Merry Christmas!

We had a really nice Christmas this year. We were sad that Nathan was in Colorado with his dad, but glad that we were able to take the girls to Yuma to spend Christmas with Granddad and Gramzer. On Christmas Eve we had a little program where we sang some songs, the girls played some Christmas songs on the piano, and we read Luke 2. Then, we opened the much anticipated Christmas Eve gifts....which are the ones from Great Granddad and Great Grandma.Checking out the gifts from Great Grandma and Great Granddad.

More books from Great Grandma and Great Grandad.

Ready for bed!

We are so glad that we were able to do stockings before Dad left for work....but we missed him the whole day!

Archie was very pleased with the "dolmas" that he got in his stocking. (Armenian food)

I love this picture of Miriam. I think the look on her face is so cute!! I'm not even sure what she's opening...but I love that excited, anticipating, happy face!


After we did stockings and presents we mostly just hung around together, playing games and figuring out the new toys. Man, I wish I had taken some pictures of that, but alas, I didn't. Then Todd, Blanca and their family came over in the afternoon to hang around with us. Tons of fun!

Becky is holding Sammy, and Joanna has Lexie.

Lexie and Joanna.

This is how Rebekah spent most of her day. Isn't she cute? Isn't Grig cute?

This was at the end of the day....we look tired!!

All ready for Christmas dinner. What a great day!

Aviation Unit

In the 5th grade in Mesa Public Schools they do an aviation unit. The kids learn all kinds of things, among which is the basics of how to fly a plane. They spend months on this unit, and it culminates with a field trip to the flight center (and they all have to get 80% or better on the final exam, or they are not able to go on the field trip). I was lucky enough to be able to go on the field trip with Nathan and Joanna's class. Here are a couple photos. The kids had a blast!

They start out in the "sleds" on the ground, and the instructors walk around and make sure that the kids appear to know the basics.

And then they get to play on the toys. Joanna was first in the airplane simulator (above). It is a really cool little plane with lots of instruments and gadgets, and it actually turns and banks and moves around when they push on the stick or the pedals. They loved it. Nathan had a turn after Joanna (below)/.

Two people get in the helicopter simulator at a time. This little guy doesn't move around when they move the controls, but it's still fun. :)

Holiday cheer....better late than never!

Here's a little Holiday cheer for you, elementary school band style. The first one is just over a minute long, and the second is about a minute and a half. Nathan is playing in the trumpet in both of these. The first clip is the 5th grade or beginning band he's on the right, closest to the camera. In the 6th grade or advanced band he's 3rd from the end. Enjoy!

Cross-stitch party!

So, Archie bowls on Monday nights this year, and a couple of weeks ago we had a cross-stitch party! Rebekah is working on one for a project for YW, and the others are doing some Christmas decorations just for fun.

Rebekah, Nathan and Joanna working hard on my bed.

Miriam working on hers, while I hang-out and check out her progress. Yes, that's my graduation tassel hanging on the wall behind us. Pathetic, I know.

Joanna finished hers a couple of days later!! It reads "Warm Hearts."

Rebekah finished an ornament which reads "Joy" before she decided if she wanted to tackle a bigger project for YW.


Nathan and Miriam are still working on theirs...I'll post pictures as soon as they are finished.


I have to say that I have a really challenging cross stitch that I've been working on for seriously 7 years. When the kids were first working on theirs they wanted me to get mine out and show it to them. I did, and they really loved it. It's the kind of project that I work on for several hours a day for a week or two, and then I just have to put it away. This whole thing was during one of the "put-it-away" periods, and so I was bemoaning how hard and difficult it was. The kids were all so supportive, telling me "you can do it" and "it will look so good when you are done" and "look how much progress you've already made" and other sweet and encouraging things.

I have the best kids ever.

PS: Randy H.----I started this post with a "So" as a tribute to you. I've been keeping up with your darling blog, but I can't comment!! (I think the comments are turned off??) SO I'll have to do it on my own blog! :)

Fall Piano Recital

The kids played beautifully in the fall piano recital, and we were happy to have Grandma Linda (AKA Gramzer) in attendance. Click on the clips below if you want to hear it.

Joanna

Nathan

Rebekah

Happy Halloween!

From left to right we've got Shawn Johnson (Olympic Gymnast), Wizard (Merlin Type), Peaced Out, and Spongebabe. Yeah, lots of fun. Everyone loved their costumes, and had a great time. I made the 2 on the left from scratch, we bought the Peaced Out, and kind of pieced together the Spongebabe, trying to make a modest version of one we saw in a catalog. I really enjoy making Halloween costumes, and I'm happy when the kids let me do it for them.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (some of you, anyway)...

Okay, so after graduation some of us headed up to Colorado to help Matthew and Kristi move and paint. And we did, but we also had a little fun. Of course, I don't have pictures of the moving and painting, but I promise we did. Here are pictures of some of the fun:

A little friendly backyard lacrosse is just what everyone needs on a warm Colorado afternoon. This is in Matthew and Kristi's backyard....isn't it beautiful???

Can you see the look on Tiffany's face?? Can you say A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E?? She was intense!! It's not all her fault though...it reminds me a lot of her mother's face when we used to play YW basketball....I'm just sayin. :)

On the way home we stopped with Dad, Murry and Mom to do a little rock climbing. We miss you, Murry!!

