inside for a bit, playing bingo and waiting for everyone to arrive.

Outside we had three pools, a slide, a slip & slide, and a sprinkler sprayer set up.  What we quickly learned was that doing a water party for 4-5 year old girls is ENTIRELY DIFFERENT than doing one for 6-7 year old boys (we did one for Brandon a few years ago).  The girls just wanted to sit in the pools and talk (whereas the boys were constantly racing each other on the slip & slide or shooting each other with water guns, or jumping off the slide)!

The bubble machine was a big hit, as always.

The water balloons were also entertaining...and very different than the boy party.  The girls had NO IDEA what they were supposed to do with them!  When we told them to throw them at each other, they looked at us confused and concerned!

Finally, I told them to throw them at Natalie's dad and that got them all moving!

We opened presents and Natalie got some very nice gifts.

And of course singing happy birthday and eating cupcakes and ice cream!

It was a great party and I think everyone enjoyed themselves!

california vacation - part 2

Saturday morning Kevin drove Eric & Amy to the airport at 4:30 a.m. so that morning was spent relaxing, napping, doing laundry, and trading rooms.

Saturday afternoon we spent with Bekki & Troy and their girls.  Bekki & I have known each other since 6th grade and we went to high school with Troy.  They live in the area so we try to see them whenever we are in town.  Our kids play really well together and Bekki & I could easily chat for hours.  Kevin & Troy don't see other as often, but they get along fantastically.  We met at a favorite park and fed ducks, walked around the lake, climbed on rocks, played on the equipment, and had a picnic dinner.  It was a great time!

Sunday was church and we were ready a few minutes early so we got a family photo taken!

Monday was Natalie's 5th birthday.  She was thrilled to be at Grandma's house on her special day!  We brought her presents over with us and of course Grandma had some for her to open.  I didn't get pictures of everything, but it looked like the Disney Princess store exploded.  She was so excited to finally get her own "girly" Lego sets!

And at age 5 our kids start getting allowance so she got her own bank.

We spent her birthday afternoon at a place called Adventure City.  It's a small amusement park with little kid rides.  While Disneyland is fun and magical, it is also very expensive and you spend most of your time walking and waiting in lines.  Adventure City is perfect for our kids.  They don't like waiting and they don't like big, scary rides.  Plus we spent less getting all 5 of us admission there than it would be for 1 ticket to Disneyland!  And instead of waiting for 2 hours and 50 minutes for 10 minutes' worth of rides, we walked onto everything at Adventure City and rode constantly for 3 hours. The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast!

 

I always thought it would be Tyler that would turn out be my daredevil roller coaster buddy, but he actually has become scared about rides and Brandon (usually our physically fearful child) has become a roller coaster fanatic including hands in the air (for example, see below - Brandon's hands high in the air, Natalie clinging on for dear life, and Tyler didn't want to ride)!

We finished up with dinner out at Chili's (our family's birthday tradition - the birthday person gets to pick the restaurant) and then cupcakes and ice cream back at Grandma & Grandpa's house.

Tuesday we drove home.  We didn't get to see everyone or do everything we wanted in California, but it was a great week. Even though we weren't happy to be back where it is hot, it is always good to be back in our own house and our own beds.

california vacation - part 1

We went to California for our annual summer get-away-from-the-heat-for-a-week trip.  We timed our vacation to overlap with Eric & Amy & Matthew's visit from China. 

We drove over on Wednesday.  I am happy to announce I rode the entire way in the front seat (instead of in the back with the kids playing referee and constantly handing out snacks and picking up dropped toys)!  The kids were really good travelers and it definitely gets easier every time.  Now if only we could do something about the boring scenery driving across the desert!

If I ever decide to change career paths, I think I might consider being a paparazzi photographer...I think I have more pictures of Matthew than of my own kids!  He is as cute as can be, but being reminded how much time & work a 9-month old requires makes me glad my kids are long past that phase!

Much like at Christmastime, Brandon was totally enthralled with Matthew and wanted to play with him constantly.  He was very sweet and helpful, reading him books and getting him toys.  Surprisingly, Natalie had no interest.

Thursday we headed to the beach.  The weather was beautiful and I'm sure our kids would have stayed out all day if we would have let them!

