Little Rock

The weeked my parents were in town we headed to Little Rock, AR for the Taekwondo World Championships. The boys competed and did wonderful and we did some playing too.

Friday we went to the Little Rock Zoo. The first thing we saw were the chimps and at first I thought one of them had some fleshy growths. No it was this little baby holding on to it's mama, it was it's hands and feet. He was so adorable to watch.

Really is that not the cutest little chimp you have ever seen!

He was trying to climb like the others. It was really just a bush and he was only about a foot off of the ground but mama came and got him down pretty quickly.

Check out those dreads?!

Oooo, the elephants.

Silly boys!

Good lookin' couple.

Even better lookin' couple, riding the train.

My favorite little men!

My favorite man and a not so smily but adorable little girl.

She is just so cute!

It was a beautiful tiger!

These sculptures were made of rebar. They were pretty neat. We sent a picture to my brother who works at a place that bends and sells rebar.

Mr. Pechacek being made a mast by the Grand Master. The opening ceremonies were really cool. There were some amazing stories and some impressive displays of skill!

This is Saturday at the Tournament. Arabella was a trooper, especially if she had a snack.

A gaggle of kidswith the ATA Tiger (I can not remember his name). My smiley boys look so cute in their white uniforms.

Jon went first. Even though the boys had earned their camo belts they tested with their yellow belts because that is the form that they knew.

Jon was a bit grumpy in the 45 minutes proceeding his competition but we kept telling him that he would do great and had him say "I can do it!" and he did!

He is still in the younger group that gets to have a helper as they do their forms and one steps.

Jon actually did a pretty good display with his bo staff.

Jon earned two trophies at the end. He was awarded one for a great black belt attitude. I will have to post a picture of them sometime. They are jade green with some Korean writing on it in gold and are a bit bigger than a dessert plate.

Joey is in the older age group and does not get any help. He kind of raced through his form but did it really well. He actually gets a score and did not place in the forms part of his comptetion but did get a trophy for participation.

Joey did place 4th in his weapons. He did place 2nd in one steps (which is the precurser to sparring). Yea for Joey!

We had a good time in Little Rock. We plan on going to the World Tournament next year and there is a chance that Joey may be a black belt by then or close to! Thanks for coming with us Grandma and Grandpa Bird.

The Bird's are in Town

My parents came to town 2 weeks ago and stayed for a week and we had a fabulous time. We tried to do as much as we could and we made sure they had a chance to sample some of the local good food.

We went to the Dallas Aquarium on Wednesday. I had let Peter take the GPS and so I did not drive right to it but past it more than once before finally seeing it and arriving at our destination. Once we got there it was so cool!!

First we went to see the sharks becasue it was going to be feeding time for them. This first picture is a view from above. There is a tunnel you walk through to see them but it was pretty neat to look down on them too.

This is called a sawfish and was probably my most favorite fish/aquatic animal seen while there.

Although this gianormous turtle was pretty amazing too! (Sorry about the glare.)

Even worse picture but those hammerhead sharks were not too fond of having their picture taking but they were Jon's favorite.

Can you see how long that sting rays' tail is? WOW!

I am not really sure what animal that is but Jon is sure cute! Arabella loved the rabbits but she did not feel it would be fun to hold still to have her picture taken with them.

This tree did not have any sort of fence or anything around it and yes, that is a sloth hanging in it.

There is not a great way to show how big these were but believe me they were huge!

A really bad picture of some stranger but that is a bird that has landed on his partially bald head.

What mom, you wanted all of us to look at you for a picture and not at these cool animals?!

Another blurry picture but, I wanted to get a picture of Jon's had so that you could have something to compare to the size of this bird eating tarantula. Yes, it eats birds!

We watched the turtles for a long time in this tank.

Joey did not spend as much time at each exhibit and walked with my dad at a faster pace so he is not seen as often.

Still chekcing out the turtles. Arabella did not know what to think of my parents the first day but after that she warmed up more and more each day. I am glad we will see them again soon.

Joey was most excited to see this jaguar and then it was sleeping and not too exciting but that is Joey and Jon witht he jaguar.

Watching the Flamingos. Arabella seemed to take to the birds. She liked the penguins alot too.

