MOTION PICTURE

Hamilton and Asa did some recycle training over the summer. We produced this commercial at CMI

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

I guess I have way too many blogs and the family blog gets left out.  But I thought I'd post the first day of school photos.  Hamilton - Grade 6 Asa - Grade 9 Ammon - Grade 12.

For all the boys.

I know you guys aren't big Beckham fans, but this is still pretty funny!

All Creatures of Our God and King

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE - LOVE OUR MOTHER EARTH

All Creatures Of Our God And King Hymn

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!


O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light

Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.


O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gorilla Reunion.

IRONMAN ST.GEORGE

The first annual Ironman St. George is in the history books and we were there to watch it happen.  Ra, Ammon, Rakai and me spent Saturday night at the finish line.  Well, Ammon and Rakai lost interest and left to hang out with friends but Ra and I were there to experience the exhilaration of the countdown to the finish.

With only a few minutes left to go they announced there were 6 runners left.  Volunteers, spectators and event athletes who had finished earlier cheered them across the finish line.  It was the hour of 17:02 when the final finisher crossed under the sparkle of the fireworks.  They bent the rules just  a little and declared the 57 year old man an Ironman.  It was spectacular.

The Ironman St. George website is already scheduled and the clock is counting down...only 364 days to go.        

BIRTHDAY BOYS

It's that time of life when I go back in time and remember the "birth" days of Rakai and Asa.  Rakai, my firstborn child and the many hours of labor.  Asa, my 5th child and the fright of premature delivery.  We are all still here.

Rakai was ordained a Deacon the Sunday after Asa was born.  Asa and I couldn't go to church so the Bishop and Grandparents came to the house.  It was a wonderful opportunity for Rakai.

So we celebrate Asa and Rakai during March.  This year we had to take pictures in separate locations.  Asa was wishing Rakai was home for a photo together but we had to do a collage instead.  Hamilton tried to feed Rakai his cupcake through the computer.  Silly boys!

Asa was ordained a Teacher today.  He bore a wonderful testimony and talked about a scripture Isaac sent to him.  D&C 103: 36 - "All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith."

This is good advice from our missionary.

SOCCER SEASON

It's the first of March and soccer season is in full swing at the Puriri house.  Yesterday was a day filled with soccer.  Nothing else was done but watching soccer and eating food to keep the soccer boys energized.  

The first game of the day was Hamilton's at 10:00am.  The skies were slightly overcast but the sunshine made me feel warm.  Hamilton's game was exciting.  Except this time Hamilton didn't score any goals.  Fire FC won this game.  

We came home long enough to pack a lunch and head over to Hansen Stadium where Asa was playing.  This game did not go well.  Asa didn't get much playing time and Fire FC lost by a lot.  The weather was beginning to get windy and cold and we still had 2 games to go.

Pre-season is currently happening at Dixie High School.  Friday night they played Park City.  Ammon played JV and Varsity.  They won both games.  Saturday afternoon they played Delta.  Ammon starts JV and is an amazing leader on the field.  He scored 2 goals during that game.  The weather is windy and miserable but we still have Varsity to watch.  Ammon does not start varsity but he played most of the second half and scored a really awesome goal.  

The soccer was great but the weather was terrible.  At days end four games had been played, three games had been won the migraine I have been suffering from 4 10 days was enhanced to agonizing pain.  

This Saturday was a special day but we definitely did not prepare for Sunday.  So today we have laundry and house cleaning to do. 

PRESIDENTS DAY WEEKEND

Finally a new post!  Asa has been saying, "Mom it's been more than a month."  He's right.

Last weekend was beautiful.  It was Valentine's Day, Presidents Day and Soccer Tournament!  Mother nature cooperated with blue skies, sunshine and sixty degree temperatures.  We had visitors!

The Bailey Family came for the weekend.  Cameron, Terina, Hayden, Karenza and Tyla Jade.  The kids had fun playing together.  We walked up to Petroglyph Rock and hiked around the Red Hills.  Karenza wanted to climb through the slice in the rock a couple of times.  Asa went with her.  We had Family Home Evening on Monday night with Michael, Kristina and their family.  Lots of food!  Terina taught the children a maori song.  

We missed Rakai, Karamea and Isaac with us.  But we will always miss the times when we are all not here.  

Asa played his soccer games at the new Mesquite Regional Park.  It was built by the PGA Long Drive Association and will be used for Long Drives, Soccer and Football.  It's a beautiful place.  After the games were over we stayed to have lunch at the park.  I couldn't resist taking a few photos.  Soccer is the love of our lives!

 

FAMILY HOME EVENING - LESSON BY HAMILTON

Something simple yet profound.  Hamilton had us writing stick poems tonight.  He introduced the concept to us by sharing one that he found in the Friend magazine.

Father in Heaven Lives

Always believe in Christ

Imagine God's blessing

Trust the Holy Ghost

Hope for the second coming

Then we each choose a word and created a stick poem.  This was the outcome.

