2015 Goals...Finally!!!

Trying to set goals with all of these kids takes more than one evening.  We finally got it all organized.  The categories are Physical, School, Service, Spiritual, and Talent.  Last year Kalen made and completed some great goals.  His favorite to share are climbing Mount Whitney with me and his uncle Sean Foster.  He completed his Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge and he is forming his Eagle Merit Badge in the coming months.  He also made a goal to attend the Temple every other month and he did it!  Kalen's goals for 2015 are:

Physical: Make it on the Juniors baseball team, start lifting weights, and eat a healthy breakfast, every morning.

School: To get an A grade in his Algebra 1 class and an A in his Physics/Chemistry class.  And to read entire volume on the Civil War for History.  

Service: Organize and complete Eagle Scout Award!!  He's close!! And help prepare one FHE lesson a month from the "Scripture Study for Latter Day Saint Families Manual."

Spiritual: Read some books written by prophets or apostles of our church.

Talent: Learn Michael Meets Mozart on the piano.  

Last year Gwyneth's favorite goals to complete were: getting on the "A" team on her year round swim team, completing her Faith in God, reading the entire Book of Mormon, learning to braid her own hair and learning some simplified hymns.  Gwyneth's 2015 goals are:

Physical: Exercise with mom Saturday mornings.  Eat less sugar.  

School: Finishing math assignments with 95% or better.  Going to her charter school's Spelling Bee.  

Service: Prepare dinner once every week.

Spiritual: Complete two personal progress projects and read some church books written for the youth.  She would also like to follow in Kalen's footsteps and attend the Temple once every other month.

Talent: Keep a book blog and post regularly (booksbygwen.blogspot.com) she's already doing a great job.  Play piano for Young Women's.  Learn some "pop" songs on the piano.  

Last year Reece's favorite goals to complete were, making MVP on his Encore Swim Team.  This is the 3rd year he's made MVP!!!  He shared his testimony in church every other month, he earned his rank of Webelos for scouts and he played piano for the care center, Carlton Plaza.  Reece's 2015 goals are: 

Physical: Practice baseball skills regularly like, hitting, and fielding.  Going to bed early and waking up early.  

School: Improve on spelling.  Read two chapter books a month.  

Service: Help set up for the Blue and Gold Banquet for scouts, prepare one FHE lesson a month from the "Scripture Study for Latter Day Saint Families Manual," and serve his family by helping to care for the younger kids by playing with them and helping them with their needs. 

Spiritual: Read his scriptures in the morning, following the 365 day chart, and say morning and night prayers. Continue working through Faith in God book and completing it.

Talent: Work on consistent piano practice, learning one simplified hymn per month so he can play for our FHE meetings.

This is Georgia's first official goal setting experience.  Here are Georgia's 2015 goals: 

Physical: Get better at roller blading so she can go on the trails.  Eat less sugar (like her sister Gwyneth. ;)

School: Finish her first "Magic Tree House" book that she's been reading, continue to read the "Magic Tree House" series, and work harder at spelling.

Service:  Put school work away as she finishes it and help Summer with her letters.

Spiritual: Say prayers morning and night.  Complete Book of Mormon Stories with mom.

Talent:  Start gymnastics!  

Since Shane is really young he won't set goals according to the categories.  Shane's 2015 goals are: 

Practicing to be reverent during our FHE meetings, finishing his 1st grade math book by June, (he's only in Kindergarten, but he's SUPER good at math :), read a beginner chapter book per month and be a good friend to his siblings, especially the ones younger than him. :)

Summer's 2015 goals are to be great at sharing, to make her own bed, to choose the right and to be nice to her brothers and sisters.

Will's 2015 goals are:  Well there is only one and that is to be pottery trained...!!!  :)

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Kirk's 2015 goals are: 

Physical: Lose 20 pounds, P90X for 3 months.

Spiritual:  Follow Book of Mormon Challenge in 365 days with the added General Conference talk or Ensign Article to tie in the scriptures verses.  

Shauna's 2015 goals are:

Physical:  To be able to run all of the Quicksilver trail without stopping.  Do one back packing trip this year.  Go to the beach as much as possible.  :)

Service:  Organize and clean up pictures on our computer.  Look for opportunities on "Just Serve.Org", be a better visiting teacher.

Spiritual:  Continue to follow Book of Mormon 365, attend Temple once a month, help older kids achieve their Temple goals, seek missionary opportunities.

Talent:  Organize "loose" recipes once and for all!, Read 3 books this year, besides the kids' history and literature and the Book of Mormon, continue to learn to sew, and set up my photography business.  I can't wait!!!  

Alright, better late than never.  At least it's still January, I still make the cut.  Happy New Year to everyone, and cheers to making and achieving new goals!!  We are believers in accomplishing and progressing!  

One day and three trips...

I've taken so many pictures in the last two weeks, it has taken me three days to go through and edit some of these pictures.  These pictures capture just one day from our Christmas break and it was the best day ever!!!  We go to the city often and we always go during the holiday break.  So this time we wanted to go somewhere new.  We found this great park within Golden Gate Park called Koret Children's Quarters.  It's been there for years but it has been updated in the last ten and it was a huge hit.  Below is the beautiful building that houses the carousal.  It's a dollar to ride and they have a little pop up stand to the right, where you can buy pretzels and hot dogs.

The greatest hit were the cement slides.  They were soooo fun!   

We brought our own cardboard but as you can see down at the bottom of the slide there was tons left over.  So I think there is always some just laying around.

Will wants to be like Reecey...

My brother and sister in law along with their daughter always come for Christmas, which is such a blessing because they also happen to be some of our dearest friends.  We love them so much.

Cousins, sisters, best friends 4-ever...

By the time all of my daughters got done going through a little meadow they found, I had about ten of these "bouquets."  Precious girls.   

They kept telling Summer to turn around but I just said, "let her be, her bum is dirty from the slides and it will make for a more "dynamic" picture."  :):):)  

Instead of going home we took the Bay Bridge over to the Oakland Temple to see the lights.  Usually, we go before Christmas but this is the second year we've waited until after Christmas and it seems to be a better fit for us.  

 The kids love coming to the temple with all of its lights and glory.  And they are so cute to watch "walk" (run) around the grounds.  

When I came across these pictures my heart broke.  They are sooooo cute!!!  I love them.  The temple is so magical during this time.  

As we were driving home my brother in law stopped at Fentons and I thought one of the kids just needed to use the bathroom, but he is so sweet and wanted to treat us all for ice cream!  It was already about 7:45pm when we got there and the wait was 40 minutes.  It ended up being so fun and the kids were great too.  

Most likely because they have one side of the table completely covered in drawing paper for the kids.  They colored nonstop.  

This is half eaten...

You know kids are maturing when they order chocolate ice cream.  Shane is still little as you can see by his choice of ice cream...bubble gum.  :):)

This beauty was called the "Cookie Connection."

A simple brownie Sundae.  Simple compared to the others.  Gigantor on its own.  :):)

We had another amazing day in the city, followed by the temple and ending at Fenton's.  It was such a great day.  I love Christmas, the fun, the memories, the rush and the New Year.  It's the best time of year, for sure.