We also got to go see Karate Kid on Tuesday night with my parents and it was a really good movie. I had to work on Wednesday night and so we did not have too much fun and Thursday morning we spent getting ready to go to Little Rock. My next post!

Thanks for the great visit Mom and Dad and especially for the fun time at the Aquarium.

Ponderings on a Funeral

On Sunday, the Bishop caught me after RS and told me he needed to talk to me. He told me that a Sister Gertrude Pyle had passed away. I did not know who she was and believe me I have almost memorized my RS rolls, I look over them often enough. My counselor Debbie was in there and new who she was. It turns out she lived in the ward years ago and was fundamental in establishing the church in Lewisville. She was being buried here and so the family had called and asked if we would take care of the funeral on Monday. In addition, none of the family members would be able to dress her in her temple clothes for burial. That means it would fall to me as the RS president. This was something that kind of shook me when I found out it was something I could do in my calling. It is not that I have not been around a dead person before. I don't really know what it was that bothered me.
Well, after a few more phone calls it was determined that yes I would need to do it and we would need to find temple clothes. Well we had a few pieces in our RS closet but not a complete set. Bless the Stake RS! They had several sets. Sister Margo Merrill, our stake RS president, picked me up and took me to the stake center to pick them up. She used the drive to give me some great council. First, she had been Sister Pyle's visiting teacher years ago and told me some great things about this lady. It helped because she also helped me understand the sacred duty it is to dress someone for burial. She told me to remember that this is the last thing that will be done for their mortal body. She also suggested I offer a prayer before doing it, thanking the Lord for this sister and the life she lead.
After, we found the clothes we headed to the funeral home. The worker we talked to told us that they would be able to do it. I have to say I had a feeling of relief. But it was not to last. They called Monday morning and had some questions. I told them I would be there in a half an hour. My kind neighbor took my kids on very short notice and off I went. This was the first time I had laid eyes on this sister and you could tell she was a great lady. With the help of two of the workers, we got her dressed and as it was unfolding I felt the spirit touch my heart. I reflected on the words Sister Merrill had shared with me the day before. What a beautiful thing to be dressed in the white clothes of the temple! Her body was stiff and it was awkward to get things just right but I knew that it was just as if we were at the temple, all need to be in the right place. She looked, well, heavenly. I offered a prayer as we finished and my heart was filled with the spirit.
I returned home, picked up my kids and finished a few things around the house before picking up the Bishop's daughter Emily to watch my kids while I went to the funeral. I played the piano for the funeral. She requested Amazing Grace which she loved growing up in another faith. That was the first time I had played that song but it went well. There were not too many people there but you could tell her family loved her. Our stake president came and said a few words. He had been the Bishop when her husband died several years ago. He shared a story about her that touched me deeply.
The church had finally grown enough in Lewisville to warrant the building of a chapel. She was so excited and wanted so much to be a part of it that she got a full time job and worked for one year donating all of her income to the building of this chapel. Could I or would I do the same? I have donated to the church and even donated to the point that it hurt (well in the budget but not spiritually). But to sacrifice so much time and the compensation for that time, I was amazed by her faith. I grew up in Utah I do not know what it would be to not have a chapel. Even now, I am blessed to attend the chapel she sacrificed so much for.
The meeting closed with us singing I am a Child of God. We did not do a luncheon due to the short notice and the family was understanding. I was relieved. This experience as a whole reaffiremd my testimony of our Heavenly Father's plan. We are blessed to know that death is not the end. Our glorious Savior, Jesus Christ was willing to come to this earth, teach us the way, suffer for our sins, sacrifice his life, and then overcome death so we could return to our heavenly home. There is so much love in each part of this. I am so thankful for my membership in this church and for my temple marriage that seals me to my family forever. I am grateful that I had this experience. It was the Lord's way of giving me growth and understanding. I am grateful for the chance that I had to learn of this sweet sister and I pray that her family is being comforted in their time of sorrow.

Joey's New Belt and Houston

Joey tested for his camoflouge belt last Thursday and he did awesome!

He succeeded in getting his new belt and now he and Jon will be in the same class again, Jon is moving to the Juniors level even though he is still a bit young.

Does he look excited or what?!
Doing an awesome job with his bo staff.

A little one step or self defense action. (I can not remember which this is a picture of.)