Thursday night, all 10 of us walked to the end of the pier for dinner at Ruby's. 

 

On Friday, Eric's family was spending the day with Amy's family at Disneyland, so Kevin & I took advantage of free Grandma babysitting and went to the Newport Beach temple.

A trip to Grandma's house wouldn't be complete without at least one injury, so Brandon took care of that Friday afternoon when he split his lip wide open in the backyard.

After he recovered, we decided the kids needed more space to run so we took them to one of our favorite local parks.

To be continued...

happy 5th birthday natalie!

I cannot believe my "baby" turned five years old!  I'm finally starting to understand when people used to tell me to enjoy them when they are little because it does go by way too fast! 

Natalie is beautiful and smart and I will miss her when she starts all-day kindergarten in just six weeks!

I always enjoy doing these birthday "interviews" with the kids!

Favorite Color: red

Favorite Number: 5

Favorite Drink: Dr. Pepper (apparently I've let her have too many sips of my sodas!)

Favorite Food: ham

Favorite Game: UNO Attack

Favorite Animal: zebra

Favorite Movie: Cinderella 

I feel sad when: my brothers don't let me in their room

I like it when my friends: play with me

I like it when I: get to play with friends

I wish I could: play the piano

Who is your best friend? Brooke & Kelly

Why? because they always play with me

What makes you laugh? funny people

What are you most afraid of? ghosts

What is your favorite song? I am Like a Star

What is your favorite activity?  go to preschool

What do you want to be when you grow up? a mom that is a ballerina also

Do you think it would be hard to be a mom or a dad? yes

Why? you have to do laundry and work

If you could have a super-power, what would you choose? flying

What three things are you are good at?  playing games, dancing, and singing

What is the best thing about being five? I get to go to kindergarten

What makes you special? because Mom & Dad love me

Happy Birthday to our sweet Natalie!

cub day camp

Brandon had the opportunity to attend Cub Scout Day Camp this past weekend. I am one of the Bear den leaders, so I was there to help chaperone. Our day camp was very different than past years.  Instead of going to Camp Pueblo in Phoenix, our ward hosted our own day camp locally.

Friday we met from 3:00-8:30 p.m. at the home of a family in our ward.  They have a large farm property that is perfect for events like this.  And miraculously we all survived 5 1/2 hours out in the blistering 113 degree temperatures!

We started off with opening exercises all together.  We had 23 boys total in attendance, including all 9 from our Bear den.

Then we broke up into dens and rotated through 3 classes.  The first station was fire building and safety.  I was impressed with our boys' fire building skills, since we have never covered those things with them!

Next we made solar ovens from pizza boxes.  The s'mores were a hit with the boys, but unfortunately melted quickly in the extreme heat.  The bread dough didn't fully cook, but that didn't stop the boys (and the ants) from eating it!

Our third class was reviewing knot tying skills and teaching the boys how to tie a church tie!

Next came the boys' favorite part of the day - water play time!  And amazingly enough, there were no injuries!

We had to drag the boys off the slip & slide for dinner, which was hot dogs, chips, and watermelon.

Then we had some down time, where the boys played soccer, tetherball, and some got back in the water.

Our Bear den was in charge of the closing flag ceremony, which we did before it got dark.

Then it was time for roasting marshmallows and a short evening program.

Saturday we met at the church building from 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.  It was nice to be inside after a long day in the heat!  We had opening exercises all together then broke up into dens again.  The Bears' first class was Art where the boys made photo frames with pictures that were taken the day before.

Our next class was Religious Knot.  The boys had to tell a scripture story and how it related to faith.  We were impressed with their knowledge!

Then they earned the entire Computer Belt Loop in 30 minutes!

I forgot to take a picture at lunch - but just imagine 20+ boys devouring 12 pizzas and dozens of cookies!

After lunch we had game time where they learned the game SPUD.

I forgot to take a photo in the Flag & Citizenship class, because it was so informative.  I was surprised at how much the boys knew.

The boys learned about types of music, rhythm, and music conducting in their next rotation, and I saw a few of them practicing at church the next day!

 We ended the day with water games and popsicles outside.

Our Bear den passed off a requirement by doing an outdoor flag ceremony during the closing ceremony.

It was a fun day camp and a great start to summer!