Day to Day

Gavin loves to exercise. His phrase is, "Look mom I do exercises!" He finds random objects and breaks into his moves.
You would think we were fitness buffs or something? Nothing could be further from the truth. Of course my mom and dad's influence of heading to Gold's Gym every morning at 5:00 a.m. may have something to do with it. :)
Potty training has been delayed for one reason after another. At the store, I thought maybe we should try some pull ups to get the idea started. How about his favorite? "Lightening Mc Queen" We get to the aisle and Gavin says, "No mom! I want Tinkerbells!" So Tinkerbells it is. He enjoyed running around in pink pull ups all day.
We are enjoying all of the new bugs and viruses of Utah. Really we are catching every single one. Just chilling on the couch in our PJ's trying to get better. Gavin was giving Logan a hug to get better.

Logan

The other night when I was putting Logan to bed, I told him I loved him so much. He responded, "Mom I know you love me! I know you love me as much as I love you. And I love you like if I had a bank with a million dollars in it. That is how much I love you!"

Gavin's Bowling Birthday Party

Carnival

Halloween

Cornbellys

Moving

I think we ate at McDonald's at least 4 times the week of our move. This was lunch at the Palomar Airport Road McDonald's. The morning we left for Utah we ate a huge breakfast together and the Mcdonald's in City Heights. Both boys thought this was the best thing ever!!
Then we headed over to Mission Bay park to burn a few hours before our flight took off. We played at all the play grounds and I just took in my last moments as the kids played in the warm weather over looking the bay. The sky was beautiful that day! Of course we got to the airport just in time to learn our flight was delayed. I was in survival mode and not much of a mom at this point. My little boys somehow stepped up were champs while we waited for 2 hours. They were the best I had ever seen them!

It's Time

Well it's time to update the blog. It is hard to know where to start. It has been the most surreal 2 months of our lives. I imagine I am still in a bit of shock. I feel like reality sets in a little more each day for all of us. I have felt more sadness and anger than I could have imagined. I take time to grieve the loss of our family unit when those moments hit you that it no longer exists like it once used to. It has been painful, freeing, and at times overwhelming. I am so grateful to be with family, close friends and to have a support system that is truly healing me. I want my friends and family to know how grateful I am for your love and support.

One feeling that has been overwhelming at this time is the sense of peace and comfort I have felt. Even in the midst of so much emotional and physical exhaustion, I am amazed that I can actually feel so calm. One of my favorite scriptures that I used to survive those first few days on my mission in Brazil is Isaiah 41:10 &13. It has never been more real for me than through this experience.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

Watching my kids feel this deep and utter pain has been awful. There have been some hard days. I am so grateful to counselors who have coached me on how to help them. They have been my little buddies through this. They have hugged me and been there for me. I have loved playing games, doing puzzles, dancing, bowling, and wrestling with the boys more than ever. I have been able to stop and enjoy each moment and live in the present. In between laying down from exhaustion. :) The other day we were all laughing and smiling together for the first time in a long time. It was a great moment.

So I have months to catch up on and things to change on our blog. I will start at leaving San Diego and go from there.

What to Eat?

Gavin has had some serious allergies and eczema since birth. He hasn't been able to have wheat or dairy for the last 6 months. One Sunday he went over to the cupboard and just stared. He didn't say anything but we all new what he was thinking.

Logan's Birthday Party 2

Grandma Moore sent Logan a special spy kit. We have had the most fun with the mustache!

Gavin just stretching out.

Logan's Birthday Party

Logan turned 6 years old on June 15th. We had a party at the YMCA gymnastics center in Carlsbad.
The kids listening to the instructions. It was so cute watching all the boys stretching out.
They had an obstacle course, trampoline, and my favorite... the foam pit. I found myself jumping in every few minutes to join in the fun. Both Logan and Gavin loved the foam pit as well.
It was a Green Themed Birthday Party. Logan's favorite color is green right now. So we dressed in green, had green snacks, a green cake, and a green pinata.
The kids checking out their pinata loot. Logan and I had our inspiration when we were at Walmart the day after St. Patricks day and everything was 90% off. He was so excited and looking forward to this for a long time. He had a great time and enjoyed seeing all of his friends from all over San Diego.

More Cousins Camp

At the end of the week we went to Seven Peaks as a family. The guys went golfing and we had a great family dinner at Russ and Mary's house.  Logan got to play football with Rich and Aaron. They were coaching him and he was loving every minute of it.
During Cousin's Camp Rich made the coolest obstacle course ever!  He made replicas of all of their childhood games.  The had the baseball contraption, rubber band guns, the basketball hoop, bicycle races and many more.  

I didn't want to post a million pics but we had so many wonderful activities.  Mary taught art and pressed flowers and then framed the camp scripture.  Gwen did the camp cups and obstacle course. Lisa and my mom taught the kids Ukulele daily.  The kids loved it. Steph did journals and hats. I had a sidewalk chalk contest and popsicle stick building.  Rich jumped in when we needed him and we did. The food was phenomenal!  Everybody gave it 110% 
We all went swimming at Aunt Joyce's house.  Logan and Lola raced like olympic swimmers the entire time.  The loved sliding down the slides and we stayed all afternoon.  I had some great pics of the kids but I just loved this one of Lisa and Aunt Joyce.
Here are the kids on the hike up the mountain.  They just kept going and going!  Grandma got to tell them stories of the mountain on their way up.

Below is the awards ceremony we had every night.  We had the Joel, Lola, Wes and Iva awards. Each child was recognized daily for a trait that they exhibited similar to their ancestors.  They ATE it up.  Months later, I still hear Logan say, "I was being enthusiastic just like grandma Lola."  The kids were all so excited to be good.  It was a wonderful thing to watch.