Joey being congratulated by Mr. Pechacek the owner of the studio and a 6th degree Black Belt.

Posing with his new belt and that is his teacher Mr. Caranza who just happened to walk right behind Joey as I took the picture.

Then we took off and headed to Houston. We had to stop for a treat, which Arabella made the most of.

We visited with Grandpa Rabner on Friday morning while he was there with his mother for a few days. Then, we headed to our friends the Larsen's for a great visit.

Friday we ate lunch, the kids played with toys, then they played in the water in the backyard. I did not get pictures, I know...loser.

Saturday, we went to Toy Story 3, had a great lunch at Red Robin and then we went to these fountains at an outdoor mall near their house. The kids loved it.

Jon was waiting and waiting and sure enough it got him right in the face.

One of the few shots of Joey because he did not stop moving while we were there. You can also see all of the Larsen's except Jack. They are the greatest of friends.

Jack and Jon are waiting, waiting, waiting...

quick try and catch it!

I know you are all saying oh, how cute because yes, she is!

I obviously did not have control of the camera the whole time. Peter loved this profile shot of me, so this one is for you sweetie.

Jack started marching around this concrete boundary of a flower bed and Arabella wanted to try it out too. She loved it because I think she felt so big.

Ice cream cones that afternoon before we left for home. Jon did an impressive job of making it a full body experience.

And again, loving ice cream!

Proof of just how hard Joey played! He appears to have a few remnants of ice cream on his face too.

We loved our time with our friends. You guys are the best and we are so glad you live the same state. May this be the first of many visits.

Peter the Great!

Father's day is coming as you all know and I thought I might take the time before the big day to share with you a few of the resons my husband must be the the world's greatest.

*He has folded most of the laundry the last two weeks and ironed twice, once without asking.

*At least two nights a week, due to me working, he baths and puts the kids to bed. It is usually three times a week because I usually have some sort of Relief Society meeting or visit to make.

*For mother's day he said he would take me purse shopping and not just get me a gift card or something less paiful for a man than the actual shopping. Well, we finally found time last night and he bought me not one purse but four! I know you are all jealous. I did have to agree to getting rid of at least one of the bag's I already own; fair enough right!

*He will always ask if there is anything I need for him to do while I am at work. He has already worked all day but he is always ready with a helping hand around the house.

*He can cook and enjoys it. We actually really enjoy cooking together but if I have worked on a Saturday night and need a nap after church, which he usually makes me take, he will have finished making dinner. He makes some great food!

*He spends time with our kids working with them on their karate, homework or playing Bakugan!

*I need not fear that he won't be able to do Arabella's hair. I had meetings before church and told him to just bring her bows and I would do it there. They showed up and she had the cutest pigtails with bows and a pony in the back that was flipped up and through. Bravo dad!

*He calms me. I was feeling overwhelmed the other night and he listened to me and then reassured me with love and patience.

*He honors his priesthood. I have recieved some of the sweetest blessings from my amazing husband.

*His testimony is the thing that I think first attracted me to him. He did not doubt that what he knew was true. He loves the scriptures and I love him for that.

*He is sometimes such a boy at heart! Cub Scouts has to be his favorite calling ever. He gets to make nifty awards, do crazy cheers and claps, build fires, launch rockets, and let us not forget the pinewood derby cars. Oh the enormous grin these things put on his face.

*He spoils me- right now I am thinking of the heavenly birthday cake he made me. You can see it here. But there are many other ways too!

*He works hard to support our family and I am grateful for that. He has also been the one to do most of the phone calling, collecting of paper work, faxing, etc for the mess with our house in Las Vegas. This I am so thankful for because alot of it is confusing to me still. It is almost over, we hope! Keep your fingers crossed.

I could go on but I know that my husband is amazing. He loves me, he loves our kids, and he loves the gospel. I could not ask for anything more.

I love you Peter!

Growing so Big!

Arabella had her 18 month well check. She is 24.2 lbs and 32 3/4 inches. She can identify animals and body parts and mimics many words. She does not really say much on a regular basis but she will jabber and not make any sense.

She uses a fork and spoon really well. She drinks from a cup better than Joey or Jon at this age. I love watching her discover the world around her. I love you Arabella!