Thursday, December 27, 2012

Second time Soaring Eagle



                                            Brooke and her First Grade teacher Mrs. Rupert

It is an easy thing to get used too....... having a superb, super star, dream child for a daughter.....

But, we shouldn't and hopefully we do nottake it for granted, how wonderful that Brooke is....

Last year, in Kindergarten Brooke was chosen as the second Kindergarten Soaring Eagle of the year....

When the it came time for the second First Grade Soaring Eagle of the year to be chosen, Brooke told

me confidently..." Mom, if I don't get chosen as the Soaring Eagle again , I will know that maybe the

time I will, because other good kids need to get a chance." When she said this I was impressed that

Brooke had come such a long way since last year when she came home asking everyday if she was

going to the the Soaring Eagle, because she tries so hard to be good every single day. It also reminded

me she was still trying hard this year and it is important to her to get this very respected award, but she

is trying to be mature about it. When I got the phone call from Mrs.Rupert that Brooke was chosen as

the Soaring Eagle, Brooke was jumping up and down excited to be awarded in the upcoming assembly

and to get a one on one congratulations from the principal, oh and the chance to have her picture

hanging in the hallway all year long with the other famous eagles at the school. This year the Soaring

Eagle traits have changed a bit and Communication is one of the traits....This is what Brooke was

recognized for. Mrs. Rupert said that besides Brooke being great at verbally communicating, she is also

great at her non-verbal communication. She also told me about how Brooke consistently finishes her

work before the other children and that she asks Brooke to walk around the class and help those

children who need extra help.

Congratulations Brooke for working hard every single day to be the kind of student you strive to be!!!!

We are so proud of you and we are amazed by your kindness and thriving to excel in all areas!


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

My Prima Ballerina

                                                            keeping priorities straight
                                                 Spot light on Brooke            ^
                                                                 Candy Cane Princess
                One thing Brooke said to me with a huge smile on her face as she was about to go on strage , " Mommy , I don't have to go see the Nutcracker Ballet this year because I AM IN IT! "
                                                           Eveey , Brooke and Brooke
                                                                   My Prima Ballerina

The Nutcracker 2012

            Brooke started ballet this year at the best ballet school without driving an hour away. We still drive twenty min. to get to her dance school, but it is very worth it for her to receive the instruction that she is...

              Ballet has actually been a part of Brooke's everyday life ever since she was three years old. Every day with out fail, Brooke will disappear to her room, and come out with some sort of frilly costume on. She then turns on classical music and dances on her tip toes like a ballerina. She does turns, leaps and every movement with grace.

               When I found out that Brooke's particular dance school puts on the Dallas Repertoire Ballet Nutcracker every year, I was thrilled that she would have the opportunity to try out and if she made it, she would be performing with professional dancers that her school hires to be the main characters...

                Brooke was so happy when she found out that she was chosen to be a candy cane. She was upset that she was not able to do as well at the tryout dance as she would have liked too however. We got that worked out by working on this particular move Brooke couldn't do, every single day...She got it after about a week.

                I learned a few things about Brooke that I already knew and did not know about Brooke during our first Nutcracker experience...

                First, I saw what I already knew, that Brooke was born a performer. On the night of the first show at the Eisman Center, all the other girls in her scene were really about to throw up because they were nervous to get onto such a big stage and see darkness and people in an audience. You would have thought Brooke was in her own home.... she was comfortable and excitedly smiling. Brooke never looked at another student...she only looked to the audience and performed her dance with confidence, and perfection.... every single time.

                 Second, I found out that Brooke has an amazing sense of direction. Elizabeth, Brooke Maddison's Mom took them to practice one night when I was working, the next day when I was asking her how to get to the Eisman Center, where to park and how to get to the stage, she said to me, " Did you know that your daughter helps me figure out how to get to the elementary school every time we take a different route threw the neighborhood?" I said, " No, I didn't." She said, " Your daughter is amazing with directions and has a good memory. All you have to do is ask her once you see the building and she can tell you where to park and how to go in." I said, " Okay and didn't ask anymore because she seemed in a hurry. So that night when we saw the building I said, " Brooke, Elizabeth said that you would know where to park and get in?" Brooke quickly told me which road to turn down, gave me specific directions about what floor to park on and then when we got out of the car she lead me to the opposite end of the parking garage, took me down three flights of stairs, around a corner to this empty hallway where we exited out the parking garage and then lead me to one door out of four that took us into the basement of the performance hall. I was shocked she could remember how to do this! I felt like I was with my genius little sister Amy, only this was my Six-year old leading me!