Cousins Camp 2009

Our friend Katy Knight set up a personal demonstration of the animals at the Bean Museum.  The kids all got to put the snake around their neck, see iguanas, trantulas etc.  It was a fantastic presentation. 
Here we are sewing hats. Aunt Steph was in charge of the camp hats.  She taught the kids how to embroider their name and '09 into their hat.  They looked awesome.

Aunt Mary taught the kids how to make their own pizza for lunch.  They loved it!

Red Light! Green Light!

Russ and Mary Come to San Diego

July/August was Utah/Sao Paulo/ Russ and Mary/Utah. It was 4 weeks straight of vacation.  I am so happy to be home and doing laundry, shopping and getting into a routine.

My oldest brother Russ came for a visit. They went to Disneyland for a few days before they headed down our way and stayed at the Candy Cane Inn.  My favorite hotel next door to Disneyland. Russ and Mary took us out to Pelly's Fish Market in Carlsbad.  Just when I think the food can't get any better, we find another fantastic place.
We headed to the beach a couple of different days.  Two of my favorites are Moonlight in Encinitas and a private beach in Carlsbad.  That was a month ago, I have since found my new favorite...Beacon's Beach.  People, I am telling you it is GORGEOUS!!! Next visitors are going there! 

Logan just couldn't get enough of the sand.

Logan's favorite snack at the beach is microwave popcorn.  He can go through 2 bags in one afternoon.
The boogie boarding was HEAVEN.  So I loved having Wes and Ben as the older cousins for Logan.  There are a lot of girl cousins in our family.  They took him out in the water, helped him boogie board and body surf on his own.  It was so nice to have them.  They are the nicest boys ever!! I hope my boy teenagers grow up to be just like them!  The water was such a great temperature. 

President and Sister Van Orman

President and Sister V.O. picked us up at the hotel to take us to Embu Das Artes.  We had a good time catching up and shopping.  I loved these decorations.  They were balls made from seeds, spices, and dried seed pods.   
This was on our walk through the city.
We ate lunch at a German Restaurant.  I was a little hesitant because the food I have had in germany wasn't the best.  However this was fantastic.  Tom ordered some crazy authentic dish that both the waiter and President V.O. advised him would be too intense.  They sat in awe as they watched him down the food.  He loves his weird food.  We got to know them on a more personal level which was fun.  They told us stories about raising their kids, president's job, and serving in your community.  We learned a lot about the PPE.

I have to write about our crazy drive home.  So a motorcyclist cut in front of us and ran into the car in front of us.  He was ticked and came after President.  He was yelling at him to get out of the car.  Other motorcyclists drove up surrounding our car.  This is when I started to sweat.  So Pres. told him that we would wait for the police to come.  The guy took his helmet and smashed the side mirror right off.  That is when Pres. decided to drive off.  Then motorcyclist man comes up behind us driving crazy as ever.  I am looking to see if his posse is following him.  Then he comes on Sister V.O.'s side and tries to kick here side view mirror off with his leg as we are driving 30 miles per hour.  We are all about ready to die at this point.  A guy signals for us to pull over and we do.  He gets out. I am thinking...Is this it?  So he tells President that he did the right thing and the guy was crazy.  We went home, got in bed, and I called my kids.  I have great luck with the violence in SP.
We met the next day at the temple.  I had left my recommend at my parents in Utah.  All the computer systems were down so they couldn't look me up.  Pres. called the Area President and vouched for me so I could go in.  I really appreciated the effort.
We had a great session. The temple has been remodeled and it is beautiful.  I had many memories of sitting in the celestial room.  There were days when I just didn't want to leave that room.  It was so full of peace in a city charged with energy.  This was the perfect ending to a life changing trip.

Sao Paulo Sites

So we tried to walk over to the Pinocoteca and the Portuguese Language Museum.  Let's just say not the best neighborhood.  So both were closed because it was Monday.  I was happy to get in a taxi and move onto the next area. :)
This is a shot of the Pinocoteca, and old Train Station.  In the back is a beautiful bosque but it was also closed.
We took a ride over to the Avenida Paulista and went to the FNAC.  We bought tons of cool books, and read for awhile.  That was a lesson in my need to learn some vocabulary!!!  I am reading, "Eat Pray Love" in Portuguese.  Let's just say I am on page 15. :)  Afterwards we walked to a beautiful Bosque in the middle of the city.  We sat inside what seemed to be a jungle.  It was so peaceful and beautiful. 
We caught a taxi back to out hotel.  The driver was great.  He took us on a tour of the city to show us where the coffee barons lived and other great landmarks. He ended up taking us to the airport for 50% less than any other driver.  We started to work it a little towards the end. :)  We had one last dinner with Patricia and Glauco at a YUMMY Italian place.  It was so great to sit and talk for hours with them.  

Mercado Municipal

This little ten year old kid was so much fun.  He let us sample tons of fruits form around the world.  Egyptian avocado is the only one I remember at this point.  We ended up buying the biggest best tangerine we have ever had.  We paid $5.00. :)  We almost paid $6.00.  He was waiting for us to haggle but we have seriously lost our skills. So as we are leaving, he pulls out his business card and says, "If you ever need anything, just give me a call."
This guy let us sample all of the dried fruits, candies, and chocolates.  When they let you sample, they dump out about 15-20 of each thing in the lid and let you just sit and eat.  My favorite was dried mango, cantaloupe, and strawberries.  
There was so much fresh fish and meat every where.  I just had to get a picture of the guy wheeling it in.
Tom loves his spicy food. I think we all have a story of putting the hot pepper oil on our food and just about choking.
We had a FABULOUS meal at the mercado.  The meat was amazing.  A steak takes up half the plate.  I ate more meat in one week in Brazil than one month at home.  Tom got the Paulista.  He tried something authentic at every restaurant.