Oaker Mountain Temple Celebration

Last night was the Oaker Mountain Temple Celebration. Tresden has been going to practices for months now.

Brenner also participated in the stage crew up until the practices went to the conference center.

It turned out great! Darren and I were unable to attend, because Amree is too young and the children have to be at least 10 to attend. So we went to the stake center to watch it. It was pretty incredible. Over 7000 youth participated in it.

This is our second temple this year to be built here in Salt Lake Valley. The Draper Temple and now the Oaker Mountain Temple. I get to volunteer at the open house for the Oaker Mountain Temple this next week. I am so excited! Everyone talks about how the spirit is so stronge even though it is not dedicated yet. We plan to take our children through the open house. They do baptism for the dead, but are not able to see the rest of the temple, so they are curious to go and see the rest of the temple.

Britesha's Spinnaker Review

Spinnakers had their final review. This is the drill team at her high school. First they presented them and told a little bit about them one by one. The parents escorted them

The studio she dances with performed at the review also. They had all the different teams perform to "True Colors". They do sign language in the background, while they take turns dancing. It was pretty neat.

This one is a fun dance to watch. It is a dance they performed in what is considered the kick category. It kind of reminds you of broadway, because they line up and kick all together on parts of the dance.

Look at that cute bum. The blue I mean.

This was their hip hop dance. They get to do gansta moves in this one. This is the girls favorite dance that they do.

Here is Britesha trying to keep her mini spinnies together during their dance. The Spinnakers teach little kids how to do a dance and then when they perform, they need a little help. So she is showing them what to do as they dance. She had fun doing this! She can't wait until Amree can participate in this kind of thing.

THis was their Barbie dance. The song was about Barbie's life and they had to pick what kind they wanted to be. Her and Racheal were jungle Barbie and jungle Ken. They waited until the last minute, so mom was making costumes Thursday night when the performance was on Friday. They did not even try on the costumes before the performance. Luckily they fit.

This was their dance with their sabers. This is traditionally what they are known for. They would do things like go to basketball games and line up to salute the players as they came out to play.

She is trying out for Spinnakers again for next year. Tryouts are today, so keep your fingers crossed. It has been alot of hard work, but it has been good for Britesha to learn what that is. Ha Ha!

It's Rough To Be In Junior High

Being a mom has to be the hardest thing a person does in their life. Having all their emotions and love wrapped up in a little person and watching them grow is sometimes unbearable.

Britesha got a text from a friend of hers that said that Brenner had been in a fight. I was so scared and it felt like someone had just grabbed my heart and started squeezing it as hard as they could. We jumped in the car and went looking for him.

We didn't make it very far, when we saw him walking home with his friends. He looked fine and completely calm, until he got in the van and turned to look at me. His nose was not straight. A million feelings came flooding into my body. I wanted to beat the kid up that hurt my baby. I was concerned that he might be in alot of pain. What is he feeling and thinking right now. And it always enters my mind that he had a perfect little body when he was born and that's just one more thing that was broken. I know it's a weird thing to think of, but I have always thought that way. When they got their first cavity and their first scar. Is this normal? Maybe I'm crazy.

Anyway, his nose is broken, but he is doing great. He's a tough kid! He never complained of it hurting, he just had a headache. The doctor said they wouldn't do anything with his nose unless it didn't go back to normal in a couple of days. Luckily it looks pretty straight again and he is as handsome as ever.

As for the kid who attacked Brenner, the school called the police. He has been suspended and the police are turning the case over to the courts and pressing charges.

I guess this kid has been bugging Brenner for quite a while now. He never really said anything. He's been pushing him around and calling him names. He even hit Brenner in the jaw at school in front of a teacher and nothing came of it. From what the cop told me, he is a regular troublemaker at school. I really hope this is the end of it. I will keep you updated.

I Love My Cousins!

It has been a year and a half since we have seen the Allen clan. It is amazing how these kids live so far away from each other, but have so much fun together when they get together. You would think it would take a while to get warmed up to each other, but it only took a few seconds.
It was great to see my cute niece and nephew. They are getting so big. The kids miss their cousins and ask when they will see them all the time.


Brenner showing how strong he is and Lauren loving the attention!




Britesha loves her Aunt Bridgette and Uncle Mark!




Two beautiful girls!



It was so great to have my big sister here to hug. I hate having her so far away. I only got to see her for a couple of hours, but it was terrific!

Martinez Christmas 2008

Brenner and Tresden were arm wrestling and Amree wanted to get in on the action. She won, of course. She takes after her Aunt Natosha.

Brenner and Tresden got mom a spa treatment in a box. They love me!

Amree sporting her new slippers and wondering, "What's all this about?"

Daddy and Amree just being cute as always.

Tresden with his photo smile as apposed to his real one.

Brenner showing the peace sign, you know the usual pose for a 13 year old. Doesn't it make him look cooler?

Amree says, "I have gotten in trouble for opening these presents for days and now you want me to do what?"

Britesha shows her dramatic excitment for getting gum. She's an actress!!!!!!!!!

Tresden my 12 year old, loves his toys. Hopefully he never grows out of it and is always a kid at heart. He takes after his mom I guess.

Ready For My First Recital

Amree can not resist Grandma Larsen's piano. This little girl loves music in any form. No stereo is safe. She will figure out how to turn it on. We can't wait to see what she will do with it in her life, but I am sure it will most likely be a big part of it. She is always dancing and is fascinated by instruments. Britesha is so proud of the fact that she loves dancing and is anxious to start her in dance lessons. She leads the music in sacrament meeting. I am sure that the Sister Tuttle appreciates the help.

Spider Cupcakes "A Work Of Art"

The kids were off school for Halloween this year, so we decided to get festive and makecupcakes. Tresden loves to bake, so he made the cupcakes. They were yummy. Brenner is the artist, so he helped mom decorate them. We tried to copy cupcakes from a magazine. They didn't turn out as cute, but they were lots of fun to make.

Britesha was too busy getting ready with her costume. She was a pink crayon. I only got to see her all dressed up for a second, so I didn't get a picture. She did look very cute. If I get any pictures later, I will post them. The boys think they are too cool to dress up now.