                    Third, I learned about Brooke's self-control. When all the other little girls were playing around because they didn't go on stage until act two, I told Brooke, " We need to do your homework Brooke." She said, " Why?" I said, " You tell me. Lets talk about priorities. Tell me what priority dance comes after? " She said, " School ." I said, " That's right, you will have time to goof off later."  She did not hesitate, but instead she offered her friends the bag she had packed with all kinds of games and coloring books in it, and said, " You guys can play with this until I am done."


                      Fourth, I saw how wise Brooke is even as a little six-year old, she knows she needs to have a balance. Even though Brooke says almost every day that she is going to be a Prima Ballerina someday and that she can't wait to be good enough at ballet to wear the " Big girl Point shoes" She wants to do what is right. I told Brooke earlier in the month that after the Nutcracker we were going to talk about taking her our of her Ballet One class , so that she would have more time at home and not have dance twice a week. She was very okay with it because she doesn't like ballet one as much as ballet two, because she is with bigger girls in ballet two. She asked me while we were waiting for her to go on stage at one of the shows if we were still going to do that? I said, I talked to the owner of the school and she told me that she didn't want Brooke to leave ballet one yet because she is the teacher and she liked to teach every single student at the school for a whole year, their first year. Brooke said, " Well I really don't want to leave the older girls class that I am in." I said, " Sorry we have no choice, she is the one that casts the Nutcracker so you need to stay with her and that's what she said. Brooke looked at me sad and said, " Mom, it's okay if I have to get out of ballet two that I like, I will be able to be with the older girls later, and I like Mrs.Kathy ( the owner ) even though she is mean and yells at us, she is a good teacher."
I was so impressed that Brooke was able to let go of her pride about wanting to be in the older girl class and make a good choice on her own to quit one day a week of dance. I actually hadn't made up my mind about what I was going to do because I was so worried about how sad she was going to be to leave that older girl class that she loves....

Brooke really is a special girl. I know that God smiles down upon her :)



                        Dec. 7, 8, & 9th    Dallas Repritore Ballet presents "The Nutcracker"
          


              

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Dinner Date for Kevin's Birthday

              Can you believe that Kevin turned 44 this year!? He has amazing genetics that do not make him look that age...and he surely doesn't act it ;) To celebrate Kevin's birthday, Kevin and I had a nice date at a Japanese steak house, where they cook the food right in front of you. Kevin was trying to convince me to go crash a private party in the back room of the restaurant where they were singing karaoke. Kevin likes to hear me sing. When we drove to Kansas City before we had Brooke, Kevin would ask me to sing to him instead of putting the radio on. I did sing to him...the only songs I really know...church songs....

So Kevin knows the owner of the restaurant we were at. He went and asked him if Kevin and I could join the party so that I could sing as part of entertainment. The owner said absolutely I could and he wanted to hear me sing too. I felt like that would be kind of rude to crash some one's party...but I agreed we could come back and have our own karaoke party and I would sing all night ;)

                                           November 16th, 2012  - Mom & Dad

Abuelita Escobar


                     Our Abuelita is very special to us. Brooke tried to remember all the Spanish words that she knows and she was excited to be able to show her great grandma from Guatemala that she is learning Spanish. We are very blessed that Abuelita comes to visit us about once a year. When she was leaving I begged her to come visit in April for Easter, like she sometimes does. The problem is that it can be dangerous to leave your house unattended in Guatemala and Abuelita has to find someone to take care of her house while she comes to the United States.


                                                  
                                     Alida Escobar is 83 years old and she is extremely healthy.....
                                            We are thankful for that. We love her very much!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Cycling


                          The past two years are the first Thanksgivings since I was thirteen that I didn't workout.  Starting about age thirteen I went to my Mom's cycling class every Thanksgiving morning, of course if it wasn't on a Sunday...I loved getting up early with her and being at the gym even on Thanksgiving. When I cycle I day dream about being in the mountains on that bike, or biking past a really pretty site...Someday hopefully I wont have to day dream about that because I really will be riding outside somewhere pretty....

                      I am glad I didn't workout this Thanksgiving...I do know now, that sometimes it is better to take a break from your workouts when needed and especially since I have little kids who aren't old enough to come workout with me.

                         The day after Thanksgiving Bryant, Kevin, Audrey and myself enjoyed taking the infamous " Vilma Pack's " cycling class. My Mother has a large following at many of the gyms in the metroplex. She is an amazing coach. She explains very well how to get the best workout possible and she pushes everyone very hard! Most of the people who like to take her class are the kind of people who love to be tortured!

                          It was fun to with some of my family and do something that I love to do. Sweat and feel my muscles burn!

                          I love that my Mom has taught us all to take care of our bodies by working out and she has shared her passion with all of us. Every single one of her children works out almost daily.....