Mom

Love of God

Illuminating our path

Grows from within

Harmony makes it brighter

Testimony of the Savior

Dad

Christ showed the way

Heaven is our target

Aware of what is happening around us

Respect the culture of those you serve

Informed and educated

Trust your heart

Yield to your pride

Ammon

Governing

Open

Dominating

Asa

Cool dude

Helping

Rich in wisdom

Important

Stopping Satan

Teaching us

OCEANS APART

This Christmas finds our family in seperate parts of the world.  We made the best of the situation using the wonders of technology.  We continue to feel the space that exists in the distance between and in spite of that we feel the power of love that connects us.  Enjoy these pictures Rakai and Isaac.  We miss you, we love but we know life is as it should be.

Feel the love of our Savior as it binds us.

ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM

May your Christmas be filled with the LOVE and LIGHT of our Savior.

Oh how we love Him.

Wishing for 2010 to be filled with dreams that come true.  Love to you all.

Lani, Ra, Asa, Ammon, Hamilton, Karamea, Rakai, Isaac

ELEVEN RHYMES WITH HEAVEN

Today is your day.  Love you so much.  Your are our Christmas joy!  Happy Birthday Babe!

THANKSGIVING TREK

This Thanksgiving finds us missing Karamea and Isaac.  Real life situations make it difficult for Karamea to travel.  (Paying the rent must come first)  And Isaac, is safely enjoying Thanksgiving at the MTC in Provo.  So here we are, the 6 of us and Leo.  We broke the rules and took him with us on this trek.

The Timbercreek Overlook at the top of Kolob Canyon.  It was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky.  We enjoyed every moment of this day.

I started food preparations yesterday and then was up at 6 to put the turkey in the oven.  The menu - hot turkey sandwiches, fresh fruit, potato salad, humus and crackers, green salad and for dessert pumpkin cheesecake and Chocolate Chip cookies.  We ate took a break, ate played "wave tag", ate some more, wrote Isaac a letter...then the sun was starting to set so we packed up and headed home.

Dixie Invitational Soccer Tournament - it's become a tradition.  We watch soccer the boys play soccer on Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving Day.  Five games in 2 days.  Asa's team didn't do so well.  Hamilton's took the silver.  Congrats babe.  It was fun to watch!

ELDER ISAAC REPORTS TO THE MTC

Isaac reported to the MTC on November 18, 2009.  Grandpa Scoville gave him a shoe shine lesson just before he packed his bags.  As he was backing his shoe shine kit he pulled out the brown shoe polish.  I told him he probably could leave that behind since he didn't have any brown shoes.  He thought for a second then said, "but my companion might have brown shoes...I'm taking it."  That's Isaac always thinking of someone besides himself.

We left for Provo and hit a traffic accident along the way.  Ammon called a friend to see if they had dropped of his brother yet.  Jordan was in the MTC and Isaac said, "I wanna be in the MTC."  He was so anxious to be there.  We got there and turned right to go to a parking lot and take some pictures before dropping him off curbside.  "No, we have enough pictures, just turn left."  Despite his opinion, we did take a few pictures in the field across from the MTC. 

Then we headed to the curb and the tears began to flow.  Now Isaac is in the MTC.  We haven't heard from him yet but I'm sure he is filled with joy to be in the place he was so ready to be. 

GERM FREE

Hamilton has been sick for a week. When he wants to get on the computer he uses my Playtex Glamor Gloves. He's so considerate of everyone.

ISAAC'S MISSIONARY FAREWELL

Isaac reports for his mission on Wednesday. We celebrated this weekend. We enjoyed a family gathering on Saturday night - good food and good conversation. Today he gave his talk in the Bloomington 7th Ward. He is so excited to serve his mission.

The focus of his talk was his love for the Book of Mormon. He quoted scriptures and told stories and said that he feels addicted to the words. He just can't get through the day without reading it.

Isaac has experienced complete conviction of the heart and is ready to serve. We are happy for him but will miss him very much.

Not far from our minds throughout this weekend is the fact that Rakai will be leaving for New Zealand on November 30. His one way ticket is scheduled and he is ready for new adventure.

Everything changes.

TRYING TO LEAVE

After Isaac's farewell and all the pictures were done, Karamea tried to leave...this is how it went.

FIFTY ONE CANDLES

Ra's birthday weekend was spectacular. Southern Utah weather was magnificent. We hiked Zion with my sister Moana and some of her boys and enjoyed a picnic and friendly football in Springdale Park. It was a wonderful weekend.

Sunday evening was birthday cake and candles and Karamea on Skype.

And of course...us singing Happy Birthday as horribly as possible.

HAIRCUT

Rakai has been contemplating a haircut for a few weeks. I came home from work and he announced to me that he was going to shave his head. Carlie did the deed. By the look of that smile I'd say he's happy about his decision.

Hamilton was the photog for this event. He took before during and after pictures. Filmed 2 videos and even had enough time to spell out Rakai's name with the dreads that were falling to the floor. Thanks for creating the memories.