So, it turns out that Nathan and Rebekah really enjoy climbing. They are way up there, right? Yeah, the above picture is the camera zoomed as far as it will go. Below is the shot without the zoom.

Yes, they did make it back down safely. Would you believe that Rebekah was wearing flip-flops? If you know her, you won't doubt it.

Arrow of Light

On October 16th, Nathan was awarded the "Arrow of Light" which is the highest award in Cub Scouting. The ceremony was so great, and the men performing it were wonderful. Nathan really enjoyed the evening, and was pleased that he had done the work to receive such an award.

Nathan throws a stick on the bonfire to contribute to it.

The medicine man explains what all the points on the arrow represent.

Nathan walks over the bridge, and his Boy Scout Leader (Grandpa Jim) accepts him into Boy Scouts.

The Chief was very sweet to pose for a picture after the ceremony.

I LOVE the smile on this kid's face!! He's been dying to receive the arrow that he's holding. He'll treasure it for a long time. Grandma Stephanie and Grandpa Jim have a special holder in their living room which holds the arrow that their son BJ earned before he passed away. Nathan has been looking at that arrow, and followed in BJ's footsteps by working hard to earn this award. Nathan is really lucky to have so many men in his family that he can look up to, those that still walk the earth, and those that have already crossed over, some of which (like BJ), he has yet to meet.

Grandpa Jim, Nathan, me and Archie after the ceremony.
Nathan, we are so proud of you! Keep up the great work!

I love fall!

Nathan, Rebekah, Miriam and Joanna, ready to head out for the first day of school.
They look so great!

The 5th graders chose to ride their bikes today. It probably takes them longer to drop and lock the bikes than it does to get to school....but it's still fun to ride.

The Junior High kids walk to the bus stop.

Isn't she beautiful?

Miriam worked so hard to accomplish her goal of earning her Young Womanhood Award before her 14th birthday, and we are so proud of her for doing it! She earned the award in November of 2007, but her recognition night was in August of 2008.

Her projects included:


Faith:
Reading the Book of Mormon

Divine Nature:
Implementing a "scripture of the week" poster for our home

Individual Worth:
Learning about selling used books

Knowledge:
Making a blanket for her baby brother

Choice and Accountability:
Creating and distributing a list of YW who would babysit at no charge when parents attend the temple

Good Works:
Helping an elderly lady from our ward

Integrity:
Giving her all on a soccer team

Archie gave a little talk about Miriam at the recognition night.

Miriam was happy to get to celebrate with Grandma Linda and Grandma Stephanie. Lots of other family were in attendance also. Thank you to everyone who came!

Things I love about Miriam: Her ability to make people smile. She is so great with kids, and does so well with making them feel comfortable and happy. She is confident and not afraid to stand up for what she believes is right. She has a lot of knowledge of the Gospel. She is so good at being part of our family team, and I love knowing that when it is "us against the world", she is on our side. She has such a tender heart for all of God's little creatures....especially if they are furry or reptilian. She is a smart, beautiful, capable and sweet young woman. I love you, Miriam!!

Blog Title

We can't decide on a title for our blog. Current options include:

6 Peeps and a Dog
The Up-Tempo Temps
The Temperant Temps
The Templegate Team
The Temp Troop
The Tempting Troops

Drop a comment, and vote on your favorite name! (Feel free to come up with your own suggestion!)

Graduation Day!

So, one of the more exciting things that has happened to us in the last few months is my graduation from dental school. It occurred on June 14, here in Mesa. It was so wonderful to have family here and to get to celebrate finishing this huge undertaking.

The ceremony was pretty short for a graduate program (less than an hour). It was great for me to have Dad place my hood. At one point, after we all had walked the stage and received our hoods, they had all the graduates stand up and turn around to see our family and supporters. It was so wonderful. They were all cheering and clapping. I looked up and felt so lucky to have so many members of my family there. It was wonderful to have Runyans and Abneys alike. Call me silly and romantic, but what got me choked up was seeing Archie up there, cheering for me, with a huge smile on his face. It was so nice for everyone to come. And I know that there were other members of my family who were unable to come, but were thinking of me, and were there in spirit. I feel so blessed.


Me and some of my good friends (these are the LDS students from my class). Our school and class was so wonderful because we really worked hard and helped each other out. We all had strengths and weaknesses, and were willing to lend our strengths to help everyone push through their weaknesses. I already miss these guys so much!

Joanna, Archie, Nathan, Me, Rebekah, and Miriam.

I love this picture of me and my dad.

Dad, me and Mom.

Me with Jim and Stephanie Abney.

Gavin, Marissa, Jenny, me and Tiffany.

Me with Kaci and Adam Carlson.

Me with Jason and Mandy Leavitt.

After the ceremony we had a luncheon/party. Kneaders catered, and everyone LOVED the food. A friend from my ward did the decorating and planning, and it turned out beautifully. The colors were white, black and yellow, with sort of a Mediterranian theme. It was great. I loved being able to celebrate with the people who supported and helped me get thru it.

School was way hard, but as Grandma Althea used to say.... I can do things that are hard. Especially with a family as great as mine!