Saturday, December 1, 2012

Feeding Ducks at Town Lake


                                     The Pack's are not home bodies. We like to be out doing things.
             We enjoyed a walk around Town Lake with the kids and Great Grandma on Thanksgiving Day.
               It was perfect outside, not too hot, not very cold....Audrey and Bryant coming from  cold Colorado...well they thought it was hot...





Kisses for Fawn

We were doing last min. grocery shopping before Thanksgiving.
That's kind of a pack thing to do...bring the whole crew even to the grocery store..
Hey, maybe that's why our last name is pack? ;) All twelve of us walking around in Sam's its funny to watch us all chase Grandma Pack down the isles....

Will was getting his flirt on with his new cousin Fawn.
Fawn is one-year old.
She was more interested in the samples she was eating than the sweet nothings that Will was whispering in her ear. That is not an exaggeration. Will really was whispering in Fawn's ear.
He was also softly playing with her hair, and caressing her face. Finally we just said, Will do you want to give Fawn a kiss? and he did multiple times...It was so cute!



Friday, November 30, 2012

Hot Tub Time


                      We knew it was going to be a tight squeeze to get both Audrey and my family into Grandma and Grandpa Pack's hot tub. We don't mind getting kicked a little bit...

As kids we had a hot tub growing up in Salt Lake City. We would get in it even when it was snowing...
We would walk on a layer of ice or snow on the deck and climb right into the steaming hot tub. Those times in the hot tub were meaningful conversations and times to remember. As siblings mostly, we would stay there for hours and just talk to each other...

Thanksgiving day when we got in the hot tub we weren't able to get too deep into our conversations with kids laughing and screaming around....but it was fun and we did get get to hear a few of Bryant's crazy doctor stories....

We all love hot tubs now Amy has one in Alaska and the rest of us want one....
I think it  is because we loved ours growing up and we all like the heat.....

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Aunt Audrey comes for Thanksgiving


                        Fawn, Isabel, Audrey, Brooke, Great Grandma Escobar, Grandma Pack and Mom


                                         Aunt Audrey always makes me feel special the way that she makes it priority to come visit us in Texas every year. Audrey many times has packed up her four children in the van and drives two days alone, to see us. Uncle Bryant being an Internal Medicine doctor, it is always hard for him to get off of work. When Audrey arrives she never once complain about how hard the drive was. She has a smile on her face and big sweet hug. Seeing Aunt Audrey is one of my most favorite things to do in the world. She is one of my best friends, after all. This Thanksgiving Audrey wanted to come see us so bad, but she just had surgery on her eyes, so she can't see at night at all. It isn't suprising to me that a friend of hers offered to drive her all the way here, and that's just what her friend did. She drove Audrey here and got on a plane and went back to SanAntonio, where she is lives. It doesn't suprise me that Audrey has a friend whom would do that, because Audrey is the nicest person I have ever met, and that means she deserves a lot of niceness in return. It was really good to see Uncle Bryant finally, since it has been two-years. He flew in on a plane and drove the family home when they left.
Brooke snuck in the pic
                                                            Hyrum, Grandpa Pack and Eli

Holiness to the Lord




This Thanksgiving we had a lot to be thankful for, just like all of our Thanksgivings. The
best things about it is always seeing family. This year we had a wonderful visit with Alida,(Grandma from Guatemala) here to visit us, and Aunt Audrey's family as well. The most special thing was when I got the chance to visit the Dallas temple with my Grandmother and Mother. It was the first time that I had been to the temple with family, since I have been back.

When I enter the holy temple of the Lord, I feel a sensation like nothing else can produce. The feeling is of perfect peace even with troubles sometimes in my mind. I feel as if the Lord himself is wrapping his arms around me, and I feel as if i am finally at home again. There isn't a place in the world that I feel more comfortable in, and to be in such a holy place with people that I love, was such an uplifting evening for me.

I firmly believe that it is necessary for one to be worthy to enter the temple because it produces an environment where the spirit of the Lord can flow freely and if needs be, he could enter the temples we have built for him, more than any other places in the world.

When you enter the temple all worldly cares are left behind and life's purposes are crystal clear . worries and problems are put in perspective with Heavenly Father's plan, giving you guidance.

I am thankful for temples and I cant wait to take my children there.





Thursday, November 22, 2012

Amy comes from Alaska


My little sister Amy and I have a lot of fun memories. One of the funniest memories I have about Amy is when I let her drive my Toyota Camry when she was about to enter Drivers Ed. We went up to an elementary school parking lot. I have always viewed Amy as invincible to any challenge because she has always been so smart and responsible. Amy is four years younger than I am, but even when she was little she understood any concept I tried to teach her. I taught her multiplication at age five and she grasped it. I really had no expectations of what happened , to happen. Amy pushed on the gas full speed, accidentally jumped the car up a curb and ran right into a stop sign. Of course we were both screaming at the top of our lungs. In her defense it was the first time she had ever been in the driver seat of a car and the only explanation I gave her was where the gas and breaks were.

            Amy has loved me even when I wasn't an easy person to love. When I met Kevin she immediately was interested in getting to know him and she even would hang out with just him if I was working. Amy is an amazing Mother whom teaches her children with patience and she makes the best of every situation she is in. She loves to hike in the mountains of Alaska, where she lives. She takes on new challenges like selling Pampered Chef and doing Triathlons. I am lucky to be related to someone so neat!

Rapunzel and Spider Man

 
                                              This Halloween Brooke dressed up as Rapunzel. Brooke's favorite Dinsey Princess has been Rapunzel ever since the movie came out. Halloween is a challange for our family because of Will's allergies. I did order Will his own special candy from a candy factory that is peanut, milk and egg free. He still wanted Brooke's candy though....


                                    Will felt so cool in his Spider Man suit with muscles. He esspecially loved showing it off at the church Trunk or Treat where he noticed that lots of bigger boys were dressed like Spider Man as well.

It was awesome to have Aunt Amy and Uncle Andy here so close to Halloween. Sydney was a ghost!

Family Cruise Picture

                                               Many memories were made on the Turano cruise. We are so blessed to have a healthy family that could all come together and take a trip together. We really did miss having Uncle Leonard there. He and his two adopted children Brittany and Cameron couldn't be with us. Luckily Dominic his son, was there with us.

One last day at the pool

                                Will was so tired he fell asleep on my lap right there at the pool.

Time to sail home


Dinner Celebration


So they had this parade at dinner one night where anyone who wanted could walk around the dinning room to music and swing their napkins around. Will stood up immediately to be part of this parade when he saw everyone swinging their napkins to the music. It was funny and not surprising at all because Will loves music and dancing.


  Will wont remember being so little that his cousins Lexi and Sophi could carry him....                                        

                                                      
                                        Lydia took the time to curl Brooke's hair for dinner one night.
                                                     

                            Lydia gives Brooke the attention that she wants from her cousins. Brooke asks me when she will be as big as Lydia all the time. Brooke knows Lydia makes perfect grades in school and Brooke wants to be just like her when she is older.

           Uncle Jeff ate frog legs for dinner one night. I attribute that to him being sick the entire next day!

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Dragon Tiger

   

When I was pregnant with Brooke, Kevin took me to a Tiger Rescue. We both love seeing all things animal...So we made the forty min drive to check this rescue our. We had fun talking to the owners ( husband and wife ) about why they decided to open a rescue and what kind of work it took...

           We seem to have a way with animal keepers because they always offer to let us in the cages with the animals. I think they get excited when they meet people who find their work fascinating. So as the owner got inside the cage with two beautiful full grown tigers, to show us they were harmless, suddenly one of the female tigers came to the edge of the cage and intently looked at me...then turned around and peed right on me! The funny part is that the owner lady jumped in front of the tiger to catch the pee for me! It was so nice of her! She said that the female tiger could sense I was a female and viewed me as a threat. I do not know if I believed her, but I was thankful that I only got a little spray of pee, rather than soaking in tiger pee...like she was.

After that experience my fantasies of getting in a cage with the tigers kind of died down...
But I still really want to pet one some time...In fact when we were at the Circus a few weeks before the cruise, the circus animal keeper let me get up close and personal with a White Tiger. He took me into the back where the tiger was caged and let me pet the tiger through the cage.

I don't think tigers like me because the white tiger started hissing at me and I quickly jumped away from the cage.

You might think I had enough with tigers after these two events, but it's not true....

I was beyond ecstatic when Jeff ( Kevin's brother ) quickly came over to Kevin and I in Progresso as we were headed back to the ship, after swimming at the beach. Jeff told us that there was a guy letting people hold a tiger outside. I didn't care that he was also telling us that he saw one guy getting bit by the tiger on his jugular vein in his neck...I was rushing to see the baby tiger.

Will refused to call these guys anything related to the cat family. He insisted they were dragons. He kept saying, " I wanna pet the dragon. " It was so funny, but we couldn't let him near one...he would grab the fur hard and get bit in the face or something like that.

I did trust Brooke, and although she didn't want to hold the tiger she did enjoy petting it. They said these were four month old babies and I actually did hold one. I can't find the picture....I think Kevin hid it somewhere to black mail me later, because I was slightly screaming when the tiger growled at me and he was in my arms.




                                                            

                                                                  Jeff's daughter Sophia 
                                                                  Four Months Old
                                                     

                                                     Random guy playing Mexican music